Woodland Hills Church of Christ

Woodland Hills Church of Christ
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a Church of Christ in Nashville, TN

  1. 16m ago

    2 Chronicles 21 – 23

    Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The post 2 Chronicles 21 – 23 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

  2. 3d ago

    Tell the Truth

    New Testament Sermons / Speaker:David Desloge Introduction There are few sins more culturally normalized than lying. We assume that everyone tells lies sometimes—and as long as you’re not lying about anything too serious (or you can avoid getting caught), it’s no big deal. However, Scripture teaches that lying is a really big deal to God, and should be a really big deal to us too. Let’s look at the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. We might think this story is fairly straightforward—but I’d like us to read it with fresh eyes. It teaches a critical lesson about how Christians ought to live, especially if we hope to be effective in evangelism. Acts 4:32-37 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. The context of this story is very important. It takes place early in the church’s growth, when it was still centered in Jerusalem. Many new Christians who had traveled there for Pentecost were now staying much longer after their conversions. There was great financial need among the Christians, and the church was figuring out how to deal with this. Lots of people were selling their possessions in order to provide for the needs of others. The story Acts 5:1-11 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. To understand the basics of this story, let’s find the answers to three questions: What precisely was the sin that they committed? What motivated them to do this? Why was the consequence so severe? What precisely was the sin? Peter calls out two things in verse 3: Lying to the Holy Spirit Keeping back a portion of the money Is it one or the other, or both? He makes it clear that there was nothing wrong with keeping some of the money: Before the property was sold, it was Ananias’. Nobody coerced him into selling it. He did it on his own. After the property was sold, the money was his to do with as he wished. Nobody asked him to give any or all of the money to the apostles. The sin is the lie. Ananias concocted a plan to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted the money, but he also wanted to be seen as someone who didn’t want the money. What motivated them to do this? Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira were looking to get some recognition. Imagine the buzz that would have gone around the church: “Did you hear what Ananias and Sapphira gave?” “So generous!” Maybe they were hoping that this act of “generosity” would make them popular with the apostles or other Christians, or give them some kind of importance in the church. Let’s consider another possibility: It’s clear from chapter 4 that this kind of thing was already going on. Lots of people were selling their real estate and giving the proceeds to the apostles. What Ananias and Sapphira did would have been noteworthy, but not exceptional. If they’re expecting people to be impressed by how much they’re giving, holding back some of the money works against that. They said the property was worth less than it really was. They seem to want to be seen as giving a lot sacrificially, not monetarily. They care that people believe they’re giving 100%, not a specific dollar denarii amount. They’re concerned about how this act will be perceived, but maybe they’re more worried about being judged as “less-than” rather than impressing others. They feel like they have to make a show of giving to measure up. Perhaps their motivation is a fear of looking bad, not a desire for recognition. Ultimately, we’re not told whether they were trying to be impressive or just trying to avoid looking bad. Maybe it was a bit of both. But it’s obvious they were motivated by a concern for their reputation, rather than a concern for their brethren. Why was the consequence so severe? Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead! Does that feel like a proportionate response to you? They just lied about some money. Sure, that’s not good, but wouldn’t a stern scolding have sufficed? It’s shocking that the consequence of this is “simple” sin is death. Why were the consequences of their sin so severe? Setting an example This pattern repeats throughout the history of God’s people. When a new chapter in their journey has begun, inevitably someone rebels against God. Usually there’s a severe consequence, often involving a few people, that sets a warning example to the rest of God’s people. Nadab and Abihu Consecration of the priesthood Leviticus 10 Achan Entrance into the Promised Land Joshua 7 Korah 40 years in the wilderness Numbers 16 Uzzah Ark entering Jerusalem 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13 Adam and Eve The Garden of Eden Genesis 3 Similarly, this is the beginning of the church—we shouldn’t be surprised that this act of defiance is met with severe consequences in order to set an example for the rest of the church. They got the message: Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Going deeper Okay, so this is is setting an example to everyone else. But that begs another question: Why was this the sin that met such severe consequences? What was the example being set? Is the example just “don’t disobey God”? That’s definitely a takeaway—but it feels a little shallow. Nadab and Abihu, Achan, Uzzah—all three of those examples violated very specific commands that were contextualized to the time and scenario that they were in. For example, Nadab and Abihu are violating the instructions God had just given for how the priests were supposed to practice their consecration. But there’s no obvious, contextually specific command that Ananias and Sapphira are violating—they’re simply lying. That’s a pretty generic sin. Imagine you’re a Christian in Jerusalem who knew Ananias and Sapphira. You heard about what happened to them. Maybe you were even present at the gatherings where they died. What’s the one thing you are absolutely, definitely not going to do? LIE! God is setting an example for His people in this new and penultimate chapter, just like in eras past. But is this what we would expect Him to emphasize? The examples of Nadab and Abihu or Uzzah focus on proper reverence and worship. Don’t offer the wrong sacrifices. Don’t touch the ark. At the establishment of the church, maybe we would expect someone to be struck dead for partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. But what’s the warning example this time? Christians must not lie. Why? Christians tell the truth Notice again the ultimate result of these events in verse 11: everyone is afraid. Not just the Christians, but everyone who heard about what happened. Think very practically about the kinds of things unbelievers would be saying: “Did you hear about Ananias and Sapphira? I heard they joined up with those Christians and God struck them dead!” ”Struck them dead?! Why?” ”They lied about some money.” ”That’s it?” Now everybody knows: Christians take telling the truth very seriously. That’s important because: The apostles and other Christians are testifying that Jesus is the Christ! There’s nothing more important than that the testimony of the Christians is heard and believed! This event establishes something both within the church and in the culture around them: say what you will about the Christians, but they don’t lie. To this day, the trustworthiness of the apostles’ testimony is critical to the historical witness of Christianity. Many secular critical scholars deny the resurrection. But the scholarly consensus is also: there’s no denying that the apostles and disciples of Jesus in the first century truly believed what they were preaching. They argue that the apostles were mistaken, that someone stole the body, that Jesus did not rise from the dead. But they do not argue that the apostles were lying. This story teaches us something very important about the kingdom of God. Citi

