Oak Pointe Church Podcast

The Man Who Eats with SinnersLuke 15:1-10Teacher: Brent Buttermore, Kids Pastor at Oak Pointe Church

There's Still RoomLuke 14:15-24Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe ChurchIf you have ever thrown an event that requires a guest list and invitations, there are two lists running in your mind: the guests you want to come, and the guests who you hope can’t make it. The former are the ones that you are close with, or you know will be the life of the party; the latter are maybe the ones who make you feel awkward or are hard to talk to. But—what if everyone on the first list said no? What if they said they were too busy for you and your celebration?God enrobed Himself in humanity and became God with Us, to deliver His people and invite them into His kingdom. But when He arrived, they rejected both His invitation and His kingdom. Thankfully the story didn’t stop there; the King extended the invitation to all who would believe. In this message, we'll learn as we continue in our series and hear what the Lord has for us.

Seating Charts and Guest ListsLuke 14:7-14Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe ChurchAncient Rome utilized the dining table as a means for gaining social, political, and economic advantages. The host of an opulent dinner party would be an elite Roman citizen, and their goal was to showcase their wealth and sophistication by bringing out the best in class from food to entertainment. Their guest list was a who’s who of influential society, and the seating arrangement around the central table was no mere coincidence. Places of prominence were reserved for those guests who offered some kind of gain for the host, be it political or financial.When Jesus attended dinner parties of the prominent Pharisees, He was surely rubbing shoulders with people of means and power. He frequently called out their motives and lack of humility because their dinner parties were no different than their Roman counterparts. Jesus has a much different guest list in mind for us, however, and in this message, we will walk throug

Tension at the TableLuke 14:1-6Teacher: Blaine Dennison, Congregational Care Pastor at Oak Pointe ChurchStubbornness is a character quality that can be a strength or weakness, but in most situations it’s a stumbling block. Frederick Nietzsche said, “Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.” In other words, the way something is done is more important than the final outcome. Once someone sets their mind on what they perceive is the right way to do something, it is difficult to convince them otherwise.The Pharisees found themselves clashing with the path that Jesus laid before them. They had convinced themselves that what they were doing was right, so anything different than their way had to be wrong, even if God Himself said it. It’s shocking to think they were bold enough to oppose God to His face, and it should cause us to pause and check our own hearts. In this message, we'll learn about a time when Jesus encountered this kind of stubbornness, and how we can equi

Servants of JesusLuke 12:35-48Teacher: Caleb Middleton, High School Pastor / Student Director at Oak Pointe ChurchHere is, perhaps, an all-too familiar scene: you have left your teenaged children at home while you and your spouse attend an event together. You wrote down specific instructions on chores they were expected to do while you’re out, and that when the chores are finished, they can play. But what actually happens? They immediately play and forget all about the chores until they receive your text at the end of the night: “Coming home.” Now they’re in a panicked state as they hurry around to get the house in order before the door opens.Jesus has left us with similar instructions; He’s told us what to do, and when He returns, He wants to see that we haven’t procrastinated or forgotten! Tomorrow morning let’s come together and hear the Word of our Lord on how we can get ready for His return.

Meals with JesusLuke 10:5-7Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe ChurchWhen you look up the word peace, the first definition given is: “freedom from disturbance; tranquility.” This can be applied in a lot of ways, but one area it relates to is the people around us. Our American culture can be pretty hostile when it comes to certain controversial topics; a common mindset is, “If you’re not with me, you’re against me.” That kind of thinking creates such a disturbance in our mental and emotional state, the very opposite of peace!With ever-increasing defensive postures and hostile comments, there is a great temptation to want to stick within a certain bubble and keep out the negativity. But Jesus sent out His disciples anyway, and He wants to send us out too. In this message, we will hear some very encouraging news from the Lord about when we are out in the world and who we might encounter.

