Salem Baptist Church

Salem Baptist Church
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Each week on the Salem podcast, you’ll hear teaching from senior pastor Rick Statham or a Salem pastor. Get biblical and practical teaching that will help your walk with Jesus. Visit us and learn more at salemchurch.net.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    The Greatest Spiritual Danger

    If you missed our service or want to revisit the message, we walked through Matthew 12:22–32 in a message titled “The King’s Response to Accusations.” We looked at Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ accusations and what it means for how we live out our faith today. The Pharisees knew Scripture and the law, yet they rejected Jesus when He came. We can know the Bible and still resist the God of the Bible. First, the King displays His power. Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, causing the crowd to wonder if He was the Son of David. Jesus wasn’t performing miracles to impress people; He was fulfilling prophecy and doing the Father’s will. Our response should be to follow the King, not the crowd, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. Second, the King defends His power. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Satan’s power. Jesus exposed the foolishness of their claim, explaining that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. He made it clear that He was casting out demons by the Spirit of God and that the Kingdom of God had come. We are called to defend the truth with integrity and courage—living according to God’s Word, admitting when we are wrong, and speaking truth with compassion. Finally, the King warns against rejecting His power. Jesus warned about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, referring to a persistent, hardened rejection of Him—not an accidental sin or a moment of doubt. This reminds us to guard our hearts from becoming hardened toward God. We should not make peace with sin or allow disappointment to turn into resentment. So, are you truly with Jesus today? If your heart has begun to drift or there is sin you have been tolerating, don’t wait. Come before the Lord in repentance, lay down your pride, and return to the forgiveness and grace found in Christ.

  2. Sep 27

    The Strength We Need

    We jumped into Matthew 12:14-21, where Matthew quotes a prophecy from Isaiah 42 written 750 years before Christ walked the earth. In this passage, right after Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Him. They were furious because Jesus challenged their man-made traditions. But notice how Jesus responded: He didn't scream, He didn't retaliate, and He didn't call down fire from heaven to wipe them out. Instead, He strategically withdrew. In our culture today, people often mistake loudness for authority and aggression for strength. We think if we want to make a point, we have to make the most noise, crush our opposition, and assert dominance. But Jesus showed us something entirely different. He practiced meekness, which isn't weakness at all—it's strength under control, just like a massive 1,200-pound horse guided gently by a bit and bridle. When confronted with malice, Jesus knew His time had not yet come, so He walked away and stayed focused on His mission: healing people, loving them, and shepherding them toward the house of the Lord forever. There's a real lesson there for us. In our marriages, workplaces, and daily lives, we need to know when to take a holy pause or withdraw.

  3. Sep 20

    Prioritizing Rules Over Relationship

    Salem Baptist Church

  4. Sep 6

    Taking Jesus' Yoke

    In this sermon from Matthew 11:28–30, the pastor explores Jesus’ invitation to the weary and burdened, unpacking the rich imagery of the yoke to reveal three dimensions of the Christian life. Speaking to a Jewish audience familiar with both agricultural yokes and the concept of taking on a rabbi’s teaching, Jesus offers relief from the crushing weight of religious legalism and self-reliance by inviting people into a personal relationship with Him. The rest Jesus promises is not passive inactivity but a gift of grace, rooted in justification by faith and peace with God. The sermon then moves into the practical implications of taking on Jesus’ yoke. The yoke represents a purposeful partnership in which Jesus bears the greater share of the load, empowering believers through His Holy Spirit. The pastor also emphasizes that the yoke is “well-fitted,” from the Greek word chrestos, meaning that Jesus assigns each believer a specific ministry role suited to their spiritual gifts and calling. When every member of the body of Christ operates in their God-given place, the church functions as a unified and welcoming community that reflects Jesus to the world and draws the lost toward saving faith.

  5. Aug 30

    Childlike Humility

    In this sermon, the pastor explores Matthew 11:25–28, focusing on how God reveals spiritual truth not to the proud and intellectually self-sufficient, but to those who come to Him with childlike humility. Drawing on personal stories and Scripture, he emphasizes that Jesus has been given all authority by the Father and that knowing Jesus means knowing God. The sermon calls believers to relinquish control of their lives, align their agendas with God’s purposes, and find their identity in what God has uniquely gifted and called them to do. The pastor also unpacks Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He contrasts the crushing weight of religious legalism with the life-giving yoke of Christ, encouraging the congregation to stop striving in their own strength and instead rest in the complete sovereignty of Jesus. The message closes with a call to discover each person’s God-given role in the body of Christ and to serve wholeheartedly, finding joy and renewal in doing what God has designed each person to do.

