Hazelgreen Baptist Church

10/22/2026

“Lord, empty me of myself and fill me with Your Spirit.”

What a powerful prayer for every Christian, especially those called to preach and teach God’s Word.

The pastor shares something he has prayed throughout his years of ministry.

And his message is simple:

God doesn’t want flesh on parade.

He wants humble servants.

Servants who aren’t interested in making a name for themselves.

Servants who aren’t seeking applause, attention, or recognition.

Servants who want to faithfully teach God’s Word and point people to Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist said:

“He must become greater; I must become less.” — John 3:30 (NIV)

Think about those words.

He must become greater.

I must become less.

That’s the attitude we should bring to every opportunity to serve the Lord.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” — 1 Corinthians 2:4 (NIV)

Paul understood that the power of gospel ministry doesn’t come from human talent, personality, or impressive speech.

It comes from God.

We should prepare faithfully.

We should study Scripture carefully.

We should communicate God’s Word truthfully.

But we should never become so impressed with our own abilities that we forget our dependence on the Lord.

And this message isn’t just for pastors.

It’s for Sunday School teachers.

Bible study leaders.

Church volunteers.

Parents teaching their children about Jesus.

And every Christian who desires to serve God faithfully.

The Bible tells believers:

“Be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)

We need the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

We need humility.

We need wisdom.

We need the truth of God’s Word.

And we need to remember that the purpose of serving Christ is to bring glory to Him, not ourselves.

So before you teach, preach, serve, or share the gospel, consider making this your prayer:

Lord, help me put aside my pride.

Help me depend on Your Spirit.

Help me remain faithful to Your Word.

And help others see Jesus Christ rather than me.

Because God doesn’t want flesh on parade.

He wants humble servants who faithfully proclaim His truth.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about humility, faithful preaching, and depending on the Holy Spirit in Christian ministry.

If this message encouraged or challenged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

🙏 Take a moment today to pray for your pastor, Sunday School teachers, and everyone who faithfully teaches God’s Word.

💬 Here’s today’s question: When you serve the Lord, how do you remind yourself to stay humble and keep the focus on Jesus Christ?

10/21/2026

Watching church online is a blessing.

But if you’re able to attend in person, there’s something important you may be missing.

The fellowship of God’s people.

The encouragement of other believers.

The opportunity to worship, pray, serve, and grow together.

And the reminder that you were never meant to live the Christian life alone.

The pastor raises an important question:

Why has church attendance declined in so many congregations?

Since the coronavirus pandemic, many people have become accustomed to watching services from home.

And we’re thankful for the technology that allows churches to share God’s Word with people who cannot attend in person.

Livestreaming is a wonderful ministry.

It allows people who are sick, homebound, traveling, or otherwise unable to attend to hear biblical preaching and stay connected.

But we also need to remember what Scripture teaches about gathering together.

Hebrews 10:24–25 says:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)

Notice what the Bible emphasizes.

Encouraging one another.

Stirring one another toward love.

Helping one another grow in good works.

And continuing to gather together as believers.

Church isn’t simply about sitting in a pew and listening to a sermon.

It’s about being part of the body of Christ.

It’s about praying with someone who’s struggling.

Encouraging someone who’s discouraged.

Helping someone who’s facing a difficult season.

Learning God’s Word together.

And building relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.

The pastor shares something especially meaningful from his recent experience in the hospital.

During that difficult season, he was reminded just how much Christians need one another.

We aren’t meant to live as spiritual lone rangers.

We need the encouragement, prayers, love, and support of other believers.

The Bible says:

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

But how can we help carry one another’s burdens if we never take the time to know one another?

How can we encourage someone if we remain disconnected?

How can we serve our church family if we never become involved?

That’s why gathering together matters.

And that’s why opportunities like Sunday School, worship services, men’s Bible studies, women’s groups, and other church ministries can be so valuable.

They provide opportunities to build meaningful relationships centered on Jesus Christ and His Word.

Of course, attending church doesn’t save anyone.

Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

But gathering with other believers is an important part of Christian discipleship and obedience.

So here’s a question worth considering:

If you’re physically able to attend church, have you allowed the convenience of watching online to replace the fellowship of gathering in person?

We love our online church family, and we’re thankful for everyone who joins our livestreams.

But if you’re in the Alsip, Illinois area and looking for a church home, we’d love to welcome you to Hazelgreen Baptist Church.

Come worship with us.

Come study God’s Word with us.

Come meet our church family.

And discover the blessing of growing alongside other believers.

Because we need each other.

And you don’t have to walk through life alone.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about church attendance, Christian fellowship, and why gathering together matters.

If this message encouraged or challenged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

💬 Here’s today’s question: What’s one way your church family has encouraged or helped you during a difficult season?

10/20/2026

The longer you walk with Jesus Christ, the more clearly you should begin to recognize the seriousness of your own sin.

Think about that.

When we first become believers, we may understand that we’re sinners who need a Savior.

But as we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, something begins to change.

Our understanding of God’s holiness deepens.

Our awareness of sin becomes sharper.

And our appreciation for God’s grace grows stronger.

The preacher makes a powerful observation:

As you get older, your physical eyesight may begin to weaken.

But as you mature in Christ, your spiritual eyesight should become sharper.

What does that mean?

It means that the closer we grow to Christ, the more clearly we begin to recognize attitudes, thoughts, motives, and behaviors that don’t honor Him.

Things we once overlooked may begin to trouble our conscience.

Pride.

Selfishness.

Bitterness.

Unforgiveness.

Impatience.

A lack of love for others.

And the countless ways we fall short of God’s perfect holiness.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” — 1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)

Paul understood the greatness of God’s mercy because he recognized the seriousness of his own sin.

And that should teach us something important.

Spiritual maturity isn’t about reaching a point where we believe we’re better than everyone else.

It’s about growing in humility, repentance, obedience, and gratitude for what Jesus Christ has done for us.

The Bible says:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Notice that we’re called to grow in grace and knowledge.

As we study God’s Word and mature in our faith, the Holy Spirit helps us recognize areas of our lives that need to change.

But here’s something we must never forget:

Recognizing our sin should not lead us to hopelessness.

It should lead us to Jesus Christ.

Because the more clearly we understand the seriousness of our sin, the more deeply we should appreciate the sufficiency of His sacrifice.

Scripture reminds us:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

What a wonderful promise.

We don’t have to pretend we’re perfect.

We don’t have to hide our failures from God.

We can come before Him with humility, confess our sins, and trust in His faithfulness.

And remember, our salvation is not based on how perfectly we live.

It rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ.

So here’s an important question for every Christian:

As you’ve grown older in your faith, has your spiritual eyesight become sharper?

Are you becoming more sensitive to sin?

More humble?

More willing to repent?

More thankful for God’s mercy?

And more dependent on Jesus Christ?

Because genuine spiritual growth doesn’t make us boast about how good we are.

It teaches us to marvel at how gracious our Savior is.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about spiritual maturity, recognizing sin, growing in holiness, and understanding the incredible grace of Jesus Christ.

If this message encouraged or challenged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

💬 Here’s today’s question: As you’ve grown in your relationship with Christ, have you noticed that you’re becoming more aware of things in your life that need to change?

10/19/2026

What is the mercy of God?

Sometimes we hear words like grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness in church without stopping to think about what they actually mean.

Here’s a simple way to understand God’s mercy:

His undeserved kindness and compassion toward us.

Think about that.

We serve a God who is holy.

A God who is righteous.

A God who is just.

And yet, He is also a God of incredible mercy and compassion.

The Bible says:

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” — Psalm 103:8 (NIV)

What a beautiful description of our God.

His mercy isn’t something we earn.

It isn’t something we deserve because we’ve been good enough.

It flows from His gracious and compassionate character.

And the greatest demonstration of God’s mercy is found in Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us:

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” — Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV)

Notice those words:

Rich in mercy.

Great in love.

Saved by grace.

God’s mercy is not simply an idea we talk about from the pulpit.

It’s something we should recognize with gratitude in our everyday lives.

When we wake up to another day.

When someone shows us kindness.

When doctors and nurses care for us during illness.

When we receive encouragement during difficult circumstances.

When we recognize the patience God has shown us despite our failures.

And above all, when we remember what Jesus Christ has done to save sinners.

The preacher shares this testimony from his heart because he has personally experienced a life-threatening medical emergency.

And through that experience, he has become even more thankful for God’s compassion and for the people who cared for him.

But remember, God’s mercy doesn’t mean that every illness will be healed or every difficulty will disappear.

His compassion is not measured simply by whether our circumstances turn out the way we hoped.

The greatest assurance of His mercy is found in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again.

Scripture reminds us:

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)

What an incredible truth to remember today.

God is merciful.

God is compassionate.

And God cares for His people.

So before you go through another day without thinking about it, stop and thank the Lord for His mercy.

Not because you’ve earned it.

But because He is gracious and compassionate.

And because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching, personal testimonies, and encouragement about the mercy, grace, and compassion of God.

If this message encouraged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

🙏 If you’re going through a difficult time or facing a medical situation, we would be honored to pray for you. You can submit a prayer request through our church’s website.

💬 Here’s today’s question: What’s one way you’ve experienced God’s kindness or compassion that you’re thankful for today?