Meals with JesusLuke 9:10-17Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe ChurchWatching a cat’s absurd overreaction to normal objects is a pastime many people enjoy on social media. For whatever reason, the smallest movement of a stick or paper can send the cat flying an impressive distance at unfathomable heights. As soon as they land and look back at what made them jump, you can almost see their expression thinking, “Oh. I might’ve overreacted.”How many times does this happen when we’re startled by something the Holy Spirit wants us to do? We jump in fear, we fumble around with excuses, we might even try running away. But when it’s over we can look back and say, “Oh. I might’ve overreacted.” Jesus isn’t out to scare us or sabotage us with impossible tasks and heavy burdens. Just the opposite! His yolk is easy, and His burden is light. When He calls us to do something, He is working in and with us. In this message, we'll see just how tender He is when He has big plans for us.

Meals with Jesus Luke 5:36-50 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Financial debt is something most Americans are well-acquainted with. Forbes conducted a survey and found that 77% of Americans currently have some level of debt, with 72% reporting they were likely to continue accumulating more. Debt brings a host of problems with it, the most being the emotional strain it puts on us and our relationships: 86% of those surveyed reported that their debt was hurting their closest relationships in some way. Imagine the relief these people would feel if they received a notice in the mail tomorrow stating that their debt was 100% erased? This is exactly the relief that Jesus offers to everyone and their debt of sin. In this message, we will hear of two ways we can respond to this incredible offer, and it will impact those around us.

Meals with Jesus Luke 5:33-34 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church When you are invited over for dinner at a friend’s house, the proper etiquette is that no one eats until everyone has been served, right? Imagine the scene: a long dining table with friends and family crammed all around. The table is adorned with a spread of steaming dishes, bowls of gravy, plates stacked with biscuits, a juicy roast. The smells alone are enough to send you into a frenzy. But—you cannot take a single bite until every person has their plate. So, what happens in the waiting? Your anticipation and longing for the feast grows exponentially. Right now, we are in a season of waiting; we await Jesus returning in His glory, and once He does, we will feast like never before! Until then, however, our longing and anticipation of His arrival grows daily. In this message, you'll hear about how that longing can drive us into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Meals with Jesus Luke 5:27-32 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church A young family invited their neighbors over for dinner one night. Their four-year-old daughter, curiously asked her mother, “Who are they? Why are they eating here?” Her mother replied, “Daddy and I want to get to know them because they’re our neighbors, so we invited them over for dinner. Eating together is one of the easiest ways to make friends!” Later that night at bedtime, the mother peeked into her daughter's room and saw a curious scene: all her daughter’s dolls were sitting on a blanket surrounding plastic food. “What are you doing, honey?” she asked. “They’re all neighbors and they want to get to know each other!” the daughter explained excitedly. Jesus modeled to His disciples the kind of lives and ministries He wanted for them, and His practice of sharing a meal with others was intentionally laid out as an example. In this message, you'll learn how opening your home and dinner table can have lasting impacts on th

Love My Enemies and Do Good to Them? Seriously? Luke 6:27-36 Teacher: Blaine Dennison, Congregational Care Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Statistics show that young people today are lonelier than ever before in human history, and social scientist Arthur Brooks surmises that society is experiencing a “loneliness epidemic.” He explains some of this by the idea that our culture has emphasized safety over risk and has therefore impeded our ability to love others who are different than us. Love, especially loving others who are difficult to love, requires risk. Jesus knows how loving our enemies grates against our flesh and instigates fear. He knew what He was saying when He taught the principle of “turn the other cheek.” However, Jesus doesn’t deliver an impossible command and leave it up to us: He Himself supplies the very love He’s asking us to give. In this message, we will hear how Jesus wants us to treat our enemies, and how we can carry it out.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church

The Son John 3:14-18 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church

The Knowledge Luke 1:76-79 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Most of us have heard, or used, the phrase “Fake it ‘til you make it”, right? The implication is that if you are unfamiliar with something, you can just put on a façade that will convince others that you are actually very knowledgeable about the topic so you can stumble along until you either learn enough to get by or finish the task without being challenged on your knowledge. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t! Truth is not a fake it ‘til you make it situation, however. A more apt phrase for truth would be “You either know it, or you don’t.” Scripture proclaims that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; so, to know truth, we must know Jesus! Tomorrow morning, we are continuing our advent series, and we will hear about truth, knowledge, and why they go hand-in-hand.

