Ninth Avenue Church of Christ

Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross Daily | Luke 9:23

What does real commitment to Jesus look like in everyday life?

In this message from Gospel of Luke 9:23–26, Jesus Christ moves His followers from curiosity to surrender. His call is simple to say but lifelong to live: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.

This sermon explores how discipleship requires more than admiration or occasional consultation. Jesus does not come to be our assistant; He comes to be Lord. Each day we choose whether we will cling to control or release it, whether we will preserve our version of life or trust His.

You’ll be encouraged to consider:

• why following Jesus begins with surrender

• what it practically means to “deny yourself”

• how cross-bearing is a daily decision

• the danger of holding too tightly to comfort, success, or image

• the hope of walking step-by-step with Christ and not carrying the burden alone

God is not asking for perfection. He asks for continual commitment.

Whether you are exploring faith or have walked with Jesus for years, this message will help you renew the decision to follow Him today.

Follow Me: The Invitation You Can’t Ignore

In a world full of demands, Jesus offers something different: an invitation. Whether you are a lifelong believer, someone seeking answers, or someone who feels like your life is "messed up," the call remains the same: "Follow Me."

In this episode, we kick off our February series by exploring the profound difference between a command and an invitation. We look at the lives of Timothy, the Samaritan woman, and Zacchaeus to see how Jesus meets us exactly where we are, regardless of our starting point.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Invitation vs. Command: Why Jesus doesn't force us to follow Him, but invites us to experience the benefits of His kingdom.
• Curiosity Without Commitment: Understanding the stage of faith where we want to know "where He is staying" before we fully dive in.
• The "One Unhurried Hour" Challenge: A practical spiritual discipline to move beyond social media "tips" and into true formation with Christ.
• The Power of Conversation: How simple, honest dialogue with Jesus transforms our curiosity into life-changing conviction.

Join us as we learn what it truly means to "come and see" what Jesus has to offer.

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Key Quote:

"Time with Jesus forms you more than tips about Jesus."

The Weight of "Good Things": Running the Race with Endurance

Are you feeling bogged down in your spiritual journey, even though you’re filling your life with "good" activities?. In this episode, we dive into Hebrews 12:1-2 to explore what it truly means to run the race marked out for us with perseverance.

We often think of the "great cloud of witnesses" as people in the stands watching us, but the truth is more powerful: they are our teammates. They aren't just cheering from a distance; they have been in the game, faced the same challenges, and are here to show us how to run the plays.

Key Insights from this Episode:

• Hindrances vs. Sins: We often focus only on avoiding sin, but the writer of Hebrews calls us to also "throw off everything that hinders". These are things that aren't necessarily bad—like hobbies, family, or sports—but can become a burden if they crowd out our relationship with God.

  The Entanglement Trap: When we are burdened by too many "good things," we lose the ability to reach down and untangle the actual sin in our lives .

• Running Your Own Lane: God has marked out a specific race for you. We cannot judge our relationship with God by comparing our season of blessing or challenge to someone else’s lane .

• The Ultimate Finish Line: Using the imagery of the famous "Cool Runnings" bobsled team, we learn that no matter the "wreck" or the obstacle, our focus must remain on the finish line: Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith .

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." — Hebrews 12:1b-2a.

Reflection Questions:

1. What "good thing" in your life has started to feel like a hindrance to your walk with God?.

2. Are you trying to run at your own pace, or are you following the pace God has set for you?.

3. How can you practically "fix your eyes" on Jesus this week?.

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life (Ecclesiastes 3)

Have you ever felt like life is moving too fast, or perhaps it’s stalled in a season of "winter" that feels cold, lonely, and long? In this episode, we dive into the timeless wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3 to understand how God orchestrates the shifting seasons of our lives.

We often want to stay on the "mountaintops" of blessing and joy, but our faith is truly formed in the valleys of suffering and uncertainty. Whether you are in a season of growth or a season of endurance, this message offers a powerful reminder that while our circumstances change, our God remains the same.

 

In this episode, you will hear about:

• The Author of Seasons: Understanding that seasons are not accidents, but are built into the design of creation.
• The Purpose of Trials: How hard seasons refine our character and build a trust that prosperity cannot.
• Lessons from the Wilderness: What we can learn from Israel's journey and Joseph’s betrayal about God’s ultimate plan for good.
• The Power of Waiting: Why waiting on God is not inactivity, but "trust in motion."
• The Unchanging Anchor: Finding hope in God’s constant love, truth, and promises regardless of your current situation.

Scripture Highlights:

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 – "There is a time for everything..."
• Psalm 118:24 – "This is the day that the Lord has made..."
• Philippians 4:11-13 – Learning the secret of contentment.

Call to Action: Are you in a "searching season"? Today is the day of opportunity. We invite you to listen and discover how to respond faithfully to the season you are in right now.

Create in Me a Clean Heart: When God Transforms What Behavior Can’t

Why does real change feel so difficult—even when our intentions are good?

In this sermon, Matthew Balentine reflects on Psalm 51 and David’s prayer for renewal after failure. Rather than focusing on surface-level behavior or temporary fixes, this message calls listeners to examine the heart—the place where lasting transformation begins.

Through David’s confession, surrender, and plea for restoration, we are reminded that God does not simply manage our symptoms; He creates something new within us. This episode explores the danger of relying on success instead of surrender, the weight of unconfessed sin, and the joy that returns when the heart is made clean.

