Sermons and classes from our weekly church of Christ services
Episodes
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
February 2, 2025 - Sunday AM Bible Class
Continuing on from the men's retreat that was this weekend. Mike Vestal provided the bible lesson this morning.
Mike Vestal
Westside Church of Christ
4410 West Illinois Avenue
Midland, TX 79703
Duration 47:05
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
February 2, 2025 - Sunday PM Sermon
Turn to Me - Joel 2:11-19
- Why? (11)
- "There's a great day coming"
- How? (12-13)
- Sincere Heart (12)
- Sacrificial Heart (12)
- Soft Heart (13)
- Soft Outwardly
- Soft Inwardly
- To Whom? (13-14)
- "Gracious"
- "Compassionate"
- "Slow to Anger"
- "Abounding In Loving Kindness"
- "Relenting of Evil"
- Where? (15-17)
- For What? (18-19)
Duration 37:22
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
February 16, 2025 - Sunday PM Sermon
Questions Jesus Asks That Get to the Heart (Gospel of John)
In this enlightening episode, we delve into the profound impact of questions in building connections and enhancing understanding, using Jesus’ ministry as a pivotal example. The episode explores the significance of questions through the lens of the Gospel of John, highlighting how Jesus used them to reach the hearts of his listeners. Three key questions are examined in depth: "What do you seek?", "Do you want to get well?", and "Does this cause you to stumble?". Each question reveals layers of personal and spiritual introspection crucial for growth and transformation.
Listeners are invited to reflect on their personal journeys and motivations, drawing on the timeless wisdom of finding a teacher, a savior, and a leader in Jesus. The discussion also highlights the barriers like pride and apathy that hinder our spiritual pursuits and the enduring message of hope and redemption in Christ's teachings. This narrative challenges us to address our deepest spiritual quests and confront our personal barriers.
Duration 37:49
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
February 16, 2025 - Sunday AM Sermon
You’ll Know You're in Jesus’ Church When… - Matthew 16:13-18
Introduction:
1. There is much confusion in the world today concerning the __________________.
2. Many people don’t know what to __________ for when considering a place to
_____________.
3. Jesus talks about building a ___________, but how do we know when we’ve
__________ it?
4. The New _________ gives identifying ________ that help us know when we are in
__________ church.
I. Jesus is ___________ as ____________ (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17)
II. ____________ is by _____________ through ____________ (Ephesians 2:8-9)
III. ____________ is in __________ & in ________ (John 4:23-24)
IV. __________ Bear ___________ (John 15:8; Galatians 5:22-23)
V. You are ___________ Like Never __________ (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)
Conclusion:
1. Jesus promised to _________ His ___________. 2. He __________ everyone to be a __________ of it.
3. When you are in _________ church never _________ and _________ everyone
you_______.
Duration 34:27
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
February 16, 2025 - Sunday AM Bible Class
Today Neal leads the class while Hiram is out of town.
Living an Ancient Faith in a Modern World
"Unprecedented Times"
- Climate change / Environmental disasters
- Global Pandemic
- Technological advancement
- Political Polarization and Social Unrest
- Mental Health Crisis
- Workplace and Societal Expectations
Things that Never Change...
- Unchanging World - (Eccl. 1:9-10, 3:15, 7:10)
- Unchanging Character & Nature of God - (Mal. 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17)
- Unchanging World - (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35)
Lesson 1: Christian Worldview Defined and Explained
Defining Worldview...
- World view: the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world
- Engaging other world views wisely and well:
- Listen well (Prov. 18:13)
- Observe closely (Acts 17:22-23)
- Don’t assume (Matt. 7:1-2; John 7:24)
- Be charitable (1 Cor. 16:14)
- Remain convicted (2 Tim. 1:13)
Worldviews to Engage
- Humanistic: humans are the center of everything (Gen. 3:6; Prov. 16:18; Rev. 3:17)
- Materialism and Hedonism: life is about pleasure and pleasing oneself above everything else (Luke 12:15-21; 1 Tim. 6:9-10)
- Fatalism: events are predetermined and inevitable (1 Cor. 15:32)
- Relativism: truth and morality are determined by everyone (Judges 17:6, 21:25)
- Naturalism: everything can be explained by nature (Psa. 14:1)
Christian Worldview
- What is a Christian worldview?
- Christian worldview: view of the world that believes a person’s primary purpose for existence is to love and serve God (Deut. 6:4-5; Isa. 43:7).
- Key elements to the Christian worldview:
- Creation (Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-5)
- Humans made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27, 5:1)
- Fall (Genesis 3; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:12)
- Redemption/Salvation (John 3:16, 14:6)
- Restoration/Glorification (1 Cor. 15; Phil. 3:20-21)
The Role of Bible in a Christian Worldview
- How would you describe the Bible and its relationship to the Christian life?
- The difference between a Christian reading the Bible and others (Psa. 119:97, 119:104; Prov. 30:5-6)
- Passages to consider:
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Matthew 4:4
- Psalm 119:105
- How the Bible shapes the Christian’s view of everything
Challenges to a Christian Worldview
- Desire to be accepted/liked by everyone (John 9:22, 12:42-43)
- Forgetting our roots (Jude 3; Ephesians 4:4-6)
- Inherited faith (Luke 3:8; 2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14-4:5)
- Culture vs. Christianity (Col. 2:12-23)
- Ignorance (Hosea 4:6)
- Persecution/suffering (Acts 5:40-41; 1 Peter 4:16)
Concluding Thoughts
- Applying the Christian Worldview
- A worldview as a starting point
- Discussion Questions
Duration
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
February 9, 2025 - Sunday PM Sermon
How Jesus Wants to Bless Your Family… - Matthew 12:46-50
- Faith to Withstand Life's Storms - (Matthew 7:24-27)
- Fun to Enjoy the Journey - (John 15:10-11)
- Friends to Live Alongside - (John 15:12-14)
- Focus on Others in Service - (Mark 10:42-45)
- Full Awareness of Life's Brevity - (Luke 12:19-20)
- Forgiveness - (Luke 17:1-4)
- Forever Family - (Matthew 12:46-50)
Duration 36:49
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
February 9, 2025 - Sunday AM Sermon
NAVIGATING DEPRESSION (2 Cor. 7:1-11)
Neal Pollard
Introduction
A. Depression Can Have A ________ Cause, ________ Basis, Or _________ Cause
B. This Chapter Gives Several Principles to Help The _____________
I. ____________ ON DIVINE ___________ (1)
II. NURTURE ___________ __________ (2-3)
III. STAY FOCUSED ON ___________ RESOURCES IN TIME OF ________ (4-7)
A. He Focused on God's ____________
B. He Focused On __________
C. He Mentions ____________ And The ___________ At Corinth
IV. PROPERLY RESPOND TO ANY _______ ISSUES (8-11)
Conclusion
A. You Are No Less of A _________ Because Of Your __________
B. Checklist of Things to Do When You're Depressed (12 Of Them):
Duration 33:19
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
January 26, 2025 - Sunday PM Sermon
How Can God Be God If...?
- Establishing the Goodness of God - Psalm 73:1
- He killed people in the Old Testament - Deuteronomy 7:1-2
- The Wicked Destroyed...
- The people in the days of the flood - (Gen. 6:3, 6:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:20)
- Pharoah's hardened heart (Exodus 7:14, 8:32, 9:7, 14:8)
- The Canaanites - (Gen. 15:12-16; Leviticus 18:24-25, 18:28)
- The Wicked Destroyed...
