Sherwood Oaks Christian Church Podcast Sherwood Oaks Christian Church

Gold is one of the most versatile and useful minerals known to man. You can find gold in many family heirlooms, and beautiful pieces of jewelry, but you can also find gold in airplane control systems, computers, and smartphones. The melting point of gold is 1,948 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to burn through car engines and even the Earth’s crust.
Hi, I’m Maggie Mobley from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church.
When gold is melted, it can be reshaped. A rugged and unformed nugget of gold can be turned into something truly special when it goes through fire and becomes refined.
This is like how God refines and shapes us. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 64 that we are the work of God’s hand. We often need to be refined so that the light of God can shine into the dark places of our heart and shape us into who He has designed us to be.
Lyrics to a song by Jesus Culture remind us that God see’s what is hidden under the surface, he sees the beauty under the tarnish. God will find in fire what he calls Gold, he will find in fire what he can mold. When you go through hard times of refinement, remember that God will use that fire to mold you into something truly beautiful.

Shawn's sermon "Stop" emphasizes the importance of rest and finding significance in God rather than worldly achievements. He shares anecdotes about Legos to illustrate the tendency to add more when faced with challenges. 

Shawn encourages prioritizing rest by following biblical rhythms like Sabbath and taking time off to reflect on our identity in God. The sermon concludes by inviting the congregation to partake in communion as a reminder to rest in the love and sacrifice of Jesus.

Have you ever tried to fix something, only to make things worse?
 Hi, I’m Shawn from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, with today’s minute message.
 Mount Walker, near Seattle, Washington, is known for its remarkable views. People from all over come to hike the trails and marvel at the beauty around them.
 Recently, a woman found herself in a not-so-beautiful part of the mountain. While making a stop at a pit toilet, her phone fell into the hole. Attempting to retrieve it, this unfortunate soul dropped headfirst into the trench. 
 Although she was reunited with her phone, they were now both stuck at the bottom. Eventually, she called 911 and asked for help.
 Sometimes, taking matters into our own hands only makes things worse. Instead of asking for help, many of us try to fix it on our own and find ourselves in more trouble than when we began. 
 The Psalmist tells us that God is our refuge and strength. An ever present help in trouble. 
 Feeling stuck today? Instead of trying to fix the problem on your own, turn to Jesus who promises to give us wisdom, grace, and mercy in our time of need. 

Shawn's sermon "A Guide to Becoming Unoffendable" discusses changing default settings from anger to grace, emphasizing humility and love inspired by Christ. He presents biblical references from Genesis and Romans to show how Jesus desires to transform our hearts towards mercy and unity. A guest speaker highlights the impact of love in a hostile environment, emphasizing the need for the church to be a beacon of hope and kindness in a divided world. The sermon concludes with a call to action for listeners to embody the love and light of Jesus amidst darkness, bringing transformation through sincere love and non-anxious presence.

I have nothing to prove but I have an example to set.

Hi, I’m Allen Burris from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church.
The other morning, while running, I was listening to a podcast about a guy who was diagnosed with brain cancer. He decided, even during treatment, that he would become an Ironman triathlete. The Ironman triathlon is a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run–all in one day.
This man is not gifted or a natural athlete; he had to work at all three disciplines. Why would he do this? Because of his young daughter. He wanted her to see how to handle adversity. It was less about him becoming an Ironman (which he did), and so much more about setting an example for his daughter about overcoming adversity (which he also did).
I have nothing to prove but I have an example to set.
I’ve thought about that a lot. If we are followers of Christ, then isn’t this a great way to live?
I have nothing to prove but I have an example to set.
It’s true when it comes to adversity, conflict, social media, and a million other things. I have nothing to prove but I have an example to set.
I hope you have a good day!

The sermon "But It's Righteous Anger" discusses the difference between righteous and self-righteous anger, highlighting the importance of humility and God's mercy. The speakers use biblical references and personal stories to illustrate how to recognize and overcome self-righteousness. They emphasize the need to extend forgiveness and mercy to others, just as God has shown mercy to us. The sermon concludes with a call to reflect on where we need God's mercy in our lives and how we can extend mercy to those around us.