Blue Oaks Church Weekend Services: Recent Episodes
Blue Oaks Church - Pastor Matt VanCleave
Blue Oaks Church is a non-denominational Christian church in Pleasanton, California. Our teaching pastor is Matt VanCleave. Everyone is welcome. Find out more about us at https://blueoakschurch.org
It can be tough to try to please everyone. Especially when it comes to highly subjective things, like our taste in music. Especially worship music. Fortunately worship isn’t about us or our preferences and tastes. Worship is about God.
Next Steps
I will come ready to worship God in spirit and truth.I will come early and prepare my heart for worship.I will worship in a way that reflects my heart.The post Why Worship Matters appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The vast majority of the Christians in our day are inundated with work and other obsessions that have replaced a true relationship with Jesus. Jesus’ enemy is not opposition, persecution, or threatened poverty. It’s over-commitment, fatigue, stress and running too fast. In this message we look at how to regain the life Jesus is calling you to live.
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I will commit to live a simpler life.I will identify which idol I wrestle with most and eliminate it from my life.I will not bow down to the idol of approval. I will give and serve and trust God with my future.I will put knowing and loving God above doing good works.The post Tearing Down Idols | Sep 3 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Do you struggle with “FOMO” (the “fear of missing out”)? Do you consider your ability (and tendency) to do 5 things at once a virtue or a vice? Did you know that even Jesus, the Son of God, needed to rest sometimes? Join us this Sunday as we again learn from the Master of peaceful living. Next Steps I will rest on a weekly basis. I will read the gospel of John, reflecting on the life and teachings of Jesus. The post A Call to Live Rested appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Next Steps I will live in the constant care and protection of the Good Shepherd. Instead of worrying I will pray and ask God to take care of me. I will not try to get some external circumstance to bring soul satisfaction. I will schedule a time to rest this week. I will fast from noise, providing space and time for God to speak. The post Rest Your Weary Soul appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Do you sometimes find it difficult to stand up for what you believe in, especially in the face of opposition from others? If so you’re not alone. Sometimes opposition can mean you’re on the right path. Join us this week as we look at how Jesus often defied those who stood in the way of the Kingdom of God. Next Steps I will bring the kingdom of God to my little part of the world this week. I will consider The post Herod appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever lied? C’mon, be honest. Even one little white lie? But does it really even matter? Does it matter to God? This week we take a look at how we’re doing when it comes to honesty and integrity – and what we can do about it if we have a few skeletons in our closets. Next Steps I will take off the mask and stop faking it in an area of my life. I will ask God to The post Ananias and Sapphira appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Do you have what might be called “bleacher people” in your life? These are people who stand in the bleachers, cheering you on as you run the race of life. We all need them and we can become them for others. Join us this week as we explore how. Next Steps I will identify who my bleacher people are and thank them. I will humble myself and invest in the greatness of someone else. I will pray for the person The post Barnabas | Jul 30 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at a group of desperate characters who approach Jesus for healing. It’s one of the most moving stories in the New Testament. We’ll look at what contributes to ingratitude and some things we can do to cultivate grateful hearts. Next Steps I will learn to be grateful for imperfect gifts. I will learn to be grateful in times of worry and frustration. I will learn to be grateful by avoiding grumbling and complaining. I will express The post Ten Lepers appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
There are a number of interpretations of the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. Some think the story states contemplation is superior to task orientation. Some think “type B” personalities are judged as better than “type A.” What Jesus indicates, however, is the idea of “the one thing.” The one thing can be defined as time spent listening to God’s Word. Or the one thing that can be defined as taking action on what God’s Word says. The The post Mary & Martha appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The Book of Job follows the course of resolution for Job after a series of devastating events in his life. Although Job’s friends try to give him the answers to why he was suffering, it takes the many challenging questions of God to help Job realize that God is endlessly good, uncontrollably generous, irrationally loving, and he gives for no reason at all, just because it’s his nature. Job listens to God, humbles himself, and is restored to a full relationship with God. The post Job appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Begin with the end in mind”. It sounds wise, but how often do you actually do it? Did you start your day, your week, your career, your marriage, your family, with a plan of how you’d reach your end goals successfully? Or are you like a ship without a rudder, being blown about by the winds of desire? Next Steps “I love you God, except…” What is your except? I will follow wisdom rather than The post Solomon appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Who doesn’t love a good story? Good vs Evil, light vs dark. An unlikely Hero rising up to take on a powerful enemy. In the Book of Judges we see God calling men and women to heroic action. But the story isn’t over, He may be calling you. Next Steps I will pray about what battle Jesus is calling me to fight. The post Deborah appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Joseph had to wait 13 years to understand God’s plan for his life. During those years, he endured challenging experiences that could have shaken his faith and caused him to lose sight of any hope that God really cared about him, much less had something good in mind for his life. But neither God nor Joseph wavered. We will learn some lessons from Joseph this week: God has a plan for our lives, and he has a much better view The post Joseph appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we conclude our series, “The God I Never Knew” with a message on the sealing work of the Holy Spirit. Matt will talk about three occasions in life when we need to do what Jesus did — withdraw, remember and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who will assure us of who we are, and tell us that we are loved by God. There will be several occasions in life when we need to do this. The post You Are Loved by God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
A filter’s job is to let the right stuff through, while trapping impurities or contaminants that might do damage. We filter out contaminants from the air we breathe, the sun we expose our skin to, or the water we drink. But I want to suggest that these areas are trivial compared to the one area that needs filtering the most — your mind. One of the great illusions about spiritual growth is that I can form a Christ-like character, but The post The Filtering Work of the Spirit appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you made a mistake recently or in your past that you’re not able to let go of? Maybe you think, “I don’t want to walk through my life with this cloud of guilt hanging over me anymore,” but you don’t know what to do. Are you holding onto sin, but you’re not sure what to do to let go of it? Join us this week as we explore how the Holy Spirit sets us free from sin and regret.
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I will examine my life to determine what burdens I’m carrying.I will stop carrying burdens that are weighing me down. I will choose Godly sorrow that leads to repentance, life and joy. I will come to Jesus and lay my burden down.The post The Convicting Work of The Spirit appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are continuing to ask and answer some tough questions about the Holy Spirit. We’ll explore things like whether the gift of healing is still active today, if there is a right or wrong way to pray, and how the Spirit can show up in our day-to-day. Join us for part two as we look directly at these challenging questions about the Spirit.
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I will expect the Spirit to manifest Himself in remarkable ways.I will look to the fruit of the Spirit for evidence of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life.I will spend my life training to be like Jesus.I will pay attention to the Spirit who is with me all the time.I will listen for the Spirit’s promptings, and I will say yes to him.I will ask for prayer for healing, believing we serve a healing God.The post Tough Questions About the Spirit (Part 2) appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? How do you know if you’ve experienced it? Is the gift of speaking in tongues a legitimate thing?Should all Christians experience it? Is the gift of healing legitimate? Are signs and wonders evidence of the Holy Spirit? Does life in the Spirit always carry with it good health? Is there a right way to pray and to worship in a way that will release the Spirit? Is there a wrong way to pray that might quench the Spirit?
Join us for the next two weeks as we look directly at these tough questions about the Spirit.
Next Steps
I will expect the Spirit to manifest Himself in remarkable ways.I will pay attention to the Spirit who is with me all the time.I will not quench the Spirit’s promptings in my life.I will listen for the Spirit’s promptings, and I will say yes to every one of them.I will ask for prayer for healing, believing we serve a healing God. The post Tough Questions About the Spirit appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
One God, but three Persons? The Trinity can be a difficult concept to grasp, and yet when we begin to discover more deeply what the Trinity is and what it means for us, we begin to better understand the Holy Spirit.
This week we start in the classroom, thinking about and studying what Scripture has to say about the Trinity . And then we’ll move to real life, and consider what the implications are about the Trinity and the unity of the Spirit for real life. Joins us this week as we continue to explore, and be challenged by, the Spirit.
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I will make every effort to grow in humility.I will make every effort to grow in graciousness.I will make every effort to grow in patience.I will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit at Blue Oaks.The post God’s Longing for His Church appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we continue our series “The God I Never Knew” with a message on receiving guidance and direction from the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit really does speak to ordinary human beings like you and me.
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I will be still before the Lord and listen.All week long, my prayer is going to be, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”I will listen for to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when I’m speaking to people.The post Finding Direction appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Every minute your body is producing toxic chemicals you need to get rid of, which is one reason why you need to breathe out. You also have a constant need to receive life-giving chemicals like oxygen, which is why you need to breathe in. Join us this week as we talk about the need for what might be called spiritual breathing – how to breathe out things like worry, fear, jealousy or apathy; and breathe in life from God’s Holy Spirit.
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I will practice spiritual breathing this week.I will breathe out what is toxic inside of me — worry, problems and fears.I will breathe in love, joy, peace, guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit.I will be open, sensitive, listening, and responsive to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.The post Spiritual Breathing appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Many people have a clear picture of who God the Father is. They’re not confused about the person of Jesus either. But who is the Holy Spirit? What does He do? And how do we experience His presence? In this teaching series, The God I Never Knew, we remove some of the mystery surrounding the Trinity’s third person. We’re meant to know God the Holy Spirit as fully as we know God the Father and God the Son. This week we are exploring the power of the Spirit – how He transformed the lives of the disciples, and how He transforms us.
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I will respect the Holy Spirit’s mystery.I will be open to the Spirit moving in my life however he wishes.I will not treat the Holy Spirit like a genie in a bottle.I will align myself with the Holy Spirit’s work in my life.I will not grieve or quench the Spirit.I will engage in activities that keep me connected to the Holy Spirit.I will ask the Holy Spirit to manifest his power in my life and in the life of our church.The post The Spirit Is Power appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
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I will do my own personal study to learn about the resurrection of Jesus.I will plug into the resurrection power of Jesus in my life and circumstances.I will be a conduit of God’s resurrection power to people who desperately need it.I will live with the perspective that anything is possible because of the resurrection power of Jesus.The post Wow! appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Palm Sunday is not merely a day that marks our calendar as we draw closer to Easter. Palm Sunday is also a story that reveals how Jesus’ 12 disciples carried a blindspot, one that challenged their faith. Join us this week as we uncover how our blindspots about God can help or hinder our faith.
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I will spend time reading John 8 and John 12 as I prepare for Easter SundayI will think about my life and if anything is holding me back from God I will uncover how my blindspot is challenging my faith I will find a group of people, or join a small group, to process challenging situations and blindspotsI will spend time in prayer trying to understand what God is trying to show me this weekI will surrender a blindspot to God I will reflect on one of the blindspots we have covered the last few weeks and make a plan to remove this blindspot The post The Last Blind Spot appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever had to point out a blind spot to someone else…but really didn’t want to do it? You’re sure God is prompting you to ‘speak the truth in love’ but you want to wait until ‘the right time’, wait until you’re ready. Don’t miss this 3rd message in our teaching series, “Blind Spots”.
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I will say “Yes” to God even thought I don’t feel ready.I will say “Yes” to God in an area I’ve been saying “Not yet.”I will obey God even though it’s risky.I will say “Yes” to God in the area of generosity.I will say “Yes” to volunteering at Blue Oaks.I will help someone take their next step toward God.I will be praying about who God wants me to invite to church on Easter Sunday.The post Ready or Not, Here I Go | Mar 26 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
If you caught last week’s message then you now know you have blind spots. But what are they, and how do we identify them? The good news is that God hasn’t created us to walk alone. You are part of a community that can not only sustain you when you’re down but also help you see and change your blindspots. This week we talk about the tools God uses to help us to identify and tackle our blind spots.
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I will tell the the last 10 percent when it needs to get told.I will listen in humble, repentant openness and seek to learn.I will ask a trusted friend to tell me the truth about me.I will pray and ask God to show me my blind spots.The post The Indispensable Mirror appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In our new series, Blind Spots, we are going to sit and reflect on the uncomfortable truth that in our lives and in our faiths we all have blind spots. The truth about me is that I don’t know the full truth about me because I have blind spots. These blind spots affect our relationships with others and our relationship with God, but we don’t have to sit in the darkness rather we can uncover and work on those things that we are blind to.
Wise people have always understood this process of revealing and healing. And the Scriptures are full of verses and stories about individuals and communities walking through their blind spots. Join us for this series as we work through the layers that may be blocking the truth from being known, revealing our blindspots and allowing God to do a transforming work in our lives.
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I will work to get past the layers that are blocking the truth from being known.I will ask myself the question: Am I quicker to pass judgment on or gossip about other people than I am to see and feel the painful truth about myself?I will ask God to reveal the truth about my character, speech, habits, ego — as much truth as I can bear.When reading the Bible, I will ask God to reveal to me who he wants me to be.Instead of defending, resisting or rationalizing, I will be open to learn the truth about me.I will read the Bible with a repentant spirit.The post Open Up To The Truth appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever wondered what the future holds? In Daniel chapter 7, we discover a prophetic vision that not only unveils the ultimate destiny of the world, but also reveals the character of God and the hope we have in Christ. Join us this Sunday as we delve into this powerful chapter and learn how it applies to our lives today.
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I will expect opposition, danger, suffering and persecution.I will not give up in the face of opposition.I will not give up when I experience suffering or persecution.I will not take revenge into my hands.I will forgive where I need to forgive and not hold on to resentment.I will guard myself from a bitter, revengeful spirit while working for justice.I will clean up my life in the area God has shown me.I will confess to God and another person to get things right in my life.The post Prophecies | Mar 5 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Are you a Strategic Avoider? Maybe if you don’t think about it, read about it, talk about it, or look at it… it will go away (whatever “it” is)! After all, if you acknowledged it, “it” might force you to change, “it” might force you to do something you don’t want to do. King Belshazzar in the Book of Daniel tried this approach in regards to looking at the plain truth of his life. This Sunday we see how well that worked out for him, and for us when we do the same thing.
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I will examine my life to learn where I avoid the truth.I will take care of any unfinished business in my life.I will forgive someone who has hurt me.I will ask for forgiveness from someone I’ve hurt.I will address a sin I’ve been struggling with for a long time.I will give/serve in the way I feel God is calling me to.
The post The Writing Is On The Wall appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week, our journey in Daniel continues! Daniel chapter 6 holds one of the most known stories of the Bible, Daniel in the Lions Den. Yet when we focus solely on the character of Daniel, we miss out on some of the important movements in the chapter. Join us this week as we explore how three characters in this story journey through failure and trials, forming their resilient faith as they spend some time in a cave of lions.
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I will stop ignoring what God is clearly speaking to me. I will stop blowing off people who are trying to tell me the truth. I will come clean, get help and turn my life around. I will be obedient to God and stop ignoring him.I will trust that God is molding me through the suffering and pain. The post Listening In The Lion’s Den appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Has God’s ‘still, small voice’ ever failed to get through to you, and then what follows feels like you’re being hit over the head with a 2×4? If so then you’ll be able to relate to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4. The gentle approach didn’t work, so God had to shift to Plan B. Join us this week as we learn from the mistakes of a King who is not so different from us.
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I will stop ignoring what God is clearly speaking to me.I will stop blowing off people who are trying to tell me the truth.I will come clean, get help and turn my life around.I will be obedient to God and stop ignoring him.I will trust that God is molding me through the suffering and pain.The post Molded Through Suffering appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Has success, prosperity and comfort made you… a little indifferent to God? After all, you have everything you need, right? Sure, you say a quick prayer when you’re having a tough day but in general, you get along pretty well all by yourself most of the time. King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4 thought the same thing. Join us this Sunday as we learn from his mistake… and ours.
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I will find a Daniel in my life who will tell me the hard truth.I will ask a trusted friend to help me see my blindspots.I will look for interruptions as opportunities to serve God. I will renounce my sins.I will do what is right.I will be kind to the poor.The post Humility appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Imagine this; you have risen to a position of power and prestige at your job. You have promises of great wealth, great adoration, and a great future. Your heart is full of hope and dreams.
And then, the person who rules your country mandates that you turn from your religion and bow down to Him. You are faced with a choice, do you move with the crowd and keep all you’ve earned, or do you follow your God and walk into your death?
This tension is what Daniel chapter 3 is all about. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with a choice, and it led them into a fiery furnace. Yet they didn’t burn; they didn’t die. Instead, they experienced a powerful God who changed them and the people around them.
This week we’ll talk about how that kind of devotion to God really is possible for ordinary people like you and me today.
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I will not make furnace avoidance the goal of my life.I will stop asking God to deliver me from the furnace and instead to meet me in it.I will pray, “God, give me an opportunity to show my commitment to you.”The post Meeting God In The Fire appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
When we look at the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Book of Daniel, we discover God leads them to places of danger, pain, and destruction, places in which courage is the driving force. How many heroes of the Christian faith had easy lives? Maybe we need to stop praying for deliverance from the furnace and, instead, ask for God to be present as we, with courageous steps, walk into the fire.
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I will honor God in my relationships, and not bow to the god of pleasure.II will honor God with my finances, and not bow to the god of security.II will honor God in my worship, and not bow to my self-interests.II will remain devoted to God even if he does not give me what I want.The post Courageous Faith appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In ‘Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous’, Ernest Kurtz writes, “Fundamental to the recovery process is that healing and sanity begin with a single realization that I am not God. I’m not in control of my universe. I often cannot even control myself. I violate my own values. I want to do one thing, and then I do something else.” Failure to understand that you are not God can destroy your spiritual life. Failure to surrender and accept our true identity in Christ has eternal consequences. This week we are looking at a man, a King, who discovered this very painful lesson.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, because while the King suffered, his counterpart Daniel flourished. In their stories we will see who is in charge and what implications that has for our lives. Join us this week as we continue our time in the book of Daniel.
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I will view frustrating situations as an opportunity for me to be patient.I will be patient in frustrating situations because it’s crucial to the formation of my character.I will not obsess over image management or self-promotion.I will devote my life to helping people meet God.I will be bold in sharing my faith.I will use worry as a prompt to pray and give it to God.I will worship God in the middle of my story, when I don’t know how things will end.The post Understanding Who’s In Charge appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What do you do when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned? What do you do when a relationship ends, vocational hopes die, someone wounds you deeply, or your health fails? What do you do when you’re caught waiting when hope seems to be running out?
The Bible is filled with stories of resilience. The journey of the Israelites across the Old Testament is a journey of resilience. Paul and his travels, documented in the New Testament, are filled with stories of resilience. Characters like Moses and Noah, Joshuaa and David, Ruth and Esther, and Hagar are all stories of resilience.
In the middle of the Old Testament is a book of the Bible named after its main character, Daniel. Daniel and the characters surrounding him were extremely resilient. They experienced, in the face of tremendous challenge, a fierce sense of resolve and said, “I will not give up.” They enlarged their capacity to handle problems. They not only survived, they thrived. And we can do the same. Join us for this series as we learn from Daniel how to live a resilient life.
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I resolve to honor God and live by my deepest values.I refuse to live as a victim of circumstances beyond my control.I will decide to take initiative and not complain.I will take initiative and get connected in community.I will remember God is at work in the midst of suffering.The post A Resilient Life appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
It’s that time of year again – new gym routines, new balanced diets, new relationship goals. We tell ourselves ‘this year will be different’. But have you got the resilience, the character, and yes, even the faith, to go the distance?
The post Worship to Resilience appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
“What’s in a name?” the fair Juliette famously asked her Romeo. In Shakespeare’s classic tale, names kept the two lovers apart.What about Jesus’ many names? Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. This Christmas Eve we explore the names of Jesus, discovering who Jesus is and how His names bring us closer to Him.
The post Christmas Eve 2022 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are continuing our series on worship; over the past few weeks, we have talked about our posture for worship and how our mood and our worship intertwine, but one element of our worship experience is missing. The action in worship.
Some of us feel comfortable being expressive, allowing large actions to flow as we worship in song. Others feel more comfortable with a more reflective stance, allowing the Spirit to move in its gentle waves. Yet all of us find moments of action-oriented in our worship experience.
This week we will be reflecting on some of the popular Christmas characters to understand how worship and action intertwine, allowing us to set our minds, hearts, and actions on Jesus during this season of celebration.
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I will read the story of the Shepherds and the Magi as I prepare my heart and mind for Christmas I will reflect on ways that I can embody a posture of worship I will let my sight draw me to see something extraordinary that God has placed in front of meI will listen intently to conversations with friends and family as a form of worship I will actively engage in a time of worship music, listening for how God is forming me in the sound I will meditate on the journey that the Shepherds and Magi took, and reflect on my own faith journey I will worship Jesus by taking a step forward in my faith I will talk about how I am worshipping God with part of my community, and invite them to reimagine their worship this week
The post Actionize Your Worship appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
They sing that it is beginning to look like Christmas, but is it beginning to feel like Christmas? And what exactly are your normal Christmas feelings, your normal Christmas mood?
If we were honest, we would say that our mood changes a lot during Christmas; we are filled with hope and joy but also frustration or annoyance. The beauty of the twinkling Christmas lights and the family fun of diners bring us warmth and love. But the stresses of the end of the year and the chaos of the season can bring dread and stress, and anxiety. We lament, and we love, we worship, and we worry; all of the moods of Christmas flood our days.
We don’t usually talk about your mood around this time of the year, but your mood is actually a really important part of your spiritual life, although we don’t often think about them together. We could define mood as a pervasive tendency to feel a certain way, and while we all carry lots of moods, most of us could divide them into good or bad moods.
This week we’ll talk about this important but kind of tricky connection with your spiritual life and your mood. And we’ll look at four practices that you can engage in between now and Christmas so that your whole person, including your heart, and your mood, can be guided by worship and by God.
