God's House

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.

MAY 31, 2026

Children and Fathers - Ephesians 6:1-4

Garrett Bookout

In this sermon presented to the Oak Hollow church of Christ on Sunday, May 31, 2026, minister Garrett Bookout preaches from Ephesians 6:1-4 as part of the ongoing God's House sermon series. Bookout deconstructs the immense pressures, beauties, and vulnerabilities inherent to parenting and being a child within the body of Christ. He begins by addressing common cultural and religious misapplications of parenting scripture, specifically contextualizing Proverbs 22:6 to explain that proverbs are general wisdom principles rather than absolute, robotic guarantees of a child's future choices. Bookout argues that children possess free will and unique dispositions, meaning that a child’s adult faith must be their own personal conviction rather than a manufactured imitation of their parents. Moving into the text of Ephesians, Bookout details why Paul addresses children directly as active, vital components of the contemporary church rather than merely the church of tomorrow. He explains that Paul singles out fathers because Roman patriarchal society granted them unchecked domestic power, making them highly susceptible to abusing authority. Parents are instructed to avoid provoking their children to anger, which Bookout links to managing a child's emotional regulation and mental well-being. Ultimately, the sermon redefines godly discipline beyond mere physical punishment, framing it as holistic, daily spiritual training through prayer, scripture reading, and emotional connection, aimed at launching children into independent, sincere lives of discipleship under Jesus.

MAY 17, 2026

Marriage and the Church

Garrett Bookout

In the sermon *"Marriage and the Church"* (part of the *God's House* series), minister Garrett Bookout teaches from Ephesians 5 that Christian marriage is meant to be the most beautiful human relationship and serves as a living illustration of the relationship between Christ and His Church. He emphasizes that true spirituality flows from being filled with the Holy Spirit, which expresses itself through mutual submission and self-sacrifice. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially as Christ loved the Church, while wives are called to submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Christ. The ultimate goal of marriage is oneness—two becoming one—rather than competing forces, mirroring the believer’s call to yield to Christ so they can be united with Him.

MAY 10, 2026

A Life with Purpose - Ephesians 5:15-21

Garrett Bookout

In this practical and reflective sermon, Garrett Bookout explores Ephesians 5:15-21 as a call to intentional, purposeful living. He emphasizes that life is a journey ("walk") that requires careful attention because our daily choices determine where we end up—both in this life and eternity. Using a memorable rope illustration contrasting our brief earthly life with eternity, he challenges listeners to stop living primarily for temporal comfort and instead make the best use of time by being filled with the Holy Spirit. True purpose is found not in self-focus but in other-focused living: heartfelt worship, continual thankfulness, and mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. The message is both convicting and encouraging, especially fitting for Mother’s Day, highlighting lives marked by caring more for others than for self.

MAY 03, 2026

Walk as Children of Light - Ephesians 5:3-14

Garrett Bookout

In his May 3, 2026 sermon “Walk as Children of Light” (Ephesians 5:3-14) from the “God’s House” series, Garrett Bookout challenges Christians not only to avoid the moral darkness of the world but to actively expose and transform it through holy living. Paul commands believers to reject sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk, and crude joking—these things are “out of place” among saints. Instead, lives should be marked by thanksgiving, rooted in contentment with God’s good gifts (such as sexuality and speech). Believers were once darkness itself but are now light in the Lord; their lives must therefore produce the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. The sermon stresses discerning what pleases God (rather than pushing boundaries), refusing partnership with the “sons of disobedience,” and exposing unfruitful works of darkness simply by shining as light. Ultimately, Christ’s light awakens sleepers from death, transforms personal darkness, and spreads through His church to turn the world from darkness to light.

APR 26, 2026

Walk in Love - Ephesians 5:1-2

Garrett Bookout

In this sermon from the "God's House" series, Garrett Bookout explores Ephesians 5:1-2, calling the church to "be imitators of God as beloved children" and to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us." He challenges listeners to move beyond knowing the greatest commandment (love God and neighbor) in their heads to living it deeply in their hearts, contrasting detailed "faithful church" checklists with the Bible's emphasis on love as the weightier matter. Delivered April 26, 2026, at Oak Hollow church of Christ.

APR 12, 2026

The New Self

Garrett Bookout

In “The New Self” (God’s House series), Garrett Bookout (Oak Hollow church of Christ, April 12, 2026) shows from Ephesians 4:17–32 that real change is not only possible but required for every Christian. We must put off the old self and put on the new self created in God’s likeness.

MAR 22, 2026

Grown Up Christianity

Garrett Bookout

In “Grown Up Christianity” (Ephesians 4:7-16), Garrett Bookout shows that true church unity isn’t built on shared hobbies or interests but on our common allegiance to Jesus. Christ gave leaders to equip every saint for the real work of ministry—service—so the body can grow up together into the fullness of Christ and build itself up in love.

