OAK HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

On the way to the cross, the most important thing He would do for mankind, Jesus stopped a few moments for two insignificant blind men.  He was always doing that.  Those around Him were always trying to keep him on schedule.  He was always stopping for people.  He still is.  He stopped for you - for me.  The ones who received their sight followed him.  Do we follow him?

These are precious days ahead. Embrace them. Lean into them. Ask the Lord to give you teachable hearts. I am excited for Oak Hills’ future. I believe the Lord is building His church, and this season ahead both for the Ramseys and Oak Hills is part of that glorious purpose.

Uncertainty strengthens us by posing this question: Do you believe God works all things together for the good of those who love Him? His word says He does, (Rom 8:28) and not simply by working little miracles every time we get in a tough spot. God works through long, deliberate purposes that develop over time.

It is right for us to say to each other, “I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart.” (v. 20) How do we do this? We live out our doctrine, and by so doing, we tell again the story of the love of Christ, rich and free. Doctrine tells the story of the Gospel. Living by it shows the Gospel. 

This is what Christ promises: He will build His church. It’s a promise you can trust. The Gospel comes from Christ. He is building us now to worship and adore Him for all He is. His presence is always greater than His provision.

One key reason Philemon must do something with this letter is because Paul didn’t just send him this note about Onesimus: he sent Onesimus himself with it. And as it is with any relationship, it is going to cost Philemon something.

Following Pastor Russ's sermon on April 25, 2010, he announced that at the end of May he would be stepping down from his position as the lead pastor of Oak Hills to pursue the Lord's leading to serve with a church in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the audio of that special time together.

Philemon is one of Paul’s most personal letters, and it is both humbling and powerful in what it reveals about how Jesus Christ changes our lives—especially in how we treat each other and see ourselves.

Jesus teaches us to pray hallowed be your name. This is the prayer that He would continue to reveal His holiness in His ways in this world. We need to know the holiness of God because only when we behold His holiness are we driven through our despair into Hope through our Savior, who meets our need with holiness and declares us holy.