Bible Audio Sermons

Athens Bible Church

Athens Bible Church is a community-based church located near Athens in The Plains with a local and online group of believers. We are a Bible-centered, Christ‑focused, missions minded fellowship serving Athens, Meigs, Jackson, Hocking and other surrounding counties. Our local and worldwide digital presence is simple, sincere, and focused on teaching the Word of God faithfully. We present a consistent identity locally and across our website, podcast platforms, and video channels.

  1. 3d ago

    Introduction to The Godhead: The Works of Jesus | Steve Benson

    Athens Bible Church is a non-denominational church which is community based and missions minded. Located near Athens, Ohio but situated in The Plains; we are close enough for people from all over Southern Ohio. We serve Athens, Meigs, Jackson, Hocking and other surrounding counties; our local and worldwide digital presence is simple, sincere, and focused on teaching the Word of God faithfully. Our identity is consistent locally and across our website, podcast platforms and video channels. You are welcome to join our vibrant crowd of local and distant believers who seek real knowledge and understanding. Sunday church services include prayer, congregational singing and classical hymns accompanied by piano. It focuses on a weekly Bible Based Sermon and followed by congregational fellowship. The message typically lasts about an hour. The audio and video sermons are uploaded afterwards to enrich the lives of those who are unable to make it to church physically or because of distance. Our online church services offer a feel of community to those who need it. Many people look for a church near Athens, Ohio; so, whether you’re new to church or have been attending for years – you’ll find a welcoming environment at Athens Bible Church. It’s totally fine to listen, observe, and participate at your own pace – in person or online. Main https://www.athensbible.org Missions https://www.athensbible.org/our-ministries/our-missionaries/ Nursing Homes https://www.athensbible.org/nursing-home-visits/ Video Archives https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-morning-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-school-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-evening-videos/ Bible Study Categories https://www.athensbible.org/category/classic-hymn-books/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-history/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/christian-theology-vocabulary/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/the-apostle-paul/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-animals/

  2. Aug 10

    Great Texts of The Bible: Jesus Explains His Mission | Gospel of Mark | Pastor William Hixson

    Mark 10:32–45 shows Jesus leading His disciples toward Jerusalem, fully aware that suffering and death await Him. Mark emphasizes that Jesus walks ahead of the group, not pushed by events but choosing the path Himself. The disciples follow with mixed emotions—some amazed, others afraid—because they sense the seriousness of what is coming. Jesus then gives His most detailed prediction of His betrayal, condemnation, death, and resurrection. He wants them to understand that His mission centers on sacrifice. In the middle of this solemn moment, James and John make a bold request. They ask Jesus for the highest places of honor in His kingdom—one at His right hand and one at His left. Their request shows how little they understand what Jesus has just explained. While He speaks of suffering, they imagine glory. Jesus responds gently but firmly. He asks whether they can drink His cup and share His baptism, meaning whether they can share His suffering. They say yes, not realizing what that truly means. Jesus tells them they will indeed suffer for Him, but the places of honor are God’s decision, not theirs. The other disciples become angry when they hear about the request. Their reaction reveals that they also desire status. This becomes the moment Jesus uses to teach them what greatness really means. He explains that in the world, leaders use power to control others. But in His kingdom, greatness works differently. The one who wants to be great must become a servant. The one who wants to be first must become a slave of all. True leadership is not about being over people but being under them in service. Jesus ends with a statement that defines His entire mission: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” He is the model of greatness. He does not demand honor; He gives Himself for others. His death is a ransom—a price paid to free people from sin and bondage. Athens Bible Church presents a consistent identity across its website, podcast platforms, and video channels: a Bible‑centered, Christ‑focused, missions‑minded fellowship serving Athens County, Ohio. Main https://www.athensbible.org Missions https://www.athensbible.org/our-ministries/our-missionaries/ Nursing Homes https://www.athensbible.org/nursing-home-visits/ Video Archives https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-morning-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-school-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-evening-videos/ Bible Study Categories https://www.athensbible.org/category/classic-hymn-books/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-history/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/christian-theology-vocabulary/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/the-apostle-paul/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-animals/

