Life on the West Side

Don't you love a good story? There is a story to end all stories. One of a knight, a dragon, and a damsel in distress. This is the tale of the Dragon Slayer.

The sermon today is titled "The Grand Story." It is the final installment in our "Christmas Presence" Series. The Scripture reading is from Matthew 1:23 and Revelation 12:1-11. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 18, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Begin: A Loving Christ.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon and get the discussion guide.

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

• C. S. Lewis' conversation with J. R. R. Tolkien is recounted here.
• The Andy Griffith show referenced is "Manhunt" (Season 1 Episode 2).

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In our world we see light and we see darkness. Without God’s presence, this world is a cold, dark, scary place, unsafe and unfit for image-bearers of God. But with God’s ever abiding presence, says Dallas Willard, “this present world is a perfectly safe place for us to be.” He won’t forget you. He won’t abandon you. And Matthew’s genealogy gives us several reasons to hope that God is with us in the darkness, so we have no reason to fear.

The sermon today is titled "Fear No Evil." It is the second installment in our "Christmas Presence" Series. The Scripture reading is from Matthew 1:23. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 11, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Begin: A Loving Christ.

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

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

• Stanley Hauerwas' Brazos commentary on Matthew
• Davies & Allison's ICC commentary on Matthew
• The MLK story is borrowed from Sky Jethani's book With.

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
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Presence. It's the thing we remember years after the funeral. It's the thing we hope for when we receive the worst call of our life.

Technology has given us some incredible things. You can now Facetime with Grandma and send mail electronically that will get to its destination in a matter of milliseconds rather than days. But no matter what devices we employ, or commodity we consume, some things you just can’t phone in. Bodies sharing life together is what presence truly means. And it’s why He came. 

The sermon today is titled "God With Us." It is the first installment in our "Christmas Presence" Series. The Scripture reading is from Matthew 1:23. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 4, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Begin: A Loving Christ.

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

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

• For more on the importance of presence, see Andy Crouch, The Life We're Looking For.
• Mukesh Gupta, "The Difficulty of Being in the Present Moment and Strategies to Overcome It" at rmukeshgupta.com. See also his book Thrive.
• Woody Allen quote: "80% of success in life is showing up."
• Zephaniah 3:17 as pointing to the "womb" of Israel: see Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives. Ratzinger cites Laurentin.
• Phillip Brooks, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
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For 3 years, I served as President of my Alma Mater Mars Hill Bible School--a Christian academy in Florence, Alabama, with roots stretching back over 150 years. The founder, T. B. Larimore, was a beloved minister with a unique talent for rising above issues that were dividing the American Restoration Movement in the late 19th century, seeking to root his Christian identity and plead for Christian unity in the fertile soil of Jesus Christ alone. In 2021, I delivered three lectures on Larimore's approach to Christian identity. This is the final of three.

“When my final farewell to the world I have said, no one shall truthfully say, ‘By his death I have lost an enemy’; but be it carefully cut … on the cold white stone that may cast its shadow on my lonely, gloomy grave, ‘THE WORLD HAS LOST A FRIEND.’” — T. B. Larimore (1888)

The lecture today is titled "T. B. Larimore & Christian Identity 3: Respecting Conscience, United By Love." Originally delivered at the Harding University Lectureship on September 27, 2021. This talk later became a chapter in my book The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace & Truth (Revised edition, 2021).

Click here to receive contact information if you would like to receive a copy of my book The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace & Truth. Free with a donation to Mars Hill Bible School.

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I'd love to connect with you!

• Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
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For 3 years, I served as President of my Alma Mater Mars Hill Bible School--a Christian academy in Florence, Alabama, with roots stretching back over 150 years. The founder, T. B. Larimore, was a beloved minister with a unique talent for rising above issues that were dividing the American Restoration Movement in the late 19th century, seeking to root his Christian identity and plead for Christian unity in the fertile soil of Jesus Christ alone. In 2021, I delivered three lectures on Larimore's approach to Christian identity. This is the second of three.

“I belong to the church of Christ; not a branch or wing of it, or a party in it; but to the church itself. I propose to never stand identified with one special wing, branch or party of the church.” – T.B. Larimore (1889)

The lecture today is titled "T. B. Larimore & Christian Identity 2: Identified By Christ." Originally delivered at the Harding University Lectureship on September 27, 2021. This talk later became a chapter in my book The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace & Truth (Revised edition, 2021).

Click here to receive contact information if you would like to receive a copy of my book The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace & Truth. Free with a donation to Mars Hill Bible School.

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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/tiktok)
• Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

For 3 years, I served as President of my Alma Mater Mars Hill Bible School--a Christian academy in Florence, Alabama, with roots stretching back over 150 years. The founder, T. B. Larimore, was a beloved minister with a unique talent for rising above issues that were dividing the American Restoration Movement in the late 19th century, seeking to root his Christian identity and plead for Christian unity in the fertile soil of Jesus Christ alone. In 2021, I delivered three lectures on Larimore's approach to Christian identity. This is the first of three.

“[P]lease let us clearly understand … that EVERY sentence, sentiment and syllable shall be written in kindness, courtesy and love: our ONLY aim and motive being TO DO GOOD.” — T. B. Larimore (1897)

The lecture today is titled "T. B. Larimore & Christian Identity 1: Identified By Character." Originally delivered at the Harding University Lectureship on September 27, 2021. This talk later became a chapter in my book The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace & Truth (Revised edition, 2021).

Click here to receive contact information if you would like to receive a copy of my book The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace & Truth. Free with a donation to Mars Hill Bible School.

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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/tiktok)
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We are maxed-out on credit cards, increasing our anxiety meds, and headed to marriage counseling because of money stress. All while making more money than most people in the world. And we don’t think we have a problem. In the words of Tim Keller, money blindness leads to money sickness.

 But giving offers a blessing.

The lecture today is titled "God and Money." The key passage is Luke 12:13-21.  Originally delivered at the Harding University Lectureship on September 27, 2022. A shorter and revised version entitled "The Gift and the Giver" was preached at the West Side Church of Christ on November 20, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Grow: Relinquishing Our Idols.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript of the shortened, revised version of this lesson titled "The Gift and the Giver."

References & Resources:

• Timothy Keller, "Money." Sermon preached at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (March 9, 2003). Gospel In Life Podcast (July 2021).
• "Follow the Money": See Wikipedia entry.
• Juliet Schor, The Overspent American.  Correction: 1/3rd of households making $100K or more a year feel they can’t afford to buy everything they really need. Among those making $50K a year, 40% say the same thing. “Overall,” says Schor, “half the population of the richest country in the world say they cannot afford everything they really need.” 
• Average American charitable giving is 2%. Charitychoices.com.
• Samuel Wells, "Is There a Gospel for the Rich?" Sermon preached at Duke University Chapel (August 5, 2007).
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship.
• Stories of early Christian generosity: David Bentley Hart, Atheist Delusions.
• Dallas Willard, "Frugality & Poverty." Part 19 of 34. Fuller Theological Seminary Intensive Course.
• Clark Dickerson of Dickerson-Baaker Consulting.

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.
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It is easy to forget to show an attitude of gratitude. 9 of 10 healed lepers did. But Paul challenges the church in Philippi to focus on the positive, to push beyond distractions, and to find joy in all situations. The healed leper who returns to Jesus in Luke's gospel reminds us that a willingness to say thank you starts with a recognition of who we are without Christ, and what a difference He makes in our lives.

The sermon today is titled "I Am Thankful." The Scripture reading is from Philippians 1:3-5. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on November 20, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, 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.

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.
• 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

What am I looking for when reading the Bible? Daily Bible reading schedules go off the rails. What is the value in reading Leviticus? How do I know what to look for in Isaiah? What are the most important questions to be asking when I read 2 Corinthians? 

In this lesson, I argue that all of the Bible points to Jesus Christ. Find joy and passion in reading every text of Scripture through this lens: what can it tell me about the message about Christ?

The sermon today is titled "Studying the Bible to Know Jesus." The Scripture reading is from 2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:12-4:2. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on November 13, 2022. 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 read a transcript.

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.
• 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

Spiritual neurotics, find comfort in your Savior. Hear the sweet voice of Jesus say "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." Hear the words of the apostle whom Jesus loved as he writes "so that you may know that you have eternal life." Rest assured that not only in the space between prayers of confession, but at every moment of your walk as a struggling, imperfect, but trusting follower of Jesus, you have a righteousness that is not your own--but one given through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Sleep well knowing your father sees you not in your sin, but in your Savior. Yes, Virginia, you too can sing "Blessed Assurance." 

The sermon today is titled "Blessed Assurance." The Scripture reading is from 1 John 5:13. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on November 6, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Begin: A Peaceful Assurance.

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

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

• James A. Harding, "Three Lessons from the Book of Romans," in F. D. Srygley, Biographies and Sermons (1898; rep., Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1961), p. 247.
• R. L. Whiteside, "The Curse of the Law," Gospel Advocate 82 (Jan 18, 1940), p. 59.
• David Lipscomb, "Assurance of Pardon," Gospel Advocate 52 (Oct 27, 1910), p. 1184.

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.
• 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