Oak Grove Community Church - Meridian, MS

Oak Grove Community Church - Meridian, MS "Believers in one heart, experiencing the one true God." Welcome to the official page for Oak Grove United Methodist Church! Rev.

Phillip Dearman - Pastor
Grant Brown - Laity Leader
Rie Moulds- Music Leader
Frances Kidd - Pianist

Sunday School: 9:30 AM
Morning Worship: 10:30 AM

Tuesday night Choir practice: 6:00 PM
Family Supper: 7:00 PM
Bible Study/Youth: 7:30 PM

Second Sunday of the month: You can bring a canned food item for our food pantry and a contribution for our Improvement Fund. Also join us for Family Dinner po

tluck lunch after worship! Fourth Sunday: Lost and Found for God Collection: Did you find some loose change or a dollar or two that you thought you had lost? You can donate it to our Lost and Found for God fund! Monies from this fund are used to help those in need. Each Sunday, bring some loose change for our Penny and Quarter March. Money collected by our children directly benefits them through Vacation Bible School and opportunities to attend church camp. We'd love to see you at Oak Grove United Methodist Church! We're the church on the hill at the end of Valley Road in Clarkdale!

09/05/2026

Living in God’s Grace

God’s grace is endless, and He invites us to make it our home.

September 5, 2026

Philippians 1:1-11

1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Since all of Paul’s letters begin with an expression of God’s grace, we may be tempted to think that it is simply a customary word of greeting. But in reality, God’s grace is our foundation and the very atmosphere in which we live as believers in Christ.

Grace is the undeserved favor of God. And according to Ephesians 2:8, it’s the means by which we are saved through faith. Romans 5:2 says that by our faith, we have “obtained our introduction … into this grace in which we stand.” Grace isn’t a one-time gift—it sustains us throughout life and into eternity. And it never ceases to do its work in us. That’s why Paul could confidently say, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).

Sometimes it’s difficult to see righteousness in ourselves, because we know how weak and flawed we are. But even that awareness can draw us closer to Christ. If we’ve been saved, then the Lord lives in us and we in Him (1 John 4:13). Jesus is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30), and He’s actively producing His fruit in our life as we abide in Him. This process, known as sanctification, is God’s grace working to align our character with the Son’s. So let’s stand firm in divine grace and trust God to complete what He started.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 29-31

09/03/2026

Waiting for the Right Door to Open

When God closes a door, it’s an open to invitation to walk with Him down the path He has for us.

September 3, 2026

Acts 16:5-12

5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily. 6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, ``Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days.

It’s natural to feel disappointed when a door of opportunity closes. But our heavenly Father will often prevent us from going forward when He wants to redirect our steps toward a wiser path. What shapes our journey is our reaction: Will we beat against the barred door or look for a new opening?

Paul’s second missionary journey included a series of divine “no admittance” signs. He set out to visit the churches he’d started across Asia, but the Holy Spirit led him away from city after city. Considering the apostle’s sense of urgency for the gospel, each closed door must have been deeply disorienting.

But Paul kept traveling in search of a place to plant a new church, and at last the Lord revealed an open door to Macedonia. The new route led into key cities with great promise. Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus were major commerce centers teeming with dignitaries and traders who could carry the gospel farther and faster than the apostle ever could alone.

The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord instead of our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). When we learn to follow the Spirit’s prompting—even past doors we hoped would open—He directs our steps through the right ones.

Bible in One Year:Ezekiel 23-25

08/30/2026

More Than Words

Following Christ means having an active faith and loving others without holding back.

August 30, 2026

James 2:14-17

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, ``Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

In today’s passage, James writes to a community that has lost sight of what it truly means to follow Christ.

He paints an uncomfortable picture: A neighbor shows up hungry and cold but is sent away with platitudes: “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled” (v. 16). Yet nothing is done to actually help. The gap between what we say and what we do tells the truth about what we truly believe. James is not merely promoting ideas about faith. He’s interested in faith that acts.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus never responded to human need with good intentions alone. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and restored the broken. He found the demoniac wild, naked, and cutting himself with stones. But by the time the Gerasenes arrived, the man was sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind (Mark 5:1-20). Our Lord’s care is never simply words.

Active faith grows from knowing this God—the One who is always moving toward us, making all things new. The more we receive from Him, the less we can stay still when someone around us is in need.

Living faith looks like love in motion. And love, by its nature, never holds back.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 10-12

08/29/2026

Evidence of Our Growth

As we draw closer to God, the evidence of spiritual growth becomes visible in our daily life.

August 29, 2026

James 4:7-8

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

We all want to see evidence that we’re growing in faith, but the signs aren’t always dramatic. Most of the time, they show up quietly, in the everyday moments of life.

Spiritual growth often shows up in our relationships. We find ourselves offering forgiveness where we once held grudges. We extend patience to people who used to exhaust us. Consider our Savior, who asked God to forgive the very ones crucifying Him (Luke 23:34). That kind of love doesn’t come naturally to us; it’s the fruit of a life increasingly shaped by God’s presence.

Growth also changes what satisfies us. Over time, we find less fulfillment in what the world offers and more in simply drawing near to God. As our trust deepens, we discover how faithful He truly is, which becomes its own invitation to trust Him more.

Eventually, obedience stops feeling like obligation. The psalmist wrote, “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). That delight is born not from duty but from love—the natural response of a heart that has come to know God’s goodness firsthand.

These aren’t achievements to strive for. They’re signs of what God is already doing in us. Intentionally seek time in His presence and watch how good things take root.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 7-9

08/26/2026

The Truth Will Set You Free

God’s Word reminds us of the joy and freedom of belonging to Jesus.

August 26, 2026

Ephesians 1:3-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

What does it mean to belong to Jesus? This question gets at the heart of our identity as believers—and understanding the answer brings profound joy and peace.

God made a way for us to be part of His family. Before the foundation of the world, He planned our redemption so that we who were far from Him could be brought near through Christ. This reality defines our identity as God’s children. It stands as a rock that stabilizes us when fears and anxieties threaten to overwhelm us.

In spite of this, many believers become unsettled when they think about their sin nature. Knowing that the Lord opposes sin, they become fearful and ashamed. We need to remind ourselves of God’s Word, which assures us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

Keep in mind that the Father has welcomed you as one of His own. And that means you are somebody very special to God. In fact, you are so dear to Him that He sent His only Son into a sinful world to die on the cross so you could be near to Him. This is pure, unadulterated grace—God’s love poured out for us.

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 3-5

08/25/2026

Building Intimacy With God

Every small step toward God can lead us into deeper intimacy with Him.

August 25, 2026

Psalms 139:1-4

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

Intimacy with God doesn’t just happen. As is true of any meaningful relationship, closeness with Him requires intentionality and ...

~Honesty about where we are. We can’t build intimacy while pretending everything is fine. God already knows our struggles, doubts, and failures. He wants us to bring our real self to Him rather than a polished version.

~Confession isn’t about informing God of something He doesn’t know; it’s about agreeing with Him about the truth of our condition.

~Willingness to trust in His character. Intimacy grows when we understand who God truly is. The more we know His faithfulness, goodness, and love, the more confidently we can draw near. Trust doesn’t mean we never question; rather, it means we anchor ourselves in what we know to be true about Him.

~Vulnerability before Him. We’re to open our heart to God—in other words, let Him see our fears, disappointments, and longings. Unlike other relationships, where vulnerability can lead to rejection, the Lord knows us fully and loves us still.

God designed us for intimacy with Him. He’s always available, always present. Even small steps toward Him—a moment of honest prayer, reading His Word, sitting quietly in His presence—draw us closer (Psalm 145:18). He meets us wherever we are.

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 1-2

08/23/2026

Confident About Salvation

Because of Christ’s victory on the cross, we have the blessed assurance of joy, forgiveness, and eternal life with Him.

August 23, 2026

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Salvation fills believers with joy! When we grasp what God has done, confidence becomes the foundation for a life of purpose and peace.

We all start in the same place—separated from God by sin, unable to bridge the gap (Ephesians 2:12). No amount of good behavior or sincere effort can reconnect us to God. We’re spiritually dead, in desperate need of rescue.

And here’s the staggering good news: Jesus shed His blood for our sins (Romans 6:23). His death on the cross wasn’t a tragic ending—it was the victory over sin and death itself. When we trust in Jesus as Savior, God declares us forgiven.

