Wildwood College Life: Recent Episodes
Kevin Choate
We are Wildwood Community Church's college ministry in Norman, OK. We are committed to college students following Jesus together to the glory of God! Find us @wildwoodcollege or at wildwoodchurch.org/college for more information!
This week in our series, TrueFaith, we looked at Josiah’s faith in 2 Kings 22:1–23:3, where we learned that God brings renewal to His people through the proclamation of His Word.
Kevin walked us through this passage with the following points:
- Meet Josiah the Righteous (22:1–2)
- The Temple Isn’t Righteous (22:3–7)
- WE Aren’t Really Righteous (22:8–20)
- Righteousness Comes Through Covenant (23:1–3)
Follow along as we continue to see the true Christian faith of others in the Bible!
This week in our series, TrueFaith, we looked at Paul's life in Luke & Acts, where we learned that Jesus walked a life we were intended to mirror.
Kevin walked us through this message with the following points:
- The Way of the Cross
- The Way of Paul
- The Way for Us
- The Way is Full of Hope
Follow along as we continue to see the true Christian faith of others in the Bible!
This week in our series, trueFaith, we looked at the faith of Caleb and Joshua in Numbers 13 & 14, where we’re reminded that when fear tempts us to doubt God, we must look to Christ instead of the crowd.
Kevin walked us through these chapters with the following points:
- The Mission at Hand (13:1–20)
- The Same Facts, But Different Faith (13:21–33)
- The Plague of Fear (14:1–10)
- God’s Judgment (14:11–24)
- Too Late Faith (14:39–45)
Follow along as we continue to see the true Christian faith of others in the Bible.
This week we concluded our series, Let’s Talk About Race, by looking at Colossians 3:9–17, where we’re reminded that because Christ has created a new humanity, we are called to put on His virtues and His peace.
Kevin walks us through three key ideas from the passage:
- Identity: Out with the Old, In with the New
- Virtue: Put on Christ’s Virtues
- Practice: When Peace Rules and the Word Dwells
This week we continued our series, Let’s Talk About Race, by looking at Ephesians 2:11–22, where we see that because Christ is our peace, we live united in our new humanity.
Kevin walks us through three movements in the text:
- Apart from Christ, We Are Separated (vv11–13)
- Through Christ, He Establishes Peace (vv14–18)
- In Christ, God Creates One New Humanity (vv19–22)
Follow along as we consider our series, Let's Talk About Race!
This week we began a new series, called Let’s Talk About Race. We looked at Acts 17 and Luke 10, where Kevin reminded us that everyone lives inside a story, so we should step into the one that gives life.
Kevin walks us through this message by exploring 4 main points:
- Everyone Lives inside a Story
- The Story Critical Race Theory Tells – And Why It Clicks
- Where the Two Gospels Diverge (Luke 10)
- A Better Gospel with a Better Story
Follow along as we learn how the story of the gospel shapes the way we view the world and love others well.
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 4:14–21.
In this passage, Paul reminds us that God gives the church loving spiritual fathers, calling us to trust their leadership and imitate their lives.
Kevin walks us through this truth using two main points:
- Fatherly Leadership Invites Imitation (vv14–17)
- Fatherly Leadership Is Revealed by Its Power to Transform, Not Its Ability to Impress (vv18–21)
This week we finished our series on The Wisdom of God! Come back for our next series, "Let's Talk About Race!"
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 4:6–13.
In this passage, Paul shows us that the way of the cross reverses worldly ideas of status, calling believers to reject pride and embrace humble service.
Kevin walks us through this truth using two key points:
- An Honest Evaluation (vv6–7)
- Corinthian Comfort or Christ’s Cross? (vv8–13)
Follow along as we continue to learn from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
In this passage, Paul reminds us that ministry success is measured by faithfulness, calling us to center our lives on Christ!
Kevin walks us through this truth in two ways:
- The Standard of Judgment (vv1–2)
- The Only Trustworthy Judge (vv3–5)
Follow along as we continue our series on The Wisdom Of God!
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 with guest speaker Mike Beckham, who is an elder at Wildwood!
This passage invites us to see the emptiness of worldly wisdom and how spiritual wisdom helps us avoid 3 pitfalls...
- Putting Our Faith a Charismatic Leader
- Putting Our Faith In Our Own Understanding
- Putting Our Faith In Our Performance
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 3:5–17 with guest speaker Pete Brunette, Campus Director for StuMo at OU.
Paul writes this to leaders in the church, but the truths are applicable for us today! Paul reminds us to build what will last on Christ as our foundation.
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 2:13–3:4.
In this passage, Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit enables both understanding and obedience of God’s truth, helping believers move from spiritual infancy to maturity.
Kevin walks us through this truth using two key points:
- Who’s Your Teacher? (2:13–16)
- The No-More-Milk Diet (3:1–4)
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 2:1–12.
In this passage, Paul reminds us that God’s wisdom is revealed through the Spirit, not through human strength or understanding.
Kevin walks us through two ways to apply this truth:
- Rely on the Spirit in Ministry (vv1–5)
- Glory in the Crucifixion for Wisdom (vv6–12)
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
This week we continued our series, The Wisdom of God, by looking at 1 Corinthians 1:18–31.
In this passage, Paul reminds us to boast only in Christ and His cross, because in His wisdom, God chooses to save the foolish, the weak, and the lowly.
