October 9, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Evangelism, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Power of Gospel, Authority of God's Word, Power of God's Word, Multi-Generational, Multi-Ethnic, we are 'one, ' in Christ Jesus. Salt and light. Christ's ambassadors, God's Glory Alone
It is a tremendous blessing to see the power of the gospel transforming lives! We are so very thankful for what the Lord is doing in our church! We have an opportunity to show our communities the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ....
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May 22, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Youth, Children, Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Grace, Love, Mission, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Communities, Word of God, Scriptures, Families, Future, Unity, Life Transformation, Church Expansion
The Lord has been (and is doing) wonderful things in the life o our church! What a blessing it is to be at Stonebridge Baptist Church! As we move forward now with next steps in our facility, seeking His will for this body, we must stay focused above all on Him, on the mission He has for us, and commit all things to Him for His glory...
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November 29, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Faith, Grace, Love, Mercy, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Hope, Christmas, Humility, Wonder, Joy, Trinity, Gift, Awe, Reverence, Holiness of God
It is so very easy for us to lose Christ in the season that bears His Name. This Christmas, it is our prayer that you would experience renewal, joy, peace, and the Hope that comes from receiving and treasuring the greatest gift ever given, God's gift to you, Jesus Christ....
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September 10, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Gospel, Jesus, prayer, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Suffering, Evil, 9/11, Remembering, Sovereignty of God, Turning to God, Praying for our Nation
We said, as a nation, after 9/11, that we would 'never forget,' and yet, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we must ask ourselves if we truly have remembered, and, if we have truly wrestled with what it means for God to be Sovereign over all things, including 9/11. What is He saying, and how should we respond?...
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September 16, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, Church, Mission, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Hope, Racism, Christians, Rioting, Shootings, Burning Cities, Destruction, Sexual Immorality, Hatred, Fragmentation, Anarchy, Distrust, Engage
Yes the times are dark. They seem to be getting darker by the day. The answer is not escapism, nor is it retreat. The answer is and has always been Jesus. How the people who bear His Name respond in these tumultuous times, is so very important. ...
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August 12, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, Love, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Scriptures, Christians, progressivism, wokeness, the church, ministers, Idolatry, Man Pleasing, Repentance, Affirmation
There are many problems with the emerging trend of 'progressive Christianity,' but the root issue is a fundamental denial of both the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lordship of Christ...
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May 30, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, American Culture, Racism, Fragmented Culture, Christianity, Peacemaking, Power of Gospel, Healing, Work
America is fragmented. There is anger in the streets and there is fear, accusations, hatred and mistrust and pain. As Christians, we believe the gospel changes everything. We believe that Jesus truly saves and changes us and our life trajectory. Instead of retreating from the cultural chaos, we must lovingly engage with the gospel of Christ. Instead of clinging to secular ...
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March 29, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Coronavirus, Covid 19, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Movement of God, Christianity, Seeking Hope, Gospel, Awakening, Revival, prayer, Hunger for Word
These are uncertain times, and people are justifiably concerned, but the Lord is at work! We must stay in prayer and in the Word and fix our eyes on Christ to run the race before us....
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January 19, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Word of God, Proverbs, Wisdom, Foolishness, Christ the Wisdom of God, Meditation, Practical
Our new sermon series 'Wisdom in an Unwise Age' walks us through the book of Proverbs. God calls us to wisdom and to growth. ...
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October 16, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, Church, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Secularism, Pietro Ciavarella, Florence, Italy, Firenza, Witness, God's Word, Engaging Culture, Persevering
America is rapidly sliding into secularism. Many in the American evangelical church are worried, scared or confused. Others still have no idea as to the severity of the storm that is already making landfall.
I am thankful to call Pastor/Professor Pietro Ciavarella my friend and brother in Christ. Pietro pastors in Firenza (Florence), Italy, birthplace of the Renaissanc...
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June 8, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus Christ, God, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Great Commission, Evangelism, DIscipleship, People, Networks, Mission Fields, Needs, Praying, Eyes Open
Look around you. The opportunities to be on mission are far more than you realize....
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May 15, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Paul, Pain, Suffering, God's Glory, Our Growth, Gospel, Jesus, Christianity, Holy Spirit, Frailty, Opposition, Persecution, Hardships, Trials, Sanctification
Jesus' primary concern is not our comfort, rather our becoming more like Him. He desires our ultimate good which means our sanctification and intimacy with Him, and that God is glorified in our lives. There are times in which those primary purposes are accomplished through trials, troubles, hardships and pain. ...
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March 18, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Easter, Christianity, Faith, Jesus' Demands, Jesus' Claims, Avoiding Jesus, Cultural Jesus
We are not free to edit out the parts of Jesus that make us uncomfortable. We are not free to worship a Jesus made in our image. The only Jesus who can save us is the Jesus Who Is....
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May 22, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, Faith, Jesus, God, Genesis, Holy Spirit, Forgiveness, Christian Life, Sin, Learning, Growing
Reading Genesis not only allows us to learn more of God, we also learn more about our human condition, sin, redemption, life, faith and how God has been working throughout history for His glory and the blessing and salvation of many....
