Woodland Hills Church of Christ

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge Speakers: David Desloge, Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 1 – 11 Questions & Answers (Part 2) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Danny McGee The post Salvation Narrative appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 1 – 11 In The New Testament appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 1 – 11 Drawing Summary appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Quarterly Group Studies Class / Speaker:Adam Malone Series: Have you heard of Woodland Hills Topic: Sharpening Our Beliefs Scripture : Matthew 5:21-32 The post Sharpening Our Beliefs appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 1-11 in the Old Testament appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Scott Kercheville The post Genesis 42–45 True Repentance: Joseph, Jesus and Us appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 11:10-32 Genesis 11 & Beyond appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

New Testament Sermons / Speaker:David Desloge The post Luke 19:1-9 – Then Who Can Be Saved? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The Idolatry of Scarecrows Jeremiah 10 Introduction: In Isaiah, the Lord made many arguments to the people about the foolishness of idolatry. One hundred years later and a new generation, he heightens his description of the foolishness of humans and their idols. Of course, the bad news is, our problem with idols is greater than their problem. You might say, “What are you talking about? We don’t have golden calves and female Ashtorath.” Yes, and that is what makes our idolatry worse. We love to deny we have a problem and that makes it a bigger problem. Consider a few passages: 1 Corinthians 5:11, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or covetousness, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” Colossians 3:5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Luke 12:15 “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” In the followup parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus said the covetous man was not “rich toward God.” Simply building bigger barns was not the problem. His eyes and heart were on taking his ease and thinking his happiness would be attained through having a wealthy retirement. In 1 Timothy 6:6-11 contrasts the love of money to being content with food and clothing. When we are not content, it is evidence of idolatry. These passages are not to suggest that specifically coveting money is the primary problem with Christians. Most Christians are very liberal with their giving. Coveting is more subtle than that. Paul speaks of “all manner of covetousness” in Romans 7. In the most basic sense, idolatry is “inordinate desire.” It is desire that places anything above service to God or what should be given and dedicated to God. These desires do not even have to be literally fulfilled in order to be idolatrous. Jesus said that the lust of the heart was enough to commit the sin (Matthew 5:21ff). When lives are lived this way, what makes it idolatry is we are trying to fill an inner void with something other than God. Israel’s idols were in addition to what they believed they couldn’t or might not get from God, especially in a timely fashion. “Learn Not the Way of the Nations” (10:1-16) 10:2 In other words, do not think the way our culture thinks. Do not be influenced by what influences people today. What could that be? Present cultural idols: Money & pleasure An automobile. And idol? Always has been. Remember how you felt with your first car? The commercials prove it. You can pretend you live like the rich and famous. Just sign up for a $700/month payment and you can ride in luxury and appear amazing. But you actually have made yourself poor and turned your eyes away from the living God (v. 10) who can give you true riches. Job/career/economy Marriage/Family/Children Sexuality (a major idol! Always has been, and especially today) A life of ease. [desires for retirement: travel, rest, enjoyment, live for self, but what are the plans for more effort in God’s kingdom? “Rich toward God.” Politics/Leaders/President/Congress (how we worry and are anxious, but they are human and not God. They may do a “little” good or a “little” bad in comparison to the King of kings, but our anxiousness proves our idolatry. 10:3-5 10:5 “…they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” They ultimately have no real power. Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 — the same things keep happening over and over. Obviously, whatever we think these “gods” are doing, they are not doing. All is vanity—just a breath. (Vs. 3: same word as in Ecclesiastes) “Like scarecrows in a field”— Consider the scarecrow. What does it do? It pretends to be a real person; it pretends to be a threat to birds and anything else that could eat the crops of a farmer’s field. But it isn’t real. It can’t do anything. A bird could land on it and do things birds do when the land on something, but the scarecrow knows nothing about it. The scarecrow is a fraud. It has nothing to do with reality. What is a scarecrow made of? Wood and other things that God has made. What are our idols made of? Only things that God has made. And we take what God has made and we form it and prop it up in our minds as if it has power and intelligence, and can fill our inner desires. But it doesn’t. If fact, our desires are always greater than the reality of having. “Fasten it with hammers!” Instead of simply being content with what God gives us and enjoying it for the day, we think it is something to be grasped, something that has importance to satisfy out lives. But it is not the source of life. They are frauds. Verses 8-9, “They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood…beaten silver…gold…clothing violet and purple…all

Bible Classes / Speaker:David Desloge The post Genesis 10:1-11:9 Table of Nations, Tower of Babel appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville “And He Gave Evangelists…” (3) Introduction: Purpose of these lessons: Understanding the need of and the work of an evangelist is critical whether you stay at this church or must relocate. It is disturbing to often see both evangelists and shepherds who do not know or practice what God called them to do. Ephesians 4:11-16 reminds us of the importance of evangelists and shepherds in a local church as gifts God has given to equip Christians so that every part of the body can do its share, which causes the growth of the body and the edifying of itself in love. My primary purpose in these lessons has been to call attention to the great need we have throughout the brotherhood to raise up evangelists and shepherds who truly reflect God’s purposes in Ephesians 4:11-16. The work of evangelists has especially been an enigma to Christians everywhere partially because we evangelists tend not to say much about our work and also because there are considerable differences in how preachers do their work. Thus it is easy for Christians to be confused about what the word is supposed to be and what we should look for in a preacher. In this final lesson of our series we will consider the challenges & expectations of a prospective preacher and the challenges of a church in their relationship with him and his work. The Preacher and the Local Church Woodland Hills is not a typical church, especially when it comes to preaching and teaching. Not many churches have the number of men and women who possess the drive and desire to know God’s word and the talent to teach/preach the word. Because of you, such desire and talent becomes contagious, causing others to want to join in the effort. Ephesians 4:15-16 “…Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. That’s God’s goal and purpose for us and the elders and I love the work and progress in that regard. The church is learning to build itself up in love. Beautiful. Therefore, training other men to teach and preach (who have no plans of full-time preaching) is vital to the future and health of a church. We need future shepherds who have been trained and practiced in preaching and teaching. That has been a major failure in many congregations. Ephesians 4:11-16 includes the shepherds in equipping the saints. Preaching and teaching creates a maturing of the church as a whole. Ephesians 4:15— Maturity is indicated by the ability to speak the truth in love. Remember, we have a responsibility to the kingdom, not just to this church. Preparing and training men and women to teach (2 Timothy 2:2) is important for the kingdom as a whole when some of our members have the need to move to others areas (Julie is teaching a woman in Florence, AL that may never have heard the gospel if she did not move there). However, as mentioned previously, there is more to the work of an evangelist than just a sermon. It is not uncommon for a men to get good at preaching a sermon, and then decide that qualifies them to be an evangelist. Or, the church decides we do not need a preacher because the men can just do the preaching. This has led to the increasing problem for churches who have a man who never trained and therefore does not understand the work. He can give a sermon, but does not know how to lead and equip the church in evangelism and spiritual growth. A topical sermon once a week is not going to do that. The last two churches Teresa and I visited were clearly floundering. The goal of the church was to just to have a worship service and have someone preach a sermon. The sermons were “okay” but were not with purpose or direction to equip the church for the goal of Ephesians 4. Two problems typically exist: Visitors will never come back for that kind of preaching, nor will members do any inviting. Evangelism is simply not on the radar. In fact, the only “evangelism” done is “church-building evangelism”—if the lost want to be saved, they know where we are! It may surprise you, but the most important part of a good preacher training program is the amount of time the one being trained spends with the preacher! (Many preachers do not do this because it is so time-consuming) When we see training in the NT, it is on the job; it is a mentorship. When I train, the man goes with me to all studies so he can see and learn. He is with me in the “office next door” so that I’m available to him every time he has a question. Many hours are spent with me preparing him with my years of experience so that he is ready to face the work by himself. [Recent young man was told he was “ready” after preaching a few sermons]. I know what it is like to start preaching without a mentor who can give me his experience. (1) Years of trial and error and

