Community Church of West Garden Grove

Guest teacher, Elliot Stone lead us through the concepts of social memory and exceptionalism both in the nation of Israel and America.  How do we look back on the past, and what lens do we honestly and humbly understand our position in our world and faith is the main themes explored in this teaching. Teacher: Elliot Stone Text: Various

Ambition is a drive, a motivation that is very difficult for us to determine its roots and source.  When is ambition a good thing, when does it become destructive?  James and John (and their Mother) display an unhealthy source of ambition--its curses.  And Jesus offers us the cure.   Text Matthew 20.20--28 Teacher: Eric Williams

Coexist?  Have you seen the bumper sticker endorsing a plurality of religions?  What about the elephant and the three blind men that claims all religion only perceive a sliver of the truth? Is this possible and what might the message of Jesus say into this ill of culture?   Text: Acts 17, Matthew 22 Teacher: Eric Williams

This week we start a new series based on some cultural narratives that we perceive as ill.  We want to carefully observe the culture, see what it proposes as truth, and then contrast how the message of Christ speaks to that. This opening week, we are diving into the narrative of Secularism.  The subtraction story of God and the divine from our cultural landscape and what it means for the church, C...

Our Ruth/Esther journey started on Mother's Day 2019!!  It has now come to an end and this week we spend some time in review and reflection.   Text: Ruth and Esther Teacher: Eric Williams

Haman is gone, but the difficulties remain.  One of which is going back to King Xerxes to make sure the edict to exterminate the Jews is addressed.  In addition, we see a particular dark side of Esther in chapter 9 and explore the venom that comes with leadership. Text: Esther 8.3--11, 9.11--17 Teacher: Eric Williams

Continuing on in Esther, we study the destruction of Haman and with that some solid advice on how to destroy your life, as Haman did.   Text: Esther 5--7 Teacher: Eric Williams

Esther just keeps coming at us.  This week we break down Esther chapter 4, paragraph by paragraph and observe the insights the text has to teach us--Fasting, insignificance, identity, destiny and decisions. Text: Esther 4 Teacher: Eric Williams

Mordecai finally reaches his breaking point.  The line in the sand where he can go no further and refuses to bow to Haman.  We explore the areas of compromise in our lives, where we have settled and what the Lord is speaking to us. Text: Esther 2.19--23, 3 Teacher: Eric Williams 

In part two of Esther, we are introduced to Mordecai and Esther who are trapped between two worlds; Persia and Israel.  In addition, we observe the moral breakdown of chapter 2 and how that introduces us to the Gospel of weakness. Text: Esther 2.1--20 Teacher: Eric Williams

This week we move into the book of Esther.  In chapter 1, we observe the absurdity of Xerxes Kingdom, which makes us long for a better King and Kingdom - The Kingdom of God.   Text: Esther 1 Teacher: Eric Williams

Ruth - The main character underneath all the characters.  This story talks about how YHWH is active and alive with heed, providence and redemption all throughout the book of Ruth and our lives today Text: Ruth 1 - 4 Teacher: Eric Williams

Ruth - the main Lady!!  This week we look closer at this 'fine woman' and what example she sets for us to follow, with an alternative ending dedicated to the ladies Text: Ruth 3.1--18 Teacher: Eric Williams

  Boaz is a man of standing, a man of worthy character, a noble man who can serve as an example, a vision of who we might aspire to be like.  We look at 4 specific traits to emulate from the narrative of Boaz Text: Ruth 2.1--23 Teacher: Eric Williams

Naomi, like all of us, is a mixed bag--some good, some bad.  However, as we journey through her early narrative, we see the effects of enemy hate and how that takes its toll on her as a person.  We also then examine our hearts to see what enemies we have and end with some practical steps to love them. Text: Ruth 1.6--22 Teacher: Eric Williams

As we journey through the book of Ruth, we will go character by character and this week we begin with the narrative or Elimelech and his posture 'from' God.  He leaves his homeland and travels to Moab with his wife and sons which end up in death.  How can we maintain a posture towards God even in the difficult moments of life. Text: Ruth 1.1--6 Teacher: Eric Williams 

We begin a new series this summer based on the books of Ruth and Esther.  This is a short teaching accompanied by the Bible Projects brilliant video series in which they outline the book in visual format.   See link HERE Text: Ruth Teacher: Eric Williams

The sixth and final teaching in our "What We Teach" Series.  This week we spend some time reviewing our previous teachings and listening for God's voice to speak to us in our lives.   Teacher: Eric Williams

The fifth teaching in our "What We Teach" Series--Love.  Very practical and hands on teaching on what it means to love like Jesus.  Jesus loved the outsiders, marginalized and enemies. Love – John 13.34,35 Our greatest goal and aim in life is to love like Jesus did.  His capacity to love the marginalized, his enemies, those outside the Jewish circle was what drew people to him.  We are still drawn...

The fourth teaching in our "What We Teach" Series--Resurrection.  What is the hope that we have in Christ and what does it encompass.  This week we play with Easter//Resurrection Baskets to see what we have in store for us: Resurrected Bodies, New Heavens/New Earth, Third Way Thinking and Knowing that Jesus holds the Keys to Death and Hell Kingdom – Colossians 1.19,20 The most important weekend in...

The third teaching in our "What We Teach" Series--Gospel.  The Gospel is far more expansive than just the plan of salvation, but is rather the announcement of Good News that affects the entire cosmos.   Gospel – Romans 10.9 Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not! The early disciples of Jesus took this phrase from the Romans – a popular political slogan to declare Roman victory and subverted it for their...

The second teaching in our "What We Teach" Series--Kingdom.  What was the dominant message of Jesus--sin forgiveness?  Salvation? Heaven? Morality?  In this teaching we explore Jesus main message of the availability of the Kingdom. Kingdom – Matthew 4.17 Every thought, saying, action and bit of energy Jesus focused on teaching and demonstrating the availability of the Kingdom of God—to all!  He pr...

This is a new teaching series based around the "What We Teach" section on our website.  Over the next few weeks we will dive into the core beliefs and teachings of CCWGG.  First up, Discipleship: Discipleship – Matthew 28.19 For CCWGG Christian is an outcome not an identifier.   It is the outcome of a life surrendered to Christ in daily discipleship. In the New Testament Disciple is used over 250...

Cass Bensberg leads us through a teaching around the divinity of Jesus. Did Jesus claim to be God?  Can those claims be backed up? And what does this mean for us as we relate to Jesus? Text: Various Teacher: Cass Bensberg

Elliot Stone was our guest teacher leading us through how families and traditions are prevalent through out history and specifically in the Bible. Text: Various Teacher: Elliot Stone