Great Oaks Students Podcast

In this standalone message, Noah brings a word straight from John 5 - the story of a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, lying beside a pool he believed would heal him, when Jesus himself walked up and asked one simple question: Do you want to be healed? Drawing from this encounter, the message challenges students to ask themselves an honest question: what is the “pool” in your life right now? What are you putting your faith in that isn’t Jesus? Whether it’s a situation you’ve been praying about, a family member who’s sick, or something heavy you’ve been carrying, this message is a reminder that healing will come, just maybe not in the way you expect - and it starts with putting your faith in Jesus and Jesus alone.

Following a powerful Q&A night where students flooded in with questions about experiencing God, Pastor Noah brings a straightforward message that answers the one question almost everyone was really asking: How do I actually hear from God and encounter him? Drawing from Psalm 1, Matthew 4, Psalm 139, and Psalm 100, this message breaks it down to three simple but life-changing habits: reading your Bible, building a real prayer life, and worshiping God like he’s actually God. If you’ve ever felt like God is distant or silent, this message is the honest answer you’ve been looking for.

In this special edition of The Road to Run with Christ, student ministry director Noah and the Great Oaks student ministry leaders open the floor to the students. From how to actually feel God’s presence, to navigating relationships, fighting temptation, dealing with intrusive thoughts, and seeing God as a good Father when your earthly one wasn’t, the leaders bring raw, honest, and personal answers straight from Scripture and their own lives. If you’ve ever had a faith question you were too scared to ask out loud, chances are somebody asked it for you tonight.

Wrapping up the series The Road to Run with Christ, Pastor Noah closes out five weeks of essentials with one of the most encouraging truths of all — every single person in the room has been given a God-given gift by the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:11, and Matthew 19, this message reminds students that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave lives in them, and that God wants to move powerfully through their lives when they simply say yes. Whether you know your gifts or have no idea where to start, this one will send you out of the series ready to use what God placed inside you to serve the people around you.

In part four of the series The Road to Run with Christ, Pastor Noah tackles one of the most real and relevant struggles students face — letting their emotions run their life. Drawing from Ephesians 4, Psalm 32, and Revelation 21, this message walks students through a simple but powerful truth: God made your emotions, but he never meant for them to be in charge. Whether you've been feeling numb, anxious, or far from God, this message is a reminder that what you feel doesn't change what is true — and when God leads your emotions, you get to experience the life he actually designed you for.

In part three of the series The Road to Run with Christ, Pastor Noah unpacks what actually happens the moment you say yes to Jesus, and why salvation is so much more than just a prayer you prayed once. Drawing from Ephesians 2, Romans 8, and 1 John 3:23, this message walks students through three powerful truths: we were saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. The Holy Spirit didn't just show up at salvation and leave; he's actively working in you right now, cleaning you up and making you look more like Jesus every single day. You don't have to do it alone.

In part two of the series The Road to Run with Christ, Noah unpacks what it actually looks like to love people the way Jesus did. Drawing from John 3:16-18 and 1 John 4, this message makes one thing clear: you can't truly love God without it overflowing into how you treat the people around you. From the halls of your school to a random encounter at the grocery store, Pastor Noah challenges students to put others above themselves and share the gospel with at least one person this week. Because loving God and loving people isn't just a nice idea - it's the whole point.

Kicking off the five-part series The Road to Run with Christ, Pastor Noah breaks down one of the most essential - and most misunderstood - parts of following Jesus: prayer. Drawing from Matthew 6, Jeremiah 29:11-13, and 1 Thessalonians 5:17, this message reframes prayer not as a religious checklist but as an everyday conversation with a God who actually talks back. Whether you've never known what to say or felt too busy to even try, this one will take the pressure off and replace it with something much better: a real relationship with Jesus, built one conversation at a time.

In this special message from Tehila Aravallo, students get a fresh and honest look at what worship actually is, and what it isn't. Drawing from Revelation 4, John 4:23-24, and Romans 12:1, Tehila breaks down three simple truths: worship is a response to God's presence, a response to who God is, and ultimately a way of life. Using the image of an iceberg, she challenges students to examine whether the way they live matches the songs they sing, because true worship isn't just what happens on a Wednesday night; it's everything, and Jesus is worth every bit of it.

Kicking off a brand new school year at Great Oaks Student Ministry, Pastor Noah brings a simple but powerful challenge: what would your life look like a year from now if you gave Jesus everything? Drawing from Mark 1:35, Acts 2:42, and Matthew 28:19-20, this message introduces a three-part rhythm for the school year: Up, time alone with Jesus in your secret place; In, doing life with godly community; and Out, sharing the gospel with the people around you. If you're ready to stop treating this like just another school year and start letting God transform you from the inside out, this one's for you.