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We exist to glorify God by making disciples – helping people belong to Christ, grow in Christ, and reach the world for Christ. Everything we do hinges on this mission as we create a disciple-making movement from Southeast Michigan to the ends of the earth.
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Student Winter Retreats
The weather is changing, and that means we’re getting close to one of the most impactful trips of the year for our middle and high school students: the Oasis Winter Experience and Wake Winter Weekend! These retreats are life-changing weekends filled with worship, teaching, and community. It all takes place at the beautiful Timber Wolf […]
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We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions about who we are or how to get involved, we’re happy to help. Give us a call or use the form below and we’ll be in touch soon.
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Let us make a proper introduction. Click “I’m New” to learn about who we are and how you can be a part of it. Already call Woodside home? Select your location to find the campus of a Woodside Bible Church near you or sign in to get started.
kid’s ministry
At Woodside Bible Church, we love your kids. We believe each child is a precious and purposed gift from God and bursts with potential to be used by Him in incredible ways. Through our Kid’s Ministry program, each and every weekend we provide a safe environment for your child to flourish in the love of […]
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The desires to be used by God, to grow in intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and to find belonging with others have no age limit. Seniors at Woodside pursue worship, study, evangelism, and the discipleship of other believers in true community with one another. Join us in faithfully pursuing Christ and instilling His ways into […]
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Women are used by God in incredible ways, shaping our communities, churches, workplaces, and homes as ambassadors of the Gospel. As Woodside Women, we pursue God, empower one another, and compassionately serve our communities across Metro Detroit for His glory. Through Bible study, worship, and belonging, women are emboldened to shine the love and hope […]
local & global outreach
People everywhere desperately need Jesus – and we’re here to help you do something about it. Decide today to join hands with us in sharing the hope and message of Jesus Christ from our own backyards to the ends of the earth.
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I’m New
We exist to glorify God by making disciples – a purpose that is only fulfilled when we proclaim to the world that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Transformed in God’s grace, we radically love people so the world may see Christ. Join us in inviting others from our own neighborhoods to […]
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Young Adults
We are The Collective. We are a young adults ministry across Metro Detroit who gather to be changed by God’s Word, to surrender to Him in worship, and to find belonging in a Christ-centered community. Alongside weekend gatherings, we go deeper in relationship with God and each other through Bible study groups that meet in […]
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global 100
Woodside Global 100 is an initiative to deploy a new generation of 100 globally-minded Christian leaders. This 4-step program trains and equips Gospel ambassadors to plant churches and empower new followers of Jesus all over the world! Looking to learn more? We have discovery classes throughout the year, and our next classes meet in June! […]
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Generosity
What’s the point of our money? Why do we have what we have? As a church family, we’re embarking on a five-week journey of understanding Gospel-motivated generosity through our newest message series, Overflow. Alongside this eye-opening series, we invite you to join us in reading The Treasure Principle, in which author Randy Alcorn teaches us […]
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Share Your Story
God is on the move at Woodside Bible Church. We know many in our church family have a story to share about the way God’s working in your heart and life, and we’d love to hear it! When you share, others are inspired and encouraged in their own journey with Jesus. You’ll never know who […]
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Thank you for your interest in serving at Woodside! Because we love our people, we’ve created the Child Protection Program (CPP) to be completed by anyone who will be serving with minors or persons with special needs. This program is designed not only to protect those in our care, but our volunteers as well. Contact […]
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The Woodside Vision Foundation exists to support the vision of Woodside Bible Church by securing necessary funding that enables church ministry. Donations to the Vision Foundation are given above and beyond regular giving to Woodside’s general budget.
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Christmas at Woodside
Join us with your friends and family as we celebrate Christmas at Woodside! We’ll draw our Christmas series, Emmanuel, to a close as we rejoice together at our Lord and Savior’s birth. Look below for gathering times and locations.
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teen ministry
At Woodside Students Ministry there are three things we want everyone who walks through our doors to know: You are loved. You are not alone. You were meant for more. Through worship gatherings, small groups, events, retreats, bible study, and opportunities to serve, our teenage students grow in their faith in God, connect with others, […]
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Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming environment that provides opportunities for spiritual awareness, growth and fellowship for everyone who is part of this ministry. We believe that everyone has value and purpose to God.
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At Woodside, we are family. We’re here to navigate the difficulties of life with you. Through Care Ministries, we pursue God and discover healing as we look together to the One who gifts hope and restoration to every hurting heart.
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Kids Camp – Woodside Flip Camp
You’re invited to have a blast with us at Flip Camp, where we’ll learn that what we do today can change the world around us! Through interactive Bible teaching and laugh-out-loud activities, your kids will dive deeper into their faith as they discover that God made them for a purpose, He loves them, and they can make a difference by loving others. Click below to register for this unforgettable summer experience!
Woodside Preschool
The Woodside Preschool is a fully integrated program based on fundamental Biblical values. We are committed to providing the best care for your children through a nurturing environment that develops each child spiritually, emotionally, and socially in preparation for a transition into kindergarten. Kids at this age are active, moving, and curious, so we’ve created […]
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There is nothing greater than belonging to God’s family when we put our faith in Jesus – and that’s just the beginning! God designed each of us to live in community and, as Christ-followers, to belong to the local church. It’s here we worship together, encourage one another, and shine Christ’s love to our communities. […]
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Woodside’s ministry, across Southeast Michigan and beyond, is fully funded by you, the Woodside Family. Your belief in our shared mission – to help people belong to Christ, grow in Christ, and reach the world for Christ – empowers us to love and serve our communities as ambassadors of the Gospel. Your generosity to our general budget enables the operation and ministry […]
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Out of town? Missed a service? Want to share it with your friends? Look no further. Here you’ll find our online worship services from any of our Woodside locations. Click below to find a campus streaming near you, and we look forward to worshipping together!
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Worshipping from home this weekend? Enjoying a family vacation? No worries! Here you can access the full library of Woodside Kids video lessons to make sure your kid doesn’t miss a beat. Watch Now
Thanksgiving Boxes
Whether it’s grabbing a box or two as a family or committing to filling a few as a group, let’s continue to be a church that shows our communities the love of Christ! 1. Pick up a box from your campus, fill it with all the items from our shopping list below, and Return your […]
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Vision Spotlight
At the end of every year, we highlight a few strategic ways that you can leverage your above-and-beyond giving to advance the gospel locally, regionally, and globally during the Christmas season. Keep reading to discover the four key initiatives in our 2023 Christmas Vision Spotlight.
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Spring Serve
On May 6, all of Woodside’s campuses are joining hands for one shared mission: to serve our communities together. Each of our church campuses will be contributing to their local areas in different ways, and you’re invited to be part of it! We’re excited to see how the Holy Spirit moves in our neighborhoods as […]
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Woodside’s magazine, The Woodsider, is released semiannually and available to you by subscription. If you’d like to receive future editions, subscribe below.
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Shine on 2024
Shine On is an incredible prom-like experience for adults with disabilities. The heart behind this event is to celebrate the individual worth, value, and irreplaceable purpose of our special-needs brothers and sisters in Christ. Guests at Shine On will be provided crowns and tiaras as they’re welcomed to the event with a full red-carpet experience. […]
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Through men’s Bible study, worship, mentoring, and authentic community with others, the men of Woodside Bible Church are challenged to grow in relationship with Christ and pursue godly manhood. Whether in Groups, Bible studies, Christian men’s retreats, or other opportunities for connection and growth, you’ll connect with Christian men across Metro Detroit and uncover God’s […]
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how to know Christ
God created us to live in perfect unity with Him, but when humanity chose pride and a desire for power (Genesis 3), sin created a divide between every human soul and our God (Isaiah 59:2). The longing in God’s heart for each and every one of us to be in a relationship with Him, to […]
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Covid-19 Health and Safety Guidelines
At Woodside, we’re committed to helping you and your family stay healthy. Our Coronavirus Task Force, comprised of highly credentialed doctors and medical professionals, continues to refine our policies in response to the most recent medical information and civic guidelines. See below for details concerning our Sunday worship gatherings, mid-week programming, and Woodside Kids environments.
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God created us for community, to know and be known by others. In Life Groups at Woodside, we pursue a relationship with Him, build meaningful connections with others, and join hands to love and serve our communities. Life Groups go deeper than a conversation in the lobby. Here, we do life together.
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Shine On Registration
Registration for Shine On 2023 is now closed. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to gregmcdougall@woodsidebible.org.
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Easter at Woodside
We’ll look at the final week of Jesus’ life to uncover who He truly is and why His suffering, death, and resurrection are key to life everlasting. Be sure to let us know what Easter service you’re coming to! This doesn’t guarantee a spot, but we will let everyone know how full each service is so […]
Team Woodside
On Team Woodside, we run to care for at-risk children living in children’s homes in Thailand and India. Your contribution brings relief and hope to a vulnerable child, shining the love of Christ in the darkest of circumstances.
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Dream Centers of Michigan
At the Dream Centers of Michigan, our mission is to engage people in need with the love of Christ, partnering with them to flourish, reach their potential, and move toward self-sustainability. With Jesus at the center, we’re committed to empowering the Pontiac community in three key ways: education, economic empowerment, and environments.
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What God Says About Fear
What are you afraid of? Growing up, after reading a Goosebumps book, I was terrified that a shark would come through the filter of a swimming pool. To this day, I am still cautious of the deep end. But when it comes to my current fears, I only have three: people in costumes where I can’t see […]
Story of Hope: Blessing Others
On a recent family Zoom call, Amber listened intently as her son Austin, an attendee of Woodside’s Plymouth Campus, shared the story of Pastor Chris Brook’s interview with an ER doctor and hospital chaplain. He filled his mom and family in on how these individuals shared ways individuals at home can help their local healthcare […]
7 Practical Ways to Manage Your Anxiety this Holiday Season
“It’s the most wonderful time of year With the kids jingle belling And everyone telling you, “Be of good cheer.” It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” For many, this “most wonderful time of year” is marked by an increase in anxiety, depression, and grief. Spending time with our extended family can often bring […]
1 Church, 2 Sexes, 3 Truths to Live By
Have you ever experienced awkward interactions among members of the opposite sex at church? Has your pursuit of the Biblical instruction to be “above reproach” ended up making you paranoid about how others perceive your social interactions? Perhaps you have found it safer to avoid all conversation with the opposite sex rather than leave a […]
Why You Should Read Your Bible in 90 Days
“The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.” Ouch. Are you one of “most Americans” Lifeway Research is talking about in the aptly-named, Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read It? Or perhaps you relate to this truth bomb from the Ponce Foundation’s Christians Don’t […]
Why Practice the Lord’s Supper?
On the first Sunday every month, the entire Woodside Family celebrates a meal together. But it’s not the kind of meal that most of us think about when we’re hungry. There are no juicy burgers or greasy French fries, no fresh veggies, or chocolate chip cookies. We address a different sort of hunger. Instead, we […]
How to Support Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts
Hurricane Ian landed in Florida on September 28, delivering 150-mph winds, heavy rain, and a massive storm surge. It was one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the region, claiming dozens of lives and leaving communities to pick up the pieces. As the body of Christ, we have the opportunity to respond. It’s […]
5 Books You Should Read Before the End of 2023
Believe it or not, September is coming to a close, which means there are only three months left of this year. Whether you’re trying to meet your year-end Goodreads reading goal or just looking for a new book to read before the year ends, we’ve got you covered. We hope these books will encourage you […]
Loving Your Neighbor
One of the most quoted statements in the Bible is found in Mark 12:31, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It can be found in numerous places throughout sacred Scripture (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19 & 22:37-39, Luke 10:27). Do we really know what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves? Could it be that we love […]
7 Christian Books on Friendship and Restoring Relationships
It seems as if this year, more than ever, there has been more division. There is division among our nation, our communities, our relationships, and yes, even our families. It can be challenging for us to love those who may look, act, or believe differently than us. But God calls us into a relationship with […]
What Distracts You from God?
God’s been showing me things in my devotionals lately about the idol worship in my life. In modern terms, an idol is something that we put before God — something that distracts us from Him. There are many idols hanging out that I just never had time for (my schedule being an idol on its […]
5 Must Read Books about Jesus
Who is Jesus? It’s a question many have asked, pondered over. It is a question that leads us to want to know more. We asked a handful of our Woodside Campus Pastors & Staff Members what some of the books they recommend people should read if they want to know more about Jesus are. While […]
What Are You Passionate About?
Life is meant to be lived with passion! Have you ever noticed how even the most mundane tasks come alive when done with passion? One great example of this is my friend, Charise Miles. She has become known as the singing flight attendant. It all started when she noticed that most of her passengers tuned […]
The Incompatibility of the Resurrection and Reincarnation
An Everyday Theology Blog Choice is fundamental to the popularity of buffets. Many people enjoy these restaurants because of the ability to mix and match their favorite foods at their discretion. The notion of Karma has taken on a similar modern role as some seek to blend this Eastern religious belief with Christianity. However, such […]
How Should Christians Respond to Authority?
