Great Oaks Community Church: Recent Episodes
Great Oaks Community Church
On Sunday, Pastor Jake started our new series – “God Help Me”. Have you ever said “God help me”? Have you ever just felt desperate for things to change? You’re not alone. Everyone – Christ-follower or not; church person or not; religious or not – has times in their lives when they are desperate for change. And here’s what we want you to hear: when you cry out in desperation -- God help me! – God shows up. We don’t know what you’re going through, but we know this: God is near. He’s not an idea, a philosophy, a religion, or hobby. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all that is. He is big, mighty, and powerful. AND He is right here. He loves you. He cares for you. He hears you. He will help you. He’s the God of miracles.
In our fifth and final week of the Family Matters series, Pastor Jake explored the importance of operating from a forgiving heart. We have discussed how families are built for success when we place our faith in God at the center of family, when we seek to honor one another at all times, when we commit ourselves spiritually to God and our loved ones, and when we willfully guard how we prioritize our time for family and God. In spite of our greatest efforts, we all fall short in each of these areas. This means we must learn to extend grace to one another by offering forgiveness no matter what. Very few people inside or outside the church are doubting this is a big deal, but this doesn’t change the reality that this truth is hard to act out. In fact, without the power of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible. To illustrate the importance of this truth and help alter the perspective from which we consider forgiveness, Pastor Jake shared three tales. Each tale was built from a passage of Scripture, and each contained a biblical truth.
In our fourth week of the Family Matters series, Pastor Jake talked about TIME. This is the family matter that often gets in the way of all the others in our families. When you look around at the pace of our lives and the ink covering our calendars, it’s not difficult to see that we are a culture addicted to activity. Many of us are simply running our families ragged. We’re exhausted each night, wishing for more sleep as our finish line for today becomes our starting line for tomorrow with no rest between. We don’t even have time to stop and consider how busy we are. And if we ever do get time for that, we’re quick to call it a “season”, make excuses, and jump back into the same busyness that was crushing us a moment before. The truth is that busyness follows us from season to season. This is why people of every age and season of life complain about it.
Pastor Jake spent some time covering statistics that speak to the overall state of the family in our country right now. There were a lot of statistics in there that can be found with the sheet attached. The statistics are alarming and, yet, not surprising when we consider the devaluation of the family. Family matters! As a follower of Christ, family is the most important thing you will ever be involved in apart from your relationship with Jesus Christ. And yet it’s also the most difficult.
We are nearing the end of our study of 1 Peter as we began chapter 5 this past Sunday. We have been focusing on what it means to live a life Set Apart for Christ through Christ as instructed in Apostle Peter’s letter to the church. If you recall, Peter titled us elect exiles to remind us that our decision to follow Christ sets us apart as citizens of Heaven who are still called to live a life and serve a purpose while on earth. One of the ways this purpose plays out is the way we lead others through the church and how we follow.
Chapter 5 begins with Peter addressing his fellow elders and proclaiming why he his is fit to exercise oversight over them due to what he witnessed alongside Christ. As a leader in the church, Peter made it clear the roles and expectations of those in the church. As Christ followers, our intentionality in the decisions we make determines the direction we are going. If we aim for nothing we’ll hit it every time.
Pastor Jake had us looking at what a blessing looks like from two different vantage points: one from heaven and one from earth. The first vantage point helps us see and recognize how are blessed and the second vantage point shows us how we are to be a blessing to others.
Pastor Bill picked up where we left off in Peter’s letter to the church. We have explored what he meant when he refers to us as Elect Exiles. We explored what it means to become reborn in spirit by the Spirit of God. We explored how this process gives puts a living hope inside of us because new life comes with it. We are looking forward to the day when Christ returns; thus, we live as if there is work to be done while we are here on earth. Even though we do not belong here, we were chosen to be here. We are set apart.
How we identify in life is a big deal. For instance, many of us might identify with such things as introverted or extroverted. Conservative or liberal. Blue collar or white collar. Health nut or junk food junkie. How we choose to identify has huge implications in our life because it determines the choices we make. Our identity determines our direction. Who we are determines what we do. Pastor Jake was quoted saying, “your who determines your do.” Building on the last three weeks of the series, Sunday’s sermon took a closer look at how Peter tells us we are to identify as a people set apart.
Pastor Jessie continued our summer series Set Apart. This week we looked at 1 Peter 1:3-12 and discussed how we are set apart for hope. In the message, we learned that those who are committed Jesus followers are born again into a living hope. Being born again was described as an act of God where he transforms you into a new person, forgives your sin, grants you eternal life, and gives you the gift of his Holy Spirit as you, by faith, embrace Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. http://bible.com/events/632632
On Sunday, Pastor Jake kicked off our “Set Apart” series, which will be a verse-by-verse study through the book of 1 Peter. This study will take us the entire Summer to complete. The goal of this first message was to anchor the entire series to the purpose of 1 Peter. Pastor Jake talked about his experience in China and how he constantly felt like he didn’t belong (because he didn’t) and yet he knew he was called to be there. A tension existed between those two truths – I don’t belong and yet I’m called. In the opening verses of Peter’s letter, he calls his recipients “elect exiles”. To most Jewish Christ-followers reading this, this phrase would read as an oxymoron. “Elect” and “exiles” are opposites. How can one be chosen by God and yet also exiled by Him (since the people of Israel were exiled as punishment for their disobedience)?
We are in week 5 of 6 in our series called “Redacted”. We would never take a sharpie to the Scriptures to mark out what we don’t like, but what about the Bible in our hearts? Often we live like parts of the Bible just aren’t in the Bible. We pick and choose as if it’s up to us what is from God and what isn’t. We redact what makes us uncomfortable or may cost us something. However, 2 Timothy 3 says very clearly that ALL Scripture is God-breathed. This week, Pastor Jake preached on the Biblical idea that God has a specific design for sex and sexuality. We see this truth clearly being attacked by the Enemy (quite successfully) as we look at how sex and sexuality are discussed and approached in our world. This was illustrated in the sermon as Pastor Jake pointed out the research that shows how quickly people are able to let go of something they believe is true when they are outnumbered by people who disagree with them.
Pastor Jake read through a number of Proverbs, as well as a passage in Isaiah 58 and one in Matthew 25 that clearly show God’s people are called to not sit by and ignore those who are hurting and in need. Those of us who are fortunate enough to live without such struggles may be in danger of redacting God’s clear commands to help those around us who are struggling—the poor, the abused, the orphans, the homeless, the widows and those who are alone. It is not enough for us to live a life that does not oppress others who are struggling, those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ are clearly called by God’s word to step up and help. Pastor Jake shared some statistics of the number of people both nationally and closer to home who are in desperate need. Nationwide, there are 400,000 and 550,000 homeless people. In Illinois, 18,000 kids are living in a foster home, over 3,000 of them are waiting to be adopted today, and over 10,000 people are homeless. 360 people are living in homeless shelters in Peoria alone. In the Peoria area, there are 1,242 kids in foster homes and 168 of them are ready to be adopted right now. And yet the most heartbreaking statistics are these: 350,000 protestant churches exist in our nation, 6,400 Evangelical churches are in our state, and 250 churches call the Peoria Area their home!
We are in week 3 of 6 in our series called “Redacted”. We would never take a sharpie to the Scriptures to mark out what we don’t like, but what about the Bible in our hearts? Often we live like parts of the Bible just aren’t in the Bible. We pick and choose as if it’s up to us what is from God and what isn’t. We redact what makes us uncomfortable or may cost us something. However, 2 Timothy 3 says very clearly that all Scripture is God-breathed. In this third week of the series, Pastor Jake preached on the idea that what Jesus wants from us is relationship not religion. We are not machines and relationships are not math. In our marriages and other relationships, if we treated them like we do following Jesus, they wouldn’t last long at all. If we boiled our relationship with our spouse, kids, or friends down to a checklist, we would fail. That’s not how relationships work
In this second week of the series, Pastor Jake preached on the reality of hell. Many people have removed the idea of hell from their understanding of what the Bible says because they have rationalized a loving God would never choose to send anyone to hell. This just simply is not the case though. Romans 11:22 says “note then the kindness and severity of God…” In Matthew 18, we see Jesus warning his disciples that it would be better for them to enter life crippled or lame or with one eye if our hands or feet or eyes cause us to sin and be thrown into the hell of fire. In Matthew 25, Jesus warns His listeners that they will be rejected and thrown into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels if they do not obey God’s commands and display His love to the least of those among them.
On Easter Sunday, Pastor Jake began a new series called “Redacted”. This series will be 6 weeks long. We would never take a sharpie to the Scriptures to mark out what we don’t like, but what about the Bible in our hearts? Often we live like parts of the Bible just aren’t in the Bible. We pick and choose as if it’s up to us what is from God and what isn’t. We redact what makes us uncomfortable or may cost us something. However, 2 Timothy 3 says very clearly that all Scripture is God-breathed. The truth is that a redacted version of God’s Word is no longer God’s Word. It’s an all-or-nothing kind of deal. In this first week of the series, Pastor Jake preached on Jesus being the only way to the Father. John 14:6 is very clear about this and yet many (inside and outside of church) live like it is not true. They ask questions like, “how could God not let sincere, good people into Heaven just because they don’t know Jesus?” and “Did Jesus really mean that literally?”
In the “Dear Church” series, we are studying the 7 letters from Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. This week, we looked at the 7th and final letter – the one to the church in Laodicea. In the Bible, Jesus said some things that are pretty difficult to take. Most of these 7 letters have at least one of those things. This letter might be the one that proves that best. We could get into a bunch of historical facts and background about the city, but the letter itself is actually very easy to understand. Jesus is straightforward, so don’t get lost in the weeds. It may not be easy to accept, but it is easy to understand. Jesus tells the church at Laodicea something none of us want to hear come out of His mouth – you make me sick! He calls them lukewarm and says He will soon spit them out of His mouth.
He opens what no one can shut and shuts what no one can open…you can trust Him. No criticism for Philadelphia. They had little power and yet “kept my word.” Do you keep God’s Word only when it’s easy or when it’s difficult too? When you feel powerless, do you reach for it or something else? Faith is not the highway everyone seems to act like it is. It doesn’t move fast. Movement measured by years and decades, not moments and days. It’s a crawl. It requires patient endurance. Perseverance. We don’t like to talk about that these days, but that’s really the key isn’t it? To make it to the end. To persevere. To endure. Jesus is coming soon. Hold fast until He does!!!
In the “Dear Church” series, we are studying the 7 letters from Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. This week, we looked at the 5th letter – the one to the church in Sardis. In this letter, Jesus calls the church in Sardis (and us) to wake up and look at the how our works are lacking. Jesus tells the church in Sardis that they have the appearance and reputation of being alive, but they are actually dead. The letter continues by warning the people of what will happen to those who do not stop what they are doing, repent, and change their direction. Unlike the other churches that we have already read about, Sardis has a small minority of people who are faithful to God’s Word because they not only hear it, but they receive it and remember it. They follow it, do it, keep it… live it. Jesus lets everyone know that these people will remain with Him in white garments and their names will not be blotted out from the Book of Life.
