Four Oaks Midtown Podcast

What is the Gospel? Paul explains this good news in Romans 1, unpacking the truth that the Gospel is about Jesus; that all of Scripture centers on Him; that His life, death, resurrection, and ascension took place in real time in history; that these truths have been passed down through the apostles who witnessed and testified to these events; and that this good news is the hope of our salvation.  The Gospel is the cornerstone of our faith, and the inevitable response from all who hear and believe is a joyful declaration of praise to our God, who saves. 

What does it mean that God's plan for salvation is predestined? As we explore the plan of God from all eternity, we see He had a plan to graciously save a chosen multitude of guilty sinners. God furthermore justifies and sanctifies those who by grace have faith in Jesus, and that He will one day glorify them—all to the praise of His glorious grace. 

Have you ever wondered what the term "total depravity" means? Or feel an unsettling sense of discord in this world begging the question "what is going on?" Why is this happening? These sort of questions inevitably lead us to The Fall, where sin entered the perfect world God created, where doubt and alienation found it's way to the human mind, where separation from God began. But amidst all this, we still find hope.

For thousands of years the opening chapters of Genesis have captured the imaginations of both Christians and non-Christians alike. The poetic beauty, majesty, and mystery of this creation narrative captures our imagination and forces us to consider life's deepest questions. Modern culture says, “You're free to create your own identity.” But that leads t confusion and anxiety — ask any honest college student. They're not looking to be told who they can be, but rather who they ought to be. That answer only comes into focus when we accept the givenness of our humanity as something we receive rather than create. In short — we, following the path of Genesis, must begin with God as Creator in order to understand ourselves as creation.

When God created man and woman with distinct differences, He did so with intentionality. Why are these differences important and as believers, how can we embrace them in order to bring honor and glory to our Creator?

Through revelation, we are able to better understand who God is. By the moving of the Holy Spirit through the writers of the Bible, God reveals His character, His essence, His nature, to us. As we submit ourselves to the Word, may we discover who God is overflowing in the words we read.

God has graciously disclosed his existence and power in the created order, and has supremely revealed himself to fallen human beings in the person of his Son, the incarnate Word. Moreover, this God is a speaking God who by his Spirit has graciously disclosed himself in human words: we believe that God has inspired the words preserved in the Scriptures, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, which are both record and means of his saving work in the world. As God's people hear, believe, and do the Word, they are equipped as disciples of Christ and witnesses to the gospel.

What does it mean that we believe in a Triune God? We often hear "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" but how can we understand each of these together as one thing also with their own distinctions? The Bible has an abundance of references to the Godhead and how we can understand each of them individually and as one. As we walk through knowing God truly, may we see ourselves as undeserving victors in the welcoming arms of our Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.  

As we pursue truth through understanding doctrine and wrestling with theological questions, we can find delight in the Lord, with our actions stemming from a place of knowing what we believe. Even more, when the church serves as that pillar of truth, we can all come TOGETHER and worship, rooted in the same truth, united in Christ.

Easter is brimming with hope, hope of light after darkness, hope of life after death. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a part of our faith, but it is the cornerstone and often times we can hurry through what is actually unfolding. Have we reckoned with the events of the resurrection, as the women at the tomb did, and walk through the door of abundant life that Jesus has opened?

In our fallen world, we feel the tension and restlessness in our souls, that this isn't our home, this isn't our final destination. But in rejoicing, remembering, and fearing the Lord, we are able to turn toward our Creator where our hearts and souls will find the the true rest we seek.

It is a common sight at any high school football game to find “Phil 4:13” etched onto the eye black of a player — “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” The desire to honor Christ in public is a noble one, but honest biblical interpretation requires that we understand texts in their proper contexts. The Apostle Paul writes these famous words not under glowing lights surrounded by adoring fans, but alone under house arrest as he faces an uncertain future. What keeps him joyful, content, and full of hope? The truth that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. And that is a promise that extends to us. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Have you ever sought out investment advice? Ecclesiastes offers direction on how to steward the good gifts God has given us - speaking and living with intentionality and wisdom.

There's a cynicism that permeates our culture that looks at the idea of “prayers” as an ignorant kind of wish-fulfillment in the face of life's anxieties. Maybe you asked somebody if they've prayed about a particular circumstance only to be met by ridicule. Stop giving me those trite Christian cliches. But we need to be honest — do we pray? G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” Do we lay our anxieties and fears before God continually in prayer? God makes a radical promise to his people: when you ask me for help I will give it. I will give you peace in the midst of your uncertainties — one that surpasses understanding. We practice turning to God in prayer with our anxieties and he changes us into people of peace. Do you actually pray? If not, then Philippians 4:1-9 will be an encouragement to you. The Lord is near. Tell him what you need. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

In this chapter, we read illustrations of folly and wisdom, revealing both their strengths and weaknesses, and as we intentionally fight the uphill battle of pursuing wisdom daily, we will find that the trajectory of seeking wisdom will lead you to Jesus.

The enemy of every coach is complacency — the belief that past success guarantees future victory. As the saying goes, NFL means “Not for long”. Paul shares this mindset in Philippians, urging believers not to rest on spiritual achievements but to press forward toward the prize: At the finish line — new creation, resurrection, and eternal glory. Along the way: divisions, distractions, and discouragements. But the mind of Christ, who gave up the distractions of earthly vanity to gain the glory of the resurrection, becomes our model. No longer do we chase the lesser glories of this fading existence, but rather through faith we seek the highest calling of all — the glory of God, which, by the way, is the purpose for which we were made. Which means that seeking the glory of God is simultaneously the fulfillment of our purpose and the fountain of all true and lasting satisfaction. This is Understanding Philippians.  Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Scripture frequently draws on the inevitability and reality of death and while we reflect on how death frames the way we view life under the sun, we can turn to the Lord with open hearts and hands to receive what He has for us now, today.

In Good Will Hunting, a math professor watches in anguish as Will Hunting burns a page of groundbreaking equations—his life's passion reduced to ashes. Will, however, is unfazed. This clash of values mirrors Paul's perspective. He takes everything his opponents prize—status, heritage, achievement—and sets it ablaze. Circumcision, Pharisaic righteousness, and zeal for God are mere ash heaps compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. True status isn't found in human credentials but in being united with Christ, conformed to His death and resurrection. Any boasting apart from Him not only misses the point but insults God Himself. This is the scandal of grace—the radical message that righteousness comes not by human effort but by the resurrecting power of God. This is Understanding Philippians Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

God created the world with complexities that we come up against every day, whether it be authority, justice, or wisdom, and as we enter into a state of fully understanding these things, we must turn our eyes to the Creator who holds all the answers and with whom we will dwell for eternity.

In Ecclesiastes 7, we read of Solomon wrestling with darkness and reconciling this with God's sovereignty, which requires us to consider how we too can rightly view God amidst our adversities, pressing into humility and recognizing God as the orchestrator of everything under the sun.

There's a saying in media and communications that “the medium is the message,” meaning the way content is delivered often has more impact than the content itself. If this is true, then the fact that much of the New Testament consists of letters holds great significance. Letters represent personal connections between individuals and communities. Paul's epistles, in particular, are deeply personal, filled with specific greetings, appeals, and applications. They are messages from friends to friends, and the numerous names mentioned are not just foreign terms to us, but representations of men and women Paul loved—those with whom he shared suffering, meals, and ministry. Often, the deepest pains in the church stem from the breaking of such bonds of friendship. Paul's emphasis on unity and love within the body of Christ is rooted in this. Philippians 2:19-30 offers insight into Paul's friendships with Timothy and Epaphroditus, showing how these relationships enabled him to endure immense suffering for Christ. The need for deep, genuine friendships in the Christian life is as vital now as it was two thousand years ago. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

The Christian life requires effort. While some may be accustomed to the phrase, “Let go and let God,” suggesting that passivity in obedience magnifies God's grace, nothing could be further from the truth. As J.I. Packer aptly stated, “The Christian's motto should not be ‘Let go and let God' but ‘Trust God and get going.'” Grace is opposed to works, not action. Just as an adopted child dishonors their status by rejecting their family's ways, so too does a Christian who neglects obedience. It is precisely because God has saved us and adopted us into his family that we obey him—not to earn his love, but out of gratitude and trust. Philippians 2:12-18 challenges the notion that salvation is merely a one-time decision for Christ. Instead, salvation is an ongoing transformation, a process empowered and fueled by God himself. This divine work does not negate human effort but demands it, as we live out what God has worked within us. True faith does not lead to passivity but to Spirit-empowered action, shaping us into the image of Christ. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

The illustrations in Ecclesiastes reveal the darkness we experience in this life and require us to pause and consider if how we handle suffering allows us to realize and better appreciate seeing the true Light. 

Humility, central to our faith, defied Roman ideals of virtue and honor, where it was seen as weakness—reserved for slaves, women, and children. Yet, Scripture repeatedly elevates these very groups as models of faith. This is the scandal of Christianity: at its core is a God who humbles Himself. How can we follow Him while clinging to pride? True humility isn't mere niceness—Jesus feared no man, and it led Him to the cross. Genuine humility seeks the good of others at any cost, just as Christ, though equal with God, emptied Himself to become a servant. Because He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on a cross, God exalted Him—and He will do the same for us. In the kingdom of God, the way up is down. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Through Ecclesiastes, we consider guarding how we live so that we may remain on the path of righteousness and receive the gifts God gives us in this life. 

Our efforts to spread the kingdom are opportunities for fellowship with God. This humble posture frees us to rely on His grace, enriching our efforts with the joy of knowing that God Himself empowers our work. This mindset allowed Paul to rejoice in his sufferings and boldly advance God's mission—and it is the same mindset we are called to adopt as we walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

As we confront the vanities of this life, believers must train themselves to walk through trials and injustice with a sober mind and trust God's mercy and sovereignty. 

Conversion is often described as “inviting Jesus into your life,” but this falls short of the gospel's radical message—the good news for which Paul suffers. The gospel (εὐαγγέλιον) proclaims God's decisive action to redeem sinners: the Father plans salvation, the Son accomplishes it, and the Spirit applies it, bringing us into the very life of the Trinity. Through the Spirit, in Christ, we come to the Father as His adopted children. Salvation, from start to finish, is the work of the Triune God, and the ultimate gift of the gospel is God Himself. The good news is not merely that God enters our lives, but that we enter His. Our story is reshaped by Christ's death, resurrection, and glorification—if He suffered, so will we; if He was raised, so will we be; if He reigns in glory, so will we. This truth gives us every reason for boldness, risk, and joy in trials. This is Understanding Philippians. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Through the wisdom presented in Ecclesiastes, we are reminded to examine the toil of our lives relying upon God with hope as we walk through each season.  

Joy and suffering—our culture sees them as opposites, but Paul's letter to the Philippians tells a different story. Writing from a Roman prison, Paul proclaims a joy unshaken by chains, trials, or hardship. How? Because Christ, the true source of lasting joy, dwelled in him. In this episode, we unpack Philippians 1:1-11 and discover how gospel partnership, prayer, and God's ongoing work in us transform the way we experience joy—even in the darkest moments. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Ecclesiastes confronts us with the reality that in this fallen world, all of us experience God's common grace and face death. 

Through Ecclesiastes, we consider what can be gained through seeking a life of pleasure. 

As mankind, we encounter the tension of striving to make meaning to the days given to us under the sun and the reality that what we turn to cannot ultimately satisfy our souls. 

Ecclesiastes invites us to honestly face the questions of life as it helps shape and form us in wisdom.

The Apostle Paul exhorts the Philippians to remain faithful and recounts how faith and knowing Christ is central to all of life.

Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God requires our faithful diligence while we wait upon and rely on God to see the fruit of the work. 

The words from the prophet Isaiah stir our gratitude for the Prince of Peace that was born to us. 

As we consider the meaning of the “son of man” we see how what was perplexing to Daniel in his vision of the throne room was answered in Jesus. 

Through the prophet Ezekiel, we are reminded that God has bound himself to his people and that all our hopes and God's promises are met in Jesus. 

Through Jeremiah's prophesy, we are reminded that the coming of the Messiah happens over the backdrop of sorrow. But we have a Lord who uses these times of sorrow and we can look forward in hope since we have a God who has come and will come again. 

Jesus sends his disciples to make disciples wherever they go, which is an extension of his earthly ministry. 

We've made it to the crown jewel of women's Bible studies across America — Proverbs 31. Where do we begin with such a famous passage? Well first we need to read Proverbs 31 in the context of Proverbs 1-30, as the embodiment of wisdom in the form of an idealized wife. Proverbs 1 begins with a father instructing his son to seek after wisdom with all his might. Proverbs 31 ends with another father, King Lemuel, telling his son to seek after a wise wife with the same vigor. The choice of a spouse is the most critical earthly decision any human being makes. A wise man who embodies wisdom will find a wise wife and vice versa. Yet these words from King Lemuel come as inherited wisdom from his own mother. He's giving his son grand's wisdom, which we know, is always right. So we conclude our study in Proverbs by looking at how wisdom calls out the best in both men and women so that we might fulfill our royal calling as kings and queens tasked with exercising dominion over the earth. This is Understanding Proverbs.    Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Jesus, in his authority, gives his final command to the disciples and provides the all sufficient motivation to the church for why we live how he taught us to and invite others to do so as well. 

Proverbs extends the fear of the Lord beyond our own individual lives to the whole of society. A society that honors God will create an atmosphere in which the wicked “flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” The wicked walk around with a low-grade anxiety because they know that God and his righteous rulers will find them out. The righteous, on the other hand, act with boldness knowing that the Lord will bless their efforts. A righteous culture ensures the poor neither experience oppression or oppress others. “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.” A society without God becomes morally corrupt in their perspective praising the wicked and oppressing the righteous. Those who seek the Lord must remain vigilant against evil to preserve the order and justice of society. This is Understanding Proverbs.  Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Proverbs purposefully repeats certain themes from different angles as a way of challenging our minds to consider the various ways that wisdom and folly manifest themselves in every day life. We're presented with interesting and sometimes humorous characterizations of drunkards, fools, and brawlers as a way to alert us on who to avoid, who to befriend, and who to correct. If we take note of these characters we'll be better equipped to navigate social situations with skill and prudence. There's a homespun kind of wisdom that gets to the heart of how things work in the world that forces us to peer deeper into the habits and routines of life to unearth hidden wisdom. If we want wisdom we need to pay attention not only to God's word, but God's world. This is Understanding Proverbs.  Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Just as Jesus said would happen, he is resurrected and appears to the women waiting at his tomb. As he sends them to share the news with the disciples, the guards at the tomb are paid off to spread a false account, and we begin to see how the good news that Jesus has been raised in power and conquered death changes the world.

This section features another set of biblical ‘street smarts' intended to help the simple man navigate the complex world of politics, commerce, and community. Many scholars note similarities between this section of Proverbs and the Egyptian document The Thirty Sayings of Amenemope. This similarity makes sense given the shared agrarian lifestyle of both Israel and Egypt. Proverbs takes common sense wisdom available to all people who pay attention to the patterns of life and reframes them in the context of fearing God. By God's grace, the worship of false gods does not eradicate man's ability to make truthful observations about the world. However, wisdom not only comes from, but also points to the Lord. Without knowledge of the true God all wisdom, though insightful, falls short. Only when we see wisdom in the context of God's revelation will our paths be made straight. This is Understanding Proverbs.  Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

Jesus' body is prepared for burial and laid in a tomb. Fearing Jesus' own words that he will rise again, the chief priests and Pharisees request a guard for his tomb.   

We encounter again and again in Proverbs the necessity of faith in the Christian life. Faith is not wishful thinking. It's not replacing your rationality with superstition. Faith is about trusting God, believing that God is in control despite what your eyes see in the world. Without faith none of these Proverbs makes sense: is it really better to be an honest poor man than a rich crook? (1) Do false witnesses really get punished? Because there's a lot of injustice out there (Proverbs 19:5, 9). How about the tragic observation that “Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend (Proverbs 19:4).” Wealth gets you many friends, but some just want your money. Poverty makes everyone desert you. Faith allows us to live well in a world that often perplexes us by looking at the present through the lens of the future. God will punish the wicked. He will reward the righteous. Trust him. This is Understanding Proverbs. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962

As Jesus lays down his life for sinners, we see how access to the Father was initiated and granted by God through the surrender and sacrifice of the Son. 

You've probably heard many sermons bashing the idea of “following your heart” because as Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” There's truth to that especially in light of the way our culture conceives of the heart as any desire or emotion that bubbles to the surface. But Proverbs tells us that the problem is not in following our heart, but rather what or who our heart follows. The Scriptures portray the heart as the seat of the will, the place of our deepest allegiances. Conversion happens when God's grace switches the allegiance of our heart away from sin toward God. That's what it means for his law to be written on your heart. That the place of our deepest loyalties is occupied by God alone. If that's true of your life, by all means, follow your heart, because if your heart follows God then it will lead you towards worship, trust, and obedience. This is Understanding Proverbs. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@fouroakschurchmidtown1962