Bent Oak Church

Men are not doing okay. Across a wide range of markers, men are failing, disengaging, and giving up. The whole conversation has become another cultural controversy. The consequences? Men have given up on getting better. In this first sermon of the series, we take a look at the challenges men face and why the pursuit of Christian character matters more than ever. 

We continue our advent Immanuel series with a message and testimony from Kevin Weaver on how God is present and faithful throughout life.

Our Christmas readings usually include the angelic message to Mary and Joseph, the coming of the wise men, the worship of the shepherds, but the story of Jesus's flight to Egypt rarely fits well. In this week's sermon, we take a closer look at how Matthew uses the story to explain Jesus's identity and the promise of God's faithfulness to us as well.

We continue our advent Immanuel series with a message and testimony from Will Outzen on how God is present and faithful, even when we think we have things figured out. 

We continue our advent Immanuel series with a message and testimony from David and Kristin Marshall on how God shows himself faithful when things are difficult.

We begin our advent Immanuel series with a message and testimony from Barry Kinzer on how God shows himself faithful when things don't make sense. 

We finish up our series on Bent Oak Church by looking at how we relate to the outside world. How does the church fit in culture? How should we understand our responsibilities to our neighbors? How does the gospel compel us to bear witness as ambassadors for Christ? 

It's long been said that a church is not a building or program, it's people. But it's often people who hurt us and let us down. Our world is plagued by a wave of isolation and loneliness. So how should we think about the relationships church forms? What should our expectations be for one another? Is church the place to make friends and find your relational needs met?

As we continue our look at who God has called us to be, we ask the simple question, what do we do when we gather? Most of us know the formula: worship, prayer, sermon, but to what end? How should we evaluate our time together? What did God intend his churches to do when they gathered? We explore the book of Hebrews admonition to encourage one another. 

We take a look at a simple question: what is a church? We also look at how the New Testament emphasized the importance of gathering together and why it shouldn't be neglected. 

Peter must have thought no one noticed. Who had seen or heard his denials? Now that Jesus we resurrected, what difference did it make? But he still carried it with him. In ways both private and merciful, Jesus demonstrated that he did know. "You know all things," Peter acknowledged, "you know that I love you." Peter captures the human experience. Even as followers of Christ, we...

The resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples again. They were restless and not sure what to do. Their night of fishing hadn't produced any results. But when a man from the shore told them to cast their nets on the other side, John recognized it was Jesus.  In one of the most moving post-resurrection scenes, Jesus cooked breakfast for his disciples and reminded them of the work ahead. He re...

John's resurrection account has none of the dramatic detail we want; it has people confused. An empty tomb, folded clothes, Mary weeping. But out of this confusion comes faith. John wont's us to see how the resurrection impacted those first witnesses of it. 

Having been crucified, Jesus was removed from the cross and buried. Had it been left to the Romans he might not have been buried at all, but two unlikely men step forward to honor Jesus, a secret follower and the reluctant Nicodemus. John captures the irony and allows us to consider the source of true courage and bolness. 

This week, we reach the story of Christ's crucifixion. John focuses on a particular set of details to remind us of who Jesus is and the reality of the cross. Jesus is Lord and Savior. Though many thought it was his defeat, and while others denied his rule, the cross reveals Jesus was the truth and even in death he maintained authority and control.

Pilate was not done with Jesus. After beating him and mocking him before the crowds, Pilate had a second set of questions. He explained to Jesus that he had the authority to save him or execute him. But Jesus saw more going on. Jesus recognized a higher authority. It's striking that the final conversation before Jesus's crucifixion was about submission and authority, topics in which our...

Having been interrogated by the High Priest, Jesus was next handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate alone held the power to order Jesus's execution. Their conversation was brief but exposed how different they were, and how different were their kingdoms. Jesus explains to the seemingly annoyed Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world but that he has come to bear witness to the tr...

Arrested, Jesus was taken before Annas and Ciaphas. They were looking for anything that would allow them to request his execution by Rome. Jesus demonstrated that his work was not like theirs: manipulative, secret, and politically motivated. As Jesus gave his defense, outside Peter was denying him. We take a closer look at these men, their motives, and how Christ rises above it all.

Having concluded his last meal with his disciples, Jesus moved out of Jerusalem and onto the Mount of Olives to pray. John tells us he knew what was ahead. John also tells us that Jesus turned and step forward to meet it. Jesus would not run or fight, but as he told Peter, he would take the cup God was handing him. 

Jesus concluded his longest discussion with the disciples with a prayer. He prayed for them knowing that he was just moments from being arrested and put to death.  But Jesus's prayer was for more than just those disciples, he prayed for all believers who would believe. He prayed, knowing that they would face a hostile world but that God would make them sanctified by his word. 

Jesus concluded his upper room discourse with the promise that the Spirit of truth would help them overcome the world and receive peace and joy this world could not take from them.  Jesus's followers would suffer, face persecution, and even be put to death, but in all things, they shared in his power to overcome this world. The same offer is made to us as well.

Jesus continued to encourage his disciples not to let their hearts grow weary. He did so by turning to a well-known Old Testament image, the vine.  Jesus encouraged his followers to abide in Him, as the branches hold fast to the vine.

Jesus had instructed his fearful disciples not to let their hearts be troubled. He had given them reminders of why they could have hope even as they faced loss. But Jesus gave them far more than advice.  Jesus promised that there was a helper who would soon come to their aid. He promised them the Holy Spirit. In this week's sermon, we take a look at the identity and work of the Holy Spirit in...

Jesus had informed his disciples that he was preparing to leave them and that where he was going they would not be able to go. After sacrificing so much to follow Jesus, the disciples struggled to accept or understand what Jesus was doing. Unnerved by his prediction, they were missing Jesus's point. Jesus instructed them not to let their hearts grow troubled. But he also gave them images to h...

Having concluded his public ministry, Jesus turned his attention to his closest followers. He gathered his disciples for a meal, knowing that this arrest was imminent. There was so much they must have had on their minds and wanted to discuss. But as they ate, Jesus got up and began to wash their feet. John offers us two ways of responding to Jesus's action, Judas and Peter. By their reactions...