The Orchard Owasso

06/11/2026

This Sunday, we began our summer series in the Psalms by exploring Psalm 19, which C.S. Lewis called "probably the best lyric ever written." The sermon revealed how God continually communicates with us through two primary means: His creation (the world around us) and His Word (Scripture). We examined how the universe declares God's glory without words - revealing His existence, power, and artistry - while His Word provides the specific revelation of His character, mercy, and the gospel. The appropriate response to encountering God's voice is to recognize our own sinfulness, which then leads us to worship our Redeemer with gratitude and humility.

Takeaways:

God speaks to us daily through creation - the beauty, power, and intricate design of nature all declare His glory and remind us that He exists, He is powerful, and He cares for us. When we feel distant from God, we should intentionally spend time outside observing His handiwork.

Scripture is not a burden or checklist item but a treat to be craved like honey. God's Word renews our lives, gives us wisdom, makes our hearts glad, and provides clear vision. We should approach Bible reading not with guilt but with anticipation, knowing that when we read Scripture, we are hearing directly from God.

The progression of worship involves seeing God's goodness, recognizing our sinfulness in light of His holiness, and then worshiping Jesus our Redeemer. This pattern from Psalm 19 should shape our daily spiritual lives as we encounter God's voice in creation and Scripture.

I want to challenge you this week with two simple but profound questions from the sermon: When is the last time you were outside and worshiped the Creator God? And when is the last time you spent real time - not checklist Christian time - in God's Word? May we slow down enough this week to hear God speaking to us in both ways.

06/10/2026

When was the last time you heard God speak? He's been talking to you all along—through the beauty of His creation and through His Word.

Psalm 19 reveals two powerful ways God communicates with us daily: through the majesty of nature that surrounds us and through Scripture. The heavens declare His glory, and His Word revives our souls. But here's the question—are we slowing down enough to listen?

God's Word isn't meant to be a chore or guilt trip. David describes it as sweeter than honey—something to crave, not dread. When we see God's goodness and power, it should lead us to recognize our brokenness and worship our Redeemer. This week, make time to go outside and worship. Open your Bible with expectation, not obligation. God is speaking—let's tune in.

06/08/2026

What legacy are you writing with your life today?

In Acts 9, we meet Tabitha—a woman who simply made clothes for widows. No grand sermons. No massive platform. Just faithful obedience in the ordinary. Yet when she died, an entire community wept and showed Peter the robes she'd made. Her simple acts of service impacted a whole city for Christ.

Here's the truth: You'll never know the full impact of your obedience. We spend our lives chasing "rabbits"—promotions, comfort, recognition—thinking they'll satisfy us. But you weren't created for temporary things. You were created to make God's name known right where you are.

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. The person you're called to serve, the conversation you're meant to have, the simple act of kindness God's pressing on your heart—that could change everything. What will people say at your funeral? Whatever script you're writing right now.

06/05/2026

We explored two healing miracles performed by Peter—the healing of a paralyzed man named Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead. While these stories might seem like simple miracle accounts, they reveal powerful truths about living with purpose. Peter actively sought out people to share Christ with, demonstrating that we're called to be intentional witnesses. Tabitha's story shows us that even the smallest acts of service—like sewing clothes for widows—can have eternal impact when done for God's glory. The sermon challenged us to examine what "script" we're currently writing with our lives and whether we're living for our own name or for the name above all names.

Your past doesn't define you anymore. Just as the paralyzed man was told to "take up his mat," Jesus tells us there is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1). Stop letting shame and embarrassment hold you back from being missional for Jesus.
You don't know the impact you'll have—just be obedient. Tabitha simply used her gift of sewing to serve widows, and an entire city came to know the Lord. We're not called to know the results; we're called to walk in obedience where God has placed us.
Stop chasing rabbits and live for God's glory. Like greyhounds chasing a mechanical rabbit named Rusty, we spend our lives pursuing promotions, possessions, and accomplishments that leave us empty. We were created to live out God's name with our lives, not to make a name for ourselves.
As you go through this week, ask yourself: When was the last time I actively sought someone out to share Christ with? What would people say at my funeral based on the script I'm writing right now? Am I living for temporary things or eternal impact?

