Incredible Truths from a Despicable Man
Join Lew as he walks through the story of Balaam. Key Passage: Numbers 22-24 Speaker: Lew Worrad
Nov 10, 2021•35 min•Season 6Ep. 43
From the Pulpit
Oakridge Bible Chapel
Weekly sermons from Oakridge Bible Chapel.
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Episodes
Lost Hearts, Dirty Hearts, and the King of Hearts (Matthew 15:1–20)
Whether we realize it or not, whether we understand it or not, and whether we believe it or not, we are all at war (Eph 6:10–11). This particular war is not over territory, money, or national peace. This is a war for the human heart and it has been raging for millennia with countless casualties. The Creator God wants our hearts—our reciprocated love, our unwavering loyalty, our undiluted adoration—things he’s clearly owed. The Enemy, on the other hand, wants to prevent that from happening, to st...
Nov 02, 2021•39 min•Season 6Ep. 42
More Than a Mere Miracle Worker (Matthew 13:53–14:36)
Most cellphones today come equipped with passcodes, facial recognition software, fingerprint scanning capabilities, and multistep-step user verification. Why? It’s all for the purpose of ensuring that whoever is accessing the information stored inside the device is the person who should be accessing all the information stored inside the device! We understand that failure to identify—or mis identifying—the one using the phone can bring frustration, inconvenience, danger, and even harm. Simply sta...
Oct 26, 2021•37 min•Season 6Ep. 41
Title: Story-Time With the King, Part 3 (Matthew 13:31–35, 44–52)
As one reads the gospel according to Matthew, a pattern can be identified in how the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, presents his account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, alternating between stories about Jesus and teachings of Jesus. The book opens with the story about Jesus’s birth and ministry preparation (chs. 1–4) followed by a robust teaching on kingdom principles (chs. 5–7). Matthew then records stories about Jesus performing claim-authenticating miracles (chs. 8–9) before r...
Oct 19, 2021•38 min•Season 6Ep. 40
Living a Baptized Life
Anyone walking into a church baptism service might be confused about what was happening. Hot tubs are for back yards or for spas, but in a church? “What is going on?”, they would ask in their confusion, and understandably so. But some believers who should know what is going on may have a shaky understanding as well. They might know that all believers are commanded by Christ to be baptized, and that is true. They might have some idea that it is tied in with declaring your faith publicly, but the ...
Oct 12, 2021•36 min•Season 6Ep. 39
Story-Time With the King, Part 2 (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43)
The thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel records an abrupt shift in Jesus’s teaching ministry. Responding to his formal rejection as messianic King by Israel’s leadership (12:24), the Lord pivots from a clear declaration of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven to seemingly simple stories that, as he explains to his disciples, are meant to reveal new kingdom truths to some and, at the very same time, conceal those truths from others (13:11–12). Today we come to the parable of the tares among w...
Oct 12, 2021•42 min•Season 6Ep. 38
Story-Time With the King, Part 1 (Matthew 13:1–23)
Up to this point in Matthew’s gospel there has been a consistent and clear proclamation of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven (see 3:2; 4:17; 10:7). Jesus’s ministry had been one characterized by urgency and excitement, rebuke and invitation. However, opposition had been brewing and, in chapters 11 and 12, it came to a head as Israel’s leadership looked Jesus in the eyes and declared on behalf of the nation, “We don’t believe you and we don’t want you” (see 12:24)! This rejection was labelled...
Sep 29, 2021•44 min•Season 6Ep. 37
Praise the LORD (Psalm 84)
When I was a kid, I used to hate going on road trips. I would get really bored, and even when there were things like books I wanted to read or video games I wanted to play, I used to have fairly significant motion sickness, so those options weren’t usually viable for more than a few minutes. So whenever we were going on a trip, my mom would take some steps and make preparations to try and make it as bea The result was, after a certain point in time, while I probably wouldn’t say I loved road tri...
Sep 20, 2021•36 min•Season 6Ep. 36
The Rejection of the King: A Post Mortem (Matthew 12:38–50)
It’s been said that failures are like a compost heap — they stink but are the most fertile part of the garden! We’ve all experienced failure to varying degrees of severity and publicity, making mistakes in things we’ve thought, said, and done. Sometimes the blunders are containable, rectifiable, and forgettable. Other times, however, they’re not. At those times, failures do , indeed, stink. But they can also be very fertile times in life. When our missteps and mistakes are examined, they can be ...
Sep 15, 2021•36 min•Season 6Ep. 35
“Has the Jury Reached a Verdict?” (Matthew 12:15–37)
Please note there were technical difficulties with the audio during the recording of this sermon. Matthew 12 reads like the transcript of the final scenes of a long courtroom drama— The People v. Jesus of Nazareth . It’s a trial that as arrested the attention of the entire nation of Israel. This otherwise nondescript Rabbi burst onto the scene claiming to be the long-awaited messianic king and boldly offering to establish the divinely-promised, eternal kingdom characterized by unending peace, un...
