Easter invites us to consider that claim and its extraordinary implications. If the tomb is empty, then hope is not wishful thinking — it is reality. Listen in this Easter as we explore the life changing hope at the heart of the Christian faith. Because if the tomb is empty, the future is unimaginably bright, and that changes everything about today. 

Reflection Questions:

1. How does Jesus’ welcome toward Zacchaeus inform the way he welcomes you? How does it challenge the ideas you carry about how God sees you?

2. What would it look like for you to take a humble, childlike step toward Jesus this week, like Zacchaeus climbing the tree?

3. Where in your life is Jesus inviting himself in, not to judge or condemn but to welcome and transform?

4. How is Jesus’ welcome reshaping the way you welcome others, especially those who feel far off, overlooked, or undeserving? 

Reflection Questions:

1. How does Jesus redefine greatness, and how is that different from what the world teaches?

2. Where in my life am I tempted to seek status or recognition instead of serving like Jesus?

3. What would it look like for me to embrace sacrificial service this week, even when it costs me?

4. How does the promise of sharing in Jesus’ kingdom strengthen my desire to follow his example now?

Reflection Questions:

1. What part of your life feels bent or broken—and how might Jesus be inviting you to bring it into the light?

2. When have you experienced the uncontainable love of God meeting you in a hidden or hurting place?

3. Where might God be working quietly beneath the surface of your life, even if you can’t yet see the results?

4. Who in your life might feel overlooked or weighed down, and how can you reflect Jesus’ compassion toward them this week?

In this series, we’ll explore those in Scripture who refused to settle, who wrestled in prayer like gasping for air. And we’ll awaken to the staggering truth: we have a Father, the Creator of the cosmos, who not only hears us but delights in listening and powerfully meets us there. 

Advent Reflection Questions:

Isaiah calls Jesus our Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6), not as God the Father, but to describe the quality of his character. How does this title reveal Jesus’ loving, protective, and shepherding nature toward his people?

In a world where 1 in 3 people feel lonely weekly, many turn to distractions like TV, social media, or temporary escapes to cope. How does Jesus, as our Everlasting Father, offer a deeper solution to loneliness and the longing for connection?

Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” How does this verse deepen your understanding of Jesus’ father-like care and compassion for you?

Reflecting on the human longing for connection and home, how does Jesus’ incarnation at Christmas address the brokenness in our world and draw us into God’s fatherly love?

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), the father welcomes his son with unconditional love and grace. How can we reflect this same welcoming love and grace of Jesus as we call others back home to God?

Advent Reflection Questions:

How does the idea of God displaying His power through human weakness challenge or encourage your understanding of who God is?

In what areas of your life do you feel weakest right now? How might trusting in the Mighty God transform your perspective on those struggles? Consider how God meets you in your frailty and uses it for His purposes.

In what areas of your life are you trying to rely on your own strength instead of trusting in God’s power? Think about where you can surrender your weakness to the Mighty God.

Have you ever experienced God’s strength meeting you in a moment of weakness or vulnerability? How did that shape your relationship with Him? How could you share your experience with someone to encourage them in their weakness?

As you reflect on Jesus’ ultimate act of stepping into weakness through His humble birth and humiliating death on the cross, how does that move you to trust Him more deeply this Advent season?

Advent Reflection Questions:

What decisions are you facing right now that you need wisdom for?

How might inviting Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, into these decisions change your approach?

What does it mean for you to trust Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor in uncertain times? Are there areas of life where you struggle to trust his wisdom over your own understanding?

How can you create space to hear Jesus’ counsel during this Advent season? Are there distractions or influences that might drown out his guidance?

How does Hebrews 4:15-16 encourage you to approach Jesus with confidence in your need for wisdom and grace? What steps can you take to draw near to him in prayer and trust this Advent season?

Along with this series we are providing a Sermon Study, written by Pastor Dan. Click the link below to download the study guide.

Faithful Presence Study Guide

The same applies to our faults. We often criticize others while ignoring our own shortcomings. Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged." He calls us to examine our own failures—the log in our eye—before pointing out someone else's speck. He invites us to truly listen to ourselves for an accurate self-assessment.

At OCC we are blessed to be able to carry on that biblical model. This Sunday Pastor Dan will be handing the Lead Pastor reigns to Pastor Pete as Dan takes on a new role as Pastor for Discipleship and Church Planting at OCC. As part of that process, Pastor Dan will preach a different kind of sermon. It will be a charge to both Pete and the congregation on the importance of keeping a Gospel-focused ministry into the future. 

