Woodland Hills Church of Christ

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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes

November 02, 2025Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 – Don’t Waste Your Life
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Don’t Waste Your Life
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Introduction: The words of the Preacher have taken the failed life of Solomon and warned every person about how easy it is to waste your whole life. No, you won’t waste your life in the eyes of the world because the world has a different standard on how success and failure is judged. To illustrate, to the worldly mind, a man like Solomon was a success and the apostle Paul was a failure (in the mind of the carnal Corinthians).
The Preacher’s Encouragement: “You Are Going to Die”
Ha! What a way to start a sermon! Doesn’t sound very encouraging! Oh but it is. “The day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning…for it is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (7:1-2).
Consider this: how many times do you think the name “God” is used in Ecclesiastes? It is used 34 times not including the many times God is implicitly referenced by context and pronouns. In spite of the emphasis on life under the sun (life without godly considerations), the Preacher’s focus is the impossibility of taking God out of the equation. Look at the text before us:
11:9 “…for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”
12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…”
12:7-8 “…and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.” Notice how these sentences come together. How long before the “spirit returns to God who gave it?” Lake a breath! Like a vapor!
12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard: fear God and keep his commandments…”
12:14 “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
These words are not intended negatively. These are encouraging words because this is reality, and we have the opportunity to get ready for it.
The Preacher’s Epilogue: The Words of the Wise (9-12)
The Preacher obviously places himself in the category of those inspired by God. His words are “given by one Shepherd.” Notice that he gives words that are delightful , that is, they are words to be desired and will give pleasure to the hearer. And they are words of truth. A person could argue with his words, but the practice of the rest of his life under the sun would prove him wrong.
Notice in verse 11 the value of the inspired words given by God, the one Shepherd.
They are like goads. A goad is a prod to move a farm animal in the direction desired. Goads are pointy at the end so that the animal is more motivated to move. At first thought, you wouldn’t think we would need a goad. But that is why the word of God is so important. We tend not to make changes in our lives. We get comfortable. But the word of God is intended to make us uncomfortable so that we move to where God wants us to be.
Therefore, though God’s word can be of great comfort, it also has parts that are described as a “two-edged sword” that penetrates the “thoughts and intents of our heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
God’s word is also like “nails firmly fixed.” A firmly fixed nail or screw is what we use to hold shelving and other heavy objects on a wall. The word of God is the only thing in the world that we can depend on to hang the future of our lives.
Jeremiah 10:23 “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” As much as we would like to think so, we are completely incapable of directing our own lives without without totally destroying ourselves.
Think of how this applies to marriage &
How it applies to parenting.
Notice also the word “Shepherd.” That is the position God is taking with us. We are like sheep, completely helpless to preserve out lives. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not be in want.
Vs. 12: “Beware of anything beyond these—of the making of many books there is no end.”
Give attention to the word, “Beware.” This is not a suggestion. It is a strong warning about all writings that are not “given by one Shepherd.” Isn’t it interesting that nothing has changed in 2500 years. The message of God’s word still competes with the writings and wisdom of man. There are millions of books telling us how to raise kids, have a great marriage, how to get the most out of life, how to solve stress/anxiety, and every other concern that living life under the sun brings.
This isn’t to say that all books written on these subjects are bad. To be sure, some are from a strong biblical perspective, applying God’s word in practical ways for today’s culture. But the challenge is, when our lives are those painful tribulations, are we turning completely to the one Shepherd? Who is turning to Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song?
For example, just in Ecclesiastes, who is remembering:
“What is crooked cannot be made straight”?
“And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure…and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind…”?
“There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his labor…for apart from him who can eat and who can have enjoyment”?
“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after wind.”?
“Two is better than one…and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”?
“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money”?
“A good name is better than precious ointment”?
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider…”?
“Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life the he has given you…because that is your portion in life and in your toil…”?
“…the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong…but time and chance happen to them all”?
“Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench.”?
“Cast your bread on the waters, for you will find it after many days…He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”?
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…”?
We just studied all of the above, are we remembering it and living it?
The End of the Matter: What Makes You Whole? (13-14)
The word “duty” is not in the Hebrew. NKJV translates, “This is man’s all.”
