Southwood Lutheran Church

This Sunday: Global Music Worship

Here's just a little preview of what our Sanctuary is looking like for this Sunday October 24.  Be sure to join us as we celebrate our Global partnerships in Tanzania and Honduras!  We will have guest musicians with us on Sunday to lead us in music from all over the world - you don't want to miss it.

Thoughts on Receiving Holy Communion

This past Sunday our 5th grade students received Holy Communion for the first time. Some of them had been waiting a long time for this.; Check out what Anna (one of the 5th Grade students) had to say:

“I think communion is important because it is a time you share with God. The importance of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is great. I feel that when we take communion we take it for granted, but if you really think about it you will realize it is one of the most important things you receive as a Christian. Each and every one of us is SO lucky to receive communion. I am really looking forward to taking communion for the first time. It reminds us that Christ died for our sins and we are forgiven.”

These students participated in a Faith Stepping Stones class in the middle of August where they heard all about the Biblical command to eat this meal, where they learned about how it strengthens us to serve, and where they actively participated in a game all about grace. Now they will receive Holy Communion the same as any adult member of our church.

As a church, we pray God's blessings upon these students, and upon all who receive Holy Communion, that they will know they are strengthened, forgiven, and sent out to serve.

Do you remember the first time you received this incredible meal? What does it mean to you now?

Pastor Sara

Sermon Notes - New Location

Beginning today Sermon Notes for Sunday Sermons will be available directly on Southwood's main website along with a streaming audio player of the message.

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.

Pondering Time

You can learn a lot from 2 four year old's and a Golden Retriever! This week's lesson is about time.

Time: it either stands still or it marches on. And which ever one it is doing to us, we wish it were the opposite.

God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 NIV)

These two sweet boys have been making me think about time this week.

• First, Charlie turned 4 and he wondered why he didn't feel any different. He asked his mom: "Shouldn't I be able to jump higher, reach farther, and lift heavier things?"

• Second, yesterday Benjamin asked me (via Skype) to come over to his house for supper, that very night! I told him that I would love to, but that it would take me until midnight to get there and then i could stay for 2 hours before I would have to leave and be back in time for work the next day. He didn't understand why this would be a problem.

Time. For children it never seems to move along quickly enough. For adults it seems like it is whizzing by us so quickly that we can never keep up.

I suppose there is no solution, people are people after all. We are probably always going to be wishing time away or trying to figure out some way that we can speed it up. A quote on the tag of my tea bag once read: "When God made time, he made enough of it." It seems like such great wisdom, but rarely do I really truly believe it.

You know who doesn't spend a second thinking about time? My parents Golden Retriever named Lincoln. He completely enjoys every moment, every place, and every situation he finds himself in. He's happy to plop down on the floor next to my mom while she reads the morning paper. He's happy to run back and forth endlessly retrieving tennis balls, he's happy to be out in the field hunting ducks with my brother. He is always happy and content, he always has enough time.

I'm trying to live in each moment like I have plenty of time. I'm trying not to fret about moments past, or worry about what is to come, but just absorb myself in the moment God is presently giving to me.

I'm trying. What about you?

Pastor Sara

A Parable about Being Prepared

 Listen to Pastor Sara's Message

Message Text: Matthew 25:1-13

Which of the following would require the most preparation time for you? (check one of the following boxes)

• Hosting your family for Christmas Dinner
• Studying for a comprehensive final exam
• A fishing trip to Canada
• The arrival of a new baby in your home
• Purchasing a new car
• Planning a wedding

When should I be ready?

• Jesus said: “So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return.” Matthew 25:13 (NLT)
• Just a few verses earlier Jesus says: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36 (NIV)
• Many have tried to predict. So far, no one has been right.

Stay awake and be prepared.
Jesus appears daily if we watch carefully:

• Jesus is present in the Word.
• Jesus is present in Holy Communion.
• Jesus is present where two or three are gathered.
• Jesus is present in our going out to make disciples.
• Jesus is present as we serve “the least of these.”

Questions for Reflection:

• Do you think about the “second coming” of Jesus? Is this cause for concern or celebration for you?
• Where have you seen Jesus at work in the world lately?

New Class: When Christians Get it Wrong

This Fall I'll be teaching a new class based on a book by Adam Hamilton called When Christians Get it Wrong. Check out this video introducing the book:

We'll spend time in September talking about how we might be turning others away from Jesus without even really knowing it. Sign up now!

Mark your calendar now for September 16, 23, and 30 - (class starts at 6:30) you can bet there will be a riveting conversation about this one!

Pastor Sara

A Parable about Shrewdness

 Listen to Pastor Michael's Message

Message Text: Luke 16:1-13

Shrewd adjective

1. Mischievous.
2. Abusive.
3. Ominous, dangerous.
4. Severe, hard and sharp.
5. Marked by clever discerning awareness and hard headed acumen. Given to wily and artful ways or dealing. (Webster’s Dictionary)

Legal System:

1. Cannot charge interest on loans.
   ³⁶ “Do not take interest in advance or otherwise make a profit from them, but fear your God; let them live with you. ³⁷ You shall not lend them your money at interest taken in advance, or provide them food at a profit.” Leviticus 25:36-37 NRSV
2. A lender cannot take collateral for loans if it means it would put the borrower out of business once collected for a debt.
   “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.” Deuteronomy 24:6 NRSV

Finding the Loophole!

Instead of charging interest, one could write a contract that says, I’ll give you 450 jars of olive oil that you happen to need now and later you can give me 600 jars of olive oil. Now it isn’t a loan with interest, it’s two friendly people giving each other gifts by contract!

What does this parable have to do with God’s rule on earth?

1. Disciples should imitate the unjust actions of the steward? (Matthew 10:16)
   Be innocent as doves and smart as snakes
2. The rich land owner doesn’t punish the rascal? (Matthew 5:43–48)
   • Justice is reconciliation, not getting even—Love and pray for enemies.
   • Justice is restoration, not punishment—Do good to those who persecute you.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Listen to Pastor Sara's Message

Sermon Text: Matthew 20:1-16

¹⁶So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last. (NLT)

“It is simply a fact that people regularly understand and appreciate God’s strange calculus of grace as applied to themselves but fear and resent seeing it applied to others.” Robert Smith (Matthew, Augsburg Commentary)

Why do the first worker’s complain?

1. “They assumed they would receive more”  (v. 10)
   • The desire for more is usually considered greed, leading them to desire more than had been promised.
2. “You have made them equal to us.”  (v. 12a)
   • They assumed a hierarchy based on time worked, which should have been reflected in a difference in their wages.  They make a distinction between “us” and “them” and that “we” are better than “they.”  “We deserve more than “they.”  
3. “[we] have born the burden of the day and the heat” (v. 12b)
   • They do not see their invitation to work (and wages earned) as a sign of grace, but as a burden to be borne.  When living the Christian life is seen as a burden, some faulty “seeing” is at work.

“Grace is always amazing grace.  Grace that can be calculated and ‘expected’ (v.10) is no longer grace.”  Eugene Boring (Matthew, New Interpreter’s Bible)

Will you respond with Envy or Generosity?

The Landowner asked:  “Are you envious because I am generous?”  (v. 15b)

We are left with two responses:

1. We can grumble with envy and a spirit of comparison, thereby attacking the goodness of God.
2. OR, we can be grateful for the love that gave us the kingdom of heaven as a free gift, thus engaging life with a spirit of generosity.

5 Books

Last night at our Summer class, Making Sense of Scripture, we played a little game. 

We had five groups.  Each group was asked to imagine that they were a small house church in a country that is hostile toward Christianity.  They had just been informed that their Bibles were about to be confiscated.  They couldn't hide one away because the secret police knew how many they had.  They also knew that they had just enough time before the police arrived to copy down 5 books of the Bible to keep with them.  Their task was to figure out which 5 they would choose.

Here is what each group decided:
Here's what we found to be so interesting:  The only book that every group chose was the book of Psalms.  Most had Genesis, but not all.  Everyone chose one of the gospels, but not the same one.  In some groups there were some pretty heated debates over which gospel, or which letter to include.  But everyone seemed to put down Psalms as if that was a "no-brainer."

Someone said that this choice of Psalms perhaps this indicates how powerful prayer is for people.  Others mentioned the power of worship and music for people.  The Psalms are full of prayers, worship, and some of the best of our church music.  I guess for our little scenario of a house church in danger of losing its most sacred scripture - everyone knew that these prayers and songs would continue to draw the people together as they have done for 1000's of years.

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing his songs,

praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 42:8 (NLT)

What 5 books would you choose?

Pastor Sara