  3. 3d ago

    2 Timothy Class Lesson 3

    Bible Classes / Speaker:Adam Malone The post 2 Timothy Class Lesson 3 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

  4. 3d ago

    Fixing Our Heart

    Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The post Fixing Our Heart appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

  5. Jul 16

    2 Chronicles 19 & 20 Jehoshaphat – Part 2

    Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The post 2 Chronicles 19 & 20 Jehoshaphat – Part 2 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

  6. Jul 12

    Reaching The Lost: Every Member Has A Part: Can You Invite?

    Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Every Member Has a Part: Can You Invite? Luke 5:27-32 What do we learn from this text? Levi was proactive and used an opportunity instead of having a private dinner party with Jesus. A meal together draws people closer to one another. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Who are the best opportunities? We are “salt.” We must touch the lives of “sinners” for them to be saved. There are two scriptural approaches churches and individuals have used to get Bible studies: Personal & Impersonal. Impersonal approaches are where we are inviting people to “come and see.” (Invitations to attend a church worship, group Bible study or via social media),  Jesus used an “impersonal” approach when he preached the parables in Matthew 13 to thousands. He transitioned to “personal” when some came into the house and asked the meaning of the parables. Personal approaches are more private, personal studies with one or two Christians. In these studies we can directly deal with the individual needs and questions of our friend. Opportunities may be created for this invitation by developing personal relationships and friendships. Do you need any more friends? (Example of the elderly group in Oregon)  Advantages and disadvantages:  The advantage of an impersonal approach is (1) that it is easier and less intimidating to inviter and invitee to offer a group Bible study than to be more direct with an individual “one on one” study. (2) Large groups of people can be invited at once.  The advantage of a personal approach is that the teacher can gain a deeper friendship or relationship that is so helpful in bringing a person to Christ. When we read 1 Thessalonians 2, we see the deep love between Paul and the church that was developed through Paul giving his life and soul to them.  Enables “reasoning” & answering personal questions. This exhibits Paul’s teaching style: Paul “reasoned” (exchanged thought with thought) with the people he taught. As did Jesus, he often started with an impersonal approach (preaching to a synagogue group), but conversions came from the discussions from individuals who approached him after the sermon. Which approach should we use? That depends on the circumstances. Both approaches are needed. Impersonal approaches offer widespread invitations that can lead to personal studies. However, the most successful Bible studies in terms of coming to Christ, comes much easier from the personal approach. What is the best and easiest way to get an and opportunity to invite? Do you need any more friends?  Berry Kercheville The post Reaching The Lost: Every Member Has A Part: Can You Invite? appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

  7. Jul 12

    2nd Timothy (Intro – Pt.2)

    Bible Classes / Speaker:Adam Malone The post 2nd Timothy (Intro – Pt.2) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

