Mission:Fund (part 4) Sermon Preview

In finances, there are at least a couple of basic things we can do with money.  We can spend it or we can invest it.  When we spend money, we are exchanging dollars today for some kind of experience or provision (either a want or a need).  For instance, when we spend money on groceries, we are exchanging paper money today (never to see it again) for something we need to survive (food/nutrition).  When we invest money, though, we are placing dollars today in a money generating vehicle (like a stock or CD) in order for it to multiply into more resources down the road.  With an expense, the money is gone (never to be seen again).  With an investment, the money is gone with a hope that it comes back (with many friends) tomorrow!

For the past month at Wildwood, we have been talking about giving in our “Mission:Fund” series (looking at 2 Corinthians 8-9).  As we prepare to wrap this series up on Sunday, I want to ask you a question:  Do you think GIVING is an EXPENSE or an INVESTMENT?  In other words, do you see giving money to a church as something that is gone (never to be seen again), or an investment (that will multiply into something greater)?  And if it IS an investment, how might we expect the dividends to be paid?

How you answer these questions is actually really important … and will shape how you approach handling the finances the Lord has entrusted to you.

This Sunday, July 30, in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services, we will look at two final perspectives on giving that will show (God willing) what an investment generosity is … and how it can be used to bring glory to God.  Looking forward to seeing you as we study 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 in Part 4 of this series … and bring friends!

Mission:Fund (part 3) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On July 23, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5. This message was part 3 of the “Mission:Fund” sermon series. Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion. You will also find the audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read 2 Corinthians 8:16 – 9:5
  3. What has been your experience with appeals to give and churches/Christian ministries?  Has it been positive?  Negative?  What made you feel the way you did about it?
  4. What is the connection (in your experience) between “trust” and “giving”?
  5. Paul builds trust with the Corinthians about the handling of finances by revealing to them who would be handling the funds, what they were going to do with it, and why it was important.  In this message we talk a bit about Wildwood’s handling of finances.  Did anything encourage you?  Surprise you?
  6. Are you regularly giving to the work of the Lord/ministry?  If so, what encourages you to do so.  If not, what obstacles are in your way from participating in grace giving?  NOTE:  If you are interested in more information about giving or ways to give at Wildwood, visit wildwoodchurch.org/give
  7. Prayerfully consider participating (by voting) in our Mission:Fund special program.  Wildwood will be sending money to 5 projects around the world this summer.  Vote and let us know where you want them to go – wildwoodchurch.org/fund  (vote between now and August 4)
  8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

 

To access these questions in pdf format click here.

 

To listen to message offline, click the link:

 

Mission: Fund #3 7.23.23

 

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Mission:Fund (part 3) Sermon Preview

It can be a challenging thing for a pastor to talk about money.  After all, some ministers are well known for their “FLEECING” instead of “FEEDING” their flock.  Extravagant lifestyles of certain TV preachers, and questionable accounting in certain congregations have left a bad taste in many mouths.  So, as a Pastor, I want to approach the topic of finances with care.

If you started coming to Wildwood sometime in 2023, you might think that this is a topic I talk about often … after all, I led a 5 week Wednesday night study on money in January/February, I preached a 3 week series entitled “In God We Trust: 3 Thoughts on God and Money” in March, and now am in a 4 week series of sermons entitled “Mission:Fund” as we look at 2 Corinthians 8-9.  The truth is, though, that this year is somewhat atypical for me.  So much so that I have had fellow Elders and church leaders ask me why I haven’t preached more about this topic! Some of you who have been around longer than 2023 may even share this sentiment.

That said, I do think it is important that we talk about money.  After all, it was Jesus Himself who said, “where your treasure is your heart will be also.”  Also, there is no way to preach through the Word of God without talking about this subject … and one of the chief sections of God’s Word where financial giving is mentioned is 2 Corinthians 8-9.  Since we are studying 2 Corinthians this year, we get to dive into this treasure chest of information about giving.

So far, we have seen that Christian giving is sacrificial (8:1-7), and Christian giving models after Jesus Himself, and turns our desire to give into actions (8:8-15).  This Sunday, we will be in week 3 of this series as we look at the need for accountability in handling finances in the church.  Apparently taking extra care when dealing with finances is not new to the modern church … the Apostle Paul dealt with similar levels of challenge in the first century!  To this end, Paul says in 8:21, “for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight, but also in the sight of man.”  In other words, Paul was saying, “the Lord knows I am honest with the offerings collected, but I want you to know it too!”

