Berea Baptist Church of Durham NC Podcast

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.

Shepherds of the Good Shepherd

12.14.25 sermon by Dr. Robert Wortham

Psalm 23; Luke 2:8-20

Bethlehem Companions

12.7.25 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Through Isaiah's Eyes: Standing on God's Promise

11/30/25 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

First Sunday of Advent

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Isaiah is a poetic masterpiece that paints a picture hope in the midst of doom, light in the presence of darkness. The name Isaiah has been referred to as "the prince of prophets" and his name means the LORD is salvation. The book of Isaiah has been consider the "5th gospel" and is referenced over sixty times in the New Testament.

Isaiah introduces us to the term Immanuel: God with us, informing the generations to come that the arrival of the messiah is imminent, that hope is on the way.  

Isaiah 9:2,6-7 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. [6] For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. [7] The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.

(Sorry: the very beginning was accidentally clipped. "An eccentric rich man asks his pastor, his doctor , and his lawyer to place $10,000 in coffin to be buried with him.)

Thank You for Your Service

11.23.25 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Jesus “did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.  Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.”  Philippians 2:6-7

Mark 10:35-45

[35] James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you." [36] "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked them. [37] They answered him, "Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory." [38] Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" [39] "We are able," they told him. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. [40] But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared." [41] When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. [42] Jesus called them over and said to them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. [43] But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Clothed and Crowned with Compassion

11/16/25 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Luke 10:25-37 CSB

Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] "What is written in the law?" he asked him. "How do you read it?" [27] He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind," and "your neighbor as yourself." [28] "You've answered correctly," he told him. "Do this and you will live." [29] But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" [30] Jesus took up the question and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. [31] A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

[33] But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. [34] He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him. When I come back I'll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.' [36] "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" [37] "The one who showed mercy to him," he said. Then Jesus told him, "Go and do the same.”

 

The Glory of the Moon's Radiance

11.9.25 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford exploring the practice of generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!(v.15)

2 Corinthians 8:9 CSB: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Matthew 10:8 CSB: Freely you received, freely give

2 Corinthians 9:15 CEV: Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!