Oak Hills Sermons

Repentance Unto... Life

Jon Dunning — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:30:00 CST

Changerepentanceultimately is all about what God is doing in us through the Gospel. It certainly includes us, but it is far bigger than us. It is gracious to us that Paul doesnt lay out a formula for us to follow. He talks about what leads to repentancegodly grief that flows out of the work of the Truth of the Gospel among us, and he describes the after of godly griefa life marked by longing for the Gospel, a sadness at loss brought about by sin, and a life desiring true change. But he never tells us directly how we can bring these two together. We long for change in our world and in our lives; but we cannot ultimately bring about that change. We are called to repent and believe the Gospel [Mk 1.15]. The promise of that good news is that God is changing us.

Taking a New Name in Glory

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 8 Oct 2006 10:30:00 CST

God gave us His name so that we could worship Him and have that worship received. He gives us the promise of Heaven because He has ordained for us eternity in His presence, worshipping Him with joy we can only imagine. When He calls us His own, it is not for nothing. It is because He is taking us as His bride, giving us His name.

Taking the Name Into the World

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 1 Oct 2006 10:30:00 CST

When we talk about what it means as people who bear His name to take that name into the world, two precious gifts have been given to usdoctrine, preserved in the form of Scripture, and the Holy Spirit, Who lives in the hearts of Gods people. Truth and power accompany us in the call to bless the nations, and we need them both. If all God gave was doctrine, wed only be advocates for Him, but this isnt what He calls us. He calls us witnesses.

Taking the Names We Shouldn't

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 10:30:00 CST

When we take names we shouldnt, we give priority to identities that are false over the name that is truesons of God and heirs with Christ. We are like the castaway sleeping on the floor when the mansion has been given to us. Not only do we struggle to relate to God as we were meant to, the people in our lives struggle to relate to us as they were meant to. Who are you really? If youre realizing you are a slave to the fear of what awaits your soul, pray that God would adopt youthat He would restore you to Himself...

Taking the Name in Hardship

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 10:30:00 CST

We narrow our focus on some of the obstacles we face as people who say, Yes, I want to cling to the Lord more closely than ever before, but find the reality is life can be hardand the hardship you face has left you wondering whether God has retained His hold on you. How can we take the name of the Lord in earnest during hard times?

Taking the Name in Vain

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 10:30:00 CST

When we stand before the Lord and begin to say, Lord, did I not, how we finish that statement will reveal whether or not weve taken His name in earnest or in vain. Why? Because in that moment we will reveal the basis upon which we believe we should be received into His presence for all eternity.

Taking the Name in Earnest

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 3 Sep 2006 10:30:00 CST

When we hear the command not to take the name of the Lord in vain, we should tremble because inherent in it is the command to take His name as oursto know ourselves as His peopleto be known as His people. Keeping this command is not a matter of simply not taking the name at all. We must take the name in earnestwith everything we have and are. If you are a Christian, take the name! Dont take it in vain. Take it in earnest!

Outreach - Loving Locally

Jon Dunning — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 10:30:00 CST

Living out the good is to be a way of life for the believer. But more than that, notice where this chapter endsnot only are we to turn away from evil, but in fact, living out the good is the means by which we push back the evil of this world. The foundation of this call to love is Gods grace. Paul reminds us of this with regard to his own call to ministry [3], but also in reminding us of our varied gifts [6]. In these verses, Grace is the work of God that turns our thoughts, desires, and wills away from ourselves and to those around us. When we were intoxicated with love for ourselves, Christs sacrifice for us makes loving others honestly possible.

A Son Has Been Born to Naomi

Jon Dunning — Sun, 14 May 2006 10:30:00 CST

Submitting to the reality that Gods healing in our lives often comes through the most unexpected of means. For Naomi, notice how this happened: it was through the birth of a boy to whom she had at best a very distant connection. But hear again the words of the women of Naomis village: "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age . . . A son has been born to Naomi [4.14-15]. She could not have planned this. And yet here is outworking of Gods healing in her life.

The Boundaries of Mercy

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 10:30:00 CST

Jesus calls us to care for the poor to draw us deeper into the truth of the poverty His own love for us has vanquished. This is the command of a pursuing God, and it is the most authentic way to live. It is the call to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. This is a life of worship. May God lead us on to things we never imagined. May this be only the beginning of an honest pursuit of missions and outreach at Oak Hills. And may we all walk this road together by His grace and for His glory.

