On Sunday, March 22, 2026, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is “Perplexing Bible Truths: To Fear or Fear Not?”. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.

1. There are many things in our world today that easily can elicit a sense of fear and concern even for followers of Jesus. Honestly share what some of those are for you. What are some that you can see which most alarm our families, neighbors and co-workers?
2. What are some truths about God found in Isaiah 41:10 and 1 Peter 5:7 that can help us as we find ourselves face-to-face with some fear?
3. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, the ‘Fear of God’ for a believer is described in positive terms (see Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:17). Why do you think there seems to be so little teaching on this idea?
4. How much have you heard about what it means for a believer to ‘Fear God?
5. Bruce mentioned how in Isaiah 11, regarding the future Messiah (Jesus), that it says of him, ‘His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.’ What does the idea of ‘delight’ mean practically?
6. Bruce mentioned Sinful Fear and Spiritual Fear. What do each of them mean in more detail?
7. Bruce shared several ‘insight statements’ from Scripture about Spiritual Fear. List some of them. What were some of the ‘benefit statements’ about Spiritual Fear?
8. Chuck Swindoll was quoted as saying: The fear of the Lord means taking God seriously—His holiness, His standards, His authority. What would that look like in our everyday life?
9. Pause to pray and thank God for His marvelous works, His promises of protection, and for His awesome greatness.

Welcome to June in March!  Only a high temp on Saturday of 95 degrees!  Where’s my shorts?

This kind of weather gets one thinking of the month of June, and June 1-4 means VBS! VBS is for kids ages 4 (potty trained) through those entering 5^th grade. Kids must be registered by May 25.  For those of us who are “older kids,” there is the opportunity to both volunteer to serve at VBS and to donate to support VBS.  All the detail info and signups are at www.wildwoodchurch.org/vbs

People often ask me about how to view or listen to Wildwood’s sermons.  They can easily be found at www.wildwoodchurch.org/sermons   When you click on the message and then “resources” you can locate the sermon questions (and for last week, the PDF summary of the message).  Also, be sure to check each week’s bulletin for multiple ways to volunteer or get further involved in the life of Wildwood.

This Sunday will be part 2 in the 2-Part series entitled, Reflecting on (sometimes) Perplexing Bible Truths.  The message title this Sunday, To Fear, or not to Fear?  Some have said that ‘Fear Not’ is the most frequent command in Scripture.  At the same time, a great number of verses in Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, exhort us to ‘Fear God.’  How does all this work together?  Are we to fear, or not to fear?  Do we know as followers of Jesus what Scripture means when it says, Fear God?  Did Jesus ‘Fear God?’

Our aim is to bring some clarity to what the Bible means when it urges us to ‘Fear God.’  I hope you will be able to be there Sunday.  Lord willing, I will be!

See you Sunday!

Bruce

Well, here we are on the cusp of spring break next week. Sounds like we will be starting the week with a mid-January-like day or two and then ending it with an early-June- like day or two.  It’s FUN to be an Oklahoman!

Last Sunday was a wonderful celebration day of 22 baptisms at Wildwood. If you were out of town (like me, with some 14 guys at the Sky Ranch Men’s Retreat) or if you were unable to view all the baptism videos—good news! You can view the testimony videos by going to vimeo.com/channels/1959843.  There are many wonderful and delightful testimonies from that day.  It’s a joy to celebrate them.  I would especially encourage you to see my friend Chad Shanks story. A wonderful testimony of our God’s gracious love and mercy.  Praise the Lord for all the testimonies!

This Sunday will launch a 2-message series I’ve entitled, Reflecting on (sometimes) Perplexing Bible Truths. The focus of this week’s message is on the salvation issues of divine election alongside the responsibility of individuals to personally believe in the gospel.  These Bible topics have often fueled confusion, consternation, and even controversy among followers of Jesus.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do plan to share my best understanding of these issues and hope to bring some perspective that can help relieve some of the confusion and consternation.  Our foundational verse for this week is Romans 11:33, Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Just a reminder, you can always access the sermon questions for messages by going to wildwoodchurch.org/sermons.  Click on the message, and then on “resources.” This week I will also be including a PDF summary of the message content.

See you Sunday!

Bruce