News and Events :: Owasso First Assembly

What do you do when crisis comes?

Michael Boggs — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:06:00 +0000

Where is God? Why did he let this happen? Why won’t he do something about this?

These are the questions my wife and I were asking a few weeks ago when our daughter was intubated and rushed to St. Francis children’s hospital by ambulance. We were there 11 days fighting 3 severe respiratory viruses and pneumonia.

I’ve been on many hospital visits and prayed with families through difficult situations. But when it’s your own, it can be difficult to recall the words you’ve encouraged other people with. Everything we could see and hear told us to doubt, to worry, and to expect the worst. You see, that’s what the enemy does. He uses what’s happening in the physical to shape what we believe.

At the end of ourselves, unable to do anything to help her, we chose to trust God. I use the word “chose” intentionally, because that decision didn’t come naturally. It wasn’t easy. Instead of letting our situation change our faith, we let our faith change our situation.

I thank God that Ellie is home now and doing much better, but I want to make one thing clear.

God is good, not just because Ellie is healed. God is good, because He is God.

We can’t have conditions for God that determine whether or not we worship Him. I’m thankful His love and sacrifice didn’t have any conditions attached to it. We must choose to trust God whatever the circumstance, not only when it’s easy or convenient. He is faithful. He is good. At all times and in every situation.

We experienced an overwhelming peace that didn’t make sense. We had a hope that went beyond our ability. We had strength that carried us through it all. This is the God we serve. Whatever crisis comes your way, know that you can trust Him too.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

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Humility Produces Gratitude

Michael Boggs — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 23:40:03 +0000

Thanksgiving is a time to eat. A lot. But hopefully more than that, it’s a time to count our blessings and express gratitude to the people in our lives and to God. The reality is, many of us don’t count our blessings near as often as we should. Thanksgiving is usually that yearly reminder that pushes us to do what we should be doing all year long. So I have to ask the question… Why do we often struggle with expressing gratitude?

Gratitude and humility are connected. They go hand in hand. Psalm 107 shows us how they work together. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble” (vs 1-2). I know the song is playing in your head now, but try to focus…

Let’s say you cross the street one day, and someone pulls you back to the curb a split second before a bus passes by going 60 miles an hour. What kind of response would you have toward that person? It’s easy for a person who’s been redeemed or rescued to express gratitude, because they understand what they’ve been saved from and the life they now have because of their redeemer.

We must understand that what we have and what we accomplish in life has very little to do with us. First of all, God has paid for our salvation, and gives us the ability and wisdom we need every day. Secondly, there are people all around us that have sacrificed and worked hard for you to have the success and opportunities you have. To think that someone owe’s you something or that you deserve something is a very immature way of thinking.

So how do you express gratitude more often? Remember you’re not that great without a lot of help.

Scripture of the week – Psalm 107:1-2

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

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Love your neighbor.

Michael Boggs — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 22:33:36 +0000

We’ve all heard the command from Jesus, “Love your neighbor.” Without any hesitation, many of us put ourselves in the obedient category when we read it. In Luke 10, a lawyer asks Jesus the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ answer helps us understand what “neighbor” really means.

Jesus tells a parable about a man who was robbed, beaten, stripped, and left for dead. After a priest and a Levite avoid the wounded man, a Samaritan noticed him, doctored his wounds, brought him to an inn, and even paid for his care.

In our daily living, it can be so easy to gravitate toward people who have the same interests or social status. We enjoy spending time with those people because our conversations are interesting and often entertaining. But this man that Jesus is describing didn’t have anything to offer the Samaritan. There was nothing about him that made their interactions enjoyable or profitable. This man cost the Samaritan his time, his energy, and his money.

There are people in your life that often get avoided. They may be awkward, rude, or just difficult to be around. However you feel about them, they may be the people that need the most help. It’s a good thing to have friends that you have a good time with and encourage you, but we can’t allow ourselves to be like the first two men in this parable and ignore people who need help. I would encourage you to ask God the same question this week, expecting Him to point out someone specific… Who is my neighbor?

Scripture of the week – James 2:1

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

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The Root of Disobedience

Michael Boggs — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 18:56:54 +0000

Faith and obedience go hand in hand.

All of us can point to one moment of disobedience in our lives. You may even be struggling to obey God in this season of life. As followers of Jesus, it is our daily commitment to live and act more like Jesus than the day before. The question is… How do we submit to Jesus’ authority completely, rather than most of the time?

The writer of Hebrews talks about the people of Israel while they were wandering in the desert in chapter 3:18-19 “And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”

We see the Israelites continually disobey God’s commands throughout the book of Exodus. Scripture is clear, and later confirmed in the New Testament, that the reason for their rebellion was their lack of belief in God. Despite all that God did for them, they didn’t believe God would provide. They didn’t believe God was their source. They didn’t believe that God’s way was the best way. And they suffered for it.

Whatever your struggle is, whether it’s with money, stress, anger, possessions, addiction, or apathy… Your problem isn’t a lack of discipline, or even a lack of desire for God. At the root of it all is a lack of faith.

You may believe that God exists. But do you really believe that God has all authority in heaven and earth? Do you believe His ways are good? Do you believe His Word is truth and the source of life? Believe God, and your actions will follow your faith, every time.

Scripture of the week – Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

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The Power of Praying Out Loud

Michael Boggs — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 20:47:37 +0000

“I’ll be praying for you.”

We’ve all said it. But I think many of us would be guilty of not following through with this statement on at least one occasion. Instead of saying this, what if we prayed with them, right then? It might make you feel uncomfortable or awkward, but the truth is… praying out loud with someone else is one of the most undervalued practices in the church.

Here are 3 things that happen when we pray out loud.

1. Praying out loud increases others’ faith.
When you hear someone pray over you, their faith in God’s power builds your own faith because their words start to overshadow your circumstances. You think to yourself… they believe it can happen, so I can believe it too.

2. Praying out loud teaches others how to pray.
Although reading what Jesus teaches about prayer should be everyone’s first step, your words very well could be their catalyst to a deeper prayer life. Don’t assume they already know how to approach God in prayer and what to say in their given situation.

3. Praying out loud develops confidence in prayer.
As you pray out loud more often, you spend less time thinking about what you’re going to say, and more time listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance. There is a supernatural confidence that comes when God reveals a certain direction to take in prayer.

Over the last few years I’ve been more intentional about praying with my wife consistently. I can’t begin to describe how effective this has been in maintaining a healthy marriage. You’ve probably heard Pastor Bruce mention the statistic… The divorce rate for couples who pray together every day is 1 out of 1,156. If you’re not praying with your wife, I would encourage you to start. Today.

Scripture of the week – James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

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Pray for Las Vegas. Be a godly father.

Michael Boggs — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 21:35:59 +0000

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the devastating Las Vegas shooting on Sunday night. First of all, I want to encourage all of us to pray for the victims, their families, first responders, and medical personnel through this incredibly difficult time. Why don’t you take a moment to do that now before reading the rest of this.

As with any other shooting, bombing or terrorist attack, many people react with wanting more regulation or policies in an attempt to prevent these things from happening in the future. If you don’t agree with these kinds of solutions, remember, they want the same thing you do… peace, safety, security. But does more regulation really fix the issue?

As the news came pouring in, I came across an article about this gunman’s father. You can read it at this link.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/02/las-vegas-shooters-father-bingo-bruce-lived-colorful-life-crime-and-deception.html

We have no way of knowing how involved his father was in his life, but isn’t it interesting how often you see the lifestyle of a parent being carried on by a son or daughter?

Gun control won’t solve the problem.
A heart with evil intent will find a way to do evil.

Our response to these kinds of events must first be prayer, followed by a deeper commitment to raise our children to love God and the people around them.

Even if you’re not a parent, even if you’re single, you’re not off the hook. You have at least one person, probably several people in your life that are looking to you. People that are watching how you act, how you respond to things, how you make it in this life. Let them see you pray. Let them see you worship. Let them see how you love people and why you love them. Let us rise to be the fathers God created us to be, and let us change the world… one son, one daughter at a time.

Scripture of the week – Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

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Sharpen Your Axe

Michael Boggs — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:59:14 +0000

Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in your to-do list?

It’s one of those weeks for me. There just isn’t enough time in the day and deadlines are quickly approaching. In times of high stress, I can easily focus on the urgent things and neglect the important things. I think most of us can relate. I mean, we’re men. We stand up to a challenge and take the bull by the horns. We’re going to get it done, whatever it takes. But this natural response can become unhealthy if we forget what fuels us.

A lumberjack who never sharpens his axe will spend more time accomplishing less than one who does. He might think, “I don’t have time to do that.” No, you don’t have time NOT to.

What are the important things in life that we should never put off when we get busy?

I have to make it a priority to read my bible and to pray. This is the time that God can fill us with His Spirit and enable us to accomplish everything that’s in front of us. Even if that means getting less sleep, we need this time with the Lord. Many times I supplement this time with a book or resource that helps me grow in my knowledge of the Word.

I have to make it a priority to surround myself with people that encourage me. This is one of the reasons why going to church is so important. We need other believers to pray for us and encourage us on a regular basis if we want to walk in obedience and experience the blessing of God.

