Oviedo City Church Sermons

Jesus makes it clear that He came in order to serve, and He ultimately served us by giving His life in ransom for our eternal life. He calls His followers to be servants as well. The world outside the church has learned that serving is key, servant leadership is all the rage, and a service economy drives our nation. Service in the name of Christ that leads people to Him is to be the hallmark of th...

Of all the things Jesus’ disciples could ask for, one of their most pressing requests was: "Lord, teach us to pray." It wasn’t "Teach us to heal like you" or "Teach us to preach like you" but "Teach us to pray." After walking with Jesus, they observed that the power behind all he did was prayer—Kingdom-shaking prayer. It was intimacy with the Father, and for Jesus, it was like breathing. Take a li...

What would happen if you were dying of thirst, and all that was available was saltwater? Well...you'd still be dying of thirst. Spiritually speaking, this is often our predicament. We attempt to quench our souls with things that do not satisfy, such as comfort, control, and the approval of others. We drink from broken wells, revealing our broken worship in need of repair. But there is hope. We'll...

Every year on the first Sunday, we look at what lies ahead for OCC, anticipating what God will do. This year is no different, except we think God is going to do even more amazing things than in the past. You won't want to miss getting the inside scoop as we look into the future so we can dream about, pray for and celebrate what we believe God is doing and will continue to do in 2024. 

What are you afraid of? The future? Failure? Rejection? Beneath all of those fears lies a deeper question: Is God for me? Will God love me? This Christmas Eve, let's reconsider the shepherds who were filled with great fear when they encountered an angelic army shining with God's glory. Their fear was cast out by the angel’s announcement: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior...

Have you ever tried to figure out what God was doing in a situation and just could not wrap your mind around it? Have you ever had times when the nature of God was bewildering and didn't make sense? Have you ever been in the position of trying to figure out what God wanted you to do and couldn't? There are lots of times when the things of God are confusing and bewildering. How should we respond in...

When was the last time you belly-laughed? Laughed so hard that it hurt so good? There's nothing quite like it. That's because we were made for joy – and made for the Author of joy! Join us this week as we come to the part of the Christmas story when Elizabeth's baby leaps for joy as pregnant Mary arrives on the scene. Like the child in Elizabeth’s womb greeting Immanuel, God With Us, we too get to...

You've heard of Doubting Thomas. What about Doubting Zechariah? In this week's Advent message, we’ll witness doubts emerging in the Christmas story. After decades of disappointment, Zechariah is told that his prayer will finally be answered in his old age. Skepticism fills him. Yet even in his doubt, God is with him. This is good news for the doubters among us. Join us this week as we discover how...

What is guaranteed in life? Some might cynically say "death and taxes," but as human beings, we know there are many other certainties: fear and joy, confusion and doubt, and countless times of waiting. However, the greatest assurance is the reminder that Christmas brings: God is with us. Join us this Advent season as we reflect on the profound story of God taking on flesh to be with us. He is with...

What will heaven be like? It is a question that is asked often. The answer has been depicted in movies, books, paintings, poems and even cartoons. A vast majority of the time the answers are completely wrong. The Apostle Paul gives us a picture of heaven in our final message from 1 Corinthians this week as we explore chapter 15 and what the Resurrection from the dead is all about. 

We've all witnessed a child’s tantrum. Whether it's our child or someone else's, we feel helpless when nothing seems to calm them down. Yet we know “this too shall pass” because children grow up and mature. But what happens when adults have tantrums and haven't grown up? That’s the issue Paul addresses in the well-known “love passage” of 1 Corinthians 13. The Corinthians are in dire need of growin...

he sensation of having your home light up when the power returns after a blackout is glorious. Suddenly, all the lifeless appliances and electronics pulse with energy, illuminating our everyday lives. That power pales in comparison to what happens when the Spirit of the Living God enlivens our hearts, bringing us His spiritual gifts. As we continue our way through 1 Corinthians, we will see how Go...

