Advancing Word Podcast

In Joshua Chapter Fourteen, verses six through fifteen, Caleb, at the age of eighty-five years old, expresses his willingness and desire to go to battle as the Israelites solidified their gains in the new land of promise.  He was by all accounts, “a faithful man” because he was devoted, delivered and daring. Even in the seasoned sunset of his life, he was still looking for another opportunity to serve the Lord.   

Habakkuk whose name means “to embrace” or “cling to” was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah and served during the difficult days that preceded the demise and destruction of the nation of Judah and the subsequent Babylonian Captivity.  Fear and uncertainty were rampant!  So many people were living lives of quiet desperation.  It is not unlike the times in which we live.  Uniquely, Habakkuk did not confront the people but CONFRONTED GOD as he wrestled with the problems of sin, evil and suffering around him.  God's final word to him and to us was “the just shall live by faith” (2:4).  This message challenges us to have “the faith that holds on when life holds out”.

We are bombarded daily with choices and risk becoming increasingly preoccupied and self-absorbed.  The Gospel of Luke, Chapter Ten introduces us to two extraordinary women who invited Jesus into their home.  On this occasion, Martha was too busy to be blessed.  On the other hand, her sister Mary ends the evening sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to the Word.  While Martha was pulled and pressured by her work and the immediate needs of the moment, Mary withdraws from what she was doing and sits quietly at the feet of Jesus and listens to His teaching.  She overcame the “attraction of distraction” and so can you!  This message tells us how.  

His life threatened, his kingdom in turmoil, in Psalm Twenty-Seven, David sought God's presence.  In his distress, he wanted to "dwell in the house of the Lord".  In this place, he experienced a perfect getaway.  We can too!  

This segment explores Psalm 78, examining the storied history of Israel and the profound question posed in stanza 19 of the psalm, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" This question, fueled by doubt and skepticism, challenges God's ability to provide for and protect His covenant people.  Today's message offers a compelling and timeless response to the question, a resounding "Yes!" Listen and discover how God alone can transform difficult deserts into delightful diners, proving His unwavering provision and care.

In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter Ten, verses 25-37, while teaching, Jesus was challenged by an expert in Jewish law.  His primary motivation was to justify himself and indulge his own sense of self-righteousness.  Jesus responds to this man's errant theological speculation by sharing a story that was designed to move him and us from law to love, from saying to serving and from religion to relationship.  What begins with a question in the text ends with a challenge to every child of God to be "like a good neighbor.”   

Do you ever feel like you are backed up against a wall?  In 2 Kings Chapter 20, verses 1-11, King Hezekiah did!  He faced a problem that seemed as large and looming as the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea which spans 133,000 square miles and can be seen from outer space.  Yet, with fervent faith and powerful prayer, he was able to transcend the disabling weight of his own mortality. You and I can too if we have “barrier belief.”

In Psalm 55, stanza 22, after lamenting the disappointment that had resulted from the betrayal of a close friend, David expressed his unconditional faith in God who redeems.  This sermon navigates the fertile ground between our problems and God's promises.  It resonates with the marvelous possibility and hope that whatever we are facing in life, whatever our struggles, we are not alone.  God is ever-present to help us and hold us. 

Setbacks happen—to all of us. But with God, they don't have to be the end of the story. In this encouraging Resurrection message, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield looks at the life of Joseph to remind us that what feels like a setback can actually be a setup for something greater. Originally shared during the 2025 Black History Month Celebration at Refresh Community Church in University City, Missouri, this sermon will lift your spirit and strengthen your faith.

On Palm Sunday according to Luke Chapter 19, verses 36 – 40, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey amidst the applause and acclaim of the crowds that had gathered.  When His enemies criticized the crowd's response, Jesus said, “If they hold their peace the stones will cry out!”   This message explores what a stone would tell us about our Savior?  What is the story in the stones?

