IN TUNE

Pastor Mark Warda

Woodland Church

Sunday, January 11, 2026

The Bible is the standard by which we live our lives “in tune.”

“What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.”  (Isaiah 5:20-21, NLT)

There is no perfect instrument. It will always need a tuner.

There is no perfect person. We will always need the Bible.

The Holy Spirit helps us align ourselves with His will.

A musician uses their ear to “play in tune” with their instrument.

A Christian uses their heart to “live in tune” with God.

We’ve been made to worship.

We’ve been made to fellowship.

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you.”  (John 15:16, NLT)

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”  (Isaiah 49:15-16, NLT)

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10, NLT)

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”  (Isaiah 43:2, NLT)

God wants from you more than a belief in Him.

God wants you to have a relationship with Him.

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”  (Isaiah 53:6, NLT)

“We are all infected and impure with sin.

When we display our righteous deeds,

they are nothing but filthy rags.”  (Isaiah 64:6, NLT)

In a good relationship, a person recognizes the need of the one whom they love and then meets that need.

God created us to worship Him and enjoy fellowship with Him but our sin separated us from Him.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, NLT)

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT)

Love is the language of our relationship with God.

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  (Matthew 22:37, NLT)

Obedience is how we demonstrate our love to God.

“You are my friends if you do what I command.”  (John 15:14, NLT)

Reverence is how we obey the commands of God.

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.

All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!”  (Psalm 111:10, NLT)

God created you to enjoy a right relationship with Him.

Daily prayer and Bible study maintains that relationship is lived “in tune” with Him.