When Christians think of a God worthy of worship, praise, adoration, submission, service, and imitation, there are certain divine characteristics that are likely more at the top of the list than others. For example, his love, mercy, wisdom, power, justice, kindness, creativity, and generosity. Wrath probably doesn't crack the top ten.
And yet, this commandment is given, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters” (Rev 14:7). Creation is called to worship God because of his coming judgement.
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This conversation was based on two Sunday morning sermons: "Shelter From the Storm (Revelation 6:1–7:17)" and "Responding to God’s Wrath (Revelation 8:1–11:19)".
"Trust the Lord!" "Give him your cares!" "Cast your anxieties on him!"
If you've been around God's people for any amount of time you'll almost certainly have heard statements like these. On one hand, they are all very true and desirable. Many passages of Scripture call, command, and invite Christians to throw themselves on he who is able to help even in their darkest times. Who wouldn't want that!? Of course we want to know that "even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death" he is with us, our Great Shepherd.
But practice is another matter. It's one thing to know that we can and should trust God, it's another to actually do it in times of pain, suffering, hardship, and confusion. However, as Revelation 4 and 5 make clear, he is worthy of that trust. The God of the universe—the King on the throne and the Lamb that was slain—is worthy of our trust because of who he is and because of what he has done. Today we discuss how to practically think through and apply this wonderful truth.
This conversation is based on the September 17, 2023 sermon, "Before the Throne of God Above."
If you were to poll your Christian friends as to what they thought was the most confusing, daunting, or intimidating book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ would likely be near (or at!) the top of the list. Maybe it's because of the symbols and prophetic language. Perhaps it's because they've heard some confusing teaching in the past. Or, there's a chance they still haven't recovered from watching Left Behind in Youth Group. Whatever the reason, many of God's people stay away from the end of God's story and this cumulative section of God's word. That's tragic.
Today we're going to try and peel away a layer or two of such impediments by discussing the approachability and understandability of the book of Revelation. Rather than scary and intimidating, we will find that it's awe-inspiring and hope-instilling. Oh, and there's promised blessing.
On this episode, Andrew Longmire returns. While previously serving at Oakridge Bible Chapel as an associate pastor, Andrew has recently accepted the call to a lead pastor position at Community Bible Church in Lucan, Ontario.
Fitting neatly with our current study on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, Andrew explains how it was that he and his family were led, affirmed, taught, and convicted by the Spirit en route to a new home, new community, new church family, and new ministry role. This conversation is a practical look at this desirous-but-often-mysterious work of God in the life of his children.
Every growing Christians wants to know the will of the Lord, to be led by the Spirit, and to be used by God for his glory in the arenas in which he wants to use them. It sounds wonderful! The problem isn't usually one of motivation but of execution. How do we know what way the Lord would have us go? How can we sense and discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives? How can we learn to ignore the lures of idolatrous desires and egotistical directions? These are significant questions that we want to tackle today.
Sanctification is a heavy concept, but one with which every Christian must grapple because it is God's will for every Christian (1 Thes 4:3). The Bible declares that all in Christ have been sanctified, set apart, declared righteous (1 Cor 1:30). At the same time, the Bible admonishes all in Christ to actively pursue sanctification (1 Pet 1:15).
So, we are set apart but we are to become set apart. We are holy but must chase holiness. We are and we ought.
Today on the podcast we wrestle with this topic, one that is just as beautiful and freeing as it is complicated and humbling.
George Whitfield was an evangelist and preacher who is often credited with helping ignite the Great Awakening in the 18th-century America. He was a powerful communicator, said to be able to captivate people with his "unrivaled preaching ability, evangelistic fervor, and irregular methods." It's reported that when he was first approached with the idea of publishing his sermons for mass distribution, he agreed, but noted, “You’ll never be able to put down the thunder and lightning on the page." The words, yes. The style, perhaps. But Whitfield knew there would always be a certain je ne sais quoi absent in print, a certain potency, a certain unction, a certain Spirit.
Isn't that how most Christians think about the power, presence, and work of the Holy Spirit? We know he's there. We know he's working. We know he's important. But sometimes it's hard to articulate, understand, and communicate what exactly he's like and what exactly he's up to. Over the next number of weeks we want to discuss the person and work of the Holy Spirit, striving to understand him better. We may not be able to bottle the "thunder and lightning," but we sure can explore it.
This conversation is based on the June 2, 2023 sermon, "Introducing the Holy Spirit."
Speaking of his sheep, Jesus said "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ... and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:10, 28). It is the Lord's pleasure to irrevocably give to his people a life of amazing quality (abundant!) and quantity (eternal!). Jesus would also describe this gift, saying, "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (17:3).
The Bible makes it clear: God gives eternal life to all who believe in Jesus for it. It is a gracious gift unwrapped by faith. But eternal life is far more than just eternity in paradise with the Lord, though it certainly is that. Eternal life is the present possession of every believer. What does that mean? How does that work? In what ways should this gift change the way Christians live their lives in the now as they wait for the hereafter?
This conversation is based on the sermon "God's Love Known and Shown" (1 John 5:1–21).
When reading the fourth chapter of John's first letter, it would be tough for the author to be more clear with what he wants God's people to do: "Beloved, let us love one another" (4:7), "we also ought to love one another" (4:11), "if we love one another" (4:12), and "the one who loves God should love his brother also" (4:21). And when the Bible talks about loving others it expects more than warm-fuzzy-feelings. Rather, it's calling for others-focused, need-meeting, self-sacrificial care (as modelled by Jesus, 4:9–10).
Now, that command for God's people to love one another is easier to know than to do, easier to take-in than to live-out, easier to understand than to apply. Why? Because, while we may be saved, we're still a bunch of sinners who hurt each other, disappoint each other, frustrate each other, and disagree with each other. And yet, the command remains the same—love one another. How do we do that with consistency and intentionality? What stops us from obedience? How do we love the sometimes unlovely?
NOTE: This conversation is based on the sermon "Five Good Reasons to Love One Another" (1 John 4:7–21).
We're back in 1 John, and this time it's a warning about what can get in the way of our usefulness and our intimacy with Christ: false teaching. While it may seem a little easier to notice in the world, this is a very real problem in churches too, and we need to be on our guard against falsehoods. This week on the podcast, Josiah and Andrew look a little closer at this passage and the warnings contained, and ask two simple questions: why is this important, and how do we do it?
After 4 weeks in the book of Joel in our corporate worship gatherings, we're finally going to take some time to talk about it. But as some things come to an end, other things are just getting ready to begin. On this episode of the podcast, Josiah chats with Andrew about what led him to the book of Joel and what was most impactful in that study for his own life, before abruptly changing the conversation to questions about the future, as big life transitions approach.
As a local church grows in size, it can become increasingly difficult to actually know everyone in the community and, thus, to be blessed by everyone in the community. This is unfortunate because there are no unnecessary members (1 Corinthians 12:7), none who are ungifted (Romans 12:6), and not one who isn't called to the "work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" unto spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:11–13). Said another way, we need one another as Spirit-indwelled conduits of God's grace to propel us toward holiness and, when unable to be around one another and to know one another, this process is hindered.
With that in mind, we're going to try and "shrink the church" a bit today and, hopefully, provide an opportunity for one particular Oakridge family member to "build up the body of Christ" from afar. On this episode, Andrew chats with Brett Harris about his walk with Christ, the greatest struggles in his Christian life, lessons he's learned along the way, and much more.
Many times throughout the Bible we see people making a vow or swearing an oath—sometimes to God or before God, sometimes in the name of God. But what does it actually mean to make a vow, what was the purpose, why is it so serious, and is this something to be avoided by Christians now? Where does marriage fit in, or commitments to God for his sake and glory? Join with Tim and Andrew on the podcast this week where they discuss the concept of biblical vows.
"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." This is the way that "the preacher" starts his exploration of life and purpose in Ecclesiastes 1. It's a fascinating, philosophical book in the middle of the Old Testament where the author wrestles through the meaning (or lack thereof) of humanity and our limited time on earth. This week on the podcast, Andrew and Tim spend some time discussing the book of Ecclesiastes and the at-times confusing nature of its content, doing their own exploration into vanity, life, and purpose.
As Christians, we know that sin is bad, right? It's wrong, it's opposed to God, it ruins everything, and ultimately it is why Jesus had to die. But even with all that head-knowledge, it's not uncommon to find ourselves in situations where we don't take sin as seriously as we ought to. Perhaps we justify it, rationalize it, minimize it, or just straight-up ignore it. But the Bible is very clear just how dangerous destructive sin is; something to be taken very seriously. This week on the podcast Josiah and Andrew discuss some challenging verses on sin from 1 John 3, all with the goal of helping us avoid it and abide in Christ.
It's an all-too-common issue: we go through a season of suffering (or perhaps the opposite) and find ourselves feeling far from God. Maybe it feels like he's abandoned us, or muted us out, or perhaps we've been operating in our own self-sufficiency and done the same to him. Maybe our sin has gotten in the way and convinced us that God wants nothing to do with us. Whatever the issue, it doesn't feel good to realize we aren't where we want to be in our relationship with the Lord. But thankfully, it doesn't have to stay that way. Join with Josiah and Andrew on the podcast this week as they explore some biblical examples of people who felt far from God, and what it looked like to get things back on track.
We're back in 1 John, and this week it's all about keeping our eyes open for the obstacles that get in the way of truly enjoying the light. But what does it mean to be distracted by worldliness, or to be deceived in a way that hinders our intimacy with the Lord? How do we stay alert, and how do we avoid this pitfalls when they come? Furthermore, what does this all have to do with our assurance of salvation? Josiah and Andrew address these very common obstacles and methods for success in this week's episode.
Every year we have a Good Friday service and another on Easter Sunday, and, as expected, we talk about Christ's death and resurrection. But what does it look like to be on the planning end, behind the scenes every single Easter? How do we decide what to discuss with regards to resurrection? How do we preach when we know there are likely more non-believers present than usual? And looking at this year's topic, what does it mean to be transformed by the expectation of the resurrection? Join with Josiah and Andrew as they discuss all things Easter weekend, this week on the podcast.
We were inspired today by the yells and cheers of kids in the building to take some time to talk about ministry to children. What is children's ministry? What is the biblical precedent? What does the church have to do with it all? How can non-parents be involved? Josiah and Andrew discuss these questions and more on this week's podcast.
As we start into the meat of 1 John we quickly see that it is practical and filled with encouraging yet convicting words. In particular, as we finish chapter 1 and begin chapter 2, John calls followers of Jesus to avoid hypocrisy and live in a way that reflects their relationship with Christ, or risk experiencing the fellowship available to them. Thankfully he doesn't leave us with checklist of unfollowable commands, but ensures us that we already have access to everything we need to "claim the prize". Join with Josiah and Andrew as they explore these topics more deeply this week on the podcast.