OCC Podcast

What does consigned mean? Is unmerited favor with God a mercy from God? Are bad choices a prerequisite to understanding God's mercy? What is a proper response to God? What is Paul implying when he says that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God doesn't owe anyone salvation.

Where was James all this time?! Why was the last sermon series so useful for the church? How does boldness in the pulpit translate to boldness in our personal lives? What does the state of Israel have to do with the church? How do you study the Bible properly? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

The Nation of Israel's salvation is coming in the future.

What does the interaction between Jesus and the woman in John 8 tell us about God's redemption from sin? What did Jesus die for? What is the full picture of the redemption of sex? Why is this conversation pertinent for singles? How does Jesus redeem those who have been hurt or abused by sexual brokenness? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

The redemption of sex is found in Jesus, who meets our brokenness with grace, truth, and new life.

How do we keep this discussion going forward? Why is it so important to keep communication lines open on the topic of sex? What is recovery, and what does it look like to work through that? Are emotions good or bad? How do we grow in our emotional integrity? Why are boundaries so helpful for those who have been hurt by someone else's sexual sin? What steps can we take moving forward? All this and more on this week's episode.

Mankind has taken God's perfect design for sex and corrupted it.

Why can't we talk about sex? Why is it such a difficult conversation to have in a culture where sex is everywhere? How can we know God better by understanding God's design and definition of sex? Why should we talk to our kids about sex? How can we be ambassadors for God and restore God's design for sex in our world? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God designed sex to be marital, intimate, vulnerable, pleasurable, and reproductive.

Why is personal faith important? Does the Church replace Israel as God's chosen people? Where, when, and how does it end? Who does the olive tree represent? What about the wild branches? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Being grafted into God's family.

How is God Faithful to Israel? How is God faithful throughout Scripture?  How can we as believers grow in our understanding of God's faithfulness?  How can we as believers grow in knowing God more so it is not just ahead knowledge thing but heart growth?  All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God's rejection of Israel is partial.

What is evangelism, and how should we go about doing it? Should everyone evangelize? What if you're scared? What are some practical tips and pointers to do or say to get the ball rolling? James and Brenton give some insights into all of this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

The good news needs to be proclaimed.

Why are people so upset about the gospel? What does our righteousness have to do with anything? How hard is it to pray for others' salvation? Why do we use the ESV in service? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

How keeping the law doesn't earn salvation!

Why is there so much tension? Love or sovereignty? Double predestination or double election? Don't we get credit for our parents and heritage? Are we still responsible if God is sovereign over all? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God always wants the very best for His children.

How does God's word never fail? How is it that Israel can be Israel and yet not a part of Israel? Why is Paul in love with the OT? Why does God love or hate? What does sovereignty mean? How is God's preference like choosing Diet Coke or Pepsi? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God's word never fails

Why should we talk about men? How are men the thermostats in the home, and what does that look like? How should we step into vulnerability? Why is it a problem when our identity is based on something other than Jesus? What's the difference between a huddle and a brotherhood? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why did God fearfully and wonderfully make us...to be us?

Why aren't we back in Romans? How many points can you have in a sermon? How do you alleviate the tension between being with God and bearing good fruit? Why does discipleship matter? What does it look like to be a disciple of Jesus practically? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Nine ways to enhance discipleship.

What's the deal with all the parentheses? What about Israel, and why should Christians care so much? What was Adam and Eve's last name? How should the church view the state of Israel? Why and how does God keep his promises to Israel, and why is it such a big deal? What's up for next week? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why did God set Israel apart?

Who needs a script? What happened during Holy Week at OCC? Why was the Easter series titled "So What?" What is the most compelling evidence for the resurrection? Why was it so difficult for Jesus' family to believe He was the Messiah? Why does the resurrection matter to Christians today? What's the next series? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why does the resurrection matter?

How difficult is it for people to understand what Palm Sunday really is? What are the mindsets of many visitors on Easter Sunday? How does baseball connect to the Easter story? How do people in the Midwest come up with all their unique sayings? What impact can apologetics have on individuals? How much do pastors preach to themselves? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

What are we trusting in?

Should we engage in apologetics to be ready to defend the hope we hold? What is the most accurate worldview for interpreting real-life observations? How do microevolution and macroevolution differ? Who persuaded Paul to be so... convinced? Why do we tend to avoid discomfort? What are we safeguarded from when united with Christ? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

What is the difference between sharing parables and storytelling? What is the beauty behind God's unlimited grace? What happened to James' voice? How do foreknowledge and God's will work together? What is the best part about wrestling with scripture? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Rhetorical questions

What does it mean that God foreknew? How does predestination work? Why are we all of a sudden talking about skiing? What does it look like for us to be called? How are we justified? What does it mean to be glorified? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Do we want to learn the easy way or the hard way?

What was that story about James and his wife having a kid? How do answered prayers play a role in suffering? How to place more weight on God's glory over our own suffering? How can we prep and put in the work in suffering? What are good practical ways to view suffering through God's eyes? All this and more, on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God's glory is weightier than our suffering.

Why were the ruins ruined? Which is referenced more, Star Wars or Star Trek? Why is it important to have kids in the service? Why would God use David when his story is so chaotic? What is the middle of the week? How do OCC Kids work through the Bible? Can God use imperfect messages for His perfect purposes? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Loving son, devoted friend, God worshipper.

How can we suffer with Jesus? How can we be more glorified through Jesus? How do I know when to sacrifice primary callings? Is God running towards me or waiting for me? Self-made or God-permitted suffering? Why do we do the WB Show... or family services?

Do we suffer for the sake of Christ?

How would you win in a fight against a shark? Why is Paul all about victory? How do we yield to the Spirit, and what are the evidences that we are doing so? How does suffering give insight to Paul's words? How do wounds from our past shape, either in a good or bad way, our interpretation of scripture? How do we resist and see the truth of God in spite of that? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

The key to victory is fighting in the right realm!

What do James and Andrew soundlike unscripted? Why you all up in our bid-niss? What is the infamous 'e' word in ministry and why does it matter? What is the best-case scenario for OCC? What do we highlight as a church? Who gets the glory for the growth and success of the church? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why does the church exist?

In this episode, James interviews his wife! As the organizer of the recent missions conference, James interviews Christina to discuss why missions matter, why this is such a passion for her, and her prayer requests as we look to host missions conferences more regularly. Enjoy!

Guest pastor and missionary Duncan Sprague preaches at OCC.

What is the difference between living by the Spirit of God versus by the Spirit of Flesh? What is the 'Roman's Road'? How do we make sure our story is shared with others? What do you do if your story isn't as 'good' as others? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!