In Part 6 and the final sermon of The Perfect Match series, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield concludes with a focus on the last of four fundamental dynamics of biblical marriage based on Genesis Chapter 2, verses 18 – 25.  Intimacy provides the physical, spiritual and emotional depth in the marital union.  It is derived from the Latin word intimatus, which means to “put or press into.”  It is “a GPS coordinate to the most innermost and essential being of another person.”  In this space, the essential you and the essential me can be found.  Intimacy involves the awareness of the self, the acceptance of the self and the atonement of the Savior.  

In Part 5 of The Perfect Match, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield focuses on “unity”, the third dynamic of biblical marriage based on Genesis Chapter 2, verse 24.  Like separation and permanence, in strong and vibrant marriages, unity and intimacy, the last dynamic in this compelling quartet co-exists, coalesce and cooperate.  Unity is the pattern and intimacy is the passion.  Unity is the fuel and intimacy is the fire.  Unity is the mechanics and intimacy is the mystery. Unity is not only a key component of biblical marriage but a fundamental concern in God's redemptive plan.  

God designed marriage to last! In the fifth sermon of The Perfect Match Series, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield explores the dynamic of permanence in marriage. Marital failure and fragmentation have reached pandemic levels—49% of marriages end in divorce, and Christian couples face the same struggles. But is there hope when the thrill is gone and love's intensity fades? This sermon offers biblical wisdom and practical guidance on renewing commitment, rekindling love, and building a lasting, God-centered marriage.

In the fourth sermon of The Perfect Match Series, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield explores the first key principle of a successful marriage: separation. Based on Genesis 2:24a— “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother”—this message highlights the need for couples to realign priorities, relationships, and family ties. A strong marriage requires an intentional shift, establishing a bond that is independent, rooted in love, and guided by God's design.

In Part 3 of The Perfect Match sermon series, Dr. Stubblefield focuses on the significance of the word “therefore” in Genesis 2:24. This pivotal word serves as the bridge between God's divine work and the blessing of biblical marriage. Up to this point, God has orchestrated every detail—forming, shaping, and providing—while the man simply rested. He awakened not through his own effort, but to the fulfillment of God's grace and goodness. This foundational truth reminds us that every biblical marriage is built not on human striving, but on the work of God, who prepares and provides long before we even realize our need.

In Part 2 of The Perfect Match series, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield unpacks Genesis 2:21-23 under the theme The Design It Features. Biblical marriage is a reflection of the Divine Designer's will and wisdom—crafted discriminately, deliberately, distinctively, and delightfully. This sermon is a timely and transformative journey through a precedent-setting passage that still speaks powerfully to our present day.

Genesis 2:18-25 is a foundational passage for any thoughtful and comprehensive discussion of biblical marriage. In this first installment of the sermon series The Perfect Match, Dr. T.D. Stubblefield explores The Desire That Fulfills. In the first marriage in human history, God placed within Adam the very desire He would later fulfill in the creation of Eve.

One Family Church, one of the St. Louis region's fastest-growing congregations, is committed to “bringing people and God together in love.” During their monthly Staff Chapel, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield delivers an inspiring message, seamlessly weaving together the timeless truths of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and 4:1. His message encouraged the church's key leaders and staff by highlighting the marks of a meaningful ministry.  Listen, reflect, and be blessed!

At some point in our spiritual journey, we are all destined to face what the ancient mystics and seers referred to as “the dark night of the soul.” This profound period of spiritual eclipse and desolation disrupts and distorts the divine light of the SON (as distinct from the “sun”) in our lives, casting shadows over our hearts and obscuring our spiritual vision.  In the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 21, the Edomites found themselves plunged into such a dark night.  The prophet Isaiah, with his words both timely and timeless, offered them, and us, a beacon of hope and clear guidance on navigating through these shadowy times.  His message is a reminder that even in the deepest darkness, there is a path forward illuminated by faith and perseverance.

In Joshua, Chapter 17, verses 14-18, the descendants of Joseph, namely the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, approached Joshua with a grievance regarding the distribution of land in Canaan.  This meeting transformed into a profound lesson, as they gleaned invaluable insights on the blessings of faith through the wise and considerate guidance of Joshua, their leader and kinsman.  The timeless principles Joshua imparted in this passage remain relevant today, offering us enduring wisdom.  This enlightening sermon delves into three key aspects of this text, centered around "the blessing in believing."

