Westminster Presbyterian Church Sumter SC

The Culmination of Revelation (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Join Pastor Stuart as we begin our new series, Don't Stop Believin', a sermon series on the Epistle to the Hebrews.

In our first lesson, we turn to Hebrews 1:1-4 as we learn about . . . "The Culmination of Revelation".

In this lesson, we see:

• Jesus is the culmination of God’s revelation to us.
• If the truth from God through the prophets is important, how much more vital is the truth found in God’s Son.
• The Son of God is the apex of God’s revelation because he is:
  
  • The Creator of all things.
  • The Sustainer of all things.
  • The heir of all things.
  • The radiance of God the Father’s glory.
  • The exact imprint of his nature.
  • The great High Priest.
  • The Lord of all.
• Therefore, don’t disengage from Jesus.
• So, by the work of the Spirit, let’s grow in knowing and abiding in Christ.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Christ-Centered Mindfulness (Colossians 3:1-4)

Join Pastor Stuart as we conclude our series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In this final lesson, we turn to the Apostle Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:1-4 as we learn about having a . . . "Christ-Centered Mindfulness".

In this lesson, we are encouraged to:

• Remember your status in Christ.
• Set your mind on Jesus and all you have in him.
• Seek Christ and all his benefits.
• Savor all you have in Jesus.
• So, by the work of the Spirit, let’s seek and savor Jesus now and forevermore.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Minding Our Shame (Various Passages)

Join Pastor Stuart as we move toward the end of our series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In this seventh lesson, we turn to various passages in the Old and New Testament as we here an encouragement on . . . "Minding Our Shame".

In this lesson, we see:

• In one way or another, shame affects everyone.
• Shame affects our subjective identity.
• When we feel shame, we tend to hide and cover-up.
• We also tend to either shift the blame or take the blame inappropriately.
• Ultimately, the remedy for shame is Jesus.
• Therefore, you can:
  • Single out your shame.
  • Huddle.
  • Admit your need.
  • Meditate on the good news of Jesus.
  • Embrace Jesus and all he has for you.
    
• So, by the power of the Spirit, let’s address our shame appropriately in the name of Jesus..

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Concerning Guilt (Various Passages)

Join Pastor Nathan for the next part in our series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In this lesson, we turn to various passages in the Old and New Testament as we here a lesson . . . "Concerning Guilt".

In this lesson, we see:

• The love of Christ takes our guilt and gives us innocence.
• So, let’s walk faithfully after God, for Jesus, in his amazing love, has taken our guilt, and given us innocence.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Minding Our Envy (Various Passages)

Join Pastor Stuart for the next part in our series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In our fifth lesson, we turn to various passages in the Old and New Testament as we here an exhortation on . . . "Minding Our Envy".

In this lesson, we see:

• To deal with envy well, it’s helpful to understand a few things:
  1. While often conflated, envy and jealousy are technically not the same. 
  2. There is a good bit of complexity with both envy and jealousy.
  3. Envy is often subtle and hidden.
  4. Envy drains joy.
  5. The love of Christ for us is the cure for the sin of envy.
• Therefore, we ought to:
  • Grant that you may be envious.
  • Refuse to allow envy to grow.
  • Aim for God’s glory and relational peace.
  • Speak truth to yourself. 
  • Pray for those you envy.
    
• So, by the work of the Holy Spirit, let’s put away our envy and grow in humble gratitude.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Minding Our Grief & Depression (Psalms 42 & 43)

Join Pastor Stuart for the next lesson in our series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In this fourth lesson, we turn to Psalms 42 & 43 as we here an encouragement to walk faithfully after God even in the midst of . . . "Our Grief & Depression".

In this lesson, we see:

• Grief, in general, and depression specifically are not sin in and of themselves.
• How we handle grief and depression and what’s underneath our grief and depression may be sin.
• We may not be able to completely control how we feel when we’re depressed, but we can address our thinking and actions.
• Jesus is the ultimate hope for depressed people.
• Therefore, you can:
  1. Set realistic goals.
  2. Allow yourself to feel sadness.
  3. Don’t isolate. 
  4. Note the how’s and the why’s.
  5. Evaluate.
  6. Speak truth to yourself.
  7. Savor Christ.
     
• So, by the work of the Holy Spirit, let’s focus on Jesus and grow in managing our grief and depression well.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Minding Our Anxiety (Various Passages)

Join Pastor Stuart for the third part in our new series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In this lesson, we turn to various passages in the Old and New Testament as we here an exhortation on . . . "Minding Our Anxiety".

In this lesson, we see:

• Anxiety in and of itself is not sinful.
• What is often sinful is how we handle anxiety and what is underneath our anxieties.
• Anxiety is often driven by desires for security, control, and certainty.
• While these desires are not sinful in and of themselves, they can become idolatrous.
• Jesus speaks calm and comfort into our anxious minds.
• Therefore, you can:
  1. Admit your anxieties.
  2. Note your how’s and why’s.
  3. Xanax can be helpful.
  4. Involve your body.
  5. Evaluate your values.
  6. Try facing your fears.
  7. Yield to your heavenly Father’s good, sovereign care.
     
• So, by the work of the Holy Spirit and because of Christ Jesus, let’s grow in managing our anxieties well.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Minding Our Anger (Various Passages)

Join Pastor Stuart as we continue in our new series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In our second lesson, we turn to various passages in the Old and New Testament as we here an exhortation on . . . "Minding Our Anger".

In this lesson, we see:

• Anger, in and of itself, is not sinful.
• How we handle our anger and what is underneath our anger is often sinful.
• Humility is a good corrective to the issues we have with anger.
• Jesus is the double cure of our anger problems.
• Therefore, you can:
  1. Admit your anger.
  2. kNow why.
  3. Go slow.
  4. Evaluate what’s underneath.
  5. Respond by the help of the Spirit.
• So, by the work of the Holy Spirit, let’s cultivate Christlike humility and grow in handling our anger well.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

Mind Your Mind (Prov 4:23 & Rom 12:2)

Join Pastor Stuart as we begin our new series, Dark Side of the Mind, a sermon series on dealing with the "dark emotions" (anger, anxiety, depression, envy, guilt, and shame).

In our first lesson, we turn to Proverbs 4:23 and Romans 12:2 as we here an exhortation to . . . "Mind Your Mind".

In this lesson, we see:

• God calls us to mind our mind/heart.
• The way we think affects the way we live.
• This is why we are to evaluate our thoughts with all vigilance.
• God promises that in Christ and by the Spirit our minds can be renewed.
• Therefore, you ought to:
  1. Check in frequently on the way you are thinking.
  2. Evaluate your thoughts in light of the truth of Jesus.
• So, by the work of the Holy Spirit, let’s mind our minds knowing he will renew our minds in Christ Jesus.

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.

A Fitting End to Our Prayers (Matthew 6:7-13)

(Note: During the worship service this last Sunday, we ran into several challenges affecting the quality of both the audio and video recordings. I’ve done my best to clean things up, but there are still many glitches remaining. Please bear with them as you are able and, Lord willing, we will have things back on track next week. PT)

Join Pastor Stuart for the ninth and final lesson in our series, Living on a Prayer.

We return one last time to the Gospel According to Matthew 6:7-13 as we examine the idea of . . . "A Fitting End to Our Prayers". In this lesson, we will answer the question, "Why is the phrase 'For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.' in some Bibles, but not in others?"

• While the issue is somewhat complicated, it can generally be reduced to different views on how to understand the manuscript evidence.
• Regardless of what view we may take, the phrase in question has definite biblical support and is therefore an appropriate way to end any prayer.
• Remember, the Lord’s Prayer was meant to be a pattern for our prayers . . . not a slavish recitation.
• The good news of Jesus tells us that God allows us to share in his power, kingdom, and glory.
• Therefore, we ought to honor God by praying according to the Scriptures..

You can learn more about Westminster Presbyterian Church at https://www.westminsterpca.net.

Join us Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m. at 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC!

Find us on social media at @WPCSumter.