Life on the West Side

Beyond rules and moral ideals. Read the Sermon on the Mount as every day, in every way, learning to practice the presence of God. The sermon today is titled "Practice Makes Perfect." It is the thirteenth and last installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 7:24-29 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Ch...

If you want to know who the hurting trust , find out who heals them, feeds them, and welcomes them. The sermon today is titled "Who Do You Trust?" It is the twelfth installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 7:6-23 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on November 5, 2023. All lesson...

Yes we are called to discern and assess. But Jesus challenges the hypercritical, the hypocritical, and all of us who desire a critical spirit. The sermon today is titled "Judgy McJudgerson." It is the eleventh installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ...

When you don't have the words. When there are no words. There is a still a word of hope for us. Join us as we rediscover the prayer the Lord taught his disciples to pray. The sermon today is titled "When You Haven't Got A Prayer." It is the tenth installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 6:7-13 (ESV). Origin...

In the dark. Behind the scenes. That's where the magic happens . That is where Christ will meet us. There is power when God takes notice, and only God is the focus of attention when our deeds are done in secret. The sermon today is titled "Our God Who Sees In Secret." I was honored to be joined by Casey McDonald, Associate Minister at West Side in Searcy. It is the ninth installment...

A perfect love is one that includes our enemies . The only way for this is to remove any desire for revenge or even self-preservation. It is, after all, the way of the cross. The sermon today is titled "A Perfect Love." It is the eighth installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:38-48 (ESV). Originally preached at th...

Tell the truth. Even when it hurts. Jesus' case against verbal manipulation. The sermon today is titled "To Tell The Truth." It is the seventh installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:31-37 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on October 1, 2023. All lessons fit under one o...

Sometimes, when it comes to lust, we just need to change trains. The sermon today is titled "Wanderlust." It is the sixth installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 24, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: B...

What are we to do with anger? Find out with our guest speaker, Casey McDonald! The sermon today is titled "The Antidote To Anger." It is the fifth installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:21-26 (ESV). Originally preached by Casey McDonald at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 17, 2023. All les...

How can you be more righteous than a Pharisee, without losing your mind? It's not what you think. It's more than you think. And it will change the way you think. The sermon today is titled "Calling All Neurotics." It is the fourth installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:17-20 (ESV). Originally preached a...

You "are" salt and light . All the time. Rain or shine. The only question is this: will you allow your actions to reveal the reign of God? The sermon today is titled "Reign or Shine." It is the third installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Chris...

This isn't my best life; but it is my blessed life. If your "best" life still awaits, how can you experience a "blessed" life even in the midst of trials and pain? Jesus shows us promises to accept, portraits to be admired, and pathways to be attempted as we walk hand-in-hand with the Blessed one, Jesus Christ. The sermon today is titled "Your Blessed Life Now."...

See the Sermon on the Mount as an invitation to find new things to love, and a new community that shares our new loves. This fall, let’s sit at the feet of the master teacher as we learn together what it means to live the good life. The sermon today is titled "The School of Christ." It is the first installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture r...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gosp...

Ulysses stuffed his ears to avoid the siren song, but Orpheus chose a different tact . Faced with the options of welcoming the siren song, withdrawing from the fight by stuffing up his ears, or conquering through violent power and might, he chose to offer up a more beautiful song. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The sermon today is titled "Salt & Light." It is the last install...