Westside Gathering - Audio

What do you do when you are overwhelmed, paralyzed or even indifferent to the social crises in our world - related or unrelated to COVID? Christian tradition and faith helps us address this pressure point with honesty and hope. Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210613_DaveM.pdf

Part two of this conversation on mental health with guest speaker Brett Ullman Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210606_BrettU.pdf

A conversation on mental health Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210530_BrettU.pdf

Eastertide has helped us immerse ourselves in resurrection life for 50 days! Something fresh happened 50 days after the restriction that gave the church life and courage to live into God’s future. The church calls it Pentecost. What fresh thing might God want to do in us and his church today? Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210...

Luke’s report of the ascension of Jesus bridges the story of his gospel acts and the Spirit-empowered recapitulation of them by the first Christians. Two thousand years later it remains as an invitation to better understand and more fully submit to the Lordship of the resurrected Christ. Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210516_J...

God made sure the church knew he was up to something. The early church had to follow or get out of the way. What might God be up to in your life or our world today? Are we listening and responding? (Acts 10) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210509_DaveM.pdf

The life of faith is more than a sentiment or decision but a surrender into a new life and community. The resurrection led the early church to not only proclaim Jesus but baptize people into his life and body (The Church). Acts 8:26-40 gives us an exciting picture filled with the complexities of that journey. Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/pod...

The resurrection became so central to the early Christians that a new loyalty to Jesus emerged, beginning to effect not only their lives but the people and powers around them. (Acts 4:1-12) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210425_DaveM.pdf

Early church stories often show us how the resurrection gave the first followers of Jesus opportunity to see his power at work in beginning the restoration that leads to future new creation. It can start now in us! (Acts 3:1-21) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210418_DaveM.pdf

The church emerged from the resurrection to become a community centred on the resurrected Jesus and became a contrast to Roman and Religious groups because of their generosity and hospitality. What might happen if we live in the wake of the resurrection? (Acts 4:32-35). "Eastertide" is the 50 days following Easter where we continue to celebrate the impact of the resurrection. Our message notes can...

Put yourself in Mary, Peter and John’s shoes on Resurrection Day (John 20:1-18) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210404_Collab.pdf

Jesus invites us into a meal to remember what happens on Good Friday; to consume this meal is to participate in his death and life. (John 6:27-58) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210402_DaveM.pdf

It’s Palm Sunday, and with the Cross in our periphery we dig into the story of Abraham and allow it to project into Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. (Guest speaker: Jonathan Hodges) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210328_JonathanH.pdf

Jesus challenges our view of greatness by pointing us to servanthood. Mark 9:30-37, 10:45 Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210321_DaveM.pdf

Have you ever found out that the path you've chosen or the person you've trusted required more from you than you initially thought?! In the same way, a cross-shaped life might require more from us than we initially think! (Mark 8:31-9:1) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210314_DaveM.pdf

Is the cross more than the way Jesus won? Is it possible it's also a way of life? We start a series today looking at some key moments in the life of Jesus where he points to the way of the cross in his own life and to decisions in contrast to the way of the world. We start in His baptism and desert temptations. (Matthew 3:13-4:11) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/th...

Being the church in a pandemic. (Hebrews 10:19-36) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210228_DaveM.pdf

People look to many options to fill their hearts and better their future. Today Patrice teaches out of a well-known scripture to help us discover God's promise for life today and tomorrow, regardless of what we're going through. (John 3:16) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210221_PatriceN.pdf

We wrap up our wilderness series with two things we all long for: identity and vocation. God can speak into them as they guide us through our whole lives (even beyond the wilderness). Today we discover how this can bring both joy and tension. (Exodus 19) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210214_DaveM.pdf

Can God reveal something new to you in a wilderness-like season? Is He or his wisdom hidden or might they show up in surprising ways? In this snapshot Israel gets another family guest during their wilderness journey and has some surprising revelations that grow Israel's ability to be a better community. (Exodus 18) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegatheri...

The desert can be a dangerous place. Wilderness-like seasons can also include attacks. Today we learn from a snapshot in Exodus about an attack the Isrealites face in the desert and the lessons for our own seasons of life. (Exodus 17:8-16) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210131_DaveM.pdf

In this snapshot of Israel's wilderness experience we see God testing Israel's trust in following his way. While God provides for their needs, this early lesson teaches us something about contentment and sabbath that applies to our modern life more than we realize. (Exodus 15-16) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20210124_DaveM.pdf

Wilderness is a theme that runs through the Bible a lot. God uses wilderness surroundings or seasons to get our attention, to get us through something, or to teach us more about ourselves and ultimately about Him. We start this new series at the beginning of Israel’s rescue from slavery in Egypt and how their struggle to trust God can parallel our own lives. (Exodus 13-15) Our message notes can be...

We're often verbally committed to a new year, maybe even a new me, but the way forward is more than just a next step. It often involves examining the steps you've already been taking. Psalm 139 helps us move toward a flourishing life in Jesus by letting God examine the path we're already on. Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg202101...

Have you ever rejected something you needed for something you wanted instead? Advent confronts us with a question about rejecting or receiving Jesus, the Word. John 1:1-13 Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20201220_DaveM.pdf