Next Steps
I will ask Jesus to set my mood first thing in the morning.I will let my knees hit the floor before my feet hit the floor when I wake up.I will be grateful for the many gifts God has given me.I will consider it joy when I have problems.I will worship Jesus in the midst of my problems.I will extend invitations to our Christmas Eve services.The post How to Be in a Great Mood appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Every week when we gather together as a church, we sing songs. Why do we do that? Why do we sing? And does what we sing have any importance to our day-to-day walk with God? Music is a part of every culture and has, for a long time, been a part of every culture. Music and our ability to sing and hear music are a part of what it means to be human. As long as there have been mothers The post Music of Christmas appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are spending some time in Luke 1 to discover what happened before the Birth. When we celebrate Christmas, we tend to focus on Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Yet God’s miracles started before the Christmas story. Elizabeth and Zechariah experienced one of these miracles, and from it, we get to see how God interacted before the Birth. Join us this week as we prepare ourselves for the Christmas season. The post Before The Birth appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Finding weapons is a theme in many biblical texts. Sometimes those weapons seem strange, such as when the Israelites were told to walk around and yell at the walls of Jericho, or when David used a small rock to slay a giant. This week we are exploring an effective and yet odd weapon for anger. With this weapon we can face any wall, any giant, and find success as we battle our anger with God’s help. The post The Ultimate Weapon Against Anger appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are getting practical! Anger is often a part of our daily lives; we can grow angry when a coworker messes up a project, we can be angry at a spouse when they say something harmful, and we certainly know the anger when we see our kids making poor choices. Even though anger tends to be a part of our daily lives, our bodies are not made to live in a constant state of anger. Mismanaged anger puts The post Steps To Manage Anger appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What makes you angry? Perhaps it is something as slight as a stubbed toe or as serious as a betrayal by someone close to you. How long does your anger last? Does your anger appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, or does your anger burn in your mind for years? Over the next few weeks, we are going to be looking at anger, examining if anger is Biblical and how we walk with our anger. The easiest The post Anger Myths appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Join us for the last week of our series on one-word life-changers, Simple Words. Each week we’ve looked at one simple word that can actually change your life if you allow it to. We have explored what Yes and No mean and how Help and Sorry can change our actions and perception. This week we look at a tremendous word. It’s a word that can bring enormous freedom and meaning, but it’s the most countercultural word of this series, Enough. The post Enough appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Even though words may be simple, they aren’t always easy to say. This week, in Simple Words, we explore the word ‘sorry.’ Sorry is one of those words that, while simple, isn’t always easy to use. Sorry requires humility, vulnerability, and surrender, and too often, we find ways to avoid it. This week we are looking at the story of Ananias and Sapphira to learn not only how sorry is difficult, but what can go wrong when we refuse to The post Sorry appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Join us this week as we continue our series Simple Words, with a message on the word help. The truth is, we all have areas or things in our lives that we need help with, and yet it takes a lot more courage to say the word help than it does to hide, pretend, deny and act like we don’t need help. We all know we need help, but we don’t always know how to say the simple word, help. The post Help appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are continuing our series Simple Words. Last week, we experienced the challenge of saying no, but saying yes also brings about new opportunities and challenges! We are often really good at and therefore used to saying yes. We say yes to spending time with our families and friends, yes to projects at work, and yes to new hobbies. Saying yes is easy in our day-to-day lives, but sometimes our ease with saying yes doesn’t actualize in our The post Yes appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are launching into a new series, Simple Words. We all know that words hold power. We create in-group and out-group experiences through words, we have words that help us think about our favorite books or movies, and we feel emotions when words come to mind. Sometimes, the simplest of words can change the trajectory of your life. The word Help can begin the healing process for those struggling with addiction. The word Yes can open the door The post No appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we are launching into a new series, Simple Words. We all know that words hold power. We create in-group and out-group experiences through words, we have words that help us think about our favorite books or movies, and we feel emotions when words come to mind. Sometimes, the simplest of words can change the trajectory of your life. The word Help can begin the healing process for those struggling with addiction. The word Yes can open the door The post No appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever heard the line, loose lips sink ships? Many of us have, the phrase originated on propaganda posters during World War II, a sort of warning against saying the wrong thing to the wrong people. We could arguably use the same slogan when we talk about our propensity to lie; our own loose lips sink our ship, meaning that when our lies slip from our lips our truth sinks. This week we look at one dynamic, one problem, The post Truth Really Does Set Us Free appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week in our “Confidence” teaching series, we look at what happens in Genesis 29-30, a story of when Jacob goes looking for love. Love is a core, basic human need, so even though the story of Jacob happened many years ago and took place in a drastically different culture, we still find bits of truth that help us understand what love is and how to define our love journey. The story is found in Genesis 29-30, and through the The post Looking For Love appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Where does your confidence come from? Do you have enough of it? Do you have too much? Over the next few weeks, we are diving into the character of Jacob to see what biblical confidence looks like and how we gain confidence in and through God. God wants us to be confident, not self-confident, but to have confidence in Him. The question we explore this week is, “How do I learn to live with authentic confidence?”. Next Steps This week The post Where We Gain Confidence appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
All of us work; we all have a job or jobs that we fill our time and task lists with. And while our titles or job descriptions may differ, all our work includes some form of people-building. From parents who encourage kids to nurses who build up patients to CEOs who build up employees, we all edify others. Paul paints a beautiful picture of what it means to work in Ephesians 4. Drawing from the language used in architecture, Paul The post Tools For The People-Building Business appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
All of us work; we all have a job or jobs that we fill our time and task lists with. And while our titles or job descriptions may differ, all our work includes some form of people-building. From parents who encourage kids to nurses who build up patients to CEOs who build up employees, we all edify others. Paul paints a beautiful picture of what it means to work in Ephesians 4. Drawing from the language used in architecture, Paul The post Tools For The People-Building Business appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
How do you know if you are a Christian? It may seem like a simple question, but at times the answer can be hard to articulate. An inward faith and relationship with Jesus can, at times, be outwardly expressed through different practices. We call some of these practices ‘sacraments,’ and this week, we are exploring the sacrament of Baptism. There was a point in Jesus’ life where he was no longer known as a carpenter from Nazareth but as the The post Baptism appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
How do you know if you are a Christian? It may seem like a simple question, but at times the answer can be hard to articulate. An inward faith and relationship with Jesus can, at times, be outwardly expressed through different practices. We call some of these practices ‘sacraments,’ and this week, we are exploring the sacrament of Baptism. There was a point in Jesus’ life where he was no longer known as a carpenter from Nazareth but as the The post Baptism appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We all know that our work lives are an important aspect of our day-to-day, but what happens when our work morphs into our identity? Or, what happens when work becomes more of a burden than a blessing? At times, work can become such a cornerstone of our identity that it can move us into destructive habits and behaviors. This week we look at The 7 Deadly Sins of Work. We will examine our lives to see where work may be The post Seven Deadly Sins of Work appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We all know that our work lives are an important aspect of our day-to-day, but what happens when our work morphs into our identity? Or, what happens when work becomes more of a burden than a blessing? At times, work can become such a cornerstone of our identity that it can move us into destructive habits and behaviors. This week we look at The 7 Deadly Sins of Work. We will examine our lives to see where work may be The post Seven Deadly Sins of Work appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we begin our series called Happy Monday. Your work is incredibly important to your life.; you define yourself in part by the job you do, you fantasize about what job is next, and you engage with or avoid people based on their jobs. Work defines us. What’s more than that is that your work is incredibly important to God. Work is kingdom ordained and kingdom oriented, meaning that our work carries purpose not only for us but as The post Ten Commandments of Work appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we begin our series called Happy Monday. Your work is incredibly important to your life.; you define yourself in part by the job you do, you fantasize about what job is next, and you engage with or avoid people based on their jobs. Work defines us. What’s more than that is that your work is incredibly important to God. Work is kingdom ordained and kingdom oriented, meaning that our work carries purpose not only for us but as The post Ten Commandments of Work appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we conclude the Sermon on the Mount by looking at what Jesus teaches about the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27. Everyone builds a house, and while it may not be a literal house, everyone is building a form of ‘house’ perhaps better described as character. Everyone is constructing a soul, badly or beautifully, on purpose or by accident, with God’s help or on your own. The house we build will, like our actual physical place of The post Wise and Foolish Builders appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
You have heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat,’ but maybe the more accurate saying would be, ‘you are what you think.’ This week we look at Jesus’ teaching about what’s going on inside our hearts and minds and how it influences our actions. In Luke 6, Jesus declares that a good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart. In this, Jesus connects a person’s character with their thoughts and actions. Like the The post How to Renew Your Mind appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever earnestly prayed for something that ultimately did not come to fruition? How did this seemingly unanswered prayer make you feel? This week we will study Matthew 7:7-11 where Jesus instructs us to keep asking and seeking and knocking with confidence, because we approach God not on the basis of our performance or our spiritual track record, but solely on the basis of the sheer goodness of God the Father. Matt will help us explore the truth that The post Keep Asking and Seeking and Knocking appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at one of the more controversial and often misunderstood statements Jesus made in the Sermon on the Mount. It’s Matthew 7:13-14 where Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” If you look carefully and examine the life and The post Narrow and Wide Gates appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Maybe the most misunderstood, one of the most misapplied verses in the entire Bible is the verse we’re going to look at this week. It’s Matthew 7:6 where Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” As we do the work of interpreting what Jesus meant by this, we The post The Pig and The Pearl appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we study Jesus’ teaching about the plank and the speck from Matthew 7:1-6. Jesus says, “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from someone else’s eye.” Jesus knew that we’re quick to see the problems, faults, shortcomings, and screw-ups in other people, yet we’re slow to see them in our own life. When we are led by judgment and condemnation, when we place another as the The post Plank appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we will study Jesus’ teaching about judging from Matthew 7:1-2. We’re quick to see the problems, faults, shortcomings, and screw-ups in other people. We’re slow to see them in our own life. The message is pretty simple this week. Jesus said, “Do not judge,” and he gave no loopholes. So in this message we’ll talk about how to offer what Dallas Willard calls, “Gentle noncooperation with evil.” Next Steps I will pray, “God, make me accepting in a The post Judging Others appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We all deal with worry. It might be because of health, work, finances, or a relationship. Worry cuts us off from the presence and power of God like almost nothing else. It robs us of joy and paralyzes our ability to trust God. Join us this week as we learn to give our worries to God and live with a peace that is beyond human understanding. Next Steps I will memorize Philippians 4:6-7 I will pray about what’s going on The post Worry appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
God created human being to treasure. We treasure. Jesus said to be careful about what you treasure, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. That’s why we must treasure God above all else. Next Steps I will sacrifice to God in my relational life by serving people. I will give generously as a sacrifice of worship to God. The post What Do You Treasure? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Fasting is simply the practice of abstaining from food, drink, or other things for a period of time. It’s considered a helpful practice for human flourishing. For Jesus, it became a way to experience and depend on the reality of the kingdom, the presence, and power of God. When we fast we realize how much our bodies insist on having their way, and we learn about the kind of grip food has on our lives. We discover how we might The post Find Freedom Through Fasting appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
So many of us are trying to build our own kingdoms. When we look for ways to control our agenda, our money, our comfort, our career, and our security, we’re building our own self-sustaining empire. Sometimes we’re successful at this, and sometimes we’re not. Either way, the pursuit of such an earthly kingdom is endless and unsatisfying. That’s why Jesus teaches us another way to live – within the power of the Kingdom of God. Next Steps I will surrender The post Lord’s Prayer – Glorification appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Why do we choose to violate our values, the very things that give our lives meaning and purpose? Why do we voluntarily give into sins that we know are going to be destructive? Part of the answer lies in the fact that we have an enemy who is bigger, stronger, and smarter than we are. The evil one’s fundamental weapon is temptation. And we easily give into these temptations because we are not equipping ourselves properly to deal with them. The post Lord’s Prayer – Protection appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at the passage in Matthew 6 where Jesus said, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” We all have debtors. We have all been sinned against at one time or another. Which brings us to a critical crossroads — what are we going to do with people who have sinned against us, our debtors? What does it mean to forgive someone just as God forgave you? And what happens if we don’t The post Lord’s Prayer – Confession appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
If asked what you should pray for, what would you say? The answer is everything. Prayer is a daily practice, and when we talk to God each day, we get to bring our physical and spiritual needs to him. We pray for our daily bread. NEXT STEPS I will make this request of Jesus starting today, “Lord, teach me to pray.” I will gratefully acknowledge how God has met my daily needs. I will bring to God my physical and The post Lord’s Prayer – Provision appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the kingdom of heaven was central to his message. But to pray “Your kingdom, Your will” brings up questions; what is the kingdom, and what is God’s will? And what implications does it have for you when you pray this way? God has a plan in motion, and praying, as Jesus describes, is about joining God in what he is doing and engaging in His mission. This Sunday as we learn to pray, “Your The post Lord’s Prayer – Submission appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What enabled Jesus to live such an extraordinary life? If we look to the New Testament, we can see that his life was marked by continual prayer. Before every significant event in his life, Jesus could be found on his knees. When the disciples asked him how they should pray, Jesus did not just give them words to recite. He was teaching them a method that could open the door to life with God. The first sentence of the Lord’s The post Lord’s Prayer – Adoration appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Because of the resurrection, hundreds of millions of people all around the world stop what they’re doing on Easter Sunday, and they go to a church. Some go to remember. Others go the rejoice. Still others go to recalibrate, to ponder the significance of the resurrection. In an attempt to help us remember and rejoice and recalibrate this Easter, we will focus on four brief conversations Jesus had with people shortly after the miracle of his resurrection. Each of these The post Remember, Rejoice, Recalibrate appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
A week can make a world of difference in outlook, opinion, and outcome. Jesus had become somewhat of a celebrity among people who had heard of his miracles and the works that he has done. As he entered the city of Jerusalem a week before Passover, the people welcomed him as a coming king. But by the end of the week, their shouts had turned to crucify him. This Sunday we look at what happened. Next Steps I will read The post Coming King To Crucify Him appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In Matthew 6:2-4, Jesus teaches a profound observation about human behavior in the kingdom of God. Your giving should become habitual to the point that your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing. Initially, when you begin to give and are generous with your resources, it will feel like you’re doing something heroic. Eventually, you can be generous without thinking about how wonderful you are. Dallas Willard said, “A sign of spiritual maturity is the thought that The post First in Generosity appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Dallas Willard taught that there are 4 great questions of life that everyone has to wrestle with: 1. What is real? 2. What is the good life? 3. Who is a good person? 4. How do you become a good person? The reason the Sermon on the Mount is the most influential sermon in human history is simply that no other teacher answers the four great questions of life in a way that brings anywhere near the guidance or wisdom The post Audience of One appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever told a lie? We often deceive others with our words – both with the words we speak and the words we omit. We can even deceive others with the tone of our voice and the gestures that we make. We tell ourselves we don’t do it on purpose, but when getting what we want is threatened, lying is often the most convenient option. However, Jesus says those who live in the Kingdom of God are truth-tellers. They The post Truth-Telling appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
For the last couple months we’ve been learning what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, and the passage we look at this week is part of a section where Jesus redefines what makes someone a good person. He started with anger, then sexuality, and this week Jesus talks about who is a good person when it comes to divorce and remarriage. Jesus doesn’t give laws. He describes what surpassing goodness looks like. But many people have a serious The post When “I Do” Doesn’t Last appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Sexual sin always begins far before the act, and an attitude can be as damaging as your actions. This week in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses how important it is to be careful how you look at others and what you think about while you are. This week we look at how to live in the kingdom of God when it comes to lust. Next Steps I will make a covenant with my eyes. I will create guardrails The post A Lustful Look appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we turn in the Sermon on the Mount to how living in the kingdom of God can transform our angry hearts. Jesus begins by talking about three things we should not do and concludes with two positive illustrations about what a kingdom-of-God-kind-of-person does. This week as we look at how to live in the Kingdom of God when it comes to anger. Next Steps I will make reconciling a broken relationship a higher priority than religious activity. I The post Dealing With Anger appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Who is a good person? This is one of the fundamental questions in life. What is it that makes someone a truly good person? This Sunday we’ll take a look at the passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells us very clearly how He answers this question. Next Steps I will explore what my glittering vices are. I will pursue righteousness not by trying to avoid sin but by living life to the fullest. I will pursue The post Learning to Dance appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at the way Jesus taught. He didn’t just fill people with theological information, nor did He lay out legalistic rules to be applied mechanically in every situation. Rather, Jesus taught for life-change. The purpose of His teaching was to change the hearts of people toward God and toward each other. Something worth considering this week is — have you received Jesus as your teacher? You may have received Jesus as your Savior, but have you received The post Receive Jesus as Your Teacher appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In a world filled with people who are hungry, poor, illiterate, oppressed, jobless, far from God, and people who have no idea they matter to Him or to anyone else, Jesus is looking for someone who is willing to let their light shine. This Sunday we look at Mathew 5:14-16 and learn how to be the kind of people who are willing to let our lights shine, to be a city on a hill, and to engage in good deeds The post Light of the World appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at the statement Jesus made just after the beatitudes, “You are the salt of the earth.” We’ll learn how Jesus is giving us a much more expansive identity by using salt. He’s saying, “God’s plan is to use his followers to protect the world from decay and corruption, to purify it and to bring out the God flavors of this world.” Next steps I will live as the salt of the earth. I will continue to The post Salt of the Earth appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we come to the words of Jesus that mark the end of the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted The post Overcome Evil With Good appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
How would someone describe you? What characteristics or qualities would they list from knowing you or observing your life? Each of us has identity markers, or expressions of who we are and how we are known. In his most well-known talk, Jesus gave a series of attributes that are identity markers of living in the Kingdom of God, markers of living the good life. This Sunday we continue our in-depth teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. Next Steps I The post Identity Markers appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Who has the good life? Any serious thinker about the human condition must address this question. For the last two decades, the biggest movement in psychology is what’s called positive psychology — research on happiness, well-being, and flourishing – a research area that deals precisely with this question. The most famous sermon in the history of the world — The Sermon on the Mount — had the most famous beginning of any sermon ever, although it’s widely misunderstood. Jesus begins The post Come As You Are appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus’ death and resurrection was only part of his mission; his overall mission was to bring the kingdom of God — God’s power, presence, and reign in ordinary lives like yours and mine. Jesus brought God’s kingdom to earth, he taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and he invites us to seek first God’s kingdom. The new year is a great time to review our plans for living and base our lives in 2022 on this remarkable opportunity. Next The post What is the Good News? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The first miracle of Jesus was to turn water into wine at a wedding. It might not be the most impressive display to start his earthly ministry, but the significance of his actions was a bold announcement of something new. What is it that Jesus was offering then, and now? The post Water Into Wine appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus went from heavenly second-person-of-the-Trinity existence to that of a baby born in the most humble of conditions. As his ministry took hold as an adult, we see Jesus constantly putting himself into the servant role — and, of course, offering the greatest sacrifice of death on a cross for the sins of the world. Demotion, self-selected or otherwise, was definitely a theme of Jesus’ life and offers lessons on humility and servanthood for his followers who want to advance The post Christmas Eve 2021 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
When someone asks, “How is your spiritual life going?” we usually respond by discussing our devotional time, prayer life, or worship times. However, the true mark of health in our spiritual lives is growing in our capacity to experience God’s and as a result, growing in our capacity to love others. That’s ultimately what Jesus desires for us at Christmastime. This Sunday we look at the wonder of God’s love found in 1 John 4. NEXT STEPS I will embrace The post The Wonder of Love appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Where does joy come from? The classic Christmas carol “Joy to the World” reveals the answer. While joy is being studied by social science and written about more than ever before, we can only find real, lasting joy from the one who was born of a virgin 2,000 years ago. He brought joy to the world that can be found in the midst of some of the most difficult days. NEXT STEPS I will say yes to the reality that The post The Wonder of Joy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The Word of God and His promises are true; He will take care of you. If you’re weary or weighed down, lay it at the Lord’s feet and walk into the wonder of peace. Next Steps I will not make the peace of Christ a search for comfortable circumstances. I will chose a word of Scripture to dwell on so my thinking leads to peace. I will use singing as a way to prepare my heart for the peace of The post The Wonder of Peace appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Hope can make us optimistic, but there is a difference between human optimism and Christ-centered hope. Christian hope realizes earthly hopes and dreams may not come true, and when they don’t, those who believe in Jesus know that God has a place in heaven waiting for them. That is the hope that drives us through all our met and unmet expectations in this world. We have hope because of the grace and forgiveness of God, who sent his Son, Jesus The post The Wonder of Hope appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Titus 3 is generally regarded by biblical scholars as perhaps the most succinct statement in all the New Testament about the wonder of salvation. Put aside your work, relationships, to-do lists, finances, etc., and focus on remembering again the wonder of your salvation. NEXT STEPS I will remember and reflect on the wonder of our salvation. I will notice the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit at work renewing me. I will pray, “God, help me do what is good.” The post The Wonder of Salvation appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In our society, we spend a lot of time and money taking care of our bodies. The Apostle Paul wants us to give as much consideration to our minds as we do to our bodies. Jesus could have come to this earth as a personal trainer to help us figure out how to care for our bodies, but he didn’t. Jesus came primarily as a teacher. Paul warns us in Titus 2:1-15 that unless we are being taught consistently about The post The Message of Transformation appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus said to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Be the Light is our initiative to create a gathering place where we learn, worship, pray, love one another, and serve “the least of these.” By doing so we will bring light to the world like a city on a hill that glorifies our Father in Heaven! Next Steps I will pray for the success of the Be The post Be The Light appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This message is about the importance of an authoritative warning. We learn from Paul that one of the great tests of health and maturity in a church is appropriate, effective confrontation without judgment, superiority or spiritual pride; and the ability to receive it openly without getting defensive. When confrontation is offered in the right spirit, at the right time, in the right way, it’s an expression of love. We will learn four critical aspects of confrontation from Titus 1:10-16. Next The post The Importance of a Warning appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This is week one of a four part series in the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus, where he teaches Titus about becoming a church of irresistible influence. Titus is really one of the most profound books of the Bible to help us understand what makes churches healthy and strong. This week we look at what spiritual influence is, how we can have it in our community, and the standard God holds spiritual leaders to. Next Steps I will seek to The post The Power of Influence appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In the second half of this story Jesus focuses on the older brother. You will either identify with the prodigal son or you will identify with the older brother, who didn’t share his father’s joy at his brother’s return. In this message we’ll look at the resentment, complaints and spirit of judgment from the older brother. God longs for a church where prodigal sons can come home, and people inside the church embrace them. Next Steps I will let go The post Find Freedom From Resentment appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The prodigal son is one of the most famous stories Jesus ever told. In this two part series you will learn more about the character and heart of the father than the rebellion of the son. Jesus compares the father in the story to the heart of God the Father. The father’s response reflects the heart of God toward you. In this first week we will look at the father’s reaction to the prodigal’s actions, and how similarly God allows The post Come Home to the Father appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The deep down dark is the place you get to when you’re stuck. It’s when you realize human sufficiency isn’t going to cut it. It’s the place you realize, “I need God.” In the book Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is in Nazi-occupied Germany with a little underground crew of guys, and they discover, in danger and risk, an intensity of community they never knew when they were safe. Someone struggles with addiction, or gets cancer, or suffers a loss, or The post Community in the Deep Down Dark appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The words, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” are quite familiar. However, in this message we focus on words that maybe you didn’t realize are in the Bible, “Rebuke your neighbor frankly.” We will talk about why you need to rebuke your neighbor frankly and how to do it. There’s a terrific book called Crucial Conversations, and it really gets at the need to do what the writer of Scripture describes as rebuking your neighbor frankly. The idea is in any The post Crucial Conversations appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
