This Week It’s teaching time Easter joy continues as Christ is STILL risen. He is risen, indeed! With that joy comes a freedom we have as God’s people to daily, continually praise his holy name. As we conclude our look at Matthew 17, it’s teaching time, then, as the Master Teacher helps us learn a lesson…

This Week Holy Week worship services Highlights Events and ministry news needing immediate attention Upcoming call meeting Our next call meeting for both Pastor for Outreach and 5th grade teacher at Westside Christian School is Sunday, April 12, at 11:45 AM in the sanctuary. All are invited to call meetings to discuss the qualities, gifts, and fit of the different…

This Week Father, forgive our half-hearted hosannas As we gather for Palm Sunday, we recall Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem: triumphant, yet understated. The shouts of praise were soon revealed to be half-hearted, as are so many of ours. Read Philippians 2:5-11 to see Jesus’ wholehearted approach. Then join us at the beginning of Holy Week…

This Week Unable “Unable” is a defeating word. It is often used to soften bad news. It often comes as a blow to the pride of humans who like to be able. This week, we can see ourselves in Jesus’ disciples’ inability as they fail in Matthew 17. But instead of giving them too much…

This Week Use your senses “Wow!” is a familiar response when we see, hear, or experience something amazing. In our lives, “Wow!” is exclaimed at seeing a natural wonder, the birth of a child, or an incident of historical importance. None of these can compare, though, to what three disciples witnessed on top of a…

This Week Value of life and soul If something “costs too much,” that could be about price or about value. It might be that you don’t have enough money, but it might also be that you don’t think it’s a fair trade. The wisdom that guides these decisions is human wisdom, but we need guidance…

This Week Who do you say I am? A simple question is a vital one. A matter of opinion is not the same as a matter of truth that some people will get wrong. When Jesus asked the question about himself, a lot of people got it wrong, and they still do, but Matthew 16…

This Week Heads up Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord. We celebrate this truth throughout life and look ahead to an eternity with our God all because of who Christ is and what he accomplished in saving us from our sins. We also journey through life aware of the dangers that threaten us and…

This Week Unlikely When we observe how God has caused and allowed history to unfold, so much of it seems unlikely. Why those people? Why those circumstances? In Matthew 15, we see an unlikely conversation and an unlikely result, but our perspective is not God’s. May we always remember that God’s mode of operating is…

This Week Breaking tradition What is your favorite tradition for winter? For summer? For Christmas or Independence Day? For your or a loved one’s birthday? Our lives are full of traditions, and so is the Bible. This weekend, Matthew 15 gives us some guidance on the value we place on traditions and when it might…