December 14 – Hope was Born this Night

 

Hope was Born This Night

Read: Psalm 42

Hope is neither a luxury nor an option.  We may need water, food, and air to survive, but we need hope to thrive.  So how do we have hope in this dark world?  Where is our hope found?

In Psalm 42:5a, the psalmist asks, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?”  In other words, my spirit feels crushed!  I am prone to discouragement!  What am I to do? 

The psalmist continues with the solution to a down cast soul, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”  Put another way, the solution for our spirit today is hope for tomorrow.

Some believe the “good old days” belong to our present or past, but hope for tomorrow means that we do not think of today or yesterday as the best that will ever be.  As we age, we are also tempted to think that our remaining years will only be full of loss of health, deaths of loved ones, and activities we can no longer enjoy.  This perspective makes our past or present the pinnacle of existence, and everything else is simply downhill.  If our perspective is solely earth bound then there may be some truth to this existential depression.  However, if we know the God of the universe, we have access to an unending hope . . . because it is anchored to something OUTSIDE this life.

When we “hope in God,” we connect our perspective to the eternal.  In eternity, we are saved.  In eternity, our broken and breaking bodies are made imperishable.  In eternity, God richly provides for all our needs.  In eternity, we neither sin nor struggle.  With this eternal perspective, we can have an enduring hope!

Jesus’ birth demonstrated His intimate connection between the world in which we live and His eternal order.  Jesus came to give us a tangible and living hope, to provide a way for us to enter eternity.  When we place our faith in Christ, we can have a hope today based on what He has promised us tomorrow.

The psalmist ends 42:5 by reminding us to demonstrate our hope in God by praising Him.  As we listen to “Hope was Born this Night,” may we hear “the echoes of grace of our Savior’s embrace because hope was born this night.” 

Hope was Born this Night – Sidewalk Prophets

Tonight I can see a star shine
And its splendor fills up the sky
It’s the same that appeared
And the wisemen revered
When Hope was born this night

Out upon the snowy fields
There’s a silent peace that heals
And it echoes the grace
Of our Savior’s embrace
Because Hope was born this night

Glory to God in the highest
Peace on earth
Goodwill to men
Let all of the world
Sing the chorus of joy
Because Hope was born this night

I can hear the Christmas bells ringing
As softly a church choir sings
It’s the song used to praise
The Ancient of Days
When Hope was born this night

There are angels in this place
And my heart resounds in the praise
Like a shepherd so scared
I’ll rejoice and declare
That Hope was born this night

Glory to God in the highest
Peace on earth
Goodwill to men
Let all of the world
Sing the chorus of joy
Because Hope was born this night

 

To access all 30 days of “The Christmas Carols” devotional in pdf format, click here.

 

To access playlists for all 30 songs and for more information about how to worship with Wildwood Community Church this Christmas season, click here.

December 4 – O Come All Ye Faithful

 

O Come All Ye Faithful

Read: Luke 2:8-20; Matthew 2:1-12

Every year on my son’s birthday, we have a party, which raises the question of whom to invite. Some years, the guest list is only family.  Other years, we add a few friends.  Still other years, the list has included all the boys on a team or in his class.

The next step is to send an email, phone call, or post card. Those who receive the invite then have a choice. Will they attend?  Are they able?

I thought about this dynamic as I sang the lyrics of one of my most beloved carols, “O Come All Ye Faithful,” which recounts the birth day of Jesus when a “party” broke out near the manger.  Of course Mary and Joseph were there, but soon others began to arrive.  God the Father went out of His way to invite two very different (and unlikely) groups to the party – shepherds and Magi (see Luke 2:8-20, and Matthew 2:1-12).  The shepherds represented common Jewish people – a class of citizens who would normally NEVER have been invited to a religious ceremony or royal birth.  The Magi were Gentiles from a faraway land who had no expectation of inclusion in the plans of the God of Israel.  Yet, at Jesus’ birthday party, God sends an angelic invite to the shepherds and a starry message to the Magi.

