Real Good Courage - The Westwood Podcast

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.

You Shall Not Murder - What Does That Mean?

Often, the 5th commandment seems to be pretty straight forward. Murder means killing a fellow human being. However, Martin Luther extends this prohibition to not harming our neighbor either bodily or mentally. This sermon looks at how we as Lutheran Christians reflect on the 5^th commandment in relationship to setting limits in which a community can thrive, beyond just the act of physical killing. Luther points us to the promises of God in Jesus, and how it calls us to serve our neighbor.  This commandment can actually be broadened from not only harming, but as importantly, the requirement to care for them as well. The sermon also spends time looking at the root challenge that both Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and Martin Luther in the Large Catechism point to.

This message comes from Pastor Jason, and the Gospel is from the Book of Mark, Chapter 5, verses 21-24, and 38-48.

Honor Your Mother and Father - What does this mean?

First, important to note that this 4^th Commandment about honoring parents should never be used as an excuse or to affirm a parent who is abusive or neglectful.  This is a call to attend to, value, honor and love our parents, other elders and even those we don’t know!  It is about our own family, AND how we take care of elders in our community and society!

This message is from Pastor Tania, and the Scripture lesson is from Romans 13, verses 8-10. The Gospel is John Chapter 19, verses 25-27.

Rest on the Sabbath: What Does This Mean?

Our lives are so busy, we often think that we can't afford to take any time to rest. If we can only rest when we are finished, will that ever happen? The sabbath – time set-aside to rest and worship - helps us discover that we are more than our work. We are free to find our identity in God, who keeps the world spinning even when we take a break. The Sabbath is a life-altering practice that helps create a culture of grace.

This message comes from Pastor Sarah, and the Scripture comes from the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 5, verses 12-15, and the Gospel comes from March, Chapter 2, verses 23-28.