October 31, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Stewardship, Government, Elections, Policies, Opportunity
God has given us a stewardship opportunity in that we have the amazing gift of being able to vote for our elected officials, and in doing that, vote for the policies that will shape the future of the culture. ...
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October 22, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Christianity, America, prayer, Great Awakening, Authentic Revival, Authentic Reformation, Cultural and Spiritual Forces
The spiritual condition of our nation is dire. We are a nation of no God and at the same time 'many gods.' Historic Christianity is increasingly mocked and the culture is increasingly demanding that Christians and the Church conform to the culture, or else. We are in grave spiritual danger. No politician or party can reverse our course-but the Living God can if He so choos...
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October 21, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Trusting God, Sovereignty of God, Government, Praying for those in Authority Over Us
Christians are to have a Biblical worldview. A worldview is a basic understanding and concept of the world that is rooted in a specific belief system or philosophy. As Christians, our worldview is to be rooted in the Word of God, and our Christian worldview intersects with every area of life, including the Christian our relationship to the government, and, as we approach e...
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September 24, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Faith, Love, Mission, Praises, Truth, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Future, Unity, Elders
It is good for us to praise God for who He is and thank Him for all that He has done for us. It is also good for us to stay in prayer as we continue to follow His leading for the plans and purposes He has for Stonebridge Baptist Church, all for His glory....
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June 5, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Love, Jesus, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Salt and Light, Christians, Truth in Love, Perseverance, Lostness, Ambassadors
Christians must not and cannot retreat from the culture, no matter how dark the days may be....
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May 29, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Love, Mission, Jesus, prayer, God, Unity, God's Blessing, Hunger for the Word, Hunger for Prayer, Constitution aligning with Scripture, Building program, People Groups
The Lord has been blessing Stonebridge Baptist Church mightily. We must thank Him and continue to seek Him in all things. He is worthy of our thanksgiving and praise. As we move toward a building program and as we prepare to revise our constitution to better align with the Word of God, we look back and thank God for His faithfulness and goodness toward us, and we look forw...
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May 14, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Youth, Children, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Parents, Christian Response to Gender Confusion, Gender, God's Design for Gender, Gender Confusion, Research, Data, Why are girls disporporationatly experiencing gender confusion, Distinguished Lecturer, Church Family, Grandparents
God is Good to Stonebridge Baptist Church! Dr. Katie McCoy will be with us in person on Wednesday, May 22, to discuss gender dysphoria and a Christian response. Dr. McCoy's book 'To Be a Woman,' is exceptionally well researched with ample data that shows not only the cause for our current cultural confusion, but also the outcomes of the current cultural confusion. Speaking...
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May 13, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Male, Female, Gender Dysphoria, Christian Response to Gender Confusion, Research and data on Gender Confusion, Significant Cultural Moment
Don't miss out on our special REFUEL AND RECHARGE guest Wednesday, May 22! Dr. Katie McCoy will Zoom in with us from Dallas, Texas. She will speak on her book, 'To Be a Woman,' which addresses the cultural moment we are in, a time in which gender dysphoria, confusion over gender, is at an all-time high. Dr. McCoy addresses why this confusion is hitting females more than ma...
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March 20, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Good Friday, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Easter, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, palm sunday, Holy Week, Resurrection Sunday, Jesus' Mission, Responding to Jesus
We hope that you will worship with us this Holy Week at Stonebridge Baptist Church....
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January 8, 2024
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Love, Priorities, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Christian Life, Making Disciples, Focus, Loving God, Loving Neighbors, Glory of God
As we enter a new year, we have a great opportunity as individual Christians, as Christian families, as a church family, to refocus and reorient our lives around the things that God says are priority. ...
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December 21, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Worship, Life, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Christmas, Busyness, Quiet
Christmas is an incredible opportunity for us to slow down and reflect on God's amazing love, grace and mercy toward us in the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who entered into our human condition to pay our sin debt so that we could become sons and daughters of the Living God. The culture (and our misguided priorities) encourage us to live life at a million miles a...
