On Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Galatians 6:11-18.  This message was part 3 in the “New Love” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for further questions or group discussion.  You will also find the audio/video of the sermon to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Galatians 6:11-18
3. In Galatians 6:11-18, Paul summarizes the main point of his message in this letter in one final paragraph.  Read it, then paraphrase its meaning in your own words.
4. Throughout the end sections of Galatians, Paul has been setting a contrast between that which is fleshly and that which is spiritual.  Based on a combination of your experience and this passage, what does fleshly leadership look like?  What are some of its effects on the people led in these movements?
5. Based on a combination of your experience and this passage, what does true spiritual leadership look like?  What are some of its effects on the people led in these movements?
6. In your relationship with Jesus, have you suffered any “marks”?  By “mark” I mean any lasting memory or physical wound that was embedded deep as you were rejected because of your faithfulness to God’s Word?
7. Who is your leader?  Really?  How can you tell who you are truly following?  What are the blessings found in following Jesus?  What are the perils in following anyone else?
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:

The New Love #3 9.19.21

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the service stream use YouTube online:

Imagine you are writing a note to a friend.  Could be an email, a text message, a social media post, or a handwritten letter.  How do you add emphasis to different sections of the letter?  Well, it depends on the medium.

If you are writing an email, you might bold face the font.  If you are sending a text, you might add an emoji.  If it is a social media post, you might go ALL CAPS in a section.  If you are handwriting a letter, you might underline sections, or add arrows pointing to it in the margin.  All these different mechanisms are there to help the reader really focus in on what you say in the highlighted portion.

This phenomena is not new to humanity.  It has been around as long as people have been writing notes to one another … at least as far back as 2,000 years ago, when the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to his friends in Galatia.  In Galatians 6:11, Paul says this:

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand …”

What was Paul doing?  Well, since the original “autograph” copy of Galatians has been lost in history, we don’t know for sure.  Maybe Paul switched to ALL CAPS in this section, or maybe he increased the font size, or maybe he grabbed the pen out of the hand of his secretary to write this last section in his own penmanship (of a different style than the secretary’s) … we are not sure.  Though we don’t know exactly how he did it, there is a general consensus around WHY he did it.  Paul changed the visual look of the last 8 verses of this letter to add emphasis.  It is as if he leans in and says to them … DO.  NOT.  MISS.  THIS.

So, the Galatians leaned in to read the last paragraph of this long letter.  And this Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will do the same.  During 2021, we have walked through every verse of Paul’s letter to the Galatians in some depth.  This Sunday will be the 21st sermon from Galatians that we have had over the past 8.5 months.  You may have been present for all 20 of the previous sermons … if so, come Sunday to hear the haymaker Paul throws at the end of the letter.  You may have heard zero of the messages on Galatians from this past year … if so, come Sunday to hear Paul recap the BIGGEST IDEA from this book – a truth we all need to hear.  

Join us for part 3 (in the “New Love” sermon series) as we look at Galatians 6:11-18 together in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship service (or online in the stream, beginning at 9:45 CDT at this link).  See you September 19 … and bring friends!

On Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Galatians 6:6-10.  This message was part 2 of the “New Love” 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 Galatians 6:6-10
3. Do a quick inventory on your year … in the next 12 months, how many hours do you have?  How many dollars do you expect to receive?  Have you ever thought of these dollars and hours as “seeds” to be planted for the purpose of reaping a particular harvest?
4. In the message, Pastor Mark mentioned a variety of places we are to invest the resources the Lord has trusted to us.  Were there any areas of emphasis where you are currently lacking enough investment?
5. Are you giving generously, regularly, and cheerfully to the local church?  Why or why not?  Join in this ministry partnership at wildwoodchurch.org/give
6. What are some ways you can “do good to all, especially those in the household of faith”?  Any particular opportunities come to mind?
7. Are you serving your church family regularly and cheerfully?
8. What field are you primarily “sowing your seeds” in at this point in your life?  Any changes the Lord is prompting you with today?
9. 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:

The New Love #2 9.12.21

 

To listen online, use the media player:

 

To watch the service stream, use YouTube online:

 

Let’s say you own a farm, and it’s time to put seed in the ground.  You drive to the local feed store, and purchase a large quantity of seeds … 60,000 seeds to be exact.   You head home and you put all 60,000 seeds into the ground. What kind of seeds are you planting?  Well, let’s say that 10 of them are seeds to apple trees … and 59,990 of them are seeds to thorn bushes.  

What happens next?

Well, immediately, NOTHING happens next.  The seed lies underground … and is unseen for a season.  You water and fertilize, but for a time no plants are visible.  

