OCC Podcast

Why is there so much tension? Love or sovereignty? Double predestination or double election? Don't we get credit for our parents and heritage? Are we still responsible if God is sovereign over all? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God always wants the very best for His children.

How does God's word never fail? How is it that Israel can be Israel and yet not a part of Israel? Why is Paul in love with the OT? Why does God love or hate? What does sovereignty mean? How is God's preference like choosing Diet Coke or Pepsi? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God's word never fails

Why should we talk about men? How are men the thermostats in the home, and what does that look like? How should we step into vulnerability? Why is it a problem when our identity is based on something other than Jesus? What's the difference between a huddle and a brotherhood? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why did God fearfully and wonderfully make us...to be us?

Why aren't we back in Romans? How many points can you have in a sermon? How do you alleviate the tension between being with God and bearing good fruit? Why does discipleship matter? What does it look like to be a disciple of Jesus practically? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Nine ways to enhance discipleship.

What's the deal with all the parentheses? What about Israel, and why should Christians care so much? What was Adam and Eve's last name? How should the church view the state of Israel? Why and how does God keep his promises to Israel, and why is it such a big deal? What's up for next week? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why did God set Israel apart?

Who needs a script? What happened during Holy Week at OCC? Why was the Easter series titled "So What?" What is the most compelling evidence for the resurrection? Why was it so difficult for Jesus' family to believe He was the Messiah? Why does the resurrection matter to Christians today? What's the next series? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why does the resurrection matter?

How difficult is it for people to understand what Palm Sunday really is? What are the mindsets of many visitors on Easter Sunday? How does baseball connect to the Easter story? How do people in the Midwest come up with all their unique sayings? What impact can apologetics have on individuals? How much do pastors preach to themselves? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

What are we trusting in?

Should we engage in apologetics to be ready to defend the hope we hold? What is the most accurate worldview for interpreting real-life observations? How do microevolution and macroevolution differ? Who persuaded Paul to be so... convinced? Why do we tend to avoid discomfort? What are we safeguarded from when united with Christ? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

What is the difference between sharing parables and storytelling? What is the beauty behind God's unlimited grace? What happened to James' voice? How do foreknowledge and God's will work together? What is the best part about wrestling with scripture? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Rhetorical questions

What does it mean that God foreknew? How does predestination work? Why are we all of a sudden talking about skiing? What does it look like for us to be called? How are we justified? What does it mean to be glorified? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Do we want to learn the easy way or the hard way?

What was that story about James and his wife having a kid? How do answered prayers play a role in suffering? How to place more weight on God's glory over our own suffering? How can we prep and put in the work in suffering? What are good practical ways to view suffering through God's eyes? All this and more, on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God's glory is weightier than our suffering.

Why were the ruins ruined? Which is referenced more, Star Wars or Star Trek? Why is it important to have kids in the service? Why would God use David when his story is so chaotic? What is the middle of the week? How do OCC Kids work through the Bible? Can God use imperfect messages for His perfect purposes? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Loving son, devoted friend, God worshipper.

How can we suffer with Jesus? How can we be more glorified through Jesus? How do I know when to sacrifice primary callings? Is God running towards me or waiting for me? Self-made or God-permitted suffering? Why do we do the WB Show... or family services?

Do we suffer for the sake of Christ?

How would you win in a fight against a shark? Why is Paul all about victory? How do we yield to the Spirit, and what are the evidences that we are doing so? How does suffering give insight to Paul's words? How do wounds from our past shape, either in a good or bad way, our interpretation of scripture? How do we resist and see the truth of God in spite of that? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

The key to victory is fighting in the right realm!

What do James and Andrew soundlike unscripted? Why you all up in our bid-niss? What is the infamous 'e' word in ministry and why does it matter? What is the best-case scenario for OCC? What do we highlight as a church? Who gets the glory for the growth and success of the church? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Why does the church exist?

In this episode, James interviews his wife! As the organizer of the recent missions conference, James interviews Christina to discuss why missions matter, why this is such a passion for her, and her prayer requests as we look to host missions conferences more regularly. Enjoy!

Guest pastor and missionary Duncan Sprague preaches at OCC.

What is the difference between living by the Spirit of God versus by the Spirit of Flesh? What is the 'Roman's Road'? How do we make sure our story is shared with others? What do you do if your story isn't as 'good' as others? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

God is able to save us, and keeping the law never will.

Since Romans 8 is bookended by our identity in Christ, what does that mean for people in Christ? What does creation awaiting in anticipation mean? What is predestined? What is the missions conference about? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Overview of Chapter 8

How do you break down a passage? Did Adam really ruin it for us all? Is Brenton a Seahawks fan? How big a deal is it that scripture passages were edited or trimmed? What are Wesley and Brenton excited about in this ministry year? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Because Christ is uncondemnable, if we are found in Him, then so are we!

What does it look like for James to be on the other side of the table? Can discipleship be a New Year's resolution? But at what cost?! Why is servant leadership so important for all Christ followers? How do we live "Body Life"? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

End of the year sermon.

What even is figgy pudding? What songs make you hark? How are we the little drummer boy? What other promises can James make to increase Brenton's workload in 2026? What are the challenges of evangelism? If you knew your life was short, what would you change? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Listen up, because there's good news to be heard!

When would a pastor need to give out a business card? What is James and Wesley's favorite Christmas carol? Should we post giant pastor pictures on our website? How scriptural is O Come, O Come Emmanuel? What's the timeline of the book of Isaiah? What do you do if you have an itchy head? Does God rule over everything? Can you exegete a song? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Did you know this song has sooo much theology?

Who wrote that song? Does 'everybody' really mean... everybody? How should we conclude prayers? What happened to the shepherds after they worshiped Jesus? When did Jesus eat the bread and drink the wine? How do we break out of the fear of making money our idol? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Blessed are the feet of those who bring the good news.

Why this series about Christmas carols? What was left out of the sermon? Why "Joy to the World"? What was it about this song? What is the best Isaac Watts fact? Why is the incarnation such a big deal? What's next? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

Let's examine the theology behind the song "Joy to the World" by Isaac Watts.

What is a diatribe? Why are family services so important to Orchard's Community Church? Why did Wesley and Brenton have to 'redo' the story of Zacchaeus? How can we change the culture of a church? What is the challenge of having kids in service? What can we do to help raise the next generation of Christ followers? All this and more on this week's episode. Enjoy!

We should not focus on the 'tiny' details about who Zacchaeus was and what he looked like. We should instead focus on the redemptive and restorative power of Christ.