Despite having different last names—Tyus, Middleton, Reed, Simmons, Jarrett, Turner, Vasquez, Foster, Holloway, Stewart, they are one family.  They live in towns and cities across our country.  Since October 2012, this remarkable group has connected every Saturday for a prayer teleconference.  Truly, they are a family that prays together!  For the past eleven years, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield has inspired them with a powerful January message, setting the tone for the year ahead.  This year is no exception.  Be uplifted by Pastor Stubblefield's Year 2025 challenge to this family.As a bonus feature, experience Pastor Stubblefield who retired as the first Pastor Emeritus in the storied history of the First Baptist Church of Chesterfield, Missouri—leading the church in singing one of his beloved hymns, “Have Thine Own Way.” Let the timeless words of this cherished song stir your heart as you reflect on the power of prayer and faith.

Faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the foundation of the believer's sense of well-being.  This message based on Chapter 7, verse twenty-five of the Book of Hebrews, offers four assurances that encourages anyone who is facing a crisis of faith.

In this New Year, because of God's perfect plan for our lives, we each are “pregnant with potential.”  If you are truly a child of God, you are wearing spiritual maternity clothes because God has placed inside the womb of your very being something that the world didn't give to you and the world can't take away.  This sermon reminds us of “promises to remember” in the New Year!  

Do you feel like your life is moving in the wrong direction or things aren't quiet working out as you imagined they would?  The holidays have only exacerbated your disappointment.  What can you do?  You can do like Ruth did in the first chapter of the book of the Bible that bears her name.  You can “face north when life is going south”.  This sermon tells you how.  

Biblical scholars agree that an innumerable multitude of angels; indeed, an angelic army were singing in The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2 verses 13 – 14 on the night Jesus was born.  Their singing and majestic, moving and melodious music announced, affirmed and acclaimed the birth of the Savior.  But their compelling cosmic concert raises a question as well.  What is the message in the music?  If you would like to know, listen to the insightful sermon Dr. T. D. Stubblefield preached before Christmas this year at the historic First Baptist Church, Wright City, Missouri.    

In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses eight through twenty, shepherds watching their flocks in the field at night were summoned by the angel of the Lord to be witnesses of the birth of Jesus.  Viewed as common laborers by some and ostracized by others, they still teach us by their example how to observe Christmas.  

The Gospel writer Matthew uses the story of the wise men in Chapter 2 and the Great Commission in Chapter 28 like conceptual bookends to sound a universal note in his Gospel.  The birth of Jesus was not just a Jewish affair.  Even as a child, Jesus faced hostility at home but received homage from afar.  Wise men came from afar to seek the Savior that was born as an infant child in Bethlehem.  Whether kings, philosophers, astrologers or scientists, these men are timeless examples of what should be our primary preoccupation during the Christmas season.  This sermon reveals four things we can learn from them.  

The first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke narrates the events surrounding the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There we meet Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus. She is a model of grace. Mary is special! This sermon reveals four reasons why. 

In the first four stanzas of Psalm 145, the author reminds us that whatever else worship is it is infectious, viral, virulent, transmissive, and highly contagious!  When infected people worship, it is not just transformational but GENERATIONAL!  Contagious worship is characterized by its motivation, mechanics, measure, and ministry.  

We do not know who wrote Psalm 100.  The anonymous author pushed through doubt, disillusionment, desperation, disappointment and arrived at a place where, in a magnificent, melodic and moving anthem of praise and thanksgiving, he affirmed that God is good!  In stanza five, he tells us why.    God is good because of His exalted essence, matchless mercy and amazing availability.  

Wouldn't it be great if when we experience a reversal, a setback or find ourselves in a difficult place, to have the ability to grab a remote and fast forward through the pain, the sorrow, the tears, the disappointment or difficulty?  So often we find ourselves in life at worst "stopped" and at best "paused" as we experience and endure the inevitable reversals - the trials and tribulations that will surely come.  This sermon based on Romans Chapter 8, verse 18, is a spiritual remote that will help you fast forward through any crippling and cumbersome commercials that advertise on your life channel.   

