Media / Sermons
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In this eighth installment of the *Heaven* series, Garrett Bookout tackles the common theological question of whether the physical planet earth will be completely annihilated at the end of time. Reviewing the timeline of the series, Bookout reminds the class that just as our future resurrected bodies will be tangibly physical rather than ghostly or ethereal, our eternal destination will also be physical. By analyzing the terminology of "destruction" and "newness" across Isaiah 65–66, 2 Peter 3, and Revelation 21, Bookout argues that "destruction" in the New Testament often means a radical, cleansing transformation rather than absolute annihilation into nothingness. He contrasts the original pre-Flood world with the post-Flood world to illustrate how a realm can "perish" and yet structurally remain the same planet. The class concludes with a look at Revelation 21, illustrating that eternity consists not of humans floating up to a disembodied heaven, but of God descending to dwell with humanity on a universally restored, uncursed earth.JUN 28, 2026The Earth Destroyed? - Class 8Garrett Bookout -
Minister Garrett Bookout introduces a new, three-month sermon series titled *"In The Upper Room,"* focusing on the intimate final teachings of Jesus found in John chapters 13–17. Bookout challenges the congregation to actively read along with the weekly passages and to memorize John 13:33-35, focusing on Jesus' explicit "new commandment" to love one another. This foundational lesson details Jesus washing his disciples' feet on the night prior to his crucifixion. Bookout explores how Jesus deliberately uses this culturally demeaning task as a profound object lesson to reframe greatness in the Kingdom of God. By kneeling before his fallible followers—including Judas Iscariot who would betray him—Jesus demonstrates that true discipleship requires active, self-sacrificing service. Bookout concludes by asserting that service is not merely an optional bonus to the Christian faith but a core, defining characteristic of an authentic relationship with Christ.JUN 28, 2026Washing Feet - John 13:1-17Garrett Bookout -
In this class, Randy Wooten explores a practical principle drawn from the ministry of the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ: **altering the approach to different audiences while keeping the gospel message exactly the same.** Using biblical accounts from the book of Acts and the Gospels, Wooten demonstrates how Paul and Jesus adapted their communication styles based on whether they were speaking to Jews, Greeks, or specific individuals. The lesson challenges Christians today to meet people where they are, understand their cultures, find common ground, and ask penetrating questions to internalize biblical truth.JUN 24, 2026Alter the Approach, Not the Message - Class 8Randy Wooten -
Delivered as a Father's Day Bible class at the Oak Hollow church of Christ, guest speaker Dale Jenkins presents "The Dad in the Mirror," an examination of fatherhood through the lenses of biblical examples. Jenkins contrasts the typical approach to Father's Day—which often leans into correcting or "fussing at" fathers—with a reflective look at seven paternal figures from Scripture. He outlines the triumphs and failures of Noah, Eli, the father of the Prodigal Son, Abraham, Isaac, David, and ultimately, God the Father. The lesson challenges earthly fathers to emphasize their children's spiritual destination over worldly happiness, eliminate familial favoritism, step out of passive parenting, and actively communicate faith through daily life. Jenkins concludes by asserting that the secret to successful fatherhood is first learning to receive and reflect the perfect, affectionate love of God the Father.JUN 21, 2026The Dad in the mirrorDale Jenkins -
In this guest presentation to the Oak Hollow church of Christ, Dale Jenkins identifies the internal threats that silently destroy congregational health. Contrary to popular belief, Jenkins argues that churches rarely die from external cultural pressures or secular persecution—hardships that historically cause the church to shine brighter and flourish. Instead, the true dangers come from within. While threats like pride, personal agendas, generational prejudice, passivity, and poor communication can severe a church's mission, Jenkins highlights **pessimism** as the ultimate "church arsenic." Through a poignant personal narrative about an older Christian named Jim, Jenkins illustrates how chronic negativity subtly poisons a congregation's spirit and undermines leadership. The sermon concludes with a call for the young congregation to protect their community by replacing a critical spirit with a deliberate focus on gratitude, hope, and joy.JUN 21, 2026The Inside Invisible Killer of Church HealthDale Jenkins -
In this seventh class of the series *Lessons from the Life of Paul*, teacher Steve Bookout focuses on the character, actions, and behaviors of the Apostle Paul—specifically examining his unmatched zeal. Rather than strictly analyzing Paul’s theological doctrines, the class explores how his passion drove his ministry and how 21st-century Christians can apply his example to their daily lives. Bookout transitions from examining Paul's explicit scriptural teachings on zeal to looking at his real-world execution of it, culminating in the start of Paul's first missionary journey. The lesson serves as a call to action for modern believers to actively use their God-given gifts with enthusiasm and strategic intent rather than placing their faith on "cruise control."JUN 17, 2026More on Paul's Zeal - Class 7Steve Bookout -
In this session, the focus transitions from the nature of the resurrected body to the actual location of our eternal existence. Garrett Bookout presents the biblical case that heaven will not be a purely non-physical spiritual realm, but rather a renewed, physical earth completely cleansed of its curse. Drawing from Genesis, Acts 1, and Acts 3, the lesson highlights how the biblical theme of redemption is not about throwing creation away, but fixing it. The class culminates in a comparative analysis of major Bible translations to show that God’s ultimate goal is a universal restoration of everything broken by sin.JUN 14, 2026The Restoration of All Things - Class 7Garrett Bookout -