What is “man’s all?” What makes man whole? What is everything our lives ought to be? Fear God and keep his commandments. That’s it!! Stop seeking it every place else! It is chasing the wind. How foolish.
Jesus said it:
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:53-56)
“For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Are you ready for Judgment? Or are you chasing the wind? Fear God and keep his commandments, and the blood of Jesus will cleanse you from all sin.
Conclusion: Don’t waste your life
Berry Kercheville
The post Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 – Don’t Waste Your Life appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
32 min
November 02, 2025 1 John 2:1-14
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
The post 1 John 2:1-14 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
42 min
October 31, 2025Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8 How to Live Life
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
How to Live Life
Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8
Introduction: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” The Preacher began his sermon with these words and ended his sermon with these words. It sounds so depressing, so hopeless. But if that is what we are thinking when we hear these words, we are sorely mistaken!
There are two reasons we are mistaken:
First, we are not reading “vanity” the way the Preacher intends it. As nearly every biblical scholar points out, the Hebrew word carries the idea of vapor, that which appears for a moment and then vanishes. In fact, 11:10 removes all doubt. No one, under any circumstances, even considering it as “under the sun,” would say that childhood and youth are meaningless, as translated by the NIV, or futility as rendered by other versions. To emphasize further, NASB deviates from translating “futility” when they come to 11:10 and they translate “fleeting.” Yes! That makes sense, especially in the context: “Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are fleeting.”
Second, when we realize that the Preacher has been teaching us that finding joy and pleasure under the sun is fleeting, soon vanishes without permanence, and therefore does not give lasting profit and fulfillment, he doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and pleasure in this life!
And that, is his message in this conclusion of his sermon.
Rejoice, Remove, Remember! (11:9–12:1)
Verses 7-8 are the introduction or foundation for the rest of our text. Do not let the uncertainties of life and future (3-6) cast a pale of discouragement over your life.
“Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” God has given us a wonderful gift of light and life. Every morning when the sun comes up we should be thankful and rejoice. Light and the sun are a daily message from God, just as the cloud and the fire in the wilderness, that God is present and only he is the ultimate source of life and light. John even begins his gospel with, “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind” (John 1:4).
In fact, these words are not only metaphorical, going outside and feeling the sun and the light helps defeat anxiety and “vexation.” Remember the Covid shutdown. Depression was rampant.
In the next three verses, the Preacher turns to those who are young. Young people, this is the best of the best! These admonitions need to be examined carefully and repeatedly rehearsed to make sure you are staying on track.
Verse 9:
“Rejoice in your youth…” It is very possible that those of you who are young have thought God doesn’t want you to find enjoyment and pleasure. It is not so. Even Paul makes this point in 1 Timothy 6:17, “…do not set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
There are many things your “eyes” and your “heart” may want to explore and enjoy. But there is a warning in the text: All things that you choose will be brought into judgment before God! Therefore, consider how you should navigate this period in your life. Obviously, to involve yourself in anything sinful or that will weaken your spiritual life must be excluded. This means you must continue to make careful evaluations of what you might pursue.
Therefore, there are at least two considerations:
First, youth is when you will be pursuing a career. Your choice can greatly affect your spiritual life! If you choose a career that typically requires a lot of extra hours and time away from home, that will have a significant affect on your marriage, your family, and your walk with God. Warning! Do not allow the glitter of more money affect the priority of God and your family!
The second consideration is that recreational activities can become addicting to the point that God, the church (God’s people), and your personal spiritual growth get little attention. This is super dangerous and sinful! Recreation is an idol in America, and Christians have too many times bought into this idolatry. Remember, it is quite easy to revert to “life under the sun” — chasing the wind… and all is vanity.
Verse 10: “Remove vexation from your heart and pain from your body…”
“Vexation” is translated different ways: “pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, worry, anxiety, emotional stress.”
“Pain” in the Hebrew indicates, “troubles, calamity, disaster, evil, wickedness, that which is harmful.”
In all, the idea is, pay attention to Proverbs! There is a cause and effect to everything you do and everything you choose, and everything you say. As NIV states, “Banish” these activities from you life.
