Beyond Sunday: A Reason to Celebrate

Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.

We have reason to celebrate and be grateful while we walk with Jesus. It is important to celebrate before moving on and making the reason to celebrate a distant memory. When we celebrate God’s goodness it helps us trust Him for what is to come. Where can we be grateful to God and proclaim our gratitude to Him?

Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.

• Transcript

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  Hey guys, welcome to Beyond Sunday podcast where we desire to take a conversation deeper. And today in this episode, we get to be in person and have this conversation and discussion and so excited about that. Um, but how are you doing today? >> I'm good. >> Good. How are you? >> I'm great. We're good. >> Yeah. Uh, before we dive into the conversation, take a look at this video. Heat up here. dive into the conversation. What's the big idea, Sherea? what what scriptures

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  uh do we have for this Sunday and um >> and maybe where it went and where it didn't go is kind of how this one seemed to to to play out. >> Yeah. Um so we're talking about we're in this in this uh series of this journey of formation. So as we're walking with Jesus, which has been our overall kind of theme, um we're on this journey of formation. And so in this one, it's this idea that there's actually a reason to celebrate. Um and I don't know this is funny because a year ago when we put

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  this together uh what we said was Jesus gives us reason to celebrate which is absolutely true. Um for me though now in this season and this moment this was like um as I was reading the scriptures and and preparing it was more like um we we need to be a people who celebrate and who express gratitude and who call out the things God has done because >> when we're in a season where maybe life is hard or things are rough um that's what helps us trust God for for what's going forward and it's also what we were

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  designed for. And so yeah that idea of like um are we a people who celebrate and who express gratitude? >> Yeah. Yeah. So our text well for we had many texts but for me I landed in Luke 17 which was the this the story of Jesus coming upon uh these 10 lepers and u they cry out to him have mercy on us Jesus. And um he tells them to go report or show themselves to the to the priest and then they go on their way as they're going they're healed, >> right? >> And one recognizes that their leprosy

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  has been healed and rather than continuing on to the priest's return to Jesus, >> bow at his feet praising him, worship him, offering thanksgiving and gratitude to Jesus. And uh we had other scriptures in the revised common lectionary but for me I couldn't go God guy God guy God guy God guy God guy God guy God guy God guy God guy God guy God was like this right here this part don't move past it was only what 10 uh eight verses >> but it's so much in there that um I mean

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  I even on Sunday I couldn't unpack all of it there was so much more depth in in what was going on in that story u but but along the lines of celebrating returning to Jesus offering thanksgiving giving a gratitude because for the for the the man who had leprosy and was healed for this healing but received a greater gift for me it was like do I even do I even slow down enough to return to Jesus to offer that kind of gratitude and thanksgiving or am I on to the next thing uh do I I spend yes there

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  are times I spend grieving and mourning the loss do I spend time celebrating uh just the goodness of God and and who he is and what taking place in the midst of following him, >> right? Yeah. Um we were pretty much just in 17 also, although we also talked about Isaiah 40, which wasn't a lectionary scripture, but um part of the thing for us this Sunday was we had a couple people come and share testimony um from the PNA Connect that we had been at the week before, which was our our big district uh gathering. And in that a

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  couple gals from our church who had gotten to come and be part of that. Um and just had experienced uh God in a powerful way in that space. Um and so they came and shared and um and so we talked about Isaiah 40 which is what the theme of that time together had been. Um because it's actually the same it's the same concept of the Israelites are like >> you've forgotten us. We're we're here. you either you're not as powerful as we thought you were or you've forgotten us

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  or you don't care or whatever. And God this this reminder all throughout that chapter of like don't forget who I am and what I've done. >> Um and that's what celebrating and gratitude helps us do. It helps us cement in our memory. Um and and it helps us keep the right uh picture of reality. Um and so that was that was kind of how we started out Sunday. And then yeah, in that story that Jesus tells in Luke, this like or in in what what takes place in Luke where um it's actually well all 10 men are obeying

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  obeying. It's in the act of obedience that they're physically healed. So Jesus says go see the priest and they obey. There's no question. They just do it. And in the act of obedience, their physical bodies are healed. Um and so there's something in that for me. Um because then there's the contrast that one of them stops comes back celebrates and praises and it's actually in the act of celebration and gratitude where Jesus says okay now your faith has made you and that I want to give a Greek word but

