The Building Jesus is building … Sermon Preview

A number of years ago, Wildwood’s Pastoral Team went on a planning retreat where we stayed in the city of Dallas. The location for our meetings was the lobby space of a large church that we thought was particularly beautiful and an apt setting for our short retreat. Because of our time at this location, my ears were tuned for comments about this church in the years that followed. On one occasion, I heard the Pastor of this church talking about how people in the DFW area will often tell him how beautiful his church is. His response? “Who did you meet?”

This response has stuck with me for more than a decade now. What a GREAT reminder!

The most beautiful part of that church was not the building, but the Body! This is true of any church … including Wildwood.

For 25 years now I have had the privilege of serving the Lord at Wildwood Community Church. Over these 25 years we have seen many changes to our facility (witnessing three major renovation or construction projects over this time that have expanded our space by over 45,000 square feet and improved the use and function of more.) Though it did not happen much early, we now often have people call and ask questions about our building or want to tour it to get ideas for their own expansion or remodel projects. The Lord has provided for Wildwood an incredible facility. I even have had people comment about how beautiful our church is. Know how I respond?

“Who did you meet!”

By God’s grace, the most beautiful building at Wildwood is not a building … it is the Body of Christ that gathers here to follow Jesus together and live for His glory. On Sunday, August 16, 2026, we have the tremendous joy of celebrating the conclusion of the construction component to our “Deep + Wide” initiative. We have added a new Fellowship Hall, new children’s classrooms, new student building with gym, a new parking lot, and a number of remodeled spaces that have been improved for their current use. Many of you have prayed for this project and given financially with great generosity. On Sunday as we gather and dedicate and introduce this new space, I want our eyes to see the building as a tool, but to look past the building to see the construction project that Jesus is REALLY doing … the building up of His Body.

In our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services we will pray, sing, celebrate, and dive into God’s Word to see the building that Jesus is building (which isn’t a building) in Ephesians 2:19-22. All our classes for children, students, college, and adults will also be meeting this Sunday. Then from 2-4PM, come back to Wildwood for our Celebration and Open House. This afternoon event (for all ages) is a time be introduced (not just to the new space, but) to the ministry we are trusting God to do in these areas going forward. Refreshments will be available, our staff, Elders, and key ministry leaders will be present, and you will be invited to see WHAT God is doing, and HOW you can be a part of it. You don’t want to miss this.

See you Sunday dear friends … you look beautiful.

In Christ,

Pastor Mark

P.S. Bring friends to both the Sunday morning services and afternoon event!!!! We have added space just for them!

Speak Plainly (part 6) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Wildwood Community Church I preached a sermon based on Luke 6:46-49. This message was part 6 of our series, “Speak Plainly.” Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion. You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

Pray
Read Luke 6:46-49
What are examples from your experience where you (or someone you know) KNEW what to do, but just didn’t do it? How helpful is it to only KNOW something if you don’t act upon that knowledge?
The title Lord means “master” or “one we follow.” Therefore, to call Jesus “Lord” but not to obey Him is to misuse that title. Reflect upon your own life for a moment. Are there areas where you are “taking His name in vain” by calling Him Lord but blatantly disobeying Him with our actions?
What are some recent times when you were convicted of something after reading God’s Word or hearing a sermon. Have there been times recently when you have had your behavior impacted by the conviction that sprung from your time studying God’s Word?
Ultimately trials and adversity will flood our lives. When that happens, our true identity will be revealed. Obeying Jesus today anchors our lives to His rock so that we might stand strong in Him even when the storms of life rage. How are you challenged to apply this principle today in your life?
What stands out to you most from this message? Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here!

To listen offline, click link below to download:

Speak Plainly 6

To listen online, use media player below:

To watch the stream, use YouTube

Luke Recap Reading Plans

Luke Recap Reading Plans

Beginning in late November 2025, I began preaching through the Gospel of Luke at Wildwood Community Church. God willing, I will preach through all the verses of Luke, wrapping up the entire study through this Gospel by Easter 2028.

As is my custom, I break down each book into smaller “sub-series,” denoting key sections of the book by each individual series. To date, I have preached Luke 1-6 over 4 series: “Christmas Morning” (Luke 1-2), “Prepare the Way” (Luke 2-4), “Launch Day” (Luke 4-6), and “Speak Plainly” (Luke 6).