When these invites come, the shepherds and Magi have a choice.  Will they attend?  Are they able?  Both groups decide they cannot miss this special moment and move toward the manger.  As a result, both are incredibly blessed.

Now think about your own life for a moment.  By virtue of reading this devotional and knowing the Christmas story, you have received an invitation from your Heavenly Father to come to Jesus and find your hope in Him. 

This invitation is not based on our performance but on His grace.  Sinful people like you and me, like the shepherds and wise men, get the invite to come to Jesus and find our hope and forgiveness and life in Him.  Have you placed your faith in Jesus as the Son of God who took the penalty of our sins through His death on the cross?  If not, hear “O Come All Ye Faithful” as an invite to come and adore Him and place your faith in Christ.

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the king of angels

Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Sing, Choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
Glory in the highest

Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Yea, Lord we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

 

To access all 30 days of “The Christmas Carols” devotional in pdf format, click here.

 

To access playlists for all 30 songs and for more information about how to worship with Wildwood Community Church this Christmas season, click here.

Thoughts on the October 7 Attack on Israel …

One week ago, on October 7, 2023, terror struck the nation of Israel when Hamas coordinated a vicious attack of southern Israel and launched missiles further north.  One week later, conflict is building further in the lands of Judea/Samaria on the west bank of the Jordan, and from the north as Hezbollah threatens from Lebanon.  Historically, this is an all too familiar feeling … the 1948, 1967, 1973 wars come to mind … but also (sadly) the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The common theme?  Many people in the world historically (and today) want to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth.  This (in fact) is the stated position of Iran and their proxies (Hezbollah and Hamas) in the middle east.

Indeed, Jewish people have survived enslavements, deportations, wars, and attempted genocide throughout their history (spanning back millennia.)

Where does this anger come from?  Political scientists look to the complicated (and crowded) geo-political history of the middle east … but that does not explain the opposition in Europe in the 1930s and 40s. Many others point toward the treatment of Palestinians over the past 75 years … but that ignores the Palestinian leaders’ role in the conflict.  While the politics and modern history of the region do play a role in this conflict, the Bible actually provides a deeper explanation for this struggle … it has Satanic roots.

Revelation 12 describes the conflict between Israel and Satan in a poetic way.  In these verses, Satan is a “dragon,” Israel is “a woman,” Jesus is the “male child,” and the church is the “offspring.”  In a cosmic sweep of history, Satan falls from heaven, and then wages war against the people of God (Israel) and the plan of God (blessing all the people of the earth through Jesus) throughout time.  How does Satan engage in this conflict?  Well, it is a multi-front “war,” but one wing of the battle is through earthly armies.  Hitler and Hamas (knowingly or not) were/are participating in a fight of divine proportions.  Satan hates God and channels that rage on this earth at God’s people.

When I read Revelation, though, I am reminded of something:  Satan’s efforts to wipe Israel out will never succeed.  Why?  Because the Lord will sustain the people of Israel.  But what do we mean when we say that?

Well, we mean that in the Bible, as the end times are described, there IS a distinct nation of Israel, living in the promised land, and even possessing a Temple.  This clarity helps us know that no matter how fierce the opposition, the people of Israel will survive (at least as a remnant) to the end times.  In fact, Revelation 7 goes so far as to describe representatives from EVERY tribe present at the end. The people of Israel will see God make good on His promises to them before the end arrives.

So we know that Israel (as a people) will survive.  We also know that at the end of the world, Israel will have a geo-political presence in the Middle East.  But based on these two points do we KNOW that the country of Israel will win the war they are engaged in today?  Well, no.  For nearly 2,000 years (from 70AD to 1948) the Jewish people were scattered all over the face of the earth, without possessing a country in the Middle East.  Was God’s plan in jeopardy during that time?  No!  God’s plans will be implemented in His time, but God’s timing is often slower than we would like or expect.  God waited nearly 2,000 years to bring Israel back to the land.  Israel could be scattered among the nations of the world again for some extended period of time.  What we can say with certainty is that Israel will be an entity in the Middle East as the world opens its final chapter.  As long as Israel prevails in this current struggle, we feel closer to the end.  If they are scattered, it seems the story is longer than some might be predicting.