If you’ve ever felt spiritually stuck, weary of self-improvement, or longing for deeper joy in your walk with God, this sermon invites you to pray the words David prayed:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

📖 Scripture Focus: Psalm 51:10–12

🎙️ Speaker: Matthew Balentine

🏛️ Church: Ninth Avenue Church of Christ

God Is Leverage: Why Keeping God Close Changes Everything

What if the issue isn’t that God lacks power—but that we’ve kept Him at a distance?

In this sermon, we explore a life-shaping truth: God is leverage. While many believers affirm Scripture, respect it, and defend it, too often God’s Word remains distant from daily life. When that happens, we end up carrying burdens—fear, anxiety, regret, shame, and sin—that we were never meant to carry alone.

Drawing from passages like Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105, Joshua 1:8, and John 15:5, this message challenges listeners to rethink their relationship with Scripture—not as information to consume, but as a foundation to build upon.

When God is close, His Word becomes active.

When Scripture is embedded, spiritual power follows.

And when God is within reach, nothing else gets the final say.

This episode is especially meaningful for anyone entering a new season while still carrying weight from the past—and for believers who want more than a Sunday-only faith.

When Doing the Right Thing Costs You

Doing the right thing is easy—until it costs you something.

In this sermon from Matthew 1:18–25, we take a closer look at the quiet, courageous obedience of Joseph and what his story teaches us about true righteousness. Faced with fear, uncertainty, and potential shame, Joseph chose compassion over self-protection and obedience over convenience.

This message challenges common assumptions about righteousness and invites us into a faith that protects the vulnerable, makes room for others, and reflects the heart of Jesus—even when it comes at a personal cost.

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• Why righteousness is more than rule-keeping

• How obedience often requires personal sacrifice

• What Joseph teaches us about protecting others

• How “God with us” transforms strangers into family

• Why the church is called to restore gently, not shame publicly

Whether you’re wrestling with a difficult decision or seeking to live out your faith more faithfully, this sermon offers encouragement and clarity for following God when the path is hard.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18–25

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Making Room for God’s People

03:20 – When Doing Right Starts to Cost You

07:30 – Rethinking Righteousness

11:45 – Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18–25

14:00 – Righteousness Protects the Vulnerable

19:30 – Quiet Obedience and Costly Compassion

24:10 – Costly Obedience Makes Room for Others

29:00 – Fear, Calling, and Trusting God

33:40 – Obedience Means Taking Responsibility

38:30 – God With Us Turns Strangers into Family

43:00 – The Church as Family, Not a Crowd

48:20 – Application: Claim Someone This Week

52:10 – Restoring Gently, Not Shaming Publicly

56:00 – Final Challenge and Closing Prayer

 

Make Room for God: Preparing Your Heart for What Comes Next

Are you busy—but not spiritually full?

In this powerful sermon, Matthew Balentine invites us to examine our hearts and ask the simple but life-changing question: Is there room for God in my life?

Drawing from Luke 1 and Mary’s unexpected calling, this message explores what it truly means to be available to God—even when life feels overcrowded, overwhelming, and out of control. Through practical insights and heartfelt challenge, Matthew reminds us that:

• God chooses availability over ability

• His interruptions carry greater purpose

• Fear says “I can’t”, but faith says “I am the Lord’s servant”

• The Holy Spirit fills whatever space we give Him

• Spiritual renewal begins not with the church as a whole—but with you

If you’re longing for a deeper relationship with God or sensing that He is preparing you for “what’s next,” this message will encourage, confront, and inspire you to start making room for Him today.

✨ Key Scripture: Luke 1:26–38

✨ Theme: Preparing your heart for God’s next work

✨ Church: Ninth Avenue Church of Christ

Unkink the Hose: How to Restore the Flow of God’s Blessings

In this week’s message, Matthew Balentine explores one of the most misunderstood passages in Scripture — Malachi 3:6–12 — and reveals a powerful truth about why God’s blessings sometimes stop flowing in our lives.

Using the memorable illustration of a kinked garden hose, Matthew explains how believers can unintentionally “block” the spiritual abundance God desires for them. This sermon challenges us to examine our hearts, return to faithful living, and experience the overflow God promises when His people trust Him fully.

You’ll learn:

• Why God never changes, even when we feel distant

• How spiritual “kinks” form in the life of a believer

• What it really means to “rob God”

• Why God invites us to test Him in Malachi 3

• How obedience, generosity, and trust reopen the flow of blessing

• What it looks like to walk again in God’s daily provision and presence

Whether you’re feeling spiritually dry, disconnected, or simply hungry for deeper blessing, this message offers a clear path back into the flow of God’s goodness.

Scripture: Malachi 3:6–12

Speaker: Matthew Balentine

Church: Ninth Avenue Church of Christ, Haleyville, AL

Why Giving Matters: A Biblical Call to Gratitude

In this message from our Blessed series, Matthew Ballentine explores the deeper meaning of Christian giving and why it is far more than a financial act. Rooted in 2 Corinthians 9, this sermon examines how true generosity flows from a heart shaped by gratitude and trust.

Matthew walks through the biblical foundations of blessing, stewardship, and intentional giving—challenging us to evaluate whether our giving reflects honor, purpose, and faith. Rather than pressure or obligation, giving becomes a joyful response to the goodness of God.

If you’ve ever wondered how much to give, why giving matters, or what God desires from your heart, this message will encourage and challenge you to grow spiritually in meaningful, practical ways.