This is Wildwood! Episode 4: For the Next Generation – Student Team

For the Next Generation
For the Next Generation
This is Wildwood! Episode 4: For the Next Generation - Student Team
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Student Team (Top Row from left to right): Abe, Kevin, Jonathan (Bottom Row from left to right): Ciera, Naomi

At Wildwood we have the great privilege of being For the Next Generation Following Jesus Together to the glory of God.  One of the expressions of this vision is our ministries to students (Middle School, High School, and College aged.)  We are blessed to have an amazing staff team of 5 that focus on these areas:

  • Jonathan Holmes (Student & College Pastor)
  • Abe Mahner (High School Minister)
  • Kevin Choate (Middle School Minister)
  • Ciera Morren (Student Ministry Associate)
  • Naomi Reyes (College Ministry Associate)

In today’s episode, we get to know this team, as well as some of the programs they lead.  In addition, we hear a couple of stories of what God did in the lives of Wildwood students over the summer.

 

For further info:

  • If you are interested in learning more about our ministries to Middle School or High School Students (we call these “Shift” for Middle School and “The Avenue” for High School) click here.
  • If you are interested in learning more about our ministries to College Students (including “Adopt a Sooner” possibilities) click here.

You can also follow on Instagram:

  • Shift & The Avenue – @wildwoodstudent
  • College Life – @wildwoodcollege

 

Following Our Shepherd (Sermon Audio)

On Sunday, August 11, 2019 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Psalm 23 entitled “Following Our Shepherd.”  Below you will find the sermon audio to listen to or share.

 

To listen offline, click the link to download audio:

Following Our Shepherd 8.11.19

 

To listen online, use the media player below:

 

To watch the video of the service, visit the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.

 

 

Following our Shepherd (Sermon Questions)

On Sunday, August 11, 2019 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Psalm 23 entitled “Following our Shepherd.”  Below are a set of questions related to the message for further reflection or group discussion.

 

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Psalm 23:1-6
  3. Who are some of the “shepherds” in your life?  In other words, who are you trusting, listening to, allowing to guide you?  If you followed them this year, where do you think they will take you?
  4. David reminds us that THE LORD HIMSELF is our “shepherd.”  In what ways is the LORD a superior “shepherd” to any of the other voices/leaders in your life?
  5. What are some of the ways that you have seen the Lord provide for your needs in the past? How does remembering what the Lord has done in your life, encourage you to trust Him more this year?
  6. What “valley of deep darkness” are you walking through right now?  How does knowing the Lord is WITH YOU, encourage you to not fear today?
  7. In this life, we are not removed from the vicinity of our “enemies” . . . yet the Lord can still bless us even in the shadow of these challenges.  Can you think of a time when you were blessed by God, even in the midst of trials?
  8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

 

To access these messages in pdf format, click here.

Following our Shepherd

It is the second week of August, and for many of us, this is the start of a new year . . . a new school year, a new ministry year, a new season, etc.  Anytime you start something new, it is important to pause and consider our aim.  Where do we want to end up when this year is over?  Who will we follow to get there?

Jesus is called the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20), and the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) in the New Testament.  This Sunday at Wildwood, I want to ask you a question . . . is the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd also YOUR shepherd?  Is He the One you are following, listening to, and depending upon?  This is the most central question for each of us to answer.

In the Old Testament times, there was man named David who was King over Israel at a critical time.  But David’s life was not all royal parties and celebrations — he went through some very challenging stuff, walking through some very dark valleys.  Perhaps in the midst of one of these dark valleys he took up a pen and wrote a beautiful song that begins with the eternity altering words – “The LORD is MY shepherd.”  The rest of the lyric focuses on the blessing that comes when we follow the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd.

Psalm 23 has been a chart topping song for 3,000 years.  This Sunday at Wildwood, we will look at this song (Psalm 23) together in our time of worship at 9:45 and 11:00.  As we remember the table He has set before us, we will conclude with a time of communion together.  Make plans to join us this Sunday . . . and bring your friends!

This year, let’s follow Jesus together to the glory of God.  See you Sunday.

 

This is Wildwood! Episode 3: Following Jesus into Ministry – The Hughes Family

Follow into Ministry
Follow into Ministry
This is Wildwood! Episode 3: Following Jesus into Ministry - The Hughes Family
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Brooke Harrison with Clint and April Hughes

One of the wonderful truths of the Christian life is that Jesus grows and matures us over time.  2 Thessalonians 1:3 tells us that as we mature in Christ, we grow in our faith in God and love for others.  One of the ways that we see Jesus grow faith in our lives is as we follow Him into Ministry to others.  When we serve others, not only is God glorified and others served . . . but something happens in our lives as well!  Our faith in God grows, and our love for others increases.  This is part of the testimony of Clint and April Hughes, and in today’s episode, they share more of what God has done through their time of serving in our pre-school ministry here at Wildwood.  Also, we talk with Children’s Pastor Brooke Harrison to hear her heart for why she is so motivated to recruit people to fill the nearly 300 serving roles inside our children’s ministry each year.

Also, we reference in this episode:

 

Follow this podcast on this site or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher)

Baptism Sunday (August 4) Sermon Questions

On Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Wildwood Community Church, we celebrated the baptisms of 14 people.  As a part of this service, we looked at Acts 16 together.  Below are a series of questions related to this passage for personal reflection or group discussion.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Acts 16:1-34
  3. What is the spiritual heritage of your family?  What “faith” or knowledge of God was passed down to you from your parents, grandparents, or extended family?
  4. In what ways is your life continuing to profess the “faith” given you from your family?  In what ways are your beliefs different?
  5. Though some have a family that pointed them to Christ and others have families that promoted a different god or atheism, responsibility still lies with each individual to determine what THEY believe.  Have you ever placed your faith in Jesus Christ?
  6. Have you been baptized with water since trusting Jesus as your Savior?  If not, why not?  Wildwood’s next baptisms services are November 24.  Let us know if you would like to be baptized then by contacting us at wildwoodchurch.org/baptism
  7. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

This is Wildwood Episode 2: For the Nations – Latvia!

