Westlight Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kats Omine
Healthy decision making is more about collaborating with God, than getting the right or quick answer. What does collaboration look like?
The last two chapters of Revelation end with a new City with a Garden within its walls. What does this all mean?
What are beasts in the Bible? Beasts are puppets of the Dragon and a poor imitation of God.
One of the themes found in Revelation is the Dragon! Who is the Dragon and what does that mean for us today?
Jesus is known as the Lion and the Lamb. What do these titles imply about the character of Jesus?
What did Jesus mean when he said he was the bread of life? What did he mean when he said that we will never go hungry? We are all called to nourish ourselves with Jesus!
"The Bible says it; that settles it" is not a good way of approaching the Bible. This is because the Bible does not endorse everything it describes.
What do we mean when we say the Bible is "Inspired"? Let's let the Bible define what the Bible is!
Moving from Disorientation to Reorientation is an invitation from God to the community. Does God care about our choices or love us no matter what?
Naomi experienced disorienting events in her life and was convinced God was responsible. But can we judge God based on our misfortunes? How do we reorient?
The prime example of someone who has gone through Orientation, Disorientation, and Reorientation is Job. What role did God play in this process?
Christians did not always believe in rapture. So, where did it come from? What are the consequences of living according to this pop culture doctrine?
There is a misunderstanding that God cannot be with sinners. Despite our sins, His perfect love compels Him to pursue us forever!
When we experience "death" in our lives, God wants to create something new and beautiful. So God took their "death" in Paul's journey and created unity.[Acts 27:27-28:10]
When is it okay to give up on our callings? What motivates us to hang on to our mission? How Did Paul do it?[Acts 27:1-20]
Jesus told us that following Him should lighten our load. However, for some of us, Christianity is heavy on our shoulders. What can we learn from Paul and Agrippa?[Acts 26:22-29]
As Paul encounters representatives of their respective groups, he reminds them to uphold their own legal systems. Why does Luke record this for us? [Acts 23:12-24:23]
What makes a religion shallow? It comes from our habit of creating an "Us vs. Them" community. [Acts 21:27-23:10]
When Christians who hold on to differing cultural values mingle, chaos erupts. How does Paul navigate this tension?[Acts 21:1-26]
Discussion with pastors Lori, Stan, Tim, and Jordan about Do Over. Why should the church care about emotional health? How can we grow?
When we say, "All are welcome!" what do we really mean? Does it sound hypocritical or shallow?Note: The readers of the testimonies are reading anothers' testimony, not portraying themselves.
We are all part of a story, whether we recognize it or not. God is inviting us to His story of redemption, but what role are we supposed to play in it? In 2023, we will focus on rediscovering His story.
What's the deal with Christmas? Why was this story repeatedly told and passed down throughout the generations? What would the First Century Jews have felt when they heard this story?
What problem is the Church supposed to solve? If we were to look at the church today, what would we assume is the problem that is being solved?
What we believe about the story's end affects how we behave today. Kats takes us on a journey of the evolution of eschatology.
Did you know that a power dynamic is created wherever money is involved? How do we deal with this? What can we do about it?
Money is a tool we can use for good if we have mastery over it. However, if we aren't careful, money can have mastery over us.
Why should the Church talk about money? Jesus spoke about money and how it can use our wealth for ministry and our hearts.
Traveling thousands of miles has its drawbacks. Why would Paul choose to put himself in these dangerous circumstances?
[Acts 20:1-6; 13-24]
What can the story of Eutychus falling asleep during Paul's sermon teach us about the church today?
[Acts 20:7-12]
Luke uses a very Jewish literary tactic to share what true power ought to look like in Acts 19.
Paul participates in miracles in Ephesus without knowing. Meanwhile, others are conjuring the name of Jesus to cast out demons.
[Acts 19:11-20]
Paul participates in miracles in Ephesus without knowing. Meanwhile, others are conjuring the name of Jesus to cast out demons.
[Acts 19:11-20]
Paul arrives in Ephesus and encounters a group with a soft and moldable heart and a group with a hard and immovable heart.
[Acts 19:1-10]
Jordan talks about what honoring your father and mother means to her and how it relates to the movie, Turning Red.
Ephesians 6:1-4
At the Movies Series
Contact Series part 6
Pastor Stan speaks about the heart of God
Westlight Community Church
What does it mean to love God with all your soul?
How do you love someone with soul?
Speaker: Brian Ohno
Mark 12
Loving God with our mind leaves us in awe and wonder at the genius of God.
Sermon by Michael Ohno
Reclaim the joy of studying something
Surrender the need to convince others to see things the way you do.
Where do we feel comfortable? Receiving help or giving help?
Where are we resisting and why?
Which of God's promises is God prompting you to reflect upon today?
Is God inviting you to make a promise to God?
What does suffering for Jesus look like? Over and over again, Jesus and Paul demonstrate persecution as something we enter voluntarily.
[Acts 16:16-30]
Does God care about your calling or does He simply just override them? In this passage, we learn about Paul's original passion and how he thought God was leading him away from it.
[Acts 16:6-15]
The message Paul spread to the region of Galatia was controversial. So, what did he say? And how did he convince them?
Recognizing beauty is a huge part of being human. God values beauty, and it is crucial to the Gospel.
What is the key to solving the injustices of the world? What is the simplest form of justice?
A foundational aspect of blessing our communities is making sure we have healthy relationships. But, how are Christians supposed to nurture healthy relationships if there's a lack of examples in the Bible?
What do God's people do when we find ourselves living amongst people who are not the people of God? Do we fortify or dominate? Or is there a better option?
John paints an exciting image of Jesus while he is hung on the cross. He wrote that water poured out of Jesus' side. What does this mean? Let's explore John's version of the Easter Story!
Christians are called to live in between the realities of the cross (Friday) and the hope of the resurrection (Sunday).
Are modern-day Christian churches the most inclusive communities in the world? What happened? What decisions did the Apostles make to ensure that churches remain inclusive?
While our goal should be to reconcile with difficult people, it should not be our responsibility to do so.
In most cases, allowing God to transform our hearts prior to meeting difficult people is required. God's kindness can transform our hearts!
What does it look like to walk through the process of reframing the other person? What does it look like to have empathy and grieve together?
"Ripples" is the theme for 2022! Jesus came to this world to start spreading TSEDEQAH to repair humanity, and we are all participants!
The joy from God does not suppress or ignore our sorrow. Rather it reminds us that God is with us through the darkness.
Hope in the Bible does not depend on circumstances. Rather, the biblical authors look to the character of God.
While most have been taught to read the Bible at surface level, there has been a practice of reading the Scriptures by defining the names of people and places.
Now that Saul has joined the Jesus Movement, he is facing difficult days ahead. Does he regret his choice?
While Saul was experiencing the biggest paradigm shift of his life, belonging to a community changed his life.
The old way of following God was to build up walls. The new way of following God is to tear them down.
"Philip went to Samaria and performed miracles." This statement emphasizes the part where Philip went to Samaria and not the miracle part!
Stephen is the first recorded martyr of the Church. We can lose perspective if we don't keep our eyes and ears open to what God is doing next.
Did you know that the first problem the Church faced was an administrative one? We are all connected to each other in the Church!
Wind is a short film about a boy who reaches the surface world at the expense of his grandmother's sacrifice.
We all need a balance between being independent and dependent. How do we achieve that balance?
What does God think about parents who try to raise their child(ren) to be like everyone else?
Corruption began creeping into the First Church when a married couple tried to create a hierarchy inside the community.
[Acts 5:1-17]
The first church had a stand-out feature called koinonia. So, what is it and can we experience koinonia in our church today?
How do you defend your faith? While most Christians spend their time reading the Bible to study arguments that can help them withstand scrutiny, listen to Christian music, or disassociate themselves from bad influencers, Peter kept referring to one fact - the Resurrection.
There was a fundamental shift in our understanding of where God dwells when the Church began. Luke uses imageries from the Old Testament to illustrate the significant change.
What should we do when you don't know what to do? The Apostles suggests that we need to remember two things. 1) The fact that we are part of God's story and 2) our original passions.
What differentiates Jesus' Church from the Roman Empire? The church is never forced on anybody - it is spread through love.
How is a Christian supposed to behave? More importantly, why should a Christian behave? Our answer lies in our view of eschatology.
America's dominant church culture is obsessed with winning power. What would Jesus think of this?
What is the good news? If we were to study all of Jesus' teachings, we will discover that they all fall under four topics - Love, Sin, Kingdom, and Religion.
"Just read the Bible" is not good advice. How we got our bible can teach us how we ought to read the Bible.
As we begin our journey into deconstructing Christianity, we must first deal with the question, "What is Religion?"
What is the point of the Gospel of Luke? We need to see the overarching story to fully grasp what Luke believed was the priority of Jesus.
Luke 24:44-53
*BibleProject is the author and owner of the video. To see their entire library of free content, please visit BibleProject.com
What happens after we die? Do our spirits go to heaven and dwell there forever? If this is what you believe, then you don't have the complete picture! Your body matters!
[Luke 24:36-43]
Jesus did a comprehensive bible study with his two disciples, but they were still clueless about who He was. What other components do we need to connect with God?
[Luke 24:28-35]
Two travelers just lived through the greatest act of Jesus but failed to see it. They also spent hours talking with Jesus and didn't know it was Him. Is it possible that we're missing Jesus too?
[Luke 24:13-27]
Peter walked away from the tomb, pondering what happened. What was he thinking? Jesus died so we can have life. [Luke 24:1-12]
Only God can take punches from evil and transform it into His coronation ceremony! [Luke 23:44-56]
What would the world look like if we were kicked out of the kingdom of God?
[LUke 23:27-43]
What is the critical element that God uses to make us new? Our relationships with someone who we feel safe enough to be vulnerable with is paramount! [James 5:13-20]
Did you know that our attitude towards our belongings is linked to power and privilege?
How can we inspire others to do good? Our words indicate the brokenness in our lives, which leads to transformation. [James 3:1-12]
We know that our faith requires us to act out our love for others. However, James teaches us that the motive we have in doing good deeds is just as important. [James 2:14-17; 3:13-17]
One of the first pastors, James, reminds his congregation about the privilege of being able to know what needs to change in our lives. [James 1:19-27]
Luke introduces two minor characters in his retelling of Jesus' story to demonstrate what God has done for humanity and how God wants humanity to respond.
Is it possible to be a follower of God and be blind at the same time? The religious leaders insisted on carrying out the death penalty on Jesus, while the "ungodly" leaders insisted on his innocence.
The Last Supper is one of the defining moments of history. Jesus declares a new type of relationship between God and humanity. [Luke 22:7-20]
It's important to know God intimately because who we believe He is will ultimately shape who we are. Peter denied Jesus three times because the events that unfolded before him didn't match his version of God.
How did Jesus stay composed through the biggest betrayal of His ministry? In his short prayer in the garden, we see evidence of a repeated prayer.
Jesus wants all his followers to achieve "greatness" as long as we have a proper definition of that word. The one who serves is the one who is greatest in the Kingdom of God. [Luke 22:24-38]
Our theme for 2021 is NEW. For many, it may be challenging to embrace new things when you've experienced so much pain and grief in 2020. How can God take your pain and transform it into something new?
Here is a quick overview of Luke 21. Notes: it'll be easier to follow if you are somewhat familiar with the chapter, so we highly suggest reading Luke 21 at least once prior to watching this video!
