Southwood Lutheran Church

Giving Presence to God

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Text: Matthew 2:1–12

The Three Kings

• They came to find the newborn king.
• They brought gifts:
• Gold:  a most valuable commodity
• Frankincense:  incense used in worship—
  a symbol of prayer
• Myrrh:  a spice that was used to anoint bodies before burial
• They brought gifts to ...
• Show their honor
• To show their respect
• To worship the child

In Jesus, God Gives Us The Greatest Gift

• It’s priceless.
• It’s eternal.
• It’s something you use every day.

What Gifts Will We Give To God This Year?

1. Our hearts. Not just pious words, but our hearts, our love, our devotion, our faith. God wants a relationship!
2. Our worship. Authentic worship is anything we do, anything we say, any action to we take that gives glory to God. God wants lives to mean something…he desires us to be builders of his Kingdom.
3. Our giving and serving. Jesus tells us that when we give and serve the least of these we are doing it to him. If you want to give a gift to God, serve and give to the least of these—it is giving God a gift!

Giving Presence to my Family

Listen to Chip's Message

Text: Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

Big Idea: We must prioritize our lives during the holiday season so that we don’t just do all of the good things, but that we especially do the best things, namely worshipping God and sharing the love of Christ with our family members through our presence with them.

Main Points:

• If we are honest, most of us will admit that Christmas and the Advent season is a time where, like Martha, we are distracted and worried and upset about many things.
• When we worry and get distracted about all we have to do, we neglect the two most important things that Mary did—worship of Jesus and giving our hearts, emotions and time to our family.
• Many of the things we get distracted by are good things.
• When the swirling vortex of the Christmas season gets going we need to prioritize and keep perspective.

Ways to Give Presence to Your Family and Friends This Season

• Being Present Physically: Show physical signs of affection. Hug, shake hands, instead of watching a football game, try board games or something else interactive. Take the time to be present physically.
• Being Present Emotionally: Listen to others. Share your heart, successes, failures. Ask good questions. Say “I love you.” Compliment others. Reflect back on the past year’s blessings and struggles. Call family members you haven’t seen in a long time or can’t see this season.
• Being Present Spiritually: Share the miracle of Christmas with your family. Celebrate the coming, the arrival of Jesus. Pray together. Go through Advent Devotions as a family. Worship together. Serve together. Read the Christmas story together. Pray for each other.
• Above all, be present with God this holiday season.

Additional Study & Reflection Tools

• Get a copy of the book The Advent Conspiracy by Rick McKinley, Chris Seay and Greg Holder. It’s a great read and talk about shifting the way we celebrate Christmas.  ISBN: 978-0-310-32452-2
• Pray about ways you can be more present to family members and friends physically, emotionally and spiritually this Christmas.  What might you give up?  What might you do differently?
• Ask your family members and/or friends how you are doing with giving your presence to them.  Honestly assess how you are loving them.  Ask for forgiveness where needed and celebrate where you are doing well.
• Here is a great link to ideas for dad’s this Christmas season: http://www.theresurgence.com/16-daddy-christmas-tips

Waiting: How good are you?

How good are you at waiting?  At patience?  We did a lot of waiting this week.  First, when the whole storm was forecast - we waited to see if it would really hit?  Then we waited to see if there would be the longed for "snow day".  We waited for the plows to come.  By Thursday we waited to bust out of our houses and get back into the regular pace of life.

I read this quote today that gave me to have a new perspective on waiting:

"A waiting person is a patient person. The word 'patience' implies the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Impatient people expect the real thing to happen somewhere else, and therefore they want to get away from the present situation and go elsewhere. For them, the moment is empty. But patient people dare to stay where they are, waiting." - Henri Nouwen

I never thought about the patient person as a daring person before, and I kind of like that.  How daring are you?  

The Advent season is all about waiting.  In worship, we are waiting for the promised Christ Child to arrive in our midst.  In our homes, we are waiting to blow the wrapping off of those presents that are tucked under the tree.  In our lives, we are hoping for the next great event or relationship or opportunity.  But how content are we with what's happening right now?  How present are we in the present?  How might we give our presence to the moment we are in right now?

Pastor Sara

And Like a Good Neighbor ....

Its no secret that I love the snow.  I even love shoveling the snow.  I loved it on Monday morning, shoveling the first substantial snowfall of the winter.  I loved it on Tuesday morning, clearing off my driveway preparing for the big storm.  I even loved round #3 last night when I decided to go out one more time and shovel the driveway off. 

However, this morning round #4 just got to me.  It was heavy, it was sticking to my shovel, it was falling back into the same place from which I had just removed it.  I was beginning to loathe round #4.