  6. Aug 23

    Spiritual Indifference

    This sermon, drawn from Matthew 11:20–24, centers on the danger of spiritual indifference and the urgent call to repentance. Jesus pronounced judgment on three cities in Galilee—Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida—not because they were openly hostile toward Him, but because they were indifferent. Despite witnessing more miracles than almost anyone in history, they clapped for Jesus without changing, inquired without investing, and delighted in His works without devoting their lives to His call. The pastor draws a sharp contrast between indignation and indifference, arguing that passive apathy toward the gospel may be one of the most dangerous spiritual postures of all. The sermon also highlights the privilege and responsibility that come with spiritual advantage. Just as those three cities had the living Word walking among them, believers today have the written Word, the testimony of the church, and the witness of the Holy Spirit. To whom much is given, much is required. Yet Jesus does not leave the message in condemnation alone. He offers forgiveness to all who repent, promising pardon, renewal, and restoration. The call is to leave behind the spiritual posture of those unbelieving cities and follow Jesus fully, being conformed to His image until the day we meet Him face to face.

  7. Aug 16

    What Are You Looking For?

    In this sermon from Matthew 11:7–19, Pastor Cole Parker addresses the question, “What are you looking for?” by walking through four key questions drawn from the passage. Using Jesus’ words about John the Baptist, he challenges the crowd—and us today—to examine what we seek in a servant of God, what we expect from Jesus Himself, how we respond when we do not like what we hear, and whether we will ultimately trust God’s wisdom. The sermon highlights the wide range of responses people have to Jesus, from amazement and faith to confusion, offense, and outright rejection. Pastor Cole draws on the contrast between John the Baptist’s humble, simple life and the crowd’s expectations, showing that people often miss the truth because of their own preferences and pride. He closes with the gospel reminder that, despite all our questions, doubts, and resistance, Jesus lived a perfect, sacrificial life for sinners. The call for every person is to trust God’s wisdom rather than relying on their own assumptions and expectations.

  8. Aug 9

    When the Godly Struggle to Believe

    This sermon, titled 'When the Godly Struggle to Believe,' is drawn from Matthew 11 and centers on the reality that even the most faithful people in Scripture experienced seasons of doubt and spiritual struggle. The pastor walks through the stories of Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Elijah, David, and John the Baptist to show that doubt is not always rooted in sin but can arise from crisis, difficult circumstances, or sheer weariness. John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herod for confronting his adultery and wickedness, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the Messiah, demonstrating that even the man Jesus called the greatest to have ever lived needed reassurance. The sermon encourages believers to be honest with God in their moments of doubt, to look back at His faithfulness in the past, and to anchor their decisions in Scripture rather than feelings. Jesus responded to John's doubt not with condemnation but with evidence, pointing to the miracles being performed as confirmation of His identity. The pastor challenges the congregation to doubt their doubts, return to God's Word, and trust that God will bring reassurance, renewal, and guidance to those who seek Him honestly.

  9. Aug 2

    The Master's Masterpiece

    In this sermon titled "The Master's Masterpiece: Ordinary People with an Extraordinary Purpose," the pastor draws from Matthew 9:35 through Matthew 10 to show how Jesus looked at the crowds with deep compassion, seeing individuals rather than just a mass of people. Just as Jesus knew the needs and struggles of those around Him, He chose twelve ordinary, flawed, and often unlikely men to carry out His eternal mission. These were not the powerful or the highly educated, but fishermen, a tax collector, and a zealot, people who would have despised one another outside of Christ's calling. The pastor challenges every believer to recognize that they, too, are chosen and empowered by God to share the gospel, serve with their gifts, and give generously. Using the image of a stained glass window, he illustrates that each person is a unique and irreplaceable piece in God's masterpiece. When any piece is missing, the whole picture is incomplete. The call is clear: find your place, surrender your will to Christ, and trust that God will open doors, provide the words, and supply the strength needed to fulfill the extraordinary purpose He has placed in ordinary hands.

  10. Jul 26

    Do You See What Jesus Sees?

    In this sermon from Matthew 9:35-38, the pastor walks through three key questions drawn from the closing verses of Matthew 9: What occupied the ministry of Jesus? What moved the heart of Jesus? And what did Jesus ask His followers to do? Jesus was intentional in His ministry, going to all towns and villages to teach, preach, and heal. His teaching built understanding and matured believers, his preaching proclaimed the kingdom of God, and his healing both verified his message and demonstrated His deep compassion for the whole person. The pastor emphasizes that what moved Jesus was compassion, a gut-level, inward love for people who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus saw individuals in the crowd, not just a mass of people. In response to this need, Jesus called His followers not simply to go, but first to pray. He urged them to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers, because the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. The sermon closes with a challenge for every believer to see people as Jesus sees them, feel what Jesus felt, and be willing to be the answer to the very prayer they are praying.

  • 10 Episodes

About

Each week on the Salem podcast, you’ll hear teaching from senior pastor Rick Statham or a Salem pastor. Get biblical and practical teaching that will help your walk with Jesus. Visit us and learn more at salemchurch.net.

Information

  • Creator
    Salem Baptist Church
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Salem Baptist Church
  • Show Website
    Salem Baptist Church