Southside Baptist Church Podcast

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.  

We’ve all felt the emotional pull of a heartfelt plea for generosity. A natural disaster strikes, and relief organizations run pictures of the devastation to inspire people to give money. An orphanage shows photos of a small child. A missionary tells a heart-wrenching story that inspires us to open our wallets. But what if there was another reason to be generous? What if we believed that generosity wasn’t just about addressing someone else’s needs but addressing one of the deepest needs in our souls? What if there was a selfish reason to be generous? Join us Sunday as Pastor Gary explores how generosity helps the soul of the giver.  

We are delighted to welcome Rev. Patrick Coats as our guest speaker today. Patrick is a regional catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC). In this role, Patrick engages, encourages, and supports the Kingdom work of Florida Baptist Churches in the East Region and across the State of Florida. Patrick’s previous roles include serving as the Black Multicultural Church Catalyst for FBC, a Church Planting Missionary with the North American Mission Board, the Senior Pastor of Kingdom Covenant Baptist Church in Homestead, Florida, as well as being an Assistant Pastor at Grace of God Baptist Church in Miami, and as a Minister of Music at New Life Baptist Church in Coral City. Patrick is originally from Miami. He and his wife, Archalena are the parents of adult children and now reside in Jacksonville.  

Americans have always prided themselves on their commitment to self-determination. We don’t have a king; we, the people, elect our presidents! So, it may surprise many Americans to learn that more than 30% of the men who have been president did not receive a majority of the vote. Maybe we have less control than we think. Join us for part 4 of The US of America, where we will learn the difference between control and responsibility.  

Jesus once met with a high-level government official. In that exchange, we get an insight into His understanding of the differences between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. Join us for part 3 of The US of America, where we will discover the differences between the Kingdom of the Sword and the Kingdom of our Lord.  

Presidential candidates make a lot of promises. One may tell you he will solve the immigration issue, while the other claims to know how to resolve a centuries-long regional conflict. Most people realize that neither will be able to deliver on their promises. We instinctively know that our leaders are mortal, but that doesn’t keep us from trying to make them gods. Join us for Part 2, The US of America, where we explore the human desire for a once and future King who will bring about lasting peace for all the earth.