Westside Church Podcast

Today we have a guest speaker and a special message from Rob Smith. Does time that didn’t go as planned mean wasted time? There is an opportunity for grace, restoration, and a good-news lifestyle in every moment!

What season of life are you in? Whether we like it or not, we all go through ups and downs. Here are 3 questions that will help you make the most of whatever phase you find yourself in.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing - you are right where you are meant to be. God has a world of infinite possibilities for you.

From the series, "Why Did Jesus Die?" - Part 3. Jesus' life and death are a disruption to the social, political, and religious order that many are used to. But through all the disorder, his resurrection is an invitation to reorder our entire lives around the life of God!

Listen to this powerful prayer and gain strength in the presence of God all around you - whatever you're facing today.

There are a lot of voices that stir up worry and anxiety in us. Today, listen to one that brings real calm and peace.

From the series, "Why Did Jesus Die?" - Part 2. Jesus’ death subverts the dangerous and destructive ideologies of politics and religion.

There's plenty to worry about in our ever-changing world. Building strong spiritual and emotional habits can help us to manage and learn from our anxieties. In this episode, we dive into a really helpful Psalm, with a little help from a great teacher, Dallas Willard.

Based on a conversation about John Ortberg's book, Soul Keeping, this is a powerful reminder that the most important thing in our lives, is who we are becoming.

From the series, "Why Did Jesus Die?" - Part 1. Jesus invites us to participate in the pattern of the spiritual life and to enjoy a seat at the family table.

Spiritually speaking, Jesus lets us take off our masks and enjoy intimacy with God. Physically speaking, we still need to wear masks in public!

Shame, fear, and vulnerability are so uncomfortable that we tend to run away or ignore any of these experiences or feelings. Jesus shows us that his message of love is much more powerful than those that try to bring us shame.

From the series, "Beyond Your Current Mind" - Part 16. Following Jesus takes us in a different direction than most of us are comfortable with. He calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Needless to say, this is counterintuitive. Why would being willing to die on a cross make any sense? Because love is stronger than death.

The whole world is infused with the presence of God and is available to us... if we're ready to pay attention.

Transformational growth is usually slow and gradual, but over time we see that God is making us more like Him. The more we can embrace His grace, truth and love the more we'll see those things becoming who we are. Take a few minutes to check your life for healthy fruit.

From the series, "Beyond Your Current Mind" - Part 15. Religion is a hot topic that can lead to tense debates. Jesus often critiqued judgmental and hypocritical religion. He also challenged people to rethink what they fight against and who they fight for. That is a powerful challenge for us today.

Our lives are full of voices that subtly (or not so subtly) tell us to work hard to earn people's acceptance. These voices can be loud. But, if we dare to listen closely, we may hear God's voice assuring us that we are His beloved.

Summer can be a great time to recalibrate and refocus on our priorities. This prayer helps us to do just that.

From the series, "Beyond Your Current Mind" - Part 14. Today we have a special guest speaker, Dr. Isaac Odame. The Good News about becoming a Christian is that we are saved by grace alone and not by obeying a set of religious rules. Does this mean the God-given commands in the Bible don’t count? Is there a rule that really matters?

From the series, "Beyond Your Current Mind" - Part 13. Today we have a special guest speaker, Cherylene Stimers. Sometimes the events in the Bible seem out of place and don’t fit together. This week’s passage is that type of challenge! Reposition our perspective and it all becomes clear.

Sometimes it seems like things are only getting worse and while wishful thinking is naive, hope doesn't disappoint.

None of us want to go through painful times, but we inevitably will. The good news is that pain doesn't have to destroy us, it can refine us.

From the series, "Beyond Your Current Mind" - Part 12. What’s the key to the good life? That’s a complicated question. Jesus suggests that the way many of us try to get there is impossible. The good news? What’s impossible for us, is possible with God.

Suffering tells us that we can't go on and it's time to give up, but if we're looking in the right place, our pain can actually make us stronger.

In the next 4 episodes we're going to be looking at how we can move from a place of suffering to hope. We start by putting our pain in perspective.