Westlake Hills Presbyterian

“My pleasure.” What restaurant has made these two words iconic? Chick-fil-A, of course. Employees who work for this corporation say this response becomes automatic, even after years of not working there. Gratitude is a fruit of the Holy Spirit of God that should overflow from the mouths of Christ followers. Today, we look at a healing story from Luke’s Gospel and lean in to see what Christ says ab...

Ephesians 1:18-19a "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." What do the eyes of your heart need to see today? Take a moment for gratitude.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Pope Francis said, "To follow God’s law, let us begin with gratitude.” What will you begin with today? Take a moment for gratitude.

Psalm 8:1-5. "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers…what is mankind that you are mindful of them…yet you crown them with glory and honor." How do you sense God’s delight in creation? In other people? Take this moment for gratitude.

Psalm 118:24– This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. How can you slow down and take joy in God’s creation? Take this moment for gratitude.

Matthew 13:16-17 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. What is God showing you that takes your breath away? What is God showing you that brings you joy? Take this moment for gratitude.

On All Saints Sunday we celebrate our loved ones and church members who have died and now live eternally with Christ. We will lift prayers of gratitude with white roses for the saints who have gone before us. Hebrews 12:1-2

In this sermon we turn to one of Scripture’s most haunting questions: “Where is your brother?” In the story of Cain and Abel, God reveals that faith is not just about belief, but about responsibility, the sacred call to care for one another. Join us as we explore what it means to live as our brother’s and sister’s keeper in a world that often forgets we belong to each other. [Genesis 4:1-10]

This is a challenging text (Mark 5:1-20) with its graphic imagery and the unsettling depiction of a man possessed by demons. It is crucial for us to study these hard texts as we consider what the Bible says about how Christians should engage with the poor, the marginalized, and the overlooked. Today we will see the beautiful way that Jesus restored this man’s dignity.

The Bible calls us to love God and to see the beloved in all people, with a particular emphasis on caring for the overlooked, or the least among us. How should Christians engage with the overlooked, or those who live on the margins in our city and world? [scripture - John 4]

We begin a new sermon series that explores the Bible and how Christians can engage with the issue of poverty. Jesus often talked about being a good neighbor. But more importantly, he demonstrated this in his daily life. This morning, we focus on a story where Jesus exemplifies the kind of neighbor we should be. [scripture - John 6:1-14]

Sept. 28 - Does the Bible Really Say That?: "Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard" | Stephen Finkel by WHPC

Certain scriptures guide our lives, and we believe them with every fiber of our being. Yet, there are other scriptures that we do not consider to be true. Isn’t all of scripture true? Join us this Sunday as we take an honest look at how we interpret the Bible and what the Word of God truly means for today. Matthew 5:17-20

Can the devil control a person? If so, can we blame this enemy of God for our wrongdoings? This Sunday, we examine what the Bible truly says about the root cause of our sin. James 1:12-16

The Bible says a lot about sin, but even more about love. What is sin, and how are we to deal with it in love? This Sunday, we will see how Jesus dealt with sinners in his life. Luke 18:10-14

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-40

Sometimes life throws a curveball, and we're left wondering, "Does everything happen for a reason?" 🤔 This week, pastor Al dives into this question that many think is in the Bible, exploring how the answer isn't a simple yes or no, but more of a "both/and." As with a river, we learn that while we have the freedom to swim right, left, or even upstream, the river of history is always flowing toward...

Aug 17 - Does the Bible Really Say That?: "God Never Gives You More Than You Can Handle" | Stacy Ikard by WHPC

If you could ask God for just one thing during a moment of weakness or difficulty, what would it be? In our passage this week, David finds himself in such a situation and asks to behold God's "noam" (beauty). Join us this Sunday as we explore this Hebrew word for beauty and examine why David would choose to ask for this above all else in his moment of need. (Scripture: Psalm 27:4-6)

Jesus calls us to move into the unknown and to go where we have not been. Listen as Pastor Al challenges us as individuals and as a church to follow Christ into the deep waters of faith. (Scripture: Luke 5:1-11)

What does it mean to be great? What does it mean to live a great life? Join us this morning and reflect with us on Jesus' definition of greatness. Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

What does it mean in the New Testament when writers refer to the “ekklesia,” what we translate as “the church”? And what does it mean to be the church beyond the first century? Learning from how this word is used in Scripture will equip us to be the church more fully in our lives today. Scripture: Colossians 1:1-20

What happens to us when we are depleted, spiritually and emotionally? What keeps us from quitting? Hear The Apostle Paul answer that question.

God's proclamation of his name and declaration of his character to Moses are foundational for God's people then and remain so for God's people now. If someone asks you "What is God like?", you cannot go wrong with Exodus 34:6-7 as your answer. Central to God's self-description is the Hebrew word hesed, which appears almost 250 times in the OT. No single English word captures the full meaning of he...

1 Kings 19 tells the story of the prophet Elijah as he faces burnout and asks God to let him die, but God revives him and meets him on a mountaintop. God doesn’t appear in an earthquake or fire or whirlwind, but instead in “the sound of sheer silence” or “a still small voice.” Unpacking these words in Hebrew calls our attention to the miracle of God’s communication with us, and how hard it can be...