On Sunday, June 14, 2026, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is “Marks of Maturity: Controlling Our Tongue, part 2”. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.

1. James mentions being a teacher in James 3:1.  Share briefly about a teacher of God’s Word who had a significant impact in your spiritual life. Part of James’ counsel includes a caution about becoming a teacher.  Why does he do that and how should we process his warning?
2. Verse six states that the “tongue is a fire.” Bruce said that the misuse of our tongue could be considered “spiritual arson.” What are some examples of damage that our tongues can do?
3. How is our culture reinforcing and promoting this human tendency to put people down? How does James’ counsel on the tongue apply to SnapChat, Instagram, FaceBook, X, YouTube and other social media?
4. When you think of controlling your tongue, what type of speech is more difficult for you to avoid?  Sarcasm? Gossip? Criticism? Vulgarity? Complaining?  Why?
5. Bruce stated that our flesh holds to an ‘unspoken belief’: we reserve the right to put people down.  Why is that?  How do we avoid doing that in our spiritual walk?
6. “No human being can tame the tongue.” Unpack some truth here about our need for the Holy Spirit in our spiritual walk.
7. What are some verses from Scripture that encourage us to unleash the positive power of the tongue (to encourage, affirm, comfort, build up, etc.).
8. Proverbs 10:11 in the NLT says, The words of the Godly are a life-giving fountain. Spend some moments in prayer asking the Lord to help make your words a life-giving fountain.
9. Consider memorizing Psalm 19:14, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.​​​​​​​

Hey Wildwood Family!

It’s been an exciting week around the Wildwood facility.  More doors are being put in place and the AV technical team from out of state has started to install AV to our new areas.  This will take a couple of weeks. You should see some evidence this Sunday.

Men’s bible study has begun and the Women’s bible study starts this next Thursday June 18 at 7pm. Gals can sign up at wildwoodchurch.org/wow.

If you have been considering water baptism as a public testimony of having trusted in Christ, make note that the baptism classes are scheduled for Sunday June 28 at 11am,  Questions?  Go to wildwoodchurch.org/baptism.

Some of our global outreach partners will be present with us this Sunday.  Hope you can meet some of them!

​​​​​​​Also, this Sunday we will be continuing our 3-week series entitled, Marks of Maturity, by looking at part 2 of Controlling our Tongue from James 3:1-12. James sure knows how to touch us where we need it most. I’m excited!

See you on Sunday!

Bruce

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’s message is “Marks of Maturity: Controlling Our Tongue, part 1”. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.

1. Share any memorable experiences you may have experienced facing a serious fire, or in controlling a horse.
2. What would you imagine were common things that James stated openly about his older brother Jesus prior to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection?
3. In James 1:26-27, James mentions both “religion that is worthless,” and “religion that is Pure and undefiled.”  What does James mean by the term “religion?
4. Believers often don’t associate their speech as indication of their spiritual maturity. Why is that?
5. What is the connection biblically between our heart and our speech?
6. Proverbs 18:21 states that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Make a short list of words that might be understood as “death words,” and do the same with what might be understood as “life words.
7. Who is someone whose words consistently encourage and build you up?  What makes their words so impactful?
8. What specific type of affirming “life” words most encourage and refresh you?
9. Read Colossians 3:12-14 out loud.  What stands out to you from those verses as potential areas where you might need to grow?
10. Pray for God to lead you when it comes to honoring God with your words.

Hey Wildwood Family!

What an exciting week it has been with Wildwood’s VBS, You’re invited to Follow Jesus! Around 600 kids attended, with just under half of them from non-Wildwood families.  What a great outreach!

I was especially excited that my grandchildren (who are normally in Mexico) were able to attend, Max in mini-VBS and Summer in regular VBS. It was amazing to see 325 volunteers serve the kids all week. To add to that, the VBS offering that was taken will be able to purchase 32 pediatric wheelchairs to be donated to disadvantaged kids around the world through the Joni and Friends ministry.  Praise the Lord!

Two other special things to note:
1) Men’s and women’s Bible studies are about to start. The men this Monday at 7 pm and the women on Thursday, June 18 at 7 pm. You can sign up at wildwoodchurch.org/next
2) Starting Point (learning about Wildwood) begins this Sunday at 9:45 in Room 4. If you know someone (or even yourself) who would like to learn more about our church history, beliefs, etc., Starting Point is a great opportunity!

On Sunday, I will be launching a three-part series from James chapter 3, which I’ve entitled Marks of Maturity. James is a highly practical book that highlights for us what true, authentic, Godly living looks like. The first mark of maturity that we will look at beginning this week is Controlling our Tongue, part one. Frankly, we ALL need to learn from James on this subject. Right?! I’m excited.

See you on Sunday!

Bruce

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

Hey Wildwood Family!

Finally…we’ve been blessed with some wonderful moisture! I’ve just done some overseeding on my fescue lawn and the water is welcome.

We do want you to be in prayer for the Father-Daughter campout this weekend in the Wichita mountains. Pray for no severe storms that could disrupt a great getaway and minimize the ability to hike around.

Also, the Father-Son campout is scheduled for November 7-9. It’s not too late to learn more and register. Info is found at wildwoodchurch.org/adult

This Sunday is the deadline for returning any Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes so bring those boxes of blessings with you!

Just a heads up…the gift collection for The Mission Christmas Shoppe will launch the first Sunday of November. Look for the gift trees in the Gathering Hall. Our desire is to again bless 600+ underprivileged kids and their families this year.  We’d love for you and your family to have a part in it!

God has recently been leading me to speak on the issue of trials and life difficulties, something we all deal with from time to time. The title I’ve given to the message is, Navigating the Valley of the Shadow. The title is drawn from Psalm 23:4 where it talks about walking through “the valley of the shadow of death” (ESV).  Many translations render the phrase, “the valley of deep darkness” (NASB margin, NET, NIV, CSB).

All of us experience times when we are in “the valley of deep darkness.” At any given time, we are either in that valley now, just came out of the valley, or about to enter the valley. When we find ourselves in the dark valley, how should we navigate that walk?  What do we need to remember?  How should we respond? We plan to address those questions in a frank manner with the message, Navigating the Valley of the Shadow on Sunday.

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See you on Sunday!

Bruce