SunWest FC's Weekly sermon podcast

God's mission has a church, but despite the incredible events in the first part of Acts, the church remained stationary. It didn't embark on a mission to move out. However, four years later, that changed. Even though they ultimately accomplished everything God had called them to do, the event that sparked this movement wasn't something they would have ever sought. Here's the “uncomfortable" truth: discomfort is often the catalyst for courage.

The early church continued to grow, and with growth arose new challenges that threatened the unity of the church. Filled with the Holy Spirit and faith, seven followers of Jesus answered the call to serve the practical needs of the church, bringing a new level of unity. Among the seven was a disciple named Stephen. In the face of persecution, Stephen rose to the occasion and mirrored the life of Christ. When we have difficulties in life and faith, let's learn together how we can “rise to the occasion” like Stephen.

2025-06-01: Acts 5 tells how the apostles, empowered by God, performed miracles and boldly preached about Jesus, even when threatened by religious leaders. What made the early followers of Jesus so radically courageous that they were impervious to threats, persecution, and even torture? What did they know and believe that has implications for how we live today? Come and find out what might be the most critical question you will ever have to answer if you're going to follow Jesus.

2025-05-25: We've raced through the first four chapters of Acts. There have been miraculous events and explosive growth. But that didn't come without its challenges. The 'bigger and better' trajectory of the story has a sudden blip. We encounter in Acts 5 two miraculous deaths from judgment. We may be tempted to skip the story and get back to the ‘positive stuff'. But we must lean in and ask what it was that God took so seriously in the early church. Join us this weekend as we discover that the warning God issued for the first-century church is just as relevant for us today.

2025-05-18: After the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, they boldly went out to proclaim and demonstrate the Good News of the Kingdom of God. But the message of Jesus provoked strong reactions—some were deeply moved and compelled to follow, while others fiercely resisted and sought to silence it. This week, we explore how Jesus, the cornerstone, continues to be either a foundation of hope or a stumbling block even today.

2025-05-11: This week, we begin a new series called "To be continued...". We will consider the growth of the early church and how we are still a part of that ongoing story today. How did the movement Jesus started 2000 years ago transform the entire Roman world in two hundred years and eventually find its way around the globe? On top of the resurrection event that turned skeptics into believers, there was another event. Fifty days after the resurrection, something cataclysmic happened that completely transformed individuals and communities. In fact, Jesus said the mission he gave his disciples wouldn't be possible without it. It was critical then, and it is just as critical today.

2025-05-04: So there was an election this week. Some were thrilled with the result, and some were disappointed. The polarization of our world will continue. But how do you respond? If your candidate won, have you placed all your hope in them? If your candidate lost, is it all doom and gloom and hopeless? Our responses display our true allegiance. The Politics of Jesus does not rely on a political platform to change the world, it relies on something else. What exactly is that something else? Well, that's what we will tackle this weekend - and the answer might surprise you.

2025-04-27: There's an election on the horizon. This inevitably leads everyone to consider their values, assess the current world, and take responsibility (or not) for what type of world we want to live in. It also becomes a moment in time (in an increasingly polarizing time) where people of faith live out their understanding of how that faith impacts politics and culture. What does it mean to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God and a citizen of Canada? What party would Jesus vote for? Would he even vote? This week, we begin a two-part series exploring the politics of Jesus and what that might mean for those who claim to be Jesus followers.

2025-04-20: Rejoice! The Lord is indeed risen! Doubts? Disbelief? Come, listen and hear how we know Jesus is alive today and why His defeat of death changes the way we look at life now and forever!

2025-04-18: The most important event in history! We're celebrating the real and present hope of Jesus. You're invited to join us this Easter weekend. Today we reflect on the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.

2025-04-13: The Apostle John began his journey as an arrogant, power-hungry follower of Jesus, driven by ambition and the desire for status. However, through a profound transformation, he became known as the "disciple Jesus loved," learning valuable lessons that revealed the contrast between his perception of success and the true measure of success in God's eyes.

2025-04-06: Thomas was one of the twelve disciples who followed Jesus very closely. We best know him as “Doubting Thomas.” This is a harsh nickname and probably the wrong one. It was not doubt driving Thomas, but his disappointment when his expectations of God did not match his current reality. Like Thomas, we've most likely experienced disappointment that has resulted in doubt. Is God really who he says he is? Why did God allow this to happen? Are you even there, God? Can we, like Thomas, sincerely ask to encounter Jesus together in community?

2025-03-30: Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends and one of the most celebrated among the twelve disciples, is often remembered for his bold faith - yet also his frequent failures. This week, we'll explore Peter's journey, particularly the moment he steps out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus, only to begin sinking when doubt creeps in. Does walking by faith mean we're always called to step out fearlessly, or does God make space for our doubts along the way?

Have you ever wondered what it takes to follow Jesus? We're not alone in that question. This week we are exploring the journey of two brothers, James and John, also known as the Sons of Thunder. They tended to act impulsively with their own best interests in mind. To follow Jesus, they had to learn to move from self-serving to self-sacrificing. Let's discover together what it takes to be a disciple, and how we can learn from the lives of the Sons of Thunder.

2025-03-16: Jesus spent his ministry years intentionally shaping twelve individuals who would lead the way when he left. These guys were very different, yet their goal was the same: follow Jesus and be like Jesus. This concept is known as "discipleship". But the implication of being a disciple was unique for each of them, and it also has unique implications for each of us. In this series, we are looking at one of the twelve each week and considering what it meant for them and what it means for us today to be a disciple of Jesus. This week, we're looking at the disciple named Matthew/Levi. Why did Jesus pick “that guy”?

2025-03-09: Jesus spent his ministry years intentionally shaping twelve individuals who would lead the way when he left. These guys were very different, yet their goal was the same: follow Jesus and be like Jesus. This concept is known as "discipleship". But the implication of being a disciple were unique for each of them, and it also has unique implications for each of us. In this new series, we will look at one of the twelve each week and consider what it meant for them and what it means for us today to be a disciple of Jesus.

2025-03-02: So, let's be real. You've tried to connect in community. It hurt. Being alone is easier. But something in you still wants that deep connection with others. What do you do? This is the inevitable tension that every single one of us will find ourselves in. There are no exceptions. Jesus found himself there, too. Is there something we can learn from him? Listen in as we conclude our series on the loneliness epidemic.

2025-02-23: You can be surrounded by others or be digitally connected to others and feel lonely. That much seems clear, given the epidemic of loneliness our world is going through. What is not as clear, however, is that you can be alone and be connected. In fact, being alone and being lonely are two very different things. Jesus and his followers, throughout history, have practiced the habit of solitude and silence. Could it be that part of the antidote to loneliness is learning to be alone well?

2025-02-16: Romance. Marriage. Singleness. So much of our energy is tied up in romantic relationships. If we don't have one. If we do have one. Sometimes those who are alone want to be in a relationship and those who are in a romantic relationship want to be alone! It seems loneliness can be pervasive in singleness, marriage, and everything in between. Join us this week as we look at what a single celibate jewish leader has to say about marriage, relationships, and contentment.

2025-02-09: It's no secret, we live in a time in history where we've never been more connected and we've never felt more disconnected. Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? Isolated, even when there is so much buzz around you? This epidemic is impacting many of us personally and all of us collectively. Join us for this series as we look at the epidemic of loneliness, how Jesus changes the conversation, the role the church plays, and how quick and easy answers may not be as effective as we think.

2025-02-02: So we made it to the last week of the series. We've talked about routines, habits, and steps that we can take to align with who we are and where God has called us. But we're still missing a piece, the most important piece. True transformation is spiritual transformation, and that comes from God. Does God invite us simply to a self-help movement or a transformative spiritual journey? And how do we go about accessing his power in our lives? You don't want to miss the conclusion of this series… because the ending could be a new beginning for you.

2025-01-26: "How did they get so lucky?” Have you ever looked at someone's success and thought this? The truth is, it isn't luck. Successful people make small intentional choices every day that lead to big results over time. We often want results without putting in the work. However, just like planting an apple seed won't grow an orange tree, the seeds we sow in life determine the harvest we reap. The same applies to our lives. Let's learn together how we can sow the life and faith we desire.

2025-01-19: Many of us hope to accomplish something one day. Or we hope to not be in a particular situation anymore one day. But hope alone doesn't change your future. Your habits do. Join us this week as we drill down to some practical steps to move beyond hope, to holy habits.

2025-01-12 Have you ever tried to change, and then wound up frustrated because you couldn't? And then you tried again and weren't only frustrated but also ashamed that you failed twice (or more)? This is the experience that most of us have in some form. This week we will dive into a surprising and unexpected truth: if you want transformational change in your life, stop trying...come on Saturday or Sunday to find out more!

2025-01-05 A New Year, a New You! Blah… blah… blah… We've heard it all before. We've tried it all before. Our future goals, hopes, dreams seem to be just as far in the future as they were. We've been through this routine before where we want lasting change and just end up back where we are (except more discouraged and defeated). But what if!? What if this was the year where you didn't just experience some change, but transformation. The thing we tend to miss is that transformation doesn't start with change, it starts with your identity. Join us this week as we kick off a new series: “I'll Do It Tomorrow."

Advent. Anticipation. Arrival. What are you waiting for? Something worth living your life for or a substitute? Come, listen as we open the greatest gift ever given and the eternal impact it will have on have on your life.

2024-12-22: The North Pole is the perfect place for Santa to live – it's filled with snow, it's mysterious, and most importantly, unreachable. Santa lives at a distance to keep the magic alive and comes but once a year to give presents to those who are on the nice list. Many believe the same about God. Instead of the North Pole, God is far away in a distant and unreachable heaven. The birth of Jesus tells us a different story about God making his home among us. Discover God's incarnation and how we can experience God's nearness during the season of Advent.

2024-12-15: Many of us believed in Santa when we were kids. Then there was that day when we "found out" the truth. Maybe it was a friend, an older sibling, something we overheard, or something we saw. We grew up in a moment. We no longer believed the make-believe stories we were told as kids. Isn't it interesting that many people who grow up with an element of faith in God have a similar experience? Is it possible that our culture has told us to "grow up", and stop believing in things you can't touch or see or prove? Is disbelief actually a sign of maturity? Or perhaps we lost something when we left our child-like wonder.

2024-12-08: "He's making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty or nice…" Do these lyrics describe Santa or God? The "gospel of Santa" tells us that if we behave well enough, we'll be rewarded on Christmas morning. Otherwise… coal. Could it be that we've allowed this performance-based, fear-driven mindset shape our view of the Father? The Gospel of Jesus tells us we are loved purely because we are His sons and daughters. We cannot earn God's grace and love. So, why do we sometimes find ourselves striving to get on God's "nice list"? This Sunday, we'll explore how embracing the "gospel of Santa" instead of the true Gospel affects our understanding of God and how we live our lives.

2024-12-01: Christmas is confusing in our culture. Everyone seems to celebrate it in some form, but it has become something very different than what God's agenda was at that very first Christmas. Is it possible that we've mixed our cultural values with the primary message and mission of God? In this series, we analyze different ways that we have projected cultural views and values upon the gospel of Jesus... possibly even replacing it with the gospel according to Santa.

2024-11-24: Let's try a thought experiment. Imagine someone you loved, and had given your life to be with, was only going to be with you for a moment longer. Now imagine that person was going to sum up everything they wanted from you after they were gone in one actionable idea. Would you lean in? Would you give significant energy in your life to that one thing? I think you would. I think we all would. After Jesus' resurrection, he left us one thing to do. Are we doing it?

2024-11-17: Do you want to do things well? Do them right? Do them excellently? What if that value stops you from doing anything at all? When we choose courage over comfort we choose action over perfection. We give permission for failure because success is in risk-taking obedience, not in perfection. Join us this week as we explore how fear is faith in the wrong thing, and how true faith is following God without worrying about the results.

2024-11-10: When someone asks, "How are you?" we often respond with one of two answers: "I'm doing good." or "I've been busy." These responses can reveal something about us—either that we value independence and don't need others, or that we find our worth in being productive. While strength and productivity are not inherently bad, they can sometimes contribute to a sense of loneliness. This Sunday, we'll explore how we can embrace those feelings of loneliness, seeing them as signposts that point us toward a deeper connection with Christ and with one another. To practice not doing life alone.

2024-11-03: It seems simple, but yet profound: The lives we live today are often a result of decisions we made yesterday (or earlier in our lives). Our relationships, our careers, our health, our successes, and our failures. What is true individually, is also true corporately. The experience of life together is the culmination of our past decisions and actions. So who do we want to be in the future? And what does that mean for us today? Join us this week as we start a 4 week series called "Family Values".

2024-10-27: In one particular study when non-Christian people answered why they rejected Christianity the results showed the primary reason was the behaviour of Christians. The primary reason had nothing to do with what the Bible says, or teaches, or any conflict with other world-views. The perception and experience that people had with those who claim to be Christian was one that made Christianity unbelievable. Even beyond that, many people point to the atrocities throughout history done by the church as another layer of motivation to reject Christianity. So… let's talk about it. Join us for our last Sunday in the Problem of God series.

2024-10-20: Let's be honest, many people don't want to be a Christian because it has so many rules and seemingly exclusive demands. "What about freedom?" "Why do things have to be so rigid and intolerant?" Our world has a very unique idea of what freedom is and unknowingly we have bought into it. Is it true that a lack of restraint is true freedom? How is that working for us? Maybe what Jesus offers us is the pathway to true freedom.

2024-10-13: Join us this weekend for a ‘hot' topic. We're looking at the Problem of Hell. This seems to be, for many, a central barrier to trusting the God of the Bible (for both Christians and non-Christians). But just because we don't like something doesn't mean it isn't true. With so many historical, cultural, religious, and biblical concepts of hell, it is important to ask if we've really seen and understood what the Bible says about the after life (and what it doesn't say). The biblical picture may surprise you, make you feel uncomfortable, or make you feel more hopeful. No matter where you're coming from, you'll be stretched and challenged this weekend.

2024-10-06: "If God exists, and is all-powerful, all-knowing, and wholly good, why do evil and suffering exist?" More than any other question, this seems to be one that has made Christianity indefensible for many. It has been a major barrier for people to believe in the God revealed in the Bible. From John the Baptist to you and me, humans have been wrestling with it throughout history. The question is theological, yes, but it's also very personal. Let's dive into the tension together this weekend.

2024-09-29: "The Bible is outdated." "The Bible isn't reliable." "The Bible is full of contradictions." "The Bible is a fabricated and edited document that was manipulated by people with a hidden agenda." "The Bible is just like every other religious scripture, it contains some truth but isn't any any more trustworthy than others." Have you heard statements like that? Said them? However, just because they're common doesn't mean they're true. Join us this week as we look at the reasons you can have confidence in the Bible as a book that is unique and worth building your life on.

2024-09-22: Everyone has faith. The question of "faith" is a metaphysical question. "Meta" means after, or beyond. After physics, logic, reason we have to make a faith decision. And everyone, whether they can articulate it or not, has to put their faith into something or someone. The question is what do you put your faith in? This does not, however, mean that faith is irrational or illogical. While we might not be able to "prove" the existence (or non-existence) of God, every study of science, physics, biology, philosophy, ethics, morality, etc. are clues. And if we follow the clues, where do they lead?

2024-09-15: In the modern world, religion is seen as a crutch for those who need a pacifier to help them get through life. Is God something that only desperate or uneducated people believe in? Is there any rational and scientific evidence that affirms a faith position? Are science and Christianity at odds? We might be surprised when we look at where the evidence actually points us.

2024-09-08: Do you believe in Jesus beyond a shadow of a doubt? You shouldn't. Many of us have come to believe that we can't have faith and doubt. That leaves us with two options: faking it or never choosing to trust Jesus. Jesus began the movement of his kingdom with a bunch of imperfect doubters.

2024-09-01: God was never intended just to be something to "believe in". A relationship with God is something we can experience. Throughout our community God is transforming lives. Join us this week and be encouraged and inspired as we hear impactful stories of life change.

2024-08-25: Waiting for prayers to be answered can feel like waiting for the rain to fall, yet we are called to pray in all circumstances. How can we move beyond being people who pray, and become people of prayer? Like falling rain, prayer begins to produce a crop of forgiveness, healing, and community.

2024-08-18: Across social media and in our own lives we see varying attitudes to wealth, power and suffering. What does James have to say about the attitudes we should have to wealth, power and suffering? We'll explore how godly attitudes give people a different way forward and help us fulfill our mission as a Church.

2024-08-11: What's your worldview? Did you know that your worldview serves as the lens through which you perceive reality, shaping your understanding of God, humanity, and your purpose in life? IN this message, we examine how our worldview influences our values, decisions, and actions -- often in ways we may not even realize.

2024-08-04 God was never intended just to be something to "believe in". A relationship with God is something we can experience. Throughout our community God is transforming lives. Join us this week and be encouraged and inspired as we hear impactful stories of life change.

2024-07-28: We continue our Paparazzi series by diving into James chapter three, where we'll learn how to live out our faith when the world is not only watching… but listening. The Apostle James doesn't pull any punches when he describes the destructive power of our words. Many of our regrets stem from things we've said or failed to say. But if you long to trade words that hurt for words that heal, this message is for you.

2024-07-21: Have you ever gone the wrong way on a one-way street? It can be disastrous. What is dangerous in a vehicle is also hazardous in religion. This week we look at a simple little nuance that has an exponential life-changing effect. And if we miss it we may end up going the wrong way! Are you going the right way? Join us this week and find out.

Sticks and stones may break my bones... but words will never hurt me. An age-old saying that carries little truth. Words can break trust, hurt relationships, and lose jobs. They can hurt for a lifetime. The book of James has a lot to say about how we conduct ourselves in the things we say and how we practice our faith. Join us this week as we challenge ourselves to consider if we are merely checking off religious boxes, or authentically allowing God's Word to impact our lives.

2024-06-30: There are cameras everywhere. iPhones, computers, traffic lights, surveillance cameras... not to mention the reality that the phone you're carrying tracks where you are going and listens to what you are saying. This is not a series about conspiracy theories. This is a series about the truth that it is increasingly difficult to live a double life. Who you are will eventually be revealed. But for the follower of Jesus, your faith was always intended to be reflected in how you live. This is what the book of James is all about. Join us on a journey of authentic self-confrontation. This week we start our new series: PAPARAZZI - Living Out Your Faith In a World Where Everyone is Watching.