Advent #2: Hope and Exception: Brokenness to Beauty

Navigating the media and culture through the lens of faith. Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20220925_BrettU.pdf

Paul wrote to a first century church who’s faith and love was commendable. Yet he anticipated God was still up to more in them. (Eph. 3:14-21) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20220904_DavidM.pdf

Who doesn't want to enter the day, relationship, or challenge filled rather than empty. There's this incredible promise the early Christians experienced. God wants to fill you with his own fullness. Explore with us what this means and steps to make room for it. (Ephesians 3:18-19) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20220911_DavidM.pdf

Who doesn't want to be strong... to the core? The guts of Paul's prayer for this early church is in God's interior work in them - the very presence and power of Jesus. (Ephesians 3:16-17) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20220918_DavidM.pdf

When something breaks, do you see the potential for beauty again? God does! Advent reminds that God brings beauty out of brokenness. He promises it fully in the future, yet we can experience part of it today. (Isaiah 11:1-10) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20251207_DavidM.pdf

We start the season of ADVENT learning from Isaiah's vision of God's renewed future. If God has a promised future where all things are made right, how do we wait and walk in hope today? (Isaiah 2:1-5) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20251130_DavidM.pdf

Speaker Daniel Decary // Luke 24:13-36 Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20251123_DavidM.pdf

If God owns it all and we steward it all, where does our money fit in? We explore how the early church not only managed their money for themselves but saw God provide through them for his mission and others. It led them to a life of enrichment - something our modern use of money rarely gets us to. (2 Corinthians 9:1-15) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20251116_DavidM.pdf

If God owns it all, how do we steward what he gives us?We learn from Jesus how to steward what he entrusts to us in all aspects of life. It fits into how we participate in God's creation mandate and gospel mission. (Matthew 25:14-30) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20251109_DavidM.pdf

When God called Israel to live the life he envisioned for them, he rooted them in stewardship, the idea that all things are his and we're created to steward them - develop and enjoy yet holding lightly. (Deuteronomy 10:12-22) Our message notes can be found here http://www.gatheringcafe.com/thewestsidegathering/podcasts/WSGmsg20251102_DavidM.pdf