SunWest Church Weekly Sermon Podcast

Having the Holy Spirit is one thing but He is useless to us if we don't use Him. He is there to guide us and protect us but He is also there to lead us to a closer relationship with Christ. Do we really believe that the Holy Spirit can do what He says He can do? Do we truly trust God with the details of our lives? God has glorious, unlimited resources available to us as stated in Ephesians 3:16. C...

Have you ever struggled in your relationship with Jesus? Maybe you feel like no matter how hard you try, something always gets in the way. Come learn more this Sunday from II Corinthians 3:16 that when we turn to Jesus, the veil can be removed for us to experience His love more fully. That love changes us into a reflection of His likeness and glory for the world to see.

Have you ever felt frustrated and stuck in your spiritual growth? Or perhaps you're currently feeling as though you should be further along in your Christian journey than where you are. This Sunday, come explore the Colossians 3:16 passage where the Apostle Paul gives some practical, down to earth, gritty advice about how we can grow in our faith walk. This message will be inspired by a small chur...

Every week we gather and talk about the Book. We encourage people to read this Book. We try and live our lives by the teachings of this Book. This Book is the Bible. What is it? Is it any different from other religious writings? Why should I trust it? Have you been asked any of these questions and struggle to answer them? If so, this Sunday is for you.

Philippians 2 is one of the most foundational scriptures on Servanthood. These verses are likely the words from a common first century hymn. So, how does this 2000-year-old hymn help us today? We will consider some very practical applications for work life and real day-to-day living.

Today, we can be addicted to selfies as a way to promote ourselves, but what happens when we turn the camera around and focus on the people around us? When we start to focus our lives on loving God our eyes can't help but be opened to the needs of our neighbours. When we make servanthood a value we begin to work together with God to expand His Kingdom.

Nehemiah leveraged his time, talents and treasure to respond to God's call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. But this was only possible when others did the same. Being generous is good, but being a generous community is better. We can do more together than we can do apart.

Jesus talked about money a lot. More than He talked about church, prayer, healing, heaven or hell... Why? Because He needed people's money? No. Because He knew that our money was the truest reflection of our hearts. Nehemiah knew this too. In Nehemiah 10 the people of Israel take an oath about material things in order that their hearts remain connected to God and His purposes. What's your money te...

Nehemiah had a vision to see the ruined walls of Jerusalem, his hometown, be rebuilt, even though he was being held hostage in Persia. Historically, the nation of Israel had proven they were stronger together providing protection, community, and a strong work force. What can we learn about Generosity from Nehemiah and the Israelites, and how does it apply to our church family?

One thing we know to be true about God is that He is generous. We know this because Scripture declares that this is at the very core of who He is, and His desire for us is to know, experience and live out this foundational truth. God's generosity is more than a gift of time, emotions and finances. These externals point to a deeper reality of God's heart, a heart that longs for an authentic relatio...

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" That is what was asked of the the women searching for Jesus on Sunday after the crucifixion. When they understood the resurrection it changed everything for them. Have we grasped this same hope? Are we still looking in the wrong places for our hope? Resurrection changes everything.

On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was accused, mocked, beaten, and crucified so that... we don't have to? Sometimes we think that Jesus suffered so we wouldn't need to, or that Jesus became the least so that we could become great. That line of thinking resonates with the message of our culture, but does it resonate with the message of Jesus?

In this series we have been looking at different metaphors that the Bible uses to help us understand what God has done through Jesus on the cross. One of the primary pictures we see is that Jesus is our substitute. This is often described in legal metaphors where God is judge and Jesus is an innocent victim who takes our place, so that we can be free. This model is very helpful in some ways, but i...

What happened on the cross? This is a reality and mystery that has transformed and challenged every Jesus follower in history. There are many paradoxes at the cross, that if we over simplify we will miss its significance. We often view Jesus as only a man, but the Bible shows us that Jesus was fully man and fully God. And if Jesus is fully God, what does God hanging on a cross reveal to us?

Jesus died on Good Friday 2000 years ago. He died in place of all mankind to bring us into a place where we could once again have connection and relationship with God the way it was intended to be since creation. But, why did He have to die? There are various reasons and theories as to what Jesus' death was all about. This message will look at the "Christ the Conqueror" theme, as well as the "Rans...

We often hear the phrase "Jesus died for us" but what does this mean? For many of us, the event of Good Friday has become so domesticated that it has lost its revolutionary message and power. During this Lent season we are going to dive into the meaning of Good Friday to recover the mystery and scandal of the cross. TGIF-Thank God it's Friday!

Jesus has a heart for intergenerational community in his church. Yet many churches are filled with fence sitters or those who are disengaging completely from their faith community. Through unprecedented research and study, James Penner will paint a picture of why people are fence sitting and the critical changes that we can make to move people from the fence to full engagement.

The heart of this series,the roots of community, will be the focal point of the message this Sunday - a heart of grace. In many ways, the table and the hospitality that surround it are the context where community grows and then extends practically to our world. Meals, hanging out together, and the Calgary spirit of hospitality are all part of how SunWest engages in community.

Meals in community often turn into a time to share stories and old memories. There is nothing like a hot apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream to take you down memory lane. Sharing stories and memories are how we deepen our relationships with the people around us. Jesus understood this well when he sat down to eat with his disciples for the last time. As Jesus prepared the meal he told them...

Community is often most clearly seen around a dinner table. We tend to only eat with those who are like us. Yet Jesus ate with everyone, and it got him in a lot of trouble. Meals provide us with the opportunity to practice radical hospitality and demonstrate the Kingdom of God that transcends boundaries. This week we will follow Jesus' lead and consider meals as mission.

Jesus had a mission. In the Gospel of Luke we read that He came to seek and save the lost. He came not to be served but to serve and give His life so others could live. But HOW did He do it? We could think of many things that Jesus did, but there is a very simple daily activity that Jesus utilized. It's something that we all do, everyday. Meals. Yes, food! Luke puts a table in the centre of Jesus'...

We often talk about having a relationship with Jesus, but do you ever feel like He's distant? Do you wonder where He is? Do you feel like the intimacy you used to have isn't there? Our relationship with God is not static... and He refuses to fit into our neat little boxes. Perhaps this is an indication, not that something is wrong but that God is leading you to a deeper relationship with Him. How...

Would you use this phrase to describe yourself: "A disciple whom Jesus loves"? There is an individual in the Gospel of John who repeatedly refers to himself in this way. It isn't boastful, just simply factual. He demonstrates the type of relationship with Jesus that is available for every person. A relationship that is not religious but relational; not agenda driven but presence driven. Come this...

Joseph. A good man with a good heart. Willing to endure shame from his community to do what he knew was right. A true God pleaser, not a people pleaser.

God knows how to create a good story and used unusual circumstances and the most unsuspecting people to bring about his Son. This week we will be focusing on the life and calling of a teenaged mom, Mary. God used someone who seemed unqualified, and unprepared to raise the Saviour of the world. Despite her fear and confusion she was willing to align her will with God's and say yes to the seemingly...