Ovilla Road Baptist Church

Continuing into chapter 3 this week, Ruth is put in a difficult situation. She throws herself on the character of a mighty man of valor. We have to realize that we cannot redeem ourselves, only Jesus can. He is the one that freely redeems us. 

As we continue to study the Book of Ruth, we see the Lord showering blessings on Ruth through Boaz, but Naomi views Boaz as the source of her blessings. We're reminded that the Lord is the source of all our provision and every blessing. 

We're reminded by Ruth that as people of the Word, we should take refuge in the Gospel. It is only under the wings of our Savior that we can deny the lies of the enemy and find our ultimate hope and rest. 

Continuing our study through the book of Ruth, we see how Naomi's beliefs and actions look very similar to the modern cultural "Christianity" and how these things lead to a twisted view of scripture, a damaged view of God, a distorted view of sin, and a perverted view of grace. We cannot hold something so powerful so lightly.  

Beginning our study in the book of Ruth, Pastor Matt Bowles not only lays down a contextual baseline for the study, but also shows us what we can see of the character of Naomi and her family from their acts in these beginning verses. We, as a people of God, hold fast to His promises and trust His Word.

As we begin the new year, Pastor Matt preaches on a biblical understanding of our stewardship of time and finances. These are probably the two facets of a Christian life that we have the hardest time surrendering to the Lord, but God calls us to give Him all that we have because they are His in the first place. 

The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Family Descipleship Pastor Joe Zinkgraf teaches on this passage that God has given us comfort in the already but not yet- that we have victory in Christ Jesus the Serpent Slayer who promises that Satan will soon be crushed under the feet of His people. 

This Christmas Eve morning, Pastor Matt walks through the main story of the Bible: tracing the line of the serpent slayers birth. Jesus is born the new Son of God and declares with Himself a new covenant that is eternal, not like the previous temporary covenant. This is the basis of our faith. 

Continuing in our Advent series, Pastor Matt speaks primarily on Revelation 5:5, that Jesus is the only one worthy to open the scroll because he conquered. He conquered Satan by being the only person who will ever live that resisted temptation. He is the true and better Adam and He crushes the head of the serpent, so we weep no more as we wait. 

We continue in our Advent season following further the line of the seed of the woman and the line of the seed of the serpeant, coming to 1 Samuel 17 where David as the seed of the woman cuts off the head of Goliath, in scaled armor. We see through David to see Jesus as the better David, ultimately conquering and living a perfect life to prove that He is the fulfilled and better serpeant slayer. 

We kick off our Advent season by asking the ultimately important question- who is Jesus? Our very first answer from the Word of God describes the seed of the woman who will come to crush the head of the serpent. We long await our serpent slayer king to return.  

Pulled out of a hat this week was 1 Samuel chapter 15, the newly appointed king of Israel, Saul, is disobedient to the Lord. Adam was a disobedient guard of the garden, but Jesus was the Obedient King. The second is better than the first.

This morning Pastor Matt Bowles teaches on a short passage, but we see how Jesus hates that death is in the world, and we remember how He did something about it. 

This week, Pastor Joe Mike Etter walks us through Hebrews chapter 12 reminding us that the suffering we can experience as believers is measured discipline for our good from the Lord. How do we wrap our minds around this? What do we do with this? We continue the race set before us knowing our God is good to His children.

We come to a close in the book of Jonah to see the imagery of the vine being used, as it has been throughout much of the Old Testament, not just as Israel, but Jesus fulfilling that image and being the true and better vine- the true and better Israel. 

We continue this week studying this fascinating precursor to Jesus, occuring in Jonah 3-4 when Jonah asks God to kill him because he would rather die than see the people he hates get saved. This week, we see how Jesus looks at us and sees our need and wants to die because he understands our true need. 

In our study of Jonah, we fix this week on 3:6-4:3 where we see ourselves in Jonah who wants to die because God so loved the world. Jesus is the true and better Jonah- Jesus also wants to die because God so loved the world. We can evaluate ourselves and say- which of the paths have I walked down. Am I walking in the steps of Jonah or of Jesus?

Continuing in our study of Jonah, Pastor Matt leads us through the first part of chapter 3. We're encouraged to be a follower of Christ in the example of the non-Jew Cananite woman in Matthew 15, not a fan of God like the example of Jonah. 

Did you leave last week's sermon that involved talking about Sheol & have more questions? Listen to Pastor Matt as he answers questions he has been asked this week. We pray your questions are answered after listening to this follow up discssion. 

Last week we said Jesus calmed the seas of judgement by jumping in the sea, this week in Jonah chapter 2, we look at Jesus' descent into death. Scriptures referenced in this sermon: Jonah 2, Revelation 20, Matthew 12:40, Luke 16:19-31, Ephesians 4:8-10, Phillipians 2:8-11, and Revelation 21:1-4. 

This week, Pastor Matt leads us through looking at chapter 1 of Jonah again, but focusing on the atonement of Jesus through the judgement waters paralleled in Jonah. 

This week, continuing through the book of Jonah, Pastor Matt gives a part 1 breakdown of some of what is happening through the first chapter of Jonah. We focus this week on Jonah clinging to the ship that is destined to crumble amidst the storm. The text "arise, oh sleeper" should speak to us, reminding us to let go of what is not good, and to walk in the newness of life granted by Jesus Christ. 

We begin our new series in the book of Jonah, where we immediately see God testing the faith of a prophet in love with Israel over Himself. Over the course of this study, we will see time and time again that Jesus is the better Jonah and that Jesus is the better Israel.

In this final week of studying 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Matt emphasises through Paul's closing words how we are to be as Christians, praying for one another and breaking social barriers to support each other as family in Christ. 

Today's episode is to further expound on today's sermon as we finish up Thessalonians. We pray this extra resource clarifies questions you may have about the text while building and encouraging your faith.