Here you will find two particular tools Westwood members use weekly that enhance our participation in our weekly worship services. First, you will find our weekly Worship Prep Guide that Pastor Gerald puts out each Friday. This guide includes some thoughts to help us all prepare for the message coming up on Sunday. Second, you will find our weekly Life Group Guide. This guide includes a small way to interact with Sunday’s message & passage that helps each of us to reflect upon and internalize God’s Word.

Week of December 2, 2018

This Week’s Passage: Acts 2:42-47
Use this daily guide to help you internalize this week’s passage & message!
 
Sunday [KNOW]:
In a journal, reflect on today’s sermon by finishing any or all of the following:
I never knew…
I was reminded…
A question I still have…
I was challenged…
I was convicted…
A truth I could share is…
 
Monday [KNOW>BE]
Spend some time today doing the following:
  1. Select a portion of this week’s sermon passage to memorize this week.
  2. Write your selected portion and read it to yourself throughout the day today.
 
Tuesday [Be]:
In a journal, spend some time meditating and writing about the following:
  1. Read the sermon passage again.
  2. Write a prayer of response, guided by the sermon passage. (May include adoration, confession/repentance, thanksgiving, petition, etc.).
  3. Write your selected portion of the Scripture several times to aid in memorization.
 
Wednesday [BE>DO]:
Think about this week’s questions for group discussion:
  1. How did this look at the first days of the Spirit-filled church affect the way you view yourself as a member of the Body of Christ?
  2. What are the greatest contemporary challenges we face in imitating this early Christian community?
  3. What is the biggest obstacle standing between you and deep, genuine relationships with other believers?
 
Thursday [DO]:
In a journal, spend some time considering the following:
  1. What insights have you had while internalizing this week’s passage?
  2. How specifically will you seek to apply its truths in your home/workplace/life in general?

Read more...

Week of November 25, 2018

Weekly Discipleship Guide

This Week’s Passage: Acts 2:14-21
Use this daily guide to help you internalize this week’s passage & message!
 
Sunday [KNOW]:
In a journal, reflect on today’s sermon by finishing any or all of the following:
I never knew…
I was reminded…
A question I still have…
I was challenged…
I was convicted…
A truth I could share is…
 
Monday [KNOW>BE]
Spend some time today doing the following:
  1. Select a portion of this week’s sermon passage to memorize this week.
  2. Write your selected portion and read it to yourself throughout the day today.
 
Tuesday [Be]:
In a journal, spend some time meditating and writing about the following:
  1. Read the sermon passage again.
  2. Write a prayer of response, guided by the sermon passage. (May include adoration, confession/repentance, thanksgiving, petition, etc.).
  3. Write your selected portion of the Scripture several times to aid in memorization.
 
Wednesday [BE>DO]:
Think about this week’s questions for group discussion:
  1. The Holy Spirit brought about a dramatic change in Peter’s life.  Consider those changes in his life, and consider your own.
  2. What changes has the Spirit brought about in your life and witness? All those who are filled with the Spirit, like Old Testament prophets, can know God intimately and are called to make him known faithfully.  What Moses longed for (Numbers 11:29) and what Joel predicted – now has arrived. Consider your prophetic role within your circle of influence.  How are you growing in your intimacy with Christ? How are you making Him known?
  3. Consider that Peter’s message at Pentecost is simple, scriptural and Christ-centered. Take some time to recap the gospel message, its scriptural references and key points. Take time in LG to share that message and pray for one another’s boldness in sharing that message.
 
Thursday [DO]:
In a journal, spend some time considering the following:
  1. What insights have you had while internalizing this week’s passage?
  2. How specifically will you seek to apply its truths in your home/workplace/life in general?

Read more...

Weekly Discipleship Guide (Week of November 18, 2018)

This Week’s Passage: Acts 2:1-13
Use this daily guide to help you internalize this week’s passage & message!
 
Sunday [KNOW]:
In a journal, reflect on today’s sermon by finishing any or all of the following:
I never knew…
I was reminded…
A question I still have…
I was challenged…
I was convicted…
A truth I could share is…
 
Monday [KNOW>BE]
Spend some time today doing the following:
  1. Select a portion of this week’s sermon passage to memorize this week.
  2. Write your selected portion and read it to yourself throughout the day today.
 
Tuesday [Be]:
In a journal, spend some time meditating and writing about the following:
  1. Read the sermon passage again.
  2. Write a prayer of response, guided by the sermon passage. (May include adoration, confession/repentance, thanksgiving, petition, etc.).
  3. Write your selected portion of the Scripture several times to aid in memorization.
 
Wednesday [BE>DO]:
Think about this week’s questions for group discussion:
  1. What practical difference does the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit make in your life as you live day to day? What difference should it make?
  2. How does the presence of the Spirit work to sync our hearts with the heart of God? How do you see this reality in your own life
  3. How would you like to grow in your understanding of the person and work of the Spirit? What practical step can you take to do that? How can your group pray?
 
Thursday [DO]:
In a journal, spend some time considering the following:
  1. What insights have you had while internalizing this week’s passage?
  2. How specifically will you seek to apply its truths in your home/workplace/life in general?

Read more...

Weekly Discipleship Guide (Week of November 11, 2018)

This week’s passage: Acts 1:12-26
Use this daily guide to help you internalize this week’s passage & message!
 
Sunday [KNOW]:
In a journal, reflect on today’s sermon by finishing any or all of the following:
I never knew…
I was reminded…
A question I still have…
I was challenged…
I was convicted…
A truth I could share is…
 
Monday [KNOW>BE]
Spend some time today doing the following:
  1. Select a portion of this week’s sermon passage to memorize this week.
  2. Write your selected portion and read it to yourself throughout the day today.
 
Tuesday [Be]:
In a journal, spend some time meditating and writing about the following:
  1. Read the sermon passage again.
  2. Write a prayer of response, guided by the sermon passage. (May include adoration, confession/repentance, thanksgiving, petition, etc.).
  3. Write your selected portion of the Scripture several times to aid in memorization.
 
Wednesday [BE>DO]:
Think about this week’s questions for group discussion:
  1. How has God used a time of waiting your life in a profound way? What was the fruit of that experience?
  2. How did this week’s message help you in understanding how to face times of waiting?
  3. How does participation in various spiritual disciplines help us prepare for times of waiting? What new commitment to these disciplines can you make in this area?
 
Thursday [DO]:
In a journal, spend some time considering the following:
  1. What insights have you had while internalizing this week’s passage?
  2. How specifically will you seek to apply its truths in your home/workplace/life in general?

Read more...

Weekly Discipleship Guide (Week of November 4, 2018)

This week’s passage: Acts 1:1-11
Use this daily guide to help you internalize this week’s passage & message!
 
Sunday [KNOW]:
In a journal, reflect on today’s sermon by finishing any or all of the following:
I never knew…
I was reminded…
A question I still have…
I was challenged…
I was convicted…
A truth I could share is…
 
Monday [KNOW>BE]
Spend some time today doing the following:
  1. Select a portion of this week’s sermon passage to memorize this week.
  2. Write your selected portion and read it to yourself throughout the day today.
 
Tuesday [Be]:
In a journal, spend some time meditating and writing about the following:
  1. Read the sermon passage again.
  2. Write a prayer of response, guided by the sermon passage. (May include adoration, confession/repentance, thanksgiving, petition, etc.).
  3. Write your selected portion of the Scripture several times to aid in memorization.
 
Wednesday [BE>DO]:
Think about this week’s questions for group discussion:
 
  1. Have you typically viewed your life, or your story, as part of the biblical story? How does this shift in perspective change the way you read the Scriptures? The way you view your life?
  2. How do these initial verses in Acts 1 provide a foundation of confidence for those who follow Jesus into his mission?
  3. How does Jesus establish hope as a primary driving focus of those who follow him into his mission in these early verses in Acts? Is hope a distinguishing mark of your life? How does hope drive mission?
 
Thursday [DO]:
In a journal, spend some time considering the following:
  1. What insights have you had while internalizing this week’s passage?
  2. How specifically will you seek to apply its truths in your home/workplace/life in general?

Read more...

Weekly Discipleship Guide (Week of October 28, 2018)

This Week’s Passage? Acts 1:1-11
Use this daily guide to help you internalize this week’s passage & message!
 
Sunday [KNOW]:
In a journal, reflect on today’s sermon by finishing any or all of the following:
I never knew…
I was reminded…
A question I still have…
I was challenged…
I was convicted…
A truth I could share is…
 
Monday [KNOW>BE]
Spend some time today doing the following:
  1. Select a portion of this week’s sermon passage to memorize this week.
  2. Write your selected portion and read it to yourself throughout the day today.
 
Tuesday [Be]:
In a journal, spend some time meditating and writing about the following:
  1. Read the sermon passage again.
  2. Write a prayer of response, guided by the sermon passage. (May include adoration, confession/repentance, thanksgiving, petition, etc.).
  3. Write your selected portion of the Scripture several times to aid in memorization.
 
Wednesday [BE>DO]:
Think about this week’s questions for group discussion:
 
  1. What obstacles or fears might you have to overcome in order to break through with someone in sharing the gospel with them? Or even having a spiritual conversations?
  2. Do you view evangelism as a part of a lifestyle? Why or why not? Do you think we need to view it in this way?
  3. What have you found effective in sharing Jesus with others in the past?
 
Thursday [DO]:
In a journal, spend some time considering the following:
  1. What insights have you had while internalizing this week’s passage?
  2. How specifically will you seek to apply its truths in your home/workplace/life in general?

Read more...