FaithWestwood UMC

June 7, 2020 Why are things the way they are? And why do we wish they were different? It’s not easy to reconcile what we see in the world with a belief in an all-powerful, all-caring God. This Sunday we’ll look at a range of tough questions by simply filling in the blanks in this one: “If God is so ______, why doesn’t he _____?”

May 31, 2020 Some of our most profound and life-changing spiritual experiences may not happen in a church building. At least that’s what a Roman centurion named Cornelius might tell us. Along with his family and friends, Cornelius was in his own home when he first learned about Jesus. Then something happened they would never forget — they were wondrously filled with the Holy Spirit. Who knows what...

May 24, 2020 - Madison Barben Ephesians 6:13-18 Superheroes are strong, brave, and always win in the end. Sometimes we feel like we could never be superheroes and complete great feats -- or can we? With Christ by our side, our dreams of being superheroes are not light-years away.

May 17, 2020 Luke 16:1-13 We all have a wish list in the back of our mind, don’t we – the car we’d like to drive, the new cookware we’ve always wanted, that pair of shoes we’ve had our eye on? But what if we had another list we were even more excited about? One that kept track of all the opportunities we have to be a generous friend? Jesus tells us that everyone is happy to see a generous friend.

May 10, 2020 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Miracles streak through our lives like a rare meteor. But a miracle without love, however dazzling, would not be from God. A miracle that came without caring would leave us dry and empty. But, if you’ve ever been part of a community of love, you know it’s one of the most life-giving, healing places in the world.

April 26, 2020 Jesus did not come to give you half a life. He came to give you a full life – life to the max. He promises to give you all you need, so you can become all you were meant to be. And we discover along the way that holy choices are also healthy choices.

May 3, 2020 Luke 7:1-10 Does it take faith to receive healing? And whose faith does it take? Jesus told a woman with bleeding and a man with blindness, “Your faith has healed you.” When a paralyzed man was lowered through a roof, Jesus was amazed at the faith of the man’s friends. And at other times it seems Jesus was the only one with faith in the healing. What is the role of faith in healing – a...

April 19, 2020 Luke 13:10-17 When we get sick, we might think that the illness comes from God. What do you believe about that? And more importantly, what did Jesus believe? What did he say about the source of disease and disability? Let’s look to him as we start our series, In Sickness and in Health.

April 12, 2020 - Easter Sunday The resurrection of Jesus wasn't just for his sake. It was for you! Jesus's resurrection proves that his death wasn't a defeat. It was a victory for all who trust in him. And Easter is a promise of our own resurrection to come -- the day when God will remake the world by bringing heaven and earth together. It's a promise that's already beginning to come true, through...

April 10, 2020 Who was more misunderstood than Jesus? Who was more despised? He was a threat to those in power. He disappointed those who wanted power. He confused those who had no power. The punishment he received seemed so tragic, so unfair. No one knew it was God’s plan to bring us peace. Featuring: - Gathering music with David Gerard - Hymns with vocalist Becky Dorn - Children's Time with Leah...

April 9, 2020 Just after Jesus predicts that one disciple will betray him, and just before he predicts that the rest will fall away from him, Jesus does something extraordinary. He gives them bread and says, “This is my body.” He hands them the cup and says, “This is my blood.” It was a gift not based on their qualifications but on his grace. As flawed followers, we receive this same gift today. F...

April 5, 2020 What kind of leader do you want? What kind of leader do we need? in 332 BC, the conquering Alexander the Great rode into Jerusalem on his huge white stallion. More than three centuries later, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey -- very different beasts for very different kings. Today only one is still hailed as a king, the one who taught the way of humility.

March 29, 2020 Psalm 37:1-11 Some people break rules, cross ethical lines, take advantage of others, and are rewarded with success. We say, “It’s not fair!” Then we hear a new word. Devious people may prosper for now, but their days are numbered. Ultimately, it’s those who “trust in the Lord and do good” who will receive God’s greatest reward. Do you believe that?

March 22, 2020 Join us for worship with Pianist David Gerard and a message from Pastor Steve from Psalm 32 Sin carries consequences. It’s in every page of the Bible. We may deny our sins -- we can try to hide them. But as Numbers 32:23 says, “Your sin will find you out.” And yet we also see over and over that God forgives those who acknowledge their faults, failures, and flaws. What better reason...

March 15, 2020 Psalm 30 Imagine writing a simple song, thanking God for all he’s done in your life. Each verse could tell of a hard time you faced. Then the chorus rings out how God brought you through each challenge. You might sing, “My happiness was gone. My life had little chance. You brought me through my grief and taught me how to dance.”

March 8, 2020 Psalm 27 If you focus on how bad your problems are, they will run your life. But if you focus on knowing God and worshiping God and doing God’s will, then your problems will not win. They may still be there, but they will not define you. Remember, better days are ahead. In the meantime, wait. Wait confidently.

March 1, 2020 Psalm 23 Picture yourself as a sheep. What if you didn’t have someone to guide you to green grass and fresh water? What if you didn’t have someone to defend you against wolves and lions? Life would be scary. But have no fear! The Lord is your shepherd.

February 23, 2020 Psalm 20 What do we do when we’re attacked, outnumbered, and outmatched? Where do we turn when the odds are stacked against us? We could freak out and go into full-scale panic mode. Or we can call on the Lord who answers from heaven. Some trust in their wealth or in their superior technology, but we trust in the Lord.

February 16, 2020 Psalm 18:1-6, 46-50 Nobody likes to think about mortality. We avoid discussions of death – until it comes knocking on our door. Israel’s king felt the snares of death pulling him down to the grave. In desperation, he cried to the Lord – and we cry out, too. Let us sing praise to King Jesus who saves us from death and gives us victory.

February 9, 2020 Psalm 11 When you're under attack, take refuge in the Lord. When you're being threatened, take refuge in the Lord. When you've been marginalized or ostracized, take refuge in the Lord. God sees it it all. God hears it all. And God will act. Take refuge in the Lord.

February 2, 2020 Psalm 8 If there is no God, life is ultimately insignificant -- and you might as well stake your claim as the center of the cosmos. But when you praise God, ruler of heaven and earth, that changes everything! When you praise God, you return him to his rightful place at the center of everything -- and through him you find your own significance and worth.

January 26, 2020 You may see the t-shirt slogan once in a while, "Life is good." But sometimes life is not good. Sometimes it's tragic and heartbreaking. Did you know that the most common prayer in the Psalms is lament -- a complaint or cry for help? We cry out to God, "Save me from my enemies! Save me from my circumstances! A prayer of lament is desperation directed toward God.

January 19, 2020 God is powerful, but that alone doesn't make him worthy of our praise. We need to know more about God -- is God good? Does he care about us? Because if the Lord is truly trustworthy and faithful, full of justice and mercy, how could we keep from singing his praises?

January 12, 2020 Psalm 1 Everybody loves to create their own brand of happiness. We have our own ideas about what's right and fun and good. But our ideas don't always include listening to God. Only when we learn God's Word and live God's Way will we know the happiness that lasts through this life and into eternal life.

January 5, 2020 Last words have power. And Jesus's last words are still important today, wherever we go. His last words have been vital in building the universal church. His followers throughout the ages have been motivated by the great commission too. Jesus's words influenced those who find FaithWestwood and those who continue on this mission.