Life on the West Side

Smartphones. Social media. Online living. It’s ubiquitous. It’s the new norm. And, at an alarming rate, it’s harming us. We need to examine the power of presence, shaping our space and managing our time for real encounters over unhealthy habits.

The sermon today is titled "Dying To Self(ies)." It is the second installment in our series "Jesus At Home: Parenting In His Presence." The Scripture reading is from Romans 13:14 (NLT). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on Sunday, May 19, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, 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.

Sources of Inspiration for the Lesson Used in Today's Podcast:

•  Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (New York: Penguin Press, 2024).
• Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place (Baker Books, 2017).
• Edward Tronick, et.al., “The Infant’s Response to Entrapment Between Contradictory Messages in Face-To-Face Interaction,” Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry 17, no. 1 (Winter 1978): 1-13.
• Andy Crouch, The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World (Convergent, 2022).
• Heather Cadenhead, “Why I Quit Social Media for Good,” Rabbit Room (May 3, 2024).
• Greg Jackson, “Within the Pretense of No Pretense,” The Point Magazine, Issue 31 (Dec 17, 2023).
• Isabel Fattal, “How Being Busy Became A Status Symbol,” The Atlantic (April 19, 2024).
• Grayson P. Walker, “Rooted Lives or Activist Lifestyles?” Front Porch Republic (Feb 23, 2024).
• Jon D. Schaff, “Public Enemy #1: Smartphones and a Generation at Risk,” Front Porch Republic (April 3, 2024).
• Emily Brown, “Sixty Percent of Gen Z Says They’re Lonely,” Relevant (April 1, 2024).
• "Are Smart Phones Ruining Our Culture?" Current Magazine.
• "How Technology Works on Us." Current Magazine.
• “Parents have a problem with screentime too, teens say,” Washington Post.
• “The Good Failures of Unplugging.” Current Magazine.
• Brad East, “All together now: Social media is bad for reading,” BradEast.com (March 16, 2024).

Let’s hear it for the moms! In a culture that increasingly devalues children, mothers are actively involved in a counter – cultural revolution. And in the kingdom of God, says the Apostle Paul in Romans 16, there are communities of faithful people to nurture and provide for our children alongside ourselves. Hear a full-throated defense of motherhood, with a special word in praise of the mothering community we call the church.

The sermon today is titled "Defending Motherhood." It is the first installment in our series "Jesus At Home: Parenting In His Presence." The Scripture reading is from Romans 16:1-16 (esp v.13) (ESV) . Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on Mother's Day Sunday, May 12, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, 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.

Sources of Inspiration for the Lesson Used in Today's Podcast:

• Stephanie H. Murray, “The Parenting Problem The Government Can’t Fix,” The Week (Oct 25, 2021). 
• Jaime Ducharme, “Why So Many Women Are Having Kids Later,” Time (April 10, 2024).
• Mary Ellen Mitchell, “Are Children A Good Idea?” Comment (March 21, 2024).
• Mary Harrington, “Normophobia,” First Things (April 2024).
• Mary Harrington, “When Feminism Was Sexist,” The American Conservative (May 5, 2024).
• Katherine Schaeffer & Carolina Aragao, “Key Facts About Moms in the US,” Pew Research Center (May 9, 2023).
• Consuelo Corrardi, “Motherhood and the Contradictions of Feminism,” Current Sociology, Vol 69/No.2 (Dec 11, 2020).
• Vicki Larsen, “Why It’s OK If Mom’s ‘Abandon’ Their Kids,” Huffington Post (May 13, 2015).
• Kimberley Wagner, “Redefining Motherhood,” Revive Our Hearts Blog, March 17, 2011
• Peter Marshall, “Keeper of the Spring.”

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance.

The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and through the Messiah.

In this episode, we return to a series that began in season 2. Hear every book of the Bible retold through the lens of the gospel.

 The sermon today is titled "The Gospel In 2 Corinthians." It is the thirty-seventh installment in our "The Gospel In Every Story" Series.  Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on October 15, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Learn: Christian Scripture.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or get the discussion notes.

 Click here if you would like to access the entire "Gospel in Every Story" series.

 
Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

·       I was inspired to do this series by reading Tim Keller, Center Church. Little did I know he would wind up doing a video series covering the same material at the same time (until his untimely death).

·       Michael Williams, How To Read The Bible Through The Jesus Lens, served as the first and most basic resource. I used his key texts and hook questions, and often found his short summary of the books to be inspirational.

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance.

The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and through the Messiah.

In this episode, we return to a series that began in season 2. Hear every book of the Bible retold through the lens of the gospel.

 The sermon today is titled "The Gospel In 1 Corinthians." It is the thirty-sixth installment in our "The Gospel In Every Story" Series.  Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on October 8, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Learn: Christian Scripture.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or get the discussion notes.

 Click here if you would like to access the entire "Gospel in Every Story" series.

 
Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

·       I was inspired to do this series by reading Tim Keller, Center Church. Little did I know he would wind up doing a video series covering the same material at the same time (until his untimely death).

·       Michael Williams, How To Read The Bible Through The Jesus Lens, served as the first and most basic resource. I used his key texts and hook questions, and often found his short summary of the books to be inspirational.

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance.

The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and through the Messiah.

In this episode, we return to a series that began in season 2. Hear every book of the Bible retold through the lens of the gospel.

 The sermon today is titled "The Gospel In Romans." It is the thirty-fifth installment in our "The Gospel In Every Story" Series.  Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on October 1, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Learn: Christian Scripture.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or get the discussion notes.

 Click here if you would like to access the entire "Gospel in Every Story" series.

 
Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

·       I was inspired to do this series by reading Tim Keller, Center Church. Little did I know he would wind up doing a video series covering the same material at the same time (until his untimely death).

·       Michael Williams, How To Read The Bible Through The Jesus Lens, served as the first and most basic resource. I used his key texts and hook questions, and often found his short summary of the books to be inspirational.

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

How should you view your baptism, and the baptism of others? Rest assured there is one uniting baptism, and we have come through the flood together. Let us act like it.

The sermon today is titled "In This Together." It is the final installment in our series "Washed Anew: The Power & Promise of Baptism." The Scripture reading is from Ephesians 4:1-6 & 1 Peter 3:20-21 (NCV) . Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on Sunday, May 5, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Joyful Response.

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

Sources of Inspiration for the Lesson Used in Today's Podcast:

• At the beginning, the church watched this video of an eager child baptizing himself.
• Peter Leithart, Baptism: A Guide From Life To Death (Lexham Press).
• Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church.
• Rick Atchley, “What Is The Big Deal About Baptism? (Part 2)”
• G. R. Beasley-Murray, Baptism in the New Testament (1962)
• David Wenham, “Paradigms and Possibilities in the Study of John’s Gospel,” Challenging Perspectives on the Gospel of John, ed. John Lierman, Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2, Reihe 219 (Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006), pp. 8-9.
• Francis Chan, “Is Baptism Required To be Saved?” Sermon.
• World Council of Churches. “Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry.” (1982)
• James A. Harding, “What a Brother Editor Thinks, With Some Comments Thereon,” The Way 2 (July 1900): p. 98

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Why should you be baptized? To respond to the gospel call of Jesus as your brothers and sisters have in the stream of church history, as the book of Acts indicates.

The sermon today is titled "Swim With The Stream." It is the third installment in our series "Washed Anew: The Power & Promise of Baptism." The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:36-41 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on Sunday, April 28, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Joyful Response.

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

Sources of Inspiration for the Lesson Used in Today's Podcast:

• Peter Leithart, Baptism: A Guide From Life To Death (Lexham Press).
• G. R. Beasley-Murray, Baptism in the New Testament (1962)
• Charalambos Bakirtzis, “Paul and Philippi: The Archaeological Evidence,” in Philippi at the Time of Paul and after His Death.
• Craig Keener, Acts, Volume 1.
• H. Wayne House, “An Evangelical Response to Baird & Weatherly,” in Evangelicalism and the Stone-Campbell Movement, p. 188.
• Robert H. Stein, “Baptism and Becoming a Christian in the New Testament,” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 2.1. (1998), pp. 6-17.
• I. Howard Marshall, Acts, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.
• Joel B. Green, “From ‘John’s Baptism’ to ‘Baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus’: The Significance of Baptism in Luke-Acts,” in Baptism, the New Testament and the Church: Historical and Contemporary Studies in Honour of R. E. O. White, p. 161.
• E. O. White, The Biblical Doctrine of Initiation (London: Hodder & Stoughton), 1960.
• M. J. Walker, “Baptist Worship in the Twentieth Century,” in Baptists in the Twentieth Century, ed. K. W. Clements (London: Baptist Histoical Society, 1983), pp. 24-25.
• David Wenham, “Paradigms and Possibilities in the Study of John’s Gospel,” Challenging Perspectives on the Gospel of John, ed. John Lierman,  pp. 8-9.
• Robert H. Stein, “Baptism and Becoming A Christian in the New Testament,” The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 2/1 (Spring 1998): 6-17.
• William S. Kurz, Acts of the Apostles

Why should you be baptized? Because of the depth and the riches of blessings associated with it, experiencing your wedding ceremony to Christ, as taught by the Apostle Paul.

The sermon today is titled "Jump In The Deep End." It is the second installment in our series "Washed Anew: The Power & Promise of Baptism." The Scripture reading is from Romans 6:1-8 (NCV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on Sunday, April 21, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Joyful Response.

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

Sources of Inspiration for the Lesson Used in Today's Podcast:

• Peter Leithart, Baptism: A Guide From Life To Death (Lexham Press).
• Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church.
• Rick Atchley, “What Is The Big Deal About Baptism? (Part 2)”
• G. R. Beasley-Murray, Baptism in the New Testament (1962)
• N. T. Wright, “Baptism” (Asbury chapel video)
• David Wenham, “Paradigms and Possibilities” in Challenging Perspectives on the Gospel of John (Mohr Siebeck)
• LaGard Smith, Baptism: The Believer’s Wedding Ceremony.

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

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Why should you be baptized? Because our Lord and Savior invites us. It is a Christ-imitating, Christ-affirming, Christ-commanded invitation. The Spirit and the bride say "Come."

The sermon today is titled "Come To The Water." It is the first installment in our series "Washed Anew: The Power & Promise of Baptism." The Scripture reading is from 2 Kings 5:1-14 & Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on Sunday, April 14, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Joyful Response.

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

Sources of Inspiration for the Lesson Used in Today's Podcast:

• Peter Leithart, Baptism: A Guide From Life To Death (Lexham Press).
• Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church.
• Martin Luther, “To Jordan Came Our Lord, Jesus Christ” (1541)
• Rick Atchley, “What Is The Big Deal About Baptism?” (Part 1)
• Pseudo-Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany 7.
• Rich Lusk, “Baptismal Efficacy & The Reformed Tradition” (2002).
• Joseph Mangina, Revelation (Brazos Theological Commentaries on the Bible)
• Peter Williamson, Revelation (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture)

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance.

The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and through the Messiah.

In this episode, we return to a series that began in season 2. Hear every book of the Bible retold through the lens of the gospel.

 The sermon today is titled "The Gospel In Acts." It is the thirty-fourth installment in our "The Gospel In Every Story" Series.  Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 24, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Learn: Christian Scripture.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or get the discussion notes.

 Click here if you would like to access the entire "Gospel in Every Story" series.

 
Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

·       I was inspired to do this series by reading Tim Keller, Center Church. Little did I know he would wind up doing a video series covering the same material at the same time (until his untimely death).

·       Michael Williams, How To Read The Bible Through The Jesus Lens, served as the first and most basic resource. I used his key texts and hook questions, and often found his short summary of the books to be inspirational.

·      I am indebted to Dr. Scott Adair of Harding University for his research and help.

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 and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.