West Church Podcast | Mooresville, Lake Norman, NC | Relevant messages for today

Palm Sunday sermon by Pastor Andrea Smith

As we are in our own journeys of Holy Week, may we ask ourselves the question, “Do we live in such a way that others would stop and stare?” 

(In a good way, by the way!) 

Do we love so radically that others, after watching, are struck by the ways that we love?

Do we give so selflessly that others, after noticing how we give, find themselves wanting to be more selfless?

Do we strive to seek justice for all, so that others, after hearing our calling for equality, find themselves questioning their approach? 

Those are just a few of the reasons that the life of Jesus caused such a stir that people rushed to the streets to stare at his entrance into Jerusalem. 

Could we live today so that others would stare at us? 

Where do you draw your line?
In work, in relationships, in life, in spirituality?

Listen to Sunday's message from Pastor Andrea Smith about how/when/where we draw the line in our lives!

The scene from Wednesday mentioned in the message can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wis8ahXUHHw

The video clip about Kate Bowler mentioned in the message can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVS0DDNnd_Y

So often we think of “demons (or the devil)” as little red figures that walk around with pitchforks, horns, and spandex with the intention of derailing us. 

However, demons are also the negative things in our lives that suck the life out of us. 

So . . . what sucks the life out of you?

And no, the initial answer isn’t to go to a particular person that might be getting on your nerves right now! 

Seriously, think about it for a minute . . . and be willing to identify it.

Negativity? 
Fear?
Chronic Illness?
Insecurities?
Worry?
Job Pressures?
An unsustainable life pace?

Or there is a whole category of “emotional vampires.” Here are just a few examples of those: 
Narcissists/Those in your life who only care about themselves
Critics
Sarcastic People
Controlling People

The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus said, “The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed so that they could live life to the fullest.”

What is keeping you from living life to its fullest? 
What demon is holding you back? 

Let’s identify it and then claim the power of Christ to address it and then destroy it.

“If trouble means standing up to lies, decades of discrimination, centuries of treating outcasts like second-class citizens or worse…” ---Wednesday Addams in "Wednesday" 

OR . . . seems like something Jesus would say. Today we talk about "The Outcasts" 

How do you deal with the deep temptations that face us all? 

Remember Satan/Lucifer means “light bearer.” 

And evil is never far away from shining light on things that will cause us to take the wrong twist or turn on our path.

Hiding our temptations and pretending they do not exist is not the answer. 

We have a powerful example of Jesus being tempted and showing us how to withstand temptation. Each time he was confronted, he went within himself, relying on the power of God learned and expressed through the Hebrew Scriptures. 

Click here if you’d like to read the passage from Matthew we read in worship yesterday that gives us insight into Jesus’ temptations. 

What do you have within that will help you withstand temptation? 

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" 

(1 Corinthians 10:13).

God always provides us with an escape plan. 

We have to be willing to look for it, find it AND use it. 

What if one step in overcoming our temptations is committing the verse above to memory? 

Nothing is bigger than our ability to overcome it or withstand it if we are grounded and rely on God.

Join Pastors Andrea and Lexi as they play “The Dating Game” … answering questions submitted by West followers as their “real” and “fake” selves. The answers are both entertaining and spiritually enlightening.

Ponder the question “Would you date you?” We are going to explore that question in the context of our own self-image. We hope you come away with a healthy introspection about yourself. The “Would You Date You” message series hopes to create a new understanding of who we are and how we are wired. We will tie psychology, spirituality, and Christianity all together using a study by Carl Yung and New Testament scripture.

Pastor Andrea has an enlightening Valentine's Day ... with herself. Though conversations with her "wine steward" and recollections of her failed date she explores her "shadow side" and gives us all ways to look at ourselves with new eyes.

Ponder the question “Would you date you?” We are going to explore that question in the context of our own self-image. We hope you come away with a healthy introspection about yourself. The “Would You Date You” message series hopes to create a new understanding of who we are and how we are wired. We will tie psychology, spirituality, and Christianity all together using a study by Carl Yung and New Testament scripture.

Ponder the question “Would you date you?” We are going to explore that question in the context of our own self-image. We hope you come away with a healthy introspection about yourself. The “Would You Date You” message series hopes to create a new understanding of who we are and how we are wired. We will tie psychology, spirituality, and Christianity all together using a study by Carl Yung and New Testament scripture.

Ponder the question “Would you date you?” We are going to explore that question in the context of our own self-image. We hope you come away with a healthy introspection about yourself. The “Would You Date You” message series hopes to create a new understanding of who we are and how we are wired. We will tie psychology, spirituality, and Christianity all together using a study by Carl Yung and New Testament scripture.

Who are we really? So many times we have a false positive self-image or see ourselves too negatively. Think about where our self-image comes from. How are we wired? Why are we wired that way? What do we do about it?

In three episodes we will explore:

• Our shadow sides and self-awareness
• Our shadow sides in light of darkness and evil
• Understanding our consciousness