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December 12, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Hope, Christmas, Incarnation, Peace, Pain, Suffering, Joy, Evil
Followers of Jesus can rejoice and must rejoice this Christmas Season as we celebrate the remarkable, immeasurably costly, gracious and loving gift of God the Son to us, the babe in the manger who came to save us from our sins and to lead us from darkness to light. The world may be a dark place, and, getting darker, but Christians, because of Jesus Christ, can and must sin...
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October 18, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Evil, Suffering, God's Sovereignty, God's Goodness, Israel, Hamas, terrorism, Murder, Man's Inhumanity to Man, war, Theodicy,
God is both Sovereign and Good. We live in a fallen world where sin has negatively impacted everything. Humans are also sinners by nature because of the Fall. Because of sin, evil exists. Even as Christians await on Christ's return, for that time when there will be a new heaven and new earth, we still groan (as does creation itself) because of sin. It is normal for people ...
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October 9, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Word of God, Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, prayer, evil and suffering, terrorism, war, Palestine, God's Sovereignty, The gospel
Watching the events unfold in Israel is heartbreaking. How are we to respond and how are we to pray as Christians?...
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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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July 15, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Children, Church, Faith, Love, Jesus, God, Community, Holy Spirit, Hope, Family, Parents, Isolation, Life Transformation, Husbands, Wives, Oneness with God, Impacting Your Community, Hope and Love
Family Week is a wonderful opportunity to grow in your walk with Jesus Christ, to strengthen your marriage, and, your family. Family Week is for the entire community. Don't miss the blessing. Register for Family Week 2023, which runs July 30-August 2. ...
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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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February 11, 2023
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Communities, Renewal, Revival, Salvation, God's Glory, Awakening, Cultural Christianity, Reformation, America, God's Mercy, Judgment Day
The great need for our church, for all churches, for our communities, our city, our nation and our world is for God to show mercy to us, and to revive us and reform us, that we, His people, might glorify Him and reflect Him to a lost and dying world. Our great need is to be consumed with a passion for the glory of God and to love Him more than we love anything or anyone. O...
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December 27, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Faith, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, DIscipleship, God, Holy Spirit, Communities, Following Jesus, Trinity, Growth, Brave New World, Cultural Hostility, Growing in Christ, Christian Mission, City, Nation, World, Signs of the Times, Walking With Christ, Exiles, Perseverance
We live in a culture that is increasingly hostile to historical, Biblical Christianity. As we approach the new year, how are we to live as Christians? What does God expect from us in a rapidly changing culture and world? How are we to live as a church? It is my prayer that 2023 would be a year of profound Christian maturation and growth for us individually and as a church,...
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November 29, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Christmas, Good News, God's Love, God With Us, God's Grace, God's Mercy
Christmas is a time for us to reflect on the most amazing gift ever given: Jesus Christ our Lord. It is nothing short of stunning that the Holy God Above All Creation would pursue us, His sinful, rebellious creation, and pay the penalty for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to Him!...
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September 13, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Love, Truth, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Renewal, Scripture, God's Word, Refining, Pruning, God's Goodness, Unity, Reviving, God's Greatness, Life Transformation, The Work of God
What an amazing work the Lord is doing in our church! We must stay in prayer, in the Word, and praise and thank God for who He is, what He is doing, and continue to seek Him as we walk by faith. God is moving in our church!...
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July 17, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Renewal, Sabbatical, Gratitude, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Family, Thankfulness, Future
My wife and I thank you for allowing us this Sabbatical time. It has been a profound blessing and time of refreshing. I look forward to the things the Lord has for us in the next seven years!...
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June 9, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Love, Mission, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Revival, Salvation, Unity, Sabbatical, Baptisms, New Members, Looking Ahead
As I prepare to leave for Sabbatical, I not only want to say 'thank you' to the church family, but also praise and thank God for the wonderful things He is doing. I also want to encourage you all to keep your eyes on Him and continue to move forward in faith! ...
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April 16, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Worship, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Forgiveness, Easter Resurrection Sunday, Sunday Worship, Eternal Life, Abundant Life, New Life, Reconciliation, All Things New
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant, important and glorious event in human history. Jesus' resurrection proves He is God the Son, and that He has authority over all things, over life and death, and because of His substitionary death for us on the cross, He is able to freely offer salvation to all who trust in Him, freely, as a gift. ...