On the first Christmas, God made his home with humanity. But why? What's the big deal? Find out!
The final element to responding well is to PURSUE. The natural outcome of love is trust. The natural outcome of trust is love. This continual cycle builds our relationship with God.
The second habit we need to embrace in order to respond well is PONDER. Pondering leads us to face the realities that we live in. Until we come to terms with that reality, it is impossible to love others.
The Apostle Paul speaks of the comfort we receive from God that can be passed on to others. This comfort comes in the form of presence.
We usually assume that reason, not emotion, is driving our decisions, but in many cases, the opposite is true. How do we become less reactionary and more responsive? This is an introduction to the React/Respond series.
Luke juxtaposes the experts of the Law, society's elite, with the widow, society's expendable. Jesus models how tangible love is lived out when the system created to protect the poor oppresses them.
[Luke 20:45-21:4]
Give back to Caesar what has his image on it. So, whose image is on you? Have we allowed our culture to mold the original image that was given to us?
[Luke 20:20-26]
Jesus tells this parable to help His listeners to understand that He desires transformational relationships. Not transactional relationships where all parties involved are viewed as commodities to be used. [Luke 20:9-19]
Why was the Sanhedrin triggered when Jesus shared the Good News? Does Jesus have the authority?
[Luke 20:1-8]
What makes Jesus angry? Why does Jesus get furious when he enters the courtyard of the Temple? Let's take a look at the two clues in His statement to find out!
Two great powers entered Jerusalem - one from the east and the other from the west. Which side will you enter from?
[Luke 19:28-44]
In the Parable of the Minas, Jesus confronts the religious rulers about why they aren't able to fulfill the mission of God - they are too busy trying to incriminate Jesus.
[Luke 19:1-10]
Like Zacchaeus, St. Augustine chased after his destruction, hoping the tradeoff would be worth it. Jesus saves us from our sins. [Luke 19:1-10]
Disney/Pixar's movie, Onward is a story about two brothers embarking on a journey to reunite with their dad. Is the destination or the journey more important?
Does one need to lose for the other to win? In Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel decides to align her win with Nick's.
As part of our Summer Movie Series, Kats gives his commentary on Jojo Rabbit.
Fox Searchlight Pictures (2019)
Inception is a movie about a team that plants an idea into the depths of the mind of Robert Fischer. According to Scripture, humanity has also experienced two inceptions at the beginning of time.
When we put God in our boxes, we can end up repelling people away from Jesus. In the examples in Luke 18, the disciples put Jesus in a box of their understanding of the words victory and king.
[Luke 18:31-43]
What kind of relationship does Jesus want between Himself and humanity? He wants a marriage relationship with us, not a law-maker to a law-abider relationship.
Why does Jesus prefer the betrayer over the rule follower? Not because of his failures but because of his willingness to embrace his own brokenness. Brokenness can bring people together, which can lead to healing.
[Luke 18:9-14]
The parable of the Persistent Widow is not about getting our wishlist fulfilled by nagging God. It is about keeping our sights on the hope of justice for all.
[Luke 18:1-8]
Jesus gives us hope for a brighter future, but it requires us to live our lives with open hands. [Luke 17:22-37]
Where is the kingdom? Jesus is the kingdom! And by extension, we bring the kingdom whenever we behave like Jesus.
[Luke 17:20-21]
The people of God are the people who want Jesus more than anything. Our faith can benefit those around us!
[Luke 17:11-19]
Jesus gives an impossible task as to how He expects His followers to treat the people inside and outside the Church.
[Luke 17:1-10]
Pastor Lori walks us through the process Jesus went while hanging on the cross. He called out to His Father, complained, and resolved.
What does God want us to do in the midst of our challenges? He sets the table in the presence of our enemies.
Pastor Lori interviews Pastor Stan about how God wants us to do (or be) in the midst of our fear.