For some people, relational breakdown is a source of constant, unrelenting pain. Maybe you have a treasured friendship that has been scarred. Maybe you have a brother or sister with whom you are no longer speaking. Maybe you have a son or daughter, or mother or father, and where there ought to be bonds of love, there is this gaping wound or distance between you. There is no pain in the world like the pain of relational breakdown. That’s why The post Relational Breakdown appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The number one resource God generally uses to grow you, to make you better, to shape you and mold you, is people. So it’s important to ask, “Am I in community? Am I in relationship with some people who will evoke my best self, who will help me grow in ways God really wants?” About 2,000 years ago, Jesus started his first small group. He chose 12 people to be in it. In this message we look at why each The post Life Is Better Together appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The Blue Oaks vision for the Next Generation is that young people would grow in their faith, return every Sunday, and are excited to invite their friends. By the time a student graduates High School, they are fully integrated into the life of Blue Oaks through serving, worshipping, and committed to their personal spiritual growth. Parents view Blue Oaks as a vital partner in the development of their kids. How do we do that? Find out this Sunday! NEXT STEPS The post NextGen appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
God generously gives gifts, talents, and abilities to his followers. And we have a responsibility to be productive with those gifts. God is good to us by the gifts he gives, but he expects us to be accountable for how we use them. And nothing will compare to what we have coming to us because we are wise in how we use the gifts God has given to us. Next Steps I will not compare my gifts to others. I The post Get In The Game appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Throughout the Bible, water is used by God to bring about new beginnings. From the creation account to the story of the Israelites and into the church’s history, we see God leading His people safely through water, away from what held them captive to a new beginning. He established a pattern of redemption that would ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus and demonstrated in our lives through water baptism. This Sunday we see how baptism connects us to a bigger story, The post The Waters of Baptism appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at one of the most powerful aspects of learning to live a Christ-centered life. We’ll look at eight more spiritual gifts that are given to us by the Holy Spirit that enable us to do remarkable things for God in the church. In Ephesians, Paul writes that the reason God has given spiritual gifts to us is so that the Body, or the church, may be built up and strong. That’s a significant purpose for spiritual The post Serve According to Your Giftedness Part 2 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What we talk about the next two weeks is possibly one of the most powerful aspects of learning to live a Christ-centered life. We’re going to look at the spiritual gifts that are given to us by the Holy Spirit that enable us to do remarkable things for God in the church. In Ephesians, Paul writes that the reason God has given spiritual gifts to us is so that the Body, or the church, may be built up and strong. The post Serve According to Your Giftedness appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
There’s a fundamental truth about the church, and that is: the church will always frustrate you if you approach it as a consumer who is trying to get something back from it. That’s why the writers of Scripture describe the church as a community of servants. In this message we will look at the reasons we are to serve, including: God created you to serve. God called you to serve. God gifted you to serve. God changes you when you The post Get Your Hands Dirty appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Do you face a mountain in your life today? A mountain of fear? A mountain of failure? A mountain of guilt? A mountain of opposition? A mountain of brokenness? “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for The post Mountain Moving Prayer appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth because they had been abusing the Lord’s supper. There were divisions within that church. Instead of it being a celebration of the unity of the body, Communion had become a fractious thing. It had turned into the Haves versus the Have-nots. It had become an act of dismembering the body of Christ. Paul wanted to bring them back to the essential heart of what Communion is about. Join us this week The post Remember appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Have you ever known someone who knew a lot about the Bible but was not very loving? Biblical teaching is one of our core values at Blue Oaks. We believe the authentic, Spirit-led teaching of God’s Word is the catalyst for life transformation. The purpose of biblical teaching is not just to inform people. It’s not just to have people who are real smart about the Bible, although it’s necessary and important to be informed deeply about the Bible. But The post Learning To Be Formed Spiritually appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
To start this series we looked at signs of spiritual health from Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week we focus in on the importance of devoting ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the Word of God. We will look at how the early church was transformed by the Word of God, and then look very practically at how we can be transformed by it The post Devoted To The Word appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What is the most important thing in your life; relationships, career, your health, or faith? What often doesn’t make a list is your legacy. Legacy is the story of your life that lives beyond you, and everyone is in the process of creating and leaving a legacy. The question is not, “Will you leave one?” but “What kind of legacy will you leave?” It’s what we’ll talk about this Sunday. NEXT STEPS I will check my focus in light of The post Living Your Legacy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Never before has there been a day or a culture in which fathers have faced greater obstacles than in our day. It has never been more difficult to be a good father than it is now. Look at our culture and you’ll see evidence of this everywhere. The crisis is not just that there is an absence of fathers, it’s that there is an absence of a belief in the importance and nature of fatherhood. So this Father’s Day we The post Fatherhood Myths appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at vital signs of spiritual health. It will take courage to be honest about the state of your spiritual health, but if you do you will know exactly where you need to make adjustments to get to a healthy place in your spiritual life and health. Our prayer for you is that you will have more clarity about your spiritual heath than ever before, and you’ll be able to use these vital signs to look at The post Signs of Spiritual Health appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
A diseased man came to Jesus asking to be made clean if Jesus was willing. He didn’t doubt Jesus’ ability, but wasn’t sure what the answer would be. Sometimes we question if Jesus is willing to act on our behalf, but what we discover is that Jesus wants to do more in us than we can imagine. Next Steps I will trust that Jesus is willing to act on my behalf. I will resist the temptation to be judgmental or The post Jesus Can Cleanse You appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In the Bible, we see Jesus heal people who have great faith and people with not a lot of faith at all. Jesus didn’t heal people just to reward their faith. He also healed people to prove who he was — the Messiah. It’s important to understand Jesus will heal His children. Maybe it will be in this life. Maybe it will be in the life to come. What we’re commanded to do is simply to pray. Because Jesus can, The post Jesus Can Heal You appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Sermon Summary In this world, which screams, “Mine!” the Spirit of God whispers, “Give.” Why? Because he wants us to put him at the center of our lives. That’s it. That may be a lot for you if you have something you don’t want to give up. But God doesn’t say, “Give and you will be safe.” He says, “Give and I will bless you. Trust me.” Join us this Sunday as we look at the story of the rich The post Jesus’ Greatest Challenge appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at the interaction Jesus had with a man named Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Zacchaeus was a despised tax collector. He was filled with guilt and his life seemed like a waste. But the truth about him was he was only one sincere confession away from intimacy with God. He was as far away from God as possible, and yet he was one confession away from intimacy with God. You just gotta come and see this story The post Come Out of Hiding appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus is the greatest teacher who ever lived, and there’s not another passage of Scripture that more effectively shows the absolute brilliance of Jesus than the one we study this week. You just gotta come and see it. This week we have the opportunity to be students of Jesus, learning from him how to truly love people. NEXT STEPS I will live as a student of Jesus and learn from him how to love. When facing difficult circumstances I will The post Jesus Tests Our Love and Endurance appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Four men lowered their paralyzed friend through a hole in a roof in order to put him in the presence of Jesus. I imagine them saying to him, “You just gotta come and see this man who could heal you.” They went out of their way to do what needed to be done, and they determined not to let those gathered there stand in the way of their resolve. This is one of those stories where you gotta see it The post The Power of Friendship appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We are accountable to God for what we do with the time, talents and resources he has trusted to us. Stewardship is understanding that your life is not your own. Life is a gift from God and God calls us to steward everything about it and in it for his glory and the good of others. Next Steps I will take the 3 Month Tithe Challenge. I will text “Tithe” to 925-275-5520. I will take Financial Peace University and get The post Stewardship appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
A genuine decision to follow and obey God is a decision of total surrender. We leave nothing off the table. We are “all in” as a reasonable response to God being “all in” for us. When God the Father offered up his Son for our redemption, he revealed how valuable we are to him. The gift of salvation was an act of total surrender by our Savior. Are you willing to return the gesture? Are you prepared to surrender your The post Surrender appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Too often we identify ourselves by what we do, what we have, or what we prefer rather than whose we are. In Christ, we have been made new and our identity is found in Him as a child of God, adopted into His family. NEXT STEPS I will live as an image-bearer of God. I will allow God to define my identity in Christ. I will recognize and reject false beliefs about my identity. I believe I am loved by The post Identity in Christ appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
One of the unique aspects of Christianity is that it actually traces its origin to one particular event in one moment on one day in history. That moment has changed more human hearts than any other event in history. Our hope is that Jesus will touch your heart as he has for so many from every generation, language, and nation for the last two thousand years. NEXT STEPS I put my hope in Jesus. When facing adversity, I will not The post Easter 2021 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
More than a simple collection of stories, the Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and infallible word of God, the source of truth we seek to live by. We read and study it to shape our understanding of God and a view of the world. In it, we discover timeless truths that guide us through the shifting waves of culture. NEXT STEPS I will reflect on how I view the Bible and how I understand the authority of the Bible for The post Authority of the Bible appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
There are countless demands and distractions competing for our attention and priority every day. It is important that our relationship with Jesus be the first priority as we are practicing our faith, living out our beliefs and accomplishing God’s will for our lives. What we find is that our lives become less cluttered as our priorities find alignment in his purpose for us. Next Steps I will accept Jesus’ invitation to follow him. I will self-evaluate what my activities and The post Jesus First appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We say something is personal when it involves a relationship, the presence of, and interaction with another. God is not unapproachable or unreachable, but personal. He is involved daily in our lives out of his love for us, close in times of need, with a plan and purpose for us. NEXT STEPS I believe God has a purpose for my life. I believe pain and suffering can often bring me closer to God. I believe God is actively involved in The post Personal God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Theologian A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” So understanding who God is is most important. Scripture is clear that there is One true God existing in three Persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each has a distinct role yet operates in complete unity. While this triune God can be filled with mystery we can also know God through the characteristics of God, helping us better understand The post God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Our best efforts will never be good enough to earn salvation from our sinful nature. Sin separates us from God, and the ultimate penalty is death. God’s grace is his undeserved and unmerited favor, given as a gift, to save us from the penalty of sin and reunite us with him. By faith in Christ, we are saved through his work, not our own. Next Steps I believe I will inherit eternal life because of what Jesus has done for The post Salvation by Grace appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we launch a series on spiritual growth, looking at eight catalytic beliefs that will help take your faith to the next level. Join us this week as we look at one word the writers of Scripture use to sum up God’s will for you and me. Next Steps I will take the spiritual growth assessment to learn where I am spiritually. I will attend each week in this series and take next steps toward spiritual growth. I will The post The Word That Sums Up God’s Will For You appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The relational breakdown between David and his son Absalom is one of the more tragic stories in the Bible. In this message we will learn what David didn’t do to prevent this relational breakdown. If David had confronted instead of avoiding, paid attention instead of ignoring, and communicated instead of remaining silent, a lot of the family heartbreak would have been prevented. Next Steps I will begin the steps of reconciliation. I will confront rather than avoid. I will say The post Prevent Relational Breakdown appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
One of the most recognized stories about David is his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and his murderous attempts to cover it up. If this man, a spiritual giant, could act in such a way, what does it say about us and our tendency to sin? In this message we will talk about the spiritual warning lights God uses to get our attention and move us back on the right path. Next Steps I will look for warning lights to prevent The post Spiritual Warning Lights appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
David is described as, “A man after God’s own heart” and 2 Samuel 9 reveals a compassionate side of him. This Sunday we will look at some aspects of David’s compassion toward Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth. There are many similarities in the kindness David reaches out to Mephibosheth and the grace God reaches out with to you and me. Next Steps I will receive the comfort of God’s grace in my life. I will extend the care of God’s grace The post Treat Them Like Royalty appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
