Life on the West Side

These are the 10 words. What culture has improved by dismissing them? What family is not blessed by embracing them? What church is not impoverished by relegating them to a forgotten era?

The sermon today is titled "No Name In Vain." This sermon is the fourth installment in our series "10 Commandments." The Scripture reading is from Exodus 20:7 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on January 26, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under INSTILL: Core Texts.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• Peter J. Leithart, The Ten Commandments. Lexham Press Christian Essentials Series.
• Gilbert Meilaender, Thy Will Be Done: The Ten Commandments and the Christian Life.
• Mark Rooker, The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Commitment." Sermon, May 13, 1994.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
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These are the 10 words. What culture has improved by dismissing them? What family is not blessed by embracing them? What church is not impoverished by relegating them to a forgotten era?

The sermon today is titled "No Graven Images." This sermon is the third installment in our series "10 Commandments." The Scripture reading is from Exodus 20:4-6 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on January 19, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under INSTILL: Core Texts.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• Peter J. Leithart, The Ten Commandments. Lexham Press Christian Essentials Series.
• Gilbert Meilaender, Thy Will Be Done: The Ten Commandments and the Christian Life.
• Mark Rooker, The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century.
• C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Truth (1)." Sermon, May 1, 1994.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Truth (2)." Sermon, May 8, 1994.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

These are the 10 words. What culture has improved by dismissing them? What family is not blessed by embracing them? What church is not impoverished by relegating them to a forgotten era?

The sermon today is titled "No Other Gods." This sermon is the second installment in our series "10 Commandments." The Scripture reading is from Exodus 20:1-3 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on January 12, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under INSTILL: Core Texts.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• Peter J. Leithart, The Ten Commandments. Lexham Press Christian Essentials Series.
• Gilbert Meilaender, Thy Will Be Done: The Ten Commandments and the Christian Life.
• Mark Rooker, The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Obedience." Sermon, April 10, 1994.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Service." Sermon, April 17, 1994.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

These are the 10 words. What culture has improved by dismissing them? What family is not blessed by embracing them? What church is not impoverished by relegating them to a forgotten era?

The sermon today is titled "I Am The Lord." This sermon is the first installment in our series "10 Commandments." The Scripture reading is from Exodus 20:1-2 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on January 5, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under INSTILL: Core Texts.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• Peter J. Leithart, The Ten Commandments. Lexham Press Christian Essentials Series.
• Gilbert Meilaender, Thy Will Be Done: The Ten Commandments and the Christian Life.
• Mark Rooker, The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Obedience." Sermon, April 10, 1994.
• Tim Keller, "The Freedom of Service." Sermon, April 17, 1994.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

We feel the need to be behind the wheel. To choose our future. To control our lives. But very little turns out the way we designed. Haven’t we learned by now…We are not masters and commanders of the universe. But we follow the one who is.

The sermon today is titled "You Are Not In Control." This sermon is the sixteenth installment in our series "Follow Me," and is the fifth in the sub-series "More Like Jesus." The Scripture reading is from Romans 8:27-28 (Wright's Kingdom Version). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on June 22, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Formation.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way.
• Steven Furtick, "Let go! You are not in control." Sermon, Elevation Church.
• "N. T. Wright on the most misunderstood verse." Russell Moore Show.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

It took decades to form you into the person you are. The stories you’ve come to believe and the ones you tell yourself over and over. The habits and routines you’ve come to rely on that define virtually every morning and every night of your life. The circle that you have chosen (or that has chosen you) for influence and connection. These have shaped you.

What if you began to believe good, true, and healthy stories about God and yourself? What if your routines became intentionally centered on a faithful future? What if your most important influencers were not instafamous, but people who live in your town who have been formed into the image of Christ?

The sermon today is titled "The Slow Fix." This sermon is the fifteenth installment in our series "Follow Me," and is the fourth in the sub-series "More Like Jesus." The Scripture reading is from Hebrews 12:1 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on June 15, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Formation.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way.
• Tim Keller, "The Runner." Sermon April 12, 2005.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
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"Information alone does not produce transformation." John Mark Comer cannot be more right. Whether it's our willpower, our knowledge, or counting on a sudden zap from God, we need something more, something better, something of heaven.

The sermon today is titled "Three Losing Strategies." This sermon is the fourteenth installment in our series "Follow Me," and is the third in the sub-series "More Like Jesus." The Scripture reading is from Colossians 2:20-23 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on June 8, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Formation.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way.
• Acorn analogy borrowed from Tim Keller.
• The "Just Try Harder Heresy" line taken from Monte Cox, former preaching minister for the Downtown Church of Christ (Searcy, AR).

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
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"There are no accidental saints. You can't just slip your hand up at the end of a sermon. It's a high bar of entry: It will require you to reorder your entire life around following Jesus as your undisputed top priority, over your job, your money, your reputation - over everything. Yet all these things will find their rightful place once integrated into a life of apprenticeship.” -- John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way

The sermon today is titled "No Accidental Saints." This sermon is the thirteenth installment in our series "Follow Me," and is the second in the sub-series "More Like Jesus." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on June 1, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Formation.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way.
• David Brooks, The Road To Character.
• Sports stories taken from here.
• Matthew Crowe, "No Accidental Saints." Sermon at the Goodman Oaks Church of Christ.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
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"A disciple is not above his teacher," said our master; "but everyone when he is fully trained will be LIKE his teacher" (Luke 6:40). In the past, we were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). In the present, we are being changed into His likeness by the Spirit (2 Cor 3:18). In the future, we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him in a fullness we can only dream of (1 John 3:2). In this podcast, we ask what it means to be "formed" into His likeness.

The sermon today is titled "Spiritual Formation." This sermon is the twelfth installment in our series "Follow Me," and is the first in the sub-series "More Like Jesus." The Scripture reading is from Luke 6:40 (ESV). Originally preached at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on May 25, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Formation.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way.
• James K. A. Smith, You Are What You Love.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
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In the book of Genesis, there are few things more powerful than the spoken blessing handed down from fathers to their sons. Offering a blessing became integral to life in Israel, and it continues to play an important role in equipping the next generation. Through giving our blessing, we confirm our commitment to raise our children in Christ, and clarify their own relationship to the Lord.

The sermon today is titled "Blessing Down." Originally preached as a Baby Blessing sermon at West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on May 18, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Families & Relationships.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• Trent & Smalley, The Blessing.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
• Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.
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