Western Hills Church Of Christ, Temple

Scripture:  Matthew 5:13-14 Speaker:  Justin Hammond, Sarah Berg, Cooper Strait, Cooper Meyer, Tyler Benedick, Evan Yost Summary:  Justin Hammond, Student Minister, interviews several students who have been involved in various mission activities this summer emphasizing how they have been salt and light among those they have served.

Scripture:  John 7:53 - 8:11 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds Summary:  This is the final message in the series, "Desperate."  In this message, Brandon addresses the need  we have for a Savior.  And there is only one who can fulfill the mission of saving us from ourselves.  That one paid the price for all.  Who is that one?  As Brandon continues it becomes very clear who that is, why he is and how he can become your Savior.

Scripture:  Luke 15:11 - 32 Speaker:  Austin Hunt, Summer Youth Intern Summary:  Mercy - Having the power to inflict deserved consequences, but choosing to refrain.  We have all been in need of mercy at some time in our lives.  Someone has chosen to not give you what you deserve.  Whatever that something was for which you received mercy made you deeply appreciative.  Using the story of the "Prodigal Son," Austin brings a message about the amazing mercy toward each of us. 

Scripture:  John 11:1-44 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds Summary:  How do we deal our suffering when it doesn't seem "fair."  Brandon brings a very personal message about suffering and healing as he considers the story of Lazarus. 

Scripture:  Luke 19:1-10 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds Summary: This Sunday our preaching intern Brandon Reynolds brought us our seventh sermon in our "Desperate" series titled "Desperate for forgiveness". This sermon walks through the powerful story about the meeting of Christ and a man named Zacchaeus. Through this meeting Zacchaeus finds the much needed forgiveness that he has been looking for, but the crowd looks on judgmentally, refusing to accept their own need for forgiveness. Brandon challenges us to seek to be like Zacchaeus and acknowledge our need for forgiveness instead of hiding from it.  Will we see our sin and joyfully accept Christ or keep our pride judge from the crowd?

Scripture:  1 Kings 19:1-18, Matthew 11:28-30 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds Summary:  From the book of 1 Kings comes the story of Elijah, a prophet of God, who is in despair.  He is a man who is weary.  He is a man who needs relief.  In his story we can find ourselves when we experience those times of feeling burdened and exhausted.  Brandon brings a word for all of us who experience that same need.  Where do we turn for relief?

Scripture:  Exodus 3 Speaker:  Scott Meyer, Lead Minister Summary:  Have you ever wished you could just have a "do-over"?  In this message, the fifth in the Desperate Series, Scott addresses the concept of the "do-over" that is found in the Bible.  There are "Heroes" of the Bible that were used in a mighty way by God, but they were not perfect people.  In this message, Scott addresses the lives of Moses and of Paul the Apostle as examples of those chosen by God and given a "do-over."  Then he speaks to all who are in search of God's "do-over" for them.

Scripture:  Genesis 25-32 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds Summary:  As you think back over your life, do you recall being called by any names other than the one given you at birth.  Most of us would probably say that that has happened.  The name may have been complimentary or derogatory, but you probably remember it well.  In this message, Brandon, tells the story of Jacob, the name given him at birth.  It isn't a name whose meaning would be considered complimentary.  However, God takes this man who lives up to his name and changes his name.  The result of God's changing Jacob's name has great implications for the direction of his life.  How does God change your name to change the direction of your life?

Scripture: Genesis 16 ESV Speaker: Brandon Reynolds Summary:  Have you ever felt "unseen?"  Perhaps, all of us have had that feeling at some time in our lives.  From the story of Hagar, Brandon brings a message of hope. Hagar is in a desperate situation.  It seems as though there is no way out.  But in her desperation an angel from God brings her a message of hope that speaks to us today in this present time.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:6-10 Speaker:  Scott Meyer, Lead Minister Summary:  What does it mean to find strength in weakness?  Paul, the Apostle, who wrote much of the New Testament, struggled with "a thorn in the flesh."  In this message, you will hear how Paul chose to demonstrate strength through his weakness.

Scripture:  Judges 6 & 7, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds, Summer Preaching Intern Summary:  Brandon begins a new series titled "Desperate."  In each of the messages in this series, he will address something for which each of us desperate.  This first message explores Gideon's desperation in Judges 6 & 7 as God seeks to use him to deliver the people of Israel.  From Gideon's dilemma, he points out the dilemma we all experience in finding a purpose for our lives.  The theme text for this series is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 in Paul's statement, "When I am weak, then I am strong."

Scripture:  2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  This is the final message is the series on 2 Thessalonians.  Scott's message is one of encouragement.  It is the same encouragement that Paul gave the church in Thessalonica.  That message is "do not grow weary in doing good."  In the chaos of this world that we find ourselves every day, it is sometimes tempting to succumb the world's way of doing life rather than living the life we have been called to as followers of Jesus.  That temptation is overcome by the realization that the life devoted to loving God and loving your neighbor is the way to real joy and peace.

Scripture:  2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary: In this passage, Paul requests that the Thessalonians pray for him and those who are with him that the good news about Jesus would "speed" through the world.  A request that is of immeasurable importance today for each and every follower of Jesus just as it was in the days of Paul.  Scott encourages those prayers as he models them, and as he shows what results those prayers produce.

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-11 Speaker:  Justin Hammond, Western Hills Youth Minister Summary:  This Sunday we celebrate our graduating High School Seniors with blessings.  Justin gives a blessing to each graduate following his message based on Moses story of preparation to be used by God for His glory just as God will use each of these graduates as they seek Him and allow Him to use them to His glory.

Scripture:  2 Thessalonians 2 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  In this message to the church in Thessalonica, Paul speaks to the confusion in the expectation of the "end times" and "suffering".  Scott encouragement is to help us understand that "suffering is not an indication of the absence of God."

Scripture:  2 Thessalonians 1 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  This is a very heavy section of scripture that deals with suffering.  As Scott says everyone without exception deals with suffering.  Because we know that it exists, how do we understand it?  What do I do with it?  Does it have any value?

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  This text is Paul's final instruction and benediction for the church in Thessalonica, and is the final message in the series Everyday Disciple.  How does a church function as the body of Christ?  That's the question Paul answers in this text.  Scott brings a message of encouragement to the church today to follow Paul's instruction to this ancient church.  Paul describes the bottom line.  The bottom line is:   "Be at peace among yourselves."

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  "Everyday disciples live in Easter hope, every day." This Easter message is one of hope. Not only the hope received by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, but the promise of our own resurrection and life after death. 

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  When you think about leading a "holy" life, how do you think you should live?  Scott talks about the meaning of the call for everyday followers of Jesus to examine their behavior and how that looks to unbelievers.  In the context of one's sexuality, what does a life lived within the instruction of scripture look like?  

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:13 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  In this third message in the series, "Everyday Disciple Every Day," Scott encourages followers of Jesus to consider how deeply Paul is concerned for this church in Thessalonica.  Paul's concern for those who follow is expressed in his comment that he prays "most earnestly night and day" for them.  This is an example for each everyday disciple today to have the same concern for one another's faith and growth so that we are prompted to earnestly pray for one another that our faith may remain strong and grow more deeply.