Four Oaks East Podcast

The Vanity of Pleasure

Pastor Joshua HughesText: Ecclesiastes 2
Big idea: Since pleasure is passing and death is definitive in this life, we must seek lasting pleasures in God’s presence and provision.
1. The Test Methods 
2. The Test Results
3. Interpreting the Data
4. Living with the Data

The Vanity of Wisdom

Pastor Joshua HughesText: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Big idea: Wisdom under the sun won't give us what we want, so we must seek the wisdom that is the gift of God.
1. Qoheleth's quest #1 - the Way of Wisdom
2. Qoheleth's quest #2 - the Manner of Madness
Two Invitations:1. Learn to lament life under the sun2. Learn to receive the wisdom God gives

Ecclesiastes Introduction

Pastor Joshua Hughes
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
1. Who is the Preacher?
1 Kings 11:1-10
2. What is this book? 
3. What can this book do for us?
Romans 8:18-25

The Twin Epiphanies of Grace and Glory

Pastor Funmi OjetayoText: Titus 2:11-14Big Idea: stop striving and start resting—in the grace that transforms today and the glory that secures tomorrow.
The Epiphany of Grace (vv. 11-12)1. The Person of Grace (v. 11)2. The Power of Grace (v. 12)
The Epiphany of Glory (vv. 13-14)1. The Beatitude of Glory (v. 13)    Fact One: Jesus is coming back.    Fact Two: Jesus is God.2. The Blueprint of Glory (v. 14)

Double Shalom

Preacher: Kyle KraeftText: Isaiah 26:3-4Big Idea: A Fixed Frame is a Fortress of Flourishing
1. A Full Flourishing- Isaiah 24:1, 3-6 - Isaiah 25:6-9- Exodus 24:9-11- Psalm 84:5-7
2. A Fixed FrameRemember the PlotRecognize the ParadoxRest in the Person
3. A Fortress Through Faith- Let desert discomforts deepen dependence- Let people help you with practices- Let promises pull you to presence- Let gladness overtake you
Isaiah 35:9 They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. 
 
 

Advent: Rescue

Pastor Joshua HughesText: Matthew 1:18-25
Big Idea: We can trust and follow Jesus because he came to rescue us and will come to rescue us so we can be with him forever.
I. Jesus came to dwell among us to save us from sin’s power
II. Jesus will come to save us from sin’s presence so we can dwell with him

Advent: Healing

Pastor Funmi OjetayoText: Matthew 8:1-17Big Idea: Jesus' healing restores the joy that sickness steals by restoring our fellowship, reviving our confidence, and renewing our ministry.
I. Sickness isolates, but Jesus’ healing restores fellowship.II. Sickness challenges control, but Jesus’ healing revives confidence in His authority.III. Sickness hinders service, but Jesus’ healing renews ministry.

Advent: Wholeness

Pastor Joshua Hughes
Text: Matthew 5:1-20
Big Idea: In the darkness and disintegration of sin, we can come to Jesus who came and is coming to make us whole.
1. Jesus came to make you a whole, redeemed human
2. Jesus will come to make you a whole, resurrected human

Advent: Kingdom

Text: Matthew 4:12-17
I. Darkness
II. Danger“I don’t have any phobias, but I do feel afraid…There are the usual racing thoughts: love, squandered potential, unlikely vanities, loss of income. Injustices committed against me; chores. Will I get cancer? Knowing that everyone worries they have cancer helps only a little bit. My ultimate anxiety is not that a certain fear will come true. Rather, I experience panic as mostly meta: the horror of being trapped, in this mind-set, for the rest of my life.” 
III. Dawn

The Great Commission

Pastor Joshua Hughes
Text: Matthew 28:11-20
Big Idea: The resurrection rule of Christ supplies and sends his church into its disciple-making delegation.
1. Jesus is authorizing
Ephesians 1:20-23
2. Jesus is advancing
3. Jesus is abiding
Two ways to live:1. Be a denial-maintainer2. Be a disciple maker