Four Oaks Midtown Podcast

Sermon | Come and See (John 1:35-51)

In these verses, we see Jesus interact with the disciples, welcoming them with grace even in the midst of doubt and uncertainty. The disciples longed to be with Him, to dwell in His presence, and through His life, death, and resurrection, we too are invited into God’s presence and promises. No one comes to Him on their own, yet His invitation extends freely to the whole world. As we receive His welcome, we are called to share it, pointing others to the hope, life, and love found in Christ.

Sermon | Jesus as the True Light (John 1:5-13)

John 1:5–13 confronts us with Jesus as the true Light of the world and the darkness that resists Him. It raises questions about why unbelief persists and what it means to receive Christ, while also revealing a profound truth about Christ’s identity and who we become through Him. Reflecting on this passage presses us to consider our response to Jesus as the true Light and to God as our Father.

Sermon | Who is Jesus? (John 1:1-5)

John opens his Gospel not with the details of Jesus’ birth or His earthly relationships, but with a revelation of His eternal identity. While the other Gospels show who Jesus is through His interactions, His family line, and historical moments, John steps back to unveil the divine nature behind it all. In John 1:1–5, we see Jesus as the eternal Word, present with God and fully God from the beginning. John declares that all life flows from Him, life that is everlasting. And in a world marked by darkness, Jesus shines as the true Light, a Light that darkness cannot overcome.

Sermon | A Common Life (Colossians 4:7-18)

Paul closes Colossians by showing that Christians share a common mission shaped by Christ’s love and courage. Even in his suffering, he reminds them that God is at work forming unlikely bonds and strengthening His people. Believers are called to comfort one another through presence, prayer, and living out Scripture together. In all things, Christ never abandons His people, and our lasting crown is our relationship with Him and each other.

Sermon | Witness in Work and Words (Colossians 3:23-4:6)

Paul calls believers to see every part of life - work, relationships, words, and witness - as a place where Christ is all and in all. He urges us to continue steadfastly in prayer, remaining watchful so our hearts are stirred to thankfulness to the Lord. He teaches us to walk in wisdom toward others, which requires discerning not only what to say but when to say it. And he commands us to speak graciously, seasoning our words with the Spirit’s wisdom while working heartily so that our lives testify to Christ.

Sermon | God's Design for the Home (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

Paul’s words remind us that every relationship is reshaped by our union with Christ. Whether it be as a wife, husband, father, or child, we are taking on a role defined by sacrifice, humility, and trust, with Jesus as our anchor. When we follow God’s design, our homes become places where His wisdom and goodness take root.

Sermon | Putting on Jesus (Colossians 3:12-17)

Paul calls believers to be clothed with the character of Christ because we are God’s chosen and dearly loved people. His love enables us to love even our enemies, letting Christ’s peace rule our hearts and His Word shape our lives. Through prayer, preaching, sacraments, and song, we speak and live out God’s truth with thankful hearts, allowing gratitude to drive out bitterness. In everything we do, we live in the name of Jesus, so that His love, peace, and Word become the defining marks of our lives.

Understanding Esther | Delivered From Death (Esther 9-10)

Many of our most cherished family traditions revolve around meals. Gathering family and friends around food shapes a group of people in a powerful way. This explains the significance of feasts in the Old Testament. These communal gatherings passed down through the ages connect the past, present, and future in a manner that grounds our identity and orientation to the world. Esther features six feasts that mark out significant moments in the narrative. The first three feasts, two by King Ahasuerus, and the third by Queen Vashti, establish the reality of Israel’s exile under foreign powers and sets up the rise of Esther. She, in turn, holds two feasts on consecutive days for the King and Haman which sets up a stunning reversal of fortune for the Jews. Here, in Esther 9-10, we encounter our final feast, Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from destruction by Esther’s brave action. This feast ensures that future generations, when they partake of this meal, remember the faithfulness of God. That the same God who delivered his people in the past ever lives to care for his people in the present. This is Understanding Esther.

Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings

Sermon | Repentance is Fitting (Colossians 3:5-11)

The Christian life is one of continual repentance, rooting out sin with persistence and being remade in the likeness of Christ. Our desires, our words, and even our relationships are to be reordered by His Spirit. As we confess and turn, we are freed from the idols of control and covetousness, and we learn to see others not through suspicion or rivalry but through the reconciling love of Christ, who is all and in all.

Understanding Esther | The Fall of Haman (Esther 7-8)

One of the dominant themes in the Bible is how the weak overcome the strong. Esther illustrates this dynamic by how she channels the strength of others against themselves. The authority and emotional volatility that makes the King a fearsome tyrant becomes the means by which Esther brings salvation to her people. The massive ego of Haman that drives his murderous crusade against the Jews becomes the cause of his downfall. Words and indirect influence enable Esther to act with great agency in a world with the cards stacked against her. Yet she’s not alone. Remember Esther means “hidden” which not only describes her concealed Jewish identity, but also the hidden way in which God works in the background on behalf of his people. In chapters 7-8, Esther’s hiddenness gets exposed which places her at the mercy of the “hidden” sovereignty of God. The stakes rise as the various threads of the narrative come together in surprising and unexpected ways. This is Understanding Esther.

Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings