Sunwest Fc's Weekly Sermon Podcast

Scorecards are valuable in any game because they tell you whether or not you're winning. But what do we look at to tell if the church is 'winning'... doing what we should be doing? What we choose to measure will be followed by where we choose to put our attention and energy. It's easy to focus on the numbers... attendance and money. At SunWest we believe that God transforms us, and through us He transforms our communities. If bums and bucks are all we're measuring we may completely miss the mission that God has called us to. This week we will look at "The New Scorecard".

Did you know that your individual everyday choices effect the community around you? As we learned last week, if we want to be transformational in our world we need to be transformed in our inner world. We may begin this journey as an individual but we walk in this journey as a community. Our individual transformation or lack of transformation will have a corresponding effect on those around us. God wants to work through his people and not just through a person. Let's consider how we shape our community and how our community shapes us.

Kids often come to parents and ask for money...money for candy, money for a Slurpee, or money for a game etc... Very rarely do parents have cash on hand anymore. We simply (and conveniently) have to tell them that we don't have any money so they're out of luck! We can't give them what we don't have. As we unpack the theme of Transformation, it is important that we start with ourselves. Scripture is clear that God wants to transform our world, however, the first step towards that is allowing Him to transform us. We can only give away what we have. There is no shortage of opportunities and needs but what do we have to give?

How do you communicate with your friends? Do you get caught up in their issues and hurts? How well do you love others, especially when they are hard to love? We live in a world where people are often angry and would rather curse than bless. Having Christ in us, allows us to look beyond the wounds and draw out the best in others. We can influence our environment by being the light and hope of Jesus to those around us.

Jacob moved through his life looking for love and acceptance. Like many of us he was putting expectations on human relationships (horizontal relationships) that didn't satisfy his deep longings. His search finally led him to an encounter with God (a vertical relationship) that would change the entire trajectory of his life. Come and explore how our encounter and relationship with God is the source of our identity... and how that changes everything.

Every human being has an innate desire to belong and to be loved. Advertisers know this and can dangle this desire like a carrot before us. Sometimes this strong desire can lead us down destructive paths and sometimes it can lead us to places where we've never felt more alive. The Bible is full of humans, like us, that have followed this desire and been led to both life and to death. We will look at the character of Jacob this week and consider where this universal desire is leading you.

This Sunday is the beginning of the new series "False Advertising". Have you ever bought something based on a commercial or ad that didn't quite deliver on it's promise? That burger... that car... that gym membership... That infomercial product that was going to clean your house for you... (and let's be honest... that church event). We are bombarded with promises everyday. Sometimes it's hard to know what's real and what's just a gimmick. When we really peel back the layers, most commercials are trying to meet the needs of our most basic human desires. Meaning. Belonging. Security. Acceptance. Intimacy. Adventure. Immortality. Is there anything in this world that can really deliver on these? False Advertising may be the norm but come journey with us through the noise to experience where our desires meet their true fulfillment.

As we wrap up the "Pray First" Series we will be focusing on Persistence in Prayer. Our scriptural inspiration will be the story of the persistent widow in chapter 18 of Luke's gospel. This widow repeatedly comes to an unjust and indifferent judge and finally, after her pestering, gets justice. Jesus shares this parable with his disciples, "to show them that they should always pray and not give up." In many ways, the parable raises more questions than it answers. Let's discover what persistent prayer looks like.

Does your prayer life often depend on your situation? Do you find it easier to pray when life is difficult but when life is going according to plan you forget to pray because you don't know what to pray for? Maybe the frequency of our prayer shouldn't depend on our situation. Find out what happens when we make Prayer our Priority.

In Part Two of this series, we will consider a notable passage of scripture from the Old Testament, a wonderful and dramatic story concerning the prophet Elijah as he confronts the prophets of Baal. In it, Elijah prays one of the most powerful prayers in scripture - and yet it's powerfully simple. It's delightful how this ancient story has an incredible amount of content to teach us about the Power of Prayer.

This week we kick off our "Pray 1st" series. Is your prayer filled with requests? Are they left answered or unanswered? Maybe you don't have any type of prayer life because you feel that what's going to happen is going to happen anyway. Maybe prayer is far less about our requests, and them being answered... maybe our approach has been misdirected. This week we will talk about the Purpose of Prayer.

Is there a right religion? Why are we here? How do I handle suffering and tragedy? Is the Bible trustworthy? ... Have you ever asked these types of questions? Is there any room for doubt with a person who has faith in Jesus? One of Jesus' disciples, Thomas, has been dubbed forever as 'doubting Thomas' because he was slow to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. There is probably a little bit of Thomas in everyone of us, but many of us are afraid of the questions. In a culture that values empirical truth and certitude is there room for doubt today in the disciples of Jesus? Thomas gives us hope that there is. This week, we will jump off from the song "Doubting Thomas" by a band called Nickel Creek.

In Part Five of this series we consider a pop tune from 2014, "Geronimo" by Sheppard, an indie pop band based out of Australia. This sibling band is comprised of George, Emma and Amy Sheppard as well as three other members. Their catchy pop tune "Geronimo" is built around the daring sense of RISK it took for the American-Indian "invader" and "raider" to impact his generation. That same sense of risk is a vital attribute that not only typified this legendary warrior, but embodies every follower of Christ as well.

In this series "God Through My iPod", we continue to enjoy some of the Pastors' favourite tunes, from current to classic, and what God might be saying to us through lyrics that reflect ancient Biblical truths disguised in these contemporary trappings. In Part Four of this series we will look at one of the greatest pop guitarists/writers/performers of this millennium, John Mayer. One of his first hits "No Such Thing" is a delightful reflection on his emergence as an adult, looking forward to his high school reunion. What might God be saying to us through His word and guitar driven contemporary rock?

U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" has been capturing people's imaginations and hearts since it was released in 1987. What is it about this song that draws people in? Besides The Edge's captivating guitar lines and driving rhythm from Larry Mullen Jr., there is a hope and longing in the song that is reflected in the human heart and the heart of God. This week we will allow the song to guide us to dream of a place without labels and division... a place that, as Jesus reveals, is more than just a dream.

Music can make us sing, move us to dance, and compels us to reflect. One of the earliest ways to express our love to God was through song. In this sermon series we are drawing out God inspired messages in some of our favourite lyrics. This week we will be looking at "Body in a Box" by City and Colour. We will discuss life, death, and a future hope.

We appreciate how God reveals Himself in many wonderful and unique ways. He does this through creation, through His people, through the poor, and through the arts both secular and sacred. In this series "God Thru my iPod" we will be enjoying some of the Pastors' favourite tunes, from current to classic, and what God might be saying to us through lyrics that reflect ancient Biblical truths disguised in these contemporary trappings. In Part One of this series we will look at one of the all-time feel-good hits from the year 1977, "Mr. Blue Sky" by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). What might God be saying to us through His Word and 70's classic rock?

Part of SunWest's vision is to Equip and Release people to fulfill God's mission. It is a joy to see this happen and to see some of SunWest's up and coming leaders grow in their gifting. The message this week will be given by Nate Wilson, a SunWest Intern who has participated in SunWest Ministry School this past year. Come and embrace our vision to Equip and Release others! We will also be celebrating baptisms and have some Father's Day features.

Part of SunWest's vision is to Equip and Release people to fulfill God's mission...It is a joy to see this happen and the next two Sundays will allow intentional opportunity for some of SunWest's up and coming leaders to grow in their gifting. The messages for the next two weeks will be given by SunWest Interns who have participated in SunWest Ministry School this past year. Come be challenged and encouraged by these young leaders and embrace our vision to Equip and Release others!

That sound. You know that sound... when you get that e-mail, that text, that message. You're talking to someone, sitting at the table, at church, with family, sleeping, and when you hear it you are taken out of that moment into a different one. For all of the promise of efficiency that technology has brought, it seems to simply make us more busy and less present. Although technology is changing there is nothing new about technological advancement. Thousands of years ago God invited people in the midst of change to observe something called Sabbath. It may be old, but it's never been more relevant. Rediscover what your soul needs, and realize that there's NO app for that.