About Oakwood
We are a Bible-based, Gospel-centered, family friendly church. Join us on the life-changing adventure of following Jesus and pursuing His charge to make disciples of all nations.
God is in the business of changing lives. He takes ordinary people with struggles and hurts and transforms them into forgiven, free, Spirit-filled followers of Jesus.
In obedience to the Great Commission, our mission is to join God in His work of transforming people and communities through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.'”
A Path to Follow
Following Jesus is a little like baseball. He doesn’t want fans, He wants followers. He doesn’t want us sitting in the stands cheering for other people, He wants us all in the game, playing for Him!
So we seek to gather worshipers of Jesus and help them Love God with all that they are. That is first base: that is where Christianity begins. You experience how much God has loved you in Christ and you start a relationship with God in which you seek to trust, love and delight in Him.
But no one wants to stay on first base! As soon as you can, you run on to second by getting connected with other believers so you can Grow in Christ. We were created to be in community. Church should feel like a team! We need each other and we grow best when we are in close relationship with one another. That’s why we have Community Groups at Oakwood and we encourage everyone to join one of these small groups where you can get to know other Christ followers and they can get to know you.
Then we push for third base by training followers of Jesus to Serve the Church. God has given all believers gifts, abilities and experiences to build up His body – the church. What are your strengths? Your team needs you to do your part so everyone else can do their part. We are better together!
Of course, the goal is to make it around to home plate. And so we send workers on a mission to Reach the World with the gospel of Jesus Christ. People around us and all over the world are lost and hurting in a dark and broken world. They are desperate for love and truth – and we have everything they need in Jesus. So we go to our neighbors and the nations with the good news about Jesus and we invite them to learn about him and become worshipers of Jesus who will start to love God.
Do you see how this brings you back around to first base, but this time you are bringing someone else along with you? Players turn into coaches! We all encourage one another to keep running, to keep moving forward, to keep bringing others along with us.
And all of this is for the glory of God. We are not trying to make a name for ourselves or for Oakwood. Our goal is to honor the only One who is worthy of our praise: Jesus Christ.
One Church
Trick question: how many churches are there in Tampa Bay? Answer: one. "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and...
Battling Unbelief
Consider the power of a single belief. "The more money I keep for myself the better my life will be." Even if you've never said it out loud and even if you don't consciously think this thought very often - consider how powerful this idea is if, deep down, you believe...
Spiritual Disciplines
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their...