Oaks Parish

Oaks Parish
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Abiding in Christ Jesus for the renewal of all things.

  1. TLFPS Ep 7: The Feast of the Ascension

    1D AGO

    TLFPS Ep 7: The Feast of the Ascension

    The Liturgical Feasts Podcast Series Martha Van Houten With Special Guest Jim Byrne Click here to download liturgy and celebration ideas for the Ascension. Sources and Further Reading on the Feast of the Ascension: Celebrating the Feast of the Ascension (Ashley Tumlin Wallace)Ascension Day & The Real Absence of Christ (Anglican Compass)3 Ways to Celebrate the Ascension (Thomas More College)Sacred Seasons by Danielle HitchenIn this podcast series, we have a chance to explore how the historic Christian church has marked time for centuries through special seasons, feasts, and other noteworthy days - and how we can embrace the value and beauty of these liturgical celebrations in our own community. Music: “The Size of Grace” © Courtland Urbano Upcoming Episodes of The Liturgical Feasts Podcast Series: May 19: The Feast of Pentecost (5/24) May 26: The Feast of the Holy Trinity (5/31) July 28: The Feast of the Transfiguration (8/6)

    36 min
  2. Sermon: To The Lost (May 10, 2026)

    2D AGO

    Sermon: To The Lost (May 10, 2026)

    Scripture Text: Ezekiel 34:11-16 and Luke 15:1-10 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Kylne R. Snodgrass, Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus Few things are more important than our perception of God, for from that understanding we perceive our own identity, how we should think and act, and how the world ought to be. J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke Christ’s love is a deep and mighty love. Just as the shepherd rejoiced to find his sheep, and the woman to find her money, so does the Lord Jesus rejoice to save sinners. It is a real pleasure to Him to pluck them as brands from the burning. It was His “food and drink” when upon earth to finish the work which He came to do. He felt constrained in spirit until it was accomplished. It is still His delight to show mercy. He is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are willing to be saved. N.T. Wright, Luke for Everyone In the stories of the sheep and the coin, the punch line in each case depends on the Jewish belief that the two halves of God’s creation, heaven and earth, were meant to fit together and be in harmony with each other. If you discover what’s going on in heaven, you’ll discover how things were meant to be on earth. That, after all, is the point of praying that God’s kingdom will come ‘on earth as in heaven’. Application Questions: 1. Why is our view of God’s disposition toward us so consequential for our relationships with people who are spiritually lost? Does your view of God match how he is described in Luke’s parables? Why or why not? 2. How do the parables of Luke 15 knock down any sense of spiritual superiority? What specific elements can you point to and elaborate on? 3. How can it be most advantageous to simply invite friends, neighbors, and co-workers to church? What is exciting about this idea, and what gives you pause? Who are one or two people of peace in your life who need an invitation?

    28 min
  3. Podcast Ep 68: Free to Love Our Neighbor

    MAY 5

    Podcast Ep 68: Free to Love Our Neighbor

    The Oaks Parish Podcast Bryan Buck & Martha Van Houten Questions or comments about this podcast episode? Click here to email us!

    22 min
  4. Sermon: To the Least of These (May 3, 2026)

    MAY 4

    Sermon: To the Least of These (May 3, 2026)

    Scripture Text: Deuteronomy 15:7-11 and Luke 10:25-37 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Timothy Keller, Ministries of Mercy What was the point of Jesus’ parable? We could put it this way. He was humbling us with the mercy God requires so we can receive the mercy God offers. This is the gospel. All of us lie helpless and bankrupt, dying on the road. Jesus Christ, who is our natural enemy, who owes us nothing, nevertheless stops and gives us of His spiritual riches and saves us. J.C. Ryle, The Gospel of Luke We should regard the whole world as our parish and the whole race of mankind as our neighbors. We should seek to be the friend of everyone who is oppressed, or neglected, or afflicted, or sick, or in prison, or poor, or an orphan, or a heathen, or a slave, or starving, or dying. We should exhibit such worldwide friendship – no doubt wisely, discreetly, and with good sense – but of such friendship we never need be ashamed. The ungodly may sneer at it as foolish and fanaticism. But we need not mind that. To be friendly to all men in this way is to show something of the mind that was in Christ…the world would be a happier place if there was a more practical Christianity. Michael Card, The Gospel of Amazement If our working definition of the Hebrew word hesed is “when the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything,” then the Samaritan clearly exhibits hesed…Hesed is always something you do, and so Jesus closes the interaction with the simple command, “Go and do the same.” Perhaps without realizing it, the scribe’s first question was just answered as well. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer? Do hesed. Application Questions 1. Why is self-righteousness such a default-mode for us all? How does self-justification surface in your own life? What impact do you believe it will have and what’s the actual result? 2. How would you summarize the ‘moral of the story’ in this parable and how does that recognition change your love for God? 3. What’s one way that the gospel can transform your perception and relationship to the “least of these” this week?

    30 min
  5. Podcast Ep 67: The Ministry of Prayer

    APR 28

    Podcast Ep 67: The Ministry of Prayer

    The Oaks Parish Podcast Bryan Buck and Martha Van Houten Questions or comments about this podcast episode? Click here to email us!

    25 min
  6. Sermon: A Brief Theology of Prayer (April 26, 2026)

    APR 27

    Sermon: A Brief Theology of Prayer (April 26, 2026)

    Scripture Text: 1 Kings 18:17-39 and Acts 6:1-4 Daniel Robbins Quotes for Reflection: Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way (quoting Tito Colliander on the Ascetics). "Prayer is action." Application Questions 1. If you look at your practice, what does is imply about your lived belief in prayer? 2. If you had to focus on one request for this coming day, what would it be? How about for the next week? 3. What fears does prayer bring up in you? Would praying about them help?

    33 min
  7. Podcast Ep 66: Parish Life in the City

    APR 21

    Podcast Ep 66: Parish Life in the City

    The Oaks Parish Podcast Bryan Buck & Martha Van Houten Questions or comments about this podcast episode? Click here to email us!

    29 min
  8. Sermon: Investing in People & Place (April 19, 2026)

    APR 20

    Sermon: Investing in People & Place (April 19, 2026)

    Scripture Text: Philippians 1:3-11 and Acts 16:6-34 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. Ralph Ellison, Interview on Invisible Man, 1974 I think most of us Americans are challenged, to be very, very conscious of where we are and that’s not an easy thing to do, and I do believe that knowing where we are, has a lot to do with our knowing who we are. N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone We sometimes think it would be nice if life were not complicated, but it is, and the complexities matter. They are part of God’s world and God’s work. Michael Keller, Contextualization in the Late Modern West It ought to be our goal to know our friends, our neighbors, and our cities and areas so well that we know the cultural stories around us. What makes the gospel unique is that its storyline—its answers to these questions—can encompass and complete every other culture’s storylines. Whereas other cultures identify some created thing as being the problem and another created thing as the solution that will make things right, Christianity says the root of all problems is sin and the ultimate solution is Jesus. Application Questions 1. God can call us to a people over our personal preference. Where have you experienced this in your own life, and how have you seen God at work? 2. Why is our embodied, faithful presence essential to God’s work in the world? Where do you see that taking shape in your own context? 3. The gospel is not only comforting, it is also disruptive. In what ways do you see the gospel confronting the status quo of our city?

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Abiding in Christ Jesus for the renewal of all things.

Information

  • Creator
    Oaks Parish
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    274
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Oaks Parish 2023
  • Show Website
    Oaks Parish

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