Bethany Church of Canby

The open and empty tomb opens up everything! This Sunday we look at the open tomb, the open Scriptures, and the opening of our eyes, minds, and hearts in worship. May we be transformed to live open lives of witness as our baptism candidates are today!

The death of Jesus on a Roman cross is the dividing line for all of history. It is where the Kingdom ethics and mission of truth, justice and sacrifice come to fruition. How will we respond to this dividing line? Will we respond in self-interest like the religious leaders, or in grace, with full life committal that we see in Jesus and his followers?

This morning, we look at the rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders, his disciples and ultimately the Father. However, it is in this rejection and mockery of Jesus, that he was accomplishing the very thing he came to do. Let’s examine our own hearts for mockery and find acceptance and forgiveness as Peter did, while we look at Jesus’ rejection. Let’s look at three types of rejection.

Even as Jesus moves toward his mock trial and ultimately the cross, his heart is set on guiding his followers. While Judas betrays him, he teaches in word and deed what it looks like to follow him. He offers his life on our behalf and calls us to lay down our own lives as we apprentice under him.

The disciples understandably want to know, according to Jesus’ prophecy, when the temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. However, Jesus’ intent for them, and for us, is not about timing, but about the certainty of the end of all things, and the certainty of the signs that will precede it. Jesus wants to prepare his disciples to live ready for his certain return. So, let’s prepare with three certai...

On the heels of exercising his authority as the Son of God in the temple in Luke 19, the Jewish religious leaders come to challenge Jesus’ authority. We are naturally suspicious of authority as those steeped in the autonomous individualism of our culture. Yet, we all live under multiple kinds of authority including the Supreme Authority – Jesus Christ. Let’s look at Jesus’ authority and how it act...

Peace is something that most people want and pursue and yet it is so elusive in every generation. Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem is not a declaration of war, but an offer of peace. This peace is true and lasting and yet Jesus knows, as he sees the city, that most won’t see the things that make for peace. Let’s see where and how we can find this peace.

In Luke chapter 19, we are challenged to see Jesus for who he is, the Seeker and Savior of the lost. We will then be encouraged to a life of investing in the Kingdom mission until he returns. We will do this by looking at two principles, one big encouragement, and one challenge to invest in the here and now.

Do you ever wonder when God’s promises will be realized? When will the fullness of His Kingdom come? In Luke chapter 17, Jesus teaches that he has already inaugurated the Kingdom, and yet there is a tension because it has not yet fully arrived. In the meantime, the disciples are encouraged again to not hold too tightly to the things of this world, but press on in discipleship, as they ask for more...

Keeping in line with the theme of “stewardship” in chapter 16, Jesus challenges us to make a connection between stewarding our horizontal relationship with him, with how we vertically treat the poor, in a parable full of truths on heaven and hell and everything in between.

Pacific Northwest District Superintendent Rob Chadwick I Corinthians 1:26 & 27 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

How are we to steward the life God has given us? If God is the creator, sustainer, and ruler of all, aren’t we living under his roof? This Sunday we look at multiple areas of our lives and the responsibility to be good stewards, and to the one ultimate steward.

Two Sundays ago, we looked at the parable of two brothers who are both just as lost, one through moral license, and one through moral conformity. This Sunday we look at what both brothers need to be brought into the Gospel feast, and how the Gospel feast is brought to us in different ways.

John, Peter, and Mary, saw in different ways at the empty tomb, and yet all believed. We too are called to see an empty tomb and wrestle with those implications. This morning, we not only want to see the truth of the resurrection, but also the beauty and goodness of the resurrection. Let’s look together and SEE this Resurrection Sunday!

Is it possible to avoid Jesus in two different ways, one through flat out rejection, but the other being through obedience? Jesus tells a parable of two brothers who are both just as lost, one through moral license, and one through moral conformity. This Sunday we look at the two lost brothers and one loving father.

If you are a Christian, meaning you have repented and believed in Jesus, your life is uniquely tied to his life in what the Bible calls “union with Christ.” This now defines your reality, you are holy, pure, free and good. The call of Jesus is not to become something you are not, but rather to live out the reality of who Jesus has made you to be when you join his life to yours. Baptism is the phys...

Two of Jesus’ simplest parables contain the heart of God and the heart of the Gospel. This Sunday we look at lostness, the search, and the found community. Jesus not only changes us individually, but is also creating the most distinct community the world has ever seen.

Jesus isn’t interested in gathering the crowds; he is interested in gathering disciples. In this passage Jesus wants us to consider -up front- what discipleship is & to really count the cost of following him. By doing so we will see that serious reflection and daily walking is needed by anyone who truly follows Jesus. But even more so, a deep love for Jesus.

This Sunday Jesus addresses the call of the Christian to generous, costly, hospitality. We will look at the humility it takes to invite the stranger in, and the homelessness and hospitality of Jesus, that makes it all possible.

How can such an immeasurable kingdom have such a narrow door? This Sunday we look to find encouragement not only in the spread and certain victory of the immeasurable kingdom, but we also look at the urgency of the message to enter the narrow door. And as citizens of that kingdom now, what is the key to entry and heart of the citizen to be? We will look to Jesus and see.

There is a cosmic battle between Christ and Satan that plays out in our individual lives. In this story, Jesus enters the life of a woman with a disability to show that compassion and love are the weapons of this battle, not custom and convention. While legalism shrinks the soul and the cosmic battle to a life-sized problem, compassion and love free us from bondage to our greatest enemies.

The sequence of this section of Luke is very important. Jesus’ ministry marks a dividing line between humanity and brings division even to the closest relationships, the family. In considering the divisions, one should examine closely the signs for Jesus’ claims, and choose repentance. A reckoning, a day of settling all debts is coming, and there is only one way to be freed from your debt. Let’s l...

Jesus wants his disciples to know that the reality of the already/not yet, Kingdom of God, is a gift that transforms citizens now. This morning we look at Jesus’ call to action, which is a call to whole life transformation. How do you live if you have been given the kingdom? - with awake, sober, joyful service? This is only possible when you see the master has become the servant. Let’s look at the...

Stand alone sermon by Pastor David Beuving