Scarlet Thread (Part 9) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, October 5 2025 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on the life of Isaiah.  This message was part 9 of the “Scarlet Thread” sermon series.  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, or download.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12
  3. How does knowing that Jesus KNEW the suffering that awaited Him on earth (and came anyway) impact the way you think about Jesus and His interest in the Father’s will and our well-being? 
  4. There are 80+ allusions in the New Testament to Isaiah’s “Servant Song” of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.  What are some of the things you see in this song that point to Jesus?
  5. Isaiah’s song makes it clear that Jesus died for OUR SIN.  This was no accident, it was an operation.  It was a necessary thing to save us from the consequences of our rebellion against God.  What is your attitude toward your sin?  Do you tend to minimize it (it’s not that big a deal)? Blame others for it (I only sinned because you/they _________)? Or do you own and confess your sin, knowing it is a serious matter?  
  6. This week concludes our 9 week journey through the Old Testament.  What has stood out to you the most from this series?  Any particular change in your life or new perspective you have developed because of this series?
  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 to download audio:

Scarlet Thread #9 10.5.25

 

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Scarlet Thread (part 9) Sermon Preview

Jesus Christ is my Savior.  If you know nothing else about me, please know this!

Embedded in that blessed statement are a few important truths.

TRUTH #1:  The statement begins with JESUS, just as my eternal hope begins with Him, and His grace.  He created me, and by His grace I have been born again spiritually.

TRUTH #2:  CHRIST is not Jesus’ last name … it is a title.  It means that Jesus is a one and only.  He is fully God and fully man, and came to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah (“Christ” is the Greek word for the Hebrew word “Messiah”).

TRUTH #3:  Jesus Christ IS.  Jesus deserves to be either spoken of in the present tense (highlighting His existence), or to be spoken of in the eternal (the One who was, and is, and always will be).  Just as God told Moses from the burning bush that His name was “I am,” so also Jesus is.

TRUTH #4:  Jesus Christ is MY SAVIOR.  This reveals the recognition that I am in need of saving!  I have sinned before a holy God and fallen short of His glorious standard.  In my sinfulness I am so in need that my only hope for forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and an eternity in heaven and not hell is found in the rescue I have found in His work upon the cross on my behalf.  Jesus died for my sins.  Trusting in Him, I am forgiven and justified before God, and have confidence before God like a child approaching the loving embrace of the best of Fathers.

JESUS CHRIST IS MY SAVIOR.

Do you know Him?

Isaiah the prophet did.  Though he lived 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Isaiah (pushed along by the Holy Spirit) wrote of Jesus … His life, His death, and His resurrection.  Isaiah’s prophecies are some of the over 300 Old Testament prophecies given about the coming of Jesus.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will wrap up our sermon series “Scarlet Thread”  as we see the strongest shadows of this series of Jesus in the Old Testament as we look at Isaiah 53:1-12 together.  Join us for the ninth and final message in this series.

My prayer is that we might all look to Jesus after reading Isaiah 53, and say:

JESUS CHRIST IS MY SAVIOR.

See you Sunday, October 5 for a time of singing, prayer, study of God’s Word, and sharing the Lord’s Supper together in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service.  See you there … and bring friends!

King of Kings (part 2) – Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Isaiah 11:1-12.  This message was part 2 in the “King of Kings” sermon series.  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 Isaiah 11:1-12
  3. What is a place you have always wanted to live? What has attracted you to that place? What are some characteristics that you feel like make a great leader of a nation?
  4. In Isaiah 11, we see a picture of both the King of Kings, and His coming Kingdom. In 11:1-5, we see a picture of King Jesus. What stands out to you most about His leadership (described there)? What would it be like to live in an area ruled by Him?
  5. Have you trusted in Jesus to be your King of Kings? Is there evidence in your life that you are living under His direction?
  6. The Kingdom Jesus presides over is described in Isaiah 11:6-12. This future Kingdom upon the earth, established after Jesus returns, is marked by various phenomena outlined in these verses. What stands out to you most about life in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ?
  7. How has reviewing both the King and His Kingdom encouraged you in light of the “groaning” we see around us in the world today? Our problems are only temporary, but His Kingdom will reign forever and ever!
  8. What evidence do you see today of churches living by Kingdom priorities?
  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:

King of Kings #2 11.17.24

 

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King of Kings (part 2) Sermon Preview

Let’s suppose we were all able to select where we were from and who our President or King would be.  Let’s say we had that kind of sway … what would we do?  Well, maybe we would fly around from country to country, looking for the cities or natural landscape we liked the best.  We would make a short list from the environments … then we would cross check our approved places with the leaders who ruled over them.  What kinds of characteristics would you look for in your leader of choice?  What policies would they promote?  What kind of character would they represent?  After this thorough examination, we could then make a selection on where we would live and under whose leadership we would reside.

Now, the above scenario is mostly fantasy.  We do not determine our nationality at birth, and it can be quite complicated to change our citizenship in this world!  Acts 17:26 actually lets us know that God Himself sits sovereign over the context of our lives, saying, “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”  Further, though our form of government in America allows us to participate in the process of selecting a leader, if you voted in the last Presidential election, you are merely one vote out of 140 million!  We play a part, but many other forces are at play in determining our leaders … and again, God Himself sits sovereign over that process as Romans 13:1 reminds us, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

And so, our places of residence and our governing authorities are not entirely of our own choosing … and part of the challenge we face in this world is that because of sin and the consequences that have followed it, both our environment and our leaders are far from idyllic.  No matter where you live, there are a unique set of problems.  Oklahoma has rattlesnakes, tornados, and ice storms (among other things).  We take the good with the bad!  And our leaders are morally imperfect and make flawed decisions at times.  You win some, you lose some.  Change the city, state, or even country you live in, and you will trade one set of imperfections with another.  To say it another way, both our kingdoms and our kings have their problems!

But what can God teach us through this?  Romans 8:22 tells us that “all creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”  Our imperfect world and our flawed leaders remind us that THIS IS NOT OUR HOME.  We groan like a mother in childbirth, longing for the birthday of a new age … and a new leader.

On Sunday, November 17 at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship service, we will continue our sermon series “King of Kings” by looking at Isaiah 11:1-11.  This prophetic passage, written 700 years before Jesus was born, describes Jesus and what it will be like to live under His authority.  This prophecy describes the King of Kings and His coming Kingdom in terms unlike anything we know.  It is my prayer that these verses will raise our eyes from our kings and kingdoms (lowercase “k’s”) to Him and His promised dominion … and that we will all be filled with hope!

See you Sunday, and bring friends!

Light of the World (part 3) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Luke 1:68-79, Luke 2:22-38, & Isaiah 42:1-9.  This message was part 3 in the “Light of the World” sermon series.  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 1:68-79; 2:22-38; Isaiah 42:1-9
  3. What are the most memorable gifts you have ever received for Christmas?  What are some of your other strongest memories of Christmas?
  4. In Luke’s Gospel (chapter 1-2) we looked at 3 “other” gifts given to Jesus at His birth:  Zechariah’s prophecy, Simeon’s sight, and Anna’s celebration.  In all your years studying the Christmas accounts, have you ever spent much time looking at these other passages?
  5. Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna all see such hope in Jesus’ birth based on the Old Testament promises concerning the Messiah.  What do you learn from what they said and did that inspires you to worship Jesus this Christmas season by expressing similar “gifts”?
  6. Do you consider yourself to be a bruised reed?  Do you know some “bruised reeds” today?  How can this picture of Jesus from Isaiah 42 bring great encouragement to those who feel tired, worn, or rejected?
  7. Have you allowed Jesus to lead you out of the dungeon of sin and into the Light of His salvation?  If not, what is preventing you from doing so today?
  8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

 

To access these questions in pdf format click here.

