Life on the West Side

Everyone I know longs for genuine happiness, lasting peace, real beauty, ultimate purpose, and honest, sincere and overwhelming love. I want you to know that Jesus came so that you can experience rich, abundant life and overwhelming love! Join me, Nathan Guy, preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, as I share my passion for Jesus Christ in weekly teachings, conduct exciting interviews with other ministers, authors and church leaders, and discuss things learned along the way. Each episode will offer a recent sermon or interview with inspiring guests intended to encourage you in your faith formation as disciples of Jesus Christ. In addition, I will link to further resources such as a discussion guide, points to ponder, and recommended resources. You can watch these sermons and find more resources at nathanguy.com, follow me @nathanpguy and subscribe to my weekly e-mail at nathanguy.substack.com.

All Episodes

Life on the West Side

Soil

September 03, 2022 • Nathan Guy • Season 2 • Episode 14

Before God, by His Spirit, can build us up, God, by His Spirit, must break us down. The man bowed his head to pray over me. “Lord," he began, "I pray that you will break in him what needs to be broken.” It's a line from Psalm 51. I didn’t know that verse at the time. What I thought was “what arrogance!” It would be years later before that story overcame my pride, and I was able to stand in front of the mirror and say “what arrogance!”

I wasn’t ready. I was trying to turn a story about God into a story about me…and it made me delight in all that God despises—like keeping records of wrongs; it made me blind to my own selfish ambition which is listed as a major sin alongside slave trading. It made me all mouth and no ears, even though the Bible says a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be quick to listen and slow to speak. And it caused me to see people as projects and scorecards rather than people made in the image of God.

To say it another way, it was all word, and no spirit. It was strength of will, that turned into will worship. It’s what Paul is upset about when he sees it. My friend chose to see me not as an annoying blip on his screen, but a person to be loved and taught. That was over a quarter of a century ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. And it serves as a defining moment in my life.

The sermon today is titled "Soil." It is the last installment in our "Fruit of the Spirit" Series. The Scripture reading is from Psalm 51:8-10. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 21, 2022. These lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Grow: Spiritual Formation.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

I'd love to connect with you!

Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.
Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.
Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter/tiktok)
Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

---

In partnership with:

People on this episode

Nathan Guy

Host