One of the greatest examples of spiritual friendship is the relationship between David and Jonathan. Their friendship reveals the wonder of two souls being knit together. God continues to knit souls together in spiritual friendships today. We may not have a lot of spiritual friendships, and they may not always last a lifetime, but God marks us when we develop them. They’re something worth giving our lives to. Next Steps I will be a spiritual friend by helping others pay The post Spiritual Friendship appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message we look at the contrast between David, who was “a man after God’s own heart” and his predecessor on the throne, King Saul, who grew increasingly envious and bitter. We see how the envy Saul developed for David destroyed what had started as a promising reign over Israel. And by observing the stages Saul went through to his destruction, we will hopefully be able to guard ourselves from a similar outcome. Next Steps I will have the The post How The Mighty Fall appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message we will learn how God gave David the courage to face his giant, Goliath. We will learn how to face our own giants and develop courage like David. By facing everyday challenges, criticism, and resisting the pressure to conform, we can develop courage. And ultimately, we can find the kind of victory David found. Next Steps I will develop courage by starting with the everyday challenges. I will face the giants in my life with confidence in The post Face Your Giants appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
David is an example to those of us who desire to have “a heart after God’s own heart.” David’s heart was characterized as being fully abandoned to God. We can be abandoned to God if we’re moved to give to Him with the passion of David. David’s heart can also be seen as one experiencing deep reflection. We also can have a heart that goes deep with God, especially in times of solitude. David’s heart was also undivided. He loved The post A Heart For God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The desire to get Christmas right didn’t end on Christmas day, because our desire was not just to get a day right. There’s an after story to the birth of Jesus, of interruptions and changed plans. What we learn through the after story, as well as others in the Bible, is that we can get a life right with the right focus. As we head towards the New Year the question we have to ask is, what will our focus The post Interruptions appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Christmas Service 2020 The post Light of Christmas appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
As we reflect on the wise men in the manger scene we see some principles emerge about the whole process of giving gifts to loved ones. Like it or not, in our culture, part of getting Christmas right involves sorting out who we’re going to buy presents for, how much money we’re going to spend, and how much time we’re going to invest in the whole process of shopping and wrapping. We believe there is wisdom available to inform our The post Getting Gift-Giving Right appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The love and peace we see in modern nativity scenes is actually the result of several hard-fought battles that both Joseph and Mary had to engage in and win for those scenes to look as wonderful as they do. In this message we will be challenged to engage in several similar personal battles. We’re going to have to fight very hard and, with God’s help, we’re going to have to win these battles to get this Christmas right. Next Steps The post Battles We Must Win to Get This Christmas Right appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What if we could look back at the 2020 Christmas season with no regrets about how we spent our time and resources? That’s our goal with this series. We believe with some coaching, prayer and study we can all get this Christmas right. Next Steps I will use the following as reminders: Nativity Scenes – That was a real event in human history. Christmas Cards – I’m on God’s friendship list. Gifts – Salvation is a gift. Lights – Jesus The post Four Practical Ways to Get Christmas Right appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
How do we learn to love the difficult people in our lives? That’s what we’ll talk about again this Sunday. This isn’t easy to hear, but the way we treat difficult people reveals the condition of our hearts. It really does. And having difficult people in our lives can actually help us grow spiritually in ways that we couldn’t otherwise. Next Steps I will be courageous in confronting the steamrollers in my life. I will set boundaries with the sponges The post Loving Difficult People: Part 2 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Do you have difficult people in your life? Do you have people who have negative character traits that make it difficult to be around them? Conventional wisdom says avoid difficult people, hurt them, or hold them in contempt. Pass judgment on them as inferior. Look down on them. Want them to hurt. Jesus says, “There’s a better way.” Jesus provides wisdom on how to respond to these people in a healthy way. That’s what we’ll talk about this Sunday. Next The post Loving Difficult People Part 1 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Division isn’t simply something that separates. It brings ruin. Division destroys relationships, homes, churches, communities, and nations. This isn’t just a political issue of our day, it’s a human nature issue. Jesus, knowing division would be a struggle, at his last meal with his disciples prays for unity. What we learn from that prayer can begin to close the spaces that divide. NEXT STEPS I will resist dividing over issues and instead lean into the unity found in Christ. I The post Prayer for Unity appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This series is called Undivided to give us hope that in the midst of an election, where there’s division in our country, we can be undivided as a church. This week we’ll talk about how to ground our lives in something more solid than a particular political ideology or power. There is a foundation to operate from that will allow us to give peace, compassion and love to the people around us amidst the type of division we’re experiencing. Next The post Unity Runs Deeper Than Division appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We live in an age of outrage, of choosing sides and drawing lines, us-against-them, and the gap between sides grows larger each day. Polarizing discussions divide us over political and religious ideology, culture, gender and equality issues just to name a few. Could it be that when viewing ourselves in a battle, are actually moving away from what Christ has called us to be, Peacemakers. Next Steps I will commit to the work of peacemaking. I will seek God’s highest The post Peacemakers appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In the story of the soils from Mathew 13, we learn that soil must be soft, deep and free from clutter in order for growth to occur. Jesus says the soil represents our hearts. Our hearts must be soft to truth. Our hearts must be able to withstand difficulties and maintain our faith. Our hearts must be free from the cares of the world. If our hearts are tender towards God, and our devotion is deep and rooted, and our The post Choose Growth appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only” – “if only I had done this, if only I hadn’t done that.” The story of the foolish bridesmaids in Matthew 25 will challenge us to make it to the end of our lives where hopefully we can say, “I have no regrets.” Next Steps I will read “Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets” by Andy Stanley. I will make parenting a priority, and not abdicate my responsibility. I will The post Living With No Regrets appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Two sons are asked by their father to work in the family vineyard. One refuses, but changes his mind and works, while the other agrees to work, but never shows up. This story compares working in the vineyard to doing the will of God. The first son eventually did the will of the father. He saw the truth, said yes and was changed. The post Doing What God Wants appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In the Old Testament, the banquet was used as a metaphor for God’s Kingdom. Jesus says in the story we’ll look at this Sunday that there are many open chairs at God’s table, and His Father is very concerned that they get filled. In this message we will be encouraged to invite people to the party, for there are many places at God’s table and every chair will be occupied. Nothing is going to stop God’s party! The post Who’s Invited To The Party appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
It’s easy to take on the attitudes of “I’ve earned” and “I deserve” when we look at what we’ve accomplished and compare it to others around us. But these attitudes can become two of the most damaging and destructive in our lives if we allow them to. Jesus tells a story that illustrates how both can create in us assumptions and expectations that could cause us to miss the greatest gift we’ll ever be offered. The post The Performance Trap appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we look at one of the most misunderstood stories Jesus ever told. He explains that Christians can learn from non-Christians who at times do a better job dealing with reality. Christians can be prone to over-spiritualizing, masking problems with language that sounds spiritual, avoiding realities and being too passive in the face of difficulty. If this dishonest manager had the courage to face his problem head-on by relying on the character and the generosity of his master, how The post Problem Solving appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Superiority and self-righteousness are difficult for human beings to recognize in themselves. Jesus attacks these issues harder than anything else because he knows the potential damage that can be done. Jesus tells a story about the up-side-down nature of the kingdom of God, where the religious person who looks good on the outside is blind, unloving, and very, very far away from God; and the person who is despised by society has a humility that keeps him right at the The post The Upside-Down Way of Jesus appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What if you could know what’s going to happen after you die? Well Jesus tells a story that sheds light on the reality that after you die you will be wide awake; and you will be full of either tremendous gratitude or enormous regret; and you will be able to reflect back on your life here on earth with great clarity. It’s critically important that you get right with God while you’re on this side of eternity. That’s what the The post What Happens After Death appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
If there’s a fork in the road and one way says life and the other way says death, even for the directionally-challenged, that’s not a difficult decision. But the reality is, every time we make a decision we choose to either walk down a path of life or a path of death. This is a simple concept to theoretically understand, yet it is the most difficult task in life to faithfully carry out. We choose physical, mental, relational, and financial The post A Life or Death Decision appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message we learn Moses is a great example of faithfulness and doing what’s right in the midst of a crisis. He shows integrity, conviction, follows God and does what’s right, which is what we desperately need in our day. The post A Crisis Reveals What’s Inside appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Moses was never alone, even in his darkest moment. And neither are we! The post Persist With God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
When God called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, Moses gave excuses why he was not the right man for the job. But God told Moses, “I will be with you.” God proved to Moses He could be trusted and promised him he would not be on his own. God was essentially saying to Moses, “You have nothing to be afraid of Moses. I will be with you.” Whenever God calls ordinary people like you and The post Hearing God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Moses was one of the most extraordinary human beings to ever live. He was the founder of the nation of Israel; he was the giver of the law; he established Israel’s worship; he organized Israel’s government; and he led Israel to freedom. Outside of Jesus Christ, we could argue Moses was the single most influential human being to ever live. While Moses was a remarkable human being, he could claim a somewhat dysfunctional start to life. He made some unwise The post The Extraordinary Life appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Colossians 3:17 is one of the key verses in the New Testament. Paul says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” We can get vague and abstract about what it means to live in the name of Jesus, so Paul moves directly on from this pivotal verse to talk about three of the most common and important areas of life: marriage, The post Doing Work and Family Right appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Did you ever play dress when you were young? Maybe you dressed up as a superhero, or put on your parents’ clothes, pretending you were all grown up. Maybe you put on a costume to act out your part in a school play. Whatever you put on, it gave you an opportunity to be different, a new identity for a short time. This Sunday, we’ll see how Paul uses clothing as a metaphor in his letter to the Colossians to The post A New Wardrobe appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Our thoughts and feelings take on certain patterns and tendencies that inevitably determine the kind of things we say and do. When we say or do something, we’re just letting out the thoughts and feelings that are on the inside. People who do well at loving are simply the kind of people who have loving thoughts and loving feelings. Cranky people are simply people who tend to have bitter, resentment-producing thoughts and feelings. Yet the apostle Paul makes this staggering The post A New Mind appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We live in a culture that expects performance, drives performance, and rewards performance. But is that how God operates with us? Is a relationship with God all about following the rules and doing all the right things? As we return to The New You, we’ll look at the difference between the expectations of religion in light of what Christ has done. With change comes the opportunity to become better versions of ourselves, and lean into Christ-centered living. Join us Sunday The post Live in The Reality of Done appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What is the correct position for a Christian to take on gun control? What is the correct position for a Christian to take on immigration? What is the role, Biblically speaking, that the government ought to take in caring for the poor? What about capital punishment? What about global warming? What is the Christian response to Covid-19? What is the Christian response to protests for equality? Underneath all these questions is the question we will focus on this Sunday: what The post The Way Of Jesus In Politics appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The Good Samaritan story is known to Christians and non-Christians alike. What many people don’t know is how the cultural, social and religious realities of Jesus’ day color the story. In this message we will explore what this story meant to Jesus’ listeners and hopefully give us a new appreciation for in light of what we’re experiencing today. The post The Good Samaritan appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
All the reading I’m doing on racism has forced me to come face to face with my own pride and sense of privilege that keeps me at a distance from people who are different than me. It’s been difficult because I’m learning that deep down in the cracks of my own soul, I have a sense of superiority, and I have prejudice, and I have fear that I would just like to keep covered up. I would just like to The post Tear Down The Wall appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Amos was a simple farmer in ancient Judah, but God had bigger plans for him. God used him to instruct the Israelites on how to respond to marginalized people. God’s dream was a society that reaches out with compassion to those who are oppressed, and treats those who don’t have power with justice. God’s dream has not changed, and it’s up to us, his church, to live it out in our communities today. The post A Bold Statement From Amos For Today appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What is one thing the church has to offer that the world cannot get anywhere else? It’s grace! We can say to people with confidence, “You were dead, but now you’re alive. You were lost, but now you’re found. You were guilty, but now you’re set free.” Join us Sunday as we learn to realize God’s grace. The post Live In God’s Grace appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Often, we place our hope in the people around us, the profession we’re in, or the possibilities that may come our way. What if we had a hope based on a promise, one that could not be broken, a hope that lived within us? There is no mystery to finding this hope in Christ and it’s the difference between Christ and us and Christ in us. The post Christ In You, The Hope of Glory appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The way we live directly reflects how we perceive Jesus. When Jesus is weak, we offer prayers without faith, worship without awe, service without joy, and suffering without hope. The result is fear, retreat, loss of vision and failure to persevere. However, life with a powerful God is a life of risky faith, fearless obedience, and passionate leadership. Join is Sunday as we learn to live in the reality of a powerful God. The post Jesus’ Power And Presence Are With You appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jeremiah 29:11 says “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” It’s hard reading that truth in light of this season, as all of our plans have shifted. We aren’t comfortable with the unknowns, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that you are not crazy. Peace can be found in the truth that God knows the plans He has The post God’s Plans are Meant for Good appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Hope is a quality that can run very deep. It’s a belief that the best is yet to come. Those with hope have courage that allows them to dream big and take risks. Hope enables us to endure pain and overcome grief. With it we are able to surmount obstacles, frustrations and failure. Join us Sunday as we learn how to be carriers of hope rather than despair. The post Keep Hope Alive appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Fear is one of the most prevalent human emotions, capable of influencing or controlling our decisions and behavior. Peter experienced a moment of fear when he jumped out of a boat to meet Jesus in the middle of a storm. How Jesus responds to him teaches us how we can find faith in the midst of our fear. The post Finding Faith in Fear appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We all deal with worry. It might be because of health, work, finances, a relationship, a recession, or a pandemic. Worry cuts us off from the presence and power of God like almost nothing else. It robs us of joy and paralyzes our ability to trust God. This week we lean to give our worries to God and live with a peace that is beyond human understanding. The post Give Your Worries to God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Three day stories in Scripture, like the Good Friday/Easter Sunday story, follow a pattern: the first day (a day of trouble) and the third day (a day of deliverance from the trouble). But what about the middle day? The middle day is the day you wake up after the trouble, knowing you’ve got to go on, but not knowing how and not knowing if the third day will come. We can sit in the middle-day with despair or denial, or The post Living Through Difficult Days appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
As Jesus approached Jerusalem, the crowds were celebrating him as the coming King, giving him a welcome usually reserved for kings returning victorious from battle. But was he entering the city as the King the people were expecting? A mixture of symbolism and prophecy, the scene caused the entire city to be stirred with excitement and agitation, and prompted the question, “Who is this?” Join us Sunday as we ask the question, “Who is this?” The post Who Is This? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The master of physical touch, the love language we look at Sunday, was Jesus. It’s powerful to learn from Jesus how to touch the lives around us. We’ve been learning how Jesus loved using the five love languages as a template. We’ve looked at words of affirmation, quality time, giving of gifts, acts of service, and today we look at physical touch. It’s ironic we’re looking at physical touch during a time of social distancing in our world, but it’s The post Love With Touch appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at what Jesus taught about greatness. We all want to be people of impact. We all want to make a difference in the lives of those around us; in our families, with our friends, at our work, and in our church. So what does greatness look like? The post Love With Serving appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
If one love language more deeply reflects the heart of God as Jesus teaches about it, it might be the one we’re going to talk about on Sunday. The post Love With Gifts appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Our goal as a church is to produce a community of extraordinarily loving people who are the greatest among us. The Five Love Languages is the template for this five week series. The post Love With Time appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Love is the greatest commandment of all. Nothing in this world matters more than love. Life is all about love. Love is the measure of our humanity. Love is the purpose of our lives. Love is what God calls us to. There are a lot of things we could excel in, but if we get love wrong, none of it will matter. The whole purpose of the church is to increase the amount of love in our world. The apostle Paul wrote, “But the The post Love With Words appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We take a moment to actually think about, express and symbolize our commitment to God. The post All In Spiritually appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The poet John Donne spoke truthfully when he coined the phrase, “No man is an island.” One of the first things God says in the Bible is that it’s not good for man to be alone. We were created in the image of a relational God, with the ability, even the deep need, to be in relationship with others; family, friends, and marriage. The friendship of Jonathan and David gives us a glimpse of what God can bring into a relationship The post All In Relationally appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In order to live life to the fullest we need to be ALL IN financially, which requires that we earn money ethically, spend money wisely, avoid destructive debt, save consistently, and give generously. Do you have the drive and determination to take the realistic steps required to change your personal money management system? Do you have enough faith in God to believe He will bless you when you commit to following his way with your finances? The post All In Financially appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Commitment can be a real scary word, because a commitment is a promise about the future. But in the future, things might change. The post All In appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This is the last week of our series, “I’m Done With That” with the message, “I’m done with being afraid.” All throughout Scripture, God says, “Do not be afraid.” He actually says it 365 times. That’s one for every day of the year. It’s like God is saying, “I hope you get it. Don’t be afraid.” In this message, we will look at courage as the antidote to fear; not the kind of courage that’s needed on rare occasions when The post I’m Done With Being Afraid appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we look at two questions related to shame: Where does it come from? How do we gain the power to be done with dealing with it? The post I’m Done With Dealing With Shame appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we walk through several scenes in Scripture and in life, and look at why it is that comparing myself to other people is such a miserable, toxic, anti-kingdom way to live. The post I’m Done With Comparing appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
his Sunday we kick off our series with the message, “I’m Done With Complaining.” In this message we’ll look at the anatomy of complaining; we’ll walk through a time in the history of Israel when they had a big problem with complaining; we’ll look at why complaining is so destructive; we’ll do a self-assessment around complaining; and we’ll look at how we can be freed from complaining for good. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 2, “Do everything without complaining.” The post I’m Done With Complaining appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We see in the life of Jesus that He would often challenge the religious traditions of His day. There is a story of an encounter Jesus had with a Samaritan woman where He begins to shift a long held tradition and in the process, shape our understanding of how we approach God in worship. The post Worship appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus comes to rescue people… but sometimes people think they dont really need it. The post Christmas 2019 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus, talking to people who are tempted to throw their life away on stuff that doesnt matter and wont last, in typical fashion tells a story. It’s found in Luke 12:13-21. The post Prepare Your Heart appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
A lawyer once asked Jesus what needed to be done to gain eternal life. The answer was to love God and love your neighbor. But what does that mean, to love your neighbor? As we continue to prepare the way for Christmas, we’ll look at a story Jesus told that’s intended to open our eyes and hands to those around us, our neighbors, and respond compassionately to the needs that surround us. The post Prepare Your Hands appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Lets live with an attitude of anticipation that he’s coming back someday — a new day when all things will be set right. And until he comes back, lets allow God to use us to be Jesus to the waiting world. The post Prepare Your Attitude appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message Matt challenges us to put serious effort into preparing our hearts and minds for Christmas, as well as gives specific next steps that will encourage that process throughout the days leading to Christmas. The post Prepare Your Mind appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at how One Invitation Can Change Everything. The post One Invitation Can Change Everything appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we will talk about how to recognize the opportunities to connect with outsiders, which could lead to significant spiritual progress in a person’s life. The post One Conversation Changes Everything appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
“One by One” is about reaching one person at a time. Jesus would leave 99 people who are found to go searching for one person who is lost. The post One Relationship Can Change Everything appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
All too often we face a reservation of humbling ourselves in whatever simple act God has asked us to do. The post Do A Simple Thing appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we wrap up our series In All Things God Works by looking at how God works through grace in the lives of everyone. The post God Works Through Grace appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We’re learning in this series that we are not in control of our lives, but in all things God works. The post God Works Through Growth appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We’re learning in this series that we are not in control of our lives, but in all things God works. This week we will learn that God is at work in healing. When Jesus began his public ministry, he became a teacher and healer. Jesus is our healer today. So what do you need healing from? Do you need healing from a broken heart or a broken relationship? Do you need healing from a failure that weighs you down? Do The post God Works Through All Things appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This series we learn God is at work in all things, and if we can learn to live in that reality, we can live with a freedom, ease, and confidence that will be absolutely liberating. The post In All Things God Works appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we learn from the story of Naomi and Ruth how God is working through the entire process of transitions to accomplish in us more than we might imagine when we wait on Him. The post A New Beginning appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Waiting can be challenging. Learning to live in this tension may be our greatest struggle and our greatest opportunity to grow. The post The Space In-Between appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we begin looking at transitions by starting at the end. The post Endings appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we talk about what marks that turning point in our lives, where we say that with God’s power and grace, we’re going to depend on him to help us walk in a new direction. The post Turning Point appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we talk about what might be the single most dangerous word in the English language — tomorrow. The post Spiritual Procrastination appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We live in a world where parents think so much about parenting and work hard to give so many gifts to their kids. There’s only one gift we can give to our kids that will never fade, and that will last for all eternity, so we’re going to talk about giving that gift. The post Form Kids Spiritually appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Imagine a world where the parent-child relationship works right. Where children respect, admire and honor their fathers and mothers. Where parents are patient, loving and wise in raising and shaping their kids. I believe this is the Apostle Paul’s vision for the family. He says followers of Christ ought to do the parent-child relationship in Jesus’ name. Join us as we look at practical ways to do that. The post Invest in the Relationship appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
With practical parenting guidance from Scripture, parents can raise children who learn the value of gratitude, responsibility, self-control and humility. These are characteristics Matt wants engraved on the hearts of his kids before they leave his home. This Sunday we learn how to shape the character of our kids. The post Key Values appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message we will look at how deeply Jesus believed all people matter to God. It ran so deep for him that it got him into a lot of trouble. And then we will look at what it means for Blue Oaks; and for our gay friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers. The post Is God Homophobic? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Does science disprove faith? Has the rise of modern science shown that faith is irrational? This is a very important topic! The post Is God Anti-Science? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we face the topic of war, head on. We will work hard to understand this because there is no way to have a deep, authentic faith in God if we don’t. The post Is God Pro-War? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
A lot of people have this concern that Christianity is like a straitjacket on belief and behavior. A lot of people believe that to be a Christian means to be a rule-following, box-checking, robotic, unthinking, judgmental, inflexible, severe, self-righteous, pleasure-avoiding sheep. People wonder, “Does being a Christian mean you allow some other force to arbitrarily tell you what you can and cannot do, what you can and cannot believe whether it makes sense to you or not?” This Sunday we The post Is God Judgmental? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Is the God of the Bible an angry, wrathful, judgmental God who is waiting for any reason to smite you? This week we take a deeper look into the nature and character of God. The post Is God Angry? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The focus of our attention has a great impact on the destination of our lives. In the final week of Fail Forward, we look at the tension between what’s behind us, what’s ahead of us, and where our focus should be. The post Moving Forward appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we learn from Joseph that your heart is revealed and your character gets forged when life does not turn out the way you planned. The post A Good News-Bad News Story appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We look at two people, Judas and Peter, who on the same night had the greatest failures of their lives and ended up with two very different stories. The post Redeeming Our Failures appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message we learn that God has not forgotten us in the desert. We have not been abandoned. God sometimes leads His children into the desert, but He never forgets them. The post God Shapes Souls Through Failure appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
How we respond to the failure and discouragement is critical. David did some remarkable things in one of the most painful times of his life. This week we learn four lessons from David on how to fail forward. The post A New Definition of Failure appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we focus on practical takeaways that will make a tremendous difference and contribute to oneness in marriages. The post Beautiful: Part IV appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at the forces that could destroy the community God wants between men and women. And what we can do to protect it. The post Beautiful: Part III appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
