As we continue in our series, "Eating Humble Pie...And Liking It??", we will be looking at Josiah, king of Israel. As a very young leader, he experiences some very surprising twists and turns. He wants God's people to worship rightly. They discover a lost scroll of God's commands. He is humbled as a leader for the sins of his people. He seeks God's will and direction to do the right thing. Josiah was one of the most faithful kings in the history of Israel, and God was pleased with his humility. But despite Josiah's zeal and faithfulness for God, he was unable to rescue his people from the consequences of their disobedience to God. Israel needed an even greater, even more faithful King who could reach the hearts of his people. Who might that be? Come and see.

This Sunday we continue in our new series "Eating Humble Pie...And Liking It??" We will look at another Psalm of David confessing his wrong to the Lord. This song takes us really deep into the tragic story of David's sin. David acknowledges that there are at least 4 levels to his wrongdoing. He also believes God is good enough to handle the mess that is his life. If sin runs deep in our lives, can God's grace go deeper? Is God's grace big enough for David's shattered image? Yes. Repentance is about a big grace for big sinners. Grace always flows downhill into the lives of those who need it. There's plenty for you and I this Sunday.

This week we begin and all new teaching series entitled "Eating Humble Pie...and Liking It?" Many Christians observe the 40 days before Easter as the season of Lent. It is a time of reflection and humbling. Some Christians fast or deny themselves in order to connect with God. We will be learning about repentance, the act of coming clean before God and in some cases within Christian community. Repentance is a gift which God has given us so that we may be able to enjoy him more and feel closer connected with him. David models this for us in Psalm 32. We will see that there is a position to enjoy, a condition to avoid, a step to take and a relationship to cherish. Admission, humility and honesty are not highly valued in many segments of our society. But they are essential for healthy personal relationships, especially our relationship with God. That's why humble pie tastes so good for people of faith.

This week, we will think about what it means to BLESS our friends and neighbors. What does it truly mean to bless someone? Dave & Jon Ferguson wrote their book B.L.E.S.S. in order to help the people in their church learn how to love their neighbor and change the world. I want to share with you a summary of their teaching which is really profound. West Church is really good at supporting our missions partners. They come telling us such compelling stories of their experience reaching new people for Jesus. B.L.E.S.S. is one way you and I can live on mission right in our neighborhood or circle of influence. It is practical, achievable and inspiring. If you want to be a blessing, you won't want to miss this Sunday.

This Sunday we will conclude our series "The Way of Jesus" on the sermon on the mount. Jesus is really driving home the point of how important it is for each of us who receive his teachings to respond and embrace them. It's such a powerful conclusion that everyone listening was uniquely impressed by the authority of Jesus. This passage often scares people because you have people who call Jesus "Lord, Lord" and he tells them to depart because he never knew them, even people who did a lot of meaningful actions in his name. We'll talk about what is going on there. Then Jesus tells the story of a house that collapses in a storm and a house that stands. The house that stands is the person who built their life on Jesus. Both of these famous sayings of Jesus are designed to strengthen and encourage us. Expect to receive that this Sunday.

As our series on "The Way of Jesus" draws to a close, we find Jesus essentially telling us "it's my way or the highway." This would seem almost arrogant if his way wasn't so good and if his way didn't arrive at "LIFE," the Kingdom of the Father. So he presses us to find his way. He presses us not to follow leaders who would stray from the way. He presses us using four different powerful images about the benefit of his way and the folly of any other way. Will we who hear him today, choose his way, stay on his way and arrive at the destination his way brings us? It is an important decision, that we will need to make again and again along our journey with Him. The consequences are ultimate. .

We are approaching the end of the Sermon on the Mount series entitled "The Way of Jesus." A few more weeks to go. To be a disciple of Jesus is a very high calling. His teachings stretch us way beyond our natural ability to be "good people." Some have even said that the Way of Jesus is impossible, an unachievable ideal from another world. Actually, they would be right to an extent. But this Sunday we see how the impossible becomes possible for the children of the Father. We can ask, seek and knock. When we do, we receive, find and have doors opened for us. That's the kind of Father we have, a really good one who invites us to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Is that even possible? Only for children of the Father.

Many today would probably count being judgmental among one of the worst vices of our society. As we continue our series "The Way of Jesus" he addresses making judgements about people. No one likes to be judged. Jesus tells us to avoid it. Only God is a perfect judge, the rest of us...not so much. Sometimes judgement can't be avoided. We think we may need to share a judgement with someone. In those cases, Jesus tells us how to prepare. Jesus also knew that not everyone would welcome our input. They certainly did not all respond well to him. He has some pithy counsel for that scenario is well. How do apprentices of Jesus avoid or do judgement well?