In the spiritual realm, storm chasers are rare. We don't go looking for a storm!  Rather, most of us are like the author of Psalm Fifty-Five who, while looking for an exit ramp from the storms of life wrote, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!  For then would I fly away and be at rest.” The compelling storm narrative recorded in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter Four, communicates Jesus's dominion over not just the demonic, disease and dysfunction in the human body, but over the disastrous forces of nature.  In other words, when Jesus is on board with us, every storm we face in life has an expiration date.  This sermon is a powerful reminder that there is a “story in the storm.”  

In Joshua Chapter Three, the Israelites receive instructions from God about crossing of the Jordan River.  Before they encountered the towering fortress that was the city of Jericho, they faced the turbulent flooding of the Jordan River!  The crossing of the river at this time of the year and their location was risky and fraught with danger and disaster.  But God uses this situation not only to validate Joshua's leadership but also to fortify the people's faith.  This experience would become a moving and monumental reminder to them and to the generations of believers that followed them, that God has an upstream provision for a downstream problem.  

In Second Kings, Chapter 4, a single mother whose husband had died faced an insurmountable debt.  Failure to pay would result in her two sons being sold into servitude.  The prophet Elisha challenges her to do an inventory of her household possessions.  She found nothing to resolve her crisis but “a little pot of oil.”   God miraculously turns her little into a lot!   In this sermon, preached during the 2024 Annual Revival at the Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Humboldt, TN, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield exposes and explores the transcendent truths and practical principles of this epic text.  

October is Clergy Appreciation Month.  Once again, we share this classic sermon by Dr. T. D. Stubblefield on the biblical office of Pastor -Teacher based on Jeremiah 3:15. “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timonthy 5:17).  Send the link to this inspiring message this month to your pastor, or some other minister you know who serve God's people faithfully along with a note of appreciation for their labor of love.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4, verses 16-20, Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah to mark the official commencement of His public ministry.  In the synagogue, Jesus uses the prophet's words to communicate the character of His ministry to this broken world.  Dr. T. D. Stubblefield leverages this passage as a lens to look through and view the providential joining together of Pastor-Elect, Reverend Eddie Burton and the St. Paul United Church of Christ, Carlinville, IL for ministry during their Welcoming Celebration.  In this sermon, he shares how Jesus's words in the text provides a blueprint, a template, a roadmap indeed a “model for ministry.” 

During the Retirement Celebration of Dr. & Mrs. Joseph L. Owens of the Shiloh Baptist Church Lexington, Kentucky, after twenty-five years of faithful service, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield encourages his friends and the church. He draws timeless truths from the historical and experiential setting of Isaiah Chapter Fifty-Two, verses 12 – 13.  This sermon is a compelling reminder that “God can be trusted in a new season” because of God's promises, presence and provision.

In the soaring crescendo of Galatians Chapter Two, verse 20, Paul declares the essential fact of the Christian Gospel, “The Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.  The Apostle's life was powerful, prolific and productive because it was secured, anchored and stabilized by two irrefutable truths.  Dr. T. D. Stubblefield in the concluding sermon of the series, “The Power of a Changed Life” reminds us of what those truths are.  A love that will not let us go and a life that will not let us die!   

A “changed life” is the standard and bar to which every child of God must by grace assent and ascend to.  It requires commitment, courage and consistency.  These characteristics are in short supply in the contemporary church.  In Part 2 of this series, based on Galatians 2:20, the “changed life” is viewed through the lens of surrender.  The Christian life is not about dying but about letting Jesus live in and through us!

The Apostle Paul's compelling affirmation about the spiritual life in the Book of Galatians, Chapter 2, verse 20 is formative, informative and transformative.  In the first of a three-part sermon series focused on “The Power of the Changed Life,” Dr. T. D. Stubblefield explores the first implication of this pivotal passage in the Word of God for believers today.  The “changed life is a sacrificed life.” 

