Woodside Bible Church Warren

What’s the greatest Christmas gift you’ve ever received? Was it an Xbox, a vacation, or a red rider BB gun like in The Christmas Story ? When I think back on the greatest Christmas gifts I’ve received, what made them great was not what they were or how much they cost but who they were connected to or came from. What made them great was the person I received them from rather than the possession its...

Everywhere we turn, it seems someone or something is promising to finally give us the satisfaction, happiness, and peace we long for. Yet from advertisements to political campaigns, these promises – and the empty places within us – remain unfilled. Throughout His Word, God makes promises, too – the kind that connect with our deepest needs, longings, and desires. But in today’s day and age we can’t...

How often do we do a double check before we leave the house, go on vacation, or during prep, saying “Do I have everything I need?” We want to make sure nothing is missing, and we are good to go! The question is worth asking about our lives, especially in regard to our spiritual pursuits. Do we have everything we need to flourish and to overcome in this world? We conclude our series, The Followers...

It seems to be a common theme in life to find “happiness”. We see it on bumper stickers, motivational decor, and even on t-shirts! Even in our country’s Declaration of Independence, it says we have the “unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” We want to be happy. We want to pursue the things that will ultimately make us happy. But how often do we try to find happiness i...

One of the most mysterious aspects of the Christian faith actually revolves around one of the persons of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit. Questions arise like, is it a force or maybe like the force? Is the Holy Spirit an “it” or the Holy Spirit a “he?” Even beyond “what the Holy Spirit is,” or the better question, “who the Holy Spirit is?” What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the world and our liv...

Have you ever felt unprepared in a situation? Maybe you didn’t realize that would happen or possibly someone else didn’t prepare you correctly for what was to come! Some have felt this way about becoming a Christian! Maybe you didn’t realize when you signed up that spiritual victory comes through carrying your own cross. Is it worth it? We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating...

So, what is the foundation for all who profess faith in Christ? What is the source of living a life that reflects the things Jesus teaches? While this may seem a bit too simple, too religious, too churchy, the answer remains - Jesus Himself! We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the...

Have you ever noticed that in the Bible fruit is frequently used in parables, stories, or symbolism? Fruit and farming were common things among the people of Bible, so it was an easy topic to relate to in a message. While scripture was written to the people of those days, it was also written for us! So, it is important for us to understand just exactly what Christ means when posed with the questio...

In both Christian and non-Christian settings, Jesus is a more well-known name! People know about Jesus and the stories about him. Similarly, God is also known throughout the world. But there’s one person of the Trinity that seems to be more of a mystery: the Holy Spirit! Even many within the church don’t fully understand who and what the Holy Spirit really does! We continue our series, The Followe...

Throughout the years, most have tried to find the meaning and purpose of life. They pose questions like - Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Who am I? How should I live? And statistics prove that year after year, more people are looking for those answers outside of the church and God, relying on and believing in money, self, power, politics, or something else! One reason why p...

Do the people around you know who you follow? The things that interest us tend to take priority in our lives; our children, our job, favorite sports team, a hobby, or even favorite series of books. We may have pictures, posters, shirts, and even often have conversations about whatever we follow! As a Christian, can those around us also see that we are followers of Jesus Christ? We continue our ser...

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Have you ever been unsure of what comes next, where to go, or how to get there? For as many people as you ask that question to, you will probably hear as many different answers. Yet Jesus didn’t leave that question unanswered. Welcome to the first episode of our new series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus! Over the course of ten...

What does it mean to Be Devoted.  In this special message Pastor Jeff Keith encourages us from God's Word on what it means to Be Devoted to Christian Community as we begin a new fall season.

As our culture becomes increasingly secular, many of us face the challenge of feeling singled out or isolated for our Christian values. When faced with a culture that challenges our identity in Christ, we can often be left wondering, is God’s wisdom and power truly greater than human “wisdom?” Join us as we conclude our series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, by looking to 1 Corinthia...

In today's day and age people can portray themselves to the world however they choose on social media, while the reality might be a completely different life than what people see. Influencers entice us to follow them on the basis that if we do what they do, we can achieve the appealing life we see on screen. Before we know it, we are following everything they do, and seeking their guidance for ans...

We might understand the division in our nation, but can we justify it in the Church? Join us as we continue our series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, by looking to 1 Corinthians 1 to discover the unifying power of Christ. This letter by the Apostle Paul teaches us how to live differently—in community with one another. Amidst a culture as diverse as Corinth, not unlike modern-day Ame...

One of the chief concerns of our day is that "we're more divided than ever." Have you felt that in your own life? It seems people are polarized over every possible issue and the division is only growing deeper and more isolating. We aren’t the first generation called to represent Christ in a splintered society, and God’s Word addresses this exact issue in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. We...

Parents promise their children lots of things. If you finish your dinner, you can eat dessert; if you go potty on the toilet, you can have an M&M; and the list goes on. But the trick is, this type of promise only works if the parents stay true to their word – because if your toddler goes potty on the toilet and doesn’t get an M&M, they’ll lose faith. And you’ll gain dirty laundry. As we co...

Pride has often been called the root of all other sins. Pride blinds us. Pride can't see itself because it justifies itself. This is the great danger of pride - and the reason it wreaks havoc on so many relationships. As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we'll see the impact pride has not only on us as individuals, but on our families. As we explore how pride creeps into our rel...

Do your relationships ever feel like a double-edged sword? On one hand, we all long for community - to know and be known. On the other, many of us have learned that entering a relationship opens us up to a lot of pain. As much as we need each other, people are the very ones who hurt, disappoint, betray, or even abandon us - and family is no exception. As we continue our message series, Family: Why...

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, reveals all kinds of family dysfunction – from favoritism and manipulation to accusation and jealousy. Can you relate? It turns out, families have been dysfunctional from the very first. The good news is that just like God used the broken families in Genesis to unleash blessings on the whole world, He can do the same in your family today. As we start our new m...

Over the last two weeks we’ve explored how the glory of God and His undeserved forgiveness compel us to share Him with others so they, too, can encounter His grace. Today we conclude our message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go, by turning to Isaiah 6 where we learn how to listen for God to lead us - and how to respond when He does. Together we'll come face-to-face with who God is, what He...

It's easy to come up with a long list of reasons why we shouldn't talk to our neighbors about Jesus, isn't it? Perhaps we're sure they've heard it before - it's not like it would be news to them. Or maybe we assume someone else would do a much better job, so we pray for God to send someone better, smarter, and "more Christian" than us. But have you ever paused to consider all the reasons you shoul...

Throughout the pages of Scripture, God sends and His people go. From Moses to Matthew or Jonah to John, God sends those who have a relationship with Him. So, where is He sending you? Today we begin our newest message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go. Over the next three weeks, we'll look to Isaiah 6 for a glimpse of the way God calls and compels us to go! Through our study, we’ll come face...

This Resurrection Sunday, we conclude our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, by unpacking the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples before ascending to heaven. As we step into Luke's Gospel, we'll uncover that Jesus came to earth, lived the sinless life we never could, died in our place, and raised again to new life. Why? To make a way for us to have new, eve...