In the “Dear Church” series, we are studying the 7 letters from Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. This week, we looked at the 4th letter – the one to the church in Thyatira. In this letter, Jesus calls the church in Thyatira (and us) to look at their actions (not just beliefs and words) and He warns them (and us) against being deceived by false teachers/prophets. This letter is a harsh rebuke! So let’s talk about false teachers & false prophets real quick. The Bible warns over and over against false teachers and prophets. 1 Peter 2:1 says “there will be false teachers among you.” They are everywhere – right here, right now. Satan is the counterfeiter. Galatians 1 says he has a false gospel. 2 Corinthians 11 says that false gospel is preached by false ministers and produces false Christians. Matthew 13 tells us that Satan plants his counterfeits wherever God plants true believers. The devil is working overtime trying to confuse and deceive God’s people with false teaching. He was doing it in 95AD in some of the first churches to ever exist and he is doing it right now. So be watchful! Not everyone with a pulpit, a publisher, or a program on TV is speaking the Truth of God. Not everyone who sounds good and makes you feel good is from God. Jezebel was a leader in the church at Thyatira. She’s someone who has professed faith in Jesus; who people listen to. False teachers are everywhere…inside the church, so you have to be careful.
Jesus’ letter to the church there is a warning (to them and us) against compromise. There are those in the church at Pergamum that have compromised the Truth of God and accepted the false teaching of Balaam. Balaam was a prophet in the Old Testament book of Numbers that was offered a lot of money by the Moabite king (Balak) to curse the Israelites. He tried 3 times but was unable to curse them. Each time, God only allowed him to bless His people. Balaam said that God’s people cannot be cursed in that way. They are protected. So he faced a dilemma. He couldn’t get the job done and yet he wanted to get paid. So, he came up with a plan. He told the king to send Moabite women to the people of Israel to entice them to sexual immorality. He advised the king to send these women with their idols and sacrifices to those idols to further entangle the Israelites in sin. He knew that although he could not curse them from afar, they could bring themselves under a curse through sin, rebellion, and disobedience. It worked! Because of their sin, the Lord sent a plague on the people of Israel that killed 24,000 people.
In our “Dear Church” series, we’re studying the 7 letters to the 7 churches from Jesus in Revelation 2 and 3. This week, we looked at the second letter – the letter to Smyrna. This letter would be a tough one to receive from Jesus. Smyrna was a top tier city in its day – considered first in Asia, beautiful, prosperous, safe, and fun. And yet the Christ-followers there were heavily persecuted. They were suffering – poor, slandered, bullied, thrown in prison, and killed.
Week one was all about the first letter which was written to the church in Ephesus. The opening of the letter has a lot of encouraging words showing that Jesus is pleased with a lot of what the people in the church are doing. He says He knows their works. He sees that they are patient and enduring many difficulties. He sees that they have not grown weary. He knows that they have been tested by false teachers who claim to be apostles and have remained steadfast. And all this is all being done for Christ’s namesake.
In week 3 of our series on the Lord’s Prayer (Teach Us to Pray), Pastor Jake talked about the third part of the prayer. Remember – this prayer is not just for memorization and recitation. Jesus was teaching His disciples (and us) not what to pray but how to pray. “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name.” First, we pray from a revelation of who God is. Then last week we tackled the second part – “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” – and we said we pray from God’s will. God’s will is the foundation we lay our prayers upon. This week was on Luke 11:3-4, which says this: “Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” So now we learn that we pray from God’s provision.
In week 2 of our series on the Lord’s Prayer (Teach Us to Pray), Pastor Jake talked about the second part of the prayer. Remember – this prayer is not just for memorization and recitation. Jesus was teaching His disciples (and us) not what to pray but how to pray. So we start by praying from a revelation of who God is. He’s our Father in Heaven. He’s holy. The second part of the prayer is “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Pastor Jake’s main point was that we pray from God’s will. In other words, God’s will is the foundation we lay our prayers upon. Prayer is not just asking for things. It’s more than that. It includes listening, worshipping, thankfulness, humbling ourselves before God, and more. Prayer is about drawing close to God. In doing that, we discover His will and pray from it with confidence. We pray that His Kingdom would invade our little kingdom; that anything in competition with His sovereignty and control would be overcome by Him; that our whole lives (inside and out) would become “the King’s domain”.
It’s communication with God. There are many types. It’s not just memorized prayers, kneeling down, by yourself, KJV voice, etc. It’s constant communication with God. Concerted/set-aside, longer time for prayer is vital, but you can and should also pray in your car, when you see someone in need, while you’re on the treadmill, etc. It’s talking AND listening. How do you recognize His voice? How do you recognize anyone’s voice? If your dad were to call you from an unknown number, would you recognize his voice? Of course you would. Why? Because you’ve heard it so many times. It’s the same with God. The more you pray, the more you recognize His voice. It takes time and practice.
Pastor Jake has introduced three different areas of focus that we will cover over in this series: inward, outward, and together. Last week, we discussed the inward focus, specifically study of and meditation on God’s Word. This week, we will discuss the outward focus. Pastor Jake mentioned 4 disciplines in this category: Solitude, Service, Submission, and Simplicity. Since we live in a culture consumed with our stuff, the Lord led him to teach mainly on the idea of simplicity (a spiritual discipline most of us could use some help with). Globally speaking, we live in an unbelievably rich and affluent place. We have more stuff and complexity in our lives than any other culture before us, in the history of the world. All this stuff was supposed to give us more time and make things simpler, but it hasn’t. It’s only produced lives bloated with things to do, material possessions to protect, trinkets to shine, notifications to check
Pastor Jake has introduced three different areas of focus that we will cover over in this series: inward, outward, and together. Last week, we discussed the inward focus, specifically study of and meditation on God’s Word. This week, we will discuss the outward focus. Pastor Jake mentioned 4 disciplines in this category: Solitude, Service, Submission, and Simplicity. Since we live in a culture consumed with our stuff, the Lord led him to teach mainly on the idea of simplicity (a spiritual discipline most of us could use some help with). Globally speaking, we live in an unbelievably rich and affluent place. We have more stuff and complexity in our lives than any other culture before us, in the history of the world. All this stuff was supposed to give us more time and make things simpler, but it hasn’t. It’s only produced lives bloated with things to do, material possessions to protect, trinkets to shine, notifications to check.
Looking all the way back to the beginning, we see that Adam and Even were created for perfect fellowship with God, but sin changed all of this. We now live in an imperfect world and inherit an imperfect nature. It is the reason why we struggle with sin so much. However, that longing to have a perfect fellowship with God still remains in all of us and is the reason behind our desire to want more in our lives. It is why we exhaust our time, money, and resources in an attempt to improve ourselves; but, no matter how many goals we set and complete, we never feel complete. The reason for this is because we can lose our focus from the things God calls us to do.
Pastor Nateended the year off with a message about Killing Criticism. He likened criticism to the acid we used in the class of chemistry that burned everything it touched. It ate a hole in a block of wood, grafted deep scars in a metal bowl and destroyed a plastic tablet permanently. We used goggles and gloves and special beakers to hold the caustic fluid, but we were still hesitant andscared. The warnings of our teacher had brought a healthy fear of injury to our minds. Many of us opted out of the experiment and took the necessary steps as soon and carefully as possible, relieved when we could get rid of the poisonous fluid.
Pastor Jake continued our Christmas series “Vantage Point”, telling the story of Christmas as the “Story Teller” from four different vantage points. Every other story is connected to this story; like streams flowing into rivers, and then into the ocean, every other story flows into this one in some way, but it’s not just a story. It’s the story. It’s history, but it’s not just history. It is the history. This story changed everything; set humanity on a different course. At its core, this is a story of redemption and grace. It’s a love story about a prince who leaves his castle to win back His bride. It’s an adventure story about a hero who crosses into enemy territory to rescue the prisoners held in darkness. It’s this epic tale about the deepest kind of love…love that sacrifices all, gives all, shuns all…for people that don’t deserve it in the least.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake kicked off our Christmas series “Vantage Point.” Christmas is not just a story. This does not go in the category of fairy tale. It’s not just a tradition. It’s bigger than that. This epic tale…it changed everything. It is the most important thing to ever happen anywhere. It changed human history. It set the earth itself on a different track. It changed the lives of billions upon billions. But not only that…what we’re talking about changed more than human history, because it transcends time. It’s eternal. It reaches back to the beginning and beyond…and all the way to the end and beyond.
Pastor Jake and his wife Erin preached the last week in our November Marriage Series called “Fixer Upper”. When you’re buying a house or building a house, you have to realize that things will never be perfect. There will always be things that need fixing. Things will happen to the house; things will fall apart; as years go by, you’re going to have to do some updating and some remodeling. You’ll have to maintain things if you want that house to last. Really every house is a “fixer upper” eventually. And it’s the same with marriage. Every marriage is a fixer upper. There are no perfect matches or easy relationships. Every marriage has its ups and downs.
On Sunday, we talked specifically about “building your marriage to last”. God may be the one “joining people together” in marriage, but He’s not the one separating them. That’s on us. Much of the time marriages end simply because the people in them don’t work hard to build them to last. They expect them to just stay strong on their own. But if you’re going to make it to your 50th anniversary, it will not be by accident. You will have to work hard to keep your “house” from falling down around you.
Pastor Jake preached the third week in our November Marriage Series called “Fixer Upper”. When you’re buying a house or building a house, you have to realize that things will never be perfect. There will always be things that need fixing. Things will happen to the house; things will fall apart; as years go by, you’re going to have to do some updating and some remodeling. You’ll have to maintain things if you want that house to last. Really every house is a “fixer upper” eventually. And it’s the same with marriage. Every marriage is a fixer upper. There are no perfect matches or easy relationships. Every marriage has its ups and downs.
On Sunday, we launched our November Marriage Series called “Fixer Upper”. When you’re buying a house or building a house, you have to realize that things will never be perfect. There will always be things that need fixing. Things will happen to the house; things will fall apart; as years go by, you’re going to have to do some updating and some remodeling. You’ll have to maintain things if you want that house to last. Really every house is a “fixer upper” eventually. And it’s the same with marriage. Every marriage is a fixer upper. There are no perfect matches or easy relationships. Every marriage has its ups and downs. When we buy a house we know that we’ll have to fix things. We know there will be maintenance, upkeep, and unforeseen expenses. No one goes into home-ownership thinking that signing the contract is the end of their worries. And yet a lot of us approach marriage that way. As if the wedding day is the goal and the end. We don’t plan. We aren’t intentional. We don’t call the experts when things get outside of our ability to fix. We just assume it’s “all going to work out”. Why? “Because we love each other.”
Pastor Jake wrapped up our “Red Letters” series (week 6 of 6), going through 6 passages within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus’ sermon is kind of like a family meeting. The people listening have expressed interest in being His followers (disciples). Now He’s sitting them down and talking with them about what that means for their lives and how His representatives should compare to others in the world. He’s taking on relevant topic after topic; issue after issue – anger, lust, divorce, greed, worrying, judging, and more. And He’s saying, “Here’s how our family will act. Here’s how we’ll be different. Here’s how My follower will live.”
Pastor Jake preached week 5 of our “Red Letters” series, going through 6 passages within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus’ sermon is kind of like a family meeting. The people listening have expressed interest in being His followers (disciples). Now He’s sitting them down and talking with them about what that means for their lives and how His representatives should compare to others in the world. He’s taking on relevant topic after topic; issue after issue – anger, lust, divorce, greed, worrying, judging, and more. And He’s saying, “Here’s how our family will act. Here’s how we’ll be different. Here’s how My follower will live.”
Pastor Jake preached week 4 of our “Red Letters” series which will have us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for six weeks total. Jesus’ sermon is kind of like a family meeting. The people listening have expressed interest in being His followers (disciples). Now He’s sitting them down and talking with them about what that means for their lives and how His representatives should compare to others in the world. He’s taking on relevant topic after topic; issue after issue; sin after sin – anger, lust, divorce, greed, worrying, judging, and more. And He’s saying, “Here’s how our family will act. Here’s how we’ll be different. Here’s how My follower will live.”
Pastor Jake preached week 2 of our “Red Letters” series which will have us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for six weeks. Jesus’ sermon is kind of like a family meeting. The people listening have expressed interest in being His followers (disciples). Now He’s sitting them down and talking with them about what that means for their lives and how His representatives should compare to others in the world. He’s taking on relevant topic after topic; issue after issue; sin after sin – anger, lust, divorce, money, worrying, judging. And He’s saying, “Here’s how our family will act. Here’s how we’ll be different. Here’s how My follower will live.”
Pastor Jake preached week 2 of our “Red Letters” series which will have us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for six weeks. Jesus’ sermon is kind of like a family meeting. The people listening have expressed interest in being His followers (disciples). Now He’s sitting them down and talking with them about what that means for their lives and how His representatives should compare to others in the world. He’s taking on relevant topic after topic; issue after issue; sin after sin – anger, lust, divorce, money, worrying, judging. And He’s saying, “Here’s how our family will act. Here’s how we’ll be different. Here’s how My follower will live.”
Pastor Jake preached week 2 of our “Red Letters” series which will have us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for six weeks. Jesus’ sermon is kind of like a family meeting. The people listening have expressed interest in being His followers (disciples). Now He’s sitting them down and talking with them about what that means for their lives and how His representatives should compare to others in the world. He’s taking on relevant topic after topic; issue after issue; sin after sin – anger, lust, divorce, money, worrying, judging. And He’s saying, “Here’s how our family will act. Here’s how we’ll be different. Here’s how My follower will live.”
Pastor Jake kicked off our “Red Letters” series which will have us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for six weeks. The idea is that when you look at those chapters in Matthew, you see a sea of red letters in your Bible. It’s the longest grouping of Jesus’ teaching in the Scriptures. We won’t hit every topic/passage in this series, but we will cover a lot. This sermon of Jesus’ is very direct and practical. For a while by this point, Jesus has been proclaiming to the people: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 4:17). He has a good group of people following Him. So in Matthew 5 He sits on the slope of a mountain and begins to teach them very practically what a life that belongs to Jesus looks like. In other words, He lays out how His family should live, act, and think: “This is what you should be if you bear My name.”
Pastor Jake preached week 2 in our “Follow Me” series. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Does your life say the same thing? You can’t get around the “follow me” part of that. The truth is that everyone is involved in discipleship whether they realize it or not. It just may have nothing to do with Jesus. You are already a follower. The question is who are you following? You already have people following you. The question is which way are you leading them? Mark Dever wrote, “To be human is to be a disciple. God didn’t present Adam and Eve with a choice between discipleship and independence, but between following him and following Satan. We are all disciples; the only question is, of whom?” Whoever we are following, we are also leading others to follow. So, in the end its about what we want to leave behind. When we exit off of the highway of this life and into the next, what will we leave behind? It will be followers. But followers of whom?
Pastor Jake started our new 3-wk series called “Follow Me”. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Does your life say the same thing? You can’t get around the “follow me” part of that. The truth is that everyone is involved in discipleship whether they realize it or not. It just may have nothing to do with Jesus. You are already a follower. The question is who are you following? You already have people following you. The question is which way are you leading them? Mark Dever wrote, “To be human is to be a disciple. God didn’t present Adam and Eve with a choice between discipleship and independence, but between following him and following Satan. We are all disciples; the only question is, of whom?” Whoever we are following, we are also leading others to follow. So, in the end its about what we want to leave behind. When we exit off of the highway of this life and into the next, what will we leave behind? It will be followers. But followers of whom?
Pastor Jake preached the last message in our Summer series on the book of Colossians. This week’s message was on Colossians 4:7-18. Pastor Jake shared that he’s been learning the guitar this year. He said on Sunday, “Here’s something I’ve learned about my guitar. It’s worthless if no one who knows how to play it ever picks it up. It just sits in the corner. It can’t do tricks. It can’t sweep the floor. It can’t answer questions like Alexa. It’s useless. If no one with even a little skill is ever going to play my guitar, it’d be better used as firewood, or maybe home defense. But...as soon as someone with the tiniest bit of skill picks it up, tunes it, and starts playing it... When they start using it to worship God and lead others to worship God, this guitar’s worth shines through. It’s no longer just wood and string. No longer just decoration. No longer worthless. And in the right hands, it’s...incredible. In the right hands, my guitar can bring people to tears, move the hearts of thousands, draw people into God’s presence. In the right hands it has so much value; so much worth. But left alone or in the wrong hands, it really is worthless, isn’t it? And the more it’s left alone and allowed to sit unplayed, the more difficult it’ll be to get it back in tune were it ever picked up again.
Pastor Jake continued our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. This week’s message was on Colossians 4:2-6. In this passage, the Apostle Paul give us direction about something we all struggle with: communication. He writes about communication with God (prayer) and communication with “outsiders” and unbelievers (evangelism).
Pastor Jake continued our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. This week’s message was on Colossians 3:1-17. In this passage, the Apostle Paul does what many modern churches never do – he gets very specific about sin. He draws lines and gets detailed about what it looks like to be a Christ-follower and what it looks like to not be one. He warns, rebukes, and raises the standard. We may take this kind of correction from a doctor or a coach, but we’re rarely open to it at church. And yet, the Bible is constantly going from lofty, theological concepts to real life. In other words, God is very concerned with not only what we believe, but how we behave.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. This week’s message was on Colossians 2:8-15. It is amazingly easy for people to be deceived and rest their lives on what will ultimately be nothing. We are so easily tricked! We’ll get distracted by whatever is new, shiny, and different. When someone runs up to us, points into the sky, and says “look!”, we almost always look. Some of us stare for hours at nothing. Some of us base our lives on it, chase after it, prioritize it, and expend energy on it. It could be an idea or concept we hear from our friends or family, a theology or doctrine we hear from a teacher, or just a way of life pushed by our culture (like materialism, activity-based parenting, me-centeredness, etc.).
Pastor Jake continued our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. This week’s message was on Colossians 2:1-7. In this message, Pastor Jake gave us 3 questions to ponder and reflect on that naturally rise to the surface from studying these 7 verses. The problem is that we live in a culture and a time that has sacrificed reflection for convenience and efficiency. Technology promises us that we will have more time, because tasks will take less time to complete, but instead it just causes us to fill our lives with more. We’re never able to quietly reflect because we’re either doing another task or distracting ourselves with noise (shows, music, social media, etc). It’s easier to avoid questions that would cause us to feel conviction and change.
Pastor Chris continued our Colossians series with part 4. He explained that as we find out what our thing is, we need to ask ourselves if we are using that thing to point people to Jesus.
Pastor Jake continued our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. This week’s message was on Colossians 1:19-23. Pastor Jake told a story in his message on Sunday about a great and generous king whose people were evil, rebellious, and hated him. He sought peace with them, but everyone who carried his banner of peace was murdered. Finally, the king decided to go to the people himself to make peace. Some responded to his display of love and kindness, but the majority didn’t. He was murdered by his own people. The king’s followers expected this to be their end. Surely the king’s home would be conquered by the rebellion. But to their surprise, one-by-one people began showing up at the castle weeping over their sin, turning their back to the castle in order to defend it, and being lit up by a strange light. The light was coming from the royal tombs where the king was lain. People were changing because of his great sacrifice. The rebellion continued, but with so many transformed by the king’s light, it had no chance at success.
Pastor Jake continued our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. Last week covered verses 1-14 in Colossians chapter 1. This week’s message was on just four verses – Colossians 1:15-18. The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the Colossian church because Epaphras has come to him for help. There is a group of false teachers (Gnostics) attacking the new little church and it’s causing confusion among these young believers. They’re saying that they have special knowledge that the Colossians need in order to be saved by God. They’re teaching that Jesus isn’t all of the answer, but only part of it – just the first rung on the ladder. The book of Colossians is about how that is not the case. It’s about the supremacy of Christ – how He is the fullness of all things. Jesus plus nothing. These 4 verses are at the core of the letter in this respect.
Pastor Jake started our Summer series that will take us verse-by-verse through the book of Colossians. Week 1 covered verses 1-14 in Colossians chapter 1. The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the Colossian church because Epaphras has come to him for help. There is a group of false teachers (Gnostics) attacking the new little church and it’s causing confusion among these young believers. They’re saying that they have special knowledge that the Colossians need in order to be saved by God. The book of Colossians is about how that is not the case. It’s about the supremacy of Christ – how He is the fullness of all things. Jesus plus nothing. That’s the theme.
Pastor Jake continued our May “Open Hands” series. Our default position as human beings is to close our hands around the things we have. This includes tangible things like money, houses, cars, etc., but it also includes intangible things like our time, family, mercy, and more. It’s our nature and it’s our culture. Our culture screams “hoard, gather, keep, hold, close your hands!” Our default position is to live life with closed hands, and yet as Christ-followers we are to live life with open hands. Over the 4 weeks of this series, we’re going to talk about this from four angles: being open-handed with our money, with our faith, in the midst of our own trials and valleys, and towards God. On Sunday, Pastor Jake zeroed-in on living open-handed when it comes to our finances.
Pastor Jake continued our May “Open Hands” series. Our default position as human beings is to close our hands around the things we have. This includes tangible things like money, houses, cars, etc., but it also includes intangible things like our time, family, mercy, and more. It’s our nature and it’s our culture. Our culture screams “hoard, gather, keep, hold, close your hands!” Our default position is to live life with closed hands, and yet as Christ-followers we are to live life with open hands. Over the 4 weeks of this series, we’re going to talk about this from four angles: being open-handed with our money, with our faith, in the midst of our own trials and valleys, and towards God. On Sunday, Pastor Jake zeroed-in on living open-handed with our faith.
Pastor Jake kicked off our May series entitled “Open Hands”. Our default position as human beings is to close our hands around the things we have. This includes tangible things like money, houses, cars, etc., but it also includes intangible things like our time, family, mercy, and more. It’s our nature and it’s our culture. Our culture screams “hoard, gather, keep, hold, close your hands!” Our default position is to live life with closed hands, and yet as Christ-followers we are to live life with open hands. Over the next 4 weeks of this series, we’re going to talk about this from four angles: being open-handed with our money, with our faith, in the midst of our own trials and valleys, and towards God. On Sunday, Pastor Jake zeroed-in on living open-handed towards God. It all starts there. http://bible.com/events/406192
Pastor Jake continued our “Take 5” series which will look at Jesus’ life from 5 different perspectives (takes): Peter, Thomas, Matthew, Pilate, and Paul. The plan is for Pastor Jake to tell each week’s perspective from that person’s point of view. On Sunday (Take 4) he was Pilate. Pilate is very different than the other 4 “takes” we will get in this series for one major reason: he never gave his life to Jesus. All the other stories we will hear in this Take 5 series are stories of life change. Pilate had an encounter with Jesus that we can only dream about. He was given the opportunity to sit with Jesus in the flesh and ask him questions! Wouldn’t you love to do that? And yet in the end, even though he believed Jesus was innocent, he allowed Him to be executed. The Gospel accounts depict Pilate as a man who was wrestling with truth, duty, and doubt. Take a moment and refresh your memory of his story by reading this sequence of Scriptures: John 18:28-19:2; Matthew 27:17-26; and John 19:19-22.
