Bethany Lutheran Church

Forty days after Easter the church celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised would happen back in John 15 and 16. Join us as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday and as we exigence the Spirit-led life. Acts 2:1–21 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians an

Jesus’ words are often difficult to receive. Jesus’ words often revealed people’s true motives and allegiances. But Jesus was ok with people not following him. He didn’t hedge on the truth or beg people to follow him. How do Jesus’ words challenge our motives and allegiances when we meet him in our real lives? 

In John’s Gospel Jesus meets people all across the spectrum of faith, from religious leaders like Nicodemus to outcasts like the women and the well. Jesus seems to be harsh with this woman, calling out her sin. But what if Jesus was doing a deeper work? What if he was actually meeting her in her deepest place of shame and in turn offering her healing and inviting her into a new way of being human? Perhaps he is extending the same invitation to us. 

Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus was curious about Jesus and who he was and where he came from. But Jesus did not give him easy answers. Jesus spoke about water and Spirit and being “born again.” What did this all mean for Nicodemus, for the people of Israel, and for us today? John 3:1-21 (ESV)Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit i

Jesus’ first disciples heard of this rabbi from John the Baptizer and were instantly drawn to Jesus. Their response to Jesus’ call was to bring others to Jesus. What have you heard about Jesus? What has drawn you to Jesus? How is Jesus inviting you to tell others to “Come and see”? 

John first met Jesus when they were both in their mothers’ wombs. Yet, in the first chapter of John’s Gospel John the Baptizer has to come to grips with who he is and what his calling is in light of who Jesus is and what his calling is. Who are we as the people of God and what is our calling as we confess with John, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:19-34

How and why does God reveal himself to us? Is it through nature? Through dreams? Through an ancient book filled with wild and crazy stories? All of those questions could be answered with a maybe. But the Gospel of John gives us a clear and concise answer to how and why God reveals himself to us. The answer is Jesus; that we may meet him and come to believe that he is the Christ, the Son of Living God, and that we may have life in his name. John 1:1-14-18; 20:29-31

Last Sunday we got an image of how Satan messes with the harvest. In this parable he isn’t snatching the seed before he takes root he is sowing seeds of destruction  – weeds. Many times we wonder why God just doesn't just get rid of it all but to pull the weed is to pull out the wheat. So evil and good co-exist and grow together until the end when everything is finally sifted. This is why we are on guard but have hope.  1 Peter 5:8-11 (ESV)Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.Matthew 13:24-30 (ESV)He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be

Knowing Christ means we are in an all out war against the devil. We fight against sin and seek faithfulness not because we believe we can save ourselves but because Christ has saved us and we want to live faithfully and push back against anything and everything that would try to pull us away. 1 John 3:7-10 (ESV)Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.John 3:3-8 (ESV)Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again

Evil is not just a struggle with greed or lust; this is a spiritual struggle with spiritual forces at play. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, to undo what God has done. We see this with Job and we see this in so many ways in our own lives. However, no matter what Satan throws at us: loss, death, pain, etc. we know it is all temporary because Christ has ultimate victory.Job 1:6-12  (ESV)Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blesse

Satan is a creature and ultimately has no power. He is powerless in the presence of Christ but he isn’t something to be toyed with or underestimated. The name of Christ isn’t something to be used for fame, recognition, or some demonstration of  “magic”.Acts 19: 11-20 (ESV)The Sons of ScevaAnd God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became know

Evil is not just a struggle with greed or lust; this is a spiritual struggle with spiritual forces at play. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, to undo what God has done. We see this with Job and we see this in so many ways in our own lives. However, no matter what Satan throws at us: loss, death, pain, etc. we know it is all temporary because Christ has ultimate victory. Job 1:6-12 (ESV)Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blesse

The last character we are looking at is Jesus. Jesus’ entire life was one of surrender to his Father’s will (John 5:19). As we get ready to enter into the season of Lent we are focusing on Jesus’ act of giving up control and how through his faithfulness to his Father’s will he brought life to all people. Jesus went to the cross for us. And because of that, we can now bear our cross with him.Luke 22:39-46And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to th

Before meeting Jesus, Paul had placed his identity before God and other people in things like his heritage, his religious activity, and career accolades. As people living 2,000 years later, we often fall into the same trap. What enabled Paul to let go of these things to the point that he could call them rubbish?! Join us as we begin to discover how can we let go of our worldly identities and begin to embrace our identity that comes by the way of Jesus’ cross. Philippians 3:1-11Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe

This is a fairly well-known Bible story that is used to teach us to focus on Jesus. But we don’t often address what is going on in our hearts that makes it so difficult for us to “choose the good portion” which is Jesus. Maybe we have placed our worth in the hustle and maybe Jesus is asking us to surrender the hustle of life to him as we follow him by way of his cross. Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”Matthew 16:24-28 (ESV)Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone

King David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, David had committed adultery and murder which had negative consequences ripple throughout his life and throughout the generations of descendants to come. How did King David continue to move forward after his great moral failures? How do we learn to let go of our past sins as we move forward in life? It’s only by the power of Jesus’ cross. Psalm 51 (ESV)Have mercy on me, O God,    according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy    blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,    and cleanse me from my sin!For I know my transgressions,    and my sin is ever before me.Against you, you only, have I sinned    and done what is evil in your sight,so that you may be justified in your words    and blameless in your judgment.Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,    and in sin did my mother conceive me.Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be

Moses had been called by Yahweh to lead his people out of slavery into the Promised Land. Moses spent his life anticipating that day he would set his feet on the land Yahweh had promised him. Yet, with an outburst burst of frustration that dream was taken away. Nothing was guaranteed to Moses and yet we will see how Yahweh used Moses' disobedience to lead future generations to Jesus. It’s easy to fall into the same trap as Moses, expecting everything to work out as we planned. But when we begin to learn to let go of what we think is owed to us and follow Jesus by way of the cross we can begin to see ourselves in God’s larger story. Numbers 20:2-13 (ESV)Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And wh

Abram and Sarai had given up their dream of having a child. But then Abram received a promise from God that was meant to encourage them to walk in faithfulness to God’s plan. Yet, they took matters into their own hands and things quickly went south. We will often do whatever it takes to make sure our dreams become reality. But what if in this new year, God is inviting us to hold our hopes, desires, and dreams with open hands before the cross, trusting that through the cross Jesus alone can give us abundant life? Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.

We have all been formed by a world that tells us we can have whatever we want whenever we want it. Yet, many of us are left feeling empty and unsatisfied with the status quo. According to Jesus the way to true life is not through self-fulfillment but through self-denial as he calls us to pick up our cross and follow him. This week we kick off a new series where we will look at several key figures in the Bible and how they experienced true life through bearing their cross.Deuteronomy 13:4 (ESV)You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.Matthew 16:24-28 (ESV)Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son