The Spirit Mark 2:1-13 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Have you ever been to a really good restaurant? You know the kind: you can smell its pleasing aroma as soon as you step out of the car into the parking lot. You walk in and every table has a tantalizing dish; you order an appetizer because you can’t wait any longer. What does an appetizer do? It increases anticipation of the meal. The appetizer isn’t the meal; it simply whets your appetite. It makes you wonder, “If the appetizer is this good, how much better is the entrée?” John the Baptist paved the way for the long-awaited Messiah. He wasn’t the savior; he was simply the appetizer. When Jesus came and defeated sin and death, He fully satisfied our hunger for salvation. Tomorrow morning, we will continue to explore the depths of God’s generous heart and what He gave to us through His only Son Jesus.

The Star Matthew 2:1-8 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Throughout antiquity, creation has been held in high esteem by most cultures; its undeniable beauty and power lead many to believe some kind of deity was responsible for it. Notably, the heavens were of utmost importance in ancient religions and astronomy played a vital role in their belief systems. Some viewed the stars as lanterns for the angels, some thought they were the nail heads holding up the sky, still others believed stars to be the children of the sun and moon. Clearly, the skies have always drawn mankind’s gaze heavenward. We know that a Deity is in fact responsible for this beautiful creation. And as the Almighty Creator, He can and does use His creation to accomplish His will. When we gather together tomorrow morning, we will hear about one of the mightiest acts in creation and its far-reaching impact.

Exiles, Keep Watch 1 Peter 5:8-14 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Two friends were having dinner at a restaurant. A sign over the coat rack read, “Keep watch over your coat.” One gentleman was constantly craning his neck around to make sure his coat was still there, taking pains to see around other guests as they walked by. His friend, without regard for his own coat, said, “You can stop checking on our coats, they’re fine!” The first man replied, “I’m only watching mine; yours has been gone for half an hour.” Keeping watch is certainly important for our physical safety and belongings, but it is even more important for our spiritual safety. Jesus charged His followers to keep watch many times, just as Peter does at the end of his letter. Join us tomorrow morning as we hear Peter’s final words of encouragement and admonition.

Favor to the Humble 1 Peter 5:1-7 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church There was a popular TV show on the CBS network called “Undercover Boss” that ran from 2010-2022. The premise of the show is for a company’s top executive to go undercover and work in various entry-level positions to gain a deeper understanding of the company and its employees. At the end of the week, the boss reveals their identity and surprises everyone. They often learn more about themselves than the company though when hearing amongst employees about the character traits that are respected and valued. Many times, the employees appreciated the bosses that showed empathy, humility, and servant-leadership above intellect and authority. While our modern American culture prides itself on independence and personal freedoms, the Bible teaches that pride comes before a fall and that the meek will inherit the earth. On Sunday morning we will look further into biblical leadership in the church and the crucial role we all play.

Destined to Suffer & Overcome 1 Peter 4:12-19 Teacher: Caleb Middleton, High School Pastor / Student Director at Oak Pointe Church There are some students bearing the name of Christ in public schools who receive ridicule and teasing for their faith. As parents, when we witness our children suffering for their convictions we are tempted to swoop in and carry out swift justice. Sometimes we ourselves are on the receiving end of persecution, in the workplace or just out running errands. But, how many of us have celebrated this harsh treatment? Have we ever skipped away from a crowd of jeering and let out a “Woohoo!” Well of course the answer is no, but did you know that not only are we encouraged to rejoice, but we actually have the ability to do it in the face of suffering? Jesus has given us every reason to not fear suffering, and every reason to be encouraged by it! Tomorrow morning we’ll hear more about this incredible truth and how we can live it out.