http://bible.com/events/402227
Pastor Jake continued our “Take 5” series which will look at Jesus’ life from 5 different perspectives (takes): Peter, Thomas, Matthew, Pilate, and Paul. The plan is for Pastor Jake to tell each week’s perspective from that person’s point of view. On Sunday (Take 4) he was Pilate. Pilate is very different than the other 4 “takes” we will get in this series for one major reason: he never gave his life to Jesus. All the other stories we will hear in this Take 5 series are stories of life change. Pilate had an encounter with Jesus that we can only dream about. He was given the opportunity to sit with Jesus in the flesh and ask him questions! Wouldn’t you love to do that? And yet in the end, even though he believed Jesus was innocent, he allowed Him to be executed. The Gospel accounts depict Pilate as a man who was wrestling with truth, duty, and doubt. Take a moment and refresh your memory of his story by reading this sequence of Scriptures: John 18:28-19:2; Matthew 27:17-26; and John 19:19-22.
http://bible.com/events/398197
Pastor Jake continued our “Take 5” series which will look at Jesus’ life from 5 different perspectives (takes): Peter, Thomas, Matthew, Pilate, and Paul. The plan is for Pastor Jake to tell each week’s perspective from that person’s point of view. On Sunday (Take 3) he was Matthew. Matthew wasn’t always Matthew. He started out as Levi. He was a tax collector, which was basically the most hated person in Israel at the time. They were considered sellouts, traitors, and thieves since they collected taxes for the Roman Empire and took even more for themselves. Levi was an outcast, ostracized by the masses and ridiculed by the religious elite. He was greedy and downright slimy. But Jesus called him to be His disciple anyway. Levi may have been messed up on the outside, but Jesus saw in him a heart that wanted to change. And change he did! Levi gave up tax-collecting and thieving to follow Jesus whole-heartedly. And Jesus gave him a new name: Matthew. He even ended up writing one of the four Gospels!
http://bible.com/events/392886
Pastor Jake continued our “Take 5” series which will look at Jesus’ life and sacrifice from 5 different perspectives (takes): Peter, Thomas, Matthew, Pilate, and Paul. The plan is for Pastor Jake to tell each week’s perspective from that person’s point of view. On Sunday (week 2), he was Thomas. Thomas has a nickname that has stuck with him long after his death – “Doubting Thomas”. At times though, Thomas showed great faith in Jesus. And yet through his story, we can see the fight between faith and doubt (belief and unbelief) over and over again. Even so, Jesus never gave up on Thomas. He always helped him take the next step on his faith journey.
http://bible.com/events/389980
Pastor Jake started our “Take 5” series which will look at Jesus’ life and sacrifice from 5 different perspectives (takes): Peter, Thomas, Matthew, Pilate, and Paul. On Sunday (week 1), he was Peter. Peter was at times very faith- filled, but at other times not so much. He made some huge mistakes – questioning Jesus, doubting Jesus, rebuking Jesus, and in the end outright denying that he even knew Jesus. And yet each time he made a mistake, Jesus was there to offer Peter a second chance and a third and a fourth. Peter's take on Jesus is that He's a God of second chances. Do you need a second chance? There's nothing you could do that could disqualify you from God's grace giving you one in Jesus.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Game Changers” series by teaching from the life Queen Esther. God orchestrated for Esther to be taken from no influence to influencing the King of a great empire at exactly the right time. She was able to save her people (the Jews) from extinction. But it wasn’t easy. Esther had to be willing to give up her own life. The law said that to approach the king without being summoned was punishable by death. So, Esther asked her cousin Mordecai to get all the Jews to pray, and then she did it. She sacrificed herself. In the end, the King did not punish her. He welcomed her and she was able to influence him to stop Haman’s plan to kill all of the Jews. Haman is killed, the Jews are saved, Esther is favored, and Mordecai is given authority that rivaled Haman’s original position.
http://bible.com/events/377986
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Game Changers” series by teaching from the life of the prophet Daniel. Daniel and his friends were exiled to Babylon from Judah. They were slaves and yet God showed them favor. Daniel was a game-changer in a very tough situation. He shows us what it means to have game-changing faith. Faith is more than just belief that gets you saved. Jesus talked about faith as if it is fluid – you can have none, a lot, a little, etc. It’s the outworking of true belief. It’s belief that moves. Faith is also based in reality, not fantasy. http://bible.com/events/374061
In week 2 of our Game Changers series, Pastor Jake talks about the prophet Samuel and his game-changing righteousness. What does it mean to be righteous? Is there a difference between the "righteousness of man" and the "righteousness of God"? Listen to be challenged in the way of righteousness!
In week one of our Game Changers series, Pastor Jake talks about Deborah's game-changing wisdom. Everybody wants wisdom, right? But what is it exactly and how does one get it? The answer may surprise you!
In week 4 or our "My Passion" series, Pastor Chris talks about his passion -- the anchor of our souls, Jesus Christ. There's really only one thing, one answer, one purpose...it's Jesus! Jesus+nothing=everything.
Pastor Dan talks about his passion -- raising kids to live a God-honoring life. In this message, he gives you 3 creation truths that have to be in yours and your kids spiritual foundation.
Pastor Bill starts our "My Passion" series out with an awesome message about how to find your passion. Have you lost your passion or never really found it to begin with? If you have a passion that drives you, is it from God? Listen to this message from Pastor Bill to help you in your journey!
Pastor Jake preached a sermon on Mark 4, 5, and 7 called “The Power of One”. In Mark 4, Jesus and His disciples get into a boat to cross over the Sea of Galilee. But it’s not some mundane trip. They were going over a region of cities called the Decapolis that was known to be a very dark, pagan place. In fact, most Jewish families at the time believed that they would be cursed if they ever went there. So, the disciples were probably not very excited for this trip. And sure enough – they have problems right after they set sail. A huge storm threatens to sink their boat. The panicked disciples wake a sleeping Jesus, who simply stands up and tells to the wind and the waves to stop directly. And they recognize and obey His voice! Implication? There’s power in the One – Jesus. He’s strong enough to overcome the storms in your life.
http://bible.com/events/333707
Pastor Jake talks about what Immanuel (God with us) really means for you.
http://bible.com/events/331689
On Sunday, Pastor Jake wrapped up our “Rhythm” series with week 7 – Family Rhythm. God has created us to function in a certain way...a rhythm. That goes for every area of our lives, including our family. God, in His infinite wisdom, has set forth a specific rhythm for our family to operate in. But parenting is hard! There are ups and downs, and sometimes it seems more down than up. And yet that makes sense, because we will do nothing of more value with our lives than mold the little souls God has given us to mold. The stakes are as big as they can possibly get. But this family rhythm thing doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes understanding and purposeful action. In a Biblical family rhythm, God is central.
http://bible.com/events/328189
Pastor Jake continued our “Rhythm” series with week 6 – Marriage Rhythm. God has created us to function in a certain way...a rhythm. That goes for every area of our lives, including our relationships, especially our marriage. God has made marriage to work in a rhythm. When He created Adam, a suitable helpmate was not found for him in all of creation, so God had to make something different – woman. Adam and Eve enjoyed God’s perfect rhythm in the first marriage – no mind games, pride, confusion, etc. – until the Fall in Genesis 3. When sin entered the world, it fractured the Marriage Rhythm, just like it fractured everything else. First, sin’s fracturing of God’s Marriage Rhythm caused something that has plagued every marriage since the first one: passive laziness. Adam silently watched as Eve was tempted and deceived. We (especially men) have struggled with this passive laziness since Genesis 3. Many men just won't lead. They won't engage. Why? They say it's too hard. Oh, put them in a gym, on a sports team, in a factory, or in their job trying to meet some quota or beat some personal best and they don't mind the difficulty at all. But when it comes to the difficulty of a relationship, suddenly they wimp out. Being a man according to God's Word is hard. It requires self-sacrifice – laying your life down for the good of your wife and children daily.
http://bible.com/events/323600
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Rhythm” series with week 5 – Present Rhythm. We were created by God to be image-bearers and agents of reconciliation in this world. And yet, most of us aren’t really here. We’re not fully present. We’re always somewhere else – stuck in the past, consumed with the future, or distracted by another place or someone else’s life (via our phones). There’s no way to hold on to time. There’s no way to slow it down or speed it up. It just is. It marches on. December, Christmas, New Year’s, all that will come and it will go. Time marches on. Like drops of water, days fall from the sky and turn into pools of weeks, and then streams of months, until you find yourself watching a raging river of decades pass you by, wondering what happened? Where did all the time go? God has created us to work best by being fully present.
http://bible.com/events/320633
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Rhythm” series with week 4 – Sabbath Rhythm. We were created by God to be image-bearers and agents of reconciliation in this world. And yet, most of us are too hurried, tired, and stressed out to even think about that. We’re out of step with God’s rhythm for our lives. God sees us and says, “you need the Sabbath!” The Sabbath is a rhythm that goes all the way back to creation – God created for 6 days and on the 7th He rested, making it holy. It’s one of the big 10! In Exodus 31, God even said that if you don’t keep the Sabbath you should be killed. Even so, we live like this command isn’t even in the Bible (or at best just a nice suggestion). If we’re going to be in step with God’s rhythm, we need to change that. Sabbath is serious business. It’s not an option. It’s a command. Not to add stress to our lives and chain us up, but instead to take stress away and liberate us. Sabbath is about rest.
http://bible.com/events/316638
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Rhythm” series with week 3 – Thanksgiving Rhythm. God has created the world to function in a certain rhythm. He did that in Genesis 1 & 2 (on a big level), but He also does that with each one of us. Psalm 139 talks about how God has knit each of us in our mother’s wombs. He is intimately involved in making us the way we are – outwardly and inwardly. He is not a God who has created, gotten the ball rolling, and walked away. He is near. One of the ways you can feel that you are out of step with the way God created you to function (the rhythm He created you to live by) is that you are worried, anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed. And one of the many reasons that happens is that we fail to live by a rhythm of thankfulness. Thanksgiving is a foundational rhythm that affects many areas in our lives.
http://bible.com/events/313664
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Rhythm” series with week 2 – devotional rhythm. Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came to give us “life, and life abundantly”. And yet most people are not experiencing that life. The good thing is that Jesus doesn’t just make that promise and walk away. He’s like the “master” in the dojo – patiently walking beside us showing us how it’s done. God has created the world and your life to work in a certain rhythm. But because of sin and the Fall in Genesis 3, like a saxophone playing on the wrong beat or out of tune in an orchestra, you and I are naturally out of rhythm with the way God – the one who wrote this song – has designed things to work best. And it’s painful. But the good news is that God has not been silent about this rhythm; this pattern; this way that God designed life to work
http://bible.com/events/310108
On Sunday, Pastor Jake started our new series “Rhythm”. Have you ever known someone who has no rhythm? They can’t clap, much less dance or play an instrument? Have you ever sat through a Middle School band concert? Painful, right? That’s because songs were written to work at a certain tempo and rhythm; in a certain key, etc. When that’s not followed, it causes a very unpleasant feeling. And even your heart is supposed to beat at a certain rhythm, isn’t it? And if it doesn’t, that’s called “arrhythmia”. And it causes you pain. God created the universe to work in a certain way – a rhythm. Not just the big stuff like planets and stars. He created your life, your body, your relationships, and more to work best in a certain rhythm. We see this best in Genesis 1 and 2. But in Genesis 3, Satan is allowed to introduce chaos into the order and rebellion into the rhythm of Creation. Be sure to Listen as Pastor Jake begins to unravel from God's word how we can get back into a Godly Rhythm.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake talked about Kingdom Builders for the second week. Building God’s Kingdom is about global missions, local church expansion, and compassion ministry. We want everyone in our church to step up and be a Kingdom Builder by committing to 1) serve in a ministry at Great Oaks; 2) serve in a compassion ministry outside of Great Oaks; and 3) give financially to the Kingdom Builders Fund in a one-time gift and a monthly gift (above and beyond normal tithe). After Pastor Jake explained this, we were able to hear from some people in our church that are already building God’s kingdom in significant ways: Mike Hasselbusch, Kristen Springer. Kevin & Debbie Rauh, Lizzy Blanchard, and Justin Rauh.
