Shine (Part 1) Sermon Audio, Video, and Questions

On Sunday, November 2 2025 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 5:13-16. We walked through the first part of a new sermon series called “Shine”. 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 Matthew 5:13-16
  3. What would you say is the purpose of your life? 
  4. Jesus says that His followers are both salt and light.  What do you think Jesus meant by describing Christians with these two terms?
  5. Christians are designed by God to impact the world around us for His glory.  In what ways is your faith a PUBLIC part of your life?  
  6. What are ways in which you shine by doing good works in Jesus name?  Are there any specific ways God was prompting you through the message today to live a more distinctive lifestyle?
  7. What are you currently facing in this season of your life that might be a new arena in which you might shine your light for His glory?
  8. 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 below:

Shine (Part 1)

 

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Shine (part 1) Sermon Preview

What is the purpose of life?  If life is a game, how do we know if we are winning?

Theologians, philosophers, and People magazine have all tried to answer this question for us over the years, but I want to drill down a bit deeper and personalize the conversation.  Instead of asking the question, “what is the purpose of humanity?” I want YOU to ask YOURSELF the question, “what is the purpose of MY life?”

How would you answer that question?

While you are reflecting on it, let me offer some observational suggestions of where many find purpose in life:

  • Life is about living.  I know that I am “winning” if I am still alive and fighting off the inevitable effects of aging.
  • Life is about accumulating.  I know I am “winning” if I have more today than I had yesterday in things, vacations, and financial deposits.
  • Life is about comfort. I know I am “winning” if life is enjoyable and fun.
  • Life is about accomplishments.  I know I am “winning” if I get a promotion, am famous, or win an award.

How would Jesus answer this question?  What is the life that He would call blessed?  Based on the categories above, we might imagine Jesus saying:

“Blessed are the old who look young (and are healthy), for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are the rich in this world, for they are the ones getting life right.  Blessed are those who experience the least amount of trouble, for they are triumphant.  Blessed are the honored by society, for they are on a winning streak.”

But did Jesus ever say those things?

In His most famous sermon, Jesus began by saying something quite different, “Blessed are the poor in spirit … those who mourn … the meek … those who hunger and thirst for righteousness … the merciful … the pure in heart … the peacemakers … and the persecuted.” (Matthew 5:2-12)  Jesus says that those who are blessed, might be those who look cursed!  Therefore, in order to determine who is winning in life, we need to look a bit deeper.  After all:

  • We will not find ultimate meaning in longevity … for time is undefeated.  We will just grow deeper and deeper into despair as our body breaks down over time.
  • We will not find ultimate meaning in things … moth and rust will eventually destroy them anyway, causing us to worry and fret about the preservation of things that will never last.
  • We will not find ultimate meaning in comfort … while no one chases discomfort, discomfort finds us anyway!  Thus “comfort-tied” purpose is short lived, and life feels futile when things get hard.
  • We will not find ultimate meaning in accomplishments … for each victory makes us hungry for more, and we can never “win enough” to be truly satisfied.

The ultimate meaning of life is found in the Creator of life and living consistent with His design.  We are created in the image of God to spread the glory of God to the ends of the universe.  When we are living in light of that design, we are truly blessed by the grace of God regardless of our circumstances.

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus tells us that we are both salt and light, and that we are designed to impact the world around us for His glory.  This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will be diving into this text as we begin a new three part sermon series called “Shine.”  We will worship, pray, open God’s Word, and share the Lord’s supper together.  Hope you are there in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!