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services, we will talk about the importance of integrity in handling finances at the congregational level, plus more encouragement for all of us to live (and give) generously.  See you Sunday as we look at 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 … and bring friends!

 

P.S.  Vote for our Mission:Fund projects between now the end of the month at this link!  Vote each week between now and August 1.

Mission:Fund (part 2) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On July 16, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on 2 Corinthians 8:8-15. This message was part 2 of the “Mission:Fund” sermon series. Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion. You will also find the audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

 

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read 2 Corinthians 8:8-15
  3. Has there been a time where your “good intentions” did not translate to action?  What things keep you from doing what you intend to do?
  4. How does the example of Jesus motivate you toward generosity to others?
  5. Has there been  time in your life where you intended to give an offering or financial help to someone (or to some organization), and then you failed to follow through?  What kept you from giving as you intended, and how does the instruction Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 16:2 help you turn your good intentions into generous investments?
  6. As Kent Hughes said, this is not the “Sermon on the Amount.”  This is about each seeking what God would have them give towards His work.  Have you recently reconsidered how the Lord wants you to be investing the resources He has entrusted to you?
  7. What is your plan to give financially to the work of the Lord?  Have you ever considered giving to your local church?  Find resources and opportunities to give at wildwoodchurch.org/give
  8. Prayerfully consider participating (by voting) in our Mission:Fund special program.  Wildwood will be sending money to 5 projects around the world this summer.  Vote and let us know where you want them to go – wildwoodchurch.org/fund  (vote between now and August 4)
  9. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

 

To access these questions in pdf format click here.

 

To listen to message offline, click the link:

Mission: Fund #2 7.16.23

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch online, use YouTube:

 

Mission:Fund (part 2) Sermon Preview

Often our intentions are better than our actions.  We INTEND to eat healthy, but we often eat too many sugary or processed foods.  We INTEND to exercise, but we often sleep in instead.  We INTEND to pray for our friend, but we often forget.  We INTEND to make our family a priority, but we often allow other things to dominate our lives.

Many times, we have good intentions but poor execution.

This is true in many areas of our lives, including generosity.  Many of us WANT to be generous.  We DESIRE to give money and time to the benefit of others and to the glory of God … we have good intentions, yet we sometimes fail to follow through with the delivery of the gift.

This is not a modern/American problem, it is a human dilemma.  It actually was the situation with the church in Corinth in the first century.  Paul had shared a financial opportunity with the church, and the church had responded enthusiastically committing to give to meet that need … however, one year after their promise to take up an offering, nothing had been done.  Their desire to give … their intention to give … their commitment to give had been overridden by other interests.

Can you relate?

To my Christian brothers and sisters, I KNOW what your intention is … and it is GOOD.  You want to be generous with others.  You long to see your life connected to things of eternal significance.  I know that … but all too often, our desires do not materialize into realities.  I personally have seen this happen in my own life.  So what encouragement can we find in God’s Word to help us turn our desires into a reality?

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services, we will be in part 2 of our “Mission:Fund” sermon series.  We will be looking at 2 Corinthians 8:8-15 to see how Paul encourages the Corinthians to fulfill their original commitments to generosity.  In his admonishment from nearly 2,000 years ago, we will see contemporary insight on how we can align our good intentions with generous implementation.  We will also be celebrating the Lord’s Table together, and talking again about opportunities to participate in where we will send resources as a part of our July “Mission:Fund” program (click here for more info).

See you Sunday … and bring friends!

Mission:Fund (part 1) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On July 9, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.  This message was part 1 of the “Mission:Fund” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7
  3. How do you determine a “generous” gift?  Is it a specific dollar amount, or does it vary based on the resources available to the one giving it (or some other criteria)?
  4. The Macedonians are held up as an example of exemplary giving.  This is intended to motivate BOTH the Corinthians AND us today toward generosity in our giving.  Who are some other examples of giving that God has used to motivate you over the years?
  5. What is your general attitude toward giving?  Do you find yourself “eager to give” or are your more reluctant?  Why do you think this is?
  6. The Macedonians gave sacrificially.  Does your giving truly “cost you” something?  What role does sacrifice play in your giving?
  7. What is your plan to give financially to the work of the Lord?  Have you ever considered giving to your local church?  Find resources and opportunities to give at wildwoodchurch.org/give
  8. Prayerfully consider participating (by voting) in our Mission:Fund special program.  Wildwood will be sending money to 5 projects around the world this summer.  Vote and let us know where you want them to go – wildwoodchurch.org/fund  (vote between now and August 4)
  9. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to the message offline, click the link:

Mission: Fund #1 7.9.23

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

Mission:Fund (part 1) Sermon Preview

By God’s grace, I was born at just the right time and in just the right place.  There are many meaningful evidences of that statement … including my family, friends, church experience, university, etc. that were all providential gifts from my Creator.  However, right now, I want to highlight a less consequential (but fun) example – BASKETBALL.

I have always loved the game of basketball, and played it every chance I got.  Currently, I watch way more basketball than I play, but I really do love being around the game.  I also am fairly competitive and like to win.  Given these truths about me, I also see it as a gift from the Lord that I was in high school in the late 80’s and early 90’s in Bartlesville, OK.  During the four years I was in High School, Bartlesville won three state championships.  I watched one from the stands as a freshman, and was on the court when the clock hit zero my junior and senior years.  These three titles represent the only three state championships that Bartlesville High has ever won in men’s basketball.  I was a part of some amazing teams that had star players who played together, and I got to go along for the ride.

The one year Bartlesville did not win the title (while I was in High School) was my sophomore year.  That team made an impressive run to the state tournament and came up (literally) a few inches away from upsetting a very good Jenks team and making it to the Final Four.  But, by the standards of the surrounding years, this team did not receive the same accolades.  I still remember in the off season (between my sophomore and junior years) interviewing our coach for the “Locker Room Show” for our student run sportscast, and asking him if he was disappointed that the 1990 team had not won the state title.  I will never forget his response.

“Mark, who ever said I was disappointed in that team?  They gave everything they had, overachieved, and got significantly better from the beginning to the end of the year.  I could not be more proud of that team and all they accomplished.”

While some might be tempted to attribute that comment to coach-speak, there was a sincerity in Coach’s eyes when he said it.  He meant every word.  As a Coach who knew his team, he would judge each team against their own potential, regardless of what the ultimate score would be on the court.

Now, why do I go into this long story today?  I share this because this Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, I will be kicking off a new sermon series entitled “Mission:Fund.”  In this series, we will be returning to 2 Corinthians (now looking at chapters 8-9) to hear Jesus’ invitation for each of us to join Him on mission in the way we handle and invest the financial resources He has allowed us to be stewards over.  As I prepare for part 1 of this series, focusing on 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, I remembered Coach’s words about the 1990 Bruins …

You see, when it comes to giving, most people’s scoreboards examine only the number of 0’s after the comma.  In this frame of thinking, the smaller the gift, the less significant/generous the donor.  This may be true in large scale fundraising for the PTA or political office, BUT NOT FOR THE CHURCH!  Jesus Christ desires that we give, but each one’s generosity is measured against their own potential/capacity, not the size of the check.  This is why the widow who gave a few pennies in the Gospel’s is celebrated, while the Pharisee who tithed on his spices is panned.  Jesus is not disappointed in the size of our gift, He simply wants our gift to be commiserate with His blessing.  To whom much is given, much is expected.

As American Christians, we have been GIVEN MUCH.  God’s grace to us is overflowing.  We have won the lottery.  Sure, some have more than others, but in comparison to so many in the world, we all have been given much.  How are we investing/stewarding what He has given?  Are we living into our potential?  Will we hear our Celestial Coach one day say He is proud of our utilization of resources?

Join us this Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services as we kick off this study to see what generosity looks like by examining the example of the “Macedonians” in 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.  See you then … and bring friends!

P.S.  We also have a very exciting Missions opportunity that ALL OF US can be a part of.  Join us Sunday to hear more about it.

Mission:Endure – Series Recap

Despite the fact that the Apostle Paul endured “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger,” (2 Corinthians 6:4-5) he still “did not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:16).  The phrase “do not lose heart” renders the idea “I do not quit.”  Paul is a model of one who endured on Mission with Christ.  Over the past 8 weeks at Wildwood, we have seen a variety of perspectives shared by Paul from 2 Corinthians 4-7 that help us know how we might endure on mission as well.  In order to endure we are helped by remembering:

  1. What our point of reference is (4:16-18) … compared to the glory that is to come, our trials are light and momentary – so we endure on mission even when things are hard.
  2. To focus on the inner man that is being renewed and built up, rather than the outer man which is withering away.  (4:16-18) – so we endure on mission even when time takes its toll on our bodies.
  3. That Jesus dealt death a fatal blow and offers us life after death (5:1-8) – so we endure on mission, even in the face of death.
  4. That there are relational implications of life after death … we will see Jesus again one day, so we live our lives awaiting that meeting (5:6-10) – so we endure on mission, even when we wonder if we are making a difference.
  5. That the fear of God and the love of God motivate us  (5:11-15) – so we endure because these are constant.
  6. That God is making all who trust in Christ into new creations, so we should consider people according to the flesh no longer (5:16-17) – so we endure on mission in order to observe the ongoing creation work of God in the transformation of human lives.
  7. That God (in Christ) is reconciling the world to Himself, and knowing He has given to us the ministry of reconciliation (5:18-21) – so we endure on mission remembering the importance of our role as ambassadors for Christ.
  8. That we partner with the Lord and allow Him to work through us in ministry to others (6:1-10) – so we endure on mission even when we feel inadequate for the job.
  9. That we can appreciate those God uses in our lives (6:11-13) – so we can open our hearts to those God has used to bless us to encourage THEM to endure on mission.
  10. That we would not allow others to co-opt the mission of the church by trying to yoke leadership in the church to non-Christian people who are headed in different directions (6:14-16) – so we can endure on mission by staying tied to leaders and churches who share our same spiritual DNA.
  11. That we would patch the holes in our holiness and cleanse ourselves of all unrighteousness (6:16-7:1) – so that we might endure on mission and not be distracted away by lesser things.
  12. That we would feel God’s familiar “hand” through the ministry of presence provided by our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (7:2-6) – so we might endure on mission knowing God will comfort us when we are downcast through His presence through the agency of His people.
  13. That we would respond to God by repenting of sin when we see it our lives (7:7-13) – so that we might endure by turning back on mission when we are wandering astray.
  14. That we would realize the interconnected nature of Christian joy (7:13-16) – so that we might endure on mission by rejoicing in others success, and being encouraged by others growth.

LOTS of encouragement to keep going in the midst of difficulty!  Thankful to the Lord for this great section of His Word!  We will be back in 2 Corinthians beginning July 9 at Wildwood Community Church.  Any takeaways you had from this series?  I’d love to hear it!

 

Mission: Endure (part 8) Sermon Questions, Audio, and Video

On Sunday, June 4, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on 2 Corinthians 7:2-16.  This message was part 8 of the “Mission:Endure” sermon series.  Below are questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find sermon audio and video to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read 2 Corinthians 7:2-16
  3. How has God used others in your life … to comfort you in times of your distress?
  4. What are some ways that you feel God might be prompting you to encourage those around you as Titus encouraged Paul?
  5. What role do you understand repentance to play in the Christian life?  What role has it played in YOUR Christian life?
  6. Repentance impacts our emotions, our motions, and our relationships.  Do you have any sin in your life right now from which you need to repent of?  How is this impacting your emotion, your motion, and your relationships?
  7. Is your world large enough to allow you to rejoice with the joy of others, and be encouraged with the growth of others?  What are some ways you have been led to joy and encouragement based on what is happening in others lives?
  8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link to download:

Mission: Endure #8 6.4.23

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

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Mission: Endure (part 8) Sermon Preview

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”  – Mike Tyson

The former heavyweight boxing champ shared that bit of wisdom in response to a question about his concern about his opponent’s (Evander Holyfield) fight plan.  The idea is pretty straight forward … lots of people can plan and talk a good game.  Our ACTIONS and plans may be loud … but our REACTIONS are even louder.

Want to know what is really on the inside of someone?  See how they REACT to things in the moment.  This is not just true about others … it is true about us.  We show our true colors in our reactions as much as our actions.

In 2 Corinthians 7:2-16, the Apostle Paul continues his letter to the Corinthian church, and once again is imploring them to stay open to him … to stay in relationship with him … for their mutual encouragement and for the growth of the gospel.  Discord between the Corinthians and Paul would lead to impediments to the Gospel … so Paul again implored them to “open their hearts to him.”  But his desire to keep the relationship with them strong did not prevent him from saying hard things.  In fact, it was his great love for them that compelled him to speak up and challenge them on sin that was festering in their midst.  In a sense, the Corinthian church had a plan … but they got hit in the mouth with a stern letter from the Apostle Paul.  How would they react?

Well, the Corinthians responded with repentance and growth … thus demonstrating their true character.  This greatly encouraged Paul, and it should greatly challenge us.

How do we respond when we are confronted with sin in our lives?  Do we “attack the messenger”?  Make excuses?  Justify the behavior?  Minimize its significance?  Beat ourselves up with a “whoa is me” attitude?  When we get punched in the mouth with confrontation from a  brother or sister in Christ, how do we react?

This Sunday in the 8th and final part in our “Mission:Endure” series at Wildwood Community Church, we will look at these verses and see for ourselves the need and place for repentance in enduring on mission with Christ.  Hope to see you there in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!