Westside Podcast

Westside Community Church
  • 5.0 (11)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This is the official weekly podcast of Westside Community Church in Beaverton, Oregon. We’re made up of a variety of people who like to keep it real, don’t take themselves too seriously and who want to get the most out of life.  At Westside, we welcome people from all walks of life – in fact, there are NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED! We strive to be a "safe place to investigate faith" so people can come as they are and be themselves while they explore who Jesus is, find friends and make a difference.   We post content here that is practical, helpful, and relevant to real life. We hope you'll find the inspiration, motivation and help to grow. #help #hope #practical #jesus #growth #spiritualgrowth #nojudgment

  1. Stop Giving God Your Leftovers — He's Asking for What's in the Safe

    9H AGO

    Stop Giving God Your Leftovers — He's Asking for What's in the Safe

    Send us Fan Mail Every parent knows the pre-Christmas closet clean out — toss the old stuff, make room for the new. It feels generous. But what if that same instinct is quietly shaping the way we give to God? In this episode of Midweek Motivation, we take an honest look at what our sacrifices actually reveal about our hearts — and why God isn't after what we were planning to get rid of anyway. Discover: The two very different heart postures behind the classic closet clean outWhat Abel and Cain's offerings in Genesis 4 reveal about sacrifice and the heartWhy the widow's two coins in Mark 12 is the ultimate "toy chest vs. closet" momentThe difference between giving from your closet versus unlocking your safeA practical, personal audit of what God might actually be asking you to give — time, money, gifts, relationships, control, and moreWhy some of the hardest sacrifices live inside wounds — and what to do with that It's easy to give what we're ready to let go of. It costs us nothing — and deep down, we know it. But real sacrifice? That's what's locked in the safe. The thing you're protecting with everything you have because it matters. Your time, your plans, your relationships, your reputation, your need for control. God's not asking for your clutter. He's asking for your best. And the invitation today is to pause, pray, and ask Him honestly — what's He calling you to unlock? Key Takeaways: God sees the heart behind the gift — not just the gift itselfFirst and best is the standard Abel modeled, and it still applies todayGiving from abundance is easy; giving from sacrifice is what honors GodThe "safe" represents whatever you're holding onto most tightly — that might be exactly what God is asking forThis applies to more than money: time, gifts, relationships, rest, plans, reputation, and rights all countSurrender isn't loss — it's an invitation for God to do more than you could imagine Question for you to think about: What's in your safe right now — and what would it look like to unlock it and offer it to God? If this episode challenged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and subscribe so you never miss a new episode. Drop a comment below: What's one area where God is calling you to give your best instead of your leftovers? LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx #MidweekMotivation #ChristianPodcast #Sacrifice #Generosity #FaithInAction #WestsideCommunitychurch #GivingToGod #ChristianLiving #BiblicalGenerosity #Genesis4 #OpenHanded #SpiritualGrowth #Stewardship #JesusFollower #Surrender

    12 min
  2. Chain Reaction | The Time is Now

    3D AGO

    Chain Reaction | The Time is Now

    Send us Fan Mail Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about the chain reaction.  #time #now #thetimeisnow #godstiming #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today. LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

    34 min
  3. Stop Painting Doorways on Brick Walls: How to Discern God's Will & Recognize an Open Door

    MAY 13

    Stop Painting Doorways on Brick Walls: How to Discern God's Will & Recognize an Open Door

