For the Community & For the Nations Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On August 27, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on Acts 1:8. This message was part of the “Following Jesus Together” 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 Acts 1:8
  3. What are some of the ways you have grown spiritually over the past 5 years?  Can you think of any evidence to support your growth in faith and practice of following Christ?
  4. Jesus (in His last words) clarifies the importance of our role as being a witness of Jesus Christ in this world.  What are some ways you can be a witness for Jesus in your everyday life today?
  5. Are you praying for ministry opportunities in your life?  Consider joining us Wednesday night, August 30 at 6PM for our All Church Prayer Night as we “Plug in” to His power for the year ahead!
  6. Are there people (or groups of people) in your life that you have avoided because you have given up on them (or have some other reason to not point them to Jesus)?  How does the scope of Acts 1:8 encourage you to freely share the Gospel with all?
  7. How might you personally engage in what God is doing around the world today?  Consider your role in praying for, supporting, or going to the mission field today.
  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:

Following Jesus Together to the Glory of God #3 8.27.23

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

Following Jesus: For the Community and Nations (Sermon Preview)

Healthy things grow. If conditions are right, and nothing is impeding development, life progresses.

Babies begin as a tiny fertilized egg that grows to 8 pounds at birth, then continues to progress as he or she ages. Humans do not just grow physically, though, we grow intellectually … throughout life we grow in understanding. We also grow relationally and emotionally as the web of friendships, family, and colleagues throughout life continue to build on one another. A healthy person will develop in each of these areas throughout their lives until they begin to die. Our bodies begin to deteriorate in our 40’s (reading glasses anyone)? Our intellect may slow as we age (now why did I come into the kitchen?) And our relationships may fade even before physical death (one of the sad realities of diseases like Alzheimer’s is the relational separation they create from people they knew well in the earlier days of their lives). But until death begins to creep in, life continues to develop.

This is also true of our spiritual lives. A healthy spiritual person grows. They grow in their understanding of who God is … so they trust Him more and more. They grow in their expressions of love to others … loving others as Jesus has loved them. This is also true in a church. A healthy church should be growing in our devotion to Christ … but also in our numbers. Jesus intends for the church to grow numerically. After all, “He desires none to perish but all to come to repentance (1 Timothy 2:3-7).”

What is amazing is that spiritual growth is connected not to THIS LIFE which is finite and will one day die … but it is actually connected to ETERNAL LIFE, which (by definition) never stops. The Christian will grow forever in our relationship with the Lord and celebration of His expanding Kingdom reign.

Last week at Wildwood we talked about one aspect of this growth … the growth of the church family as we submit to the Lord vertically and serve one another horizontally. This week, we will look at how a healthy church grows numerically, by serving as witnesses of Jesus in our town and around the world. We will talk about how at Wildwood we are For the Community and the Nations following Jesus together with us to the glory of God as we look at Acts 1:8. Hope you can make it … and bring friends!

NOTE: As you know, Wildwood has 3 Sunday services – 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00. If you were at Wildwood last Sunday and found it difficult to find a seat or a parking space, I would encourage you to come earlier in the day. While the 11:00 service was packed, good seats were available at the 9:45 and lots of seats and parking were available at 8:30. Come when you can, but just wanted you to know what last Sunday looked like across the morning as you consider which service to attend going forward.

Episode 55: This is Wildwood! Following Jesus into the Word with Equipping U

This is Wildwood
This is Wildwood
Episode 55: This is Wildwood! Following Jesus into the Word with Equipping U
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At Wildwood we are for following Jesus together to the glory of God.  As we follow Him, our desire is that people’s faith in God and love for others would be increasing.  One of the ways God tends to grow our faith is when we follow Jesus into His Word and into community.  One of the programs Wildwood offers to help people connect with others and grow in their understanding of the Bible is Equipping U.  In this week’s episode, Pastor Mark talks with Equipping U table leaders Stacy Strevett and Max Bevan about their experience with Equipping U and why they would encourage others to sign up for this program this fall.

