Life on the West Side

Beginning is tough. Kim Linehan was an American Olympic swimmer who, for 8 years, held the world record in the Women’s 1500-meter freestyle. Competing at 18 years of age, Kim would do endless exercises and swam 7 to 12 miles a day. But when she was asked “what is the hardest part of your regimen?” she gave this reply: “getting in the water.”

 Getting in the water. 

Beginning is tough. Starting over—beginning again—is harder still. If I couldn’t finish it the first time, why even try this time? One needs motivation to finish, and it just seem so lacking in situations like these.

But Paul writes to a struggling church from prison and shares this remarkably inspiring word: “I’m confident of this…that the same God who began a good work within you is going to carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

The sermon today is titled "New Beginnings." The Scripture reading is from Philippians 1:6. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 7, 2022. These lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed twice under Begin: A Faithful Presence & Begin: A Hopeful Renewal.

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

Links and Resources:

• This lesson was inspired by Billy Wilson's 2010 sermon titled "God Will Finish It."
• See the latest deep space images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

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.

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In partnership with:

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

What happens if you see Christ in your next door neighbor? That’s easy if your neighbor is like Kenneth—who was my next door neighbor for a few years. Kenneth would do anything for anyone. All he asked for was a coconut pie. When Jesus says "love God and love your neighbor," people assume that means love those who are really good to you. So Jesus clarifies: “I say unto you, love your enemies… If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much. If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that” (Matt 5:46 TLB). To really love your neighbor is to see Christ in your neighbor.

What if we look for Christ even in those people we can’t stand? C. S. Lewis once said, “Don’t waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”

Let me push a bit further. See Christ in that high school bully you can’t stand. See Christ in that job on the honey-do list you just don’t want to do. See Christ in the political party you think is barely American. See Christ in the boss you loathe, the father who never loved you, the Starbucks barista who never gets your name right, the person in the Ford F150 who cut you off without looking, and the little league coach who never plays your son enough.

What would we call it if we were able to see—truly see Christ in all? Well, we’d begin to understand what it means to love.

The sermon today is titled "Living Like Christ Is All." The Scripture reading is from Colossians 3:11. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 31, 2022.

These lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is the last in the 3-part series "Learning Christ," and is filed under Discover: A New Reality.

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.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter/tiktok)
• 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

Christianity is not self-help behavior modification. Telling ourselves “do it, do it, do it” when we look at virtue that we don’t really want, or “don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it” when we look at sin we really do want, won't lead to anything good. It doesn’t. It won’t work. It’s what Paul calls “will worship.” It is a spiritless gospel. It’s precisely what Paul is attacking in Galatians when he says “how can you who started with the Spirit, now proceed in the flesh?”

No. That’s the first point—what Christianity is not. It is not trying harder on my own power to fight against the evil desires I crave. Fixing my behavior will only come about when I attend to what I actually want.

And that leads me to my second point. What Christianity is about is a Spirit-directed change of what I truly want, so much so, that living like Christ, wanting the kingdom and nothing else, welcoming the fruit-of-the-spirit kind of life becomes second nature. What we need isn’t a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” so I can be like Christ. What we need is the mind of Christ.

The sermon today is titled "Having The Mind Of Christ." The Scripture reading is from Philippians 2:1-5. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 24, 2022.

These lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is the 2nd in the 3-part series "Learning Christ," and is filed under Discover: A New Reality.

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.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter/tiktok)
• 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

Whether you are using the KJV, NKJV, ESV, or NRSV, the line is virtually the same: “But you didn’t learn Christ that way" (Eph 4:20). It doesn’t say “you didn’t learn about Christ,” as if he is the subject and we gain information about him.

No, just as the thirsty hiker learns the refreshing nature of a drink of water, just as the Olympian learns victory the moment she crosses the finish line and looks up at her score, you, believers, learn Christ: a new way of seeing the world, a gush of refreshment and a new lifestyle of habits that re-orient your life.

If you have an NIV, the verse is actually translated that way: instead of “you didn’t learn Christ that way,” it translates “but that is not the way of life you learned.” 

When you learn Christ, says Paul, nothing about that old way of life fits within the vision you now see before you, so it all has to go. Just as you are a new creation, behold everything becomes new, as God moves inside, reworking the gears, rewiring the senses, replenishing your soul, and renewing your mind, and your life becomes radically different as God, through His spirit, “reproduces his own character in you" (MSG). 

