Advertise on podcast: Westlake Hills Presbyterian

Have you ever felt like you needed to get cleaned up before praying to God, like a spiritual hand washing before you eat? Prayer doesn’t require getting it right first — it requires just showing up. Join us in worship as we continue to explore a deeper prayer life with God. [Exodus 3:1–6; Psalm 44]

Every prayer starts the same way — by addressing God. This six-week series is built on that plain, personal act: prayer as a letter that begins “Dear God,” and keeps going, whatever shape it takes from there. It’s anchored in Luke 11:1, the moment the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. Paired with 5 different teachers, Tyler Staton, Marjorie Suchoki, Howard Thurman, Henri Nouwen and Karl Barth, we will explore together different approaches to prayer that will draw us ever closer to God. [Luke 11:1–13]

A compelling community forms people through worship, Scripture, prayer, service, and shared life. [Luke 14:15-24, Jeremiah 18:1-6]

Some things are meant to be shared. Jesus drew people into a compelling fellowship that was so life-changing it just had to be shared. Today, the world is hungry for the compelling fellowship Jesus offers, and it is incumbent upon us to share the good news with our friends and neighbors, near and far. [Luke 9:1-6]

Who would you be without the people who have walked alongside you in faith? One of the most remarkable gifts of Christian community is its power to shape us over time. Through shared joys and struggles, meaningful relationships, and God's grace at work among us, we become more Christ-like than we could ever become alone. Hear Stacy Ikard as she reflects on a decade of life and ministry within this community and shares stories of the growth she has experienced and witnessed through the transforming power of belonging together.

A compelling community makes room for people across differences, backgrounds, ages, stories, and struggles. Come be inspired, make new connections, and celebrate the beautiful community we share. [Romans 15:4-7]

From the beginning of God’s covenant with Abraham, blessing was never intended to be a private possession. God blesses a people so that, through them, all the families of the earth might experience God’s grace. Jesus carries that calling to the table in Luke 14, where the invitation moves outward, beyond the normal folks we would invite to be blessed at our tables. A compelling Christian community does not merely enjoy God’s blessings—it becomes a blessing through generous, attentive, and outward-looking love. [Luke 14:12–24, Genesis 12:1–3]

Pastor Emily concludes the "Tough Questions Jesus Asked" sermon series. Looking back on a season of challenging questions from Christ, we discover that every hard lesson is an invitation to "turn"—to shift our direction toward humility, grace, and trust rather than striving for status and control. Even when we make wrong choices or lose our way, God’s unconditional love meets us right where we are, continually rerouting us back to Him. Tune in to reflect on the ongoing, daily practice of turning toward Jesus and resting in His grace.

Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black! Don’t be such a hypocrite! These phrases are tossed around in our homes, at the TV, and in our friend groups. Jesus spoke plainly and clearly about judging others, and yet, it seems as if we cannot help ourselves from doing it. [Matthew 7:1-6]

In all of the Gospels, Jesus says that a life that follows him demands sacrifice. This week, we look at a conversation in which Jesus asks Peter whether he is willing to lay down his life for Him. We will consider how much we are willing to sacrifice as His followers. [John 13:36-38]

After Peter denies Jesus three times, the risen Christ meets him not with condemnation, but with breakfast, a searching question, and a renewed calling. In this message, we will explore how Jesus’ grace restores us after failure and turns our love for him into faithful action. [John 21:15-17]

When Jesus heals a blind man in Mark 8, He asks a question that challenges us then and now: "Do you see anything?" True spiritual sight is a journey. If you’ve ever felt like your faith was a little blurry, or you're trying to figure out what God is doing next, this message will speak to you. Join us for worship this week as we explore how the Holy Spirit restores our vision and gives us the eyes of faith. [Mark 8:17-26]

Jesus asks a blind beggar named Bartimaeus: "What do you want me to do for you?" While the answer might seem obvious, humans are often inept at knowing what we really want. By looking closely at Bartimaeus's cry for mercy, we see a man who wasn't just begging for physical sight—he was longing to be seen, loved, and freed from a lifetime of shame and marginalization.

Pastor Emily says "When one of my children tells me not to worry, I respond with, "It is my job to worry". To give up worrying is to surrender. Join us this Sunday as we explore the gift of surrendering our worries to God. [Matthew 6:25-34]

Jesus wasn't kidding when he asked us to love our enemies.  How do we go about that? Why would we do that?  Today we explore one of the most challenging commands our Savior ever gave us. [Matthew 5:43-48]