Baptism Sunday – March 6, 2022

On Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Wildwood Community Church, we celebrated the baptisms of 17 individuals.  Before these baptisms in our 8:30 and 9:45 worship service, I shared a few thoughts about baptism in light of our recent study of Revelation 1-3.  Below you will find links to the videos of the services, audio from the message in the first two services, and slides from the message in the first two services.

 

To listen to the message offline, click the link:

Baptism Sunday 3.6.22

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the baptisms from the 8:30 Service, use YouTube:

 

To watch the 9:45 full service stream, use YouTube:

 

To watch the baptisms from the 11:00 service, use YouTube:

For a link to all the baptism testimonies from this morning, click here.

Baptism Sunday – March 6, 2022 Preview!

Friends … this Sunday is BAPTISM SUNDAY at Wildwood. Join us in our 3 morning services as we celebrate with 17 individuals who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior and will expressing their faith in Him through water baptism. We will worship, reflect on this moment from God’s Word, hear their stories of transformation, and PRAISE GOD TOGETHER. If you have been around Wildwood for a while, you know that on Baptism Sundays, we all gather in the worship center during our three morning services (with the exception of our birth-preK that have their classes still running during the 9:45 and 11:00 services). No adult, college, middle/high school, or elementary school aged classes meeting this Sunday. Make plans to join us! These are some of my favorite times of the year.

Baptism Sunday – November 21, 2021 Stream

On Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church, we celebrated with 23 people who professed their faith in Christ and were baptized.  Below you will find the links to the streams of these services, as well as a link to the Vimeo channel where all the testimonies can be watched that were shown this morning.

 

9:45 Worship Service (Stream of entire service):

 

8:30 Worship Service (Baptism & Testimonies only):

 

11:00 Worship Service (Baptism & Testimonies only):

 

Vimeo Channel with just the Baptism Testimonies can be accessed by clicking here.

Audio of the Sermon (listen offline):

Baptism Sunday 11.21.21

 

Audio of Sermon listen online:

Baptism Sunday (November 21, 2021) Preview!!

On Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church, we will be gathering in our 3 morning worship services (8:30, 9:45, 11:00) to celebrate the water baptisms of 23 Wildwood folks who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior … and they want the world to know!  What a privilege for us to be able to celebrate with them the gift of baptism … a symbol Jesus gave to His church to commemorate in a meaningful way someone’s connection to Christ.

If you have not been to Wildwood on a baptism Sunday before … don’t miss this week!  Come and worship with us!  We will spend time singing, hearing the stories of faith of those being baptized, celebrating with them in their baptisms, and talking a bit more about what baptism is all about.  We can’t wait to have you join us this weekend!

Know that on baptism Sundays (we have 3 each year), we do not have any elementary, middle school, high school, college, or adult Sunday school classes meeting on this day. (NOTE:  nursery and preschool classrooms will still be running during our 9:45 and 11:00 services.)  We do this INTENTIONALLY, to create more opportunities for our entire church family to celebrate what Jesus has done in the lives of our people.

Each person who will be baptized will be doing so upon their personal profession of faith in Christ.  This means that those being baptized are not just baptized because they are a certain age, or come from a  certain family … but they are baptized because they have personally trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior — they have come to Him for their soul rest, and are deciding to walk with Him in their lives.  Therefore, the 23 people being baptized come from a number of different stages of life:  7 are elementary aged children, 4 are middle or high school students, 9 are college aged, and 3 are adults older than college aged.  Join us as we hear each of their stories of faith this Sunday!

Below you will see a graphic with the names of those being baptized, and which service they will be baptized in.  Some of you may even want to attend multiple hours of worship this Sunday to celebrate with friends being baptized in different services.  See you Sunday … and bring friends!