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  that Greek word there um that that is like this is not just a physical healing but there's a wholeness a wellness um and so for me that felt like okay the act of in the act of obedience They all receive physical healing. That's evidence of God's goodness. Um, in the act of celebration and gratitude, now there's a wholeness and a completeness, a shalom, um, that exists for this this one. Um, and so then I wonder like I wonder if that wouldn't be true for us, too. And so there's a there is an

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  obedience like we are called to be a people of obedience because it's in obeying the laws that we can uh that we can actually dwell and be with God. like that's that's what allows us to do that. Um and it's in the gratitude and the celebration that we find that wholeness and that completeness. Um and so that >> and I think it too in this story in Luke 17, it matters when Jesus calls calls attention that this is a this is a Samaritan. >> Yeah. >> Who has returned. Um, it doesn't say

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  that they're all Samaritans, but right, >> maybe they are. They're going through Samaria. And it's no accident that Jesus is not going around Samaria to get to Jerusalem. He's going through it, which is not a typical thing that a a Hebrew or a Jewish person would do. Jesus goes through, he encounters these lepers, uh, and he calls attention that one, a Samaritan returns, uh, because for Jewish ears, uh, for Hebrews, they're like, "This isn't this isn't a person who's worthy. One, unclean with,

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  um, with leprosy. Two, a Samaritan not worthy of the the gift, the salvation that comes from the Messiah." Right? >> That he's calling attention that your faith has made you well. your faith has completed this whole part. Yes, the physical healing, but also the internal one, the salvation >> that that the Messiah offers. And that's what he's calling attention to. So I um even in this story, there are again like so many different layers >> to what Jesus is doing in this story and

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  with this individual with the the whole with the 10 lepers. Um but also to what's speaks to us today. >> Yeah. that we can determine that some some are not worthy or some aren't worth it. Um, and we create borders or boundaries that Jesus is not interested in following >> that God's kingdom isn't interested in being held into man-made borders or or parameters or like oh unclean or oh unworthy or whatever it is that we prescribe upon people. like Jesus and God's kingdom is is unconcerned.

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  >> Yeah. >> By that. >> Yeah. Which is more reason to celebrate. >> Yes. >> Because we are all that. >> Well, and that draws me to even Isaiah 40 >> is lift your eyes up. Don't you see? He's an everlasting God. >> And like what Isaiah 40 is calling out to of um yes, you're you're you're in a hard situation, a hard moment, and it and it it is hard and it will continue to be. So don't forget this is who God is, >> right?

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  >> Don't miss out that this is who God is and what he uh will has promised to do. >> Yeah. Yeah. And celebrate celebrate what he's done and also celebrate who he is. >> Yeah. Um, I think that's something we've talked about even, um, I feel a little bit like, I don't know, we've been on a, this sounds dumb, but for the last couple of years, couple of years, um, just intentional with calling out God's goodness more than I ever had been before. um and uh the big things and the small things

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  and to the point of like um sometimes even in the middle of the day like hey do you have a minute something's too good not to share is the the phrase that gets used right and um and in that one part of what we have said um that like the good things that God gives um he's not good because he gives good things the good things are evidence of his goodness is and that matters because that it's like the character and and just the very nature of who God is is good which is where even the practice of

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  um Danu comes in where it's like it would have been enough actually God is enough period and yet he gives yeah like he gives good things and he keeps giving good things and um and those are all evidence of a God who's good but He's good. Period. He's good cuz that's who he is. >> Yeah. So, these uh these stories too good not to share. I I've got one >> right now. >> Yes. >> That you didn't tell me already. >> Uh >> I was just going to share with

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  everybody. Okay. I'll act surprised. Go ahead. >> Oh, thanks. >> Good actor. >> I'm going to be so good at this. >> Okay. Uh tell your face. >> Shut up. >> Okay. Um, so, uh, after church, uh, I had two and, um, come up to me and were like, um, we showed a a testimony video, a story of, uh, some of our churches navigating some really harded situations. It's there's no bow on it. It's not finished. There still is hard >> uh, to be navigated, even even more so

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  than what's currently existing. >> And yet, she uh, calls out the goodness of God. uh God um um blessing her, >> caring for her, loving her. And that's what she calls out in the in the testimony. And so I had these two come up to me after um after service and and they're they're like, "We we we God has impressed upon us. there is something that God has been working in us uh since before summer so springtime May or whatever that um to to uh impress upon them to tell the stories of God's

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  goodness to to to um uh not miss a or or offer platform or opportunity to tell the stories that are too good not to share. Let's let's let's um send it to the masses, if you will, right? and don't miss moments that we can we can um uh call out God's goodness. We can brag on him and we can know that we're held in in his sight and he holds us like a like a good shepherd. And um so anyway, they're they're they're telling me this and I'm like that's awesome. They're like, "Well,

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  pray about it and you know, let us know." And I was like, "I don't have to. >> I don't need to actually. So I don't have to pray about it because >> not because we don't value asking God but >> because it was a confirmation of something God had seated within me and us and even uh Elmer a year and a half ago >> in um wanting to tell these stories and and we even um started recording a few episodes in this other podcast um of um telling your story.

