Dr. John Oakes is doing a series of classes Winter, 2026 at the University of California, Merced, Wednesdays 7:30 in Rm. Granite Peak 150.  Dr. Oakes is covering topics in which Christianity interacts with modern culture.  Topics will include Bioethics, Gender Issues, War and Peace, Christianity and Race, Christianity and Politics, Abortion and more.  Some, […]

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! 1/27  Bioethics and Christianity PPT    Bioethics […]

Dr. John Oakes gave a series of eight sermons from 1 Peter in Fall, 2025 for the Merced Christian Church.  Two sermons from 1 Peter 2 were delivered by others during the series, so this series of sermons covers only about 80% of the book.   Notes, PPT and audio are included. 1 Peter I Elect […]

Question: Jesus spoke predominantly in riddles and parables, obscuring rather than elucidating the message. Therefore, Jesus is guilty of obscuring his message from opponents although the Koran states: The messenger’s duty is only to deliver the message clearly (24:54). What should be the response? Answer: A few comments.  First of all, the Quran itself and […]

Question: Why do Christians not offer prayers (Salah) like Jews and Muslims who bow down their heads to earth. It is also referred in Nehemiah 8:6? Answer: First of all, the majority of Jews in Jesus’ day did not bow while praying.  They prayed, looking up to heaven.  The statement in this inquiry shows that […]

Question: If Jesus was predestined by an all-knowing God to be sacrificed for humanity’s sins, what was the purpose of sending prophets beforehand to call people to repentance? Many righteous men and women believed these prophets and were forgiven long before Jesus, so would they not have already entered God’s Heaven? Answer: Good point.  Like […]

Dr. John Oakes did a six-part class on the history of Christianity for the campus ministry at UC Merced in Merced, CA Fall, 2025.   The class was intended to help students understand what Christianity ought to look like today–how to navigate the various strains of how church is done in the modern context.  Notes, PPT […]

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 […]

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 […]