Strong in the Lord

Glad to be with you on this Thursday.  As we head towards the fourth I’m grateful we can be together in God’s grace!

Our message this week is called “Battle Ready”.  Our Scripture is Ephesians 6:10-18.

As you know Thursday is when we read and review all our work from the week.  We look for how our ideas fit together.  We listen for a message for Sunday. 

Here’s what I’ve “heard” and what’s coming forward for me:

Since this is July 4 weekend, I thought it fitting to open with an illustration from the Declaration of Independence.  In a sense, the Declaration of Independence was a declaration of war.  When the signers penned their names they knew the King of England, George III, would not be pleased.   They knew they better be battle ready. 

This scenario of how conflict commences is very often the case.  When you have a desire, make a decision, and state a declaration that you want to move forward in any area of life there are forces in play that want to maintain control and uphold the status quo.  They are willing to fight for it.  They are battle ready.

The Apostle Paul says this even applies to our faith.  Faith is a moving forward in life in Christ’s love.  When we want to become our best selves in God’s grace, bless others with God’s goodness, and advance God’s kingdom in our world we will face opposing forces.  There will be a struggle.  And it is a spiritual struggle.

We experience this struggle in many ways. We know these opposing forces by many names.  The undertow of temptation is always pulling at us. The bottom line is, there is “spiritual warfare” and we need to be battle ready. 

Not only does this Scripture speak of spiritual warfare, even our Baptismal Vows use this language.  The opening question of the vows sets the tone, “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world and repent of your sin?”

As we enter into this struggle we need to be strong.  Since this is a spiritual struggle we need to be strong in the Lord.   This is the opening encouragement of our passage today.

The symbol of strength held up by this Scripture was the Roman centurion.  He was the fiercest, most feared, formidable fighting man of his time.  His armor was the epitome of his power. 

When the Apostle said, “Put on the full armor” he was holding up this illustration of a centurion putting on his armor, piece by piece, as a prayer guide.

So how do we prepare with prayer for spiritual warfare? According to the Apostle it’s done through a “Wardrobe Check”.   

“Praying in the Spirit” is a suiting up in spiritual strength. As the Apostle details the centurion’s outfit we find ourselves outfitted with what we need.  The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faithfulness, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Word are all put on, piece by piece, in prayer. 

Being battle ready, we would always “keep alert”.  Not only do we want to avoid an ambush.  We want to see and seize the opportunities for love and life in Christ as they come. “Carpe Diem” for God’s Kingdom!

Even as we pray we want to support our fellow “soldiering saints”.  The Apostle says for us to persevere in prayer and continue in supplication for all the saints. 

This prayer support is particularly critical in these days.  As Covid has made its rebound, many have felt more embattled than ever.  Maybe you have too.  Forces of disappointment and despair rise up and would pull us down.  Yet we are battle ready.  We know how stay strong in the Lord.  We put on the full armor of God.  We prepare with prayer. 

 In that strength which God supplies and the progress in faith it makes possible, we not only survive our struggles we rise to victory in the love and life of Jesus Christ. 

These are talking points for Sunday.  Of course the message will be fuller as illustration and commentary are added.  

Besides the message, there will be some great music (as always), a short video celebrating VBS, and the observance of the sacrament of communion.  It will be a beautiful time of worship.  

In that faith which stays strong in the Lord as we prepare with prayer, I look forward to see you then! 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You always for the blessing of worship.  Thank you for the ways worship strengthens us spiritually, so that we might be “strong in the Lord, in the strength of your power”.  Thank You for how that strength fortifies our faith, especially in the spiritual struggles of our lives.  For this gift of your grace and the ways we receive it with prayer, we give you our thanks and praise in Jesus’ holy name.  Amen

Spiritual Warfare Then and Now

Welcome to Wednesday.  It’s a blessing to be with you on this first day of July in the Pastor’s Workshop.

As we “Prepare with Prayer” for Sunday we’re getting “Battle Ready”.  The sermon comes from Ephesians 6:10-18.

On Wednesday we look at the context of the text.  What was the world like into which this word was first spoken?  How does this knowledge expand our understanding of what is being said in the passage?

We live in a “scientific” world.  Thinking about the cosmos was much different in the Roman world. When this Scripture was written the notion of the “spiritual” was much more pervasive.  It was also much more invasive.  The thought of gods actively and hostilely intruding into human life was widely accepted.

This text was penned in a “warring world”. Roman military campaigns were a regular occurrence.  Kings battling for turf was common.  Kingdoms in conflict were an accepted norm. The concept of “spiritual warfare” expanded on this experience.  

Dueling deities, where one god was warring with another, was typical in Roman mythology.  A primal battle of good and evil, personified in God and the devil, was conceivable to many. So when the Apostle wrote you are fighting “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers” the listener would have a greater sense of “spiritual warfare” than we do today. 

In this warring world the Roman centurion was the symbol of military strength.  He was the most formidable of all fighters.  His armor was elite equipment.  If you were going into combat equipped like a centurion you were ready for battle.  As the Apostle details putting on the “full armor”, with belt, breastplate and leggings, shield, helmet and sword the hearer would have a graphic vision of  impressive empowerment which happened in suiting up.

“Praying in the Spirit” envisions “putting on the full armor of God” for “spiritual warfare.  “Praying in the Spirit” was how the believer became battle ready.  “Praying the Spirit” was how they became “strong In the Lord and the strength of his might.”  This is the strength they would need to survive the struggle and win the victory. 

At times it’s difficult for us in the modern world to understand what our ancestors of the faith might have been thinking as we read a text.  More than that, to have a visceral sense of their struggle and empowerment is hard to imagine.  And yet I think it’s important for us to try as we seek to discern God’s truth for our day.

What does “spiritual warfare”, “being strong in the Lord”, “putting on the full armor of God”, and “praying in the spirit” mean for you?

I look forward to continuing our work with this passage.  As we come to tomorrow we’ll see how it all fits together and how this Scripture speaks a word for us today.   In that blessing I’ll join you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the faith of our ancestors.  Thank you for their witness to the depths of struggle in life and the heights of strength they found in You.  Thank you for their guidance on the gift of prayer.  Help us to learn more fully from their words of yesterday that we might live more faithfully in our world today.  This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  

The Armor of God

Glad to be together on this Tuesday!  It’s good to continue in our preparation in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Our current series is “Prepare with Prayer”.  The Scripture for this week is Ephesians 6:10-18.  Our title for Sunday is “Battle Ready”.

On Monday we immersed ourselves in the text.  Today we step back and look for a logic that ‘weaves’ through the Scripture.  How does the writer invite us into the subject and advance the thought?  How does the overall idea open up and draw us into deeper insight?

This Scripture begins with force – “Be strong in the Lord and the strength of God’s might!”

It progresses to “How” to be strong, “Put on the whole armor of God” and “Why” this strength is needed, to withstand the “wiles of the devil”.

It names the struggle being faced as a spiritual wrestling.  “Our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness…”  In that arena only the strength of the Lord will suffice. We need to “take up the full armor of God…so we can stand firm.”

The Apostle paints a picture of what it means to “Put on the full armor.” The illustration is of a Roman centurion, the most formidable fighter of the day, getting suited up.  After robing with his undergarments he: cinches up his belt, straps on his breastplate, buckles up his shoes, grabs his shield, dons his helmet and picks up his sword.   He is now “battle ready”.

The Apostle makes the spiritual analogy.  We are to cinch up the belt of truth, strap on the breastplate of righteousness, cover our feet with what makes for peace, grab the shield of faith, glory in the helmet of salvation and pick up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

We can envision how this armor equips us for our lives of faith.  We want to be guided by God’ truth, do what is right in God’s sight, walk in the ways of God’s peace, have our faith sustained by God’s faithfulness, glory in God’s salvation and have God’s word enable God’s will and way. 

Verse 18 sums up this “suiting up”.  “Pray in the Spirit at all times, in every prayer and supplication”.  We get “battle ready” by preparing with prayer.  Preparing with prayer “keeps us alert” to the possibilities of living in God’s grace.  

Not only do we pray for ourselves, we also pray for each other.  The Apostle says “persevere in supplication for all the saints.”  We all are involved in the same struggle and are preparing in the same way.  As we stand together in getting battle ready we will prevail.

This is how I discern the connections in this passage and trace the logic of the text.  What elements do you see?  How do they connect for you?  How do they lead you into a deeper walk with Jesus?

Tuesday is always an important day.  To sense the “flow” of the Scripture strengthens our own story of faithfulness.  I’m grateful for that gift of grace.

In that blessing I’ll let you get to work.  I look forward to being with you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for Your Word.  Thank you for the truth of life it reveals and the way of life it unveils.  Open our eyes and our minds more fully through our faith.  In the midst of our struggles help us to see that You would make us strong by the strength of Your might.  Make us ready for all that this day holds as we prepare with prayer.  Let it all be to Your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Congregational Letter

Dear Friends at Spring Valley, 

Grace and peace as we come to the end of June.  I hope this letter finds you safe and well. 

As you know, it has been three and a half months since we last gathered at church.  That’s a long time.  Many of us feel the loss of personal fellowship.  I look forward to when we can be together again. 

Two questions regularly arise, “When will we reopen?” and “What will that look like?”  Here is an update on those questions.

As you remember, in March the Bishop decided to close the churches of the North Texas Conference because of the threat of the COVID virus.  His priority was the safety and security of all.  He made it clear at that time he was monitoring the COVID caseload as a determining criterion of when we would reopen. 

Unfortunately, the COVID caseload continues to go up in Dallas County.  Compared to other areas of the state we are considered a relative “hot zone”.  Because of this rise in numbers and the increased risk, the Bishop has decided to postpone reopening the churches in the Metro District (Dallas County). Currently, this closure will remain in effect through the end of July.  The Bishop will be visiting with the pastors towards the end of that month for an update.  

I know this is disappointing news.  Yet it is understandable. 

I do want to remind us of ministries currently available and alert us to opportunities ahead.

• Sunday worship is available online at svumc.org beginning at 6:00 a.m. every Sunday.

• Many adult Sunday School classes are meeting regularly by Zoom or conference calls.

• A daily blog is posted on svumc.org and is also being emailed.  This pastor’s blog is a devotional guide that will enrich your Sunday worship.

• Children’s Sunday School lessons are being emailed each week.

• Youth are meeting via Zoom every Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

• Vacation Bible School was held via Zoom last week.  We celebrate this “first of a kind” VBS.

Additionally, two significant ministries are coming.

• Later in July Bert and John are planning an online concert.  I know it will be glorious.  You will want to watch the Behold and the website for details. 

• Youth ministry will have some special summer opportunities.  Our Youth families will be receiving more information about the upcoming ministry.

Lastly, even though our reopening is delayed, preparations for that step are ongoing.  A Reopening Task Force has been working hard, preparing an extensive plan for our reopening called, “A Reopening Covenant”.  They have completed their work and will be forwarding it to the Trustees and the Church Council for their review and approval. This Covenant couples the best practices of mutual safety and health with high-quality ministry needs and desires.  I am grateful for the efforts of our Task Force, Trustees, and Church Council as they continue to prepare us for our eventual reopening.

I know this has been a lengthy communication. I appreciate your patience in reading through it.  If you have any particular questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at pgould@svumc.org.  

I also appreciate your continued mutual ministry with one another as a church family.  None of us have ever experienced anything like what we are going through.  In the midst of these difficult days, I have heard wonderful stories of how you have kept in contact and cared for one another.  This mutual support has sustained our church.  It is an expression of the Holy Spirit working in our midst.  I praise God for this blessing.

As I said in my opening, I know how much we miss being with one another.  The gift of fellowship is something we will never again take for granted.  And I can’t wait until we reopen our doors and are together. 

With this hope and with faith in our gracious God, who leads us in these difficult days, I am grateful to continue forward in Christ’s ministry now and always with you at Spring Valley.

Blessings,

Pastor 

Battle Ready

Good morning on this fine Monday! I’m glad to begin the week with you in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

This week we’ll continue our series on prayer.  As you remember our title is “Prepare with Prayer”.   My hope is that prayer would become a more powerful tool for you, one you could use more effectively to integrate your faith more fully into your daily living.  

Yesterday we started with a message called “Save the Day!”  We explored how prayer helps us live into this possibility, “This is a day the Lord is making!”  (Psalm 118:24)  You can view the message (as well as the rest of worship at svumc.org).

This week we’ll continue with a message entitled “Battle Ready”.  Our text is from Ephesians 6:10-18

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

As we read through this text we realize that to be our best, live lives of love, bless others with grace, and follow Jesus faithfully is not an easy path. Every day there are distractions, delays, and detours.  There are obstacles we need to overcome.  We need to “keep alert” and stay focused on our goal.  To live with “truth” and do “right”, to “proclaim peace” and choose “faithfulness”, to rejoice in God’s “salvation” and be wise in “God’s word”, to stay “strong in the Lord” and live in the “strength of his power”, we need to “Pray… at all times”.

Monday is a day of “immersion”.  Read and re-read, write and re-write.  Use several translations. Listen carefully and see what ideas and images capture your attention. Paraphrase the Biblical word in your own words.  Start to make this text your own, so its truth can make you its own. 

I know it’s a busy week ahead. So I’ll let you get to work.  

As you do, don’t forget to start with prayer. Ask God’s guidance as you move into the task before you.  Know that being in God’s word is pleasing to God.  It’s key to working God’s will today.

In that blessing let’s get to it and I’ll see you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the blessing of this day.  It’s a day You are making.  Let us not get distracted and delayed in the following You.  Keep us alert to Your loving purposes.  Let us be people of prayer so we might be “strong” in You and live in the “strength” of Your love.  This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our strong Savior and loving Lord.  Amen. 

Sunday School Lessons at Home

Join us for Sunday School Classes at Home Online. We will continue to send out weekly e-mails with the materials needed for at- home Sunday School. There will also be an overview/ introduction video of the Sunday School lessons posted weekly on the church’s website and social media. This is a great way to stay connected with one another and keep the learning going at home.

Link for Videos:

Children’s: https://www.svumc.org/children

Club 26 and Youth: https://www.svumc.org/youth

Contact Shea Harrington if you are not getting these emails and would like to be added to our list!

Preparing for Sunday with Prayer

Prepare with Prayer – June 27

Grace and Peace on this Saturday.  I’m glad we can finish the week together in the Workshop. 

As you know, this week we started a new series called “Prepare with Prayer”.  And on Saturday that’s exactly what we do – we prepare with prayer for Sunday morning!  What we’re celebrating with this message is that “prepare with prayer” is not only a good mantra for Saturday and Sunday, it also works Monday through Friday too!

Preparation is the key to doing anything competently and confidently.  Prayer opens us to God’s working in whatever we do.  So when you “prepare with prayer” you get a “double dose” of readiness.  

So how will you prepare with prayer for Sunday?  What hopes will you be lifting up?  Particularly in light of Psalm 118:19-24, what will your prayers be?

Here are a few of mine:

• I pray “Prayer” would become a powerful tool we can use more effectively to integrate our faith more fully into our daily lives. 

• I pray we would develop a habit of prayer.  I ask we would enter every day through this “gate of righteousness” (Psalm 118:19).

• I pray we use our time in prayer to present our day to God.  I hope we will ask God’s guidance in becoming more loving witnesses for Jesus Christ, our cornerstone (Psalm 118:21-23).

• I pray we would discover each day holds the potential to be “a day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24).

That’s what I’m asking of God.  What are your prayers?  Make sure you record them.  As we go through the series, you’ll be able to look back on what you have prayed and see how God has answered your prayers and grown you in faith. 

I’m glad we have started this journey in prayer together.  I hope it will be a wonderful blessing for you and for all our readers.  

In this hope I look forward to being with you in worship on Sunday morning!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for this week.  Thank you for this opportunity to learn more about prayer and grow in this grace.  Thank you for how you hear and answer our prayers in your love for us in Jesus Christ.  Thank you for how he is the cornerstone upon which we pray.  We lift up this prayer and all our prayers in his precious and holy name. Amen.

Save the Day with Prayer

Glad to be with you on this good morning!  It’s Thursday which means we’re in the midst of making it through this week of writing.

On Thursdays we put all our thoughts, reflections, and prayers together.  Everything we’ve been working on gets reviewed.  We listen and seek to discern a message taking shape in all we’ve done.  Thursday is a creative and critical day. 

As you remember we began a new series this week.  It’s called “Prepare with Prayer”.  Our Scripture for this first Sunday in the series is Psalms 118:19-24.  Our focus verse for the message is verse 24, “This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Our title for this message is “Save the Day”.

As I was reflecting on this Scripture here’s what came forward for me. 

I have different kinds of days. 

Some of my days are “Got To” days.  These are days driven by what I’ve got to do.  They are days with full schedules, high pressures, and heavy demands.  These days are tiring and stressful days. 

Other days are “Ground Hog” days.  These are days where what happened yesterday, today and tomorrow all seems to run together.  These are days that get long and dull.

And then I have “Get To” days.  These are days inspired not by what I’ve “Got To” do, but what I “Get To” do.  These are days lived with a sense of promise, potential and possibility. They are days where I am engaged and energized, alert and more fully alive.  They are great days where I “Get To” experience God’s grace is some wonderful ways. 

And the funny thing is “Got To” days, “Ground Hog” days, and “Get To” days are in many ways all the same day.  In each of these days I have the same family, same friends, same sets of circumstances, same challenges … so much is the same.  

And yet each of these days is distinctively, decisively different. What makes the difference between a “Got To” day, “Ground Hog” day, and “Get To” day is a decision you and I make to “Save the Day!” 

We save the day by preparing for the day with prayer.

When you and I make the choice to prepare for the day with prayer this Scripture from Psalm 118:19-24 becomes a great guide.

It begins the day at the “Starting Gate”.  “Open the gates of righteousness and I will enter through them.” (vs. 19).  As you begin the day come to that place and space of prayer each morning.  This is “Starting Gate” for you to enter into the presence of God. 

As you move forward in prayer, take time to praise God.  Verse 20 says, “I will praise You, for You have answered me and become my salvation.”  

Once you have praised God and entered into God’s presence, then present your day to God.  Dive into the details.  List it all before the Lord.  Then lift it all to the Lord.  If you’re going to “Save the Day!” you’re going to have to give it to the Savior.  Again from verse 20 – “You have … become my salvation”.

 Once you have started in prayer, entered God’s presence and presented your day to God, then visualize what it means to build your day on Christ as your cornerstone.  Jesus Christ is God’s love alive in your daily life.  To build on Christ as your cornerstone is to review your schedule and picture what it would mean to love others with Jesus’ love in these daily moments.  That love can take on lots of different looks.  The more you practice picturing your day with Christ as cornerstone, the better you will become at it.

Finally as you finish preparing for your day with prayer, celebrate all God will be doing.  Even as you have done your part, God will also be doing God’s part.  God will be working because this is a day that the Lord is making, so we can rejoice and be glad in it. 

How long does this prayer time take: Entering through the starting gate, Praising God for God’s presence, presenting your day, building your picture, and giving thanks for God’s work?  I’d say with a little practice it can be done in 3-5 minutes.  That’s the best investment of 3-5 minutes you’ll make all day.  It will save your day!  I’ll also tell you that after a while you won’t be asking, “How long will this prayer time take?”  You’ll be asking, “Why can’t I take longer in this time of prayer?”  Prayer time will become precious time to you.

A wise person said, we no longer have yesterday.  It’s gone.  Nor do we have tomorrow. It’s not here yet.  What we do have is today.  It’s a day worth saving.  It’s a day worth preparing for with prayer. 

These are the talking points for Sunday.  As usual they will be expanded and enriched in the preaching of the message. 

These are my thoughts.  What are yours?  What message comes forward for you from Psalm 118:19-24?  What you hear is what God is speaking to you.  It’s worth writing down in your notebook. 

Now we let this message “percolate” for a couple of days.  That always helps.  

Then we prepare with prayer on Saturday for our worship time on Sunday. I look forward to being with you then!

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the privilege of prayer.  Thank you for how you work in the midst of prayer to save this day.  Today is a day You would be making in your love.  Today is a day where You would be growing us in your grace.  By your Spirit call us always to prepare for today and every day with prayer.  As we do, we will give You the glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Prepare with Prayer

Welcome to Wednesday!  Great to be with you as we continue to develop our message and our series on Prayer. 

Prayer is a spiritual practice like no other.  It invites and enables us to enter and engage each day with the grace of God.  It strengthens us to live our lives in and with the love of Jesus Christ. 

The title for our new series is “Prepare with Prayer”.  Our title for this particular message is “Save the Day!” The Scripture for Sunday is Psalm 118:19-24.

As you recall, on Tuesday we switched our series. So today we “catch-up” in our creative process.  We’ll look at both the context of the text and the structure of the Scripture.

As I envision this Scripture, I picture a worshipper about to enter the Temple in Jerusalem.  He or she is standing outside, looking at the massive doors of the Temple. They are getting ready to go in and worship God. A thought starts to run through their mind, or maybe a word forms on their lips, “Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous shall enter.” (vs. 19-20).

As they cross over the threshold and enter into the courtyards, they have a deeper sense of the presence of God.  They are preparing to praise and pray to the Lord. “I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.”  (vs.21)

In praise and prayer they find an anchor and assurance. They can build their lives on God.  Even though others may have turned away, God is their rock and their cornerstone.  “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (vs. 22-23).

And lastly, there comes a celebration.  These are words of joy, rejoicing in blessing of this time in the Temple, “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (vs.24)

As we follow the worshipper through their experience we see the sequence of thought and logic in the text.  There is the Entrance, the Praise and Prayer, the Assurance of Building and the Rejoicing.   The physical movement reflects a spiritual progression occurring in the heart of the worshipper. 

You and I don’t live in Jerusalem.  Your daily prayer is your “Time in the Temple”.   Prayer is when you move into the presence of God. As we get ready for Sunday I’ll be incorporating this movement into my message: Enter, Build, Rejoice!

Even as we envision a worshipper entering the Temple, I miss entering the sanctuary and worshipping with you.  There is a joy in joining together in the presence of our God.  I’m comforted though by this faith, I believe as we pray we spiritually come into the presence of God and of one another.   There is a unity, a communion of the saints, God makes possible as we spend time in prayer. 

In the blessing of prayer and the possibility it holds to live each day to the fullest in the presence of God, I give thanks for this time with you today.  

And I look forward to joining with you again tomorrow when we’ll see how the message all comes together in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for this day. It is a day You are making.  Through prayer You invite us to enter into Your presence and build our lives on You as our cornerstone.  For that great grace which is ours in Jesus Christ and for the ways we can live it out in faith, we give you thanks today and everyday through Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone and Lord.  Amen

Shifting Gears...

Good morning!  I’m glad to be together on this Tuesday in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

Flexibility is key to our faith. Sometimes when things don’t go the way you thought, you have to be open to the possibility God had something else in mind.  That’s where I am today.  

Yesterday I introduced a new July series on Reopening, thinking this step was in our immediate future.  But for good reasons (the rise of the cases of Covid virus in Dallas county), that’s not to be the decision for now.  I’ll be sending you and all our congregation a letter in the next few days going into more detail.  Suffice it to say, we’ll shift that series until later and we’ll shift “gears” into something else. 

As an alternative we’ll spend some time on the subject of Prayer.  Prayer is very personal topic.  It can be preached from many perspectives.  We’ll be taking an “active approach” in this series.  The question we’ll be exploring, “How can you get on board with what God would doing in your life through prayer?”  The title of the series is ”Prepare with Prayer”.

This Sunday we start the series with a great Scripture from the Book of Psalms, which is sometimes called the “Prayer book of the Bible”.  Our text is Psalm 118:19-24. 

“Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

Since this is the first day of our creative process with this Scripture, we’ll begin with our usual practice.  Immerse yourself in the text.  As you read and re-read, write and re-write you’ll begin to see this passage holds lots of possibilities.  What is God “opening” to you today?  What are you “entering into”?  What are you “giving thanks” for?  What are you “building on”?  What is God “making” in the midst of all that’s happening with you today?  How will you “rejoice and be glad in it?” 

Prayer time can be moments in your day when you ponder those questions. Prayer is powerful when you open your eyes and your mind to faith choices you make and God’s answers that come.  This is a day the Lord is making!

I look forward to exploring this text with you.  I’m excited for the blessings this Scripture and this series will hold for you. 

In that hope, I’ll let you get to work.  And I’ll see you again tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for the gift of today.  Thank You for the blessing of prayer.  Thank You for how the day and prayer come together in ways You would go to work in our lives.  By Your Spirit let this be a day You are making.  We will rejoice and be glad in it!  In the name of our “chief cornerstone”, Jesus Christ, we pray.   Amen.

Ready to Reopen

Good morning and Good Monday!  I’m glad to begin this week with you in the Pastor’s Workshop.

As a pastor you plan your message series hoping to address issues the church family is facing.  The intent is to focus on matters relevant to the challenges we’re going through.  The prayer is even as we “go through” whatever the day or season of life holds, we will also “grow through” these experiences as we go through them with faith in Christ. 

Such is the hope for new series we’re about to launch called “Ready to Reopen”.  

Reopening is not as easy as flinging wide the doors and saying, “Come on in!  It’s business as usual.”  After months of being shut-down, separated and stressed, a weariness and leeriness has set in.  We sense that in some ways our world has profoundly changed.  Like after 9-11, things will be different. There’s part of us that wonders, “Is it safe?” and “What will this new normal be like?”  More than that, “What do I need to do to get ready?”  That’s the question we’ll address in the series. 

There’s also a caveat to beginning this series.  

It’s all predicated on the Bishop giving a “green light” to reopening within the next six weeks. If so, we’ll be a position of returning and the series will be relevant. If not, we’ll save the series until we receive the go ahead.  

This is my way of saying that even as we do our work today it may not be what gets preached this Sunday.  Welcome to the world of a pastor!  You’ve got to be flexible.

With all that said, the Scripture for our series “Ready to Return” is from Judges 6 and 7.  It’s the story of Gideon.  As we look into his story we’ll see lots of parallels with our own story in these days of Reopening.  How does his story inform and empower us to live our story with our gracious God?  This is the “journey” we’ll take together.  

Assuming all goes well, our particular text for this week is Judges 6:1-10.  This Scripture sets the stage for the story of Gideon.  Even as this mighty man of valor leads his people forward, our hope is God will lead us.

As always on Monday we “immerse” ourselves in the Scripture.  You know the process, read and re-read the text, silently and aloud.  Listen to the words and phrases.  What images capture your attention?  What ideas “pop up” for you? What feelings do you experience? Rephrase the story in your own words.  Make sure to write it all down in your notebook!

In many ways the pandemic has “impoverished” (verse 6) us.   The more we get in touch with what has been threatened and lost, the more we will hear the power of the words, “I am the Lord, your God.

I look forward to working through this series with you.  I pray it will be a blessing during this time of transition.  I am confident as and whenever we reopen the Lord will lead us into new places of fresh and deeper faith. 

In that faith I’ll see you again tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the gift of this Monday.  As our country, community and church reopen guide us in Your ways.  Help us all to be safe.  But more, help us all to be committed to keeping others safe.  Through our faith help us to be flexible.  As we go forward strengthen us to grow in faith.  As we live these days, let us walk in Your light, through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Be Still in Prayer

Blessings on this Saturday morning!  It’s wonderful to be with you this weekend.  I’m glad we can get ready for worship together.

Saturday is our day to prepare with prayer.  We take all we’ve done and put it into God’s hands.  We ask the Lord to bless our work so it might accomplish Christ’s work. 

Sunday is Father’s Day.  As part of our worship we’ll remember and honor the significant men in our lives – fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins.  Or maybe those men were teachers or coaches, mentors or friends.  They shaped us by sharing their lives with us.  Today we celebrate and give thanks for them. This gratitude is part of our prayer time. 

Even as we remember and honor them, on this Father’s Day we also reclaim and rejoice in our relationship with God as our “Heavenly Father”.  The intimacy implied in this understanding of God, the grace and peace provided, the healing and forgiveness found, the provision and protection offered, the justice and truth promised – all are present and active In this covenant connection we have with God as our Heavenly Father.  Surely, this is a point of prayer today. 

And then as we pray, we think about our message and its main emphasis, “Blessing”.  We pray that the “idea” of blessing, as an experience of unconditional love from our Heavenly Father, would become real for us.  As we bow in prayer we ask God to lead us into that depth of love already “with us” and “for us” even now in Jesus Christ our Lord.