  8. Jul 12

    Apathy Brings Judgment

    Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Apathy Brings Judgment Jeremiah 16 Introduction: Have you ever noticed how difficult it is for us to accept a coming major change in our wellbeing? After Enoch and Noah had warned for 1000 years of the coming judgment, Jesus said, “For as in those days before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark…” And so it was with Nineveh, Jerusalem, Babylon, Persia, and Rome. The same was true in 1929 and the Great Depression and the murder of six million Jews in Nazi Germany. When we are comfortably living in peace and prosperity  with a mighty military, it seems unimaginable. Paul urged Christians in 1 Corinthians 7, to not marry because,“the fashion of this world is passing away. What we tend not to consider, is that “world” passing away did not happen by an invasion, it happened internally by a corrupt empire.  We can’t imagine it in America, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening or won’t happen, whether by trials on an individual, national corruption, the temporal judgment of a nation, or the final judgment, apathy will leave us unprepared.  This is the Lord’s message in Jeremiah 16. But the apathy and disbelief of the people will lead to their utter destruction.  Joy and Gladness Will Soon End (1-9) Jeremiah was given three restrictions in order to get the attention of the people. Do not marry and have children—all the fathers, mothers, and children are going to die of deadly diseases, sword, and famine. They will not even be buried, and animals will eat their dead bodies. “Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or grieve for them.” To understand this better, consider the purpose of going to a funeral. We are hoping to give those who grieve some peace and love. But in this case that would be a lie. Things are only going to get worse. All peace and love has been taken away by the Lord.  “You shall not go to the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat and drink.” No, even though the invasion had not yet happened, Jeremiah’s refusal to participate in a simple dinner party indicates the coming doom. As the NIV translates, God will “bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.” Just imagine, no one will even dream of marriage or dinners or rejoicing together! Everyone’s joy will be gone. ESV, “I will silence in this place.” What is the point? God wants Jeremiah to show the people the reality of what is coming. God used Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, to demonstrate their coming destruction through various signs but to no avail. It illustrates the difficulty of humans to accept a world that is about to turn upside down.  “What Is Our Iniquity?” 10-13 The people obviously see the meaning of Jeremiah’s refusal to participate in the normal activities of a culture. They get that Jeremiah is predicting their doom. So they ask, “What is our iniquity?”  How could they even ask that question! It illustrates how easily our minds become calloused when we begin compromising God’s commands. We convince ourselves that what we are doing is not that bad.  There are three points God we need to consider:  Their extreme callousness began in previous generations, two to three hundred years previous! If nothing else will wake us up to the way we are living our present lives, this should. A Christian’s mediocrity and compromises today will produce a downward spiral of wickedness and godlessness long after we are gone. In other words, this isn’t just about you!  Notice the phrase, “you have done worse than your fathers.” As we see throughout scripture, fathers are the primary key to the spiritual future of their children. A spiritual upbringing cannot be left solely in the hands of mom. This does not simply mean that fathers should teach their children the scriptures!! The teaching of a father is near worthless without the example of a father who is passionate about his own service to God.  As Malachi 4:6 “The hearts of the fathers must turn to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” A rigid rule-making, authoritarian father will simply drive his children away.  Then notice, “…everyone of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me.” When I read this I was immediately reminded of Christians who left the Lord and the local church. In many cases, the reason was because they either did not like what a fellow member said or did or a well-meaning Christian saw that they were slipping and  attempted to help. So they got mad and left. The surprise was their attitude even years later: STUBBORN! “I’ll never go back!” We often forget that serving God is not simply prohibitions against sins. Peter insists that we must grow in faith, virtue, knowledge, godliness, perseverance, self-control, brotherly love, and love for all people. If we do not, we are denied entrance into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:10-11). “…if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Verse 9 states that if we do not grow in these things we are blind and forgotten that we were cleansed from our sins.  God’s Purpose in Judgment, Now and at the End 14-15 Inserted in the midst of God’s promised judgment, is his announcement of a new exodus. Two things are impressive: God just announced to these people what they are going to miss. It is the same way the Hebrews’ writer approached the Christians who were slipping away from the Lord. The motivation of hell is one thing, but the more powerful motivation should be what we will miss. Luke 13:28 “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.”  There is a major difference in how we serve God when we are just thinking about escaping hell and serving God because we love him and want to please him and desire to be with him. When we are just trying to escape hell, the tendency is to ask questions about how much God really expects from me. “You don’t really think I would be lost just because…”—fill in the blank. That isn’t loving God. Notice that this new exodus will cause the people to forget the first exodus. This is obviously our exodus from the bondage of Satan. We do not talk about the God who brought us out of Egypt, we glorify God and always remember how he brought us out of the captivity of the devil.  16-18 But in spite of God’s promise of a new exodus, these people have made their decision and will be judged. Fishers and hunters will be sent to find the wicked and bring judgment on them. God says, “They have polluted my land, … and filled my inheritance with their abominations.” Wherever we are in the world, we are living in God’s land. The realm of the Kingdom is the world, and we must not fill it with abominations. (Parable of the Tares). “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13  19-21 Israel has rejected God, but the nations will see the foolishness of their fathers’ idols and will confess their  desire to serve God: “my strength and my stronghold, my refuge…”  It is a beautiful picture to see even the nations coming to the Lord and confessing the wickedness of their father’s gods. “Such are not gods!”  The greatest turning point in a person’s life is learning that the “gods” of our fleshly desires are not gods.  The Lord concludes that when the nations come to him, he will have shown the world his power and might, and that his name is Yahweh (his covenantal name)  Berry Kercheville The post Apathy Brings Judgment appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

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