When we are united to Christ, we have a union that leads to life. But if we refuse the guilt of Adam—a union that leads to death—we can’t claim Christ as our representative. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on Romans 5:12-6:11 to learn more about the reality of being dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Idleness is not only a sin itself, but it can also serve as an open door that welcomes other sins into our lives and hearts. As J.C. Ryle warns, “Idleness is the devil’s best friend”—many sins would not have had a chance to tempt us were we not idle first. Listen as Pastor Zach exhorts us to flee the sin of idleness.
Jesus implores his followers to give generously to everyone who asks of them. We must not ask whether they deserve it before giving to people in need. If you are only generous to those you consider the deserving core, you do not understand the depth of your sins or the Grace of God. Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation on giving to everyone who begs from you.
What would you say is the most central doctrine of the Christian faith? The doctrine of our union with Christ is the most central doctrine. It is, as a number of theologians have described it, the central hub of a wheel that all other doctrines related to our salvation are connected to. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ephesians 1:3-14 for an introduction into this doctrine.
What do we deserve? What we deserve is to have God's face turned away from us. We deserve to hear the guilty verdict passed before the judgment seat of the maker of Heaven and Earth. But God gave us what we did not deserve, namely Jesus. Listen to Pastor David exhort us on the things we don't deserve, yet God, through His mercy, gave us everything we didn't deserve.
There is much to celebrate on Easter Sunday. There is so much joy to be had on Easter Sunday morning. The question is: why do we celebrate? On what basis do you find joy on Easter morning? Listen to Pastor Brett's message on how Jesus was joyful unto life through three questions: What, So What, and Now What?
What do you tell people who are suffering in the world? What do you tell people who want their sorrows to be redeemed? Nothing addresses suffering like Christianity because no other belief has Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, we see the greatest suffering in history accomplishing God's greatest purpose in history. Listen to Pastor Zach's message on the sorrow of Jesus as we trust him with our sorrows.
Whose approval do you seek as you endure in faithfulness? The dopamine hits of social media have discipled us to fear what others think, but when followers of Christ look to Christ for our commendation, we cultivate a proper perspective of both the praise of man and the coming judgment of God. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 to learn how a faithful steward views the praise of others in God-honoring smallness.
Nobody wants to be a coward. We love to identify with the brave heroes of our favorite stories, yet the seeds of courage are sown not in bold actions witnessed by others but rather in the quiet work of putting to death the secret sins of our hearts. Godly courage in public begins with godly courage in private. Listen as Pastor Zach exhorts us to be courageous.
The "divine right of kings" was a political doctrine that established the ultimate authority of European monarchies in the 17th and 18th centuries. The attending pomp and circumstance of royalty gave much to loyal subjects to boast in. Yet Christians have a royal claim in Christ leading Paul to declare, "All is yours!" Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 for more.
The apostle Paul encouraged all believers to pursue and intensify their zeal. In his words, it is a trait that should be fanned into flame. Hence, it is important to ask ourselves, where does our zeal lie? Listen as Pastor David exhorts us not to be lazy or indifferent about our zeal.
Where there is a worshiper, there is a singer. Forgetting that our hearts are always singing praise to someone or something, we often have a small view of the importance of expressing our worship of God through song. Listen as Michael Urch exhorts us to sing praise to God, for he is pleased to hear us.
We live in a day marked by great carelessness—in particular, a carelessness toward the truth. We are unconcerned by it. But, as Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians, we work in vain if we build on any foundation other than the truth of the Gospel. Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 to learn four reasons we should take care to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Be aware of the Disney gospel that tells you to follow your sinful heart. Don't follow your heart unless your heart is following Christ. Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation on the importance of following the heart of Christ.
Through justification, God declares righteous the ungodly, and through sanctification, God works in us, making us into the image of Christ. The apostle Paul calls us to mature in holiness. Listen to Pastor David's message on Justification and Sanctification as we mature in righteousness.
