Dear OBC Family,Grace restores nature.This is a simple principle that Christian theologians have employed throughout the history of the church. Along the way, some (mostly in the Roman Catholic Church) have misused these terms and argued for some type of super-added grace in the beginning with Adam. But on the whole, Christians have affirmed the goodness of creation (nature), the badness of sin (t...  Read More

The more things change, the more they stay the same. And as we begin the new year, with the promise (or threat) of ongoing changes in the world around us, it is good to remember one thing that remains the same: Jesus Christ is Lord and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him.In Matthew 28 we hear Jesus say to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and earth have been given to m...  Read More

The sands of time are winding down for 2025, and Sunday marks the last day we will gather for worship this year. That being the case, Sunday’s sermon will direct our attention to what we will be doing in the beginning of 2026.While January will include a sampling of different messages that touch on Christ’s Lordship, his designs for the family, the Word of God, and missions, February will begin a ...  Read More

Dear OBC Family,For the last few Sundays we have considered the birth of Moab and Ben-ammi, Isaac, and the sons of Nahor. In short, we’ve been watching the slow moving train of history some 1800 years before Christ. But this week we will hit warp speed to arrive at the birth of Christ.In Matthew 1, the tax collector turned evangelist begins with a list of 41–42 names depending on how you count. An...  Read More

Take a moment to read Genesis 22:20–24.Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bo...  Read More

Dear OBC Family,If you want to play a fun game — is game the right word? — with your children or friends, take time to read Genesis 22:1–19 verse by verse. In each verse, ask yourself a question: What does this passage say about Christ in type or shadow?In the Bible, types are historical persons, places, events, or institutions that point forward to Jesus Christ as the goal of God’s plan of salvat...  Read More

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,  and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”Genesis 12:3In Genesis 21, we have three stories in one. Verses 1–7 tell the long-awaited birth story of Isaac, then verses 8–21 recount how Ishmael, the son of an Egyptian slave, is cast out because he laughed at Isaac, while verses 22–34 finish the chapter by desc...  Read More

Dear OBC,At the start of the Fall, we returned to Sunday School with a series on Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. This series spoke more to what we sing in our time together corporately as a congregation. And as we enter into the season of Advent, we will return to the theme of music, albeit through a different route. If the phrase "All of Christ for All of Life" is true, then that means everyt...  Read More

At the end of July, we finished our study of Genesis with an explosive look at Sodom and Gomorrah. If you recall, we looked at the wickedness of those cities and the Lord’s nuclear destruction of Sodom. If you don’t recall, or were not with us in July, we considered the archaeological discovery of the city and the presence of Trinitite (a glassy substance created by a nuclear blast) at the archaeo...  Read More

Dear OBC,When the Fall season hits, it usually signifies a season of change. The leaves may change colors, and temperatures starts to cool, but we can take hope in the fact that some things will not change like... singing. From the beginning of creation where the angels sang at the creation of the world (Job 38:7), to eternity where we will join in the song of the New Creation (Revelation 5, 14, &...  Read More

Hello brothers,We’re relaunching our Men’s Bible Reading Groups, and we invite you to read through the books of Ephesians and Philippians with us during the final quarter of 2025. If you are interested, please RSVP here with this availability survey by September 20.Small Groups for Bible Discussion and PrayerInstead of a teacher/student format, our aim is that these groups would be places for mutu...  Read More

Dear OBC Family, This week is full of ministry activity as we’re restarting Discipleship Night, College & Career, Women’s Book Club, our monthly Men’s Breakfast, and Sunday School. As this Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, our high school and adult classes will meet together in the sanctuary for our time of Great Commission Prayer, and we look forward to a visit and report from missionaries...  Read More