On Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Psalm 103.  This message was part 7 in the “Him Book” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Psalm 103
3. Can you recall a time in your life when you found it difficult to praise and thank God due to the current circumstance of your life?  What made it difficult to praise God in that season?
4. Have you ever stopped to consider that you can actually be a blessing to God?
5. Have you ever spoken to yourself and instructed yourself to NOT FORGET THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING GOD?
6. Today we talked about some of the benefits of knowing God that are enumerated in the Psalm.  We are not to forget His forgiveness, His healing, His new life, His righteous rule, His unending love, and the fact that He is worth it all.  Spend some time brainstorming some of the ways you have seen and experienced these benefits in your own life. 
7. Spend some time now alone or in a group thanking God and praising Him for the many benefits He has extended to us.
8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

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Him Book #7 5.19.24

 

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On a late July night back in 2012, I was reeling.  Earlier that day, my wife, Kimberly,  had undergone a kidney transplant in Oklahoma City.  Due to other complications, she also had to be given a trach to ensure an open airway. AND, Kimberly’s sister had donated the kidney … so late that night, I had two people I loved recovering from 3 significant surgeries – my wife was in ICU, my sister-in-law was in pain … and I was a mess.

At the end of that long day, I could hardly vocalize any words, much less pray any coherent prayers.  So I put some music on to occupy my mind.  The first song that came on was a new song (at the time) … Matt Redmond’s “10,000 Reasons.”  As the song began, the chorus encouraged, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, worship His holy name!  Sing like never before, O my soul, I’ll worship Your holy name.”

As I sang that song in the hospital that night, I wept tears of thankfulness for the provision of the previous day.  The LORD was good and worthy of praise – no matter what.  While I was singing this song, Kimberly was bleeding internally (unbeknownst to us at the time) and was truly in a life or death situation.  I am so thankful that the LORD saved her life that night, and she has made a full recovery … but no matter what had happened, the LORD was worthy of our praise.

For those familiar with the Psalms, you realize that Redman’s “new song” is not really new at all.  The powerful chorus is a quotation from Psalm 103 – a 3,000 year old song written by King David.  This Psalm’s introduction is Redman’s chorus, and it serves as somewhat of a command to our own souls.  Rather than responding to our feelings like a feather in the wind, David commands his own soul to “bless the Lord and forget none of His benefits.”

When times are going great OR in times when you are reeling, may these words roll off our tongues.  May we sing to our souls and call them to bless the Lord, no matter what, and forget not any of His benefits.

This Sunday, at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services, we will be in part 7 of our “Him Book” sermon series, looking at Psalm 103.  As we gather, I am going to be encouraging us to speak to our souls and call them to bless the LORD and remember His provision no matter what.  It was true on that night in July 2012, and it is true this Sunday.  See you there … and if you know anyone who needs an encouraging reminder of what our God has done for us … bring them with you!

On Sunday, May 12, 2024 the sermon is based on Psalm 90.  This message is part 6 in the “Him Book” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Psalm 90
3. When was a time that you looked over creation and felt “small” in the face of all that God has created?
4. What are some experiences from your life where you have been reminded of the brevity of life?
5. What are some of the things you are going through right now that remind you of the difficulty of life?
6. We can go before our powerful and eternal God to ask His help in the face of our troubles.  Moses mentions three prayers in Psalm 90:12-17 – “to number our days,” to have God “satisfy us in His love,” and to allow us to “see His works.”  In your prayer life, do you ever find yourself praying THESE PRAYERS?
7. Spend some time today praying the prayers Moses mentions in Psalm 90:12-17, making our home in God amidst this brief and difficult life.
8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

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Him Book #6 5.12.24

 

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Dear friends, I have great news for us.  God is bigger.  Bigger than what?  Bigger than anything!

Bigger than our problems, bigger than our universe, bigger than our pain.  God is simply bigger than all … and this should encourage us today.

While most of our selfish instincts want to enlarge us, we actually have a healthy dose of awe and peace when we are faced with something larger than our life.  When you look out over the ocean, or up to the stars, or gaze across the mountains, or stare down into the Grand Canyon … we don’t think – Wow, I’m awesome!  Instead, we look at these amazing vast places, and realize that there is something bigger than us, and it gives us peace.

Now, think about this … God is bigger than all of creation.  There was a time before there was an ocean or a canyon, but there was never a time when God was not.  He is everlasting … and He created all there is to communicate His divine attributes and power to us.  When we are calmed by the vastness of nature’s beauty, we are finding peace in the God who is greater than we are.

And, dear friends, not only is God bigger, but He is also a Helper.  We can come to Him and request His help as we deal with the difficulties of this life.  This is great news that we need to hear today.

On Sunday, May 12, we will be gathering for worship at Wildwood Community Church and continuing our “Him Book” sermon series from the Psalms.  This week, we will be in Psalm 90 – a Psalm written by Moses.  In this Psalm, Moses calibrates our perspective from the temporal to the eternal, and from a focus on us to a focus on God … so that we might turn to Him for help in the midst of this brief and often difficult life.  I hope you can join us in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service as we look at Psalm 90 together.  Hope to see you there … and bring friends (including your moms – HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!”)

On Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Psalm 67.  This message was part 5 in the “Him Book” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Psalm 67
3. What is the “chief export” of your life?  What do others most often experience on the others side of you?
4. Have you ever asked for God to bless you FOR THE PURPOSE that His glory might be known in the lives around you?
5. Have you ever considered that the deepest REASON for world mission is not the needs of the world, but the glory of God?  He is so great that He is worthy of the praise of ALL peoples.  How would understanding this principle encourage you to be a part of world missions?
6. What are some ways practically that you could be a part of exporting the glory of God to the ends of the earth?
7. Have you ever thought that God’s glory and your greatest joy were not the same thing?  To say it another way, are you ever tempted to think that if I follow Jesus I will be accepting a “lesser life”?  How did this morning’s message impact the way you think about your greatest joy and God’s greatest glory?
8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

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Him Book #5 5.5.24

 

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The nation of Israel may be small, but has a robust economy.  Even though it is only the size of the state of New Jersey, it actually EXPORTS products to the world.  And what is its biggest export?  Diamonds!  The diamond industry accounts for nearly $11 billion in annual revenue for Israeli businesses … and this is followed closely by exports in technology and oil.  In total, Israel exports nearly $80 billion in products annually.

But this should not surprise us.  From the very start of this nation – going all the way back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob … and down through Moses, Joshua, and David – God ALWAYS intended that Israel would not be a receiver, but a giver.  God’s plan was for Israel to be like the flowing streams of the region of Dan, not like the stagnant waters of the Dead Sea.  “I will bless you,” God said to Abraham, and “in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

Indeed God has blessed Israel.  But in what sense does God desire Israel to be a blessing to others?  Is God’s plan for Israel’s primary export to be diamonds or oil?  Before we answer that, let me pause for a moment, and redirect the conversation.

What are YOU exporting?  God’s desire is not for you to be like a mosquito infested ditch filled with stagnant water … a place where His blessing goes but does not leave.  God’s desire is for our lives to be channels through which His blessing flows to others.  So, what are you exporting?  Are you exporting primarily your knowledge of OU football or some other hobby?  Are you primarily exporting the promotion of your own ego?  What do people around you experience on the other side of you … AND, is there anything about you that is worth exporting to every nation on earth?

Back to Israel … God’s desire from the very start has always been for Israel to spread the knowledge of the one true God to the ends of the earth.  God gave to them the Old Covenant Scriptures, and God related to them in a very unique way … God blessed them … so that the people of the surrounding nations might come to know God through observing their lives.  Their God-given, primary job in the Old Testament times (and a job that they will take up again in the final tribulation times before Christ returns) was to EXPORT the glory of God to the world.  Indeed through the Jewish born Messiah (Jesus Christ), hope is provided to all who believe in Him.

By application, dear friends, the role of the church in this New Covenant age that we are living in, is to not export “us” but to export Jesus.  Our particular interests and hobbies and personal accomplishments are not worth sharing with the peoples of the world … but Jesus IS WORTH EXPORTING.  The missionary core of the church is that Jesus is worthy of the honor and praise of all people everywhere … which is why we are called to go to the ends of the earth with the Gospel message.

This Sunday, at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services, we will be in part 5 of our “Him Book: Psalms for our Souls” series, looking at Psalm 67.  This Psalm is a prayer, asking God for OUR CHIEF EXPORT TO BE HIM.  In our “me focused” world, we need to recalibrate on this Psalm, and (God-willing) we will do so on Sunday.  Hope to see you there … and bring friends!  He is worthy of ALL of our praise!