In this final installment of the "God's House" series on the book of Ephesians, Garret Bookout addresses the foundational reality of spiritual warfare. Contrasting modern naturalistic worldviews with the polytheistic and spirit-aware culture of ancient Ephesus, Bookout explains that Christians are locked in an invisible battle against the devil and cosmic forces of darkness. Satan's primary schemes are noted as promoting sin, creating crippling disunity within the universal body of Christ, and filling believers' lives with trivial distractions. To survive and stand firm, Christians must put on the full armor of God, train through personal and collective prayer, and fight together as a unified spiritual family rather than isolated individuals.JUN 14, 2026The Whole Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-24Garrett Bookout -
In this Bible class presented to the Oak Hollow church of Christ on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, teacher Steve Bookout delivers the sixth installment of the Lessons on the Life of Paul series, focusing entirely on the defining characteristic of Paul's zeal. Bookout contrasts Saul's initial misguided, destructive fire as a persecutor with the unstoppable gospel zeal he maintained following his conversion on the road to Damascus. The lesson explores the biblical definitions of zeal, tracking its connections to both Christ's messianic character and the tragic historical pitfalls of religious passion detached from truth. Bookout emphasizes that godly zeal must remain anchored in divine knowledge, and he challenges Christians to cultivate an unwavering commitment to holy living and gospel advocacy. The study concludes by examining 1 Peter 3:15, exploring how honoring Christ as holy serves as a baseline for standing ready to defend the faith with gentleness and respect.JUN 10, 2026Paul's Zeal - Class 6Steve Bookout -
In this sixth installment of the *New Heavens and New Earth* class series, Minister Garrett Bookout leads a study on 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. This lesson serves as a transition week, concluding the class's focus on **"what we will be"** in the resurrection before moving on to **"where we will be"**. Bookout addresses the nature of the resurrected bodily existence, unpacking Paul's agricultural metaphors, historical comparisons between Adam and Christ, and the linguistic meaning of a "spiritual body". The lesson emphasizes that our earthly physical actions carry eternal significance because our bodies are destined for a glorious, imperishable transformation rather than a purely ethereal or meaningless deletion.JUN 07, 20261 Corinthians 15:35-58 - Class 6Garrett Bookout -
In this sermon presented to the Oak Hollow church of Christ on Sunday, June 7, 2026, minister Garrett Bookout addresses Ephesians 6:5-9 as part of the ongoing God's House sermon series. Bookout begins by explaining his commitment to preaching sequentially through biblical books, which prevents a preacher from avoiding difficult topics or riding personal hobby horses. He acknowledges the modern challenges of addressing a passage on slavery, noting the lack of direct cultural equivalence today, the emotional weight of America's historic black eye with the practice, and the modern desire for the New Testament to have demanded an immediate abolition of the institution. Using an illustration of electricity to demonstrate how deeply a society's survival and economy can depend on a structural foundation—even though electricity is morally neutral and slavery is inherently sinful—Bookout explains that an immediate mechanical termination would have caused catastrophic collapse and starvation, hurting the vulnerable slave population most severely. Rather than treating the superficial symptoms of a fallen world, Bookout argues that the New Testament addresses the spiritual root of the problem by demanding a fundamental restructuring of human value. He highlights that Paul positions bondservants and masters as absolute spiritual equals who sit in the same assembly as brothers in Christ. Slaves are instructed to work with maximum sincerity, honesty, and effort, viewing their daily tasks as direct service to Christ rather than eye-service to please human handlers. Simultaneously, masters are given the radical command to stop threatening their servants and to serve them in return, modeling Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. Bookout concludes by extracting universal principles from the household code, emphasizing that true character is defined by what a person does when no one is watching, how they handle positions of authority, and their willingness to transform relationships through personal humility rather than demanding change from others.JUN 07, 2026Bondservants and Masters - Ephesians 6:5-9Garrett Bookout -
In this Bible class presented to the Oak Hollow church of Christ on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, teacher Randy Wooten continues the series Lessons on the Life of Paul by examining Acts chapter 9. Picking up directly after Saul’s basket escape from Damascus, the lesson explores Saul’s arrival in Jerusalem and the initial rejection he faced from the skeptical disciples. Wooten details how Barnabas stepped in as an advocate and bridge-builder, exemplifying his scriptural nickname, son of encouragement. The second half of the class transitions into Saul’s sudden departure to Tarsus after facing death threats from the Hellenists. Wooten frames this transition not as a setback, but as a providential season of preparation where God worked on Saul privately before elevating his public ministry. The lesson draws parallels to other Old and New Testament figures who underwent similar periods of isolation and character development.JUN 03, 2026The Beginning of Saul's Suffering (Part 2) - Class 5Randy Wooten