Deep + Wide (part 1) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 16:13-19.  This message was part 1 of the “Deep + Wide” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video from the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Matthew 16:13-19
  3. What are some “gambles” you have taken in life?  How did they work out? 
  4. Jesus asks His disciples the most important question ever … “Who do you say Jesus is?”  How would you answer this question today?
  5. Jesus promises to build His congregation and nothing will be able to stop it.  What do you think Jesus was implying when He said these words?
  6. Jesus wants to grow us both DEEP and WIDE.  What are some ways in which you have seen God grow you (and those around you) deeper in your/their relationship with Him over time?
  7. What are some of the ways you have seen the church grow “wider” over time (reaching new people for Christ)?
  8. Mark presented today in rough terms (more info coming in the weeks ahead) the plans for facility expansion at Wildwood.  What are some ways you can imagine these spaces being used by God to allow Wildwood to grow DEEPER and WIDER?  Spend some time praying and asking God for direction for you about how you might be a part of this plan.
  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:

Deep & Wide #1 1.5.25

 

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Deep and Wide (part 1) Sermon Preview

Gambling. According to the Oxford dictionary, this word means “an enterprise undertaken or attempted with a risk of loss and a chance of profit or success.” By this definition:

* Playing the stock market is a gamble.
* Playing Blackjack at the casino is a gamble.
* Going for two when you are down one in a bowl game is a gamble (too soon?).
* Taking a new job and switching careers at the age of 42 is a gamble.

All of these situations meet the gambling standard: something you do with a significant chance of profit or loss. The stock could rise or fall. The hand could win or bust. You could win the game or lose it (again … too soon?) Your new career could be a great fit or a mismatch. The point is, you don’t know how it will turn out when you take action.

In truth, many things in our lives are gambles. BUT, you know what is absolutely NOT a gamble? Jesus’ work in the world. That is no gamble at all. It is a sure fire winner. What do I mean by that?

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus famously says, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Jesus was making a promise that He would build His congregation of followers and that nothing would stop its advance. Jesus was saying that betting on the Church was no gamble, because it’s success was guaranteed.

Now, when Jesus said that, He was not saying that any specific church organization had a guaranteed future. Sin, changing demographics, hard hearts, or various circumstances have stunted the growth or “removed the lamp stand” of many particular churches. Jesus was not saying that “Mark’s church” or “Luther’s church” or “John’s church” had a guaranteed future as an organization. What Jesus is saying is that HIS congregation will GROW and nothing can stop it! People who trust in Jesus, confess Him as Christ, and abide in Him are a part of something that has an eternal future that is ultimately up and to the right.

So what is the growth that Jesus talked about? I believe Jesus wants to grow His church both DEEP and WIDE.

What do we mean by that statement? How does Jesus grow His followers DEEP and WIDE? Well, that is the subject of a new series we are kicking off Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship services. As we begin the New Year, we will spend 10 weeks surveying a number of New Testament passages helping us reflect on the growth Jesus brings to His church.

And here is something exciting … not only are we reflecting on what Jesus has done in history, we will also be talking about what Jesus is doing TODAY through Wildwood! Jesus is building His church at Wildwood both Deep and Wide … we will be sharing how we believe a building expansion at the church will be a great tool the Lord can use to further His mission in our community and beyond. This Sunday in part 1 of “Deep and Wide,” not only will we be looking at Matthew 16:13-20, but we will also reveal what is included in this facility expansion, and how we all can be a part of this ministry here at Wildwood.

Hope to see you this Sunday … and bring friends! Let’s follow Jesus together and live for His glory in the year ahead.

Home for Christmas (part 4) Sermon audio, video, and questions

On Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached as sermon based on Luke 2:8-14 and Matthew 2:1-12.  This message was part 4 of the “Home for Christmas” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the sermon audio and video to listen to, watch, or share.  Additionally, there is a daily devotional/Bible reading plan accompanying this series.  Access it by clicking here!

To read through the Advent devotional this year on the YouVersion app in a “reading plan with friends,” click here to join a group I am hosting!

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Luke 2:8-14 and Matthew 2:1-12
  3. Do you own any nativity sets at your house?  Do any of them have special significance for you?
  4. On the night Jesus was born, God goes out of His way to invite to the celebration “unclean shepherds,” distant “magi” and religious scribes.  How does He invite each group to the celebration?  Have you ever thought about the different ways God invites people to the first Christmas party?  What do you make of the style of His invitations?
  5. Have you done something that has you feeling left “out in the field” this Christmas, ashamed and alone?  How does Jesus’ invitation to the shepherds encourage you to find cleansing and hope in Him?
  6. The Magi did not come from a Jewish background and lived over 1,000 miles away.  This reminds us of God’s call to take the Gospel to the nations!  How can you be a part of helping shine a light on Christ among the peoples of the earth in the year ahead?
  7. The Scribes knew the right answers (biblically) but they did not respond appropriately.  Do you have any experience personally (or in the lives of those you know) of people who know the right things but have not truly ever trusted in Jesus? 
  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:

Home For Christmas #4 12.22.24

 

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Home for Christmas (part 4) Sermon Preview

Around our home are a variety of nativity scenes.  One is from Bethlehem.  One was a gift from Kimberly’s parents when she was growing up.  Another is a gift from my parents on one of our first Christmas’s as a married couple.  Each of these nativities are meaningful to us.  Each is beautiful … and each has its own style.  The biggest thing these sets have in common, though, is the scene they are depicting.  Unsurprisingly, they all feature statues of Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, animals, and Magi.  In each set, all the figures “match.”  They all look alike and like they go together.

The familiarity we have with the story, and the reinforcement of our decorations, however, lulls us into the false belief that this group of people ALWAYS went together.  We begin to think that in the first century, at the time of Jesus’ birth, Magi, shepherds, Nazarenes, angels, and animals spent every Saturday night together … like a Augustan era eclectic bunko group.  But that idea is not backed up by history.  Though the figures look the same in our nativity sets, they were quite different in the eyes of the original audience.

The shepherds were not invited to religious gatherings.  Though they were Jewish, they were outsiders and considered unclean because of the demands of their job.  Nazarenes (Mary and Joseph) didn’t hang out in Bethlehem on the regular.  And the Magi?  Well, they lived 1,000 miles away in (what we know of) as modern day Iran!  This group didn’t hang out normally.  Unless something remarkable happened to mingle them, they would never have even met.

But … something remarkable DID happen.

Jesus was born!

And at His birth, Jesus invited ALL of them together for the celebration.  He went out of His way to make sure they all knew about this moment, and were invited to the party.  It was not an accident.  It was not normal.  It was God’s plan to invite them to come “home” to Him.

Do you wonder where your true home is?  Do you wonder if God really wants you around?  Do you want to know if you are truly invited to His party?  Then join us this Sunday, December 22 at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship services as we hear again His invitation to all of us to be “Home for Christmas” in Christ in part 4 of our series, looking at Matthew 2:1-12 and Luke 2:8-20.  See you Sunday … and bring friends!

P.S.  In our children’s ministry on Sunday we will also have our “birthday party for Jesus” and our worship team has prepared a special Christmas “gift” for us all … the 2024 rendition of “Carol of the Bells” to conclude our services.  See you Sunday!

Whys of Worship (part 5) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 6:9-13.  This message was part 5 in the “Whys of Worship” 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 Matthew 6:9-13
  3. What are some of the struggles you have experienced regarding prayer in your Christian life?
  4. Jesus taught His disciples to pray a prayer that begins by focusing on the adoration of God.  Why do you think Jesus had the disciples begin there first?
  5. Take a few moments and pray, adoring God and asking for His reputation to be great and recognized on the earth, His kingdom to come and be established upon the earth at Christ’s return, and His will to be lived out by His followers on the earth.
  6. Now, take a moment and spend some time asking God to act on your behalf, to provide for your needs for TODAY, forgive you of your sin, and protect you from the temptations of the evil one.
  7. In the latter section of the message, we talked about a number of “how to’s” regarding prayer … including our posture in prayer, the conversational style of prayer, the frequency of prayer, the power of prayer, the “war-time” nature of prayer, and the multiplier of prayer.  What stood out to you most about this quick survey of a number of other Scripture passages concerning prayer?
  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:

Whys of Worship #5 2.18.24

 

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Whys of Worship (part 5) Sermon Preview

As a Pastor, I have the privilege of officiating many weddings.  Over the past 23 years, I have officiated well over 100 of them.  It is one of the great perks of pastoring, to get to be close to people in the most significant moments of their lives (and get to point them to Jesus in the process).