And finally I pray, from this awareness of blessing we hear the call and find the strength to bless others.  Through our relationship with God as Heavenly Father we can follow in the footsteps of the significant men (and women) in our lives.  We can give of ourselves in ways that we live Christ’s love by what we do and say.  We too can be channels of grace.  We also have a blessing to give.  Part of my prayer today is that we know this truth and we give that blessing!

There are lots of good reasons to pray today.  So invite you to shut down your computer or iphone and open up your heart and mind.  Take time to “Be Still” and know the Lord is God.  Rest and trust in God as your Heavenly Father.  Let our Heavenly Father’s grace in Jesus Christ “fill your heart and satisfy your soul”.  Then lift to God what’s on your mind and in your heart.  Let our Heavenly Father go to work and lead you into the blessing of love God has for you to live and give today. 

In that blessing of prayer I’m grateful for the creative moments we shared this week.  I rejoice in the ways God will work tomorrow as we join in worship!  In that grace I’ll see you then. 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the gift of prayer. Thank you for the privilege of centering ourselves in your mercy and opening our lives to your truth.  By your Holy Spirit lead us deeper into the relationship we share with you as our Heavenly Father.  Let that covenant connection strengthen us so we might be the Kingdom blessing for others you would have us to be today.  In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen

Our Heavenly Father desires to bless us.

Greetings on this great day!  God’s grace makes every day great.  It’s good to be with you on this Thursday in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

If you’ve been with us a while you know what happens on Thursday.  Today is the culmination of our creative process.  It’s time to take all our thoughts, notes, musings, reflections --- everything we’ve written down this week --- and look for the overall connection, the underlying theme, the Sunday message “emerging”. 

This week our focus is on Father’s Day.  Our text is Genesis 27:1-10, 30-38 (but you can read verse 1-40 if you want to get the full picture).  Our emphasis is on our human need for “blessing” and God’s gracious giving of blessing as our “Heavenly Father”.

Here are the talking points of Sunday’s sermon that come forward for me:

Experiencing a “blessing” is always good!

On this Father’s Day we give thanks for the significant men in our lives: our fathers, grandfathers, perhaps uncles or older brothers; or maybe family not by blood but by bonds of care and commitment, teachers, coaches, mentors or friends.  We’re grateful for how they shared their lives with us, all the many moments.  We’re thankful for how they shaped our lives with their love.  They have been blessings for us. They have given us a blessing we need.

The Scripture story of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob reflects our human need for blessing and what people will do to get one.   The cry of Esau in verse 38, “Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me, me also, father!”  gives voice to that deep longing. 

When we long for “blessing” what are we needing?  What is a blessing?  From a spiritual perspective, blessing is experiencing a benediction in our being.  Blessing is unconditional love settling on our soul.   Blessing is given by someone greater than ourselves.  Blessing is known when someone’s heart is with us and favor is for us.

In this Old Testament story blessing was a formal act.  It was done by father with the eldest son as the father bequeathed the family inheritance to him. In our day, blessing is not so formal, but it is no less powerful.  Our blessing is receiving our “family inheritance” of unconditional love from our Heavenly Father given, not to the Son, but through the Son, Jesus Christ, to all of us as God’s children.

On this Father’s Day we rejoice that we have a God who delights in bestowing blessing as our Heavenly Father.  It is Jesus who introduces us to God as “Heavenly Father”.  As he says in John 14:7, “If you have known me, you have known my father also.”  As Jesus goes to the Cross for us in love and rises from the grave for us in life, we know this is the heart of our Heavenly Father.  We have a Heavenly Father who goes all the way in love and rises up to bring us into greater life.  The Biblical story of the Prodigal Son pictures our Heavenly Father so well.

As we live life in our Heavenly Father’s blessing (of unconditional love in Christ) it enables three blessings for us.  First, we can more deeply appreciate our earthly fathers as witnesses of our Heavenly Father’s love.  We get a greater sense of the sacredness of the relationships we have shared.  Secondly, when our earthly fathers fall short in being and bestowing blessing, our relationship with our Heavenly Father helps us to find healing for our hurt and freedom to forgive. Thirdly, in our relationship with our Heavenly Father as a giver of blessing, we discover God has also given us “a blessing to give”.  We bless others through: Attention and Acceptance, Example and Instruction, and Encouragement and Delight. 

This Bible story of blessing leads to a blessed end!  Jacob, who in the beginning felt it necessary to steal a blessing from his earthly father, is continually blessed by his Heavenly Father.  God did not rescind the blessing.  Even though Jacob did not deserve it, God as Heavenly Father desired it.   Over time this unconditional blessing changed Jacob.  It changed him to the point that God changed his name from Jacob to Israel.  The last act Israel did was to bless his sons, all twelve of them.  Our Heavenly Father, in his continual blessing of Jacob, laid a foundation of faithfulness for the life of the people that was to carry forward for generations as the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Our story of blessing also leads to a blessed end.  Our Heavenly Father is continually faithful, constantly bestowing unconditional love on us in Jesus Christ.  It’s not a matter of whether we deserve it. It’s a matter that our Heavenly Father desires it.  Over time God’s blessing of unconditional love changes us for the better.  It leads us into being faithful people who live in the faithfulness of the Heavenly Father.  There’s no better blessing for us this Father’s Day!

Those are the talking points.  As you see the sermon covers a lot of ground.  On Sunday it will be “enriched” with a few illustrations, clarifying main ideas.  

These are my musings.  What are yours?  What is the message God is speaking to your mind and heart through this Scripture?  As you take time to write out your own talking points, you will be blessed!

So much for writing this week.  Today and tomorrow you’ll have opportunity to put it all on paper and work and re-work your message. Then Saturday we put it all to prayer and prepare for Sunday.  

I’m grateful to celebrate this Father’s Day with you.  I rejoice in the blessing of knowing God as our Heavenly Father together.  In that grace I look forward to seeing you Sunday in worship!

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for your Holy Word and the ways it inspires a word of faith in us.  Thank you for how this Scripture draws us deeply into your holy will to bless and your faithfulness in doing that as our Heavenly Father.  Open us to your unconditional love so we might live more fully in faith and be the blessing you would have us to be for others.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen

A heritage from our Heavenly Father.

Welcome to Wednesday! We’re well on the way to a wonderful Father’s Day message in the Pastor’s Workshop!

As you know from Monday and Tuesday, our focus this Father’s Day is on “Blessing”.  Our Scripture is Genesis 27:1-10, 30-38.  But if you want to get the “full story” read verses 1-40.  We’re keying in on the cry of Esau, “Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me, me also, father!” 

On Wednesdays, we look at the background of the Scripture.  We consider the context of the text. As we know more about the days in which the story was originally told it deepens our understanding and our appreciation of the drama unfolding in the text.  It also helps in our application for living today. 

The bestowal of the blessing we are witnessing in this Scripture was a very formal and formidable event in the lives of ancient Hebrews.  The blessing was like the reading of a will or the bequest of inheritance, except it was bestowed while the giver was still alive.  

In this patriarchal society, the giver would have always been the father.  The father was the oldest living male and was responsible for the provision and protection of the immediate family.  But more than that, he was responsible for the well-being of the extended family, the entire clan.  The blessing, as the passing on of the family fortune, was to provide for the continued care of the entire family. 

Also, in a patriarchal society, the blessing would have been given to the oldest son, in this case, Esau.  He was the one who would take the father’s place when the father passed.  The mantle of responsibility fell to him.  This societal tradition of succession provided for a smooth transition of power and ongoing care for the family.  

The blessing was an earthly inheritance, but it was more.  It was the “passing on” of not only the family fortune but also the favor of God. Verse 7 expresses this depth of the blessing, “… I may bless you, before the Lord, before I die.” 

The blessing was often given in a ceremony accompanied by a meal. Thus there was the preparation of “savory food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you…” (verse 4).

The contrast to the “blessing” was the “curse”.  With a will for “good” and “favor”, there was also a will for “bad” and “evil”.    We read in verse 29, “Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” The “blessing” and the “curse” were matters of “provision” and “protection”.

To steal the “blessing”, as Jacob did in this Scripture, would have been a shocking crime. It would have violated all the norms of the day.   No wonder Esau plotted to kill Jacob (verse 41). 

It was a shocking crime, by a patriarch of the faith. And yet the Scripture tells the story.  It invites the listeners to know this as part of their heritage.  And as people of faith, it is part of our heritage as well. 

Part of what we learn as this story continues forward is that God honored the blessing given by Isaac. God’s favor and faithfulness did rest upon Jacob.  Grace was there not because Jacob deserved it.  Clearly he did not.  Grace was there because God, our Heavenly Father, was faithful to the covenant care of His family.  

What happens along the way is that this blessing of God changes Jacob.  The change is reflected in the change of his name to Israel.  And the last act Israel does in his life is to bless his twelve sons, the twelve tribes of Israel.  The covenant care goes on.

The gospel good news is that we have this same Heavenly Father.  Our Heavenly Father extends this same covenant care to us in Jesus Christ.  It’s never a matter of us deserving it.  It’s always a matter of God desiring it for us and with us. Our privilege is to live into that covenant care in ways that we not only know that blessing but additionally pass it on to others. 

I invite you to reflect on what it means for you to call God your “Heavenly Father”.  Jot down your thoughts.  

In that blessing we share together as the family of God, I look forward to tomorrow and “putting it all together” for Sunday’s message.  In that joy, I’ll see you then!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the stories of our faith. These stories show our earthly fathers may not have been perfect people, but this did not stop you as our Heavenly Father from embracing them and us with your amazing grace. By your Spirit strengthen us in that faith and help us to live as the blessing you would have us to be, so that others will know through us the blessing you would pour on them in Jesus Christ, our Lord. This we pray in Jesus’ holy name.  Amen

We Don't Have to Beg for God's Blessing

It’s great to be together on this Tuesday!  I’m glad to be with you in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

As noted yesterday, this Sunday we’ll be celebrating Father’s Day.  As part of our worship we’ll give God thanks for those significant men in our lives, our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends who helped shape us by living and witnessing the love of our Heavenly Father to us. 

The Scripture we’ll be using is Genesis 27:1-10, 30-38.  The focus verse is 27:38, “Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me, me also, father!”  At issue is our need for a “blessing”.

On Tuesdays we look at the structure of the Scripture.  What’s the plot of the story? What’s at stake in the story?  How does this story narrate the struggle over “the blessing”?

One of the amazing things about the Old Testament, as it documents the lives of our ancestors in the faith it doesn’t hide any flaws.  Our forefathers and foremothers are pictured as far from perfect. 

Isaac is feeble and blind.  His lack of sight is not only physical affliction, it’s a relationship impairment.   He’s oblivious to what’s happening in his family. He has his favorite son, the eldest, Esau.  He plans to follow tradition and give him the blessing. 

And then there’s his wife, Rebekah.  She snoops on conversations and connives to get her own way.  She also has a favorite son, the second son, Jacob. She plots so Jacob will receive the blessing. 

There’s Esau.  He’s pictured as an outdoors kind of guy, who’s rugged and loves to hunt and fish. He’s also portrayed as not the “brightest bulb in the box”.  He traded off his birthright for a bowl of porridge.  Now he’s about to be duped out of his blessing.

Finally, there’s Jacob.  He’s pictured as a “momma’s boy”.  Jacob in Hebrew means “grabby”. He conspires with his mom to deceive his father and steal the blessing.  Even as a “con” he manages to come out on top. 

It’s a quite the cast of characters! Modern day melodramas have nothing on the Bible. 

What’s also incredible as you think through this story --- God is at work in this family.  They are the purveyors of God’s covenant.  God’s love “functions” even in the midst of our human dysfunction.  That’s an incredible blessing right there!

And another great thought from this text, we don’t have to snoop and connive, scheme and plot how we are going to “get the blessing”.  God as our Heavenly Father is not blind to our need nor limited in the bounty of blessings.  We don’t need to “beg” for a blessing. As Jesus says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him”.  Matthew 7:11

As part of your devotion today I invite you to read and re-read Genesis 27:1-40.  This will give you the “bigger picture”.  Put yourself in the different character’s shoes.  Is there one you identify with more than the others?  Is there one who irritates you more than the others?  Make note of your reactions to the characters.  Your inner feelings tell you about them and about yourself.  As your making your notes and thinking on this particular story, what does this story tell you about the “greater story” of God’s grace?  Jot down your thoughts. 

As we read through this story, it’s amazing (amazing grace) how God brings forward God’s blessings to Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob, and to you and me.  Trusting in that amazing grace, I look forward to our continued time in God’s word in the Pastor’s Workshop. 

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for this story from the Scriptures which tells us the story of our lives with You.  Let this Scripture remind us that despite our human flaws Your grace is sufficient. Help us to know that in Your goodness as our Heavenly Father, You “pour out” blessings of love and mercy.  Let us know by Your Spirit that our mission is to pass on these blessings in Christ’s name.  We praise you for this privilege of participating in Your blessing of our loved ones and our world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Father's Blessing

A good Monday morning to you!  I’m glad we’re starting the week off together in the Pastor’s Workshop.

This coming Sunday is Father’s Day.  It’s a special day to celebrate our fathers, grandfathers and other special men in our lives who have blessed us.  Through their example they have given witness to a Heavenly Father whose love is always “with us” and “for our best”.

There are a lot of Scriptures that highlight “fathers” and the role of “fathers”.  The one we’ll choose for this Sunday comes from Genesis.  In Genesis 27 we find a famous father-son “triangle” highlighted with Isaac, Esau and Jacob. 

Much of this chapter revolves around a “father’s blessing”.  As we read through this text it’s apparent that the blessing was a one time, formal bestowal of favor (Genesis 27:27-29) usually reserved for the first born. The blessing was not given for the sake of the receiver.  It was provided because the receiver was also to inherit the responsibility of watching over and providing for the extended family.  Through the one who was blessed the whole family was to be blessed. 

As you prepare for Sunday I’d invite you to read and re-read Genesis 27:1-40.  Put yourself in the position of the different characters in the story.  Isaac, the father, who was to give the blessing according to tradition, to the eldest son, Esau.   Rebekah, the mother who had her favorite child, Jacob, and wanted him to have the blessing. Esau, the one who expected to receive the blessing, only to have it stolen by his brother.  Jacob, the one who colluded with his mother, deceived his father and robbed the blessing from his brother. It’s quite the dysfunctional family!

In the midst of it all, and at the center of our focus on Sunday, is the cry of Esau is in verse 38, “Have you only one blessing, father?  Bless me, me also father!”  As we’ll explore on Sunday this a cry we all have.  “Blessing” is also a gift we all can give. 

I look forward to working through this Bible story together.  As we do that we’ll always find, at its roots, the Biblical story is also our story.  The Biblical story is a human story.  In this case it is our need for a blessing. The Biblical story is also a holy story.  In every case it is how God provides that blessing through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

In that faith, I invite you to get started and we’ll see you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for a new week.  Thank you for being a God who is “with” and “for” us.  Thank for being our Heavenly Father.  And in your grace, thank you for inviting us to bring a blessing to others.  By your Spirit strengthen us for this service of blessing, in Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen 

Praying for our Graduating Seniors

So good to be with you on this Saturday!  I’m glad we can be together in the Pastor’s Workshop.

As you know, Saturday is when we “prepare with prayer”.  That’s a good mantra for Sunday’s sermon and for so much else in life!

Prayer is “God with us” and “us with God”. Prayer centers us In God’s grace.  It gets our hearts and minds ready. It adjusts our attitude and aligns us with what God wants to do in and through us in the day before us. 

So what do we pray for as we celebrate our graduating seniors on this Senior Sunday?

A large part of my prayer is gratitude.  I’m so thankful for our seniors.  They are wonderful young adults.  I’m grateful for who they are and for what they’ve accomplished and achieved.  And I’m thankful for all who have supported, encouraged, instructed, provided and prayed for them along the way.  There is so much to be grateful for on this Sunday.

Part of my prayer is for continued protection and provision as they move forward. I ask God keep them safe and secure.  I pray God open doors of opportunity and give our graduates the wisdom and courage to step through them. 

Part of my prayer is for hope.  I’m hopeful for how our graduates will continue to grow, for who they will become, for the difference they will make in the world.  I ask God to continue to work in them so they will be their best and become the blessings God has purposed them to be.

Part of my prayer is for myself.  Even as I pray our graduates would be living into God’s grace and “working out their own salvation”, I pray the same for me.  There are opportunities of love before me today I need to see and seize.  There are chances to share and serve I need to embrace.  I need to “work out my salvation” too!

What are your prayers for our graduates this morning?  As with all we do, I encourage you to write down your prayers.  I recommend you use a notebook.  It’s amazing how when you put “pen to paper”, prayers (and everything else) take on a different and more permanent perspective.

It’s been a blessing to be with you this week.  It’s great to consider how God’s grace has blessed and grown our graduates.  It’s a blessing to be called into that continued working of God as we work out our own salvation. 

In that growing grace I look forward to being in worship with you tomorrow at Spring Valley!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for our seniors and this Senior Sunday.  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will continue to do in and through them.  Thank you for your word that calls them and us into a mindset of cooperation.  Thank you that even as you are working, we can be working too!  Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit that we might use this day and everyday to “work out our own salvation” through Jesus Christ our Lord.  In his name we pray. Amen

Praying God's Best for Our Seniors

Greetings!  I’m glad to be with you today, on this Thursday, in the Pastor’s Workshop.

As you are well aware, Sunday is Senior Sunday at Spring Valley.   We’re proud of our seniors and all they’ve accomplished.  We’re grateful to be able to share in this special time of worship with them. 

Our Scripture is from Philippians 1:2-6, 2:12-13.  The deep affection of the Apostle for the church of Philippi witnesses to the same heart we have for our graduates.

Thursday is the day “bring it all together” in the workshop.  We review and reflect upon our thoughts, notes, and reflections from the week. We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We ask God to help us see and “give voice” to the message “emerging” from the intersection of our “life focus” (commencement) and the Holy Scripture (Philippians).

Here’s what’s coming forward for me for this Sunday:

We are so proud of our Seniors on this occasion of their graduation.  It’s a major milestone that speaks of hard work and effort, accomplishment and achievement. Congratulations!

At the same time, we’re hopeful for our Seniors about what’s ahead.  Whatever path their lives will be taking we pray God’s best for them. 

And we’re thankful for all who have stood with them and supported our Seniors.  Family and friends, teachers, coaches, directors, mentors, youth pastors and pastors and a host of others have been a “great cloud of witnesses”.  We share their joy!

In the midst of all this blessing, if there were one other desire I would have for our Seniors, it would be they would have a “better world” to enter.  As they commence into this next step of their lives they would inherit a less troubled and more “whole” world.

Just in the last three months there have been seismic societal events that have rocked our country. The COVID pandemic, massive unemployment, and the social unrest following the killing of George Floyd have all been major social upheavals.  And as you look at the “growing up” time of our graduates they have come through climate change, school shootings, and the political and social acrimony of “culture wars”.  It’s been hard!

If wish I could “change that world” for them.  But I can’t.  We can’t.  But what we can do is choose how we live in this world.  What they can do is choose how they live in this world!

We can choose to live reactively.  When we “Live Reactively” we have our outlook and attitudes about life shaped by these circumstances.

Or we can choose to “Live Proactively”.  In the words of the Scripture, we can live each day in a way that we are “working out our own salvation”.

The Scripture from Philippians outlines “how” to live “working out our salvation”.

It begins with a foundation of “Grace and Peace” (verse 2).  Grace is God being “forever for us”.  Grace is God’s heart of love always turned towards us in Jesus Christ and with us by the Holy Spirit. Peace is the calm assurance grace brings to our lives as we stand on this “rock” of grace. 

Then the Apostle writes, “I thank God whenever I think of you…”.  Surely that is our “mind” towards our graduates as we think of them.  We remember lots of fun and special times spent together. Those memories bring us joy.

At the same time we hope that these fun times were also faith times and that the special times were also sacred times.  We pray that in the midst of our life shared together, our graduates also got a sense of sharing life with Jesus Christ.   Ours has been a “partnership in the Gospel”.

In that partnership, we pray that our graduates will not only stand on the rock of “Grace and Peace” but will Rise Up on that rock and live out lives of love.

God’s grace not only “comforts”, it also “calls” us and our graduates.  God “challenges” us to be the best we can be, so we can bring the blessings God would have us to bring to our world each day.  Whatever path life takes the challenge is always the same. Love the world with Jesus’ love.  Change the world through love.  Love the world into change. Live a life that really matters and makes a difference.  Live out, “work out”, “your own salvation”.

Do it with “fear” and “trembling”, awe and wonder.  As you seek to love the world, you are joining Jesus in his work.  As you join him in his work, he “joins you” with strength and support for the task at hand.  But more, God’s grace will grow and mature you as a person of grace.  As you seek to make a difference through love, God will make a difference in you.  The Apostle says, “God is at work in you”.

 Life is qualitatively different if you take this proactive path to living, if you live “working out your salvation”.  Some people think of faith as the “great escape” from life.  I think of it as the “great embrace of life”, life at its highest, best, deepest, and most abundant.  

As I think about our graduates, my prayer for them is that as they reflect back on their time at Spring Valley they would do so with fondness.  I also pray they would say, “Spring Valley provided a foundation and paved a future for my life of faith with Jesus Christ”.  I pray they would live out “their own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that God is at work in them, enabling them both to will and to work God’s good pleasure”.

That’s a pretty complete outline of my message to the graduates and us for Sunday.  What are your thoughts?  What is the message that has come forward for you from Philippians 1 and 2?  Again (and always) pay attention and take the time to write down your “message”.  This is how God is speaking to your heart.  

Make sure you “tune in” to worship on Sunday.  You will want to see our Senior video and experience our Senior leadership. It will be a blessing that puts a smile on your face and brings a joy to your heart. 

In that promise, I look forward to joining you for prayer on Saturday and in praise on Sunday as we “work out our salvation” together at Spring Valley!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the blessing of our Seniors.  Thank you for this opportunity to celebrate them and Your grace in their lives.  Thank you for the opportunity not only to reflect on your word, but also to be called by Your truth to live out Your love in our lives.  Strengthen us as we would seek to “work out our salvation” today by blessing our world with your love.  Guide us in that faith in ways that are to Your glory.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling

Welcome to Wednesday in the Pastor’s Workshop!  It’s great to be together today.

This week we’re celebrating our graduating high school seniors with Senior Sunday.  Our focus verse is Philippians 2:12b-13, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing God is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure.”

On Wednesdays we look at the world into which the Word spoke. Knowing the context of the text draws out highlights in the Scripture we might not otherwise see. 

Philippi was a Roman military outpost in northern Greece.  As a Roman colony it was extended particular privileges.  Being part of the Greco-Roman world, Philippi was awash with a variety of cultural influences.  How do you encourage believers to live out their faith in the midst of such diversity of values and life-styles? 

It was easy to get “caught up” in these influences and to live reactively. To live into the Gospel and to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” was a proactive choice of faith. To do so made a difference in the lives of those believers.  We celebrate this difference 2,000 years later as we read this letter. 

In our society we face a variety of cultural influences.  America is no longer monolithic in its values and beliefs (if it ever was!).  Our high school seniors will be living into a culture where Christianity will be a deliberate choice, not a default assumption. It is easy to get caught up by all the choices and live reactively. Our seniors will need to be proactive in how they decide to “work out their own salvation in fear and trembling”.

This is the truth not only for our high school seniors, but also for ourselves. With the opening blessing of “Grace and Peace”, this text invites us to find a foundation for our lives in the ever-present love of God in Christ. It is this “Rock” we can count on, trust, run to, and rely in.  God’s Grace is our Peace. Peace is the calm assurance that whatever is happening, it will all be OK because God is ultimately in control.

The text goes on, encouraging us to build on the Rock. “Work out your own salvation”.  See what difference the love of Christ can make in and through you. Seek to be your best so you can bless the rest, making the lives of others better and our world better through Christ’s love.  That call and challenge comes to all Christians.

As we respond in faith we can celebrate that “God is at work in us”, strengthening and encouraging us by the Spirit.    It all brings a smile to God’s face and to ours, for living out Christ’s love is of God’s “good pleasure”.

As you look at the context you see that even though societal circumstances may change over the centuries, the basic human challenges to live out the faith remain the same.  Even as the challenges remain the same, our God remains the same.  In Christ God is always drawing us deeper into divine love and always calling and strengthening us to live out that love as a witness to our world.

This morning as you think about this text I’d invite you to consider the challenges you face in “Working out your own salvation”. Pray about these.  Know that even as you seek to live into the truth of this text, living into the love of your salvation, God is right there with you every step of the way!

In that “walk” and “work” I’ll see you tomorrow in the Workshop. 

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for how your Word speaks into our lives and calls us into your World.  Help us to know that faith is our proactive choice.  Strengthen us to live out your love in your world.  Let us be our best in you. Let us be the blessing you would have us to be, bringing out the best in the lives of others.  In that faith guide us forward as we seek to “work out our own salvation” through Christ our Lord.  In his name we pray.  Amen

New Normal: Our Sentiments for our Seniors

Good morning! God’s blessings be with you for a beautiful day!

This week in worship we’ll be celebrating our Seniors.  We’re grateful for the eight great young adults who are graduating in our congregation. I’m thankful we can share in this special time together. 

Our Scripture for Sunday is Philippians 1:2-6, 2:12-13. 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ…12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It’s a beautiful text witnessing to a deep and abiding love in Christ the Apostle shared with the believers in Philippi.  It’s also a text that reflects our sentiments for our seniors. 

On Tuesdays in the pastor’s workshop we look at the structure of the Scripture.  What is the logic of love we see here?  Where does the Apostle start and where does he end?   How does the message “emerge”?

Verse 2 begins with a common salutation of Paul’s – “Grace and Peace”. These words reflect the heart of God.  “Grace” is the heart of God that is ever “for” all people.  It is a heart witnessed to by John when he said, “God so loved the world…”.  And “Peace” is the calm assurance found in knowing God is “for” you and “with” you always. 

Verses 3-4 reflects the heart of Paul as he is “thinking of” (“remembering”), “thanking always”, and “constantly praying with joy”.  Paul’s heart for the Philippians is a witness to the heart of God for the Philippians. 

Verse 5 rejoices in the special relationship Paul and the Philippians share.  Paul talks about “sharing in the gospel”.  The Gospel (the “Good News”) is the saving love of God for all people in Jesus Christ. Paul rejoices that he and the Philippians have learned about and lived that love of God in Christ together. They have experienced how that love is a foundation for life that is abundant and full.  They have discovered how to grow in that gospel of grace each and every day in each and every relationship. They have lived out the Gospel in ministry and mission together. 

Verse 6 resounds with a confidence that this growing in grace, living into the love of Jesus Christ, is doing something beautiful in the lives of the faithful.  He believes that living into this love is working a “maturity of love” in the lives of the followers.  In this belief he imagines what’s ahead. He says Jesus Christ will bring this working of love “to completion in the day of Christ Jesus”.  As he projects into the future he believes the love of God in Christ will continue to grow and fully mature in the hearts of the believers. They will become more and more like Christ in their abilities to love, serve, sacrifice, and fully live.  The end result will be they are “perfected” in love – whole and complete in the love of God in Christ.  This Scripture is the basis of John Wesley’s doctrine of “perfection”.

Verse 12 takes the next step.  Since this foundation of the Gospel has been provided in Christ and the way of growth has been opened by him, now comes the call. “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling”.  The Apostle summons the believers to not only “believe” but also “behave” the Gospel.  Take what you believe about the love of God in Christ and see how it works in your life. Do it with “fear and trembling”, awe and wonder because as you live out the love of God in Christ you are sharing in something sacred, awesome and wonderful. 

Verse 13 closes by sharing what that “awesome and wonderful” reality is.  As we live by faith, live seeking to express and extend the love of God in Christ to others, the Apostle says that in our effort God is present and working.  His phrase is “God is at work in you, enabling you both to will and work his good pleasure”.

It is a beautiful Scripture moving from a foundation of “Grace and Peace” to a future where we are working with God, living the love of Christ in the world.  This reality is the heart of our witness, ministry and mission.  All of these are expressions of the God’s good gospel of grace!

That’s the logic I experience.  As you look at the text what do you see?  What message is coming forward and how does it advance?  Make sure you always jot down your thoughts and ideas.  

Time for you to go to work!  As you do, know that “God is at work in you, both to will and work for God’s good pleasure!”

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the blessing of this day.  Thank you for how these blessings come to us as opportunities to love our families, friends, neighbors, community and world.  By Your Holy Spirit help us to see and seize these moments so others will be blessed and we will grow in your grace.   This is your Gospel in Jesus Christ.  For that wonderful working of Your love, that is Your salvation working in and through us we give you thanks today in Jesus’ name.  Amen