What is true freedom? What is self-control? Would it surprise you that the answers to those two questions are connected? As we continue in 1 Corinthians this Sunday, we will learn that only the gospel of Jesus gives genuine freedom—a freedom that empowers us to control the desires that once controlled us. This gospel liberates us to run life's race as we pursue Jesus together!

Have you ever noticed how much arguing takes place over little things? Why do we get so worked up over things that are of secondary importance at best and miss the big important things? As we have seen all along in our study of 1 Corinthians, things have really not changed in 2,000 years. The Corinthians argued over things that were not nearly as important as they thought they were. As a result, t...

As part of our OCC Institute Forum weekend, we're so thrilled to have Sara Stevenson join us as our Guest Speaker on Sunday. Sara is a member of the speaking team for The Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). She has an Education Degree in Religious Studies from Queens University, a Master's Degree in Philosophy of Science and Religion from Edinburgh University and a Certificate in Apolo...

Paul writes, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food…” Does that sound weird to you? It appears Paul is echoing a familiar catchphrase that the Corinthians were using to rationalize their highly sexualized lifestyle. Their mindset was: if you have an appetite, indulge it. Paul challenges this attitude with a countercultural biblical vision for sex and sexuality—a vision that not only embodi...

Have you ever had a bad sunburn? It hurts like anything! You're so sensitive that even the slightest touch can send you writhing in pain. Within each and every heart there is another excessive sensitivity – our ego. It's why we bristle at criticism and feel snubbed when things don't go our way. And it's why the church in Corinth was filled with so much arguing and boasting. But Paul shows another...

We live in a time when society is polarized as never before. People divide into camps over nearly every issue that comes up in conversation, be it political, ethical, cultural, or a host of other issues, people are divided and angry and show very little grace to one another. The church in Corinth, which should have been united in Christ and His mission was experiencing division over the most minor...

They were a new church, new to Jesus, and they were… a hot mess. The Corinthian Church was divisive, prideful, lustful and looked more like their city than Jesus. They struggled with serious problems, just like us. And yet, as we'll see together, the Good News of Jesus brought real solutions to their problems. Take a listen as we explore 1 Corinthians, one of the most transformative letters of the...

"Put out into the deep... for a catch." When Jesus spoke those words to Peter, you can only imagine Peter's gut reaction: "I'm the fisherman; you're the carpenter – stay in your lane." However, scripture tells us that Peter simply said, "Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing! But at your word, I'll go." Peter would go on to make the biggest catch of his career. As a result, Jesus changed...

Disciple making can sound like a daunting task best left to the theological experts and ministry professionals. Yet Jesus made it clear that making disciples is what every follower of Christ is called to do, no matter their theological sophistication or their occupation. So how can something that seems so daunting become a joy-filled, life-giving endeavor in your life as a follower of Jesus? This...

Have you ever built a Lego set? There’s something satisfying about snapping those bricks together—so satisfying that Lego is the most valuable toy brand in the world, worth $7.4 billion! People love Legos because they're made to connect. Perhaps we also love them because we know we were made for the same purpose. Each of us is made to connect in relationship with God and others. That’s why Small G...

Have you ever heard your favorite song played badly? It can be downright painful! When we follow Jesus, we join in his melody of loving and serving others. But unless we tune our hearts to the truth of the gospel, our lives can sound like bad karaoke! It’s crucial to remember that "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

We can all think of the leaders in our lives. Whether they are bosses, teachers, coaches, pastors... you can think of some authority figure that impacts you. But how often do we think of ourselves? As Christians, we have ALL been given the authority to lead through serving God and others. One of the 7 Strands of DNA that binds together Oviedo City Church is Intergenerational Leadership. 

The Gospel is the heart of the message of Jesus and yet it may be one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Christian faith. Could it be that our understanding of the Gospel is too shallow? It is more than a golden ticket to Heaven that most people think it is. It is the key that unlocks all of life, now and forever. It is the truth that makes sense of who we are, why we are here, and what the...