God's Word preached.

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:15 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Wait a minute… God commands an attitude of joy in the midst of a world where sin keeps succeeding, injustice is the norm, and life is full of disappointment and frustration? That's outrageous! And yet, that's exactly what He does. The believer is not called to deny the pain of life "under the sun," but to receive God’s providential goodness with contentment and joy. Ironically, His aim is to teach us that joy and contentment can't be found in good things or better circumstances, but in trusting in Jesus and being content with His goodness while we live in this dark, uncertain world. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:12–14 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Job is the very first book of the Bible to be written. Surprisingly, its message is that God is not karma. God is not simply handing out good and bad results according to what we do. The reality is much deeper: God is sovereign, just, and good. The good things in the world are the proof of that—but shockingly, so is the evil. God uses suffering to warn, to refine, and ultimately to do good in peoples' lives. As Solomon wrestles with what looks like injustice, his conclusion is not cynicism but faith—trusting that God will do what is right. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:11 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- When there is no punishment for crime, people commit more of it. Those are the cold, hard facts about fallen human nature. It also shows God's design for government. Civil government 'bears the sword' for the sole purpose of punishing crime and protecting its citizens (Romans 13:1–5). When it fails to do that, people are encouraged to do evil, and society pays the price. The answer to crime is not sentimentality, money, or excuses, but a biblical understanding of government, sin, and the need to treat crime as crime. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Matthew 28:16–20 -- Speaker: Don Sharp -- The Great Commission is not an optional extra for a few especially zealous Christians. It is Christ’s command to His whole church. Jesus sends His people into the world to make disciples, baptize them, teach them to obey everything He commanded, and do it all with confidence in His ongoing presence. The church is called not merely to gather but to go, and to carry the gospel with urgency, obedience, and hope. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Hebrews 12:1–2 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Salvation does not exempt Christians from the common troubles of life. When believers are weighed down by trials, what we need is not positive thinking or self-determination. We need a Savior who has endured the cross, who sees the glory on the other side, and who reigns at God’s right hand, always praying for us. Because Jesus will finish the faith that he started in us, we can lay aside hinderances, fight the sin that entangles us, and keep running with hopeful endurance. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: John 3:16 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- John 3:16 is often thought to be about who Jesus died for or about man's ability to believe. In reality, it doesn't talk about either of those ideas, but what it does talk about is the love of God and what it accomplishes. God loved the world in this way: he gave his Son with the result that believing sinners receive eternal life. What John 3:16 ultimately means is that if you trust Christ, you are loved, secure, and already given the life he promised. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:10 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Counterfeits always look and feel like the real thing. This is why false faith is so dangerous. Jesus warned that many who call him “Lord, Lord!” today will be exposed as strangers to him on the Day of his appearing. Genuine salvation is not measured by religious activity or experiences, but by a changed life that bears lasting fruit—such as faith, repentance, striving against sin, and love for the Lord's people. The question is not whether you "believed" at some point in the past, but whether you're a believer, present tense. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:2–9 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- God has designed government to do one thing: punish evil and protect life. The reality, however, is that sin has turned this good institution into one of the most common sources of violence and oppression. As our culture shifts, our laws shift, and the Christian increasingly faces a hard question: When do we submit to government, and when does faithfulness to Christ require us to disobey? Scripture teaches us that blind rebellion and blind compliance are both equally foolish, but a mind that is shaped by the Word of God will know the right time and way to obey—or disobey—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 8:2–9 -- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- God has designed government to do one thing: punish evil and protect life. The reality, however, is that sin has turned this good institution into one of the most common sources of violence and oppression. As our culture shifts, our laws shift, and the Christian increasingly faces a hard question: When do we submit to government, and when does faithfulness to Christ require us to disobey? Scripture teaches us that blind rebellion and blind compliance are both equally foolish, but a mind that is shaped by the Word of God will know the right time and way to obey—or disobey—to the glory of Christ. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Titus 1:1–3 -- Guest speaker: Chanton Petersen -- Why should we come to the fellowship of the saints when they gather corporately? If God is both glorious and satisfied in Himself, why does He call us out to spend eternity with Him? Why does God intensely pursue our holiness? The answer to these questions is ultimately found in the promise made by the Father to the Son before the foundations of the world. The reason that the Son came into this world—the reason He came to die—is to keep that promise. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:1-- Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Some people see life with true clarity, yet are crushed by what they see. Others love Christ but still think and react like the world around them. True wisdom is something different altogether. When faith in Jesus and a thoroughly biblical way of thinking meet, a person not only sees reality as God sees it, but they walk through it with steady, humble confidence. This kind of wisdom doesn’t just sharpen the mind; it softens the heart—changing our arrogance and contempt for others into the brightness of gracious humility. This kind of wisdom isn't something we can generate on our own. We have to get it from the One who is Wisdom and Grace—namely, the Lord Jesus. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:27–29 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Explanations abound for what’s wrong with the world: bad systems, bad leaders, or some particular group—maybe liberals, or Christians, or Jews, or men in general. The real reason, however, is that people are sinners, and that includes all of us. No fact in existence is more obvious, yet none is as ignored or as unacceptable. God made human beings upright, but we've spent our lives blame-shifting, destroying ourselves and others, and inventing new ways of doing evil. But the good news is that the God we’ve rejected has provided the only means of redemption: His only Son, the Lord Jesus. Through a recognition of our corruption, God brings us to the cross of Christ—to forgiveness, redemption, and the uprightness we were created for. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:25–26 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Sexual immorality has become the air we breathe in the culture today. Finding it requires no effort; it's avoiding it that takes work. Scripture warns that slavery to sexual sin is “more bitter than death,” because it erodes life, hollows out the mind and the soul, and ends in eternal destruction. Jesus exposes the monstrosity of sexual immorality as well as its consequences, and he alone holds out real hope for every immoral person. In Christ, we find full forgiveness for every sin, fellow travelers to walk with in the light, and fail-proof marching orders for fighting the good fight of faith. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:21–24 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Do you really see yourself clearly? According to God's Word, our biggest problem is not “out there” but in the mirror. You and I are fallen, finite, and deeply sinful. When we understand this the way God wants to, the result is not humiliation, but humility and patience toward others, who are no different than we are. A realistic view of self breaks us from trusting ourselves and drives us to trust Christ, in whom God's true wisdom is found. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ephesians 2:13 Speaker: Troy McMillan -- Sinners who were once far from God can draw near to God through the blood of Christ. That is Paul's message. By His sacrifice, Jesus breaks down every barrier between God and man and unites His people in one body. The contrast between our former hopelessness apart from Christ and our new life in Christ magnifies the riches of God’s mercy, grace, and love. When believers keep in mind thae “pit from which we’ve been dug,” our gratitude is deepened, our assurance is strengthened, and our love for the Lord's people is fueled as we stand together at the foot of the cross. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:20 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Is Christianity about becoming a better person or finding personal fulfillment? Not according to God. Scripture confronts us with the sobering truth that no one is righteous before a holy God. No one's efforts or supposed "goodness" can solve that problem. This is why we need Jesus: He suffered instead of sinners to give forgiveness and righteousness to everyone who trusts in Him. Christianity is not a call to self-improvement for good people. It’s a call to salvation for sinners. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:19 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- The problems we see in the state of California should cause us to ask ourselves: what shapes a society—politicians and policies, or the deep, presupposed, unexamined worldviews that drive them? God never gives us quick political fixes, but he does provide real solutions in the form of regular, faithful Christians. One believer with a mind shaped by Scripture and a heart anchored in Christ can do more lasting good than a whole slate of powerful leaders—even in a place like California. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:17 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Why do some people—sometimes even professing believers—seem to wreck their lives long before their time, while others grow into full maturity in Christ? There is a danger in willful, habitual, unrepentant sin. It invites catastrophic consequences, both in this life and in the life to come. The solution is the fear of the Lord—a true, saving, growing faith in Christ alone. Through Jesus, we are guarded from the self‑sabotage of untimely ruin and eternal destruction. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:16 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- What does real Christianity look like, and what does true spirituality consist of? While man-made standards and external add-ons might seem spiritual, they can't change the heart. In fact, most of the time, externalism does far more harm in the believer's life than good. It hinders our growth in Christ-likeness, robs the authority of Scripture in our lives, and threatens the unity of the church. The only solution to the corrosive power of externalism is a sincere faith in Christ and the maturing, refining work of the Word of God in our hearts. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Matthew 1:18–25 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- The claim that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin is one of the hardest pills for the natural human mind to swallow, and rightly so. If God is not God, then it's both impossible and unreasonable. Of course, in that case, Jesus is just another religious teacher, and sinners are without a Savior. But if God the Son was miraculously conceived by the virgin Mary, then “Immanuel” is not poetry but historical reality: God with us, born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago to save his people from their sins. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Romans 1:1–6 Speaker: Steve Black -- Much confusion and mystery surrounds the origins of Christmas. Even so, what has always stood at the center of Christmas as we understand it is the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is not merely about a baby in a manger. It's about the Savior who was born to die to reconcile God and sinners. In the coming of Christ—promised beforehand and declared in the Gospel—we celebrate the good news that God himself stepped into history to bear our sin and to bring us peace with him. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Isaiah 9:6 Speaker: Don Sharp -- Seven-hundred years before Christ ever walked the earth, Isaiah foretold the birth of a Savior who would bring light into a dark world. This promise found its beautiful fulfillment in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem—the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Through this precious gift we have hope, peace, and redemption. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:16–18 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Life is rarely “balanced.” But God never called us to balance—He called us to be centered. In today's message, we learn that Solomon warns everyone to avoid two spiritual ditches that run alongside all of us: on the one hand, unbelief, and on the other, defective righteousness. In a culture filled with counterfeit versions of Christianity, the Scriptures point us to the only safe ground: a life that is centered on Christ and guided by God's unchanging Word. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:13–15 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- It's common to hear Christians say that “God is in control”—but what does that mean? Does it mean that God controls inanimate objects, and possibly the weather and the animals as well? Does it mean merely that God reacts better than any human being to the unexpected? Or is it possible that God is actually the Planner and the Architect behind every event and Lord over every human heart? According to Scripture, if God is not sovereign and good, then God is not God. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: 1 Timothy 2:3–4 Guest Speaker: Brett Nelson -- When fear, awkwardness, or feelings of inadequacy keep us silent, how will those around us ever hear the only message that can save them from eternal judgment? God’s answer to that question is not gimmicks or a watered-down, man-centered message, but a renewed love for the lost, a clear grasp of the Gospel, and a willingness to share the truth in love. As we use God’s law to expose sin, and point sinners patiently, courageously, and wisely to Christ alone, we can trust the Holy Spirit to do what only he can do. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:11–12 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Is money really the answer to our biggest problems? Or, could it be that it's the root of our problems? Society seems to believe that the answer to both of those questions is 'Yes.' But could it be that our entire perspective on money is wrong? In today's passage, Solomon rejects the assumptions that money is evil and that material solutions can fix what’s broken. Instead, he points us to an accurate, biblical view of money that recognizes both its benefits and its limitations, and he ultimately points us to Christ, in whom we find real protection and meaning when every other shelter fails. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:7–10 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Why are we so quick to let anger get the best of us, and why do we long for the “good ol’ days,” imagining that they held more joy than what the Lord is doing today? In this second of two messages on the 'four wise and better pearls' found in these verses, we consider Solomon's assaults the roots of bitterness and nostalgia—and how Christ-centered faith and trust in God’s providence free us from both. True wisdom, which is found in Christ alone, melts away resentment and cultivates lasting contentment today. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Romans 1:16-17 Speaker: Steve Black -- How can anyone be made right with God? Paul declares that the Gospel alone has the power to save—revealing a righteousness that comes not by moral effort or good works, but by faith in Christ alone. In today's message, we consider Paul's uncovering of how justification is a gift from God, received through simple trust in Jesus, and how salvation is obtained through resting wholly on what Christ has done. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:7–10 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- True wisdom refuses to put a price tag on integrity, and the wise person plays the long game instead of calling it quits before things develop. These two truths are the first of four in a "string of pearls" found in Ecclesiastes 7:7–10. They remind us that true wisdom stays the course when temptation presses in on us, and that biblical faith endures when results seem slow to come. So whether it's a matter of integrity, or of patience with a situation or with other people, God’s way is always the long game, where character is better than compromise, and a patient spirit is better than the arrogance of immediate gratification. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:2–6 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Ecclesiastes 7:2–6 confronts our pleasure-driven culture with a stark truth: Wisdom grows not in laughter and entertainment, but in sorrow and sober reflection. Solomon reminds us that funerals are better than parties because the house of mourning teaches lessons no feast ever could—lessons about mortality, eternity, and what truly matters before God. In a generation consumed by amusement and allergic to rebuke, Scripture calls believers to see the refining mercy of sorrow, the sanctifying gift of correction, and the eternal wisdom of living for Christ instead of what feels good. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:2–6 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- In an age dominated by endless amusement and instant gratification, sober-mindedness is not only wise, but urgently necessary for anyone who wants to live for Christ. In this message, we will consider how a culture obsessed with entertainment has lost its capacity for clear thinking, meaningful relationships, and spiritual focus—a trend visible both in wider society and, all too often, within the church. Yet God calls believers to abandon the house of pleasure, and instead to embrace the mental and spiritual effort that is necessary for true discipleship. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Solomon opens Ecclesiastes 7 by turning our usual thinking on its head by forcing us to ask two surprising questions: Why is having character worth more than all the money in the world? And how can death possibly be better than birth? The answer is found in a transformed life and then eternal life after—both of which only come through faith in Christ. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 6:10–12 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- Life under the sun confronts us with the hard limits of our knowledge, our mortality, and our inability to control life. However, in the midst of these sobering limitations, Solomon points us past our aimless, arrogant striving toward humble faith in the One who alone can redeem us from the bondage of ignorance, impotence, and death. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 6:7–9 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- In today's passage, we see a man who appears to have it all—money, wealth, fame, a long life, and even many children. But in reality he's a man who has nothing, because he's spent his life living for himself and sacrificing everything and everyone around him—including his own soul—on the altar of his own selfish agenda. To the mind of God, that kind of life is ultimately a meaningless life, because it's a life that's devoid of the grace of God. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Isaiah 29:20–21 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, just outside of Salt Lake City. This seemingly watershed event marks the most significant assassination of its kind in the United States in half a century. In today's message, our aim is to think biblically about the murder of Charlie Kirk and, more broadly, about the day and age in which we live as American Christians in the 21st century. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 6:1–6 Speaker: Tony de la Riva -- In today's passage, we see a man who appears to have it all—money, wealth, fame, a long life, and even many children. But in reality he's a man who has nothing, because he's spent his life living for himself and sacrificing everything and everyone around him—including his own soul—on the altar of his own selfish agenda. To the mind of God, that kind of life is ultimately a meaningless life, because it's a life that's devoid of the grace 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 much should I give? Does Scripture command tithing, or giving 10%? Is it biblical to give online? Why are so many churches doing away with an offering? These are just some of the questions that many Christians have about the matter of giving. In this fourth and final message in our "Basics" series, we'll consider the what, the why, the who, the how, and the how much of giving from Paul's first and second letters to the Corinthian church. -- 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 -- According to God's Word, there is a direct connection between spiritual growth and the church. Christians do not grow in Christ-likeness through mysticism, self-effort, or even "personal devotions," but through the means that God himself has appointed for our growth. Those means are found in the ordinary aspects of body life in a biblical church. For this reason, it's absolutely crucial that churches follow the pattern laid out in Scripture. -- Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 Guest speaker: Pastor Lloyd Murphy of Firm Foundation Bible Church in Prescott Valley, AZ -- The most vivid and common analogy for the church in the New Testament is the body of Christ. Pregnant with meaning and implication, this analogy reflects God's profound and intentional design of the members of Christ's body. Each follower of Christ is uniquely positioned and equipped by the Spirit of God to make the church a harmonious blend of varied gifts. This sacred arrangement not only highlights our dependence on one another but also underscores the essential role every believer plays within the church.-- 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 -- Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:2 that "It is required of stewards that they be found faithful." A steward is someone who has been entrusted with something, and it is essential that he or she be a person who can be trusted and who is faithful with what has been placed in their care. As New Covenant believers who are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, Christians have been entrusted with Christ's church—his body, his bride, which he loves. -- 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 --When it comes to the local church, church leadership is a foundational matter. It is crucially important that Christians understand what elders are and what their responsibilities are. In this first message in our summer "Basics" series, we look at the matter of pastoral leadership and what the Bible has to say about it.