That said, here are six things to consider for Jesus followers today:

  1. Israel as a country has a right and a responsibility to protect its citizens from these attacks and hold those responsible accountable.  Romans 13:1-7 describes the “justice” role that government plays in rewarding good and punishing evil as they wield the “sword” of their authority.  War is an awful reality in this world, but is justified in this world before Jesus makes “all things new” and all wars will cease.
  2. Ultimate justice belongs to the Lord.  When we experience wrongs in this world, we long to see every wrong righted.  We want evil punished and righteousness rewarded.  However, retribution on the earth is never fully satisfying.  The leveling of cities in response to terrible terror attacks may feel cathartic in the moment, but it still will not bring the lost back to life.  Thankfully there is an Eternal Judge who sits outside of time who will one day bring true justice to every situation.  This is not to say that some measure of justice should not be pursued today, it should.  But we know that ultimately God will be the One to hold all accountable.
  3. Mourn with those who mourn.  The images and stories coming out of Israel and Gaza today are heartbreaking.  Children killed or captured.  Women raped.  Civilians slaughtered.  These are real world tragedies.  Pray for those effected.  Pray for their physical needs … but also pray for …
  4. Pray that God would use these events to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ.  Less than 2% of the people who live in Israel today are Christians.  Only 185,000 total.  AND, 75% of the Christians in the land of Israel today are of Arab descent – about 1/3 of the Christians in Israel are living in the West Bank and Gaza.  This means that right now, the vast majority of those experiencing the horrors of war ALSO are awaiting the greater horror of divine judgment.  While the earthly conflict may seem difficult to solve, God has provided a certain way for ALL to find peace with Him.  Placing our faith in Christ leads to forgiveness and reconciliation with God.  Pray for the Church in Israel and among the Palestinian people to boldly proclaim the Gospel in these difficult times and that many would place their faith in Jesus as a result.
  5. Know that God is worthy of the worship of all people. Revelation 5:9 pictures the worship of heaven including people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.  In our world today, one tribe hates another, one language slanders another, and one nation wars against another.  But in eternity, there will be individuals from all these groups united in Christ and worshipping Jesus together as one body.  This (of course) will include Palestinians AND Israelis!  Indeed, Romans 11:25-26 lets us know that before the end, Jesus will save a “fulness of the Gentiles” (including some Palestinians) and “all Israel” (Jews who are alive at the time of the second coming of Christ.)  As Zechariah 12:10 indicates, at the return of Christ, the Jews will “look on Him whom they have pierced” and will mourn and weep bitterly with regret for prior generations of their people failing to recognize Jesus at His first Advent.  Jesus ultimate plan is to gather worshippers to Himself for all time.  Those of us who know Christ are invited on mission with Jesus to point others to Him today, regardless of their ethnicities or political affiliations.  Jesus can save all who turn to Him.  Let us pray for Christ to be the everlasting peace in the middle east as people trust in Him.
  6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6 famously says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! ‘May they be secure who love You!’”  Pray that God would help the people of the middle east to find their security in Him.

Mission:Fund (part 3) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On July 23, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5. This message was part 3 of the “Mission:Fund” 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 8:16 – 9:5
  3. What has been your experience with appeals to give and churches/Christian ministries?  Has it been positive?  Negative?  What made you feel the way you did about it?
  4. What is the connection (in your experience) between “trust” and “giving”?
  5. Paul builds trust with the Corinthians about the handling of finances by revealing to them who would be handling the funds, what they were going to do with it, and why it was important.  In this message we talk a bit about Wildwood’s handling of finances.  Did anything encourage you?  Surprise you?
  6. Are you regularly giving to the work of the Lord/ministry?  If so, what encourages you to do so.  If not, what obstacles are in your way from participating in grace giving?  NOTE:  If you are interested in more information about giving or ways to give at Wildwood, visit wildwoodchurch.org/give
  7. Prayerfully consider participating (by voting) in our Mission:Fund special program.  Wildwood will be sending money to 5 projects around the world this summer.  Vote and let us know where you want them to go – wildwoodchurch.org/fund  (vote between now and August 4)
  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:

 

Mission: Fund #3 7.23.23

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

 

 

Questions for Reflection – June 11, 2023

Sunday, June 11, 2023, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is “The Need for the Gospel” from our sermon series“Unpacking the Gospel”. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.

  1. As followers of Jesus, what contributes to us drifting at times into a complacent, lackadaisical attitude toward the cross?
  2. Why is it that the ‘most significant truth in the universe’ (the gospel) is something that many people have never heard?
  3. Why is it that others have heard or are aware of the term ‘the gospel,’ but they struggle to define what it means, why it is important, and how to embrace it?
  4. What can we practically do to remedy the above situations?
  5. Since God has set [planted] eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11) how should that truth practically influence our approach to people?
  6. Bruce said:

Regular gratitude for the deep grace of the gospel is what:

  • catalyzes a daily attitude of worship
  • energizes our drive to serve God
  • stimulates our desire to share the gospel with others

Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the truth of the gospel and ask him to catalyze, energize, and stimulate your heart during this preaching series.

Mission: Endure (part 3) Sermon Questions, Audio & Video

On Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on 2 Corinthians 5:11-15.  This message was part 3 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 5:11-15
  3. What are some “reasons for obedience” that have motivated you in different settings of your life (at home as a child, at work, on a sports team, etc.)?
  4. In what way is the “fear of the Lord” a motivator for you today?  Does knowing you will see Jesus one day face to face impact the way you live your daily life?
  5. Paul’s knowledge that he would see Jesus face to face one day motivated him to share the Gospel with the Corinthians (and others) today.  Does knowing YOU will see Jesus again one day motivate you to engage in Christ’s mission in the world?  What is one or two ways you can engage in ministry and evangelism this coming month?
  6. The love of Jesus “controlled” Paul.  What would you say “controls” you?  How does reflecting on Jesus’ love for you motivate you to follow Him today?
  7. Can you think of any reasons “why not” to follow Jesus?  Write out any reasons you think you might not follow Him and put them on an index card.  Then revisit that list as you study the Scripture.  If there is something on your list today that is keeping you from following Christ, ask yourself once a week for the next month – “Is this a good reason to not follow Him?”  Most of our reasons “don’t age well” … in that over time, we realize that our reasons are nothing compared to His great love for us!
  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 below to download:

Mission: Endure #3 4.30.23

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch, use YouTube online:

 

Managers of God’s Resources …

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable about a wealthy landowner who entrusts His riches to His servants expecting them to invest those resources according to the landowners intentions while they await His return. The resources given by the landowner are extensive … as he gives today’s equivalent of millions of dollars to each.

Jesus tells this parable in the context of a sermon He was preaching about His certain return to the earth in the last days (Matthew 24-25 … “The Olivet Discourse.”). The implication is clear – Jesus was telling His disciples that He was leaving for a “long journey” (2,000 years now and counting) but one day would return. While we wait for His return, we are to invest His resources for His purposes.

What are His resources? Truly ALL THINGS … but generally these could be categorized in three areas: time, talent, treasure.

Is time truly the Lord’s? YES. Psalm 90 reflects on our relatively brief lives, yet God is eternal. Our days are numbered, Psalm 139 says, by the Lord of All Time. Whatever time we have is GIVEN US BY GOD, with the expectation that we would use those opportunities according to His purposes.

Is talent truly the Lord’s? YES. 1 Peter 4:10 indicates that we are each given a spiritual gift by the Lord to equip us for service and Psalm 139 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Ephesians 2:10 even tells us that the Lord has prepared us for good works “that we should walk in them.” Whatever talent we have is GIVEN US BY GOD, with the expectation that we would use those skills according to His purposes.

Is treasure truly the Lord’s? YES. Psalm 50:10 lets us know that God has “the cattle on a thousand hills” and King David reminded us in the prayer of dedication over the resources to construct the Temple that truly all things are the Lord’s (1 Chronicles 29:10-16). So whatever treasure we have (money, possessions, etc.) is GIVEN US BY GOD, with the expectation that we use that stuff according to His purposes.

In His grace God has saved us and equipped us with opportunities, skills, and stuff. He wants us to use them as He intended, and one day we will give an account for how we stewarded His resources (2 Corinthians 5:10). It is my prayer that we would all hear “well done good and faithful servant” on that day.

How will you put to use what He has given you this week?

Questions for Reflection – July 10, 2022

On Sunday, July 10, 2022, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is “Spiritual Gifts – Part 2” from our sermon series“Divinely Designed to Serve”. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.

1. Think of a time when something you got or bought didn’t fit what you needed it for, OR a time when you discovered something you had that no longer fit. Share a little about it. In a sense, we want our key ministry/serving activities to “fit” with the way God designed us to serve.

2. Bruce talked about the “3 V’s of Gifts” from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. He mentioned how the “3 V’s” assist us in abstaining from the comparison syndrome. Why is that true?

3. Bruce talked about the 9 Consensus Spiritual Gifts. Which among those nine was a newer idea for you? Did you readily identify with one or more of those nine?

4. Bruce mentioned 3 Fascinating Facets about gifts. Can you recall what those were? What do you think about the idea that all the nine spiritual gifts are designed to be models or prototypes to inspire other believers?

5. How do you sense that the Holy Spirit may be encouraging you to be more active in ministry?

6. Who could you encourage this week as you’ve observed them be effective in ministering to and serving others?

7. When you take the Spiritual Gift Indicator profile, discuss the results with at least one other person.

​​​​​​​8. Take time to praise God for divinely designing you to serve Him and others.

Sneak Peak – Sunday, July 10, 2022

Hey Wildwood Family!

The weather the past few days reminded me of a movie song from the 80’s, entitled, The Heat is On. The chorus is simple
The heat is on, the heat is on
The heat is on
Oh it’s on the street The heat is… on
Yep. Pretty much describes the past week in Norman America. I pray you’ve been able to stay cool!

I’m very excited to move into message #2 in our July series on Divinely Designed to Serve. After week one I pray many of you were spiritually refreshed by being reminded that we are God’s workmanship, His handiwork, His masterpiece. We are investigating the question: How did He S-H-A-P-E us to serve Him and others?

This Sunday we will continue the S-H-A-P-E acrostic by delving deeper into the subject of spiritual gifts. I think you will find the message highly informative and helpful. We also will share how you can take our Spiritual Gift Indicator profile to gain insight to your spiritual gifts.

Stay cool and see you Sunday!

Bruce

Lord of the Church (part 1) Sermon Questions, Audio & Video

On Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 1:1-8.  This message was the first part in the “Lord of the Church” 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 sermon to listen to/watch, download, or share.

 

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Revelation 1:1-8
  3. Have you made any “resolutions” for the new year?  Would any of the resolutions you made include some facet of “getting to know God better” in the year ahead?  
  4. Have you ever read or studied the book of Revelation before?  Ever heard a sermon series on this book?  If so, what is your reaction to hearing that we are embarking on a study of this book for the new year?  If not, how do you feel about reading this book together in the new year?
  5. There was a long list of things we learn about Jesus from Revelation 1:1-8.  Of this list, what stands out to you most?  Anything in that list surprise you?
  6. In light of the imminence of Christ’s return, how will you prioritize getting to know Jesus better in the year ahead?
  7. How would your life be impacted if you remembered that Jesus is “near”?
  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 audio offline, click the link:

Lord of the Church #1 1.2.22

 

To listen to audio online, use the media player:

 

To watch the video, use the YouTube stream online: