Southwood Lutheran Church

Act 26 - A Blog in 28 Acts

Do you know who Festus is?

I was talking about Acts 26 with Kim, Sara and Chip and I asked them about Festus.  Festus is mentioned in Acts 26 as a Roman Govenor.  I rememberd a guy named Festus from the old television show, Gunsmoke.  They didn't know who I was talking about.  Do you?  (Check out the poll in the right hand column of this blog to add to the conversation.)

You know you are getting old when the people you work with don't remember the TV shows you watched years ago.  They didn't know anything about Festus, or Matt Dillon, or Miss Kitty or Doc.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about, its' ok.  Just humor me).  So we laughed and made jokes about my age.  Chip even asked "was it in black and white?"

I don't know if we ever went back to talking about Acts 26.  But it didn't matter.  We were having some fun (if at my expense), and that makes life a joy.

St. Paul always seemed to find joy in every situation.  He seemed to be able to get beyond the fear of the trouble he was in and find a sense of peace.  Read Acts 26 and see if you agree with me. To stand before the power of Rome in defiance takes a tremendous faith in an ever present God!

I'm not always that faithful.  Sometimes, certain situations can get me very anxious.  But I am not as anxious when I am with other followers of Christ.  When I am in Christian community I always feel uplifted...stronger.  Yes, there is power in numbers.  But there is also power in faith. A power that comes from being a part of the body of Christ.  Knowing that you don't have to walk this life alone...but that you have fellow followers of Jesus Christ who care about you along the way.  I am strengthened by the church, the body of Christ. 

Kim, Chip and Sara didn't know who Festus was. (Be sure to answer our poll question and let us know if you knew who Festus was.)  But they know who Jesus is.  And I find strength in our common faith.  It's good to be the church together! (even though some of the church doesn't even know that Matt Dillon was the sheriff of Dodge City).

Pastor Greg 

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16.  We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day.  Be sure to join us in reading this entire book.  We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

Act 22 - A Blog in 28 Acts

Can I have a Testimony!  Read All of Acts 22 here.

In Acts 22, St. Paul gives his testimony.  He is sharing with the people the kind of person he "used to be" and how God is now using him in a new way.  It is a powerful testimony that displays how God can even use someone like Paul (who in his former life was nothing more than a glorified bounty hunter of Christians).  God changed Paul into the most successful evangelist the Christian church has ever known. Amazing! 

His testimony reminds me of how powerful God's transforming love is.  It can really change people from the inside out!  It transformed Paul, and it can transform you and me.

His testimony also prompts me to ask myself; What's my testimony? How can I share with people the transformation that God has made within my heart?  What difference does my relationship with Jesus make in the way I think and behave? 

These are questions we all should ask.  In fact, we should know our answers to them, because someday we will be with someone who will need to hear how God has transformed us into a new being.  It will be our opportunity to really touch someone with the incredible grace and transforming love of God by sharing our own testimony.  And who knows, that testimony might be the very thing that person needs to hear to begin a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ!

Today, think of your own testimony.  How has God made a change in you?  How are you different because of his love and grace in your life?  Then prepare to share it with someone.  Because you never know when the opportunity will offer itself when someone may ask; "Can I have a testimony?"

Pastor Greg

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day. Be sure to join us in reading this entire book. We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

Act 18 - A Blog in 28 Acts

Keep it Up. Read all of Acts 18 here.

 One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: "Keep it up, and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you. [10] No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." Acts 18:109- (Msg) 

Paul was preaching in Corinth.  There was great resistance and push-back to his Gospel message.  It had to be discouraging.  Then God speaks to him with these words. 

"Keep it up, and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you."  It can be discouraging to be sharing the Good News and nobody listens.  It can get discouraging to desire someone to know Christ and yet they demonstrate through their lives that they don't know him.  God says to St. Paul as well as to you and me, don't give up.  Hang in there.  Keep being the light of Christ in the world. Keep sharing the Gospel.  Sometimes it takes a long time before people get.  But they will never get it if you stop sharing it.  Be strong and courageous!

"No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you." Remember this promise.  Always remember this promise.  God is with us!  Always!  You are never alone!  Nothing can separate you from the love of God! So, share the gospel!

"You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city."  There is spiritual strength in the Body of Christ.  We need to stay connected with the Church to sense that strength for we can carry each other's burdens and encourage one another along the way. 