Christ or Corinth? We can’t have both, and choosing the worldly wisdom of Corinth results in the divisiveness that Paul addresses in the Corinthian church. Instead of resting in the wisdom of this age, Paul would have the church fully mature in Christ by living fully in light of the gospel, humbly resting in the wisdom of Christ. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on I Corinthians 2:6-11 to learn more.
Our motivation—or lack of motivation—to give God the first and best of our time corresponds to our appreciation for his Word. If we think of Scripture as outdated or confusing, why would we look to it in the morning? Listen to Pastor Brett’s exhortation to delight in the Word.
It is remarkable that God is pleased to use unremarkable efforts to share the gospel to effect eternal change in the souls of sinners. In fact, it is by sharing the counter-cultural gospel that we hold out the hope of the counter-culture. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 to be encouraged in your evangelistic efforts.
What is the first thing that you do when you wake up? Check your notifications? Read the news? Make coffee? Studies show our most consistent habits are those that are done first in the day. It won't be the same as David, but we will prepare a sacrifice of praise for God in the morning (Psalm 5:3). Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation to give God your first and best.
What is the gospel? It's a simple question that could be answered with all kinds of complexity. One of the simplest answers is: Christ crucified. It's an answer that people the world over regard as folly. Yet, the folly of Christ crucified is powerful to make united fools of Christ. Christ will make all of us fools in one respect or another. Which kind will you be? Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:22-31 for more.
"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you." Augustine of Hippo experienced a stunning conversion to follow Christ rather than his carnal lusts and fruitless joys. He found Christ to be his "sovereign joy," that truly God's presence is where pleasure is found forevermore. Listen to Pastor David's exhortation to imitate the delight of Augustine.
How does the gospel relate to human wisdom? And more specifically, why is worldly wisdom detrimental to the faith and unity of the church? Paul addresses these questions as he responds to not only the divisions in the Corinthian church but also the source of their disunity. Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 for more.
The word “idolatry” might bring to mind the statues and high places described in the Old Testament, but worthless idols come in many forms. When we look to created things rather than the Creator for our hope, happiness, significance, and security, we are chasing after idols. To learn how idolatry begins with beholding, listen to Pastor Brett’s exhortation to “look on no vile thing.”
The people of Israel added sin to sin by rejecting the LORD and looking for security from Egypt. Isaiah 30:1-3 says it was the act of stubborn children that resulted in shame. Listen to Pastor Zach’s exhortation to not go down to Egypt.
Quarrels and even divisions are understandable among a group of sinners like a local church. But encouraging and continuing such factions is contrary to the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Paul addresses the first church problem with a two-fold gospel solution. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon for more.
Our ongoing struggle against sin—our slow sanctification—can lead us to become despondent, or even lead us to think a particular sin is just part of who we are. We need hope to strengthen us in the life of slow sanctification, and it is with the hope of Christ that Paul encourages the Corinthians as he gives thanks to God for them. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 to hear how this word of hope is for us, too, as sinning saints pressing on toward greater Christlikeness....
As we seek to persevere in modeling true Christianity to a watching world, Pastor David commends to us the example of David Brainerd, an eighteenth-century missionary and minister whose devotion to Christ persisted through great suffering. Listen to this week’s exhortation to learn more.
As the Apostle Paul writes his second letter to Timothy, what instruction is he burdened to share with his “true child in the faith”? Knowing that it’s possible to profess Christianity and yet fail to experience and abide in Jesus, Paul desires that Timothy would “remember Jesus Christ,” not merely know correct information about him. For more, listen as Pastor David exhorts us to remember Christ in everything we do.
“Call me Ishmael.” “There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” Introductions are powerful things; they shape our imaginations, challenge our expectations, and present new worlds for our consideration. In his opening words to the church in Corinth, Paul sets a vision for the Christian life, especially as it is lived in the context of the local church. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on I Corinthians 1:1-3 for more.
Gratefully, Westview is not in a desperate financial position because of God's provision through the generosity of our members. Yet as we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, the pastors are eager to see the mission advance in us and in the world. One significant way this will be accomplished is if we are hedonistic givers. Listen to Pastor Brett's exhortation for more.
