Advertise on podcast: God's Word preached.

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:9 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Life is a mist, and marriage is a gift to cherish while we have it. God calls husbands to enjoy life with the wife they love—not by waiting for the right feelings, but by choosing the self-sacrificial love that Christ shows His church. If believers are going to enjoy marriage—or any relationship, for that matter—they have to embrace the responsibility to love others and must refuse to make personal happiness the measure of love. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:9, Genesis 1–2 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Rejoicing in Christ does not mean pretending that grief, uncertainty, and sin don't exist. It means learning to face those realities with confidence in a Savior who never changes. Joyful faith is a God-given means of contentment and comes as we stake our lives on a few simple realities: God is sovereign; He is for us in Christ; His discipline is faithful; and our sins are forgiven through his Cross. Even in our suffering, Jesus gives us every reason to rejoice. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:8 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Rejoicing in Christ does not mean pretending that grief, uncertainty, and sin don't exist. It means learning to face those realities with confidence in a Savior who never changes. Joyful faith is a God-given means of contentment and comes as we stake our lives on a few simple realities: God is sovereign; He is for us in Christ; His discipline is faithful; and our sins are forgiven through his Cross. Even in our suffering, Jesus gives us every reason to rejoice. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Acts 6:1–7 -- Speaker: Troy McMillan -- When a serious need and a threat to unity arose in the first local church, its leaders saw the urgency of the situation. Why did the church exist, and what were the responsibilities of the apostles? The issue was one of priorities, and the apostles saw that nothing could be allowed to supplant the prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. Their solution was the ordination of qualified servants who could be trusted to meet practical needs. The result was the protection of the unity of the body, the freeing up of the elders to focus on their central calling, and the advancement of the kingdom. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:7 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- How can Christians be content when the world is marked by sin, uncertainty, and death? Surprisingly, Scripture's answer to that is a command: Go—enjoy the ordinary gifts of God all around you in everyday life. Food, family, home, work, celebration, and daily pleasures—all are to be received as opportunities to worship Christ, never as objects of worship themselves. Because Jesus has reconciled us to God, we can put away anxiety and bitterness and simply enjoy the life that God has given us to the glory of Christ. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- There are three basic facts of life—three invincible and tragic realities that no one can escape: an unpredictable life, the certainty of death, and the corruption of sin within every human heart. Faith in Christ doesn't exempt people from the hardships of a fallen world. Success never comes without its losses and disappointments. No political program or human achievement will ever solve the root problems of this sin-cursed world. Yet, as long as life remains, there is hope. Those who are alive have the golden opportunity of turning from this dissolving world to a life of following Christ—the Creator Who made us for Himself and Who conquered death by His death and life. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Acts 6:1–7 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- The first major conflict in church history forced the church to deal with the matter of priorities. Unquestionably, the needs of its widows were real and urgent, and the church was obligated to help meet them. But is that because the church is fundamentally a charity or a social safety net? What does God want the church to be about? That first conflict teaches us that a biblical, NT church is defined by one all-surpassing priority—the faithful proclamation of God’s Word. If a church doesn't teach, it ceases to be a church. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Psalm 45 -- Guest speaker: Rick Anderson, Pastor at Faith Community Church (Oxnard, CA) -- In Psalm 45, we have a divine song of love that lifts our eyes to the beauty, majesty, and victory of Jesus Christ—the King who is fully God, full of grace, and worthy of all our affection. It isn't enough to merely observe Christ from a distance. We must behold Him as He is: the Savior who gave Himself for sinners, who reigns in righteousness, and who receives His redeemed people as His beloved bride. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Mark 8:27–38 -- Guest speaker: Brett Nelson -- Who is Jesus, and why follow him? Jesus' response to Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ reveals how easily human expectations can distort the meaning of discipleship. Surprisingly, Jesus responds by telling Peter that the Son of Man must suffer, die, and rise again—and that everyone who follows Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and refuse to be ashamed of Christ in a hostile world. These truths remind us that shallow discipleship will never lead sinners to the only Savior who bore the cross instead of sinners. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Acts 6:1–7 -- Speaker: Don Sharp -- How did the early church face its first serious internal challenge without losing sight of its mission? Cultural tensions and overlooked needs threatened the church's unity, but the apostles protected it by clarifying the priorities of its leaders and entrusting responsibility to wise, godly servants. This foundational passage calls every believer to pursue unity, serve faithfully, and keep the Word of God central. When they do that, Christ causes his church to grow in every way, spiritually and numerically. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Selected Scriptures -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- In our final Q&A message this summer, we discuss the covenants—how they fit together and why God has done things the way he has. If God's intent was always to save us in Christ, why did he establish the covenants with Abraham, Moses, and others? We also talk about "free will," what it means, and how it relates to God's sovereignty in election and predestination. When we look at the Bible's teaching on both of these topics, we learn that God's sovereign grace triumphs over human sin, to the praise of the glory of the grace of God in Christ. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Selected Scriptures -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- What does it mean to be “in Christ?” How should believers respond to guilt or doubt? What about aliens—do they really exist? When we consider the Bible's answers to those questions, what becomes clear is that the believer is secure in Christ—no matter how they feel from day to day or whatever life forms might or might not exist "out there." Whether the threats are from without or within, the Word of God calls us to rest in the love of God in Christ and to remain anchored in the sufficiency of Scripture and the sovereignty of God. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Selected Scriptures -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- How does the Holy Spirit guide believers, and how do I find the will of God? These are common questions that many Christians have. The Bible's answer is that the Holy Spirit's “leading” is tied to regeneration and to Scripture—not to inner impressions or mystical signs—and that God’s Word and God's providence reveal God's will. Ultimately, Scripture gives the Spirit-indwelt believer a clear, sufficient, practical framework for making wise, God-honoring decisions in every area of life. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Selected Scriptures -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Is the Holy Spirit a force or an energy, or is he actually a person? What is his role in our lives? Does he "lead us" by giving us a sense of peace, or feelings about what God wants us to do—and if not, then what exactly does he do? Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit and his work is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Christian life today, and believers and churches alike suffer as a result. When we let Scripture speak for itself, we discover that the Holy Spirit's ministry in our lives is directly tied to the Word of God, and the implications are massive. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Matthew 18:20 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- What does Jesus mean when He says that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there among them? Is this a promise about casual get-togethers, or is it about something more specific? This well-known and often-misquoted text means that Jesus reigns among churches that honor His Word, and that His presence and authority are in biblical local churches as they seek to deal faithfully with sin, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.