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!

 

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

 

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“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!

On Sunday, May 28, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.  This message was part 7 of the “Mission:Endure” 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 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
3. Has there been a time when those you were partnered together with made a POSITIVE impact on your life?  How about a NEGATIVE impact on your life?
4. 2 Corinthians 6:14 is an oft quoted section of God’s Word.  Have you ever heard this verse taught, used before?  What was the primary emphasis of that teaching?  Did anything we talked about this morning add to your understanding of this passage (given its context)?
5. What are some of the “worldly yokes” you (or our church) are tempted to be unduly influenced by?
6. What are some things in your life that you need to “cleanse yourself” from in your pursuit of holiness?
7. Would you describe yourself as “maturing in holiness/godliness”?  Compare this year’s version of yourself with previous iterations of yourself in your assessment.
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 below to download:

Mission: Endure #7 5.28.23

 

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Sadly, our livestream did not work for this message!  Audio only.

 

I love airports.  I really do.  It fascinates me to see all the locations you can go from one hub.  This is especially striking at some of the big airports in the world … like Paris, New York, or Frankfurt.  You can hit nearly every continent from there!

Airports are places of tremendous choice.  Whatever plane you get on will lead to vastly different destinations.  From OKC, you can head to the mountains, the beach, big cities, Disney World, or the Gateway Arch … all depending on which gate you walk through.

Now most people arrive at the airport knowing where they want to go; after all, they have purchased a ticket with a particular destination in mind.  The intended destination is such a strong motivator, it is the reason you went to the airport in the first place.  When you show up in the terminal, you will allow nothing to stop you from getting on the right plane.  Imagine the folly of showing up at the airport to go visit family in Los Angeles, but getting into conversation with someone in the security line headed the New York, and you just board their plane with them.  At some point, you will look up and realize you are thousands of miles off course!  The conversation seemed so interesting at the time, but ultimately prevented you from going where you really wanted to go.

When we know where we want to go, we should prioritize spending time with like-minded people who are headed there … instead of following others whose destinations are quite different.

I was thinking about this while preparing for this Sunday at Wildwood.  We will be in part 7 of our “Mission:Endure” sermon series.  This Sunday we will look at 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.  These verses emphasize the importance of only “getting on the plane” with those headed to your same destination.  While we serve those headed in the opposite direction (and invite them to join us on our journey), we should resist the urge to “get on their plane.”  The gates we walk through matter … don’t allow others to lead you off course.

Does this analogy resonate?  What in the world am I talking about?  Well, make plans to join us on Sunday at Wildwood in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service and find out more.  We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and worship the Lord together as we reflect on these verses.  See you Sunday … and bring friends!

On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached  a sermon based on 2 Corinthians 6:1-13.  This message was part 6 of the “Mission:Endure” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for further reflection or group discussion.  You will also find sermon audio & video to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
3. Think about the last time you “said yes” to a serving/ministry role.  WHY did you say “yes”?
4. How does knowing that God is at work, and knowing that people need to respond motivate you to stay engaged in ministry to others?
5. Is serving others/ministering to others something you see as “optional” in the Christian life, or is it an essential part of the Christian life?  Are you ministering to others right now?  If so, how does this passage encourage you to continue to do so?  If you aren’t where might you begin working with Him to serve them?
6. Who are some people God has used to impact your life for Christ?  When was the last time you “opened your heart wide” to them?  Who might you write to this week to encourage in their ministry?
7. 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 #6 5.21.23

 

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To watch the stream use YouTube online:

 

Ministry is service.  Therefore, by definition, we are in ministry for the benefit of others, not ourselves.

If you are serving in the children’s ministry, this means you are serving so that the children may learn to follow Jesus.  If you are a volunteer at student camp, it is so that students might deepen their relationship with Jesus and each other.  If you are leading an adult or college small group, it is so that those in your group might experience the presence of the Body of Christ around them.  If you are a missionary, it is so that people in a culture other than your own might come to know Christ.  If you are a greeter on Sunday mornings, it is so that others might have a great first experience.    

This line of thinking also applies to those in vocational ministry or ministry leadership.  Pastors, Elders, and church staff members exist to serve the congregation and help equip them to do the work of the ministry.  As followers of Jesus, we are ALL CALLED TO SERVE (Pastor, Elder,  and congregant alike).  And this should not surprise us … after all Jesus Himself came “not to be served but to serve, and to give His life.”

And … all this service glorifies God – the chief end of all things.

Even though this is the clear focus of Scripture, we can easily get it twisted.  We are tempted to take on a ministry role to fill some need to feel important, validate ourselves in some way, or receive some other benefit.  To be clear, ministry is personally satisfying in so many ways … but that is not what it is all about.

When ministry is all about “what can I get out of it” we tend to quit when it is hard, when persecution starts, when it costs us something, or when we get tired.  If our calling is found in our comfort, then we will cancel our commitments when we are challenged.  But if our calling is to serve, then we serve as long as there are needs in the lives of those around us.  And how long are there going to be needs?  Well … I’ll let you do the math.