New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville I Am the Door of the Sheep, the Good Shepherd John 10:1-21 Introduction: As we read the text before us our first thought might be, “Never have more beautiful words been uttered than these”—“I am the door of the sheepfold; I am the good shepherd.” Those words by Jesus should give us great comfort. However, a more careful examination reveals that in the original context Jesus was offering more than comfort, he was also revealing condemnation. When Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep…I am the good shepherd,” we must remember that John proclaimed Jesus as the “Word.” With every “I AM” statement, Jesus is revealing the beauty of God, and also the very nature of God. Both statements should alert us to three truths that must be clearly accepted and acted upon by us: We are sheep. It is foolish to think of ourselves any other way. Sheep are extremely vulnerable. They are among the weakest of all farm animals and are completely unable to protect themselves apart from a shepherd. We, however, in contrast do not think of ourselves that way. As Jesus said in the conclusion of chapter 9, we think we see, when we are actually blind. Without a shepherd, we are without wisdom or direction. Sheep have no idea how to seek good food and water for themselves. On their own, they will starve, become diseased, and die. There is no such thing as “wild sheep” who roam in the open country. We must choose a shepherd to lead us. There are other choices for “shepherds.” Many claim to be shepherds, but there is only Good Shepherd. All us are “hirelings.” Seeing the Movement through the Text As usual, seeing a new chapter division causes us to conclude that we are starting a new event in Jesus’ life. But careful reading shows that this is not so. Note the lead up to chapter 10: In chapter 5, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath who had been in physical bondage to his illness for 38 years. In chapter 6, Jesus took on the escalated role of a new Moses leading a new exodus. He portrays this by not only feeding the people, but also crossing the sea by walking on it, and then proclaiming himself to be the bread of life. In chapter 7, during the Feast of Tabernacles, and at the time of seventh day when the priests poured out water at the altar and calling to God to give them the abundance of water, Jesus cried out, “If any man thirsts let him come to me and drink…out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” In chapter 8, Jesus at the same time, proclaimed himself as “the light of the world,” and then followed up in chapter 9 with giving sight to a man born blind, As we come to the end of chapter 9, we see that Jesus has not only healed the physical sight of the man, but has also brought to spiritual sight. The man was cast out of the synagogue by the Pharisees, and therefore banned him from the flock of Israel. In 9:39, after the confession of belief by the man born blind, Jesus makes a startling statement that his entrance into the world was “for judgment.” That is not that he came “to judge,” but that his entrance created a judgment between those who knew they were blind and needed sight, and those who believed they could see and therefore did not know they were blind. As you read those final verses of chapter 9, and then into chapter 10, you will recognize immediately that there is no break. Immediately, Jesus answers the Pharisees who had just challenged his statement that they did not recognize their own blindness. The metaphor of “entering the sheepfold by the door,” and “I am the door to sheep.” With this metaphor, Jesus speaks of a communal sheepfold that was common in the city. A large enclosed area was provided in which many different flocks of sheep were housed. There was one entrance guarded by a doorkeeper who knew the different shepherds and would only allow a true shepherd to enter. Once inside a shepherd would call his sheep, and only his sheep would respond by gathering to him. He would then lead them out and they would follow because they knew his voice. In this picture, Jesus is speaking of how one would enter this sheepfold. The only legitimate way to enter was by the door. Anyone attempting to enter another way was a thief and a robber In the second picture Jesus speaks of a temporary sheepfold that would commonly be set up for the night out in the open field. This sheepfold consisted of four walls but no door. Once the sheep were inside the enclosure and night had fallen the shepherd would lay down at the entrance of the enclosure. He literally became the door of the sheepfold. No sheep could enter or leave except through him. And no wolf or robber could enter except over his body. A true shepherd would never leave that post and leave the sheep unattended. [remember David killing the lion and bear?] But a hireling, one who was in it just for pay and did not love the sheep, would flee and save his own life at the first sign of danger. A true shepherd would

Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 9:1-17 God’s Covenant appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey The post Genesis 8:20 – 9:7 Noah’s Sacrifice appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Disaster Looms: The Temple Is Not the Answer Jeremiah 5-9 Introduction: Reading these chapters we see God giving Jeremiah a justification for the destruction of the nation. In the end, Jeremiah is totally appalled as God pulls back the curtain and reveals the utter sinfulness of the people and their refusal to listen to God. Chapter Five: Introductory Description of Israel’s Stubbornness 5:1 Search the city to see if you can find a man who does justice and seeks truth. God had promised Abraham that he would spare Sodom if just 10 righteous could be found in the city. With Jerusalem, God says, “Just find one!” 5:3 No punishment or severe consequences of their sin will change them. 5:7-8 “How can I pardon you?” They are full of adultery, as lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife. 5:12-13 The people mock God. “He will do nothing…the prophets will become wind…” 5:15-17 Description of the invasion 5:19 Why will God destroy them? “As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.” 5:22-23 Even the powerful seas obey the command of the Lord, “but this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart.” 5:28 They do not give justice to the fatherless or defend the rights of the needy. 5:30-31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” Chapter Six: Disaster Comes! 6:1-6 Description of the invasion. God is directing the attack! 6:7 illustrates the nature of sin. As a well continues to provide fresh water, so the people continue to come up with more evil. That is the way sin is. Sin pushes back on the idea of “just a little.” Sin says, “There’s more to see; there’s more to experience; don’t miss out!” (Like Facebook) 6:10 God tries to give a warning. But his word is an object of scorn. “They take no pleasure in it.” Good question: do we take pleasure in the word of the Lord? 6:13-15 “They [prophet & priest] have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is not peace.” Prophet and priest treats the people’s sins as if they are nothing; not a big deal. There won’t be consequences. That’s because they are making money from the sacrifices! They commit abominations before the Lord, but they are not at all ashamed nor to they blush. Such callousness is the reason sin is so dangerous! 6:16 “Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is…” God doesn’t keep “revealing” his ways and his laws. They have been revealed long ago, and he has not changed. 6:20 We can’t pay God off with expensive gifts or sacrifices! This may have been the result of Josiah’s restoration. But the hearts of the people had not changed. 6:23 They are coming! They are cruel and have no mercy…against you, O daughter of Zion! 6:27-30 Jeremiah, a tester of metals. When Jeremiah preached God’s word to them, he was testing their hearts, exposing their character. God proclaimed that they are “bronze and iron,” that is, resistant and hardened, not like gold and silver that can be purified. The “fire bellows fiercely” against them and the lead is consumed, but these wicked are not affected. God has tried to purify the people, but they cannot be purified. Therefore, they all will be taken away. Chapter 7 The Temple Has Become an Idol (Jeremiah’s speech at the gate of the temple to those who enter to worship the Lord) “Worship” describes bowing down to someone higher and acknowledging total dependence on God. But the physical action of bowing and the words from the lips of proclaiming praise is not the true essence of worship. 7:3-4 Trusting in the “temple of the Lord.” How foolish and stubborn the Sanhedrin Council in the days of Stephen (Acts 7)! Do we today put our trust in, “we go to church and worship” while our ways and deeds have not changed? 7:3-4 “Amend your ways and your deeds”—now that is worship! 7:21-26 I didn’t ask for sacrifices. I commanded, “Obey my voice…” 7:25 “I have persistently sent my servants the prophets…yet they did not listen.” How persistent has God been with us? All 66 books! How many Christians have lived their whole lives only knowing a third of that? (NT is a third) Lesson: Are God’s laws and commandments something negative to you? Do you look at them as restrictions to the life you would like to live? Is seeking God in diligent study, praying and seeking his heart, and coming to worship to draw closer to him and to each other a burden? Do you evaluate serving God on the basis of finding the minimum you have to do? 7:30–8:3 They have put their detestable things in the house of the Lord and built high places of Topheth (“stove or oven”) in the Valley of Hinnom. It will soon be called the Valley of Slaughter! Chapter Eight: Sinfulness Makes No Sense 8:4-7 “when men fall, do they not rise again?” They do evil like a horse plunging into battle without considering the conseq

