West Church Peabody

This Sunday we look at one of the most vulnerable moments in Elijah’s life—right after his greatest victory. Exhausted, afraid, and convinced he’s a failure, Elijah runs into the wilderness believing he’s alone and beyond help. His story exposes how shame twists our limitations into accusations and how isolation, resentment, and self‑pity can pull even the strongest believers into dark places. But it also reminds us that being human means having limits, and those limits are not signs of God’s absence. At Horeb, God meets Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper—showing that we need an unlimited God far more than we need unlimited strength. We’ll explore how God restores us through His presence, His people, and His purposes, and how Romans 11 echoes the same truth: God never abandons His own. If you’ve ever felt worn out, “not enough,” or unsure of your place, this message will help you see how dependence on God loosens shame’s grip and leads us toward hope and renewal.

As we think about "Rising from Shame" this week, we will look at the life of King Saul. He was anointed with high hopes as a King to rescue God's people. He was a valiant fighter, leading his nation to freedom from those who wanted to harm them. Yet his reign ends in shame. Why did he fall apart? The answer is not a single defining event as it was a series of escalating events that led him to his fall. When we fall short of what God expects of us (and all of us will), but we refuse to own it and admit it, we will journey from guilt to shame. When we are guilty of wrong, we can do something good about that. If we ignore it, it will take on a life of its own that drags us into self-defeating shame. Saul's life demonstrates this. How do we arrest our guilt and shame? How do we climb out of it and learn to move in a new direction? Let's find out together.

As we continue our series, "Rising from Shame," we will examine the life of Samson in the book of Judges. Here was a man that had so much going for him. But he was defeated by a divided heart. Whether or not we admit to battling a divided heart ourselves, we each know someone who has lost that battle. Shame always haunts those with a divided heart. It tells us we're helpless losers who will never change or get better. When someone is in that condition, they really need serious help. Where will help come from? What does help look like? when shame attacks our divided heart. Hebrews 11:24 gives us a clue. If you can read Judges 13-16 before Sunday, it would help. If you come looking for hope, God will show us where to find it.

In this message, we explore the painful reality of shame—especially the kind that comes from abuse—through the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, a woman used, mistreated, and caught in the fallout of Abraham and Sarah’s lack of trust in God, highlighting how abuse dehumanizes and leaves deep internal questions about worth, love, and God’s presence; drawing on insights about shame as the belief that “I am unworthy,” the message shows how people often cope by hiding, numbing pain, or seeking love in harmful ways, yet reminds us we were created for love and never stop needing it; in Hagar’s lowest moment—alone and fleeing in the wilderness—God meets her, calls her by name, listens to her story, and promises a future, revealing Himself as the God who both sees and hears, prompting Hagar to declare, “You are the God who sees me,” a powerful reminder that God’s attention is compassionate, not condemning; the sermon emphasizes that while escaping abuse is right and seeking help is essential, healing comes from knowing that God is present in our pain, cares about both our circumstances and our hearts, and can bring redemption even from the darkest experiences, shaping beauty, character, and purpose out of suffering; ultimately, it points to Jesus, who endured betrayal, injustice, and deep shame on the cross, so that those who have been hurt are not alone or forgotten but can find lasting freedom, love, and restoration in Him, with the assurance that their story is not defined by shame but by a God who sees, hears, and redeems.

How does shame get such a tight grip on our lives? This week we look at the story of Lot to see how shame begins, how it grows, and how God rescues us from it. Lot slowly drifted away from spiritual community—moving toward Sodom, into Sodom, and eventually becoming trapped in sin, compromise, and deep shame. He lost his moral footing and couldn’t free himself from the mess he was in. But God didn’t abandon him. Because of mercy and intercession, God pulled Lot out—and even through Lot’s broken family line came redemption. One of his descendants was Ruth the Moabitess, part of the family line of Jesus. That same hope is offered to us. Jesus takes our sin and shame, calls us righteous, and invites us into the light where honesty, support, and spiritual community help us heal. Shame loses its power when we stop hiding and let God and His people walk with us. Freedom is possible. God wants to help you rise from shame.

This episode examines Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15 and why the physical resurrection of Jesus is non‑negotiable for Christian belief. We look at how Greek philosophy influenced Corinth, how Scripture describes our future resurrected bodies, and why Paul insists that if Christ has not been raised, faith itself is empty. The episode reviews biblical evidence such as the empty tomb, women as eyewitnesses, the disciples’ boldness, and the appearance to more than 500 people. It also explores non‑Christian historical sources that affirm Jesus lived, was crucified, and was believed to have risen. Together, the biblical and historical record point to one conclusion: the resurrection is both credible and life‑changing.

What does the resurrection actually change about everyday life?

In this sermon, we reflect on Romans 6 and the Christian confession that believers are united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Death, once the ultimate power over humanity, is revealed in Scripture as a force tied to sin, separation, and fear. But in Jesus—the one who is Life itself—death meets its end.

Tracing the biblical story from Genesis through the Old Testament sacrificial system and into the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, this message shows how Christ does not merely cleanse the effects of death, but destroys its power entirely. In his death, life spills out; in his resurrection, a new creation begins. Because of our union with Christ, the sermon proclaims that eternal life is not only a future hope but a present reality. Freed from the fear of death and the bondage of sin, believers are called to “walk in newness of life” and to practice resurrection—living lives marked by love, forgiveness, courage, and joy.

This is a proclamation of hope: death no longer has the final word. Christ is risen, and in him, everything is being made new.

We're coming up on the 2000th anniversary of Jesus resurrection. That's a long time. Have you ever wondered about what he has been up to for the past 2000 years. Revelation 5 gives us a glimpse. Jesus is on his throne. He is a lion. He is a lamb. There is a scroll to unseal and unroll. And there is lots of singing, lots of praising! This passage gives us some moving images of what the risen Jesus is up to right now and how it all involves us. We can be involved and we are involved in several ways.

This Good Friday, we’ll gather in a spirit of reflection and hope as we journey through the story of God’s redemptive love—from creation to the Cross. Through Scripture readings and songs, we’ll remember the depth of Christ’s sacrifice and the faithfulness of a God who has been pursuing restoration since the very beginning. Join us as we pause, listen, and open our hearts to the love that transforms us still today.

Have you ever noticed at election time how there are so many hopes expressed and promises made? It was actually the same at the time of Jesus. We will finish our series entitled "Tested" today as we look at Jesus' triumphal entry. The people had such high hopes for Jesus. Finally the "Son of David" is going to enter the holy city and bring the longed for redemption of Israel. Everyone watching would have understood this. But there were also things they did not understand. There are deeper, unseen things about Jesus that do not meet the eye. Jesus hints at this as he teaches in the temple. The invitation for us is to deepen our relationship with Jesus as our understanding of him grows as well. The New Testament prods us to approach knowing God as knowing Jesus. Jesus is a person of such depth that we will spend a lifetime and into eternity getting to know him. Jesus does not overpromise and under deliver.