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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes

November 20, 2025 2 Kings 15 & 16
Bible Classes / Speaker:Brent Kercheville
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45 min
November 17, 2025 Fire and Brimstone
Topical Sermons / Speaker:David Desloge
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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38 min
November 16, 2025 1 John 2:28-3:10
Bible Classes / Speaker:Adam Malone
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44 min
November 16, 2025John 9 Are You Blind?
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Are You Blind?
John 9
Introduction: In chapter 7, John records that Jesus went up to Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths. John describes his stay in Jerusalem from that point through chapter 10. In that time, the Pharisees attempted to arrest him and twice tried to kill him. Their response was triggered by Jesus’ repeated claim that he came from the Father, existed before Abraham, is the “I Am” of the “burning bush” text, and is one with the Father.
When we are confronted with Jesus’ claims, it is evident that if he is lying, he would deserve to be stoned. Jesus has claimed that if we do not commit our lives to him we will die in our sins and be lost eternally. By these claims in this Gospel, Jesus is confronting us with every ounce of his being. We must not only consider whether we believe, but whether we will continue in the kind of faith and commitment that reflects the definition Jesus gives for a disciple. The choice is clear, and in John 9 Jesus truly challenges our hearts.
The Story
Jesus’ stay in Jerusalem during the eight days of the Tabernacles Festival, highlights the boldness of Jesus when he proclaimed, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus just told the world that every person is living in darkness and he is their only hope of obtaining light and life. In typical John fashion, John presents the fifth sign given by Jesus to illustrate and confirm Jesus as God in the flesh.
After nearly being stoned in the Temple, Jesus departed, and as he and his disciple traveled, they passed by a beggar who had been born blind. This is the only place in the NT that we are confronted with a man born blind.
The disciples immediately took the opportunity to ask a theological question: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Their question was typical of Jewish theology and the same claim made by Job’s friends. However, Jesus corrected them saying that his condition was not because of sin but so that the “works of God might be displayed in him.” Jesus then made two proclamations:
“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day…”
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” There is the setup, now Jesus will go to work.
Without a word to the blind man, Jesus stooped down, spit in the dirt and made mud. Then he took the mud and smeared on the man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeyed Jesus, went to the pool and washed, and came back seeing. Simple as that.
The blind man is first confronted by his neighbors. They can see the resemblance, but it was so odd that his eyes were no longer blank and he no longer stumbled along, that at first they could not be sure.
Finally, they asked him—“How were your eyes opened?” However, the man knew very little about his own story. “A man named Jesus anointed my eyes of mud and told me to wash.” Further, “I do not know where he is.” It was evident that this man did not even know who Jesus was.
Therefore the neighbors, being the “kind” people that they were, and being that it was the Sabbath, decide to take him to the Pharisees. No, they couldn’t throw a party. They couldn’t rejoice and be happy for him. They couldn’t praise God. They are so brainwashed by the Pharisees that they can’t even reason! How could this man “see” if it weren’t for God? Can’t you “see” that!
The scene then turns from a blind man made to see, to Jesus who was responsible for disrespecting the law of God on the Sabbath day.
The reaction of the Pharisees when confronted with a clear miracle, presents us with a cultural shock. Today we would label these men as “The Gestapo.” It was evident that everyone was afraid of them, so much so that the townspeople would even report each other if there were the slightest hint that the Law had been violated.
When asked how he was made to see, the man was to the point: “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” The judgment of the Pharisees was quick and easy: “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” A sinner certainly would not be able to do a miracle! Are we seeing the blindness in people who claim they see!
Now that the judgment has been made, the Pharisees turn to the blind man and put him on the hot seat: “What do you say about him.” In other words, are you going to agree with us or not? Watch out what you say! You will get in trouble! Just tell them what they want to hear!
No, not this man. He looked them square in the eyes and said, “He is a prophet.” In other words, this was Elijah like. It is the best conclusion he had at the moment, and it was a good conclusion.
“Okay, something is wrong here,” the Pharisees are thinking. The guy just couldn’t have been blind. This is a big ruse, and we will uncover it. So they call his parents. Now can you imagine how nervous the parents are? They have been called before the Gestapo, and their whole life and livelihood is at stake if they say the wrong thing.
“Is this your son? Was he born blind? How does he now see?” The parents answered, “He’s our son and yes he was born blind, but how he sees, we do not know; he’s a grown man, ask him yourself.” Very adeptly they escaped being thrown out of the synagogue and excommunicated.
So the Pharisees are thinking, that didn’t work, let’s grill the man again and get to the bottom of this. Okay okay, they say to the blind man, we believe you were born blind and that you have been healed. So let’s just settle this. Here’s your way out of predicament you are in, just give glory to God and agree with us that this man is a sinner. Piece of cake, and you can go free.
But the blind man isn’t buying it. He sees right through these hypocrites, and he isn’t going to lie for them. What happened to him is too wonderful, too amazing. How could anyone not be convinced of Jesus at this point!
The discussion that follows is beyond funny. The blind man answers, “Well, I don’t know about him being a sinner, but I know this, I was blind and now I see!!
Ha! That answer didn’t fit the Pharisees’ desired outcome. So they asked, “What did he do to you?” They are like prosecutors who are frustrated they cannot get the answer they want, and so they badger the witness. The blind man has a great answer: well, I already told you that. Would you like to hear it again so you can also become one of his disciples?
That sent their heads spinning! So they reviled the man: “We follow Moses, we don’t even know where this man comes from.”
The blind man now has them nailed to the wall. “Why that is an amazing thing. You don’t know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God doesn’t hear sinners. God listens to those who do his will. It is obvious that this man is not a sinner! Since the world began, it has never been heard of that the eyes of a man born blind wold be opened!” Oh how brilliant you are as the spiritual leaders of the people!
So what does a hypocrite leader of the people do when they have been exposed? They simply disregard his argument, say they won’t be taught by someone who was clearly born in utter sin, and cast him out! That settles it!
Jesus was not present during any of this discussion. But when he heard that the man was cast out, he searched for him and found him. Now it will be Jesus who asks the questions:
Do you believe in the Son of Man? “Who is he sir, that I may believe?”
“You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 2. “Lord, I believe!” — and he worshiped him.
Jesus then concluded with a one sentence sermon: “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
As luck might have it, a few Pharisees overheard his words and asked, “Are we also blind?” And Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ you guilt remains.” That’s the story. Let’s highlight a few things.
How Does the Sign Challenge Our Lives?
When tragedy interrupts our lives and often crushes us, do we consider that God uses these circumstances to display the works of God? As is typical of all of us, we are too shortsighted. We cannot see beyond our disruption or beyond our pain. All we care about is getting it fixed. But God is about displaying his glory through us.
God is still working, and has been since the beginning. For a short time, Jesus was on earth and the light of the world. But in John 14:12, Jesus proclaimed that we are now called to do greater works than he did and that he will be with us. It is time to work while it is day.
Verse 22: “His parents said these things because they feared the Jews.”
First, The parents represent a class of “believers” that John has repeatedly mentioned, that of believers who “believe” facts about Jesus, but are unwilling to make the commitment required by Jesus.
Second, just listen to those words: they feared the Jews. This is not the first time John has noted this. In 7:13, John recorded that no one spoke openly of Jesus, “for fear of the Jews.” John is directing us to see the historical conflict between light and darkness. The blind man’s parents were forced to make a decision–and so are we. Those who compromise are blind, but think they see. Blindness comes from a lack of knowledge of God. “Knowledge” is a key throughout the text. These leaders think they know, and that is why they are blind. It is a copout to make a decision to compromise commitment to Christ when you have not truly pursued a knowledge of Him.
Consider: Did his parents believe Jesus healed their son? Obviously. But would they confess it? Would they even stand with their son? No. Why not? They feared the Jews. One day these parents will stand before the Lord. Who will they fear now? Huge mistake. Mark 8:38. And by the way, their son was not influenced by their cowardice! It is amazing how many people will excuse their unbelief because of their parents.
Do you believe in the Son of Man? Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
Verse 39–41
Jesus now pronounces himself as the judge. Jesus’ entrance into the world gives every person one last chance. Just as the blind man was given his sight both physically and spiritually, and just as we see that the miracle either caused people to “see” or caused others to be blind, so from that time on, the world is being judged by their response to the light.
Some of the Pharisees asked if they were also blind. To even ask the question was to admit their condition. Jesus said that if they were really blind they would recognize the depth of their own sin/darkness and turn to Jesus for light. But since they still believe they see, the darkness remains in them and their guilt remains.
Please remember, that this even applies to us as believers. To say we believe is one thing, to act on it is quite different.
If we cannot say with Paul, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,” we think we see, but we are blind
When we do not love one another, then we think we see when we are actually blind.
When we lack a desire for God and for worship, we think we see even though we are blind.
Conclusion: Are you blind? Here is the problem of every person, we think we see. To explain this, one person put it this way: “The foundational irony of the gospel is not that God became human but that humanity thought they had become God.” To “see” is to live our life as if we are God.
We have all been confronted with the light, and therefore Jesus’ judgment is apparent. If you are not serving the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength, there are idols in your life, and you are still walking in darkness; you are still blind.
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29 min
November 13, 2025 2 Kings 13 & 14
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
The post 2 Kings 13 & 14 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
44 min
November 10, 2025 Psalm 34
Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
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23 min
November 09, 2025 1 John 2:12-27
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
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43 min
November 09, 2025 Love God With All
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Chip Porter
The post Love God With All appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
22 min
November 06, 2025 2 Kings 11 & 12
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
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43 min
November 03, 20251 Corinthians 13:1-7 The Greatest of These is Love
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
The Greatest of These Is Love
1 Corinthians 13
Introduction: Let me begin with a “softball question.” What is the primary reason there were divisions in the church in Corinth? We could come up with all sorts of reasons. They were following different teachers. They overlooked immorality. Some didn’t believe in the resurrection. People wanted to eat in the idol’s temple because they had the best dinners. In worship, many wanted to show off their special gifts. And we could go on.
But none of these, not even the doctrinal differences, were the primary reason for divisions in Corinth. The primary reason for their divisions is, they didn’t love each other.
Nothing has changed today. Churches split today or members get upset and leave. What is really amazing is how often one side (whether the “leavers” or the “stayers”) jumps up and down and says, it is because of a doctrinal issue. I’ve seen it time and again, and it wasn’t doctrinal. It was one group or both groups who simply stopped loving. And once that lack of love got irritating enough, a doctrinal issue came to the surface and was used as an excuse to split.
In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul commanded that these brethren “all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, that that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” To obey that command, what must be the first step? Love!
Paul’s Introduction to Love: 13:1-3
It is significant that Paul places his discussion on love toward the end of his letter instead of the beginning. In essence, it is Paul saying, “Now that I’ve shown you the total mess you have made of God’s church, let me show you the root problem and how to fix this.”
12:31 “…and I will give you a still more excellent way.” Throughout chapter 12 Paul had been showing the Corinthians the proper use of their gifts, and primarily how those gifts should be used together to build up the body. But to simply give instructions on the use of the gifts is not enough. Paul uses the word “still” to indicate, “Let me take you to a higher level…something more excellent than just knowing some rules.” This approach is so important! God cannot foresee every problem in a church. Therefore, the “still more excellent way” is to teach love so that no matter than circumstances, the problem will be solved.
These first three verses make it obvious that the Corinthians have an inordinate concern for their own personal importance. Paul uses hyperboles or exaggeration to indicate that that which we personally attain has no significance without love: tongues of angels, prophetic powers, all mysteries, all knowledge, all faith to remove mountains, give away all I have, deliver my body to be burned…”
In other words, we can be the greatest of the greatest in what we do for the Lord, but without love, we are a noice maker, we are nothing, we gain nothing! Without love, we are simply an irritating gong that keeps annoying everyone around. Did you know that this happens in baseball and football teams? A player can be a superstar, but the disruption he brings to the locker room causes him to be cut or traded.
Remember, Paul’s beginning message was, “I preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Why is this true? Because “love builds up” (8:1).
The Attributes of Love
Love is Patient – long-suffering; to endure patiently, wait with patient expectation. A person who “forebears” another is a person who is able to wait for someone without complaining, to put up with another’s weaknesses, mistakes, and idiosyncrasies.
This is so hard for us, and we typically give very little slack to others. instead of patience, we get irritated. When you have made mistakes and done foolish things that affected other, how many times would you have liked to have said, “Please deal with me gently; be patient with me; I’m working on it.”
We are all at varied levels of growth. Consider your foolishness when you were young and how many people patiently waited for you to grow.
Love is Kind.
Kindness is a reflection of God. Ephesians 2:5-6, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 5:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Definition: “gentle, obliging, gracious.” God’s kindness is illustrated in his mercy and compassion. Kindness is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Love does not Envy. Envy comes from comparing ourselves with others to see if our “status” is superior or adequate. This was going on between the Corinthians over their gifts.
Love does not Boast.
This word in its various forms is used 30 times in the Corinthian letters. It was a key sin of the Corinthians and their false teachers.
4:7 is one of the best explanations: “For who sees anything different than you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
The point is clear. Everything we are, have, or have accomplished, is what we have received from the Lord. Therefore, in what will we boast except in what the Lord has done?
Love is not Arrogant/Puffed Up.
Obviously, this is very similar to the “boast.” In this case it is flaunting the significance of oneself and one’s standing.
It is reflected in Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees in their long robes, their lengthy public prayers, and their insistence that they be give titles such as “father” and “rabbi.”
Love does not act this way because love is set on the care and needs of others and therefore has no interest in self-promotion. Paul’s “foolish boasting” of his boasting in 2 Corinthians 11 illustrates how he was willing to allow himself to be last so others could be first.
Love is not Rude — Does not behave Rudely.
This word is used only one other time in the NT (7:36): “If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed…let them marry—it is no sin.”
Thus, being rude is to “act unbecomingly.” It seems to connect well with boasting and arrogance in that one’s inflated view of self causes unseemly behavior—treating others as below you or beneath you.
Love does not Insist on its Own Way — Is not Self-Seeking.
10:24 clearly addresses this principle: “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
10:33 “Just as I try to please everyone is everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”
We live in a society that constantly promotes boasting, arrogance, rudeness, and self-seeking in mediums like Facebook, Instagram, and Tic-Tok.
Love is not Irritable — Provoked to anger — not easily Angered. ESV adds, “or resentful” (mrg: Greek: “does not count up wrongdoing.” The NIV: “Keeps no record of wrongs.”
We really do not need and explanation of that, do we? Can you imagine how much better we would be at loving if we followed these words?
When we struggle with this, consider what God did for us:
Romans 4:8 “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
2 Corinthians 5:19 “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…”
If we appreciate and want this blessing from God, we must give this same blessing to each other. It is love to the highest degree.
Love does not Rejoice at wrongdoing, but Rejoices with the truth. Or, NIV, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” If we love like God loves, we are never happy about evil or wrongdoing even when it includes a person taking unlawful retribution against those who have done evil.
Concluding Applications
Please think about where God’s priorities are.
Truth and knowledge of God’s word matters to God. Speaking truth, hearing truth, and practicing truth are extremely important to God. “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
But in 1 Cor. 8:1 Paul placed love as a priority over knowledge of the truth. “Knowledge (by itself) puffs up; love edifies.” Christians have long concerned themselves so heavily on whether we are teaching and following what is right that it has resulted a people who act is if nothing else matters. This is not only arrogance (who knows and understands all truth?), but it has resulted in strife, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, quarreling, and a general atmosphere of biting and devouring one another.
Love bears all things
Love believes all things
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things
Love never fails
Therefore, what is required of us from this text? Read it again and put your name in every place that love is mentioned. Everyone of us will see ourselves falling short. Everyone of us has serious work to do. We cannot afford to neglect growing in love!
Berry Kercheville
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45 min