Join us this Advent season as we reflect on the profound story of God taking on flesh to be with us. He is with us in the midst of our fear and joy, our confusion and doubt, and our times of waiting. Together, let's celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, who is Christ the Lord!

This week begins a new sermon series; Restless Heart. For the next six weeks we will be exploring Ecclesiastes, an Old Testament book of wisdom that asks some tough questions about life. First up is the question of meaning, in other words, why are we here? Do we have any real purpose in life? What is the meaning of all that we go through from birth to death? Where is God when things seem absurd and meaningless and is there any hope? 

James ends his letter with a call to prayer. It is prayer in the midst of any and every life situation, joy, suffering, physical illness and more. This week we will be doing something a little different as we wrap up this wonderful series. We will learn about prayer but then we will also take time to pray. As part of our response to God's Word, our elders and prayer team will be available to pray with you about anything that is going on in your life. There will be prayer for healing, not only physically but spiritually and emotionally as well. We are expecting God to do amazing things as a result of those prayers.

It was a pleasure being able to welcome Dr. Steve Brown as our guest preacher! Dr. Brown is a broadcaster, seminary professor, and author, as well as the founder and president of Key Life Network. He is also a regular attender here at OCC!

This week's passage in James reminds us that Scripture has teeth. It's not a book of hollow platitudes and inspirational sayings. It’s the living word of God, and it fights for our hearts because God fights for our hearts. Like a skillful surgeon, James cuts deep so that nothing—not our plans, not our goals, not our finances—will take the place of God in our hearts. Take a listen as we worship the only One worthy of our trust!

"Who is wise and understanding among you?" That’s a challenging question---one that James invites each of us to consider for ourselves. We might find that we have wisdom from below, full of jealousy and selfish ambition, which is really no wisdom at all. Or we might uncover wisdom from above, which is pure, peace-loving, gentle, open to reason and full of mercy. Take a listen as we learn about the battle of these warring “wisdoms,” as well as the barrier and beginning of true wisdom.

So often in our world, we are drawn to the big, the powerful, the impressive. We think those are the things that make an impact. So often we try for the big and the dramatic to make our lives better. Yet James tells us that it is often the small, overlooked things that can make the biggest difference for good or ill. Our experience tells us that we often overlook the little things to our own peril. Where do God and the Gospel fit into the little things in life and how can they make a huge, positive impact in your life? 

This week James really gets in our business, asking questions like: Is your faith dead? Is your faith domesticated? Does it pulsate with the life-changing love of Jesus? The stakes are high in this passage as we look at the truth that we are saved by faith alone—but it is a faith that is not alone.

There is a great deal of confusion in our world about the nature, place, and even value of religion. Some people see it as old-fashioned superstition, others as something harmful and dangerous, yet others as something to devote their lives to. So what's the deal? Are we missing something? And if so, what is it and what benefit can it have in our lives, if any? Is it possible that we completely misunderstand what religion is supposed to be all about? Have we gotten it all wrong?

Who knows the most about us—the good and the bad? Our families, of course! One surprising thing about the Bible is that we have a whole book from Jesus’ brother, James. Can you imagine growing up with Jesus? James had a front row seat to his life and ministry and was thoroughly convinced that Jesus was indeed ”the Lord of glory!" (2:1). In his New Testament letter, James teaches us what real faith looks like in real life, inviting us to serve God wholeheartedly and radically.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring some of the major questions about Christianity in our “Asking for a Friend” series. This week, we’ll look at the question “Why is Jesus the only way?” through the lens of Pilate’s interrogation of Jesus, when he asked “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Listen in as we begin Holy Week and examine why Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

One of the most powerful objections to Christianity is when Christians don't live according to their own standards, yet claim to be better than "those sinners" out there. Jesus called this hypocrisy and had some harsh words for the religious hypocrites of his day. How do we avoid hypocrisy while at the same time acknowledging our weaknesses?

"God, are you there?" If we're honest, we've all asked this question at some point. Whether you're a committed Christian, skeptic, or atheist, it’s likely you’ve wondered if God is just a concept we've invented to cope with life. Or could it be that there really is more to this extraordinary universe we live in? This week, we'll learn that our deepest intuitions on life, love and meaning are actually whispers of a God who knows us—and who wants us to know him.

It is perfectly reasonable to have doubts and questions about Christianity. One of the most common concerns is the reliability of the Bible. People have all sorts of reasons for doubting its veracity. This week as we kick off our series, "Asking for a Friend", we will look at some common reasons people have for not trusting the Bible and give some reasonable answers.

Tests. None of us like them. They can push us to our very limits. And yet a moment of testing proves to be the pinnacle of Abraham's story. He is tested by God with the unthinkable: to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac. With this test comes the foundational question that confronts all of us: Do we want the blessings of God more than we want God?

Can you recall a time that something you had been waiting on for a long time was finally delivered? Maybe it was a car you had been saving for, a degree you had been working towards, or a job you had been interviewing for. The feeling when it finally happened was most likely overwhelming to say the least. That was true for Sarah and Abraham who had waited over 10 years for a promised child to be born to them. 

Have you ever experienced the gap between a promise and reality? You know, the time between when a promise is made to you and when it is actually fulfilled. We all have – and it can be trying! Whether it's at work or home, or whether it's in our relationship with God. In Genesis 15 that's exactly what Abraham encountered. And yet, it's in that gap that Abraham's trust and relationship with God strengthened in order to more fully live out the mission God called him to. 

God calls all of us to follow Him. Jesus made that perfectly clear when He told people to lay down their fishing nets, close up their tax offices, set aside their own plans, and become His disciples. Following Gods plan always involves laying down something of our own plans. It requires giving up something. But what God promised Abraham, and what Jesus promises you, is always far more than you can ever give up. That doesn't mean it is always easy to follow Jesus. But, it is always more rewarding then we ever anticipated.

"The only thing constant is change.” When Heraclitus said that he was on to something that we all feel. The world around us and the world inside us is always shifting. It is hard to get a bearing on life when everything seems to be moving. But Heraclitus was wrong about one thing. There is one thing, one person who never changes. 

Have you ever moved, started a new job, or experienced another major life change? Some changes bring excitement, some bring challenges, but all bring disruption. Our lives are not the same. Salvation is the ultimate, "divine disruption" that redefines our lives in surprising ways. The new creation that broke into the world through the resurrection is transforming us and making us new. 

The Bible is clear that one thing we can take comfort in is the never-changing nature of God. You can count on God being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The Bible is also clear on another thing; God is in the changing business. He has promised ever since sin entered the world that He is on a mission to redeem, renew, and restore it. That includes us. God doesn't just want to tweak our lives and make them a smidge better. He wants to bring us from darkness to light, from death to life. He wants to transform us and our lives in a new relationship with Him.

Where do you hide your Christmas gifts? In order to keep the surprise, we usually have to tuck them in unexpected places---and hope we remember where to find them! What reassurance we have in knowing that the greatest gift, Jesus Christ, is not hidden from us. Though he arrived in an unexpected place to an unlikely couple, God worked through these seemingly disgraceful circumstances to reveal the perfect gift of His grace. Join us as we finish our series, An Imperfect Christmas, and celebrate our greatest gift: Emmanuel, God with us!

Ridiculed, rejected, ostracized: not experiences we would ever want to suffer through. The very notion of being an outcast brings with it feelings of shame and unworthiness. Yet, when it comes to deciding who gets to see Jesus first, it is shepherds, an ostracized group of outcasts who are visited by an angelic host and sent to see the newborn King. One reality of the message of the birth of Jesus is that we who have been cast out from the Garden are invited into the presence of the King of Kings.

It is one thing to be rejected. It is another thing altogether to be unknown, invisible, of no account or impact. We want to know that our life matters, that we matter. But what if you are ignored, if nobody noticed you, and if you were gone, nobody would miss you? Zechariah and Elizabeth were two people of no account in their world. They were irrelevant until God stepped in and changed their world and ours. How can you know if you, and your life, matter to God? 

Have you ever been snubbed, ignored, or dismissed? If so, you're in good company! Isaiah, the most quoted prophet in the New Testament, was completely disregarded during his lifetime. Even before he began prophesying, God told him that no one would listen to him! And yet, in an imperfect situation, Isaiah was unstoppable. He persevered in telling of the One who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

It's the hap-happiest season of all! Or is it? Sometimes the Christmas holidays begin with expectation and end with disappointment (and debt!). We aim for a perfect "Martha Stewart" holiday but end up with the dysfunctional "Clark Griswold" version. But the wonder of Christmas is this: right in the midst of our imperfection and weakness is where we encounter the perfection and strength of God. Scripture shows us how God works through sinful people and hopeless situations to reveal the life-changing power of His grace, found in a manger.

We often speak of God as being all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent, which can make it seem like God is unlimited. But how true is that? Are there limits to God? If so, what are they, and how do they impact our lives and our relationship with God? If there are limits on God, wouldn't that mean there is something or someone greater than God that can limit Him? Or does it?

Bad things seem to be happening more and more. Evil appears to be gaining the upper hand on a daily basis. If God is good, where did all this evil come from? Did God create evil? Will good triumph? These are questions people have been asking for thousands of years.

Have you ever ignored your car's check engine light? Or thought, "I'll get to that maintenance later”—only to find that one morning, your car doesn’t start? Life has its own “check engine” light, which flashes at us when we’re hurried, harried, and overextended. But God has literally built into creation a time for soul maintenance: the Sabbath. It's a time to stop, rest, and delight in the goodness of God. This week in our “Limited” series, we’ll learn what it means to keep the Sabbath and let our bodies and souls rest in the grace of Jesus.

There's a 4-letter word that makes all of us react: W-O-R-K. Some of us love it and some of us hate it. Some “live to work” and others “work to live.” But the biblical vision defies these two categories. Jesus is calling us to something so much greater—work that leads to deeper contentment in Him.

Life's demands can feel unending. We make to-do lists, we multitask, we get up early and work late—all to improve our productivity. And it works! Well, kind of. Sometimes the more we get done, the emptier we feel. We constantly come up against our limits. In our new series, “Limited,” we’ll discover the liberating truth that God, our Creator, gives us limits for a reason. And that really is good news!

It has been said that nearly every counseling situation is a matter of someone needing to be forgiven, somebody who needs to forgive or both. Some of us have a hard time forgiving those who hurt us. Others have a hard time receiving forgiveness. Jesus tells a compelling story of failure to forgive and the tragic repercussions that ensue.

Is it possible to be so religious that it completely screws up your relationship with God? Is it possible to have your life be a dumpster fire that actually leads you to God? Do you ever feel like either way, God doesn't seem to care about you? The well known parable of The Prodigal Son may have some surprises for you.

To feel safe and secure in life, what resources do we need? How much is enough? Jesus said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed” (Luke 12:15). We often think of greed as love of money, yet excessive anxiety about money is also a form of greed. As we’ll discover this Sunday in the parable of the rich fool, Jesus calls us to a better way—and cares for us better than money ever could.

What's the most foolish thing you've ever done? It's an uncomfortable question. Our foolish behavior reveals our tendency to build our lives on something other than Christ. But as we’ll see in this week’s message on the wise and foolish builders, Jesus offers us a firm foundation that can withstand any storm—even the storm of our own foolishness.

Have you ever had a moment or situation that you look back on and say to yourself, "I should have been there" or "I should have done that"? Not as a feeling of regret, but more as a realization of priority? What are the most important things to give our time and attention to and how do we sort out the things that are not worthy of our affections? As we look at the Parable of the Great Banquet this Sunday, we get to answer some of these questions and others.

These parables are two of the shortest of Jesus' parables, but they are nevertheless very meaningful. In only three verses, Jesus is able to encapsulate the worth of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Christian's desire to devote their whole lives to the Kingdom. How do we let this desire for the Kingdom of Heaven grow within us?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan may be one of the two most famous parables in the Bible. The story of someone helping a stranger who was in distress is inspiring but can also make you feel overwhelmed with guilt that you need to help every person you see throughout your day. There is a lot more to this parable that actually points us to Jesus and the work he does in our lives. Join us Sunday as we dive in.

Prayer is a big topic with lots of questions about how it works, why some get answered, and others don't. Justice may be one of the hottest topics in society today causing no small amount of debate and even arguments. Jesus, never afraid to deal with tough topics, combines both prayer and justice into one parable that is sometimes called The Persistent Widow, and other times, The Unjust Judge. So why do some prayers get answered and others don't and what in the world does any of that have to do with justice? Join us on Sunday as we unpack Luke 18:1-8.

We all love stories! Philosopher James K. A. Smith writes: "Stories seep into us… and stay there and haunt us—more than a report on the facts.” Is it any wonder that Jesus spent much of his ministry telling stories? These stories, or “parables,” were ordinary stories that spoke of an extraordinary kingdom—a kingdom of His loving rule and reign. Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear" (Mark 4:9). Join us this Sunday as we begin our new series, “Parables,” and seek to listen together. And who knows…we might just discover how Jesus uses even the most ordinary stories of our lives to bear witness to His extraordinary Kingdom!

Why does the church gather? Is it because "it's what good Christians do"? Is it because we're looking for the church to meet our consumer needs? Is it simply habit or routine?

No! We gather as the church not to check a religious box, but to be part of the countercultural Kingdom revolution that Jesus is building through his people. Jesus calls us together to worship Him and to grow us deeper in faith, hope, and love for the sake of His mission and His glory.