Bethel Lbc Podcast

This week we continue to ask the question, What epiphany moments have you had?  How has God become real to you in ways you hadn't realized before. This week, we observe a very unlikely statement that came from Peter who was in the house of a Christian military officer named Cornelius. Listen to why it was so revolutionary in its day, and why it's so revolutionary today. Our reading comes from Acts 10:34-43. We also refer to 1 Corinthians 1:23, 12:13 and Ezekiel 36:26

This week, Pastor Craig tells some great stories that illustrate the "ah-HA" moments in our life, when we realize we have a new insight. Clyde thought he was doing his wife a favor, Grandpa and Grandma thought they were getting the perfect gift, and the lifelong Christian realized his faith has reached a deeper level.  This and more in this edition of the sermon podcast. We read from Matthew 2:1-11 and we referred to the following passages: Psalm 19:14, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10, James 2:17 and Revelation 7:12. 

Instead of asking the question "Is It Time?" We can now change it to a declarative statement, "It IS time!". Now that Christmas is past, we often think, well it's all over. The presents are opened, the guests have all gone back home, and the party is over. Although it may be true in practical terms, in spiritual terms, we ought never think that the party is over. Because of Christ at Christmas, we always have the Peace, Hope, Joy and Love of the advent season all year long. The TV ad that is referred to is found here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqcCqjrJ9HE

Pastor Craig uses the example of a cell-phone call to show us how and why we set up certain barriers on some phone calls, yet we will immediately take others. In this message, learn about the call you receive each day, and whether you take the call. 

Here are selected excerpts from the Funeral of Gabe Thompson Sr.

A slightly abbreviate message this week since it happened to be the day of our Sunday School Christmas Program, and the kids did such a great job, it didn't leave much time for Pastor Craig's message. But we still had the chance to talk briefly about where our joy comes from during the holidays. Many times we think our joy comes from the decoration, or the songs, or the Christmas program. Pastor Craig lays it out clearly where our joy comes from. Our main reading comes from Isaiah 52:7-10, Luke 2:10-11, Psalm 16:11, 1 John 4:9 and John 15:11.

On this second Sunday of Advent, we once again avoid the temptation to celebrate the coming of our Lord, the Baby Jesus, and instead "prepare" for His coming. This week Pastor Craig ties together the readings from Isaiah and from Romans, written hundreds of years apart, and yet have the save cohesive message: the Lord is coming! Our Main readings come from Isaiah 11:1-10 and Romans 13:11-14, and we also refer to Ephesians 2:8-9.

We begin the New Year on the Church Calendar with the First Sunday in Advent. So often we get caught up in the busy-ness of the season, as if we are to be celebrating. In fact, the scripture readings for this time of year say nothing about celebration, rather preparation. Hear Pastor Craig put things into perspective as we find out how to deal with the "excess stress" we all experience this time of year, and replace the stress with the peace only God can provide. Our main readings come from Isaiah 2:1-5 and Romans 13:11-14. We also refer to John 14:27 and Luke 19:38.

Does your life as a Christian sometimes feel boring? From time to time, everyone may think that. Using the illustration of a restored automobile, Pastor Craig compares the life of the Christian to the old "beater" that submits to the Master Restorer. It's a delightful journey using an everyday example, to challenge us to be so "transformed". Even though we are still an old "classic", people will see the rebuilt life we have in Christ. The reading is from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13. 

This week, Pastor Craig recounts the persecution that was going on in 2 Thessalonians that caused P-S-T to write this letter (P-S-T is explained in the podcast). And it's a lesson for all of us who think the world is ripe and prepared for Christ's Second Coming. Listen and find out that tremendous trials don't necessarily mean then end of the world. A great rebellion must take place, and it's not what you might think. The main reading is from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, 13-17. We also refer to the following passages: Psalm 19:14; Matthew 24:3, 9-11, 24; Mark 13:22; Romans 13:8; 1 John 1:9 and Ephesians 2:6.