Kevin walks us through this truth using 2 points:
- A Foolish Message Reveals the Wisdom of God
- God’s “Wise” Choices Glorify His Son
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
This week in our series The Wisdom of God, we looked at 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 and were reminded that because Christ alone unites believers, we are called to live as a family, not as rivals. Paul urges the church toward unity, exposes the causes of division, and points us back to the center of our unity, Jesus!
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
This week we began a new series, The Wisdom of God! We looked at Paul’s greeting in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 where we saw that God calls us to be saints, so we must remember who and whose we are.
We will see 2 points in Paul's greeting:
- God Gives Us a New Identity (vv1–3)
- God Gives Us a New Purpose (vv4–9)
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth!
This week, we looked at God’s Grace in a Quiet Place as Kevin walked us through 1 Kings 19:1–18! Even in seasons of weakness and discouragement, God reminds us of His unchanging, unfinished, and unstoppable plan.
In this passage, we followed Elijah through:
- The Descent to Depression (vv. 1–8)
- The Ascent to Providence (vv. 9–18)
We saw how we can strengthen our souls by remembering God's unchanging, unfinished, and unstoppable plan.
From 1 Corinthians 2:9–3:3, Ben Seiler, Cru’s Team Leader at OU, reminds us that Christ is meant to reign on the throne of our lives. With Jesus at the center, we can intentionally spend time with non-believers so they can also see and hear the hope of the gospel.
This week, Kevin preached an introduction to Exodus as we started studying it together in our Bible studies. Exodus and the entire Old Testament is a story of redemption, pointing us to Jesus. Use this link to sign up for a Bible Study today! It's never too late to jump in!
https://wildwood.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/558/responses/new
Listen into our Disciple-Making Training from August 2025! Both college students and faithful adults will gain insight into being a “3D disciple” and making disciples!
In this week’s message, Park Your Car, we were reminded of the importance of committing to a body of believers. In Romans 12:3-8 we are reminded that we are blessed by God to bless others
Kevin walked us through 3 main points where we learned that...
- We should look to serve, not be served
- There is diversity in how God has gifted us
- Spiritual gifts are designed to be used
Listen in as we learn what it looks like to commit to a body of believers and how we can use our unique gifts to serve others and glorify God.
This week was Vision Sunday, and we looked at The Two Gardens in Genesis 3:1–7, Matthew 26:30–46, Luke 22:43–44!
We saw we have a choice to make to live with a “thy will be done” mindset, because God’s way is always better than ours.
We looked at 3 main points...
- In the Garden of Eden, man says “my will be done”
- In the Garden of Gethsemane, man says “thy will be done"
- What are you saying about your life?
Join us as we learn about the responses in these two gardens and the call for us to respond by trusting God’s will above our own.
This week in our series The Prayers of Paul, we explored Romans 15:14-33!
Paul’s prayer teaches us that Christ commissions His Church as evangelistic priests, so we must partner together in mission through prayer.
In this passage, we’re called to:
- Reach the lost as evangelistic priests (vv.14–22)
- Partner in the mission through prayer (vv.23–33)
Follow along as we continue learning from Paul's prayers!
This week in our series The Prayers of Paul, Cole Berryhill walked us through Ephesians 3:14–21!
Paul’s prayer teaches us that the love of Christ brings us into the fullness of God, to the glory of God forever.
In this passage, we reflected on:
- The love of Christ
- The fullness of God
- The glory of God forever
Join us as we continue to learn from the prayers of Paul!
This week in our series The Prayers of Paul, we looked at Ephesians 1:15–23, where we saw that believers may truly know God's power and plan!
Follow along as we continue to learn from the Paul's prayers!
This week, we continued our series on The Prayers of Paul, as we walked through Philippians 1:3-11.
Paul’s prayer teaches us that the gospel unites us, encouraging us to pray for Christ’s work to be completed in us.
By looking at Paul’s prayer, we see:
- Christ’s beginning work is what encourages prayer (vv.3–5, 7–8)
- Christ’s continued work is what shapes the content of our prayers (vv.6, 9–11)
Join us as we continue to learn from the prayers of Paul!
This week in our series on The Prayers of Paul, we looked at Colossians 1:9–14 and were reminded of the Power of Redemption!
Paul’s prayer teaches us that the God who redeems is the One who enables us to walk worthy of our calling.
In this passage, we’re encouraged to:
- Pray for spiritual wisdom and understanding (v.9)
- Pursue walking in a worthy manner (vv.10–11)
- Praise God for His redeeming work (vv.12–14)
Follow along as we continue to learn from the Prayers of Paul!
This week in our series The Prayers of Paul, we looked at 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13!
Paul’s prayer teaches us that God sanctifies the saints through prayer, so we must improve our praying by improving our loving.
In this passage, we’re called to:
- Grow with God (v.9)
- Look for Love (v.10–11)
- Seek Sanctification (v.12)
- Prepare through Prayer (v.13)
Follow along as we continue to learn from the Prayers of Paul!
This week, we kicked off our new series, the Prayers of Paul, by diving into 2 Thessalonians 1:1–12!
Paul's prayer teaches us to pray for perseverance in persecution, because God will both judge the wicked and glorify His people.
In this passage, we saw three key truths:
- God uses trials to transform us
- God is a perfect judge of the righteous and the wicked
- God will transform us in trials by our prayers
Follow along as we continue to learn from the Prayers of Paul!