When we take into account the whole of Scripture, evidence points to Gods plan for thechurch to be a community of men and women where we share equally in the giftings ofthe Holy Spirit, the image of God, and the mission of the church. The post Beautiful: Part II appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We look together at what the writers of Scripture teach. Why? Because theBible studied carefully, in it’s entirety, is our authoritative guide as a church. The post Beautiful: Part I appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Our hope is that Jesus will touch your heart like he has for so many from every generation, language, and nation for the last two thousand years. The post Easter 2019 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We all have a story to share, and God wants to provide opportunity for each of us to encourage others with our story. We want to be sensitive to the opportunities we have to humbly, tactfully, and graciously share what life is like now that we are walking free. The post Carry The Message appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We were never meant to journey through recovery alone, and as long as we’re connected to the power and work of Christ in us, well continue on the path to healing. The post Maintaining Momentum appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
God requires you to forgive and he is going to help you do it. It’s making a hard choice even if you don’t feel like it — remembering that you’ll never have to forgive someone more than what God has forgiven you. The post Make Amends appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
An honest look into ourselves and disclosure of what we find in the context of safe relationships may involve risk, but the result just might be well worth it. The post An Honest Look Within appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Surrender may look like an act of great weakness and dependence, but it turns out to be the step that actually can put us in touch with the greatest power well ever know. The post Surrender appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Humbling yourself to the point of surrender — leaning into the reality of the need for God — does not come easily; but the God who is bigger, better, and wiser is always there to pick us up and help us along on the road to freedom. The post The Greatest Strength appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This message is the first in this series on finding freedom in the grace and strength of God. The post That’s Me appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday as we learn 3 ways to express more gratitude. The post Express More Gratitude appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we look at this pathway that is clearly outlined in Scripture and comes near the ending of Pauls letter to the Philippians. The post Pathway to Joy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In Philippians 3 the apostle Paul talks about what might be the number one obstacle to the happy life. It’s something we all deal with. Join us this Sunday as Matt helps us break through this obstacle in order to find the happy life. The post Freedom From Your Past appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We too can thrive and find Joy as we embrace the practices of rejoicing in the face of anything and everything that comes our way. The post Five Ways To Live With Joy In The Meantime appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Hear real life stories from NFL players. Get to know some of the guys playing in the big game The post Football Sunday 2019 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
There’s a secret happy people know. I would tell you what it is, but then you would have no reason to come to Blue Oaks on Sunday. Join us this week as we study Philippians 2:1-11 and learn the secret happy people know. The post What Happy People Know appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Happiness is being studied and written about more than ever before, but were actually rooting this series in the letter to the Philippians written by the apostle Paul, because God is pro-joy. The post Four Ways to Be Unhappy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Where does Happiness come from? Today happiness is being studied by social science and written about more than ever before, but 2,000 years ago a man named Paul wrote a short letter to the young, persecuted church in Macedonia and revealed some amazing truths about how to find happiness in the midst of difficulties. Today we learn how to intentionally pursue happiness in 2019. The post Happiness Paradox appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Fear. It’s something that almost everyone deals with on a daily basis. Fear can be as simple as heights and spiders or it can show up as crippling anxiety. No matter how we are affected by our fears the reality is that we all have them, and it’s in our fears that we experience a complete lack of peace. This week we look at how to regain the peace that we desperately need in our lives through placing our hope The post Fearless appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Now we worship you Jesus, God, and we marvel together with human beings across centuries and continents. We just marvel at this unusual man. We love this unusual man. The post Unusual Christmas Eve appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
How unusual is it that Jesus was born in a messy place with messy people all around him? There are no depths he will not descend in order to bring God’s power, love, grace, peace and presence to anyone who will have him. And this is good news to us because we’re messy people. We live in a messy world. The post Unusually Messy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we will step back from the usual fast-paced Christmas season and remember some of the truths surrounding the Christmas story that will allow us to enter this season ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. The post What We Learn From Joseph appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you are kind of like a label for the message of Jesus. People are reading your life, and in many ways determining their beliefs based on you. Your words, your actions, your responses, are all telling a story! Love is giving another person what they need most at a great personal cost. The post Do This First appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The religious leaders of Jesus day were so devoted to showing their righteousness that they followed the rules at the exclusion of people, and missed the essence of the work of God. The essence of the work of God is love! And The place where love starts is paying attention. The post Pay Attention appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we take a look at how Jesus breaks the rules of death so that we can all have life. We will look at how Jesus calls us out of sin, and death, and invites us into a relationship with him. The post Death No More appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus broke the rules because he loves you so much. This is about Jesus breaking the rules because he wants your death to became his death so his life can become your life. The post Put Down The Stone appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Joseph had to wait 13 years to understand God’s plan for his life. During those years, he endured challenging experiences that could have shaken his faith and caused him to lose sight of any hope that God really cared about him, much less had something good in mind for his life. But neither God nor Joseph wavered. The post Lessons From Joseph appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we look at what to do while we wait on direction from God. We walk through practical steps that will help those of us who legitimately want direction from God. The post Waiting On Direction From God appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
What if how we wait matters more than what we are waiting for? This week we look at how to wait when waiting gets tough. The post How We Wait appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
If there’s one thing that can drive us nuts, it’s waiting. Waiting for news about a job, a promotion, a report card, the medical test, or for your loved one to be healed or come home? How about your kids to figure out life? Ever feel like you’re waiting on God? In a society where we want everything right now, waiting can be one of the most difficult things we do. In this message we’ll learn why waiting matters, and The post What’s God Doing While I Wait? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Outside of the Kingdom of God, Jesus taught more about money than any other single topic! He made it a priority because he knew a persons heart is where his or her treasure is. It’s liberating to live like we believe Jesus knew what he was talking about when he said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” The post Excel In The Grace Of Giving appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In this message we look at getting authoritative guidance from God. We walk through four critical questions about human sexuality and see what the Bible has to say about this very important subject The post Four Steps To Sexual Fulfillment appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we learn what Jesus taught about investments. The post Investments appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday as we explore why sex is so unspeakably intimate, sensitive, delicate and powerful; why it is as close as any human being can come in this world to touching someone else’s soul. The post More Than Body Parts & Nerve Endings appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This weekend we conclude the Move series with a focus on living and leaving a legacy of faith, one that impacts those around us and the next generation. The post Leaving A Legacy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
We’ll look specifically at the ways we experience joy and fulfillment through doing what God designed us to do. The post Join A Team appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
It is crucial that we develop relationships with people far from God, actively engage them in spiritually significant conversations, and bring them to church where they can be exposed to a community of faith and hear the Gospel. The post Bring A Friend appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
It’s our desire that each person at Blue Oaks choose community where you build spiritual friendships and studying the Bible together. The post Choose Community appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday will be the start of a new series called Move, with a message titled, “Grow Your Faith.” We’ll look at five truths about spiritual growth. The post Grow Your Faith appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
In John 8:32 Jesus says “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. What freedom is he talking about? How might the discussion in John 8 help us to have a clearer picture of true freedom? The post The Life of Jesus | Freedom appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Jesus said if anyone wants to be associated with him, following is the most important single thing they can do. The post Followership appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Amos was a simple farmer in ancient Judah, but God had bigger plans for him. God used him to rebuke the Israelites for how they responded to “marginalized” people: the foreigner, orphan, and widow.
These categories of people come up often in the Old Testament, and God makes it clear these people are precious to Him — and need to be precious to the rest of society.
God’s dream was a society that reaches out with compassion to those in need, and treats those who don’t have power with justice. God’s dream has not changed, and it’s up to us to live according to the plumb line found in God’s Word. The post Amos | Compassion appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
People in our world today are in danger of becoming furnace avoiders. Too many people think Christianity has something to do with ease, security success, or comfort. However, looking at the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we discover spiritual encounters often arise in places of danger, pain, and destruction.
How many heroes of the Christian faith had easy lives? Maybe we need to stop praying for deliverance from the furnace and, instead, ask for God to be present in the fire.
The post Shadrach | Courage appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The name “God” is never mentioned in the Book of Esther, but he is at work in the relationship that develops between Esther and Mordecai.
Mordecai is Esther’s guardian who challenges her to step into the role God has intended for her. He identifies for Esther that the purpose for her whole existence is to liberate the Jewish people from the hand of Haman.
At first, Esther is reluctant, but Mordecai’s wisdom and insight convinces Esther to stop shrinking back, acknowledge her weakness, and find strength in God.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Are you surrounding yourself with people who sharpen your awareness of God’s work in your life? Are you working towards sharpening others?
The post Esther | Courageous Faith appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
The Book of Job follows the course of resolution for Job after a series of devastating events in his life.
Although Job’s friends try to give him the answers to why he was suffering, it takes the many challenging questions of God to help Job realize that God is endlessly good, uncontrollably generous, irrationally loving, and he gives for no reason at all, just because it’s his nature.
Job listens to God, humbles himself, and is restored to full relationship with God.
The post Job | Suffering appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
God gave Solomon wisdom that was greater than anyone.
Solomon’s wisdom not only led to the golden era of Israel, much of it remains for us today in the book of Proverbs. This treasure of practical wisdom has enabled God’s people to make wise decisions about many areas of their lives — family, money, pride, work, relationships, leadership, self-control, faith, the poor—everything.
In living these truths, we avoid the folly that has ruined many lives and experience the benefits of God’s wisdom.
The post Solomon | Wisdom appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Do you have the courage and faith to face the brokenness in your heart?
King Saul didn’t have the courage to face his brokenness.
In this message, we’re going to look at Saul’s life and learn what went wrong. Because the story of Saul is potentially the story of every one of us. We meet Saul not just in Scripture; we meet Saul in our own hearts.
This week we learn practical steps to prevent the decay of the human spirit.
The post Saul | Courage appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we learn from Samuel and those around him some very important lessons about God’s desire for honesty, obedience and faith in our relationship with Him.
The post Samuel | Listening appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This Sunday we kick of the Characters series with a message on humility, looking at the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5.
Mother Teresa said one time, “God doesn’t ask us to do great things. He asks us to do small things with great love.”
Naaman’s problem was he wanted to be impressive, but God just wanted him to be obedient. God wanted him to surrender his stubborn will and bend his knee and say yes. Which he eventually does and becomes a great example of what it means to follow Christ.
The post Naaman | Humility appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
This week we learn about unity and how to live it out in a deeply divided world.
The post Unity appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Who are you? What makes you who you are? Do you feel like you are on the never-ending search for purpose and significance? Do you feel like you are searching for your true identity?
This Sunday we look at where our identity, purpose and significance are found and how any of us lost it in the first place. The post Identity appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
When we were hurting and alone, God made a way for us to be brought into His family. We now have the opportunity to show that same love to those around us. Compassion and social justice have been defining characteristics of the Church since the first century, and we have an opportunity to carry on that legacy in our generation.
This Sunday we’ll be exploring what God is doing through His Church to care for vulnerable children in the Bay Area.
The post Remarkable Compassion appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
Weaknesses. We all have them, however, no one likes to admit that they are weak. We spend our lives trying to avoid them and pretend that they aren’t there. We spend countless hours trying to become stronger in an effort to hide our weaknesses from the world. But what if we were missing an opportunity? What if we were missing a chance to see God do something powerful in us? What if we were missing an opportunity to experience God’s strength in our weaknesses?
Explore the reality of how God wants to transform our weakness into the story of his strength in our lives.
The post Thorn appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.
When you give, it sets a divine, supernatural process in motion, and it enriches not only the people that receive what you give, it enriches you.
The post Rich Generosity appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.