OakHillChurchofChrist

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of committing to our transformation as a child of God. Anyone who's spent any amount of time at school knows that there are "cool" hobbies and "lame" hobbies. Part of creating your identity among your peers is about demonstrating your interest and competence in things that everyone considers "cool." Of course, if you are interested in an un-cool hobby, you have to hide it from notice to all but those who secretly also share your interest. Following Christ has become an interest that many are afraid to be known by. Being obedient to God and devoted to Jesus is a social 'strike' in many circumstances. Those who openly profess their faith and those who follow God's commands can face derision, exclusion, and contempt. After all, Jesus himself said "if they hate you, they hated me first." Many feel challenged and condemned (as the Bible puts it: 'cut to the heart') by the truth of God's Word. Instead of yielding to it and asking forgiveness, they simply reject, and if they cannot, they persecute. That makes it more attractive for believers to hide their faith and beliefs. However, God has another suggestion: be open about the God you serve and the Word you entrust your immortal soul to. Not only will you serve as a beacon, calling others in distress to you, but you will also strengthen the convictions of fellow believers. If you have not already, find a Church home to belong to, where you can fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ and gain strength for your convictions while you provide strength as well. Take heart and be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and don't worry so much about what others think about yours.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the joy of knowing that God finds value and importance in the souls of every believer. The desire to belong is important to the vast majority of people. We're created to be social beings, who are all at our best when we're united with others. Whether it's through friendship, family, marriage, or as colleagues, we often do our best when we come alongside others in need of what we can offer. God created each of us to be unique, and gave each of us various inborn talents to make us indispensable to our community. Unfortunately, recent circumstances seemed to suggest that perhaps other people were a danger, rather than a blessing. Many were conditioned to view fellowshipping with friends to be little more than a chance for danger. God, however, does not see it that way. In fact, through the Body of Christ, He has seen fit to bring together many people that otherwise would have no reason to come together at all. The Church unites people of different economic backgrounds, skill levels, personalities, nationalities, likes, and dislikes. Many groups would have none in common with the other except that they are joined by their union with God through Christ. God rejoices in bringing people with different backgrounds together, so that they, together, can be stronger than they were apart. The doctor needs a leaky roof fixed, and the roofer's daughter has a high fever. Christ brings them together so that all their needs can be met. No part of the Body is less valuable than the other. No soul can pass by God's notice. No matter what your background is, or what your skills are, God has a place for you in the Body. Your absence is missed by your family. Don't wait for Christmas or Easter to visit them. Come see that just as you need God's family, God's family needs you.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of putting God first and remembering why we worship Him. In the modern world, great emphasis is placed upon the self. It can be argued that since the era of the Enlightenment, the individual has been the primary focus of thought. The individual became the issue of paramount concern, the good of the individual: his goals, his desires, his aspirations, his fears, his concerns. This line of thinking is a relatively new one. For the majority of time, primary concerns were on what others wanted or were telling humanity. What did the gods want? What did the stars say? and so on. Our preoccupation with the self is a modern invention that from time to time simply trades old problems for new ones. The Bible offers a different solution for our outlook on life. Instead of being preoccupied with the self, we should allow our hearts to be occupied with serving devotion toward God. God has a plan for us and knows what we are capable of. If we turn ourselves to considering His desires and His plans, we will find ourselves strengthened and uplifted. It is for each of God's children to decide whether God is worth worshiping. It is also for each of God's children to discover whether what they are offering to God is, indeed, worship. This week, consider your heart and your intentions as you approach God. Consider how you approach Him and what your dialog is like. Do you treat God like God, or like a retail worker? Put God in the right place in your life, and serve Him, and He will give you what you need, daily.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the peace that comes from knowing that God is always with us. Some studies suggest that we're becoming a progressively lonelier society. Despite our technology and ability to transmit our thoughts and ideas, we're more distant than we ever were. After all, we spent a year, or more, oftentimes being required by law, to be lonely. God understands how it feels to be lonely and rejected. Not only was He abandoned by His followers in the Old Testament, but His own Son, Jesus, was also despised and rejected. The people who Christ had come to minister to put up walls to keep him out. "We're doing just fine on our own." They said, "We don't need a savior, and if we did, he wouldn't be like you." God, as revealed in the Bible and through the person of His Son, Jesus, has a heart for the lonely. He understands how it feels to be abandoned and rejected. He knows how it feels to be talked to only when someone wants Him to do them a favor. If you're feeling lonely; if you've been feeling set apart by rising social tensions in your friends or family circle; if you feel like you're the only one who still knows what right and truth are, share your feelings with God. He deeply wants to get to know you, to share with you a comforting Word for your spirit, and a reminder that no matter how others might behave, His love for you will never wane.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of using our God-given talents for God's Kingdom. In the Psalms, David declares that before he was even born; when he was yet in his mother's womb, God knew the kind of man he would become, and what he would be capable of. God put him together, so the Psalm declares, knitting him piece by piece until he was whole. God continues to do the very same for us to this day. When God puts you together, He knows what you're capable of. He knows what attributes He's giving you, and how they can be best put to use. The question is: whether you'll be a man after God's heart, or after another's. It is indeed a good idea to fruitfully use your God-given talents to support yourself in the world. But, Jesus suggests in the Parable of the Talents, that some of that use belongs to God. It was God who gave you such tremendous possibilities, and God, likewise, watches to see how His investment turns out. God yearns to say of all of His children "well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord" but that great honor does not come easily. Dedication and interest are needed, directed at those things which better God's Kingdom. This week, consider what things you are doing, or might be able to do, to fully invest your talents in giving increase to God's Kingdom. Strive forward to the future hearing of God rewarding you for your hard work and determination.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the plans of God for our lives. Life started badly for Moses. Due to Egyptian law, he was supposed to be killed, but his mother placed him in a river where he was rescued by a princess. The princess adopted him and raised him in the palace of the Pharaoh. But, since royal family members typically don't raise children on their own, God ensured that Moses was raised by his own mother. Moses received the education of an Egyptian prince, offering the best possible training for his intellect. Then, due to his rash behavior, he fled into the wilderness where he lived in exile as a shepherd for many years. During that time he married and raised children of his own. After many years of exile, he returned to Egypt as God's own messenger, eventually leading his people out of their captivity in Egypt and to the Promised Land. There were many points in Moses' life where things seemed to be falling apart. If you only saw those moments, you might conclude that God had abandoned him. Yet, looking at Moses' life in the whole, God certainly blessed Moses quite a bit. In fact, the setbacks Moses experienced turned out to be opportunities for him to gain the skills he would need to lead his people to the Promised Land. There are times when your life might seem on a downward slope. It might feel like God stopped listening, or stopped caring. Unfortunately, we can't see things the way God does. God knows exactly what's going to happen, and He knows exactly what it will take to get there. Sometimes, this might mean seasons of difficulty, discomfort, or disappointment. In those times, remember Romans 8:28, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." If you love God, and you're doing things in accordance with God's purposes, and you're still going through tough times, trust in your Creator, and accept the challenge He has given to you, because you never know how God intends to use those moments for the good in the future.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the value of patience when waiting for God to provide opportunities. Many years ago, there were a series of television advertisements extolling the virtues of being a driver. "Don't be a passenger, be a driver" was more or less how it went. The valued attribute lay in taking charge, making decisions, and being active instead of passive. However, that is not always what God wants from His people. Yes, God wants us to take action and be courageous, but He also wants us to develop patience, whereby we learn how to understand that God has asked us to wait. In the New Testament, we have a record of very brave men heading out into the world to spread the Gospel. God does want brave men courageously venturing out to spread the truth. But, for these men, the destination they had chosen was not the one that God had in mind. He had a different location for them. Sometimes, we might find ourselves frustrated with what we see as God's forestalling of our mighty plans. "How could God prevent my righteous goals?" "Doesn't God know I'm trying to serve Him with this great idea I have?" "Why does God prevent me from doing something so obviously good?" The Bible instructs that God's plans are superior to ours, for God can see not only the past, but the future as well. For those of us who are feeling our great and mighty plans forestalled by God, it could be that God has an even better destination in mind, and our duty is to develop the patience to wait until He provides us with that new path.