http://bible.com/events/301759
On Sunday, Pastor Jake introduced a new Great Oaks initiative called “Kingdom Builders”. Before he got into the nuts and bolts of that though, he taught on the concept of “the Kingdom of God”. Jesus taught on the Kingdom of God (or Heaven) more than any other topic. In our American culture, though, it can sometimes be difficult to understand the idea of a “kingdom”. Kingdom just means “the King’s domain.” So in one sense, everywhere is God’s Kingdom. It’s all His. But in another sense...not so much. Pastor Jake used the phrase “already, but not yet.” There is this cosmic war that started with Satan’s rebellion in heaven. God has already won that war. That happened on the cross. But the culmination (realization; manifestation) of His Kingdom will not take place until Jesus returns. Already...but not yet. The wide angle and the close-up. We live in between. The war is won, but the battle is still being fought from our perspective and souls hang in the balance. There are two kingdoms (Colossians 1:12-14): the dominion of darkness and the Kingdom of God’s Son. The Kingdom of God is not just something coming “one day”. Jesus said it’s upon us, near us, and among us.
http://bible.com/events/298284
On Sunday, Pastor Jake wrapped up our “Neighboring” series with week 6 – Neighboring Church. We’ve talked over the last 5 weeks about taking the Great Commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves literally – to reach out to our actual neighbors individually. But what would it look like to not just be a neighboring person or family, but to be a neighboring church? What would it look like to do this individually and collectively (as Great Oaks)? After all, what is the true fruit of a church? Is it disciples or disciple-making churches? Just like God has sovereignly and providentially placed you and your family next to your neighbors, so has He placed us (as a church) next to our neighboring communities. These are towns and cities we currently out of our reach. God expects us to multiply – to reproduce ourselves in other communities in order to reach people in whose lives we currently have no influence. When we read the book of Acts, it becomes clear that this was God’s plan.
https://www.bible.com/events/294292
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our “Neighboring” series with week 5 – Plans. If you really care about something and want to see it happen, you’ll plan for it. That’s when things get serious. You can talk about a vacation, but until you sit down and start researching pricing, tourist spots, and timing, it’s just an idea. You can talk about getting healthier, but it remains an impotent idea until you sit down and start planning the how. In life, you are only as effective as you are intentional. It’s the same with following the Great Commandment. You can talk about it, but until you make a plan your words don’t really matter, do they? It’s a big endeavor, so if you’re going to go from nice neighbors to gospel-centered neighbors, it’s going to take some planning and intentionality.
http://bible.com/events/291458
On Sunday, Pastor Jake continued our series called “Neighboring” with week 4 – Rewards. The greatest commandment starts with loving God with all our lives and then moves to loving our neighbor as ourselves. But it’s like hinges on a door...what good is a door with one hinge? Jesus said that all of the Law and Prophets hang on these (together) in Matt. 22:40. You cannot separate these two commandments. But to be clear, loving God with all of you isn’t about a feeling. It’s about loyalty, commitment, and obedience. It’s about action. Feelings of love towards God are good, but it’s how you fulfill the Great Commandment (both parts) that proves you are in Christ (not feelings or words).
http://bible.com/events/287217
Pastor Jake continued our series called “Neighboring” with week 3–Excuses. Loving your neighbor as yourself –your actual neighbor next door –isn’t easy! It’s a big task! With that in mind, our tendency is to make excuses and convince ourselves that we cannot possibly do this. But excuses are just reasons without reason. They don’t pass the sniff test. They’re easy to spot in kids, because they can be so ridiculous and unrelated, but they are just as prevalent in adults. Pastor Jake talked about 2 excuses that we lean on when it comes to the great commandment. The first one is “I don't have time”. We live in a culture that wears busyness like a badge of honor. We get our validation from how full our schedule is –the fuller it is, the more important we think we are. But the simple truth is that every single one of us has the exact same amount of time to love our neighbors as ourselves each day.
http://bible.com/events/283246
Pastor Jake continued our series called “Neighboring” with week 2 – Motives. Loving your neighbor as yourself begins with loving your actual neighbors. It’s not metaphorical or symbolic. The definition of neighbor may include other people, but it starts with those God has sovereignly placed next to you. But it can’t just be about making friends, right? It has to be more than that. There’s the Greatest Commandment that includes “love your neighbor as yourself”, but there’s also the Great Commission to “make disciples”. We can have ultimate motives though. In other words, your ulterior motive in neighboring cannot be to share the gospel, but your ultimate motive must be.
Pastor Jake started our new series “Neighboring”. What if when Jesus said that you are supposed to “love your neighbor as yourself”, He meant it literally? What if He wasn’t talking about some metaphorical neighbor, but your actual neighbor? And it’s not just Jesus who said it. It’s all over the Bible –Leviticus, Romans, Ephesians, and James. Yet the many of us struggle to even list the names of and a little more information about the people who live in the 8 houses nearest our own. How could loving our neighbor be so obviously present in the Scriptures and yet so glaringly absent in our lives?It's because we've exchanged our real neighbors for metaphorical ones so we don't have to actually do anything
On Sunday, Pastor Jake preached the final week in our 3-week miniseries “Church is _______.” Church is more than a hobby, an activity, or a social club. It has to be. And since behavior follows belief about what something is, defining what exactly the church is seems like a pretty important endeavor. So far, Pastor Jake has taught on the fact that church is family and church is mission. But really it’s even more than that. Church is life.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake preached week 2 in our 3-week miniseries “Church is _______.” Church is more than a hobby, an activity, or a social club. It has to be. And since what something is determines how we act in response to that thing, defining what exactly the church is seems like a pretty important endeavor. Last week, Pastor Jake taught on the idea that church is family. But really it’s more than that. It goes way beyond family. Church is bigger than you. It’s bigger than a hobby. It’s bigger than something you do on Sunday mornings. Church is mission.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake started our new 3-week miniseries “Church is _______.” Church is more than a hobby, an activity, or a social club. It has to be. And since what something is, determines how we act in response to that thing, defining what exactly the church is, seems like a pretty important endeavor. In week one, pastor Jake used Ephesians 2:12-22 to talk about the fact that Church is family. Without the Cross, we are strangers. But with it, we’re family. When you’re born, you’re born into a physical family.
On Sunday, Pastor Jake started our new 3-week miniseries “Church is _______.” Church is more than a hobby, an activity, or a social club. It has to be. And since what something is, determines how we act in response to that thing, defining what exactly the church is, seems like a pretty important endeavor. In week one, pastor Jake used Ephesians 2:12-22 to talk about the fact that Church is family. Without the Cross, we are strangers. But with it, we’re family. When you’re born, you’re born into a physical family.
In this message, Pastor Jake wraps up our "Small Fry" series by preaching from 3 John as the Apostle John. Everyone is a leader. Even you. How? Influence. That’s what leadership is – having influence over another person. Listen to be challenged about how you lead those God has put in your life!
Legacy is a pretty intense word. How do we go about “leaving a lasting legacy”? It sounds impossible! Not to mention, it makes us think of a time we won’t be here anymore, and no one likes that.To theApostle John, legacy seems to be about one thing: his children walkingin the truth. Nothing would bring him greater joy. No other legacy matters for us either. And we’re not only talking about the kids in your house. You don’t have to have kids to leave a legacy, but you do have to be a father or mother. You have to intentionally reach out to those younger in the faith to become their spiritual mother or father. But how do we do this? How do we leave behindkids that walk in the truth? The Apostle John gives us a few keys to that. If we’re going to accomplish this, 1) we’ll have to realize that the spiritual far outweighs the physical. We tend to spend all our energyon making sureour kids are materially and physically comfortable before we die, but legacyis about souls not comfort. 2) We’ll have to support Truth with our money. What we support with our finances reveals what we believe in our heart, and our children are watching to see if we’ll walk in the truth when it counts. 3) We’ll have to do more than just talk about what is good. We’ll have to imitate it. Our children –spiritual and actual –are imitating what we do. Our only hope in leading them the right way is to imitate Christ
There are so many lies being told that it’s hard to figure out the truth a lot of times. The fact that more people believe in some idea than don’t has no bearing on whether that idea is true or not. God will not be bullied. The truth is important not just for an increase in knowledge on your part or some level jump in the faith. It’s important because of the lies! You have to do more than just know the truth. You have to guard it, because the devil’s tactic is not to know you well enough to deceive you. It’s to throw so many lies at you that you lose track of what’s true; so many different paths that you forget what path you were on to begin with. There is no such thing as new truth. Truth has a source. The path has a beginning. The key is not to study the new truths, it’s to abide in the Old Truth. Be so passionate about the Old Truth that the new “truth” doesn’t even catch your eye. That’s the way you remain on the narrow path to the narrow door that few will enter.
Fighting for faith is not just about talking, but doing. Most of us struggle getting our actions to line up with our words. We commit and say we want to fight for faith, but we don’t do the work. The key to our actions lining up with our words is discipline. Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most. It’s choosing best over good. So the question is what do we need to do now to accomplish what we want most (to persevere and fight for faith)? Jude gives us 3 Godly habits in verses 20-21. They’re not novel or sexy. They’re basic. The main things are the plain things. 1) Build yourself up in the Faith. In other words, spend time (habitual, daily time) in the Word of God. 2) Pray in the Holy Spirit. Spend real time praying. Pray continually. And listen! 3) Wait for Jesus’ return. Make the hope we have in Jesus the center of your life. These things are important, because your destiny is decided by daily habits, not dreams or intentions. Your end is decided by your now.
Pastor Jake shares with us about the next Sola in our ECHOES series, Glory to God Alone.
Pastor Dan talks about Jesus' teaching in Caesarea Philippi. Here Jesus asks the question, "Who do you say I am?". Pastor Dan unpacks that question and the responses from the disciples.
Pastor Dan talks about Jesus' teaching in Caesarea Philippi. Here Jesus asks the question, "Who do you say I am?". Pastor Dan unpacks that question and the responses from the disciples.
Jesus gave us the best example of how to serve at the last meal with his disciples. Pastor Bill explains the importance of Jesus' actions and how we are to do the same.
Jesus gave us the best example of how to serve at the last meal with his disciples. Pastor Bill explains the importance of Jesus' actions and how we are to do the same.
Living a life on mission is much easier than we make it out to be. Why is it that we make sharing our faith so much harder than it really is? Listen as Pastor Bill as he looks into the life of Jonah and his struggles with accepting God's mission for him.
We often struggle with the same things due to the fact that we never really removed the old ones to begin with. Pastor Bill discusses the difference between how we conform or transform our lives.
One reason history repeats itself is that we don’t own our parts of our history. And the reason you don’t own it is there’s nothing to own—it wasn’t your fault! But if something important has come to an end and you are starting over, you must look back and own your part in order to move ahead. Your best bet for a successful future is to own your share of the past.
Pastor Chris discusses the different between the physical and spiritual battles we face on a daily basis. Listen to see what tools God has given us to fight in this battle and to claim victory over the world and our enemy, the devil.
Pastor Dan talks about the importance of us submitting to one another in order to serve each other.
Even though we may have said Yes to Christ, we may still be living our life with old behaviors that we just can't shake.
The letter of Ephesians reminds each of us that that life is not about me, it’s all about Jesus. And it demonstrates how true freedom can only be found in rejoicing in who you are in Christ. This week Pastor Bill discusses the importance of recognizing that we all are appreciated as well as how we are to offer appreciation.