Let's be a church that cares more about what God cares about than what the world values.

06/03/2026

NEW SERIES ALERT!!! ‼️‼️

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Summary: This week's sermon explored Acts 9:19-31, following Saul's transformation from persecutor to proclaimer. Despite facing rejection from both his former colleagues and initially from the disciples themselves, Saul continued to speak boldly about Jesus. Which challenged us to examine whether we're living as Sunday-only Christians or as all-of-life witnesses, equipped by God's Word and empowered by His Spirit. When God's people truly live out the gospel, the result is peace, encouragement, strength, and multiplication—just as we see in verse 31.

Key Takeaways:
Don't let "isn't he/she the one" stop you. We all have pasts that people might use against us, but our past has been paid for and washed clean. Like Saul, we can't let fear of what others will say about our history prevent us from living missionally where God has placed us.
Be a Barnabas and find your Barnabas. We need encouragers in our lives who will stand up for us and walk alongside us. Equally important, we need to be that person for others in a world drowning in negativity. Take time this week to reach out to someone who has encouraged you, and look for opportunities to boldly encourage someone else.
Bold witness is an all-of-life calling. Being a witness means being equipped by the Word of God and empowered by the Spirit of God to take the name of Jesus everywhere God has placed us. This isn't a Sunday morning checkbox—it's a daily, moment-by-moment way of life. When we live this way collectively, the church experiences peace, strength, encouragement, and growth.

Let's be a church known for peace, encouragement, and genuine love—not because we're trying to manufacture it, but because we're truly living out the gospel in every area of our lives.

05/26/2026

What if your past doesn't disqualify you—it positions you? Saul went from persecutor to proclaimer IMMEDIATELY after encountering Jesus. He didn't wait for approval or for his reputation to recover. He boldly spoke the name of Jesus to the very people who knew his past.

We're all "chosen instruments" (Acts 9:15), equipped by God's Word and empowered by His Spirit to be witnesses right where we are—at work, in our neighborhoods, with our families. The question isn't whether you're qualified. It's whether you'll be bold. Will people describe your faith as passionate or passive? Sunday-only or all-of-life?

When God's people actually live on mission, the result is always the same: peace, strength, encouragement, and multiplication (Acts 9:31). The gospel doesn't just survive—it multiplies. So stop waiting. Stop hiding behind your "isn't he the one who..." past. God's already paid for it. Now go be bold.

05/22/2026

This week's sermon took us into Acts 9, where we witnessed one of the most dramatic conversion stories in Scripture—the transformation of Saul, the relentless persecutor of Christians, into Paul, God's chosen instrument. This passage powerfully reminds us that no one is too far from God's reach, and that when He saves us, He doesn't just rescue us—He commissions us. Every believer has been hunted down by God's love and chosen as His instrument to carry the gospel wherever our feet are planted. This isn't a call to comfort, but to purposeful mission in our everyday lives.

No one is beyond God's saving grace. Saul was the furthest person from Jesus—born into the highest Jewish pedigree, trained under the most respected teachers, and actively terrorizing Christians. Yet God knocked him off his horse and extended mercy instead of judgment. If God can save Saul, He can save anyone in your life you think is "too far gone."

You are a chosen instrument, not just a saved soul. God didn't just save you to make you comfortable—He saved you to make you useful. Just as God told Ananias that Saul was "my chosen instrument to take my name to the Gentiles," you have been strategically placed where you are to carry Jesus' name to your neighbors, coworkers, and family members. Your salvation comes with a commission.

This week, I encourage you to sit with these questions: Have you lost your affection for the One who hunted you down? Are you settling for something far less than the calling God has placed on your life? Let's reignite that fire—remembering that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, and now He's called us to be His witnesses wherever He's placed us.

May we respond with the same obedience as Ananias, who simply "went" when God called him to the very person who had terrorized his community. May we greet every new believer—no matter their past—with the words "brother" or "sister," celebrating what God has done.