Oakland's small groups are people gathered together around God's mission....
LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, SERVE THE WORLD
Small groups are offered during the Fall and Winter semesters. Weekly group gatherings are interactive times when small communities of friends support one another in answering two core questions: What is Jesus saying? What am I doing in response?
Oakland's small groups are open to anyone wanting to learn more about God's mission and be part of carrying out God's mission. Groups gather throughout the week around Monroe and surrounding areas.
If you've never been in a group or are new to God's mission with Oakland, stop by the church office and let us suggest where you can begin.
For more information contact Brenda Carnes.
Winter 2019 Small Group Study
In this six-session video Bible study, Dr. David Jeremiah uses Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 6:10-18–his command for us to overcome the forces of evil by putting on the armor of God–to lay out a pathway for spiritual victory.
We all know it’s hard out there. Sometimes it feels like the world is ripping apart at the seams. Sometimes it feels like our hearts can’t take any more hurt. But no matter what the world throws at us each day–anxiety, fear, confusion, temptation–we have a choice on how to respond. We can either concede defeat or live in the victory God has promised.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As disciples of Christ, we have also “overcome the world.” As we daily put on each piece of armor–belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit–we receive God’s power to face life’s challenges and be assured of success.
Sessions include:
1. Overcoming Falsehood with Truth
2. Overcoming Evil with Good
3. Overcoming Anxiety with Peace
4. Overcoming Fear with Faith
5. Overcoming Confusion with Wisdom
6. Overcoming Temptation with Scripture
Fall 2018 Small Group Study
At some point, we've all found ourselves in the middle of a mess relationally, professionally, or maybe even financially. In this 4-part study, Andy Stanley reminds us how those messes may actually be our best opportunity to move toward God and God's best opportunity to do something incredible through us.
It’s a common misperception that the Christian life is all about avoiding messes and staying out of trouble. But it turns out that your messes and the messy people you meet along the way may actually be your greatest opportunity to know God. In this series, Andy reminds us that following Jesus isn’t about avoiding something; it’s about becoming something.
Sessions include:
1. The Mess in the Mirror
2. Best Mess Ever
3. Inside Out
4. Messy-er
Winter 2018 Small Group Study
Could you be the answer to the problems you see?
Every day we are faced with the needs of those around us. Emotional. Physical. Spiritual. What are we to do about it? Are these problems for our pastors to address or is there a way for the church member to make an impact that will last?
Bestselling author Thom S. Rainer answers these questions by offering nine simple traits that you can incorporate into your life no matter your background, stage of life, or sense of capability.
You can do it. Now it's time to just stand up and say you will!
Sessions include:
1. I Will Move from "I Am to "I Will"
2. I Will Worship with Others
3. I Will Grow Together with Others
4. I Will Serve
5. I Will Go
6. I Will Give Generously
7. I Will Not Be a Church Dropout
8. I Will Avoid the Traps of Churchianity
9. I Will Make a Difference
Fall 2017 Small Group Study
It’s likely you have a threatening giant in your life…an adversary or stronghold that’s diminishing your ability to live a full and free life. Frozen in the grip of rejection, fear, anger, comfort, or addiction, you’ve lost sight of the promise God has for your life. Demoralized and defeated, you’ve settled for far less than His best.
God has a better plan for you—a plan for you to live in victory. That’s why He has silenced your giant once and for all.
In this six-session video Bible study, Pastor Louie Giglio uncovers a newfound twist in the classic story of David and Goliath. He shows how the key to living free from our giants is not better slingshot accuracy, but keeping our eyes on the one and only giant-slayer: Jesus. Put your hope in Him and watch Goliath fall.
Louie walks us toward the road to redemption through godly wisdom and relatable transparency. He doesn’t just help us conquer the Goliaths in our life; he shares his own.
Sessions include:
2. Fear Must Fall
3. Rejection Must Fall
4. Comfort Must Fall
5. Anger Must Fall
6.Addiction Must Fall
Winter 2017 Small Group Study
Everybody wants to be happy. Everybody is on a happiness quest. For many, happiness is measured in moments. Experiences. It's elusive. Unsustainable. What about you? What makes you happy? Something comes to mind for each of us.
In this six-session video Bible study, pastor Andy Stanley examines the ways in which we tend to define happiness and explains how that definition influences the way we pursue it. He reveals that happiness is about who, not what, and that happy people are at peace with God, with others, and with themselves. He also shows how sin undermines peace because it separates us from God, others, and ourselves by substituting pleasure for fulfillment, things for people, images for intimacy, and self-expression for self-control.
We are often tempted to believe that happiness comes from acquiring things, but happiness is actually an outcome of what we sow in our lives. We can’t acquire, consume, or exercise our way to happiness, but we may be able to serve and volunteer our way there. In the end, we find that if we live as if it’s all about us, we will never be happy.
Sessions include:
