Southwood Lutheran Church

A Parable about Wheat and Weeds

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Message Text: Matthew 13:24-29

• In the parable, when the farmer finds out that there are weeds growing with the wheat, the farmer says “Just let the weeds and wheat grow together. It’s too much trouble to go out there and weed that field. You’re going to slip up and pull some wheat with the weeds. Just leave it. We’ll sort it all out at harvest time.”
• The field is a metaphor for the church. It reminds us that the church is a mess, full of all sorts of people. This is the messiness of the church. We have wheat and weeds growing next to each other. And this is what happens when we take the Great Commission seriously...Go and make disciples of all nations... You do that and you never know who is going to show up.

God can turn weeds into wheat!

• Weedy people can be transformed into wheat, not by their own doing, but by God’s. This is why we invite everyone into our church, and not just the “good people.”
• God wants to give everyone as much chance as possible to know and love him.

The story also reminds us that it is God’s mess, not yours and mine.

• And it is not for us to judge which seed will take root, which tree will bear fruit. It’s not for us to distinguish between wheat and weeds. That’s God’s business.
• In this world, we have bad seed growing right next to good seed. And sometimes we can’t tell which seed is good and which seed is bad. This is why the gospel tells us to not judge, because we can’t tell the difference. Only God can, and he said that he would take care of it at harvest time.
• What we are to do is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be given unto you. When we keep to the seeking first the kingdom of God business and out of judging others business, God will take care of the rest.

A Parable about Attitude

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Message Text: Luke 18:9-14

A parable about the attitude and heart we should have when we come to God in prayer.

The Attitude and Heart of Two Different Prayers

• Pharisee’s prayer and attitude
  • Considered himself morally and religiously superior to others.
  • Condemned his neighbor.
  • Exalted in his own spiritual practices.
  • Trusted in his own good deeds to make him acceptable to God.
  • Acted as if God owed him something for his goodness.
  • Failed to see his sin and therefore, his own need for God.
  • Measured himself in comparison to others rather than to God who is absolute holiness…he built his self-worth on the moral failings of others.
  • Lacked a humble and contrite (repentant) heart.
• Tax collector’s prayer and attitude
  • Recognized the holiness of God.
  • Knew there was a gulf that lay between himself and God.
  • Recognized the sin in his life.
  • Did not try to hide or deny his sin but pleaded for grace.
  • Openly needed God.
  • Submits himself to God’s will.

What spirit and heart do you bring to prayer?

• God gives grace to the humble. James 4:6
• Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. James 4:10
• Pray with a spirit of humility. Humility is defined as, "A quality by which a person considering their own defects has a humble opinion of themselves and willingly submits to God and to others for God's sake."
• Pray knowing that the privilege to come before God is a gift.
• Pray knowing that God will turn away a prayer that is saturated with pride, selfishness and defamation of others.
• Pray with a contrite heart . . . a repentant heart . . . open to God and the ways he wants to change and use you in this world.

A Parable about Lostness

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Message Text: Luke 15:1-10

“What you think about God shapes your whole relationship with Him. In addition, what you believe God thinks about you determines how close you will grow toward him.”

Who is God?

• An overzealous policeman, always ready to pounce on your mistakes.
• A Strict School teacher, giving you an “F” every day for the things you do wrong.
• An angry judge, just waiting to throw you in jail.
• A disappointed parent, always upset because you are failing to make quick progress.
• A loving creator who has a great passion for you and your life.

The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin teach us . . .

• God never gives up on us.
  • Like the shepherd, God seeks out the lost.
  • You are so incredibly significant to God that he will never give up on you. You may give up on yourself, but God will never give up on you.
  • God continually rejoices when you are transformed and changed by His grace.
• Luke 15:5,6,7,9,10
  • God rejoices over one sinner being saved. God rejoices when you and I humble ourselves before him and let him change our hearts.
  • Do we rejoice when we see a person changed by the love and grace of God?
• Have you given your heart to God?
  • So many people try to find their significance in what others think of them, in their accomplishments, in their looks, in their money, in their status, by what they have done. Jesus is saying to us through these parables: “You are incredibly significant to God, so much so that he, Jesus, gave his life for you. Jesus’ self sacrifice says in no uncertain terms that God passionately loves you. God will never give up on you. And He celebrates when you give your life to him.”
  • Knowing your incredible significance to God, have you given your life to the One who gave His life for you?

A Parable About Money

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Message Text: Luke 12:16-21

What is the goal of your life on earth?

• To get more?
• To do more?
• To make a difference?

Who is your God?

Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. 7After all, we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. 8So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT)

Finding Contentment

1. Your life is not about you or your possessions.
   1. Jesus is our example…when the devil tempted him saying “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Matthew 4:9-10 (NRSV)
   2. Jesus also said: “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15 (NRSV)
2. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
3. Refuse to compare yourself to others.
4. Give to those in need:
   1. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. James 1:27 (MSG)
5. Stop talking and listen for God to speak to you.
6. Keep your priorities straight. No one can serve 2 masters.

Good Soil

Listen: Pastor Greg's Message

Message Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Understanding the Parable of Good Soil.

• Jesus is the sower.
• The seed is God’s Word for our lives.
• The seed that falls on the path represents people that have no desire to hear the Word. They are too preoccupied with themselves. Their heart is hard.
• The seed that falls on rocky grown represents people who accept the Word, but not much of it. These people joyfully receive the good news of the gospel because of what it gives to them. They grow initially, but then they figure they know as much as they need to now…that their bases are covered. When troubles or suffering come (the scorching sun) their faith withers.
• The seed that falls among thorns is the one who hears the Word but the cares of the world and the lure of the world is just too great and so the seed does not yield fruit. Daily business and routines overcrowd the growth of the seed of faith.
• The seed that falls on good soil takes root and multiplies 30, 60 even 100 times. This seed bears fruit for the Kingdom.

Keep Sowing The Seed.

• You Never Know When A Heart Is Ready.
• Keep sowing the seed of faith. You never know when the soil conditions will change. Sow seeds of faith into the lives of your children/grandchildren. Even if you children are adults, do not stop sowing.

The Seed That Falls On Good Soil Bears Fruit!

• “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
• These behaviors and actions are signs of good soil.

Next Steps:

• Are you sowing the seed? Who needs to receive it? Who has need of it in your life?
• How is the soil of your heart? Is it a rock hard path, rocky ground, thorny, or richly tilled soil? Is your heart ready to grow the seed of faith?
• Are you bearing any fruit? Examine the fruit of the spirit and evaluate how you are doing? Does your life show signs of growth? If not, what needs to change?

Chicken Dance

We have reached our goal of 2,000 chickens! As promised Pastor Greg performed the Chicken Dance during Southwood's Annual Gathering on the Greens Dinner & Auction on June 11, 2010. 

Now it's time to shake your tail feather, Pastor Greg! 

View the FULL size version here: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IHbTHEQk4M

 Thank you for supporting the Global Mission Chicken Project! These chickens will give HOPE to our brothers and sisters in Honduras and Tanzania by providing chickens for co-ops and micro loan projects. They will be an ongoing source of protein in their diets, a sustainable business and much needed jobs in their economy.

Who Is My Neighbor?

 Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Message text: Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us that we are to show compassion to anyone in need.

1. What was crucial to making the Samaritan such a powerful example . . . was his attitude. Verse 33 says when the Samaritan saw the injured man “he took pity on him.” The expression could also be translated “he had compassion for him.” Verse 37 confirms that the lawyer picked up the central characteristic of the Samaritan as someone who had mercy.
2. Attitude makes the difference. It is a reflection of what is in our heart. We serve those in need because it is in our hearts. We might need to look inside our heart to see if it is hardened to the needs around us. Is there an area of our lives where we are directly serving hurting people in need?

The second lesson is that religion can get in the way of demonstrating God’s compassion for his people.

1. Do you ever get in the mind set of: “Well, I go to church? I give an offering. I do my part. I’m covered.”
2. The shocking thing in this story is that Jesus calls the Samaritan good. The two terms simply did not belong together in most people’s thinking. A Samaritan was a descendant of the unlawful intermarriages between Jews and Gentiles in Israel. Samaritans were despised.

The third lesson is: even my enemy is my neighbor.

1. Imagine being cared for and served by someone whom you feel uncomfortable around or even despise. It could be a person who is a rightwing tea party conservative, or a left leaning liberal. It could be a person who is gay or straight. It could be a person who is Jewish, Muslim, or an atheist. It could be a person from a different country who speaks a different language. Or imagine you being called to serve a person like this…to make a great sacrifice for a person whom you are uncomfortable being around.
2. This is where Jesus leads us in the story. He follows it up with this: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and might, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27) And who is our neighbor? Anyone in need.

NEXT STEPS:

• Do an attitude check.
• Pray for compassion and mercy to come upon your heart. Pray: “Let my heart be broken by the same things that break the heart of God.” ¹
• Ask God to put you in the position to serve someone in need.

• Stearns, Richard. The Hole In Our Gospel (World Vision, Inc. © 2009). pg 9.

Raising a Child for God

Listent to Pastor Greg's Message

Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-20

1. Being a parent is a divine calling.
   • “I will give him to you all the days of his life.” Hannah’s vow to God (vs. 11)
   • As a parent, you are God’s representatives in your children’s life to help them grow in their life with God, and grow in their understanding of who God created them to be.
2. Parents celebrate God’s creative uniqueness in every child.
   • Psalm 139: “You made me in the womb. You have knit and woven me together.”
   • Every one of us has a unique weave to us. We are gifted and skilled in unique ways.
   • God has placed upon you as a parent the purpose, the high calling, of helping your child understand their uniqueness and develop it.
3. Parents pray passionately.
   • When Hannah was being beaten down she prayed (vs. 12). She was even groaning in prayer. Prayer was a source of her strength.
   • God listens to our prayers.
   • If you don’t have God involved in raising your children you are going to be in big trouble. Kids go through so many challenges and temptations…we need to bring God into the equation.
4. Parents assume spiritual leadership for their children.
   • Children need to see parent’s example of prayer, bible study, worship, service. They need to see their parent’s own dependence upon God.
   • The church is a partner that comes along side them for faith development. But the parent is God’s designed instrument to be the spiritual leader in their lives. Parents have over 3,000 hours with their kids every year. Church at the most has them for 80 hours. Who has the greater influence?
   • No one has more opportunity and time to impact the soul of a child than a parent.
5. Every child needs mentors, spiritual leaders, teachers, coaches, care givers, counselors and advisors that celebrate God’s creative uniqueness in every child, pray passionately for the children they work with and provide spiritual leadership for the children they influence.

What is Heaven Like?

 Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Sermon Text: Revelation 22:1–5

God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

• First are last and the last are first.
• The least of these are cared for.
• Political views, differences in race, separations between people of any kind have no place in heaven.
• It is so wonderful there is no sacrifice too great in order to have it.
• It’s home.

Biblical writers use symbolic language (visions) to describe Heaven.

• Revelation 22:1–5 (NLT)
  And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, ²coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. ³No longer will anything be cursed. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. ⁴And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
   
• Genesis 2:9–10 (NLT)
  The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ¹⁰A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches.
   
• Revelation 21:22–27 (NLT)
  No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is its temple. ²³And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. ²⁴The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. ²⁵Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night. ²⁶And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. ²⁷Nothing evil will be allowed to enter—no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
   

In Heaven . . .

1. In heaven there are incredible rich relationships.
2. In heaven we find our home (not just houses), a home which represents security, belonging, refuge, and a sense of permanence.
3. In heaven there is purity and joy.
4. In heaven, we are with God and enjoy his glory. There is nothing on this earth that even compares.

Bringing HOPE to the World

Listent to Pastor Greg's Message

Text: Luke 24:1-12

Southwood has sister churches in La Ceibita, Honduras, and Uswaa Parish in Northern Tanzania. A majority of their populations earns less than $1 a day. This amount is barely enough to buy the bare essentials needed to feed a family.

A typical daily diet in Honduras is rice and beans and the typical diet in Tanzania is beans and Ugali (stiff porridge made with corn flour and water). They rarely have meat in their diets and when they do, it is usually chicken. Their typical diets provide some protein but not nearly the recommended amount. An adult male who weighs 154 pounds, requires about 56 grams of protein daily and an adult female who weighs 110 pounds needs about 40 grams a protein daily.

 On Easter Sunday, members and guests were encouraged to “Bring HOPE to the World”. As they left the sanctuary, they were handed colored Easter egg with a slip of paper inside. The paper encouraged them to return the egg to Southwood with $8 to give hope to our brothers and sisters in our Honduras and Tanzania by purchasing chickens for co-ops and micro loan projects.

These chickens will give Hope by providing an ongoing source of protein in their diets, a sustainable business and much needed jobs in their economy!

Chicken and Egg Facts:

• A chicken can lay up to 200 eggs a year – plenty to eat, share, and sell
• A serving of chicken meat contains 35 grams of protein
• An egg contains 6 grams of protein
• Protein from chicken meat and eggs are rich with vitamins to help with energy, cardiovascular and immune health.

If you were out of town visiting family on Easter Sunday or didn't get an egg you can still participate in our goal of provide 1,000 chickens to Honduras and Tanzania! Stop by Southwood Central TODAY to purchase a chicken or chickens!

Donate Online Today by giving through Southwood's secure Online Giving and entering "Chicken Project" into the "Other" field.

Donation Amount	Chickens	Eggs in a Year
$8.00	1	200
$16.00	2	400
$24.00	3	600
$32.00	4	800
$64.00	8	1600