Real Good Courage - The Westwood Podcast

Leadership in a Culture of Grace: Humble Courage, Week 2

In today’s sermon we further describe our understanding of leadership as a result of God’s gracious activity in Christ.  The story of Jacob and Esau’s reconciliation is the launching pad for wondering what leadership defined by humble courage might look like.

This message is presented by Pastor Jason. Our Scripture comes from the book of Genesis, 32:22 - 33:4

Leadership in a Culture of Grace: Leadership Mythbusting Week 1

Here are some myths about leadership: 1) Leaders took a direct path 2) Leaders are perfect 3) Leadership is limited to only a few spaces and places 4) Other people are leaders, but not you.

The story of God calling Moses busts these myths and shows us that the grace of God calls all people to lead where they are and from who they are. 

Pastor Sarah brings us this message. The scripture reading is from I Phillipians Chapter 1. verses 3 - 11.

Leadership in a Culture of Grace: Jesus' Leadership Example

Leadership is a term that has lots of definitions.  In today’s sermon, we seek to define what that means based on the words of Jesus in his farewell discourse in the Gospel of John.

Pastor Jason presents this message. The Gospel comes from John Chapter 15.

Leadership in a Culture of Grace: Introduction

A culture of perfection says that you must always strive to get everything right. A culture of fear says that you must always be protective and defensive. Jesus created a different kind of culture: a culture of grace. In a culture of grace, there’s roominess and permission to keep the main thing the main thing. This sermon features a story about a peace-maker in Northern Ireland who had to set some ideals aside in order to work toward peace.

This message is presented by Pastor Sarah. The Gospel lesson is from the book of Mark, Chapter 7, verses 1 - 7.

You Shall Not Covet: What Does This Mean?

Too often we are caught up in the comparing our selves with others. Unlike stealing, if we can work within the existing legal constructs to use our position to gain over others, that is all well and good, right? Unfortunately Commandments 9 & 10 tell us that desiring other’s possessions is wrong, and Martin Luther explains that using societal, political or legal power to disadvantage others is just as wrong as stealing as prohibited in the 7th Commandment.

This message is brought to us by Pastor Jason. The scripture reading is from 1 Kings, Chapter 21 and the Gospel is from Matthew Chapter 6.

Shalt Not Bear False Witness (The one we all break!). What does this mean?

“Bearing false witness”, i.e. lying, starting rumors, speaking ill of another person in any way, seems to be a popular thing to DO (not refrain from doing!) in politics, every day, by almost everyone. But, the Commandments
invite us to also look into our OWN hearts, as this is an easy one to break. Our words matter, in all contexts, in all our relationships, and online.

Pastor Tania brings us this message. The scripture reading is from Ephesians Chapter 4  verses 25-30 and the Gospel is Mark Chapter 14, verses 66-72.

You Shall Not Steal. What does this mean?

This sermon explores how we as Lutheran Christians see this commandment functioning to give boundaries to healthy communities, like a mirror inviting us to honest reflections of ourselves, and how the commandment provides further direction to seeking the thriving of our neighbors.

Pastor Jason brings us this message. Our Scripture comes from Leviticus Chapter 19, verses 1-2, 9-13, and our Gospel is from March Chapter 10, verses 17-27.

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery, What does this mean?

The commandment “do not commit adultery” is not as straightforward as it seems. In this sermon, Pastor Sarah shows how this commandment applies to our actual modern lives, including a discussion of healthy sexuality, how community helps strengthen relationships, the prevalence of attraction, the sacredness of sex, and the promise of grace, saying “God has more mercy than you have mistakes.”

Our scripture reading is from Second Samuel, Chapter 11, verses 1-5 and 14-17. The gospel lesson is from John, Chapter 8, verses 1-11.