This week, we wrapped up our God Logic series with our guest speaker, Dr. Mike Strauss, who walked us through the fine-tuning argument! The fine-tuning argument is that the universe is so precisely set up for life that it points to an intelligent Designer behind it all- God!
Join us as we see how science and faith come together to point to a God who not only exists, but intentionally designed the universe with purpose.
This week, we explored the Argument from Design- also known as the Teleological Argument- which points to God’s existence through the evidence of intentional design in creation.
Everything made with purpose points back to a designer. If things function best according to their design, then we should ask: what were we made for? We must recognize and live out our intended design!
This week, we celebrated Easter Sunday and continued our series on The Arguments For God! We looked at the cornerstone of our faith- the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because the Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christianity, we must believe in it as a historical event and the basis of our faith!
Follow along as we examine the evidence for the resurrection and take a closer look at the flaws in various counter-theories!
This week, we stepped into another week of God Logic- where we looked at The Moral Argument for God’s Existence.
In today’s message, we unpacked this argument:
- Objective morality and duties exist.
- If objective morality and duties exist, then God exists.
- Therefore, God exists.
Because an Objective Moral Law proves a Moral Law-Giver, we must find forgiveness for our transgressions of this Law in Christ. The reality of right and wrong leads us not just to belief in God, but to the grace and hope found in Jesus.
This week, we kicked off a new series called God Logic, where we explore different arguments for God! In this episode, we started by exploring the cosmological argument, which says that everything in the universe, including the universe itself, must have a cause or a reason for its existence. We looked at two sides of the cosmological argument... causality and contingency. Follow along in our new series as we explore different arguments for God!
This week we continued looking at Jesus' parables in Luke 16:19-31! We looked at The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, where we saw that we are to pursue God instead of wealth, because true riches await those who are poor in spirit. We must recognize that we have a spiritual poverty that only Jesus can rescue us from!
What truly lasts? This week, we explore The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) and the danger of centering our lives on worldly things. True legacy isn’t built on possessions but on desiring what is true and good. This is what God is calling us to: a life of obedience—not out of sheer duty, but out of love for what He has done and who He is. Join us as we unpack how to shift our focus from temporary wealth to an everlasting impact.
What do we pray? How do we pray? Why do we pray?
This week, Kevin answered all these questions as we looked into Jesus' parable of the friend at midnight(Luke 11:1-13).
Jesus reminds us that we’re not just making requests—we’re approaching our loving Heavenly Father. He calls us to persist in prayer, trusting that He will always provide.
This week, we continued our series on Jesus' parables! Kevin walked us through Luke 7 where we looked at The Parable of the Children in the Marketplace.
We explored the commendation and identity of John the Baptist, the rejection of his ministry, and the parable of the rejecters. This passage reminds us that God has fully revealed Himself in Jesus, allowing us to know, confess, and obey Him. The call is clear: joyfully embrace God’s message because your confession grants you entrance into His Kingdom!
This week on the podcast, we’re diving into another one of Jesus' powerful parables! Kevin unpacks the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25), where we see our need to be prepared for the return of Christ!
Follow along to learn about the characters, the invitation, and how we can be prepared for Christ's return!
Mike Beckham joined us this week to discuss Wildwood's building expansion campaign, Deep and Wide! We looked at Romans 12 where Mike challenged us to sacrificially give like Christ in every area of our lives and encouraged us that we are placed in the local church for a reason.
This week we continued our series on Jesus' parables! Kevin walked us through the Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22 where we saw...
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The Invitation Rejected
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The Invitation Expanded
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The Invitation’s Terms
We all have a responsibility to respond to this invitation. Will you accept the invitation to come to Christ through faith and feast at the banquet?
This week we started a new series on Jesus' parables. One of our Wildwood Elders, Joel Greene, walked us through Matthew 7 where we saw the parable of the wise builder and foolish builder. What type of house are you building?
Come search the scriptures with us to see how Jesus connects this parable to scripture throughout the Old Testament!
This week we continued our series In the World, Not Of! Mike Beckham walked us through how our faith should intersect with our culture of alcohol and substance abuse.
God has given us the Holy Spirit so that it would be our comfort and our guide. As Christians, we have to ask ourselves if we want to be controlled by the substances of this world or be led by the Holy Spirit.
This week we started a new series called In The World, Not Of.
Mike Beckham walked us through James 3:5-10 where we looked at five areas to see how our faith can be represented in the words we use!
This week we finished our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Kevin walked us through 2 Samuel 24 where we saw that we can...
- Count on God's Sovereignty (vv. 1-9)
- Count on God's Righteousness (vv. 10-17)
- Count on God's Mercy (vv. 18-25)
Because our Father is sovereign, we can repent with confidence in his powerful plan of salvation.
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Kevin walked us through 2 Samuel 22-23 where we learned why we can and should...
- Behold Salvation's Dramatic Intervention
- Behold Salvation's Point of View
- Behold Salvation's Covenant Faithfulness
We learned that we can BEHOLD the beauty of God's dramatic intervention in saving our lives! Come back next week for our final week of The Rise and Fall of David!
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Kevin walked us through 2 Samuel 15-18 where we saw...
- Absalom's Conspiracy (Prideful Ambition)
- Absalom's Rebellion (Against God-Ordained Authority)
- Absalom's Death (Opposed God's Kingdom)
We don't have the pressure of building our own kingdom, because Christ's kingdom is the only one that will last!