I was only about 1/4 of the way done this morning when my neighbor came over with his snow-blower. (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus in my head!) I have a serious amount of gratitude in me, it would have taken me til noon to do it by myself.  (Instead I was inside the house again by 10:00 cozy warm, taking a picture of my neighbor out the window.)  In the time it took me to shovel the front walk, he had the entire driveway done.  Just when I was on the brink of losing it, he restored my great delight!  Mine was the 3rd drive way he's done this morning, and he's working on a 4th right now.

I also neglected to mention that yesterday another neighbor came over and helped me with the final 1/3 of round 3.  I have good neighbors.  Ever since, the State Farm jingle ... "And like a good neighbor _________ is there," has been stuck in my head.  For me I'll insert "Scott and Troy."  State Farm doesn't have the patent on being a good neighbor though, Jesus does.  Read more about that here.

So I got to thinking, there are probably all sorts of stories, all over Lincoln (and beyond) today of good neighbors.  Who is your neighbor?  OR, how have you been a good neighbor?  I need some good reading on this "snow day" so comment away good neighbors!

Pastor Sara

Giving Presence to those in Need

Listen to Pastor Sara's Message

God gave us the greatest present of all when he came to earth to live among us and redeem us. God’s presence with us is what Christmas is all about. Instead of presents, how can we give our presence this Christmas?

Mary’s Song: Luke 1:46-55

Mary recalls the past.

• Mary’s Song is full of references to Old Testament passages, especially Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2, when Hannah praised God for her own son Samuel.
• She recalls the deliverance of the people of Israel from captivity in Egypt to a new life in the promised land.

Mary celebrates the present.

• Mary gives thanks that God is using her to bring deliverance to the people once again.
• She gratefully acknowledges her humble role as a lowly servant. She knows that her joy comes because God will be honored, not herself.

Mary believes in an even greater future.

• Mary firmly believes that God can and will do incredible things through this Jesus. The proud will be scattered, the rulers brought down, the humble lifted up, the hungry filled, and the rich sent away empty.
• This vision is either preposterous or profound. Do you believe it could happen?

Prayer
O God, Open our eyes that we may see the needs of others; Open our ears that we may hear their cries; Open our hearts that we may feel their anguish and their joy. Let us defend the oppressed, the poor, the powerless, without fear of the anger and might of the powerful. Show us where love and hope and faith are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. Open our ears and eyes, our hearts and lives, that we may in these coming days be able to do the work of justice and peace for you. Amen.

Apocalypse Now and Then

Listen to Pastor Michael's Message

Text: Luke 17:20-24; 34-35

Revelation: Scaring Mark, the paperboy

Apocalypse meaning in Greek

• Literally to uncover. 
  
• Revelation, Insight, Enlightenment

Apocalypse meaning in English

• Jewish-Christian writings about God’s wrath for justice inflicted on the earth before starting the righteous life.
• Prophetic revelation
• A great disaster

What about the Apocalypse in movies? 

How did revelation go from Godly insights to calamity?

What does the text say?

• Can’t see it, it is among us.
• Don’t need to go looking for it because its light and power is all around.
• When is the second coming?

Taking it home:

• Ask at the close of each day, where have you seen Christ today?
• Where has God revealed truth to you through unlikely places?
• Live as if this is your last day.  What would you say, do? 
• Take the risk and say it or do it as long as it is out of care for others.

Cultivating Contentment

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Message Text: Luke 12:13–21 (NLT)

We are bombarded with messages…

• If you had a little bit more, you’d be content
• If you had this new ”thing” you’d be satisfied
• If you had a bigger house or more fashionable clothes, you’d be happy

Adam Hamilton calls this the RHS (Restless Heart Syndrome):  “We are never satisfied, always searching for something more, something better, something bigger,  something that satisfies.”

Contentment is a condition of the heart and soul!

¹¹Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. ¹²I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Philippians 4:11-12 (MSG) 

¹⁶Be cheerful no matter what; ¹⁷pray all the time; 18thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MSG) 

God made us to be content with some things and not to be content with others.
We are made to be content with what we have, and not content with the injustice in the lives of others.  The problem is that we get these confused.  We become content or complacent with the needs of people around us because we aren’t content with what we have.

Contentment is a life choice. Choosing Contentment means:

• that we look to God as the source of all we have and give thanks for what we have been given.
• we ask God to give us the right perspective on money and possessions and to change our hearts each day.
• we lead a simpler life, wasting less, conserving more, managing well.
• we say yes to the right things, and no to the unnecessary, and that we grow closer to God to know the difference.
• we live generously for the sake of others in need.

Prayer of Contentment

Lord, help me be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don’t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity.  AMEN

This sermon series is based on the book Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity by Adam Hamilton

The Happiest People I Know

"Those are the happiest people I know."

A blog post with this title has been ruminating in my head for about a year.  It was originally about shoes, but now its about Tanzanian's.  Let me explain.

I know a girl who works in the shoe department at Von Maur. I have to admit that I was surprised to hear her say that working there is the best job she's ever had.  She claims:  "These are the happiest people I've ever met."  This is not a flaky superficial girl either, she's spiritual, she's a church goer, she prays, she even meditates.  All that and she still says, customers in the shoe department at Von Maur are the happiest people she's ever met.

I think I agree with her.  The shoe department at Von Maur is one of my happy places.  Even if I don't buy anything, I could spend an hour just perusing the possibilities.  In the shoe department you don't have to worry about how much weight you've gained or how tall/short your legs are - shoes look good on everybody.  This makes a shoe shopper happy.

But I started to rethink this theory on Sunday.  I heard someone declare at a Tanzania meeting that "Tanzanian's are the happiest people I know."  I couldn't disagree with her either.  I've never seen bigger smiles than on my friends in Tanzania.  These people, who have next to nothing by way of material possessions, have everything by way of sheer joy and happiness.  It's no wonder that a very common girl's name there is "Happy."

I am laughing at the irony of comparing shoe shoppers (perhaps the quintessential expression of American greed) to Tanzanians (the very picture of humility and generosity).  Our perspective makes such a difference, doesn't it?  If you're looking for happiness - you're going to find it.  If you're looking for greed, you're going to find it.  If you're looking for despair, you'll find it.

So I've been keeping my eyes open for happiness - and I'm finding it, not only in shoes and Tanzanian friends but in:

• The laughter in my small group at the frequency with which we get off topic.
• The joy a young boy named Marvin finds in reading.
• The "cheese sandwich" I made with my nephew out of two couch cushions and a story book.  (Which, by the way, was delicious.)
• The "ah-ha's" people are having as they read Enough.
• The excitement building for Thanksgiving worship and time with family.
• The anticipated "white stuff."

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 (TNIV)

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Who are the happiest people you know?

Pastor Sara

Defined by Generosity

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Based on: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

We were created to be givers—we are tempted to be takers and keepers.

• Fear: “If you give, there may not be enough left over for yourself.”
• Self-gratification: “If you give you won’t have enough money to buy the stuff you want that you think will make you happy.”
• Defeating these voices is an act of faith!  As we grow spiritually, we’ll grow in our generosity. We discover that ancient truth that there is more joy in doing for others, than for ourselves.

What we believe about life and what we have to give:

• Life is a gift and everything in it belongs to God.
• We are called by God to be good stewards and managers of all that God has given to us.
• Acts 20:35:  It’s more blessed to give than to receive. My security is in God.  Not in money. 

Giving to God
A large portion of what we’ve been given is for us…taking care of us, our families.  But God also expects us to care for others. To build his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Giving is a part of following Christ that many people feel uncomfortable exploring.  But giving generously is often life-changing for those who respond to God’s call. Our tithes and offerings are:

• Tangible signs of where our heart is with God.  They show God what we think of him. 
• Expressions of our worship and gratitude to God.
• Demonstrations that we put God first in our lives.
• An investment in God’s work through the church.
• Pleasing to God

When we give generously we will be blessed. 
It’s not that we give to get blessed.  That’s the wrong motivation and heart. But when we give generously, thankfully, faithfully, blessings will be ours!  Living for others results in blessings—and isn’t that how we want to be remembered when our life is over?

This sermon series is based on the book Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity by Adam Hamilton

Wisdom and Finance

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Sermon Text: Luke 12:22–34

Enough* Series Introduction

Where are you financially? Are you in a looming financial crisis? Are bills piling up? Do you have major debt on credit cards? Do you feel like you are on a treadmill and something is going to break…either the treadmill or your wallet? OR, are you doing well? If so, what are you doing with what you have been given? Do you waste your money? Do you ever wonder “where it all went?”

In this sermon series we want to look at these issues that deal with our money.  Many of the issues of money aren’t about money itself.  Money is just a tool.  The issue of money is really an issue of what is in our heart…what we value…who we love.

Finding our purpose:

Many of us don’t have our purpose figured out so we buy into our culture’s definition which is: “To consume. To have more.” On the contrary, this is what the Bible teaches us about our purpose:

• We were created to love God and others
• We were created to care for our families
• We were created to glorify God through our actions
• We were created to build God’s kingdom and do God’s will
• We were created to seek justice and serve others in their need
• We were created to follow Jesus

Our money and possessions should align with our purpose!
A Biblical Plan for Wise Financial Management—10/10/80 

• 10% to God
• 10% for the future
• 80% to live on

Six financial planning principles (Enough p. 43)

1. Pay your tithe and offering first (give God his share off the top—not your leftovers)
2. Create a budget and track your expenses
3. Simplify your lifestyle (live below your means)
4. Establish an emergency fund
5. Pay off your credit cards and use cash/debit cards for purchases and use credit wisely
6. Practice long-term savings and investment habits

Prayer of Contentment

Lord, help me be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don’t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity.  AMEN

*This sermon series is based on the book Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity by Adam Hamilton