From the Pulpit

The arrival and spread of the coronavirus has largely rendered churches oxymoronic unassembled assemblies tantamount to an uncrowded crowds or ungrouped groups. At Oakridge, our  prayer and mission is to be a church that's like family. But how do we  become family from afar? How can we operate as a body when our members  are disconnected from one another?

Today we’re going to be reminded that the separation-causing hardship  we’re currently facing as a church family is not unprecedented. It’s  happened many times in history and, this morning, we're going  back to perhaps its first occurrence. As we see how the people of God  were scattered in Acts 8, we want to learn how to best navigate our days  ahead with faith, trust, and effectiveness.

Key Passage: Acts 8:1-8

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

The author of Hebrews gave believers a task: "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds ... , not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (10:24–25). One of the ways we, as the people of God, can stimulate and encourage one another is by sharing stories of God's faithfulness.

Sarah Sutherland, a member of Oakridge Bible Chapel, shares some of what God has been teaching her over the past few years, months, and through various trials. She also encourages and challenges us to trust he would is worthy of such trust.

The author of Hebrews gave believers a task: "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds ... , not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (10:24–25). One of the ways we, as the people of God, can stimulate and encourage one another is by sharing stories of God's faithfulness.

Bertha Maoka, a member of Oakridge Bible Chapel, shares an abridged version of what God has done, what he is doing, and what she trusts he will do in her life.

The author of Hebrews gave believers a task: "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds ... , not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (10:24–25). One of the ways we, as the people of God, can stimulate and encourage one another is by sharing stories of God's faithfulness.

Bruce Pellowe, a member of Oakridge Bible Chapel, shares an abridged version of how he came to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, trust him as Saviour, and follow him as Lord.

On this, our final Sunday together before Christmas 2020, we look together at the opening two chapters of Luke's gospel account. In these opening scenes we're remind of the oft-told but never over-told true story about God becoming flesh and dwelling among us. This is the account of how the Infinite took on finitude and the Transcendent condescended to come near.

Speaker: Lew Worrad

Key Passage: Luke 2:1–20

Speaker: Dr. Jim Rennie

God's people waited hundreds of years for the Messiah. So, too, we wait  for the return of Jesus as our coming King. While there are times when  we wait with eager anticipation, there are other days when it seems much  more like getting weary of waiting. Before Jesus was crucified, he  spent some time with disciples, informing them that he was leaving, and  giving them some important tasks for his time away. Today we spend time  in John 14 looking at this conversation to better understand what to do  while we wait.

Key Passage: John 14:1–15

Speaker: Andrew Longmire

One of the  unpardonable sins in our culture today is telling someone they’re  unqualified—that they don’t meet the standard necessary for  participation in a given activity, employment in a specific field, or  identification with an individual group. To tell someone that they can’t  be or do whatever they want is actually considered by some to be an act  of aggression and evidence of hatred. The problem is that we know  intuitively (and certainly biblically) that carte blanche affirmation is  unsustainable and, in many cases, incredibly unloving. Jesus, as he  continues in his famous Sermon, tells an entire nation that they’ve  missed the mark and that they don’t qualify. And just as his message  wasn’t politically correct in the 1st-Century, so we’re going to be  reminded that it’s the same today: That salvation and godliness are  built atop a divisive reality, but that the declaration of that reality  is not at all hateful but immeasurably loving.

Key Passage: Matthew 5:17–48

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

After his announcement by John the Baptist (3:1–12), his authentication at baptism (3:13–17), and his proven acceptability through temptation (4:1–11), Jesus finally appears proclaiming the  imminent arrival of the kingdom that God had promised to the nation of  Israel, that which they had been anticipating for centuries. And while  his ministry attracted crowds as large as they were diverse, the  long-awaited King takes a moment to instruct his disciples specifically.  And, in the opening paragraphs of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has  two main lessons for his followers: The first has to do with their character and the second, their commission. Jesus “opened his mouth and began to teach” his disciples who they’re to be and what they’re to do.

Key Passage: Matthew 5:1-16

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

First  impressions are important and powerful. It’s why we dress-up for a job  interview, act politely on a first date, prepare well for a public  presentation, and wear a favourite outfit on the first day of school.  First impressions can determine how someone is perceived, thought of,  and remembered years after that initial introduction, no matter the  meetings’ brevity or seeming insignificance. No doubt, when Jesus first  appeared on the scene after his announcement by John (3:1–12), his authentication in baptism (3:13–17), and his proven acceptability through temptation (4:1–11), he made a significant impression on the  people of Israel. In this, the introduction of the King to his would-be  subjects, Matthew describes the impact the Lord made and how he  initially made it.

Key Passage: Matthew 4:12–25

Speaker: Josiah Boyd