After the Sermon Podcast

In the After the Sermon podcast, Pastor Will answers follow-up questions and we share your personal applications from the sermon for the benefit of the church.

Brian Wells Brian Wells

After the Sermon: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

In this podcast episode, Pastor Will answered follow-up questions from his recent sermon on community. He discussed the church's growth in community cohesiveness over the past year, reflecting on a 2025 resolution and looking ahead to how an upcoming building renovation might strengthen intentionality. He also addressed the role of shared hobbies and affinities in building Christian friendships, arguing they are important for practical connection alongside the deeper bond of shared faith. Finally, he provided a detailed theological interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7, arguing that it allows for temporary, restorative separation in marriages that have become destructive, with the ultimate goal of reconciliation.

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Brian Wells Brian Wells

After the Sermon: 12/15/25

Pastor Will addressed a detailed question about whether it was disobedient for married believers to choose not to have children or use birth control, concluding it was a matter of conscience that required examining one's heart motivations. He also discussed which of God's purposes (reflecting, glorifying, or proclaiming) was most underdeveloped at their church, how to measure faithfulness, and the importance of not "coasting" in the Christian life, particularly for retirees. The conversation concluded with practical advice on how being made in God's image should impact daily life and how to identify and change habits that fail to glorify Him.

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Brian Wells Brian Wells

After the Sermon: Philippians 4:6-7

Pastor Thad answered follow-up questions related to Sunday’s. He began by providing a detailed explanation of the Greek grammatical term "present active command," using "do not be anxious" from Philippians 4:6 as an example. He emphasized that such commands are meant for ongoing obedience and are not mere suggestions. He then assessed the health of his church, West Hills, in terms of members praying for one another and bearing each other's burdens, describing it as "growing." He identified pride and discomfort as barriers to deeper vulnerability and offered practical steps for the congregation to improve, such as making prayer a habit, praying for others in the moment, and being more open in small groups.

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Brian Wells Brian Wells

After the Sermon: John 17:6-19

This conversation was a question-and-answer session from the "After the Sermon" podcast, hosted by Brian with lead pastor Will. Pastor Will addressed follow-up questions from the congregation regarding his recent sermon, "God's Truth Cures the World's Lies," the first in a series titled "The Antidote." He elaborated on how scripture provides joyful fulfillment, recommended resources for biblical apologetics, and clarified theological concepts such as eternal security (being "kept"), the specific nature of Jesus's prayers for believers versus the world, the existence of false churches, and the ongoing intercessory work of Christ in heaven. The session concluded with an exploration of the sermon series' central metaphor of the gospel as an "antidote" for sin rather than a preventative "vaccine."

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