On Sunday, July 26, 2020 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Philippians 4:10-20.  This message was part 3 in the “(Your World) Peace” sermon series.  Below are a set of questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  Also, below you will find the sermon audio & video, plus the sermon slides to listen to, watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Philippians 4:10-20
3. How have you most recently filled out this sentence, “If I just had ________, then I would be happy”?  If you got the thing that you referenced in the blank, did it produce a lasting contentment in your soul?  Why or why not?
4. Which “tent” are you currently living in?  Discontent, or Content?
5. Paul sees His relationship with Jesus (demonstrated through a dependent, obedient walk with Him) as the “secret” to living in contentment.  Have you ever experienced His strength empowering you to contentment, regardless of the circumstances?  If so, when?  Describe that time. 
6. The Philippians consistent, generous, and strategic gifts to Paul are celebrated throughout this section of Scripture.  Have you determined to also give consistently and strategically of your finances to the Lord’s Work in our community and around the world?  If so, what has been your experience living this life of generosity?  If not, what has prevented you in the past from participating?  
7. What is your plan for giving of your finances to the Lord’s work?
8. What stands out to you most from this passage?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to the sermon offline, click the link to download:

(Your) World Peace #3 7.26.20

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the video, use the YouTube stream online:

 

When was the last time you said (or thought), “If I just had ____________, then I would be happy?”  

Not that long ago?  Me too.

What did you put in the blank (If I just had ______, then I would be happy)?

• Boat?
• Car?
• House?
• Toy?
• Phone?
• Computer?
• New countertops?
• Furniture?
• Article of clothing?
• Vacation?

Now, I want you to think back to the last time you had an appetite for one of those things, and purchased it … how long did the satisfaction last before you put something new in the blank?  Not long?  Me neither.  You got what you said you wanted, but then you quickly just wanted something else.

This is the trouble with our appetites.  We feed them, and they don’t go away … they just grow.

This is why anchoring our joy and peace to getting this or that is so futile.  When we get “this,” we just want “that”!  This can put us on a treadmill chasing a satisfaction that will always be just beyond reach.  There is no peace in your world if stuff is what you are chasing.

So what is the alternative?  Is it possible for us to have a steady peace that persists in plenty AND in want?  Yes it is.  And the Apostle Paul talks to us about that in Philippians 4:10-20.  We are going to be looking at that this Sunday morning, July 26 at Wildwood Community Church in our Sunday morning worship services, as we wrap up our “(Your World) Peace” sermon series.  We hope you make plans to join us in either our 8:00 Outdoor Chapel Service, or 9:30 or 11:00 indoor worship service this Sunday.  Also you can join us on the livestream at 9:30 (or anytime after) –  wildwoodchurch.org/live .  Hope to see you there this weekend!

On Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Philippians 4:4-9.  This message was part 2 of the “(Your World) Peace” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to this message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the sermon audio and video to listen to, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Philippians 4:4-9
3. What was the last circumstance you experienced that was EASY to celebrate?  What was the last circumstance you experienced that was HARD to celebrate?
4. Often we view our joy as dependent upon circumstances.  However, Paul talks here about choosing to have joy regardless of circumstances.  Do you think this is possible?  Why or why not?
5. What are you “spreading” to others right now by your pattern of life and attitude? 
6. Does your worry lead you to pray?  Why or why not?  Have you ever prayed while worried and experienced the peace of God in response?
7. Do a “thought inventory” of your past week.  What did you focus on?  What are some ways you can focus on Philippians 4:8 kinds of things this week?
8. What is your action plan (as specific as you can get) to apply the principles of this passage in your life this week?
9. What stands out to you most from this passage?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to sermon audio offline, click the link:

(Your) World Peace #2 7.19.20

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the stream of the worship service visit YouTube online:

 

I once heard a famous pastor say to a group of ministers, “we all preach a better message than we live.”  At first glance, this statement may make some of you cry “HYPOCRITE!”  But as someone who has been involved in vocational ministry for nearly a quarter of a century, I think that pastor had it right.  Even more important … IT HAS TO BE RIGHT – or at least it should be.  The Gospel is always grander than my proclamation of it, because God is greater than I can reflect in my life or describe in my words.  A hypocrite is only a hypocrite if they want to pretend (or act) like they have it all together.  So, in an effort to preach a better message than I live AND not be a hypocrite, I have a confession to make …

This past week has been hard.  I have been discouraged, depressed, anxious, irritated, and annoyed.  I could keep going, but you get the idea.  And yet, what passage of Scripture am I preaching this Sunday? 

