Ninth Avenue Church of Christ
Listen to Bible-based and scripturally-sound sermons preached during the worship services of the Ninth Avenue Church of Christ, located in Haleyville, Alabama. All sermons are by our Preaching Minister, Matthew Balentine, unless otherwise indicated. Our Youth Minister is Josh Wade.
Episodes
What does the Bible actually teach about baptism and salvation?
In this sermon from Ephesians 4, Mark 16, Acts 2, and 1 Peter 3, we look closely at the connection between belief, repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This message also highlights an important truth: baptism was meant to unite believers, not divide them.
As the church carries out the gospe...
What if living the Great Commission starts closer than you think?
In this message from Acts 1, we explore Jesus’ words to His disciples that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Before the mission spread outward, it began in a familiar place. That same pattern still matters today: before we think about reaching the world, we must first notice the people ...
It’s easy to get distracted—even in our faith.
In this message, we take a hard and honest look at how “good things” can quietly pull us away from the most important thing Jesus ever commanded: making disciples.
Rooted in Matthew 28:18–20, this sermon challenges us to examine our priorities as individuals and as a church. Are we busy… or are we truly fulfilling our purpose?
Thr...
Storms are a part of life. Sometimes they come without warning, and sometimes they arrive even when we’re doing exactly what God has asked us to do.
In this sermon, Matthew Balentine explores the powerful story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:22–33 and what it teaches us about faith, fear, and trusting Jesus when life feels overwhelming. The disciples found themselves struggling against the wind ...
What if the hardest parts of following Jesus are the parts we don’t put in the pamphlet?
In Luke 14, Jesus turns to a large crowd and delivers a message that would shrink most churches today. He doesn’t promise comfort. He doesn’t promise ease. Instead, He tells them to count the cost.
In this sermon, Matthew Balentine walks through one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus:
In this sermon from Matthew 4:18–22, we explore the moment Jesus calls His first disciples—ordinary fishermen—to follow Him. Their story reminds us that God doesn’t wait for perfect people; He calls available people.
Many of us wrestle with questions like:
-
Does my life really matter?
-
Am I ready to serve God?
-
Do I know enough to share my faith?
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 co...
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 Je...
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 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 sea...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 re...
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.
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 ab...
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 pract...
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 e...
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 g...
In this week’s message, Matthew Balentine explores Jesus’ Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14–30, reminding us that everything we have—our time, our talents, and our treasures—belongs to God.
Through this story, we learn that God entrusts each of us with different resources, not equally but intentionally. The question isn’t what we’ve been given—it’s what we’re doing with what we’ve been given.
In this heartfelt message, Matthew Balentine shares the powerful story of Peter’s journey from denying Jesus to being fully restored on the shores of Galilee. Through John 21, we see how Jesus meets us right where we are—broken, tired, and uncertain—and gently calls us back into fellowship and purpose.
This sermon reminds us that grace doesn’t push us away; it draws us close. Jesus not only forgives us b...
When Peter swore he’d never deny Jesus, his confidence was sky-high—but within hours, it crumbled. In this message from Luke 22, Matthew Balentine walks through Peter’s valley of failure and Jesus’ look of restoration. Learn how disappointment can become denial, and how grace transforms regret into renewal.
Key Takeaways:
-
Why emotion without devotion leads to spiritual collapse
Even in life’s lowest valleys, God’s purpose still stands.
In this powerful message from our Peaks and Valleys series, Matthew Balentine reminds us that the presence of struggle does not mean the absence of God. Drawing from 1 Samuel 16, we see how Samuel, Jesse, and David each faced moments of uncertainty, pride, and obscurity—but God was working through it all.
This sermon invites you to ...
Popular Podcasts
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells! Theme Music: Audio Network