As we discover that the world we live in is dangerous, we become fearful. This births in us a desire to control the world around us. Are we manipulating God to control the world for us? How do we escape this fear?
In the final part of his series of teachings to the rich religious rulers, Jesus warns them of identifying with wealth.
[Luke 16:19-31]
Receiving blessings from the Father is good, but when blessings become an idol over the Father and take priority over loving others, it becomes self-righteousness.
[Luke 15:11-32]
The world does not see your actual value - that is why we are cast out of so many opportunities. However, God sees your actual value, and He is willing to go the distance to find you.
[Luke 15:1-10]
What associations do you make with the cross? The cross was an oppressive tool, but today, it is a sign of hope. How did this happen?
The often misused and abused fuel is our desire to call someone to action. Every time we call someone to action, we must do it from a place of love.
How should we navigate through the anxieties and challenges of the pandemic?
[Philippians 4:4-7]
We all need relational fuel, but we can't do this without being present with each other.
"It's all about God and me" was never the goal. We are meant to be in community because we are supposed to be fueled by one another.
*Due to technical difficulties, the video will be cut out in the middle of the sermon. The sermon slides will still be displayed.
What is holding us back from becoming committed followers of Jesus? Jesus is calling us to make sacrifices for the greater good, and our attachment to God's blessings may be holding us back.
[Luke 14:25-35]
Are you following Jesus just so you can benefit from the blessings of God? How does that make God feel? We must prioritize His mission over His blessings.
Why does religion get such a bad reputation? When we make our faith about self-advancement, we push others away from God.
[Luke 14:1-14]
As we get to know Jesus, we get to know what true love looks like. How has God loved you?
Cultures have redefined love, so Paul the Apostle reminds us to love others in the same way God has loved us.
Do Netflix and social media create unrealistic expectations for our current/future relationships? What does it mean to accept your partner for who they are?
Instead of relying on your picture-perfect relationship to fix you, maybe we need to be asking a different question— "Am I becoming the right kind of person?"
If the First Century Church observed our current popular understanding of salvation, they would be confused. They believed in a more complicated view that led to a revolution of selflessly restoring God's good world.
The First-Century Church was highly generous towards one another. God's grace transformed the Christians to show grace by giving their possessions.
The First-Century Church was a collection of small groups with diverse members who were unified under Christ.
Although Jesus said that the Church will withstand death itself, we learn that disunity inside the Church can destroy it. Paul suggests that the remedy for discord is mutual submission.
The Ekklesia (Church) survived and eventually shaped a persecuting culture. The purpose of the Church is to create opportunities to experience Heaven on Earth.
Our world has serious problems with unity and inclusion of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, and marital status. How can Westlight be part of the solution? Sometimes we think we are part of the solution but are making the problem worse. Jesus is moving to bring heaven on earth, right here and right now. Jesus tells us how we can be part of the solution!
[Luke 13:31-35]
Are you actively inviting people unlike you into God's plan for the world? Or are you playing a game of exclusivity? Jesus warns us that we may be surprised that those we have excluded will be inside God's kingdom.
[Luke 13:22-30]
Jesus wants the Sabbath to be seen as a celebration and spreading of His intended world. Once we understand the value of the Sabbath, we can spread His good world to those around us!
[Luke 13:10-21]
In recent history, Christians have used Luke 13:3 as a way to condemn people who are not followers of Jesus. However, upon a closer look, Jesus is offering a warning to those who focus their attention on taking back blessings by force. So what does this mean for us today?
[Luke 13:1-9]
Does your faith cause division with others? Feeling alienated for following Jesus is a byproduct of the Kingdom of God. However, we must not mistake "division" for "enemy."
[Luke 12:39-49]
What does God want to do with our stuff? He wants to use it to bring New Creation amid our current broken world. However, if we convince ourselves that our things are ours, then God can't use them.
[Luke 12:35-46]
Do you worry a lot about your things? Perhaps you're investing in the wrong game. Jesus' vision for our lives does not include hoarding but distributing.
[Luke 12:22-34]
Why has God given you so much? Why has God made you rich? If you stop to think about it, most of us have a lot more than we need. God distributes wealth so we can participate in blessing the world.
[Luke 12:13-21]
Amid thousands of people, Jesus pulls aside his disciples to warn them of hypocrisy. This was ultimately a lesson on loyalty to God. Are we afraid to take a stand for God?
[Luke 12:1-12]
Was Jesus stepping out of line when He asked His Father to rethink His perfect plan? Or, was Jesus demonstrating for us an essential aspect of prayer, namely, confession?
Have you ever read a prayer that was composed by someone else? Would it be considered authentic if you edited your prayers? Praying written prayers (liturgies) is a way to connect with all the saints that have come before us.
Part of praying is humbling receiving prayer from others. Why is it hard to have someone pray for you?
Have you been afraid of praying for others because you're not an "expert"? We are all learning on how to pray, so let's keep praying for others!
How can you distinguish between God's voice and your own? Are there techniques we can employ to hear His voice?
Before we begin thanking, praising, requesting, or confessing, we must let God search our hearts. This is called the Prayer of Examen.
If prayer is simply "talking to God," then we have a problem because God knows everything before we pray it. Jesus taught that before we pray, we must first practice God's presence.
Instead of opening the doors to the Kingdom of God, the authorities locked everyone out. Jesus created a new way to include everyone - by using His authority to break down barriers.
[Luke 11:52-54]
Have you ever said, "If I were in their shoes, I would have never..." Before we judge someone, let's be reminded that we are all capable of missing the mark.
[Luke 11:47-51]
Just because the Bible gave us a list of rules does not mean that following them is the main point of our faith. The Law has a context, and if we don't know it, it may end up weighing us down.
[Luke 11:45-46]
It's easy to criticize the Pharisees for missing the point. However, is it possible that Christians are the present-day Pharisees?
[Luke 11:44]
Have you tried to accomplish something, but somehow ended up accomplishing the exact opposite? Perhaps it's because we forgot the original intention.
[Luke 11:43]
If you think the Bible is a step-by-step instruction book, then you're missing the point! Why we follow the rules may be more important than what the rules are.
[Luke 11:42]
How do we regain our positive influence in our world? Jesus commands us to do heart-changing actions that will make us into influential people.
[Luke 11:34-41]
Jesus' critics asked Him for a sign. But Jesus denied them of that sign because a loving God could not allow unhealthy relationships. What is keeping you from Jesus?
Whenever we sense a threat, we quickly draw an imaginary line and create division. How does Jesus remedy this?
Why hasn't God granted your prayer requests? Is it our fault? What is God thinking when we lift up our prayers?
[Luke 11:1-13]
Are you happy with your personality? Is it possible to change? Change requires us to have a deep understanding of who we are.
Have you felt tension with another person for no reason at all? It could be that other people process problems differently!
While we find comfort in being with like-minded people, God desires His people to journey through life with people who are different than us.
In our journey with others, we may have encountered difficulties that may have led to a better understanding of ourselves. By using a tool (such as the DISC inventory), we can learn more about who we are.
God has given the Israelites a tabernacle and the early church a labyrinth to discover our spiritual state. How are you doing spiritually?
We buy into the misconception of an effortless marriage. What does it mean to commit to one another while being true to who we are?
How does God get along within the Trinity when each is distinctly different? James teaches us the first step to creating harmony in our relationships - be quick to listen, and slow to speak.
What is your model of a perfect relationship? The relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit demonstrates how we ought to relate to one.
What do forgiven people look like? How do they differ from people who do not know that they are forgiven?
[Luke 7:36-50]
John the Baptist was considered the greatest of all of God’s servants, but Jesus said that you can be greater than him. How? Because you a Child of God, and a child is always greater than a servant!