- He allows people to suffer - Job 5:7, 14:1
- Not everyone hears the gospel - Romans 10:14-16
- He sends people to Eternal Hell - 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
- People have Free-Will - Ecclesiastes 7:29
Duration 35:09
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
January 26, 2025 - Sunday AM Sermon
THREE FACTS THAT FLOW FROM CALVARY - (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
Neal Pollard
Introduction
A. Paul Brings Up The Subject Of The ________ In The Context Of __________
I. THERE IS A _____________ WORLD IN ____________
A. There Are Those Who Are Not _______________ Symptoms
B. There Are Those Who Are ______________ Their Symptoms
C. There Are Those Who Don't ______ What To _____ About Their Symptoms
D. There Are Those Who _________ ________ Dealing With Their Symptoms
E. There Are Those Who View Their Symptoms With ___________________
II. THERE IS A ____________ MESSAGE TO _______________
A. Paul Didn't Resort To __________________ (19-21)
B. He Didn't Resort To What People ______________ For (22)
C. He Didn't Resort To Only What People Would Be ____________ With (23)
III. THERE IS A CLEAR ______________ TO _______________
Conclusion
A. Paul Said, "I _____________ To Know ___________" But Christ And Him
__________________
Duration 32:54
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
January 26, 2025 - Sunday AM Bible Class
This quarter Hiram starts a new class.
Living an Ancient Faith in a Modern World
"Unprecedented Times"
- Climate change / Environmental disasters
- Global Pandemic
- Technological advancement
- Political Polarization and Social Unrest
- Mental Health Crisis
- Workplace and Societal Expectations
Things that Never Change...
- Unchanging World - (Eccl. 1:9-10, 3:15, 7:10)
- Unchanging Character & Nature of God - (Mal. 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17)
- Unchanging World - (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35)
Lesson 1: Christian Worldview Defined and Explained
Defining Worldview...
- World view: the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world
- Engaging other world views wisely and well:
- Listen well (Prov. 18:13)
- Observe closely (Acts 17:22-23)
- Don’t assume (Matt. 7:1-2; John 7:24)
- Be charitable (1 Cor. 16:14)
- Remain convicted (2 Tim. 1:13)
Worldviews to Engage
- Humanistic: humans are the center of everything (Gen. 3:6; Prov. 16:18; Rev. 3:17)
- Materialism and Hedonism: life is about pleasure and pleasing oneself above everything else (Luke 12:15-21; 1 Tim. 6:9-10)
- Fatalism: events are predetermined and inevitable (1 Cor. 15:32)
- Relativism: truth and morality are determined by everyone (Judges 17:6, 21:25)
- Naturalism: everything can be explained by nature (Psa. 14:1)
Christian Worldview
- What is a Christian worldview?
- Christian worldview: view of the world that believes a person’s primary purpose for existence is to love and serve God (Deut. 6:4-5; Isa. 43:7).
- Key elements to the Christian worldview:
- Creation (Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-5)
- Humans made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27, 5:1)
- Fall (Genesis 3; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:12)
- Redemption/Salvation (John 3:16, 14:6)
- Restoration/Glorification (1 Cor. 15; Phil. 3:20-21)
The Role of Bible in a Christian Worldview
- How would you describe the Bible and its relationship to the Christian life?
- The difference between a Christian reading the Bible and others (Psa. 119:97, 119:104; Prov. 30:5-6)
- Passages to consider:
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Matthew 4:4
- Psalm 119:105
- How the Bible shapes the Christian’s view of everything
Challenges to a Christian Worldview
- Desire to be accepted/liked by everyone (John 9:22, 12:42-43)
- Forgetting our roots (Jude 3; Ephesians 4:4-6)
- Inherited faith (Luke 3:8; 2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14-4:5)
- Culture vs. Christianity (Col. 2:12-23)
- Ignorance (Hosea 4:6)
- Persecution/suffering (Acts 5:40-41; 1 Peter 4:16)
Concluding Thoughts
- Applying the Christian Worldview
- A worldview as a starting point
- Discussion Questions
Duration 44:54