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Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Jared Partain Proverbs 3:1-12 The post What Does Faith Look Like? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Freedom! Detachment from Sin Introduction: Romans 12:9 “Abhor what is evil; cleave to what is good.” How are you doing with that command? Please note, Paul’s inspired command does not say, “Don’t do what is evil,” it says, “Abhor it.” There are many temptations to sin that we try not to do and succeed in not doing, but that does not mean we abhor the sin. You will notice, the text contains an extreme contrast: “abhor” and “cleave” (“glue, weld together, adhere, attach oneself to”). To the extent that we cleave/hold fast to what is good, the more we are able to abhor what is evil. The word detachment, though not specifically used, is a good description of the verse. The only way to abhor something is to become completely detached from it. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). Jesus admonition is, your love for him is to be so great, that to challenge that love or in any way suggest a competing love, should have a reaction of hate. Matthew 6:25-33 Even though Jesus is dealing with things we need to live on this earth, notice how he turns our minds away from those needs to concentrate on the Kingdom and righteousness. Again, there is abhorring anxiousness in favor of seeking first the kingdom. The Battle with Our Desires Why are we tempted? Why does the desire seem so strong? We were created to seek inner fulfillment (Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 “And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”). Satan urges us to seek fulfillment with empty promises. The sin or diversion from God never meets up to the possibilities the mind has created. In fact, every time the sin is committed, it disappoints more than it did previously. We are using a person or a thing to fill an inner void which never can be filled apart from God. Look at it rationally, we can realize that these uncontrolled appetites damage us in two ways: They deprive us of enjoying God and what truly satisfies. These desires torment us and corrupt our minds until we are enslaved by them. The problem is: “It is extremely difficult to deny ourselves what we truly desire.” We may occasionally have success in overcoming our desires, but it is unlikely that we will consistently conquer those desires. What can be done? What if we could rid ourselves of those appetites? If the appetite is extinguished, there will no longer be a desire to feed on those sinful pleasures. But is that possible? It is not possible to escape all temptation, but it is possible to no longer have an appetite for that which Satan tempts us. That is exactly what God argues we can do (Colossians 3:1-7; Ephesians 4:17-24). In fact, did Jesus really want to jump off the temple, turn the stones to bread, or fall down and worship the devil? No! He conquers the temptation because his desire for the Father is intensely passionate beyond any other desire. Our problem and humanity’s problem is that we think we can overcome by simply refusing a pleasure that our heart desires. We are trying to fix the wrong thing. It is the heart’s desires that need fixing, not simply the will-power (Matt. 5:21-28). We will never be successful in fighting a sin if we do not stop the craving. The problem with our present cultural arguments: Our culture celebrates their attractions/desires and identifies with them as special and so compelling that anything but fulfillment is unfair and cheating them out of a fulfilling life. In regard to sexuality, regardless of one’s sexual attractions, every human has had to deal with sexual sins and fight the desires of the mind. God made us with desires! He also gave us right and wrong ways to fulfill the desires. All desires can partially be fulfilled now but ultimately fulfilled in eternity with the Lord — “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). God’s argument in scripture is not that temptations to sin will go away, but that we are able to conquer those desires through Christ. Genesis 4:7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Every Earthly Desire Disappoints (Isaiah 55:1-3) Only God is a sure thing. Only God can and will provide for our emotional and physical needs. God intentionally m

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Topical Sermons / Speaker:David Desloge The post Homosexuality, The Gospel, and You appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.