Sermons by the Rev. David Wheeler

Based on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Rev. Wheeler attempts to provide some tools and encouragement for spiritual growth. For more info, he recommends Brian McLaren's book, “Faith After Doubt,” which he references extensively in this sermon.

Click here to listen to the audio version of Rev. Wheeler's sermon from February 5, titled, "The Mind of Christ," based on 1 Corinthians 2:1-16. He says that the place faithful knowledge and action and attitude meet—that is the Mind of Christ.

Here is the audio version of the sermon by Rev. Wheeler from 1/29/2023. Based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, it discusses how life brings us critical moments where we are faced with letting go of some things and holding onto others. How do we decide? God's wisdom, Rev. Wheeler suggests, is often different from what we have often learned from our surroundings.

Based on 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, this sermon by Rev. Wheeler addresses conflict resolution and unity within the life of the Church. In the middle of the sermon, he includes an interview with the Rev. Kelly Becker, Senior Minister of Disciples Christian Church (DOC), in Bartlesville, OK.

Click here to listen to Rev. Wheelers sermon from January 15, 2023. Based on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, this message reflects on what it means for us to “be saints together.”

In his sermon on January 8, Rev. Wheeler suggests the story of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12 is a story of following stars and chasing dreams, of finding Light in places and people that seem foreign to us, and a story about taking enormous risks. Click to listen to the audio. Feel free to share!

Rev. Wheeler shared this sermon, part 3 in the "Close to Home," Advent series in worship at New Covenant Christian on Dec. 12, 2021. Based on Luke 3:1-18, he brought together the theme of "joy" with "repentance." Joy is found, he suggests, as we do God's work of inclusion at the margins.

Rev. Wheeler offered this sermon in worship on his first Sunday at New Covenant Christian Church (DOC), Sunday, December 5. It is part 2 in the Advent series, "Close to Home," and is based on Luke 1:57-80 and deals with finding one's voice (like Zechariah) and the traditional Advent theme of Peace.

Rev. Wheeler offered this "sermonette" to New Covenant Christian Church (DOC) on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 by video. This is part 1 in the Advent series, "Close to Home." It draws on the traditional theme for the first week of Advent-- hope.

This was Rev. Wheeler's final sermon as pastor of Weatherford Federated Church and First Congregational UCC of Norman. Based on John 18:33-37, he offers an explanation of what some Christians might mean when they say, “Christ is King!”

In this sermon, Rev. Wheeler uses the apocalyptic story from Mark 13:1-8, to discuss how the “signs” of the times often signal the beginning of something new and not just the end of something familiar.

What makes a “saint” a Saint? Rev. Wheeler uses Revelation 21:1-6a as a springboard for wrestling with this question on this All Saints' Sunday.

What does the Greatest Commandment actually look like? Rev. Wheeler examines the connections between loving God, neighbor, and self in this sermon from Oct. 31, 2021.

What happens when we finally have that breakthrough we have been hoping and praying for? Based on Mark 10:46-52, Rev. Wheeler examines this healing story to “see” things in a different light.

Rev. Wheeler shared this message as part 5 of 5 in the “By Popular Demand,” series. What if our image of Jesus needs expanding? Would we better understand some of his “difficult” teachings?

Rev. Wheeler delivered this message on Oct. 3 on World Communion Sunday in response to the “popular demand” of his congregations. Part 4 of 5 in this series.

In this sermon from Sept. 26, 2021, Rev. Wheeler discusses the “substitutionary atonement theory” and what is meant when Christians speak of the death of Jesus as a sacrifice.

Part 2/5 in the, “By Popular Demand Series.”

Where did the Bible come from? What do we mean when we say it is “inspired?” How do modern Christians interpret it? Rev. Wheeler deals with these and other questions in the sermon given today. Part 1 of 5 in the series, “By Popular Demand.”

Rev. Wheeler shared this message in worship on September 5, 2021. Based on Mark 7:24-37, this sermon takes a look at the incredible work hope does in our lives.

Rev. Wheeler discusses what it means to stay focused on the most central and important issues of our time in light of a familiar story from Mark 7 (selected verses).

Rev. Wheeler addresses the rather cannibalistic sounding John 6:51-58 passage to point towards a much deeper truth. Jesus was calling his followers to build a better world; one that leaves room for a true taste of grace.

Rev. Wheeler offered this message based on John 6:35, 41-51, in worship services on August 8, 2021. He asks, “What if we saw ourselves as the bread God uses to feed a hungry world?”

Rev. Wheeler offered this sermon in worship on August 1, 2021. Based on John 6:24-35, this sermon explores what it means to seek truly significant, fulfilling things in life, versus the superficial things that always leaving us wanting for more.

Rev. Wheeler shared this sermon based on John 6:1-21 in worship on July 25, 2021. Does being faithful mean we are always “positive?” Is there room for some doubt, exhaustion, or even negativity among the would-be faithful? He suggests that there is.

Rev. Wheeler offered this sermon in worship on July 18, 2021. Based on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56; He makes the case for finding rest as we continue to endure the journey towards the “new normal” following the global pandemic.

Rev. Wheeler gave this brief talk to the Weatherford Federated Church on June 27, 2021.

Part 3 of 3 in the, "Lessons From Lockdown," series. Given by Rev. Wheeler in worship at First Congregational UCC in Norman, OK on June 20, 2021.

This is part 2 in the series, “Lessons from Lockdown,” offered by Rev. Wheeler in worship on June 13, 2021.

Part 1 of 3 in the series, “Lessons From Lockdown.” Given by Rev. Wheeler in worship on June 6, 2021

In this Trinity Sunday message given in worship on May 30, 2021, Rev. Wheeler discusses the idea of the Triune God as an expression of Divine Community. "Divinely Relational," based on Romans 8:12-17, emphasizes our need for one another, in community, and how together, we experience God as we live out this calling.

Rev. Wheeler shared this sermon for Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2021. If COVID could spread around the world, can the Holy Spirit help us spread something positive and truly transforming? Based on Acts 2.

Rev. Wheeler shared this sermon in worship on May 16, 2021, based on John 17:6-19. If you could have Jesus pray just one thing for YOU... what would it be?

Rev. Wheeler shared this sermon based on John 15:9-17 in worship on May 9, 2021. We have the opportunity to create a "home" for all those who need to know the power of unconditional love.

Click to listen to this sermon shared by Rev. Wheeler in worship on May 2, 2021. Based on 1 John 4:7-21, this message takes a look at what love requires from us. Living out a life of love is certainly easier said than done!

Rev. Wheeler preached this sermon in worship on Sunday, April 25, 2021. Based on Acts 8:26-39 (Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch), this sermon explores the part of this story we are NOT told in the text. Could it be that this Eunuch was actually the one INCLUDING Phillip? And, could it be that the Eunuch may have even saved the Church?

Rev. Wheeler offered this sermon during worship on April 18, 2021. Based on 1 John 3:1-7, this sermon takes a look at how we view life and salvation. In addition, he offers a pastoral response to the recent mass shootings and instances of police violence.

Rev. Wheeler offered this sermon in worship on April 11, 2021. "Doubting Thomas," gets a bad wrap, Rev. Wheeler suggests. A healthy skepticism can be a good thing as long as one keeps their heart and mind open, like a door, to new information. Based on John 20:19-31.

Click to listen to the final part of this, "Again and Again," series. Rev. Wheeler draws on the Mark 16:1-8 account of the Easter story to proclaim, "Again and Again, The Sun Rises."

Click to listen to Rev. Wheeler's sermon from worship on March 28, 2021 (Palm Sunday). This was part of the Lenten series, "Again and Again," and is based on John's account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Click to listen to Rev. Wheeler's sermon from worship on March 21, 2021. This was part of the Lenten series, "Again and Again," and is based  on Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Click to listen to Rev. Wheeler's sermon from worship on March 14, 2021. This sermon was part of the Lenten series, "Again and Again," and is based on John 3:14-21.

Click to listen to Rev. Wheeler's sermon from worship on March 7, 2021. This is part of the Lenten series, "Again and Again." This sermon is based on John 2:13-21.

Click here to listen to this message from worship on February 28. On this 2nd Sunday in Lent, we will continue our worship series, “Again and Again.” Rev. Wheeler will share a message he is calling, “Again and Again, We are Called to Listen,” based on Psalm 22 and Mark 8. He addresses how cultural conditioning to violence and self-interest often inhibit our ability to embody the gospel in our own settings and offers what he believes to be a healthy way forward in living out the teachings of Jesus.

This is part 1 in the Lenten series, "Again and Again." From worship on Feb. 21, Rev. Wheeler draws from the Covenant God made near the flood waters' receding edge after Noah's Ark and the Markan account of Jesus' Baptism, where God met Jesus near the Jordan River's edge-- to explain how God meets us today.

This sermon is from worship on February 14, 2021. Based on Mark 9:2-9, this message explores the Transfiguration story and how we can discover God's presence in the "shadows" as well as in the "sunshine."

This sermon is from Sunday, February 7, 2021 when Rev. Wheeler presented a message called, “The Vastness and Nearness of the Divine Mystery,” based on Isaiah 40:21-31. Why is it human beings have such difficulty "finding" God when God is infinitely transcendent and immanent all at the same time?

In this sermon from January 31, 2021, Rev. Wheeler draws on Mark 1:21-28, when Jesus casts out some demons at the Temple, in order to facilitate a conversation about the current "demons" of lies and conspiracy theories that are running so rampant in our nation right now.

In this message from January 17, 2021, Rev. Wheeler draws from the calling of Jesus' first disciples as found in John 1:43-51 to provide some wisdom for knowing which leaders to follow.

This sermon is from worship on January 10, 2021. Let's celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday by examining how our own perception of ourselves aligns with who God says we are. “Knowing Thyself,” is the title of Rev. Wheeler’s sermon this week, based on Mark 1:4-11. In light of the events in Washington this past week, knowing ourselves and who God says we are is certainly very timely in determining what a faithful response for each of us looks like. 

Matthew gives a Christmas genealogy. Luke gives us all of the pageantry. No "Christmasy" stuff from Mark. But, John's gospel? John gives a deeply philosophical, decidedly theological, larger-than-life cosmic vision of the universe. Rev. Wheeler delivers a message here focusing on John 1:1-18 called, "And So It Begins," dealing with all of the things looming before us as 2021 begins and offers a hopeful glimpse at the New Year from a faith perspective.