What makes the church so special?  This question is implicit in the Apostle Peter's compelling commendation of the church in Chapter 2, verses 9-10 of his first epistle.  The question is still relevant considering the increasing pressure on the contemporary church from within and from without to cave, compromise, and capitulate to a secular culture.  This sermon exposes the movements in the text that is pivotal and primary in this ongoing challenge by providing three key responses to the question, “What makes the church so special?” 

In Psalm 73 Asaph, a worship leader in the Temple during the reign of King David experienced a crisis of faith as he observed around him "the prosperity of the wicked".  When he worshipped, he faced his crisis, found clarity, and framed a confession of his renewed faith in God.  His experience still provides insight for the uptight.  

While pursuing perfection, the Apostle Paul was in a war. The battleground was within him, and the adversaries were the flesh and the spirit.  For those who are struggling with sin today, we learn from Paul's words and experience that, we cannot win the war with human reason, resolve or resources but only with and through the Heavenly Redeemer, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Book of Acts, Chapter Three, verses 1 – 10 is relevant to anyone who occupies residence, domicile, territory, and hiatus in holy places.  The primary character in this narrative had settled on the premises.  Yet, when his story concludes, he is standing on the promises.  Dr. T. D. Stubblefield has preached all around our country and abroad.  In this classic sermon preached during revival at the Colossians Baptist Church in Newport News, VA, he shares how this man moves from settling to standing!     

In Chapter Three of the Book of Daniel, the primary characters, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, did not make a purchase at a clearance sale or in a bargain basement but transacted the business of their faith under the most difficult and deadly of circumstances.  They embraced the “high cost of standing.” Their courage, commitment and confidence are an inspiration to every generation of believers.  They stood up, stood in and stood out!  We can too!    

In Psalm Fifty-five, stanza 22, King David laments the suffering and disappointment that he experienced because of his son Absalom's attempt to usurp the throne and from the betrayal by a close advisor and friend.  Yet David expressed his personal, persistent and profound faith in God who can handle every demanding situation we face in life.  In this moving passage and its larger context, David offers timeless and relevant encouragement to each of us.  This sermon tells us how.  

During the 225th Anniversary Celebration of the Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. T. D. Stubblefield parses powerfully and passionately the Risen Lord's commendation of the Church of Smyrna recorded in Chapter Two, verse 10 of the Book of Revelation.  While doing so, in this memorable message he exposes and explains the three characteristics of "the kind of church the Lord blesses".  

Chapter Eleven of the Gospel of Matthew begins with an exceptional interrogation by the John the Baptist but ends with an exclusive invitation in verse 28 by the One whose mission, ministry and message that John seemed to momentarily question.  This invitation should not be so easily dismissed or discarded.  On the one hand, to do so would forfeit an unparalleled opportunity for love, joy, peace and happiness now and in eternity.  On the other hand, ignoring it could place and plunge one's life into extreme jeopardy or eternal danger.  This sermon explores the characteristics of this “exclusive invitation.”  

Samson would never be a poster child for Great Fathers of the Bible; in fact, there is no record that he ever had children.  But here we are!  Parked at this text.  Why?  Because Samson demonstrates for us the power of a praying man; no matter how finite, fractured or flawed he was!  For most of the narrative about him recorded in Chapters 13 - 16 of the Book of Judges, he is playing and not praying.  And yet, at the end of his life, he prays, and God answered in a mighty way. 

As Jesus's public ministry comes to an end, he intensifies the training of the disciples.  He teaches them that genuine faith can move mountains!  Faith does not retreat from impossibility but trusts in God. The principles in this message will encourage believers today to talk to and conquer our mountains no matter what forms they take!

In Chapter Thirty-Six of Exodus, Israel upsized their giving with an “over-the-top” offering.  Fresh out of Egyptian bondage and responding to an appeal to support the construction of the tabernacle, they gave so much that they were restrained by their leaders from giving.  The means, motive, measure and model of their giving is a challenge to believers and churches today and is a powerful precedent for what constitutes authentic biblical stewardship.