OAKWOOD DEAF COMMUNITY CHURCH

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OAKWOOD DEAF COMMUNITY CHURCH

Oakwood Deaf Community Church

A place for you to KNOW, GROW, and GO for Jesus Christ.

Grow in Christ through God's Word, and bring others to fellowship with Him and His church.

11/14/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

“God, You are my God. I search for You. I thirst for You like someone in a dry, empty land where there is no water.” Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬ ‭NCV‬‬

In today’s reading, David expresses a deep longing for God’s presence. He knows that only God can satisfy. He confesses, “I thirst for You like someone in a dry, empty land where there is no water” (verse 1, NCV). As a dry and cracked desert landscape needs water for life to flourish, David knows that he needs intimacy with God in order to survive.

David finds the answer by searching his memory. He looks back on the times when he saw God in the sanctuary and beheld His power and glory (verse 2). He remembers God’s faithful commitment to His people. He declares, “Your love is better than life” (verse 3). The word for love here is hesed. It refers to God’s loyalty to His covenant with Israel. David knows that to be in right relationship with God is more important than life itself.

As David is reminded of God’s faithfulness, he breaks forth in praise, “I will praise You as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in prayer to Your name” (verse 4, NCV). David prayed this while in the wilderness. He was likely on the run from Saul, or Absalom. In that context, sleep is a time when one would be especially vulnerable to surprise or attack. David declares, “I remember You while I’m lying in bed; I think about You through the night” (verse 6, NCV). He knows that God is his shelter. Because of this, he is confident in God’s protection (verses 9–10). He knows that ultimately the “mouths of liars will be shut,” but his mouth will be wide open “lips will singing” (verses 11, 5).

Go Deeper

In Christ’s work on the cross, we have seen God’s love powerfully displayed.

When we feel like God is distant, like we are in the wilderness, what should we remember?

Pray with Us

Dear God, today we are focused on praise. We have so many reasons to thank You. As we reflect on all that You have given, we are deeply grateful. How great is our God! And how many reasons we have to give you thanks!

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/13/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

“The Lord is great; he should be praised in the city of our God, on His holy mountain.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭48‬:‭1‬ ‭NCV‬‬

When Hezekiah was king of Judah, the powerful nation of Assyria marched into their land and threatened Jerusalem. The commander of the Assyrians taunted the Judean king, even offering to give him two thousand horses for their upcoming battle (2 Kings 18:23). Hezekiah went into the Temple and prayed for God to intervene. That night, the angel of the Lord decimated the Assyrian army, forcing them to head back to their own country (2 Kings 19:35–36).

This event had a profound impact on the nation of Judah. It is possible that Psalm 48 was written in response to this crisis and God’s miraculous intervention. The psalmist proclaims, ““The Lord is great; he should be praised …” (verse 1, NCV) That sets the tone for this joyful hymn which celebrates Jerusalem as the place where God dwells as the “Great King” (verse 2). He compares Jerusalem to the “high mountains” (verse 2). Zaphon was the mountain north of Israel where Canaanites believed their god Baal reigned as king. The psalmist here declares that the Lord alone is the real King.

Julius Caesar once famously proclaimed, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”). The kings described in verses 4–7 “came, saw, and fled!” They surrounded Jerusalem but were dismayed by its secure position. The city was not secure because of its magnificent towers or fortifications, but because it was where God dwelled (verse 9). The psalmist ends by meditating on the faithfulness of God to protect His people (verse 9). Because of the salvation God has accomplished, the people praise Him “… all over the earth …” (verse 10, NCV). His people want to pass on to their children and grandchildren their testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Go Deeper

How can you tell the next generation about God’s work in your life?

Consider one way you can share your faith stories with your children or grandchildren.

Pray with Us

Lord, thank You for Your love that “… reaches to the heavens, your loyalty to the skies” (Psalm 36:5, NCV). We place our trust and hope in You alone. Help us not to obsess about the wicked, but instead turn our attention to You.

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/12/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Myself.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Bible Reading - Psalm 47

In today’s psalm, the writer encourages all the nations to “Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise” (verse 1, NLT)! He was so delighted in God that he wanted the whole world to join him. God had done great things for Israel. He had subdued the Canaanites under the leadership of Joshua during the period of the conquest (verse 3). He had fulfilled His promise to Abraham that Israel would dwell in the land of Canaan (verse 4). This demonstrated His love for Israel and His faithfulness to them (verse 4).

God is also to be praised because He is “awesome” (verse 2). He rules over the nations and is “supreme” (verses 8–9). This psalm envisions God ascending to His heavenly throne and ruling over all people (verses 5–8). In a final picture of God’s universal rule, the poet describes how “The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham” (verse 9a, NLT). Even though this psalm began by celebrating things God had specifically done to help Israel, it ends by presenting a vision of leaders from every nation assembling with Israel in honor to God. This anticipates the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that through his offspring “all peoples on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Go Deeper

How comfortable are you with telling others about your faith?

One way to think about evangelism is wanting other people to join you in your delight in Jesus and what He has done for you.

Pray with Us

We invite you to pray and worship the Lord in a new way. Maybe follow the invitation in this psalm to “Clap your hands!” or to “Shout to God with joyful praise” (verse 1) The Lord delights in our creativity!

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/11/2025

Happy Veterans Day 🇺🇸 to all veterans! Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and for protecting our nation's freedoms. Today, the nation honors you with gratitude for your bravery and dedication. 🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

WORD OF THANKFUL

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”
‭‭Psalm 40:3, NLT

Bible Reading - Psalm 40

Before church on Sunday mornings, a small group of us meet to share prayer requests and praises. It always seems easier to remember prayer requests than it does reasons for thanksgiving. We don’t have to search long to remember illness, financial needs, or plight of a wayward child. However, when it comes time for giving thanks, it often feels more difficult.

In Psalm 40, David is not shy about giving thanks to the Lord. He remembers a time when the Lord heard his cry for help and answered (verse 1). He recounts, “He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock and made my feet steady” (verse 2, NCV). This experience of deliverance led David to praise God publicly to let everyone know what God had done (verse 3).

David’s personal experience of thanksgiving led him to recount God’s attributes and character. He confessed that God is not primarily pleased by external obedience, but by obedience that comes from the heart (verses 6–8). When we worship, our motives matter. It is the combination of sacrifice with the right attitude that makes it valuable (Jeremiah 6:20; Amos 5:22). David resolved not to conceal who God is or what He has done. He will spend his days proclaiming God’s love to all (verse 10).

David’s ability to remember God’s faithfulness gave him confidence to approach God afresh when a new set of difficulties had arisen (verses 11–17). Following the Lord does not mean a life free from troubles or difficulties. In fact, just as we get delivered from one situation, it often feels like we end up in another one. David here reminds us to continue to come to Him with our needs and to proclaim His faithfulness when those needs are met. On this side of the cross, we can always give thanks for the salvation that the Lord Jesus has achieved for us (1 John 2:1–2, NCV) “My dear children, I write this letter to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a helper in the presence of the Father—Jesus Christ, the One who does what is right. He died in our place to take away our sins, and not only our sins but the sins of all people.”
‭‭
Go Deeper

Again and again in the Psalms we saw David get into trouble, plead for help, be rescued, and then get into difficulty again. His cycle is familiar to us.

What can we learn from David’s experience?

Pray with Us

Lord, show us what we can learn from David’s life, the things he revealed in his psalms of praise to You. Thank You that, like David, we can always come to You with our needs and find help and comfort.