Sign up for Equipping U (or find out more) at wildwoodchurch.org/eu

 

For the Church Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On August 20, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on Romans 12:1-5. This message was part of the “Following Jesus Together” 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 Romans 12:1-5
  3. What is your working definition of what a church is?  What has shaped your definition?
  4. Do you tend to think of the church more in vertical (primarily in our personal relationship/devotion to Christ) or horizontal (primarily our connection with others) terms?
  5. Are there any areas of your life right now that need special attention … where you need to present anew an aspect of your life before the Lord as you obey Him?
  6. Where do you see the world’s system trying to squeeze you into its mold?  What is your plan for diving into God’s Word in the year ahead?
  7. Are you making it a priority to attend a local church?  Do you really believe you need others in your own personal spiritual life?
  8. Are you making it a priority to serve others in the local church?  In what ways?
  9. 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:

Following Jesus Together To The Glory Of God #2 8.20.23

 

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

 

Following Jesus Together: For the Church (sermon preview)

Ekklesia.  This is the Greek word translated “church” in Matthew 16:18 … and the word appears 114 other times in the New Testament.  Jesus said He would build “His church.”  Jesus wrote letters to 7 churches in Revelation 2-3.  Paul planted churches in most signifiant cities within the Roman Empire.  Today, buildings all over town are called “churches.”  The word is common … but what did Jesus mean when He talked about “church”?  What was Paul planting?  If we are members of a church, what are we a part of?  If we are considering finding a church, what are we looking for?

The word “church” literally means a congregation of people gathered around a purpose.  Or (to say it another way) a group of people called out from the flow for a particular cause.  When Jesus created His church and committed to build it, He was saying that there would be a group of people who would be called out from the world, UNITED AROUND HIM, and engaging in His mission. As John Stott says, “[the purpose of God] is not just to save isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to build His church, that is, to call out of the world a people for His own glory.”

Sadly, we tend to place the church in one of two categories:  either we see the church as purely vertical (i.e. we are only relating to God), or purely horizontal (i.e. we are only concerned with making friends.)  When we are only horizontal, the church is merely a cure for our loneliness.  When we are only vertical, we can be duped into thinking that I don’t need any other people in my life to live as God intended.  Both of these extremes are incomplete understandings of the Christian life, and the importance of “church”

The church IS a place designed for personal worship and inspiration for personal piety … but it is also a place of interconnected relationships and service to others.  We are set apart for Christ … but we are set apart TOGETHER for Christ.

At Wildwood, we talk about following Jesus together to the glory of God.  As we do so, we see four opportunities for influence … we call them the “4 Fours.”  We are for the nations, for the community, for the next generation, and for the church.  This Sunday at Wildwood in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 service we will talk about what it means to be “for the church” and how to live as though the Body of Christ MATTERS in our spiritual lives.  We will do so by looking at Romans 12:1-5.  Around these verses, we will sing, pray, celebrate the Lord’s supper, and encourage one another as we gather together.  Hope you can make it this weekend as we talk more about what it means that we are “FOR THE CHURCH.”  See you Sunday … and bring friends!

For the Next Generation Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On August 13, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on Joshua 4:19-24. This message was part of the “Following Jesus Together” 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 Joshua 4:19-24
  3. How have monuments and memorials been a help to you in sharing history and significant things with members of your own family?
  4. While the Israelites remembered what the Lord had done in their lives through stacking stones of remembrance, God has us remember His work through baptism, communion, and regular worship services.  How has God used these elements to remind you of His work in your life?
  5. What are some ways you can activate more conversations with the next generation around you about who God is and what He has done?
  6. What are some ways the “Fame” of God is made known through the worship/celebration of His people?  What are some impacts of the church in our community and around the world?
  7. Interact with this quote from Warren Wiersbe … “There is nothing wrong with memorials, provided they don’t become religious idols that turn our hearts from God, and provided they don’t so link us to the past that we fail to serve God in the present. Glorifying the past is a good way to petrify the present and rob the church of power. The next generations need reminders of what God has done in history, but these reminders must also strengthen their faith and draw them closer to the Lord.”
  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:

Following Jesus Together To The Glory Of God #1 8.13.23

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

Following Jesus Together: For the Next Generation (Preview)

America has a remarkable history (even though we are quite “young” by historical standards), and a bright future (though we may debate the shades of that brilliance – the potential is certainly there!)  So how does the story of our great country get communicated from one generation to the next?