Sep 07, 2021•36 min•Season 6Ep. 34
If I Perish, I Perish (Esther)
Join Lew Worrad as he dives into the book of Esther on August 29th, 2021 Key Passage: Book of Esther Speaker: Lew Worrad
Aug 30, 2021•43 min•Season 6Ep. 33
Two Views From the Mountaintop, Part 2: Blessing (Psalm 134:1–3)
It’s amazing how the physical presence of an employer can impact the work of their employees. When the boss shows up frivolity fades, laziness vanishes, focus sharpens, and productivity increases. The mere presence of one with authority over jobs and power to sign paycheques causes a change in behaviour. As Christ followers, we believe that God, as Creator and Sustainer of all things, is the boss and that he doesn’t merely show-up on occasion but that he’s ever-present with and among his people....
Aug 23, 2021•32 min•Season 6Ep. 32
Two Views From the Mountaintop, Part 1: Unity (Psalm 133:1–3)
On July 23, the Canadian women’s eight rowing crew won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The team is made up of athletes ranging in age from 24 to 35. They’re from different hometowns, represent different sport clubs, have been shaped by different coaches, different families, different hobbies, and different preferences. How does a group of people that differ so significantly demonstrate such successful athletic unity? The answer is that what they have in common—a passion for sport, des...
Aug 16, 2021•33 min•Season 6Ep. 31
Laodicea: The Materialistic Church (Revelation 3:14-22)
In our study of the seven churches of Revelation we have come to the last church. Laodicea was a big town, a rich town. People loved their leisure, living in the lap of luxury. Laodicea reminds us of our own community, affluent and living the good life, but neglecting the Lord. However, the church is called to resist the influence of the world around it. But the Laodicean Christians did not listen to this warning. They began to take on the character of the society around them and they became mat...
Aug 11, 2021•47 min•Season 6Ep. 30
Pathetic Christians and a Powerful Christ (Revelation 3:7–13)
Christianity asserts a number of seemingly counter intuitive truths. For example, wealth comes through poverty, maturity through childlikeness, exaltation by submission, life via death, glory by suffering, and freedom through enslavement.* Truths like these are difficult for us to grasp because our sinful nature screams rebellion and our ignorant world preaches their opposites. Another such reality is presented throughout Scripture promising peace, joy, purpose, influence, protection, and blessi...
Aug 04, 2021•41 min•Season 6Ep. 29
Toward an Undistracted Enjoyment of Life (Ecclesiastes 5:10–20)
This sermon was preached by Pastor Josiah to Stone Ridge Bible Chapel in Hamilton, ON on July 18, 2021. Key Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:10–20 Series: N/A Speaker: Josiah Boyd
Jul 30, 2021•29 min
Corpses and Clean Clothes in Christ’s Church (Revelation 3:1–6)
A common practice for many sport teams is to watch film from previous games. Oftentimes a coach will lead these viewings, stopping the tape from time to time to point out successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses, areas to be applauded and areas to improve. The purpose behind these sessions isn’t humiliation or confrontation but, rather, refinement, motivation, and group cohesion. A good coach knows that a team rises and falls together; that while a weak member harms the whole, a strong m...
Jul 29, 2021•42 min•Season 6Ep. 28
Jezebel or Jesus? The Church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:18–29)
For the past several weeks we have been studying the letters to the Seven Churches found in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation. There are two bed rock things we must keep in mind as we study these churches: First, they were historical churches , that is they existed as real churches with real pastors and real buildings and, second, they are at the same time pictorial churches , meaning that as we observe these churches we can see something of the strengths and weaknesses of ...
Jul 23, 2021•46 min•Season 6Ep. 27
Sinking in Satan’s City (Revelation 2:12–17)
Avid hikers are used to receiving warnings before setting off on their favourite trails—“beware loose stones,” “watch for bears,” “look out for falling trees.” However, in 2021, apparently there’s a new hazard that demands caution: The selfie. Says one New York news outlet, “what many people don't think about is that every year dozens of people across the country are injured or killed by taking a selfie and not watching their footing. Many park officials have put up signs and barriers to keep hi...
Jul 15, 2021•40 min•Season 6Ep. 26
A Matter of Life and Death (Revelation 2:8–11)
Polycarp (AD 70–155), the bishop of Smyrna, was urged by the Roman proconsul to publicly renounce his faith in Jesus or face execution for the amusement of the anti-Christian culture of the day. In response to the deadly ultimatum, the man of God said: “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me any injury. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” Thus, the fire was lit and Polycarp was burned at the stake. This is just one example of countless saints who have chosen ag...
Jul 06, 2021•45 min•Season 6Ep. 25
Motives Matter (Revelation 2:1-7)
Imagine Oakridge got a letter from Christ. What would it say? What would he commend us for as a church? What would he rebuke? Where would he encourage us, and where would he correct us? These are the sort of questions we can be asking ourselves as we take the next seven weeks to read the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Today we’re going to start with the church at Ephesus and see that it's good to do good, but our motives matter. Key Passage: Revelation 2:1-7 Series: Revelat...
