Shows
The Marben Bland PodcastKeeping Your Eyes On The PrizeSend us a text"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."I am Marben Bland, Pastor of The Greater Bethel AME Church in Athens, Georgia with a Living The Word Moment.Life is full of distractions—worries about money, success, and the future can cloud our vision. But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a clear directive: seek first God’s kingdom. Instead of chasing temporary treasures, He calls us to focus on what trul...2025-03-1801 min
The Marben Bland PodcastA Mountain Top Experience For Valley ServiceSend us a textThis weekend at the St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church Men's Retreat in Austin, Texas, Rev. Marben Bland, Pastor of Greater Bethel AME Church in Athens, Georgia, delivered a powerful message on the Transfiguration of Jesus and how knowing our Spiritual Why shapes our faith, relationships, and service.Like Jesus on the mountaintop, we experienced divine moments of clarity, prayer, and connection. But as He descended to face real-world challenges, so must we—carrying our faith into the valleys of life.🔹 Why...2025-03-0307 min
The Marben Bland PodcastFinding Your Spiritual Why: Lessons From David and BathshebaSend us a textI am Marben Bland Pastor of the Greater Bethel AME Church In Athens, Georgia with a Living The Word Moment A spiritual why is the deeper purpose that fuels our faith, keeping us aligned with God’s will even in moments of weakness. King David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), lost sight of his spiritual why when he pursued Bathsheba, leading to sin and suffering (2 Samuel 11). His actions brought devastating consequences, but his story didn’t end in failure. In Psalm 51, David repents, seeking God’s mercy and renewal...2025-02-2601 min
The Marben Bland PodcastA Faith Worth Fighting ForSend us a textIn Pastor Marben Bland’s sermon “A Faith Worth Fighting For,” we’re challenged to actively defend our salvation—as 1 Timothy 6:12 urges us to “fight the good fight of faith.” Pastor Bland reminds us that faith isn’t passive—it demands daily prayer, immersion in God’s word, and a united community. Just as 1 Peter 1:18–19 teaches about Christ’s supreme sacrifice; we’re called to counterpunch life’s distractions with perseverance and passion. Whether you’re deep in the fight or just ready to join, now’s the time to claim your eternal inheritance a...2025-02-2423 min
The Marben Bland PodcastDevotional Fighting The Good Fight Of FaithSend us a textI am Marben Bland, Pastor Of Greater Bethel AME Athens with a living the word moment 1 Timothy 6:12 reminds us to “Fight the good fight of the faithSalvation, like our American democracy, is worth fighting for – today both are under attack.We are in a spiritual battle. The enemy seeks to distract, discourage, and deceive us into believing that our salvation isn’t worth the fight.We are also in a political battle. The determination of the Trump Administration to bend t...2025-02-1801 min
The Marben Bland PodcastGreater Bethel AME Athens: The 2024 Sixth Episcopal District’s “Church of the Year”Send us a textThis is Marben Bland, Pastor of The Greater Bethel AME Church in Athens, Georgia with some wonderful news. Greater Bethel has been named as the Sixth Episcopal District’s “Church of the Year” for 2024 by the Sixth Episcopal District Lay Organization.This prestigious recognition celebrates Greater Bethel’s unwavering commitment to faith, community service, and spiritual leadership.In his citation, Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell of the Sixth Episcopal District stated:“This award is a testament to the heart and sp...2025-02-1101 min
The Marben Bland PodcastSermon: DEI: The Boogeyman To Keep White Supremacy, SupremeSend us a textIn this powerful sermon, from Pastor Marben Bland, the message is clear—white supremacy creates “boogeymen” to maintain its dominance. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has been weaponized as a scapegoat for societal failures, when in reality, it is a path toward justice and fairness. Just as Peter was divinely educated to embrace the Gentiles, we are called to reject false narratives and embrace God’s DEI—Divinely Educated Individuals.Key Points from the Sermon:1️ God created us to prosper – We are meant to thrive, not...2025-02-1033 min
The Marben Bland PodcastDEI: The Boogeyman to Keep White Supremacy SupremeSend us a textI am Marben Bland Pastor Of Greater Bethel AME Athens With A Living The Word Moment President Trump, asserting without evidence that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies were a factor in the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Blackhawk helicopter, is a reminder of a centuries-old tactic. When those who believe in their superiority begin to see it wane, they manufacture a boogeyman.Peter, a disciple of Jesus, was a devout Jew whose faith initially taught him that Gentiles were inferior, and that G...2025-02-0401 min
The Marben Bland PodcastSermon:Sharing the Gospel Through the Baptism of FaithSend us a textThis week’s message from Pastor Marben Bland challenged us to embrace faith as both a personal transformation and a mission to share the love of Christ with others.From Luke 3:15-22: John the Baptist reminds us to point others to Jesus, who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire, transforming our hearts and lives. From Luke 18:35-43: The blind man’s faith teaches us to cry out to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and restore.Faith is more than belie...2025-01-1517 min
The Marben Bland PodcastDevotional:The Baptism Of FaithSend us a textI am Marben Bland, Pastor Of Greater Bethel AME Athens with a Living The Word Moment. As John the Baptist baptized multitudes, the people, filled with expectation, wondered if he might be the Messiah. John responded, as recorded in Luke 3:16, saying, "I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I will come... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."In Jericho, a blind man sat by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd passing by, he asked what was happening. They told him, "J...2025-01-0801 min
The Marben Bland PodcastSermon: Intentional DiscipleshipSend us a textAre you ready to take your faith to the next level? In this week’s sermon, Pastor Marben Bland explores Intentional Discipleship and how you can live out the Great Commission in practical ways. Lead by Matthew 28:19-20 and Luke 2:41-52, we uncover five key actions every disciple of Christ can take:1. Share the Gospel2. Serve as the Hands and Feet of Jesus3. Sustain the Mission Financially4. Enhance Our Church Facilities5. Love and Care for Our...2025-01-0627 min
The Marben Bland PodcastDevotional:Let There Be Peace on Earth, And Let It Begin with MeSend us a textI am Marben Bland, Pastor Of Greater Bethel AME Athens with a living the word moment. Over 400 years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah foretold his coming in Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Jesus was born into a world marked by war and oppression. Bethlehem lay under Roman occupation, and conflict followed Jesus throughout his life. Religious leaders challenged his every move as he healed the sick, rai...2024-12-1401 min
The Marben Bland PodcastDevotional: God Is Calling UsSend us a textI am Marben Bland, Pastor Of Greater Bethel AME Athens with a living the word moment. The story of the prophet Jonah is a Biblical satire with an irony for our times. Called by God to deliver his word to the wicket in Nineveh. Jonah instead runs away from his call landing on a ship filled angry sailors during a violent storm, then thrown overboard, where he is swallowed by a whale spending three days and nights in its belly. For Jonah the irony and satire is thi...2024-11-2301 min
The Marben Bland PodcastDevotional: The TruthSend us a textI am Marben Bland, Pastor of Greater Bethel AME – Athens with a living the word moment. New York Times Bestselling Christian Author Bob Phillips wrote “Integrity is the first button on the shirt of character. If you get that button right, the rest of the character buttons will fall into place.” While God’s command not to lie (Exodus 20:16) is listed as the ninth of the ten commandments integrity, operating within the boundaries of fact and truth is the bedrock of a functional society. When the leader of a business...2024-11-1901 min