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/08/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

“You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness. I will sing to You and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise You forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Bible Reading- Psalm 30

David’s life followed a similar pattern. In Psalm 30, David recounts a time when he found himself in significant distress. He described being in the “grave; You spared me from going down to the place of the dead” (verse 3, NCV) Most commentators believe he experienced a serious illness. Upon reflection, David realized his downfall was due to his arrogance. Pride had been his downfall. He cried out to the Lord for mercy, and the Lord answered his prayer in verse 2, NCV, “Lord, my God, I prayed to You, and You healed me.”
‭
What is most interesting in this psalm is one of the reasons David asked God to heal him. He told the Lord, “I said, “What good will it do if I die or if I go down to the grave? Dust cannot praise You; it cannot speak about Your truth” (verse 9‬, NCV‬‬).
For David, life and death were more than just physical states. To be truly alive meant to live in right relation to God, praising Him. Death is described as a state where there is no longer any praise. David was overjoyed at the Lord’s answered prayer. The Lord turned his “ “sorrow into dancing” so that “I will sing to You and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise You forever” (verse 11-12, NCV). Often, when the Lord answers our prayers, it can be easy to forget the situation we were in. David models the importance of giving public testimony to the Lord’s work in our life.

Go Deeper

Has the Lord answered your prayer recently?

Let that be known. You’ll give God the glory and can be a great encouragement to others.

Pray with Us

Lord, thank You for the many times You have turned our wailing into dancing. Nothing is beyond Your control. What a privilege to speak to the Almighty!

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/07/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

The Lord Is King

“The Lord controls the flood. The Lord will be King forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭29‬:‭10‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Bible Read - Psalm 29

According to the National Geographic, about a hundred lightning bolts strike the earth’s surface every second. Despite its commonality, the facts about lightning still boggle the mind. Each bolt of lightning can contain up to one billion volts of electricity. These bolts of energy streak toward the earth at around 200,000 mph, heating the air to five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Lightning is certainly an illuminating example of the power of God.

In the ancient world, many cultures worshiped storm deities. The Canaanites worshiped Baal, the Babylonians worshiped Marduk, and the Assyrians worshiped Asshur. In Psalm 29, David applies this storm imagery to the Lord. He argues that thunderstorms demonstrate the Lord’s power and should not be attributed to Baal or any other god.

The psalm begins with a call to all heavenly beings to “ … honor the Lord for His glory and strength” (verse 1b, NLT). The heart of the psalm is structured around seven statements David makes about the “voice of the LORD” (verses 3–9). He pictures the Lord’s voice thundering over the waters, breaking the mighty cedars of Lebanon, shaking the desert, and stripping the forests of their leaves. The imagery is mighty. God’s power is untamable and demands respect.

The final two verses describe the Lord taking up His throne and reigning as King forever (verses 10–11). Despite the Lord’s destructive power celebrated in this psalm, the poem ends with the line, “The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace” (verse 11, NLT). He uses His power to bring wholeness and well being to His people. The voice of the Lord is ultimately the voice of peace for those who acknowledge and submit to His reign. Today, let’s remember: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord All-Powerful. His glory fills the whole earth” (Isaiah 6:3b, NCV).

Go Deeper

Do we sometimes take our relationship with God too casually?

How long has it been since you were overwhelmed by God’s greatness and glory?

Pray with Us

“Holy, holy, holy” are you God! We come before You humbly, so overwhelmed by who You are. You are powerful. You are mighty. You hold all things in Your hands. Nothing escapes You.

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/06/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

“The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it— the world and all its people.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Bible Read - Psalm 24

In today’s reading, David reminds us that the world we inhabit and everything in it belong to God. We may sometimes act as if our house, car, possessions, or even our bodies belong to us. The reality is that God created everything and everyone. All creation belongs to Him (verses 1–2). Israel was reminded of this truth every fiftieth year when all debts were canceled and all property reverted back to its original tribal allotment (Leviticus 25). They were not the ultimate owners of the land.

In verses 3–4, David reminds Israel that approaching God in worship is not to be done lightly. He outlines two characteristics of an authorized worshiper. We must have “clean hands and a pure heart” (verse 4). That is, we are to be people who have purity in our motives and in our actions. We must also be loyal to the Lord alone. Our trust cannot be in any of the false gods who so easily attract our attention (verse 4). These are the people who can worship the Lord and receive His blessing (verse 5).