Let’s get something straight: everyone suffers the consequences of their actions and words, and young people are the ones most susceptible to this. When you deal with the above—pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, and emotional stress—look at yourself first! You are the most likely source of your misery, and there is no sense in that happening, especially in youth.
The concluding words of verse 10 are significant! Your days of youth are going to disappear like a vapor, never to return. Don’t waste these beautiful years!
12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…” If you are young, you may not realize the full significance of this exhortation. Consider why this is valuable:
First, as the text points out, the early years of your life is when you have the most desire, the most energy, and the most flexibility with your time. That will change in a very short time, especially if you get married and have children.
Second, it is in your youth when you set the course of your life. If you begin by choosing a path in which you compromise your spirituality and commitment to God, it will become increasingly difficult to change that course.
Third, the sins of youth, (“sowing your wild oats”), result in a major scarring of your mind. Those sins create strong memories and increased temptations in your life even after repentance.
Fourth, you have no guarantee that you will repent. You have no idea how deep you mind goes when you stay in sin and you far away from God your heart is moving. And that is true even if you still “go to church.”
12:2-7 A fun metaphorical picture of old age and death. As we read it, we typically get a chuckle out of the descriptions. But once we have had our laughs, we need to understand how serious the Preacher is. The journey death is inevitable. Therefore, there are two truths that are inevitable:
“The spirit returns to God who made it.” This fact is out of our control. It is going to happen whether we accept it or not. We will go back into the hands of God and God will control our ultimate destiny. It is only now that we have a choice.
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Read those words this way: Everything is going to fly by with incredible speed. You have a very short time to make the right decisions.
Conclusion: Therefore, “Rejoice, Remove, and Remember!”
Berry Kercheville
The post Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8 How to Live Life appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
41 min
October 30, 2025 2 Kings 8:16 – 10:36
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
The post 2 Kings 8:16 – 10:36 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
43 min
October 26, 2025Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8 How to Live Life
How to Live Life
Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8
Introduction: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” The Preacher began his sermon with these words and ended his sermon with these words. It sounds so depressing, so hopeless. But if that is what we are thinking when we hear these words, we are sorely mistaken!
There are two reasons we are mistaken:
First, we are not reading “vanity” the way the Preacher intends it. As nearly every biblical scholar points out, the Hebrew word carries the idea of vapor, that which appears for a moment and then vanishes. In fact, 11:10 removes all doubt. No one, under any circumstances, even considering it as “under the sun,” would say that childhood and youth are meaningless, as translated by the NIV, or futility as rendered by other versions. To emphasize further, NASB deviates from translating “futility” when they come to 11:10 and they translate “fleeting.” Yes! That makes sense, especially in the context: “Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are fleeting.”
Second, when we realize that the Preacher has been teaching us that finding joy and pleasure under the sun is fleeting, soon vanishes without permanence, and therefore does not give lasting profit and fulfillment, he doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and pleasure in this life!
And that, is his message in this conclusion of his sermon.
Rejoice, Remove, Remember! (11:9–12:1)
Verses 7-8 are the introduction or foundation for the rest of our text. Do not let the uncertainties of life and future (3-6) cast a pale of discouragement over your life.
“Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” God has given us a wonderful gift of light and life. Every morning when the sun comes up we should be thankful and rejoice. Light and the sun are a daily message from God, just as the cloud and the fire in the wilderness, that God is present and only he is the ultimate source of life and light. John even begins his gospel with, “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind” (John 1:4).
In fact, these words are not only metaphorical, going outside and feeling the sun and the light helps defeat anxiety and “vexation.” Remember the Covid shutdown. Depression was rampant.
In the next three verses, the Preacher turns to those who are young. Young people, this is the best of the best! These admonitions need to be examined carefully and repeatedly rehearsed to make sure you are staying on track.
Verse 9:
“Rejoice in your youth…” It is very possible that those of you who are young have thought God doesn’t want you to find enjoyment and pleasure. It is not so. Even Paul makes this point in 1 Timothy 6:17, “…do not set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
There are many things your “eyes” and your “heart” may want to explore and enjoy. But there is a warning in the text: All things that you choose will be brought into judgment before God! Therefore, consider how you should navigate this period in your life. Obviously, to involve yourself in anything sinful or that will weaken your spiritual life must be excluded. This means you must continue to make careful evaluations of what you might pursue.
Therefore, there are at least two considerations:
First, youth is when you will be pursuing a career. Your choice can greatly affect your spiritual life! If you choose a career that typically requires a lot of extra hours and time away from home, that will have a significant affect on your marriage, your family, and your walk with God. Warning! Do not allow the glitter of more money affect the priority of God and your family!
The second consideration is that recreational activities can become addicting to the point that God, the church (God’s people), and your personal spiritual growth get little attention. This is super dangerous and sinful! Recreation is an idol in America, and Christians have too many times bought into this idolatry. Remember, it is quite easy to revert to “life under the sun” — chasing the wind… and all is vanity.
Verse 10: “Remove vexation from your heart and pain from your body…”
“Vexation” is translated different ways: “pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, worry, anxiety, emotional stress.”
“Pain” in the Hebrew indicates, “troubles, calamity, disaster, evil, wickedness, that which is harmful.”
In all, the idea is, pay attention to Proverbs! There is a cause and effect to everything you do and everything you choose, and everything you say. As NIV states, “Banish” these activities from you life.
Let’s get something straight: everyone suffers the consequences of their actions and words, and young people are the ones most susceptible to this. When you deal with the above—pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, and emotional stress—look at yourself first! You are the most likely source of your misery, and there is no sense in that happening, especially in youth.
The concluding words of verse 10 are significant! Your days of youth are going to disappear like a vapor, never to return. Don’t waste these beautiful years!
12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…” If you are young, you may not realize the full significance of this exhortation. Consider why this is valuable:
First, as the text points out, the early years of your life is when you have the most desire, the most energy, and the most flexibility with your time. That will change in a very short time, especially if you get married and have children.
Second, it is in your youth when you set the course of your life. If you begin by choosing a path in which you compromise your spirituality and commitment to God, it will become increasingly difficult to change that course.
Third, the sins of youth, (“sowing your wild oats”), result in a major scarring of your mind. Those sins create strong memories and increased temptations in your life even after repentance.
Fourth, you have no guarantee that you will repent. You have no idea how deep you mind goes when you stay in sin and you far away from God your heart is moving. And that is true even if you still “go to church.”
12:2-7 A fun metaphorical picture of old age and death. As we read it, we typically get a chuckle out of the descriptions. But once we have had our laughs, we need to understand how serious the Preacher is. The journey death is inevitable. Therefore, there are two truths that are inevitable:
“The spirit returns to God who made it.” This fact is out of our control. It is going to happen whether we accept it or not. We will go back into the hands of God and God will control our ultimate destiny. It is only now that we have a choice.
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Read those words this way: Everything is going to fly by with incredible speed. You have a very short time to make the right decisions.
Conclusion: Therefore, “Rejoice, Remove, and Remember!”
Berry Kercheville
The post Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8 How to Live Life appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
44 min
October 26, 2025 1st John 1:1-10
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
The post 1st John 1:1-10 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
38 min
October 26, 2025Ephesians 3:14-21 Strengthened With Power In The Inner Being
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Strengthened with Power in Your Inner Being
Ephesians 3:14-21
Introduction: Take a moment and think about the content of your prayers. What do you pray about most? When Paul prayed in Romans 10:1, he said, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” Paul explained prayer as that which originates from the deep desire of the heart.
We all pray about what concerns us, and we are evidently not concerned about matters we do not include in our prayers. Prayer expresses desire. Prayer exposes the desires of our heart.
In my personal studies, I have been searching for foundational themes that are not ordinarily observed in the NT letters. Our tendency is to notice what is immediately obvious but miss messages that are critical our growth and discipleship.
In this lesson, we will look at one of the neglected messages in Ephesians. Ephesians has obvious applications in chapters 4-6, and if we have been good observers, we are super impressed with God’s purposes in chapters 1-3 that all things are to be to the praise of his glory.
However, what is often easily passed over, is Paul’s prayer. His prayer begins in 1:15 and concluded in 3:14-21.
The question for us is, do we care about this prayer? Is this prayer the desire of our hearts and the expression of our words to God?
Seeing the Main Emphasis
1:15-20 Simply put, our eyes need to be opened and enlightened to know God’s purpose that we will be “his glorious inheritance,” and to know “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us” (illustrated by the resurrection and glorification of Jesus in the heavenly places.
Paul’s sentences are long, and thus his words can be complicated. But notice especially the last words, “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us.” God’s power toward us is the key to the rest of chapters 2-3 and is the main message of the conclusion of the prayer in 3:14-21.
Therefore, notice this emphasis in 3:14-21.
Vs. 16: “that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner being…” Did you notice the power and strength in the inner being. It is not difficult to understand why we need strength in our inner being. Discouragement is not uncommon for all Christians, especially as we think of our failures. Sometimes we think, “Will I ever get this together?”
Vs. 17-18 “…that you, may be rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth…”
Vs. 19 “…to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Vs. 20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly…according to the power at work within us…”
Vs. 21 “…to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” The verse bookends the first three chapters.
4:1 “I therefore…urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” This verse is the pivotal point of the Ephesian letter. This is the reason for Paul’s prayer. We must walk worthy of our calling, but what is needed is the fulfillment of the prayer!
Learning the Prayer
“I bend my knees before the Father, from whom the whole [NASB; NET] family in heaven and on earth derives its name…”
We read this so easily, but how amazing that Paul is doing what we all can do and directly appealing our Creator and Father, to the one who is Father over the whole family, whether that family is in heaven presently with him or that same family who are still on earth.
It is this whole family that derives our name from him.
“…according to the riches of his glory he may grant you…” The appeal is that God will take the inexhaustible riches of his glory and share that with us. God’s purpose has always been to glorify us so that he may be glorified.
“…to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
Notice that the power comes by the strength of the Spirit, which then brings about the indwelling of Christ in our hearts. To have Christ dwelling in us and the work of the Spirit, or even the Spirit dwelling in us, are deeply connected and are referring to the same principle.
Some might be confused by this, thinking that since these Ephesians are already Christians, isn’t Christ and the Spirit already dwelling in them? True, but Paul is speaking about something greater, a process that is fulfilled in degrees.
The above is solved by understanding the two Greek words that are translated by “inhabit” or “dwell.”
The first word is referenced by Paul in 2:19 when he speaks of strangers and aliens. These temporarily inhabit a place, but it is not their home. They are briefly living away from home.
The second word, the “dwelling of Christ in our hearts,” refers to a permanent dwelling place, an abiding home. Christ living and abiding in the heart of the Christian.
Colossians 2:9-10 “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him.” In the same way the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, so the fullness of Jesus is intended to dwell in us.
The contrast is a place to lodge while on a journey and the Master of a house dwelling in his own home. We have become the Master’s dwelling, and where he dwells is where he rules, and where he rules he conforms the house to reflect who he is and all his fullness.
If Christ has made his home in you, you are going to look like he lives there!
“…rooted and grounded in love…” You will notice that “love” is used again in verse 19 in reference to the “love of Christ.”
“Rooted and grounded” are metaphors of a well-rooted tree and a house built on a solid foundation. The message is that our lives are lived by a strong, solid, deep love we have for God, knowing his love for us. Our relationship with him is rooted and grounded in love. Therefore, we are not just obeying commands.
This is the key to our stability in living in Christ and pursuing Christ about all. If it is not grounded in love, it is not grounded!
“…strength to comprehend…and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”
God wants us to comprehend the love of Christ in its breadth, length, height, and depth. We might say that Christ’s love is large enough to reach the worst sinner and high enough to exalt us to the greatest heights of heaven. His love is beyond our own ability to truly grasp, just as his riches are unsearchable. One person said, “Doubtless we shall spend eternity exploring his inexhaustible riches of grace and love.” (Stott)
“…with all the saints…” The strength to comprehend the love of Christ can only be attained with all the saints. Just as John said, we cannot say we love God whom we cannot see if we do not love our brother whom we can see (1 Jn. 4:20-21). We need all the people of God living and abiding together to understand the love of Christ. What a statement! It is so true!
“…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
The Greek word translated “with” in most versions does not properly impact us with the message. The word is eis (“for the purpose of, unto” – ASV, NET). In other words, the idea is to bring us to the fullness of God — becoming in every way like him in the depth of “our innermost being.”
It is truly a radical thought, an intimidating goal and ultimate purpose of God as he uses “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us.”
We have finished the prayer, and you see Paul’s lofty request, but that is not what is most important. Is this your heart’s desire? Is this your prayer? But why should that be our heart’s desire? Why should that be our prayer? Is it just because it would be really cool to come to the very fullness of who God is? “Well sure,” we might say, “but just to be saved is good enough for me!” Oh! That chapter division has again caused us to stumble.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” Did you chose to follow Christ? Well, this is it! This is what you chose! No, no, you didn’t choose to simply be baptized to escape your sins. God did not free you from something; he freed you for something. This is about what God wants and God’s purpose for himself. This is not about what we want or what we would prefer. This is his plan, his story, and Ephesians 3:14-21 is the “rest of the story!”
How Do We Get There?
First and foremost, it is done by the “immeasurable greatness of his power” that was demonstrated in the resurrection of Christ, with the same resurrection power used to bring us into the fullness of God.
It is done by the strength and power of God through his Spirit. People like to define every detail of how God uses his power, but it is not necessary. If we had read simply that we are “strengthened with the power of God in our inner being,” we might not be so interested in knowing how. God does it, and the Spirit is God’s representative to accomplish our change.
When Paul told the Corinthians that he was revealing to them the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit, we certainly know that access to learning about the mind of Christ in the revealed word is necessary to reach the goal. But if that were all there is to it, why did Paul pray? Look at the life of Joseph, or any of God’s faithful. How did God bring them to his fullness? Yes, he revealed his will to them, but he also was a continual part of their lives, whether in the trials of Job or circumstances beyond our control, God is transforming us.
Vs. 20-21 summarizes all we need to know:
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Look at the words: exceedingly — abundantly — above — all.
Exceedingly, abundantly, above, all that we ask or think. We can’t even imagine it, but he can do far more.
“To him be glory in the church…” This was the beginning of Ephesians, and this is the conclusion. There is no way God gets the glory until he brings us to the fullness of himself.
Conclusion: Is this what you live for? Is this your prayer and your daily desire? This is what it means to be a disciple of Christ. What joy! What glory! What an amazing God!
Berry Kercheville
The post Ephesians 3:14-21 Strengthened With Power In The Inner Being appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
35 min
October 23, 2025 2 Kings 6:24 – 8:15
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
The post 2 Kings 6:24 – 8:15 appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
45 min
October 19, 2025 Giving God Our Best in Hospitality
Quarterly Group Studies Class / Speaker:Adam Malone
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40 min
October 19, 2025 1 & 2 Corinthians Themes: Saving Others
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
1 & 2 Corinthian Themes: Saving Others
Introduction: As I have mentioned in introducing these lessons, because Paul deals with so many of the Corinthian “errors,” we are often distracted from deeper themes in these two letters. On the surface, Paul’s letters focus on correcting sinful practices. However, all sins have at their root deeper heart issues. When the heart is changed, the sins disappear. This is one of the major mistakes that most of us preachers have made: more emphasis on stopping the sin than changing the heart.
That brings us to the foundational theme for this lesson: Paul’s emphasis on being aware of the spiritual condition of people around us, whether those who are Christians or those who haven’t come to Christ.
Paul’s Approach
Before you think that Paul gives a number of commands for the Corinthians to be more evangelistic, that is not true. In fact, what is uniquely absent from all the NT epistles is an apostolic urging for the first century Christians to go save others. That should be a major concern for us when we compare them with us.
No one needed to tell them to tell 1st Christians to seek to save others. It was prophesied repeatedly that the Messiah’s disciples would spread the gospel message, and the only direct command given in the NT was the Great Commission. Saving souls was an automatic response by all Christians in the book of Acts, and it continued for over 1900 years in all churches.
Suddenly, halfway through the 20th century that emphasis began to change. Our churches typically need to be urged and reminded that saving others was Jesus’ primary goal, the primary goal of the apostles, and the primary goal of all who came to Christ.
The point is, Paul’s approach was not, “Go out and teach the gospel,” his approach was twofold:
First, God allowed Paul to use himself as an example for all Christians. 1 Corinthians 4:16 “I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.”
Paul taught Christians that we are called to “work together with God” (2 Cor. 6:1) to save others.
Paul taught that Jesus made us a new creation so that we look at other differently than before:  “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.” (2 Cor. 5:15-18 NLT)
It is scary to realize how easy it is for a church to become so inward thinking, so “this is all about us,” that saving a soul is not only absent from the church’s work and goal, lost souls come and go and even fall into the lap of Christians and preachers without any desire to save their soul!
It begs the question: Are we really the prophetic picture of the Messiah’s disciples? Do we really care and have the love of God as a shepherd for a lost sheep and as a father for his lost son? Does it truly disturb us that this person is “destroyed for whom Christ died” (1 Cor. 8:11)?
Paul’s Emphasis on Saving Others (ch. 8-10)
1 Corinthians 8:8-13 “Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do. But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak. For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened” to eat food offered to idols? So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed. If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.” (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Paul’s Description of Winning People to Christ, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
First, please note Paul’s primary argument and discussion in chapters 8-10. The primary argument of the text is teaching the Corinthians the need to give up self and one’s rights so that others may be saved. Paul first warns them about giving themselves up to save believers, but then turns to outsiders. Paul uses himself as an example of giving up one’s rights when he refused to accept wages from them so that he would not “we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (9:12).
He follows this with a lengthy paragraph on the sacrifices he makes in his effort to save others:
9:19 “…that I might win the more.”
9:20 “…that I might win those under the law.”
9:21 “…that I might win those outside the law.”
9:22 “…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
Then after Paul gives a warning about falling back into idolatry (10:1-22), he again gives a caution when eating meat even in a common dinner party (10:23-30). His conclusion (10:31—11:1), reminds them that there are three classes of people they must consider that the “many” may be saved: Jews, Greeks, and the church of God.
Note Paul’s words of, “I try to please everyone in everything…” is the idea of doing all that can be done, “not seeking my own advantage,” (in other words, I keep my needs, wants, and desires secondary to the “many, that they may be saved.”
The concluding words in 11:1 are the clincher. One of the major errors by teachers and commentaries on the Corinthian letters has been to interpret Paul’s illustrations of how he lives for Christ as an argument defending his apostleship. Not only does Paul deny this in 2 Corinthians 12:19, but his repeated admonition to “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” should take away any doubt. Paul is illustrating Christ, and therefore must be followed.
Therefore, when we read the Corinthian letters, we should continually be saying to ourselves, “Look at Paul! That’s how I am supposed to live.”
Let’s conclude with a more careful look at 9:19-27.
Vs. 19: “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.”
Have you considered how this affects our lives on a daily basis? We are slaves to our neighbors, our co-workers, and those we “touch” each day. We do this so that, as Paul says in verse 22, “that by all means I might save some.”
Now if I have made myself a slave and if you have made yourself a slave, am I allowed to choose myself and my “advantage” over the lost? No, because Christ became a servant to all, I must also make myself a servant to others. Look at it this way. I am willingly making them my priority when it comes to anything needed to bring them to Christ.
Vs. 20: “I became as a Jew…” indicates Paul had given up his “Judaistic” lifestyle, but would quickly return to it in order to save other Jews. This was illustrated clearly when Paul took Timothy and circumcised him so that they would both have a better opportunity to teach other Jews. That example makes it clear to us the kind of sacrifices that might be necessary.
Vs. 24-27 drives Paul’s point home. Teaching and saving others takes great discipline. It is painful discipline. It is grueling discipline. It is a discipline that is looking win a race, not just practice for a race.
Conclusion: Is this what you have seen in churches? Is this the lifestyle that we are following? It doesn’t take long to realize the radical message Paul gave the Corinthians.  “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Berry Kercheville
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33 min