The Resurrection of Christ makes new life possible.

This past Sunday we celebrated Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We also started our new “Heroes” series.  Over the next 2 months we will be looking a the lives of biblical heroes from David to Mary Magdalene.

It was reported yesterday that Americans spent around 11% more on Easter this year than last.  Along with Halloween, it is becoming a candy makers dream come true.  Easter is about so much more than candy, plastic eggs, and new outfits.  It’s about much more than the cost of a basket filled with goodies.  It represents a debt that was paid on our behalf by Jesus Christ.  A debt we could never pay on our own.  Here are a few questions I’d like to ask:

What does Easter mean to you?

What are some Easter traditions you had growing up?

Please send us your answers via the contact link above and please listen to this special sermon and view the sermons notes here.

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This week’s message of The One World Challenge comes from Tim Young. Tim was in Pastor Heath Mullikin’s youth group in Central, SC and is a 2011 graduate of Southern Wesleyan University.  After graduation, Tim was moved by the Spirit to live among the homeless community in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  He believed he had the opportunity to truly “sell everything he had and follow Jesus.”  Tim has recently returned to SC after 6 months of ministry and building relationships with people on the streets.  In this message, he shares some of those stories and how God impacted his life during one of the scariest times of his life.

You follow follow Tim on Twitter, be his Facebook friend, and read his blog.

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How can one church make a difference around the world?  How can a country church have a global vision?  The One World Challenge was created to engage the people of Oakway United with God’s work around the globe while inspiring them to give beyond their usual gifts to the church.  Since April of 2011, we have collected and invested $10,000 above our church budget into local and global ministries.  We have:

• provided transportation and food delivery for Dot’s Kitchen in Westminster, SC.
• supported 5 local college students on short term trips.
• sent a church member to Haiti to assist Greg and Heidi Edmonds.
• supported Southern Wesleyan University campus missionaries, Dave and Donna Tolan.
• sponsored the Foothills 5k that supports the Foothills Pregnancy Care Center.
• ensured that children in need of food at Fair Oak Elementary have food for the weekend through Backpacks for Kids.
• invested in Tyler Hudgens and Love Las Vegas.

I am so excited about what God is doing around the world and that we get to have a part in it.  Our goal this year is $12,500 in Faith Promises and I will be sharing weekly about some of our new partners.  This week’s message focuses on the life of Philip in the book of Acts.  God called him all over the place, but he always went faithfully and had a major impact.  God is calling us today to pray, give, and go?  What will you do?  Will you take the Challenge?

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During the month of February, the focus at Oakway United was on relationships and marriage.  We used lots of great insight and resources from Mark and Grace Driscoll’s Book, Real Marriage.  Here are the sermon notes from each message:

Week 1-FRIEND with Benefits

Week 2-Taking out the Trash

Week 3-Reverse Engineering your Marriage

Other Resources:

The Fair Fight Rules from Kevin and Marcia Myers

The Real Marriage stats and sermon helps

Creating a Personal Life Plan by Michael Hyatt

How will you finish the "race?"

Since January 1, 2012, we have been working through our “One Day…Some Day” series.  This final message covers how being a member of local church can help us become “living sacrifices.”  The decision to join a church is one that shouldn’t be made lightly.  We offer regular membership classes to help people understand the mission and vision of Oakway United, the history and policies of the Wesleyan denomination, and the Biblical basis for church membership.  If you have questions or would like to know more about church membership please contact us at 864-972-0106 or by using the contact link above.  You can follow the sermon notes at Youversion and listen to these other messages from the series:  #procrastinationelimination, Become a Christian, Let God Use Me, Let God Use My Resources, Join a Church Part 1.

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What's so important about local church membership?

Sometimes things happen in the local church that don’t make sense and don’t seem pleasing to God.  This can lead to hurt feelings and a mistrust of the local church.  Sadly, many people either stay away from church entirely or are not interested in official membership because of this.  What does the Bible say about the church?  What are God’s plans for it and what are our misconceptions?  This message continues our One Day…Some Day series as we look at the true meaning of church membership.  Don’t forget!  We will have a Baptism service on February 12, 2012.  If you’ve never been baptized before this is a requirement for joining our church as it is a public display of your commitment to follow Jesus.  Membership classes will be February 12 and 19 at 10 am(during the Sunday School hour so there’s childcare available) in our fellowship hall.  If you have any questions about church membership or baptism please contact us.  We would love to hear your story and encourage you on your journey of faith.  You can also find out more about our beliefs here.  Follow the sermon notes here.

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"What is that in your hand?"

In Exodus 4, God asks Moses this great question,”What is that in your hand?”  It was a simple shepherd’s staff that God would use to do extraordinary things.  It doesn’t really matter what’s in our hand.  The question is whether or not we will give it to God for his use.  What are the resources He has blessed you with?

This message from january 22, 2012 covers that theme.  ”One Day…Some Day I’ll Let God Use My Resources.”  It’s something we put off all too often.

So far in this series we’ve looked at:

#procrastinationelimination

One Day…Some Day I’ll become a Christian

One Day…Some Day I’ll let God use me

You can view the sermon notes to this message here.

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Are you watching someone else's sheep?

On January 15, 2012 we looked at the life of Moses and 5 excuses we give God.  Has God been calling you to serve, but your answer has always been “one day…some day?”  See the sermon notes here.  This is week 3 of our current series. You can also listen to weeks 1 and 2.  On January 22, 2012, we’ll answer the question-”What’s in your hand?”-in part 4 of “One Day…Some Day.”

We hope these messages are a blessing to you.  If you have any prayer requests or question plus use the contact button at the top of the page.  We would love to hear from you!

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Turn One Day...Some Day into Today!

January 8, 2012 we continued our message series entitled “One Day…Some Day.”  Week 1 we discussed #procrastinationelimination.  This message focuses on how many people put off the decision to become a Christian and how we can help them turn one day into TODAY.

Join us January 15, 2012 for week 3 and One Day…Some Day I’ll Let God Use Me.  What are the 5 excuses we give God?  Come find out this Sunday!

See the sermon notes for this message here.

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What Day are you waiting for?

Starting January 1, 2012 we will explore all of the things we put off in life.  What have you been putting off for One Day or Some Day?  Whether you’ve been putting off losing weight, reading the Bible, chasing your dream, or surrendering you life to God Today is the day to begin!  It all starts with week 1 and #procrastinationelimination!

The message for January 1, 2012 is Procrastination Elimination.  Join us January 8 for One Day…Some Day I’ll Become a Christian.

Follow this Event Live on YouVersion and add your own notes and prayer requests.

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