Oak Pointe Church • Novi

The Believer’s True Worship (Part 1)Worship: More Than Music, a Life of WorshipWe give things up all the time. Marriage involves giving up certain comforts and conveniences to care for another person. Parenting requires giving up sleep, time, and personal space for the sake of a child. Generosity implies giving up money and possessions to meet the needs of others. But Scripture invites us into something far deeper than giving up things. It calls us to give up ourselves. This is the heart of worship. Webster’s dictionary defines worship as “to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion” which is helpful, but incomplete. True worship is not just admiration. It is the offering of not only our songs, but our priorities, our desires, our decisions, and our very identity. Join us this Sunday as we discover what genuine worship looks like and how it becomes a joyful giving of ourselves to the God who gave up everything for us.

The Summons: Grappling with God’s Kingdom and KingThe Parable of the SowerMark 4:1-20We’ve all heard that gentle but pointed question, “Are you listening to me?” Not because we’re hard of hearing, but because our attention has drifted. Parents asking a child to repeat back their words aren’t just checking for repetition, they’re checking for presence, engagement, and for a heart that’s tuned in. This is a familiar concept because we know the difference between hearing sounds and actually taking them in. Jesus understood that difference to an even greater degree. People heard him but often did not receive him. His words were misunderstood, misconstrued and reinterpreted by some of his audience. Conversely, his parables stood as an invitation for those who were ready to listen, not simply hear. Join us this Sunday as we dive into this parable with open hearts, ready to listen for the summons of the King.

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and KingCrowds Versus Followers Mark 3:7-19 We’re often swept into whatever the majority is doing – the music everyone listens to, the clothes everyone wears, even the phrases we use just to blend in. Crowds feel safe and familiar. They offer belonging without requiring anything of us. But does simply blending in ever lead us into the sweetness of the life we’re called to live? Jesus was constantly surrounded by crowds who wanted something from Him. And though the disciples followed Him too, there was a stark contrast in their approach. Join us this Sunday as we explore the difference between joining the crowd and becoming a faithful follower.

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and King (Part 7)The King is HereMark 2:23-28Rules can often leave a bitter taste. They can feel confining, stifling creativity and limiting freedom. Authority figures can silence people rather than guide them. Parents can fail to explain the heart behind their rules. Teachers can unintentionally shut down the inspiration of their students. For many, rules bring more frustration than order. But what if there was a perfect rule-maker? An Authority whose commands aren’t meant to restrict, but to help His people thrive. A Father whose rules protect His children. A Teacher whose instructions lead to joy and new life. Living in a world full of broken rules and leaders, causes us to seek the voice of a gentle Shepherd. Join us this Sunday to discover how the commands of the King Jesus are for the flourishing of His subjects.

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and KingThe Sanitized vs the Scandalous Church Mark 2:13-17 Jon Morales Have you ever voiced an unpopular opinion? One that makes people look up from their plates at a dinner party or causes passionate debate amongst friends? These opinions can often be polarizing, occasionally causing people to choose sides, leaving little room for neutrality. Similarly, Jesus had an approach to ministry that sparked strong reactions. It was unpopular to many religious leaders of the day and didn't fit neatly into their expectations. Some called it a scandal, but Jesus called it the gospel. Join us this Sunday to discover how Jesus' relational ministry invites us into a life of radical hospitality and healing.

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and KingMark 1:35-45Nate LeeMost of us have a junk drawer where all kinds of household items get tossed: pens, chargers, receipts and keys, all piled together until it’s hard to tell what’s important. Our lives can often feel the same way. Tasks stack up, responsibilities blur, and the things that matter most get buried under everything else. Thankfully, we’re not left to sort through the mess on our own. We have a God who knows exactly what belongs where, a master organizer who can reorder our priorities the moment our hearts are open to His work.Join us this Sunday as we continue our series in the Gospel of Mark and explore what it means to let the King set our priorities.

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and KingMark 1:14-20 Jon Morales Picture a typical day in your life: your morning routine, your commute to work, your wind-down time at night. Over the years, these rhythms settle in and become second nature to you. You perfect your breakfast recipe, learn the quickest route across town, and end each evening preparing for the next day. Eventually, the familiar becomes most comfortable. But what if that comfort was never meant to be the end goal? What if our routines were meant to be interrupted? What if we were made for more? Join us this Sunday as we begin a new series in the Gospel of Mark and discover the kind of life the King is calling us into.

Vision SundaysRevelation 5:9Jon MoralesIn Japan, a sign of respect is to finish all the food on your plate, avoiding “mottainai”, or wastefulness. In China, leaving a small amount of food on your plate is polite, communicating that the host has provided more than enough.In Germany, punctuality is highly valued and arriving exactly on time can even be seen as late. In Spain however, arriving late is often the norm, as it shows that the guest is relaxed and not rushing the host.These are only a few of the numerous examples of diverse ways of life we see exemplified across our world. What can unite nations that are so different from one another? Could it be that we all have a need for food? That we all crave sleep? Perhaps that we all have the desire to be loved?The answers to these may all be yes, but none of them are fully complete. Join us this Sunday as we discover what truly unites the nations together.