When I was a kid growing up, I didn’t like authority — on any level. Whether it was my dad telling me to do things on the farm a certain way, my youth leaders telling me to go to bed at camp, or a sign that said, “wet paint don’t touch,” I lived to do […]
The Seven Deadly Sins – Pride
Pride causes us to think higher of ourselves than we are. This kind of thinking has been around ever since sin entered the world, and many say that sin begins with pride. One of those many, Saint Augustine, a Medieval Church Father, speaking of the original sin of Adam and Eve, writes, “What is more, […]
The Battle of the Mind
I’ve always been fascinated with the human mind. Trying to understand why someone thinks or acts the way they do, what causes them to respond to certain situations, and how their personality traits contribute to a team or workplace. This fascination led to an undergraduate degree in psychology, a master’s in counseling psychology, and doctorate […]
Why the Church is Political
The gospel is utterly political, but not in the way you might think. Many Christians have been taught to over-spiritualize their faith, to see the Bible as speaking to the salvation of the soul for all eternity but not addressing life in the here and now, especially in what we would call our “public life.” Others have […]
4 Ways to Approach Christ-Centered Unity
Watching videos and hearing stories of people being punched, beaten, and stripped of their dignity is horrifying. These people look like my friends, they look like my family, and they look like me. The recent hate events across our nation bring back visceral memories of experiencing hate because of my physical identity, and stir up […]
Resources for the Family about School Violence & Trauma
On November 30, Oxford High School tragically suffered the loss of several young lives in an active shooter incident. It’s events such as these that make us so keenly aware of the pain and brokenness in this world, of which our own communities are no exception. As our church and community grieve this loss, we […]
The Poetic Cry of Hope
Suffering has an inherent disjointing affect. It displaces our emotions and refashions our rationale. Suffering becomes, what feels like, an inescapable labyrinth of lament. This emotional entanglement is explored throughout various books of the Bible but is particularly palpable in the Old Testament. The Psalms, for example, express various authors’ raw feelings, and the unhinging […]
When was Jesus ACTUALLY Born?
Christmas. It’s the time of year when we gather with loved ones, friends and family alike, exchange gifts, eat copious amounts of food, and, oh yeah, celebrate the birth of Jesus. But why? Why is it this time of year that we celebrate Jesus’ birth? Was that when He was actually born? And if He […]
What to Say & How to Say It | A Resource Guide on the Power of Our Words
How often have you said something only to realize it should have been said differently? Or maybe you spoke too soon and realized it might have been best to say nothing at all? We hear it said all the time, “Words have power.” But how do we know what to say and when to say […]
How Do I Know I’m Saved | An Everyday Theology Blog
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” That familiar phrase immediately invokes memories of the late Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers. The soft-spoken host of the beloved TV show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, who was also a Presbyterian minister, was known for his phenomenal kindness and creativity. Yet, what is less familiar about Mr. Rogers was […]
Who are You Inviting to the Table?
Do you remember the feeling of waiting for your name to get called to be on a team? It would sometimes start with kids screaming that “so and so” should be captain because they seemed to be a leader, were well-liked, good at the game, or at least everyone thought they were good at the […]
7 Christian Books About Caring for Yourself & Others
Let’s be honest. This fall looks incredibly different than last year. Back to school has been more stressful than ever. College looks different. Work looks different. The past six months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for so many of us. Now more than ever, taking care of our mental health is of the utmost […]
Influencer or Influenced?
I have been under the influence…Godly influence that is, my whole life — born and raised in a home by first-generation Christian parents. My mom and dad both were raised in religious homes but did not have a personal relationship with Christ until after they married. A college friend had been talking to my dad about Christianity […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Failure
What holds you back? I had a teacher once tell me I was a horrible writer. I’ll never forget it. As they returned my assignment stating, “You’re writing is not up to standard, and I don’t think there is really any hope in making it better.” Umm… what is a 15-year-old, insecure high school student […]
What is the Role of the Holy Spirit? An Everyday Theology Blog
There lies a subtle irony in the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the contemporary Christian. The Spirit plays an essential and ongoing purpose in the daily life of the Christian. Yet many believers struggle to understand His indispensable role. The Apostle Paul described an example of this association in Eph. 1:13: Royal dignitaries often […]
Why Bother with The Church?
In March of 2021, the Gallup research and polling organization published a report that revealed most Americans do not belong to a house of worship for the first time in U.S. history.* The article entitled “U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time” exposed the fact that presently only 49% of American adults belong […]
Praying for Woodside Kids and Students | Prayer Week Days 1 & 2
As we kick off Prayer Week, we’ll focus the first two days on praying for our Woodside Kids and Students. Specifically, we’ll be praying for the outreach events they are doing this summer. On Day 1, we’ll be praying for our Woodside Kids, focusing on Flip Camp and Camp Woodside. On Day 2, we’ll be […]
How the Holy Spirit Changed My Life | A Share Your Story Blog
Hi, my name is Sophia. I’ve heard numerous testimonies in my lifetime and have always wondered how people have had such impactful stories. I never realized that my testimony would be just as impactful as the ones I had heard. When I was younger, my mom would buy me books, such as the children’s story […]
How to Delight in God’s Word
When I was in college, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Greece. It was one of those “once in a lifetime” type events, and I knew I couldn’t pass it up. So, the summer after my freshman year of college, I packed up my bags, and off I went. During my time in […]
But He’s Good
I’m obsessed with planners. Look, I know we have iPhones, Outlook, and all sorts of technology to help keep us organized. However, there is nothing quite like a good old-fashioned handwritten planner where basically your entire life is housed. Every night I look at the next day to see the meetings I may have, hangouts […]
“To The Person Experiencing Pain and Sorrow…”
The best way that I can express what it means to weep with those who weep is to write an open letter to those who have experienced pain and struggled to find joy again. This letter is to the person who felt like God left you. I’m weeping with you. This is for you. Dear […]
3 Things I Wish I Knew About Blending Families
*Please note: the intention of this blog is to share wisdom from experience, rather than to state a biblical approach to marriage, divorce, and remarriage. The day arrived! I was excitedly apprehensive about the date that I was about to go on with a man I didn’t know or at least barely knew. Little did […]
How To Live Faithfully Among Division
World Civ was known as the most challenging gen-ed class at Cornerstone University. It also was one of the biggest. It met in the largest lecture hall on campus. I remember walking into class with my friend, and we sat close enough to pay attention but far enough back to hopefully blend in. Five or […]
How to Parent Transparently: A Coming & Going Blog
What does it mean to parent your kids in a transparent and vulnerable way? In a statement, it means that we are transparent and vulnerable with our kids about our sanctification process when we are at our best and when we are at our worse—the good and the bad. Now, this isn’t easy by any […]
What God Says About Hate
When you hear the word ‘hate,’ what comes to mind? Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines hate as an “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury,” as well as an “extreme dislike or disgust.” The Bible has a lot to say about hate and the consequences of it—from the very beginning to […]
A Glimmer of Hope
There is an old saying, “every cloud has its silver lining.” We often use it as encouragement to look for good in a bad situation, the rose among the thorns. However, for many of us, the rose can be hard to find. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with National Geographic documentaries on Disney+. Specifically, one called Drain […]
A Broken Hearts Guide to Worship
“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1–2 These are just the first two verses of this beautiful chapter of praise. Even though this is a Psalm of praise written by David, these […]
Overcoming Addiction: A Story of Hope
It may be different for every person, but everyone has something that they truly treasure. For some, it may be the item in their home with the highest monetary value, like jewelry or a sports car. For others, their most valued possession is an heirloom passed down to them through many generations. For a child, […]
4 Ways to Celebrate
I have a four-year-old daughter. Someone recently described her as a human ping-pong ball, and I laughed out loud because it was a perfect description. She is all over the place, plays non-stop, talks from sunup to sundown, and is a mini comedian. Quite possibly, the cherry on top is her natural ability to celebrate […]
Are They Really Worth A Second Chance?
A couple of weekends ago, I got the opportunity to serve as a small group leader at the Wake Winter Weekend with Woodside’s high school students. It’s always an incredible weekend filled with dance parties, observing awkward conversations with boys, copious amounts of coffee, and of course, a whole lot of Jesus. The theme for […]
Why Who You Follow Matters
How can someone tell who you follow? Ifyou follow a certain musician or band, people can tell because you play their music. If you follow a specific car company (like GM), if you are loyal to them for whatever reason, well, people can tell because you always buy GM cars. Or, If you are like […]
What God Says About Forgiveness
Have you ever been forgiven for something? I’m not talking about something of minor importance that, upon receiving forgiveness, didn’t really impact you, but something with serious emotional weight behind it. It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I began to understand the concept of God’s forgiveness. Being viewed as “a good, Christian boy” […]
Story of Hope: New Life in Christ
Never underestimate where God has placed you in this world. Sometimes it is easy to think everyday life is just, well, life. It isn’t apart of some elaborate plan God has established for us from the beginning. Sometimes we may not see things, like job transitions or a move, as something God has given us […]
How to Find Direction Amid Disorientation
Extreme disorientation can often accompany the most glorious and momentous events in our lives. Fredrick Douglass, the celebrated abolitionist and freed slave, reflected years later on the first days of his freedom. He writes: “The dreams of my childhood and the purposes of my manhood were now fulfilled. A free state around me, and a […]
Resources for Understanding Justice and Reconciliation
One of the greatest needs at this moment is for our church family to listen to the voices of those who are mourning, who cry out for justice. When we seek understanding by listening to people of color, we’re able not only to grieve with those who grieve, but to seek justice for the suffering […]
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Resource Guide
As a church, we want to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, especially our Hispanic and Latino American brothers and sisters’ contributions to the spread of the Gospel and the church. We’ve taken some time to compile for you resources and works written by Hispanic and Latino Americans. Take some time to read through, watch, and […]
The God of Justice: A Story of Hope
Be Advised: The following contains statistics and the telling of true events concerning sexual assault. ***** Every 68 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted.[1] More than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men experience sexual violence during their lifetime.[2] What is sexual violence? Sexual activity when consent is not obtained or […]
5 Christian Books to Read About Politics
Politics. Love them or hate them; they are a part of our everyday life, and we just can’t seem to avoid. As believers, politics can be tough to navigate as we try to balance between being good stewards of our right to vote and understanding our commitment to God’s moral law. With this in mind, […]
The Seven Deadly Sins – Lust
As a young girl, realizing that I had sexual desires was like a lightbulb coming on out of nowhere. I was a preteen navigating the awkwardness of puberty, still new to the concept of sex apart from movies and a short conversation I’d had with my mom in the eighth grade. Frankly, it wasn’t much […]
The Testing of Faith
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4 Affliction and suffering are experiences no one asks for. Even the […]
Where Does Your Obedience Lie?
A feeling of desire for something to happen… that’s what hope means. In the culture we live in, hope can feel so distant and unattainable. We see the shape of the world we live in, and barely recognize it as what it was only a decade ago. And yet, the embers of hope never seem […]
Our Only Way Home
Deep in the human heart is the desire for home. Children play house. Millions of Americans travel home for Thanksgiving to be with family. The ultimate purchase is not a jet; it’s a home (those with jets enjoy getting home faster). And when we buy a home, we want to share it with people. Home […]
2 Weeks to Becoming Grateful
If you haven’t, take a moment to read part one of our Thanksgiving blog series, “3 Weeks to Becoming Grateful.” Every now and then, I go on what I like to call a “watching home renovation and design shows” bender. I log into my Discovery+ and watch hours upon hours of my favorite designers renovating […]
The Cure to an Unhappy Family
“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” This quote is the first sentence of author Leo Tolstoy’s most famous novel, Anna Karenina.* In his work, Tolstoy claimed that for a family to be happy, several areas of need must be met, such as good health for all family members, financial […]
Is There Such a Thing as Perfect Prayer?
Growing up, I was someone who always strove for perfection. I worked tirelessly to pursue the faultless execution of everything I did — and if I didn’t achieve this, I would berate myself internally. Unfortunately, this striving carried over into my relationship with God. I would try to read my Bible at the same time […]
3 Lessons from the Life of Phoebe
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” — Romans 16:1–2 You […]
The Seven Deadly Sins - Gluttony
“They’re called mortal or deadly because they lead to the death of the soul.” – Professor Richard G. Newhauser Cookies. The one food that I have zero self-control over. If you put a plate of soft, warm cookies in front of me, I have a tough time not devouring the whole plate. I call them […]
3 Things To Do in Seasons of Waiting
Can you remember the first time you ever thirsted? Think about a time where you felt like you were in utter desperation or need for water. Do you remember it? I can remember the first time I felt dehydrated. I was in early elementary school and it was a hot summer day and I had […]
Does God Think Less of Me Because I am a Woman?