When our founding fathers conceived this nation, they had no capital city and no universal holidays to celebrate.  Think about it.  There was a group of people who had to decide which days we would revere and which events (and people) we would celebrate.

At the founding of Washington DC as our nation’s capital, a French architect, Pierre L’Enfant, designed a “national mall” in the center of our capital.  Later editions of the U.S. Congress came to recognize this public land as a “national trophy case” of sorts, where the most significant people and events could be commemorated.  Over the years monuments have been erected for Presidents (like Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR), defining wars (WWII, Vietnam, Korea), and other prominent leaders.

Additionally, in 1870 the first four national holidays were established by the Federal government: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, and New Year’s Day.

A stroll down the National Mall or National calendar tells a story of our history and what we value most.

In the summer of 2022 my family went to Washington DC and saw these monuments for ourselves.  They were very helpful to remind me and create conversations with my son about the history of our country.

I was thinking about this today as I read Joshua 4:19-24.  In this chapter, the Hebrew people had just moved into the promised land.  A new nation had begun.  How would they remember their history … and what/who needed to be celebrated?  Rather than allowing the nation to “wander in the wilderness” on this issue, God revealed to them one important thing for them to remember … and a set of stones are erected in these verses as a conversation piece for future generations.

What are you passing along to the next generation, and how are you sharing and remembering these truths?  What are the “monuments” you have erected in your life as conversation pieces with your children and friends about what matters most?  What we celebrate and commemorate will leave an important imprint on the next generation.  Will we pass along only hot dogs and fairy tales about the North Pole … or will we share reminders about Almighty God who reigns on high?

At Wildwood we talk a lot about being “For the Next Generation” following Jesus together with us to the glory of God.  This is one of our key strategic emphases.  This Sunday, on Promotion Sunday at Wildwood, we will look at the importance of sharing the story of God’s faithfulness with the next generation through what we remember and celebrate … and Joshua 4 will be our guide!  Hope to see you Sunday at Wildwood in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services.  See you there, and bring friends!

August 6, 2023 Baptism Sunday

Sunday, August 6, 2023, was a Baptism Sunday at Wildwood Community Church!  These Sundays are great celebrations of God’s work in the lives of people in our congregation.  We spent the morning worshipping God, hearing testimonies of how He has worked, and celebrating the water baptism of 24 people!  See the graphic below for who was baptized in which service. You will also find video from each service to watch or share.

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

8:30 Baptisms:

 

9:45 Entire Service:

 

11:00 Baptisms:

 

 

August 6, 2023 Baptism Sunday Preview

Sunday, August 6, 2023 is a Baptism Sunday at Wildwood Community Church!  These Sundays are great celebrations of God’s work in the lives of people in our congregation.  We will spend the morning worshipping God, hearing testimonies of how He has worked, and celebrating the water baptism of 24 people!  Make plans to join us this Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service.  See the graphic below for who is being baptized in which service.

NOTE: Our tradition on Baptism Sundays is to create maximum opportunities to all gather for the baptism services, so we do not offer any adult, college, student, or elementary classes on these days … only our early childhood (birth – pre-K) is operating during the 9:45 and 11:00 services.  All others will gather with us for worship in the Worship Center at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00. 

Mission:Fund (part 4) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On July 30, 2023, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. This message was part 4 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 9:6-15
  3. Do you tend to view giving as “spending” or “investing”?
  4. What are some ways you have been blessed by generosity YOU HAVE EXTENDED TO OTHERS in the past?
  5. How have you seen this week’s verses misused to imply that if we give to ________, God will make us materially rich?
  6. What is your motivation as you give to Christ’s work?  Are you a cheerful giver?
  7. What are some practical ways you can adopt a “all that comes from Thee is not for me” mentality?
  8. Do you view giving as an expression of worship?  Why or why not?  How does this passage help inspire you to view giving as worship?
  9. Take a moment and go vote for Mission:Fund (at wildwoodchurch.org/fund ).  Let us know where you would like to see these funds allocated!
  10. 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 #4 7.30.23

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch online use YouTube: