Talks from OCC Stratford-upon-Avon

Mark Greenwood frames our faith as a logical and evidence-based decision rather than a "blind" leap, using the story of Thomas to illustrate the transition from doubt to conviction. Mark explains that while absolute scientific proof may be elusive, the historical and moral evidence for Christianity is robust enough to meet a legal standard of "beyond reasonable doubt" and encourages us to to see our own lives as primary evidence for others. The post Reason to Believe appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Phil explores what it really means to ask God "in his name" and to "delight in the Lord," unpacking two often-misread promises from John 14 and Psalm 37. He challenges a transactional view of prayer, showing that true asking flows not from saying the right words but from a deepening relationship with God as his adopted children. The post Yes and Amen Part 3 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

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Nigel explores the Parable of the Good Samaritan, explaining how Jesus reframes the definition of a neighbour from a geographical or familial concept to an internal state of active love and mercy toward anyone in need. The post Parables – Episode 7 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Tom uses the Parable of the Two Builders to illustrate that hearing spiritual teachings is insufficient unless those words are actively embodied through practical action. He challenges us to examine whether our character is truly being transformed by God or merely shaped by cultural narratives and traditions. The post Parables – Episode 6 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John continues our Parables series with the parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18, challenging us to move beyond treating forgiveness as a transaction and instead recognize our own unpayable debt, receive God's extravagant grace, and release forgiveness to others. He reminds us that unforgiveness imprisons us, not the person who wronged us, and that freely receiving God's mercy empowers us to freely give it. The post Parables – Episode 5 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John starts our new series looking at the Parables by exploring the hidden treasure and pearl of great price from Matthew 13, encouraging us to recognize God's kingdom at work in ordinary moments, rejoice in its true value, and actively step into kingdom living. He also beautifully flips the perspective to remind us that we are the treasure Jesus gave everything to obtain—deeply loved and worth pursuing. The post Parables – Episode 1 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John examines the parables in Luke 15, asking us to reorient our attention to the meaning of repentance and what it means to be wanted by God. The post Parables – Episode 4 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Phil unpacks the Parable of the Banquet, warning us of the danger of good things becoming the ultimate thing. The post Parables – Episode 3 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Tom takes us through two parables from the book of Luke to challenge the "cancer of complacency" and entitlement that can lead to a "corrosively competitive" spirituality. He emphasises that both stories share the same vital conclusion: that while those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted. The post Parables – Episode 2 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John continues the story of Joseph, focusing on Joseph's intentional acts of kindness and testing toward his brothers, culminating in his self-revelation and the subsequent reconciliation, highlighting that forgiveness is a choice, not an emotion, and that Joseph redeems the past without forgetting it. The post Joseph – God Meant It For Good – Episode 06 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John concludes our series on Joseph, highlighting God's ability to use the evil planned against Joseph for good and encourages a shift in our perspective on our own life detours and hardships through the lens of God's greater plan. John stresses that this faith does not eliminate fear or negate the reality of evil, but rather means that nothing is wasted as God weaves every moment into a redemptive story. The post Joseph – God Meant It For Good – Episode 07 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Tom points out the unhelpful nature of some Christian language, reminding us that following God means getting on with the day-to-day, and showing we need to reject unhelpful past narratives. The post Joseph – God Meant It For Good – Episode 05 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Phil looks at Joseph's rise in front of Pharaoh, reflecting on Joseph's formation, Pharaoh recognising God working within Joseph and the choice we all have. The post Joseph – God Meant It For Good – Episode 04 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Alistair Taylor speaks into Romans 12 and how we can endure trouble by rejoicing in hope, be patient in affliction and constant in prayer. The post Alistair Taylor appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John continues the story of Joseph, highlighting how God uses seasons of waiting to test trust and form faith. John outlines three key postures for believers during times of confinement or delay: seeking a healthy heart by processing pain instead of projecting it, keeping open hands by faithfully serving others, and developing steady feet anchored in God's faithfulness. The post Joseph – God Meant It For Good – Episode 03 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John continues the story of Joseph, reminding us God's presence makes ordinary work extraordinary, that integrity matters even when nobody is watching, and that faithfulness doesn't always feel fair or lead to immediate reward. The post Joseph – God Meant It For Good – Episode 02 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

