The Marben Bland Podcast
by Marben Bland
The Marben Bland Podcast is where faith meets real life. Hosted by Pastor Marben Bland, this show features powerful sermons, uplifting devotionals, and engaging interviews with leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. Each episode offers spiritual insight and practical wisdom to help you grow in faith, lead with purpose, and live with impact. Whether you're on your morning walk or your evening drive, tune in for thoughtful content that feeds the soul and inspires action.
Episodes
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It’s Election Day: And Our Allegiance Remains With Jesus
Send us Fan Mail Election Day is here. Across our nation, Americans will cast their votes, and when the results are announced, some will celebrate while others will be disappointed. But as followers of Jesus Christ, our responsibility does not end when the polls close. In 1 Timothy 2:1–2, the...
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God Is Near — A Message of Hope, Remembrance, and Faith
Send us Fan Mail A chair is still a chair until there's no one sitting there. Pastor Marben Bland and Greater Bethel, honored the saints who have gone before us — the praying grandmamas, the faithful servants, the voices we still hear in our hearts. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is near to the...
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Sermon: Making the Decisions of a Lifetime
Send us Fan Mail What decisions are you carrying today? In our final sermon of the October series, "Making the Decisions of a Lifetime," we explored the story of the woman with the issue of blood from Mark 5:21-34 -- a woman who suffered for 12 long years yet refused to let disappointment have…
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Bettye Henderson Holston: A Faithful Life That Produced Great Fruit
Send us Fan Mail Faithfulness has no expiration date. In Luke 2:36–38, Anna is an elderly prophet whose years of prayer prepare her to recognize Jesus and share the hope of redemption. Sister Bettye Henderson Holston lived with that same enduring purpose. Across ninety years, she taught children,...
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Making Godly Decisions With Integrity
Send us Fan Mail What do you do when the easy choice challenges your integrity? In “Making Godly Decisions With Integrity,” Pastor Marben Bland explores Luke 4:1–13 and Jesus’ response to temptation in the wilderness. Hungry and tested, Jesus stood firm by relying on God’s Word. His example...
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Sermon: Pulled in Every Direction, but Led by the Lord
Send us Fan Mail Everybody wants your attention—but who is guiding your decisions? In “Pulled in Every Direction, but Led by the Lord,” the Reverend Marben Bland explores Mark 1:35–39 and Jesus’ example of prayer, purpose, and action. Through the courage of Orangeburg students, Polly Sheppard’s...
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Sermon - God Sees You
Send us Fan Mail “God Sees You” confronts the danger of corruption and the responsibility of faithful citizenship. King Ahab abused his power, coveted Naboth’s vineyard, and allowed injustice to take an innocent life. Yet God saw everything and sent Elijah to speak truth to power. This sermon...
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I Have Good News for You
Send us Fan Mail “I Have Good News for You” reminds us that God loves us, knows us by name, sees us, and cares for us—even when we feel unnoticed. Drawing from Galatians, Rev. Marben Bland explains that salvation is God’s gift, received through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by clothing…
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Jesus Is Enough
Send us Fan Mail Here is good news: God loves you, knows your name, and wants the best for you. Through Jesus, salvation is God’s gift—not something we earn by being perfect or impressing everybody. Jesus is enough! Because God loves us first, we respond by trusting and obeying Him. We pray…
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Sermon: Are You Listening to the Right Voice?
Send us Fan Mail In a world crowded with political messages, advertisements, social media, and fear, we must discern which voice guides our lives. Preaching from Isaiah 30:21, Pastor Marben Bland reminds us that Judah trusted Egypt instead of consulting God. We make the same mistake when we move...
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Are You Listening to the Right Voice?
