Life Can Get Mundane

What a joy to take a beautiful cruise with your family, enjoying the incredible ocean views, blue skies and ocean breezes! We first planned this cruise in the fall of 2019, so it was a blessing to finally go! The service on a cruise ship is amazing - cleaning your room twice a day, you just sit down and eat (or walk through the buffet!), endless clean towels, they do it all! The last full day of our cruise was a stop on Royal Caribbean's island  - they call this day PERFEC

Who Do You Say You Are?

When you introduce yourself to someone you've never met, what do you say about yourself? Do you tell about your work? Spouse? Family? List your attributes? Name your hobbies? Organizations you belong to? Who do you say you are? 

As Christians, our identity comes from God. Who does God say I am? This is a question I think we all want to know the answer to.

In challenging times, it helps me to ground myself by studying who God says I am.

Here are the first two on this list:

Bles

Jesus and His Prayer Life

This final week of our sermon series of prayer is about Jesus and His prayer life.

Our readings for this week: John 11:38-44; John 12:20-29; John 17: 1-26; Luke 23: 32-46

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. or go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on our website redoakpresbyterianchurch.com

Questions to Ponder:

1. Questions to keep pondering as we study prayer:

     What are your hopes and your desires for your prayer relationship

Prayer: Old Testament Heroes

Join us as we continue our sermon series on Prayer.

The first week we dove into the Lord's Prayer - Jesus teaches us how to pray to the Father.

The second week we tackled the question - does prayer make a difference?

The third week we explored the topic of prayer: intimacy with God. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that God simply wants us to spend time with Him.

The fourth week we discussed the topic of prayer - struggle against the spiritual forces of evil. All prayer is

Prayer: A Time to Talk, A Time to Listen

Join us as we continue our sermon series on Prayer.

The first week we dove into the Lord's Prayer - Jesus teaches us how to pray to the Father.

The second week we tackled the question - does prayer make a difference?

The third week we explored the topic of prayer;  intimacy with God. Too often God's children get caught up in lists and requests for prayer, making prayer a mechanical duty to perform. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that God simply wants us to spend time wit

Trust

Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

From my sermon on 7/31: "Our relationship with God comes back to trust. What makes us feel intimate with another person? While there are many ingredients to intimacy, common to all relationships is trust. We cannot be intimate with a person we don't trust. Trust is at the heart of intimacy. The more we t

Prayer: Struggle Against the Spiritual Forces of Evil

Join us as we continue our sermon series on Prayer.

The first week we dove into the Lord's Prayer - Jesus teaches us how to pray to the Father.

The second week we tackled the question - does prayer make a difference?

The third week we explored the topic of prayer: intimacy with God. Too often God's children get caught up in lists and requests for prayer, making prayer a mechanical duty to perform. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that God simply wants us to spend time with

Prayer - Does Prayer Make a Difference?

Last week we began a new 8-week sermon series on Prayer. The first week we dove into the Lord's Prayer - Jesus teaches us how to pray to the Father. This week we tackle the question - does prayer make a difference? Why should we pray? We will start by defining what prayer is and what prayer isn't!

Our readings for this week: James 5: 13-18; 1Kings 18

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am or go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on

Sermon Series Prayer

This week we begin a new 8-week sermon series on Prayer. This first Sunday focuses on what Jesus teaches us about prayer. While there are many things Jesus teaches us, I'd like us to focus on what Jesus teaches us about prayer in the Lord's Prayer. Jesus encourages us to pray privately and honestly. Our words aren't as important as our hearts.

Our readings for this week: Luke 11:1-13; Luke 18:9-14

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am or go to our FB page to link t

The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Prodigal Son

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a profound truth. Did you know that more than a third of Jesus' recorded teaching is in the form of parables? When we study the parables, we hear the voice of Jesus. What is He saying? What is our response?

Through this study, we will grow into a deeper love of the One of whom it was said: "No one ever spoke the way this man does." John 7:46

These three parables, especially the parable of the Prodigal Son, are ones often preached

Prayer Sermon Series

Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly has a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."

As a Christian, I find it too easy to let the grass grow

Summer Reading

I love a good biography or autobiography! Three recent ones I've finished - 

This Life I Live autobiography by Rory Feek

This is a book Merrill Allen loaned me. The story of Rory and Joey Feek, country music stars who show the world how they handled Joey's cancer diagnosis. The way Rory wrestles with life and his faith in God is an inspiring one.

My Story by Elizabeth Smart

Peggy Hayes loaned me both of Elizabeth's books. In this memoir, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survive

The Persistent Widow

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a profound truth. Did you know that more than a third of Jesus' recorded teaching is in the form of parables? When we study the parables, we hear the voice of Jesus. What is He saying? What is our response?

Through this study, we will grow into a deeper love of the One of whom it was said: "No one ever spoke the way this man does." John 7:46

Jesus introduces this parable with an encouragement to pray and to not give up, which mean

The Rich Fool

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a profound truth. Did you know that more than a third of Jesus' recorded teaching is in the form of parables? When we study the parables, we hear the voice of Jesus. What is He saying? What is our response?

Through this study, we will grow into a deeper love of the One of whom it was said: "No one ever spoke the way this man does." John 7:46

Fascinating Bible Studies on Every Parable says, "Life is not measured by how much you pos

Parables of Jesus - The Good Samaritan

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a profound truth. Did you know that more than a third of Jesus' recorded teaching is in the form of parables? When we study the parables, we hear the voice of Jesus. What is He saying? What is our response?

Through this study, we will grow into a deeper love of the One of whom it was said: "No one ever spoke the way this man does." John 7:46

Of the 30 parables Jesus told, the parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most belove