Oaks Parish

by Oaks Parish

Season 3

Sermon: Stewardship & Eternity (May 25, 2025)

Scripture Text: Luke 16:1-17 Andy Tobin Quotes for Reflection N. T. Wright, Luke for Everyone The key to it all is in the opening verses: it’s about faithfulness. Money is not a possession, it’s a trust: God entrusts property to people and expects it to be used to his glory and the welfare of his children, not for private glory or glamour. Money also, according to this passage, points beyond itself, to the true riches which await us in the life to come. What they are, we can hardly guess; but there are ‘true riches’ which really will belong to us, in a way that money doesn’t, if we learn faithfulness here and now. Timothy 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?" J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels The truth here propounded by our Lord appears, at first sight, too obvious to admit of being disputed. And yet the very attempt which is here declared to be useless is constantly being made by many in the matter of their souls. Thousands on every side are continually trying to do the thing which Christ pronounces impossible. They are endeavouring to be friends of the world and friends of God at the same time. Their consciences are so far enlightened, that they feel that must have some religion. But their affections are so chained down to earthly things, that they never come up to the mark of being true Christians. And hence they live in a state of constant discomfort. They have too much religion to be happy in the world, and they have too much of the world in their hearts to be happy in their religion. In short, they waste their time in labouring to do that which cannot be done. They are striving to 'serve God and mammon.' Application Questions How does eternity shape your relationship with money? In what way is God calling you to faithfulness? How have you tried to serve two masters? What is your first step of repentance?

Sermon: Lost Things (May 18, 2025)

Luke 15:1-32 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Andrew Murray, Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness Just as water always seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds the creature humble and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless. The Bruised Reed, Richard Sibbes Those who feel the furthest from comfort are actually the most ready for it. Most people don't feel lost enough to truly seek a Savior. A holy despair in ourselves is the foundation of true hope. In God, the fatherless find mercy (Hos. 14:3); if people felt more like orphans, they would experience more of God's fatherly love from heaven. For God, who lives in the highest heavens, also dwells in the lowest soul. Christ's sheep are weak and lacking in one way or another; he therefore meets the needs of each sheep. In Ezekiel 34, he seeks the lost, brings back those who have strayed, binds up the broken, and strengthens the weak. His tenderest care is for the weakest. Timothy Keller, Prodigal God Most readings of this parable have concentrated on the flight and return of the younger brother—the ‘Prodigal Son.’ That misses the real message of the story. This parable of Jesus is actually about two sons. It’s the story of a man who had two sons, and Jesus spends nearly as much time on the elder brother as he does on the younger. The younger son represents the way of self-discovery: ‘I’m going to live how I want to live.’ But the elder brother represents the way of moral conformity: ‘I’m going to do what’s right and good and God will owe me a good life for it.’ Both sons are lost, and both represent different ways to be alienated from God. There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord: one is by breaking all the moral laws and setting your own course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws and being very, very good. Application Questions 1. Why is recognizing that you are lost essential to experiencing true gospel transformation? 2. How does it reshape your view of God to know He eagerly meets you in the lowest place? 3. Each parable ends in joyful celebration. How can this shape your life in Christ this week?

Sermon: Count the Cost (May 11, 2025)

Sermon Text: Luke 14:25-35 Quincy Robinson

Sermon: Small Beginnings (May 4, 2025)

Scripture Text: Luke 13:10-21 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke With Christ nothing is impossible. He can soften hearts which seem as hard as the lowest millstone. He can bend stubborn wills which for eighteen years have been set on self-pleasing, on sin, and on the world. He can enable sinners who have been long poring over earthly things to look upward to heaven and see the kingdom of God. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He can create, and transform, and renew, and break down, and build, and quicken with irresistible power. He lives who formed the world out of nothing, and He never changes. Jonathan Rauch, Why Christianity Needs to Help Save Democracy (Econtalk Podcast 04.21.25) Christianity is fundamentally a counter-cultural religion. It was born outside of the state. Jesus, of course, was a deeply counter-cultural teacher, counter to everything that Roman society around him taught. Christianity is at its best when it's counter-cultural. N.T. Wright, Luke for Everyone One action in one synagogue on one sabbath; what can this achieve? But when Jesus sows the seed of the kingdom, nobody knows what will result. Or the kingdom as a small helping of leaven, hidden apparently in the flour. It seems insignificant and ineffectual; but before long the whole mixture is leavened. One healing of one woman – but every time you break the satanic chains that have tied people up, another victory is won which will go on having repercussions. Michael Card, Luke: The Gospel of Amazement We are almost stunned by the simplicity of these parables. In our culture, unless you are a gardener or a baker, your imagination will probably not resonate with these simple images. But once you have planted a tiny seed and over time witnessed the enormous plant that grows from it, or once you have placed a small pinch of yeast in a large lump of dough and seen it rise and expand over the sides of the bowl—then you will begin to understand how a series of small encounters two thousand years ago between religious leaders and an obscure itinerant rabbi has resulted in a kingdom whose reign extends across the universe. Application Questions 1. Where in your life do you feel bound or twisted this morning — and need to hear Jesus’s words, “You are freed”? 2. When have you experienced the small beginnings of faith that grew into something greater? 3. How can you trust God with one small counter-cultural act this week that, over time, could make a difference?