So how are you doing in sharing the gospel?  Are you afraid of sharing your faith?  Do you get push-back when you share your faith?  Are you ignored or ridiculed because of your faith? Take a lesson from Acts...

• Keep sharing your faith and never give up.  There is someone's eternity at stake.
• Remember that God will be with you.  You are never alone.
• Keep connected into the church.  Worship regularly.  Get into a small group that prays and studies scripture. 

Keep on sharing the Gospel.  WE are Christ's voice in the world.  If we don't do it, it will not be heard.

Pastor Greg

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day. Be sure to join us in reading this entire book. We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

Act 14 - A Blog in 28 Acts

Nobody ever said it was going to be easy. I sometimes think that this statement is a subtext of Acts.  This new church has been planted into the world with the task of building the Kingdom of God by bringing more people into relationship with Jesus and bearing fruit by faith.  Yet, chapter after chapter we read of the "push-back" and challenges the early church leaders faced.  Read Acts 14 now!

Check out some of the challenges that Paul and Barnabas were facing: 

• Some of the Jews refused to believe them and stirred up sentiment against them.
• Some of the gentiles thought they were representatives of their Greek Gods and wanted to worship them instead of the God of Abraham.
• Paul even gets stoned and thrown out of the city.

Nobody said this was going to be easy!

I think it is important that we remember this as we seek to be Christ followers in the world.  What we know in our hearts about Jesus and our salvation brings us great joy.  But we will confront push-back when we share our faith with others.  Just as Paul and Barnabas experienced it, we will too.  In fact, I hear more Christ followers tell me that they seem like they "don't fit in" anymore.  As if they are foreigners in their own city.

I think this is real.  I think that to be a committed Christ follower we will feel as if we "don't belong" anywhere.  That is why the disciplines of worship, getting connected with a small group, and prayer are so important.  This is where we receive the strength and encouragement we will need to continue the task of "bearing fruit" and building the kingdom.

If you ever get discouraged because you feel like nobody cares about the faith, take a lesson from Acts.  Stick together, do what you can, always be faithful and fruitful, and be of good courage, for you are representing the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ!

Pastor Greg

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day. Be sure to join us in reading this entire book. We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

Act 10 - A Blog in 28 Acts

"Get Out Of Your Box."

Getting out of your box is an expression that is used to describe someone taking a risk or coming to a new understanding about something.  As we read the book of Acts we see many of the early followers of Jesus getting out of the box as they tried to build the early church.  Before I go on, Read Acts 10 and try to get a sense of how Peter was called to get out of the box.

Did you get it?  Did you sense how Peter was getting out of his box? 

Peter was building the church from Jerusalem.  His primary audience were the Jews.  They were believers already.  The Gentiles were a different story though.  They, for the most part were pagans.  Peter didn't see them in the same way he saw the Jews.  He thought the Jews were the chosen and the Gentiles were just heathens. But then Cornelius sends for him...Cornelius is an Italian!  Definitely not Jewish.  But Peter senses a call to go to him.  When he finally sees him some Jews are aghast at Peter being in the company of an "unclean gentile".  But Peter gets out his box when he says in verse 34, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts all people from every nation who fear him."  That is a big step for Peter.  He is acknowledging that there is really no difference between the Jews and Gentiles...God shows no partiality.  Didn't make him very popular among the Jewish Christians of the day.  But it opened the door for a legitimate evangelism effort to the Gentile world.  This would transform the church forever.

God often asks us to get out our boxes to see things in this life in a brand new way.  For Peter it was to realize that in God's eyes there was no difference between Jews and Gentiles.  What is it for you and me?  Is God trying to get us to see our neighbor in a new light?  Are we being challenged to forgive in a way that we have never had to forgive before? Is God asking us to reach out to someone we are not that comfortable around in order to share the love of Christ?

You and I are always in a process of growing to be more like Christ.  Think and pray about how God might be working on you today to get out of your box and see something in your life in a brand new way!

Pastor Greg This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day. Be sure to join us in reading this entire book. We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

Act 6 - A Blog in 28 Acts

May We Have Such Courage.  Read all of Acts Six.

Have you ever had your Christian faith and identity challenged?  Has your life ever been threatened because of your belief in Jesus Christ? 

As we read Acts 6, we read of how the early church leaders became a threat to the Jewish leaders of the time.  More specifically, they became a threat to the "status quo".  Stephen and the other Christian leaders were a part of a spiritual movement that was out to change lives and eternities.  The pushback they were getting was not from the nonreligous folks of the time, it was from the institutional religious folks of the time--the people who wanted to keep everything the way they were---don't rock the boat. And they would do anything to keep things the way they were, including lie, cheat, and deceive. (all in the name of religion, by the way). 

We still confront this today.  In an effort to reach more people for Christ it sometimes amazes me the pushback that is felt that comes from "the institutional church" those who invest more of their time keeping things the way they once were instead of reaching out to those who do not know Christ.  It comes in the form of fear and control: "we've never done it that way before." "I want it the way it has always been" (even when that way is not reaching more people for Christ.)" "We need to care about ourselves first, then care about those others."

What I have experienced in over 20 years of ministry in the church is this; when the church is true to its origins of being a spiritual movement reaching out and serving more, it is most alive and true to its identity as a church.  When the church gets stuck in serving itself, and becomes consumer driven, rather than Spirit and Mission driven, it becomes nothing more than a club.

If you ever wonder why I sometimes press us as a congregation to continue to reach out, to serve more, to transform lives, to get out of the comfort zone, and to put our faith into action---this is why!  I don't want to be a part of a club. I want to be a part of a Spirit-led, mission-driven church that is in the business of salvation.  To be a part of a movement like this is uncomfortable.  There are times when people will push back.  There will be times when we will have to make a stand for our faith. There will be times when we will have to give up some of our own needs in order to reach out to those who don't know Jesus yet. I hope and pray that we may we have the courage like Stephen to withstand the slings and arrows when they come, receiving them with peace and assurance that we are standing on the solid ground of Jesus Christ.

Our heritage as a Christian Church is one of courage.  May we have such courage.

Pastor Greg

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16.  We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day.  Be sure to join us in reading this entire book.  We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

A Blog in 28 Acts - Act 2

The Holy Spirit and the Followers of Christ - Read all of Acts Two here.

The Second Chapter of Acts is probably one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  It describes the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birthing of the Church, and gives a sense of what that early church was like.  Verses 42-47 describe that early church:

    [42]They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. [43] A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. [44] And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. [45] They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. [46] They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— [47] all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

They worshiped, they studied the Word, they served one another, they gave willingly of what they had for the sake of others and "the Lord added to their group those who were being saved".  If you are paying attention you will see the similarity between this first century church and our 21st century church.  Worship, Grow, Serve, Give, Invite.  Some things never change!

For 2,000 years the church has rallied around these principles.  And for 2,000 years God has used His Church to do his saving work in the world.  The same work that Peter, Paul and the others started in the first century we continue today.  What a privilege to be a part of God's Church in the world.

Pastor Bill Hybels says that the "local church is the hope of the world."  When the church dedicates itself to these principles we become that beacon of hope for the world.  Pray today that God will continue to use Southwood as that beacon of hope in the world.  And pray that we will never lose sight of our mission to Worship, Grow, Serve, Give and Invite!

In what ways are you most like those first followers of Christ? In what areas do you need to grow?

Pastor Greg

This 28 part blog will post each Tuesday through Friday from April 1 through May 16. We'll post on one chapter of Acts each day. Be sure to join us in reading this entire book. We'll learn about Jesus, about his disciples, and about how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ.

Getting Spiritually Ready for Christmas

This Sunday I preached about spiritually "preparing for Christmas".  I used the message of John the Baptist...the message of repentance, as a practice to follow for making the celebration of Christmas a more "spiritual" experience.  Here are some of my main points:

Repentance is turning away from something that draws you away from God and TURNING TOWARD the love and grace of God.  Repentance and humility are the attitudes we will need when we face our Lord when he comes again, so it only makes sense that they should be our attitudes as we prepare to celebrate the coming of God into our lives this Christmas.

If you want to make your repentance real this Christmas and make some changes in the year of 2008, take some time NOW to reflect upon these questions:

• What temptations have led me away from God in 2007?
• Do I feel "far from God"?  What is the barrier that I have created to make me feel so far from God?
• Is there someone, or something that is having a bad influence upon me?

Get ruthless with these questions and decide to make some "turns" and changes for the new year.  Then present yourself to your Lord and know that he comes to you in Jesus to help you make these changes and create a transformation of your heart.

If you want to make Christmas a more "spiritual" experience, try practicing repentance.  According to John the Baptist, this is the way to prepare for the coming of the Lord!

Pastor Greg

Tragedy at Westroads

I watched the news as the terrible details came to light.  A disturbed 19 year old decided that his life was too much to bear and wanted to make everyone else feel his pain...so he created as much pain as possible.  The senseless deaths of 9 people at Westroads Mall has brought pain to an entire region, let alone the families that have lost treasured family members.  How do we make sense of this?

We really can't make sense of this, because it is senseless.  The 19 year old committed suicide, which in itself is a selfish act.  A suicide alone causes pain and unanswered questions to all those left behind.  The emotional impact of suicide can go on for years for family members and friends who ask over and over, "what could I have done to prevent this?" 

Undoubtedly, this young man was in pain.  But he decided that he wanted all of us to feel his pain.  And he brought his pain into the lives of people that had nothing to do with his pain at all.  This is a purely selfish act of evil. 

Theologically, this is a tragic example of sin gone wild.  Martin Luther described sin as "a person turning in on themselves."  Sin is self-centeredness that drives a person away from the will and love of God.  What happened at Westroads on Wednesday is an extreme example of what sin can do in the lives of people.  The after effects of this sin will be felt be the families of the victims for years and years to come.

Of course, what makes this even worse is that it happened during the "Christmas season".  This is to be a season of peace and joy, not terror.  And yet, in the midst of all the Christmas decorations in Von Maur, killing and death took place.  Yet, as the people of God who know the real story of Christmas, we know that it was into this kind of messed up, evil, sinful world, that the baby Jesus entered.  God chose to send his son into a world full of this kind of sin and violence.  In fact, this kind of sin and violence would one day take the life of Jesus.  But we also know that his death was not the "end of the story." 

So it is with the hope of the resurrection that we reflect on what happened at Westroads. Hope that God is greater than the power of sin and evil in our midst.  Hope in the promise of eternal life.  Hope that one day he will come again and things will be changed forever. Hope that the grace and love of God will surround the families of those who lost their lives with comfort.  Hope that sin and evil will ultimately not win out, but victory in Christ Jesus will. 

So today we grieve with Christian hope.  When you think about it...isn't this what Christmas is all about...God coming into this world through his son Jesus, to save us from sin and evil.  All we can say is, "Come Lord Jesus.  Come quickly! Come now! Come!"

Pastor Greg

Now it's our turn!

I am thinking a lot about the future of Southwood these days.  How can you not when you see the huge earth movers next door to us preparing the hundreds of acres of land around us for new development.  The future looks bright.  You can only imagine the many new people who will find a home in this area in the next 10-20 years -- and also find a church home in Southwood.  It is exciting to think about!

But there is one concern.  Will we continue to grow our faith and giving to respond to the growth demands of our ministry?  That question will be answered by all of us in the next few weeks as we make our commitments of financial giving to Southwood for the year of 2008.  We can only do as much as our giving will allow us.

I get some complaints that I talk about money too often.  Personally speaking, how I use my money is how I put my faith into action.  This is central to my sense of integrity.  My wife and I tithe to Southwood. On top of that we give to our capital campaign, Mission Unlimited, which is another 5%.  On top of that we give to our AIDS Orphan Scholarship fund, we support our schools, we support community nonprofits, etc.  Our giving is a significant way that we as a family can truly touch a lot of people with a message of hope.

I personally see this as putting my faith into action.  Considering that we are the richest people in the world, it is the least that we can do.  I also know that I have needed to press myself in this way to grow spiritually. So, this year we will make our commitment for another year.  It will be a tithe (and maybe a little bit more).  It will be our way of putting our faith into action.  It also is our way of enabling God to do some great things in the lives of people.  It is an investment in something that is much bigger than ourselves and has eternal implications.  That is why our giving is an exciting part of our faith.

What about you?  What will you commit for the coming year?  I pray that we will all be faithful, cheerful in our giving, and ever increasing in our support of God's church.  The future is bright!  God has been faithful.  Now it's our turn.

Pastor Greg