  3. Aug 9

    Introduction to The Godhead: The Miracles of Jesus | Steve Benson

    The miracles of Jesus form one of the most vivid and revealing dimensions of His earthly ministry. They are not random displays of supernatural ability but purposeful signs that unveil His identity, His compassion, and the arrival of God’s kingdom. Each miracle—whether over nature, sickness, demons, or death—communicates that Jesus is more than a teacher or prophet. He is the Son of God acting with divine authority and divine love. Jesus’ miracles over nature demonstrate His sovereignty as Creator. At Cana, He transforms water into wine, signaling the newness of His kingdom. On the Sea of Galilee, He calms a violent storm with a word, revealing that chaos itself submits to Him. When He multiplies loaves and fish to feed thousands, He shows that scarcity is no barrier to divine provision. Walking on water further displays His mastery over the created order and His willingness to meet His disciples in their fear. His miracles of healing reveal a Savior moved by compassion. Jesus restores sight to the blind, strength to the paralyzed, cleansing to lepers, and hearing to the deaf. These healings are deeply personal—He touches the untouchable, listens to the desperate, and responds to faith wherever He finds it. Each healing is a glimpse of the kingdom where brokenness is mended and suffering is relieved. Jesus also confronts spiritual darkness through miracles of deliverance. He casts out demons with effortless authority, freeing those tormented in mind and body. These acts reveal that His mission includes breaking the power of evil and restoring human dignity. The miracles of resurrection stand as the clearest demonstrations of His divine identity. Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son at Nain, and Lazarus, showing that death itself yields to His command. These miracles foreshadow His own resurrection and proclaim Him as the giver of life. Taken together, the miracles of Jesus reveal a Savior who possesses unlimited authority and unmatched compassion. They show that the kingdom of God is not theoretical but present, active, and transformative. Through His miracles, Jesus invites all people to see who He is, trust in His power, and experience the life He offers. Main https://www.athensbible.org Missions https://www.athensbible.org/our-ministries/our-missionaries/ Nursing Homes https://www.athensbible.org/nursing-home-visits/ Video Archives https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-morning-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-school-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-evening-videos/ Bible Study Categories https://www.athensbible.org/category/classic-hymn-books/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-history/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/christian-theology-vocabulary/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/the-apostle-paul/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-animals/

  4. Aug 6

    Announcing The New Covenant Part 2 | Jeremiah 31 | Pastor William Hixson

    The closing chapters of the Old Testament present two prophetic voices—Malachi and Jeremiah—whose messages form the theological bridge into the New Testament. Malachi ends the canon with anticipation: a coming messenger and a coming Lord. Jeremiah, writing centuries earlier, promises a new covenant that will transform the hearts of God’s people. The New Testament writers treat these two prophecies not as isolated threads but as a unified tapestry fulfilled in the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Together, they frame the transition from the Old Covenant era to the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ. Malachi’s prophecy centers on the arrival of a forerunner who prepares the way for the Lord. In Malachi 3:1, God declares that He will send His messenger ahead of Him, and in Malachi 4:5–6, He promises an Elijah‑like figure who will turn hearts and avert covenant judgment. The New Testament repeatedly identifies John the Baptist as this promised messenger. Jesus Himself quotes Malachi 3:1 in Matthew 11:10, applying it directly to John. In Matthew 11:14, He goes further, stating that John “is Elijah who was to come,” echoing Malachi’s final prophecy. Luke’s Gospel reinforces this identification when Gabriel announces that John will go “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). Through these connections, the New Testament presents John as the final prophetic voice of the Old Covenant—calling Israel to repentance and preparing the nation for the arrival of the Messiah. Jeremiah’s prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31–34 provides the theological substance of what the Messiah will accomplish. Jeremiah promises a new covenant unlike the one made at Sinai: a covenant written on the heart, marked by intimate knowledge of God, and grounded in complete forgiveness. The New Testament explicitly applies this prophecy to Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus declares, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20), signaling that His sacrificial death inaugurates the covenant Jeremiah foresaw. The book of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31 at length (Hebrews 8:8–12; 10:16–17), arguing that Jesus is the mediator of this new covenant and that His once‑for‑all sacrifice fulfills Jeremiah’s promise of final forgiveness. In this way, Jeremiah’s prophecy becomes the theological backbone of the New Testament’s understanding of salvation. When read together, Malachi and Jeremiah form a coherent prophetic sequence. Malachi provides the preparation: a messenger who announces the imminent arrival of the Lord. Jeremiah provides the fulfillment: the covenant the Lord will establish when He comes. The New Testament follows this sequence precisely. John the Baptist appears first, fulfilling Malachi’s role as the preparer. Jesus follows, fulfilling Jeremiah’s promise by establishing the new covenant through His death and resurrection. The Gospels’ narrative structure—beginning with John’s ministry and moving immediately to Jesus—mirrors the prophetic order set by these two Old Testament voices. Theologically, this convergence highlights the unity of Scripture. Malachi closes the Old Testament with expectation, and Jeremiah articulates the covenantal hope that expectation anticipates. The New Testament declares that both prophecies meet in Christ’s arrival. John’s ministry marks the end of the Old Covenant era, and Jesus’ ministry inaugurates the New Covenant promised by Jeremiah. In this way, Malachi and Jeremiah together frame the transition from anticipation to fulfillment, from promise to realization, and from the old order to the new. Their combined witness underscores the New Testament’s central claim: in Jesus Christ, the long‑awaited covenant renewal has arrived, and the prophetic hopes of Israel find their completion. Main https://www.athensbible.org Missions https://www.athensbible.org/our-ministries/our-missionaries/ Nursing Homes https://www.athensbible.org/nursing-home-visits/ Video Archives https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-morning-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-school-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-evening-videos/ Bible Study Categories https://www.athensbible.org/category/classic-hymn-books/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-history/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/christian-theology-vocabulary/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/the-apostle-paul/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-animals/

