Western Hills Church Of Christ, Temple

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.

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  This second message in the Everyday Disciple Every Day Series continues the discussion of this question: How do average, ordinary, everyday followers of Jesus live with holiness and hope in a hostile world?  Scott seeks the answer to this question in the example of a church founded by Paul, the apostle, in the city of Thessalonica.  What is a disciple?  Whose approval really matters?  What is essential for a disciple of Jesus to remember?  What kind of a life does a disciple live?

Scripture:  Acts 17:1-9, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, I Thessalonians 1 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  This is the first in the series on the apostle Paul's letter to the church we read about in 1 Thessalonians.  The question that faced the Thessalonians is the very same question followers of Jesus face today:  How do you live with holiness and hope in a hostile world?  This is the big question that the entire series will address as followers today seek to live a life of hope and holiness in our present world.

Scripture:  Luke 16:1-15 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  In this message, Scott uses the parable of the "Shrewd Manager" to help us understand how God views your money.  Scott shows through this story that there are three ways God sees your money that guide your decision in how you manage the money with which you have been blessed.

Scripture:  Luke 12:13-21 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  It's unlikely that many of us have ever asked ourselves this question:  Why do I have so much?  Scott talks about the "consumption assumption" attitude and brings us to another question to consider:  What has Jesus given you in abundance and what will you do with that?  

Scripture:  Proverbs 22:7; 1 Timothy 6:6-18 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  In this message, Scott takes a look at how we use or abuse our money in the light of Proverbs 22:17 and 1 Timothy 6:6-18.  The question we must answer is do we see our money the same way God sees our money?  Your decision can bring peace or it can bring slavery.  Your decision about how you handle your finances is clear when you realize that God doesn't want something from you, but he does want something for you.

Scripture:  Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 6:24, 1 Chronicles 29:11 Speaker:  Scott Meyer, Lead Minister Summary: In this message, the first in the series dealing with how we view and handle our money, Scott asks the question: Do we see ourselves as owners of our money or managers of our money?  How you answer that is critical to having peace in your life.  Sermon Quote:  "The promise of God is not wealth, but peace."

Scripture:  Matthew 8:23-34 Speaker:  Brandon Reynolds Summary:  Do the storms of life challenge your faith at times?  Brandon Reynolds, Guest Speaker, brings insight into how to deal with those storms using the powerful account of Jesus calming a storm in Matthew.  He leaves you with a very practical challenge.