Oaks Church Cookeville

April 5th, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Easter Sunday - The Gift

What are you doing with the gift you’ve been given?
This Easter message invites us to rethink what “eternal life” really means. Is it just something waiting for us after we die—or is it a relationship we’re meant to live in right now? Walking through Romans 5 and the larger story of Scripture, we’re reminded that Jesus didn’t just offer forgiveness—He restored access to the life God designed from the very beginning.
Through the lens of a simple but powerful illustration—a gifted bike—we’re confronted with a deeper question: will we receive, ignore, postpone, or fully embrace the gift of new life in Christ?
This is more than a message about the empty tomb. It’s an invitation to step into new creation today and to live as people of reconciliation in a world that desperately needs it.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

March 29th, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Behold Your King

What kind of King are we really looking for?
As we step into Palm Sunday, we’re invited to see Jesus not just as Savior—but as King. In Matthew 21, we watch Him enter Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and revealing a kingdom that looks very different than expected. The crowds shout “Hosanna,” longing for rescue…yet days later, many will cry “crucify Him.”
In this message, we explore the deeper meaning behind the triumphal entry—why the donkey matters, what the crowd misunderstood, and how easily our praise can turn into distance when Jesus doesn’t meet our expectations.
As we move through Holy Week, we’re challenged to examine our own hearts: Do we honor Jesus as King every day, or only when it’s convenient?
Let’s prepare our hearts together for Easter by surrendering fully to the King we need—even if He’s not the one we expected.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

March 22nd, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | A Faith That Works

Faith is easy to talk about—but does it actually shape how we live? This week, we dive into James 2 and the connection between belief and action, asking whether real faith can exist without movement.
Jesus invites us to remain in Him, like branches connected to a vine—but that connection is meant to bear fruit. A faith that never shows up in love or service isn’t just weak—it’s lifeless.
We’re challenged to think about the “dash” of our lives and what we’ll be known for—not just what we believed, but how we lived.
Let’s listen, reflect, and ask: what would it look like if Jesus were living our life?
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

March 15th, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Known For Love

 
What does it really mean to love your neighbor—and who actually counts as “neighbor”? This week, we walk through Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan alongside James 2, where we’re challenged to confront favoritism, prejudice, and the quiet ways we withhold love.
We’re reminded that the “royal law” of the kingdom is simple but demanding: love your neighbor as yourself. Not just the easy ones. Not just the ones who look like us, think like us, or benefit us—but anyone who comes across our path.
James pushes us to examine our hearts and ask: are we showing partiality, or are we reflecting the mercy we’ve received?
As a church and as individuals, what are we known for? Our hope is that we would be marked by love—real, tangible, mercy-filled love. Let’s listen, reflect, and step into the kind of life Jesus calls us to.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

March 8th, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Old Time Religion

What does “real religion” actually look like?
In James 1:26–27, we find a surprisingly direct answer. In this week’s message, Bryan explores how the faithful expression of our devotion to Jesus is not defined by rituals or religious language, but by transformed character. James points us to three powerful indicators of authentic faith: controlling our words, caring for the vulnerable, and resisting the pull of the world’s values.
Throughout the message, we’re reminded that our words reveal our hearts, that God has always called His people to defend the overlooked and oppressed, and that following Jesus often means living in ways that are countercultural.
As a church family, we’re invited to ask an important question: What would it look like for us to embody this kind of faith together?
Join us as we reflect on how our lives can display a faith that God calls “pure and faultless.”
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

SERMON RE-UPLOAD | Bryan Vaughn | One Another

In this heartfelt and practical message, Bryan invites us to see ourselves in the story of a hurt chicken that stays outside the coop—longing for connection but hesitant to rejoin. Together, we explore Hebrews 10 and Acts 2, discovering that God designed us to live, grow, and serve in community, not in isolation. Bryan introduces our new Oaks Community Groups, where we can devote ourselves to God’s Word, prayer, and sharing life as family. Whether we’ve experienced the beauty of gospel-centered relationships or the pain of being hurt by them, this is a call for all of us to step back in, take the risk, and grow together into the likeness of Jesus.
*Originally Posted August 10th, 2025
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

February 15th, 2026 | Jimmy Thorpe | Pure Religion

This week at Oaks Church, guest speaker Jimmy Thorpe walks us through James 1 and the powerful transformation of James — the brother of Jesus — from skeptic to surrendered servant. Through Scripture, we’re reminded that proximity to Jesus doesn’t equal faith, and information about Him doesn’t mean transformation. Real faith goes deeper.
In a world shaping our identity through headlines and social media, James calls us to examine our “religion” — the visible expression of our allegiance. Are we merely hearers of the Word, or doers? Does our speech reflect Christ? Does our life reveal generosity, steadiness, compassion, and truth?
Join us as we reflect on authentic faith and consider what kind of religion we’re really practicing.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

February 8th, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Perspective

What if the way of Jesus truly reshaped how we see our lives, our struggles, and the people around us? In this week’s message, Bryan walks through James 1:9–18, drawing deep connections to the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. Together, we explore how the kingdom of God often looks upside down compared to the values of our culture—and why that perspective matters.
James reminds us that rich and poor stand on level ground before God, that perseverance through trials leads to life, and that God is not the source of temptation but the giver of every good and perfect gift. This passage invites us to examine what is shaping our perspective and challenges us to live as faithful exiles—people whose lives reflect the love, humility, and hope of Jesus.
Listen in as we’re encouraged to let gratitude, endurance, and allegiance to Christ shape how we live in the world today.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

February 2nd, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Consider it Joy?

What is shaping your life right now—and where is it ultimately leading you? In this message, we begin a new journey through the book of James by asking what it truly means to grow into maturity in Christ. Drawing from Colossians 1 and James 1, we’re reminded that God’s desire isn’t just comfort or success, but a deep, steady faith formed through perseverance.
James challenges us to consider trials—not as pointless interruptions—but as places where God is doing a refining work in us. When we face hardship, temptation, or uncertainty, we’re invited to ask God for wisdom with single-hearted trust. That wisdom, rooted in God’s generosity, helps us endure and grow into wholeness and contentment.
This message calls us toward surrender, resilience, and a life fully aligned with Christ. Join us as we reflect, listen, and take simple practices into our week that help us walk toward spiritual maturity—together.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church

January 18th, 2026 | Bryan Vaughn | Silence, Solitude, and the Way of Jesus

Our world is loud, hurried, and relentlessly distracting—but what if the voice we most need can only be heard in quiet? In this message, we explore how God meets His people not in noise or spectacle, but in stillness and rest. Drawing from Elijah’s encounter with God on Mount Horeb, the prayer rhythms of Jesus, and the wisdom of Scripture, we’re invited to rediscover silence, solitude, and Sabbath as gifts for our souls.
Rather than striving harder or moving faster, this teaching reminds us that transformation often happens when we slow down, listen, and allow God to speak in a gentle whisper. These practices aren’t about legalism or escape—they’re about intimacy, freedom, and learning to live from a place of rest instead of exhaustion.
If you’re feeling weary, distracted, or overwhelmed, this message offers a hopeful invitation: come away, be still, and rediscover the rest God designed for you.
- - -
Oaks Church is a multi-generational gathering of believers who are following Jesus together, becoming the expression of the Kingdom of God to our world, and encouraging one another to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
oakscookeville.church