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March 3, 2022
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Revival, Humility, Finishing Well, Salvation, Sanctification, Season of Prayer and Fasting, Running the Race, Kingdom Business, Seeking God, Interceding, Pursuing Holiness, Making Disciples, Loving our Neighbor
Our church is in a season of prayer and fasting. We are praying for revival in our church and for an awakening in our nation. As we entered this season of prayer, Russia invaded Ukraine. The world is watching in horror as an evil autocrat with a large nuclear arsenal seems prepared to do anything to regain the 'former glory' of the old Soviet Union, even to the point of th...
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December 28, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Grace, Love, Truth, Jesus, Christianity, God, Spiritual Maturity, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Growth, 2022, New Year Sermon Series
Many people struggled the past two years with their faith and in their personal lives. As we enter into 2022, these things are necessary if we are to grow spiritually on an individual, familial and church level. ...
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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 15, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Faith, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Christian growth, Books, Classics, Contemporary Issues
Reading good Christian books is a great way to grow in your faith. Here are a few books I am reading (and re-reading) for your consideration. ...
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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 6, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Church, Faith, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Trials, Following Jesus, Refining, Testing, Calling
Following Jesus is an amazing adventure. It can also be an uncomfortable thing at times as He calls us far beyond our comfort zones. That said, don't miss the blessing of the abundant life He promised by shrinking back and not following!...
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August 26, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
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Category:
Pastor's Blog
| Tags: Ministry, Church, Death, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Revival, Pain, Suffering, Leadership, Fallen World, Evil, America, Afghanistan, Missions, Redeem the Time
It was a dark day for America today. The American withdrawal from Afghanistan has been a painful and terrible situation. What are we to make of such times? How can we pray? What can we do?...
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June 10, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Love, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Humility, Sanctification, Christians, Anger, Isolation, Cultural Anger, Cultural Moral and Spiritual Revolution, Hostility, Covid, Transformed, Do Not Conform, Self Control, Truth in Love
We live in angry times. There is much anger in our culture over many different issues. There is a great sense of fragmentation taking place. In addition, those who are leading the culture's moral and spiritual revolution, see Christians who are committed to the authority of Scripture as 'the opposition.' As such, there is greater hostility toward the Biblical worldview and...
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May 12, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Praise, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Thanksgiving, God's Great Deeds, To God Be the Glory, Soli Deo Gloria, Celebration
Our Great God has been so very good to our church. This weekend we stop to thank Him and Praise Him for all He has done and for who He is! ...
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April 15, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Christianity, Church, Covid 19, Pandemic, Culture, Cultural Changes, Anxiety, Isolation, Fear, Frustration, Anger, Faith, Hope, Love
Much has changed in our culture over the past year. Many have isolated themselves over the past year and many experts report increases in cases of depression, anxiety and loneliness as a result. In addition, many report a general sense of fear, anger and frustration as they have tried to navigate the past year of Covid-19 as well as the economic uncertainty, social upheava...
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April 10, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Church, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Secularism, Bible, Christians, Culture. Spiritual Warfare, Cultural Storm, Woke Ideology, Intersectionality, Critical Race Theory, New Atheism, Queer Theory, Cultural Shifts, Spiritual perseverance
The coming cultural storm is ultimately a spiritual storm. Christians in America have not seen anything like it in our history. Are you prepared? How are we to live and what do we need to do?...
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March 29, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Truth, Resurrection, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Who is Jesus, Easter Sunday
If Jesus rose from the grave, He is exactly who He claimed to be and is worthy of all praise, glory and honor. He is worthy of our everything. If He did not rise from the dead, then He is of no importance whatsoever....
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March 17, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Church, Christianity, Social Justice Gospel, Woke Gospel, Intersectionalilty, Political Correctness, Conformity, Changing Culture
To follow Jesus means the world will not like us. We have a choice to make: please God or man. The great danger for Christians in America is to believe the lie that we can both be liked by the emerging culture and approved by God at the same time. We must choose...
