WestGate Church Teaching WestGate Church

In our modern world that elevates individualism, a truth that often goes entirely missing is just how much our lives can impact other people. We affect one another far more than we’d like to admit. And the modern mantra of “privatism” which says “mind your own business and don’t interfere with other people and the way they choose to live their lives” sounds good, but it doesn’t work in real life. And often it’s cowardice, or worse, relational abdication. But how do we proceed to become people, like Jesus, who are full of both “grace” and “truth”? Jay Kim stops by to talk about that, and give some helpful advice for when situations arise when it’s difficult to do both.

Speakers: David Tieche + Jay Kim

Truly complex problems require us to be people committed to both patient love (grace) but also making sure that we arrive at the correct answer (truth). This is difficult, but the alternative is not good. As author Randy Alcorn once wrote, “Truth without grace breeds self-righteous legalism…grace without truth breeds moral indifference.” But in the Scriptures, we see that Jesus isn’t full of grace OR truth; He is full of grace AND truth. This is the vision set before us—not arbitrary or circumstantial decision-making between grace OR truth but a commitment to live at the intersection of grace AND truth.








SPEAKERS:
Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):
John 4:5-18

Naseem Khalili joins David Tieche for a fun and lively discussion about singleness, desire and what to do when life doesn’t work out like you’d dreamed. We talk about how unfulfilled longings can lead to deep disappointment with life - and even with God. We talk about how the Psalms of Lament can help pave the way for healing. And Naseem shares some practical things that married folks can do to prevent singles from feeling “less than” or like “second-class citizens.”

Speakers: David Tieche + Naseem Khalili

Being single in a world that idolizes romantic love - and often sends messages that life really only begins once you’ve met your soulmate - can often make navigating this season of life challenging. And the fact is, whether you’re single or not - having unmet or unrealizead dreams and desires is painful. And the longer you’re in longing, the more difficult it gets. Naseem Khalili shares about her journey in singleness, and shares some helpful lessons from Scripture that teach us not let disappointment dictate our belief in the Lord, but how to let our belief in the Lord determine how we process disappointment.






SPEAKERS:
Naseem Khalili (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):
Genesis 1

Our guest, Joshua Ryan Butler, joins David Tieche for a frank and pointed discussion about sex and gender featuring questions from our congregation. If the Creation story shows how the pairing of male and female (marriage) reflects the intended whole of Creation, then what do single people reflect? Are they incomplete? A sun without a moon? If everyone is “fearfully and wonderfully” made - then explain people with same-sex attraction? Did God make them “wrong?” Wouldn’t that make God cruel for giving SSA people a sexual attraction they can’t fulfill according to God’s law? Are churches that are not affirming more hostile (in some way) to the LBGTQ+ community? Also how should Christians approach people who identify as transexual, intersexual or asexual? We dig into these topics and more.

Speakers: David Tieche + Joshua Ryan Butler

In recent years, the question of gender and biological sex - not someone’s sexuality or sexual attraction but a person’s internal sense of self and the social expression of that - has become a cultural flashpoint. What does it mean to be “male” or “female”? Is it fixed, or chosen by an individual? Does a person’s biological sex even matter? And what does God think about all this? In this talk, author and pastor Joshua Ryan Butler delves into the theology of maleness and femaleness found in the Creation story in Genesis to bring clarity to this confusing and layered topic.




SPEAKERS:
Joshua Ryan Butler (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):
Genesis 1



SPEAKERS:
Jay Kim (Saratoga), video (South Hills)

Bible Passage(s):
Genesis 1