Western Hills Church, Temple, TX

Scripture:  Matthew 6:1-8 & 16-18 ,Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  Following Jesus is not just about outward religious behavior, but about developing a genuine relationship with God from the heart. Jesus’ warns in Matthew 6 that people can appear deeply spiritual through giving, praying, and fasting while still being disconnected from God because they are seeking the approval of others instead of intimacy with their Heavenly Father. Hypocrisy, as Jesus described it, is not simply failing morally but performing faith like an actor on a stage for applause and recognition. The sermon challenges believers to live for an “audience of one” by practicing hidden acts of faith, examining their motives, and valuing God’s approval more than public praise. Meyer concludes by reminding listeners that true spiritual growth happens in the quiet, unseen places of life.

Scripture:  Matthew 5:38-48, Romans 5:8 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  The sermon begins by describing how early “playground rules” shape us to instinctively seek payback when we are wronged, replaying offenses in our minds and wanting revenge rather than simple justice. Jesus addresses this in the Sermon on the Mount by quoting “eye for an eye” as a limit on escalating retaliation, then pushing further to deal with the deeper human desire for revenge rather than just regulating it. He teaches counterintuitive practices like turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and giving more than is demanded, showing that followers of Jesus are called to creative, courageous non-retaliation rather than passive weakness. Jesus then commands love for enemies and prayer for those who persecute us—not merely praying about them but praying for their good—which breaks the internal cycle of hatred and revenge, a pattern ultimately modeled by Jesus himself on the cross. The sermon concludes that responding this way reflects the character of God, transforms our hearts, and interrupts the cycle of retaliation so we can become peacemakers who truly look like children of our heavenly Father.

Scripture:  Matthew 5:33-37 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  The sermon is part of a series asking, “What would Jesus do if he were me?” and emphasizes that Jesus doesn’t just want to inspire us but to transform how we live by putting his teaching into practice. It builds on earlier themes where Jesus moves beyond external behavior like anger and lust to address the heart beneath them, now focusing on how our words reveal what is inside us. The message highlights Jesus’ teaching on honesty, especially his command to let “yes be yes” and “no be no,” rejecting the cultural tendency to manage truth with exaggeration, spin, or selective disclosure. It challenges the audience to recognize how often we bend truth to manage perception, protect image, or gain approval, showing that this reflects a deeper issue of the heart. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to integrity—where words and heart align—so that their lives become trustworthy witnesses to Jesus in a world where truth is often distorted.

Scripture:  Matthew 5:27-32, Proverbs 4:23 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  The sermon emphasizes that following Jesus means allowing Him to transform not just outward behavior but the inner condition of the heart, especially in difficult areas like lust. Jesus teaches that lust, like anger, begins internally and distorts how we see others by reducing, using, and consuming them rather than honoring them as image-bearers of God. His strong language about removing causes of sin highlights the need for radical honesty and intentional action to guard the heart, not literal self-harm. The speaker encourages practical steps such as limiting harmful inputs, interrupting sinful patterns, and retraining how we view others with dignity and respect. Ultimately, the message points to hope and grace, reminding listeners that transformation is possible through Jesus, who restores hearts and invites all to experience renewal through His forgiveness and love.

Scripture:  Luke 7:11-15, Luke 24:1-8, Romans 8:11 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  This Easter sermon centers on the story in Luke 7 where Jesus raises a widow’s son, showing His compassion and power over death. The preacher reflects on personal grief and explains how death often feels like it has the “right of way,” shaping our lives with loss and hopelessness. However, when Jesus encounters death, He interrupts it, demonstrating that death does not have the final say. This miracle points forward to the resurrection, where Jesus ultimately defeats death, proving that His power brings life even in the darkest moments. The message encourages listeners to trust in the resurrection power of Jesus, which can restore hope, purpose, and life.

Scripture:  Matthew 5:21-26 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary:  The sermon teaches that following Jesus as disciples means moving beyond outward behavior to examine the heart, especially regarding anger. In Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus connects anger with murder, showing that unresolved anger is the root that can lead to deeper harm. The message explains that anger causes us to dismiss, diminish, and even demonize others, quietly corroding our hearts.  Jesus emphasizes that reconciliation with others is essential, even prioritizing it over acts of worship, because our relationship with God is tied to our relationships with people. Ultimately, disciples are called to be peacemakers who release anger, pursue reconciliation, and follow Jesus’ example of forgiveness—even in the face of deep hurt.    

This sermon explains that Jesus did not come to abolish God’s law but to fulfill it, calling people to a deeper kind of righteousness than mere rule-following. The speaker contrasts two extremes—legalism and careless reliance on grace—and shows that Jesus rejects both in favor of true heart transformation. Using teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, the message emphasizes that righteousness is not just about outward behavior but about the inner condition of the heart. Jesus teaches that sins like anger, lust, and dishonesty begin internally, and real obedience means surrendering those inner attitudes, not just managing external actions. Ultimately, the sermon calls listeners to let Jesus transform their hearts fully, resulting in lives and relationships that reflect genuine, surrendered devotion to God.