Families for Life

Christmas Special: Advent

It seems like the "Christmas Season" begins earlier each year. It is exciting in one sense to think about the joy and the festive feeling of this time of year, but the tradeoff is that we can easily lose sight of the reason we're celebrating in the first place.
Throughout the history of the Christian church, believers in Jesus have celebrated the advent as a way to prepare our hearts for worship of the coming of our Savior. It also serves as a reminder that one day he will come again, and we hope in eager expectation of that second coming.
This week, Bryan and Brian discuss the meaning of advent, the goal behind it, and they offer a handful of ways that you can celebrate with your family to help you focus on the meaning that underlies this entire season of the year.
Resources
Brian's Advent Blog
Advent: The Coming of Jesus (The Village Church)
How to Use an Advent Wreath: A Tradition You Will Cherish
 
The Meaning of the Advent Wreath
 
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Special: Answering God’s Call

In the Gospel accounts we see several moments recorded where Jesus calls men to follow him. This is not just a New Testament experience. Think of God’s call to Moses, Gideon, and others in the Old Testament. This week’s Families For Life podcast is a special episode examining the call of God. Bryan and Brian discuss the call of God on our lives today and the themes that underly discerning a call. It’s not just for ministry, either. We have to be in relationship with God and be seeking his face for big decisions like where you’ll live, the choice to go to college, your spouse, and much more.
Resources
Pastor Brian Van Doren's Blog
Pastor Bryan Gotcher's Blog
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Doing Things God’s Way: Surrender

When you think of the word surrender, you may imagine scenes from a battle where one side has given up the fight, and when we talk about the concept of surrender for the Christian we have to recognize that it is much more than that. Bryan and Brian sit down this week to discuss the idea of Christian surrender, how submitting ourselves to King Jesus brings true freedom, and what that looks like in our lives.
 
Resources
Total Surrender by Kevin Smith Table Talk Magazine 2/1/09
Ask Pastor John "Am I Completely Surrendered to Christ"
 
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Pastors Perspective: Dealing With Death

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul offers comfort to believers in Jesus when he writes “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (1 Thes. 4:13) Death is an inevitable truth of our existence born out of the fall of man, but it is one that believers can face with confidence because of the promises of God that we find in the Bible. This week, Bryan and Brian offer encouraging teaching to help us approach the reality of dying through the biblical worldview.
Resources:
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
How Long O' Lord by D. A. Carson
Website: desiringgod.org
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Top 3: Pet Peeves

This week, Bryan and Brian discuss the top 3 things that get under their skin. Each of them has their own list of pet peeves, along with some bonus irritations from their wives!
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Pastors Perspective: Evil

CONTENT ADVISORY: This episode looks at the topic of evil and discusses current events that may not be suitable for everyone to hear about. Please exercise discretion or pre-screen for younger ears.
Every honest person can look around at the world and plainly see the problem of evil. Why does evil exist? What can we do about evil? Are people basically good? In a special Pastors Perspective, Bryan and Brian examine these questions and more with Bibles open to provide a real explanation of how widespread evil truly is, and how the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ provides us with hope now in the midst of our reality along with the eternal hope.
Resources
 
Article: "How to Counter Moral Evil: Paideia and Nomos"
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
Article: "Christ Overcame Evil With Good Do The Same"
 
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Understanding God’s Word 8: How to Study the Bible

Bryan and Brian draw their Understanding God’s Word series to a close by pulling everything together to examine how to study the Bible. When we consider the list of tools and topics covered in this series, we should not be intimidated at the thought of Bible study. These episodes are designed to help make studying the Scriptures more accessible to everyone, and to help mature us in our faith through a better understanding of God’s Word. So, the men give some application to the material they’ve been covering throughout this series. If this prompts questions in your mind, or if you have been helped by this series, please let us know at f4l@oakhillbc.org
Resources
Christian Scripture by David S. Dockery
Read the Bible for Life by George Guthrie
Creative Bible Teaching by Lawrence O. Richards & Gary J. Bredfeldt
Personal Devotion
Tabletalk Magazine (Ligioner)
Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship by Jonathan Gibson 
ESV Journaling Bibles
Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon Free I Book
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp 
Family Devotion
My First Hands on Bible 
Jesus Storybook Bible 
The Biggest Story Bible Storybook 
Jesus the Hero Family Devotion by David Prince
One Year of Dinner Table Devotions & Discussion Starters by Nancy Guthrie 
Old Story New, New Testament: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski
Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski
Learning to Study the Bible
Knowing the Bible Study Series
How to Study the Bible
Building a Library
ESV Study Bible
Holman Bible Handbook
Systematic Theology By Wayne Grudem 
Commentaries 
Christ Centered Exposition Commentary
Reformed Expository Commentary
Focus on the Bible
Pillar
Good Websites
blueletterbible.org
Ligonier.org
desiringgod.org
gotquestions.org
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Understanding God’s Word 7: The Epistles

This week on Families For Life, Bryan and Brian continue their series about Understanding God’s Word with an examination of the last type of genres found within the Scriptures: the Epistles. The word epistle means “letter,” and the epistles of the Bible are considered the letters found in the New Testament. To paraphrase one pastor, it’s like reading someone else’s mail. These letters often gave counsel, addressed division or error within a body, or came as personal exhortations. Although they were written with a specific audience in mind at the time, the fact that they are the inspired word of God and we have them in our Bibles means that there is relevant truth for all time to be found for everyone. We’ll look at a few examples and discuss some areas where people can get off track in applying them, as well.
Resources:
Read the Bible for Life by George Guthrie
A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the Rules by Robert H. Stein 
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart 
Holman Bible Handbook
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Understanding God’s Word 6: Prophecy and Revelation

This week, Bryan and Brian return to their examination of Scripture series Understanding God’s Word, and this is arguably one of the most difficult aspects to understand–prophecy and revelation. Prophecy uses a lot of metaphorical language, imagery, and symbolism which can lead to misinterpretation and confusion. Prophecy is not merely telling the future. It is the proclamation of God’s message. This may prompt a lot of questions, so we have listed a couple of great resources below and we encourage you to engage with us via email at f4l@oakhillbc.org
Resources:
A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the Rules by Robert H. Stein 
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart 
Holman Bible Handbook
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org

Parenting Profile: The Bilgers

We are excited to return with another Parenting Profile on Families For Life! This week, Bryan and Brian are joined by Gary and Mallory Bilger to discuss their family history, dynamic, and approach to parenting. They have three children ages 13, 12, and 9 who enjoy participating in the ministries offered to their age groups. Gary is a member of the air national guard, so the family operates with him away at times, and has had to deal with deployment in the past. This, coupled with their deep and abiding faith, has brought their family closer over the years.
Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email inbox at f4l@oakhillbc.org