Tough Questions Series

What a great Campaign we had these last seven weeks! It was great to see all the new faces here for our “Bring a Friend Sunday.” Thanks so much for your part in making our Campaign a success. We are now going to take a few weeks to sure up some things in our daily walk as Christians.

Today, we begin a sermon series entitled: “Tough Questions That Christians Ask.” We will examine God’s word and look for answers to questions like: Why do I feel lost?...Why do I struggle?...Does God still heal today?...Can a bad habit really be broken? Whether you are new to Christianity or just an old hack like me, we all wrestle with questions like these at some point in our lives.

In an effort to continue our outreach, I would like to encourage you to think about who you know that is struggling in their walk with God. Maybe one or some of these question topics would help someone you know. Please don’t be afraid to invite that person to come to church with you during this series. Invite them to our West K Family Thanksgiving Dinner and Talent Show on November 22 too. Dan and Sandy Crummie are hosting the event; Mike Griffin will be our comedic emcee.

Next Sunday, November 8, is “I’ve been Shy” Sunday. This is a special day for folks to make a public decision who may have been putting it off. It is not always easy to come forward all by yourself and make an important decision. However, it can be very encouraging to make a decision on the same day that others are making that same, life-changing decision. So, if you have been shy about accepting Christ, re-dedicating your life, or placing membership - this day is for you!

In closing, I would like to encourage you with one of my favorite verses: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12) Let us keep pressing on together as we grow closer to Christ!

Evangelism Campaign Coming this Fall to West K

I’m excited to get to tell you just a little about what God has in store for West K this fall. This Fall we are doing a Church-Wide Evangelism Campaign called Each One Reach One.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gives us a directive to go into all the world and reach lost people with the Gospel. This seems like such a daunting task for just one person. But, what if each one of us would just reach one person? When you think of it in those terms it seems to be a much less intimidating task. Surely, I could introduce just one person to Jesus...this Fall...surely...
That’s the focus for our campaign this fall at West K. Can you imagine the impact it will have on the kingdom? Can you imagine the impact it will have on our church family when each one of us reach just one person...each? Not only will our church grow but heaven will rejoice over each one of us reaching one (Luke 15:7).
Our Each One Reach One campaign will have a 7-week focus on the conversion stories in the book of Acts. Each week we will focus on a different story and glean from it principles that will help us in our effort to reach someone for Christ. Everything we do at West K will be focused on that weekly story as we grow together and pray for one another in our effort to reach that one person. Sunday School, small groups and Bible Studies will be focused on this effort along with our sermons and times of worship.
It all starts the second week of September. The high point of our campaign will be “Bring a Friend” Sunday on October 25th. Directly following our “Bring a Friend” Sunday will be “I’ve Been Shy” Sunday on November 1st.
“I’ve been Shy” Sunday will be a day of decision. Maybe there is a decision you’ve needed to make for a long time...like getting baptized or placing your membership at West K. This will be a great day to do that. You can join others who have been shy too and make your decision together.
I believe God has exciting things in store for us this Fall at West K. I look forward to getting to share them with you. Would you join me in praying for the many great things that God will do.

Christ is the focus of EVERY book of the Bible

After Sunday's sermon, a few different people asked for a copy of this. It shows Christ as the focus from every book of the Bible. This thought isn't original to me. It was in a Old Testament textbook I had in Bible College I think.

Genesis - Seed of the Woman
· Exodus – Passover Lamb
· Leviticus – He’s the Atoning Sacrifice
· Numbers – Smitten Rock
· Duet. – Faithful prophet
· Joshua – He’s the Captain of the Lord’s host
· Judges – Divine Deliverer
· Ruth – Kinsmen Redeemer
· I Samuel – the Bible pictures Jesus as the anointed one
· II Samuel – the son of David
· I&II Kings – He is the coming King
· I &II Chronicles – Builder of the Temple
· Ezra – Restorer of the Temple
· Nehemiah – Restorer of the Nation
· Esther – He’s the preserver of the nation
· Job – he’s the living Redeemer
· Psalms – praise of Israel
· Proverbs – Wisdom of God
· Ecclesiastes – Great Teacher
· Song of Solomon – Fairest of Ten Thousand
· Isaiah – He’s the suffering servant
· Jeremiah – He’s the maker of a new covenant
· Lamentations – man of sorrows
· Ezekiel – Glory of God
· Daniel – Coming Messiah
· Hosea – Lover of the unfaithful
· Joel – hope of Israel
· Amos – husbandmen
· Obadiah – savior
· Jonah – resurrected one
· Micah – ruler
· Nahum – avenger
· Habakkuk – holy God
· Zephaniah – King of Israel
· Haggai – desire of nations
· Zechariah – righteous branch
· Malachi – Son of Righteousness

· Matthew – King of the Jews
· Mark – Servant Lord
· Luke – Son of Man
· John – Son of God
· Acts – Ascended Lord
· Romans – the believer’s righteousness
· I Corinthians – the sanctification
· II Corinthians – the sufficiency
· Galatians – Liberty
· Ephesians – head of the Church
· Philippians – Christian’s joy
· Colossians – Fullness of Deity
· I Thes. – believer’s comfort
· II Thes. – believer’s glory
· I Tim. – preserver of the believer
· II Tim – believer’s reward
· Titus – blessed hope
· Philemon – substitute
· Hebrews – The Great High Priest
· James – Giver of Wisdom
· I Peter – Rock
· II Peter – Precious Promise
· I John – The Light
· II John – The Truth
· III John – The Way
· Jude – The Advocate
· Revelation – King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Jesus, lower than the angels?

We just started a sermon series from the book of Hebrews...a series I have entitled: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
We began this study last week. It’s a great book to study for the summer. We do not know who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we learn more about the divine nature of our Lord and His heavenly authority from Hebrews than from any other place in scripture.
We also get a glimpse at where we fit into the heavenly scheme of things. Despite being loved and cherished by God, in the grand scheme of things we are somewhat incidental.
In Hebrews chapter two we find out that mankind was created a rank below angelic beings (vs. 7). This notion flies in the face of western contemporary Christian thought. Christians today seem to think that it is all about us, that we are the reason for everything. But we learn in Hebrews that when it comes to the heavenly ranking of beings, we are little more than an enlisted private in God’s army. We are valuable to God, but it’s not all about us.
Continuing in chapter two we find that our Lord Jesus became an enlisted private, a man just like us. Like us, Jesus was created a little lower than the angels (vs. 9). This is really an incredible insight when you begin to consider the ramifications...ramifications that are a little too technical and weighty for a sermon maybe.
Let me explain in the limited space I have left on this page. You see Satan is an angel (Exe. 28:14). He was created to be the most beautiful and powerful of all angels, a guardian cherub. Though Satan was a beautiful and powerful angel; he became proud and corrupt (vs. 17). The writer of Hebrews is telling us that when Jesus became a man, He lowered himself in rank to be a little lower than the angels which includes the most beautiful angel of all, Satan.
Jesus Christ, His life and ministry, was an incredible expression of God’s power and might. God took something, the Christ, who was created a little lower than Satan and defeated him with it. This was the heavenly equivalent of, “I’m going to show you! Satan, I can defeat you with both hands tied behind my back!” What God is saying in the Genesis 3:15 prophecy is, “Satan, I am going to take something lower than you and defeat you with it!”
So you see, in the grand scheme of things, we are incidental. Yes we are loved by God. Yes Jesus came and died for us. Yes God values us; we are made in His image. But it’s not all about us. God would have defeated Satan whether He needed to save us or not. God chose to defeat Satan and save us at the same time because of His love for us. But in the grand scheme of things...we are incidental...it’s not about us. Remember: God created us to worship Him. Really, it’s all about Him.