Woodland Hills Church of Christ

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January 08, 2026 Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 – The Image of God
Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey
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46min
January 05, 2026Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Gave Evangelists… (1)
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
“And He Gave Evangelists…” (1)
Introduction: Many Christians may not be aware of the decreasing number of evangelists and qualified shepherds in our brotherhood. I’m sure most of you would understand the seriousness of this problem.
The danger is that when a church has good elders and a good preacher, not much thought is given to the many churches who may not have elders and cannot get it an evangelist,—someone who does more than preach a sermon. This need is not about a “sermon,” it is about what Paul commanded Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, “Do the work of an evangelist.”
The problem begins with leaders who did not prepare themselves for the work and/or do not place their primary focus on Ephesians 4:1-16. Paul’s direct proclamation in Ephesians 4:11-12 teaches that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers are gifts from Jesus to his body for the equipping of the saints and for the growth of the body, remind us of how important evangelists, shepherds and teachers are to the church. This text is the foundation for growth!
In this lesson, we will concentrate more on evangelists than on shepherds because Paul taught in 1 Timothy and Titus that evangelists are required to teach and equip the church so that qualified shepherds can be appointed.
Of course, your first response might be, “What does that have to do with me? What could I possibly do to help that situation?” That is the subject of this sermon. There are principles we can all understand better and efforts we can all make to improve us and any other church that we may influence in the future.
Disclaimer: Much of what we will discuss in this lesson has often or “generally” taken place in a significant percentage of churches. I am not suggesting that all churches or even a majority of churches are failing their calling. But there certainly is and have been a strong trend toward both preachers and shepherds to fail pursuing the requirements of Ephesians 4:1-16.
The Work of Evangelists, Shepherds and Teachers (Ephesians 4:11-16) What do you see?
Primarily, it bring “the whole body to maturity.”
Maturity includes…?
Unity of the faith
Knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man (not tossed by every wind of doctrine)
Able to “speak the truth in love”
The whole body knit and joined together so that every part does its share
The Pastoral Epistles: Paul’s Challenge to an Evangelist (imagine yourself as Timothy or Titus and being given this charge)
1 Tim. 1:3 “…that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies… The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving rom these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers…”
Roles of men and women in the church
Modesty (teaching women not to overdress!)
Appointing elders/deacons
Warning against various departures from the faith
Instructing widows and the church concerning widows
Instructions to servants and masters
Instructions concerning contentment and the love of money
Charge the rich…
2 Tim. 2:2 “…what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men/woman who will be able to teach others also.”
2 Tim. 2:14 “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does not good, but only ruins the hearers.”
2 Tim. 4:16 “…avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”
2 Tim. 4:2-4 “…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching…”
2 Tim. 4:5 “…always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Titus 1:5 “This is why I left you at Crete, so that you might set in order things that are wanting…. And appoint elders in every town as I directed you…”
Titus 1:10 “For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers…they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.”
Titus 1:12 “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith…”
Instruct older men, younger men, older women, younger women, bondservants and masters.
Titus 1:15 “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority.”
Titus 3:10 “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…”
Titus 3:14 “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”
Summarizing the above survey, 2 Timothy 4:5, “Do the work of an evangelist.” If you were Timothy or Titus, how do you feel about what you have been called to do?
Why the Need for a Full-Time Evangelist?
In the OT, God set aside a whole tribe in Israel so that the nation would always be instructed and reminded of the teachings of God’s word.
2 Chronicles 31:4 “And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the LORD.”
Hosea 4:4-7 “Do not let anyone accuse or contend against anyone else: for my case is against you priests! You stumble day and night, and the false prophets stumble with you; you have destroyed your own people. You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me! Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests. Because you reject the law of your God, I will reject your descendants. The more the priests increased in numbers, the more they rebelled against me. They have turned their glorious calling into a shameful disgrace!” (NET)
Malachi 2:4-9
If God needed a whole tribe to give themselves the God’s law (5 books) and teach the people, how much more is that needed today with 66 books? Cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
In many, if not most Christian’s minds, the work of an evangelist has been reduced to preaching sermons. That is not a recent problem and if that thinking does not change, the cause of the gospel and God’s kingdom will be seriously damaged.
The Challenge & Problem Before Us and in the Kingdom
We are typically concerned only about our local church, where as in the NT the overriding concern is God’s Kingdom. [Recent conversation: a friend from another state telling me about their church’s condition and that he has watched 9 churches close their doors over the past few years. I pre-supposed the reason to be the inability to get an evangelist––someone who would direct evangelism efforts and lead the church in Bible teaching and preaching. His answer? “That is exactly the reason the churches dwindled and eventually folded.”]
Consider: What would have happened to the churches in Crete if Paul had not sent Titus?
The decreasing number of evangelists even among those who “preach.” Many decide to preach out of need in a local church or sometimes other personal reasons like being out of work. However, even though I’m sure most of these men have good intentions, their understanding of the work is often limited to giving a sermon and teaching a Bible class at the building.
The increasing number of Christians/churches who do not see the importance of an evangelist. Why would some come to that conclusion?
If the men of the church can preach a sermon, why should we have a preacher? After all, many of the preachers they have heard aren’t nearly as good as the men they have in their local church.
Training programs that concentrate on sermons and sermon delivery, but neglect training in the work outside of the pulpit.
To summarize the problem, even though there are young men who have a passion to learn the work of an evangelist, understanding the full meaning of the work has been seriously compromised, especially in the last 50 years.
There are fewer and fewer young men who are willing to consider being an evangelist. Why? And what can we do? (Stay Tuned for Part 2)
Berry Kercheville
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36min
January 04, 2026 Genesis Intro
Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey
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43min
January 04, 2026Matthew 13:10-23 Be Careful How You Hear
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
The Expectation of Our Father: Be Careful How You Hear
Introduction: Reading: Matthew 13:18-23. Our text is Jesus’ interpretation of the Parable of the Sower. What is the message? What is the key to the parable? Did you “hear” it? Yes, the message is hearing. The message is when the word is spoken, taught, or preached, what is the condition of the heart, the mind?
Jesus said it plainly at the end of the parable: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” In Luke’s account, “he cried out.”
When Jesus answered the apostles’ question of why he spoke to the people in parables, his answer was, “…because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”
At the conclusion of Mark’s account of the parable, Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear…” (4:24, ASV). “Consider carefully what you hear” (NIV). “Pay close attention to what you hear” (NLT).
In Luke’s account (8:18) “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Did you also notice that when the seed is sown, everything depends on the condition of the ground? Ask yourself this question: On this day, did Jesus preach a good sermon or a bad sermon? If you said he preached a good sermon, you would be in the minority. The multitudes believed he preached a bad sermon. They walked away without any desire to understand or to know more about what Jesus taught. They were similar to “wayside ground, stoney ground, or thorny ground.”
Therefore, if you evaluated Jesus’ sermon as did the multitudes, why was the sermon bad? It was a bad sermon, because they were bad listeners! Nothing has changed. Sometimes sermons are bad because they do not reflect the message of the scriptures. But many times, sermons are bad because you or I have been bad listeners!
Poor Listeners Are Common in the Scriptures
The Bible is filled with people who complained about God’s word. There are repeated complaints about the preaching of God’s prophets and even NT teachers, with Jesus being at the top of the list. Isaiah addressed the problem repeatedly, even quoting the people mocking his teaching with the English equivalent of “blah, blah, blah, blah.” Isaiah 28:9-10 “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
The Corinthian teachers mocked Paul’s preaching, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing” (2 Corinthians 10:10).
Paul recognized that Timothy would have the same problem when he admonished him to continue teaching with patience regardless of whether it fit the desires of the people because the time was coming when they would “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and would turn away from listening to the truth” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). To these people, what is a good sermon? It is a sermon that fits they desires.
Jesus said to the Jews, “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word” (John 8:43).
The Present Day Application
There are and have been thousands of inept preachers, even in Bible days, and there are today. Many should not even be preaching because they don’t have the passion or desire for learning the scriptures. I had one preacher ask me, “How do you get excited about studying? I really have to force myself to get in the office and at work at it.” I fear there are way too many who preach who have that problem. It is evident in their lessons.
That being said, Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles exposed what none of us want to hear: we listeners are a bigger problem than the speaker! Jay Adams states, “In the scriptures, there is more instruction about listening than about preaching and teaching! Leave it to us sinners to reverse things, putting all of the stress on the latter at the expense of the former!”
Preaching is not like building a house, fixing a car, or the painting of a great artist. I imagine that every one of us has at some time thought of preaching as if it were a one-way street, as if the responsibility of the biblical message rests solely on the speaker and that you and I have nothing to do with it. But we know better! When Jesus taught the above parables, he clearly showed that teaching and communicating demands competence from both the listener and the teacher. And Jesus put the bulk of the blame on the listener.
The heart and ears of the listener can cause a great sermon to be mediocre and what is considered a bad sermon into a great sermon. The preacher must work with people who had a bad night’s sleep, are repeatedly interrupted by their children, are not interested in the message, misunderstand the text or what was said, and even become angry. Unlike clay, the listener plays an active role in the communication process.
Consider this, there are hundreds of courses taught and books written on improving preaching (I’ve written one of them), but where are the listeners’ courses or the books written that address the responsibility of the learner? Why is it that the preacher is constantly thinking and working on how to “wake up the listener” instead of the listener working on his or her responsibility to “not be dull of hearing?” In other words, if a preacher averages 15 hours to prepare and the deliver the lesson, how much time have we listeners put into preparing to hear the lesson that week?
Therefore, the lesson we all must learn is that there is a biblical balance that accepts that preaching/teaching alone is not the answer, and that preaching is seriously deficient without the desire, pursuit, and personal study of the listener!
Maybe you can admit this with me. I’ve heard hundreds of sermons in my life, many that I’ve even preached. Many sermons I’ve heard were fantastic. Others were mediocre at best, and some were horrible. But there were also many, many sermons I’ve heard that I have no right to judge, because I’m convinced I was the problem. I had not prepared to listen. I did not give grace to the speaker. My mental condition and interests were not where they should have been.
Illustration: I remember especially when I was 21 years old and I sat in an adult auditorium class on Isaiah. I thought the preacher did a terrible job. I didn’t understand his explanations. I got lost in the text we were studying. I didn’t see the relevance for my life. I was glad after a month I could go back into my “young adult class” where things were simpler. Now here is the rest of the story:
I came into the Isaiah class in the middle of the study. I wasn’t there when the study started at the beginning of the Summer.
I never prepared for the class. I had not ever read Isaiah, and though I had just come into a class on Isaiah, I still did not read the book nor did I even read the text that was about to be studied.
I had been convinced that the average person could not understand Isaiah unless such a person had a brilliant mind and had studied for at least 40 years. I knew I was a virtual dumb, dumb because I barely passed an English Literature class, and that only by the mercy of the teacher.
So, why didn’t I understand Isaiah? Well, it certainly wasn’t the preacher’s fault, and it certainly wasn’t God’s fault. It was my fault, and for years I put the blame elsewhere. Do you relate?
Jesus’ Answer to the Hearer
Let’s go back to Jesus’ words at the conclusion of the parable of the Sower: In Mark 4, the NLT gives the further explanation this way, “Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Do you want God to give you a greater understanding of his word? Be a better listener and seeker of him and his word and he will give you more.
Matthew 7:7-11 “…how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Cf. Luke 11:13 “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Do you think you have been at this study thing for years and you are not progressing? Maybe it is because you are not a diligent listener and seeker. Maybe, like me, you have convinced yourself that some things in the Bible are too hard to understand. And maybe you just have to admit to yourself, there are others things in your life that are of greater interest to you than God’s word.
Look at Matthew’s account and how Jesus answered the apostles’ question:
“Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ And he answered them, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’”
Do you see what has happened in the above text? The multitudes and Jesus’ disciples heard the same message. The disciples heard, didn’t understand, and therefore desired more. The multitudes heard, didn’t understand, so they walked away!
Therefore, what they had been given “will be taken away from them!”