Send us Fan Mail Early voting in Georgia begins in 38 days, and many voices are vying for our attention. Judah faced the same struggle. Threatened by Assyria, God’s people trusted Egypt rather than listening to the God who had delivered them. Yet through Isaiah, the Lord declared, “Whether you…
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The Competitive Advantage of Hearing God’s Voice
Send us Fan Mail Jack Welch, the legendary CEO of General Electric, developed different voices for different leadership situations. Despite his stutter and thick Boston accent, he learned how to make himself heard. Communication became his competitive advantage. Judah also needed an advantage…
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Using Your Greatness to Bless Others
Send us Fan Mail What if the greatness God placed in you was never meant for your own glory, but for someone else's breakthrough? This Sunday's message reminded us that in God's kingdom, greatness is not measured by how many people know your name, but by how many people you serve. Through the…
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Use Your Gift. Fulfill the Vision
Send us Fan Mail Paul declared in Acts 26:19, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” That vision belongs to every believer. In Matthew 28:16–20, Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. First Peter 4:10–11 reminds us that God has given each of us gifts—not for personal...
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Your Greatness Is for Others
Send us Fan Mail Your greatness was never meant to end with you. God placed gifts, experiences, influence, and opportunities within you to strengthen someone. In Acts 22:3–15, Saul’s encounter with Jesus redirected his knowledge and passion from persecution to Kingdom service. Ephesians 2:10...
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Sermon: Growing the Greatness God Placed Within You
Send us Fan Mail In his sermon, “Growing the Greatness God Placed Within You,” the Reverend Marben Bland reminds us that God has already placed greatness within each of us—but that greatness must be developed. Through Stephen’s courageous witness in Acts 6–7, we learn that faith is demonstrated…
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God Planted Greatness in You
Send us Fan Mail What kind of legacy will your life leave? Join Pastor Marben Bland as he begins the inspiring new sermon series, "Multiplying the Greatness in You." Drawing from Ephesians 2:10, this message reminds us that God has intentionally planted greatness in every believer. Using the...
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Johnnie Lay Burks: God's Workmanship for His Glory
Send us Fan Mail This week, the Athens, Georgia, community paused to celebrate the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Johnnie Lay Burks. Her obituary describes her best: "Mrs. Burks was known throughout Georgia as an educator, trailblazer, educational leader, and woman of unwavering faith.…
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Greatness Beyond Doubt
Send us Fan Mail Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God's workmanship, intentionally created and uniquely gifted for a purpose He prepared long before we were born. Yet many of us never experience that purpose because, like Thomas, we allow doubt, fear, limited understanding, and...
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Sermon - A Godly View Of Retirement
Send us Fan Mail Retirement may mark the end of a career, but it is never the end of God's calling. In this encouraging message, Rev. Marben Bland reminds us that God never retires His people. Through the lives of Moses, Caleb, and Anna, we discover that our greatest season of ministry may still…
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A Godly View of Retirement
Send us Fan Mail An estimated four million Americans will celebrate their 65th birthday this year, and more people than ever are entering retirement. Thanks to advances in healthcare, retirement is no longer just a few short years. The Social Security Administration reports that the average...
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God's Gift, Our Mission
Send us Fan Mail God has always given His people what they need to fulfill His purpose. Ephesians 4 reminds us that Christ gave leaders to equip believers for ministry and build His Church. One expression of that gift is the African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded through Richard Allen's…
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Sermon:Love: God's Greatest Revolution
Send us Fan Mail What kind of revolution can truly change the world? Not one fought with bullets or ballots, but one transformed by the love of Jesus Christ. Join Rev. Marben Bland, Pastor of Greater Bethel AME Church, as he explores Jesus' revolutionary command: "Love your enemies and pray for...
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Love God's Greatest Revolution
Send us Fan Mail As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, remember that the greatest revolution began long before America, in the words of Jesus. In Matthew 5:44, Christ commands, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” That challenges every human...
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Called To Lead: Rev. Dr. Greta Fowler, Candidate For AME Bishop 2028
Send us Fan Mail Host: Marben Bland Guest: Reverend Dr. Greta Fowler, Candidate for Bishop (2028) What happens when God calls you to something you never planned to pursue? In this inspiring conversation, Reverend Dr. Greta Fowler shares the deeply personal journey that led her to become a…
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Women Belong
Send us Fan Mail Recently, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to move closer to a permanent ban on women serving in pastoral leadership roles. While I respect each denomination's right to interpret Scripture as it understands it, I reach a different conclusion based on the witness of God's…
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Every Vote Counts: Building Power Through Civic Engagement
Send us Fan Mail Does your vote really matter? According to former Georgia State Representative Karen Bennett, the answer is a resounding yes. In this insightful episode, host Marben Bland sits down with Bennett to discuss the power of voting, the challenges facing voter participation, and her…
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Is Anything Too Wonderful for the Lord?
Send us Fan Mail When Sarah heard God's promise that she would have a son in her old age, she laughed. The promise seemed impossible. After all, Abraham is ninety-nine years old, and Sarah is nearly ninety. Yet God responded with a question that still challenges us today: “Is anything too…
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Sermon: Follow Me - The Secret of Great Leadership
Send us Fan Mail What if the greatest leaders are not those who lead first, but those who learn to follow? In this powerful message from Matthew 9:9, Pastor Marben Bland explores Jesus’ call to Matthew the tax collector and reveals a timeless truth: leadership begins with discipleship. Through…
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Called To Follow
Send us Fan Mail In Matthew 9:9–13, Jesus does something remarkable—He calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him. Matthew was not considered righteous or respectable by society. Yet Jesus saw beyond his past and into his potential. With two simple words, “Follow Me,” Jesus offered Matthew a…
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Your Best Days Are Still Ahead
Send us Fan Mail These are the five signs that you're aging with power, purpose, and promise. So if you can still pray like Simon, you're aging with power. If you can still climb mountains like Jacob, you're aging with purpose. If you can still learn like Apollos, you're aging with promise. If…
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The Five Signs That You Are Aging With Power, Purpose, and Promise
Send us Fan Mail Are your best days behind you—or could God still have greater things ahead? In this inspiring 28-minute sermon, Pastor Marben Bland explores five biblical signs that reveal whether we are aging with God's power, purpose, and promise. Drawing from the lives of Simeon, Caleb,...
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Devotional: Aging with Power, Purpose, and Promise
Send us Fan Mail Growing older is not about what we lose but about how God continues to shape and use us for His glory. Through the Holy Spirit, we can still pray faithfully, move with purpose, grow in God’s Word, and remain mentally sharp. The Holy Trinity reminds us that the Father loves us…
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Receiving and Walking in Power
Send us Fan Mail Jesus commanded His disciples: "Do not leave Jerusalem until you receive power." God never intended His people to live powerless lives. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, providing power for identity, discernment, impact, and witness. Yet many…
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Walking in Spiritual Discernment
Send us Fan Mail At Pentecost, the Spirit granted supernatural understanding—people heard God's message in their own language. Today, believers urgently need Pentecostal discernment. We live in an age of sophisticated deception, where truth is manipulated and motives are concealed. The Holy…
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Discovering Your God-Given Identity
Send us Fan Mail Before God can use you publicly, He must settle you privately. The Holy Spirit's first work is establishing your identity—not in your accomplishments, failures, or others' opinions, but in God's sovereign choice. You are chosen, royal, holy, and belonging to God. This is not...
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Healthy Souls, Healthy Bodies: God’s Plan for Total Wellness
Send us Fan Mail Physical and spiritual health are both gifts from God that require intentional care and daily stewardship. The Apostle Paul reminds us in First Corinthians 6:19 that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Just as prayer, worship, and Scripture strengthen our spirit, movement,...
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Powered by the Holy Spirit : 4 Ways God Empowers You
Send us Fan Mail Everybody wants power. Politicians spend millions chasing it. Corporations fight for it. But Pastor Marben Bland reminds us this Pentecost Sunday that there is a power money cannot buy—the power of the Holy Spirit! In this dynamic 27-minute sermon, Powered By The Holy Spirit…
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Maddox Center Radio Announcement
Send us Fan Mail Grace and peace to the Athens community. I am Pastor Marben Bland of Greater Bethel AME Church. After prayer, careful study, and a unanimous church vote, Greater Bethel has decided to demolish the Maddox Center building within the next 60 days. For more than 40 years, the…
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Rooted by a Mother’s Faith
Send us Fan Mail This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the power of a mother who plants her children in the right place. In 1 Samuel 2:11 (NRSV), the Bible says, “The boy was ministering to the Lord.” That didn’t happen by accident—Hannah placed Samuel in an environment where he could grow in God’s...
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Sermon: From The Pit to Purpose
Send us Fan Mail From the pit to the palace—Joseph's story reminds us that what others mean for evil, God can turn for good! Genesis 50:20 declares that even in betrayal, abandonment, and injustice, God is working out His purpose in our lives. You may be in a pit of despair, trapped by…
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From the Pit to Purpose: Staying Rooted When Life Breaks You
Send us Fan Mail “From the Pit to Purpose: Staying Rooted When Life Breaks You” I am Marben Bland, Pastor of the Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia, with a Living The Word Moment The recent tragedies involving the former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and the...
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Don't Waist The Loss
Send us Fan Mail What can losing teach us about discipleship? More than we often realize. Loss has a way of revealing what success hides. It humbles us, stretches us, and pushes us closer to God. Scripture reminds us in Romans 5:3–4 that suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. Job lost...
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Sermon - The Four Hallmarks Of Disciple
Send us Fan Mail The question isn't whether you know Jesus—it's whether you're living like His disciple! In his sermon, " The Four Hallmarks of Discipleship”, Pastor Marben Bland unpacked the foundation of discipleship from Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus didn't just give us a religion to practice—He…
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From Believer to Disciple
Send us Fan Mail After the resurrection, Jesus didn’t just celebrate victory—He gave an assignment. In Matthew 28:18–20, He calls us to go and make disciples. This reminds us that faith is not passive—it’s purposeful. A true disciple follows Jesus fully (Luke 9:23), choosing surrender over…
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Devotional:What can losing teach us about discipleship?”
Send us Fan Mail Loss has a way of revealing what success often hides. After a tough championship game defeat, University of South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley didn’t deny the pain—she owned it: “We’ve got to figure out how we get better.” That mindset reflects a deeper spiritual truth—loss is not...
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The Promise Of Paradise
Send us Fan Mail The 2nd of the 7 last words of Jesus recorded live at First AME Church, Athens, Georgia The Promise Of Paradise You know, as we grow older, we find ourselves thinking about death more often. And if we’re honest, it’s because we’re confronted with it more. With every passing year,...
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When God Feels Silent
Send us Fan Mail This is one of the most raw and real moments of the cross. Jesus expresses pain, abandonment, and deep anguish. Yet even here, He is quoting Scripture, anchoring Himself in truth. We’ve all had moments where God feels distant—when prayers seem unanswered and silence feels...
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Seen, Known, and Loved
Send us Fan Mail Even in agony, Jesus demonstrates love, care, and compassion. His third word from the cross wasn’t about His pain—it was about relationship. He ensured His mother was cared for, creating a new spiritual family rooted in connection and community. This moment reminds us that God…
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Salvation in the Final Hour
Send us Fan Mail Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43 In His second word from the cross, Jesus speaks hope, salvation, and eternal life to a dying criminal. No time for good works. No chance to fix his past. Yet in a single moment of faith, everything changed.…
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About this show
The Marben Bland Podcast is where faith meets real life. Hosted by Pastor Marben Bland, this show features powerful sermons, uplifting devotionals, and engaging interviews with leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. Each episode offers spiritual insight and practical wisdom to help you grow in faith, lead with purpose, and live with impact. Whether you're on your morning walk or your evening drive, tune in for thoughtful content that feeds the soul and inspires action.
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Marben Bland
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