My role also allows me to attend many wedding receptions . . . and often times there is a dance floor and DJ ready to pump up the jam.  If the wedding has a good DJ, eventually most people spend at least some time on the dance floor.  Is it because most people have an inner Michael Jackson waiting to moonwalk across the stage of life?  Is it because Gloria Estefan was right, and eventually the “Rhythm is Gonna Get You”?  Or is it because the DJ knows there are a few songs EVERYONE will dance to?  I am going with the latter.  Want proof?

It starts with the Village People’s “YMCA.”  People begin moving to the dance floor when this song comes on.  Anyone left behind on that song will be drawn offsides by the “Cupid Shuffle.”  And anyone who still has not busted a move will be on their feet for the “Cha Cha Slide.”  What do these 3 songs have in common?  They tell you what to do . . . and people feel more confident to improvise during the verse if they know they can be on cue during the chorus.

Think about it . . . even your Grandma can spell letters with her arms, your Dad can follow cues like “to the left, to the left, to the left, to the left . . ,” and your middle school cousin understands “now stomp three times!”  Songs that give us basic direction, inspire us to action.

Now, why am I going into this kind of detail?  Many people have been invited to the Christian life.  Many even have gone to the altar and connected with Jesus as their Savior.  However, prayer is sometimes a challenge for people in their Christian life.  Knowing this, Jesus addressed the topic of prayer for the Christian.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says in Matthew 6:5-8 that He wants us to free flow from the heart in prayer to God with our minds engaged.  However, this instruction alone (though encouraging) does not really help us “get on the dance floor” in prayer.  So Jesus teaches us a structured “line dance” prayer for our chorus, so that we might improvise prayer in the verses of everyday life.

This structured prayer is the Lord’s prayer.  In it Jesus gives us an easy to remember 6 point prayer pattern . . . basic direction to inspire us to action.  This prayer is recorded in Matthew 6:9-15 and we will be looking at this prayer in depth at Wildwood Community Church on Sunday morning as we resume our series “Whys of Worship” … this week, focusing on why (and how) we pray.  If you are someone who has struggled over time with how or what to pray, join us Sunday as we see Jesus get us moving with rhyme and reason.  See you Sunday, February 18 in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!

Light of the World (part 5) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, December 24, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 5:14-16 and Luke 2:8-20.  This message was part 5 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 Matthew 5:14-16 & Luke 2:8-20
  3. Is there someone in your family or friend group that has a hard time waiting for Christmas?  Any particular memories along these lines come to mind?
  4. How have you celebrated the birth of Jesus with others this Christmas season?   Remember, this Good News is designed for us to SHARE with others!
  5. Have you ever tried to reconcile the two statements from Jesus concerning the “light of the world”: (1) His statement in John 8:12 that He is the light of the world, and (2) His statement in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the world?  After today’s message, do you see the connection better between these two statements?
  6. We are called to “go public” with our faith through good works done in this world.  What are some ways that the “good works” of others have inspired you to have “hope” this year?  What are some ways that God is leading you to do “good works” in His name so that others might glorify God as a result?
  7. The shepherds heard and saw the Good News of Jesus birth, then shared that message with others.  Who might God want to use you to share the good news of the Gospel this Christmas season?
  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 #5 12.24.23

 

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Light of the World (part 4) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 2:1-16.  This message was part 4 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 Matthew 2:1-16
  3. Who are the biggest influencers in your life right now?  Who are you “following”?
  4. In Matthew 2:1-16 we saw two kings … Herod and Jesus.  Before today’s study, what did you know about the earthly leader Herod?  What did you remember/know about him?  What about Jesus?  Before today’s message, what did you know about Him?  How has your understanding of these two kings changed after our study today?
  5. In today’s message, we saw 4 contrasts between Jesus and Herod that led to 4 applicational questions.  How do you answer these questions below:
    1. Are you working to build YOUR kingdom or Jesus’ kingdom?
    2. Are you trying to alter God’s directives to fit your desires, or are you obeying Him?
    3. Are you living to make a name for yourself, or are you living for His glory?
    4. Are you relying on your own efforts for salvation, or are you trusting in His death for your salvation?
  6. 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 #4 12.17.23

 

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