Westview Church Podcast

Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation to us to commune constantly with the Lord.

Being a Christian is the greatest thing—who is sufficient for it? Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 for more.

Listen to Pastor David exhort us to draw near to God by our hearts and not merely by our lips.

Listen to Phil Newton, Director of Pastoral Care & Mentoring at the Pillar Network, draw out from 2 Corinthians 2:1-11 how the local church lives in Christ to glorify Christ and avoid Satan's traps.

In this second session, Phil Newton speaks to what it is that elders are called to do.

In this third session, Phil Newton speaks to why a man should *not* aspire to or consider serving as an elder in a local church.

In this first session, Phil Newton speaks to why a guy would want to serve the local church as an elder by looking at the New Testament's teaching on aspiring to the role.

Listen to Pastor Brett read the article "The Catechumen Challenge." Find a PDF download of the reading challenge online at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog/2026/02/18/the-catechumen-challenge.

Listen to Pastor Toby remind us of the role of blood that we might be reconciled to God.

Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 2 Corinthians 1:23-24.

Listen to Pastor David's sermon on 2 Corinthians 1:15-22.

The command to love one another is basic for our lives together as Christians. But what is the thing we need most to do that? Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation to love the Lord for more.

Not every drive is made the same. A black asphalt driveway with a little salt will clear up ice pretty quick. And in 2 Corinthians 1:12-14, Paul aims to clear up an icy relationship with the warm foundation of the gospel and the proof of our union in Christ.

In this exhortation, Pastor David addresses present tensions within our city with five premises he and the pastoral team would have us hold to.

If Jesus is risen, we can face all affliction with hope in the God who raises the dead. And we can rejoice all the more as God works deliverance through our prayers. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 for more.

“But when Christ appeared”—would such a short phrase give rise to amazement? Listen to Pastor Toby's exhortation for more.

“Kintsugi” is a Japanese art form that restores broken pottery with gold-infused laquer to make for a more beautiful piece. Through the weakness of being broken and the glory of its restoration, we see an image of a theme in 2 Corinthians. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 for more.

Listen to Pastor David's exhortation to pray as we reflect on Jesus' words to ask, seek, and knock.

On what basis will you be granted access to that enteral rest your soul longs for? Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon has been wisely guiding us to live in light of that sure end. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 for more.

Every creature is inclined towards activity. A squirrel is going to climb trees; there's no stopping it. Humans are designed for good works, and what we do reveals who we worship. Listen to Michael Urch's exhortation to devote yourself to good works for more.

As we near the end of Ecclesiastes, have you been changed? Have you been wisened by this book? Solomon returns to the themes of the uncertainty of life, the judgment of God, and the inevitability of death in the last complete section of his book. Listen to Pastor David's sermon on Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8 for more.

Who did you pursue in Christ-like love in 2025? Who will you so pursue in 2026? Job was a father to the needy and an advocate of the stranger. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation to pursue others in love for more.

Was Christmas a let down? The presents, the meal, the company—did the reality of the holiday not meet the expectation? A similar disappointment leading to disillusionment was experienced by Israel upon their return to the land. It lead to complacency and rampant sin requiring God's prophet Malachi to speak. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on the book of Malachi for more.

The glorious King of Ps 72 ever lives to make intercession (Heb 7:25) ... "May prayer be made for him continually" yet *he* is the one who always lives to make intercession! Listen to the full Christmas Eve service Lessons & Carols celebration.

It is amazing that God would use our words to do good. But we shouldn't set as our target the standard of "God can even use a donkey" but speaking clearly, fittingly, discerningly, and dependently. Listen to Pastor David's exhortation to speak the truth wisely for more.

As Solomon closes in on the conclusion of his wise, goad-like words that comprise this vexing book, he offers wisdom for a weary world. He has made plain that while wisdom cannot deliver you out from under the sun, it still provides the best path forward in navigating life. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20 for more.

There can be no mercy without judgment. One cannot relent from distributing just consequences—one cannot show mercy—without a standard of righteousness or justice. Yet "mercy springs from compassion" and moves us to show mercy without distinction. Listen to Toby Phillips' exhortation for more.

You are, at this very moment, closer to your death than you ever have been before. Each heart beat, eachexhale—it very well may be your last. Man knows not his time, so live like it. There is judgment and mercy here if our darkened hearts will be illuminated by this light. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 9:1-12 for more.

The responsibility of a church to appoint a man to the office of pastor is an important one. In October, the pastoral team recommended that Michael Urch be so appointed. So, Pastor Brett sat down with Michael for a conversation to help you get to know him better.

Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but conflict, the "Christ conflict" that is the scandal of the cross. How quickly we can be, especially with our extended families around the holidays, to shy away from such gospel-oriented conflict. Listen to Pastor Brett's exhortation to pursue conflict for peace.

We need wisdom to navigate life, and so we need to know what wisdom can and cannot do for us. Wisdom remembers its limits, reveres God, and rests in Providence. Listen to Pastor David's sermon on Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 for more.

The responsibility of a church to appoint a man to the office of pastor is an important one. In October, the pastoral team recommended that Toby Phillips be so appointed. So, Pastor Brett sat down with Toby for a conversation to help you get to know him better.

We too often use "hope" to mean "wish" or "desire." However, the Bible holds out hope as a fixed and established reality. As we begin Advent, listen to Michael's exhortation to set your hope fully from 1 Peter 1:13.

As we navigate life under the sun, it can seem like life in the futility and frustration of the vapor is without hope. However, Solomon points us to the glimmer of light that wisdom teaches in the presence of depravity. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 for more.

Knowing — or even affirming — facts about the gospel is not sufficient for our salvation. And apart from the gospel, there is no other way for us to be reunited with our creator. Listen as Pastor David exhorts us to believe in the gospel.

There are few sounds so jarring as raucous laughter at a funeral home. When we make a house of mourning into a house of mirth, we show an unwillingness to look death in the face, and Solomon means to keep us from that foolish way of living. Listen to Pastor Zach's sermon on Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14 for more.

This is a reading of the article "Finding Rest," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

As we come to end of the first half of the book, we are at the bottom, where the fog settles thickest. It feels insulting for Solomon to compare the inability of enjoying wealth with a stillborn child. But if we descend into the valley, we will see that Solomon is showing us there is actually something far worse in the godless search forsatisfaction. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 6:1-9 for more.

When tensions rise, it is easy to carelessly use words like "never" and "always." Thought natural, it is not ok. When we level such accusations like, "You never ..." or "You always ..." we lie to one another. Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation for more.

An old philosopher once said, “More is never enough to the man for whom enough is too little.” We so often want "just a little bit more." It is this dynamic that makes the love of money so dangerous. And it is why this idolatrous love must be struck down so we can deal with money rightly. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 for more.

This is a reading of the article "The State of Theology," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

This is a reading of the article "Vanitas & All Hallows' Eve," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

There are so-called "respectable sins" that are too easily overlooked or dismissed as "peccadillos." One such culturally permissible cover for sin is sports betting. And while sports betting may not explicitly or implicitly always be sin, it is opposed to the moral worldview of the Bible. Listen to Pastor Brett's exhortation to avoid the snare of sports betting for more.

An important observation about the first half of Ecclesiastes is that there is only one imperative. Most of the these chapters is descriptive, observations of Solomon's about life under the sun. Adding to the vapor and shepherding the wind that characterizes life is the futility of envy, loneliness, and fame. Listen to Pastor David's sermon on Ecclesiastes 4:4-16 for more.

This is a reading of the article "Pastoring Home to Home," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

Imagine you are face-to-face with Satan himself as he puts strong temptations before you. How would you defend yourself? Jesus modeled how by making use of memorized Scripture. You can have access to the Word but all the better to have it at the ready in your heart. Listen to Toby Phillips' exhortation to arm yourself for more.

We expect to see wickedness in the gutter of society and among the seedy back alleys, but in the place of justice? It is grievous, yet we can trust God's justice as all will die and stand before him. Listen to Pastor David's sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 for more.

This is a reading of the article "Leaving Well," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

Consider that God rejoices over us, his children, with gladness. Should we not obey Jesus' call to receive children in his name with the same disposition as our Father in Heaven? Listen to Pastor Zach's exhortation for more.

“This thing all things devours / Birds, beasts, trees, flowers / Gnaws iron, bites steel / Grinds hard stones to meal / Slays king, ruins town / And beats mountain down.” Time—we can't escape it. Solomon is leading us to lay down our vain grasp on control and trust in God. Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 for more.