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  >> Yeah. >> And it was in that same vein. There are people who who um have a story to tell. Well, we all do, but ones where people recognize like, "Oh, God is so good." >> Um and even like in the story that was told on Sunday, there's there's no bow. Uh more hard things are to come and yet God is good and blesses and >> and is faithful. Um and so I was like, "Yeah, I don't need to pray about it. you've you've confirmed something God has seated in me that had to get shelled

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  for a while because other things um just responsibility and priority of like I'd love to do that. I just I don't I can't and I don't have the space and time or ability. And yet these two >> Mhm. >> since May have been um walking this out and they've come to a place of like, okay, we're not stopping. we're going to keep going in this um because there are these God stories to tell, >> right? >> That are too good not to share. >> So, that was a um it would have been

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  enough and yet God still is like, "No, I've got more. You thought that thing uh that I seeded and was watering had died or you had to shelf it and and maybe you would get back to it. Maybe you never would." And here are two who have been the same thing is seen to be has been seated for them. Right. >> Tell these stories, >> right? >> Tell the stories of God's goodness and um his provision and his love. >> Yeah. Which I think and that uh that idea of so when we tell those stories,

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  that's what we're doing. We're celebrating what God's doing, right? And there's gratitude in in the telling of like God, I'm like we're recognizing where you've worked and moved and we're grateful for a God who works and moves. And I in that um not only the like so so we called out like the the the man gets healed in it's through the act of celebrating and praise and gratitude right but not only that um the it quiets the it dispels the darkness. Maybe that's the word. Part of

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  part of um Sunday for us. Um Sunday was kind of a wild day because we had uh this right. We're going to give this message on on celebrating and God's goodness. I've got two people who are going to share a really powerful testimony. And Sunday morning um I woke up, I don't know, at 5:45. And from that moment, literally until 10:00 a.m. And even through our service, it was like one thing after another. I mean, we had like multiple people being taken to the hospital and urgent care and um just

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  like all of these things and so it felt just like like what is happening all to the point where we're like this is too obvious like like these are attacks. It's too obvious to miss that. And at one point um after literally the third person was being taken to urgent care, Andy goes he goes, "You know what? if the devil's going to be loud today, we're going to be louder in the way that we praise. Um, and I just that that was this switch of like, yeah, you know what? Like, you can be as loud as you

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  want, but we will be louder. And we didn't we were low um in numbers on Sunday cuz everybody was at the hospital. Um, but the people were loud in the way that they were singing and praising. Um, at one point I took my in- ears out and I was just like, "Oh my gosh, the voices of God's people." >> Um, praising. And that's what even something like the the podcast that that they're talking about, what we've talked about, even just the um I think even in the quiet spaces where it's one person

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  to another where it goes, I have to tell you something. This is too good to not share. And every time that happens, it's like, um, >> enemy, you be quiet. Mhm. >> You you don't get to have a word here in this place. Um >> what also ushers us into the more the fullness of what this what this man experienced coming back to >> Yeah. >> coming back to Jesus and worshiping him that it was Jesus and his disciples. Yes. But that really it was this this individual Jesus.

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  >> Yeah. >> And when we get to do that maybe it's uh in some ways I I sense or feel like >> he's he's here in the room with us. He's pulled up a chair. >> Right. Well, it's the so uh he will inhabit the praises of his people. Yeah. So when we praise, >> God is there and in that and shows up. >> Yeah. >> So good. >> Very good. All right. So, as we wrap this up, uh what would you say is Kyros from um from Sunday that that you're

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  hearing from God and and >> how he's inviting you to respond? >> Yeah. So, uh this week for me it's it's the obvious one, but it's really practical. Um, I feel like a lot of times on the podcast we are uh we sit in the front end of a chyros cuz it's just happened. God's just speaking. But for me this time um there's uh very much the like here's how we're going to respond because um and some of this has been maybe maybe cooking for a while or whatever. But um even on Sunday morning,

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  part of what I was uh what I was sharing is that um Jamie and I so we just wrapped up the market season. We spend six months, our church spends six months out of the year um once a month involved in the community market. And at the at this last one, um we were talking about like, okay, next year, what are some things we want to do differently and and what what are the plans? And one of the things that we Jamie and I had talked about was actually creating a space um for our community to show gratitude. um

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  recognizing that like not everybody in our uh context or not everybody in our community, our neighborhoods are followers of Jesus, but everybody like this idea of like what are you grateful for today? Um this is universal, right? And even to like the science of when we when we're grateful, what that does I know. Just I'm ready. >> Yeah. Okay. I knew you were going to do that. Um I don't know what what it is, but I do know there's science behind >> Oh, you're just claiming science.

