Mt. Oak Sermons

Recently in a poll we asked about the sermons at Mt. Oak. We asked folks to describe the sermons. The following were the results.

77% said they were Scripturally based and relevant
65% said they were convicting
59% said they were just the right length
57% said they were spirit filled
55% said they were just the right blend to reach all persons
51% said they were moving
44% said they were edifying
36% said they had just the right amount of application
4% said they were too long

Changes to 10:30 Worship

We recently asked who appreciated the changes we made at 10:30 worship recently. We moved the announcements to PowerPoint before the service and started the Praise time right at 10:30 am. 98% of those who responded appreciated the change while 2% didn't.

Which do you regularly attend?

Recently a poll asked which of the following items do you attend regularly. 98% of those who responded said they attended worship. 36% said they attended small groups, 30% said Bible Studies, 20% attended both Accountability Groups and Wednesday Night. You were allowed to pick all that applied.

Your Favorite Moment in 2007 at Mt. Oak?

Now that the year is over - what was your favorite moment in 2007 at Mt. Oak?

March 31st?

So who knows what March 31st is and what makes it significant?

How Long Have You Been at Mt. Oak?

In a recent poll we asked How many years have you attended Mt. Oak? Of those that responded 38% said they had been at Mt. Oak 13 or more years, 28% said 6-12 years, 16% said 1-5 years and another 16% said they have been at Mt. Oak less than a year. Praise the Lord for the diversity at Mt. Oak of long time members and folks throughout the years. I'm especially excited about the 16% of respondents who have been here less than a year. God is bringing new folks to Mt. Oak. A new wind is blowing.

Lose It For Life: What I Eat and What's Eating Me

Anyone interested in this broadcast?

Thursday, January 31

Lose It For Life: What I Eat and What's Eating Me

Small Group Training

7:30p-9:00p - Upper Room

Join author Steve Arterburn for this exclusive, special LIVE training, for all Lose it for Life small group leaders. Lose it for Life offers hope and direction for anyone tired of struggling with their weight. More than a diet plan, this proven program focuses on the factors underlying unhealthy eating habits and provides biblical answers to these challenges.

Stephen Arterburn — Founder and Chairman of New Life Ministries, the host of nationally syndicated New Life Live! daily radio program; author of Healing is a Choice and Lose it for Life; and co-author of Every Man series.

Atheism vs. Theism & Scientific Evidence of Intelligent Design

Is anyone interested in this discussion? This broadcast?

Sunday, January 27

Atheism vs. Theism & Scientific Evidence of Intelligent Design

7-8:30 pm in the Upper Room

Does science point to a creator? From politics to school classrooms to the daily news.. CCN and Motive Entertainment invite you into the center of today's most hotly contested debate — broadcast LIVE from Stanford University!

Christopher Hitchens
vs.
Jay W. Richards

Christopher Hitchens — Contributing editor to Vanity Fair, visiting professor at New School in New York; author of God is Not Great.

Jay W. Richards — Research Fellow and Director of Acton Media at the Acton Institute; co-author, with astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, of The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos is Designed for Discovery.

Ben Stein (Host) — Journalist, author and actor in soon-to-be released movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

Michael Cromertie (Moderator) — Vice President at the Ethics and Public Policy Center; co-editor of Piety and Politics.

January 13th Attendance

In a recent poll we asked people to guess the worship attendance for Sunday, January 13. In the poll, those who voted did so correctly 42% for 366. Others voted for 345 (31%), 306 (15%) and 289 (11%). Thanks for participating in the poll.

E-News Popularity

In a recent poll 65% of those voting said they read the Pastor's Letters. 43% said they read the up coming events while 39% said they read the Encouragement Corner. We were allowed to vote three times and these were the three top vote getters. Fourth place with 21% was the Worship section followed by 19% for the Women's Section and 17% for the Youth section. Thanks for participating in this poll.

Christmas Eve Attendance

In a recent poll we asked people to guess our Christmas Eve worship attendance for three services. From the poll 51% voted for 685 which was the correct attendance. 32% of those who voted chose 750 while 13% thought we had 1,256. 2% voted for 599. Thanks for participating in the poll.

Martin Luther King Service

Today we held our first "annual" Martin Luther King worship service. The service began with open discussion about our remembrances of Martin Luther King and what he worked toward - harmony among all people.

The service continued with a short clip of his family "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. This was followed by at team of our youth leading us in a time or worship. Rev. Dr. Rodney Smothers concluded the morning with a Word from God.

I want to thank the 68 folks who attended the service, the many people who helped prepare breakfast, run the music and video, helped with the service and helped clean up.

Is this something you want to make annual? Are special services like this something we want to do more or at Mt. Oak? Your comments are welcome.

Rethink

Sisters and Brothers who attended the Rethink Conference this weekend,

What did you think of the conference?

What were your favorite parts?

Which talks would you like for others to see (we taped them)?

Please leave your name.

10:30 Worship

Here's your chance to give some feedback or ask questions concerning our 10:30 worship service. We have made some changes of late and would love to hear what you think, what you have noticed and what other changes might you be interested in seeing.

SkiMO

How about sharing some of your experiences at SkiMO? Some are first time attendees but some have gone year after year. Share what God has done for you at a SkiMo in the past or what you hope God will do this year in your life.

Favorite Old TV Shows

Well, our readers have spoken. The poll is over and 42% of the responses were for I Love Lucy as the favorite old TV show. My personal favorite, The Andy Griffith Show, came in second with 18% followed by Leave it to Beaver at 13% and Hogan's Heroes with 10%. Other shows got smaller vote totals. Thanks for your votes.

Vision/Purpose of the Church & What is a Disciple

What should the vision or purpose of a church be?

Of Mt. Oak?

How would you define these?

How would you define a Disciple (of Jesus Christ)?

Use Scripture to support your thoughts when possible.

Christian Maturity

Paul writes his heart's desire for the church in Ephesus by saying; Ephesians 3:16-19 - I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

This is my heart for Mt. Oak. That more and more we would grow up in Jesus and mature in our faith. Paul continues in Ephesians 4 to tell us some of the measures of a mature Christian. Read it and see what it has to say.

Part of it tells the leadership of the church, especially the pastors, that our task is to equip and train the Body for works of service. Ephesians 4:11-13 - 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

What other Scriptures have you found that would help us as the Body to mature in our walk with Jesus? Share your thoughts so that others may be encouraged to grow up in Jesus!

And the Super Bowl Winner Is!

In our recent poll 25% said the Redskins would win, while 25% also selected the Colts and Patriots.

I will certainly cheer for the Redskins, but I am also among the few old Colts fans who still root for them and the Ravens at the same time.

Anyone want to select the winners of the playoff games?

Your Favorite Baseball Team

In a recent poll 69% of the folks who responded said they followed the Orioles! Finally after the long season of being a lonely Raven's fan in Redskins territory, I'm among fans that support the same team. The Nationals had 19% support.

What do you think about the upcoming baseball season? Will the Orioles play .500 ball or end up in last place or both?

Evangelism

In a recent poll concerning our evangelistic outreach 50% of those who responded said they had invited 1-3 people to worship with them at Mt. Oak. Another 10% said they had invited 13 or more people to Mt. Oak in the last six months. Unfortunately 18% said they had not invited anyone.

Evangelism is all of our jobs. We should always be ready with a witness, a report about our faith, an invite to worship with us and grow with us in Christ at Mt. Oak.

Who can you invite to Mt. Oak this week? How about some stories from your experiences?

What is God calling us to do?

What is it that God is calling us to do?

Here are some ideas - how about some prayer and discussion?

One teacher reminded us to see where God was at work and join Him. Looking around us, where is God at work and how can we help?

With our closeness to our Nation's Capital - how about a ministry to welcome home service persons? Or to minister to their families while they are away?

With our closeness to the Bowie Baysox, is there a ministry to their families, to their fans, to those around the team?

What are some ideas God has laid on your mind?

Recent Poll - The New Year

In a recent poll 29% of the respondents said they wanted to spend more time with their family in 2008. It was also revealing that 25% wished for a family member to be saved while another 24% wished for the end of the war in Iraq. I pray that these and other wishes come true in 2008.

What are your resolutions? What does God want you to accomplish in 2008? How about listing some things you believe God would want you to do in 2008?