But God doesn’t save us and then leave us to figure out the rest on our own. He sends His Holy Spirit to live within everyone who places faith in Jesus (Romans 8:11). The Spirit guides us into truth, transforms our desires, and empowers us to live in ways that honor God.

This is what salvation offers: forgiveness, new life, God’s presence within us, and the promise of eternity with Him. Jesus is the way to eternal life (1 John 5:11-12), and the Holy Spirit provides everything we need in order to walk with Him. What blessed assurance!

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 49-50

08/21/2026

The Consequences of Jealousy

Understanding envy and its destructive impact can encourage us to confront and overcome it.

August 21, 2026

Romans 13:13-14

13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

In learning about the nature of jealousy, perhaps you realize you struggle a bit with this problem. If so, it’s important to address. Left unchecked, envy doesn’t just stay in our mind—it spills out and causes great damage (Prov. 14:30 NIV), such as ...

*Broken relationships. Jealousy creates distance between us and the people we envy. We pull away, become critical, or struggle to celebrate their good news.

*Constant dissatisfaction. When we’re focused on what others have, it’s hard to enjoy what is in front of us. Jealousy trains us to always look elsewhere for contentment, which we’ll never find.

*Wasted energy. The mental and emotional energy spent comparing ourselves to others could be better invested in our own growth, relationships, and calling. Jealousy leaves us stuck.

*Bitterness and resentment. Over time, jealousy hardens into something uglier. What starts as “I wish I had that” becomes animosity that poisons our entire outlook.

*Loss of peace. Jealousy and peace cannot coexist. When we’re consumed with envy, we forfeit contentment and rest.

Understanding destructive consequences may encourage you to address this issue in your life. Then, with God’s help, you can begin the journey toward healing and restoration.

Bible in One Year:Jeremiah 41-45

08/18/2026

How Fellowship Differs From Salvation

Confessing our sins restores us to the joy of His presence.

August 18, 2026

1 John 1:5-7

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

John’s first epistle isn’t about salvation, even though it teaches the necessity of confessing sin. This letter was written to people who already had a relationship with God but needed a reminder of how to remain in fellowship with Him. The Father wants believers to enjoy His presence, but unconfessed sin can hinder that.

Christians have been made new (2 Corinthians 5:17) but aren’t yet perfect and still struggle with temptation. Our physical bodies have natural desires for rest, food, and pleasure. When such yearnings are under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we live a joyful, God-honoring life. But when we allow them to control us, we step out of fellowship with Him and “walk in darkness” (1 John 1:6).

It’s important to understand that “walking in darkness” does not mean a believer can lose salvation—those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior will never perish (John 10:28-29). Rather, it means we’re choosing to live in a way that weakens our awareness of God’s presence.

Our Father wants us to be in fellowship with Him so we’ll experience fullness of joy. This happens when we spend time in His presence (Psalm 16:11), align ourselves with His will, and share Him with those around us. And if that fellowship is interrupted, confession can restore it, as we’ll see tomorrow.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 31-32

08/12/2026

Humility and Greatness

In a culture that idolizes success, we are called to something greater—using our gifts to serve Him.

August 12, 2026

Matthew 20:20-28

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, ``What do you wish?" She said to Him, ``Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left." 22 But Jesus answered, ``You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, ``We are able." 23 He said to them, ``My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father." 24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ``You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 ``It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

What do you want Christ to do for you? That’s the question Jesus asked the mother of James and John when she requested that her sons be given places of prominence and authority in His kingdom (Matt. 20:20-21). It’s worth examining our own requests to Jesus—what are we asking Him for?

We live in a culture that equates greatness with power, visibility, and moving up the ladder of success. But Jesus taught something radically different:
“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant” (v. 26). In God’s kingdom, greatness is measured by humble service to others, not earthly accomplishments or recognition.

True greatness, from heaven’s perspective, is measured not on earth but in eternity. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, He’ll be looking at how we served others in His name, not at our impressive résumés.

Humble people understand who they are—and who the Lord is. Their assignment while on earth is to use whatever He has entrusted to them in ways that glorify Him and benefit others. This is the pathway Jesus modeled for us—not grasping for position but serving with whatever gifts we’ve been given.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 12-14

Address

6884 Valley Road
Meridian, MS
39307

Opening Hours

Wednesday 6pm - 7:30pm
Sunday 9am - 12am

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