Oak Pointe Church • Novi

God With Us: Later Letters, Week 2 Marks of a Healthy Church, Part 2 Just as Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to bring order to the churches in Asia Minor, so he left Titus on the Island of Crete to bring order to the churches in the various cities there. In this sermon, Pastor Bob melds the second half of 1 Timothy with the complimentary content of Titus to complete the framework from his previous message on how any local church can be an effective community. These additional marks of a healthy church include character, care, generosity, anticipation, and good deeds. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Later Letters, Week 1 Marks of a Healthy Church Paul writes this highly personal letter to encourage a young spiritual shepherd and provide instructions for the organization and operation of a local house-church. By highlighting the positive marks of a healthy New Testament-like Christian church, Paul lays a framework of how any local church can be more effective by being a community of truth, grace, outreach, prayer, and relational responsibility. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 29 Philippians 3-4 As we noted in our first lesson on Philippians, there was a problem with unity in the church. But the “problem beneath the problem” was one of focus. Paul’s primary purpose in this letter was to help them regain their focus on things above, so that their unity might be restored and their witness to their world might be effective. From his Roman prison cell, Paul taught the Philippians by his words and by his example how to ‘live above’ the turmoil of this world. He taught them to desire to know Jesus more intimately, and let God work in their lives for their good, and for His good pleasure. We would be wise to take these admonitions as our own! This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 28 Living Above Your Circumstances Paul and his team planted a church in Philippi on the 2nd missionary journey, amidst great opposition from the local authorities (Acts 16). Now, many years later, Paul is writing to these believers in Philippi from his prison cell in Rome. He encourages them to maintain strong unity and humility as they live alongside each other. From a prison cell, Paul models the fact that they can experience joy and contentment in any of life’s circumstances if they maintain an eternal perspective on life. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

Living with Dual Citizenship Teacher: Abdu Murray Abdu Murray is an attorney, author, and Christian apologist. Abdu came to faith in Christ after a 9 year exploration of the underpinnings of Christianity and the other major world views. Having discovered that the Christian faith answers the critical questions of life with intellectual credibility and emotional satisfaction, Abdu presents the Christian faith to diverse audiences. You can follow Abdu on Facebook: @AbduMurray, on Twitter: @AbduMurray, and on Instagram: @AbduMurray12

Deepening Hope From the snowy trails of Maybury State Park, Pastor Bob shares part two of our Christmas mini series on Hope. On Christmas Eve he talked about finding hope. In this message he shares how to cultivate and deepen our hope. Also in this special online service, Pastor Charlie Koopman and the worship arts team have prepared a fantastic set of songs in a unique setting. Enjoy this continuation of Christmas at Oak Pointe!

Finding Hope It’s been a challenging year to say the least. We could all use a little HOPE going forward. But so often we make the mistake of tying our HOPE to our circumstances. The result? We are HOPE-FUL when things are good; but HOPE-LESS when things are not so good. According to God’s Word, HOPE is not to be found in circumstances that constantly fluctuate. HOPE is found in a PERSON Who is steadfast and sure; One Who came into our world to be Our Savior and Friend; One Who Isaiah the prophet called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Join us this Christmas Eve as we look to the Incarnate Christ, the Son of God, to find HOPE for the coming year.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 27 A Story Of Redemption They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The book of Philemon, Paul's shortest letter and one that would barely have filled a single papyrus sheet, does not attain the scope and depth of Paul's other letters. However, it accomplishes something very different — the telling of a real-life story. It’s a personal note to a close friend about a new friend they both have in common. It contains no great doctrine or vision, but what this little letter does give us is the image of a radically changed life. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 26 Living like a Citizen of Heaven Colossians 1&2 were focused on doctrinal issues, particularly related to the supremacy of Christ. Colossians 3&4 focus on “duty” issues, how we are able to live, and should live, in light of our connection to Christ. Here Paul covers many of the same ideas found in Ephesians 4-6, yet with some unique emphases. While Ephesians emphasized the believer’s duty to “walk worthy of your calling” (4:1), Colossians calls believers to “live in light of your true position in Christ” (3:1,2). Ephesians calls us to respond to the many blessings that God has given to us. Colossians calls us to respond to the new position we have as a result of our union with the risen and glorified Lord. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 25 The Supremacy of Christ One of Paul’s most important letters was addressed to the church in a small, out-of-the-way place called Colossae. Why? Because teachers there were presenting a false view of Christianity. Instead of the centerpiece of salvation, Jesus was being presented simply as ‘a piece’ of the religious puzzle: a high-ranking angel, a mediator of some sort, a bestower of secret knowledge, or a prophet. Paul combated these heresies by reinforcing that Christ was God, the Creator, the One and only Redeemer, and the only way of salvation. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 24 Walking Worthy of our Calling In Ephesians 1-3 the Apostle Paul writes of our high and privileged calling in Christ, but in chapters 4-6 he admonishes believers to walking worthy of this calling. Describing the various aspects of the believer’s life to show what this “worthy walk” looks like, he calls us to walk in unity, maturity, purity, love, caution, light, power, submission, and with our armor on. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 23 The Gospel of Reconciliation In what may be his clearest argument in any of his letters, the Apostle Paul explains the two sides of “the gospel of reconciliation,” first emphasizing our individual reconciliation with God, second, our reconciliation with other human beings. According to the New Testament, the two great commandments – love God, love your neighbor – should always be seen as two sides of the same coin. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 22 Spiritual Blessings in Christ Filled with a lofty and detailed description of the privilege and power of being a believer in Jesus Christ, Paul’s letter to the young believers in Ephesus is a crucial treatise on the eternal plan of God, the blessings that follow believing in Christ, the state of all humanity before a Holy God, and the power of the Holy Spirit for those living a surrendered life. Paul spends most of the first chapter enumerating a long list of blessings that come to the believer through the person and work of Christ. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 21 Paul Greets Friends The final chapter of Romans is unusual in that it is the longest list of Paul’s friends, to whom he sends greetings. It reveals the extent to which relationships were important to Paul. It also specifically highlights the role of women in the life and ministry of Paul. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 20Differences in Matters of Conscience Christians will always have different positions on “matters of conscience.” But even though we have differences, each of us should seek to honor God in our decisions in these matters. We can allow for differences without becoming judgmental, and since God is our Judge, there is no need to judge one another. Instead, by seeking to build others up in love rather than tear them down, we continually look out for another person's good and allow room for their growth. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.