10/18/2026

Join us at Hazelgreen Baptist Church!

We would love to have you worship with us in person or online as we exalt Christ and hear from God's Word.

Sunday School: 10:00 AM (not live-streamed)
Sunday Service: 11:00 AM

Website: www.hazelgreenbaptist.com

Please take a moment to tell us a little about yourself so we can connect with you and serve you better. https://forms.gle/z8YuUfb5oqyEpB6y9

Need Prayer? https://forms.gle/8tsRJivVNcbogcpf7

Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (708) 389-5941

Hazelgreen Baptist Church
Exalting Christ * Sharing the Gospel
Welcoming All


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

¡Acompáñenos para el Culto de Adoración del Domingo por la Mañana en Hazelgreen Baptist Church!

Nos encantaría que nos acompañara en persona o en línea mientras exaltamos a Cristo y escuchamos la Palabra de Dios.

Escuela Dominical: 10:00 AM (not live-streamed)
Culto de Adoración del Domingo: 11:00 AM

Sitio web: www.hazelgreenbaptist.com

Por favor, tómese un momento para contarnos un poco sobre usted para que podamos conectarnos con usted y servirle mejor:
https://forms.gle/z8YuUfb5oqyEpB6y9

¿Necesita oración?
https://forms.gle/8tsRJivVNcbogcpf7

Contacto:
Correo electrónico: [email protected]
Teléfono: (708) 389-5941

Hazelgreen Baptist Church
Exaltando a Cristo • Compartiendo el Evangelio
Todos son bienvenidos

10/18/2026

10/16/2026

You can read the Bible.

You can study the Bible.

You can memorize Scripture.

You can attend Sunday School and listen to preaching every week.

But here’s an important question:

Are you actually living according to what God’s Word teaches?

There’s a difference between knowing the Bible and obeying the Bible.

James wrote:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22 (NIV)

Think about those words.

Do what it says.

God never intended for His Word to simply fill our minds with information while leaving our lives unchanged.

Scripture is meant to shape the way we think, the decisions we make, and the way we treat other people.

When the Bible teaches us to forgive, we should seek to forgive.

When the Bible commands us to love one another, we should demonstrate that love.

When Scripture calls us to repentance, we should turn from sin.

When God’s Word teaches humility, we should examine our pride.

When the Bible tells us to serve others, we should look for opportunities to serve.

Jesus said:

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” — John 13:17 (NIV)

Notice something important.

Jesus didn’t simply emphasize knowing what is right.

He emphasized doing what is right.

But we also need to understand that obedience doesn’t earn our salvation.

We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

And the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers, helping us grow in obedience and become more like our Savior.

The Bible tells us:

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” — Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

We don’t obey God’s Word to earn His love.

We seek to obey because we belong to Christ and desire to honor Him.

So here’s something worth considering:

What good is knowing what the Bible teaches if we continually refuse to put it into practice?

Don’t simply be someone who knows Bible verses.

Be someone whose life is increasingly shaped by biblical truth.

Don’t just look to the Bible.

Don’t just learn from the Bible.

LIVE according to the Bible.

Because God’s Word isn’t merely meant to be studied.

It’s meant to be believed, obeyed, and lived out through the power of the Holy Spirit.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about obeying God’s Word, growing spiritually, and putting Scripture into practice in everyday life.

If this message challenged or encouraged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

💬 Here’s today’s question: What’s one thing you know the Bible teaches that you need to start putting into practice?

10/15/2026

You need to be in the Word of God every single day.

Not just on Sunday.

Not just during Bible study.

Not just when life gets difficult.

Every day.

But here’s a question worth asking:

If we truly believe that God’s Word is important, why do we sometimes go days or even weeks without opening our Bibles?

Think about how much time we spend on everything else.

We make time for work.

We make time for our phones.

We make time for television.

We make time for social media.

We make time for the things we enjoy.

But are we making time for God’s Word?

Jesus said:

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

We understand the importance of feeding our physical bodies.

But what about our spiritual lives?

The Bible isn’t simply a book we carry to church.

It’s God’s inspired Word, given to teach us, correct us, encourage us, and equip us to live faithfully.

The psalmist wrote:

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” — Psalm 119:97 (NIV)

Notice the attitude toward God’s Word.

Not obligation alone.

Not simply checking off a religious duty.

But a genuine love for what God has said.

And that’s something every Christian should desire.

Daily Bible reading doesn’t earn salvation or make God love us more.

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

But spending time in Scripture helps us grow in our understanding of God, recognize His truth, and learn how to follow Christ more faithfully.

You don’t have to read ten chapters every morning.

You don’t have to understand everything immediately.

And if you’ve missed a few days, don’t allow guilt to keep you from opening your Bible again.

Start today.

Read a chapter.

Study a passage.

Pray over what you’ve read.

Ask God to help you understand and apply His Word.

The important thing isn’t simply how many pages you read.

It’s that you’re regularly spending meaningful time in the truth God has given us.

So here’s today’s question:

If God’s Word is truly important to you, does your daily routine reflect that?

Don’t let your Bible become something you only open on Sunday.

Get into the Word of God.

Every single day.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about the importance of daily Bible reading, spiritual growth, and developing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

If this message encouraged or challenged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

💬 Here’s today’s challenge: Take 10 minutes today to put your phone aside, open your Bible, and spend some uninterrupted time in God’s Word.

10/14/2026

“I remember walking down the aisle.”

“I remember saying the prayer.”

“I remember the exact day I got saved.”

But here’s an important question:

Are you trusting in Jesus Christ, or are you trusting in the memory of a religious experience?

Jesus said:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” — John 15:1 (NIV)

He continued by explaining that branches connected to the vine are expected to bear fruit.

And later, Jesus said:

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” — John 15:8 (NIV)

Think about what Jesus is teaching.

A branch cannot produce fruit apart from the vine.

And a Christian cannot produce genuine spiritual fruit apart from Jesus Christ.

Salvation isn’t simply about walking down an aisle.

It isn’t about repeating certain words.

It isn’t about remembering a particular date.

Those moments may be meaningful parts of someone’s testimony, but they are not what saves us.

Jesus Christ saves us.

The Bible says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

We aren’t saved by our good works.

And we don’t remain saved by performing enough good works.

But genuine saving faith should produce evidence of God’s transforming work in our lives.

That doesn’t mean Christians become sinless.

It doesn’t mean every believer grows at the same pace.

And it doesn’t mean that struggling with sin automatically proves someone isn’t saved.

But it does mean we should take seriously what Jesus teaches about abiding in Him and bearing fruit.

If someone claims to know Christ but has no desire to follow Him, no concern about sin, and no evidence of spiritual growth, Scripture gives us reason to examine that profession of faith.

Paul wrote:

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

So here’s the question:

Are you placing your confidence in something you did years ago?

Or are you placing your faith in the living Savior, Jesus Christ?

Don’t confuse remembering a religious experience with knowing the Lord.

Don’t trust in the aisle.

Don’t trust in the prayer itself.

Trust in Jesus Christ.

And as you abide in Him, allow His Word and His Spirit to produce fruit in your life.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about genuine salvation, spiritual fruit, and what it means to truly follow Jesus Christ.

If this message challenged or encouraged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

💬 Here’s a question worth considering: Is your confidence in a past religious experience, or in Jesus Christ Himself?

10/12/2026

When people discuss election, predestination, and free will, the conversation often turns to questions about what is fair and unfair.

But before we question God’s justice, we need to understand something about ourselves.

We are all sinners.

Every one of us.

The Bible says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23 (NIV)

None of us can stand before a holy and righteous God and claim that we have earned His favor through our own goodness.

Scripture teaches that sin is serious, that God is just, and that we are accountable to Him.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Notice the contrast.

The wages of sin are death.

But eternal life is a gift.

That’s what makes the Gospel so incredible.

We deserve judgment because of our sin.

Yet God, in His mercy, has provided salvation through Jesus Christ.

God did not overlook sin.

Jesus Christ bore the penalty for sin through His death on the cross, and He rose again.

The Gospel isn’t the story of good people earning their way into heaven.

It’s the good news of a merciful Savior who came to rescue sinners.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” — Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV)

Think about those words:

Rich in mercy.

Great in love.

Saved by grace.

The more clearly we understand the seriousness of our sin, the more deeply we can appreciate the mercy God has shown us in Jesus Christ.

This doesn’t mean Christians should never ask difficult theological questions.

We should study Scripture carefully and seek to understand what God has revealed.

But every discussion about salvation should lead us to remember that none of us can boast before God.

Salvation is a gift of His grace.

So instead of asking only, “What do I deserve?”

Consider this question:

How incredible is the mercy of God that He would save sinners through His Son?

That’s the beauty of the Gospel.

We are sinners in need of mercy.

And Jesus Christ is a wonderful Savior.

🎥 Watch the full message on our page or YouTube channel for more biblical teaching about God’s sovereignty, salvation, grace, mercy, and the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If this message challenged or encouraged you, please like, share, and follow Hazelgreen Baptist Church for more biblical truth and encouragement from God’s Word.

💬 Here’s a question worth reflecting on: How does understanding the seriousness of sin help us better appreciate God’s mercy and grace?