Jul 03, 2021•33 min•Season 6Ep. 24
All Eyes on Jesus (Revelation 1:1–20)
Everyone loves a good story and I have a great story to tell today. It is the story of future history. It's not fictional—the product of someone’s imagination—but it's a true story . It's called "The Revealing of Jesus Christ." This story is about the future, about the things that must soon take place. But where did this story come from? It came from God. It came through Jesus Christ. Then, by means of an angel, to the apostle John. Then, through the apostle John, to all the servants of Jesus. B...
Jun 22, 2021•48 min•Season 6Ep. 25
Managing the Emotions of Reassembling (Psalm 126)
There are many experiences in life that prompt mixed emotions. Walking a daughter down the aisle can bring a father sadness and joy, nostalgia and pride. Dropping a child off at school for the first time—whether kindergarten or university—is a feelings’ factory for parents. Attending a Christian funeral both breaks the heart with grief and fills the heart with hope. These types of circumstances are beyond simple sentiment and spark a variety of simultaneous emotions to be recognized, understood,...
Jun 15, 2021•29 min•Season 6Ep. 24
Four Terrible Consequences of Legalism (Matthew 12:1–14)
We talk a lot about grace in the church, and, rightly so! As Christians, we are saved by grace, live by grace, mature in Christ by grace, are filled with grace so as to extend grace to others, both inside and outside the church. The importance of God’s grace cannot be overstated. But there’s an enemy of God’s grace that lurks in every Christian church, in every Christian family, and in every Christian heart. That enemy’s name is legalism, and it’s antithetical to grace as it elevates rules, expe...
Jun 07, 2021•35 min•Season 6Ep. 23
If Hungry for Rest, Swallow Your Pride (Matthew 11:20–30)
Philip Melancthon, the great Reformation theologian, once said to his friend and mentor, Martin Luther, “Today you and I will discuss the governance of the universe.” It’s reported that Luther calmly responded: “Today we’ll go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God.” That’s a picture of resting in the Almighty! And, Lord knows, our world could use some of that today, couldn’t it? We all desire a respite from doubts and fears, weariness and loneliness, stressors and frustrations,...
Jun 02, 2021•35 min•Season 6Ep. 22
What To Expect When You’re Expecting (Matthew 11:2–19)
Expectations can dictate experiences. If our expectations of a relationship or situation are inaccurate, unrealistic, or misguided then disappointment, disillusionment, and discouragement often result. To expect your spouse to meet all your needs, your job provide unwavering purpose, your education to secure sustained credibility, or your children to bring unblemished pride is a fool’s errand. This type of anticipation, rooted in nothing more than wishful thinking, is a recipe for tragedy becaus...
May 27, 2021•36 min•Season 6Ep. 21
The Believer's Exodus
Without doubt, other than creation, The Exodus is the single greatest event in the Old Testament. It is an incredible story. It is a story of rescue and release. It is a story of God rescuing Israel from Egypt. He not only rescues them from Egypt he leads them through the desert to the Promised Land. It is a story full of the miraculous work of God on behalf of his people. They are on their way from slavery to freedom. They are on a journey! It is a story that is lived not only by Israelites but...
May 19, 2021•44 min•Season 6Ep. 20
Declaring Peace, Enduring War (Matthew 9:35–11:1)
The Gospel according to Matthew is written in such a way that it oscillates between stories about Jesus and the teachings of Jesus. All in all, there are five major sections of discourse in this particular book, the first of which is the oft-labelled Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). The second, our text of study today, is an instructional passage often referred to as the Commissioning of the Twelve . As we take in the entirety of this discourse, we’re going to experience the full force of wha...
May 12, 2021•39 min•Season 6Ep. 19
The Authority of the King: Part 3 (Matthew 9:18–34)
Most are familiar with this cinematic scene: A bomb with a visible timer is counting down to detonation and, apparently, the only way to disarm it is to cut one of its two exposed wires. One, if snipped, will shut the bomb off while the other will set it off. It’s a binary choice with life at stake and time running out. In many ways, that’s the situation Israel was facing in Matthew 9. They had a decision to make about Jesus: Is he the Messiah or not? It was a binary choice with life at stake an...
May 05, 2021•34 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Feasting, Fasting, and Following Jesus (Matthew 9:9–17)
While Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is arguably one of the world’s most famous works of art, if you’ve ever seen it (whether in-person at the Louvre in Paris or in photos online) you’ll know that it hangs on a plain, tan wall in a large, mostly-empty room. The original rationale for such simplicity of presentation was to help patrons avoid “museum fatigue” caused by over-stimulation. But a 2017 study vindicated the decision as it found that “appreciating beauty takes conscious thought—and therefore, dist...
Apr 29, 2021•26 min•Season 6Ep. 17
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