 

Baptism Sunday August 1, 2021 (Sermon Questions, Audio, Video)

On Sunday, August 1, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church we celebrated the baptism of 11 individuals.  The sermon this day focused on Ephesians 4:4-6.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the audio/video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Ephesians 4:4-6
  3. What are some of the things that make people different?  How has focusing on those differences led to divisions (in your experience)?
  4. In Ephesians 4, Paul is admonishing Christians to live in unity by focusing on THE NAME on the “front of their jersey” instead of the differences on their backs.  In what way do you find unity with other Christians?
  5. What are some practical ways you can live out the unity Jesus has provided for you with other Christians this week?
  6. Baptism is one of the ways that we celebrate the unity we have in Christ.  Have you been baptized since placing your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?  If so, when was that?  If not, what is keeping you from being baptized now?  NOTE:  To express interest in baptism at Wildwood in the future, let us know at wildwoodchurch.org/baptism
  7. What is one way you can “live for the name on the front” of your jersey this week?
  8. What stands out to you most from this passage?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to sermon audio offline, click link:

Baptism Sunday 8.1.21

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

Watch the stream of service at YouTube online:

 

August 2021 Baptism Sunday Preview

This Sunday is August 1. That means the first day of school is right around the corner.  It also means we are right in the middle of the Summer Olympics!  If your home is anything like mine, you’ve probably spent some time watching swimming, diving, and gymnastics over the past few days.  USA … USA … USA.  To make it even more fun, my son has learned to play the national anthem (quite well I might add) on the piano.  It is very patriotic around the Robinson house these days.

Every time I watch the Olympics, I am reminded of a number of moments from previous Olympic years.  From Mary Lou Reton in ’84 to Greg Louganis in the late 80’s/early ‘90s to the Dream Team of ’92, I have a lot of gold medal memories from my youth.  Movies, however, have helped me celebrate other Olympic moments I was too young to fully appreciate at the time.  

Take the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid.  I was alive at that moment, but not really watching hockey, so I missed this drama in real time.  Thankfully Disney revived it through the movie “Miracle” starring Kurt Russell.  I love this movie.  There is a particularly powerful scene in that movie that I was thinking about the other day.  The U.S. Hockey team was made up of young amateur players from a variety of rival colleges (some from Minnesota, others from Boston, etc.)  They were having a hard time gelling as a team, and the lack of chemistry was showing on the ice.  After one particularly poor performance in an exhibition game, Coach Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell in the movie) had his players return to the ice for an exhausting session of conditioning.  Periodically throughout their exercises, he would call on a player and ask them what team they played for.  Player after player would say their name and then their college.  Eventually, with his team nearing full physical collapse from fatigue, their captain finally spoke up and shouted out his name:  “Mike Eruzione from Winthrop, Massachusetts.”  Brooks then asked his captain, “And who do you play for?”  Instead of saying his college, Eruzione says proudly, “The United States of America.”  

And Brooks had proven his point.  The name on the front of the jersey is way more important than the name on the back.

I share this Olympic memory today (channeling my inner “Mike Tirico”) in order to make an important point.  “Out there” there are many things that can divide a team.  Our names are different, and they simply remind us that WE are different.  As long as we focus on our differences, we have no hope at unity.  Any cursory journey through 2020-21 should remind us of this fact.  

However, teams of different people form because something greater unites them.  Athletic teams unite around a city, a town, a nation, and a common cause.  This “name on the front” takes different people and unites them in mission together.  And this principle is not just applicable in sports.  It applies in our churches as well.

Some people look at a church and assume that everyone in that church is the same.  As someone who has served as a pastor for 25 years, I can honestly tell you that this is not true!  There are many different “names” on the BACK of our “jerseys.”  Different ideas, different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different genders, different gifts, different socio-economic status … the list goes on and on.  Churches are not made up of people who are all the same.  However, true members of THE CHURCH all have the same name on the FRONT of our “jersey” (and it is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than the name on the back).  JESUS is the name front and center in the church.  He is who unites us into “one new man” as Ephesians 2:15 states, regardless of our backgrounds.

