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Episodes
A Westside Family Church conversation that takes a deeper look at relevant topics and offers tools designed to support you in your faith journey.
Episodes
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Finding Freedom in Spiritual Maturity | Moving Beyond Performance to Love
Are you tired of a performance-driven faith and longing for something deeper with God? In this episode, we explore what spiritual maturity really looks like—and how to move from doing more for God to living with God in freedom, love, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Many Christians feel stuck in cycles of striving, burnout, or spiritual dryness. This conversation invites you into a healthier, more transformative vision of the Christian life—one rooted in love, surrender, and spiritual formation, not behavior management or religious hustle.
What Is Spiritual Maturity?
True spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how busy you are for God or how many ministries you serve in. Instead, it’s marked by:
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Growing love for God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength
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Growing love for your neighbor as yourself
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Obedience that flows naturally from a transformed heart
Spiritual growth is not about trying harder—it’s about becoming the kind of person who loves like Jesus.
Navigating Dry Seasons of Faith
Every believer experiences spiritual desert seasons—times when God feels distant and faith feels dry. These seasons are not failures; they are often where God does His deepest work.
In this episode, we talk about:
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Remembering God’s faithfulness
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Staying connected to Christian community
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Being honest with God in prayer
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Practicing remembrance and reflection
Common Traps That Hold Us Back Spiritually
Many Christians struggle with misplaced spiritual focus, including:
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The performance trap – trying to earn God’s love
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The expert complex – needing to appear spiritually impressive
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The illusion of control – believing everything depends on us
Spiritual maturity invites us to release control and trust God’s work in us.
What Advanced Spiritual Maturity Looks Like
As we grow, faith begins to shift from doing to being:
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Deep contentment and peace
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Freedom from approval-seeking
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Natural obedience rooted in love
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Christlike compassion for others
This is the fruit of a life shaped by apprenticeship to Jesus.
Training for Spiritual Growth
Spiritual maturity requires intentional training—not to master disciplines, but to become more like Christ. We discuss:
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Scripture immersion in the Gospels
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Prayer, fasting, solitude, and reflection
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Daily rhythms that form Christlike character
The Goal: Transformative Union with God
The ultimate goal of spiritual maturity is a life fully oriented around God’s love—where obedience is natural, humility is deep, and fear loses its grip. This isn’t perfection; it’s transformation.
Reflection Questions
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Where are you still operating from performance rather than love?
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How might God be inviting you to move from doing for Him to being with Him?
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What would it look like to trust God more deeply with your life and growth?
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
What if spiritual exhaustion isn’t failure—but an invitation?
In this episode of Conversations with Troy Kennedy, Troy explores what spiritual formation leaders call the inner journey—the often uncomfortable but necessary transition from doing faith through willpower to being with God through surrender and intimacy.
Many followers of Jesus reach a point where striving, serving, and “doing all the right things” no longer produce lasting peace or joy. Instead of more effort, God invites us deeper—into abiding, surrender, and authentic relationship. Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and spiritual formation wisdom, Troy unpacks what it means to move from performance-based faith to a life rooted in Christ.
This conversation is especially for anyone who feels spiritually tired, stuck, or quietly wondering if there’s more to faith than trying harder.
In this episode, you’ll explore:
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Why spiritual discontent can be a sign of growth, not failure
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What Jesus meant when He said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
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The difference between producing spiritual fruit through effort vs. relationship
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Why surrendering ambition and expectations is essential to spiritual maturity
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How practices like Scripture meditation, listening prayer, and silence create space for intimacy with God
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The role of biblical community during seasons of questioning and doubt
Key Scriptures Referenced:
John 15:5
Psalm 23:4–5
Romans 12:2
Psalm 1:2–3
Mark 12:28–31
Reflection Questions:
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Are you relying more on willpower or abiding in Christ?
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What “doing” habits might need to be balanced with deeper “being” practices?
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What ambitions or expectations might God be asking you to surrender?
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Who are the people in your life who lovingly tell you the truth and point you toward Jesus?
Life Application:
This week, choose one practice that helps you abide rather than achieve—whether it’s 10 minutes of quiet listening prayer, meditating on a single Scripture, or intentionally slowing down to be present with God. Focus on being with Jesus, not just doing for Him.
