Dr. John Oakes is  now leading a church planting in Merced, California.  Please join us 11:00 Sundays at 500 Buena Vista Ave., Merced or on zoom at 342-225-5971 pw 857096.  Also, join us for midweek devotional Wed. 7:30 at UC Merced Rm GLCR 120 or the same zoom. Also, visit our website at www.mercedchurch.com. 7/13  […]

Dr. John Oakes is teaching a multi-week class on the Book of Isaiah for the campus group at UC Merced on Wednesdays at 7:30 beginning 6/18/2025.  The class is at UCMerced Rm GLCR 120.  I will be putting notes, power point and audio here. Isaiah Notes    Isaiah PPT    Isaiah Audio I    Isaiah […]

Dr. John Oakes is teaching a short series of classes on the Church for the Merced Christian Church and the Alpha Omega Club April – June, 2025.  Notes, PPTs and audio will be posted here.    The Church Notes    The Church PPT     The Church Audio I     The Church Audio II  […]

Question: I wanted to ask you your thoughts on the original monotheism.  What are some of the examples we have of early monotheism and how far back it goes? Answer: This is a bit of a complex question.  Really, there are two questions we need to ask: one of which requires some speculation and common […]

[Editor’s note:  This question is very personal.  I do not normally publish such personal questions, but have decided to do so because it provides a good example of how young Christians who are trying to learn how to defend their faith can help those that they are close to.] Question: First, I would like to […]

Question: Have you ever read Dr. Gerald Schroeder’s work offering agreement between the  science data from the old earth and universe and the 6 days of creation based on Einsteins equations of General Relativity?  If so, what are your thoughts?  I realize he is Jewish and I am not sure if he is a Christian.  […]

Dr. John Oakes gave a lecture titled “The Bible and Evolution” at UC Merced 2/28/2025.  He presented the idea that evolution is a viable scientific theory, but that the evidence points very strongly to the conclusion that the process is not a fully natural, random one, but that God has intervened at various times and […]

Dr. John Oakes is teaching a class on Church History for the West Coast School of Ministry this Spring.  All notes, PPT and audio will be posted here: Church History Notes Notes     Church History PPT    Church History I Audio    Church History II    Church History III    Church History IV    Genesis […]

Dr. John Oakes is teaching a seven-week class on Christian Theology at UC Merced, Wednesday nights at 7:30 in Rm GLCR 120, beginning on 2/5/2025.  For those not in the Merced area (most of you!), I will be posting the notes, power point and audio here: Christian Theology Notes     Christian-Theology Merced     Christian Theology […]