Oaks Church Cookeville

What would it look like for us to be known by the way we love one another? As we continue exploring God’s desire and design for the church, Bryan invites us to see community as a shared life that reaches beyond our Sunday gatherings. Through Jesus’ command in John 13, the encouragement of Hebrews 10, and the practical wisdom of Romans 12 and Colossians 3, we discover that loving one another begins...

What turns a room full of people into a family? We were made to belong to something greater than ourselves, and through Jesus, we’re invited into a shared life rooted in his victory over sin, evil, and death. This week, Bryan returns to Acts 2:42–47 to explore how the earliest believers lived that victory together through teaching, fellowship, shared meals, prayer, and caring for one another’s nee...

What happens when we make room to pray with and for one another? As we continue exploring God’s design for the church, Bryan invites us to move from talking about prayer to practicing it together. Beginning with Acts 2:42, we follow the early church’s rhythm of shared prayer: asking for boldness in Acts 4, listening for the Spirit’s direction in Acts 13, and caring for one another through the enco...

What happens when we stop hiding our sin and bring it into the light? This week, Bryan invites us to rediscover confession as a practice of honesty, repentance, and hope. Through David’s story in 2 Samuel 11–12 and his prayer in Psalm 51, we see what it means to acknowledge our wrongdoing, ask for mercy, and desire a changed heart. James 5:16 reminds us that confession also belongs within loving,...

What do we believe and are we building our lives around it? This week, Bryan continues our conversation about the church by looking at the early believers who devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. Through Acts 2 and Ephesians 2, we see how our shared faith grounds us in the story of God, with Jesus as our cornerstone. We also explore how the church’s early statements of faith developed int...

What happens when the church stops relying on its own strength and makes room for the Holy Spirit? From the glory of God filling the tabernacle and temple to the fire resting on every believer at Pentecost, Scripture reveals a people empowered by God’s presence. In this message, Bryan traces the promise of the Spirit through Jesus’ teaching, Acts 1–4, and Paul’s letters. We see that the Spirit is...

What does Jesus mean when He says, “I will build my church”? We often think of church as a place we go, but Scripture paints a much bigger picture: the church is a people gathered around Jesus, built together on a firm foundation. In this message, Bryan begins a journey through God’s heart and design for His church, looking at Jesus’ words in Matthew 16 alongside Ephesians 2 and 1 Peter 2. We see...

Communion is more than a church tradition—it’s an invitation to the table that runs through the whole story of Scripture. From the tree of life in Eden, to Israel’s covenant meals, to the prophets’ promise of a new covenant, God continually invites His people to receive His goodness and life. In this message, Bryan traces that story to Jesus, the Bread of Life, and to the Last Supper where He decl...

What if baptism is about more than simply taking the “next step” in our faith? Bryan traces the story of baptism all the way back to the beginning of Scripture. From the waters of creation, Noah and the flood, Israel crossing the Red Sea, and the Jordan River, we see a repeated picture of God bringing order from chaos, deliverance from slavery, and His people into promise. That story ultimately le...

What does it look like for the kingdom of God to come near through us? Bryan begins by looking at the Bible not simply as a book, but as a library—a collection of human and divinely inspired writings that together tell one unified story pointing to Jesus. From Genesis through the prophets, including the hopeful words of Zephaniah 3, we see God working to restore His blessing and bring His kingdom...

What does it actually mean to follow Jesus—not just believe in Him, but become His disciple? In this message, Bryan takes us from the story of Susanna Wesley to Jesus’ invitation in Mark 1: “Come, follow me.” Looking at the relationship between a rabbi and disciple, we’re reminded that following Jesus means more than adopting a label or joining a program. It means being with Jesus, becoming like J...

What does it look like to keep saying yes to God when the path looks nothing like we expected? This week, we welcome special guests Robert and Robin Vickers of Way Truth Life Church in Murfreesboro. Together, they share the winding road God used to lead them into church planting—from disappointment and loss to unexpected opportunities, a growing family, and a community built around loving people w...