The final portion of the psalm calls for the gates of Jerusalem to be prepared to receive the King of glory. Since the whole earth belongs to the Lord, it is appropriate that the psalm ends by anticipating the future coming of the Messiah-King to take up His throne in Matthew 25:31, NCV, The Son of Man will come again in his great glory, with all his angels. He will be King and sit on His great throne.”

Go Deeper

Who is the owner of all?

How does this change our perspective on acquiring and keeping our possessions?

Pray with Us

Like a child, I tend to shout, “This is mine!” But the truth is, God, that everything belongs to You. Remind me that I possess nothing. All that I have and all that I am is Yours. Keep me mindful of this truth that brings comfort and peace.

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/04/2025

Good Morning!

WORD OF THANKFUL

Count Your Blessings

“You will teach me how to live a holy life. Being with You will fill me with joy; at Your right hand I will find pleasure forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭NCV‬‬

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost; Count your many blessings, name them one by one; And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” This is very practical advice. When we face discouragement, we need to step back and remember all the ways the Lord has been faithful.
In Psalm 16, David counts four gifts of God for which he is grateful. The first is God Himself. He confesses to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (verse 2). The fact that God has made a way to be in relationship with His people is a precious gift. In God alone is true joy to be found (verse 11). The second gift David reminds himself of is the gift of being in community with God’s people. He delights in worshiping with fellow believers (verse 3). We were not meant to live the life of faith alone.
The third gift is that of God’s Word. He proclaims, “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me” (verse 7). This recalls the blessed man of Psalm 1, who meditates upon the Law of the Lord “day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Instead of being overwhelmed by his circumstances, David resolves, “I keep my eyes always on the LORD” (Psalm 16:8).
The fourth gift is David’s hope that God’s faithfulness will extend beyond the grave. He tells the Lord, “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” (verse 10). David knows the grave is not the end. His hope is fulfilled in Christ who defeated death in resurrection. As the apostle Paul put it, “As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). David’s hope was not in vain.

Go Deeper

What would your list of things you are grateful for look like?

Read through your list. How does naming these blessings help change your perspective?

Pray with Us

May we never forget the many ways You have blessed us, God. We thank You most of all for our relationship with You: “Apart from you I have no good thing” (verse 2). Help us never forget the ways You have blessed us!

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/03/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

Flight or Faith

“The Lord does what is right, and He loves justice, so honest people will see His face.” Psalms‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Read Psalm 11

David faced difficulties. We do not know exactly what trial he was facing, but it was significant enough that people around him encouraged him to “Flee as a bird to your mountain” (verse 1). Their advice was to run away! After all, wicked men were dangerous. They hid in the shadows and attempted to assassinate the righteous (verse 2). David’s problems were not just these men, but that the very foundations of society were being destroyed (verse 3). The moral order had fallen away. What could a righteous person do but run?
David had an answer. Instead of running, we can choose to look up. “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord sits on His throne in heaven. He sees what people do; He keeps His eye on them.” (verse 4). The wicked may seem like they are getting away with murder. It may look like there is no hope for the upright. But David knew that was not the full picture. The Lord sits on the throne and will hold the wicked accountable. He is concerned about others who are suffering, but carefully examines “everyone on earth” (verse 4). In His justice, He will judge the wicked and uphold the upright. We can trust in this because the Lord “hates” evil, but “loves justice” (verses 5, 7). We can choose faith in our incorruptible God.

Go Deeper

As we look at the society around us, it may seem like our very foundation is being destroyed. Christian values are not only ignored, but in many sectors of society viewed as a problem. How does this psalm direct us to respond?

Pray with Us

Lord Jesus, we pray we’ll listen to the teaching in today’s Scripture reading. As Psalm 11 encourages us, we pray we’ll choose faith in You and find our consolation and refuge in Your love.

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/02/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

Read Psalm 9-10

The Psalms are a true reflection of the life we experience in a fallen world.

Psalms 9 and 10 belong together as one psalm in two parts. Psalm 9 is the first half of an acrostic (poem) that runs through Psalm 10. David begins with exciting call to give thanks to the Lord, “I will praise You, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell all the miracles You have done. I will be happy because of You; God Most High, I will sing praises to Your name”
‭‭(Ps. 9:1–2). He calls on people everywhere to rejoice because the Lord has defeated His enemies, established justice, and been a refuge for the poor and oppressed (verses 3–10). David has experienced the truth that God does not forsake His children (verse 10). One of the ways that the Lord defeats the wicked is by allowing them to reap the natural results of their own actions, “the wicked get trapped by what they do” (verse 16). The Lord reigns and “ “He will not forget the cries of those who suffer” (verse 12). The proper response to God’s deliverance is to celebrate His deliverance with God’s people in worship (verse 14).

At the cross, Jesus … “God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, He won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless” (Colossians 2:15). However, like David, we still struggle against … “Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world” (Ephesians6:12). At times we can long for justice and pray with David, “Lord, rise up and judge the nations. Don’t let people think they are strong” (verse 19). We can place our hope in the victory that has already been achieved. One day we will be able to sing, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

Go Deeper

Even as we await Jesus’ second coming and for all wrongs to be made right, are there times you have seen God provide a measure of justice in your life?

What are ways in which God has met your needs that you can tell someone about today?

Pray with Us

It is so easy to get impatient, Lord. We wonder when You will return and when Your justice will prevail. Give us patience as we wait. Help us to trust that You will return at the right time to right all wrongs.

Have a blessed church service!

🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

11/01/2025

WORD OF THANKFUL

God of Wonders
Psalm 8:1

“Lord our Lord, Your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth! It brings You praise in heaven above.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Read Bible Psalm 8

When we encounter the unexpected, we respond with a sense of wonder. In Psalm 8, David praises God, not for His power or might, but for how He often uses the people we least expect. In verse 2 David proclaims, “You have taught children and babies to sing praises to You because of Your enemies. And so You silence Your enemies and destroy those who try to get even.” In the ancient world with high infant mortality rates, babies were a symbol of powerlessness and fragility. David glorifies God because He uses the praise of the most insignificant, weak, and needy people in society to silence His enemies. God is shown to be majestic because of how He chooses the weak to silence the strong.

God has always enjoyed working in this way. In verses 3 and 4, David reflects on how huge the created universe was and how God put all these wonders under the care and authority of humans. How small we seem compared to elephants or supernovas! Yet, “You put them in charge of everything you made. You put all things under their control:” (verse 6)

This theme of God showing His strength in weakness comes to its ultimate fulfillment on the cross. When Jesus was at His weakest point, beaten and mocked and hanging on a Roman cross, He was accomplishing the most. In His death, He defeated His enemies: the power of sin and Satan and death.

Go Deeper

Have you ever felt too weak or insignificant to be used by God?

Can you think of one person in the Bible who seemed too insignificant to be chosen by God?

How did He use them?

Pray with Us

Lord Jesus, we confess that sometimes we consider ourselves too weak and too insignificant to serve You well. Remind us that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to follow You faithfully.

Have a blessed day!
🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻

Address

221 E 320th Street
Willowick, OH
44095

Telephone

+17069962164

Website

http://oakwooddcc.com/

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Our Story

OUR PURPOSE

Oakwood Deaf Community Church is a body of baptized believers whose purpose is to glorify God by honoring Him through meaningful worship and prayer, preparing His people for ministry and service, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with lost souls to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

VISION STATEMENT

A place for you to KNOW, GROW, and GO for Jesus Christ.

MISSION STATEMENT

To love His people for who they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

CORE VALUES

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength;

Faith in Jesus Christ knowing all things work together for His good purpose;

Spiritual growth through learning God’s Word;

Passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ;

Respect and show love, kindness, and honesty to all people.

D.E.A.F.

We are committed to help you:

Discover who you are in Christ (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17).

Encourage unity and using your God given gifts (Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-7).

Always put God first (Matthew 22:37; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 3:30; Proverbs 16:3).

Focus on loving God, family, and others (Ephesians 5:17; Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-17).