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February 9, 2021
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Covid 19, Trials, Tests, God's Sovereignty, God's Goodness, Christianity, Faith, God's Glory, Following Jesus
Trials and tests (and suffering) are a part of our Christian life. Jesus calls us to trust Him, even if we do not always understand what He is doing (or why). Our Lord is Sovereign and Good and is working in our circumstances for His glory and our ultimate good, therefore we can rest in Him, and, we must....
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December 27, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, 2021, New Year, Following Jesus, Christianity, Refocus, Priorities, Church
If you found yourself drifting in 2020, the new year offers a wonderful opportunity to refocus on the One who truly matters. As a church, we have an opportunity to refocus on Christ's mission....
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December 21, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Christmas Eve, Incarnation, Silent Night, Christmas, Choices
What will you do with the gift of Christmas this year? Will you receive the gift of God's Son? Will you worship Him? Will you slow down and remember who and what truly matters, or, will you focus more on the strangeness of the year? This is an opportunity to refocus and be renewed. Each of us has a choice....
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November 30, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, God, Community, Holy Spirit, Christmas, Incarnation, Peace, Joy, 2020, God's Love
2020 has, by all accounts, been a strange and disorienting and unusual year. For many, it has been a source of discouragement or anxiety or stress or any number of things. This Christmas season is an incredible opportunity to be still and to experience renewal and to refocus on the things that truly matter: namely the amazing gift of God's Son to us....
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November 5, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Saturday Services, Sunday Services, Volunteers, Worship Services, Indoor Worship, Outdoor Worship
November 14 and 15 we return to our normal worship hours! On that weekend, we will also have special services to rededicate ourselves, our church, all ministries and property to the Lord, for His Glory. Online Worship will also continue....
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October 22, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Church Services, Saturday Service, Sunday Service, Volunteers, The Body, On Mission, Serving
As we prepare to return to our normal Saturday and Sunday service hours, it will require everyone in the church to find their place to serve. Where are you called to serve?...
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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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July 14, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Christianity, Christ, Following Jesus, Culture, Cancel Culture, Anger, Christian Courage, Faith, Hope, Love, God, Jesus, Church, Holy Spirit, Scripture, God's Word,
Our culture is experiencing a war of ideas unlike anything most of us have seen in our lifetime. There is much darkness and anger in the culture. As the Cancel Culture expands, will Christians stand in faith or compromise?...
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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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May 12, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Ministry, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Revival, American Evangelicals, Refining, Cultural Christianity, Pruning, God's Kingdom, Church Focus
Churches look forward to re-launching. A re-launch is not the same as re-opening. Re-opening implies resuming business as usual after a period of shut down. Re-launch indicates a change in focus and purpose. This has been a time of testing. The real test, however, will be when Christians across America regather. Will we remember lessons learned, or, will we return to old w...
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May 2, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Church, Reopening, Covid 19, Coronavirus, Relaunch, Wisdom, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Family, Future
Texas is slowly re-opening businesses and allowing public places (including churches) to regather with certain guidelines suggested. The Stonebridge Baptist Church family looks forward to regathering, but we must be wise, loving and prayerful in our response. We have a responsibility to our church family as well as our neighbors, to act in love....
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April 11, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Resurrection, Scriptures, Apologetics, Claims of Christianity, Truth, Answering Objections, Resources, Church, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Easter
If you are wrestling with the claims of Christianity and want to examine the claims of Christ in an intellectually honest manner but don't know where to start, there are many resources to investigate. Here are a few....
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April 3, 2020
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Fear, Faith, Anxiety, prayer, God's Word, Ministry, Time, Life, Death, Run the Race Well
The Covid-19 pandemic is real. Suffering and pain are real. Financial stress, concern over employment and family and loved ones is real. Sometimes, however, if we are not careful, our fears dictate our lives. This should not be the case for God's people. We can rest in God. He is Good. He is Sovereign. He loves you. He is in this time with all of us....
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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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November 5, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, God's Word, Bible, Scriptures, Authority of Scripture, Preaching, Teaching, Instruction, Worship, Transformation, Culture
God's Word is timeless. Truth does not change. While our culture is rapidly seeking to redefine so many things and the cancel culture seeks to silence voices that do not conform to politically correct views, Christians face a choice: to preach/teach/speak the Truth in love, or to reject or twist the Truth in the name of love. How we respond is supremely important....
