Tag Archives: satan

Jan 20 2012

Reasons to join an Oasis Group… part 2

Yesterday, I wrote a post for Oasis Church (and really, any church) about the need for people to be involved in small groups. This Sunday, January 22, we begin our sign-ups for Oasis Groups. These are times where we meet on a weeknight, in either a home or a Starbucks type location, for the purpose of reading God’s Word and praying for each other. This is one of the main ways that we are able to fellowship and show love for each other… the way we get to connect and be the body of Christ!

I shared the first of 6 reasons I believe that groups are important to the church as followers of Christ in the previous post… here are three more compelling reasons (thanks again to Rick Warren for sharing these points!).

4. A small group is the best way to share my God-given mission in the world. When Jesus walked the earth, even He had a small group! Today the church is Christ’s Body on earth. We’re not just to love each other; we’re to take that love together to the rest of the world. We’re his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. He works through us in the world “He creates each of us to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing” (Eph 2:10 Msg).

5. A small group will help keep me from spiritually backsliding. None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. God knows this, so He has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track. The Bible says, “Encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Heb 3:13).

“Mind your own business” is NOT a Christian idea when it comes to helping each other! We’re commanded to be involved in each other’s lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it’s your responsibility to go after them and bring them back into the fellowship. “If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back” (James 5:19 Msg).

Related to this is the benefit that being connected to a small group provides the spiritual protection of godly leaders. God gives shepherd leaders such as me, the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and care for the spiritual welfare of his flock. “Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God” (Heb 13:17 NLT).

  • Again, this is why we say that NO ONE STANDS ALONE! You need me… I need you… we are following Jesus TOGETHER!


6. The Body of Christ needs me! You have a background and experiences that other people can learn from and draw strength from! God has a unique role for you to play in his family. This is called your “ministry,” and God has gifted you for this assignment. “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church” (1 Cor. 12:7). Your small group is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your spiritual gifts and talents.

Join in and be part of Oasis Church… get in a group, grow in Christ, and help someone else grow in Christ this winter! Sign-ups are this Sunday after church or you can shoot me an email!

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Aug 25 2011

God At The Movies – Transformers: Dark Side of Moon

We are in the middle of a teaching series at Oasis Church called “God At The Movies”… here are some thoughts from Transformers: Dark side of Moon.

  • For those who don’t know… Transformers are actually robots who look like cars, tractor trailer, trucks, SUV’s – they are in disguise, all around us, here on earth…
  • There are two sides – Good – “Autobots” who fight for freedom & Evil – “Decepticons” who fight for tyranny

Throughout history – good and evil has battled… the war is real!

Just as there is more than meets the eye in Transformers, the same is true for the world we live in… Decepticons are real!

We face an External Decepticon – Satan is a real enemy.

Since beginning of recorded time/ history, from the very first pages of the Bible – Satan has been alive and active –

Genesis 3:6 (synopsis of story from Genesis 3…conversation between Satan and Eve where he lies to her with the idea that God can’t be trusted…) 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

  • Jesus Himself tells us that Satan is real… and that he is a liar… a deceiver… and that he has always been this way!!

John 8:44b He (Satan) has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

How do we fight this enemy?

Stop listening to Satan and start following Jesus!

God is good… the hero is Jesus… Bible is clear about that… and it is clear about the enemy/ side of evil

John 14:15- 17 If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.

  • Optimus Prime says at the end of the movie – “In any war calm between storms… Will be days you lose faith…but we will not forsake people of this planet…”
  • This statement stirs something in us… we don’t want to be forsaken… and we are not!
  • we don’t have Autobots to depend on… we have God who is bigger and stronger than enemy!

Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Check back later for part 2 of God at the Movies – Transformers!