by OakAdmin | Jan 13, 2019 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
It has become unpopular, even taboo to preach “fire and brimstone,” but the inescapable fact is that the Bible frequently does and Jesus frequently did. “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God...
by OakAdmin | Jan 8, 2019 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
As we walk through the Bible together, there will be many fascinating questions that come up. As I turned from Genesis 2 to chapter 3, I wondered how long Adam and Eve were in the garden before they sinned. You might think that fascination with the lush, tropical...
by OakAdmin | Jan 6, 2019 | Darin's Blog, Life Stories, Message Series
Every human life is precious. Every person is a reflection of the image of God. Therefore every life has value – every person matters. Kristin and I have been inspired and encouraged for many years by some college friends – Matt and Shannon McNeil. Their...
by OakAdmin | Jan 4, 2019 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
As we start a new year it’s a natural time to start a new Bible reading plan! (Here is one for the church family in YouVersion.) Here are some principles to keep in mind as you read Scripture this year. A plan is just a plan – designed to help with consistency...
by OakAdmin | Dec 12, 2018 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
The Greeks built a large wooden horse and abandoned it with a lone soldier who explained to the Trojans that it was an offering for Athena to atone for previous desecrations of her temple by the Greeks. Several people warned the Trojans, but in the end they pulled the...
by OakAdmin | Dec 3, 2018 | Darin's Blog, Ministries
In the previous post we saw that every believer has a bullseye in terms of people to reach with the gospel (Acts 17:27) and projects you are uniquely equipped to perform (Eph. 2:10). At the center of your bullseye are your family relationships. If you are married,...
by OakAdmin | Nov 30, 2018 | Darin's Blog, Ministries
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 God has created each of us with a unique calling. If you think of God’s will for your life as a bullseye,...
by OakAdmin | Nov 22, 2018 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
As we gratefully process the mercy and grace of God (and see how they are perfectly united in Christ) it invites us to think about repentance. God’s “kindness leads us to repentance” (Rom. 2:4). We come humbly to the foot of the cross because Jesus...
by OakAdmin | Nov 16, 2018 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
Guilt is knowing you have done something wrong. Shame is feeling that you are something wrong. A detailed and insightful article on this is available here. Shame can haunt you long after you’ve experienced forgiveness for a past mistake. And unlike guilt, shame...
by OakAdmin | Nov 16, 2018 | Darin's Blog, Message Series
Mercy is not getting the punishment we deserve. Grace is getting blessings we don’t deserve. The Gospel beautifully combines God’s mercy and grace to us in Christ. First, He mercifully withholds from us the punishment we deserve, pouring His wrath full...