To help create continuity through these series, and to help us remember where we have been in Luke’s Gospel, I have prepared a series of written devotionals to map to the series. These devotionals have been placed on the YouVersion Bible app as a part of Bible reading plans. Currently the reading plans are posted for “Christmas Morning,” “Prepare the Way,” and “Launch Day.” You can search for them in the YouVersion app under “plans” or you can find direct links to the reading plans/devotionals beneath each graphic below.

Future series will be posted and available on the YouVersion app roughly one month after the series concludes. So, expect “Speak Plainly” to be on YouVersion in early September. I pray you are blessed by these studies as you continue to read through God’s Word.

In Christ,

Pastor Mark

Christmas Morning (Luke 1:1-2:20)

Prepare the Way (Luke 2:21-4:13)

Launch Day (Luke 4:14-6:16)

Speak Plainly (part 6) Sermon Preview

How valuable is a seat belt that is never buckled? Imagine a man named Bob who worked for Ford Motor company in the product safety division. Bob has seen all the data on the life-saving measures of seat belts, and even was interviewed last week by a prominent media outlet where he admonished all to buckle up before driving or riding in a car. But what if Bob refrained from ever personally fastening a seat belt when he was in a car? What if Bob was in an accident? Would his knowledge of seat belts save him? How valuable is a seat belt that is never buckled?

How nutritious to your body is healthy food that you do not eat? Just think, you read up on all the superfoods you should eat, and even began advocating for their consumption on social media. Then you went to the store and bought a shopping cart full of kale and cucumbers, but came home and only ate ding dongs and donuts? How effective are those uneaten veggies at raising your levels of vitamin K? How nutritious to your body is healthy foot that you do not eat?

Both of these examples are obviously over the top. An unbuckled seat belt is worthless. So is health food that is not eaten. Mere knowledge of their value does little to positively impact our lives. In order for that knowledge to actually be helpful, we would need to actually buckle up and actually have that salad.

In Luke 6:46-49 Jesus offers the conclusion to His “Sermon on the Plain.” In this conclusion, Jesus tells His disciples that the proper response to His preaching is not just to say “AMEN” but to actually DO what He has told them to do. What He preached to their heads, He wants to move to their hearts, so that it would ultimately work its way out through their hands.

Jesus tells them that it is not enough to simply call Him “Lord,” but that they actually needed to respond to Him as Lord by following His directions. This world in which we live will be stormy, and great trials we will face. When things are easy, various “houses” (people’s lives) will look similar. A collection of people may all sing the same songs, worship in the same room, and share the same communion. But when the rain falls, only one “house” will stand … the one anchored to the Rock. And the anchored life is the obedient life.

It does not do us any good to listen to all the right podcasts, read all the deep theology books, or even have an advanced degree in divinity if we do not DO what Jesus commands. If we ignore His direction, He is not truly our Lord … no matter what we call Him … and the storms of life will help reveal this reality.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services at Wildwood we will conclude our series “Speak Plainly” as we wrap up our study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, focusing this week on Luke 6:46-49. We will sing, pray, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and look at these verses together. Oh, and it is “Promotion Sunday” for all the kid’s as well as they enter their new classes. Hope to see you Sunday … and bring friends!

Speak Plainly (part 5) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 at Wildwood Community Church in Norman, we gathered to worship Jesus while also celebrating the baptisms of 18 people who had professed faith in Christ. We also continued our Speak Plainly sermon series as we studied Luke 6:43–45. Below you will find questions related to the sermon for personal reflection and group discussion.

If you are interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, we would love to talk with you! Our next Baptism Sunday will be November 22, and baptism classes will be offered on September 27 at 11:00am (separate classes for children and adults/students). Click here to learn more.

Sermon Questions:

Pray
Read Luke 6:43-45
What are some ways people show you (with their conduct and their conversation) that they are a follower of Jesus? How can you tell if they are merely “acting the part” or if they genuinely are a Christ-follower?
Jesus presents an argument that what is on the inside of our lives ultimately shows up on the outside in our behavior. What does your conduct and conversation reveal about who you really are?
As you reflect upon this is there sin you need to confess and ask for Christ’s forgiveness?
Have you been baptized since professing faith in Jesus? If not, would you consider being baptized at a future baptism service? You can let us know your interest by visiting wildwoodchurch.org/baptism and filling out the form found there.
What stands out to you most from this message? Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here!