And catch that critical statement in verse 11: “to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Losing the kingdom of heaven because you didn’t understand his words and therefore did not pursue an understanding, is a serious failure and no one’s fault but our own!
When Jesus opened the Sermon on the Mount with eight beatitudes, among them was, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” The greatest teacher and preacher the world has ever known could not get the attention of those who did not hunger and thirst!
Conclusion: Isaiah 29 The context of this chapter is the coming destruction of Jerusalem about 100 years later. In verses 9-10, Isaiah compares the people to reasoning with a blind, drunk person so that the preaching of the prophets just puts them to sleep.
In verses 11-12, Isaiah says that their lack of interest can be compared to a person who is asked to read a scroll that is sealed. But they say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” Then a person who cannot read is given the scroll and told to read it. But he says, “I cannot read.” I know I have been exactly like this in my early days, and it is a strong warning to all of us. God does not accept these excuses.
Berry Kercheville
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31min
December 21, 2025 1 John 5:1-12
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
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42min
December 21, 2025Understanding A God of Judgment – pt 2
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Understanding the God of Judgment
Introduction: Luke 1:46-55 Unlike the other Gospel accounts, Luke reveals the praises of those who encountered the birth of Jesus. Mary, Elizabeth, Zachariah, the angels, Simeon, and Anna, all join a praise to God for fulfilling his promise to send a Savior. Even though no one knows the actual day when Jesus entered this world, it is appropriate any time of the year to join these praises of Mary and the others for the mercy of God. Therefore, there are two notable principles both Mary and Zachariah revealed in their praise and should cause “joy to the world”:
The first is the word mercy. Mercy reminds us that every person who ever lived was and is doomed to an eternity without God. To rejoice in the birth of Jesus and not recognize that the reason is our need for mercy is to demean his coming.
Second, verses 51-53 remind us that with Jesus’ coming, there will also be judgment. You cannot have salvation without judgment because if there is no judgment, there is no salvation.
The human deficit has always been a lack of acceptance of the seriousness of our sins. We, like Satan, want to believe that even though we have sinned we shall not surely die. That sentiment disregards the fact that though God’s greatest desire is for us to be with him, a holy God cannot dwell with an unholy people.
The lesson this morning is to help us understand a God who created a Judgment Day, and why that Judgment Day is a reason to sing, “Joy to the World!”
Jesus’ Teaching about Judgment
Most people would be surprised to know that Jesus talked about hell more than any writer in the Bible. That will seem odd to most people who say they are believers but do not think that God would punish anyone in hell.
Even more shocking is to actually read Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-32, 41, 46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left…Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Please note, what we just read are the final teachings of Jesus concerning his rule as the King of kings. Imagine! His last words give this stark warning!
But lest you think it was a rare caution Jesus gave, consider that losing life found in his kingdom and instead suffering in hell was also his first warning and continual warning.
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), the introductory manifesto of his kingdom, Jesus warns of losing life and ending up in hell at least six times.
“…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (5:20)
“…everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (5:22)
“…If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (5:29-30)
“… but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (6:15)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (7:13-14)
“…Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (7:19)
“…On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (7:22-23)
In Matthew 13, Jesus gave nine parables about the kingdom (including the “Seed Growing Secretly, Mark 4). In 6 of the 9 parables Jesus warned against losing the treasure found within his kingdom. Someone might think, “Well, losing the treasure is not the same as hell!” Oh, that is where you are missing the message. You see, the day will come wherein the only place God’s blessings are found is within his kingdom. At present, everyone enjoys God’s blessings. But on that Great Day, God’s blessings will only be found within his kingdom.
This is a pattern God has repeatedly followed:
The Flood. Blessings are in the ark. Curses are outside the ark. Where do you want to be?
The Passover in Egypt: Blessings are inside the house with blood over the door. Curses are outside. Where do you want to be?
In the New Testament, all spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3), curses are on all those outside of Christ. Where do you want to be?
The book of Hebrews is all about the blessings of God we will miss if we do not remain faithful to Jesus.
In other words, read correctly, God is all about, “Please! You don’t want to miss what I’ve prepared for you!”
Matthew 22:1-8 Notice the perception of God and Jesus concerning their offer to come into their kingdom.
Can you imagine being invited to this wedding? It would be crazy to even consider turning it down! It is the greatness of the feast and the opportunity that is being emphasized.
Jesus mentions two responses to the invitation:
Some paid no attention.
Others murdered those who brought the invitation.
Result? Regardless of the response, whether passive or violent, verse 13 has them cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And time would fail us… In Matthew alone, Jesus warns of hell in chapters 8 (2x), 10 (2x), 11, 12, 16, 20, 21, 22, 25 (3x).
Over and over Jesus is warning! Therefore, we each have a simple choice to make: either Jesus is a liar and there is nothing to worry about, or he is going to remove all blessings from us and allow us to suffer the curses deserved for our sins. Whatever your choice, you need to state it out loud and listen to yourself! It’s simple. Is Jesus lying?
Who Is This God That Would Create a Day of Judgment?
People often want to imagine what they would do if they were God, especially when they think they would do something different than what God says he will do. Interestingly enough, God repeatedly appeals to us basis on what we would do if we were in his position! So, let’s just consider what God has done and what he promises to do and see if you really disagree with him.
What do we know about God?
God embodies love and all he does is based in love, it makes sense he would start his creation with a huge number of angels to share in his love and joy. He does the same when he creates a beautiful, stunning heavens and earth and a variety of animals that are beyond our imagination. He is a great artist and he loves to create beautiful things so we can better see him!
Then he created us, intending that we become the greatest of his creation, with the plan that one day we would share his “home” and his rule over a brand new creation that cannot be described to earthly minds.
This planned “new heavens and new earth” will be absolute perfection in every way. It will be filled with joy and happiness and pleasure. There will be no pain, no tears, no illness, no death, no sin, and no evil one—everything that everyone truly desires. It should bring us to tears to think of what God wants for us and has planned for us.
But God also reminded us that there are two requirements:
First, since God is love, he wants people who love him and love one another. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Who wants to be in a place where there is no love? God desires our love, and he gave us a Bible so we can learn about him and fall in love with him.
Second, we are required to be holy and righteous as he is. God had no other choice but to hold to this requirement because it is impossible to have pleasure and joy in a world with evil. However, God in his greatness, also knew what Satan would do (“…in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” Titus 1:2). Therefore, God, with the “great love with which he loved us,” came into the flesh and ransomed his own life to redeem us from sin so that he could still accomplish his goal to share his glory and love with us. Who could possibly complain about that scenario?
But that is not all, besides sending his own Son, [the one who created all things], he sent prophet after prophet for thousands of years, giving us direct messages from him. He accompanied these messages with hundreds of miracles, proving he was the author of the messages so that we wouldn’t miss out on the wonderful pleasure and joy he intended. He has even waited and waited and waited to bring a finality to his plan because of his great love:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
To better understand, listen to God’s appeal to Israel, “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live” (Ezekiel 18:30-32).
Both God and Jesus throughout scripture speak of how they grieve and weep over those who have rejected the blessings he has promised. Speaking of the wicked Northern Kingdom of Israel God said,
“Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling Child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him” (Jeremiah 31:20).
The text goes on to speak of how the Messiah would be their path to his mercy. That’s a brief picture of the intentions of God.
Since We Think We Know Better than God…
Since we humans think we would do things so much better than God, go ahead and be God for a moment. As God, consider that you have done all these wonderful things. Now put yourself in God’s position. Here is the other side of the coin…
Let’s start with a parable about you: you fell in love and got married with dreams of children and a wonderful family. Then came the moment when you looked at each other and excitedly exclaimed, “We’re having a baby!” Soon, you had a wonderful family of children and you would look into their precious eyes and dream of a wonderful future with them. But deep down there was also a nagging worry—when they grow up, will they still love me and want to see me? Will we grow closer, or will something happen…
But as some of your children grew and matured, what you hoped would happen didn’t happen. They ignored all that you had done for them. They took your money and the things you gave them and wasted it on whatever they desired. They became selfish and rejected all the good that you had taught them. Of course, sometimes they would come and see you out of obligation or because they needed something, but they made it clear they didn’t want to hear any of your advice or admonitions.
When they had your grandchildren, they took those precious babies and taught them that grandma and grandpa’s beliefs were wrong & they weren’t worth spending time with. They refused to teach your own grandchildren what was good and right so that they could grow up and live prosperous and joyful lives. Your own grandchildren came into adulthood and also ignored you and refused any teaching of righteousness. Worse, they destroyed their lives with alcohol, drugs, and sex. They became worthless.
During this time, you would send letters pleading with your wayward children and grandchildren to turn from their way of life and come back so that the family could be blessed. But they ignored you and told you to get out of their lives and quit interfering.
As you grew old, and even saw great grandchildren, your pain and sorrow grew worse and worse. These children of yours had made you ashamed. They told everyone that you were weird, that you didn’t love them and wouldn’t “accept” their way of life. All the while, you grieved. No matter what you did, the distance between you and your children became greater and greater.
Finally, you had only one choice left. You would write them out of your will so that they wouldn’t receive the inheritance. You would no longer help them when they lost their job or got in trouble because of foolish living. Why would you do this? Because you knew they would take what you gave them, bury themselves in more wicked living, and continue to ignore everything you had taught them. You simply couldn’t support or enable their wickedness.
Now at this point someone would say, “Yes, but I wouldn’t cast them into hell!” And that is where you missed the point. You see, if you were God, you just did cast them into hell, because as God, you are the only source of blessings. There is no other place for them to turn.
You see, at present Jesus is King, and he has invited us to join his family and enjoy his love and the family inheritance. At present, the realm of his kingdom is heaven and earth, and all who live on earth can still enjoy many of his blessings. But that will not last forever. One day, God will do exactly what we would have done under similar circumstances. He will write us out of the inheritance, and that will be hell.
Jesus said, “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” (Luke 13:28).
By the way, would you be angry if you had a child who did all these things? A child who repeatedly and blatantly sinned against God and disregarded all the years of your love, your care, and your teaching—but on top of all that will not even allow you to have a conversation about it? That is where God was with Israel, and that is still where he is with people today. He gave himself to be murdered on a cross to defeat Satan, to save us from the horrible things Satan did to us, and to bring us to peace and joy forever with him. Israel wouldn’t even have a conversation with him! They murdered his prophets and murdered him. Is that the way we will be? Will we not even listen to his pleas? And then you expect that God wouldn’t be angry?
Conclusion: Do not sing “Joy to the World” and rejoice over Jesus coming if you are not willing to obey Jesus.
We all know people or even family members who are not living as they should. There is a strong warning to us by God himself: do not compromise or comfort them about their condition.
Ezekiel 3:18-19“If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
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35min
December 18, 2025 2 Kings 20:12 – 23:3
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
The post 2 Kings 20:12 – 23:3 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
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46min
December 15, 2025 God’s Justice On The Exodus
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Eli Todd
The post God’s Justice On The Exodus appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
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36min
December 14, 2025 1 John 4:7-21
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
The post 1 John 4:7-21 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
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45min
December 14, 2025Who Is This God of Judgment? – pt 1
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Who Is This God of Judgment? Pt. 1
Parable of the Virgins & Talents
Matthew 25:1-30
Introduction: About 40% of those who call themselves believers today reject the idea of hell. About 80% of the under 30 generation rejects the biblical teaching of eternal punishment. Certainly, much of this disbelief when comes from a lack of knowledge of the whole Bible, and the rest from the simple reason, “I can’t believe a loving God would send anyone to hell.”
Matthew 24-25 is the fifth major discourse by Jesus recorded in Matthew. The entire discourse is about Judgment. It begins with judgment on the nation of Israel for the rebellion against the Lord and then transitions from judgment on Israel to judgment on the world.
We must remember that Jesus is speaking as King of his Kingdom. The transition begins with 25:1, Then the kingdom of heaven will be like…” From there Jesus blends together three parables: virgins, talents, and sheep and goats. The first two build on the householder parable in chapter 24. Each have an absent lord and each deal primarily with watchfulness and preparedness. The last, the sheep and goats, more graphically pictures final judgment. Each portray varying standards of judgment. The Householder parable considers the way the ruling servants care for the house. The Virgins picture preparedness. The Talents picture usefulness. The Sheep and Goats portray the way the Lord’s servants love and care for one another.
Parable of the Virgins
We begin with the understanding that as Jesus tells this parable he is echoing a story that fit the Jewish culture. Bridegrooms often gave a general time frame of when they would arrive to take the bride and her maidens on a procession through the streets finally arriving at the couple’s new home. The bridegroom might even make a game out of surprising his bride, not coming at an hour she would expect. A crier would go before him and announce his impending arrival giving the wedding party only a short time to trim their lamps and lead the wedding party through the streets. This reflects the manner in which we can expect Jesus’ return.
Weddings and honeymoons were also different in Jewish culture. Instead of going away for the honeymoon, they stayed at home feasting and celebrating for a week with their chosen friends. It was a great honor to be admitted to the celebration. We see all these principles in the story Jesus tells.
But the critical part of the parable is not just that half the virgins were different from the other half, but how much all ten virgins were alike.
All ten want to be a part of the wedding procession and join in the festivities of the wedding week.
All ten are depicted as virgins. There is no hint of immorality here.
They all had lamps. Even those called foolish had lamps with the intention of using the lamps in the procession.
Therefore, it is important that the parable is not about those who are of the world. This is not a parable of five Christians and five unbelievers. These are all believers and are all people who want to be with the bridegroom and the wedding feast. Therefore, the parable is about us; it is about Christians. After all, Jesus is speaking to his disciples. How many times do we see such a thing? Jesus repeatedly contrasts disciples. Some make it and some do not. The criteria always has to do with whether the Lord is their number one passion.
What may be puzzling is the question of why the five foolish didn’t bring oil with their lamps? Though we cannot name specific reasons, we do have an answer. Whatever it was that caused them not to bring extra oil had to do with a lack of giving the bridegroom and the procession a priority in their life. In other words, what were they doing instead of buying more oil?
Here is a critical lesson, we can sometimes pay so much attention to avoiding transgression that we are not paying attention to preparation. There doesn’t need to be overt sin in our lives to lose our souls. We cannot pat ourselves on the back because of our moral lifestyle while at the same time ignore that God has a eternal, heavenly purpose for us and he expects us to prepare for it and accomplish that purpose.
In other words, we may be Christians, but that is not the end of the story. We can be foolish Christians. What other meaning can you get from the story?
In fact, that is the very meaning of verse 13, Watch therefore. What does Jesus mean by “watch?” Looking out the window to be the first to see the bridegroom coming would not have helped the foolish virgins. They still wouldn’t have been prepared.
Here is the deal: They didn’t believe they had to prepare that much! In fact, they seem to have the idea that the bridegroom would still be merciful once the door was shut. There is a point in which it is too late! No wonder Jesus said, Strive to enter. No wonder Paul and Peter both urged the utmost diligence and carefulness lest we have come short. This is serious! And according the Jesus, many Christians do not take it seriously enough!
Parable of the Talents
Notice how quickly Jesus switches gears to the next parable: “For it will be like…” The reason is because he wants to add another principle to his lessons of watchfulness & preparation already given in two previous parables.
A man goes on a journey and before he leaves he entrusts his property to them. This property is given to them in the form of talents, that is a large sum of money. We have already noted from Matthew 18 that a talent is twenty years wages for a laboring man (6000 denarii, or half a lifetime of wages, according to R. T. France). Therefore, what has been entrusted is no small sum.
Notice also that the talents are committed to the servants according to their abilities. Therefore, the “talent” is not an ability; it is given according to one’s ability. To some with great ability, more is given. To others with lesser abilities, less is given.
It is actually a merciful and compassionate way that the master dealt with his servants. He does not expect the servant with lesser ability to handle five talents.
Further, he has made each servant equal. He has blessed each servant with his property. He has given each an opportunity to excel. In fact, the two talent man receives the same commendation and reward as did the five talent man.
But hear this well, each are given property of the master and therefore the master expects each servant to productively use what has been given to them.
There is something noteworthy about the five and two talent servants. It is given in verse 16: He went at once and traded with them…so also he who had two talents. Here is where we learn something about obedience and disobedience. Delaying to keep the Lord’s command is disobedience. Obedience is when we go at once, and that is just as true in our secular world and with our children.
There is one other detail we need to notice: “after a long time the master came and settled accounts with them.” Jesus is warning us that his return does not come shortly. It is after a “long time.” It is that long period of time that lulls us to sleep and causes us to not be prepared.
The Master Returns
Now comes the “accounting.” The master came to settle accounts with his servants.
Okay, we can’t miss this point: are you ready to settle accounts with the Lord?
You might ask, “What will that look like?” It is actually quite simple. Our Lord has committed his goods to us. He has given us his property. What does that property look like? It is everything you have, including your own life. None of it is yours; it is his, but committed to you. It is your time, your opportunities to share the Lord, your children, your house, your car, your money, your abilities. Those things aren’t yours, they are the Lord’s. Your house isn’t yours; it is the Lord’s. Are you using it for you or for him?
And by the way, did you notice verse 21, “…You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much”? Here is the reason for preparation! It is far more than “forgiveness” and “going to heaven.” There is no going to heaven without preparation.
The one talent man.
Please remember, one talent is not a small sum of money. He has been entrusted with a significant amount from the Lord. But even if we took it as “little” in comparison, there was an expectation that he would multiply it.
It is certainly interesting to see the way this man talks to the master. He has obviously seen what his fellow servants have done and realizes that he does not have anything additional to give to the master. So instead of simply being honest about his neglect, he berates the character of the master!
“I knew you to be a hard man…” What are you talking about! The master did not expect to receive where he had not sown! He gave you a talent. He sowed into your hands and you did nothing with it. This man is making excuses to get the blame off himself.
The master gives two replies to the man’s excuses:
“If that is what you thought of me, then you certainly should have done something more than just bury it!” In fact, at the very least you could have given it to the bankers so that there could have been an increase in what I gave you.
“You wicked and slothful servant.” The combination of the two words is instructive. Again, we do not see immorality here. This man is not some sinner of the world. This man is a servant of the master and has been entrusted with his goods. It is his slothfulness that makes him wicked. It is his lack of productivity for the Lord that makes him unacceptable.
But how is he slothful? You say, he buried the master’s talent; he didn’t do anything with it. Well, true, but that does not mean he did nothing. He went about living his life. He was still doing what he wanted to do. He was still working for himself and caring about himself and doing whatever it was that he wanted to do. His slothfulness was not in regard to his own things; it was in regard to what the Lord committed to him.
Therefore, we must be aware of something that happens all the time. God-given abilities, houses, possessions, and time are too often used nearly exclusively for what we want to do with them even to the point of multiplying what God has given us in amazing ways. But the talent is still buried; none of it has been multiplied for the Lord. Now, be honest, are you ready for the accounting?
Rewards and Punishments
“Cast the worthless servant into outer darkness.” We are again struck with the Lord’s message to his servants! There is more to being a Christian than just “being” a Christian. Look at what he has given you and decide if it is being used for what the Lord intended.
However, the reward is amazing:
As in other parables, Jesus again points out that how we prepare ourselves here will determine our heavenly citizenship. Our time here is not just a “see if we can be good” period of time. What the Lord has asked us to do in regard to his goods is the Lord’s way of preparing us for heavenly responsibilities as his bride.
Then there are those wonderful words, “Enter into the joy of your Lord.” That is what the Lord’s plan has always been. That is why he created a beautiful Garden in which he shared a relationship with Adam and Eve. The Lord wants us to experience his joy. There is no joy anywhere else. Only the Lord provides joy and only with the Lord can we find joy. Every other place is outer darkness!
Final Lesson: We need to balance our appreciation for the mercy of the Lord with our obligation to responsibility to the Lord.
Berry Kercheville
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33min

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