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Sarah frames prayer not as a difficult "seek and find" treasure hunt for an elusive God, but as walking with a relational and responsive God who is always present. The post Seek First – Power in Persistence appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John introduces our Week of Prayer in Autumn of 2025. He explores three invitations: to reorder priorities by inviting God into daily concerns, to rest in one's identity as a beloved child of God rather than striving for worth, and to place trust in God's care for today and tomorrow. The post Seek First appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Vicky explores the story of Naomi and Ruth, using the analogy of a tapestry of our lives, with good and bad experiences interwoven by his hand for God's ultimate purpose. The post Intertwined: God’s Tapestry in Ordinary Lives appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Rebeka highlights the importance of trusting God, the practical steps we can make to increase our trust in God and what a life that fully trust God looks like. The post The Foundation of Trusting God appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Viktor shares his own journey with trusting God, telling us the need for a sincere, personal relationship with God and highlights the challenges of trusting both people and God, particularly when our expectations are unmet or through experiences of loss and betrayal. The post The Trust Relationship appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John encourages us to embrace Jesus's invitation to find rest for our souls, moving away from striving and earning, and instead receiving grace and allowing Jesus to set the pace for our lives, living in a "low to the ground" manner. John offers practical ways for us to intentionally explore rest during the summer, emphasising that rest is a sacred rhythm and a gift from God, not a reward or a sign of weakness. The post Emotionally Health Church – Episode 5 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Mark helps reframe our view on our ability to share the gospel with what God has already given us. The post If You Think You Can’t, You Can appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

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Psychotherapist Duncan Logan affirms that our past doesn't define our future. He highlights how past experiences shape beliefs about ourselves, often leading to feelings of inadequacy, and contrasts these with God's view of us as valuable and chosen. The post Emotionally Health Church – Episode 3 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Warning - Alistair talks about his personal struggles with depression and suicide. Alistair Taylor shares his experience with grief, loss, and his mental health struggles that follows. Alistair unpacks his faith amidst his suffering, learning submission and dependence rather than seeking to understand. The post Emotionally Healthy Church – Episode 2 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John starts to explore what emotional health means in light of our faith, exploring the significance of emotions as God-given tools for spiritual growth. The post Emotionally Healthy Church – Episode 1 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

As we honour Fathers, Grandfathers, and Father figures, we ask: what does it mean to trust in God, our perfect heavenly Father, and lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him and know that He will make our paths straight? The post Father’s Day 2025 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John wraps up our series on the Holy Spirit, as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, by exploring the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us to be a witness to God's power in the world. The post Come Holy Spirit – Part 3 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John explores the Fruit of the Spirit drawing from Galatians chapter 5 to illustrate how the Holy Spirit empowers believers not only to do good work but also to embody Christ-like character The post Come Holy Spirit – Part 2 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Anita Williams talks about the personhood of the Holy Spirit as we understand how the Holy Spirit goes with us wherever we go. The post Come Holy Spirit – Part 1 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John shares about the "Quiet Revival" happening in the UK at the moment and reflects as an opportunity for the church to come to confession to right ourselves before God ahead of what he wants to do in us. The post Quiet Revival – A Call to Confession appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Mark concludes our Stepping into the Story of God series exploring the Invitation - and how we can be normal, present and caring to those who we invite to know more about Jesus. The post Stepping into the Story of God – Part 13 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John explores the book of Revelation, explaining how we too should be fixed on a vision of Jesus as we continue the story with him. The post Stepping into the Story of God – Part 12 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Phil looks at the birth of the church, and the sustaining power the Holy Spirit as the church was established in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the Ends of the Earth. The post Stepping into the Story of God – Part 11 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John looks at Mary turning to see Jesus, and the impact on her upside down world, as Jesus turns us inside out. The post Easter Sunday 2025 – Turning to Jesus appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

Nigel explores the significance of the days leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, examining Jesus' roles as king, priest, prophet, lover, friend, and the sacrificial lamb. The post Stepping into the Story of God – Part 10 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John highlights Jesus's anointing as king, the announcement of his kingdom focused on good news for the marginalised, and the tangible appearance of this kingdom through his actions of healing and liberation. The post Stepping into the Story of God – Part 9 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John continues our Stepping into the Story of God Series, emphasising that God speaks similar words of affirmation over all believers, not based on our actions but on our identity as his children. The post Stepping into the Story of God – Part 8 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

John focuses on periods of silence, particularly the 400 years before Jesus, emphasising that God's silence does not mean absence but is a time of preparation for something significant, like the coming of the Messiah. The post Stepping into the story of God – Part 7 appeared first on Oasis Community Church.

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