Greenville Oaks Church Message Podcast

Early in his ministry Jesus enjoys tremendous success. As his popularity grows, so does the danger of having his ministry hijacked by others. This Sunday we’ll explore a sequence from Mark 1 in which Jesus shows us how to stay focused and on mission when others are tempting us with a competing agenda.

The Gospel of Mark tells us that immediately after his baptism, Jesus is sent into the wilderness to be tested by Satan. The sequence of these events not only gives us a clue about Jesus’s mission as the Son of God, it also shapes our expectations for what it means to be a Christ-follower.

Over the next several months we’ll be working through some of the key events in Jesus’s ministry as depicted in the Gospel of Mark. The first thing we see Jesus do in Mark’s gospel is show up at the Jordan River to be baptized by John. Why did Jesus step into the water? How does his baptism shape the way we view ours?

Our Next Steps Minister, Wes Rasbury, delivers a message on ways we can renew our heart moving into a new year.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve as we complete the final candles of Advent.

As we draw nearer to our celebration of Christ’s birth, we’ll contemplate the stunning implications of John’s declaration that “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14)

As he does with many other elements of the gospel story, John gives us a slightly different perspective on John the Baptist when he describes him as the man who was not. Clarity around who John (and we) are not, can help simplify our purpose during the busiest and most hectic time of year.

As we prepare to celebrate Christ coming into creation as a baby, let’s zoom out and contemplate how creation comes into being through Christ. 

Sometimes giving thanks comes easy. Sometimes it’s a struggle to praise God while drowning in deep disappointment. This Sunday we'll listen in on a dialogue between God and a disappointed man who resolves to praise God anyway.

Since Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday eating season, let us develop a robust theology of food so we are thoroughly equipped to eat and drink to the glory of God.

We wrap up our study of Philippians by digging into the final section of the letter, in which Paul expresses his gratitude to the Philippians for the financial gift they sent him while he's in prison. What could have been a simple "thank you" turns out to be much more complex, and for good reason.

Managing our anxiety when faced with trouble is an essential skill for a follower of Jesus. Chronic anxiety keeps us from making wise decisions and destroys relationships. In Philippians 4:1-9, Paul names several practices that can help us become a less-anxious presence in the midst of difficult circumstances.

At the end of Philippians 3, Paul drops a thought bomb on our understanding how to live the Christian life, when he describes Christ-followers as "citizens of heaven." The implications from understanding our primary citizenship in this way are staggering.

In Philippians 3, Paul uses shocking language to describe his past religious achievements. Perhaps because he knows how destructive and divisive building an identity on human achievement can be. He then reminds his friends in Philippi of the true and lasting source of his (and their) new identity.

Some passages of Scripture are easy to skim over. Especially when they're filled with ancient names, travel plans, and mundane details having no real contemporary significance. Tucked into the middle of Philippians is one such passage. Instead of skipping it, we're going to slow down and read it carefully, for it demonstrates an essential practice for becoming a more skillful follower of...

Today we hear from Kevin Vance and the Mission work him and his wife do in Regina, Saskatchewan.

In Philippians 2, Paul encourages his friends in Philippi to cultivate a certain mindset that will enable them to maintain their unity. We've become so familiar with what he says that it’s difficult to appreciate how radical and challenging his instructions were (and still are).

This Sunday we’ll explore the implications of the image Paul uses to illustrate what he means when he implores his friends in Philippi to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

In Philippians 1, when Paul reflects on his imprisonment and possible execution, he shows us what really matters when facing adversity.

When Paul writes a letter of appreciation to the church in Philippi, he shows us both how Christian friendship works and why we all need friends who can help us see what really matters.

Join us this week as we consider why hospitality is an essential Christian practice.

Keith Maloney speaks to the church about ways to combat isolation, especially in a post-covid world. He emphasizes the importance of connection with others and offers many options to create community at Greenville Oaks.

The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus shows what can happen when Jesus invites himself into our lives. It also establishes the basis for our core value of Celebrate Transformation.

Executive minister Matt Mazza conducts a panel discussion with our family, small groups, student and children's ministers.  They discuss the ways GO members can become more involved in our various ministries and make a difference in the lives of people in and outside our church.

As we explore one of Jesus’ most familiar parables from a slightly different perspective, we may discover one of the more common obstacles to living out our value of Demonstrating Selflessness.