Throughout my life, I have wrestled with the question, “Does God think less of me because I am a woman?” I remember being 18 years old and sitting in one of my first college classes when a male peer asked a question I had feared since declaring my major, “What do you think a woman’s […]
The Healing Power of Justice & The Longing for Eternity
“…When justice is done, it brings joy” (Proverbs 21:15) Bittersweet. This word reveals a unique part of our design. God has gifted us with the ability to experience contrasting emotions at the same time. Our capacity for both joy and mourning simultaneously is an integral quality for navigating with hope as we journey through a […]
Breaking Christmas Traditions, Pt. 3
If you haven’t, take a moment to read parts one and two of our “Breaking Christmas Traditions” series. Have you ever thought about the world without yourself as the main character? A friend challenged me with that question recently. And the truth is, I hadn’t. As I’ve looked at life from my point of view, […]
The Importance of Community in Christianity: An Everyday Theology Blog
What life have you if you have not life together? There is not life that is not in community, And no community not lived in praise of God . . . -Choruses from the Rock T. S. Eliot penned these transcendent words for The Rock in 1934. Although the modern landscape has drastically changed, the poet’s words remain […]
How to Pray for Our Families
It’s been said that we can pray for others, but we can’t do others’ praying for them! God in his sovereignty has called each one of us into roles within the family. Whether you’re a husband/wife, son/daughter, father/mother, uncle/aunt, etc., we’ve all been called into a family! We ought to pray for our families broadly, […]
A Difference for One Child | A Story of Hope
Millions[1] of orphaned and abandoned children around the world will spend years at the mercy of the parameters, misconceptions, and stereotypes associated with adoption — often before receiving even the smallest chance to be accepted into a family of their own. But Deb Morse and her team at Christian Family Services (CFS) are looking to change that, one […]
Hope and Peace in a Time of War | A Global Partners Story
“I wake my children in the night sometimes and move them into the hallway of our home. That is the strongest structure to protect them if a bomb hits our house.” Woodside’s Global Partner, Pastor Igor, his wife Suzanna, and their three children live in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. On New Year’s Day, the […]
10 Christian Books for Your Summer 2020 Reading List
No matter what is going on in the world, people are always looking for book recommendations. Not a day goes by where someone on our social media feeds isn’t asking, “What’s a good book to read?” We asked a handful of our Woodside Staff Members their top book recommendations to add to your summer reading […]
A Day of Rest
Growing up I used to think rest wasn’t a real thing. I felt guilty when I would rest, because I wasn’t being productive. Engrained in my mind to be negative, rest meant I didn’t have the capacity to do more. I would see others around me always doing and seeming totally fine when more was added to […]
6 Ways to Maximize Summer with Your Kids
When you hear the phrase, ‘Maximize your Summer,’ what are the top three things that come to mind? I hope today during this quick read to give you some ideas, so be sure to scroll down and check the menu of Summer ideas below. I know for many parents and kids alike, this school year […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Being Known
Frederick Buechner wrote: “what we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else.” We’re all afraid of being fully seen, exposed, or wholly known. After all, we live just east of Eden, spiritually speaking, […]
3 Hopes Christ’s Resurrection Gives Us: An Everyday Theology Blog
The Resurrection as a Vessel of Hope. The sea is unpredictable. There is beauty in its tranquility. Imagine a sunset illuminating the broad expanse of the waters. The subtle, soft waves creep over its still parts. Its picturesque colors are vibrant and lush with hues of blue. But there is dread in its chaos. The […]
Student Discipleship Guide
Wherever you may find yourself in your walk with God, we wanted to take a moment to compile some resources for you! We hope it will be a blessing and a help to you as you grow in your relationship with God. There is nothing greater than belonging to God’s family when we put our […]
How Do You See Jesus?
Have you ever read a book that just resonated with you on a deeper level? This year, I’ve rediscovered my love for reading and have spent time in almost every fiction and non-fiction genre. And while some books are more memorable than others, a few have truly changed how I view certain aspects of my […]
Listen with Love
“How can a loving God create people destined for Hell?” These are the words that came out of my dear friend’s mouth as we sat in a booth at a crowded Coney Island, where all good theological discussions happen. What do you say to a brother or sister in Christ who is wrestling with doubt? […]
What Will You Choose?
For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! Psalm 40:12–13 As I read this desperate plea for God’s deliverance, I […]
Does God Hear Me?
The book of Psalms has always been a source of comfort and encouragement for the people of God throughout the ages. And recently, it has been a source of comfort and encouragement to me, especially Psalm 116. We don’t know much about the writer of Psalm 116 but we do know it was written sometime […]
Learning More on Lament | A Resource Guide
As believers, we know what it’s like to experience the fruits of the Spirit, such as peace and joy. However, there are times in each of our lives where those fruits seem too far out of reach to grasp. How do we handle hardships, doubt, and emotional pain as followers of Jesus? How do we […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Death
Just because we have turned the page on another year does not mean that the fears that plagued us in 2021 have disappeared. So as we start this new year, we’ve begun by slowly tackling these fears head-on you can check them all out here & select the “Fear” tab. *** The final fear we will look […]
What God Says About You
You’re never too little to ask big questions. It’s a summer evening in Michigan, and you’re babysitting your seven-year-old niece. What do you do? You get ice cream, of course! There are few things I love more than being an aunt, and some of the moments I have cherished most have been the unexpected yet […]
Living With Childlike Faith | A Story of Hope
“[Jesus] called a little child to Him and placed the child among them. And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever […]
Why It’s Important to Meet Your Neighbors: A Story of Hope
It’s during these uncertain times we often see the most beautiful and compassionate side of people. Amidst a new way of going about our daily lives, in circumstances that can often bring fear and aggravation, we are encouraged by the stories of generosity and selflessness spreading throughout the people we are thankful to call our […]
A Beautiful Exchange
Every year our incredible Student Ministry team puts together weekend retreats for our middle and high school students. These retreats are truly life-changing for so many, as students experience an entire weekend filled with worship, the teaching of the Word, and time in small groups with their friends. They are also weekends filled with humorous […]
What We Learned in 2020
Discipline. Patience. Gratitude. Everything. A couple of weeks ago, I threw a question up on my Instagram stories asking my followers, “What has God taught you in 2020?” The answers came in droves, some deep theological thoughts, others more on the practical side. Each answer resonated with me, even though I would not have included […]
The Pursuit of [Lasting] Happiness
Recently I watched an Olympic Gold Medalist give an interview after reaching that preeminent achievement born out of a lifetime of effort. Their reaction made sense as they exclaimed, “This is the best day of my life!” After logging the years of training and dedicating their life to this skill set, they were experiencing a […]
Dear Jesus, Thank You for This Food…
Have you ever sat down to eat a meal with family or friends, and someone offered to “say grace” before you started digging into what’s prepared? This phrase is often used to describe a prayer at the beginning of a meal. But why do we call that prayer “saying grace?” It’s such an interesting phrase. […]
The Disciplines: Simplicity
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]
What God Says About Serving
Growing up in the quaint town of Chelsea, Michigan, I attended a small community church that had no more than 40 on a Sunday. The church pastor was the only staff member, so naturally, the church members had to carry the weight of the church facility. They cleaned, vacuumed, mowed the lawn, trimmed the bushes, […]
Story of Hope: Overcoming Abuse
It was around Christmas time when Ashlee, age 23, first stepped foot inside Woodside Bible Church’s Romeo campus. Having come from a rough background, Ashlee was unsure what to expect going to church. Would she feel comfortable? Would she be accepted? Would she fit in? As she listened to the worship and heard Pastor Billy’s teaching, […]
How To Find Gratitude
My travel mug was filled with hot coffee, but I wasn’t going anywhere. My laptop was on, but I wasn’t typing anything. The clock read 8:30 AM, but the sunlight remained hidden. The day had all the telltale signs of being productive, but the morning felt dreary and dull under the government’s shelter-in-place mandate. And […]
Resources for the Church‘s Role in Serving Our Nation
As our Campus Pastors have been teaching, we are a people and a nation that are hurting and in need of healing. It can be challenging for us to love those who may look, act, or believe differently than us. But God calls us into a relationship with one another despite our disagreements! As a […]
Our Problem with “Stuff”
I will never forget entering the new year of 2019. It was the day Marie Kondo entered my life. Netflix released her show “Tidying Up” on January 1st, and for the next month, I was determined to KonMari my house. I cleaned out every drawer, closet, and room in my house, figuring out if the […]
The Disciplines: Solitude
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]
10 Verses to Remind Us of God’s Love
“The Bible is the story about God and His love for His own.” — Kristin Schmucker, The Attributes of God The narrative of Scripture is one of a God whose steadfast love rescues and redeems His people from the disastrous results of their own choices — again and again, and again. We witness this love throughout the Old […]
What Does Jesus Arrival Mean for Us?
There is always a celebratory parade whenever a sports team wins the National Championship, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, or World Series. The streets of said championship city are FILLED with people trying to get a glimpse of their favorite team or players passing by. Whether it’s a president visiting a foreign country, a championship team […]
Story of Hope: Lovingkindness
Has God given you a word? I don’t know about you, but I’ve read in books and known some people who say God gives them a word that becomes the “theme” of their year. I had never experienced this before and dismissed it as an attempt to spiritualize New Year’s resolutions, until it happened to […]
4 Truths for Navigating Difficult Seasons
“Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4 Have you ever walked through a difficult season that seemed unending? To patiently endure a lasting season […]
Celebrating Black History Month
The Lord reminds His people throughout the Bible to tell all generations of His wonderful works. He did not want them to forget how He demonstrated His grace and goodness to them and the world. Part of what that means for the church is that we must preserve the memory of the people and places […]
Human Connection: A Basic Need?
There’s something innate about human beings desiring to be connected. From early civilizations to modern times, there is a natural draw that every human being feels to be close to someone in some form of a group setting. Even those self-proclaimed introverts often find solace in being close to, or at the very least connected, […]
Sanctity of Life Resource Guide
We recognize this is a divisive moment in our culture. And while our culture presents us with the false dichotomy that we can either support only women or only children. We believe the Gospel compels us to love both women and children, and we are committed to supporting and encouraging mothers and women broadly while […]
A Contrary Character? God in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament
The consistency of God’s character (“nature” may be better) is often challenged. Despite the litany of bible (When referring to THE Bible, it is capitalized — this is true throughout the document) verses that speak to His unchanging persona, many people assert that there is a considerable difference between the portrayal of God in the […]
The Seven Deadly Sins – Greed
We live in a moment of history where consumer culture is at an all-time high. And what is consumer culture exactly? Wikipedia describes it as a “lifestyle hyper-focused on spending money to buy material goods. It is often attributed to, but not limited to, the capitalist economy of the United States.” With technology being integrated […]
Story of Hope: Gary Bebe
It is another day of quarantine, and many find themselves trying to pass the time. Some are trying to keep their kids occupied and happy, while maintaining their sanity. Others are binging TV shows or constantly checking their phones for new updates on COVID-19. For Gary, age 61, he is looking at his phone for […]
The Truth about Identity
There’s an old story about a boy who, having grown up at the edge of a wide, turbulent river, spent his childhood learning to build rafts. When the boy reached manhood, he felled some trees, lashed them together, and riding his raft, he crossed to the far side of the river. Because he had spent […]
What To Do When You Feel Stuck
Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel like you’re living the same day as yesterday? I feel that. I feel like every day can feel the same, sometimes even mundane. As a mother of a young one, I wake up, hopefully, earlier than everyone to get a minute to enjoy some silence […]
Not yet, but Almost
We’re free in Christ, but we feel enslaved to sin. We find healing from the Great Physician, but we suffer disease and death. We reconcile with individuals and groups we offend, yet we continue to separate from each other. We who read scripture know there is no condemnation in all of this, yet we feel […]
Do You Have Trust Issues?
There are lots of things I don’t trust. Politicians, most drivers on I-75, half the people’s profiles I come across on dating apps, the neighbors across the street from me with a tiki hut in their backyard, and frankly, a lot of other things — some more significant than others. I’m sure if you sat […]
The Road to Recovery: A Story of Hope
“When I look back at my life, I should have ended up in a pit somewhere.” Sitting across from me in her office, Heather turned slightly in her chair. “It’s an incredible journey,” she said. “And yet, it’s all because of God, not because of me. I have a title that could hide many things, […]
What Does Jesus’ Victory Mean to Me?
