Southside Baptist Church Podcast

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Times of crisis test the character and faith of those called to lead.  However, a crisis is more than a test for those already in positions of authority; it calls those with faith to stand in the gap and rise to the challenge by putting that faith into action. Join us for part three of Leading from the Gap, as we explore how Esther was a leader for such a time as this.  

Have you ever been there? Standing in a gap created by a lack of leadership? The person in charge is unavailable or unwilling to lead, and suddenly, all eyes are on you. The world needs people who understand how to lead even when they’re not in charge. Fortunately, the Bible offers a great example in King David. Long before he became king, he was just a shepherd boy who demonstrated how to lead when you’re not in charge. Join us for part two of Leading from the Gap, where we will discover that leading when you’re not in charge requires humility, faith, and meekness.  

A quick survey of world history confirms that leadership is forged in the crucible of adversity. Apart from the challenges of the Civil War and World War II, we may have never fully known the inspiring leadership of men like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. Scripture chronicles the stories of men and women who answered God’s calls to lead through challenges of biblical proportions. Join us as we survey the lives of Moses, David, Esther, and Barnabas to learn how God bridges the gaps between heaven and earth through humble servant leaders. 

Our life in Christ offers the possibility of unimaginably more. More than we can ask. More than we can imagine. More of Him and More of His way. The promise of Jesus is that He has come that we might have life… abounding life… life to the full. So much life that our cup overflows. We are offered this life in Him and shared life together. As we draw closer, Christ guides us in His way.  Let’s venture with Paul and a few Macedonian friends and learn of the wonder of the way of Jesus. 

You can learn a lot about a person by looking at their hands. Did these hands work on a keyboard or turn wrenches? Do they belong to someone young or old? The story of our hands reflects the story of our lives. Join us for the final message in Closer as we explore what the hands of Jesus reveal to us and how we can make our hands more like His. 

God’s word warns that our hearts are deceptive above all things.  But according to popular culture, our emotions should not only be believed, but they should also be our most trusted guide in life. Western society has largely abandoned absolute truth for the subjective, individual feelings of the moment. If we are called to love God with all our hearts, we must first understand what is wrong with our hearts and how we are powerless to change them on our own. Join us for part three of Closer, where we will discover that loving God with all our hearts first requires a total renovation of the heart.  

According to economists, 2023 was the most expensive Christmas ever, with Americans spending an average of $1,652 per person. But what if economists are wrong? What if 2023 wasn’t the most expensive Christmas ever? Join us on Christmas Eve to learn how the most expensive gift you can give is not something you can buy in a store.  

Sixty percent of churchgoers say their main reason for attending church is to feel closer to God. A recent survey found that most people who stopped attending church did so because they did not believe going helped them reach that goal. But this is like avoiding a pharmacy because going does not improve your health. If attending church cannot cultivate a close relationship with God, what will? Join us for a sermon series exploring how to draw closer to God in 2025. 

Simeon and Anna were old – really old! From all outward appearances, they were completely out of time. They had waited and anticipated God’s provision, but as the end drew near, there seemed to be no way God could keep His promise. But that did not prevent Simeon and Anna from hoping and faithfully waiting for God. Join us for week five of The Heart of Worship as we explore how a heart of worship is a heart that patiently waits on the Lord. 

The wise men are famous for their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but these may not have been the most precious gifts they gave the Christ Child. Join us for part four of The Heart of Worship, where we will see how generosity is the overflow of genuine worship.  

Have you ever been told something that filled you with so much joy that you thought you might burst? Maybe it was when the doctors said there was no evidence of disease, or when you heard you got into your dream school, or when you received a promotion. Perhaps it was at the announcement that a baby was on the way. When the shepherds first heard the angels, they were filled with fear. But that fear was soon eclipsed by a contagious joy that spread from those few shepherds to the ends of the earth. Join us for part three of The Heart of Worship, where we will see how authentic worship produces a contagious joy that can change the world. 

The quiet hero of the Christmas story is a modest carpenter named Joseph. Unlike Mary, the angels, and Zachariah, there's no record of Joseph offering a song of praise during that first Christmas; yet, without his faithful obedience, there would have been nothing worth singing about. Whereas the wise men brought gifts, Joseph had no riches to present to Jesus, but his obedience carried more value than gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Join us for the second week of The Heart of Worship, where we’ll discover that our obedience represents the greatest form of our worship. 

Church attendance dramatically increases in December. People love the familiarity of the Christmas story, the carols, and the beautiful nativities. However, Christmas is more than just a story about the birth of a baby; it is a story about worship. From Mary's gratitude to Joseph's obedience and from the shepherds' joy to the wise men's generosity, the Christmas story teaches us the art and heart of worship. Join us for week one of The Heart of Worship, where we will discover that true worship is born from a thankful heart.  

When Jesus prayed, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven,” He wasn’t merely teaching us how to pray. He was giving us a mission and vision for how to live. The church has stood in the gap between heaven and earth for over two thousand years. While the gap seems to grow wider, we live with the hope that one day, Jesus’ prayer will finally be answered. Join us for week six of Bridge the Gap, where we will see a picture of a world without gaps.  

According to most surveys, the church in America is experiencing a rapid decline in attendance and membership. A record number of church closures have caused some to question the church's long-term viability. When Jesus inaugurated the church, He said the “gates of hell would not prevail against it,” but what about the effects of apathy and distraction? Join us for part 5 of Bridge the Gap, where we will see how a bridge to the future requires the church to be built on the solid foundation of Jesus and His compelling vision for the future.   

Jesus’ final charge to His disciples was to go to all nations, telling them the good news and inviting them to be a part of the Kingdom. As the nations come to Jacksonville, Aspire has an unprecedented opportunity to respond to Jesus’ call. Join us for part four of Bridge the Gap, where we will discover that building a bridge to the nations requires faith, action, and perseverance. 

Nehemiah lived comfortably in a king's palace when he received word that his hometown was in ruins. It would have been easy for him to ignore the problem or make excuses about why it wasn’t his responsibility. Nehemiah did neither. Instead, he stood in the gap on behalf of the city of Jerusalem, rebuilding its walls and allowing God to use him to bless the city. Join us for part 3 of Bridge the Gap, where we will see how building a bridge to the city requires passion, courage, and a God-sized vision.    

We’ve all been there—those situations where we’ve fallen just a little short. We may be short on time, out of money, or lack the know-how to get it done. During times like these, we pray for someone willing to step in and make up the difference, someone who would bridge the gap. The Bible is the story of how God has entered the gap of our world to make a way for us to be with Him for eternity. Join us for part two of Bridge the Gap, where we will see how God is searching for people willing to follow Him into the gap between heaven and earth.  

There is a gap between how things should be and how things are. We can see gaps in everything from local politics to global economics. When we hear of a hungry child or a homeless veteran, we know a gap exists. When a marriage ends or a respected leader has a moral failure, we see the consequences of the gap. How did it get this way? Join us for part one of Bridge the Gap, where we will explore the origin of the gap and the only hope for overcoming it.