The letter of Ephesians reminds each of us that that life is not about me, it’s all about Jesus. And it demonstrates how true freedom can only be found in rejoicing in who you are in Christ. This week Pastor Bill discusses the importance of recognizing that we all are appreciated as well as how we are to offer appreciation.
The letter of Ephesians reminds each of us that life is not about me, it’s all about Jesus. And it demonstrates how true freedom can only be found in rejoicing in who you are in Christ.
As we look for opportunities to share the love of God with the world we are looking forward to how the youth and adults at Great Oaks are stepping out to make that happen. Listen to hear of the outreach taking place at Great Oaks.
We have all had those moments in our life that has defined who we are today. These circumstances, often trying, provide us a unique perspective to see who we are and where our life is heading.
What if you had perfect faith in God? What if you trusted God in all areas of your life?
What if you had perfect faith in God? What if you trusted God in all areas of your life?
What if you had perfect faith in God? What if you trusted God in all areas of your life?
What if you had perfect faith in God? What if you trusted God in all areas of your life?
What if you had perfect faith in God? What if you trusted God in all areas of your life?
You might not see it coming, but it is hard to miss the trail of destruction it leaves in its wake-- broken relationships, damaged lives, shattered dreams. If ignored, this deadliest of habits will only grow in power, lashing out at those who least expect it. And the only way to get rid of anger is to follow some radical advice.
Lingering just out of sight, this master of disguise capitalizes on deception. With many different faces his masquerade is often difficult to see through. He sneaks up on his victims, and without them even realizing it ignites within them desires that cannot be quenched. In this session, we'll take a closer look at this thing called greed and find the antidote for his attempts to lead your heart astray.
Carrying it with you wherever you go, guilt soon becomes a heavy burden. But what can you do? How can you break its power over you? There is a way to gain freedom from the power of guilt, and the method may surprise you.
Carrying it with you wherever you go, guilt soon becomes a heavy burden. But what can you do? How can you break its power over you? There is a way to gain freedom from the power of guilt, and the method may surprise you.
The Bible tells us that what comes out of our mouths is a reflection of our hearts. What is the state of your heart?
God took 1500 years and 40+ people to write the Bible. Everything we need to know about life can be found within its pages.
God doesn’t want us to waste our pain. Most people don’t know that God wants to take advantage of our pain to move us toward his goals for our lives by using it to draw us closer to him, to draw us closer to others, to become more like Jesus, to help others, and to witness to the world. Sadly, many people don’t gain from their pain. Have you learned from your pain and grown? Here we’ll discuss how to cooperate with God to use our pain to help fulfill his purposes for our lives
“Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing?” Galatians 3:4
God’s #1 purpose in your life is to help you become more like Christ. Everything in life makes more sense when you understand this purpose. Becoming a Christian does not mean we will not experience problems. While God hates evil and suffering, he can take the bad things in life and bring good out of them. Every problem has a purpose – to conform our character into one more like Christ. This process is called sanctification. Let’s look at how God uses our troubles for good: to make us more Christ-like.
How do you let go of the pain in your life? When it comes down to it, you have three choices: you can (1) let it destroy you; (2) let it define you; or (3) let it develop you. In order for pain to develop you, in order to find hope again, you must learn to walk the pathway of peace with Jesus. It begins when we surrender.
“Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope...” Rom.15:4 (TEV)
We have struggles with others and with ourselves, but our real struggle is with God. In struggling with our problems, we sometimes run from God and doubt his wisdom, unwilling to give him control. Seeing and acknowledging God in the midst of our life situations in faith is an act of worship.
The most influential events of your life, you didn’t see coming. You can’t go around them- you just have to go through them.
The most influential events of your life, you didn’t see coming. You can’t go around them- you just have to go through them.
God decided not to give us exactly what we deserve but He gives us exactly what we need.
Do you believe that dry, dead, lifeless bones can become living people again? Jesus brings to life the dead. Has there ever been a time in your life when you thought or felt that God had forgotten you?
Learning to approach God with an "attitude of gratitude" and not with a list of things we want Him to do.
Steve Nelson shares an update on how missionaries are doing in spreading the gospel in Yolunka Land in Africa.
We need a bridge between the information we receive from the Bible and our transformation. That bridge is "groups."
Metamora's Campus Life Youth Pastor, Josh Frederick, applies the story of Lot and his family to our modern-day lives.
Ever feel like your always trying to please God rather than just accepting His grace? This weekend Pastor Bill takes a look at how we can never earn God's favor but instead embrace His grace.
Pastor Bill takes a look at Job and how faithful he was in giving regularly. Pastor Bill discusses the importance of tithing and giving regularly.
In the second week of our series Pastor Bill takes a look at how Job spent his time. He used his time not to make excuses but to make a difference.
If you want to live a blessed life, don’t give up on the God who has never given up on you!
In the final week of the series You're Dead. . .Now What? Pastor Bill takes a look at how we can live life with the end in mind.
In the series You're Dead. . .Now What? Pastor Bill takes a look at heaven. With so many different view points and accounts in our world today, Pastor Bill digs into God's word to see what Jesus had to say about heaven.
We often have a mentality that says, I’m going to live for the day; I’m going to live for the moment. That’s really the point of life in the world’s eyes—to enjoy the moment and live for now. Whatever might be happening later rarely seems that pressing or important right now. But the truth is that the most important thing we can talk about right now is “later.” So in this series we are going to focus on “later” as we answer the question, “What happens when you die?”
We often have a mentality that says, I’m going to live for the day; I’m going to live for the moment. That’s really the point of life in the world’s eyes—to enjoy the moment and live for now. Whatever might be happening later rarely seems that pressing or important right now. But the truth is that the most important thing we can talk about right now is “later.” So in this series we are going to focus on “later” as we answer the question, “What happens when you die?”
Pastor Chris talks in depth about all the mission work GOCC is participating in this summer, which includes:
--GOCC families hosting Basque students once again
--Middle school students will do missionary work in Kentucky
-- High school students will work in Guatemala
--GOCC will host Cross Training, our Vacation Bible School
Pastor Talks about the details of Communion. Why we practice it, how it is shared not only publicly in church but together in small groups and at home around the dinner table.
Pastor Bill discusses the differences between a Christian marriage and an "I" marriage....
Pastor Bill discusses the differences between a Christian marriage and an "I" marriage.
Pastor Bill discusses the differences between a Christian marriage and an "I" marriage....
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
If you choose not to become a Christian, you are choosing not to accept what God gives you--a relationship with Him that will bring you comfort, peace, joy and love.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
The story of Ruth is a literary and redemptive gem that glimmers against a backdrop of blackness.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. As we dive into God's story in 2012, feel free to use this page as a resource to view previous sermons, find groups, read devotions, and more.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Finding our place in God's story together. From the pulpit to Children's Ministry to Student Ministry, and everything in between, the entire Great Oaks family is discovering God's story in a brand new way this year. Throughout the fall of 2012 and into the new year of 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Chapter 1 walks us through the story of the Creation.
We all have a birthday. That date when we were born into this world. We celebrate each year that moment, but have you ever taken the time to have a spiritual birthday? That time when you met Jesus for the first time? Listen as Pastor Bill teaches about how we all can have a spiritual birthday, and what that entails.
Have you ever been lost? Maybe as a child or even as an adult. There is a desire to be found, to contact someone at least to let them know where you are. Well, Christ found us long ago and all He asks of us is to find others and lead them to Him.
No matter what we can never outgive God, but is it really about giving anyways? Honestly, its more about trust and where our trust lies. With God or with the Benjamins? Listen as Pastor Bill explains from God's Word what God has to say about giving.
Time alone may be fine for a moment, even necessary, but when we begin to remove ourselves from healthy relationships that is when we can wander into trouble very easily. Listen to Pastor Bill as he speaks from God's Word about the importance of doing life together.
Change. Some people like it, others don't, but according to the bible it is something we must pursue. Growing people do change.
Don't worry, be happy! No really, in times of doubt God asks us to trust Him. To not let others influence our faith and to count on God.
In His Presence we experience opportunities and defining moments that change our lives forever. Together we took a look at Jacob and how an encounter with God changed his life forever!
In His Presence we experience opportunities and defining moments that change our lives forever. Together we took a look at Jacob and how an encounter with God changed his life forever!
Have you ever noticed that Acts doesn't end like your typical book or novel? It leaves us hanging with Paul being moved from cell to cell. Maybe the intentions of the author was to illustrate the Ongoing Mission for us. To continue teaching the truth of Jesus until His return.
Pastor Chris and some of the team members from the Route 25 mission team talk about their experience serving others.
What does the way you live your life say about you? Do your actions speak differently than your words? In this chapter of Acts, Paul discusses how the way we live our lives speaks louder about us than the words that come out of our mouths.
When Paul sets out from Antioch to revisit the young churches on his third mission trip, his goal is to strengthen the disciples by filling in the gaps in their understanding, eliminating sources of evil strongholds, encouraging them and selecting apprentice missionaries to accompany him for on-the-job training.
Like a baseball player, God wants us to go around the bases till we reach home base but we all stumble and need help. We need someone who will carry is home.
When Peter was jailed, his followers pray earnestly for him and were surprised when their prayers were answered.
Easter sermon - Everyone is always trying to improve the quality of our lives but only Jesus gave us the solution to the grave.
God gave gentiles His word, too, which made them equal in His eyes. Paul honored that choice.
God broke barriers between Philip and the eunuch he met on the road. They were two very different people with very different lives that wouldn't have met had it not been for God prompting Philip to follow the eunuch's carriage.
If you came to a fork on the road where one sign said "Pleasing God" and the other said "Trusting God," which road would you take?
How do you deal with everything going on in the world and how to help everyone without burning out? Explore the answer Paul provided in the Galatians.
You say you believe in God. Do you really? Do you live your life as if God is in the room, or do you assume He's not paying attention? You call yourself a Christian. Are you who you say you are?
You say you believe in God. Do you really? Do you live your life as if God is in the room, or do you assume He's not paying attention? You call yourself a Christian. Are you who you say you are?
You say you believe in God. Do you really? Do you live your life as if God is in the room, or do you assume He's not paying attention? You call yourself a Christian. Are you who you say you are?
Pastor Bill talks about how salvation and discipleship go hand in hand and what Jesus expects from us if we are to be his disciples.
Pastor Chris talks about putting Christ first in our lives, and everything else second.
There are many names for Jesus, but what do they really mean? Join us as we discover why He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. You'll gain a new and relevant perspective on the Savior who was born in a manger over two thousand years ago.
There are many names for Jesus, but what do they really mean? Join us as we discover why He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. You'll gain a new and relevant perspective on the Savior who was born in a manger over two thousand years ago.
There are many names for Jesus, but what do they really mean? Join us as we discover why He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. You'll gain a new and relevant perspective on the Savior who was born in a manger over two thousand years ago.
There are many names for Jesus, but what do they really mean? Join us as we discover why He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. You'll gain a new and relevant perspective on the Savior who was born in a manger over two thousand years ago.
Pastor Dan discusses the history of the cross and how Jesus was viewed by others. Was he a prophet? A good man? The son of God? Who do you say Jesus is? Are you ready to pick up your cross and follow him?
Sometimes God calls our names twice. Are we willing to listen so that we can determine God's plan for our lives?
Steve Nelson shares his experiences with spreading the word of God through Yulanka Land.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
We're all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it's fear, money, pride, lust, or even jealousy. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Project Freedom and discover how you can truly break free, once and for all, from the ties that bind.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
So many of us keep watching and waiting for the world to change...to become a better place. Unfortunately, we often see just the opposite...the world that we see keeps getting worse. But here’s the deal, the God that we worship calls us to change the world...He calls us to make the world a better place...to help heaven & earth collide.
