FaithWestwood UMC

Ephesians 4:11-16 To become deep, daring, daily disciples A vision is a picture of our future. It raises our sites above what we are to what we could become. A strong vision inspires us to passionately pursue that future. At the core of FaithWestwood’s vision is our statement “To become deep, daring, daily disciples.” On this Sunday, Pastor Steve Todd will fill out the bigger picture of what our f...

Matthew 11:28-30 A gifted person obsessed with one goal can accomplish seemingly super-human feats. But it often comes at great personal cost. We need not squeeze every drop of achievement out of every day. The wisdom of God’s Word teaches us a balance of activity and rest, sociality and solitude, loudness and quietness. God even built balance into the seven-day week. Are you ready to embrace this...

1 Timothy 6:6-10 If we are to restore a healthy margin to our lives, we will need God to show us the path of contentment and simplicity. We cannot achieve these spiritual qualities on our own. They grow from the peace of Christ within. What if godly contentment became about desiring less rather than getting more? Could you live with that?

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Fifty-nine percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, reported a well-known study in 2019. In other words, most people have no financial margin. For some it’s brought on by a low-paying job, or a healthcare crisis. But nearly all of us have impulsive habits that eat away at our financial margin. On the other extreme, Jesus warned us about the dangers of accumulating more...

Luke 19:1-10 Time is precious. And discretionary time is most precious of all. Reclaiming margin in our schedules will require some difficult decisions. But it’s important that we make them, because a swamped schedule leaves no room for unforeseen opportunities God may send our way. That’s why Dr. Swenson says, “The clock and the Christ are not close friends.” What would happen if Jesus were Lord...

Mark 4:35-41 Sir Isaac Newton famously said, “A body in motion stays in motion.” He was talking about physics, but it applies to our physical bodies, as well. If we keep them moving, they’ll keep us moving. Would you like the energy you need to live well? Here’s Dr. Swenson’s Rx: more sleep, less food, more movement. Throughout history, that’s what people normally did. What makes us think we can c...

Mark 6:30-34, 45-46 Has your car ever run out of gas? You feel a few halting chugs, and then it dies. You glance at your previously unnoticed fuel gauge and flashing dash light, as you coast to the shoulder. And what about our emotional tanks? Often, we’re not aware of our depleted emotional status until we feel desperate, or angry, or depressed. How do we follow Jesus’s example and wisely learn t...

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 We’re thankful for our modern conveniences: washing machines and dishwashers, microwaves and automobiles, online bill pay and text messaging. With all this time-saving technology, you’d think we’d have loads of free time. Instead, our lives get squeezed to the limit. Dr. Richard Swenson, MD says, “Many people commit to a 120 percent life and wonder why the burden feels so heavy...

John 1:40-46 One day Philip, a new disciple, told his friend Nathanael about Jesus. Nathanael was skeptical, so Philip’s invitation was simple, “Come and see.” In other words, Check it out. Meet Jesus for yourself. At FaithWestwood we want to help you be winsome in your life as a disciple. Let people into your life, and God will give you an opportunity to invite them to take the next step. What do...

Matthew 25:31-40 A church isn’t a church if it exists just for its own people. When we follow Jesus, he takes us out to the community he loves. He sees their needs, their hearts, their hopes, their abilities. Being in mission with Jesus is always personal. And he said the best way to show we love him is to love them. What do love about the opportunities of a missional church?

2 Timothy 1:1-4 What is unique about FaithWestwood? It might be our value of bringing the generations together. But it’s nothing new. Psalm 145:4 prays, “One generation commends your works to another.” God wants to see his family come together: young children, young adults, older students, middle-agers, and senior citizens (pick your own category). What do you love about connecting the generations...

Luke 6:46-49 Many of you love how FaithWestwood focuses on connecting the Bible to everyday life. Having a practical faith means putting God’s Word into practice. It means letting scripture impact how we live the other 167 hours of the week. Jesus told us to get practical by building our lives on him and his words, by obeying him and serving each other. What do you love about being part of a pract...

Philemon 1:1-7 What do you look for in a church home? At the top of the list might be a caring community. We seek a healthy faith family where we bring out the best in each other. Since it began, FaithWestwood has been a relational church. We value the friendships that form in groups and in serving together. What do you love about being in a relational church?

Romans 1:8-13 Who did you miss seeing during the pandemic? Relatives? Co-workers? Classmates? You could probably come up with a long list! Maybe you had to rely on phone calls or video conversations. Our reunions were delayed, but they are so important. The Apostle Paul was delayed in coming to Rome, so he wrote a letter to Jesus’s people there. He said, “I long to see you” (Romans 1:11). Finally,...

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Where did the roots of your faith get planted then nourished? It is said that, “God has no grandchildren.” Each generation is in need of a foundation for faith. Where do we sink the roots of faith? How do we nourish them so they grow deep? How do we form a foundation we can draw upon daily as we seek to be disciples?

Matthew 8:1-4, 14-17 Have you been in a Christian Science reading room? It prominently features works written by their founder, Mary Baker Eddy. In 1875 she wrote Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by which Christian Science members interpret the Bible. Eddy was part of the mind-cure movement, believing that people could be healed by a kind of prayer that corrects one’s erroneous belie...

Romans 14:1-8 During the religious fervor of the Second Great Awakening, a Baptist preacher popularly predicted that Jesus would return in 1844. This was followed by “the great disappointment.” Others latched onto a new interpretation that still looked forward to Jesus’s imminent return, his advent. They also ditched Sunday as their day of worship and followed a more Jewish observance of the Sabba...

Ezekiel 37:15-23 Methodism grew quickly in America in the early 1800s during the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening. During this time another religious movement sprang up, asserting that all forms of Christianity were false – except their own. Its leader Joseph Smith claimed visitations from an angel who showed him a buried ancient book of gold plates, which became the Book of Mormon. What i...

What Is Christian Nationalism? 1 Peter 2:11-17 During the storming of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, some carried large crosses. Some toted Bibles. Others waved signs saying, “Jesus saves.” Those symbols and sayings seemed innocuous on the surface, but given the context they sent a very different message. What is that message? How does it stray from historic Christian faith? See also 1 Pe...

Juneteenth, a shortened form of June Nineteenth, is a recognized national holiday. It commemorates the day the Emancipation Proclamation was read aloud to the people of Texas two and a half years after slavery was abolished. When they finally heard the message, they celebrated! For two and a half years people lived in slavery in Texas, even though they didn't have to. They needed to hear the messa...

Stronger Together Acts 2:46-47; 4:32 It's a ONE-STOP SUNDAY! One service time -- one congregation! 10:00 a.m. only, in-person + online. Let's celebrate an amazing week of Rocky Railway VBS with highlights, music, appearances by Pete&RePete, and a special message titled "Stronger Together," where we lift up how Jesus's power unites us and helps us be better friends.

June 13, 2021 Into the Unknown Genesis 12:1-7 In life, we are pushed out of our comfort zones and venture out into the unknown. In these moments, while we doubt ourselves, God and our Christian community help us to find our way.

Total Commitment...God's Covenant with Us Exodus 19:4-8 One day a chicken and a pig were walking down the road together when they went past a billboard. They stopped to look up and saw an advertisement for a restaurant that specialized in a breakfast of eggs and bacon. After reading the sign the pig shuddered. “What’s wrong?” asked the chicken. The pig replied, “Well, for you that meal is a token...

May 30, 2021 When the Holy Spirit Comes Upon You, Part 2 Acts 4:23-31 What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus’s people? We find courage. And clarity. And confidence. That’s why we’re told to “be filled continually with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18, The Passion Translation). This Sunday we’ll explore the wondrous working of the Holy Spirit in us and through us.

23 May 2021 Acts 1:6-14; 2:1-4 Here’s a quick quiz: Which of the following did Jesus actually say? “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you . . . A. . . . you will start going to church again.” B. . . . you will never tell anyone about it, ever.” C. . . . you will try to get back to your normal self as soon as possible.” And the answer is “D. None of the above.” There’s something that happens when the...