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  >> No, people the people can look it up. It's fine. Do your own research. >> The science of gratitude. >> Here's what I know. Yeah, it's good for you. >> I imagine >> everybody knows this. Okay, shut up. >> Anyways, so what we had talked about was like, hey, next year what we want to do is have a big like banner kind of thing that says Fairwood is grateful for. Um, and so every month at the market, there's a space for people to like just tell us what something you're grateful

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  for in this space. Um, and and whether they're recognizing that, hey, like those good things are gifts from a God who loves you or not. um there's a space to just be a start practicing like what are the things that you're grateful for and then that may might also open conversation or open space for conversation right so I'm sharing that on Sunday and as I'm sharing that it was like this okay so why don't why aren't we doing that like that's great and that's for the community and that starts

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  in May at the next market or whatever but are we as a church family right now is this something we have an intentional practice of >> um >> and so then even in that space and and we were talking more about this last night, but um in fact, we were in the in this uh church last night like, okay, where are we going to put this? But creating a space where like this is actually something we're going to do where very regularly, like every week, there's an opportunity to come in and

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  go, it would have been enough, but here's where I saw God show up um and show off this week. And and then out of that um even like conversation last night, somebody had somebody this week had sent a text and was like, "Hey, um I just had this thought like uh if what if the the church had um I she was talking about like car decals or bumper stickers or something, but with not not with information about our church, but an invitation to pray. So if somebody saw your sticker or whatever, and it was

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  like, "Hey, can we pray for you? Here's a QR code or whatever." um as we were talking about it last night and I and I don't know that the car thing is the thing but it was like >> how else could we invite our community to start being grateful before May. Um, and so sitting down and having some of those, if it feels like very practical, tangible, like, okay, if God, if what you're telling me this week is that there's wholeness and completeness and a spiritual healing in the act of praise

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  and gratitude, um, then how do we start doing that right now? It doesn't feel like something that has to sit or simmer really. It's like, no, actually, we're going to start being a people who do that now, and we're going to invite the community into that, whether they recognize what that is or not. Um, >> yeah, >> that's good. >> Yeah. >> Good. Makes me excited for our grateful gathering. >> Yeah. >> Uh, that's in the Wednesday in November.

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  The Wednesday before >> the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. >> Yeah. >> I know that sounds okay. Yes. >> But in that in the last I don't know four, five, six years, we've created a grateful chain. >> Mhm. >> Uh that in the paper chain that you that locks together of these are places of thanksgiving and gratitude and um that that just keeps growing. >> Yeah. >> Right. And it's and it it does have a sense of like these are the the celebrations, the gratitude, the

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  thanksgiving, the prayers that um are lifted up or or offered up. to Jesus and the way that this uh leper who was healed now comes and returns to celebrate and >> and offer gratitude and thanksgiving. So, uh for me, my uh chyros is the um it it was a out of a question at the end of of Sunday that still lingered with me uh in into this week is uh where where have I left celebrating and thanksgiving and gratitude to Jesus on the table and I've moved on. >> Where have I left it and and didn't

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  return and in what spaces is that? And what might it look like if I were to slow down or to stop long enough? >> Mhm. >> Um and faithfully return obediently return and praise Jesus. And that's where um that's the chyros of where are these spaces that I've just moved on to the next thing >> and actually I um I would receive far more. If I stopped and took time to celebrate and offer gratitude and thanksgiving instead I found myself I can find myself in times returning to the work

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  >> that needs to be done >> and uh so that's a convicting chairos and one that uh convicting in the way of like here's how I have operated here's an invitation >> to do something different and something actually that is is far greater. >> Mhm. >> So yeah. >> Well guys, thanks for being with us on this episode. We hope and pray that you guys are having conversations that go beyond Sunday and hearing from God and uh discerning what it is that he's

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  inviting you into and uh taking faithful steps uh to continue moving closer to him. Have a great week.