Sunwest Fc's Weekly Sermon Podcast

How many followers do you have on Twitter or Instagram? How many friends on Facebook? Is it possible that as our network gets broader our relationships get shallower? As we dictate the information we receive and we give; as we pick and choose who to follow and who we allow to follow us; as we create a network of relationships through virtual means; maybe we have unknowingly missed the life changing gift of messy, selfless, Jesus centred community. What would a social network look like that was face to face, messy, Jesus centred, and that cared more about the interest of others than self? Join us this week as we consider our social network.

Browser. History. What comes to mind when you think of those two words? Our virtual trail is revealing. Where our treasure is (read time & money) is where we will find our heart's desires. What does your treasure tell you? What encourages you about that and what discourages you? Before you clear your browser history let's take an honest look in the mirror and consider what it tells us about ourselves and how it shapes who we are becoming.

Have you ever been misunderstood in a text conversation? Have you ever observed a Facebook argument go south really fast? How would Jesus handle conflict in a digital age? If he had a soap box would he leverage all the tools at our disposal to make his opinions known? Next time we are about to comment on someone's post, or we are about to post something ourselves, we should consider WWJT (what would Jesus type?). Please join us face to face this Sunday as we look at the advantages and disadvantages that technology brings regarding how we handle conflict and soap boxes.

2,000 years ago the internet wasn't invented. This phenomenon shapes and forms the way we do life, relationships, conflict, community, communication, and more. Jesus invites each of us to follow him (and he wasn't referring to Twitter). If Jesus had a Facebook account how would he manage it? What would he post or pin? How would he manage conflict?... Friend groups? What would his browser history reveal? Even in light of the lack of phones, computers, and social networks 2000 years ago, we believe that Jesus has much to teach us in our technology saturated world. Join us as we explore what it means to follow Jesus online.

Over the last two weeks we've been encouraged to grow the Kingdom, God's way, to bring His Kingdom here to earth. What should that look like? As we share God with others and as we help others look to Him, how do we best go about that? Should we yell at people, hit them over the head with a Bible, tell them off for being "sinners", set up an outdoor circus tent and have meetings, or sing a lot of country music so folks will come and hear about Jesus? These are all good questions. But what does the Bible say about the look of God's message and His Kingdom taking root in others? Come this Sunday and learn about "The Context for Kingdom Expansion".

Multiplication is a buzz word. The big question is : Why should a disciple or a congregation multiply? Today we will discuss "Why Multiply?".

From the outset of Jesus' ministry through the first century and into today, God's plan is for the church to be the visible representation of God's Kingdom. The church gives voice to God's truth, observable evidence of God's grace, practical examples of God's love and transformative experiences of God's community. The church is the agent through which God's Spirit does His transforming work in the world - when the church is aligned with God's plan and purpose. Jesus never told us to build great churches; He said He would build world-changing churches through us.

We are concerned about our planet these days. There has been a lot of debate about global warming and climate change, but either way there is far too much pollution, there are copious emissions floating around our atmosphere; there is a lot to be concerned about. Unfortunately it's not just a problem that's floating around in the air. It's everywhere. But this Sunday particularly THIS Sunday there is good news. Very good news. The best news. Transformation is all around us. Things are improving dramatically.

Jesus said that He was the good shepherd, in contrast to bad shepherds that were talked about in Ezekiel 34. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep while a bad shepherd functions like a hired hand who leaves when there is trouble. What is the significance for us that Jesus is the good shepherd? What would it look like if He was our model? What if we started shepherding others like He does instead of simply being a hired hand? Come and consider how Jesus guides us and the implications that has on the places we have influence.

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." John 11:25. This week we look at a fifth "I Am" statement that Jesus makes: "I Am the resurrection and the life." At some point in life we all face dead ends. Whether it's jobs, finances, family, relationships or whatever the situation is, disappointment and discouragement is something everyone encounters. Jesus' incredible claim that He is "the resurrection and the life" is not just a story that happened two thousand years ago but is something that we can experience right now. The Resurrection is not just an event... it is a person. This morning, we look at how this claim altered the lives of Jesus' closest friends; Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Jesus claimed that before Abraham was on the scene, he already existed. As if that wasn't controversial enough, Jesus, using the language of a conversation between God and Moses, used God's language claiming to be the great "I AM". This Sunday, we will review what is perhaps the prickliest of statements when he declares "I AM the true vine". The implications of this particular claim are the strongest and the heaviest of the seven.

In week four of the "I AM" series, we will look at Jesus' statement that He is the gate. In John 10:9, Jesus says "I am the gate. Those who come through me will be saved." On Sunday, we will look at what it means to be disciples of Jesus and belong to God and how we live that out.

In part two of the "I AM" series we will unpack Jesus' statement, "I am the way, truth and life." This was the revolutionary kind of claim that could get somebody killed. Jesus really ticked off the establishment with these words. Oddly enough, it's still upsetting people today, but mostly religious people. There is something profound about words that are 2000 years old that still unsettle folks after all that time. Come explore the part of us that Jesus still wants to mess with.

2016-02-21 I AM - Part 3: The Light of the World, Drew Johnson by

We are beginning a new sermon series at both campuses this weekend. The "I AM" series will focus on John's gospel where seven times, Jesus declared "I AM"! This week we will start to understand significant components of Jesus' character, who he was, who he claimed to be and the significance of the 7 "I AM" statements. As we get to know Jesus better, we understand the Father better, and we gain solid theological understanding. It helps us become more specifically like Jesus, so ultimately we are prepared to transform our world. In part one we will unpack Jesus' I AM statement, "I am the Bread of Life."

For the past three weeks, we have been exploring the questions that we all ask that begin with "If God is Good...". God's response to this question was not an idea but a person and Jesus was not only the answer but the window through which we anticipate a new heaven and a new earth. This hopeful future drastically changes the way we as Jesus followers live in the midst of our world today. Please join us as we conclude the series and imagine a world without evil.

2015 brought many headlines that reminded us of the pain, suffering, and evil that exists in this world. It is at moments such as these where many people ask, where is God? Or, if God is good then why is there suffering, pain, evil...? These are mysterious questions that the church has wrestled with at many times throughout its history. We won't pretend to have all the answers, but we will enter the question with you and with our world. This week's title is "The Crucified God".

2015 brought many headlines that reminded us of the pain, suffering, and evil that exists in this world. It is at moments such as these where many people ask, where is God? Or, if God is good then why is there suffering, pain, evil...? These are mysterious questions that the church has wrestled with at many times throughout its history. We won't pretend to have all the answers, but we will enter the question with you and with our world.

2015 brought many headlines that reminded us of the pain, suffering, and evil that exists in this world. It is at moments such as these where many people ask, where is God? Or, if God is good then why is there suffering, pain, evil...? These are mysterious questions that the church has wrestled with at many times throughout its history. We won't pretend to have all the answers, but we will enter the question with you and with our world.

In this message, Clarity 2016, we will look at some of the "big picture" issues concerning the direction of SunWest. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that "where there is no vision, the people perish". We want to be clear about our vision. Vision is two-fold: it's a desired goal or ideal, but it also includes the practical steps to get there. As we start off the year, it's very important that we all be on the same page knowing what our plan is, some practical steps to get there as well as a few down to earth applications.