    Send us Fan Mail What do you do when you're standing in front of a decision and you're not sure if it's God opening a door — or if you're forcing one open yourself? In this episode, Pastor Jess and Pastor Gabe unpack a framework for discerning God's will that has shaped Westside's biggest current decision as a church, and works just as well for parenting, marriage, career, and the everyday moments where you're asking, "Is this from the Lord, or is this just me?" Discover: The "painted doorway on a brick wall" picture and what it reveals about forcing God's handThe 5-filter framework for discernment: Word, Spirit, Counsel, Circumstances, Spiritual UnityWhy God's will never contradicts God's Word — and why that has to be filter number oneHow to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit's confirmation and His convictionThe "rudder vs. rowing against the current" picture for Spirit-led livingWhy every believer needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in their cornerThe "squeeze the lime" principle — stewarding what you already have before asking for moreWhy favorable circumstances alone aren't enough to confirm an open doorHow spiritual unity protects big decisions in marriage, family, and the churchReal examples from parenting school choices, waiting on a spouse, and Westside's current building decisionMost of us have tried to muscle our way through a wall we painted to look like a door. It hurts, it doesn't work, and it leaves us exhausted. The good news is that God isn't hiding His will from you. He's already given you His Word, His Spirit, godly people, real-life circumstances, and a community to walk with. When you slow down enough to let those five things speak together, what felt foggy starts to feel clear — and when an actual door opens, you'll recognize it because you won't have to break it down. Key Takeaways: God's will never contradicts God's Word — if it fails filter one, you don't pass goThe Holy Spirit is your rudder; peace and dissonance both have something to teach youCounsel that never challenges you isn't counsel — it's an echo chamberDon't mistake favorable circumstances for confirmation; run them through the other filters firstSteward what's already in your hand before you ask God for moreWhen the wind is in the sail, you know it — stop trying to blow into your own sailsQuestion for you to think about: What's a decision in front of you right now where you've been forcing a door — and what would change if you ran it through all five filters this week? Calls to Action: Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episodeDrop a comment with the decision you're discerning right now — we'll pray for youShare this with someone in a season of big decisionsConnect with us at Westside Community ChurchLINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx #MidweekMotivation #WestsideCommunityChurch #GodsWill #Discernment #OpenDoors #HolySpirit #ChristianPodcast #FaithDecisions #HearingGod #ChristianLiving #BiblicalWisdom #WalkingWithGod #ChristianCommunity #FaithAndLife #SurrenderToGod

    44 min
  4. Step Through the Door | The Time is Now

    MAY 11

    Step Through the Door | The Time is Now

    Send us Fan Mail Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about Stepping Through the Door.  #time #now #thetimeisnow #godstiming #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today. LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

    36 min
  5. Hearing God's Voice, Recognizing His Nudges & Why Most People Miss the Moment

    MAY 6

    Hearing God's Voice, Recognizing His Nudges & Why Most People Miss the Moment

    Send us Fan Mail What if the most important thing that was supposed to happen this week… didn't? Not because God didn't show up — but because you didn't recognize the moment when He did. In this week's Midweek Motivation, Jess sits down with Rita — former atheist of 13 years and now one of the most spiritually tuned-in people you'll meet — for a powerful, honest conversation about hearing God's voice, stepping into His nudges, and what happens when we explain them away. Discover: How a 13-year atheist heard God's voice for the first time on an ordinary Sunday morningWhy knowing Scripture is the foundation for recognizing God's voiceThe "quiet persistence" test — the clearest sign God is actually speakingHow to tell the difference between God's nudge and your own thoughtsWhy intellectualizing and debating pushes you away from obedienceA real-time story of a late-night call that came straight from the Holy SpiritThe Esther 4:14 principle and what "such a time as this" really meansThe simplest prayer for hearing God: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening"Reflection paragraph: God is still speaking. He still nudges. He still calls ordinary people into extraordinary moments. The question was never whether He's talking — the question is whether we're listening, and whether we'll move when He moves us. Some of the most important assignments of your life are hiding behind a quiet thought you keep brushing off. Don't explain it away. Stay in the Word, stay close, and when the nudge comes — go. Key Takeaways: God's voice always lines up with His Word and His character — no exceptionsFamiliarity is everything; you recognize the voice you spend time withQuiet persistence is one of the clearest signs God is speakingDebating and "logicking it out" is how we lose the momentDon't ask "why me?" — God chose you because you're uniquely positioned for thisEven if you miss the nudge, God will still work. But you miss the privilege of being used.The simplest response you can give is: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening" — and then actually listenQuestion for you to think about: When was the last time you felt a quiet, persistent nudge from God — and what did you actually do with it? Calls to Action: If this conversation hit you, do three things: hit subscribe so you never miss an episode, share this with one person who needs to hear it, and drop a comment telling us about a time you obeyed (or missed) a nudge from God. We read every one. LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/giveSTAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx#MidweekMotivation #WestsideCommunityChurch #HearingGodsVoice #HolySpirit #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #SpiritualDiscernment #ChristianDiscipleship #SuchATimeAsThis #SpeakLord #ChristianGrowth #FaithInAction #PortlandChurch #JesusFollower #BiblicalTeaching

    26 min
  6. For Such a Time as This | The Time is Now

    MAY 4

    For Such a Time as This | The Time is Now

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Westside! Engage in the chat and follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources Join us as Gabe Kolstad and Ken Wooten bring us a message about Such a Time as This.  #time #now #thetimeisnow #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad #kenwooten Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts, or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today. LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

    39 min
  7. Having a Baby in a Broken World, Stewardship, and Why You Need to Live for Your Kids (Not Just Die for Them)

    APR 29

    Having a Baby in a Broken World, Stewardship, and Why You Need to Live for Your Kids (Not Just Die for Them)

    Send us Fan Mail Caleb and Maria are in their 20s, expecting their first baby, and asking the question every parent eventually has to face: why bring a kid into a world that feels this broken? Jess sits down with them to talk about stewardship, the mindset shift before baby arrives, and why Christians can't afford to check out of the world we've been entrusted with. Discover: Why this generation is course-correcting away from idolizing the world and back toward JesusHow becoming a parent magnifies (instead of dampens) your call to change the worldThe "live for them, not just die for them" reframe that's reshaping how Caleb is preparing for fatherhoodHow Caleb's grandparents broke a generational cycle of abuse — and the one agreement they made that changed everythingWhy sponsoring a child you'll never meet is biblical stewardship in actionPractical first steps for anyone who wants to make a difference but has no idea where to startWhat it looks like to set your eyes on things above while still showing up for things belowReflection: You don't have to be expecting a baby to feel the weight of this conversation. Every one of us has been entrusted with something — a marriage, a job, a season, an opportunity — and stewardship just means returning it better than we got it. The kingdom of heaven isn't only a future hope; it's something we get to participate in building right now. The question isn't whether you have enough to give. The question is whether you're willing to start. Key Takeaways: Stewardship starts with remembering nothing you have is actually yours — it's been entrusted to you"You say you'd die for them, but would you live for them?" — the daily decision matters more than the dramatic oneYou don't need a perfect family lineage to be a great parent; use what you didn't like as fuelThe harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few — rest matters, but so does urgency"Try the different flavors of ice cream" — you don't have to know your exact calling to take the first stepVolunteering reorients your heart posture from inward to outward, every single timeQuestion for you to think about: Would you live for the people you say you'd die for? Calls to Action: If this episode hit, subscribe so you don't miss what's coming. Drop a comment with the moment that landed for you. Share it with the parent, the expecting couple, or the friend who needs to hear it. And if you're in the Portland area, come visit Westside this weekend — we'd love to meet you. LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/giveSTAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx#MidweekMotivation #WestsideCommunityChurch #ChristianParenting #FaithAndFamily #Stewardship #KingdomOfHeaven #FirstTimeParents #ChristianPodcast #FaithForward #ExpectingParents #ChristianMarriage #BiblicalParenting #LiveForJesus #PortlandChurch #ChristianMotivation

    31 min
  8. On Earth As It Is In Heaven | Come Alive

    APR 27

    On Earth As It Is In Heaven | Come Alive

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Westside! Engage in the chat and Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about On Earth As It Is In Heaven. #heaven #comealive #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today. LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

    36 min
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About

This is the official weekly podcast of Westside Community Church in Beaverton, Oregon. We’re made up of a variety of people who like to keep it real, don’t take themselves too seriously and who want to get the most out of life.  At Westside, we welcome people from all walks of life – in fact, there are NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED! We strive to be a "safe place to investigate faith" so people can come as they are and be themselves while they explore who Jesus is, find friends and make a difference.   We post content here that is practical, helpful, and relevant to real life. We hope you'll find the inspiration, motivation and help to grow. #help #hope #practical #jesus #growth #spiritualgrowth #nojudgment

Information

  • Creator
    Westside Community Church
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    488
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Westside Podcast
  • Show Website
    Westside Podcast