Oaks Parish

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Temporada 2

Sermon: The Victory of Jesus (August 25, 2024)

Scripture Text: Revelation 1:9-20 David Bast Quotes for Reflection G. B. Caird, The Revelation of St. John the Divine The description of the Son of Man is full of Old Testament phrases, which we may track down to their various sources. . . But to compile such a catalogue is to unweave the rainbow. John uses his allusions . . . for their evocative and emotive power. . . His aim is to set the echoes of memory and association ringing. . . John has seen the risen Christ, clothed in all the attributes of deity, and he wishes to call forth from his readers the same response of overwhelming and annihilating wonder which he experienced in his prophetic trance. James Denney, Studies in Theology There is not in the New Testament from beginning to end, in the record of the original and genuine Christian life, a single word of despondency or gloom. It is the most buoyant, exhilarating and joyful book in the world. The men who write it have indeed all that is hard and painful in the world to encounter; but they are of good courage, because Christ has overcome the world, and when the hour of conflict comes they descend crowned into the arena. All this is due to their faith in Christ’s exaltation, and in his constant presence with them in the omnipotence of his grace. Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation Revelation . . . reminds us that the church’s witness to the world is authentic only as primarily a witness to truth – to the one true God and the truth of his righteousness and grace. In western societies today this witness to the truth . . . faces a relativistic despair of the possibility of truth and, even more, a consumerist neglect of the relevance of truth. . . Revelation . . . shows the power of a theocentric vison to confront oppression, injustice and inhumanity. In the end it is only a purified vision of the transcendence of God that can effectively resist the human tendency to idolatry. . . The worship of the true God is the power of resistance to the deification of military and political power and economic prosperity. In the modern age we may add that it is what can prevent movements of resistance to injustice and oppression from dangerously absolutizing themselves.

Sermon: The King's Counsel (August 18, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 28:3-25 Andy Tobin Paul Miller, A Praying Life But unlike these other kinds of experts, power in prayer comes from being in touch with your weakness. To teach us how to pray, Jesus told stories of weak people who knew they couldn’t do life on their own. The persistent widow and the friend at midnight get access, not because they are strong but because they are desperate. Learned desperation is at the heart of a praying life. John of Landsberg, A Letter from Jesus Christ I know those moods when you sit there utterly alone, pining, eaten up with unhappiness, in a pure state of grief. You don’t move towards me but desperately imagine that everything you have ever done has been utterly lost and forgotten. This near-despair and self-pity are actually a form of pride. What you think was a state of absolute security from which you’ve fallen was really trusting too much in your own strength and ability. Profound depression and perplexity of mind often follow on a loss of hope, when what really ails you is that things simply haven’t happened as you expected and wanted. In fact, I don’t want you to rely on your own strength and abilities and plans, but to distrust them and to distrust yourself, and to trust me and no one and nothing else. As long as you rely entirely on yourself, you are bound to come to grief. You still have a most important lesson to learn: your own strength will no more help you to stand upright than propping yourself on a broken reed. You must not despair of me. You may hope and trust in me absolutely. My mercy is infinite. Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the Horses It is, of course, far easier to languish in despair than to live in hope, for when we live in despair we don't have to do anything or risk anything. We can live lazily and shiftlessly with an untarnished reputation for practicality, current with the way things appear. It is fashionable to espouse the latest cynicism. If we live in hope, we go against the stream. Application Questions Are there any circumstances in life that make you feel desperate? How might you direct your desperation toward God? How is God calling you to seek him wholeheartedly? Is there any part of God’s will for your life that you have not yet embraced?

Sermon: The King's Discernment (August 11, 2024)

Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 27:1-12; 28:1-2 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Tim Chester, 1 Samuel for You The state of our hearts is often shaped by what we say to our hearts. A.W. Pink, The Life of David Alas, when unbelief dominates us, God is forgotten, and deliverance, our own ease, obsess the mind; and hence it is that—unless divine grace interpose—we seek relief in the wrong quarter and by unspiritual means. Richard D. Phillips, 1 Samuel It is true—no, it is a glorious truth—that the heroes of the Bible, excepting Jesus Christ, are all scoundrels and criminals, breakers of God’s law and sinners to the core. This shows the Bible’s honesty; no other religious tome dares to display the human weakness and sins of its heroes the way the Bible does, because the Bible is not trusting in man but in God. Application Questions 1. David was concerned not only for himself but also for the welfare of family, friends, and others entrusted to him. How does this resonate with your own experience? 2. In what way might you be tempted to take matters into your own hands right now? What has resulted from that decision in the past, and what does it look like to trust God instead? 3. How do you need to preach the gospel to yourself this week?

Sermon: Theology of Self (August 4, 2024)

Scripture Text: Colossians 3:1-17 Mike Kelly Quotes for Reflection John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion Nearly all the wisdom which we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But, while joined by many bonds, which one precedes and brings for the other is not easy to discern.