 

To listen to message offline, click the link:

Light of the World #3 12.10.23

 

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Light of the World (part 2) Sermon Questions, Audio, and Video

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Isaiah 9:1-7.  This message was part 2 in the “Light of the World” sermon series.  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 Isaiah 9:1-7
  3. When was the last time you were in need of help from a PERSON … were you able to find it?  When was the last time you cried out to God in need of a Savior?
  4. In Isaiah 9:1-3, we see God replace “darkness” with “light.”  What are some reasons for “gloom” or “darkness” in your world this year?  What would it look like for God to trade those gloomy things for glory and light?  If you KNEW God would replace your gloom with glory, what kind of celebration would you want to throw?
  5. In Jesus, God has done SO MUCH for us!  And, when Jesus comes again, EVEN MORE blessing will flow in the direction of those who are trusting in Him.  Because of these reasons, it is absolutely appropriate for us to celebrate Jesus and MAKE MUCH OF HIM this Christmas season and always.  Make a Christmas list … this one a list of things that Jesus has done or will do for you.  How does looking at THAT LIST inspire you to worship Him more this year?
  6. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format click here.

NOTE:  I have prepared a 30 Christmas devotional tied to Christmas Carols.  You can access that devotional by clicking here.

 

To listen to message offline, click the link:

Light of the World #2 12.3.23

 

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Light of the World (part 2) Sermon Preview

Our world today attempts to make us self-sustaining (at least in a  way).  At one point, you had a “milk man,” now you pick up a carton at Wal Mart, and check-out without aid of a  cashier.  Once upon a time you had a banker, now you have an ATM.  Once there were secretaries, now there are cell phones and email systems. Travel used to be planned through agents, now there is a website.

These steps towards autonomy are convenient, enabling us to take care of most items OUTSIDE of “normal business hours.” Technology is helpful … until it isn’t.

When was the last time you needed some help accomplishing a task.  The shelves are empty in the grocery store refrigerator … and you look for an employee to assist, can you find them?  You have a question about a charge on your debit card, and you call a 1-800 number to find yourself stuck in a web of automated artificially intelligent, yet often circular menus.  You need to change a reservation and wonder which of the rebooking options are best, yet the options on the screen don’t understand the specific challenges you will have navigating a 30 minute layover in Atlanta with a 3 year old!

When we find ourselves in need, I mean when we REALLY are in need, we don’t just want an FAQ page or a robot voice.  At some level we know that our need is not just a WHAT (a goal) or a HOW (a plan) but ultimately a WHO (we need a rescuer, a helper, a hero):  Someone wiser than us, that we can trust to get us where we need to go.

We are familiar with this dynamic on the small scale of every day tasks, but this dynamic is even MORE TRUE on the cosmic stage.  Is there a solution to the darkness of the world around us?  Is there any hope for our weary souls?

We need more than a task or a plan, we need a Savior … we need a Messiah … we need God.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will be in part 2 of our “Light of the World” Christmas sermon series.  In this prophetic passage written 700+ years before Jesus was born, the solution to the darkness problem is not met with an automated menu or a self-help book … but with a Sovereign Savior coming to radically change our reality.  We will look at this on Sunday, December 3 before celebrating the Lord’s Supper together.  Hope to see you Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 services … and bring friends!

God with us (part 1) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, November 27, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on Isaiah 7:1-16 and Matthew 1:22-23.  This message was part 1 of the “God with us” 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.

Additionally, you can access the daily devotional “God with us” for use during the Christmas season by clicking here.  Each daily devotion will also be posted to this blog each morning.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Isaiah 7:1-16 and Matthew 1:22-23
  3. Has there ever been a time when you have observed the celebration of Christmas and felt like “that is too much”?  What contributed to your thought process in making that determination?
  4. We are very familiar with the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.  Have you ever studied this passage to see its Old Testament context?  In what ways does knowing its Old Testament context help us to understand the significance of Jesus’ birth?
  5. The enemy armies caused the nation of Judah to have their “hearts shake like trees.”  What causes your heart to fear?  How would “placing that fear on the timeline” help you in quieting that fear?
  6. The birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary is THE sign that Jesus is not just an ordinary man, but God Himself who will deliver us from our sins.  How does the virgin birth help accomplish this (remember the reasons for the virgin birth we talked about in this morning’s message)?  
  7. Since Jesus is God, it changes everything.  What does it change for you?
  8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link:

God With Us #1 11.27.22

 

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