Westwinds Teaching

This week, Pastor Phil unpacks Paul’s words in Galatians about freedom and what it means to live by the Spirit instead of falling back into performance or rule-keeping. He draws on Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, showing how the Spirit is like the wind—unseen, unpredictable, but always present. Living in the Spirit isn’t about striving harder or checking religious boxes. It’s about awakening to God’s presence, opening our spiritual eyes and ears, and letting His love shape our lives.

We work so hard to prove we’re “good enough”—to God, to others, to ourselves. But in Galatians, Paul says something radical: “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.” Not freedom so you can do more. Not freedom so you can earn it. Just… freedom.This message takes on perfectionism, performance-based faith, and our obsession with keeping all the plates spinning. You’ll hear why real freedom isn’t found in trying harder—it’s found in bringing your whole self, even the messy parts, to Jesus… and resting in the love that’s already yours.

We spend so much of life trying to earn our place.But in Galatians 3, Paul reminds us that God’s promise isn’t something we achieve—it’s something we receive. Before there were rules, before there was pressure to perform, there was a promise. And that promise still stands.This message invites us to let go of striving and step into the kind of grace that can’t be earned—but can change everything.

It’s human nature to want to know who’s in and who’s out.In Galatians, Paul confronts our instinct to build boundaries—religious systems, identity markers, and insider codes that make us feel safe. But Jesus didn’t come to reinforce the old walls. He came to tear them down. This message explores why we keep adding rules to a gospel that’s already good news—and what it means to live in the freedom of Jesus instead.Simple faith isn’t small faith. It’s real faith.

What was the law ever really for?In this message, Pastor Phil walks us through one of Paul’s boldest arguments in Galatians—that the law was never the goal. It was a guardian, a teacher, even a protector. But eventually, it gave way to something more powerful: love. We explore how Jesus fulfilled the law not by abolishing it, but by revealing its heart—and how grace invites us into something deeper than rule-keeping.This isn’t about being lawless. It’s about learning how to love.

What happens when the good news stops sounding like good news?In this message from Galatians, we look at one of Paul’s most confrontational moments—and what it reveals about the kind of community we’re called to be. A church without hierarchy. A table without shame. A gospel without conditions. Because if grace isn’t for everyone, it’s not grace.This isn’t just about what we believe. It’s about how we live.

In a world full of division and gatekeeping, what does it look like to be a church that actually makes space?As we begin a new series in Galatians, we explore Paul’s bold message of grace over law—and how easy it is to slip back into rulekeeping, even with good intentions. This message invites us to rethink what holds a community together, and what it means to live with open hands, open hearts, and open tables.Grace isn’t a loophole. It’s the center.

What makes a church more than just a place you go?In this message, we explore the shared practices that shape a faith community—not as rituals to perform, but as rhythms that form us. From open tables to shared stories, from forgiveness to generosity, this is about becoming the kind of people who live out what we believe.Not perfectly. But honestly. Together.

What makes a church worth sticking around for?In Part 2 of this series, we look at the things that actually shape a church community—not just music or messages, but shared tables, mutual commitment, and wide-open invitation. Through stories, reflections, and some honest questions, we explore how a church becomes more than a building—it becomes a place where people carry each other.If you’ve been wondering whether church is still for you… this might be your sign.

What actually makes a church… a church?In this message, Pastor Cory traces the story of the Church from the birth of Christianity, through early debates, through persecution, through global expansion—up to our little corner in Jackson, Michigan. Along the way, we see that disagreement isn’t new, diversity of experience isn’t a weakness, and being rooted in history might be more important now than ever.This is the story we come from. And it’s still unfolding.

A year ago, our church made space—physically, financially, and spiritually—so others could find their way in. Today, we celebrate what God has done with that space.In this message, Cory traces our journey from wilderness and healing into a new season of growth. Through ancient festivals, the story of Pentecost, and real stories from our community, we’re reminded that God moves in every season—but especially when we open our hearts to others.This is what it means to be a church for anyone. And this is just the beginning.

The Holy Spirit isn’t just here to comfort us—it’s here to confront us.In this message, we look at what happens when the Spirit actually gets involved in our lives—not just with power and inspiration, but with challenge, truth, and disruption. From Saul’s transformation to moments of personal conviction, we explore how the Spirit moves us from safety to surrender, from comfort to courage.The question isn’t just: “Is the Spirit here?” It’s: “Are we actually listening?”

What if the Holy Spirit’s power isn’t about control—but transformation?In this message, Dr. Jo Anne Lyon shares a powerful and personal story of how the Spirit rewired her life from the inside out. Through vulnerability, humor, and deep insight, she reminds us that God’s power is not about taking over—it’s about waking us up. When we get honest about our pride, our limitations, and our hunger for something more, the Spirit moves. And when it does, lives change.This isn’t about performance. It’s about surrender.

What if we’ve misunderstood what revival is really about?In this message, we begin exploring the Holy Spirit—not through hype, but through honesty. We talk about feeling stuck in our faith, overwhelmed by division, and unsure if real change is even possible. But the story of Pentecost shows us something powerful: the Spirit doesn’t erase difference—it meets us in the middle of it.Revival doesn’t begin with noise. It begins with honesty, humility, and a willingness to move.

Forgiveness isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a journey.In this message, we dive into one of Jesus’ most intense parables and the hard, honest questions it raises: What does it really mean to forgive? How do we forgive when the wound still hurts—or when the person isn’t sorry? With humility and hope, we explore why forgiveness isn’t about ignoring pain, but choosing to walk through it—with time, honesty, and help from a God who never asks us to go it alone.This isn’t about doing it all today. It’s about taking the next step.

We don’t always realize how much money shapes the way we think, choose, and relate to others. In this message, we take an honest look at how Jesus talked about money—not to guilt us, but to help us see what’s really forming our lives. With full transparency and a few hard questions, we explore what it means to move from fear to trust, from scarcity to freedom.This isn’t a talk about giving—it’s a conversation about becoming more human.

Sex, marriage, singleness—how do we even begin to talk about these things today? In this message, we dive into the complex history of sexuality in the Bible, from ancient polygamy to Jesus’ radical reimagining of human dignity. We’re not here for easy answers—we're here for honest conversations about image-bearing, power, culture, and what it means to walk this out faithfully in 2025.God’s faithfulness hasn’t changed. And neither has your worth.

What if Easter isn’t just about what happened back then—but what’s possible right now?In this message, we reflect on how the resurrection invites us to rebuild our lives from the inside out. From pain and addiction to healing and community, this is a story about second chances, surprising hope, and the kind of love that meets us right where we are—but doesn’t leave us there.This isn’t just history. It’s invitation.

What kind of king rides in on a baby donkey?On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem not with force, but with humility—offering a different kind of kingdom. While Rome flexed its power with war horses and legions, Jesus chose weakness, vulnerability, and peace. In this message, we explore the upside-down power of God, how strength is found in weakness, and why true victory doesn’t look like what we expect.What if the way of Jesus really does turn the whole world upside down?

We all suffer. But what if the point isn’t to escape it—but to face it with one another?On Passion Sunday, we explore the role of suffering in the life of faith—not as punishment or failure, but as a place where healing begins. Through story, scripture, and shared experience, we reflect on how God meets us in our pain—not to fix it, but to sit with us in it. In community, we find strength. Through grace, we find healing. And with Jesus, even our scars can tell a different story.What if you’re not alone in what you’re carrying?