The sermon today is titled "Learning Christ." The Scripture reading is from Ephesians 4:20-21. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 17, 2022.

These lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is in the series "Learning Christ," and is filed under Discover: A New Reality.

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.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter/tiktok)
• 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

She reframed his mistake.   Oh, I wish I could do that for you…and wish you could do that for others. How often do we yearn for someone to see value in us when we don’t perform well. The good news...is that Jesus does!

You see, it’s hard to believe, but even church folk tend to believe the lie that our world is pumping into our ears every day.  If you want to be accepted, if you want to be loved, try harder to perform better.  Make yourself more beautiful, then they’ll love you. Make yourself taller, with insoles for your shoes or heels for your feet.  Make yourself thinner, maybe even anemic, then you’ll win their hearts.  Make yourself look younger, with the hair dyes and the sneakers, and the sports car and the exercise room.  If you make yourself look younger, then you will be accepted.  Make yourself smarter by reading more books—then people will listen to you, and when they listen to you, then you can feel important.

Younger, thinner, taller, prettier, smarter, tougher, calmer, richer – take your pick.  The Grace of God in the face of Christ tells us—that’s not needed. My grace is sufficient. I chose you…because I love you.

Your importance is rooted in the love of God. Your identity is found in the grace of God. And your security is found in the arms of God. 

The sermon today is titled "Amazing Grace." The Scripture reading is from Ephesians 2:8-10. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on May 1, 2022.

These lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Begin: A Gracious Gospel.

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.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter/tiktok)
• 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

Paul determined to know nothing among his audience except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And so, Lord willing, I too will preach Christ crucified. You see, I believe heaven touched earth in the person of Jesus Christ. I believe the powers of darkness were lassoed at the cross. I believe Satan and all of his minions laugh at our perceived success stories; they rejoice when we focus only on our issues.

But the demons shudder, and the heaven’s quake, and the angels sing for joy and my Father is glorified when we preach Christ crucified. Because he said if I—when I am lifted up out of the earth—I will draw all people to myself. A church can use all of their time and energy putting together a smooth-running & fine-sounding service. A preacher can offer a packaged gospel that includes 5 steps to a happier marriage, a higher bank account, and a healthier you. (And there’s a time and a place for all of that. We want better marriages, and how we handle our money is a matter of discipleship. The cross speaks to all of that).

But if Christ never came, never died, and never rose, there would still be 8 simple ways to be nicer to your wife than you were before.

We are in the demon-shuddering business! Every sermon is a wrestling match with the prince of the powers of the air, and when we preach Christ crucified, God is declared the winner every time.

My sermon today is titled "A Know Nothing Preacher." The Scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. This was my first sermon as the new preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas. The sermon was an attempt to introduce the central theme of all future sermons and the driving passion for all of my ministry. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 10, 2022.

My lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Serve: Announcing the Kingdom.

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.
• Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter/tiktok)
• 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

For the first time, Gallup shows less than 50% of Americans attend church. What does faith formation look like in an increasingly secular age?  In this thirteenth episode, we explore youth ministry and adult education for this place and time.

My guest today is Dr. Andrew Root. A professor at Luther Seminary, Andrew is an eclectic thinker and author. He has written several important works on the theology of youth ministry, a biography of Bonhoeffer, and even a book on dogs. Drawing on the philosophy of Charles Taylor, he recently completed a trilogy on "ministry in a secular age."

In this episode, we cover several interesting topics, including:

• This Secular Age: Defining Our Cultural Contemporary Moment (4:01)
• The End of Youth Ministry?  Not Programs, But Encounters With Jesus (7:30)
• Ministry is Ministry: Applying Root's Works To Adult Learners (12:55)
• Reimagining Youth Ministry In The Age of Helicopter Parents (18:24)
• Writing on Bonhoeffer (24:01)
• And lots, lots more!

Connect with our guest:

• Nathan's substack article featuring interview with Dr. Root.
• Dr. Root's website.
• Dr. Root's bio page at Luther Seminary.
• Buy the book: Faith Formation in a Secular Age

 If you want more tips and guidance, visit  us at avenueforfaith.org. Here you can sign up to our weekly substack email/newsletter,  sign up for a zoom class or an online ministry course, or download free curriculum.
 
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In partnership with:

• Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ
• Avenue for Faith
• Nathan's Weekly Substack
• The Teaching Guys

What tips and tricks do they teach about adult education in seminary?  In this twelfth episode, I sat down with a well-known author, professor, and practitioner for a wide-ranging discussion about educational ministry.

My guest today is Dr. George Hillman, Jr. For 19 years, Dr. Hillman has served at Dallas Theological Seminary in a variety of roles, including department chair for Educational Ministries and Leadership and Vice President for Education. Dr. Hillman is also a co-author of the textbook Invitation to Educational Ministry: Foundations for Transformative Christian Education (Kregel, 2018).

In this episode, we cover several interesting topics, including:

• Part 1: Andragogy: Teaching Adults with Felt Needs (2:33)
• Part 2: Organizational Culture & Delegation (8:09)
• Part 3: Leadership Development (19:22)
• Part 4: Mentoring & Discipleship (29:39)
• And lots, lots more!

Connect with our guest:

• Nathan's substack article feature the interview with Dr. Hillman
• Dr. Hillman's bio page at DTS
• Dr. Hillman's bio page at Frisco Bible Church
• Books by Dr. Hillman.

 If you want more tips and guidance, visit  us at avenueforfaith.org. Here you can sign up to our weekly substack email/newsletter,  sign up for a zoom class or an online ministry course, or download free curriculum.
 
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In partnership with:

• Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ
• Avenue for Faith
• Nathan's weekly Substack
• The Teaching Guys

When is a pandemic an opportunity? When it allows you to hit the "reset" button. In this eleventh episode, we acknowledge the importance of Bible classes, highlight the problem accelerated by the pandemic, and encourage churches to see this as an opportunity to restart, renew, and reorganize our adult education programs, bringing in fresh perspectives. We also put in a plug for teacher training.

My featured guests today are Dr. Keith Stanglin, Randy Harris, and Chad Landman. Keith and Randy have been guests on our show before. Chad Landman is the education minister for the Graymere Church of Christ in Columbia, Tennessee.

In this episode, we cover several interesting topics, including:

• Part 1: Affirming Adult Bible Classes as Central for Discipleship (1:13)
• Part 2: Identifying the Problem the Pandemic Only Accelerated (3:38)
• Part 3: Taking This Golden Opportunity to Hit the Reset Button(10:22)
• Part 4: Viewing Teacher Training as Needed...and Vital (19:22)
• And lots, lots more!

Connect with our guests:

• Nathan's substack article featuring the interview with Keith, Randy, and Chad
• Keith Stanglin's bio page at Lipscomb University--Austin campus
• Randy's bio at the Siburt Institute
• Chad Landman's personal webpage and church webpage

 If you want more tips and guidance, visit  us at avenueforfaith.org. Here you can sign up to our weekly substack email/newsletter,  sign up for a zoom class or an online ministry course, or download free curriculum.
 
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In partnership with:

• Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ
• Avenue for Faith
• Nathan's weekly Substack
• The Teaching Guys

What does it look like to "live out" the lessons we teach in our classes? What if our groups were covenant groups, committed to doing just that? In this tenth episode, we look at the importance of weekly expectations, follow up, follow through, and communal commitment.

My featured guest today is Randy Harris. For 32 years, Randy taught Bible, theology, philosophy and ethics, first at Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) then at Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX). He says that, if he had to do it over again, he would have "invested more in fewer," illustrating the importance of personal relationships in ministry. His book Living Jesus charts out how a covenant group can commit to living out the Sermon on the Mount on a daily and weekly basis.

In this episode, we cover several interesting topics, including:

• What if Bible Classes Became Communities of Practice? (1:34)
• Offering A Lab Component To Your Teaching (8:38)
• Good Content or Good Connection? (11:23)
• Covenant Groups and the Problem With Our Small Groups (16:13)
• What to Leave Your Sunday Morning Class With (18:44)
• And lots, lots more!

References Made in the Podcast

• Mark Scandrette, Practicing the Way of Jesus

Connect with Randy:

• Nathan's substack article featuring the interview with Randy
• Randy's bio at the Siburt Institute
• The story of Randy's retirement
• Randy's book Living Jesus: Doing What Jesus Says in the Sermon on the Mount
• Reading with Randy

 And if you want more tips and guidance, visit  us at avenueforfaith.org. Here you can sign up to our weekly substack email/newsletter,  sign up for a zoom class or an online ministry course, or download free curriculum.
 
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In partnership with:

• Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ
• Avenue for Faith
• Nathan's weekly Substack
• The Teaching Guys