Western Hills Church, Temple, TX

Chapter 13: Word to the Wise

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 1 Kings 4:29-34, James 1:5, Proverbs 1:7, 1 Kings 11:1-4, Hebrews 12:1

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  The sermon emphasizes the journey of wisdom and obedience to God, using the story of Solomon as a central theme. It explores how Solomon, despite his initial humility and prayer for a "listening heart," eventually fell into disobedience, influenced by distractions and external pressures. The message underscores that true wisdom begins with submission to God's will and the acknowledgment that human understanding is limited. Solomon's rise and fall illustrate the importance of remaining steadfast in faith and obedience throughout life. The sermon concludes by pointing to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of wisdom and a perfect King, encouraging believers to seek God's wisdom daily and to finish their spiritual race strong, regardless of scars or challenges.

Chapter 12: King of HEARTS

Scripture:  2 Samuel 11-12

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: This sermon discusses King David's downfall, emphasizing the perils of unchecked sin and the need for repentance. David's story, involving Bathsheba and Uriah, illustrates how sin begins subtly but can grow into significant consequences when left unaddressed. The speaker draws parallels to modern struggles, highlighting the importance of acknowledging sin and seeking forgiveness rather than hiding or rationalizing it. Nathan's confrontation with David serves as a reminder of the necessity of accountability and openness to correction. Ultimately, the sermon underscores God's transformative grace, offering not only forgiveness but a renewed heart through Christ, who bore the consequences of humanity's sins on the cross.

Chapter 11: Shepherd to King

Scripture:  1 Samuel 17

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: Scott Meyer, Lead Minister, brings a message from Chapter 11 of THE STORY. The sermon revolves around the story of David and Goliath as a metaphor for faith, courage, and trust in God during life's battles. Scott emphasizes that every battle we face, no matter how daunting, is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His faithfulness, as seen in David's trust in God despite overwhelming odds. David's victory is not just about courage but about reliance on God's past faithfulness to face present challenges, inspiring others to trust in God as well. The ultimate message compares David to Jesus, identifying Jesus as the "Shepherd King" who faces and defeats the greatest enemies—sin and death—on behalf of humanity. Seeing Jesus as the source of victory in our life's battles and sharing our faith stories is inspiring and uplifting to others as all of us seek to trust God completely.

Chapter 10: Longing and Leaning

Scripture:  1 Samuel 1:1-20; 1 Samuel 8:4-7; 1 Samuel 8:10-18

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  This sermon explores themes of prayer, faith, and waiting on God through the story of Hannah in the Bible. Hannah, who longed for a child, persistently prayed to God even as years passed without an answer, demonstrating the importance of leaning into God rather than giving up when prayers seem unanswered. Scott encourages listeners to hold onto faith and embrace God's peace while waiting for His provision, emphasizing that peace can come even before answers do. The sermon also contrasts Hannah's faithful waiting with Israel's demand for an earthly king, illustrating how wanting immediate answers in our lives can lead to unintended consequences. Ultimately, the message urges believers to stay close to God during periods of waiting, trusting in His presence and the Holy Spirit’s intercession in times of need.

Chapter 9: More Than Just a Love Story

Scripture:  Book of Ruth

Speaker:  Scott Seela

Summary: The sermon is a retelling of the story of Ruth, highlighting her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi and her faith in God. When Naomi loses her husband and sons in Moab, she decides to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth pledges to stay by her side, adopting Naomi’s people and God. In Bethlehem, Ruth meets Boaz, who notices her dedication and eventually fulfills the role of "guardian redeemer," ensuring Ruth and Naomi’s welfare by marrying Ruth. The story emphasizes living out faith in daily life, like Boaz, who acts with integrity and kindness in a selfish world. Ultimately, Boaz and Ruth's faithfulness leads to a legacy culminating in King David, reminding listeners to honor God through everyday acts, trusting that their impact will be seen, if not now, then in eternity.

Chapter 8: Rebel, Repent, Repeat

Scripture:  Judges 2:10-16, Judges 10:16, Judges 2:10, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Judges 21:25, Romans 5:8

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: This sermon emphasizes the cycle of Israel's rebellion, repentance, and deliverance in the Book of Judges. It begins by illustrating how Israel repeatedly turns away from God, faces oppression, and then cries out for rescue, only to fall back into idolatry once a judge dies. Scott warns that neglecting God's instructions can lead to decay and emphasizes the importance of passing faith to the next generation. He draws a parallel to modern-day idolatry, urging believers to put their hope in Jesus rather than political systems or personal idols. The sermon concludes by affirming Jesus as the ultimate, perfect judge who breaks this cycle by shedding His own blood for our deliverance.

Chapter 7: Premises and Promises

Scripture:  Joshua 3:1-9; Joshua 3:15-16; Proverbs3:5-6; Matthew  6:33; Philippians 4:6-7; Joshua 1:6; Joshua 2:9-11; Romans 8:37-39

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: The sermon focuses on the theme of stepping out in faith to claim the promises of God. Scott begins by telling the story of a man who lost access to his cryptocurrency, using it as a metaphor for how we sometimes struggle to access what God has promised us. The sermon is centered around the Israelites entering the Promised Land in the book of Joshua, emphasizing that while God promised them the land, they had to take action, such as crossing the Jordan River and conquering Jericho, to claim it. The concept of "walking out the premise" is introduced, which means that in order to receive God's promises, we must take steps of faith. Scott also highlights Rahab's faith and how she grasped God's promise, leading to her significant role in biblical history, and concludes by encouraging listeners to trust in God's promises and be courageous in their battles.

Chapter 6: Wandering and Whining

Scripture:  Numbers 11:4-6;Numbers 14:2-4;Numbers 14:26-35;Numbers 21:4-9;    John 3:14-15

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary: As the Israelites continue their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, they face a time of wandering and complaining. Their frustrations are very much like our own when we take a family road trip. The grumbling begins soon after the departure. The Israelites grumbled despite God’s provision of numerous blessings like the manna from heaven. They forgot as we often do that God not only delivers us from something (like the Israelites slavery in Egypt) but also into something greater, though this process often involves difficult "wilderness" periods of preparation and transformation. Our decision must be to trust in God's plan, even when the journey feels long or challenging. God forms and prepares His people through hardships. Our response to our difficulties is to remind ourselves that we have received the greatest gift, redemption through Jesus remembering that he succeeded in the wilderness where humanity often fails.

Chapter 5: Where is God?

Scripture: Exodus 24:8;Exodus 25:8;Genesis 34:6-7;Exodus 34:10;Exodus 34:14;Exodus 40:34-35;John 1:14;I Corinthians 3:16;Ephesians 1:13-14

Speaker:  Justin Hammond, Youth Minister

Summary:  Justin Hammond, Youth Minister, brings a message from Chapter 5 of THE STORY. This message is focused on the theme of God’s presence and faithfulness, using the narrative of the Israelites in Exodus as a foundation. It begins by reflecting on the journey of the Israelites, especially in Exodus 24-25, and how God made a covenant with them through Moses, despite their lack of prior faithfulness or action. God is faithful even in the face of the Israelites’ failure. After their idol worship, God still promises to dwell with them, symbolized by the construction of the Tabernacle. Justin relates this to the New Testament, where God's presence is manifested in the form of Jesus Christ, and later, the Holy Spirit, which now dwells in believers. Justin encourages patience and trust in God's timing and knowing that God is always present, even if His actions are not immediately clear.

Chapter 4: Who is God?

Scripture:  Exodus 2:7-10, Exodus 3:13-14, Exodus 5:2, Exodus 6:6-8, Exodus 4:22-23, Exodus 12:12-13, Exodus 7:12, I Corinthians 5:7, Ephesians 1:7

Speaker:  Scott Meyer

Summary:  The sermon reflects on the identity of God and His power to deliver His people, focusing on the story of Moses and the Exodus. It begins by addressing the question, "Who is God?" and explains that God consistently reveals Himself through His actions, as seen in Joseph’s story and later in Moses' life. Moses is delivered from his own self-doubt and then tasked with delivering the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The sermon emphasizes how God's miracles, including the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, answered Pharaoh's challenge, "Who is the Lord?" Finally, the sermon connects the Exodus to Jesus' sacrifice, portraying Christ as the ultimate Passover Lamb, bringing redemption and deliverance to all.