MAR 08, 2026

Unity in the body

Garrett Bookout

In his sermon "Unity in the Body," part of the "God's House" series, Garrett Bookout draws from Ephesians 4:1-6 to exhort believers to live lives worthy of their divine calling by embodying humility, gentleness, patience, and love, all aimed at preserving the unity of the Spirit in peace. He outlines five practical signs of growing humility, such as admitting wrongs quickly, listening more, being less offended, celebrating others' successes, and showing patience with weaknesses. The message culminates in emphasizing the seven foundational "ones" of Christian unity: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all.

MAR 01, 2026

Powered by the Spirit

Garrett Bookout

The sermon "Powered By The Spirit," delivered by Garrett Bookout (minister at Oak Hollow church of Christ) on March 1, 2026, explores why the Holy Spirit often receives less attention than the Father and Son in Christian teaching, arguing that this reflects divine design rather than a problem. Drawing from Scripture, including John 16:14 and Ephesians 3:14-21, Garrett emphasizes the Spirit's role in glorifying Jesus and empowering believers inwardly. He urges the congregation to appreciate and rely on the Spirit's mysterious yet powerful work rather than minimizing or overcorrecting against misconceptions about Him.

FEB 22, 2026

Mystery Revealed - Ephesians 3:1-13

Garrett Bookout

The sermon "Mystery Revealed," delivered by Garrett Bookout (minister at Oak Hollow church of Christ) on February 22, 2026, explores Ephesians 3, where Paul describes his ministry as revealing a divine mystery hidden for ages. Bookout uses a personal family story of secretly planning a Disney World vacation for years and dramatically revealing it to his young children to illustrate how God planned salvation long before revealing it fully through Christ. The core mystery is that Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, extending God's grace beyond Israel to all nations.

FEB 08, 2026

God's Temple - Ephesians 2:11-22

Garrett Bookout

In this sermon, Garrett Bookout draws a parallel between modern immigration struggles and the biblical exclusion of Gentiles from God's covenant people, emphasizing the tragedy of division and the human tendency to justify exclusion rather than recognize shared brokenness. He explains how Ephesians 2:11-22 reveals God's gracious work in Christ to tear down the "dividing wall of hostility"—both the literal temple barrier and the metaphorical separation caused by the law—so that Gentiles, once aliens and strangers without hope, are brought near, made fellow citizens, and welcomed as full members of God's household. The preacher urges the church to remember its own undeserved inclusion, build solely on the foundation of Christ (the cornerstone) and the teachings of the apostles and prophets rather than human traditions, and pursue peace and unity instead of erecting new walls through extra-biblical rules and judgments.

FEB 01, 2026

Saved by Grace - Ephesians 2:1-10

Garrett Bookout

In this sermon, Garrett Bookout warns against two extremes that reject the true gospel: antinomianism (grace makes obedience irrelevant) and legalism (salvation depends primarily on human works and obedience). He emphasizes that Ephesians 2:1–10 teaches we are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ—not by our own merits—so no one can boast, yet we are created in Christ for the purpose of walking in good works. As a new congregation, Oak Hollow must reject legalism (a greater danger in Churches of Christ), embrace grace as the source of hope and humility, and live lives of allegiance to Jesus that produce genuine good in the world.

JAN 11, 2026

A Prayer for the Church - Ephesians 1:15-23

Garrett Bookout

In this sermon from the "God's House" series, Garrett draws from Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 to emphasize that the church must be grounded in faith in Christ and love for one another as its bedrock foundation. He highlights the need for hope anchored in a heartfelt knowledge of God, fostering emotional and relational depth beyond mere intellectual study. Ultimately, the church is called to embody Christ's lordship as His body, actively continuing Jesus' mission of love and service in the world while evaluating traditions to align with these core priorities.

JAN 04, 2026

God's Plan - Ephesians 1:3-14

Garrett Bookout

In "God's Plan," the inaugural sermon of the "God's House" series, Garrett celebrates Ephesians 1:3-14 as a profound doxology praising God's eternal blueprint to choose and adopt believers as holy sons and daughters through Christ, long before creation's foundation, transforming our fractured world through grace-filled redemption. Drawing from personal experience with adoption, the message highlights how God's lavish forgiveness via Christ's blood unites heaven and earth, sealing Gentiles and Jews alike with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of inheritance, inviting all into His family despite our failures. This divine strategy calls the church not to merely avoid worldly brokenness but to embody righteousness, fostering praise and humble participation in God's redemptive purpose for His household.

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Garrett Bookout

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