Send a text

I am Marben Bland, Pastor Of The Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church In Athens, Georgia, with A Living The Word Moment.

In Matthew 4:1–11, Jesus teaches us that being led by the Spirit does not mean avoiding struggle—it sometimes means facing it. After forty days of fasting, when He was physically weak, the devil tried to attack His hunger, His hope, and His honor. Yet Jesus responded each time with, “It is written.” He did not rely on feelings; He relied on the Word.

We will be tested in the same ways—through our appetites, our doubts, and our loyalty. The enemy whispers when we are tired and vulnerable. But like Jesus, we can stand firm by anchoring ourselves in Scripture.

When the devil tries it, remember he may test you, but he cannot keep you. Stand on the Word and keep standing.

I invite you to join us tomorrow at Greater Bethel, located at 140 Rose Street in Athens, Georgia. Our worship service begins with Church School and Breakfast at 9:45. At 11:00, we gather to worship God with song, scripture, and the Word. Greater Bethel Plus members can watch the live stream on Facebook, YouTube, and our website GBAAthens.org. So, until tomorrow, blessings, peace, and love.

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send a text

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who the New York Times has called the nation’s most influential Black figure in the years between the civil rights crusades of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. and the election of Barack Obama, has died at 84.

And while he never achieved the stature of Dr. King or the electoral success of President Obama, Reverend Jackson’s place in history and his spot in heaven are secure because he preached a Gospel of inclusion and hope that touched millions.

For me, Galatians 3:28 offers a powerful reflection on Reverend Jackson’s ministry. In proclaiming there is no longer Jew or Greek, no slave or free, and no male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus, Paul, like Reverend Jackson, emphasizes unity without erasure. In Christ, social hierarchies lose their power, dignity is shared equally, and belonging comes from grace rather than status or division.

As he passes from the scene, this vision for the world has not yet been realized, but because Jessie Jackson lived, marched, preached, and pushed, the world is much closer to being united in Christ.

Rest in Power – Reverend Jackson, and for the rest of us, let’s keep hope alive.

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send us a text

On this episode of It’s a Matter of Your Health, Dr. Veita Bland is joined by fitness expert Coach Hilton Ferguson of Full-Time Fitness to start 2026 on the right foot. They discuss why big goals need daily vision, how nutrition is more important than workouts alone, and how small, consistent habits—like movement, hydration, sleep, and accountability—lead to lasting health changes. From realistic weight-loss strategies to fitness at any age or ability, this conversation reminds us that your future self is shaped by what you do today. Let’s make 2026 a year of intention, discipline, and better health, one day at a time.

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send us a text

In Exodus 1:15–22, the Hebrew midwives faced an impossible dilemma. Pharaoh commanded them to kill innocent children, forcing them to choose between obeying authority or remaining faithful to God. Their decision was costly, dangerous, and uncertain. Yet Scripture tells us they feared God and trusted the Lord more than the threats they faced. Their trust turned a moment of terror into a testimony of deliverance. Like the midwives, we also face dilemmas where every choice has consequences: family tension, moral challenges, or fear of losing something. Trusting the Lord doesn't make the difficulty go away, but it roots us in God’s promises. When we choose faith over fear, God makes a way where none seems possible and rescues us from situations meant to harm us.

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send us a text

This sermon explores what it means to trust God when every option comes with consequences. Drawing from the courage of the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, this message reminds us that dilemmas don’t just test our choices—they reveal who (and what) we truly trust.

Key Takeaways:
• A dilemma forces a decision with real cost—but faith clarifies our response
• Pharaoh chose fear and control; the midwives chose trust and courage
• Trusting God means standing for life, justice, and truth—even against power
• God’s promises are already at work before the crisis begins

In moments of pressure, will fear shape your decision—or will faith?
“I will trust in the Lord… until I die.”

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send us a text

As we step into a new year, survival is not the goal—wisdom is. In this first sermon of 2026, Pastor Marben Bland challenges us to move beyond habit, autopilot, and routine faith and instead recommit ourselves to living wisely in every area of life.

Rooted in Proverbs 8:11, this message reminds us that wisdom is more valuable than wealth, comfort, or success. It calls the church and each believer to reflect honestly on the past year and to step forward with intention, discipline, and faith.

Through four God-centered commitments—Reach, Grow, Care, and Serve—this sermon invites us to align our decisions, priorities, and practices with God’s will. This is a message about discipleship that touches the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and community.

Whether you’re celebrating victories, carrying scars, or simply grateful to be here, this sermon offers direction, hope, and a clear call:
Let’s do it again—but let’s do it wisely, faithfully, and together.

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send us a text

Blue Christmas—also called The Longest Night—reminds us that Advent is a season of both joy and honesty. The Longest Night falls each year on the winter solstice, around December 21, when darkness lasts the longest. We are now only days away from that night, a reminder that for many, this season carries shadows of grief, loss, and longing.

Yet even on the darkest night, Scripture whispers hope: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). Jesus, the Light of the World, meets us gently in our sorrow. He does not demand celebration—He offers presence, comfort, and peace.

As the longest night draws near, may His steady light guide you toward healing and renewed hope.

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com

Send us a text

Today’s message reminded us that when Isaiah called Jesus the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6), he wasn’t talking about a therapist—he was describing a divine strategist, a King who guides His people through confusion, crisis, and spiritual battle.

Pastor Bland taught that Jesus shows His Wonderful Counselor power in three ways:
1️⃣ He counsels the confused — revealing truth with compassion.
2️⃣ He counsels the discouraged — restoring hope and clarity.
3️⃣ He counsels the broken — lifting people from failure into purpose.

He also challenged us to be wonderful counselors by:
✔️ Listening before we lead
✔️ Speaking truth with compassion
✔️ Guiding people toward God, not ourselves

If we want to counsel like Jesus, we must first be counseled by Jesus—letting Him speak into our confusion, disappointment, and broken places.

Let’s be the counselors this world desperately needs

For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com