Sermon: The King's Wisdom (July 28, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 25 Quincy Robinson

Sermon: David After God's Heart; Saul After David's Head (July 14, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 23 Andy Tobin Quotes for Reflection Andrew Murray, Waiting on God Oh, the blessedness of waiting on such a God! a very present help in every time of trouble; a shield and defense against every danger. Children of God! will you not learn to sink down in entire helplessness and impotence, and in stillness to wait and see the salvation of God? In the utmost spiritual famine, and when death appears to prevail, oh, wait on God. He does deliver, He does keep alive. Say it not only in solitude, but say it to each other— Psalm 33 speaks not of one but of God's people—'Our soul waits on the Lord: He is our help and our shield.' Strengthen and encourage each other in the holy exercise of waiting, that each may not only say it of himself, but of his brethren, 'We have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.' Mark Vroegop, Waiting Isn’t a Waste Waiting on God is living on what I know to be true about God when I don’t know what’s true about my life. Henry Smith O Lord, grant that I may dedicate all my hope unto your providence, power, and mercy, only commending all my troubles, miseries, calamities, adversities, and crosses whatsoever unto you only to be relieved and comforted. O let me not so much as think that the hand of man can hold me up in the least of my dangers, and yet my God, since you work sometimes by means, and sometimes without means, let me not refuse the aid of man, whom it may please you to raise and appoint for my good. Amen. William Cowper, stanzas 3-5 of “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds that you much dread, are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace; behind a frowning providence, he hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower. Application Questions: 1. Concerning what specific situation in your life is God calling you to seek him? 2. What truth or promise do you need to cling to for your own encouragement or share with someone else for their encouragement? 3. How have you experienced God’s providential deliverance from trouble?

Sermon: Distressed, Delirious, & Downtrodden (July 7, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 21-22:5 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Wendell Berry, Jayber Crow, A Novel Telling a story is like reaching into a granary full of wheat and drawing out a handful. There is always more to tell than can be told. Dane Ortland, Deeper To grow as a disciple of Christ is not adding Christ to your life but collapsing into Christ as your life. Closed vents can’t be cleaned, full cups can’t be filled, and the Spirit does not enter where we are quietly operating out of self-dependence. But the distraught, the empty, the pleading, the self-despairing, those tired of paying the tax of obedience to God and trying to live on what’s left over—theirs are hearts irresistible to the humble Holy Spirit Roger Ellsworth, The Shepherd King It is, to be sure, a most costly decision. Those who left Saul’s kingdom to join David left behind many comforts and conveniences and entered into a life that entailed sacrifice and suffering, but the peace and joy of being a follower of David far surpassed the hardships involved. So it is for all those who, by the grace of God, leave Satan’s kingdom for Christ’s.6 Tim Chester, 1st Samuel for You David describes his experience in the cave of Adullam in Psalms 57 and 142. In Psalm 142:4 he says: “I have no refuge”. But immediately in the next verse he goes on to say of the Lord: “You are my refuge”. This encourages us to think of all the times when we are tempted to think or to say: I have no refuge; I have no hope; I have no future; I have no one. This may be our experience and it is real enough. But there is a bigger reality, and it is to this that faith turns: God is my refuge; God is my hope; God is my future; I have God. Application Questions 1. Distressed, delirious, downtrodden- Do any of these terms describe your life right now? 2. Why is vulnerability a prerequisite for the power of the gospel? How do you personally find yourself resistant to this posture? 3. How did God meet David in his time of need, and how might that give you hope for your circumstance?

Sermon: Satan desires to kill you, BUT God is in control (June 30, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 19 Quincy Robinson

Sermon: The Covenant of Friendship (June 23, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-17 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection William Blaikie, 1 Samuel In the case of Jesus Christ, we have all the noble qualities of Jonathan in far higher excellence than his, and we have this further consideration, that for us He has laid down His life, and that none who receive His friendship can ever be separated from His love.” Jeremey Linneman, Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church? It’s helpful to think of our daily lives in terms of discipleship patterns, the habits of life we have learned both intentionally and unintentionally. In this broad sense, discipleship is always happening: We become what we consume, as our patterns of life direct and dictate our deepest feelings, thoughts, and motives. We are always being conformed to the heart and personality and lifestyle of another person or system. C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves In Friendship…we think we have chosen our peers. In reality, a few years’ difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another, posting to different regiments, the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting—any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,’ can truly say to every group of Christian friends, ‘You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.’ The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host. Application Questions 1. Consider someone who’s been a good friend to you. What’s made them a good friend? 2. How did gospel faith characterize David’s friendship with Jonathan and Michal? 3. What’s one action you can take this week to cultivate friendship?

Sermon: What More Can He Get? (June 16, 2024)

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 18:5-30 Bryan Buck Questions for Reflection Richard D. Phillips, 1 Samuel, The Reformed Expository Commentary The safest habit is for us to leave others’ opinions of us to themselves, concerning ourselves more deeply with what God thinks of our character and actions. Saul shows us what becomes true of anyone who craves personal praise: he loses the capacity for both joy and love. Not long previously, we were told that “Saul loved [David] greatly” (1 Sam. 16:21). Now, because of his own proud and insecure spirit, Saul begins to loathe and fear a young man who has been nothing but faithful in service to him. Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain Envy feeds on our illusions and misunderstandings about ourselves and others. When we come to understand our true identity in God, we realize that we are uniquely loved and gifted. This awareness diminishes the power of envy, as we no longer feel the need to compare ourselves with others. Instead, we can appreciate our unique path and the blessings bestowed upon us, recognizing that God’s love is abundant and tailored for each individual Timothy Keller, “The Evil of Envy”, Gospel in Life Envy is a complex emotion that involves more than just a desire for what others possess. It encompasses a deep sense of resentment and discontentment with one’s own situation, coupled with an inability to rejoice in others’ blessings. This emotion can eat away at one’s peace and joy, creating a cycle of bitterness and dissatisfaction. S. G. DeGraaf, The Promise and Deliverance Only faith makes us willing to be the lesser. Faith causes us to surrender the rights we pretend to have. Application Questions 1. Where does envy tend to show up in your life? 2. What do we learn about envy’s effect from Saul’s experience? 3. What’s one way that the gospel can set you from the bondage of envy this week?

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