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Kevin walked us through 2 Samuel 12 where we saw...
- A Son who is Lost
- A Son who Lusts
- A Son who Murders
We learned that despite the earthly consequences of sin, God shows His mercy through eternal forgiveness in Christ.
This week, we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Mark Robinson, Wildwood's Senior Pastor, walked us through 2 Samuel 12 where we saw 4 sets of truths about us and about God!
- We sin and hide, but God sees and calls.
- We minimize and maximize, but God provides perspective.
- We confess our sin, and God forgives.
- We live with death, but God creates new life.
God is gracious and merciful to us when we come to Him!
Follow along as we continue this series on The Rise and Fall of David!!!
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Kevin taught us through 2 Samuel 11 where we learned...
- There is a paradigm for sin
- There is a temptation to conceal sin
- Sin cannot be hidden from God
Through this, we saw that instead of concealing our sin, we should turn in repentance and ask God to forgive us according to the Son's sacrifice on the cross!
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! Kevin taught us through 2 Samuel 9 where we saw...
- David's Desire to Honor the Covenant
- David's Meeting of the Unworthy
- David's Table as a Gift of Grace
Through this, we learned that because of God's grace and mercy to us, we respond gracefully and mercifully to others!
This week we continued our series on the Rise and Fall of David! Kevin walked us through 2 Samuel 7 where we learned that...
- God's promises are fulfilled and will be fulfilled in Christ!
- The Lord makes his temple in people, not buildings!
We see that God makes a covenant with David that is built on the covenant he had previously made with Abraham and Moses. This covenant is different though, because it introduces us to God's grace!
Follow along as we continue our series through 1st and 2nd Samuel!
This week we continue our series on the Rise and Fall of David! Mike Beckham walked us through 1 Samuel 26:1-25 where we learned...
- David's life points us towards Jesus and the promises he secured for us.
- Like David, we are called to walk by faith in trusting these promises and not worldly logic.
Follow along as we continue our series on the Rise and Fall of David!!!
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! We looked at 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and saw...
- God's point of view of us and our situations. (vv.1-5)
- God's point of view sees the heart. (vv.6-13)
Samuel anoints David, a king according to God's heart because God sees who David really is. David's example points to Christ as the anointed one!
This week we continued our series on The Rise and Fall of David! We learned in 1 Samuel 15 that God's grace has freed us from sin, but not from obedience.
We saw that...
- Saul's command from the Lord
- Saul's disobedience to the Lord's authoritative command
- Saul's disqualifies himself as king
In Saul, Israel got the king that they wanted but in David, they will get the king that they need!
This week Kevin Bradford, Wildwood's Missions Pastor, taught us about Israel's want for a king. Israel insisted on their own way but God knew better and orchestrated Paul as their king. Through 1 Samuel 8-10, we saw God's sovereignty and that ultimately Jesus is our perfect king!!!
As the school year begins, Kevin teaches on the importance of committing to a body of believers!
In Romans 12, we are encouraged and commanded to use our God-given gifts to build up the Church and believe that God desires for you to use these gifts not to be served, but to serve!
At our Fall Kickoff, Kevin dives into the cost of discipleship!
In Luke 14, we see that because the price of our salvation was so costly, we should count the cost as we follow Jesus! There is a cost, but it is worth it!!!
This week we concluded our series on the main characters of Genesis! We learned about the life of Joseph by looking at Genesis 37:1-45:28!
Cole Snowdon, Wildwood's College Ministry Intern, walked us through Joseph's life as we saw the truth of Genesis 50:20 " As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..."!
This week we continued our series on the main characters of Genesis! Cole Berryhill taught us about the life of Jacob through Genesis 25:19- 35:43! We saw that...
-God's sovereignty overcomes our undeservedness!
-God's sovereignty frees us from our nature!
-God's sovereignty secures our Salvation!
This message is timely for the unbeliever and believer alike! We learned that the unbeliever can respond in faith and the believer can be obedient because of a secured salvation.
Come back next week for the last week of our series on the main characters of Genesis! We will be looking at Joseph's life!!!
This week we continue our series on the main characters of Genesis! Cole Snowdon, Wildwood's College Ministry Intern, teaches us about the life of Isaac. Through this, we see that Jesus is the True and Better Isaac in how...
- God Provided a Promised Son
- God Provided a Necessary Sacrifice
- God Provided Ransom
God is our provider and we should trust Him in all things. Follow along as we continue our series through the book of Genesis!
This week we continue our series on the main characters in Genesis!
Kevin Bradford, Wildwood's Global Outreach Director, walked us through the life of Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 11:27-25:11!
This week we continued our series on the main characters in Genesis and looked at Noah's life in Genesis 6-9!
We saw that the life and events of Noah display a type of God's rescue from sin and judgment in Jesus Christ. We learned that we should trust in Christ alone as our Rescuer from sin and judgment.
Jon Dunton, Wildwood's Associate Pastor of Adult Ministry, continues our series on Genesis by walking us through Creation, the lives of Adam and Eve, the Fall, and the Good News of the Gospel.
The story of Adam and Eve may be familiar to us, but as descendants, we can learn so much about ourselves by looking at the lives of Adam and Eve before sin entered the world and after.
Living in a fallen world comes along with many penalties, hardships, and temptations but we have hope in the redemption that is promised to us through the saving work of Jesus!
We are kicking off the Summer with this series that looks at the characters of Genesis 1! This week Mike Strauss teaches us about the character of God that is revealed in Genesis 1.
Follow along as we learn more about the characters of Genesis!!!
This week we continue our series on the deep truths of salvation!
Kevin teaches us that as adopted children of God we receive these 3 things from our new family in Christ:
- Privileges (Galatians 4:6)
- Fellowship (Romans 8:29)
- Inheritance (Romans 8:15-17)
When we are forgiven by Christ, we are adopted into the family of God and God blesses us with privileges, fellowship, and an inheritance!!!
This week Mike Beckham spoke at College Life and continued our series on Saving Grace!
Mike teaches us this week about The Great Exchange:
We Give God
-Our mistakes and sin
-Our self-made identity
-Our inability to be Godly
& God Gives Us
-Forgiveness and Absolution
-His identity
-His perfect performance
We learn how we can often resist this trade and try to object to this trade, but the truth is that Jesus' Righteousness and Sinlessness are what assure us of our salvation.
This week we continue our series on Saving Grace!
Myles Chandler, the Student Ministry Assistant at Wildwood, talks to us about how we can confidently have eternal security.
One verse we look at is 1 John 5:13 which tells us that we may know we have eternal life if we believe in the name of the Son of God.
This week we continue our series on the deep truths of salvation!
Kevin teaches on the 3 Phases of Salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
- God has saved us (Justification)
- God is saving us (Sanctification)
- God will save us (Glorification)
We look at several New Testament passages to see more clearly the 3 phases of salvation!
This week as we continued our series on REALationships we saw that true friendship is being fully known and fully loved!
Kevin taught through 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, & John 15 where we saw:
- Jonathan's friendship toward David
- David's friendship toward Jonathan
- Christ's friendship toward us
This week we continue our series on REALationships! Mike Beckham teaches through the creation story in Genesis 1, showing the importance of our relationship with work.
We saw that our relationship with work affects our view of God and how we connect with Him in these 5 principles:
- We were created to work
- Work is hard
- Believers have many different jobs but one mission
- Run your race
- He will progressively lead you
This week we started a new series on REALationships where we will be looking at our relationships with friends, our relationships to work, and our relationships to romance!
This week Kevin taught through 1 Corinthians 7 and Revelation 19!
We learned that...
singleness is a gift,
singleness is strategic,
& singleness is temporary!
Follow along with us as we continue our series on REALationships!
This week Chris and Chanae taught on Habakkuk 3 where we saw that the God who exists is better than the "god" we can imagine and why we can have faith in this God!
We had our College Life Kickoff this week and started a new series studying Habakkuk!
Kevin walked us through Habakkuk 1:1-11 and spoke on how we can have hope in God's character and His promises because God cannot break His Word!
Follow along with us as we make our way through Habakkuk.
This week, Abe Mahner, Wildwood's Student Pastor teaches us about the false god of control. Abe teaches us how to shatter this idol of control and trust that God being in control is better.
Join us as we finish up our series on False Gods Today and talk through Exodus 32:1-8!
This week Kevin talks about comfort as a false god today in 3 main points:
- The ease of seeking worldly comfort
- The example of Christ in discomfort
- The edifying blessing of seeking God's comfort
Follow along as we learn about the false god of comfort through 2 Corinthians 1:3-4!
This week we continue our series over False Gods Today as we look at the deep-rooted idol of power. Kevin talks about how we become idolaters, how worshipping power reveals itself, and how we are to submit to God's power instead.
This week our guest speaker, Mike Beckham, teaches us that the problem with idols is that they cannot hold the weight of our expectations and turn us away from worshipping God.... BUT God's solution to this problem is offering us the ability to find our identity, our approval, and our satisfaction in Jesus.
As we wrap up our series on the Sermon on the Mount Kevin teaches us that since judgment is coming we should...
- Choose the Narrow Gate
- Be the Good Tree
- Build on the Firm Foundation
Listen along as we close out the Sermon on the Mount series in Matthew 7:13-29.
This week Kevin teaches us through Matthew 7:1-12 that in order to show mercy to others we must first remember God's mercy toward our own sin.
We see that a disciple's relationships are selfless in the way we relate to our brothers and in the way we relate to our Father.
This week Kevin teaches us that our gaze and focus have a tremendous impact on what we truly treasure and where our hope is truly found.
In Matthew 6:19-34 we will see how our focus reveals our true treasure and hope by looking at...
- our everlasting treasure
- our unshakable peace
- our ultimate hope and treasure
In Matthew 6-18, we continue our series on The Sermon on the Mount and see that following God is not performative through these main points.
- Because God is our provider, we give to the needy to point to Him and trust in His provision.
- Because God is relational, we pray because it is the way to relate to God.
- Because God is our sustainer, we fast to depend on Him and cultivate our hunger for Him.
This week Kevin teaches us that the goal of the Christian life and the goal of the law was never intended for us to get as close to sinning as possible, but the intent of the law was and is to point people to righteousness. Matthew 5:31-48 shows us the intent of the law through 4 relevant issues of today.
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The intent of marriage is to be a permanent bond
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The intent of our words should reflect the truth
,3. The intent of responding to wrongs is by responding with love
- The intent of love is impartial to enemies and neighbors
This week Mike Beckham teaches us the importance of being the salt and the light in our broken world.