To listen offline, click the link below to download:

Speak Plainly 5

To listen online, use the media player below:

Watch 8:30 Service (Baptisms & Testimonies only):

Watch 9:45 Service (Baptisms + Testimonies only):

11:00 Full Service (Worship + Sermon + Testimonies + Baptisms):

Speak Plainly (part 5) Sermon Preview + Baptism Sunday!

In the 1986 movie “The Three Amigos”, Ned Needlander, Dusty Bottoms, and Lucky Day are trying to find their way to a particular location. The instructions they were given tell them to travel to the “Singing Bush” where they will meet their guide who will take them to their destination. After traveling some time, our three heroes find a random bush in the middle of the desert that is singing classic American folk tunes. In a humorous scene, Ned approaches the loudly singing bush and says, “excuse me, are you the Singing Bush?” The bush does not respond, but just keeps singing louder and louder. This prompts Lucky to shout over the cacophony of song, “Hey, ARE YOU THE SINGING BUSH?!?” Still no response. Finally, Lucky says, “my guess is that this is the Singing Bush.”

This scene is funny because of what is so obvious. OF COURSE this is the Singing Bush! They had passed thousands of silent bushes on their journey, and only this one was singing! If the Amigos had reasoned that there was no way they could tell if this bush was the Singing Bush, they would have really missed out.

Why do I bring this up today?

Have you ever heard someone say, “we have no idea who someone really is? After all, we cannot see their heart.” While there is a refreshing amount of humility in this statement, there is also a woeful amount of naivety. True, we cannot know all of someone’s inner workings, but through observation of someone’s life, we can know much about them. Someone who acts consistently with kindness is a kind person. Someone who often speaks of Jesus is a Christ follower. Someone who erupts in anger often is angry. Someone who speaks in a vulgar and irreverent way is irreverent. Of course there are occasional exceptions to this due to people’s hypocrisy, but it is most always true.

To say it another way, if the bush is singing, it is a Singing Bush.

Jesus makes this point clear in His Sermon on the Plain. In Luke 6:43-45 He points out that someone’s heart is revealed by their conduct and conversation. Often we hear these words and want to race toward evaluating others, but let us remember the context of the Sermon on the Plain. Jesus had just told His disciples to have enough humility and self-evaluation to deal with the logs in our own eyes before we fixate on the specks in the eyes of others. Now Jesus talks about the connection between what we say and do and who we really are. The point is clear. Evaluate your life. What comes out of your mouth or shows up in your behavior is an expression of your identity.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will be looking at Luke 6:43-45 together, alongside also celebrating the water baptisms of 18 people who came to the humble realization that they were sinners in need of forgiveness and have turned in faith to Jesus to forgive them of their sins. Their baptisms are a public celebration of what God has already done in their souls, and we will hear their stories as we worship Jesus together. Make plans to join us in one of our 3 worship services on Sunday, August 2 at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 … grab three amigos and we will see you there!

NOTE: As is our custom, on Baptism Sundays we are “all in” the worship service. No children, student, or adult classes will meet this Sunday as we all gather together for worship. Our classes and support programming will return on August 9.

Speak Plainly (part 4) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Wildwood Community Church I preached a sermon based on Luke 6:37-42. This message was part 4 of our series, “Speak Plainly.” Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion. You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

Pray
Read Luke 6:37-42
In Luke 6:37, Jesus calls for His disciples to “not judge” and to “not condemn.” Of this statement, R. Kent Hughes says, “These are some of the most misunderstood and misapplied verses in the Bible. Today they serve as the Magna Carta of much of American religion. Some people do not know a single Bible verse – they might not even know there is an Old and New Testament. But let them feel the slightest disapproval and the King James comes forth: ‘Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.’” Why do you think people gravitate so much to these verses?
What is the difference between encouraging a brother or sister to walk more closely with Christ (and away from their sin) … something we are supposed to do, and judgment and condemnation that we are to avoid?
Our lives and relationships with others are to be marked by forgiveness and giving not judgment and condemnation. We are to be more “grace players” than “spiritual referees.” Is your Christian life marked more by judgment and condemnation or forgiveness and giving?
Are you grounded in enough humility to recognize your need for Jesus to lead you? Are you listening to His voice in Scripture or going your own way?
Are you grounded in enough humility to reflect on your own sin instead of just pointing out the sins of others?
What stands out to you most from this message? Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here!

To listen offline, click link below to download:

Speak Plainly 4

To listen online, use media player below:

To watch the stream, use YouTube

Speak Plainly (part 4) Sermon Preview

Who is your favorite referee?

As a child, did you have posters of those referees on the walls of your bedroom? Did you buy tickets to pro sporting events only if your favorite ref was on the whistle?

No? Me neither.

As a kid, the walls of my bedroom were covered with posters of my heroes … NBA players (not referees.) I had posters of Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, not NBA refs Tony Brothers or Scott Foster. If you grew up a fan of a sport, my guess is what drew you in was the performance of the athletes and the spirit of competition, not the ones calling balls and strikes. You buy a ticket today to see Lebron play, not to watch Bill Kennedy call fouls.

Why do I say this?

The Christian life is about following Jesus in the game of life, not just being His referee to identify the errors of others. In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus told His disciples to “judge not” and to “condemn not.” In today’s day and age, these statements of Jesus are quoted frequently, but often misunderstood. Was Jesus telling His followers to have no moral discernment or to never call out sin in another? I don’t think so. In too many other passages, we are called to sharpen one another, confess sin to one another, and to remain faithful to the Truth. Jesus was not removing standards with these words, but He was shifting our focus.

In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus called His disciples to a level of love that was out of this world: love your enemies, pray for those who mistreat you, give to those who take from you, etc. Jesus ended that section of this sermon by calling us to “be merciful even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) What does it look like to be merciful? Well, in Luke 6:37-42, it looks like not judging or condemning, but instead forgiving and giving. It looks like not elevating yourself as the authority, but following the right Authority and dealing with your own wickedness, instead of just obsessing on the sin of another.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, in part 4 of our sermon series, “Speak Plainly,” we will be looking at Luke 6:37-42. In these verses, we will see that we are called onto the court in the Christian life, not as a referee, but as a player. Unlike the self-righteous Pharisees of the first century, the disciples of Jesus are to be gracious to others, and grounded in humility. Join us Sunday, July 26 in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service as we see more of what Jesus meant in these statements. We will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. See you Sunday … and bring friends!

Speak Plainly (part 3) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, July 19, 2026 at Wildwood Community Church I preached a sermon based on Luke 6:27-36. This message was part 3 of our new series, “Speak Plainly.” Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion. You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

Pray
Read Luke 6:27-36
What are things you commonly associate with godliness? In other words, what do you think a godly person looks like? How does your response compare to Jesus’ declarations on godliness in today’s verses?
Of Jesus’ statements from 6:27-31, which is most convicting? What questions do you have as you wrestle through these statements? Anything you sense God leading you to do in response?
Does your life as a Jesus-follower look different than the lives of those in our world who are NOT following Jesus?
Jesus is the One who lived the “alien” life of love. He not only modeled it, but made provisions for us to live that life as well. How does the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life change the way you approach these statements of Jesus in 6:27-36?
What stands out to you most from this message? Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here!

To listen offline, use the link below:

Speak Plainly 3

To listen online, use the media player below:

To watch the stream, use YouTube

Speak Plainly (part 3) Sermon Preview

Godliness – the quality, state, or condition of being godly: such as (1) piety – earnest observance of religious duties and virtues; or (2) the state or condition of being divine. (definition provided by Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

What makes someone appear godly?

Some might say church attendance … the more days a week we gather with God’s people, the more godly we might seem.

Some might say biblical knowledge … the more facts we know about theology or the Bible, the more godly we might seem.

Some might say practicing the right rituals …if we participate in certain ceremonies, we appear more godly.

Some might say what or who we avoid … if we do not associate with certain crowds or participate in certain activities, we appear more godly.

But what if we asked Jesus. What if we asked Jesus (the SON OF GOD) what godliness looks like. What would He say? After all, He is God! There really is no better source to ask what godliness looks like!

In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus begins to answer the question of what godliness looks like among His people … but (just like we saw last week in His description of the blessed life), His description of the godly life is shocking.

In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus says (among other things) that His followers are to

* Love their enemies

* Do good to those who hate them

* Bless those who curse them

* Pray for those who mistreat them

* Be generous to those who are not generous to them

This list that Jesus mentioned is WAY HARDER than merely attending certain events, avoiding others, or memorizing facts. Jesus was saying that the godly life is an alien life. In our fallen nature, what Jesus is asking us to do is both uncommon and impossible.

I mean seriously … who lives like this?!?

Well, there was One who did live this life. And He has invited us and provided for us to follow Him. This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services in week 3 of our “Speak Plainly” sermon series, we will be looking at Luke 6:27-36 together to see what godliness looks like, and how Jesus has made a way for us to experience it. See you Sunday … and bring friends!