is He the ONE? (part 2) Sermon Preview

There is a problem we all face, a common enemy that will always track us down.  What is this universal problem and enemy?

Death.

We live in a world with a sobering statistic:  100% of people will die.  1 out of 1.  It may be death by disease or disaster; by murder or mischief; by age or apathy … but eventually all will die.  Death is the most persistent problem in this world.

Furthermore, death is painful. Often the process leading to death is painful for the one dying, but we also know the ongoing pain of those grieving a loss, and the pain often lingers for many years to come. Wildwood has an entire ministry (Grief Share) to help people through these moments because death is so painful.

Given this reality, is there any relief we can find?  Is there any hope?

Resurrection is the ultimate solution to the world’s most persistent and painful problem. The “last enemy” (as 1 Corinthians 15:26 calls death) is defeated by Jesus in the resurrection.

Which resurrection am I referring to?  Well, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is where the battle was won, BUT His resurrection ensures the resurrection of all who trust in Him!  If you are truly a Christian, then you have a promise from God that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so you too will walk about in newness of life (Romans 6:4). To say it another way, Jesus’ resurrection was the first fruit of a resurrection hope for all who are in Him (1 Corinthians 15:23).  Though we will die in this life, yet we shall live forever with Him in the resurrection (John 11:25).

This Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services we will be in part 2 of our study “is He the ONE?” as we look at Luke 7:11-17.  In these verses we will see the first resurrection of Jesus’ public ministry … the resurrection of a widow’s only son in the small village of Nain.  This resurrection is full of hope for you and me, and I am excited to look at these verses together this Sunday.

Death is a universal and painful problem … Jesus and His resurrection power is the solution.  Let’s remind each other of all these things as we gather for worship this Sunday!  See you there … and bring friends!

“is He the One?” (Part 1) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Wildwood Community Church I preached a sermon based on Luke 7:1-10 titled “is He the One?” 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:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Luke 7:1-10
  3. Take some time as a group or as an individual brainstorming things you know about Jesus: His character and His work?  Based on what you know about Him, how does that inspire you to have more faith in Him?
  4. Are there things, people, etc. you tend to turn to most when things get hard in your life?  Do you turn to Jesus first, or to someone or something else?  What about this message/passage of Scripture encourages you to turn to Jesus first when difficulty/desperation sets in?
  5. Do you generally have an attitude that says you are “worthy” of God to work in your life, or do you tend to think you are “unworthy” of His blessing?  How does your answer to this question impact your attitude toward life and the Lord?
  6. This miracle with the Jesus and the centurion’s servant is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace through faith.  Where do you see God’s grace in these verses?  Where do you see the importance of faith?
  7. What stands out to you most from this message?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

To see the Luke Bible Reading Plans/Devos, click here.

To listen offline, click link below to download:

is He the ONE 1

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch the stream, use YouTube:

is He the One? (part 1) Sermon Preview

This month my wife and I are celebrating our thirtieth wedding anniversary.  Three decades of marriage that followed nearly four years of dating.  We have been together for so long, I can honestly say that I hardly remember life without her … and I don’t want to try.  She is the most remarkable person I know, and I know a lot of people.  It is pretty unbelievable that someone so pretty and kind would choose to spend this life with me.  I am so thankful to God that in His grace He has allowed me to be with someone who endures difficulty with grace, someone who cares for those around her well and wants to leave no person behind, and someone who is a remarkable wife, mother and friend.

I first noticed Kimberly in the 7th grade as she caught my eye across the room in Algebra class.  (It only took me one year to finally have a conversation with her!)  Over the years of high school we were always good friends, and that foundation of friendship – anchored to the Cornerstone of Christ – has allowed us to weather many storms together over the years. I continue to get to know her better, and continue to say that she “is the one” for me.

I sincerely hope you have found “the one” for you.

BUT, here is the thing. There are some who God has called to live a life of singleness.  There are others whose “one” passed away before a thirtieth anniversary was experienced.  There are others whose spouse abandoned them or abused them.  And even for those with a marriage that is in a good spot, it is not an everlasting relationship.  Certainly God intends that marriage is “’til death do us part,” but death will come, so what happens in the next part (in eternity)?

There is a “One” that all of you simply must meet.  Regardless of your marital status or future romantic hopes, there is One who is unlike all others.  There is One who has pursued us in His grace.  There is One who died for our sins to reconcile us to God.  There is One who has prepared an eternal dwelling where all His people can be with Him forever.  There is One who will never (ultimately) let us down.  There is One who is committed to sanctifying our soul.  There is One who is always good.  There is One who is all powerful, all knowing, and sovereign.  There is One who is worthy of our trust.  There is One and only One Jesus Christ.

In Luke 7, John the Baptist asks his disciples, “is He (Jesus) THE ONE?”  The evidence of Luke 7 (and all of Luke’s Gospel) is that Jesus IS in fact THE ONE, the Savior of the world.

I sincerely hope you are trusting in “THE ONE” today.

Over the next four weeks at Wildwood Community Church we will continue our study through the Gospel of Luke as we work our way through Luke 7:1-50 in a four part series entitled, “is He the ONE?”  This Sunday we are in part 1 of this series, looking at Luke 7:1-10 as salvation by grace through faith is visually played out in the healing of a centurion’s servant.  Hope you make plans to be with us Sunday, August 23 in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!  You don’t want to miss this ONE.

“The Building Jesus is Building Isn’t a Building” Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Wildwood Community Church I preached a sermon based on Ephesians 2:19-22.  This message titled “The Building Jesus is Building Isn’t a Building.” 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:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Ephesians 2:19-22
  3. In what way do you think church buildings are helpful for ministry?
  4. What is clear from the example in Ephesus is that Jesus changed the Ephesians!  The great news is that He changes us as well.  Look through Ephesians 2 (entire chapter) to observe some of the changes Jesus has made for us.  Also, think about the change Jesus has made in your life.  Share that change with the group!
  5. How does knowing that real change is possible with Jesus give you hope?
  6. Jesus is “on site” in our lives building us new and remodeled lives.  What are some ways you would love to see Jesus change your life in the years ahead?
  7. Is your Christian life a “we” or is it just a “me”?  What is your plan for being a part of His living Temple (community of believers) in the year ahead?
  8. 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:

Building Jesus is Building

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch the stream, use YouTube 

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:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Luke 6:46-49
  3. 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?
  4. 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?
  5. 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?
  6. 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? 
  7. 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:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Luke 6:43-45
  3. 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?
  4. 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?
  5. As you reflect upon this is there sin you need to confess and ask for Christ’s forgiveness?
  6. 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. 
  7. 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.