Oakhaven Church Podcast

We celebrate the birth of Christ with a traditional service of Lessons and Carols. Nine Scripture readings lead us from the beginning of humanity’s walk with (and exile from) God, through the prophets, and then the virgin birth, shepherds, and wise men. Each passage is paired with a carol or song that matches its theme, and at the end of the service, we share the light of Jesus with one another, s...

As we reach the halfway point in our journey through Advent toward Jesus' birth, we pause to reflect on the Joy Christ brings with Him in His first coming, and the joy that is promised at His second coming. It is for this latter joy - "the joy set before Him" - that Jesus endures the cross. This eternal perspective is ours as well, and is the source of joy deep down in our hearts in...

This narrative Christmas message reminds us of how very human all the humans are that take part in the amazing story of the Incarnation. We are just as human, if not moreso, and just as usable by God to bring about His powerful purposes.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

As we walk through the season of Advent, each week has a specific theme on which we focus. Last week's "Hope" introduction was bundled into the sermon podcast (in case you missed it!). Because this week's message is an in-character narrative sermon, here is the reflection on the theme from earlier in the service. He's brought us peace that passes understanding! To investig...

We enter into a time of anticipation and reflection as we look forward to the birth of Jesus AND at the same time to His return when He comes again. We are able to put our hope in the trustworthy God Who has been working toward the birth of His Son in a stable for thousands of years. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

As we prepare to gather with loved ones for Thanksgiving, we look at giving thanks and its role in scripture and in our lives. Mentioned over 150 times in one form or another, giving thanks to God for everything is the antidote for anxiety, and yields a life that is filled with peace and even joy in the face of even challenging circumstances. Jesus promises that we need not worry: He’s got His eye...

How we prioritize our lives and how we spend them is a continual challenge as we seek to be used by God and to make the most out of the life He's given us. Jim Harwell brings this message on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, reminding us that Jesus tells us that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Jesus' sake, will find it, and live the most m...

On International Orphan Sunday, Cynthia Mudd speaks on the life and heart of God for all His children, with with a special place in his heart for the marginalized and disregarded. "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you (James 1:27, NLT). Cynthia is the founding president of The H...

We are in a season of looking at the larger context of our life with God, starting at the very beginning. A striking moment in the early stories comes whey Yahveh curses the serpent, promising that the seed of Adam and the seed of the serpent will be enemies and “strike” or “bruise” one another. Later (2nd century) Christian writers assign this scene to Jesus’ triumph over evil in His resurrection...

We are in a series of lessons focused on the large context of God’s relationships with humans, starting at the beginning of time in our direct contact with Him in the garden, walking side by side “in the cool of the day,” through all the consequences of our sin. God nurtures humanity as well as our redemption from the earliest chapters of the Bible, embarking on our rescue with the promise to make...

Today we continue our survey of God’s “long game” in preparing humanity for His kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” Our original design is to be in direct contact with the Creator, to walk side by side with Him as in the Garden. In order to restore that level of relationship, both our sin AND our understanding of it (and God and us and…) must be dealt with. God has always had a plan, an...

In our discussions about Jesus' Kingdom in these final months of 2023, we stop today and consider an even broader perspective that helps define the Kingdom of God. Starting at the very beginning, we see God's design and desire for us is to be with him, in His presence. Piggybacking on last week's lesson focused on the power of God's presence, we survey His patient partnership w...

We are in a “mini-series” of messages focused on God’s call on our lives. Last week we examined Peter’s call to ministry, and this week we will look at an aspect of Paul’s call to be a Christ-follower. Both men left their old lives and ways and followed and preached Jesus. We are called to do the same. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

We continue today our series on God’s call in each of our lives by looking at the Apostle Paul and the dramatic way Jesus calls and changes his life. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

At the finish of a special weekend with Marvin Bryant in which we have focused on God's Kingdom, Jesus' Kingship, and our role as His subjects, Marvin leads us through a powerful summary of the good "NEWS." To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

As we embark as a congregation on a 90 day journey, we are reminded of how important prayer is in this endeavor. We are not doing something FOR God, we are doing something WITH Him. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

As we consider our place in Jesus’ kingdom as His subjects and ambassadors, we look today to Paul and one of the ways the apostle bore witness about Jesus to others. He both proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ love and mercy, but then also illustrated those things in his own life by sharing his testimony of who he was before Jesus came along. His awareness of Jesus’ mercy and grace at the core of P...

In John 15 , Jesus tells a simple but powerful parable that likens our relationship with him to vines, branches, and fruit. We consider this metaphor today and its many implications: He is the source of power, nutrition, and life as we abide in Him and bear fruit. Meanwhile the gardening Father has his eye on the whole process and prunes us so make us more fruitful. And we’re all in it together wi...

Elder Brenda Wilusz shares a message based on the book, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

Jim Harwell shares a message based on Jesus' call on Peter, and Jesus' call on us.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

John Loe shares a message that surveys several scriptures looking at the long arc of God's plan and work in reclaiming His children.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

A special dramatic narrative sermon features the point of view of someone we all think we know, but from whom we have not yet heard as well as we do here.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

Guest speaker and former Oakhaven elder Wayne Hawley brings a message based on Matthew 6 in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

Elder Duey Unbehaun shares a message based on Luke 17, a story in which 10 lepers are healed of their disease, but only one returns to thank Him. Are we grateful for what He has done for us? If so, how do we show it? To investigate this most important of stories further, go here . 

Elder Brenda Wilusz takes a closer look at scriptures we may be a bit off on... To investigate this most important of stories further, go here .