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Psalm 46.  This message was part 4 in the “Him Book” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Psalm 46
3. Where do you take refuge when tornadic storms blow in?  Where do you tend to take refuge when the heavy storms of life begin to take a toll?
4. What is a time in your life when you were experiencing a particularly difficult “storm”?  Are you in one right now?
5. In this morning’s message, we talked about what it looks like to take refuge in the LORD (by faith, in prayer, through song, in obedience, and taking actions while trusting in God).  In the face of storms, have you ever sought refuge in the LORD in these ways?  How did the LORD sustain or encourage you in the midst of your storm?
6. Spend some time looking back (both in the Bible and in your life & the lives of those you know).  Do you see evidence that God is faithful?
7. What evidence do you “behold” today that God is faithful?
8. How does knowing what the Bible promises about the future encourage you that God is faithful?
9. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

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Him Book #4 4.28.24

 

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Spring time in Oklahoma is the “Sundance” (Film Festival) of storms; the mecca of meteorology; the world series of weather.  It is a BIG DEAL.  Every few days from late April to the end of May, the atmosphere “re-loads” for another round of supercells and rotating thunderstorms.  Given the threat of severe weather (even for this weekend), we all talk about having our “tornado plan” ready.

As a lifelong Oklahoman, my severe weather plan sometimes has involved a lawn chair with a view to the west to watch the storm roll in, but if the weather REALLY hits, we need a safer place to go.  And, if you have seen the aftermath of an EF5 tornado (like hit in Moore in May 2013), you know you really need a shelter strong enough to offer protection.  If the storm hits this weekend, where will YOU go?

Knowing what we Oklahomans have learned regarding tornados, are there symbolic lessons for us to consider?  If the “storms of life” hit, do we have a safe spot where we can shelter?

Severe thunderstorms in tornado alley mostly hit in the month of May … but the storms of life?  We are PERPETUALLY under a watch, and often under a warning.  Health concerns, hostile forces, and temptations (in addition to the actual weather!) form dark clouds around us.  Is there anywhere we can go to find protection in the midst of the storm?

In Psalm 46, the Psalmist reminds us where we can shelter when the the storms of life hit … in the Lord our God.  How do we do that, how reliable is His protection, and what historical evidence exists of His track record?  We will take a look at that in this amazing Psalm in part 4 of our “Him Book” study this Sunday at Wildwood.  Hope to see you in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Psalm 34.  This message was part 3 in the “Him Book” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Psalm 34
3. What are some ways you see the world around us “searching” for abundant living?  What are some of the ways you are searching for abundant living?  Have you followed David’s recommendation to turn to the LORD?  How is that going for you?
4. What are some parts of your story that God could have you share with others as an encouragement for them to worship God?
5. What are some fears and troubles in your life right now that you can bring before the LORD in prayer?
6. What actions in your life today reveal your “fear of the LORD”?  Anything stand out today in the message from Psalm 34 that challenges you to “fear the LORD” by acting differently?
7. Where do you tend to turn for help when things are hard?  To the LORD, or someplace else?
8. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

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Him Book #3 4.21.24

 

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We live our lives on a quest.  A quest for meaning, happiness, fulfillment, joy, and connection.  In short, we are looking for LIFE … and not a so-so kind of life … but life to fullest, (we might say) ABUNDANT LIFE.  We are on an abundant life quest.

This is why we buy certain products.  Somehow we have become convinced that our lives would be just a little better driving a ______.  Or that our summer’s would be more abundant if we visited ___________.

On our abundant life pursuit, how do we know where to find it?  Well, often we listen to others we trust.  When a good friend says, “I had the BEST FAJITAS EVER,” then you tend to lean in that direction the next time you are going to eat out.  When a trusted voice in your life says, “we stayed at this place when we went on vacation, you simply HAVE TO GO,” then the next time you are planning a vacation you know where to look next.

We are so programmed to think this way, we will listen to the advice of TOTAL STRANGERS on Yelp, Trip Advisor, or Google to see where we might maximize our life one decision at a time!

But the sad reality is that (as U2 so famously observed), in our quest for life, many of us “still haven’t found what we’re looking for.”  Can you relate?

Well, if this describes you, I would like to offer that the path to abundant life may not be best marked on facebook, but through the direction of a couple of Friends.

From Friend #1, Jesus Christ – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

From Friend #2, King David – “Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name forever!  Oh, taste and see that the LORD Is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:3, 8)

Jesus offers to give life TO US, not take life FROM US … and David, having lived his life trusting in the LORD, leaves a five star review.  This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, in part 3 of our series “Him Book: Psalms for our Souls,” we will be looking at Psalm 34, hearing David’s review of how following the LORD has led to an abundant life, then being challenged to follow the LORD as well.  Hope you make plans to join us in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service.  Who knows … maybe you will find what you are looking for.  Join us as we exalt His name together this weekend!