In today’s society, the news is filled with headlines of terror and ruin. We’re caught in a tailspin of wondering what’s next, what lives will be lost, what disaster will happen, and what tragic report we will be told. As followers of Christ, we’re left trying to catch our breath before the next tragedy — exhausted, drained, […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Being Uncomfortable
Who doesn’t like things to be easy? I’m not sure if I’ve ever met anyone who wakes up and thinks, “I hope whatever I do today is really hard and challenging.” Sure, some people like a good challenge occasionally, but most of us crave comfort. Now, I know some people resolve to take a step […]
The Love of the Father
To know the love of the Father (God) is to know true life. Put differently, to really know you are loved by God, not just in your head, but deep in the recess of your heart, changes everything. It shifts something chasmic inside, unlocking this new identity that no one can take away. It elicits […]
The Truth about Disruption
I’ll admit it. I’m tired of the phrase “new normal!” Anyone else? Often in this season, I find myself thinking, “I don’t want a new normal. I want things to go back to normal.” We’re living through one of the most disruptive periods of our lifetime, and frankly, trying to adjust to all the changes can be […]
From Obligation to Joy: A Story of Hope
For the past five weeks, our church family has been engaging in a series about biblical generosity called Overflow. We wanted to take a moment and share with you Lauren’s story about how choosing to view giving as a form of ministry changed how she and her husband viewed money. It turned something that seemed […]
Fixing the Disconnect Between How We Live and What We Believe: Reflections on the Death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu
2021 has come and gone, and the good news is we survived! As we remember the year that was, it is good for us to take a moment to celebrate the many blessing the Lord bestowed upon us while also reflecting on the losses that won’t soon be forgotten. The past 12 months have been […]
4 Lessons We Can Learn from The Lord’s Prayer: An Everyday Theology Blog
Breathing is a natural occurrence. We don’t deliberate about how or when to breathe; it’s simply instinctive. Likewise, the act of prayer should be so integral to the Christian life that it’s a habitual, ingrained practice. American preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards beautifully illustrated this correlation when stating that “prayer is as natural an expression […]
New Year, Same Fear: The Fear of Imperfection
Editor’s Note: This blog mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with a trained counselor. ***** Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss was a dancer who rose to fame on a show called “So You Think […]
A Look at the It’s a Girl Project
“When a girl is born in India, people look upon the mother like, ‘What did you do? Why did you bring a girl into this house? This is ill luck – may you be cursed for bringing girls into this home.’” – Sheila Daniel, Founder, “It’s a Girl” Project In India, the mortality rate for […]
10 Promises From God
I have a friend who takes pinky promises very seriously. You can tell her you’ll do anything or go anywhere, and if you bail, it’s okay. But if you pinky promise her and go back on your word, it’s unforgivable. Promises are an interesting thing. We all make them. We all break them. Because we’ve […]
How to Confess Your Sins
Have you ever been caught in a transgression? For me, my mind immediately returns to a dark time in my life when I was an adolescent. I grew up learning the truths of Scripture, heavily involved in church and was a leader amongst my peers in high school. On the outside, people knew me as […]
The Smart Phone Evangelist: A Story of Hope
As we hunker down with the hopes of keeping our friends and families safe, many are battling feelings of isolation like never before. Millions in our country, and across the globe, feel trapped, and the resulting spike in anxiety and depression is felt around the world. While many of us face these experiences and emotions […]
What To Do When Hope Seems Lost
Have you ever felt like you’ve hit rock bottom? You know, the feeling that things in life just can’t get any worse than they already are. I’m sure we’ve all been at this place in our lives before, and I’m sure we can all admit that this isn’t an easy place to be. Maybe while […]
How To Value People Over Possessions
My favorite days in elementary school were always the ones when we had special classroom guests. Whether it was a doctor, dentist, or police officer, their visits meant two things. One, we didn’t have to “do school” for a few hours and two, they always had some fun activity we got to do related to […]
Divided We Stand?
“We are more divided than ever.” This is a sentiment that I’ve heard many times over the last few years, and I’ve heard it from a range of different people. So, it seems that the only thing we’re united about is that we’re not united. The only thing we agree on is that we disagree […]
Supporting Relief Efforts in Turkey & Syria
Update | March 16 As relief efforts continue in Turkey and Syria, Woodside has come alongside numerous supporters in extending financial aid to the people impacted by February’s deadly earthquake. In the weeks following the disaster, we’ve partnered with a large Christian organization that has boots on the ground in both countries. They are serving […]
What God Says About Honesty
The truth hurts. Think of a time when you’ve been given bad news. Would you have preferred if you had been lied to so you could continue living life through rose-colored glasses? Imagine a dentist withholding information that you have a cavity or a doctor withholding the truth about the state of your health. Although […]
The Littlest Co-Workers
Millions of people got a promotion this month: the opportunity to work at home…with their kids. Comedy aside — in the face of a pandemic, many are counting their blessings as they have the chance to work in the safety of their own home. And yet, at the same time, parents are overwhelmed by the […]
Cancelling Cancel Culture
What does it mean to love your neighbor? What if your neighbor isn’t like you? What if your neighbor doesn’t believe the same things, talk the same way, or even live the same way? As a Church, we exist in culture. Our “walls,” contrary to some popular belief, exist to hold up a roof, nothing […]
Can God Be Trusted?
Trust is powerful. Without it, there is very little we can do. Think about all the times we show trust. A chair to support us, a car to decelerate, your oven to stay within appropriate levels of incineration, your food to be safe, the list goes on and on. There are some people or things […]
What God Says About People-Pleasing
Hear our Father’s broken heart in this lament recorded by the prophet Jeremiah: Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no […]
Are You Going Through an Identity Crisis?
“Hello, my name is ________”. It’s a phrase we have learned since childhood, a way to quickly identify one of the most important things to know about us. As we grow, this phrase may also develop, starting to include a few significant facts about who we are and how we define ourselves. For myself, this […]
The Disciplines: Serving
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]
A Legacy of Faith | A Story of Hope
Married for 55 years, the commonalities that brought Bill and Marilyn Bossenberger together have also sustained their marriage during the good times and the hard times. Their early foundation of Christian values and the importance of family has bound them to their three children and ten grandchildren. The couple was married in 1967, and their […]
A Loving Marriage
I read a few articles the other week saying there’s been a major uptick in marital struggles and divorce applications during this time of quarantine. This is a sad reality but not surprising. Any issues couples were already struggling with have now been put in a pressure cooker of sorts with the stress of job […]
Why the Spiritual Disciplines are Important
Knowing information about God and knowing Him are two very different things. When I went away to Bible college, I was excited about all the information I would learn about God. I thought this meant my faith was going to grow exponentially during my time there. However, it didn’t take long for the Bible to […]
What To Do When God Feels Distant
We had just moved to Nashville after being married for six months. My husband Garrett and I were eager and optimistic about this new chapter in Music City. After unpacking and settling into our new home, the excitement eventually wore off. I did not realize then that I was entering a dark and difficult season […]
Death By One, Life Through Another
I really like the movie WALL-E. I know it’s not many people’s favorite Pixar film (others include Toy Story, Monster’s Inc., Finding Nemo, etc.), but it’s definitely mine. One of the reasons it’s my favorite is because of how representative it is of Scripture’s redemption narrative. I know it’s an odd reason, and you probably […]
Setting the Stage for Healing: 3 Must Haves for Parents
Did you know one of the most powerful factors of resilience from childhood trauma is a relationship with a caring adult? Furthermore, you have been placed in your child’s life for a reason and have the ability through Christ to meet their needs. According to research conducted at the University of Washington, a child’s brain […]
Rethinking Christian Discipleship for A Secular Culture
Things are constantly changing. At times, those changes align, causing new paradigms to emerge. I think we are living in that kind of time. The shifts we are experiencing are forcing us to rethink the place of the church and the story of Jesus for a secular culture. While many are trying to understand these […]
Who Are You Sharing God’s Word With?
Let’s imagine for a moment that you are king or queen. You’ve received a kingdom, you have faithful subjects, but there are renegade or rebel forces scattered throughout the domain of your kingdom. How would you go about bringing everything in your kingdom into subjection under your reign? My first inclination would be to raise […]
To All the Moms
As I waddle around my house with a newborn on my shoulder and attempt to kick the random array of toys into somewhat of a pile, a list of how my day should go begins to overwhelm my thoughts. I wish the kids would stop fighting. I could use a moment of peace and quiet. […]
Giving Thanks When It’s Hard To
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The food, the family, and the fellowship have always been something I look forward to all year. After enjoying our thanksgiving meal together, my dad would always have each family member go around and share what they were grateful for this year. Being the mushy and sentimental person […]
3 Steps to Diagnose & Defeat Your Hidden Pride
Humility is a difficult topic. As I was writing this, I realized fast how hard it truly was going to be. The hardest part about writing on this topic is that I never have and will never obtain true humility. I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a very prideful person. With that […]
What Freedom Really Looks Like
Mind if I ask you a personal question? What is your deepest, darkest sin? You know, the one that controls you, alone, in the dark? It’s that one that makes you hate yourself. The same one you’ve never told a single soul because you know exactly what they’d think, how they’d look at you. The […]
Celebrating 200 Years of Ministry: The Legacy of Woodside’s White Lake Campus
Picture this. The year is 1822, and the President of the United States is James Monroe. Michigan, still 15 years away from statehood, is a wilderness, and outside of indigenous people native to the state, only 500 people live in what is now Oakland County. Half of those individuals live in present-day Pontiac. It was […]
How To Find Abiding Joy
It was a typical, boring weekday spent scrolling through YouTube when I found it. I wasn’t looking for it, but there it was. A trailer for a movie I’d heard was in production but delayed due to the pandemic, starring a longtime favorite actor of mine, was finally here. As I clicked the thumbnail, an […]
3 Lessons from the Life of Deborah
Growing up, I didn’t always do what I was supposed to. Thankfully, I had a mother who had no problem calling me out when I wasn’t stepping up to the occasion or taking my responsibilities seriously. She would always attempt to point me back to my God-given responsibilities and the importance of setting an example […]
Operation Keep Warm | A Story of Hope
A middle-aged man stands huddled in a covered bus stop, seeking shelter from the bite of winter’s icy chill. He shivers, unadorned—without a hat, gloves, or scarf. He turns, and there on the bench lies a plastic bag containing the very things he needs to ease his suffering. A note on the bag says, “I’m […]
Moving from Lament to Leadership: George Floyd, the Gospel, and Our Response (Part Two)
This is part two of a two-part blog series written by Senior Pastor Chris Brooks addressing how the church should respond to injustice. To read part one, click here. As the dust clears over the Minneapolis skyline, and other cities around our country, and the embers begin to fade from the blaze of yet another heartbreaking […]
Where Do You Pledge Allegiance?
“Jesus said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at him.” — Mark 12:17 If your neighborhood looks anything like mine in this season, it is full of lawn signs endorsing various political candidates. The “Lawn Sign” has become a modern […]
How to Break the Cycle of Consumption
“Greed, for the lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.” This quote was famously stated by Gordon […]
How the Impossible Becomes Possible with God
“God has a special place for those who feel left out.” Do you know who said those words? Let me take the guesswork out. It was an old cow named Abigail to a little lamb called Joshua who had a hard time fitting in with others in Max Lucado’s Christmas story, “The Crippled Lamb.” I […]
4 Reasons to Believe God Will Provide
Thirty-three years ago, Vicki Webb got in a car accident in front of Woodlawn Church, which we now know as Woodside Bible Church of Royal Oak. For years following the accident, she avoided that street for the painful memories it carried. At the time, Vicki was in her 30s and deep into a 13-year relationship […]
How to Pray for Your Community
As you pray for your “community,” consider that you may be connected to many different communities simultaneously. Apart from our families, we spend time in church, work, school, social, or municipal communities each week. These communities have a profound effect on our lives, and we, in turn, have an impact on them. From the very beginning, […]
5 Christian Books to Read if You’re Anxious
At Woodside, we are dedicated to resourcing individuals and communities about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health and providing opportunities to get help. And we want to join in the continued conversation surrounding mental health and offer Godly resources to help those in our church family and beyond. One of the most […]
When Things Don’t Go According to Plan
This past fall, a short-term mission team left for the West Bank. Within days of arrival, war broke out in the middle east. Today, we want to share with you Hannah’s story, a member of this mission team, about her experience and how God provides when things don’t go according to plan. ****** Thursday, October […]
The Sanctity of Life
St. Augustine once wrote about a fire in which gold will gleam, and chaff will smoke. The same heated situation can clarify the good and exterminate the wicked. Trials in my life have been similar. Things that were of no value were soon gone, but my trust and security in Jesus Christ came out purified […]
What To Do When You Are Feeling Hopeless
Do a quick Google search, and you’ll see hundreds if not thousands of lists sharing different ways to handle despair, find joy, feel hopeful, and the list goes on and on. Now, these lists can be helpful, practical, insightful; you name it. But 95% of them are missing one key component — the presence of […]
Resources on Mental Health
At Woodside, we are dedicated to resourcing individuals and communities about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health and providing opportunities to get help. And we want to join in the continued conversation surrounding mental health and provide Godly resources to help those in our church family and beyond. Our Woodside Staff has […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Not Being in Control
That title…does it put fear in your heart just reading it? The fear of not having your T’s crossed, I’s dotted, ducks in a row (has anyone actually put and kept ducks in a row?), and every last detail accounted for. Or maybe it’s fear of losing control over circumstances, situations, relationships, and choices. Whatever […]
What is the One Thing You Can’t Give Up?
