Oak Pointe Church • Novi

Authority To Forgive Sin Scripture: Matthew 9:1–8 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church Have you been in the presence of someone almost famous? What was your experience? Were you underwhelmed, or did that experience exceed your hopes? As we begin Matthew 9 in our series Outsiders In, the reputation of Jesus precedes his presence. People are anticipating something special upon his arrival. But when a few men lower their paralyzed friend down through a roof, Jesus says and does things even the crowd and religious leaders don’t expect. It reminds us that Jesus is far more than a healer. 

What Does Jesus Have To Do With Me? Scripture: Matthew 8:28-34 Speaker: Brent Buttermore, Missions Pastor After Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee, he and the disciples arrive on the opposite shore and immediately encounter two demoniacs. What happens next is not surprising – Jesus drives the demons out of the men. Less predictable is the destination of the demons and the community's response. The contrast displayed in the reaction of the two healed men challenges us to consider how well we receive the presence of Jesus.

The Storm In The Boat Scripture: Matthew 8:23–27 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church You’ve probably seen a YouTube video of a celebrity masquerading as someone else. Maybe it’s an old dude with grey hair dunking on the young guys in a pick-up basketball game or a motley-looking but great-sounding band busking in the New York subways. They appear among ordinary people in everyday environments, but everyone is shocked and awed when their identity becomes known. The experience the disciples had one evening with Jesus compares. When they all got in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee, he appeared to be their rabbi and teacher. But a dangerous storm revealed him to be someone far different. Like the disciples, the story also makes us ask, “What kind of man is this?”

Easy Discipleship  Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22  Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church  We typically ascribe outcome-based definitions to the terms "easy" and "hard." When we can do something ourselves, we say it's easy. If we're unsure of our success, we call that hard. But the stuff we believe is manageable often shows we don't know what we don't know.  This week in our Outsiders In series, Jesus is on the move when he interacts with a couple of fellows misguided in their understanding of discipleship. They quickly discover Jesus holds a much higher view of what it means to truly follow God.

A Restored Humanity Scripture: Matthew 8:14-17 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church “Those people!” Have you ever uttered this phrase as an exclamation or in a sentence? E.g., “I don’t know what’s wrong with those people.” When we observe the manifestation of human brokenness and its ramifications, it is easy to lose all faith in humanity. When that brokenness invades our home, it is hard not to feel downright defeated. This week we see Jesus perform what is perhaps the smallest of his miracles – the abatement of a simple fever. Yet, this act reveals what heals the ills of all humanity. It promises the immediate impact felt in Peter’s house can also be a reality in our homes.

An Outsider’s Faith Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church Football season has arrived! It's a time for fans to tune in on weekends and cheer for their alma mater or favorite team. But for some, football goes way beyond appointment viewing. Because there are fans, and then there are "the faithful." They're at every game, home and away, wearing team colors. They know the starters, the bench players, and the recruits. They show up early, leave late, and replay game highlights. Their faith in the team seems amazing. In week two of the Outsiders In series, we'll see a man approach Jesus, who wore a different type of uniform. He asks an expected question backed by unexpected conviction, giving us a glimpse of what having true faith really means.

Willing and Able Scripture: Matthew 8:1-4Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church This week, Pastor Jon kicks off our Fall Series entitled Outsiders In: Jesus’ unique authority to make all things new. Over the next few months, we’ll study more closely Matthew 8-9, the miracle chapters, observing how Jesus established his divine authority through his connection with those living on the margins of society. With each interaction, his fame grew as people recognized his divine identity. It all starts when Jesus is approached boldly by a man with leprosy. What would this great teacher do in such an awkward encounter? Of course, Jesus heals him, but how he does so indicates our deep need to be healed as well.

The Hopelessness of Nihilism Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church It used to be junk mail. Now it’s spam. We’re talking about the daily detritus that floats into your postal box or email inbox that you don’t want, didn’t ask for, and has no value for your life. So we’ve developed the habit of purging without even looking. But in a rush to discard all the dross, something important might get tossed. As our summer series in Ecclesiastes closes, we discover that not everything is meaningless. Indeed, there is something significant for us to hold on to as the Teacher winds down his reflections.

The Striving of Productivism Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 Speaker: Adam Mashni, 707 High School Ministry Pastor Have you ever opened the app store of your preferred computer or phone platform and looked for productivity apps? You probably didn’t have to look far! There are dozens of calendars, to-do lists, time blockers, habit trackers, note takers, mind mappers, text editors, file organizers, and focus tools. All pledge to make you more efficient, productive, and valuable. But is that an empty promise? In this week’s passage of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher tells us there’s a time for productivity. But a deeper look reveals a profound truth about all of our work under the sun.

The Pressure of Perfectionism   Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-8 Speaker: Charlie Koopman, Worship & Creative Arts Pastor   Once considered a positive trait, perfectionism is on the rise in our culture. Unsurprisingly, anxiety, fear, and depression are at an all-time high. Despite what is on display in so many curated Instagram feeds, being flawless is an unrealistic goal, an illusion driven by the need to manage every aspect of our lives tightly. Again this week, we look through the lens of the "Teacher" in Ecclesiastes to wrestle with the question: Can I ever really have control of my life?

The Virus of Materialism   Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church   Most of us have stuff – plenty of stuff. And if we’re honest, we keep a list in our heads of other stuff that would make our lives better: home improvements, vehicle or technology upgrades, vacations, etc. If we had some extra cash, we know how and where we’d spend it! Planning for future purchases isn’t bad, but trusting in them to make our life more complete? That’s different and symptomatic of a deeper malady. Fortunately, the gospel provides the antidote.

The Anxiety of Individualism   Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church   We all know there’s no “I” in TEAM, and things are better when we work together. But those phrases are easier said than done, especially when individualistic impulses run deep. Our culture and our hearts subtly tell us we don’t need others, and we don’t need God. While going it alone can feel empowering and lead to a level of human glory, it has diminishing returns often realized too late. Responding to the gospel realigns our perspective and provides the antidote for anxious self-reliance.

The Transience of Hedonism   Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church   Have you ever tried something just to try it? Maybe you wanted to see what it was like or what effect it had on you, and by doing so, learn if you’d ever want to try it again - like bungee jumping or eating escargot. That’s the approach the author of Ecclesiastes takes toward pleasure. He tried everything: drinking and imprudence, building estates, amassing wealth, licentious relationships. In the end, he found none of these desires delightful. But the maturing Christian can learn from this teacher’s experiment with pleasure and follow God’s path instead.

The Weariness of Intellectualism   Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church   Each year, the rankings come out. The US News and World Report lists the best universities and colleges. (It even ranks the best Michigan high schools – in 2022, Novi is #7 and Northville #8). People then flock to these rankings to see where their alma mater sits or to consider what school their child should attend.   Here in the United States of America, we place a high value on education. But to what end? We fret about GPAs, honor societies, and test scores. In and of themselves, none of these things are bad. But ultimately, what is our pursuit of education seeking to accomplish? Is it wisdom? And if so, is this where we find wisdom in its highest concentration?

The Striving of Naturalism   Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Speaker: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor of Oak Pointe Church   How many of us work hard? Probably most of us. Why? Because life is hard work. Simply put, a certain amount of effort is required to have basic food and shelter. And depending on the quality of the food and shelter you desire, considerably more effort may be required. Therefore, it is an easy jump to begin equating our worth with the volume, significance, and product of our labor. But what changes by all of that hard work? Does it give your life greater meaning? Or is pursuing a life of toil and goals and getting merely an illusion?