Over the past number of weeks, we have been walking through 2 Corinthians 4-7 in our Sunday services at Wildwood.  As we have done so, we have seen how we might endure on the mission Christ has called us to.  This week, in part 6 of the “Mission:Endure” series, we will be looking at 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 and remembering the durable SERVANT FOCUS of ministry that we desperately need to keep going for the long haul.  See you Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends.  It will be a joy to serve you by speaking on this passage!

On Sunday, May 14, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on a selection of verses from 1 and 2 Timothy.  This message was part 5 in the “Mission:Endure” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  Additionally, you will see below the audio and video from the message to listen to, watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17; Acts 16:1-5; and 1 Timothy 1:2
3. To what degree are you motivated in life by the LEGACY you will leave in the next generation?
4. What are some of the ways you have been impacted by the investments of your earthly family AND your spiritual family?
5. If you are a parent, how are you working to build God’s truth into your children?
6. What do you think Paul meant by referring often to Timothy as his “child”?  Is there anyone who would refer to you as their “spiritual parent”?  Is there anyone who has had this kind of relationship with you?
7. Who are you investing your life in for the sake of their spiritual development?
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 #5 5.13.23

 

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“I’m not throwing away my shot.”

According to Wikipedia, “Hamilton” is currently the fourth highest grossing Broadway musical of all time.  However, when you factor into the equation its recent release (only debuting in 2015), its “per show” average has it on pace to DOUBLE the current #1 show of all time “Lion King.”  Who knew the “ten dollar founding father without a father” would make such a popular storyline?

Now, it may stand to reason that making a musical about the birth of our nation that has George Washington rapping and choreographed pistol duels would be something people would want to see … but we should think a bit deeper about the story that is told in “Hamilton” to understand its epic success.

What is this musical all about?  I believe it is about one word – “LEGACY” – and I think you and I care a whole lot about the legacy that we leave.  This is why the musical resonates at such a deep emotional level.

So where do we see the theme of legacy running through the show?  Well, it is the purpose that carries our title character along.  He is more concerned with how he is remembered in the long run than how he is benefitting from his decisions today.  In a microwave society, we are drawn to the story of someone this radically committed to the long game.  This theme shows up throughout the songs in this production:

The musical begins with Alexander Hamilton boldly declaring that he “will not throw away his shot” at leaving an impact on the world.  He understands that his life CAN MATTER, and he wants to rise up to the challenge and leave his mark.

In the middle of the musical, Alexander prays, “God help and forgive me, I wanna build something that’s gonna outlive me” … and General Washington sings of his longing for a nation that “outlives me when I am gone.”

Near the end of the show, Hamilton defines this for us as he says:  “what is a legacy?  It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.  I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me.”  Our legacy is what it is about us that lasts in this world beyond us.

And then, there is the final line of the entire musical … a haunting statement – “Who tells your story?”  Our lives leave an impact.  Our lives tell a story.  What story is your life telling?  What seeds are you planting?

As you know, over the past several weeks at Wildwood we have been walking through a series anchored in 2 Corinthians 4-7 entitled “Mission: Endure.”  We have been talking about perspectives the Apostle Paul is sharing with us about how to remain on mission with Christ for the long haul.  This Sunday, we are in part 5 of this series … but we will take an excursion from 2 Corinthians to talk a bit more about Paul’s co-author of this letter … his younger protege Timothy.  Timothy is the legacy of (at least) two streams of influence:  his Mom and Grandma (2 Timothy 1:5), and the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 1:2, 2:1).  This Sunday, we will look at these influences of traditional family and church family.

On this Mother’s Day, we will reflect on the impact we can have on our “offspring” both physical and spiritual, as we see the examples of Lois and Eunice (Timothy’s Grandma and Mom), and Paul (Timothy’s spiritual “dad”).  Regardless of our family status (married, single, kids, no kids), we will all find challenge in this study!

We want our lives to matter.  We don’t want to throw away our shot.  We know (instinctively) that our lives lead to fruit a future generation will have to eat … so how do we live our lives in such a way that outlives us in its utility, productivity, and meaning?  We will see this together on Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services at Wildwood.  Hope to see you there … and bring friends!  You will want to be in the room where this happens …

On Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.  This message was part 4 of the “Mission: Endure” 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 5:16-21
3. In Kara Powell’s research, she has concluded that there are 3 basic questions teens are asking today:  Who am I?  Where do I fit?  What difference can I make?  These questions actually are being asked by MORE than just teens.  Do you find these questions as deeper thoughts that you have wrestled with in life?
4. In your best understanding, what is the “old that passed away” and the “new that came” for all who are in Christ?
5. What are some of the ways you have personally (or you have seen others) think of Jesus ONLY according to the flesh?  What are some of the ways that we ONLY see OTHER PEOPLE only according to the flesh?  How do things differ when we consider the spiritual implications of Jesus and others through “new creation eyes”?
6. Have you been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ?  If so, when did this occur?  What do you think this means?
7. God wants us to represent Him by Jesus making His appeal through us for those around us to be reconciled to God.  Who does Jesus want to reach through you (in this season of your life?)  Will you commit to pray for, initiate with, and represent Jesus to this person/people sometime in the next month?
8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these messages in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link to download:

Mission: Endure #4 5.7.23

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the stream, use YouTube online: