Oak Grove Baptist Church

07_05 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Servants Gaining Great Confidence in the Faith - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Paul continues teaching the church about the role and qualifications of deacons, reminding us that church order matters because the church is the household of God and a witness to the world. Deacons are not called to rule the church, but to serve as qualified servant leaders who assist in the mission and ministry of the church. Because their lives model service for the body, they must first be tested and proven blameless—not sinless, but free from ongoing patterns of unrepentant sin. This testing is a gift of time that allows the church to see whether their doctrine is sound, their character is faithful, and their lives match the gospel they profess. The sermon also addressed the qualifications connected to deacons’ wives or possibly women who serve in the role of deacon, emphasizing that either interpretation must be handled with humility and unity. Whether applied to deacons’ wives, female deacons, or all believers, the call is to be dignified, not slanderous, sober-minded, and faithful in all things. Deacons must also be faithful in marriage and lead their own households well, because the home is a testing ground for ministry. Ultimately, those who serve well gain good standing and great confidence in the faith—not by serving in their own strength, but by depending on the strength God supplies so that Christ is glorified through their service.

06_28 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Deacons, God’s Good Gifts - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Paul teaches that deacons are a good gift from God to the church, set apart to serve the body of Christ with integrity, wisdom, and gospel faithfulness. While every believer is called to serve, deacons are qualified servants who are recognized by the church to help meet practical and spiritual needs within the body. They are not called to rule over the church, but to lead by serving, assisting the pastors and helping care for the people so the church can remain healthy and focused on its mission of advancing God’s kingdom and making disciples. The sermon emphasized that the wrong church structure can slowly harm the church, just like levees that were meant to protect Louisiana ended up cutting it off from what helped the land stay healthy. In the same way, when deacons function as a governing body instead of servant leaders, the church loses the blessing God intended through that office. A deacon must be dignified, honest, self-controlled, not greedy, and firmly grounded in the gospel. Above all, deacons are to be people of character who hold tightly to the mystery of the faith and serve the church with a clear conscience, helping the body honor Christ and care for one another well.

06_21 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Calling the Qualified - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Paul reminds the church that the office of pastor, elder, or overseer is a noble and weighty calling. This role is not simply for anyone who desires it, nor should the church choose leaders based on charisma, popularity, or communication ability alone. Pastors are called to shepherd God’s people, care for the bride of Christ, equip the saints for ministry, and protect the church from false teaching. Because the work is so important, the church must take seriously who is allowed to lead. Paul gives clear character qualifications for those who serve as overseers. A pastor must be above reproach, faithful, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy, mature in the faith, faithful in leading his home, and well thought of by outsiders. These qualifications show that biblical leadership is first about character before competency. When churches call qualified pastors, the church is strengthened, the saints are cared for, the gospel witness is protected, and the mission of advancing the kingdom by making disciples remains central.

06_14 - Total Surrender: Trusting God Through it All - Jeff Lazarine - Guest Speaker

In 1 Peter 5:6–11, believers are reminded that total surrender to God begins with humility. Peter calls us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, trusting that His plans, timing, and ways are greater than our own. This kind of humility requires us to let go of pride, stop trying to control every situation, and cast our anxieties fully on the Lord because He deeply cares for us. Rather than carrying fear, worry, grief, and disappointment on our own, we are invited to place the whole weight of our lives into the capable hands of our faithful Father. Peter also reminds believers to stay alert because the enemy is real and seeks to destroy our faith, testimony, and trust in God. We are called to resist him by standing firm in the truth of God’s Word, relying on the Holy Spirit, and remembering that we are not alone in our struggles. Even though suffering is part of the Christian life, it is not meaningless and it is not forever. The God of all grace promises to restore, strengthen, confirm, and establish His people, using even difficult seasons to mature us, ground us, and prepare us for eternal glory in Christ.

06_07 - Devoted: What Happens When the Church Becomes the Church - Brandon Baker - Family Worship Pastor

In this sermon from Acts 2:42, the focus was on the difference between simply attending church and truly being the church. Looking at the example of the early church after Pentecost, the message challenged believers to examine what they are genuinely devoted to. The early believers devoted themselves to God’s Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, and through those commitments God used them to change the world around them. The sermon emphasized that healthy churches are not built on entertainment, preferences, or convenience, but on truth, spiritual growth, repentance, and a deep commitment to Jesus and His people. Believers were encouraged to move beyond shallow Christianity and become disciples whose lives are shaped daily by Scripture and obedience to Christ. The message also highlighted the power of authentic biblical community and dependence on God. The early church shared meals, prayed together, cared for one another, and lived with generosity and unity that pointed people to Jesus. The sermon reminded listeners that people are not looking for perfection nearly as much as they are looking for real community, encouragement, and hope. Through hospitality, fellowship, communion, and prayer, the church becomes a visible picture of the gospel. Ultimately, the message called the church back to wholehearted devotion to Christ, trusting that when God’s people are fully surrendered to Him, He still transforms lives, builds His church, and changes the world through ordinary people empowered by the Holy Spirit.