For the Nations
For the Nations
This is Wildwood Episode 2: For the Nations - Latvia!
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On this week’s episode, we focus on how (as a church) we get to be for the nations following Jesus together with us to the glory of God.  By God’s grace, for the past 29 years, one nation that Wildwood has had the privilege of being “for” is the nation of Latvia.  Today’s episode features Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess and Wildwood member Tony Middleton talking about the orphan camp Wildwood has hosted in Latvia the past 7 years.  Hear the story of what God did at this year’s orphan camp in today’s episode.

 

To find out more info about Orphan Camp 2020, email Pastor Bruce Hess at brucehess@wildwoodchurch.org

 

NOTE:  

Find this podcast on this blog, or via your favorite podcasting service, including Apple, Google, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Baptism Sunday . . . THIS SUNDAY, August 4!!!!

This Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Wildwood Community Church in both our 9:45 and 11:00 worship services, we will be celebrating the water baptisms of 14 people!  What a joy it is for our church family to hear the stories and celebrate the grace of God that has led people into a life-changing and eternity-altering relationship with Jesus Christ!  This Sunday we will be celebrating the following baptisms:

In the 9:45 Service
  1. Natalie Carr
  2. Lillie Geist
  3. London Geist
  4. Reese Lamke
  5. Kinsey Schones
In the 11:00 Service
  1. David Ayodele
  2. Samuel Ayodele
  3. Jacob Reyes
  4. Robby Reyes
  5. Anna Shuman
  6. Callie Skaggs
  7. Abby Skaggs
  8. AnnaKate Skaggs
  9. Emma Skaggs

In addition, we will also get to hear (in both of our services) from one of our visiting missionary partners, Talis Talbergs (the founder of Latvian Christian Radio)!!

Make plans to worship with us this Sunday!  Know that on baptism Sundays, our “normal” is a bit different.  In order to facilitate almost all of our church family seeing these baptisms, we will NOT have adult Sunday school classes, student ministry (6th-12th grade), or elementary aged children’s classes (Kindergarten-5th grade) meeting this week (August 4).  Only preschool, nursery, and toddler rooms will be operational this Sunday, as the rest of us are “all in” for the worship services.  See you Sunday!!!

Questions for Reflection: Sunday, July 28, 2019

On Sunday, July 28, 2019, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is “CORE Truth: We Live by Faith!” from Hebrews 11. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.

1. God works mysteriously. Remember the different life outcomes of Jim Elliot and his brother Bert? Reflect for a moment on how God has worked differently in your life compared to others. What insight do we gain from those differences?

2. God speaks these words to Isaiah in Isaiah 55:8-9:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How does that divine perspective give us insight into why it is necessary for us to live by faith?

3. Bruce stated that the verb “believe” (pisteuo in the original text) includes what concepts/ideas? In other words, what does it really mean to believe?

4. It is so very easy and natural to keep on our focus on circumstances and life in this world. What can help us to better focus on our heavenly country, our eternal inheritance?

5. Hebrews 4:16 clearly emphasizes that we should approach our High Priest and the Throne of Grace boldly, with deep confidence. Why is it that we are seemingly so slow to pray?

6. Review Romans 8:11. Do we really believe what it says? That the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will energize us since He dwells in us? What keeps us from experiencing the Spirit’s power in our life?

7. If you have listened to all four parts of the Core Truth series, what spiritual lesson has stood out most to you?

8. Take some time to worship the Lord and thank Him for His greatness, His wisdom, His strength and His grace.

Sneak Peek – Sunday, July 28, 2019

Hello Wildwood Family!

 

Last week I lead off with the statement: Wow.  It’s hot.  This week I can say:  Wow. We’ve had a nice break from the extreme heat.  Aren’t you glad?  Send a word of thanks to the Heavenly Father for that refreshment!

 

I have been thinking this week of Paul’s words to the followers of Jesus in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. He encourages us there to remember to pray for those in government authority over us so that we might lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

 

There’s been a lot of wackiness going on in our government and culture recently.  Let’s remember to pray about it.  We don’t want to hear Him tell us one day: Well, there would have been less wackiness, but I didn’t hear from you about it (You do not have, because you do not ask, James 4:2b).  Lord, less wackiness PLEASE!

 

Lisa Goering has been faithfully serving at Wildwood in many roles over the last few years, most recently helping to coordinate our local outreach and helping to lead our A-Team on Sunday mornings.  Well, God has called Lisa to take a job at Roosevelt Elementary here in Norman working with children with special needs. The Goering family isn’t going anywhere, it’s just that Lisa will be investing her time at Roosevelt.

 

This Sunday after the 11:00 service we will have a reception in the Gathering Hall for Lisa.  Be sure to drop by and thank her for her excellent and faithful service to our church family. I am confident she will still find ways to serve around Wildwood.

 

Also Sunday we will conclude our month-long series on Core Truth.  The final core truth we will examine is the truth that We Live by Faith.  Multiple times the Bible tells us, The just shall live by faith.  We will be mining in Hebrews 11 on Sunday (the great faith chapter).  I encourage you to read it before Sunday.

 

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

 

See you on Sunday (Lord willing)!!

 

Bruce