Christmas Around the World

November 30, 2011

It’s Christmas season and I know what’s on your mind; Piñatas. I know this is where I am supposed to add a just kidding line, but I won’t. This Christmas series will be a glance at a couple of traditions we may not be used to at this time of year, but they are loaded with significance. I have always been fascinated with other cultures and traditions, but not just because they are different, but because there are reasons for doing the things that they are doing. We run ourselves ragged this month trying to fit everything in, but for what purpose? We have to go to this party or that one or buy that gift for so and so, but aren’t they just more things and more obligations.

My goal with this series is to step back and look at Christmas with a different lens. We will still talk about the manger, the inn, and the shepherds and of course Jesus, but maybe with a new perspective and new understanding of what this holiday is all about. What does the tradition ‘Las Posadas’ have to do with why did Jesus come down? Why did He do it the way He did? That is just one of many we will look at, but there are plenty of other questions. Is there more to Christmas than just lights, gifts and obligations? I know we will answer, of course, but do our traditions and actions say that as well?

Colossians: Bring the Pieces Together

November 9, 2011

Have you ever been frustrated with someone that you taught? You know what I mean, you taught them how to do something and they had it when you left, but as soon as you turn your back, they lose their mind. That is exactly how Paul feels with the church in Colosse. These folks know the truth and yet they are being influenced by all kinds of fancy talk and new age religion. Paul’s basic answer to all the questions in Colossians is ‘make Jesus the center and everything else falls into place.’ However that is easier said than done.

Our series in Colossians is actually going to be team taught. So each week someone will join me in the preaching and you will hear a couple of points of view along the way. The themes in this book are powerful. We open with an understanding of the problems in Colosse and Paul’s solution.  Then we move into a powerful image of marriage and close with our understanding of using every opportunity to be people of God’s grace. The world looks very different when we see it through Jesus’ eyes.

What is my community?

October 17, 2011

Community is one of those words that gets thrown around all the time. In most cases the word talks about where we live, but I think we need to expand our definition a bit. What if we stopped for a moment and asked God “What is my community?” Is it possible that my community includes:
-my neighborhood
-my profession
-my passions
-my relationships
In fact, any place where I have relationships is a community that God has placed me in.

So taking this new view of community puts us in a unique place to serve God. God calls us to share the good news with the whole world and that starts with our communities and extends out from there.

Serving our schools, the homeless, anyone in need, can be caring for our communities. However true communities exists where relationships exist. Relationships are the places where the gospel is best spread. Our Lord built relationships everywhere He went and we are called to do the same. The question in this series will switch from “what” is my community to “who” is my community?

What’s Your Story?

August 30, 2011

What’s your story? It’s my favorite question to ask a person I don’t know. I love finding out how a person has come to the place they are at now, good or bad. Those stories, events that make up our lives are powerful and I also believe they are a part of an even larger story. The Story is this beautiful thing God has laid out and we each have a role in that story. This series is a journey into only 6 stories of people at GracePoint, but I hope it is only the beginning of the storytelling.

The goal of this series is not to find the secret God moments of a person’s life or only talk about the parts where Jesus made everything all right. The point is to hear what makes a person the person you see. What have they been through or what are they going through and how does their story fit into the larger Story. My hope is that in the midst of this storytelling, one person’s story will be the connecting point for someone else to become a part of the larger Story.

I leave you with this thought: “stories of what God is doing today are what we need to hear, not just what a bunch of old people did.” (Missional Renaissance pg 141) God is still moving amongst His people. God’s story did not end once the Bible was bound. There is still more to The Story. What’s your story?

Pastor Steve

What’s love got to do with it?

August 6, 2011

I know what you are thinking, what does Tina Turner have to do with a series at GracePoint? The answer is: she was on to something and asking a really great question. Love has everything to do with it. However we don’t take it as seriously as we should. We love to talk about ‘love’ in the church and tell others to just love one another. Then we go and use the word ‘love’ for so many things, it almost appears that we are becoming numb to the word. We tell people we love God, our families, friends, chocolate, tacos, etc… We don’t seem to make a big distinction between any of them.

I’d like us to take a more serious look at the word love and how it is one the key and central characteristic of God. In fact, scripture goes so far as to say that God is love. Love is such a big deal that it can alleviate worry, cast out fear, bring peace and joy.

Jesus said that the key to following God is summed up in two commands: Love God and love others. Our reason for bringing this series is to bring understanding to God’s love and then talk about acting on that love. Jesus said that everything we do is supposed to be rooted in love. Which leaves me to ponder this; If God is love and God lives in us, shouldn’t a natural byproduct of our life be…Love?
Pastor Steve

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