Ocean Lakes Church Service

When we look at our world today, we see evidence of many things that have gone wrong. It is truly a "topsy-turvy" world in many ways. There are wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, poverty, hunger, mass murders, and senseless killings of individuals in the news almost every day. But have you ever thought of the question, "What is earth's greatest curse?" That is our subject for today. Stay with us as we try to find an answer to this most important question. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

There is an interesting story in Mark's gospel, Chapter 9, about an unnamed man who brought his son to Jesus for healing. This compassionate father said that his son had been sick since he was a child. Jesus told the father that "all things are possible to him that believes." Then the man said something that we all can relate to: "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief." How much faith does it take for God to hear us? That's our subject for today - "Mustard-Seed Faith." For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who uses the phrase, "Listen to me!"? Perhaps you were already listening, but that person tells you to listen. A bit annoying, isn't it? But that is not annoying when God speaks to us. He tells us repeatedly in the Bible that we should listen when God speaks. That's what we are thinking about in today's message, "Learning to Listen." Thank you for joining us in worship today. Let's listen now as God speaks to our hearts. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Did you know that several Bible characters have been given nick-names? Some are recorded in the scripture, but others are not. There is one man in the Old Testament who has been given the title, "The Weeping Prophet." He cried a lot because his heart was breaking because of the nation's refusal to return to God. Our subject today is "Journey Back to God." This is what we all need to have when we go astray from God's love. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Do you remember playing a game when you were a child called “Hide and Seek?” One person would be “It” and would hide their eyes while others ran and hid. Then after counting to a certain number in a sing-song kind of way, “It” would say, “Here I come, ready or not.” Today we’re thinking about the matter of being ready when God calls us. Many will not be ready, and there is great peril in putting off Jesus. That is our subject for this morning. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

We welcome you this morning to our Sunday worship service from Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC. If today would be your last day on earth, and tomorrow you find yourself in a totally different place, can you honestly say that you were ready for that new residence? Throughout the Bible we are given many words of warning that we should be ready when that call comes for us. This is what we are thinking about in today's message: "The Call to Be Ready." Let's give now some serious thought to this all-important matter. Thank you for joining us in worship today. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

The Bible speaks of heaven in terms of a mansion. But there are other words which are also used to describe the final residence of all those who know Jesus, the Son of God, as their own personal Savior. Today we will take a look at some of these beautiful ideas, terms, to see what God has let us knew about heaven - “A House Not Made with Hands.” For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

During this month of September, we are going to be thinking about a subject which is special to many people - HEAVEN. Do you believe in heaven? Many do; some do not. The sermon today will be interspersed with the congregation singing several hymns about heaven. The congregational singing will not be on the podcast, but if you know some of these old favorite hymns, perhaps you can sing them also as we worship together. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

In John’s gospel, chapter 16, the very last verse, Jesus told His followers, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” That’s the KJV. In another translation, that verse reads this way: “While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” That sounds like something we all could use, doesn’t it? For the next few minutes we will be thinking about how Jesus was able to deal with suffering, hardships, and all other kinds of situations. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

If you have ever been totally occupied in giving your full time and attention to some project, and along comes someone who interrupts you in what you’re doing, then you know just how frustrating and annoying that can be. You may be tempted to give that person “a piece of your mind.” The Bible tells us that Jesus was “in all points tempted, as we are, yet without sin.” This may well be the time when a look at how Jesus handled interruptions can help us also. That’s what our subject is this morning: “Jesus and Interruptions.” For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

If you were to ask the average person today the question, “Are you a Christian?” you may get a variety of answers. Some may say, “Yes, I am. I try to be good to others; I pay my debts; I am faithful in my marriage; I am a good husband (or wife)” - and on and on it may go. But what is it that determines if a person is truly a Christian or not? That’s what we’re asking in today’s sermon: “How can I be sure I am a Christian?” Can one be sure at all? It’s a good question, and not only our peace of mind on this earth is based on our answer, but also this has a bearing on our eternal destiny. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Do you know what a parable is? Perhaps you learned long ago that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. There is a parable that Jesus told which is only one sentence long, although in Matthew’s account in chapter 13, it takes up two verses. 45 and 46. This is a story about something which was quite expensive. If you are where you can take your Bible, get it and let’s look together at this parable. It is quite a fascinating story, and it has a message for us all today. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Several years ago, a popular Bible translator made the statement, “The trouble with many people today is that they have not found a God big enough for modern needs.” Most people have a god of some kind that they worship, but what kind of god is sufficient for our needs today? This morning we will try to answer that question with another question which is the title of the sermon today: “How Big Is Your God?” For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

One of the most painful experiences anyone can endure is that of being rejected by someone who is special in your life. Maybe a spouse, a child, a parent, a close friend or anyone whose approval we desire. In our Bible passage for today, the apostle Peter wrote to some people who has been utterly rejected. The reference for our text in the Scripture today is First Peter Chapter Two. Let's look at this together for the next few minutes. Maybe God has a message for YOU today! For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Have you ever seen the cartoon which pictures a little devil sitting on a person’s shoulder, whispering in one ear, and on the other shoulder a little angel whispering in the other ear? This pictures what we all experience when we have a debate going on inside our hearts, having to decide if we will obey God’s will or not. This is what the sermon is about today: “The Cross Pull.” Romans, chapter 7, verse 19 is our key Bible verse. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Today our worship service is quite different from the normal. We are celebrating today “Christmas in July.” Perhaps you have heard it said that the Christmas carols are so beautiful, it is sad that we sing them only once a year. Well, today we are having a Christmas celebration, with music and the sermon all on a Christmas theme. The title of today’s sermon is “In Defense of An Innkeeper." For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Even though Independence Day is now past, we are continuing to celebrate today with another patriotic service. I want to use our time together this morning to reflect on some aspects of what America celebrated two days ago. Many who are sharing this service by podcast are not Americans, nor do you live in America. However, we pray that the thoughts you hear today may be applied to any nation, as we remember what the scripture says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Since Independence Day, July 4th, falls on a Friday this year, we here at Ocean Lakes are going to be celebrating America’s freedom on TWO Sundays this year - the Sunday before and the Sunday after. Our gathered congregation will sing “God Bless America” on both of these Sundays. But the question for us today is, “When Can God Bless America?” For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations.

Twice each year most states in our nation go through an ordeal of remembering to change our clocks – either forward or backward. “Spring forward – Fall backward” we say. Getting the right time is very important to most people. In the 90th Psalm, verse 12, there is a reminder from God that we are to “number our days.” We’re thinking about that this morning, as we look at “Just a Tiny Little Minute.”

On this Father’s Day this year we are thinking about gifts - not gifts that we might give to our earthly fathers, but rather the gifts that we have all received from our heavenly Father. What are some of these gifts? We could never name them all, but let’s look today at just a few. Thank you for worshiping with us today from Ocean Lakes Family Campground.