Sermon: Watchfulness & Faithfulness

Scripture Text: Luke 12:35-48 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection John Calvin, The Institutes God is not to be feared as if He were ready to punish us, but rather to be revered because He has loved us so much. Rebecca DeYoung, Glittering Vices At its core, acedia is aversion to our relationship to God because of the transforming demands of his love. God wants to kick down the whole door to our hearts and flood us with his life; we want to keep the door partway shut so that a few lingering treasures remain untouched, hidden in the shadows.” Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. Application Questions 1. As you reflect on the parables of Luke 12, how might your view of God’s character be off? 2. What are your daydreams telling you? 3. Reflect on the quote from Frederick Buechner. Describe that “place” in your own life.

Sermon: Risen Indeed (April 20, 2025)

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ Christ rose once from the dead, and now dies no more. Death shall no longer have dominion over Him. Rejoice, for you are called to share in His victory. C.S. Lewis, Miracles The New Testament writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the ‘first fruits,’ the pioneer of life; He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so. Karl Barth, Dogmatics in Outline The Easter message tells us that our enemies, sin, the curse, and death, are beaten. Ultimately, they can no longer start mischief. They still behave as though the game were not decided, the battle not fought. We must still reckon with them, but fundamentally we must cease to fear them anymore. N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone Christianity, you see, isn’t a set of ideas. It isn’t a path of spirituality. It isn’t a rule of life. It isn’t a political agenda. It includes, and indeed gives energy to, all those things; but at its very heart it is something different. It is good news about an event which has happened in the world, an event because of which the world can never be the same again. And those who believe it, and live by it, will (thank God!) never be the same again either. Application Questions 1. If there were no resurrection, what impact would that have on the Christian faith? 2. Why is it significant that the resurrection was a physical reality, not just a spiritual one? 3. How does the resurrection give you hope in an area of your life marked by grief, fear, or uncertainty?

Sermon: Thy Will Be Done (April 17, 2025 - Maundy Thursday)

Scripture Text: Matthew 26:17-56 Bryan Buck

Sermon: How Shall We Live? (April 13, 2025)

Scripture Text: Matthew 21:1-11 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Thomas Merton, Baptized by Darkness Now He is sent. He has come. He has descended into the far end of night, gathered our Fathers, the Patriarchs and Prophets, to Himself in Limbo. Now we will all be manifest. We will see one another with white garments, with palm branches in our hands. The darkness is like a font from which we shall ascend washed and illumined, to see one another, no longer separate, but one in the Risen Christ. N.T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone The people wanted a prophet, but this prophet would tell them that their city was under God’s imminent judgment. They wanted a Messiah, but this one was going to be enthroned on a pagan cross. They wanted to be rescued from evil and oppression, but Jesus was going to rescue them from evil in its full depths, not just the surface evil of Roman occupation and the exploitation by the rich. Precisely because Jesus says ‘yes’ to their desires at the deepest level, he will have to say ‘no’ or ‘wait’ to the desires they are conscious of, and expressed. C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory Obedience is the road to freedom, humility the road to pleasure, unity the road to personality. Application Questions 1. How can the grace of the gospel free you to obey in faith rather than responding in fear or pride? 2. What captures your deepest affection and awe right now—and how might the beauty of Christ in the gospel reshape your posture into one of true worship? 3. Where might you have an opportunity this week to help someone see more clearly who Jesus is and what it means to live in Him?

Sermon: Shall Not Covet (April 6, 2025)

Scripture Text: Exodus 20:1-17 Bryan Buck Quotes for Reflection Kevin D. Young, The Ten Commandments There’s nothing necessarily wrong with noticing what other people have, but most of us don’t stop and notice so that we can give thanks to God for his blessings to others. We notice and then stop being thankful for all that God has given to us. The Westminster Larger Catechism The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition, and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbor, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend unto, and further all that good which is his. Mary Oliver, The Gift Be still, my soul, and steadfast. Earth and heaven both are still watching though time is draining from the clock and your walk, that was confident and quick, has become slow. So, be slow if you must, but let the heart still play its true part. Love still as once you loved, deeply and without patience. Let God and the world know you are grateful. That the gift has been given. Application Questions 1. How does the Christian vision of longing differ from other worldviews? 2. If I only had ___________, I would finally be happy. What’s in that blank and what does it truly reveal? 3. What’s one simple habit of gratitude that helps you feel more content with God when you’re feeling restless or wanting more?

Sermon: Shall Not Bear False Witness (March 30, 2025)

Scripture Text: Exodus 20:1-16 Pat Roach Quotes for Reflection from the Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment? A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report. Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of the truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any; endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.

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