I have to make it a priority to spend quality time with my family. When we make an effort to bring joy to our family members, we get to share in that joy in the process. Don’t let your stress cause you to overlook the opportunities you have every day to bless your family.

Life get’s busy, but make sure you take the time to sharpen your axe.

Scripture of the week – Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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You’re a Christian?

Michael Boggs — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 16:26:48 +0000

In college I waited tables at TGI Fridays. Even though it was good money, I dreaded going to work. I just wanted to do my time and go home. One afternoon in a conversation with another waiter, the topic of church came up. He was shocked that I attended church. He said I looked more like a partier (my beard was a little less tamed back then). After a few minutes I finally convinced him I was a Christian. As you can imagine, my head was spinning that day thinking about the changes I needed to make in how I interacted with people outside of church.

All of us have the tendency to blend in to our environment. This might be to avoid conflict or to be accepted. Whatever the reason, we must push past our natural tendencies and be intentional about sharing our faith. I’ve never had someone walk up to me and say “Hey, I’m not a Christian, but I’d like to be. Can you tell me about Jesus?” As we build relationships with people, we have to direct the conversation as we depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Do the people around you know what you believe and why you believe it?

The apostle Paul was around non-believers quite often. Look what he writes in Philippians 1:12-13

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

Don’t waste your time “getting through the day.” Remember why God has placed you where you are.

Scripture of the week – 1 Peter 3:15-16

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

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Have you found the treasure?

Michael Boggs — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 20:05:57 +0000

Life is good when we experience the blessing of God. Sickness stays away, stress levels are minimal, the bank account is manageable, and relationships are enjoyable. God blesses us with these things and more because He loves us, but He never promises that we will live without trouble or hardship. In fact, He promises that we WILL have trouble. (John 16:33)

Last week we talked about how God blesses obedience, but I want to encourage all of us not to desire God’s blessing more than we desire God Himself. There’s nothing wrong with desiring God’s blessing, but there is a difference between loving God and simply loving God’s material blessing.

One of my favorite verses in the bible is Matthew 13:44. It says “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

This man was so overjoyed that he gave up everything he owned to gain this treasure, which is God. Material possessions, social status, convenience, relationships, and physical health cannot provide true and lasting satisfaction, and should not be what we long for the most in this life.

God created us to be truly fulfilled only by experiencing the glory of God and His saving grace.

And when we experience that glory, it cannot be contained. We must share it so that other people can experience this treasure alongside us. (See John 4:27-29, and Acts 4:18-20)

As followers of Jesus, we all share one purpose: to know God, and to make Him known. True fulfillment in life can only come when we live out this purpose. I want to encourage you to not get too caught up in seeking God’s physical or material blessing, which isn’t guaranteed. Instead, focus your life on knowing God and glorifying Him in all that you do.

Scripture of the week – Matthew 13:44

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

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Many Methods, One Goal

Michael Boggs — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 19:22:43 +0000

People can easily get caught up in a certain method of discipleship and think that it’s the only method that is effective. The problem with this mindset is that it is very narrow minded, and doesn’t consider the differences of the people you’re working with. Let’s face it… people have different styles of learning, personalities, social skills, interests, and backgrounds.

We don’t want to assume that one method works for everyone, this is why as a men’s ministry we aren’t enforcing one method of discipleship. There may be a certain resource that we promote across the board from time to time, but in general, the method in which you use can look different from person to person. But we must be clear on our goal, so that all of us are moving in the same direction.

So what is our goal?

There are 2 foundational scriptures that encompass what we are trying to do as the men’s ministry of OFA.

Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

2 Timothy 2:2 – And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Our goal is twofold…

To teach and encourage men to be fully devoted, completely obedient followers of Jesus.
To equip men to lead other men.

It isn’t enough to simply help someone be more obedient to Jesus. We must go a step further and teach them how to lead someone else, just as you have done for them. This is when the church experiences multiplication, because every believer is involved in the discipleship process. Not just the pastors and people with official leadership titles like Sunday school teacher, or Community Group leader. Can you image what our church would look like if every person was investing in someone else, and teaching them how to invest in the people around them?

We can accomplish this goal in many different ways, and we trust that you’ll find the method that works for you and the men you are leading. Here are a few examples of how you can connect with and disciple other men in our church.

Intentional connection during a church service or event
Encouraging text/email
Get lunch after church
Meet for coffee
Connect while serving together (Volunteer on Sundays, special days of service, other service projects)
Recreational activity (play golf, go to a game)
Meet in a group (sporadic or regularly)
Read a book together and discuss

Whatever method works for you, be sure to focus on our goal. This is how we gain momentum and maintain unity as a church body.

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