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of waiting for God to do His work in our lives. "Do something!" Is often the battle-cry of the fearful. There's a perception among many that immediate action is the sign of competence, and that quick responses are the symbol of a capable leader. We often regard inaction or slow action as a sign of cowardice or incompetence. We regard those who wait patiently as deficient in leadership. Even Christians may demand immediacy, citing the expression of faith being a race that must be won. However, Ecclesiastes 9:11 reminds us that "the race is not to the swift..." Jesus shows us through the example of his friends, such as Peter, that waiting is part of faith too, and patience is not inaction, but readying for action. Jesus told peter to wait so that the Holy Spirit could come and show them what to do next (Acts 1:4-5). God wants us to exercise our patience. Instead of acting rashly and making emotional judgments, He tells us to wait and ready ourselves. Those presumptions and assumptions we may have could prove wrong. A rash action or harsh word said in anger could hinder a relationship. We have all made mistakes in the past. Even Peter himself gave in to rash action. Still, Jesus advised being still and waiting. Giving God a chance to direct the course through the Holy Spirit which dwells within all of us. This week, give it a try. Let God work things out, don't give in to impulse. You'll find that God's path leads to a much better place.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of trusting God through Christ to grant us salvation. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and part of that wisdom is formulating a plan of action before taking it. Jesus says in Luke 8:28, "For which of you wanting to build a tower, does not, having first sat down, count the cost whether he has the things for completion?" Before you begin, have a plan to finish. Don't start until you know how it's going to end. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to hear those words of wisdom. Some find themselves prone to taking rash action, letting their emotions lead them by the neck. Still others are unable to take action in any instance. For them, the skies are never clear enough, the wind never favorable enough. For most troubles in life, poor decisions may be corrected, even if over years. Mistakes may be undone, and problems addressed. We may formulate a plan to leave a bad relationship, a bad school environment, a bad work environment, an ungodly fellowship, and so on. We count the cost, weigh the options, and make our choice. We have a good idea of how our choices will end, both the benefits and the drawbacks. Unfortunately, many people fail to exercise this same wisdom and judgment when it comes to their immortal soul. They don't plan for "leaving" this world and entering the next one. They may have some idea of what should happen, generally, but they haven't sat down to think it through. They haven't counted the cost. God calls upon us to count the cost of salvation. Shall we turn to Him through His Son Jesus, quit our lives of sin, and live lives of Godliness and obedience, knowing that such a choice will bring us into eternal union with our Father in Heaven. Or, shall we worship another? According to God, your loving Father, you do get to make your choice. You get to choose what you'll sacrifice and receive what was promised accordingly. You don't get to not choose.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of coming to Christ to seek direction in our lives. For many Americans, the concept of independence and self-reliance is a strong one. Americans revere an independent spirit, someone who is able to make something of themselves through effort and determination. That can make God's message even more difficult to hear, because what believers learn through Christ's teaching is that God spurns independence. That doesn't mean God wants us to be slovenly layabouts waiting for free stuff. It means God wants us to look outside of ourselves for guidance and direction. He wants us to be dependent, on Him. Following Jesus' crucifixion, we learn that Peter and his friends have returned to their previous occupation: fishing. It's a reasonable choice, from Peter's perspective. You thought you were following the Messiah, but now he's gone. There's no use in being a follower with no leader, so what do you do? You go back to doing something you can manage on your own. The problem is, Peter misunderstood the situation. Jesus hadn't abandoned him. Jesus returned to Peter, inviting him to look at things a different way. Peter had spent the whole day fishing, only to have caught nothing. After following Jesus, of course, he caught plenty. That's the message God has for each of us. When we devote ourselves to listening to Him and following His direction - when we allow God to lead us, we receive our plenty.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.

Oak Hill Church of Christ preaching minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the power of true forgiveness that comes through a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Many of us American children were assigned to read a book about the "Scarlet Letter" in which a character who had an adulterous past was forced to wear the symbol of her sin openly, in the hopes that shame and ridicule would lead to forbearance from that sin, not only hers, but those who might likewise be tempted. Modernly, there are videos a-plenty featuring wrongdoers wearing sandwich signs or even vests featuring their iniquity. Like the pillory of old, the goal is to use social shame to enforce compliance with cultural morals and behavior. Shame is a powerful tool for social creatures like humans. Interestingly enough, though God is definitely a proponent of sinless societies, God would prefer not to use compulsive reminders and shame in order to correct His children. Through Christ, God offers forgiveness and freedom from the past. God offers new life through His Son. Those who inwardly recognize their iniquities can turn to God for a cleansing, instead of the red letter. If you've been living with red letters covering your clothes symbolizing all the sins you've committed, wondering how God could possibly reconcile with what looks like the NASCAR sponsorship jumpsuit of sin, take some time to learn about what God has in store for the children He loves, accept Christ, die to your old self, and be reborn to newness of life. If God can forget your past, maybe you can, too.

Oak Hill Church of preaching minister, Randy Sterling delivers a Bible message. Please worship and fellowship with us as we sing songs of praise and share our love of God's word.