Every story has a good guy and a bad guy. Whether in books, on screen, around the campfire, or anywhere else we experience stories, each encounter brings us face-to-face with someone we like and someone we don’t. From the eternal struggle between Tom and Jerry to the heroic exploits of Batman against the Joker, we […]
The Perfect Family For Each Other
Long before Barrett and Steph met, God laid on both of their hearts a passion for adoption. When the young couple began to dream about a future together, they both knew, “whether it would be immediate or down the road, it was going to be a part of our journey to foster, adopt, or both.” […]
Praying for Local & Global Missions | Prayer Week Days 3-5
We’ll focus on praying for our local and global missions for the remainder of our prayer week. We’ll be doing this in three different ways. First, we’ll spend time praying for our Short-Term Mission trips that are taking place this summer. Every year Woodside sends teams to spend a week or so serving and ministering […]
How to Handle Church Burnout
If you ever want to know what the world thinks about a particular topic, there are two places I always default to when beginning my research: Reddit or Twitter (sorry, I refuse to call it X). These two platforms, albeit chaotic and messy, are usually solid gauges of people’s opinions on any given topic. So […]
The Gift Known as Chef Wendy: A Story of Hope
Ever since March, our lives have taken on many new challenges that have caused us to wonder how God can truly use us during this time. For Wendy, a Woodside member at the Warren campus and certified chef, life got very busy with kids’ schedules, and she was wondering how she’d get through this. A […]
Victory and Hope Redefined
For the past ten years I have had the immense privilege, blessing, and honor of being a pastor for Woodside Students. I have come to experience one of the greatest joys over this past decade and it is one no one had ever told me I would experience. The joy of living life alongside students […]
The Love of Father: Part Two
Last year we focused on the “Love of the Father” through the experiences of two very different sons from the story of The Prodigal in Luke 15. As I pondered how to build from that, it struck me how important words of affirmation and identity can be in the development of a child’s life. To […]
Are you a “Country Music Christian?”
Any country music fans out there? I don’t know about you, but with a mom from Kentucky, I was raised on George Strait, Alan Jackson, and John Michael Montgomery. From the time I could talk I was singing Little Bitty, Chattahoochee, and Boot Scootin’ Boogie in my diaper and Tweety Bird t-shirt. (True story.) It […]
What God Says About Addiction
Addiction is a tough and complex topic and our heart at Woodside is to come alongside those who are or know someone battling addiction. With this at heart, the intent of this blog is to open a conversation that we recognize will require much further dialogue and resourcing. Please refer to the bottom of this […]
What God Says About Parenting
Being a parent has been one of the most joyful experiences in my life and also one of the most humbling! God blessed my wife and me with four biological and two adopted kids — three boys and three girls. This mix was enough for us to nickname our tribe the StewZoo. We have experienced […]
To the Parents of Kids
I scrolled through my newsfeed on social media and stopped to read a friend’s lengthy post. Right away I could tell a high level of exhaustion from working from home while trying to be the best homeschool parent was finally taking its toll. This single parent was looking for answers, encouragement, and even a place […]
3 Ways We Can Practice Unity
We have all heard the age-old saying, “Misery loves company.” And we have all surely experienced its truth! When the temperature is 90 degrees and humid, we commiserate with strangers at the grocery store. We have very little tolerance for the bright-eyed Pollyana’s in our lives when we’re having a bad day but will stop […]
How God Serves Us
We are officially in the Christmas season. One of the things I love about this season is giving gifts. Have you ever had a moment where your intuitions were telling you to get something for someone, but it ended up being totally wrong? You thought it was going to be the greatest gift ever, and […]
The Truth About “More”
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to go play at the local arcade. I loved the thrill of wondering whether I would win enough tickets to exchange for one of the shiny toys high up on the shelf. As I got older, I realized that to win one of the big prizes, […]
Do We Get to Decide Who is Worthy of Jesus?
A few days ago, the Instagram algorithm introduced me to an artist who had just recently showcased a new series of prints that she had created. The images were called “The Foot-Washing Series.” Depicted in those pieces is Jesus kneeling and washing the feet of many icon individuals; protesters from either side, the pope, a […]
What True Desperation Looks Like
What Does True Desperation Look Like? Many years ago, there was a young twenty-something-year-old girl who, on the surface, seemed to have it all together. She had a house she called her own, a job doing what she loved, and friends and family who cared deeply for her. Looking at her positive, outgoing demeanor, one […]
What Are You Hungry For?
Hungry Hearts Food and drink have a satisfying effect for our bodies and souls. Think about your first sip of coffee as you start your day. Imagine a homemade meal after a hard day’s work. Or bring to mind your favorite dessert or comfort food when you sit down to watch a show in the […]
Domestic Violence: Signs & Solutions Resource Guide
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800–799–7233. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Pastor Chris sat down with author and advocate Tiffany Mensah to talk about this topic and how the church can be a safe space for those experiencing domestic violence. You […]
Goodbye Summer, Hello Back to School
Weekends are nice, right? But Monday is coming. If we do weekends right, we can launch into a new week ahead with at least some level of enthusiasm because we have had the weekend to decompress, meal prep, check off some items on the to-do list, and, as followers of Christ, spend time in worship. […]
Our Obsession with Authority
We are obsessed with being in charge. Call it leadership. Call it governance. Call it managing. Call it responsibility. Call it control. Whatever you call it… we want it. I did an Amazon search today for books on leadership. You have 60,000 options, right now. I matched that query with books on followership, there is […]
’Tis the Season for the Gift of Forgiveness
You’ve visited your go-to web sites. You’ve found the individual items you’d like to have sitting under your tree on Christmas morning. You’ve worked through your budget to squeeze your finances together to pay for a festive Christmas. You’ve braved the crowded one-way aisles of your local Meijer and Kohls, making sure that you have […]
Words of Wisdom from Ginger the Cat
I can’t remember the last time I went to the bathroom alone. When my husband and I adopted a 6-month-old orange tabby as a companion for the stray kitten we brought home a few months prior, we had no idea what a sweet gift she would be. (Yes, I’m a cat person, and no, I […]
How to Win the Battle
What side are you on? As our country and world grow in deeper division, this has been a frequent question informally proposed to other people and me. So many people refuse to allow a middle ground; you are either for me or against me. There is no grey area. You have to decide, and you […]
The Disciplines: Praying Scripture
What are the spiritual disciplines? Well, author and pastor, John Piper puts it this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” […]
What Should We Expect as We Follow Christ?
When was the last time you stepped into a situation where it would’ve been helpful to know in advance what you were in for? My wife and I were in this situation recently. We had joined a new gym and wanted to go to a class together to reduce stress and unwind. So, we signed […]
He Brought Me from Darkness | A Story of Hope
Be Advised: The following contains true events regarding attempted suicide and sexual assault. Emma is a lovely, down-to-earth young woman — warm and slightly shy with a wide, genuine smile. I met her for the first time at a small Corktown coffee shop after we’d spent a few weeks chatting about her story via email. As we […]
Help in Unbelief
“These are the times that try men’s souls.” These famous words open The American Crisis a series of 13 pamphlets by Thomas Paine during the 18th century. Written to inspire morale and courage during the revolution against the British Empire, he went on to state: “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Undoubtedly, times of […]
It’s Time to Get Off the Sidelines
I will never forget the first time I went to the Big House. For those of you not familiar, the Big House is the nickname of a football stadium at the University of Michigan. It is the largest sports stadium in the United States, having a capacity of just over 107,000. And it is built […]
How to Fear Death No More
My uncle John, my mother’s brother, was deathly allergic to bees in the days before we had readily available epinephrine shots. One hot summer day, as he and my grandfather were driving, windows down, in a pick-up truck making deliveries — a bee flew into the window of their vehicle. My uncle went into an immediate panic […]
1 Week to Becoming Grateful
We literally complain about everything. I mean everything. And if you think I’m lying raise your hand if you complained about the weather on Sunday.❄️ If you don’t complain about the weather, maybe some of these lines will ring a bell: · The line is moving too slow. · The car in front of us […]
What is Your Pride Keeping You From?
Last week while sitting at my desk at work, I received an email that it was time to start our 2023 sales and marketing plans. Being what I consider an old pro, I promptly set to work, disregarding a few of the ‘important notes’ in the email instead of getting right to it. (At this […]
What Does It Look Like to Deconstruct Your Faith?
There is an indescribable beauty inherent to the arts. With a stroke of a brush, faraway lands come near. A few keenly assembled literary words can stoke the imagination. But the art of music is unique. Its influence lies in its dual nature of sound and words. Melodies ensnare the mind while words erupt the […]
Meeting God in the Scriptures: A Story of Hope
“I guess clarity is a good word,” Ryan said. “I remember sitting in my room when everything clicked. I wept at the goodness of God — that He died to save me. I understood the Gospel; I understood salvation.” In 2015, Ryan Vieth accepted an invitation from a coworker to a Good Friday service at Woodside. It […]
The Seven Deadly Sins — Wrath
For the past two months, we’ve been looking at the Seven Deadly Sins. Why might you ask? I have a deep fascination with spooky things, and the imagery surrounding these sins is, well, spooky. But the more that I dug into these sins, the more I had to know what makes them so deadly. So, […]
How To Be A Better Listener
Growing up, some of our very close family friends were Messianic Jews. For those unfamiliar, Messianic Jews are a movement of Jewish people who believe that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the World (to put it simply). This relationship with our friends led to the attendance of Jewish events, Seders, learning about Chanukah, […]
Back to School: Weary Parent, I See You [Part One]
This blog is part one of a two-part series for families as they navigate the “new normal” of back to school this year. Weekends are nice, right? But Monday is coming. If we do weekends right, we can launch into a new week ahead with at least some level of enthusiasm because we have had […]
Resources For Growing Your Prayer Life
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to […]
What Happens When Things Don’t Go According to Plan
From the time I could use a crayon, I was drawing cars. My dad was a car guy, and I had other family working in the car industry. Early on, I knew I would end up in the car industry. The dream of designing cars became my focus, especially being born and raised in Michigan, […]
Why Your Family is Dysfunctional
The hit song “We don’t talk about Bruno” from the Disney Film Encanto took the world by storm this past year. The piece explores how the Madrigal family tiptoes around, discussing the broken relationship between Bruno and the rest of His family. It’s a song about family dysfunction and secrets often left ignored and undiscussed. […]
How to Pray for Our Churches
When others know that I follow Jesus Christ, they may watch to see what God does when I pray. I pray with His desires in mind so that when He answers my prayer, all can see that HE is the true focus of my attention in what I am asking for. My desire should always […]
Short Term Mission Trip Updates
2022-2023 Indiana, USA: Partnering with Hurdling Handicaps the team helped to lead the Great Getaway camps designed for families and campers with disabilities. The team’s support enables families to experience the love of Christ through a week of fun-filled activities, friendships, and encouraging messages. People served: 100 served People baptized: 2 Uganda: The team […]
Important Update Regarding the Lodge
Woodside Friends & Family, The elders and pastors of Woodside are excited to announce a new phase of operations for The Lodge. In 2016, Woodside founded The Lodge in Deckerville, MI, with the vision to equip pastors and their spouses, enrich marriages, and multiply leaders in the local church. As the ministry of The Lodge […]
What Dictates Your Identity?
It is so easy to look around us and get bogged down by our circumstances. Life in a sinful world can be a cruel place sometimes, and perhaps it even causes us to question what God is doing. Maybe we also feel like there’s no hope. None of us are immune to feeling this way. […]
The Importance of Turning to God’s Word
How has this season affected you? If your heart feels cold and your days feel joy-less, there is hope for joy, even now. We can have confidence that when we see God, and see him for long enough, joy will break in. We must ask, then, as people seeking hope in a dark time, how […]
Discipleship: You’re Invited
The phone rang. A woman from our youth ministry was calling, and she got straight to the point. “We wonder if you would consider joining high school staff to lead a girls’ small group?” Well, my first thought was, why are they asking a boy mom to lead a group of girls? I did not […]
What’s Behind the Deconstruction Movement?
Recently I came across the following headline in the Christian Post, “Joshua Harris offers deconstruction class on Christianity for $275”. If you know the name Joshua Harris, you will easily recognize why this headline was so compelling. For those of us who were Christian teens during the ’90s, we will likely remember that Harris was […]
Hey! Can You Send Me Some Good Vibes?