Philippians 4:4-9

Those verses not ring a bell for you?  Let me quote it:

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice … do not be anxious about anything … whatever is honorable, pure, lovely … think about these things.”

Gulp …

Can anyone relate to my dilemma?

And yet, in the midst of this madness, I am drawn to this passage and find great hope in it for you and for me.  This passage of Scripture not only tells us where to go … but it also draws a map for how to get there.

This Sunday, I will not be preaching “me” — a notion that should inspire all of you to stand up and say AMEN!!!  Instead, I will be preaching about the One who is so much GREATER THAN ME.  This passage lets us know that when we turn to God in prayer, not only do we get the peace of God … but (even more importantly) we get the God of peace.  

Can’t wait to look at this passage with you on Sunday at Wildwood as we are in part 2 of our “(Your World) Peace” sermon series in one of our 3 morning services:

• 8:00 AM – Outside in our parking lot
• 9:30 and 11:00 AM – Inside in our Worship Center
• 9:30 AM – Livestream at wildwoodchurch.org/live

Hope to see you Sunday as we follow Jesus together to the glory of God.

On Sunday, July 12, 2020 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Philippians 4:2-3.  This message was part 1 in the “(Your World) Peace” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the sermon for personal reflection or group discussion.  Additionally, you will find the sermon audio/video and slides to listen to, review, download, or share.

 

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Philippians 4:2-3
3. What kinds of things do you find Christians arguing about with one another?
4. Have you ever had a time of conflict with another Christian significant enough to disrupt your group of friends, the church, or your small group in some significant way?
5. Why do you think it is important for Christians to deal with conflict with each other well?
6. Paul describes the path to resolving conflict for Christians as found “in the Lord.”  What do you think he means by that?
7. Think of a recent conflict you have had with a fellow Christian.  Write down all the ways DIFFERENCES between you and the other believer showed up in the conflict?  Now write down all you have in COMMON with the other Christian.  Which list is greater?  Which is more enduring?  How does this motivate you toward pursuing unity with your fellow believers today?
8. Are you willing to make a 7 day “encouragement” pledge for social media?  In your personal life?  How can we live this out together this week?
9. What stands out to you most from this passage?  Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen to the sermon audio offline, click the link:

(Your World) Peace #1 7.12.20

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the sermon video, watch the stream via YouTube online:

 

Recently, my wife and I had the privilege of serving as “hosts” at a Christian family camp in Colorado.  We loved the chance to connect with many, point people to God’s truth, encourage faith in Christ, and enjoy our time in the mountains.

Each night while we were there, the camp staff organized a special event for families to participate in.  The first night was the “Family Olympics:” numerous events were set up around a gymnasium for us to compete against our crew or other families.  One of the events was titled “fencing,” and consisted of two people standing on a balance beam while trying to knock the other off with a glorified pool noodle.  After a while watching others compete in this event, it was my turn to fight.  Who hopped up to be my opponent?  My wife.

I have known my wife for 35 years, been married for nearly 24 of them.  There are few things I don’t know about her.  But, when we stepped into the octagon and up on that balance beam, she channeled her inner Daniel LaRusso … and I realized I had no idea that she must have been a part of a dojo all these years.  She knocked me off that beam without difficulty, taking both my pride AND balance with one simple swing of the pool noodle. 

Now, I tell you that story today because this era we are all living in is a balance beam.  Every morning we stand precariously on a plank as the world, the flesh, and the devil take swings at us to knock us down.  

• The virus swings for our faces
• The economy jabs at our pocketbook
• Social Media tries to split us in two
• Words and actions of others beat us about

How do we stand in the midst of these attacks?  How do we keep our balance in this world?  How do we have (not just world peace), but PEACE IN OUR WORLD?  This is the subject of the next 3 weeks’ sermons at Wildwood Community Church.  I will be preaching this three part series based on Philippians 4:2-20, as we investigate “(Your World) Peace.”  These messages show how there is peace you can experience in Christ related to:

• Your relationships with others (Philippians 4:2-3) – July 12
• Your own mind and soul (Philippians 4:3-9) – July 19
• Your attitude toward your possessions (Philippians 4:10-20) – July 26

Don’t you want peace in your world today?  Regardless of circumstances, this peace is available in Jesus, and we will be looking into God’s Word to see how that is possible all month long.  Hope you can join us this week in our 8:00 AM (outdoor), 9:30 & 11:00 AM (indoor) or livestream (available 9:30AM or after at wildwoodchurch.org/live )

See you Sunday … and bring friends!

NOTE:  To see the latest about Wildwood’s COVID-19 response, including our application of the city’s face covering ordinance, click here.