Blue Oaks Church Weekend Services

For the last couple months we’ve been learning what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, and the passage we look at this week is part of a section where Jesus redefines what makes someone a good person. He started with anger, then sexuality, and this week Jesus talks about who is a good person when it comes to divorce and remarriage. Jesus doesn’t give laws. He describes what surpassing goodness looks like. But many people have a serious The post When “I Do” Doesn’t Last appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Sexual sin always begins far before the act, and an attitude can be as damaging as your actions. This week in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses how important it is to be careful how you look at others and what you think about while you are. This week we look at how to live in the kingdom of God when it comes to lust. Next Steps I will make a covenant with my eyes. I will create guardrails The post A Lustful Look appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

This week we turn in the Sermon on the Mount to how living in the kingdom of God can transform our angry hearts. Jesus begins by talking about three things we should not do and concludes with two positive illustrations about what a kingdom-of-God-kind-of-person does. This week as we look at how to live in the Kingdom of God when it comes to anger. Next Steps I will make reconciling a broken relationship a higher priority than religious activity. I The post Dealing With Anger appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Who is a good person? This is one of the fundamental questions in life. What is it that makes someone a truly good person? This Sunday we’ll take a look at the passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells us very clearly how He answers this question. Next Steps I will explore what my glittering vices are. I will pursue righteousness not by trying to avoid sin but by living life to the fullest. I will pursue The post Learning to Dance appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

This week we look at the way Jesus taught. He didn’t just fill people with theological information, nor did He lay out legalistic rules to be applied mechanically in every situation. Rather, Jesus taught for life-change. The purpose of His teaching was to change the hearts of people toward God and toward each other. Something worth considering this week is — have you received Jesus as your teacher? You may have received Jesus as your Savior, but have you received The post Receive Jesus as Your Teacher appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

In a world filled with people who are hungry, poor, illiterate, oppressed, jobless, far from God, and people who have no idea they matter to Him or to anyone else, Jesus is looking for someone who is willing to let their light shine. This Sunday we look at Mathew 5:14-16 and learn how to be the kind of people who are willing to let our lights shine, to be a city on a hill, and to engage in good deeds The post Light of the World appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

This week we look at the statement Jesus made just after the beatitudes, “You are the salt of the earth.” We’ll learn how Jesus is giving us a much more expansive identity by using salt. He’s saying, “God’s plan is to use his followers to protect the world from decay and corruption, to purify it and to bring out the God flavors of this world.” Next steps I will live as the salt of the earth. I will continue to The post Salt of the Earth appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

This week we come to the words of Jesus that mark the end of the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted The post Overcome Evil With Good appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

How would someone describe you? What characteristics or qualities would they list from knowing you or observing your life? Each of us has identity markers, or expressions of who we are and how we are known. In his most well-known talk, Jesus gave a series of attributes that are identity markers of living in the Kingdom of God, markers of living the good life. This Sunday we continue our in-depth teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. Next Steps I The post Identity Markers appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Who has the good life? Any serious thinker about the human condition must address this question. For the last two decades, the biggest movement in psychology is what’s called positive psychology — research on happiness, well-being, and flourishing – a research area that deals precisely with this question. The most famous sermon in the history of the world — The Sermon on the Mount — had the most famous beginning of any sermon ever, although it’s widely misunderstood. Jesus begins The post Come As You Are appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Jesus’ death and resurrection was only part of his mission; his overall mission was to bring the kingdom of God — God’s power, presence, and reign in ordinary lives like yours and mine. Jesus brought God’s kingdom to earth, he taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and he invites us to seek first God’s kingdom. The new year is a great time to review our plans for living and base our lives in 2022 on this remarkable opportunity. Next The post What is the Good News? appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

The first miracle of Jesus was to turn water into wine at a wedding. It might not be the most impressive display to start his earthly ministry, but the significance of his actions was a bold announcement of something new. What is it that Jesus was offering then, and now? The post Water Into Wine appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Jesus went from heavenly second-person-of-the-Trinity existence to that of a baby born in the most humble of conditions. As his ministry took hold as an adult, we see Jesus constantly putting himself into the servant role — and, of course, offering the greatest sacrifice of death on a cross for the sins of the world. Demotion, self-selected or otherwise, was definitely a theme of Jesus’ life and offers lessons on humility and servanthood for his followers who want to advance The post Christmas Eve 2021 appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

When someone asks, “How is your spiritual life going?” we usually respond by discussing our devotional time, prayer life, or worship times. However, the true mark of health in our spiritual lives is growing in our capacity to experience God’s and as a result, growing in our capacity to love others. That’s ultimately what Jesus desires for us at Christmastime. This Sunday we look at the wonder of God’s love found in 1 John 4. NEXT STEPS I will embrace The post The Wonder of Love appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Where does joy come from? The classic Christmas carol “Joy to the World” reveals the answer. While joy is being studied by social science and written about more than ever before, we can only find real, lasting joy from the one who was born of a virgin 2,000 years ago. He brought joy to the world that can be found in the midst of some of the most difficult days. NEXT STEPS I will say yes to the reality that The post The Wonder of Joy appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

The Word of God and His promises are true; He will take care of you. If you’re weary or weighed down, lay it at the Lord’s feet and walk into the wonder of peace. Next Steps I will not make the peace of Christ a search for comfortable circumstances. I will chose a word of Scripture to dwell on so my thinking leads to peace. I will use singing as a way to prepare my heart for the peace of The post The Wonder of Peace appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Hope can make us optimistic, but there is a difference between human optimism and Christ-centered hope. Christian hope realizes earthly hopes and dreams may not come true, and when they don’t, those who believe in Jesus know that God has a place in heaven waiting for them. That is the hope that drives us through all our met and unmet expectations in this world. We have hope because of the grace and forgiveness of God, who sent his Son, Jesus The post The Wonder of Hope appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Titus 3 is generally regarded by biblical scholars as perhaps the most succinct statement in all the New Testament about the wonder of salvation. Put aside your work, relationships, to-do lists, finances, etc., and focus on remembering again the wonder of your salvation. NEXT STEPS I will remember and reflect on the wonder of our salvation. I will notice the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit at work renewing me. I will pray, “God, help me do what is good.” The post The Wonder of Salvation appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

In our society, we spend a lot of time and money taking care of our bodies. The Apostle Paul wants us to give as much consideration to our minds as we do to our bodies. Jesus could have come to this earth as a personal trainer to help us figure out how to care for our bodies, but he didn’t. Jesus came primarily as a teacher. Paul warns us in Titus 2:1-15 that unless we are being taught consistently about The post The Message of Transformation appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.

Jesus said to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Be the Light is our initiative to create a gathering place where we learn, worship, pray, love one another, and serve “the least of these.” By doing so we will bring light to the world like a city on a hill that glorifies our Father in Heaven! Next Steps I will pray for the success of the Be The post Be The Light appeared first on Blue Oaks Church - Pleasanton, CA.