As I scroll past countless manicured photos, I stop on one with the caption, “Hey everyone! I know this isn’t my usual content, but I just wanted to let everyone know my mom is currently in the hospital. If everyone could take a minute, send her some good vibes, and just keep her in your […]
Why Truth Still Matters - and How it’s Discerned
What is truth? Some might say that it’s a universally accepted conclusion. Others might say that truth differs from person to person — that reality is based solely on what you internally think or believe. Therein lies a significant problem. If my truth is my truth and your truth is yours, then there cannot be an absolute, […]
3 Ways Fatherhood Brings Us Closer to God
I became a father one year, nine months, and 20 days ago. Though I thoroughly planned and expected to be challenged, I quickly learned that few things in life can prepare you for the journey of being a dad. As I embarked on the journey of fatherhood, I discovered how my experiences as a father […]
Anxiety & The Kingdom of God
What does the kingdom of heaven have to do with our experience of anxiety? How does our relationship with God affect our sense of peace and calm in otherwise terrible circumstances? It can be tempting to think religion and spirituality is simply about “saving our souls” or “going to heaven” after we die. While our […]
A Place Where You Belong
I know a thing about not feeling like I belong. And I’ll be blunt. The majority of that pain came from the church. I had tried multiple churches from my childhood to college and into adulthood. Church was intimidating. You walk in brand new and automatically feel like the odd one out. Or, you’ve been […]
A Light in Your Home: A Story of Hope
There is no doubt we are living through one of the most bizarre seasons anyone in our day and age has experienced. On one hand, we are practicing extensive distancing and, on the other, we are connecting rapidly with people online, as well as with those we live in close quarters with. Being cooped up […]
How Lament Brings Us Back to God
The year is 2020. It just started. January may be uncomfortably cold, but you’re excited for a new year filled with family, fun, and festivities. Work is stressful, and you’re not a fan of all the politics everyone is starting to talk about, but God is good, and He’s still in control. This is going […]
3 Ways Men & Women Can Work Together
Imagine going to your next corporate training at work and hearing this: “Today’s goal is to develop strategies for how we can better love and honor each other in this company.” Would your jaw hit the floor? Yet this is exactly what the Bible calls us to do at work. And in the church. And […]
What God Says About Dating
When it comes to love, people have generally fallen into one of two camps. The first is those who think they’ve mastered love or have reinvented the wheel with their personal touch on the word and its definition. The second is those who are searching and wondering what it really looks like. Whatever camp you […]
What God Says About Body Image
I was 16, and we had just wrapped an intense dance rehearsal that left me desperately needing some affirmation. My teacher approached me to chat, which was great; she would have been the perfect person to receive encouragement from. She leaned forward, grabbed my legs, and said: “We really need to catch this early before […]
Break Our Hearts
There is a set of lyrics, used by many artists, which have convicted my heart over and over again: God, break my heart for what breaks yours. It’s easy to just sing over or listen to these words without truly letting their seriousness sink in. For all of us, there are probably many different things […]
For Such a Time as This
In the middle of a global pandemic, many are asking themselves, “Where is God?” In just weeks the metaphorical rug of comfort and security has been pulled from beneath us leaving millions scrambling to get a grip on, what is now and what will be, reality. In America, we watched from afar as this virus […]
2021 or 2020-won?
Growing through adversity. Let’s be honest; we are all grateful that 2020 is over! The events of the past year were enough to overwhelm and stress out even the most peaceful soul. If the loss of your serenity caused you to feel stagnant, disoriented, or even demotivated, you are not alone. The last 12 months […]
What God Says About the Power of Our Words
Did you know that our words have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21)? That our speech is much more impactful than we sometimes want to admit (Proverbs 11:9)? Well, it’s true. Have you ever had a teacher, parent, or kid at school speak damaging words that sank like heavy weights deep into your […]
Who Knew A Backpack Could Change A Life
We don’t often see the impact that backpacks and school supplies have on children and families in need. To a family struggling financially, gaining those necessities is an immense weight lifted from them. It brings parents relief to know that their children have been provided for, and they can take comfort that their kids have […]
A Faith Response
“Are you sure we should have turned right?” Your helpful friend in the passenger seat is just trying to get you both to dinner on time, but for one split second she has rocked your world. For a split second, you are questioning the direction you were sure of just a moment ago and your […]
Choosing Faith over Fear
We’ve all likely heard some iteration(s) of these statements, and others, with increased frequency over the past month: “these are unprecedented times,” “this is a fluid situation,” or, “we haven’t seen the worst of this yet.” While some of these statements may feel true in the moment, we must allow what we know about God to dictate […]
The Valleys & Mountaintops of Adoption
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases”. I cannot recall the number of times I have written, said aloud or whispered in my soul this verse from Lamentations 3 over the last year. The toll that infertility can have on a marriage, both […]
Good News: We’re All Going to Die
We are all going to die. I know. That’s just the word of encouragement you were hoping to wake up to this morning. Death is an inevitable fact of life, but that doesn’t make it any less depressing. Death means an end to all of our work here on earth. It means leaving behind everything […]
The Disciplines: Submission
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]
Woodside’s Statement on Michigan’s Proposal 3
In just a few short weeks, citizens throughout the country will exercise our nation’s greatest freedom as we cast our vote in yet another election. As Christians, we believe that the right to vote is a gift that should be stewarded for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are also aware of the […]
Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?
In 1941, James Welch, the Director of Religious Broadcasting for the BBC, wrote to a professor at Oxford University and asked if he would be willing to help in “our work of religious broadcasting.” He suggested giving a series of lectures on the Christian faith. Ultimately, the professor, Clive Staples Lewis, would oblige, giving lectures […]
Different Forms of Generosity
As a career fundraiser and someone who grew up watching her dad write checks to charities on the dining room table, I only learned about financial generosity. It wasn’t until I married my husband, Steve, I realized there are other types of generosity and different ways to be generous. When Steve and I first got […]
How 2020 Can Strengthen Your Marriage
Can I share what my new favorite phrase is right now? It is anything that includes the words “unprecedented times.” I’m kidding. I’m sure we all miss the reversal. You know, the precedented times, the events that we know well and are recognizable to us. The hard thing about these specific times is that whether […]
Am I Too Comfortable?
I say Jonah, you say __________ My guess is that many of you have inadvertently filled in the blank with WHALE. A chunk of you have said GREAT FISH or some variant. A few of you might have said IMPOSSIBLE. But I’m guessing that no one responded ENTITLED. God keeps bringing me back to the […]
3 Truths You Can Count on Every Day
There is nothing worse than your alarm going off in the morning. Ok, there are worse things, but that for sure must be on the list somewhere. Each morning when our alarm goes off, we open our eyes, and our days begin. Well, sometimes it starts after hitting the snooze button multiple times, but at […]
Send Me: A Story of Hope
One of the most challenging parts of being a Christian is the aspect of complete, relentless faith in God and HIS plan. God instructs us through His Word how to be obedient, but often we don’t see the reward or conclusion to our obedience right away. So, at times we question if our obedience really […]
Global Partner’s Update from Ukraine
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not […]
The Seven Deadly Sins – Envy
When we had our first child, we enjoyed all the early stages of life she was experiencing. I got particularly excited when, one night, as she was beginning to eat more solid foods, we introduced her to steak. I’m not attempting to provoke any thoughts that lead you to the very sin we’re discussing, but […]
The Lord Leads
Have you ever doubted where your next paycheck will come from? What would you and your family would do if you lost your job? Have you ever been uncertain where your next meal will come from? Maybe the times today have caused you to wonder and ask yourself these questions. These thoughts are not foreign […]
What Fasting Means to Me
When good things become god things, you’re in trouble. A few weeks ago, Pastor Jon Morales spoke these words to a room full of people, but it felt like they were just for me. You see, for months now, God and I have been doing business over the once-good things in my life. The hard […]
How To Give Beyond Your Means
“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” (2 Cor 8:3–4) What would make someone give “beyond their means?” How could that kind of giving be motivated in our […]
Breaking Christmas Traditions
Today is December 1, which means you (or your calendar app of choice) flipped to the new month. And I can only imagine what awaited you. 🧶 3rd — Ugly Christmas Sweaters at the Smith’s 🍬 4th — Gingerbread houses with the kids 🍪 5th — Grandma’s for cookie decorating 🦓 10th — Wild Lights at the zoo ⛸ 11th — Ice skating in Campus […]
What God Says About Proving Yourself
On my most recent journey through the Gospel according to Luke, I was ambushed by the account of Jesus’ visit to a certain set of sisters. Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who […]
Is Science Really the Answer?
The 2022 movie Wakanda Forever opens with Shuri desperately praying to Bast, Wakanda’s Panther god. Her brother King T’Challa, played by the late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, is dying. As the elevator doors open, Shuri prays, “Time is running out. Please allow me to heal my brother of this illness, and I will never […]
From Abandoned to Accepted | A Story of Hope
Sometimes, our pursuit of Christ is anything but straightforward. As we learn to navigate our humanness — a lifelong process — we will inevitably wrestle with deep pain. But God remains unmovable and sits with us when we reach the bitter end of ourselves. In those moments when we’ve lost every indication of our worth, we are still worthwhile […]
New Year, Same Fear: The Fear of the Unknown
This past summer, I wrote a blog for our “What God Says About” series that focused on fear. If you haven’t read it yet, that’s fine; I’ll summarize. In the blog, I share a story about a trip to Disney World with my friends. One of them brought their daughter, who was about ten years […]
How to Restore a Broken Community
A few Disney songs are being sung around my house lately. Maybe it’s because there have been more movies watched over the last few months than the previous six! Or, perhaps because some of the phrases seem to capture specific thoughts that tend to come to our minds. “Into the Unknown” resonated as this virus-season […]
7 Ways to Combat Zoom Fatigue
As school begins and the weather turns cooler, do you start to feel an odd sort of panic that we are all about to be locked inside with only our computer screens as our way to connect? At the beginning of quarantine, Zoom was a lifeline. We were so happy to have a way to […]
4 Ways to Engage with God’s Word
How many times have you said, either out loud or to yourself, “I wish I read the Bible more”? Maybe you can’t seem to get engaged, understand what it’s saying, or find what you’re looking for to get you through life’s current struggles. Or you’ve never opened a Bible before and don’t know where to […]
How Fasting Fuels Prayer
As we all use the occasion of the new year to reflect on ourselves and think about different resolutions that we need to make for self-improvement, many Christians will likely conclude, “I need to improve my prayer life.” Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God. In prayer, we are communing with and […]
Is My Family Too Messy?
Do you think that your family is a bit messy and chaotic? Do you have siblings who won’t even speak with each other? Well, you are not alone. All families can be dysfunctional and messy at times. But God has shown us how to work through family quarrels using one of the most “messy” families […]
How to Honor the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We recognize the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was motivated by his love for Jesus to fight for the rights of others. As a Pastor and Christian leader in Civil Rights, he believed that the call of every Christian was to follow the example of Christ and to […]
What Does Family Look Like?
A family can be unique in how it looks, when it begins, and the way that it grows. It’s the uniting of something shared…be it ancestry, a set of values, or simply the same roof. A family is a home. A place of gathering that makes us feel safe, esteemed, and welcomed. At Woodside, we’re […]
Why Should You Trust the Bible?
Trust in the Bible is fundamental to belief. It is the primary way in which we understand the nature of God, His expectations for us, and how we build our trust in Him by understanding how He has operated throughout time. Our perception of the Bible has deep ramifications. It can tilt us toward fortifying […]
4 Steps to Evaluate the Heart behind our Actions
Why do we do the things we do? And once we figure out the answer to that question, how can we evaluate the heart behind our actions? The solution may be easier than you think. Let’s look at this parable in Luke 18:9–14. He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that […]
What God Says About Work
Picture this: You’re in a stadium full of people. One side shouts out, “Work hard!” The expected response comes from the other side, “Play hard!” Work hard! Play hard! Work hard! Work hard! WORK HARD! WORK HARD! [BLOG BANNER] Maybe it’s just me, but I think this tends to be our pattern. We begin with […]
What Does God say about Mental Health?
I’ll never forget my first panic attack. Years ago, we were cleaning out one of the old Student Ministry storage rooms at the church when, suddenly, my chest began to grow tighter and tighter until I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know what was happening because, moments ago, my co-workers and I were […]
What Do You Prefer?
Do you ever wonder if your taste or style is truly and authentically yours? Or if it’s something you’ve been influenced to like by the greater culture and norms? I have often asked myself why I gravitate towards specific colors, designs, products, etc. Is it always because I genuinely like it, or is it possible […]
What God Says About Sex
Sex. A taboo topic, yet we’re surrounded by it constantly. In music, movies, the show you’re streaming, and even commercials. Whether obvious gestures or subtle remarks, it’s everywhere. So, what is a Christian response to our culture’s preoccupation with and abuse of this divinely purposeful and good gift? It’s crucial to start this conversation by […]
Who Is Your One?
