Bethel Lbc Podcast

Our guest speaker this week is Jonas Nelson. Many know Jonas from KHRT Radio in Minot, and he was gracious enough to speak this week on a very short, but very beautiful Psalm 133.

This week following the Independence Day Holiday, Pastor Craig explains the finer points of being "proud". Are we proud of our country, our family, our work or our heritage in the right way? Or do we fall into sin when we are proud? Using three different versions of the Scripture Text, we can see some things come out that we might miss by only reading one version. If you'd like to follow along, look up 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 in three versions, NIV, NLT and ERV (www.biblegateway.com is a handy way for anyone to do this). We also refer to Ephesians 2:8-10 from ERV, and 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Where does your identity come from? Such a question is a popular one these days. Everyone is searching for their identity, but we often look in the wrong place. Like a misplaced eagle, we sometimes feel the urge to fly, but we are influenced and hindered by the world we live in. Our scripture verses include John 1:9-13, Romans 5:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalm 33:4.

Our guest speaker this week is Pastor Dan Chell from Our Redeemers Church in Minot. Using the inspiration of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 1:3-11, Pastor Dan thinks back on the many years of ministry of Bethel Lutheran Brethren. Listen along and enjoy.

For Father's Day, Pastor Craig emphasizes the longing we all have to be home with our father. Going a bit nostalgic and referring to the lyrics of an old Neil Diamond song as well as some old camping stories, this message is a perfect fit for Father's Day. The main text comes from 2 Corinthians 5:1-11. We also refer to Psalm 46:10.

Our guest speaker this week is Pastor Dave Heintzleman who uses the analogy of a mirror to reflect the teaching of Peter into our hearts. The main text comes from 2 Peter 1:1-4

Just as our lives seem to take a beating from all sides, so Paul talks about how we endure through the trials of life, not in our own strength, but in the strength of God. Filled with profound illustrations and references, enjoy this reflection on ways in which God seems to be backwards, upside down and inside out. The main Bible reference is 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, and we also refer to Psalm 19:14, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans 8:28 and 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Here's Pastor Craig's Sermon and comments from the Funeral of Irene Thorpe.

On this Memorial Day Weekend message, Pastor Craig helps us recall some famous speeches from F-D-R, Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr, Lou Gehrig and Abraham Lincoln to help us put this weekend into a "renewed perspective".

As Americans, we might have a hard time understanding exactly what what going on at the first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the believers with fire and wind, and they spoke in a language that every person could understand in his own native language. Pastor Craig uses some interesting illustrations to help us get our fire going, and spread the gospel among all people, no matter what language they speak. Sermon reading is from Acts 2:1-21

We may have heard the word "testimony" on courtroom dramas, but the Bible also tells us about different kinds of testimony. Each person's testimony is evident by the way they live, talk and act. What does YOUR testimony say about YOU? Our text comes from 1 John 5:9-15. This message may help you determine if you have life . . . . or not.

This special event Sunday features the Confirmation Examination of our Confirmation Students, Ashlynn, Lainey and Jarrett. An excellent job by the students, it is a good overview of our Christian Faith.

We continue with the "pop-quiz" series as we examine our faith from First John, where we are commanded to test the spirits to see if they are from God. One, two, three, just like a series of flashing pointer signs, we are directed to three ways we can test the spirits. The main text is from 1 John 3:16-24, but we also refer to 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 4:19 and John 15:13.

On Good Shepherd Sunday, Pastor Craig continues with another "Pop Quiz" to ask how we ought to look to our Shepherd, Christ Jesus. Our main reading is from 1 John 3:16-24, and we also refer to Rom 5:8, John 3:16 and John 13:34-35.

This Easter Season we are concentrating on how our life is different because of the whole Easter Story. Jesus has taken away our sin on the cross, and in His resurrection, we have new life. What does that all mean to us in our daily lives? This is the time of year when most all students are taking tests, and in a way, the Apostle John gives us short "pop-quizes" in his writing that helps us determine if we've passed the test. If you pass the pop-quizes, you may not need to take the "final". Bible Passages referred to include 1John 3:1-7, 1John 5:13, 1John 1:8-10, 1 Pet 4:8, Romans 12:8, Hebrews 11:1, Ephesians 2:8-10

This Easter Season we are concentrating on how our life is different because of the whole Easter Story. Jesus has taken away our sin on the cross, and in His resurrection, we have new life. What does that all mean to us in our daily lives? The message this week is somewhat abbreviated in length because of some other activities going on in church, so it is unusually short, but still an important lesson to learn. Our reading comes from 1 John 1:1 - 2:2.

Have you ever been the victim of an April Fools joke? This week, it just so happens that the most glorious of Christian Holiday's falls on a day known for playing pranks on people. Easter on April Fools Day? How can it be? Well, Pastor Craig illustrates four people (or groups of people) who are fooled by the death and resurrection of Jesus. It's an interesting listen! The main text is Mark 16:1-8, but we also hear from Psalm 14:1, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 24:24, Luke 22, Galatians 1:10 and Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-17.

The Palm Sunday Epistle reading is Pastor Craig's focus this week, as we learn what it's like to be in the presence of God, and how Christ gave up all His glory in heaven, to come to earth in service to all of mankind, including you and me. The main reading is from Philippians 2:5-11, but also referred to in the message are these verses: Phil 1:21, Phil 2:3-4, Isaiah 6:1ff and Colossians 2:9.

This week, Pastor Craig was at Bible Camp with the Confirmation Students, and Pastor Dan Chell from Minot filled in with a Lenten message based on John 1:29 that helps us focus on the Lamb Of God.

Pastor Craig looks at the Ephesians 2:1-10 reading from three different points of view with regard to "time". What is our sinful past, what is our redeemed present, and how does that change our future. A unique way to look at a very familiar Christian passage that includes the familiar phrase "we are saved by grace through faith . . . . not of works." Also discussed are Ezekiel 20:5, Romans 5:8, Genesis 1:27, 1 Peter 2:9 and Psalm 139:14.