Hear Pastor Craig illustrate how any given scripture reading can be easy to understand, or other times, it can seem impossibly hard to grasp. But some simple steps can help us gain an understanding of the hard verses, and still gain a deeper understanding of the simple ones. With an introductory lesson reading from Revelation 7:9-17, our main sermon reading is from 1 John 3:1-3, and we also refer to Luke 11:23, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Matthew 11:30, 1 John 1:9.

This week, Pastor Craig takes a look at a familiar section from the book of Romans, through the words of a 1960's quote from a Pop Music Rock Star. Considering the things that are Known to us, and also considering the things that are UNknown to us, there is an invitation to step between those opposing views through doorways.  Listen to this interesting twist and praise God in the lesson. Our reading comes from Romans 3:19-28. We also look to Isaiah 64:6 and Psalm 139:1-3.

This week takes us once again to Timothy, and Pastor Craig relates a humorous story of a lady who is looking for an equipped campground to vacation in. And the illustration points out how we are so eager to make sure things have the features we expect in something. Yet the Bible explains we already have everything we need. Learn more about it in this message from 2 Timothy 3:14 thru 4:5. We also refer to 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 31:35, Ecclesiastes 2:24, 5:18, 8:15 and 1 Timothy 2:4

When life gets us down, we can often benefit from the encouragement we receive from others: others in the church, but also, others in the world. This week Pastor Craig Schmidt will show us how a baseball player, a gymnast, a soldier, and a farmer can all give us encouragement. Using the example of Paul, and the ultimate Old Pro Encourager, and even how his encouragement didn't come from within himself. Our text lesson comes from 2 Timothy 2:1-13. 

After some unexpected events in the life of our church, it caused Pastor Craig to stop and rethink a few things, and that became the theme for this week's message. Often times life seems crazy, out of control, and threatening. But using the Apostle Paul as an example, we learn that God might be using those crazy events to call us back to Him. The reading this week is from 2 Timothy 1:1-14, and we also refer to Ephesians 3:20-21, Romans 8:28, Romans 12:2 and John 10:10.

This week, we move to a message from Revelation, a book that is often confusing, but a book that is also very clear: the battle between good and evil exists, and we are in the midst of it. Learn what the battle means, and how each of us are involved that battle. The main reading comes from Revelation 12:7-12. We also refer to Matthew 10:39-40 and Hebrews 10:25.

It seems like we live in a volatile world. Anything anyone says seems to blow up into an argument that nobody wins. It's with this in mind that we look at 1 Tim 2:1-15, which at first glance seems like some nice fatherly advice about how to live the Christian life. But it's riddled with explosive subjects that seem to cause more divisions. Listen as Pastor Craig addresses the Modern Powder Keg that we must endure in today's world. We also refer to Matt 5:44, Luke 6:27-28, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 and Romans 12:19-21

This week, Pastor Craig uses a few personal experiences to illustrate how our tendency is to live as close to the line of sin as possible. Even in our attempt to stay clear of sin, we sin in other ways. It truly is "The Fine Line" that every believer experiences in life. Our main reading is from 1 Timothy 1:12-17. We also refer to the following passages:  Romans 2:15, 2 Corinthians 11:14, John 10:27, and Romans 14:8

Have you ever given someone a recommendation?  Have you ever received a recommendation? If you have, you know how important they can be in one's future opportunities and one's forthcoming positions. This week, Pastor Craig tells us about a little "gem" of a lesson in a mostly unknown book of the Bible, and it's about a personal recommendation that was given, that closely parallels a personal recommendation that has already been given about YOU. The reading is from Philemon 1-21. 

As Pastor Craig was out of town this week, we heard a very practical way to disciple people, through something as simple as fishing. Geremy Olson is from Washburn, ND, and speaks of his life-long love for fishing, and the lessons we can all learn, as well as the lessons we can teach, in simple practical ways. The reading is from Luke 5:1-11.