Questions. We love to ask them. And the more we ponder or converse with one another, oftentimes, the deeper these questions become. When you’re younger, and usually after the fire department visits your elementary school, it’s “what’s the one thing you’d grab in a fire?” Then, as we get a little older, it’s questions like, […]
Stories from our Global Partners | India
Below you’ll find stories from our Global Partners throughout India. India Each evening, Aahan heard the singing lifting from his neighbor’s house. In a small village on the edge of India sits Aahan’s home. He, his wife, and his children live there and always follow the same evening routine—share a meal, then offer prayers and […]
The Importance of [Virtual] Community
In the final hours of his life on earth, Jesus knelt down and prayed for you and me. He prayed we would have community; that the world would know him by our love for each other and our unity in the gospel. Our unity as the body of Christ is so important to Jesus that […]
How to Love the Unlovable
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, so that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Psalm 67:1–2 Sometimes reading verses about God’s grace and blessing can be hard because often things feel like they’re not as it should be. […]
God’s Will & My Doubt
Driving home from the hospital, after having watched my mom take her last breath, I cried out to God, “Why didn’t you answer my prayer and heal her?” Twelve years earlier, she’d been diagnosed with Leukemia. At that time, I’d begun fervently praying that God would heal her. I believed Jesus when he said: Truly, […]
What God Says About Modesty
If you missed it, head to Part 1 of this 2-part series for a foundation on the difference between seeking approval from others and finding it in God. First things first, we need to define “modesty.” Because I don’t think you’re thinking what I’m thinking. The biblical meaning of modesty is much deeper and broader […]
Celebrating Women’s History Month
The Lord reminds His people throughout the Bible to tell all generations of His wonderful works. He did not want them to forget how He demonstrated His grace and goodness to them and the world. Part of what that means for the church is that we must preserve the memory of the people and places […]
The Disciplines: Scripture Meditation
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]
Bearing Grief in Community | A Share Your Story Blog
In June of 2020, Emma Greco woke up to her grandmother yelling frantically into the phone. “Something’s wrong with your mom,” she was told. “We’ve got to go.” Soon after, when Emma arrived at her dad’s house, she learned that her mom had very suddenly passed away. “It was shock immediately,” Emma said. “It was — how? […]
When the Unexpected Happens
Around this time a year ago, I was working at the Orange Conference down in Atlanta, GA. The conference is an annual gathering of thousands of Kids and Student Ministry workers, leaders, and volunteers. As part of the conference, the Orange Student team gathered all their content contributors for a time of networking and getting […]
Does God Keep His Promises?
As I stood at the altar, teary-eyed, gazing at the love of my life, I was filled with joy, excitement, awe, even fear. There I made some very specific and important promises to Stephanie about our life going forward. We would be joining our lives, our hopes, our joys, our disappointments, ourselves together until one […]
Does Building a Relationship with My Neighbor Matter?
Let’s face it — many things in our lives are engineered to avoid the nuisance of neighbors in the first place! You may have your own driveway, an attached garage, a privacy fence, five acres, and a front yard that is designed, at great expense, as a non-entertainment space. And even the last 70 years of residential […]
The New Life of Grace
To the unbeliever (and many Christians!), baptism can seem quite odd. What purpose could dunking someone underwater really serve besides a quick bath? In Romans 5, Paul tells us that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been given an “abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness” through the death and resurrection of Jesus […]
The Disciplines: Confession
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way: “The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.” If something’s […]
How Do We Produce Fruitful Lives?
The day after He triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem, the Gospel author Mark tells us that Jesus was walking by a fig tree. As Jesus approached the fig tree, he decided to look for some figs. But, the tree wasn’t in season, and so Jesus found no fruit on the tree. The next moment […]
The Seven Deadly Sins — The Beginning
I love spooky season. I’m not talking about weird horror/slasher films or haunted houses. I’m talking about the crisp, foggy fall air, leaves blowing across the cemetery, and Greenfield-Village-at-Halloween kind of spooky. Something about it is alluring to me. The sense of mystery in the air intrigues me. Before you come at me about witches […]
How to Be Filled with Proper Fear
With everything going on in our world right now, we daily face the question of what tomorrow will hold. Each of us is confronting a reality that has always been true: we are not in control. When we grasp how true this really is, it’s easy to become filled with anxiety and fear. I find […]
A New Beginning
The central piece of Christmas celebrations is by far unwrapping presents on Christmas Day. Have you thought about why it is that we wrap presents? Men, in my experience, are not great at wrapping presents. Not only do we usually botch the job, but we also find it entirely unnecessary altogether. Why should I go […]
Religious Duty or Divine Opportunity?
Do any of these statements sound familiar? “I don’t feel close to God?” “I’m reading my Bible and praying, but it feels like a duty.” “I wish I was more excited about my relationship with God.” These words are so discouraging, yet so common. I’ve heard these sentiments countless times and have even said them […]
3 Weeks to Becoming Grateful
“TANK EWWW.” This was the response my friend’s two-year-old daughter would say multiple times throughout the day as we gave her snacks, read her stories, and helped her with her daily activities. From a young age, we teach our kids the importance of saying thank you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard […]
What Encanto and the Bible Teach Us About Family Dysfunction
It’s pretty infrequent that a cartoon takes the world by storm, but in the last year the Disney film Encanto has surged forward in popularity. Certainly, the catchy tune of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” makes it easy to appreciate its rise in popularity. But Encanto is a different kind of Disney cartoon. There is no traditional villain; no […]
What’s the Difference Between the Bible and the Qur’an?
In 2015, contemporary conversations concerning the theological distinctives of Christianity and Islam reached a boiling point. Various news outlets reported that a Wheaton College professor, a professed Christian, planned on wearing a hijab[1] during the Advent season in a show of solidarity with Muslims. This came on the heels of some particularly disparaging comments about the […]
Why is it Essential to Believe in God?
“What is Truth?” That question has come to the minds of billions of human beings over the ages. Philosophers have asked it, politicians asked it, artists asked it, teachers asked it, and students asked the question. At some point or another, it seems everyone asks, “What is truth?” The problem is everyone seems to have […]
Relentless Pursuit | Ramesh’s Story
Ramesh recalls a happy and privileged childhood. Born into a high-caste Nepali family, his grandfather was a Hindu priest, and his father was the only man who received a college education. His father became his schoolteacher and hoped his son would become a doctor one day. Although his father was a devout Hindu, education taught […]
How to Grow Spiritually
Why do we need to grow spiritually? And how does that happen? We have a sense we need to grow, but sometimes it’s a fuzzy concept for us. Perhaps if we use physical maturity as an illustration, we can better understand our need for spiritual growth. When I was in the 6th grade, I participated […]
What To Do When You Disagree
If you are anything like me, you are probably growing just a little tired of hearing about how crazy 2020 has been and how we have not even gotten to the election yet! This is not to say we are callous toward hearing testimonies of God’s goodness or lament over broken heartedness. The fatigue seems more to […]
5 Christian Books to Read if You are Single or Dating
Navigating the world of singleness and dating can be tricky. In an ever-changing world, singleness can become disheartening, and dating can be difficult. But what does God say about these seasons of our lives? How can we see seasons of singleness as a gift? And how can we date with intention, end relationships well, and […]
Breaking Christmas Traditions, Pt. 2
If you haven’t had a chance, check out part one of our Breaking Christmas Traditions series, here. How many times have you been told in your life that the true reason we celebrate Christmas is because of the Birth of Jesus Christ? Jesus is the reason for the season, right? Yet, we spend 90% of this […]
What God Says About Busyness
Do you want to know what the number one response is to being asked to do something? I’m sure you can guess it. “I’m busy.” Do you want to know what the number one response is to being asked the question how you have been? Again, I’m sure you can guess it. “Good, busy.” Busy […]
How to Pray for Ourselves
People often say that they either don’t have time to pray for themselves or that they view it as selfish when there is so much more to be praying for or others who “need” it more. While that sentiment might be well-intentioned, we need to be found in prayer for ourselves daily to become more […]
What Happens When We Die?
One of the euphemisms for death is to say someone has “passed beyond the veil.” The idea being that there’s a veil between us now and what happens after death. We can’t see through this veil; we can’t see around this veil; it blocks us from the knowledge of what happens after we die. And […]
Equipping the Church for Life | A Share Your Story Blog
A quick encyclopedia search outlines sanctity of life as “…the theological or philosophical understanding that all human life has an inherent dignity, worth, and sacredness that sets it apart from all other beings within the world.”1 But what defines a life? This is just one of the confusing questions that we face in today’s world […]
Learning the Song of Lament
“Promise me I will feel joy again.” These are the words I would say to my friend Emily after I lost my daughter Selah on February 29, 2020. This loss came after two previous miscarriages, all in nine months. Emily had walked through some very tragic losses in her life, and despite her pain, she […]
How to Begin Breaking Down the Stigma of Mental Health
How do we break down the stigma surrounding mental health and normalize conversations of struggling with anxiety, depression, or emptiness? This task is a daunting one. I’ll be honest. I’ve struggled with mental health issues for as long as I can remember, so when there’s an opportunity to break down the stigma, I’m like YEAH […]
What to Do When You Run Out of Waiting
As a child, waiting was probably one of the least favorite parts of my day. Whether it was waiting for school to get over, my turn on the swings on the playground, or a thousand other little things, it’s definitely something I could have done without in my life. And as I’ve gotten older, these […]
How to Seek God’s Wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” — James 1:5 Have you ever been given this verse before by someone when you are really struggling with life; or possibly this verse from the book of Matthew, “Ask, and […]
What God Says About Money
Though both my parents grew up in inner-city Chicago, they were from entirely different worlds. My grandfather on my dad’s side grew up dirt poor in southern Mississippi. His father died when he was just a child, so he had to drop out of school at ten years old and work to support his mother […]
Who Are You Parenting For? A Coming & Going Blog
Those who know me know when football season rolls around, I live and breathe Packer football. I’m not from Green Bay, but around eight years old, I was introduced to the game of football, and each Sunday, I loved watching Brett Favre and Reggie White play. As time went on, I learned more about Reggie […]
What God Says About Anxiety
A few summers ago, some friends and I were at the beach when suddenly, the Coast Guard swarmed in looking for a man who had gone missing in the water. We, along with the other beachgoers, joined a human chain in the water to search for the man. The next few hours were some of […]
The Battle is Won
Moments of darkness can feel overwhelming. We lie awake at night wondering if we can push through, if we will make it. The fear of unknown consumes us. The weight of darkness feels overpowering. The light at the end of the tunnel seems so far away. In the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Two […]
Did You Hear About…
For those who are blessed to call Southeast Michigan their home, the greatest home-town blessing of all may be located inside a simple structure on the east side of Woodward Avenue south of downtown Pontiac. You have to get there early, before they are all gone. I’ve learned through years of experience that the sweet […]
The Singular Secret to Contentment
I will be honest, when I read the stories in Acts about Christians selling all they have to provide for one another, I normally don’t think it applies to me. I interpret it as a necessity of their day, which doesn’t really apply to my context in which most people I know have their needs […]
3 Truths About Lament
We know that God is good all the time. We sing about all the ways God loves me, and frequently in language that comes straight from Scripture. Lament is not a song of triumph, it is a song of grief. Lament wrestles to trust and keep faith in a loving God when we feel how […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Being Alone
I really didn’t want to be the one to write this blog. As our team at Woodside planned out the blog and social media series that would take us into this new year, this was the one I was most determined to have someone else write. But as the weeks went by, no author came […]
How to Win the War of Us vs. Them
We’ve all seen it. Maybe you have the t-shirt or the hoodie. Detroit vs. Everybody A Detroiter named Tommey Walker started the clothing brand back in 2012.[1] At the time, the city was beginning to go through a renaissance. Still, the only story capturing national news was the scandals and corruption surrounding then-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Tommey […]
What God Says About Jealousy
An intrusive yet familiar thought crossed my mind. “I wish that was me.” I’ve struggled with jealousy more times than I’d like to admit, and it’s often made me feel guilty because I shouldn’t think that way. I shouldn’t be jealous…I’m a Christian, and I should be happy and rejoice when others succeed, especially for […]
To the Parents of Students
The transition into the teenage years brings about the most significant changes a student (6th-12th graders) have ever experience at this point in their life. More than the physical changes occurring during this time, a student undergoes major physiological changes as their brain literally re-wires. The way they understand the world completely begins to shift. […]
2020: The Year of Fear
It isn’t hard to become overwhelmed by our struggles each day. Easier still, to be overwhelmed by the struggles that we can see coming in the days or years to come. Sometimes, moments of exhaustion turn into moments of anxiety. Sometimes moments of anxiety turn into seasons of fear. And if there was ever a […]
What Christmas Means to Me
Christmas is such a joyous time of year! But for many the disorientation of 2020 has caused this year to feel different than the rest. This Christmas season at Woodside we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one […]
10 Books Every Christian Should Read
Everyone has what we’d like to call a “must” list. A must eat, a must watch, a must visit, the list can go on and on. We asked a handful of our Woodside Campus Pastors & Staff Members what is the one must read book on their list. The one book they think every Christian […]
The Best Reason To Throw A Party
“Follow me.” Those two words have been ringing in my ears all week, as I’ve thought about Levi’s story in Luke 5. Those two words changed Levi’s life profoundly. Over the next few moments, I want to invite you to join me in Levi’s tax booth to understand why I can’t get away from the echo […]
Loving Your LGBTQ+ Neighbor: A Resource Guide
Love is love. Gender is fluid. Trans rights are human rights. These are all phrases we see every day. Whether in the news, social media, or on a sign in a business window, the conversations surrounding the LGBTQ+ community are everywhere. As a church, knowing how to respond and navigate these conversations and our convictions […]
How to Heal a Hurting Nation
A preface is not normal for a blog, but it’s worth stating upfront that this is a difficult day and time to write. Even as I labored to thoughtfully and prayerfully select every word written here with the utmost care, my wife expressed her sincere concern that many would misunderstand the motives of my heart. […]
What God Says About Friendship
“It is not good for man to be alone” — Genesis 2:18 If this season of my life has taught me anything, it taught me about the power of relationships. Collectively, we have just come out of an intense period of isolation and separation, unlike anything we have ever experienced before. And in those moments of […]
The Joy of Community: A Story of Hope
To be fully known and truly loved* — what a wonderful feeling. It took me a long time to find out what this really looked like, and I will tell you, it is not about just knowing many people — acquaintances in clubs, friends on social media, or serving in the same ministry — as I […]
How to Find the Help You Need
Have you ever wished you could speak to Jesus face to face? Wouldn’t it be amazing to just walk alongside with Him each day, share your deepest fears or just ask Him questions? Think about what that would be like to hear His thoughts, encouragement, or insights. After sharing our questions or thoughts with Jesus, […]
Sharing the Burden of Grief | A Story of Hope
Hope. Purpose. In the darkest days after his wife’s death, Greg Fischer longed to feel these things again. He was emotionally numb in the depth of his grief — socially and directionally lost. He felt abandoned by God and disconnected from family and friends. His life was shattered, and he didn’t know how to pick up the […]
I Can’t Breathe: George Floyd, The Gospel, and Our Response (Part 1)
This is part one of a two-part blog series written by Senior Pastor Chris Brooks in response to the death of Mr. George Floyd. Yesterday, I lost my breath! My breathlessness came because of watching the now viral video of a man gasping for the desperately needed air his lungs begged for. He pleaded with […]
How to Show Submission and Respect
“The land of the free and the home of the brave.” Americans belt out these closing words of our national anthem across ballparks and during Independence Day gatherings. As the song grows towards this last line, it’s meant for our country’s pride to grow along with it. And it’s certainly true that there are many blessings […]
The Top 3 Pieces of Marriage Advice from a Marriage Counselor
I have been married for nearly 36 years. I have been counseling couples for the same number of years, previously as a pastor and currently as a licensed counselor specializing in marriage counseling. So, I’m often asked to give my best advice for couples to have a great marriage. While there are so many things […]
Why You Shouldn’t Want to Be In Control
There is something within us that desperately desires to be in control. We believe taking control frees us from the boundaries life places on us. I know I feel the desire to control my life at times. Perhaps you feel this way too. Our need for feeling in control is not surprising. Our culture constantly […]
When God Broke Our Contract: A Story of Hope
Growing up, my family believed in Jesus but did not regularly attend church or seek out a relationship with Him. As a result, I was left to form my own conclusions and develop my own notions of Christ. To me, a relationship with Jesus meant good behavior was rewarded while bad behavior was punished. The […]
How To Make the Impossible Possible
How do you respond to situations that feel impossible? Perhaps, it’s easy to think through all the possible scenarios and worry about every potential outcome. Or maybe it’s easier to take charge and seek control over these circumstances. I’m sure we’ve all reacted in one of these ways as we experience what feels impossible in […]
The Seven Deadly Sins – Sloth
Sloth [noun] disinclination to action or labor any of various slow-moving arboreal edentate mammals (genera Bradypus and Choloepus) that inhabit tropical forests of South and Central America, hang from the branches back downward, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits. When you hear the word ‘sloth,’ which definition comes to mind? For me, it’s the […]
🙏 Teach us to Pray
In the last few weeks life has radically changed. Before the national pandemic and everything shutting down, life was a busy mess of running from work, church, school, kids’ soccer games, and many other things. For most of us, life is scheduled chaos as we run from one thing to the next. As a pastor, […]
5 Rhythms of a Christ-Centered Home
Wouldn’t it be nice if wishing you were in better physical shape would make it happen? We all know through experience, however, that it requires time and diligence. In the same way, you can only become more spiritually healthy if you intentionally implement new spiritual rhythms and routines. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; […]
Knowing God’s Presence Even When You Can’t Feel It
Have you ever lost something only to realize it was right in front of you the whole time? Or felt that sense of panic when you’re at a concert or sporting event and the person you’re with just vanishes into the crowd? This happens to me all the time with my dog. You’re probably wondering […]
1 Day to Become Grateful
Dear Friends, Here we are. We’ve made it to the day before Thanksgiving! One day left in our journey to become grateful. By this point, we’ve got it all down pat. We say thank you all the time, no longer wrestle with discontentment, and we definitely aren’t complaining anymore, right? Full transparency, I’m still struggling. […]
An Appraisal of Authentic Faith
The value of a work of art hinges on its authenticity. To assess its worth, the art undergoes the process of appraisal. This exploration into its validity is ultimately done for one purpose: to help identify its true artist. A similar concept exists in the New Testament book of James. Nestled in chapters one and […]
10 Verses about Giving Thanks to God
One of the best things about thankfulness is that the more you choose it, the easier it gets. And the more you profess gratitude, you begin to notice more things to be grateful for. When we openly thank and acknowledge the goodness of God in our lives, it allows us to proclaim a loving God […]
10 Verses About the Power of Your Words
Have your words ever gotten you into a huge mess? Have you ever falsely spoken or gossiped about someone? Our words carry a lot of power. God created words and conversations for good, yet in our sinful nature, we often use them to tear one another down. God calls us to be “quick to listen, […]
What Christmas Means to Me
This Christmas season at Woodside, we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one of our middle school students, Poppy K., to share with us what Christmas means to her. As you read, reflect on your own Christmas traditions […]
How to Implement Prayer & Fasting in Our Lives
In a world where it feels like activism rules the day, why should the believer spend any significant amount of time praying or fasting? Now, when I refer to the word activism, it has much less to do with political or social involvement as it does the root of the word would imply “activity.” Lately, […]
Back to School: Weary Parent, I See You [Part Two]
This blog is part two of a two-part series for families as they navigate the “new normal” of back to school this year. To read part one, click here. What DIVE best portrays your ‘Back to School’ experience? In part one, we got real honest about 2020’s Back to School season and how it has many […]
3 Encouragements for Women when Feeling Overwhelmed
On this Mother’s Day weekend, we celebrate the mothers, the spiritual mothers, and all the wonderful women in our lives. Every woman that I know is working hard to leave her corner of the world better than she found it. Women, we shoulder many burdens — caring well for the people in our lives (both little ones […]
What Christmas Means to Me
This Christmas season at Woodside we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one of our Middle School students, Kaylee Cole to share with us what Christmas means to her. As you read, reflect on your own Christmas traditions, […]
5 Things Christians Must NOT Do in the Overturn of Roe v. Wade
On Friday, June 24, 2022, a 6–3 decision of the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that permitted abortion during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. After nearly 50 years of federally legalized abortion, the Court’s ruling now gives individual states the right to determine their abortion laws, and the result is […]
What Christmas Means to Me
This Christmas season at Woodside, we’d love for you and your family to be reminded of the sentiment of Christmas through the eyes of the next generation. We’ve asked one of our High School students, Grace W, to share with us what Christmas means to her. As you read, reflect on your own Christmas traditions […]
Stories from Our Global Partners | Ethiopia & Nepal
Ethiopia Ayana and her husband are members of an unreached people group in Ethiopia. They sacrificed to their ancestors and performed rituals to honor their gods. However, their beliefs instilled fear, which contradicted the Gospel and the freedom found in Christ. Earlier this year, Ayana fell ill. Sickness and a lack of material blessings were […]
What Does it Mean to Be Highly Treasured and Valued?
We all want to feel included. We all like to feel seen and heard. We all desire to be accepted as God created us to be. So why is it hard for us to accept and love people who are different from us? Perhaps it’s a fear of the unknown, or maybe we won’t know […]
What are You Prioritizing?
It is early Monday morning, and you have a moment of stillness. You sit down at the kitchen table to go over your schedule for the week. One kid has sports practice, another tutoring, and number three has a tournament over the weekend. Your spouse has two evening work dinners, and you are stuck driving […]
How to Restore a Broken World
How can I be confident when so much of my life is crumbling? The biblical book of Nehemiah contains the account of a servant of God who was used by Him during a time of calamity for the Jewish people. More than 70 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Nehemiah led the monumental task of […]
Finding Hope Amid Chaos
We are certainly living in uncertain and often frightening times with everything that has happened to us this past year. From the Covid-19 Pandemic to protests, riots, and threats — the list can go on and on. But now that I think of it aren’t we always living in uncertain times? The details of our […]
New Year, Same Fear? The Fear of Change
Change. It’s a guaranteed fact of life. Some of that change may seem minuscule, some of it may be life-altering. As I sit here and take quick stock of some of the changes in my life, the range is massive, and the list seems unending, but most of them have one thing in common — that imminent […]
What God Says About Anger
“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies…Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by […]
5 More Christian Books to Read if You’re Single or Dating
Navigating the world of singleness and dating can be tricky. In an ever-changing world, singleness can become disheartening, and dating can be difficult. But what does God say about these seasons of our lives? How can we see seasons of singleness as a gift? And how can we date with intention, end relationships well, and […]
Stories from Our Global Partners | Liberia
Stories from WordSower From our indigenous missionary team in Guinea: “Service went on well today at Dabadu. This is the town’s first time to have a church service and praise God. The turnout was great, with 32 in attendance. We just completed the second church service in Dabadu. Attendance increased to 35.” “Last night, while […]
There is No Fear in Love
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 I have no shame in telling you I grew up as a pretty scared kid. Ever since I can remember, I was a shy […]
So You Want to Change the World?
I was flipping through the program from my Ph.D. commencement about two weeks post-ceremony. I turned to the back of the program, the back cover. It was plain, all one color. But it said something so profound. Three words. Three words that I believe were not only the desire of my school but at the […]
God Fights for You
When is the last time you’ve experienced sustained and consistent victories in your vision, leadership, or life? I don’t know about you, but I want God fighting for me in my life. I want to experience sustained and consistent victories. In Joshua 10, we find Israel in the middle of a military conquest of the […]
Mental Health: Why God?
In Hebrew, the book of Lamentations is entitled, “HOW?!” It’s the cry, the question of the sufferer. That one word is laced with pain. It is the question of the broken, calling out to a God who is supposed to love them and yet has allowed them to suffer. If you’re one of the more […]
3 Ways to Know if You Truly Fear God
Have you ever had a healthy fear of someone in your life? Mike Glenn, the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee, once shared a story when a healthy fear helped him in life. He recounted how his father took him out to breakfast when he was 16 and just about to get his […]
How Understanding Humility Points Us to Unity
One inevitable outcome of a life in pursuit of Christ is the deeper wrestling with questions stirred up by a world — and an existence — that is often anything but simple. For me, several of these questions have centered themselves in the juxtaposition of pride and humility. I come from a line of prideful […]
What God Says About Grief
The world became a different place the day my mom passed away. In 2022, my mom underwent back surgery to correct a collapsed vertebra. There was no indication that there would be obstacles afterward, but she never recovered. Instead, nine months later, she slipped into cardiac arrest during a test in the ICU, and the […]
Wired for Community
Growing up I quickly learned life wasn’t just about the things I did, but the people I did them with. As a kid it wasn’t just the games in the neighborhood I remember, but the neighbors I played them with. School wasn’t just about learning, but about classmates. In sports, I could tell you more […]
The Fear of Rejection
We all like to be liked. We all want to be included and welcomed by our peers. Acceptance from others is a core desire of the human heart we cannot shake. But what happens when we face the threat of rejection? What happens when our efforts to be accepted are turned down by those we […]