Anchored by the Word

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Josh Davis (co-host and elder intern at Westlake) fills in for Pastor Justin to walk us through the powerful truths found in Exodus 33. This chapter confronts us with the reality that God’s greatest gift is not land, blessings, or comfort—but His very presence. Moses’ desperate plea, “If Your presence will not go with us, do not bring us up from here,” challenges us to examine what we value ...

In this week's episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin dives deep into the Old Testament book of Nehemiah—a powerful study in godly leadership, faithful prayer, and bold action. He unpacks the opening chapters of Nehemiah, revealing timeless lessons about how God prepares and uses His people for Kingdom work. Drawing from recent pastoral meetings and personal reflections, Justin highlights how Nehemiah's heart for God's peop...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin addresses an important and sometimes controversial topic: modern Bible translations. Prompted by a recent conversation with a "King James only" advocate and the concerns of a new believer, he takes time to answer the question, “Are modern translations missing verses?” and explains why we can have full confidence that God’s Word has been faithfully preserved.

Throughout the epis...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin Likens explores what it means to live wisely as a follower of Christ. Building from 1 Corinthians 6:12 and other key passages, he shows that while Christians enjoy freedom in Christ, not everything we are free to do is ultimately helpful or glorifying to God. Instead of merely asking whether something is sinful, we should be asking whether it is wise, beneficial, and God-honori...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin tackles the growing influence of a group called World’s Last Chance (WLC) and their nationwide billboard campaign spreading false teachings about the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the return of Jesus. He explains why these claims are not just doctrinal differences but outright heresies that strike at the heart of the Christian faith.

Carefully walki...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin Likens sits down with Josh Davis to talk about his family’s upcoming church plant—Borderlands Family Baptist Church—in El Paso, Texas. Together, they dive into a big question: Do we really need more churches in America? Their answer? Absolutely! But not just more buildings...the need is for healthy, gospel-driven, disciple-making churches.

Together, they explore why church plan...

In this week’s episode of Anchored by the Word, we tackle a thought-provoking and sometimes controversial question: Does man truly have free will? As summer draws to a close and routines shift, we take time to dive deep into Scripture to better understand the nature of human choice, responsibility, and the condition of the heart.

Drawing from Genesis, Romans, and key theological concepts, Pastor Justin walks through the doctrine of...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin reflects on the lives and ministries of two theological giants—R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur—who, despite their significant doctrinal differences, modeled faithful cooperation for the sake of the gospel. Pastor Justin discusses how these men courageously stood against cultural compromise while maintaining theological integrity and mutual respect across denominational lines.

Us...

In this important and timely episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin steps outside our series on favorite bible verses to tackle a topic that’s both theologically rich and culturally relevant: How should Christians think about Israel?

With Israel frequently in the headlines—from the October 7th Hamas attack to ongoing tensions with Iran—many believers are asking where the modern nation of Israel fits into God’s redemptive pl...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin continues our series on favorite Bible verses by diving into one of Paul’s most practical commands: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He explores the historical and spiritual context of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, a church encouraged to stand strong in faith and love while eagerly anticipating Christ’s return. What did Paul really mean by “pray without ceas...

In this weeks episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin is joined by occasional guest and full time tech guru Josh Davis to discuss one of Josh's new favorite passages of scripture, Isaiah 49:1-7. They explore the powerful vision of Jesus as the Servant of God, prophesied in Isaiah and fulfilled in His earthly mission. From before His birth, God appointed Christ to accomplish salvation through the power of His Word. Though His...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, we continue our listener-submitted series on favorite Bible verses, focusing on Philippians 4:6—“Do not be anxious about anything…” Pastor Justin explores the historical and biblical context of Paul's letter to the Philippians, written from prison to a church facing internal conflict. He explains how understanding the full context of verses is crucial to faithful interpretation, emphasizing ...

In this episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin continues our series of discussions on "favorite verses," walking us through the powerful truths found in Psalm 3, a psalm submitted by one of our listeners and born out of David’s darkest hours as he fled from his son, Absalom. Pastor Justin explores the raw emotions and deep trust expressed in these verses, showing how David turns fear into faith by anchoring his hope in God’...

In this weeks episode of Anchored by the Word, we explore the powerful truths behind Pastor Justin's favorite verse, Philippians 1:6. He is once again by his wife, Diana, as they discuss how this verse reminds us that no matter where we are in life, God is still working in and through us. We are not finished products, and that's a beautiful thing. Join us as we reflect on God's ongoing work in our hearts and the confidence we can h...

In this week's episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin and Diana begin a series in which we dive into submitted "favorite verses" from the members of Westlake and our listeners. Today, they dive into Diana's favorite verse, Esther 4:14 to explore the profound truth of God's sovereignty.

While God doesn't need us to fulfill His plans because His plan will succeed with or without us, He graciously invites us to join Him and be...

In this week's episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin is joined by tech Tsar Josh Davis to sit down with Dr. Keith Foskey for a deep diving discussion of Reformed Baptist theology. Together, they explore the rich heritage of historic Baptist confessions, the distinctive of Reformed Baptist doctrine, the foundational truths of covenant theology, and a discussion around avoiding sin in the Christian life.

Dr. Foskey shares in...

In the final episode of Season 1 of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin is joined once more by Diana to discuss a truth that is often hard to embrace: sometimes God's greatest blessings come wrapped in disappointment.

When plans fall apart, it can often feel like failure-but what if it is divine redirection? In this episode, Justin and Diana explore biblical examples like Joseph, showing how God uses closed doors and unexpected tur...

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12 highlights the deep truth that our time is limited and how we use it matters. In today's fast paced world, however, distractions are constantly stealing our attention, crowding our hearts, and distracting us from the intentional, God-centered life we are called to. In this week's episode of Anchored by the Word, Pastor Justin is joined once more by his w...