Cumberland Trace Church of Christ (Formerly Lehman Ave Church of Christ)

June 21, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon

This episode is a sermon-style exploration of how modern attention-harvesting technologies and longstanding spiritual forces compete for control of our minds. Neal references the Center for Humane Technology and former tech pioneers who warned that apps and notifications erode focus, weaken relationships, and damage mental health — with money often driving the design choices behind these systems. Pop-culture examples (like Aladdin’s Jafar) and a quip from Rick Neuheisel help illustrate the cultural landscape.

Framed through New Testament teaching, the message surveys scriptural warnings about the schemes that seek to harden, blind, capture, and lead minds astray (2 Corinthians), and shows how the gospel provides the counterbalance. Key biblical passages used include 1 Corinthians 15 (the resurrection and waking to righteousness), Romans 12:2 (renewing the mind), Colossians 3:1 (setting affections on things above), 1 Peter 1:13 (preparing the mind), and multiple Pauline and Petrine references that call listeners to vigilance, transformation, and remembrance.

The episode lays out practical, faith-centered steps to "master your mind": wake up from spiritual sleep, allow the gospel to renew your thinking, assume the best of others to resist division, elevate your eternal perspective over immediate distractions, prepare your mind for action, and keep remembering what truly matters. The speaker emphasizes both the personal inner work of reshaping daily thoughts and the communal call to be of one mind and to love one another.

There are no external guests; the teaching is delivered by the episode’s speaker (a sermon message). Listeners can expect theological reflection, Scripture teaching, cultural diagnosis of technology’s harms, practical spiritual disciplines, and a closing invitation to respond in obedience to Christ (repentance, faith, baptism, and walking in newness of life).

 

Duration 29:44

June 21, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class

In this episode we continue a study through the book of Acts, picking up where Neal left off in Acts 2 and working through Acts chapters 3–5. The class examines the healing at the Beautiful Gate performed by Peter and John, Luke’s pattern of miracle → amazement → preaching → response, and the immediate challenges the early church faces after an apparent season of success.

Listeners will hear a close reading of Acts 3 (the lame man healed and his response) and Acts 4–5 summarized, with attention to the apostles’ sermon, the reaction of religious leaders (the Sadducees and the high priestly party), and the first trials and arrests. The episode highlights how revival often invites testing: why God allows difficulty after growth, whether for testing, discipline, or to refocus the mission of the church.

The conversation identifies four central challenges from these chapters: giving God the glory (avoiding event- or personality-centered faith), speaking the truth when threatened (Peter and John’s courage before the rulers and their prayer for boldness), practicing what you preach (the believers’ radical sharing and Barnabas’s example), and confronting hypocrisy through church discipline (the Ananias and Sapphira episode and its implications).

Key takeaways include the apostles’ method of pointing every miracle back to Jesus, relying on scripture and community for courage, the power of unified prayer, and the surprising result that faithful obedience and boldness produced growth rather than collapse. The episode draws practical application for 2026: how to face religious pressure today, the need to speak truth in love, to remain tactful yet bold, and to sustain internal holiness amid opposition.

The discussion features the teaching leader alongside contributions from class participants, offering an interactive classroom-style exploration of the text and its pastoral implications.

Duration 43:58

June 17, 2026 - Wednesday PM Bible Class

In this episode the speaker examines the life and character of Apollos as introduced in Acts 18 and referenced throughout Acts 19, 1 Corinthians, and Titus. Using Acts 18:24–28 as the primary text, the episode explores Apollos’s background (a Jew from Alexandria), his strengths (eloquence, scriptural competence, fervent spirit), and the pivotal moment when Priscilla and Aquila privately corrected his understanding of baptism.

The conversation covers practical themes and biblical takeaways: be strong in the Scriptures, use your gifts for God’s glory, cultivate zeal, do not let fear silence you, be humble enough to learn, accept correction with grace, welcome unexpected teachers, keep growing, and encourage other believers. The host ties these lessons to the episode’s central thesis: with God there is guaranteed success — but we must be willing to get off the launch pad and act.

Scripture passages discussed include Acts 18 and 19, 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 3, and Titus 3:13. The speaker also draws on vivid analogies and anecdotes (the Apollo space-launch metaphor, a 350-mile ultramarathon example, a bursting sourdough jar, a large local insect, and John Ford’s Battle of Midway footage) to illuminate courage, zeal, and the willingness to risk failure for a greater purpose.

The episode highlights key biblical figures who interact with Apollos — Priscilla and Aquila who teach him, Paul whose ministry context provides contrast, and the Corinthian church where tensions about followership arise — and shows how Apollos’s response to correction models a faithful balance of boldness and humility.

Listeners can expect a mix of expository teaching, pastoral application, and memorable illustrations aimed at encouraging Christians to step into service despite the risk of mistakes, to receive correction with grace, and to let God receive the glory for spiritual growth and fruit.

 

Duration 41:19

June 14, 2026 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

This episode opens with announcements about the church’s monthly song service. Neal references Miller’s reading from Isaiah 62 and links the gathering to an old-fashioned hymn-singing tradition as well as a 21st-century request process.

The main message examines what it means to be called a "Christian" in the New Testament (Acts and 1 Peter), noting the title is rare in Scripture but rich in meaning: a disciple who is taught, someone to be persuaded toward faith, and one who may suffer for that name. The speaker names biblical examples (Ananias, Paul, Barnabas, and scenes from Acts) to illustrate how new believers in the early church experienced joy and transformation.

The sermon then gives five core reasons the Christian life is described as the greatest life: (1) sins are forgiven through Christ; (2) joy that does not depend on sinful pleasure; (3) a deeper, God-given purpose lived out in the church; (4) temporal problems that do not have permanent hold over the believer; and (5) a secure eternal future beyond this life. Scriptural support is cited throughout, including Romans, Ephesians, 1 Peter, Philippians, and other passages.

The speaker contrasts Christian hope with cultural alternatives — evolution, humanism, materialism, and Epicureanism — arguing that those worldviews leave people aimless, while the gospel gives lasting meaning, joy, and forgiveness. Personal and contemporary illustrations are used, including references to missions (Hyrum and Brittany’s trip to Nigeria) and local baptisms that mirror the joy recorded in Acts.

Practical challenges are addressed: the need for ongoing teaching and discipleship for those who say they are Christian but lack instruction, the process of persuasion and questioning for new converts, and the reality that faith sometimes costs relationships or comfort. Yet the repeated encouragement is that faith brings real, durable blessings.

The episode closes with an invitation: whether you are a faithful Christian encouraged to live confidently (but humbly) in a skeptical world, someone who needs restoration after turning away, or a listener considering faith for the first time, you are urged to respond in obedience to the gospel and to come forward if moved during the closing singing.

 

Duration 29:55

June 14, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon

 

This episode is a sermon-style exploration of the book of Jonah that reflects on God’s grace in both the lives of the lost and those already in covenant with God. Neal addresses personal struggles with obedience and compassion, references a community camp and volunteers, and prays for the safety and spiritual growth of attendees.

Topics covered include: the narrative arc of Jonah (flight, storm, fish, Nineveh, and aftermath); five key truths about God’s grace—how grace pursues us when we run, punishes us when we sin, pardons us when we repent, empowers us when we return, and remains patient when we relapse; and practical scripture connections from Jonah, Luke, Romans, Titus, 1 Timothy, Hebrews, Galatians, and 1 John. Illustrations include the sailors, the prodigal, the story of Peter, and a cultural reference to the film Catch Me If You Can to highlight pursuit and mercy.

Key points listeners can expect: an honest look at Jonah as a flawed, sometimes unsympathetic protagonist who nonetheless receives and proclaims God’s grace; the balance between the consequences of sin and the persistence of divine mercy; the ongoing need for grace after baptism; and encouragement that God still uses repentant people despite past failures. The sermon emphasizes both God’s justice and long-suffering compassion, and challenges listeners to respond in repentance, service, and prayer.

The episode concludes with a pastoral invitation—an opportunity to respond to God’s call, to seek restoration publicly or privately, and to join in a closing hymn. Scripture references woven throughout the message provide a guide for further study and reflection.

 

Duration 28:26

June 14, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class

 

In this episode the host leads a Bible-class-style study through Acts chapter 2, exploring the recurring challenges the church will always face when sharing the gospel. The teaching, planned with co-teacher Hiram (who will continue the series in Acts 3–5), opens with background from Acts 1 and explains how the early believers moved from a season of waiting into a door of opportunity at Pentecost.

