Oaks Parish Oaks Parish

The Oaks Parish Podcast
Bryan Buck & Martha Van Houten

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 10
Bryan Buck

Quotes for Reflection
C.S. Lewis, Three Kinds of Men The price of Christ is something, in a way, much easier than moral effort-it is to want Him. It is true that the wanting itself would be beyond our power but for one fact. The world is so built that, to help us desert our own satisfaction, they desert us. War and trouble and finally old age take from us one by one all those things that the natural Self hoped for at its setting out. Begging is our only wisdom, and want in the end makes it easier for us to be beggars. Even on those terms the Mercy will receive us.
Timothy Keller, Counterfeit God’s (2009) One of the signs that an object is functioning as an idol is that fear becomes one of the chief cornerstones of life. When we center our lives on the idol, we become dependent on it. If our counterfeit god is threatened in any way, our response is complete panic. We do not say, “What a shame, how difficult,” but rather “This is the end! There’s no hope!”
This may be a reason why so many people now respond to U.S. political trends in such an extreme way. When either party wins an election, a certain percentage of the losing side talks openly about leaving the country. They become agitated and fearful for the future. They have put the kind of hope in their political leaders and policies that once was reserved for God and the work of the gospel.
Richard D. Phillips, The Reformed Expository Commentary We do have a choice. Everything that Saul represents is still alive today, enthroned in the worldly seats of power and holding forth enticing calls for our submission and worship. We have a choice between Saul, whose name identifies him as the king that the unbelieving world asked for, and Jesus, whose name identified him as the Savior sent by God to deliver his people from the penalty and power of their sins (Matt. 1:21). Our choice—to embrace the world or trust in Christ—will determine the kingdom in which our salvation will be found: either an earthly reign of unrighteous expedience and fleshly power or an eternal and heavenly kingdom of righteousness and peace.

Application Questions 1. How does fear separate us from God?
2. Why does the gospel give us a true sense of confidence?
3. How might God be calling you to step out in trusting faith this week?

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 9
Quincy Robinson

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 8
Bryan Buck

Quotes for Reflection
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics Do and dare what is right, not swayed by the whim of the moment. Bravely take hold of the real, not dallying now with what might be. Not in the flight of ideas but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of living. God’s command is enough and your faith in him to sustain you. Then at last freedom will welcome your spirit amid great rejoicing.

Tim Keller, Reason for God Jesus is the only Lord who, if you receive him, will fulfill you completely, and, if you fail him, will forgive you eternally.

J.D. Greear, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel All earthly kings disappoint. But God is an altogether different King. He showed Israel time and time again that He had been faithful to them, even when they were not. They were unbelieving in the wilderness, but God gave them manna. They served idols, which led to other nations afflicting them; but when they called out to God in repentance, He immediately came to their aid and delivered them. Here is a King who not only supplies the needs of His own but also forgives and has mercy on those who fail Him. Why would anyone desire another king than Him?

Application Questions
1. What is your typical response to seasons of confusion? How might that be happening right now?
2. Israel wanted a king. What was the difference between how they imagined kingship and the reality of it?
3. Why does God tell Samuel, “listen to their voice”? How have you seen God work in this way in your own life?

Scripture Text: Psalm 133; Hebrews 12:1-2
Pat Roach

Quotes for Reflection
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

Application Questions
1. Where is Jesus present in the world? In Portland and the Metro Area? How do you know?
2. Who or what is it that compels you to be a part of Oaks Parish?
3. When you look around (Portland, Oaks, the mirror) - do you see a need for freedom or legal strategies of behavior modification?

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Quotes for Reflection
N.T. Wright, The Challenge of Easter The church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make no mistake either way. The reason the early Christians were so joyful was because they knew themselves to be living not so much in the last days (that that was true too) as in the first days - the opening days of God's new creation. What Jesus did was not a mere example of something else, not a mere manifestation of some larger truth; it was itself the climatic event and fact of cosmic history.
Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Ultimately the only way that I can be myself is to become identified with Him in Whom is hidden the reason and fulfillment of my existence. Therefore there is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace and my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If I find Him I will find myself and if I find my true self I will find Him.
Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor Christians should be aware of this revolutionary understanding of the purpose of their work in the world. We are not to choose jobs and conduct our work to fulfill ourselves and accrue power, for being called by God to do something is empowering enough. We are to see work as a way of service to God and our neighbor, and so we should both choose and conduct our work in accordance with that purpose. The question regarding our choice of work is no longer “What will make me the most money and give me the most status?” The question must now be “How, with my existing abilities and opportunities, can I be of greatest service to other people, knowing what I do of God’s will and of human need?

Application Questions
1. What has Easter meant to you in the past and how might that change after today?
2. What is one area in your life where you need to consider yourself dead to sin and what would it look like to be alive in Christ?
3. What flag can you plant in the soil of your vocation that signals there’s a different way to be human, a gospel way?