Mitchell Berean Church - Podcast

When hard times come in life, where do you run for comfort? Trials and seasons of sorrow are an inevitable part of living in a broken world. At any given moment, we are either coming out of a difficult season, walking through one, or heading toward one. In those moments, how we view God and respond to His truth will shape our faith and determine whether we truly lean on Him in times of trouble. As we continue our time in Psalm 119, we see the psalmist facing enemies who plot against him and wrestling with his own weakness during a season of sorrow. Yet, in the midst of his lament and weariness, he turns to the Lord. With a heavy heart, what does he plead for? He asks for God’s Word to remain near to him and for his understanding of it to deepen. The psalmist knows that the words of God reveal the very character of God Himself. In times of trouble, Scripture becomes a source of comfort, strength, and hope that he can cling to. He seeks to remember all that God has done and to understand what God is doing even now. Though chaos surrounds him, he trusts that God is in control. He knows that God is sovereign, and he holds fast to truth as an anchor in the rough seas of life. So, whether you are currently walking through a hard season or will face one again in the future, remember this: God’s Word—and by extension, God Himself—is the anchor that holds us steady. He is near to the brokenhearted, faithful in every trial, and worthy of our trust. Join us as we explore Psalm 119:17-40 this Sunday at either 8 or 11AM service. - Pastor Brandon For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49615476

When Jesus walked into the temple in John 2, He came for worship, but instead He has to confront what had taken over. Tables were flipped, money scattered, and Jesus declared, “Stop turning my Father’s house into a market.”His anger wasn’t about chaos—it was about something sacred being crowded out. And when they demanded proof of His authority, Jesus pointed beyond the building and straight to Himself. The real temple was standing in front of them. Here’s the uncomfortable question for us: when was the last time you cleaned something because it actually needed it—not because someone was coming over? Sometimes the place that needs cleansing first is the church—not the building, but the body. Over time, good things can become untouchable things. Preferences turn into sacred cows. Ministries stay because “that’s how we’ve always done it.” Comfort starts to matter more than mission. And at the same time, we quietly learn to tolerate what Scripture tells us not to—gossip, slander, hidden addictions, sexual sin, and spiritual compromise. Paul reminds us that a little yeast changes the whole batch. What we allow to remain eventually shapes who we become. But Jesus doesn’t stop with His church—He comes for your home and your heart. Scripture says you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. So the real question is not whether Jesus cares about holiness—it’s whether we do. Are there rooms in your life you keep closed to Him? Habits you manage instead of confess? Sin you explain instead of expose? You were bought at a price. And the same Jesus who once cleansed the temple still has zeal today to cleanse whatever no longer belongs in a house that carries His name. - Pastor Ben Key Verse - John 2:17 (NIV) - "His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'" For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49550117

I always find things so amazing that my kids describe as “meh”… Stuff that I feel should bring awe and wonder from the very depths of their beings, and yet they often have decided before seeing it that it isn’t cool. That’s just what it is to be a parent some days! My question is, what are you inviting others to come and see? Jesus gives this simple invitation to two of John’s disciples who are wondering if He is the Messiah John claims Him to be. He invites them to come and see, and when they did they found exactly what they were looking for! This led to Peter, Phillip, and Nathaniel all coming to see Jesus as well. Invitation is common with Jesus. Weather it is the initial “come and see”, or the more intense “follow me” we have been invited into a true, growing relationship with the God of the universe. He doesn’t leave us in invitation, but follows it up with a commission to “go and get”. Have you responded to Jesus? Have you come to see who He is? Have you taken steps to “follow Him”? Are you on mission to “go and get”? Wherever you are, from seeker to missionary, Jesus is inviting you to follow Him. Join us this Sunday as we continue walking through the life of Jesus in our Knowing Him series! - Pastor Ben Key Verse - John 1:43 (NIV) - "The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, 'Follow me.'" For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49549927

What does it feel like to be approved of? To have someone you respect acknowledge you publicly as someone they are proud of. That can be extremely meaningful! In fact, many of us have walked through life longing for that very experience, and even comprising ourselves in attempts to gain it. The difficulty of all this is that we already have the thing we long for. Approval, acceptance, and love… it’s all found in Jesus if we just are willing to look to Him for it! Jesus received the public approval of His Father in heaven as He was baptized by John the Baptist. This would have been a joyous moment for Jesus, and encouraging to continue walking in obedience to a baptism of suffering that was still ahead of Him. His baptism was one of declaration instead of repentance. Declaring His approval of John’s ministry. Declaring the connection He has with the people around Him also being baptized. The Father and Spirit declaring the identity of the Son in perfect unity. What a beautiful display of God’s plan in motion! For us the question becomes how can we follow the example and call of Jesus? What does it look like to find our approval in Him? Join us Sunday as we dive into His word to see what He has to say about all of this! - Pastor Ben For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49543681

If anyone deserved to have His name announced by the most important religious and cultural leaders of His day, it would have been Jesus. And yet, as we read through the Gospel of Luke, that’s not what we find. Instead, we encounter ordinary—and if we’re honest, somewhat unassuming—people who play some of the most meaningful roles in Jesus’ story. Luke gently reminds us that Jesus is not only the Messiah for the rich and famous, but the Savior for everyone. This week, we’ll be looking at Simeon and Anna and seeing how God uses faithful, well-seasoned lives to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah—the consolation of Israel. Simeon carries no title, rank, or prestige, yet he recognizes Jesus for who He truly is when many others miss it. Anna, a woman in a world that often preferred women to remain unseen and unheard, becomes one of the boldest voices proclaiming the truth about Jesus. They are ordinary people marked by extraordinary faithfulness to all that God had promised. Simeon and Anna lived with deep conviction and patient hope, trusting that God would bring the salvation they had long awaited. Jesus is the long-promised sign for Israel, and through His work, many would follow Him and live with the same purpose and hope. Yet others would reject Him and choose their own way instead. We’re faced with that same choice today. Will we live with the hope and purpose of Simeon and Anna, or will we pursue our own paths—paths that ultimately lead us away from life? Join us this Sunday at either the 8 or 11 AM service as we look at Jesus the Justifier and discover the purpose He invites each of us into. - Pastor Brandon For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49533720