What would you say if someone asked you, "Are you a good person?". Kevin teaches us this week that sin's root is our internal character, not our external conduct. We see in Matthew 5:13-20 that the root of murder of contempt, the root of adultery is lust, and the root of a Holy Life is Jesus. Since our hearts reveal our wickedness, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to give us a new heart so that we might actually live a holy life.
In the first week of our new series, "Sermon on the Mount", Cole teaches us that the beatitudes are the foundation for the Sermon on the Mount. We learn through Matthew 5:3-12 that humility is a requirement for the followers of Christ(vs. 3-6), that it isn't about what we do but who we are(vs. 7-9), and that followers of Christ can and should rejoice in suffering(vs. 10-12).
As the school year begins, Kevin teaches on the importance of committing to a body of believers. In Romans 12, we are encouraged and commanded to use our God-given gifts to build up the Church and believe that God desires for you to use these gifts not to be served, but to serve!
As we study the last of Jesus' "I AM" statements in the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus is the source of abundant life. In John 15, we learn that the source of spiritual fruit is Jesus and that spiritual fruit is abundant in Jesus.
This week we continue learning about the divinity of Christ in the sixth "I AM" statement in the Gospel of John. Through the encouraging words of John 14, we learn that Jesus is the WAY to heaven, Jesus is the TRUE essence of God, and Jesus promises LIFE-changing ministry.
As we study the fifth "I AM" statement in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus' authority over death, we see Jesus weep over the result of sin which is death, and we see Jesus resurrect demonstrating His power over death. Follow along as we learn more about the divinity of Christ through John 11.
This week at College Life, Cole Snowdon, one of the College Life residents spoke about the Good Shepherd in the fifth of Jesus' seven "I AM" statements. Cole talks through John 10:11-18 where we see that the Good Shepherd protects His sheep with His own life (vs. 11-13), the Good Shepherd knows whom He is protecting (vs. 14-16), and the Good Shepherd's ultimate protection comes through His death and resurrection (vs. 17-18).
As a door, Jesus provides protection and freedom. The sheep know their shepherd and sheep flourish through the door. The previous three weeks, we have walked through the divinity of Christ by looking at the I am statements, starting with the Old Testament when God reveals his name to Moses as "I am." (Ex. 3)
As we study Jesus' 2nd "I AM" statement in the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus is the Light of the World. Jesus calls us the light of the world, with His Spirit within us.
God reveals Himself and makes His character known to His people. He reveals Himself for His people's deliverance, ultimately and perfectly through Jesus. Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 145, John 8:54-58 View the transcript here.
Kevin Choate teaches through James 3:1-18, alongside 1 Timothy 1:6-8, Psalm 120:1-3, and Matthew 15:10-20 to show us the danger of the tongue, the incoherency of the tongue, and the duality of wisdom.
You can read the transcript here.
Mike Beckham, one of Wildwood's elders, teaches on James 2:14-26, alongside James 1:22-25, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 1:16, and John 15. We see that our good works could never save us, but that good works naturally flow out of true faith in Jesus. Abiding in Him leads us to live in His ways.You can find the transcript here.
Our trials don't have to hinder our walk with God, in fact, they can tell us more about what it means to walk in God's designed holiness. Kevin kicks off a new series in James, looking at how the various trails we face can give us a deeper insight into God's purpose, perspective and patience for our lives on earth. Reflection Questions:1. What are some of the barriers in believing that God has a purpose for our trials? What are some helpful reminders when struggling with this idea? 2. Read 1 Peter 5:6-10:What role does humility play in salvation from God?What are some things we cast our anxiety before God? What does this say about what we are actively believing in those moments?Does knowing there is an actual enemy create a sense of importance in how we face trials? 3. Read Psalm 42. Go section by section and identify how the Psalmist rests his hope in God and not his situation. 4. Do you find that your mood/hope is affected more by your circumstances/situation than on the truth of who God is and his promises? 5. Who is someone you can you encourage this week with this hopeful message?
In the last part of the series on God's redemptive plan for the nations, Kevin talks about the Christians' future to come. He breaks down the Biblical timeline of end time events emphasizing how we are to live in light if the Millennial Kingdom to come. Reflection Questions: 1. Does it give you hope knowing that when Christ comes back, He will also judge? That means every wrong will also be punished, but also eventually undone. What is your reaction to this reality? 2. Read Psalm 110:1-2. What does Jesus's future rule sound like? 3. Have you considered that your good works will be judged? How are you stewarding the life God has given you? 4. Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the story of Scripture. So far, diagnose if you understand your Bible and its History. 5. Read Matthew 24:36, many want to KNOW when the End Times begin and worry themselves endlessly. What is a better response to knowing how History will play out in the end? 6. The world will not continue forever, but will have an appointed end. Does that give you an urgency in life?
Kevin finishes off the series on the redemptive history of God with the age of grace. To understand the age of grace better, he compares it to the age of the Law, concluding that through the death and resurrection of Jesus three major things have changed: our basis of righteousness, our relationship with God and our family tree. Reflection Questions:1. Do you ever find yourself living in an age of Law mindset rather than an age of Grace mindset? How so? 2. Read 2 Corinthians 3:6-18. Compare and contrast the Old and New Covenants. 3. Jesus's sacrifice is special in many ways. One way is that is has the power to take away sin (Hebrews 9:26). Does knowing this provide any type of freedom to you? What does trusting in this sacrifice look like? Read Romans 10:9-10 4. What is encouraging about the fact that righteousness is not based on our works/adherence to the law but is imputed to us through faith in Christ? 5. Read the seven woes to the Pharisees in Matthew 23. How would you explain this passage to someone who has never read the Bible? Do you relate to the Pharisees at all in this passage? How can we not be like the Pharisees here?
