Life on the West Side

Tell the truth. Even when it hurts. Jesus' case against verbal manipulation.

The sermon today is titled "To Tell The Truth." It is the seventh installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:31-37 (ESV). 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 DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

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

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" podcast discussion of this sermon.

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

• Immanuel Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals.
• Os Guinness, “True Truth.”
• The Brady Bunch, Season 3, Episode 4: “The Wheeler Dealer.”
• Ralph Keyes, The Post-Truth Era (NY: St Martin’s Press, 2004).
• Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy.

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.

Sometimes, when it comes to lust, we just need to change trains.

The sermon today is titled "Wanderlust." It is the sixth installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV). 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 DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

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

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" podcast discussion of this sermon.

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

• Peter Yonker, “Going Deeper: Even If You Look,” Sermon preached at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church (Jan 17, 2021).
• Sam Wells, “Three Solutions To Adultery,” Sermon preached at Duke University Chapel (July 30, 2006). 
• Craig Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary.
• Mark Regenerus and Jeremy Uecker, Premarital Sex In America: How Young Americans Meet, Mate, and Think About Marrying (Oxford: OUP, 2011).
• C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
• Rebecca DeYoung, Glittering Vices (2nd edition).
• Madeleine L’Engle, “To a Long Loved Love: 7,” in The Ordering of Love: New and Collected Poems of Madeleine L’Engle (Colorado Springs: Shaw Books/Waterbrook, 2005), 138. 
• Tim Keller, “Love & Lust,” Sermon preached at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

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.

What are we to do with anger? Find out with our guest speaker, Casey McDonald!

The sermon today is titled "The Antidote To Anger." It is the fifth installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:21-26 (ESV). Originally preached by Casey McDonald at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 17, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" podcast discussion of this sermon.

Our Guest Speaker

Casey McDonald serves as Associate Minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas. Casey earned his BA (Harding), MDiv (Harding School of Theology), and is nearing completion of his doctorate in Spiritual formation (Liberty University). It is great to have Casey join the podcast!

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 can you be more righteous than a Pharisee, without losing your mind? It's not what you think. It's more than you think. And it will change the way you think.

The sermon today is titled "Calling All Neurotics." It is the fourth installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:17-20 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 10, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

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

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" podcast discussion of this sermon.

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

• Commentaries on Matthew consulted for this lesson include the following:
  • Donald Senior (Abingdon)
  • Rodney Reeves (Story of God Bible Commentary)
  • Michael J. Wilkins (NIV Application Commentary)
  • Donald A. Hagner (Word)
  • Walter T. Wilsond (Eerdmans Critical Commentary)
  • John Nolland (NIGTC)
  • Stanley Hauerwas (Brazos Theological Commentary)
  • Craig S. Keener (Socio-Rhetorical Commentary)
  • Charles H. Talbert (Paideia NT Commentaries)
  • W. D. Davies & D. C. Allison (International Critical Commentary)
  • R. T. France (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)
  • Dale C. Allison, The Sermon on the Mount: Inspiring the Moral Imagination.
  • Daniel M. Doriani, The Sermon on the Mount: The Character of a Disciple.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship.
• Randy Harris, Living Jesus.
• Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy.
• Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing.
• Rick Atchley, “Get Off The Scales.” Sermon preached at the Richland Hills Church of Christ.
• Jim McGuiggan, “Jesus is the Interpreter.” A Light in the Darkness podcast, Episode 25.

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.

You "are" salt and light. All the time. Rain or shine. The only question is this: will you allow your actions to reveal the reign of God?

The sermon today is titled "Reign or Shine." It is the third installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 3, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

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

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" podcast discussion of this sermon.

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

• Commentaries consulted for this lesson include the following:
  • Donald Senior (Abingdon)
  • Rodney Reeves (Story of God Bible Commentary)
  • Michael J. Wilkins (NIV Application Commentary)
  • Donald A. Hagner (Word)
  • Walter T. Wilsond (Eerdmans Critical Commentary)
  • John Nolland (NIGTC)
  • Stanley Hauerwas (Brazos Theological Commentary)
  • Craig S. Keener (Socio-Rhetorical Commentary)
  • Charles H. Talbert (Paideia NT Commentaries)
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship.
• Randy Harris, Living Jesus.
• Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing.
• Mike Cope, "Light and Salty." Righteousness Inside-Out Sermon Series. College Church of Christ (Searcy), 1986. Audio recording.

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.

This isn't my best life; but it is my blessed life. If your "best" life still awaits, how can you experience a "blessed" life even in the midst of trials and pain? Jesus shows us promises to accept, portraits to be admired, and pathways to be attempted as we walk hand-in-hand with the Blessed one, Jesus Christ.

The sermon today is titled "Your Blessed Life Now." It is the second installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:3-12 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 27, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

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

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" podcast discussion of this sermon.

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

• John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1754).
• “Ronald MacDonald charged with stealing from Wendy’s in Manchester,” Foster’s Daily Democrat, Nov 28, 2005.
• Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing.
• Skip Heitzig, “Stranger Things–Matthew 5:1-12,” Calvary Church.
• Revd Dr Sam Wells, “Dwelling in the Comma,” a sermon preached in Duke University Chapel on Jan 30, 2011.
• Randy Harris, Living Jesus: Doing What Jesus Says in the Sermon on the Mount (2012).
• Brian P. Stoffregen, “The History of the Word ‘Makarios’ (Blessed),” Crossmark Christian Resources.
• Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God.
• Ambrose, Treatise on the Gospel of St. Luke 52.1-2.
• Gregory of Nyssa, Homilies on the Beatitudes 21.
• John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew 15.9.
• Augustine, Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 1.4.11-12.
• Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew, p.150.

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 (

See the Sermon on the Mount as an invitation to find new things to love, and a new community that shares our new loves. This fall, let’s sit at the feet of the master teacher as we learn together what it means to live the good life.

The sermon today is titled "The School of Christ." It is the first installment in our series "One Sermon That Changed The World." The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:1-2 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 20, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Lifestyle.

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

Click here if you would like to download "Living the Sermon on the Mount," a free teachers guide and workbook resource for class and small groups.

Click here for the "Outside the Walls" Podcast discussion of this sermon.

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

• One teacher in Abilene: Randy Harris.
• David Brooks, The Road To Character.
• Robert Louis Wilkin, The Spirit of Early Christian Thought.
• Evan Andrews, “Did a premature obituary inspire the Nobel prize?” History Channel. July 23, 2020.
• Ronald J. Allen, “The Surprising Blessing of the Beatitudes.”
• Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing.
• Servais Pinckaers, The Sources of Christian Ethics.
• William C. Mattison III, The Sermon on the Mount and Moral Theology.
• John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount.
• Dallas Willard quote found here. See his book The Divine Conspiracy.

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/

Everyone I know longs for genuine happiness, lasting peace, real beauty, ultimate purpose, and honest, sincere and overwhelming love. I want you to know that Jesus came so that you can experience rich, abundant life and overwhelming love!

Join me, Nathan Guy, preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, as I share my passion for Jesus Christ in weekly teachings, conduct exciting interviews with other ministers, authors and church leaders, and discuss things learned along the way.

Each episode will offer a recent sermon or interview with inspiring guests intended to encourage you in your faith formation as disciples of Jesus Christ.

In addition, I will link to further resources such as a discussion guide, points to ponder, and recommended resources.  Be sure to visit the companion substack site.

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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In partnership with:

• West Side Church of Christ
• Life on the West Side: Nathan's Weekly 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.

Hear every book of the Bible retold through the lens of the gospel.

 The sermon today is titled "The Gospel In Zechariah and Malachi." It is the twenty-ninth installment in our "The Gospel In Every Story" Series.  Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 13, 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.

·       Christopher J. H. Wright, The Old Testament In Seven Sentences.

·       Christopher J. H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament.

·       H. H. Drake Williams III, Making Sense of the Bible.

·       N. T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God.

·      The Bible Project summaries of books.

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.

Hear every book of the Bible retold through the lens of the gospel.

 The sermon today is titled "The Gospel In Zephaniah and Haggai." It is the twenty-eighth installment in our "The Gospel In Every Story" Series.  Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 6, 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.

·       Christopher J. H. Wright, The Old Testament In Seven Sentences.

·       Christopher J. H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament.

·       H. H. Drake Williams III, Making Sense of the Bible.

·       N. T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God.

·      The Bible Project summaries of books.

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.