Western Hills Church, Temple, TX

WWJDIHWM #8 The Heart of Revenge

Scripture:  Matthew 5:38-48, Romans 5:8

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  The sermon begins by describing how early “playground rules” shape us to instinctively seek payback when we are wronged, replaying offenses in our minds and wanting revenge rather than simple justice.

Jesus addresses this in the Sermon on the Mount by quoting “eye for an eye” as a limit on escalating retaliation, then pushing further to deal with the deeper human desire for revenge rather than just regulating it.
He teaches counterintuitive practices like turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and giving more than is demanded, showing that followers of Jesus are called to creative, courageous non-retaliation rather than passive weakness.
Jesus then commands love for enemies and prayer for those who persecute us—not merely praying about them but praying for their good—which breaks the internal cycle of hatred and revenge, a pattern ultimately modeled by Jesus himself on the cross.
The sermon concludes that responding this way reflects the character of God, transforms our hearts, and interrupts the cycle of retaliation so we can become peacemakers who truly look like children of our heavenly Father.

WWJDIHWM #7 The Heart of Truth

Scripture:  Matthew 5:33-37

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  The sermon is part of a series asking, “What would Jesus do if he were me?” and emphasizes that Jesus doesn’t just want to inspire us but to transform how we live by putting his teaching into practice. It builds on earlier themes where Jesus moves beyond external behavior like anger and lust to address the heart beneath them, now focusing on how our words reveal what is inside us. The message highlights Jesus’ teaching on honesty, especially his command to let “yes be yes” and “no be no,” rejecting the cultural tendency to manage truth with exaggeration, spin, or selective disclosure. It challenges the audience to recognize how often we bend truth to manage perception, protect image, or gain approval, showing that this reflects a deeper issue of the heart. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to integrity—where words and heart align—so that their lives become trustworthy witnesses to Jesus in a world where truth is often distorted.

WWJDIHWM #6 The Heart of Desire

Scripture:  Matthew 5:27-32, Proverbs 4:23

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: 

The sermon emphasizes that following Jesus means allowing Him to transform not just outward behavior but the inner condition of the heart, especially in difficult areas like lust. Jesus teaches that lust, like anger, begins internally and distorts how we see others by reducing, using, and consuming them rather than honoring them as image-bearers of God. His strong language about removing causes of sin highlights the need for radical honesty and intentional action to guard the heart, not literal self-harm. The speaker encourages practical steps such as limiting harmful inputs, interrupting sinful patterns, and retraining how we view others with dignity and respect. Ultimately, the message points to hope and grace, reminding listeners that transformation is possible through Jesus, who restores hearts and invites all to experience renewal through His forgiveness and love.

Easter Parade

Scripture:  Luke 7:11-15, Luke 24:1-8, Romans 8:11

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  This Easter sermon centers on the story in Luke 7 where Jesus raises a widow’s son, showing His compassion and power over death. The preacher reflects on personal grief and explains how death often feels like it has the “right of way,” shaping our lives with loss and hopelessness. However, when Jesus encounters death, He interrupts it, demonstrating that death does not have the final say. This miracle points forward to the resurrection, where Jesus ultimately defeats death, proving that His power brings life even in the darkest moments. The message encourages listeners to trust in the resurrection power of Jesus, which can restore hope, purpose, and life.

WWJDIHWM #5 The Heart of Anger

Scripture:  Matthew 5:21-26

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: 

The sermon teaches that following Jesus as disciples means moving beyond outward behavior to examine the heart, especially regarding anger. In Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus connects anger with murder, showing that unresolved anger is the root that can lead to deeper harm. The message explains that anger causes us to dismiss, diminish, and even demonize others, quietly corroding our hearts.  Jesus emphasizes that reconciliation with others is essential, even prioritizing it over acts of worship, because our relationship with God is tied to our relationships with people. Ultimately, disciples are called to be peacemakers who release anger, pursue reconciliation, and follow Jesus’ example of forgiveness—even in the face of deep hurt.

 

 

WWJDIHWM #4 The Heart of the Matter

This sermon explains that Jesus did not come to abolish God’s law but to fulfill it, calling people to a deeper kind of righteousness than mere rule-following. The speaker contrasts two extremes—legalism and careless reliance on grace—and shows that Jesus rejects both in favor of true heart transformation. Using teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, the message emphasizes that righteousness is not just about outward behavior but about the inner condition of the heart. Jesus teaches that sins like anger, lust, and dishonesty begin internally, and real obedience means surrendering those inner attitudes, not just managing external actions. Ultimately, the sermon calls listeners to let Jesus transform their hearts fully, resulting in lives and relationships that reflect genuine, surrendered devotion to God.

WWJDIHWM #3 UnMistakably Different

Scripture:  Matthew 5:13-16

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:13–16 that his followers are already the salt of the earth and the light of the world, meaning their identity and purpose are to influence the world for God. Salt enhances and preserves, while light exposes and guides, so Christians are meant to positively affect the environments where they live, work, and relate with others. Instead of withdrawing from the world or fully conforming to it, Jesus calls his followers to be distinct but not distant, maintaining close relationships while living by different values. Believers remain effective when they stay rooted in Jesus’ teaching—especially the Sermon on the Mount—so their lives are not diluted by cultural influences. Ultimately, living as salt and light should lead others to see good deeds and glorify God, showing the world a clearer picture of Him.

 

 

 

WWJDIHWM #2 Which Blessed is Best

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-12

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary

• The sermon explains that many people envy others because they appear farther ahead in the “parade of life,” possessing success, wealth, or influence that our culture labels as the blessed life.

• Jesus challenges this cultural definition in the Beatitudes, teaching that the truly blessed are not the powerful or successful but those who are humble, dependent on God, merciful, pure in heart, and even those who face persecution.

• In Jesus’ teaching, being blessed does not mean being lucky, comfortable, or free from pain; it means living under the favor of God and being aligned with His kingdom.

• True blessing comes from becoming the kind of person Jesus describes—someone who seeks righteousness, makes peace, shows mercy, and reflects the character of Christ.

As believers practice the way of Jesus, they not only experience God’s blessing but also become a blessing to others, showing the world that the truly blessed life is the one that looks like Jesus.

WWJDIHWH #1 Practicing What He Preached

Scripture:  Matthew 5-7

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  The message teaches that it is easy to admire someone’s abilities or character without committing to the discipline required to become like them, and the same can happen in our relationship with Jesus. The challenge is this: Don't simply admire Jesus but truly follow Him by putting His teachings into practice. Using the Sermon on the Mount, Scott highlights Jesus’ contrasts between the narrow and wide roads, good and bad trees, true and false disciples, and houses built on rock versus sand. These contrasts emphasize that genuine discipleship is intentional, produces visible fruit, and is rooted in a real relationship with Jesus rather than outward religious performance. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to build their lives on Jesus’ teachings so they can withstand life’s storms and live as true apprentices of their rabbi.

Best Gift Ever #4

Scripture:  John 14:15-17,Romans 8:16,Ephesians 1:13,John 16:14,Acts 1:8,Acts 4:13

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: This sermon concludes a series on the Holy Spirit by emphasizing that it is impossible to fully follow Jesus without the Spirit’s presence actively connecting us to Him. Drawing from Gospel of John chapters 14–16, the message explains that the Holy Spirit shapes our obedience through love, secures our belonging with permanence, and reveals Christ’s mission through our lives. Rather than striving to earn God’s approval, believers are “sign, sealed, and sent,” living from a secure relationship marked by the Spirit’s lasting presence. Referencing passages like Romans 8 and Ephesians 1, the sermon reminds listeners that the Spirit testifies to their identity as God’s children and seals them as His own. Ultimately, Christians are called not to perform or live anxiously, but to rest in the Spirit’s connection to Christ—allowing His life to shape their obedience, steady their hearts, and shine through them even in suffering.