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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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August 1, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Church, Celebrity Ministers, Man, Nature of Man, Apostasy, DIscipleship, Cultural Trends
There are many lessons we can learn from the recent, sad news of Joshua Harris not only abandoning his marriage, but also renouncing his faith in Christ. ...
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July 26, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Christianity, Church, Family Ministry, Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, DIscipleship, Equipping, Everyone
We must implement a comprehensive discipleship platform that impacts families if we are to build strong disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and if we are to make disciples in this ever changing culture....
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May 15, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
|
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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April 19, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, Easter, Resurrection, Truth Claims of Christianity, Christianity, Victory
Everything in Christianity hinges on the resurrection. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christianity is a lie and irrelevant. If Jesus did rise from the dead, Christianity is true and the most important issue in life is how one responds to the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
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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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February 6, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Christianity, Evangelicalism, American Christianity, American Evangelical Churches, Church, Jesus, Faith, Post Christian Culture, Truth, God, Holy Spirit, Relationships, Conviction
Evangelical Christians can learn much from our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Western Europe. As America slides into a Post-Christian culture, there will be new challenges for most believers in the culture. We can learn from those who stand firm overseas....
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January 31, 2019
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Children, Infanticide, Babies, Life, Pro-Life, Abortion, Murder, Christianity, Created, Value of Life, Sanctity of Life, Subjectivism, Objectivism, Truth, Salt and Light, Engaging the Culture, God, Christ, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Church
With recent events in the states of New York and Virginia, and calls for more similar legislation in more states, Christians must have a clear, Biblical understanding of the sanctity and value of human life. And, Christians must be willing to lovingly but clearly and firmly articulate Truth and take redemptive, positive action to minister to the unborn to save lives. ...
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December 18, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Peace, Quieting the Soul, Worship, Seeking Christ, Wonder
It is easy to lose Christ in the season that bears His Name. It is also easy to find Him if only we will seek the one who offers us Peace....
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November 28, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Incarnation, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Salvation, Grace, Mercy, Love, Wrath, Light, Darkness, Sacrifice, Cross of Christ, Jesus' Death, Substitionary Atonement
Christmas could (and should) be much more than what we have reduced it to in our culture, and that includes church culture. This Christmas, let us reflect on how serious, and glorious, the incarnation is and what it means....
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October 5, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, prayer, Preaching, Teaching, Scripture, Evangelism, DIscipleship, Doctrine, Theology, Church, Community Transformation
As our culture rapidly changes and moves toward a new type of Dark Age, evangelical Christians in America must have a compelling vision for not only preserving the faith, but advancing the kingdom despite increasing hostility and opposition. ...
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July 30, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Word of God, Scriptures, Culture, Secularism, Humanism, Materialism, Hedonism, Relativism, Scientism, Nihilism, Evangelism, DIscipleship, Church, Engaging the Culture
Christianity is facing a new challenge in America, an emerging Dark Age in which the culture is defined in 'post-Christian' terminology, a culture that has for the most part, rejected Biblical Christianity and embraced all forms of philosophies, spiritualities and belief (and non belief) systems. ...
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June 25, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Faith, Christianity, Abraham, Lessons, Trials, Tests, Growing, Becoming
If you're going to grow in Christ, you must be stretched. Trials and tests are God's ordained means of growing our faith....
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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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March 12, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Goodness of God, Faith, Thankfulness, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Moving Forward
We have so much to be thankful for and we must continue to move forward in faith....
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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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January 29, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, prayer, Answered Prayer, Staff, Roger Perez, John Sodulcan, Worship Pastor, Associate Pastor, Two Services, Campus Missionary and Minister of Missions, Unreached People Groups, More Ahead in 2018
We should always thank God for His grace and mercy toward us...
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January 6, 2018
by Dr. Kevin Prather
| Tags: Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Family, Husband, Wife, Children, Design for Family, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Love, Beauty, Decisions, Renewal
2018 Begins with a focus on the family in the sermon series 'Family Matters.'
Worship with us and learn with us what God's design for the family is, His purpose for family and how families can experience wholeness and renewal and health...
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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
|
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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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
|
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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