In the next part of God's unfolding plan for humanity, we study the Age of the Promise and the Age of the Law. John Abernethy, our Care Pastor, has the students line up in a timeline and walks us through what it would be like to relate to God in each era.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you resonate with some of the confusion people feel when trying to understand the Old Testament; esp. the sacrifices and the Law?
- How does understanding the Old Testament help you understand the New Testament; esp. Jesus's words and actions?
- God uses two imperfect, even unwilling, men and keeps His promises to them. How does that make you feel about His using you for His glory?
- How might learning about the Tabernacle and the mercy seat help you understand and appreciate more the sacrifice that Jesus completed on the cross?
This is the first of a three part series on the history of a God that redeems. Kevin walks us through God's plan for creation through the seven ages of Scripture. Through the ages, God's righteousness becomes clearer as his plan unfolds progressively.
We have a tendency to compartmentalize our lives, picking and choosing what parts we want to devote to God and which we want to devote to ourselves. Yet, salvation urges us to see that every part of our lives matter because God has chosen us to represent His heavenly interests.
The love of Christ should determine our decisions, alter our identity and create our calling.
How we view the resources we have will deeply impact our heart connection to God. Stewardship is generously and wisely managing the resources entrusted to us to reflect the grace of God to a broken world.
What has God entrusted you with? How can you increase your trust and reliance in God with resources you desperately want to call "mine" to?
Chris and Chanae Abernethy show us through a progression of God's "temples" throughout Scripture how radical it is to understand that we are now God's dwelling place. After exploring how God dwelled on earth at Creation, in the tabernacle & temple, in Jesus & us, and then in Revelation, we see how this reality has huge implications for our lives. We see that we can draw near to God with full access to Him, live holy as He is holy, and walk in step with the spirit instead of our flesh.
Kevin Bradford, our Global Outreach Director, taught through Genesis 12, Exodus 19, Matthew 28, and Acts 1 to outline God's Plan for the Nations to bring Him glory. We learned that we are blessed to be a blessing to the nations, called to be priests and lead others to Christ, make disciples of all nations, and be a witness to the ends of the earth.
The definition of hope by the world's standards is a temporory feeling sought after to accomplish a goal. The Hope of Jesus is a permenant reality of assurance in God's promises, character, and pursuit of us. We can live in that type of hope today.
Studying the context, words, and implications of Luke 2, Mike Beckham encourages us with the reality of God coming to earth in a shocking way. Reflection questions: What do the circumstances of Jesus' birth reveal about the relationship God desires with you? How will more embracing these truths (that Jesus was a servant King & empathizes with us in every way) impact your relationship with God?
On Family Weekend, Kevin taught on repentance and the act of making Jesus the Lord of our life. We saw that we cannot obey God on our own, but how salvation should lead to obedience. In Romans 1 and Luke 6, we see that God's grace helps us withstand life's storms and motivates our obedience.
In our 3rd week breaking down the good news, or "Gospel," Mike Beckham teaches on Grace and Mercy.
In Week 2 of our series on the Gospel, Kevin teaches on Genesis 2, 3, and 5 to show us why we truly need a Savior. The fact that you have never met a "good person" comes from the fact that all of us fall short and "sin" against God's perfect standard. The result is physical, spiritual, and eternal death and separation from God. However, God created a way through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection to save us.
During week 1 of our series on the elements of the Gospel, Kevin answers the question: Who is God? Our response to God depends on what we believe about Him. If God is our Creator, we should revere Him. If He is our Provider, we must thank Him. Since God is our Ruler, we should trust Him. God is our Savior, so we praise Him! Kevin uses Acts 17 to show us how Paul describes God to the Greeks in Athens.
As the school year begins, Kevin teaches on the importance of committing to a body of believers. In Romans 12, we are encouraged and commanded to use our God-given gifts to build up the Church. Wherever God leads you to call your church family, we believe God desires you to look for ways to serve, not to be served. Find a local church and start investing today!
At our Fall Kickoff, Kevin dives into what the "College Life" should look like: not a self-centered "experience," but a real encounter with God that leads to loving Him and His people.
Taking a break from our series on 1 John, Kevin Choate teaches through 2 Corinthians 5:13-21 on Christian's new identity as strangers on earth. We are now Christ's ambassadors, fueled by His love, with a powerful message to tell others as we walk in obedience.
Kevin Choate teaches through 1 John 3:10-24 on Christian brotherly love. This kind of sacraficial love is marked by what it isn’t (v. 10-15), by the example Jesus gives (v. 16-18), and the assurance it provides (v. 19-24).
Callahan Kelly, one of Wildwood College Life's summer Residents, teaches through 1 John 2:3-11. Obedience does not justify us, but a life patterned after God's Word should be naturally produced by God's Spirit after salvation by grace through faith. Love must be our defining characteristic as followers of Jesus, as we model our lives after Jesus' perfect love.
Erin Gawne shares his story of life change when Jesus brought her out of darkness and into the light with His love at an early age. By studying 1 John 3:16-24, Erin teaches on loving others in truth and action. The good news of the gospel reminds us that when we constantly fall short of this command, we can remain in God's love and remember His faithfulness.
Fellowship with God leads to a holy life. Because God demonstrates his love for us by dwelling within us, we testify to this truth by obeying Him. Walking with God happens by walking in the light, which happens as our sin is brought to the light. Christ's righteousness covers our darkness and gives us power through the Holy Spirit to pursue holiness.
Brayden Weber shares his story of life change when he realized Jesus was worth following, not just knowing about at a distance. He teaches through part of 1 John 4, which reveals the active relationship that Jesus offers. Following Jesus is not a passive thing; when you realize what He has done for you, you have to respond with intentional commitment. We are compelled to follow Jesus after He saves us through Scripture, prayer, and community.
Chris Corbly shares his story of life change when he realized just how deeply he needed a Savior. He teaches from Ephesians 2:1-10 with deep personal conviction of how God's mercy brings us from death to life for a purpose. It is only by grace through faith, to do good works for His glory.
The first half of this message got deleted, but Kevin dives into Mark 16:15-18 in this second part. Listen for an encouraging and miraculous truth about the Holy Spirit that God gives to all believers after His resurrection and ascension.
When we read of the death of Jesus in Mark 15:33-37, we learn that because of Christ’s atoning (forgiving) sacrifice, we can have peace with God and peace with others. We can praise Him for fulfilling ancient promises, while defying expectations, justifying us, and showing us how to now live justified.
Discussion questions: Why does God’s forgiveness to us compel us to be radical forgivers? Read Philippians 2:1-11; what does this passage say about unity and forgiveness in Christ? Read 1 John 1:8-10 and 1 John 2:9-11. What does being “in Christ” mean in the way we live today?
When studying Exodus 12:12-14, Mark 14:17-26 and 1 Cor 5:7, we see that because Jesus is the perfect Passover Lamb, we can celebrate the eternal forgiveness of sin that He provides through his sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, we still see salvation provided by substitution. But now the good news is that God provided mercy through his Son Jesus, the perfect substitution. We look at the history and shadows of the OT, see how Jesus fulfilled the Passover in the NT, and how he instituted the new covenant we live in today.
Discussion Questions: Read Romans 3:21-26; What does this passage reveal about God’s character? Specifically his patience (forbearance), his justice, and his mercy? Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. For those who have trusted in Christ, we are “in Christ” or have received his righteousness. Why does this matter today, in the here and now? Why does holiness matter in the Christian life?
As we read Isaiah 53; Mark 10:35-45; John 20:1-30, we see a different type of Savior than the people expected. Jesus was the perfect and promised, yet unexpected Messiah, whose message and example show us how to live today. Jesus showed us that the Christian Life is countercultural. It’s not about authority, it’s not about power, it’s not about being first. It’s about being a Servant. And the Messiah, the King of Kings, lived this life perfectly.
It was always the plan for Jesus to die on the cross to pay for sin. But the plan also always included Jesus not staying dead! By his death and resurrection, He made a way for restoration back to God. Jesus gave his life so that we might live.
For those of us who are in Christ, we have resurrection power living within us. Meaning, the same power that resurrected Jesus lives in us. That’s incredible!! Jesus made a way for any who believe in him to “not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This series starts our journey through the book of Mark.
Mark 1:1 opens with the “gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The "Gospel" is the good news that Jesus made a way for us to be restored back to God.
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by “proclaiming a baptism of repentance & forgiveness of sins” (v. 4). He proclaimed that we need a Savior. Then Jesus is baptized & the “heavens opened & the Spirit descended on Him like a dove” (v. 10). God confirms & blesses the start of Jesus’s ministry on earth! After this glorious moment, Jesus spends 40 days being tempted in the desert by Satan (v. 13). He defeats Satan & his words!
Jesus’s message as He starts His ministry is that “the kingdom of God is at hand; repent & believe in the gospel” (v. 15)! Let us repent and believe today, turning from our sin & trust that Jesus saves!
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to understand and live out Scripture.
This episode gives a brief definition of the Spirit, a quick timeline of how the Holy Spirit has worked, how He illuminates the Word, and how He empowers believers today.
The Holy Spirit helps us study the Bible by giving us the desire to read Scripture, opening our eyes to understand, and giving us Godly wisdom.
We study John 16:7, 14:25-26, 1 Corinthians 2:7-14, 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, and other key verses about God's Spirit. We also hear from our friend Ishani, praising God for the way the Holy Spirit has radically changed her life.
How do I study my Bible? Kevin walks us through 3 simple steps to accurately "spend time in the Word." We first observe by asking, “What do I see? What is here?" We must search the Scripture as you would for treasure (Proverbs 2:1-5) and take notice of the structure, what comes before and after the passage, genre, & context.
Then, we interpret the text by asking, “What does this mean?” The Holy Spirit is our primary source for this answer. Secondary sources (like commentaries & podcasts) can help evaluate the text but not shape our understanding.
Finally, we apply the text by asking, “How should my life change in response?” In our every day lives, the Bible is our foundation. When we know more about God, we realize our weakness & become aware of sin. The truth in the text can always be applied — in decision making, producing humility, in praising God.
Before reading the Bible, we must understand that it is a revelation from God, about God, and is divinely produced. We then view it as truth, especially since Jesus, the prophets, & apostles say it is! If the Bible is God's revelation and completely true, we must live as though it is authoritative, with the right to define what we are to believe and how to live.