WestGate Church Teaching

All throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see a clear pattern of people in Scripture turning to prayer and fasting in times of uncertainty, brokenness, and need.

And in those examples, we find that prayer and fasting are not just religious obligations but natural responses to desperation. And we find that moments of crisis can lead to spiritual renewal when approached with humility and dependence on God.

And we find that whether you and I are facing the unknown road ahead or the ruins of life, the invitation is to pray and fast, recognizing that our deepest hunger can only be satisfied by God.

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

Ezra 8:21,23, Nehemiah 1:3-4

All throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see a clear pattern of people in Scripture turning to prayer and fasting in times of uncertainty, brokenness, and need.

And in those examples, we find that prayer and fasting are not just religious obligations but natural responses to desperation. And we find that moments of crisis can lead to spiritual renewal when approached with humility and dependence on God.

And we find that whether you and I are facing the unknown road ahead or the ruins of life, the invitation is to pray and fast, recognizing that our deepest hunger can only be satisfied by God.

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

Ezra 8:21,23, Nehemiah 1:3-4

All throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see a clear pattern of people in Scripture turning to prayer and fasting in times of uncertainty, brokenness, and need.

And in those examples, we find that prayer and fasting are not just religious obligations but natural responses to desperation. And we find that moments of crisis can lead to spiritual renewal when approached with humility and dependence on God.

And we find that whether you and I are facing the unknown road ahead or the ruins of life, the invitation is to pray and fast, recognizing that our deepest hunger can only be satisfied by God.

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

Ezra 8:21,23, Nehemiah 1:3-4

In one of His most famous teachings, when asked what the most important concept of the entire Old Testament is, Jesus says, that it’s to “love God” and then adds “and love your neighbor.” In this one teaching, Jesus forever links loving God with loving your neighbor. Later, in the Book of James, the author says that “faith without works is dead.” Loving God means using one’s life to serve and help other people who are in our circle of relationship. And doing so not only changes things around us, but also changes us.

SPEAKERS:

Finny Abraham (Saratoga), Keivan Tehrani (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

James 2:14-17

In one of His most famous teachings, when asked what the most important concept of the entire Old Testament is, Jesus says, that it’s to “love God” and then adds “and love your neighbor.” In this one teaching, Jesus forever links loving God with loving your neighbor. Later, in the Book of James, the author says that “faith without works is dead.” Loving God means using one’s life to serve and help other people who are in our circle of relationship. And doing so not only changes things around us, but also changes us.

SPEAKERS:

Finny Abraham (Saratoga), Keivan Tehrani (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

James 2:14-17

In 1535, William Tyndale was burned at the stake at the order of the King of England for the grievous crime of translating the Bible into English, and then printing it and disseminating it. King Henry 8th was so furious, he burned 6,000 copies of the Bible. But today, we don’t burn the Bible. We just ignore it. In 2 Timothy 4, the Apostle Paul says what King Henry knew - that the Bible is dangerous because the Bible is no mere book. It’s the Word of God and it has the power to utterly transform us, in the process forging us into the likeness of Jesus in a world that desperately need it. The Bible really can do that. That is, if we let it.

SPEAKERS:

David Tieche (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

2 Timothy 5

What does it mean to change? And more importantly how does a human change? Is it even possible? Join John Ortberg as he shows that  the 12 steps of AA are actually not only a powerful spiritual tool for us to truly examine our actual lives as they are in all of their brokenness, but to encounter the life transforming power of God - who is in the business of fixing broken humans when they come to Him in need.

Perhaps nothing peaks our anxiety levels more than the “fog of uncertainty” around the future. What is coming down the road? Is it bad? Will I be okay? And that’s on a normal day. When actual bad news or events happen, it just exacerbates the worry. Now there’s *really* something to worry about. But we are not the first humans to worry about an uncertain future. Writing during a tense time of turmoil and persecution, the Apostle Peter wrote to a group of churches, advising them on some ways they could approach the uncertainty of life with both steady and enduring hope. And his advice back then is just as valid today - cast your cares on the LORD, for He won’t leave you like an orphan, but will take care of you.

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), David Tieche (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

1 Peter 5:5-10

As we begin the New Year, whether we’re the “resolution-making” type or not, we’d all like to experience some sort of positive change in our lives. The story of God offers us a path toward not just “positive” change but the deep transformation we long for. But this requires a good deal of work on our part. Our lives are like icebergs. On average, only 10 percent of an iceberg’s volume is visible above the surface while 90 percent is submerged beneath the water. So we have to begin by asking the question, “What’s beneath the waterline, out of sight, in my life?” Which gets us into the difficult topic of mental and emotional health. Fortunately, Jesus himself embodies mental and emotional struggle—things like depression, anxiety, and anguish. And with Jesus as our guide, we too must become aware of and honest about our mental and emotional struggles, and begin there when necessary, so that God might guide us through.

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

Psalm 22:1-11

The prophet Isaiah, more than 800 years before the birth of Jesus, wrote that a Messiah would come, that the “government would be on His shoulders” and that His kingdom of justice of righteousness would last forever. This promise, of a King who will love what’s right and set things right, not only resonated then, but in our chaotic and broken world, resonates with us today. But. sometimes, we modern people, in our thirst for justice, skip over the “righteousness” part, and accidentally do harm. Or, we skip over the “justice” part, leaving empty non-sacrificial religion. But the kingdom of God is both justice AND righteousness. And together, these words show something not only about who God is, but what He’s up to and what kind of people He wants his image bearers to be.

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), David Tieche (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

Isaiah 9:2,6-7

SPEAKERS:

Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):

Isaiah 9:2,5