What are we making provision for in our lives? In Romans 13, Paul calls us to wake from spiritual slumber, put aside the works of darkness, and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Bryan challenges us to consider how our daily attention, habits, and seemingly small decisions are shaping the direction of our lives. Are we arranging our lives around comfort, distraction, jealousy, or our own...

What does it look like to truly see the people around us? This week, Bryan is joined by special guest Becky Davidson, co-founder and president of Rising Above Ministries , for a powerful conversation centered on Mark 10:46–52, where Jesus stops to see and respond to blind Bartimaeus. Together, they explore what this story teaches us about being seen by God, serving others with compassion, and crea...

What does it really mean to be pro-life? This week, Bryan is joined by Lisa Reeves and Meredith Vaughn from the Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic for an honest conversation about compassion, grace, and caring for vulnerable people. Beginning with Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery in John 8, they explore how the heart of Christ shapes the way we respond to unplanned pregnancies, aborti...

What kind of impact can one faithful life make? As Oaks Church celebrates three years together, Bryan reflects on the power of small acts of obedience and the ripple effects of God's kingdom. Drawing from Psalm 130, we're reminded that God is not a record-keeper of our failures but a God of forgiveness, mercy, and full redemption. This message also highlights one of the church plants Oaks Church s...

This month, as Oaks Church gathers around the Lord’s Table, Bryan reflects on a powerful conversation in John 6 where Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” After sharing stories from Oaks' recent trip to Oregon and the ways God worked through simple acts of service, the message turns to a deeper question: What are we feeding our souls? In a world full of things that promise satisfaction but le...

What does real obedience look like—and how do we avoid deceiving ourselves into thinking we're following Jesus when we're really just listening? Guest speaker Craig Conner reflects on the book of James and Jesus' teaching about building our lives on a firm foundation. Through stories from Scripture, including King Saul's partial obedience and Jesus' words in Matthew 7, Craig challenges us to move...

As Bryan concludes our journey through the book of James, he reflects on James 5:19–20 and the heart of God for those who have drifted from the truth. Drawing from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, and Jesus' teachings in Matthew 18, this message reminds us that God's heart is always pursuing, restoring, and welcoming people home. Whether you've wandered yourself or know someone who...

What if prayer isn't about getting God to do what we want, but about joining Him in what He's already doing? In James 5:13–18, we're reminded that prayer is not reserved for spiritual giants like Elijah. James tells us that Elijah was "a human being even as we are," inviting us to approach God with the same confidence and faith. Whether we're suffering, celebrating, struggling with sickness, or ca...

What does it look like to remain faithful when life is hard? In this week's message from James 5:7–12, Bryan explores the biblical call to perseverance through suffering, uncertainty, and waiting. Looking at the examples of Polycarp, the Old Testament prophets, and Job, we're reminded that faithfulness is not measured by comfort or success, but by steadfast trust in God. James encourages believers...

In James 5:1–6, Bryan examines the dangers of placing our trust in wealth, comfort, and control. Through the story of the rich young ruler and Jesus' teaching on money, we're invited to embrace generosity, sacrifice, and deeper dependence on God. This message challenges us to consider where our treasure truly is and how the way of Jesus reshapes our priorities. Credits Speaker: Bryan Vaughn Produc...

What if the root of our conflict with others is actually something deeper happening within us? This week in Oaks Church, Bryan walks through James 4 and uncovers the hidden power of pride in our lives. From the story of the Titanic to the teachings of Jesus, we’re reminded that pride doesn’t just damage relationships. It creates distance between us and God. James calls us to humility, confession,...

In this special family blessing and parent commissioning gathering, Bryan Vaughn teaches from Deuteronomy 6 about raising children in the way of Jesus. Through Scripture, testimony, and communal prayer, Oaks Church reflects on the responsibility and privilege of discipling the next generation through everyday life and faithful presence. Scripture References Deuteronomy 6 Proverbs 22:6 Matthew 22:3...

What if the “good life” we’re chasing isn’t actually the life we were made for? This week, Jimmy walks us through James 3 to uncover the difference between earthly wisdom and the kind of wisdom that leads to real life. Somewhere along the way, the American Dream drifted—from meaning and dignity into pressure, performance, and never feeling like enough. But Scripture points us somewhere better. Thr...