Austin Oaks Church

Chained to the Chariot

Pastor Brandon Zieske kicks off our new series "All In" with a look at the apostle Paul's testimony of what it means to follow Jesus. He didn't shy away from using some pretty strong metaphors in his day to describe what it is like to live as a follower of Christ, but he also promised that Jesus will reign victorious. Are you all in?

Depression

Sometimes it sneaks up on you little by little until you feel like an entirely different person. Other times its a fog you just can't seem to get away from. The church hasn't always been very good at addressing issues of anxiety and depression, but if you search for a bit, the Bible actually has a lot to say about times when we lose hope. This week Pastor Chad takes a candid look at depression; what causes it and how we can deal with it, all while recognizing the complex nature of who we are and what God says about us.

Guilt

We all experience guilt in our lives. Sometimes it lies just beneath the surface of our lives, and other times it overflows into whole batch of bad habits and destructive behaviors. So how do we face the things that we've done, or even the things that have been done to us? Join us this week as Pastor Brandon shows us how faith holds on to what God says about us instead of relying on our own sinful tendencies.

Shame

This week marks the first message in our series "I'm (not) okay", a examination of mental health and what the Bible has to say about it. Today Pastor Brandon looks at the origins of shame and our tendency to hide from the things that we are ashamed of that we see in ourselves. If shame is a universal experience that leads us to damage our mental health, then what are we supposed to do with it?

Prodigality

The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most popular in all of the Bible, but what does it really mean to be a Prodigal? Is it right to call God a Prodigal? In what ways does He show us His prodigality? Join us this week as Pastor Brandon dives into this parable to show the depth of God's love for His sons and daughters.

When You Pray

One of the most foundational practices of the Christian life is prayer. But are we really as excited about prayer as we should be? Does it even do anything? If God already knows everything, then why do I have to pray? This week Pastor Brandon looks at Jesus's teaching on prayer in Luke 11 to see how we ought pray, and even more important, who is it that we are praying to.

Speaking and Hearing

If our purpose as the church is to make disciples, how are we to do that in everyday life? Well, join us this week as JJ Plasencio takes us to the parable of the sower and the seeds, and how it has impacted the way he speaks with others and shares the gospel.

What Matters Most in the Church

Pastor Brandon and Pastor Charles begin the message by introducing Africa New Life and what they've been able to accomplish over the past 20 years and what lies in store as Austin Oaks continues its partnership with this life-changing ministry. Pastor Charles then shares about what is most important for the church to have and what our disposition should be toward each other and the world at large.

How To Renew Our Focus on Jesus

Pastor Charles Mugisha of Africa New Life shares the importance of placing Jesus at the center of our lives and how it is vital for us to continue to evaluate all we do in light of what He has done.

Identity and Priority

In Luke 9, Jesus makes some bold claims about who He is and what He has come to do. How are we to understand ourselves in light of what He reveals? Does that actually change the way I ought to live my life? Join us this week as Pastor Chad continues our journey through the book of Luke and tackles these issues of identity and priority.