As people come to faith in Christ, they don’t really get a jersey (that would be cool though, don’t you think?)  Instead, they get something even better.  They become identified with Jesus Christ, and we celebrate HIS NAME on the front of our lives through water baptism.  As Ephesians 4:5 states, in Him we have “ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM.”  

Join us this Sunday as we worship Jesus and celebrate with 11 of our new “teammates” as they profess faith in Christ through water baptism.  This baptism reminds us of our oneness together.  In a divided world, let’s come together as a church family to remember this great truth together of where our unity lies!

This week we will have two worship services (9:45 and 11:00) at Wildwood Community Church, and we hope you and your family can join  us.  Remember, on baptism Sundays we do not offer regular elementary, student, college, or adult classes (only early childhood is operating).  The rest of us will be uniting together in one of our two services.  Join us as we celebrate THESE BAPTISMS:

9:45

  1. Wristen Arnold
  2. Anna Ofthsun
  3. Eleanor Stauss

11:00

  1. Mendy Dixon
  2. Kason Hughes
  3. Melanie McCollum
  4. Carson Rehkop
  5. Emily Rehkop
  6. Henry Talkington 
  7. Sam Weddle
  8. Zoe Sheriff

See you Sunday!  And make note of our new worship service times (9:45 and 11:00).

Baptism Sunday, March 7, 2021 – Sermon Questions & Video

On Sunday, March 7, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church, we celebrated the baptisms of 18 individuals.  Before these baptisms, I preached a message from Acts 15:7-19.  Below you will find questions related to this message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the video from the services to watch.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Acts 15:7-19
  3. What are some of the things you have had to do to take the next “first step” in different areas of your life (not just your spiritual life, but all areas)?
  4. We are not to “trouble” those who are turning to God by complicating the next first step.  What are some of the ways you see people being “troubled” before they are “allowed” to take the next first step?
  5. Have you been baptized since professing faith in Christ?  If so, when?  If not, why not?  Is the Lord leading you to pursue water baptism?  If so (or even if you just have questions about baptism) contact us at wildwoodchurch.org/baptism and we will follow up before our next baptism service in August 2021.
  6. What is the “next step” the Lord would have YOU take in your spiritual life?
  7. What stands out to you most from this passage?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to the sermon audio offline, click the link:

The Next “First” Step 3.7.21

 

To listen to sermon audio online, use media player below:

 

To watch the 9:00 baptisms, use this video from YouTube:

 

To watch the entire 10:15 service (including sermon), use this video:

 

To watch the 11:30 baptisms, use this video:

 

Baptism Sunday, March 7, 2021! (Preview)

This Sunday at Wildwood is such a GREAT SUNDAY!  March 7 we are celebrating the baptisms of 18 individuals over our 3 morning worship services (9:00, 10:15, and 11:30).  We cannot wait for this weekend.

Water baptism is a public celebration of people’s connection to Jesus.  All 18 people who are being baptized on Sunday are being baptized upon their personal profession of faith in Christ.

Join us as we hear their stories and celebrate what Jesus has done in their lives.  Around these 18 baptisms, we will also sing, pray, and look into God’s Word (Acts 15:19 to be exact), as we thank God for His mercy and grace toward us through Jesus Christ.

Make plans to join us!  Know that the baptism portion of each service will  be broadcast on our online channel – wildwoodchurch.org/live .  The entire worship service (as usual) will also be broadcast at 10:15.  So, here is the schedule:

If you are physically coming to Wildwood, services start at:

  • 9:00
  • 10:15
  • 11:30

 

If you are going to join us online:

Know that on Baptism Sundays at Wildwood we do not have adult, college, student, or elementary classes meeting.  All who attend Wildwood this Sunday will join us in one of our 3 worship services (with the exception of preschool aged children and below, who will have their classes still meeting this Sunday).  Hope to see you Sunday!

Baptism Sunday November 22, 2020: Sermon Questions & Audio/Video

On Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Wildwood Community Church, we celebrated the baptisms of 10 individuals.  Before the baptisms, I preached a sermon based on 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13.  Below you will find questions related to this message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find sermon audio, and videos of the worship services to listen to/watch, download, or share.  Also, you will see slides from the message.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
  3. What are some of the things that have struggled to “celebrate” this past year due to the pandemic?
  4. In the message, we reviewed some of Paul’s second missionary journey, and reflected on how that impacted him by the time he arrived in Corinth.  Are you struggling in this era as Paul was?  What was it that encouraged Paul (seen in 1 Thess. 3:6-8)?  How does that same dynamic encourage you today?
  5. In what specific ways does it encourage you to hear the testimonies of others (as we did today before baptisms)?
  6. Baptisms are a celebration of new life in Christ.  Baptism is not the end, but the beginning!  God wants to continue to grow our faith in Him and love for others throughout our lives.  How have you seen your faith in God and love for others increase over the years you have followed Christ?
  7. How do you sense God wants to use YOU to “fill out what is lacking” in the faith of another?
  8. Have you been baptized since professing faith in Christ?  If so, when?  If not, why not?  Is the Lord leading you to pursue water baptism?  If so (or even if you just have questions about baptism) contact us at wildwoodchurch.org/baptism and we will follow up before our next baptism service in March 2021.
  9. What stands out to you most from this passage?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to the sermon audio offline, click the link:

Baptism Sunday! 11.22.20

 

To listen to sermon audio online, use media player:

 

To watch the worship services, use YouTube stream online:

Full service (with 10:15 baptisms):

Baptisms from 9:00 Service:

Baptisms from 11:30:

 

Baptism Sunday: November 22, 2020!

Are you looking for something to celebrate?  I sure am!  And what better to celebrate than the greatness of Jesus Christ, and people turning to Him as their Lord and Savior.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, in all 3 of our morning worship services, we will be:

  • Singing praise and worship to God
  • Looking at 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 to see encouragement for ALL OF US, young and old.
  • Celebrating the baptisms of 11 Wildwood people!

As always at Wildwood, baptism Sundays take a special rhythm.  We will still offer our early childhood program (for birth – preK) during all 3 services, but EVERYONE ELSE will be ALL IN as one church family in the worship center to celebrate God’s faithfulness.  We will have 3 morning services this weekend (in person, and all indoors) at 9:00, 10:15, and 11:30.  The schedule for the baptisms will be as follows:

9:00 Service:

  1. Peyton Williams
  2. Grayson Williams
  3. Moses Bisel
  4. Callaway Payton

10:15 Service:

  1. Logan Wise
  2. Zac Sheriff
  3. Maleia Sarantakos

11:30 Service:

  1. Caitlin Rahmoeller
  2. Hunter Middleton
  3. Chloe Edmunds
  4. Patrick Murphy

I know that anytime we have disruptions to our “normal,” it can throw us for a loop.  2020 has “taught” all of this lesson again and again (can I get an AMEN?)  So, with our Sunday this week slightly altered (with no adult, student, college, or elementary classes meeting), some might be tempted to just stay home.  Resist that urge!!!  We are not taking this Sunday off.  We are intentionally gathering together to remember God’s faithfulness to us as a church family.  These Sundays are some of my favorites each year, and we want to worship with YOU and your entire household this weekend!  We hope to see you Sunday.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Mark

 

P.S.  Like normal, our 10:15 service will be live-streamed for all who want to join us online at wildwoodchurch.org/live   … however, because this is a baptism Sunday, we will also be streaming the baptism portions of all 3 services!  All three streams will be available online at wildwoodchurch.org/live .  I know this could be a bit confusing, so here is the STREAMING schedule:

  • Around 9:40, the stream will begin for the first service, and include only the baptism section of the service.
  • 10:15 – the full livestream of the entire worship service (like normal).
  • 12:10 – the stream will begin for the third service, and include only the baptism section of the service.