The Cost of Being a Neighbor

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 10:30:00 CST

Jesus is beckoning us out from under the umbrellas of safety and self-righteousness we look to for shelter. That is an act of mercy to us. The life He is calling us to is the richest life a person can know, but only because it is a life of placing our hope and confidence in the only thing worthy of such faith. The call to live as a neighbor to those around us in need of mercy is the call to live honestly in a world that has been wrecked by lies. God has said He will use us for His redemptive purposes. We need to trust Him to provide all that we need for this call. We need to take on the burdens of others, even when doing so burdens us. And we need to be as generous as responsibility to God's call will allow. This is the cost of being a neighbor and, as the paradox of grace reminds us, is also the richest way to live.

What is Mercy?

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 5 Feb 2006 10:30:00 CST

With all the brokenness we long to see restored, Jesus has left on earth a means for that restoration to be happening even now - the church! The church is an agent of redemption, of God's Kingdom, a royal priesthood, "that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light!" (1 Pet 2:9) This is God's idea! What the priest and the Levite missed was that they held the sacred honor of being people God would have used to redeem and restore a broken corner of the world. All who follow Him have this honor and it is to our immeasurable loss that we neglect such a holy calling.

Who Is My Neighbor?

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 10:30:00 CST

Loving your neighbor well is an act of worship - and we know it is because Jesus receives it as such. And who is your neighbor? It is anyone in your path. Beloved, the path to loving your neighbor well leads to the hurting and the poor, not away from them. But can't you see, it also leads to unspeakable riches - the richness of a life wrapped up in loving what Jesus loves. This is the most authentic way to live. It is a life of worship!

Why Jesus Won't Leave Us Alone

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 10:30:00 CST

The 2nd Greatest Activity in the World

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:30:00 CST

The First Day of the Week

Jon Dunning — Sun, 1 Jan 2006 10:30:00 CST

On this, the first day of the first week of the first month of the New Year, we turn our attention to the events of another first day of the week. Jesus, the one seen by crowds who work wonders and speaks with unheard-of authority had been put to death. And His lifeless body had been laid in a tomb. Most of his closest friends and faithful followers had fled out of fear for their own lives and they were wondering about their own futures and what was to come.

Good Times!

Jon Dunning — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 10:30:00 CST

What is it that holds it all together so that its not mere cliches and happy thoughts to help us survive the holidays? Celebrating well, involves embracing the brokenness of our lives by being with other people, remembering together that God has been at work and continues to show Himself faithful, and clutching to the entirety of the gospel, that even in our time of mourning, by faith in Christ we have a great reason for true joy, and a immovable foundation to celebrate!

De Profundis

Jon Dunning — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 10:30:00 CST

Imagine what it would be like to live in a world without words. Before we ignore such a thought as a Twilight Zone episode, we must admit that many of us know this world. We know the feeling of being speechless when learning of the cancer diagnosis of a loved one. We also know that damage that harsh words, broken promises, and bad memories can leave in their path. We often cannot trust words. For the believer, this may often be just as true in our relationship with Godthough we would not be quick to admit it. The Psalms were written to serve as a guide for the church in its worship and prayer. When we dont have words before God, when our prayers are silent, He has given us words.

In The Hands of a Priest - A Spear and the Gospel

Jon Dunning — Sat, 6 Aug 2005 10:30:00 CST

In Phinehas actions, and even in Gods promise to Him, our gaze is directed beyond this scene. Phinehas served daily, leading the people in sacrifices. They always needed more, because their sin was so regular and never-ending. And Gods wrath toward all of their sin needed to be dealt with. His anger and His jealousy are perfect. They are not mistakes. Even as we read of the spear turning away Gods wrath and atoning for the people, our hope is that nails pierced the hands of a perfect priest, one who spoke Gods truth and who bore the sin of Gods people. And this is the hope of the Gospel: the confidence of lasting peace with God.

Living and Loving the Law

Jon Dunning — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 10:30:00 CST

The result of Gospel-proclamation is that of a transformed community, living more and more in obedience. We see references to this throughout this chapter. Part of the goal of the spreading of the Gospel is that lives would be changedand this is what is promised. But in this specific context, we need to hear again and again that the references to keeping Gods commands [1-2; 17], doing right [18], and even living in righteousness [25] all flow out of a heart changed by God and living in dependence upon His grace. The last verse of the passage gives us some trouble, but the focus here is not us being good enough but rather righteousness as the lived out evidence of Gods work within us.