Our mission is impossible to carry out without the Holy Spirit. But waiting on God can be tough sometimes.
Practical lessons for how to parent your children in accordance with what the Bible teaches.
We are often tempted to "tone down" our obedience to God just to fit in in our culture. We should always resist that temptation.
It's the Hebrew word for vision, and it's what God had in mind for you when you were created. Each of us is a masterpiece, placed on earth for a unique purpose that's solely ours to fulfill. Come uncover God's dream for your life - your Chazown.
Dig under the surface of your life, dream about your future, and set concrete, realistic goals to propel you towards fulfilling your Chazown. For more information, visit chazown.com.
It's the Hebrew word for vision, and it's what God had in mind for you when you were created. Each of us is a masterpiece, placed on earth for a unique purpose that's solely ours to fulfill. Come uncover God's dream for your life - your Chazown.
Dig under the surface of your life, dream about your future, and set concrete, realistic goals to propel you towards fulfilling your Chazown.
It's the Hebrew word for vision, and it's what God had in mind for you when you were created. Each of us is a masterpiece, placed on earth for a unique purpose that's solely ours to fulfill. Come uncover God's dream for your life - your Chazown.
Dig under the surface of your life, dream about your future, and set concrete, realistic goals to propel you towards fulfilling your Chazown.
It's the Hebrew word for vision, and it's what God had in mind for you when you were created. Each of us is a masterpiece, placed on earth for a unique purpose that's solely ours to fulfill. Come uncover God's dream for your life - your Chazown.
Dig under the surface of your life, dream about your future, and set concrete, realistic goals to propel you towards fulfilling your Chazown.
It's the Hebrew word for vision, and it's what God had in mind for you when you were created. Each of us is a masterpiece, placed on earth for a unique purpose that's solely ours to fulfill. Come uncover God's dream for your life - your Chazown.
Dig under the surface of your life, dream about your future, and set concrete, realistic goals to propel you towards fulfilling your Chazown.
Easter is not just about remembering the resurrection of Christ. It's also about remembering and acknowledging Christ's power.
Be enriched by a relationship with God to the point of overflowing into family, friends, the community and the world. With Outflow there are no formulas to memorize, no sales techniques to master. Instead, you simply dive into God’s love and then share it with others. It’s authentic. Passionate. Enduring. Effective.
Be enriched by a relationship with God to the point of overflowing into family, friends, the community and the world. With Outflow there are no formulas to memorize, no sales techniques to master. Instead, you simply dive into God’s love and then share it with others. It’s authentic. Passionate. Enduring. Effective.
Be enriched by a relationship with God to the point of overflowing into family, friends, the community and the world. With Outflow there are no formulas to memorize, no sales techniques to master.
Instead, you simply dive into God’s love and then share it with others. It’s authentic. Passionate. Enduring. Effective.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
O•A•SIS 1. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc 2. a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty
Sounds like something you could use? What if God never meant for you to live life at such a hectic pace? So why do I do it? Maybe it has something to do with the answers to these questions:
- Is it possible that I have been using God to run from God?
- Why do I try to ignore the emotions of anger, sadness and fear?
- Why does culture have such a powerful influence on me?
- How does my past influence my present?
- Have I been dividing life into ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ compartments?
- Why do I try to cover over brokenness, weakness and failure – practicing image control?
- Why do I live life without limits – trying to do it all?
- Can I really live a more focused and peaceful life and still be productive?
- Where is the balance? How can I change?
The answer to this and many other questions are found in understanding and applying God’s principles of emotional health to our life. The fact is, you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. God wants to awaken us to a biblical integration of emotional health, our relationship with Jesus and the classic practices of slowing down to be with God. It will create nothing short of a spiritual revolution in your life. A revolution that will reach so far beneath the surface that you will be utterly transformed.
We all enjoy gifts. Unwrapping the gift to display some gift that we have requested for a special event, maybe a surprise given for a special occasion. No matter what the circumstance we all enjoy the receipt of a gift. God gave each and every one of us the best gift we could ever receive in His son Jesus. Join us here at GOCC as we unwrap the love that God has for mankind as we celebrate the gift of His son Jesus during this Christmas season.
We all enjoy gifts. Unwrapping the gift to display some gift that we have requested for a special event, maybe a surprise given for a special occasion. No matter what the circumstance we all enjoy the receipt of a gift. God gave each and every one of us the best gift we could ever receive in His son Jesus. Join us here at GOCC as we unwrap the love that God has for mankind as we celebrate the gift of His son Jesus during this Christmas season.
We all enjoy gifts. Unwrapping the gift to display some gift that we have requested for a special event, maybe a surprise given for a special ocassion. No matter what the circumstance we all enjoy the receipt of a gift. God gave each and every one of us the best gift we could ever receive in His son Jesus. Join us here at GOCC as we unwrap the love that God has for mankind as we celebrate the gift of His son Jesus during this Christmas season.
We all enjoy gifts. Unwrapping the gift to display some gift that we have requested for a special event, maybe a surprise given for a special occasion. No matter what the circumstance we all enjoy the receipt of a gift. God gave each and every one of us the best gift we could ever receive in His son Jesus. Join us here at GOCC as we unwrap the love that God has for mankind as we celebrate the gift of His son Jesus during this Christmas season.
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
In all of life, especially in America, we are constantly being reminded of the things we need, from iPods, Coach purses, bigger homes, and that new BMW. Happiness is found in the things we accumulate, but those things only bring a limited amount of happiness. We go from one thing to another in our constant search for everlasting happiness. Jesus teaches one of His most famous messages in Matthew 5, which have been labeled the Beatitudes. Come and join us at Great Oaks Community Church as we study these teachings of Jesus on the Beatitudes. Through the Beatitudes we will see how happiness isn't really the goal of the Beatitudes, rather our stance and joy with God and with others. Looking forward to seeing you here!
Love is a Verb. Love is a compelling word that at times encompasses the emotion that has driven men to wage war, to defeat the odds and to sacrifice the greatest sacrifice for love of a woman, a nation or a world. Love is not just a feeling, it is a commitment, persistent, unwavering and action oriented. Love is a Verb. During the September at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack the actions we live out in love towards God, People and Each Other.
Love is a Verb. Love is a compelling word that at times encompasses the emotion that has driven men to wage war, to defeat the odds and to sacrifice the greatest sacrifice for love of a woman, a nation or a world. Love is not just a feeling, it is a commitment, persistent, unwavering and action oriented. Love is a Verb. During the September at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack the actions we live out in love towards God, People and Each Other.
Love is a Verb. Love is a compelling word that at times encompasses the emotion that has driven men to wage war, to defeat the odds and to sacrifice the greatest sacrifice for love of a woman, a nation or a world. Love is not just a feeling, it is a commitment, persistant, unwavering and action oriented. Love is a Verb. During September at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack the actions we live out in love towards God, People and Each Other.
We make hundreds of little decisions every day but sometimes we have to make big decisions that can change the course of our lives forever.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Stories. We all remember the bed time stories we were told growing up. Stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Humpty-Dumpty and the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even though the stories were designed to let our imaginations run wild, imagining talking bears and carpenter pigs, they all had a point, a lesson to be learned. Jesus used stories called parables defined according to the dictionary as a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
During the summer months at Great Oaks Community Church, Pastor Bill is going to unpack these parables and teach us how to apply them to our everyday lives.
Where has your journey in life taken you? Where do you find hope, strength, and comfort in a world where brokenness, separation, and betrayal are spreading like an epidemic? Romans chapter eight contains a message of hope-filled optimism. No matter what you have suffered, there is good news. Through the lens of this powerful chapter of scripture, life begins to make sense again, hope rises like the sun after a dark night, and you can feel the strong arms of the heavenly Father wrap around you.
Where has your journey in life taken you? Where do you find hope, strength, and comfort in a world where brokenness, separation, and betrayal are spreading like an epidemic? Romans chapter eight contains a message of hope-filled optimism. No matter what you have suffered, there is good news. Through the lens of this powerful chapter of scripture, life begins to make sense again, hope rises like the sun after a dark night, and you can feel the strong arms of the heavenly Father wrap around you.
Where has your journey in life taken you? Where do you find hope, strength, and comfort in a world where brokenness, separation, and betrayal are spreading like an epidemic? Romans chapter eight contains a message of hope-filled optimism. No matter what you have suffered, there is good news. Through the lens of this powerful chapter of scripture, life begins to make sense again, hope rises like the sun after a dark night, and you can feel the strong arms of the heavenly Father wrap around you.
Where has your journey in life taken you? Where do you find hope, strength, and comfort in a world where brokenness, separation, and betrayal are spreading like an epidemic? Romans chapter eight contains a message of hope-filled optimism. No matter what you have suffered, there is good news. Through the lens of this powerful chapter of scripture, life begins to make sense again, hope rises like the sun after a dark night, and you can feel the strong arms of the heavenly Father wrap around you.
Where has your journey in life taken you? Where do you find hope, strength, and comfort in a world where brokenness, separation, and betrayal are spreading like an epidemic? Romans chapter eight contains a message of hope-filled optimism. No matter what you have suffered, there is good news. Through the lens of this powerful chapter of scripture, life begins to make sense again, hope rises like the sun after a dark night, and you can feel the strong arms of the heavenly Father wrap around you.
Join us for our Mii/Wii series as we take a look at relationships from the teaching of Jesus. Learn with us six principles that He taught and demonstrated on how to relate, love, speak, forgive, serve and ultimately put others first.
Join us for our Mii/Wii series as we take a look at relationships from the teaching of Jesus. Learn with us six principles that He taught and demonstrated on how to relate, love, speak, forgive, serve and ultimately put others first.
Join us for our Mii/Wii series as we take a look at relationships from the teaching of Jesus. Learn with us six principles that He taught and demonstrated on how to relate, love, speak, forgive, serve and ultimately put others first.
Join us for our Mii/Wii series as we take a look at relationships from the teaching of Jesus. Learn with us six principles that He taught and demonstrated on how to relate, love, speak, forgive, serve and ultimately put others first.
Join us for our Mii/Wii series as we take a look at relationships from the teaching of Jesus. Learn with us six principles that He taught and demonstrated on how to relate, love, speak, forgive, serve and ultimately put others first.
Join us for our Mii/Wii series as we take a look at relationships from the teaching of Jesus. Learn with us six principles that He taught and demonstrated on how to relate, love, speak, forgive, serve and ultimately put others first.
With time being swallowed up each with meetings, work, activities and other events we often feel we don't have the time or desire to spend time in prayer. Join us as we look into how to pray like Jesus and how we can pray for others.
With time being swallowed up each with meetings, work, activities and other events we often feel we don't have the time or desire to spend time in prayer. Join us as we look into how to pray like Jesus and how we can pray for others.
With time being swallowed up each with meetings, work, activities and other events we often feel we don't have the time or desire to spend time in prayer. Join us as we look into how to pray like Jesus and how we can pray for others.
In John 10, Jesus talks about the two kinds of people who protect sheep from predators, hired hands and owners. They may seem the same, but there is a distinct difference in how they act when a pack of wolves approaches. Hired hands take off running; owners will risk their lives to protect the sheep.
Ownership matters in the vision business. People will do all sorts of things for a worthy vision, sometimes even die for it.
In John 10, Jesus talks about the two kinds of people who protect sheep from predators, hired hands and owners. They may seem the same, but there is a distinct difference in how they act when a pack of wolves approaches. Hired hands take off running; owners will risk their lives to protect the sheep.
Ownership matters in the vision business. People will do all sorts of things for a worthy vision, sometimes even die for it.
Christmas is always thought of as the best time of the year. Unfortunately, as we go through life we often experience family and relational pain, and Christmas can go from being the highlight of the year to the most difficult time. In this three-part study, we learn how to forgive others, how to ask for forgiveness, and what it means to be forgiven.
Christmas is always thought of as the best time of the year. Unfortunately, as we go through life we often experience family and relational pain, and Christmas can go from being the highlight of the year to the most difficult time. In this three-part study, we learn how to forgive others, how to ask for forgiveness, and what it means to be forgiven.
Christmas is always thought of as the best time of the year. Unfortunately, as we go through life we often experience family and relational pain, and Christmas can go from being the highlight of the year to the most difficult time. In this three-part study, we learn how to forgive others, how to ask for forgiveness, and what it means to be forgiven.
An angry king. Devastating drought. Epic opposition. And one man who overcomes it all. When the world around us is spinning out of control, where do we turn? Join us as we learn from Elijah.
An angry king. Devastating drought. Epic opposition. And one man who overcomes it all. When the world around us is spinning out of control, where do we turn? Join us as we learn from Elijah.
An angry king. Devastating drought. Epic opposition. And one man who overcomes it all.
When the world around us is spinning out of control, where do we turn? Join us as we learn from Elijah.
An angry king. Devastating drought. Epic opposition. And one man who overcomes it all. When the world around us is spinning out of control, where do we turn? Join us as we learn from Elijah.
Life is meant to be full. Life is meant to be meaningful. Life is even meant to be loud. Don't let another day go by without realizing how important it is to put it all together and make a difference for Him.
We work so hard to forget our past. We shove it, cram it, forget it, and try to overcome it. Have you ever thought that even your past, whatever that might include, is something that God can use to help you impact others and bring Him glory? Amazing, but true.
Some like blue. Some like purple. Others want a checklist of things to do and some want the freedom to let the day just happen. What's your personality like? Did you know it's meant to help you make a difference?
Believers are given something they can't give back. It doesn't mean you have to use it, but maybe you should. The Body of Christ needs you like your body needs a heart and lungs. Again, you're important to God's plan.
It's easy to use your unique design to serve yourself. Jesus teaches another way. What do you care about? What occupies your heart and mind? Take a moment to examine your perspective.
Made will reveal insights about your spiritual gifts, personality, and experiences and how God wants to use your custom design to impact the world. By looking at six biblical truths about serving, you will come to understand God's intentional design for your life and how you can make a difference in the lives of those around you. Each week, you will delve into the biblical basis for purpose and serving. It's an exploration that could change your life forever.
Join us as we take a look back to all the great things God has done in and through GOCC as well as looking forward to what we feel God is leading us to embark on together. Looking back is always important to remembering who God called us to be and to see where He has taken us from. . .as well as looking forward into the future that He holds for us here.
Join us as we take a look back to all the great things God has done in and through GOCC as well as looking forward to what we feel God is leading us to embark on together. Looking back is always important to remembering who God called us to be and to see where He has taken us from. . .as well as looking forward into the future that He holds for us here.
Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we don't take hold. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding out who God really intended us to be. Refusing to believe the lies gives us the knowledge and confidence that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for us. He has given us the resources to not believe the lies so join us on Sundays to learn how to put them into action.
Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we don't take hold. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding out who God really intended us to be. Refusing to believe the lies gives us the knowledge and confidence that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for us. He has given us the resources to not believe the lies so join us on Sundays to learn how to put them into action.
Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we don't take hold. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding out who God really intended us to be. Refusing to believe the lies gives us the knowledge and confidence that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for us. He has given us the resources to not believe the lies so join us on Sundays to learn how to put them into action.
Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we don't take hold. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding out who God really intended us to be. Refusing to believe the lies gives us the knowledge and confidence that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for us. He has given us the resources to not believe the lies so join us on Sundays to learn how to put them into action.
Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we don't take hold. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding out who God really intended us to be. Refusing to believe the lies gives us the knowledge and confidence that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for us. He has given us the resources to not believe the lies so join us on Sundays to learn how to put them into action.
Within this message lies the truth. Actually, it's the truth about lies. The lies we tell ourselves and the damage they do if we don't take hold. There's nothing little or white about them - lies keep us from finding out who God really intended us to be. Refusing to believe the lies gives us the knowledge and confidence that we're living up to the amazing potential that God has planned for us. He has given us the resources to not believe the lies so join us on Sundays to learn how to put them into action.
Join us as we look at Everyday People chosen by God to do amazingly great things. Together we'll look at Gideon, Samson, Lydia and Moses to view their lives and to see how God used Everyday People to accomplish His good and perfect will. God has called you to serve Him. God has given you the skills, strength, and smarts to complete the mission He has for you!
Join us as we look at Everyday People chosen by God to do amazingly great things. Together we'll look at Gideon, Samson, Lydia and Moses to view their lives and to see how God used Everyday People to accomplish His good and perfect will. God has called you to serve Him. God has given you the skills, strength, and smarts to complete the mission He has for you!
Join us as we look at Everyday People chosen by God to do amazingly great things. Together we'll look at Gideon, Samson, Lydia and Moses to view their lives and to see how God used Everyday People to accomplish His good and perfect will. God has called you to serve Him. God has given you the skills, strength, and smarts to complete the mission He has for you!
Join us as we look at Everyday People chosen by God to do amazingly great things. Together well look at Gideon, Samson, Lydia and Moses to view their lives and to see how God used Everyday People to accomplish His good and perfect will. God has called you to serve Him. God has given you the skills, strength, and smarts to complete the mission He has for you!
"Christianity has not so much been tried and found wanting, as it has been found difficult and left untried.” (G.K. Chesterton) Christians are looking for ways to grow closer to God and to live out their faith. Often we have not grown because we have not been taught or practiced the spiritual habits (disciplines) that help us to grow. In this three week series we will introduce three spiritual disciplines and help you take steps to make them a part of your life.
"Christianity has not so much been tried and found wanting, as it has been found difficult and left untried.” (G.K. Chesterton)
Christians are looking for ways to grow closer to God and to live out their faith. Often we have not grown because we have not been taught or practiced the spiritual habits (disciplines) that help us to grow. In this three week series we will introduce three spiritual disciplines and help you take steps to make them a part of your life.
"Christianity has not so much been tried and found wanting, as it has been found difficult and left untried.” (G.K. Chesterton) Christians are looking for ways to grow closer to God and to live out their faith. Often we have not grown because we have not been taught or practiced the spiritual habits (disciplines) that help us to grow. In this three week series we will introduce three spiritual disciplines and help you take steps to make them a part of your life.
“Cesar Millan has been called a Dr. Phil for dogs, and for good reason. Cesars amazing rehabilitations of aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs captured the national spotlight when his National Geographic Channel series Dog Whisperer premiered in September 2004. Regular viewers soon came to realize it wasnt the dogs but the quirky owners who needed Cesars help the most.” (quote from his website)
While Cesar may help us deal with our canine friends, who do we turn to for help with the daunting task of parenting? Kids do not come with owners manuals and parents need help. For over 2000 years there has been a best selling parenting manual who many have ignored. The Bible has principles for every area of parenting and they work if only we will apply them.
Cesar Millan has been called a Dr. Phil for dogs, and for good reason. Cesar's amazing rehabilitations of aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs captured the national spotlight when his National Geographic Channel series Dog Whisperer premiered in September 2004. Regular viewers soon came to realize it wasnt the dogs but the quirky owners who needed Cesar's help the most. (quote from his website)
While Cesar may help us deal with our canine friends, who do we turn to for help with the daunting task of parenting? Kids do not come with owners manuals and parents need help. For over 2000 years there has been a best selling parenting manual who many have ignored. The Bible has principles for every area of parenting and they work if only we will apply them.
Cesar Millan has been called a Dr. Phil for dogs, and for good reason. Cesars amazing rehabilitations of aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs captured the national spotlight when his National Geographic Channel series Dog Whisperer premiered in September 2004. Regular viewers soon came to realize it wasn't the dogs but the quirky owners who needed Cesars help the most.” (quote from his website)
While Cesar may help us deal with our canine friends, who do we turn to for help with the daunting task of parenting? Kids do not come with owners manuals and parents need help. For over 2000 years there has been a best selling parenting manual who many have ignored. The Bible has principles for every area of parenting and they work if only we will apply them.
While Cesar may help us deal with our canine friends, who do we turn to for help with the daunting task of parenting? Kids do not come with owner's manuals and parents need help. For over 2000 years there has been a best selling parenting manual who many have ignored. The Bible has principles for every area of parenting and they work if only we will apply them.
“Cesar Millan has been called a Dr. Phil for dogs, and for good reason. Cesar's amazing rehabilitations of aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs captured the national spotlight when his National Geographic Channel series Dog Whisperer premiered in September 2004. Regular viewers soon came to realize it wasn't the dogs but the quirky owners who needed Cesar's help the most.” (quote from his website) While Cesar may help us deal with our canine friends, who do we turn to for help with the daunting task of parenting? Kids do not come with owner's manuals and parents need help. For over 2000 years there has been a best selling parenting manual who many have ignored. The Bible has principles for every area of parenting and they work if only we will apply them.
In this passage, Jesus is assuring one of the criminals on the cross that when he died, he would be with Jesus in heaven. This was granted because even at the hour of his death, the criminal had expressed his faith in Jesus.
In this passage, Jesus is assuring one of the criminals on the cross that when he died, he would be with Jesus in heaven. This was granted because even at the hour of his death, the criminal had expressed his faith in Jesus.
On the cross Jesus said these words “It is finished.” It was his victory cry. He had completely fulfilled the work that God had planned for him. While Jesus could say it is finished, we are a work in progress, we have unfinished business in our lives. That is good news, God is not finished with us yet!
On the cross Jesus said these words “It is finished.” It was his victory cry. He had completely fulfilled the work that God had planned for him. While Jesus could say it is finished, we are a work in progress, we have unfinished business in our lives. That is good news, God is not finished with us yet!
Those who crucified Jesus were not aware of the full scope of what they were doing because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah.
Those who crucified Jesus were not aware of the full scope of what they were doing because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah.
What are you going to do with your life? You really only have three alternatives. You can spend your life. You can waste your life. Or you can invest your life. I want to suggest to you that the greatest use of your life is to invest it in something that outlasts it. That's called leaving a legacy.
What are you going to do with your life? You really only have three alternatives. You can spend your life. You can waste your life. Or you can invest your life. I want to suggest to you that the greatest use of your life is to invest it in something that outlasts it. That's called leaving a legacy.
This week in worship we talked about Philemon vs 8-16. We saw how the Apostle Paul was used by God to build bridges between two believers who had relational conflict.
This week in worship we talked about Philemon vs 8-16. We saw how the Apostle Paul was used by God to build bridges between two believers who had relational conflict.
We need to choose to be those people who focus their lives on encouraging others rather than tearing them down. Focusing on being an encourager is exactly what Paul did so come and learn how you can make that a common practice in your life.
Lessons from Paul, Philemon and Onesimus on how God can change our life for His purpose.
Lessons from Paul, Philemon and Onesimus on how God can change our life for His purpose.
You see it every day. Bad people taking advantage of the weak. Good people down on their luck. Innocent people suffering. War. Injustice. Ever get the feeling God isn't fair? Discover how an Old Testament prophet can inspire a modern day faith in God's Promises.
You see it every day. Bad people taking advantage of the weak. Good people down on their luck. Innocent people suffering. War. Injustice. Ever get the feeling God isn't fair? Discover how an Old Testament prophet can inspire a modern day faith in God's Promises.