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 September 8, 2019

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 does this week’s passage/message help us understand what gospel confidence looks like for a believer living in exile? How does that confidence shape how we live in and react to the culture around us? How is your gospel confidence in light of what you’ve learned?
  2. Two vitally important aspects of walking with the Lord as an exile is abiding in the Word and consistent confession. How are you implementing these two aspects in your own life? Is it time for a renewed commitment in these areas?
  3. In light of Sunday’s message, can you identify anything in your own life that prevents you from treasuring Christ supremely? Can you say that Jesus is getting the best of your focus, attention, and affections? What stands in the way of that?
 
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?

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Week of August 18, 2019

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 given much thought to what has shaped your current worldview? If you were to take some time to consider that, what would you expect to find? How would it look differently if it were more biblically shaped?
  2. How did this week’s passage and message help you understand what your posture toward the surrounding culture should look like? What are you compelled to do in response?
  3. Why is it important to not only have a solid understanding of the gospel, but also a solid understanding of the audience (whether 1 person or more) when attempting to share the message of the gospel with them?
 
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 May 26, 2019

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 is your greatest obstacle to participating in personal evangelism? Does this week’s passage/message address that fear? If so, how?
  2. How might the scenario have played out differently in this week’s passage if Barnabas and Paul had been man-centered instead of God-centered?
  3. Have you had the opportunity to share the gospel at all with your “one?” How can your group continue to pray as you seek to share with them?
 
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 April 7, 2019

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. Read Romans 3:21-26 together. In what two ways are we instructed that there is no distinction for all people (note especially v. 23 & 24). How should this change the way we live toward others?
  2. How does the practice of gospel hospitality breakdown our prejudices and aid in putting to death the sin of partiality? How does it do these things in Peter’s life in this week’s passage?
  3. Why is the work we see God doing in the heart of Peter and his “circumcised” friends in v. 44-48 so important?  Have you experienced such a work in your own heart when you have worshipped or fellowshipped with believers from other cultures or backgrounds?
 
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 March 24, 2019

This Week’s Passage: Acts 9:31
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 week’s passage/message help you gain a better understanding of meaningful church membership? A better understanding of the Spirit’s presence and power?
  2. In light of the abiding presence of the Spirit in your life, what action step can you commit to take as a response for each of the points from Sunday’s sermon?
  3. From our discussion on Sunday, how biblical is your understanding of peace and comfort? In what ways can you at times mis-define or mis-understand these ideas? How can this affect our lives and walk of faith?
 
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 February 24, 2019

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 would you recognize God’s sovereignty in where he has placed you and around whom he has placed you in your life? In what areas of your life do you need to recognize this and seek to align your life with God’s big story
  2. Read Luke 9:52-56 and consider how John’s heart for the Samaritans has changed in Acts 8. What has been the key to this change? What can we learn about how this kind of love is cultivated within our own hearts?
  3. How does the story about Simon demonstrate the necessity of repentance in our response to the gospel? What does it teach us about repentance? What can it teach us about evangelism?
 
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...