Dr. John Oakes is now leading a church planting in Merced, California.  His lessons and sermons will be posted here.  There is another, earlier article, with many sermons and lessons from 2022 to 2025.  Here is the link:  Earlier Merced Sermons       More  recent sermons are below! 12/3  Habakkuk-Is-God-Good Notes    Habakkuk-PPT    Habakkuk […]

Dr. John Oakes recently gave an apologetics/Christian evidence lecture at the University of California, Merced on the claims of Jesus, the miracles, of Jesus, fulfilled prophecies of Jesus, and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.  The PPT and audio are posted here. Claims of Jesus PPT    Who Is Jesus Lecture Audio You May […]

My wife Jan and I are doing a journey on the Camino de Santiago–walking from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northern Spain.  It is a time of fellowship, of spiritual reflection, and of a lot of exercise.  I am so proud of my wife Jan for taking the journey with me.  A few […]

Question: How would you respond to females who say “Christianity causes me to feel guilty. Therefore, I want nothing to do with Christianity”? Answer: I am not sure how to think about this question, as you specify a female questioner, but the actual question does not reference anything which is gendered.  So… I will answer […]

Question: “But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.””   ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬  Is there a clear answer on the divination meaning here? I have been reading Genesis and was wondering how to understand this […]

Question: Why did David write in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”? Answer: We need to recognize first the genre of literature of the Psalms.  These are poems.  These are people talking to God, rather than God talking to people.  For this reason, we should […]

Dr. John Oakes gave a new class at the International Campus Ministry Conference in Aneheim, California Aug 2, 2025  The class is a study of Colossians 2 and of the supremacy of Christ over the philosophies and stoichea/elementary principles of this world.  Dr. Oakes then continues to discuss philosophies of our day, including modernism, postmodernism […]

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. 9/24  […]

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 now complete! Isaiah Notes    Isaiah PPT    Isaiah Audio I    Isaiah Audio 2a    Isaiah Audio 2b   (In 2 sections because of a recording […]