Woodbury Church of Christ Sermons

When you read about revival in Scripture it's often about an entire nation. Rarely is it just a "personal" relationship but a corporate response. Learn a little more about this group approach to revival our of Nehemiah. 

You know that one guy who, when it comes to moving the piano, races to carry the bench? Or the group project where the other students have to redo the work of the one kid who is phoning it in? There is a discipleship version of that - people who want credit while putting in the minimum effort. Jesus says this type of follower makes him sick! In this final letter to the churches in Revelation, we'l...

It's easy for elements of Christendom to either oppose or adopt whatever culture they're a part of. Jesus at times both defied and acquiesced to culture. He showed that disciples don't define themselves either by conforming or countering culture. Disciples are defined by following Jesus. 

Relativism is the kryptonite to revival. How will we ever feel convicted about truth or sin if we think that truth shifts based on what causes harm or what makes us happy? Today we discuss how this invasive falsehood of relatives infiltrates and undermines our discipleship. 

Sometimes we let ourselves off the hook because we feel bad for sin but biblical repentance is MUCH more than just feeling guilty. 

God has always used negative situations for positive outcomes. Where are the blessings of this current situation? 

This is the first in a series of conversations from our ministry staff about issues, passages, and topics regarding revival and our discipleship. Today we're talking about the idea that our culture still has enough trappings of Christianity that some people feel like they're Christians even when they're not following Christ. 

The biggest threat to our faith may not be the overt sin or false teaching. The biggest threat may be simple apathy. Our discipleship is on autopilot and we're headed for the ditch and...we're not worried about it. What can we do to get back on track? 

We all face crossroads where we have to choose between faithfulness and giving up or giving in. How can we choose the right path when the easy path is so...well...easy?

We all want God to protect us from hardship but what if God has something to teach us that can only be learned through difficulty?

When our faith starts to go on autopilot we want to substitute other, lesser things for the love that should mark every disciple. When Jesus wrote this letter to Ephesus he warned them, a church without love is not a Church of Christ. 

( Watch Online ) Disciples know that Easter is special. We know we celebrate the risen Lord. But it's possible to overlook the way that miracle should impact the mundane, average, ordinary moments of our lives. 

( Watch Online ) We tend to make the assumption that, if we do good things then good things should happen to us. Christ was faithful to God and every step led him closer to the cross. How is our obedience when we are confused about the results? 

( Watch Online ) The Passover is a millennia-old festival that is deliberately designed by God to be celebrated in a very specific way. Then Jesus comes along and changes all of that, and teaches us something about how we view the future.  

( Watch Online ) Scripture doesn't actually teach us to read Scripture...it's much bigger than that! 

( Watch online ) What Jesus would say in the age of COVID-19 might be challenging for disciples. But, then again, it's not the confusing parts of Scripture most of us have a problem with...it's the clear expectations of God that that are hard for us to live out. 

( Watch Online ) We've all run into parts of the Bible that were strange - even to the point that they were disturbing. We should've been clued in when the whole thing started with a talking snake! However, the parts that we're tempted to avoid are incredibly valuable and, if we give them a chance, transformative. 

( Watch Online ) Sometimes we're tempted to view the Old Testament as something outdated or disposable on our way to the New Testament. Rather Jesus himself taught that the entire point of the Hebrew Bible was to lead us to Jesus. Join as we explore Jesus on every page! 

The Bible doesn’t behave like we expect it to. It has rules but it’s not simply a list of rules. It contains stories but it’s not a clear narrative. It contains vast treasures of knowledge but it’s not an encyclopedia. It is filled with long, intense sections of (often very gloomy) poetry. It has in-depth and complex legal requirements. It is packed with strange, sensational and often bloody, hist...

When we think about prayer, it can make us feel guilty. Most of us know we don't pray like we should. Therein lies the problem..."should". Yes, prayerlessness is a problem. But the solution isn't to buckle down and dutifully pray. Prayer shouldn't be thought of as a burden but a gift. Through prayer, we have been given constant access to our heavenly Father!

Sometimes we presume we can't be honest with God about everything, including our doubts. But the writer of the 73 Psalm makes it clear that we can open up about anything and, often, honesty with God is the best path forward to easing our fears and doubts. 

Scripture confronts us with an uncomfortable truth - We have little control over the circumstances of our lives. We have all lived this when we waited to hear back after a job interview, when we experienced turbulence on a flight or when we had a sick child in the hospital. Those moments where, for a moment, the illusion of control was lifted, drove us to pray. What if, instead of being terrified...

Belief isn't simply that we THINK something MIGHT be true - Belief is when we have been wrestled to the ground by the truth. We often call this kind of belief, conviction. We may have beliefs but conviction have us. We are conquered by conviction. What convictions are so fundamental to who you are that they shape the very core of your identity and trajectory of your life? 

Worship can be one of those elements of discipleship that we know is important but we aren't 100% sure what it is. Worship defies easy explanation. We know we should do it but what exactly is the "it" we're doing? Worship can profoundly impact and give meaning to our lives if we're willing to explore just a little. 

Our devotion to Christ is observed in our obedience to Christ. We have a rocky history with obedience because we tend to think obedience is about a loss of personal freedom and agency. But that isn't the Biblical understanding of obedience at all. God doesn't expect our obedience because it benefits Him, He wants our obedience in order to bless us.