Berea Baptist Church of Durham NC Podcast

King Sun Rise

4.5.26 Easter sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Note: I found an old (1940's-50's) bottle on the property across the road--adjacent to American Tobacco Trail--that we are developing into an "Avenue for Evangelism."

Corinthians 15:1-18; 12-19  CSB

Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. [3] For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. [6] Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me. 

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, "There is no resurrection of the dead"? [13] If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; [14] and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. [15] Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ-whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. [18] Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. [19] If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Miraculous Metamorphosis

3.22.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 17:1-13 CSB

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. [2] He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light. [3] Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. [4] Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 

[5] While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!" [6] When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown and were terrified. [7] Jesus came up, touched them, and said, "Get up; don't be afraid." [8] When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone. 

[9] As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." [10] So the disciples asked him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" [11] "Elijah is coming and will restore everything," he replied. [12] "But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn't recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." [13] Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

Who Do We Say That We Are?

3.15.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 16:13-26

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

"But who do you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." [17] Jesus responded, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. [18] And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven." [20] Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah. [21] From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. 

[22] Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!" [23] Jesus turned and told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you're not thinking about God's concerns but human concerns." 

[24] Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. [26] For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

Joy Beyond Legalism

2.22.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 9:1-8 So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. [2] Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, "Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven." [3] At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, "He's blaspheming!" [4] Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? [5] For which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? [6] But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-then he told the paralytic, "Get up, take your stretcher, and go home." [7] So he got up and went home. [8] When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew  9:9-13 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me," and he got up and followed him. [10] While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [12] Now when he heard this, he said, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners."

 

Are You Willing?

2.15.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 8 offers us a broad picture into the depth of the Jesus, and his ability to perform miracles. This sermon examines the diversity of these events and simply asks the listener: Are You Willing?

Matthew 8:1-4: When he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. [2] Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." [3] Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [4] Then Jesus told him, "See that you don't tell anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Are you Willing?

1. Are you willing to come to Jesus and trust Him with all your brokenness, uncleanness, mess, and junk?
2. Are you willing to go to Jesus on behalf of others with full assurance that He can move mountains for whosoever regardless of the world’s labels?  How do we muster and attain such a faith like that of the centurion?
3. Are you willing to get up and serve?
4. Are you willing get in the boat with Jesus, knowing the possible dangers of the journey?
5. Are you willing to be rejected—run out of town—persecuted because of Jesus?

Flimsy and Foolish Foundations

2.08.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 7:24-27: "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.” [28]When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, [29]because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11: According to God's grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. [11] For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

Please Pass The Salt!

1.18.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 5:13 CSB: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 

Although we must monitor salt intake,

none can ever have too much Jesus!

We are called to be the 'salt of the earth' yet not salty

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing

1.11.26 sermon by Dr. Robert Wortham

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 CSB: Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. [10] For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. [11] Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? [12] And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Matthew 4:23-25 CSB:  Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [24] Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them. [25] Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Prepare the Way: a Voice is Calling

1.4.25 sermon by Phillip Mumford

John 1:29-30: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I told you about: 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’” 

John the Baptizer: ’I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of him.' [29] He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete. [30] He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:28-30

Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea [2] and saying, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" [3] For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! [4] Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, [6] and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins…. [13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. [14] But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?" [15] Jesus answered him, "Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John allowed him to be baptized. [16] When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

And There It Was!

12.28.25 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Matthew 2: 9-11 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was-the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.