Resurrection Oakland Podcast

“Without faith it is impossible to please God,” says Hebrews 11:6. Faith is important to God, but it is often confusing for us - both Christians and skeptics alike. What does it mean to believe? Is faith a gift or something we cultivate? What does faith look like? Feel like? Act like? Join us for a new series called I Believe as we learn about the important, yet often misunderstood, topic of faith.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God,” says Hebrews 11:6. Faith is important to God, but it is often confusing for us - both Christians and skeptics alike. What does it mean to believe? Is faith a gift or something we cultivate? What does faith look like? Feel like? Act like? Join us for a new series called I Believe as we learn about the important, yet often misunderstood, topic of faith.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God,” says Hebrews 11:6. Faith is important to God, but it is often confusing for us - both Christians and skeptics alike. What does it mean to believe? Is faith a gift or something we cultivate? What does faith look like? Feel like? Act like? Tune in for our series called I Believe as we learn about the important, yet often misunderstood, topic of faith.

Tune in for the last session of our inaugural ResOak Conference. Pastor Russ Whitfield, from Grace Mosaic Church in Washington, DC preaches on the life of freedom we find in the Holy Spirit.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God,” says Hebrews 11:6. Faith is important to God, but it is often confusing for us - both Christians and skeptics alike. What does it mean to believe? Is faith a gift or something we cultivate? What does faith look like? Feel like? Act like? Tune in for a new series called I Believe as we learn about the important, yet often misunderstood, topic of faith.

We are all longing for something or someone. This Easter, we explore the one person and event who can answer all of our longings: Christ and the Resurrection.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

he modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

he modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

Rev. Dr. Irwyn Ince shared the beauty that awaits God's people as depicted in Isaiah 62 and Revelation 21. Jesus has defeated death. The old world will pass away, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, with no more death or mourning or suffering. We live in the hope and promise of that beauty, as we long for it and its fulness.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

The modern belief of freedom is an absence of restrictions, but the Christian notion of freedom is finding the right restrictions. Tune in for our series, "The Law of Freedom," as we learn how true freedom is found in the confines of God's law, why this law is good news for the whole world, and the ways in which it all points us to Jesus.

We see the Law of God as constraining and demanding, but Jesus sees it as quite the opposite. In the opening of our new series, “The Law of Freedom,” Pastor Brent teaches us that the the true 4 words that frame the Ten Commandments are beauty, freedom, love, and grace.

This week, Pastor Brent concludes our series on this famous words from John 15. In this passage, John begins by discussing our vertical relationship with God, and concludes by discussing our horizontal relationships with others. Because “God is love,” these relationships must be defined by love itself. Through this lens, Pastor Brent teaches us about the surprise of love, the challenge of love, and finally, the secret of love.

We are invited into a life of abiding in God so we can be changed by God in order that we might be sent out for Him. In this sermon, Pastor Brent discusses the second aspect of that statement—whether change is possible and how it happens. First, Jesus gives us a vision for our lives. Second, change itself is a long journey. Third, there is a shortcut to growth, but no one chooses it. And finally, real change comes as we learn to abide in God's love.

As we kick off 2025, we contemplate our own dreams for ourselves in the new year. But what are God's dreams for us? One word: abide. But what does it mean to abide in Jesus? And why is it so important? It means that God makes His home with you, and to know His love and His presence in your life.

Favor and welcome are interchangeable words in Scripture. Pastor Paul Schuler guest preaches about the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, reveling in the amazing welcome God has for us and ultimately, the welcome we can extend to others.

Despite many harrowing years throughout human existence, the year humanity sinned and lost their relationship with God was unequivocally the worst in our history. In this sermon from Genesis 3, a familiar passage outlining the Fall, we learn that nothing is as good as it could be, nothing is as bad as it could be, and the best is yet to come in Jesus.

Christmas is all about the gifts God gives us, not the other way around. In the final sermon of this series, Pastor Brent outlines the precious gift of hope. Christmas means that hope is possible because with it, there is justice for our world, grace for our hearts, and a mission for our lives.

The reality is that the opposed of joy is not sorrow, it's emptiness, and God alone can fill that emptiness. The Magi (or Wisemen) were experiencing this emptiness when they sought out the newborn Savior. At our annual Noel celebration service, Pastor Brent teaches us about this through the search of the Magi, the wonder of the Child, and the joy of God.

The radical claim on Christmas is that you can't experience the gifts of hope and joy without first experiencing the gift of salvation. In the first sermon of our Advent series, Pastor Brent teaches us that salvation is a gift everyone needs, a gift everyone can have, and finally, a gift that changes you.

Former pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach, Florida, Mike Malone, visits us to preach on the second coming as it's described in 1 Thessalonians 4. He clarifies that death is an enemy, there is life after death, and incredibly, there is actually life after the life after death.

Christianity, at its heart, is about a person—Jesus—to be known and loved, and be known and loved by. The love of Jesus is on full display in the Parable of the Prodigal Son in this passage from Luke 15. We learn so much about it in this story. First, we learn that God's love for us precedes our love for Him. Second, we learn that God does not simply tolerate us, but He rejoices over us. Third, we learn that God's love changes us. And finally, we learn that God's love is available to everyone.

Many character traits of Jesus are obviously desirable—joy, justice, compassion. But how many of us want to adopt more humility? In this passage from Mark, Jesus shows us how much we all need more humility. Through it, Pastor Dave teaches us about the hidden danger of pride, the hidden value of humility, and the hidden glory of Jesus.

Compassion was the emotion that Jesus felt more than any other in the Gospels. In this well-known story of Lazarus' resurrection, we see Jesus' compassion with all three characters: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. First, we see His patience with Martha, then his tears with Mary, and finally, His power over Lazarus.

On the Sunday ahead of a pivotal election, Pastor Brent preaches about the authority of Jesus over politics. In this sermon, there really is just one main point with four applications: Jesus is King, and because of that we participate in politics, we love across political difference, we submit our politics to Him, and we ultimately put our hope in Jesus alone.

Despite being poor and humble, lacking any painting or sculpture from His day, Jesus is the most famous person in human history. Everything we learn about Jesus in this passage from John about preventing the stoning of a woman is emblematic of His grace. In this sermon, Pastor Brent teaches on how the grace of Jesus confronts us, how it confounds us, and how it changes us.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is widely quoted and recognized. But how does it show us Jesus' heart in relation to justice? Does He want to dominate or liberate? In this sermon, Pastor Dave contemplates this famous parable by examining the search for justice, the problem with justice, and the justice of Jesus Himself.

Pastor Brent kicks off our new series, The Character of Jesus, by examining Jesus' first miracle: turning water into wine at a wedding. In short, His first miracle was not a healing, but an effort to keep the party going. Through this, we learn about the problem of joy, the possibility of joy, and the price of joy born by Christ Himself.

In the concluding sermon of our annual Vision series, Pastor Brent discusses the palpable ways we seek to be a church for the city through the metaphor of being salt and light, as outlined by Jesus in Matthew 5. This metaphor teaches us three critical things: God's love for the city, how we are to love the city, and the unique resource Christians have to love the city.

Pastor Brent continues our fall vision series by preaching on the story of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus meets at the well. ResOak's vision is to be a church not just for ourselves, but for the unconvinced and for the city. But what does it mean to be a church for the unconvinced? Pastor Brent explains that there is something that is true about every human heart, something that is true about God's heart, and ultimately, how this story in the book of John will impact our church's heart.

In Acts 2, we learn about the very first church. Unlike some modern churches, it did not repel people--it attracted them. How can Resurrection Oakland become that kind of church? We must imitate the first church by being devoted to God, devoted to His Word, and devoted to the family of God.

At the conclusion of our series on the 7 letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3, Pastor Dave preaches on the letter to the church in Laodicea, which was identified as "lukewarm." Through this letter, we learn how grace is not lukewarm, how our need is not lukewarm, and how Jesus is not lukewarm.

Words hold enormous power, and the words in this letter to the church in Philadelphia is filled with words of encouragement. They're all about who Jesus is, how He works, what He came to do, and why He came to do it.

Are we willing to listen to harder words from Jesus? There's a difference between hearing and listening. But why listen to Jesus at all? Because of a condition that we all have, a cure that we all need, and the hope that we all receive.

There are many words of confrontation from Jesus in this letter to the church in Thyatira, but it astonishingly holds the best words of commendations of all the letters. At the heart of this letter is an invitation from Jesus, outlining the risk of corrupt teaching, corrupt tolerance, and ultimately, how corruption is transformed.

In this sermon on Jesus' letter to the church in the city of Pergamum, Pastor Brent draws connection between life in that ancient city then and life in Oakland today. He discusses Pergamum's problem, our problem, and finally the three promises of Jesus that are more triumphant over them all.

What does Jesus want to say to us in these letters at the beginning of Revelation? In this case, He speaks to us about suffering. They're words we all need to hear, because we all know what it's like to suffer. Jesus deeply understands and empathizes with our struggles. In this sermon, Pastor Brent outlines the depth and reality of His empathy and sovereignty over our suffering.

The book of Revelation is full of open letters from Jesus to His Church. In this series, we'll be asking, simply, "What does Jesus want to say to us?" The first letter, the one to the church in Ephesus, says three things to us: what Jesus wants from us more than anything else, why He wants it, and how we can do it.

Rev. JP Samuel visits us from The Spectrum Church in San Jose to preach on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, a passage that has a storied history of inspiring Christians and non-Christians alike. The blessedness mentioned in this passage requires us to bring one thing to Jesus--nothing at all.

At the conclusion of our Psalms series, Pastor Dave examines how the Psalms teach us about our yearning for the City of God, fundamentally a city that e everybody wants to live in. In this sermon, we learn about the glory, the ruin, and the redemption of the City of God.

Receiving and offering compassion are constant struggles. We often think we're being so compassionate, but what we're really saying is tantamount to, "snap out of it." In this sermon on Psalm 103, Pastor Dave explains how compassion can't be earned, how it is costly, and how it is easily forgotten.

We're all looking for justice, but it feels like a moving target. We want wrongs to be made right, but we're not sure how to do that. Psalm 129 tells us that our search for justice is not in vain or pointless. Pastor Dave dives into this passage and teaches us about the power of naming injustice, the tension with seeking justice, and the hope of ending injustice.

Even in the most advanced society, security is elusive and fleeting. In this sermon on Psalm 46, Pastor Dave teaches us why we lack security, where to find security, and finally, how to live with security from the its only true Source.

Hope is a necessity in life, and to have hope, we must first have meaning. We need to know that our life has significance and purpose. Pastor Brent teaches us that Psalm 8 tells us how to find this meaning by looking up, looking in, and looking out.

The concept of freedom is a hallmark of Bay Area culture. And yet, the freedom offered by the world always leaves the recipient wanting. In examining an excerpt of the longest Psalm, Pastor Brents teaches us the surprising path of freedom, why the path works, and how we can walk the path.

The human experience is marked by guilt, whether it's a low hum or a haunting. In this sermon on Psalm 51, Pastor Dave teaches us how to remove guilt biblically by examining the meaning of guilt, the power of confession, and the joy of salvation.