While the seeds are underground, you begin to think about the crop you want to enjoy when the harvest comes.  You know that you HATE thorn bushes and you LOVE apples.  You start hoping that when the plants spring up from the ground, you will have LOTS of apples, and virtually NO thorn bushes.  When your friends come over and see your empty but unsown field, they will ask what you are growing this year.  You will proudly say APPLES!  This will be the finest apple orchard in all of East Norman!!  

Then, at the appropriate time for these plants, the seeds will bring forth shoots from the ground … eventually the shoots become stalks, then the stalks become trunks, then trunks begin to look like trees and bushes … and finally the trees and bushes begin to show forth their fruit.  At that point, your field will reveal a sea of thorns, not apples.  Surprise!

Actually, not a surprise.  This should have been expected.  It is simple science.  In this universe, if you sow the seeds of thorn bushes, you do not end up with many apples.

Now, most of you are not farmers.  Most of you would never buy 60,000 seeds of anything.  But you ALL will plant 60,000 “seeds” someplace in the next year.  At least.

• There are nearly 9,000 hours in the year ahead … where will you “plant” them?
• If you have a job that makes $51,000 annually … you will invest each of those dollars in something.  

Together, your time and money represent opportunities for growth in the year ahead.  The question is, how will you put them into the ground?  After all, whatever you plant, will also be what you harvest.

If you invest your time and money this year in your flesh, then expect a thorny crop.  However, if you invest your time and money in the Spirit’s work, and love others … you can have a hope of a delicious harvest.

Each day we act … but each day we do not necessarily harvest.  Small decisions today do not immediately reveal their fruit.  Like a seed sown, patience is required to see it bloom.  But eventually all around will see what tree you are actually tapped into.

As Christians, we want lots of Apples … I mean Fruits of the Spirit!  We long to have our friends look on our lives and recognize us as a Spiritually mature person.  You want the vineyard of your life to be the finest in all of East Norman (or wherever you live), and you want your friends, family, and neighbors to be nourished off of the good fruit in your life.  But how does that happen?

It happens by sowing the right seed today.  Where will you plant your 60,000?

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will be in part 2 of our “New Love” sermon series as we look at Galatians 6:6-10.  Make plans to join us in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship services (or online in the stream!)  Hope to see you there … and bring friends!

On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Galatians 6:1-5.  This message was part 1 of the “New Love” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to this message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the audio and video of the sermon to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Galatians 6:1-5
3. While it is obvious that the Christian is to be loving and helpful to others, it is not always lived out in our everyday experience.  In your experience, have the Christians you have known been marked by the help they have provided to others?   What are some positive or negative examples of your experience in this area?
4. Has anyone ever challenged you on an area of sin in your life, and that challenge led to Spiritual Growth?  Did the person who challenged you offer any assistance/accountability/help in your growth?
5. Is there someone in your life right now who could use a gentle and humble hand to help them grow through a difficult season?  What would it look like for you to move close to this person and help “mend their net”?
6. Is there a person in your life right now that has a heavy burden that you might be able to help “lighten the load”?  What would it look like for YOU to be the vessel by which GOD comforts them in their struggle?
7. In what ways do you need to be reminded today to continue to “carry your own pack,” taking responsibility for the things the Lord has entrusted to you?
8. Have you personally trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins?  If not, would you consider doing so today?
9. 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:

The New Love #1 9.5.21

 

To listen online, use the media player:

 

To watch the stream of the service use YouTube online:

 

Have you seen the “hotels.com” commercials?  You know the ones with their spokesperson Captain Obvious?  He makes very plain comments about vacation planning … things so obvious, no one should have to say it … but he does anyway.  After making those declarations, some other person in the commercial responds – “Thanks Captain Obvious!”

Well, this week’s Sunday could be one of those commercials.

This Sunday’s message:

“Christians should help other people.”

Hearing this, someone, somewhere will be shouting out:  

“THANKS PASTOR OBVIOUS!”  

But before you stay home to watch a sermon from a different church with a much more complicated sermon … let me ask you a few questions.

• If we are to help people HOW do we help them?  Sure we can think of SOME ways we are to help, but are we thinking of helping in ALL the ways Jesus calls us to help?
• Are there some people who are the “helpers” while others are the “helped” or is it more complicated that that?  After all, in our culture, strangely, people are being put in castes (of sorts).  If you are one in need of “help” you will always be in need of “help” and you bear no responsibility.  If you are able to be a “helper” you always must be a “helper” and you can never do too much.  Does this modern concept jive with what Jesus says in best?

These questions (and answers) maybe are not quite so obvious.  But we need to know what God thinks about these questions!  This Sunday, we will look to unpack the statement “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” as we look at Galatians 6:1-5 in part 1 of our new series “The New Love” at Wildwood Community Church.  Hope you can join us in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service (or online in the stream during the 9:45 hour CDT click here to access)  Make plans to be there … and bring friends.  

Not to be too obvious … but I’d love to worship with you on Sunday, September 5.