Topics covered include the Pentecost event (the mighty rushing wind, divided tongues of fire, and speaking in other languages), the diverse audience gathered in Jerusalem, and why Peter — not the entire group — is recorded as the primary proclaimer. The class discusses practical barriers to evangelism: fear, feelings of inadequacy, lack of conviction, complacency, and assumptions that it is "not my job." Several attendees contribute in-session observations (including Roger, Joey, Harry, Kevin and Ms. Doris), illustrating the real questions Christians face about sharing faith.

Key lessons from Peter’s sermon are highlighted: overcoming audience prejudices (doubts about credentials and mockery that the speakers were drunk), answering objections with Scripture (use of Joel’s prophecy and appeals to witnesses of Jesus’ life, miracles, death and resurrection), and offering a clear, compelling presentation of responsibility and guilt leading to repentance. The resurrection is emphasized as the sermon’s central claim and decisive evidence for the gospel.

The episode is both theological and practical: it models how to relate to people with different backgrounds by finding common ground, practicing empathy, and tailoring one’s approach, while also urging believers to live consistently so their witness is credible. The teaching closes with a call to bold, humble evangelism — using Bible-based answers, patient gentleness, and a life that demonstrates the truth of the message — with an invitation to continue into the next sessions on Acts 3–5.

 

Duration 43:11

June 10, 2026 - Wednesday PM Bible Class

In this episode Landon Bryant delivers a focused lecture on John the Baptist, tracing his identity, ministry, and theological significance through Old and New Testament texts. Beginning with Malachi's prophecy and Isaiah's "voice crying in the wilderness," the talk situates the Jewish expectation of Elijah's return and explains how the Gospels interpret John as the one who comes in Elijah's spirit and mission.

The episode examines key New Testament scenes: John’s bold proclamations ("Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," "Behold the Lamb of God"), the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17), and John’s candid humility ("I am not worthy," "He must increase, I must decrease"). Bryant also walks through John 1 and Matthew 11 to show how Scripture answers questions about John’s identity and how Jesus evaluates him—calling John the greatest born of women yet noting that the least in the kingdom is greater.

Listeners will hear a close look at Jesus’ response to John’s disciples in prison, where Jesus points to miraculous signs (the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, lepers cleansed, the dead raised, and the good news preached to the poor) as evidence that the long-awaited divine work is happening. The talk contrasts John and Elijah—similar in appearance, location, and call to repentance—while highlighting differences: John performs no miracles, baptizes with water, and uniquely announces the coming baptism of the Spirit.

Key takeaways include practical implications for Christian ministry: emulate John’s single-minded mission to point others to Christ, embrace humility, and recognize the greater revelation and responsibility believers have after the resurrection. The episode emphasizes that imperfect people are still usable by God, that proclamation remains central ("Behold the Lamb of God"), and that believers should orient their lives around the motto "He must increase; I must decrease." Scriptural references discussed include Malachi 4, Isaiah 40, Matthew 3–4, Matthew 11, John 1–3, Luke 3–4, and passages from the prophets and Kings.

 

Duration 40:28

June 7, 2026 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

In this sermon Hiram welcomes the congregation and then turns to a sustained, pastoral reflection on artificial intelligence: its rapid spread, cultural influence, and the need for Christians to engage AI from a biblical perspective. The talk opens with statistics and cultural anecdotes — the 2025 AI spending figure, the prevalence of generative AI in business, and studies showing Gen Z engaging AI as a friend — and references high-profile voices (Richard Dawkins, Marvin Minsky, Sam Altman) to frame contemporary claims about machine consciousness and human identity.

The sermon anchors its critique and counsel in Scripture. It draws on Genesis (creation and the Tower of Babel), Psalms, Isaiah, Acts, the Gospels, and Pauline letters to argue that AI has important practical uses but also clear limits. The speaker outlines seven key realities AI cannot do: replace human value (we are image-bearers of God), complete our most important tasks (worship, repentance, and evangelism), substitute true human companionship and friendship, supply ultimate certainty or be a source of truth, think deeply on our behalf, comfort broken hearts with genuine assurance, or solve humanity’s deepest problem of sin and need for salvation.

Practical concerns and pastoral warnings are woven throughout: AI may make tasks easier or produce polished outputs, but relying on it in place of prayer, discipleship, authentic speech, pastoral care, rigorous thought, or personal testimony risks a loss of what it means to be human and to serve God. The sermon includes concrete examples — Philip, Ananias, and Cornelius in Acts — to show why God calls embodied people to share the Gospel, and cautions against mistaking algorithmic affirmation for true friendship or spiritual counsel.

The message concludes with a pastoral invitation and encouragement: Christians should neither demonize technology nor uncritically worship it; instead they should use it wisely while remembering the primacy of Scripture, the necessity of human discipleship, and the gospel as the only remedy for humanity’s deepest needs. Listeners are invited to respond in repentance, baptism, and discipleship, and to seek prayer or conversation with the congregation’s leaders about faith and how to engage AI faithfully.

 

Duration 32:14

June 7, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon

 

This episode is a sermon-style message that walks through the book of Deuteronomy, using the image of marriage vows to explain how God’s covenant with Israel moves from a legal standing into a heartfelt relationship. The speaker traces Israel’s story from Genesis and Exodus to Sinai, shows how the giving of the law establishes God’s people by law, and argues that only a returned, wholehearted love makes them God’s people by love.

Key topics include: the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–5) and loving God with all heart, soul, mind and strength; the necessity of receiving God’s love (1 John, Romans, Ephesians); the difference between ritual obedience and heartfelt devotion; the “circumcision of the heart” and inner transformation; obedience as the fruit of love; loving what God loves (justice for strangers, widows, the poor); remaining loyal when tested; and the biblical call to cling to God until the end.

The episode unpacks specific Deuteronomy passages (chapters 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 30, 34) and connects them to New Testament texts (John, Romans, Ephesians, James) and practical Christian life—baptism, public vows, spiritual dryness, temptation, and everyday choices that show where the heart truly is. Illustrations include modern examples (sports fandom) to show how human beings can and do give wholehearted allegiance, and why God deserves that devotion.

Format and guests: a pulpit sermon delivered by a pastor/speaker (sermon audio), with a closing song and a congregational invitation to respond. The message closes with practical invitations—repentance, baptism, public prayer—and an exhortation to receive God’s love, obey his commands, and hold fast to him through trials.

 

Duration 33:16

June 7, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class

 

This episode is a recorded Bible class examining Acts chapter 1 and the kinds of challenges the church has always faced. Hiram and co-teacher Neal introduce the quarter-long study through the Book of Acts, framing the series around enduring struggles—division, false doctrine, societal pressure, leadership failure—and the ways the early church overcame them. The class includes interactive participation from attendees who ask questions and offer reflections, producing a practical, conversational tone.

The discussion outlines a threefold purpose for studying Acts: to relieve believers by showing they are not the first to face hardship, to remind them to seek divine solutions in Scripture, and to resolve them to persevere. The instructor emphasizes the two sides of the church (God’s perfect, divine side and humanity’s imperfect side) plus the opposition of the world and connects Acts to Luke’s gospel and the triune work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Acts 1 is explored for three main challenges: the challenge of waiting (especially for the promised Holy Spirit), the challenge of living and working in Jesus’ physical absence while awaiting his return, and the challenge of replacing fallen leaders (the story of Judas and the selection of Matthias). Scriptural cross-references—Luke, John’s teaching about the Spirit, Acts 2, Psalms, and New Testament pastoral instruction—are used to explain why the apostles had to wait, what the Spirit would provide (power, remembrance of Jesus’ teaching, gifts to confirm the message), and how the church should respond.

Practical takeaways include what to do while waiting (devoted prayer and active preparation), the difference between passive waiting and biblically robust waiting, how to avoid the "church-hunter" mentality, and the importance of humility: recognizing personal shortcomings, relying on God, and continuing faithful service whether or not one is chosen for formal leadership. The class also touches on contemporary pressures (including a brief mention of modern challenges like AI) and how the same divine resources apply today.

Listeners can expect a warm, instructional session with Scripture readings, group interaction, pastoral application, and clear next steps for the quarter: further chapter-by-chapter teaching through Acts, encouragement to seek the Spirit’s power in daily life, and a call to perseverance—be relieved, be reminded, and be resolved to press on in the work of the kingdom until Christ returns.

 

Duration 43:34