Central Oaks Students

Check out all our upcoming Summer events!

This week we asked the question,
"When I'm hurting, why does God feel far away?"

We turned to the Psalms to help us understand that God loves us and wants us to share our feelings with him. And because of the person and work of Jesus, we have been brought near to God, unlike ever before!

https://youtu.be/Zqu7njHbbcE

I Have Questions - Week 2 This week we look at the question, When I'm hurting, why does God feel far away"?

Students are meeting via ZOOM at 7PM.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78222153950?pwd=EK7b_ckQtpthsjBwHa7ceBSog7mIY3.1

Meeting ID: 782 2215 3950
Passcode: JesusSaves

Some questions are tougher to answer than others!

This week we are asking the question,
"When people are hurting, where is God"?

The story of Esther, as well as the story of Jesus, show us that while we may not be able to see God when we're hurting, that:

1. God is present.
2. God is working.
3. God wants to work through us.

I Have Questions Week 1 Some questions are tougher to answer than others!This week we are asking the question, "When people are hurting, where is God"?The story of Esther, as well a...

Central Oaks Students is meeting online.
Jun 29, 2022 at 07:00 PM.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79650157225?pwd=DeR0f_D6s6_UOMOMpQ8Cpa-OqAvUZx.1

Meeting ID: 796 5015 7225
Passcode: JesusSaves

Students is going virtual again! Tonight 7:15-7:55pm.

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86082135770?pwd=SnE0SHJHeE5qbG5kbWFNdzFxNU9PUT09

Meeting ID: 860 8213 5770
Passcode: JesusLoves

If you missed our virtual gathering, you can watch the replay here...
https://youtu.be/YGMkrdwE8Gs

Justice For All - Week 1 Due to inclement weather, we had to go digital...

Justice means different things to different people, but what really matters is what justice means to God.
In Justice for All, we'll find out!

Justice For All Justice means different things to different people, but what really matters is what justice means to God. In Justice for All, we'll find out!

Need a refresher?
Here's a quick look at all the main ideas and Scriptures from our series, DisTinCt.

DiStiNcT :: Series Review This is what we studied over the last month... How much of it do you remember?

Have you ever played "Spot the Difference"?

It's an innocent and fun game where you try to notice the small differences between two pictures. However, we actually tend to take this game into our real life more than we should.

We take notice of differences among people, and we are quick to criticize. Either we criticize them for being different, or we criticize ourselves. But the Bible says that God made us all to be unique and distinct in our own way and for God's glory!

Therefore, instead of criticizing each other's differences, we can actually learn to celebrate them instead.

DiStiNcT :: Week 4 Recap Have you ever played "Spot the Difference"?It's an innocent and fun game where you try to notice the small differences between two pictures. However, we actu...

When was the last time you were really impressed by someone?

It's really easy to see someone else's gifts, talents, and abilities and wish that we were like them. But the truth is that God made us all different and distinct, so that could each play a different role in the body of Christ, the church.

The apostle Paul uses the illustration of our body, saying...
"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”
And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…

Therefore, it is because God has gifted us in many different ways... that we can all serve in distinct ways!

DisTinCt - Week 3 Recap When was the last time you were really impressed by someone? It's really easy to see someone else's gifts, talents, and abilities and wish that we were like ...

Would you rather... STAND OUT... or blend in?

These are the options the world presents to us. You can either "let your freak flag fly" and boldly celebrate what makes you a somebody, or you can blend into the background and be a nobody.

The Bible describes a different reality. It says that we are all different and distinct, in many different ways, but that at the same time we are all equal and united in Christ. We are all somebody!

You are beautifully and wonderfully made...
God made you distinct!

https://youtu.be/aNOawePc7IA

DiStiNcT :: Week 2 Recap Would you rather... STAND OUT... or blend in?These are the options the world presents to us. You can either "let your freak flag fly" and boldly celebrate wh...

Jesus is both God AND man! Kinda crazy right?

That means that God knows exactly what it's like...
to be tempted to do something you shouldn't, to say something hurtful, to cheat or to lie. God knows what it is like to get hungry, thirsty, or not feel well. God knows what it is like to be human... because He came in the person of Jesus!

And NO ONE else can stand up to this claim! Jesus is Distinct.

DiStiNcT - Week One Recap Jesus is both God AND man! Kinda crazy right? That means that God knows exactly what it's like... to be tempted to do something you shouldn't, to say somethi...

If someone asked who you are, what would you say?

Maybe you’d say your name.
Or maybe you’d say, “I’m a musician. A basketball player.
A friend. A daughter or son...
I’m a human!”

Those things might be true, but have you ever felt like you’re still figuring out who you are, what you’re good at, or why you’re here?

In this 4-week series, we'll see how discovering who Jesus is, actually helps us discover who we’re meant to be. Because not only is Jesus distinct from anyone who has ever lived, but God made us distinct too.
We have distinct gifts which we can use to serve God and others, and unique distinctions are worth celebrating!

https://youtu.be/3A8BkIHQBqQ

DiStiNcT If someone asked who you are, what would you say? Maybe you’d say your name. Or maybe you’d say, “I’m a musician. A basketball player. A friend. A daughter o...

Jesus is the reasons for the season!

It seems cheesy, but it's an important reminder. A reminder that Christmas is about selflessness... not selfishness. A reminder that Christmas is about sacrifice.

Good Things - Week 4 Recap Jesus is the reasons for the season! It seems cheesy, but it's an important reminder. A reminder that Christmas is about selflessness... not selfishness. A r...

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!
This Wednesday we will be watching clips from the movie ELF, and then playing games to match.
-Trivia
-Spaghetti bar
-Indoor snowball fight
-Selfie station with life-size Buddy the Elf
-and MORE.

You DONT want to miss it. Make sure you invite a friend too!

Happiness depends on your happenings...
but joy is so much DEEPER!

You can fake happiness... but you can't fake joy.
Happiness can easily be taken away... but joy can't be taken.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4

Jesus brings JOY!

Good Things Week 3 Recap Happiness depends on your happenings... but joy is so much DEEPER! You can fake happiness... but you can't fake joy.Happiness can easily be taken away... but...

Our plans... never seem to go perfectly, especially during the holidays. Thankfully, God's plans do!

When sin created a catastrophe that ruined our relationship with God and with each other... God had a plan.
God's people waited generation after generation for this plan to be enacted, and in the fullness of time, Jesus, the promised Messiah, the Christ, was finally born.

Jesus is the reason for the season.
Jesus is the One who restores our relationships with God and each other.
Jesus is the One who brings hope and healing to the brokenness of this world.

Jesus completes God's plan

Good Things - Week 2 Recap Our plans... never seem to go perfectly, especially during the holidays.Thankfully God's plans do!When sin created a catastrophe that ruined our relationship...

If you think waiting for Christmas is hard now...
Just imagine what it was like for God's people in the Old Testament. Year after year, generation after generation, of waiting for God's promised gift of a redeemer. And then...
Jesus, the Christ, is finally born!
Good things come to those who wait... God has a plan!

Good Things - Week 1 Recap If you think waiting for Christmas is hard now... Just imagine what it was like for God's people in the Old Testament. Year after year, generation after gene...

In God’s timing, we just finished a study called “With You” where we explored what the Bible teaches about being a good friend to others, especially when they are hurting, lonely, or grieving.

In the wake of this terrible tragedy, I believe that God has prepared you and equipped you for such a time as this. So let’s remember what it looks like to weep with those who weep, and that God is near to the broken-hearted.

Please join us in praying for the students, families, faculty, and Oxford community.

It's almost Christmas... can you even wait?!?!
It's okay if you don't think you can, but just remember...
"good things come to those who wait"!

Good Things It's almost Christmas... can you even wait?!?!It's okay if you don't think you can, but just remember... "good things come to those who wait"!

Sometimes being alone is nice, it's actually good, and we enjoy it.
However, BEING alone... isn't the same thing as FEELING alone!

As people who want to demonstrate the love of God to those around us, we want be with people when they are lonely.

With You - Week 2 Recap Sometimes being alone is nice, it's actually good, and we enjoy it. However, BEING alone... isn't the same thing as FEELING alone! As people who want to demo...

As the holidays quickly approach, let's remember that while we are celebrating... others might actually be grieving.
And sometimes the best thing we can do for them, is just to be there WITH THEM!

With You - Week 1 Recap Being a friend is easy, when life is easy. But what about when life is tough? As we enter the holiday season this year, we want to remember that while we are...

Friendship might seem pretty easy when life is easy, but it gets more complicated when your friends are hurting or struggling.

With You - A new series on friendship. Friendship might seem pretty easy when life is easy, but it gets more complicated when your friends are hurting or struggling. When our friends need help, an...