Oak Pointe Church Podcast

Unlikely Ways, Unending Hope Isaiah 44:24-45:25 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Streaming services are filled with low-budget chick flicks telling the same old story. From the millionth Cinderella story to the Prince of Who Knows Where falling for a small-town girl, these movies come and go without anyone blinking an eye. While the same-old and predictable are a dime a dozen, the films that top box offices and build franchises are of a different kind—original and unexpected. Among the greatest plot twists in cinematic history, this iconic line says it all: “No. I am your father.” If we love unpredictability on the silver screen, why do we complain when things don’t go the way we expect in real life? Join us this Sunday as our newest message, “Unlikely Ways, Unending Hope,” challenges our response when God works in ways we didn’t see coming

Remember. Return. Redeemed! Isaiah 43:22-44:23 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church April showers bring May flowers. Whether you’re tending flower beds, sowing a vegetable garden, or wrangling a lawn that seems to grow a foot a week, you know what a difference those showers make. Without rain, you’d be left with nothing but a crispy patch of hay and some floppy zucchini. Biblically, water is often used as a symbol of life. We understand this, so we’ve invented hoses, watering cans, and sprinkler systems to keep our yards healthy under the summer sun. But there’s a type of dryness – the kind the prophets warn about – that runs much deeper than our lawns. Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Remember. Return. Redeemed!” reveals why our lives so often feel barren, empty, and tired – and where to find Water that never runs dry.

A New Thing! Isaiah 42:18-43:21 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church The 2018 film Beautiful Boy depicts the true story of a father’s struggle to redeem his son from the drug addiction that has torn their lives apart. Viewers grieve for a dad willing to give everything for his son, yet powerless to save him. We ache as the hope we once held gives way to despair. And we long for the happy ending that never comes. It’s stories like these that reveal a deep longing for our own happily ever after, and our yet-deeper fear that it won’t come. Join us this Sunday as our newest message, “A New Thing!” tells another true story—one of a different Father, and with a different kind of ending.

Stupidity of Idols, Supremacy of God, Satisfaction in Christ Isaiah 41:21 – 42:17 Teacher: Charlie Koopman, Worship Arts Pastor at Oak Pointe Church “Prestige, power, privilege—at what price?” The closing words of Psychology Today’s “The Problem with Rich Kids,” this question is a response to startling findings about the effects of affluence on the next generation. After more than a decade of research, the author reports disturbingly higher rates of substance abuse, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, cheating, and stealing among wealthy youth, as compared to their lower-income peers. Studies like these beg the question, does money really buy happiness? Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Stupidity of Idols, Satisfaction in Christ,” challenges us to exchange empty promises and cheap substitutes for the real thing.

Can Your Life Turn Around? Isaiah 41:1-20 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church There’s power in a good pep talk. A coach’s half-time huddle changes the course of the game. An officer’s rallying cry turns the tide of the battle. A politician’s address inspires a nation. And a father’s reassurance gets two skinned knees back up on the bike. Browbeaten by fear and shame, there’s only one thing that gives us the strength to try again: Hope. Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Can Your Life Turn Around?” speaks a word of hope to the weary, anxious, and ashamed.

Life in the Spirit Galatians 5:13-26 Teacher: Caleb Middleton, High School Pastor / Student Director at Oak Pointe Church If we’re honest, don’t we act a bit differently behind closed doors? We can all think of a time our true colors shone through – and it wasn’t pretty. Like when you thought you pressed mute before screaming at the kids. Or that time you pocket-dialed the friend you were trash-talking. Or maybe that Sunday you road-raged in the church parking lot. It’s moments like these that remind us just how wide the gap is between who we want to be and who we actually are. Ouch. Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Life in the Spirit,” reveals a better way. Tired of striving to do better, look better, and be better? Meet the One who closes the gap

Shattered People, Rousing Word Isaiah 40 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church We all know the kind of person who has to make their own mistakes. Raised in a good home, they still manage to land themselves on the wrong path – one plainly headed for trouble. Our hearts ache to watch a person we love dig themselves into a pit of addiction, abuse, or suffering. We long for the day they’ll “wake up” and return to what they know is right…but will that day ever come? Join us this Sunday as our newest message, “Shattered People, Rousing Word,” reveals what each of us have in common the ones who’ve lost their way. Together, we’ll discover a hope for the prodigal in all of us.

Let My Worship be More than Singing Hebrews 13:5 Oak Pointe Students It's a highlight of every year when the students from The Rock (middle school) and 707 (high school) take over every aspect of our Sunday services. From worship and prayer to students sharing their testimony through the Word, the church's future leaders will lead us this Sunday!

Prayer and Love  John 17:20-26 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…   For generations, Americans have been captivated by the larger-than-life personas of superheroes. Why the fascination with men and women in capes?   Whether a narrow escape from planetary destruction, a science experiment gone awry, or an other-worldly bug bite, we relish their origin stories. We’re inspired by their resilience, catchphrases, and sharp jawlines. But, more than anything, we covet their superhuman power.   Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Prayer and Love,” confronts us with the true power that moves the world and should captivate our hearts

Prayer & Fullness Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 17:13-19 When her enslaver fell into financial trouble, a newlywed Harriet Tubman realized her family would soon be torn apart and sold for top dollar. It was then she faced unthinkable danger by attempting an escape from slavery. At the end of her long journey from Maryland to Philadelphia, Tubman had achieved her lifelong dream of freedom—but her story didn’t end there. Selflessly, and fueled by her Christian faith, Tubman dedicated her life to setting others free. As a Conductor in the Underground Railroad, she sacrificed her own safety to bring approximately 70 people—including her family—to freedom. From there, she continued to fight in both the abolitionist and suffragist movements until her death in 1913. Like Tubman, we have a mission to the world. Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Prayer and Identity,” reveals how we can be most heavenly-minded and of the most earthly good.

Prayer & Fullness Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 17:6-12 It was a Saturday with nothing planned, so you decided to surprise your kids with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. A few hours later, the tokens have been spent, the pizza eaten, and the last of their over-priced prizes secured. From your seat at the table, you see the kids make their way over to you with smiling faces and, without a word from you, start gathering their things and putting on their coats. Your middle child remarks, “Wow, what a day we’ve had! You didn’t have to do this, you know, but you really made our day. Probably best to head home now. Thanks again for everything!” If you’ve ever raised kids—or set foot in a Chuck E. Cheese—this might sound like an alternate universe. Perhaps something like this feels more familiar: “Can’t we stay just 5 more minutes! All I’m saying is we barely got any tokens today…plus I’m still hungry. Why can’t we get dessert? I’m only asking for one more ride, but you won’t even giv

Prayer & Heaven Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 17:1-5 Among the most iconic moments in cinematic history is Neo’s life-altering choice between two pills: red or blue. The protagonist of the 1999 blockbuster, The Matrix, must decide whether to return to the simple life he knows, or to have his eyes opened to a greater, mind-bending reality. You and I face a similar choice. Will we live for the world we see today, or seek the higher reality of heaven—a realm beyond our wildest imagination? Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Prayer and Heaven,” invites us to unlock the greater depths of prayer, by which we’re unleashed to experience the wonders and glories of heaven on earth.

Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church This year, millions will observe the Easter holiday simply out of tradition. Churches will be filled with people whose lives have not been changed by the reality of the resurrection—people who’ve perhaps never questioned whether they even believe it. How about you? This Easter Sunday, join us as we consider the resurrection of Jesus through the perspective of a first-century skeptic. Don’t let another year pass by without answering the question, Do I actually buy this?

Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church

Overcoming the World Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 16:23-33 If you’ve ever been in the market for a house, you know the importance of looking “beneath the surface.” While a new coat of paint, fresh flowers, and a snickerdoodle candle can make most any place feel like a dream, a wise buyer thinks twice. It’s experienced house-hunters you’ll find brushing away cobwebs around the furnace, peering close at the seals of the windows, and, most importantly, taking a good, long look at the foundation. Because no matter how modern the cabinetry or bright the natural lighting, a faulty foundation turns anyone’s dream home into a nightmare. Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “Overcoming the World,” challenges us to consider what – or whom – our own lives are built on. Because if a house can’t last without a sure foundation, how can you?

Grief Turns to Joy Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 16:12-22 The great promise of the American Dream hinges on one condition: No pain, no gain. It’s in the name of this ambition that many professionals forfeit their families for the corner office. Athletes sacrifice their bodies for the title. And gamblers spend their last dollar for the chance at hitting it big. But do any of these things truly satisfy? In a world marred by longing, striving, and pain, our upcoming message, “Grief Turns to Joy,” will reveal a better way. Join us in discovering a new kind of joy—one that can’t be earned and that never ends.

The Spirit’s Help in Persecution Teacher: Brent Buttermore, Outreach Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 16:1-11 On July 4, 1918, combined U.S. and Australian infantry marched into battle at the French town of Le Hamel against a German force that outnumbered them 5 to 1. Under the leadership of Lieutenant General John Monash, the Allied forces secured a decisive, and certainly remarkable, victory against their much larger opponent in a mere 93 minutes. History celebrates stories like the Battle of Hamel because there’s something about them that lifts our spirits and fills us with hope. When all seems lost, don’t we like to believe good could still win out in the end? Join us this Sunday as our newest message, “The Spirit’s Help in Persecution,” encourages us in our battle against an enemy even greater than the Axis Powers. Together we’ll unlock the true key to victory.

The World’s Hatred Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 15:18-27 In two weeks, our nation will commemorate St. Patrick’s Day, but amid the leprechauns, shamrocks, and corned beef, does anyone remember what we’re celebrating? Maewyn Succat, later known as St. Patrick, was born in Britain in the fourth century A.D. Shortly before Patrick turned 16, his family’s villa was attacked by pirates, who abducted him to their homeland of Ireland and sold him as a slave. It was there, enslaved in a foreign land, that Patrick encountered Jesus. After six years of harsh labor, Patrick finally escaped his oppressors and embarked on a two-year journey home. Safely returned to his family at last, the young man soon began to sense the call of God to do something absolutely mad: journey back to Ireland and share the Gospel with the very people who had enslaved him. Despite fierce opposition, that is exactly what Patrick did. Selflessly, he devoted his life to proclaiming the message of Christ throughout I

Spiritual Fruit that Lasts Teacher: Blaine Dennison: Congregational Care Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 15:9-17 Have you ever placed your go-to order from a restaurant, only to be disappointed? In 2021, fast food giant Taco Bell experienced a widespread shortage of multiple ingredients—including chicken, beef, beans, and its signature hot sauce. The floundering supply chain led once-loyal customers to flood social media with complaints: “For anyone craving Taco Bell tonight, I’ll save you the drive.” Taco Bell learned a hard lesson: You can’t make a burrito without a tortilla. This Sunday, through our newest message, “Spiritual Fruit that Lasts,” we’ll discover a similar lesson—the key ingredient to our spiritual growth, and what happens when we try to produce fruit without it.

The Vine and the Branches Teacher: Pastor Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church John 15:1-8 Since ancient times, sieges have been used by military forces to weaken and subdue their enemies. Victims are cut off from essential supplies, while their attacker counts down the days to their eventual surrender. The effectiveness of a siege lies in its exploitation of basic human needs: a war-torn people can’t survive without food, without water, without medical supplies. Cut off at the source, we soon recognize our weakness and dependency—a reality that’s just as true in our spiritual life. Join us this Sunday as our upcoming message, “The Vine and the Branches,” reveals our true source of life, and what happens when we’re disconnected.