  5. Aug 4

    Great Texts of The Bible: Walking the Path of God | Psalm 119:1-16 | Pastor William Hixson

    Psalm 119 stands as the Bible’s longest chapter and one of its most intricate works of devotion. Its 176 verses form an acrostic poem built on the Hebrew alphabet, with each of the 22 stanzas containing eight verses that begin with the same Hebrew letter. This deliberate structure reinforces the psalm’s central conviction: God’s Word shapes the believer’s life from beginning to end, saturating every thought, desire, and action. It is a light to guide you down the path of life. Aleph — Blessed are those who walk in God’s law; the psalmist commits to obedience. Beth — God’s Word keeps a young person pure; the psalmist treasures Scripture. Gimel — Requests for life, understanding, and protection through God’s Word. Daleth — God’s Word strengthens the weary soul. He — A plea for understanding and a heart inclined to God’s commands. Vav — Confidence that God’s Word brings hope. Zayin — God’s promises comfort in affliction. Heth — Loyalty to God even when opposed. Teth — Affliction taught the psalmist to value God’s statutes. Yodh — God’s hands made him; he seeks understanding. Kaph — Longing for God’s help and salvation. Lamedh — God’s Word is eternal and firmly fixed. Mem — Scripture gives unmatched wisdom. Nun — God’s Word is a lamp and light. Samekh — God sustains those who trust His Word. Ayin — A cry for justice and deliverance. Pe — God’s Word gives understanding to the simple. Tsadhe — God is righteous; His Word is trustworthy. Qoph — The psalmist calls out to God with urgency. Resh — Pleas for redemption and life. Shin — Love for God’s law amid persecution. Tav — Final plea for understanding and deliverance. Athens Bible Church presents a consistent identity across its website, podcast platforms, and video channels: a Bible‑centered, Christ‑focused, missions‑minded fellowship serving Athens County, Ohio. Main https://www.athensbible.org Missions https://www.athensbible.org/our-ministries/our-missionaries/ Nursing Homes https://www.athensbible.org/nursing-home-visits/ Video Archives https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-morning-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-school-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-evening-videos/ Bible Study Categories https://www.athensbible.org/category/classic-hymn-books/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-history/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/christian-theology-vocabulary/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/the-apostle-paul/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-animals/

  6. Jul 28

    Announcing The New Covenant | Jeremiah 31 | Pastor William Hixson

    The word "testament" primarily means "covenant" in a biblical context; referring to the agreement between God and His people. There are two major divisions in The Bible: The Old Testament and The New Testament. By nature, these represent The Old and New Covenants of God and His People. "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Main https://www.athensbible.org Missions https://www.athensbible.org/our-ministries/our-missionaries/ Nursing Homes https://www.athensbible.org/nursing-home-visits/ Video Archives https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-morning-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-school-videos/ https://www.athensbible.org/sunday-evening-videos/ Bible Study Categories https://www.athensbible.org/category/classic-hymn-books/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-history/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/christian-theology-vocabulary/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/the-apostle-paul/ https://www.athensbible.org/category/bible-animals/

About

Athens Bible Church is a community-based church located near Athens in The Plains with a local and online group of believers. We are a Bible-centered, Christ‑focused, missions minded fellowship serving Athens, Meigs, Jackson, Hocking and other surrounding counties. Our local and worldwide digital presence is simple, sincere, and focused on teaching the Word of God faithfully. We present a consistent identity locally and across our website, podcast platforms, and video channels.