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April 30, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Gospel, Life, Faith, Journey, Deliverance, Healing, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy, Love, Truth, Goodness, Church, Sermon Series on Faith, Mother's Day
From one sermon series to another, we will see how God continues to call us to walk by faith...
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April 11, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Epic, Jesus, Gospel, Holy Spirit, God, Testimonies, Changed Lives, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy, Love
Jesus saves and changes us. He takes our old story and gives us a new one, a life with Him and a purpose found in Him. No matter where you come from, what you've done, what your story is, Jesus is willing and able to give us completely new starts, new hearts and new stories...
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February 19, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Gospel, Revival, Revivalism, Church, prayer, Scripture, Humility, Mission, Kingdom of God
Our churches need revival. God is working in our church. We must not confuse praying for authentic revival with revivalism. ...
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December 5, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Christmas, Good News, Gospel, Culture, Busyness, Worship, Incarnation, Miracle, Spiritual Refreshment
Don't let 'Cultural Christmas' hijack what could be a holy and worshipful season....
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November 12, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Christ, God, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Grace, Mercy, Love, Church, Family, Food, Clothing, Housing, Good Gifts, Gratitude, Thankfulness
This month we are emphasizing the importance of thankfulness and gratitude. We will continue this emphasis through the last weekend of November when we will begin our Christmas series.
Gratitude and thankfulness seem to be in short supply in our culture today. The tragic irony: never in the history of humanity have a people had so much wealth and material possessions, to ...
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October 9, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Jesus, Evangelism, Objections to Christianity, DIscipleship, prayer, Awana, Wednesday Nights, Adults, Youth, Children, Saturday Services, Sunday Services, Connect, God, Gospel, Communities, Stonebridge Baptist Church
There are some exciting and new things taking place on Wednesdays and Saturdays! Come check them out!...
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August 6, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Church, Community, Schools, Harlan High School, Folks Middle School, prayer, Intercession, God, Holy Spirit
If we are to move forward in a way that honors Christ we must be in tune with the Holy Spirit and abiding in Christ. As such, we must be united in prayer....
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July 30, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Church, Persecution, Holy Spirit, Boldness, Unstoppable, Acts, Underground Church, American Church, Francis Chan
The Church of Jesus Christ should be an unstoppable force. Perhaps in America, we are focused more on man and not Christ, the Head of the Church....
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July 16, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Gospel, God, Genesis, Beginnings, Human Condition, Holy Spirit, Brokenness, Hope, Curse, Cross
Why is life the way it is? Why is the world the way it is? We can see things are broken and fragmented. Why is that the case if God created everything? Especially, why is it this way if God is both All Powerful and Completely Good? Where is the Hope? Journey with us as we begin a new study in Genesis starting July 30, 2017!...
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June 11, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Father's Day, David, Solomon, Spiritual Maturity, Culture
"I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man..."
-1 Kings 2:2
King David was a man who was very much flawed, yet still commended as being a 'man after God's own heart' (Acts 13:22)-which in and of itself should be a great encouoragement to us that God speaks of David like this in His Word. David was a man who knew what it was to be un...
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June 4, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Children, 78253, Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, prayer, Vacation Bible School, God, Invitation, Community
This coming Sunday, Stonebridge Baptist Church launches our summer Vacation Bible School! Thetheme this year is: 'Galactic Starveyors.' Sundaynight through Thursday night, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., children willlearn aboutThe God Who Created All Things. It is for young people who have completed Kindergarten-completed 6th Grade.
Not only will they learnthat theOne who spoke all...
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May 21, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Gospel, Church, Truth, Meaning, Life, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, DIscipleship, Consumerism, Lies, Meaningless, Time
Twobooks have profoundly grabbed my attention the past few months. One is "Impossible People," by Os Guinness, the other is "The Benedict Option," by Ron Dreher.
Both books address something we may not want to hear, but if we are honest, can sense, because the evidence is all around us: Rome has already fallen (the West-and that includes America) and we (Christians) have ...
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March 26, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus Christ, Gospel, Meaning, Life, Purpose, Significance
I've known him for perhapsseven years. When I first met him, hewas an employeeat one of the gyms where I work out. He was the front desk guy, scanning member keytags, welcoming people to the gym.I believe he was seventeen when I first met him. That number sticks out becuase he is the same age as my son.
Over the two or so years he worked at the gym, I would ask him how li...
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March 14, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Jesus Christ, Claims of Jesus, Who is Jesus?, Gospel
Jesus made amazing claims about Himself. There are only so many options when it comes to these claims. Jesus was either a legend, a liar, a lunatic or He was who He claimed to be, and if He was and is who He claimed to be, we must respond to Him. ...
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January 1, 2017
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: All In, Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, 2017, Christ, Church, Faith, Grace, Heart, Journey, Love, Mercy, Mission, Opportunities, Praises, Priorities, Truth
There is so very much to be thankful for! We journeyed far in 2016, and we have more to look forward to in 2017....
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