If you’re in a season where faith feels harder than it used to, this episode offers hope, permission to slow down, and a reminder that transformation comes not through effort—but through surrender.
👉 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, formation, and following Jesus in real life.
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
How do you discover God’s will when Scripture doesn’t give clear answers?
When facing major life decisions—career moves, relationships, transitions—we often want God to give us a detailed roadmap. But the Bible rarely works that way. In this message, we explore a freeing truth: God is more concerned with who we are becoming than with giving us complete information upfront.
Rather than providing a Google Maps–style plan, God leads us like a lamp to our feet—one step at a time—using every season, including waiting and uncertainty, to form our faith, deepen our trust, and shape us into Christlikeness.
This sermon unpacks seven biblical principles for discovering God’s will, including:
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Saturating your mind with God’s Word
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Trusting that God never wastes seasons of waiting
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Surrendering your preferred outcomes
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Letting the peace of Christ guide your decisions
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Seeking wisdom from mature, godly counsel
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Moving forward faithfully one step at a time
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Trusting God’s character more than your need for certainty
At the heart of God’s will is sanctification—the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ. God often uses difficult or unexpected circumstances not to make us comfortable, but to grow our faith, dependence, and trust in Him. Even closed doors and wrong turns can become part of God’s redemptive work when we follow Jesus relationally.
Key Scriptures:
Psalm 119:105 • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 • Colossians 3:15 • John 14:27
If you’re wrestling with uncertainty, waiting on direction, or trying to discern your next step, this message will encourage you to release control, trust God’s faithfulness, and move forward with confidence—one step at a time.
▶️ Watch, reflect, and take your next faithful step.
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
There comes a point in many faith journeys when the familiar patterns stop working. Prayer feels dry. Service feels empty. Certainty begins to crumble. In More Than We’ve Known, Season 2 of Conversations with Troy Kennedy, we explore these moments not as spiritual failure—but as invitations into deeper life with God.
In this episode, Troy unpacks “the wall”—a season of spiritual struggle that often marks the transition from the first half of our faith to something deeper and more surrendered. The wall is a confrontation between our will and God’s will, often experienced through spiritual dryness, burnout, suffering, or faith crisis.
We explore the three common responses people have when they encounter the wall:
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Bounce back to what feels familiar
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Bail out of faith altogether
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Break through into deeper intimacy with God
Breaking through the wall reshapes our faith in powerful ways—moving us from willpower to Spirit power, from self-protection to vulnerability, and from achievement-based faith to humble submission. In this season, weakness becomes a gift, creating space for God’s strength to be revealed.
If you’re questioning, weary, walking through loss, or supporting someone in a difficult season, this conversation offers both hope and practical guidance. The wall is not the end of your story—it is often the place where God begins His most beautiful work.
🧭 Life Application
If you find yourself at the wall—through illness, loss, disappointment, or spiritual dryness—receive this season not as punishment, but as an invitation. God is not surprised by your doubts or questions. He is present in your weakness and wants to meet you there.
This week, prayerfully identify one area where you’ve been trying to maintain control. Instead of striving to fix or change your circumstances, practice simply showing up faithfully with God in the midst of them.
Reflect:
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What am I trying to control that I need to surrender to God?
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How might God be using my current struggles to draw me closer to Him?
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Where have I been relying on my own strength instead of His power?
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What would it look like to show up faithfully rather than focus on outcomes?
📘 Resources & Show Notes
Spiritual Life Inventory
Discover your stage in the spiritual journey
👉 https://homeworld.ejay563.com/Spirit/survey.php
Westside Essentials
Loving Jesus • Becoming Like Jesus • Sharing Jesus
👉 https://www.westsidefamily.church/essentials
Care & Support
If you’re experiencing crisis or despair
👉 https://westside-family-care-center.squarespace.com
Additional Resources
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Dr. Liz Hall — processing suffering
👉 https://www.drlizhall.com
(Upcoming book: When the Journey Hurts)
Recommended Reading
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Even When — Sara Cormany
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A Grace Disguised — Jerry Sittser
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Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering — Tim Keller
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Journey of the Soul — Bill & Christie Gualtiere
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The Critical Journey — Janet Hagberg & Robert Gulich
Contact Troy Kennedy
📧 TKennedy@WestsideFamily.Church
Prayer over listeners — Sara
▶️ New episodes weekly
▶️ Subscribe for conversations on spiritual formation and the deeper life Jesus invites us into
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
At every crossroads in life, we face a choice: pursue immediate gratification or pause to seek God’s wisdom.
In this episode of the Westside Podcast, we explore the “ancient paths” from Jeremiah 6:16—not as outdated traditions, but as life-giving practices that shape lasting spiritual health. Through prayer, Scripture, community, confession, and repentance, God forms us over time into people of peace, joy, and wholeness.
We also unpack how true wisdom comes from decisions that bring integration rather than disintegration in our relationships with God, others, creation, and ourselves. Repentance is reframed as good news—an invitation to turn from destructive paths toward life-giving ones. T
True freedom isn’t doing whatever we want, but having the power to choose what’s genuinely good for us. The kingdom of God is where we were designed to flourish—and every decision can move us closer to Christ-likeness.
🔔 Watch, subscribe, and share the Westside Podcast
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Why does God allow detours, delays, and painful seasons?
Discover how God is working behind the scenes—even when He feels distant—through the powerful truth of divine providence.
What do you do when life doesn’t go as planned—and God feels distant?
In this message, we explore how God works through life’s unexpected detours, delays, and painful seasons to accomplish purposes we often can’t see in the moment. Drawing from the powerful story of Joseph in the Bible, we see how years of betrayal, loss, and suffering were not wasted—but instead positioned him to save nations and fulfill God’s greater plan.
If you’ve ever struggled with God’s timing, unmet expectations, or wondered where God is in your pain, this message is for you. We unpack the biblical idea of God’s providence—the truth that God is actively present and working, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. When God feels silent or uninvolved, providence becomes the lens that helps us see His fingerprints in our story.
You’ll discover:
• Why God allows seasons of suffering, waiting, and uncertainty
• How difficult seasons shape character and prepare us for future purpose
• Practical ways to move forward when life doesn’t match your expectations
• How to embrace your real circumstances instead of mourning unfulfilled dreams
• Why the Christian life follows the rhythm of cross and resurrection—death leading to new life
• How the cross of Christ shows us that God can bring the greatest good from the greatest pain
This message is especially helpful for young adults navigating career uncertainty, anyone facing unexpected life changes, or those wrestling with faith during hard seasons. You’ll learn how to trust God’s process without needing the full plan, how to move forward by faith, and why wisdom from community and mentors matters along the way.
As a practical takeaway, we invite you to begin looking for God’s fingerprints in your everyday life. Instead of focusing only on what’s broken or painful, intentionally watch for signs of His goodness, provision, and presence—even in small ways.
Consider keeping a journal where you record moments of unexpected provision, answered prayers, or ways difficult seasons have led to growth or new opportunities. Over time, like looking back at photos from a past year, you’ll begin to see how God has been faithfully at work all along.
Reflect on these questions this week:
• What character qualities might God be forming in me through my current challenges?
• How can I embrace my real life instead of grieving unmet expectations?
• Where have I seen God’s faithfulness before that gives me hope today?
• Am I willing to trust God’s timing even when it doesn’t match my own?
The same God who worked through Joseph’s decades of hardship—and through the cross of Jesus—is actively involved in your story today. Your detours and delays are not proof of His absence. They may be the very path God is using to prepare you for something greater than you can imagine.
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Spiritual growth with Jesus isn’t linear—and feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re failing.
More Than We’ve Known is Season 2 of Conversations with Troy Kennedy, a Christian podcast exploring spiritual growth as a lifelong journey with Jesus.
Many of us assume faith means having it all together—or that once we reach a certain point, growth should stop feeling hard. But real discipleship isn’t a straight line. It unfolds in seasons, includes setbacks, invites healing, and continually calls us deeper with Christ.
In this season, Troy Kennedy explores a historic framework of spiritual formation that helps us:
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Name where we are in our faith journey
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Understand what God may be doing in each season
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See why feeling stuck, disillusioned, or stretched can actually be part of spiritual growth—not a failure
Whether you’re new to faith, returning after church hurt, or have followed Jesus for decades, More Than We’ve Known invites you into this truth:
Jesus always has more for us than we’ve known.
📘 Episode Resources & Next Steps
Spiritual Life Inventory
What stage are you in right now?
👉 https://homeworld.ejay563.com/Spirit/survey.php
Essentials Course
Loving Jesus • Becoming Like Jesus • Sharing Jesus
👉 https://www.westsidefamily.church/essentials
Discover Your SHAPE
Understand how God uniquely designed you to serve
👉 https://www.westsidefamily.church/shape
Recommended Reading
-
Journey of the Soul — Bill & Christie Gualtierre
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The Critical Journey — Janet Hagberg & Robert Gulich
Contact Troy Kennedy
📧 TKennedy@westsidefamily.church
▶️ New episodes weekly
▶️ Subscribe for conversations on discipleship, spiritual formation, and following Jesus in real life
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
More Than We’ve Known is Season 2 of Conversations with Troy Kennedy, a Christian podcast exploring spiritual growth as a lifelong journey with Jesus.
Many of us assume faith means having it all together—or that once we reach a certain point, growth should stop feeling hard. But real discipleship isn’t a straight line. It unfolds in seasons, includes setbacks, invites healing, and continually calls us deeper with Christ.
In this season, Troy Kennedy explores a historic framework of spiritual formation that helps us:
-
Name where we are in our faith journey
-
Understand what God may be doing in each season
-
See why feeling stuck, disillusioned, or stretched can actually be part of spiritual growth—not a failure
Whether you’re new to faith, returning after church hurt, or have followed Jesus for decades, More Than We’ve Known invites you into this truth:
Jesus always has more for us than we’ve known.
📘 Episode Resources & Next Steps
Spiritual Life Inventory
What stage are you in right now?
👉 https://homeworld.ejay563.com/Spirit/survey.php
Essentials Course
Loving Jesus • Becoming Like Jesus • Sharing Jesus
👉 https://www.westsidefamily.church/essentials
Discover Your SHAPE
Understand how God uniquely designed you to serve
👉 https://www.westsidefamily.church/shape
Recommended Reading
-
Journey of the Soul — Bill & Christie Gualtierre
-
The Critical Journey — Janet Hagberg & Robert Gulich
Contact Troy Kennedy
📧 TKennedy@westsidefamily.church
▶️ New episodes weekly
▶️ Subscribe for conversations on discipleship, spiritual formation, and following Jesus in real life
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
We talk a lot about freedom—but do we actually live free?
In this week’s podcast conversation, Pastor Jonathan unpacks the heart behind Sunday’s message, “Set Free to Live Free.” With honesty and clarity, he dives into what it really takes to break strongholds, confront cycles that keep us stuck, and step into the freedom Jesus offers—not just in theory, but in everyday life.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level faith and into the places many of us quietly wrestle with: habits, dependencies, patterns, and compromises that leave us weary and disconnected from God’s design.
Life Application
This week, identify one area of your life where you feel bound or stuck. Instead of asking God to simply remove the struggle, ask Him to show you one small, practical step you can take toward freedom. This might be confessing to a trusted friend, changing a daily routine, or committing to Scripture before screen time each morning.
Remember: you can't do it without God, but He won't do it without you. Start small, stay consistent, and trust that God can transform your little actions into an amazing work of freedom in your life.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What is one area of my life where I feel bound or stuck?
- Who is one person I could confess this struggle to and ask for accountability?
- What is one small, practical step I can take this week toward freedom?
- How can I better protect my attention and focus it on God rather than the distractions of this world?
If you love Jesus but still feel like there are chains you can’t quite shake—this episode is for you.
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
More Than We’ve Known is Season 2 of Conversations with Troy Kennedy, a Christian podcast exploring spiritual growth as a lifelong journey with Jesus.
Many of us assume faith means having it all together—or that once we reach a certain point, growth should stop feeling hard. But real discipleship isn’t a straight line. It unfolds in seasons, includes setbacks, invites healing, and continually calls us deeper with Christ.
In this season, Troy Kennedy explores a historic framework of spiritual formation that helps us:
-
Name where we are in our faith journey
-
Understand what God may be doing in each season
-
See why feeling stuck, disillusioned, or stretched can actually be part of spiritual growth—not a failure
Whether you’re new to faith, returning after church hurt, or have followed Jesus for decades, More Than We’ve Known invites you into this truth:
Jesus always has more for us than we’ve known.
▶️ New episodes weekly
▶️ Subscribe for conversations on discipleship, spiritual formation, and following Jesus in real life