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 Speaker: Tony de la Riva --Eating, drinking, working, and virtually every aspect of normal human life is good. That is because God is good, and he gives good things to his creatures, and his will is that we enjoy them. Why then are so many people so dissatisfied with life? The answer is not in their circumstances, but in their perspective. Miserable people are focused on everything that's wrong with life. By contrast, those who are content are those who are most mindful of the goodness of God and of the glory of Christ.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:13–17 Speaker: Tony de la Riva --There’s a tragically familiar pattern that has repeated itself throughout human history—one described by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:13–17: the devastating loss of wealth. But that’s not the worst part. The true tragedy lies in the fact that those who lose everything are often the very ones who spent their entire lives chasing what they ultimately could not keep. In this passage, God is calling us to recognize the fleeting nature of wealth and the sobering reality of facing eternity after a life spent pursuing riches instead of Christ.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 Speaker: Tony de la Riva --There is nothing new under the sun. That includes humanity's dysfunctional relationship with money and material wealth. What this should clearly teach us is that poverty is not the only trial associated with money. Prosperity is a trial as well, and it comes with its own unique set of temptations and opportunities to sin that poverty does not. If God's people are going to view and handle material wealth in a way that is biblical and that honors the Lord, there are a few things we're going to need to know about money as well as ourselves.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 Speaker: Tony de la Riva --In Solomon's day, three-thousand years ago, good economic policy looked like a king staying out of his citizens' hair and protecting them instead of trying to control them. In the West in 2025, that's still the case. God has designed government to do one thing: bear the sword for the protection of its people and the peace of society. When it does that, it enables and allows them to be what God designed people to be—namely, as creative and productive as possible with the means, the resources, and the opportunities he has providentially given us.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 Speaker: Tony de la Riva --It should come as no surprise that Scripture deals with economic policy. After all, Jesus is Lord over all creation, and the great goal of the Christian life is being conformed to the image of Christ, which includes having a biblical worldview. The more biblically Christians think about everything—including government and economics—the more opportunity we'll have to make an impact for Christ, and—more importantly—the more we'll honor him with our minds and our lives.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:4-7Speaker: Tony de la Riva--God calls his people to walk in integrity and to keep their word. Empty words and broken promises—no matter how well-intended or how spiritual they appear—are foolish, sinful, and a warning sign of a lack of saving faith. This is why the Word of God holds out such severe threats to those who lack integrity. But for those in Christ, God's judgment was absorbed in full by Jesus on the Cross, freeing us not to make excuses, but to walk in repentance, truth, and integrity from the heart.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1-3Speaker: Tony de la Riva--'A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in airing his own opinions' (Proverbs 18:2). In other words, wise people are learners, but fools love to hear themselves talk. In the context of the local church, this means that Christians should draw near in a spirit of wisdom and humility—to receive from God and to be edified through his Word. When we fail to do that, the result is confusion, chaos, and stunted spiritual growth for everyone. Today's text teaches us that humility is crucial if we are really going to benefit from the local church the way God intends.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:13-16Speaker: Tony de la Riva--It's surprising when a government leader claims to be able to solve the world's problems. It's even more surprising when a government leader actually believes that he can. But what is most surprising of all is how people continue to put their hopes in political saviors. Throughout all human history, fewer things are more obvious than government's inability to fix the world, but humanity continues to put its hopes in government. Thankfully, God has something to say to us about that.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Speaker: Tony de la Riva--We live in a day and age that is hostile toward relationships. People don’t see it that way, of course, but when we view social structures as threats to our personal happiness, relationships become our enemies whether we like it or not. Yet, in spite of the anti-social impulse of our world today, people are incurably relational. We need relationships, and we cannot help but seek them out. That is because we are made in the image of God. And for that reason, relationships are good.--Woodland Park Bible Church is located in North County, San Diego. Listen, read & learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wpbcSanMarcos.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.