Westview Church Podcast

As we navigate life under the sun, it can seem like life in the futility and frustration of the vapor is without hope. However, Solomon points us to the glimmer of light that wisdom teaches in the presence of depravity. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 for more.

We too often use "hope" to mean "wish" or "desire." However, the Bible holds out hope as a fixed and established reality. As we begin Advent, listen to Michael's exhortation to set your hope fully from 1 Peter 1:13.

There are few sounds so jarring as raucous laughter at a funeral home. When we make a house of mourning into a house of mirth, we show an unwillingness to look death in the face, and Solomon means to keep us from that foolish way of living. Listen to Pastor Zach’s sermon on Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14 for more.

Knowing — or even affirming — facts about the gospel is not sufficient for our salvation. And apart from the gospel, there is no other way for us to be reunited with our creator. Listen as Pastor David exhorts us to believe in the gospel.

This is a reading of the article "Finding Rest," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at  https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

As we come to end of the first half of the book, we are at the bottom, where the fog settles thickest. It feels insulting for Solomon to compare the inability of enjoying wealth with a stillborn child. But if we descend into the valley, we will see that Solomon is showing us there is actually something far worse in the godless search for satisfaction. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiaste...

An old philosopher once said, “More is never enough to the man for whom enough is too little.” We so often want "just a little bit more." It is this dynamic that makes the love of money so dangerous. And it is why this idolatrous love must be struck down so we can deal with money rightly. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 for more.

When tensions rise, it is easy to carelessly use words like "never" and "always." Thought natural, it is not ok. When we level such accusations like, "You never ..." or "You always ..." we lie to one another. Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation for more.

This is a reading of the article "The State of Theology," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at  https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

This is a reading of the article "Vanitas & All Hallows' Eve," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at  https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

An important observation about the first half of Ecclesiastes is that there is only one imperative. Most of the these chapters is descriptive, observations of Solomon's about life under the sun. Adding to the vapor and shepherding the wind that characterizes life is the futility of envy, loneliness, and fame. Listen to Pastor David's sermon on Ecclesiastes 4:4-16 for more.

There are so-called "respectable sins" that are too easily overlooked or dismissed as "peccadillos." One such culturally permissible cover for sin is sports betting. And while sports betting may not explicitly or implicitly always be sin, it is opposed to the moral worldview of the Bible. Listen to Pastor Brett's exhortation to avoid the snare of sports betting for more.

This is a reading of the article "Pastoring Home to Home," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at  https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

We expect to see wickedness in the gutter of society and among the seedy back alleys, but in the place of justice? It is grievous, yet we can trust God's justice as all will die and stand before him. Listen to Pastor David's sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 for more.

Imagine you are face-to-face with Satan himself as he puts strong temptations before you. How would you defend yourself? Jesus modeled how by making use of memorized Scripture. You can have access to the Word but all the better to have it at the ready in your heart. Listen to Toby Phillips' exhortation to arm yourself for more.

This is a reading of the article "Leaving Well," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at  https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

“This thing all things devours / Birds, beasts, trees, flowers / Gnaws iron, bites steel / Grinds hard stones to meal / Slays king, ruins town / And beats mountain down.” Time—we can’t escape it. Solomon is leading us to lay down our vain grasp on control and trust in God. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 for more.

Consider that God rejoices over us, his children, with gladness. Should we not obey Jesus' call to receive children in his name with the same disposition as our Father in Heaven? Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation for more.

We have such an inadequate understanding of our sin and a far worse understanding of God’s holiness.  It feels like God’s judgment on humanity and the creation was severe, but  that’s because we are too focused on an enlarged view of ourselves. Indeed, death will come to all despite our toil and anguish in a weary, windy world that continues ever  onward. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on Ecclesi...

Our bodies hunger so that we might know that our souls hunger. And while our souls are not as loud of complainers as our stomaches, our souls need more than a granola bar. Listen to Michael Urch’s exhortation to fatten your soul for more.

Ecclesiastes is a confusing, perplexing book that often leads us to ask, “God, what are you doing?” Just like life. Amid the anguish and sorrows of this vaporous life, can joy be found? Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon orienting us to this book.

Both God and man covers sin. One covers with mercy, the over with pride. You can have all kinds of coverings for sin but the only one that will be of any good is: Christ. Listen to Pastor David’s exhortation to cover your sin for more.

Does God still speak today? Can you still hear his voice audibly, infallibly, and authoritatively? Just open up your Bible and read aloud. That's the opportunity afforded to us as we hear the prophet Micah speak. Though he prophesied long ago, his message of God being the only God who is so great as to distribute both judgment and restoration is still applicable today. Listen to Pastor Brett's int...

Do you feel how wealthy you are? Our thoughts first go to money, but the wealth of God’s Word is better than any amount of money. We are filthy rich having God’s own recorded words in our possession. We are billionaires when it comes to God’s Word. Do you believe this? Listen to Pastor Zach’s exhortation for more.

The feeling of life slipping through your fingers as sin and suffering compound is a difficult perplexity. But it has a design. It is the Lord who has done it. And one purpose is to hedge and lead you to pray, “My hope is in you.” At such times, grab hold to the waiting rope of hope in God. Listen to Pastor Brett’s sermon on Psalm 39 for more.