A Father's Blessing

Jon Dunning — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 10:30:00 CST

Jacob was a liar, a cheat, and a deceiver. And he was a man loved by God, pursued by God, and used by God. If youre new to Christianity this description may sound like an odd combination and you may even wonder if its appropriate to talk about one man that way. I pray that it is, because that means theres room for all of us. In these verses, we meet Jacob very near the end of his life as he is saying his last words to his twelve sons and their families. Jacob has lived a colorful life, and in fact his sons have certainly followed his lead in this. But here at the end, there is very little parenting to be done, and Jacob comes face to face with his own mortality.

Living By Faith

Jon Dunning — Sat, 5 Mar 2005 10:30:00 CST

Through this passage we see faith - knowledge, assent, trust . . . knowledge passing into conviction . . . conviction passing into confidence {John Murray}. God had spoken to this wandering and battered nation, He had promised them blessing beyond their understanding. It was a blessing formed in the mind of God, not simply for them, but one that would reach to the ends of the earth [Gen 12.1-3; Mt 28.18-20]. We noted early on that faith does not begin with us, as if it is something from deep within which we muster in order to proceed in life. Biblical faith, rather begins with God.

The Fruit of Self-Control

Jon Dunning — Sun, 7 Nov 2004 10:30:00 CST

The fruit of the Spirit is Gods promised gift of the Holy Spirits work in the life of the Christian because of His love, not our work in order that He might love us. The fruit is a promised result of living our lives before Gods gaze, in relationship with Him, sustained by His Spirit at work in us. As we examine these aspects of the Spirits fruit in our lives, well strive to remember that these are not goals to attain in order that God might give His Spirit to us, but qualities we must strive to cultivate because theyre evidence of the Spirits work in our lives already.

The Fruit of Gentleness

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 10:30:00 CST

The Fruit of Faithfulness

Jon Dunning — Sun, 24 Oct 2004 10:30:00 CST

The Fruit of Kindness and Goodness

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 17 Oct 2004 10:30:00 CST

The Fruit of Patience

Jon Dunning — Sun, 3 Oct 2004 10:30:00 CST

The Fruit of Peace

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 26 Sep 2004 10:30:00 CST

The Fruit of Joy

Jon Dunning — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:30:00 CST

The Fruit of Love

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 10:30:00 CST

Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 5 Sep 2004 10:30:00 CST

If the growth of the fruit of the Spirit is all the work of the Spirit, then what, if any, is my role in this? You cannot rescue yourself from the condemnation of the Law. Jesus does that. You cannot present yourself as acceptable before God. Jesus does that. You cannot sustain your life in the SpiritJesus does that too. But as one who has been rescued, who has been presented as acceptable to God, who is being sustained to live in the Spirit, you can partake of the feast of the Gospel. You can cultivate that fruit by tending to it as opposed to not tending to itnot in order that God might love and accept you, but because He already does.

Outreach: Before the Watching World

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 10:30:00 CST

Jesus said in this world we will have trouble, but He has overcome the world. When we reach out, we must tell of the One who has overcome the world. The offer of the Gospel is based upon a life or death neednot some picture perfect life of ease. Well meaning Christians lie to true seekers too often by equating faith in Christ with the American Dream. Be prepared, in season and out, to give a reason for your hope. And when you do, tell the truth. The Gospel is true!!!

Inreach: Proclamation, Incarnation, Application...

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 11 Jan 2004 10:30:00 CST

We must care about and attend to the needs of the Body by rolling up our sleeves and being willing to give of ourselves in our time, talent and treasure. Each promise members make is an active promise. Flesh on the bones of the Gospel has no value unless we exercise it. And we need the strength of others. Music to the lyric of the gospel has no beauty unless we perform it. And we need to hear it. The day we become a place that cannot identify any real needs in this congregation is the day we have lost the grip of inreach.

Upreach: Nothing to prove, nothing to hide, nothing to fear...

Russ Ramsey — Sun, 4 Jan 2004 10:30:00 CST

The late pastor Jack Millers wife Rose Marie spoke of the Gospel as lyric and musicsaying that we are prone to hear the lyric without hearing the music of the Gospeland we become bored. This is the songthe lyric and music of the Gospel: Gods word tells me I am completely RIGHTEOUS, therefore I have nothing to prove. It tells me I am completely FORGIVEN, therefore I have nothing to hide. It tells me I am completely LOVED, therefore I have nothing to fear.