Topic: Faith

In this sermon, Pastor Wes explored Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. Comparing our desire for quick solutions to life’s mysteries with the neatly wrapped endings of a Scooby-Doo episode, he challenged us to embrace the unresolved nature of Jesus’ teachings. The widow’s unwavering determination in seeking justice serves as a call for us to persist in faith and advocacy, even when answers are elusive. Who are we standing with? Where are we insisting on justice? This parable reminds us that faith is not about solving a puzzle—it’s about persistence, hope, and transformation.

Pastor Wes reflects on the story of the unnamed woman who suffered for 12 years, reaching out in desperation to touch Jesus’ robe. He connects her struggle to our own experiences of pain—physical, emotional, and spiritual—urging us to let her story meet our own. Rather than explaining suffering through simplistic answers like karma, destiny, or the devil, Jesus responds with presence and love, affirming the woman’s faith and calling her “daughter.” The sermon invites us to recognize God’s nearness in our struggles and to reach out in faith, knowing we are seen, loved, and restored.

In “Where is an Editor When You Need One?”, Pastor Wes examines the unsettling encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28. He acknowledges how Jesus’ initial response—dismissing the woman and referring to her as a “dog”—feels uncharacteristically harsh. Reflecting on the human tendency to act poorly when “Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired” (HALT), Pastor Wes wonders if Jesus, too, was worn down. He challenges the idea that Jesus was merely testing the woman, instead suggesting that this moment reveals his humanity. The sermon highlights the Canaanite woman’s persistence and faith, likening her to other outsider women in Scripture—Rahab, Tamar, and Ruth—who influenced the Jewish tradition. Ultimately, Pastor Wes urges reflection on how we still “other” people today and how we are called to listen, learn, and grow from those we might dismiss.

Pastor Wes explores the bold beginning of the Gospel of Mark, contrasting its message with the political “good news” of the Roman Empire. Unlike the festive narratives of Jesus’ birth in other Gospels, Mark launches with the declaration of good news amid the wilderness, a setting of struggle and transformation. Pastor Wes highlights the tension between the world’s headlines—stories of conflict, disaster, and personal challenges—and Mark’s announcement of God’s presence through Jesus Christ.

This good news confronts both external oppression and the internal stories we tell ourselves, offering hope and grounding in God’s transformative presence. Pastor Wes invites the congregation to reflect on their own “wilderness” experiences and examine the headlines of their lives, encouraging them to hear and live out the true good news that speaks to the heartlines of all people.