[Luke 7:18-35]
Actions speak louder than words. It's too bad that God's actions aren't always interpreted correctly. Jesus demonstrates for us God's heart.
[Luke 7:11-17]
There is only one person in recorded history that amazed Jesus in a positive way. It was a man who had complete faith in Jesus. Why does Jesus love our faith in Him so much, and what can we do to strengthen it?
[Luke 7:1-10]
Why can't God just tell us what to do? Jesus wants us to build our lives on a strong foundation, which cannot be developed by following rules blindly.
[Luke 6:46-49]
What was the motivation for the twelve to follow Jesus? It wasn't to avoid hell. Rather, it was to be a part of something greater - a love revolution.
[Luke 6:27-42]
Jesus started a new movement with new people. What does he require of His followers? Are you held prisoner by the goals of your life?
[Luke 6:12-26]
Why did God give us Laws (rules)? How you answer this question will demonstrate who you believe God is.
[Luke 6:1-11]
Pride will cause you to miss out on God-moments. We need to recognize our own pride and deal with it. We need to first recognize Truth (you are God's child), experience God's true love, and give it time.
Pride pushes God out, and a person without God is in danger of becoming less human. Our view of ourselves is directly correlated to our relationships with God.
Pride is the sin that is a gateway to all other sins. It promises to make us bigger, better, and more important, but it only distances us from others. If we don’t kill it, it will kill our relationships.
Would Jesus ask you to follow Him? Why did he ask certain people to follow him and not others? [Luke 5:33-39]
What does God see in me? God sees all the brokenness inside us, yet he is excited to have us on His team. [Luke 5:1-11]
What does God see in me? God sees all the brokenness inside us, yet he is excited to have us on His team. [Luke 5:1-11]
What qualifies you for a helping hand from Jesus? In the First Century, people believed their race, gender, socioeconomic status, your health, and belief systems played a role in receiving blessings from God. What if you have a demon - does that disqualify you? [Luke 4:31-44]
We've all fallen short of God's expectations. What should we do about it? Lucky for us, the Bible is filled with people who have fallen short and what God did about it. Where we failed, He has succeeded!
Is Jesus truly the Son of God? Luke uses His genealogy to prove that He is indeed the Messiah and that our hope should be placed in Him. [Luke 3:21-38]
It's so much easier to blame than to take responsibility. When we focus only on our safety, evil flourishes. [Luke 3:1-19]
God hears the cry of victims. But does He hear you cry when you are responsible for your own downfall? Zechariah quotes Isaiah 40, an ancient prophecy that people desperately clung to.
When Mary discovered she was carrying God’s Son, she sang a song (called The Magnificat). Similarly, Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1-10) sang a song when God gave her a son. The nature of both songs are very similar. Waiting for God to work can be difficult. What can we do in the meantime?
When Gabriel told Mary to name her son, Jesus (heb. Yeshua, which is the same name for Joshua), images of the Old Testament leader, Joshua began to revive in her mind. She was being reminded of the trust Joshua placed in God, which is the same thing she had to do, now that she was now carrying the Son of God.
Have you been disappointed with God? Have you carried doubts about Him? Maybe God is calling you to a deeper understanding of Him.
The Church was birthed into our world to solve a problem. What is that problem, and how does Westlight Community Church play into the bigger picture?
There are two categories of prayers - the Original Prayer (prayers that you make up on your own) and the Prescribed Prayers (prayers that were written by someone else that you recite; also known as Liturgical Prayers). The first church was recorded habitually praying liturgical prayers corporately.
What comes to mind when someone says, “Breaking bread?” The first church understood Break break as sharing a meal with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
What comes to mind when someone says, “Let’s fellowship!”? The first church understood “fellowship” as sharing their resources for their brother or sister in Christ.
The church was birthed out of four practices, and today, we are focusing on the first one - Learning the implications of the Gospel. What is required of me if I believe that Jesus died and rose again? [Acts 2:42]