Beneath the Steeple with Pastor Hans Becklin

Jesus alone can fix our problems - He is the only one who could really establish a new way of relating to God through faith. John 18:33-37 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief pries...

God's grace is a free gift - no strings attached. Yet imagine the possibilities when we follow Jesus' teaching and really notice what is going on around us. Mark 13:1-8 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all...

This week we celebrated our Minister of Music, Karen Eddinger with a beautiful reflection from Trinity Member, Donna Osborne. 1 Corinthians 14:15 What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.

Come out! Come out, and see death turn into life! Come out, and experience resurrection! John 11:32-44 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you l...

The message of the Reformation is that God is that God will work out His good purposes for us. John 8:31-36 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘Y...

Prayer's job isn't to serve as our to-do list, sent on angels' wings to God above. No, it's one tool among many to unite our will with the will of Christ. Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to s...

God's model for the human family was a model of equality and nurture. From the very beginning God's intent was for people to be in right, loving relationship with each other. Mark 10:2-16 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal a...

The archangel Michael is pictured as a prince and a general of the heavenly army, defeating the dragon (the ancient serpent, the devil, Satan). It is important, though, to see in Revelation 12:11 that God’s victory ultimately comes by Jesus’ death and the testimony of his followers. The power of God’s truth gives us confidence in the face of evil on earth, even in the face of our own death. Revela...

Jesus tells us that the true way to be great, big, and strong is not to entertain the powerful and mighty but rather welcome the small, weak, and meek. That such things aren't barriers to greatness, but rather help us understand the mystery of the Cross. Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying...

To journey with Jesus means that we must follow behind Him, never in front. Mark 8:27-38 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “...

In Jesus Christ - there is HOPE. This is why we gather as a community in worship, and fellowship and use our hands for service. God's Work. Our Hands. James 2:1-17 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also...

Today's Gospel challenges us to see beyond the differences that threaten to isolate us from each other. Jesus calls us to be together and remember the One taught us the way of service. Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without w...

Why do you follow Jesus? This should be an easy question - but in reality it isn't. Do we follow Jesus because its just what we do, or do we follow Him because we expect something in return? John 6:24-35 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the...

Jesus sat them down and gave them a sign - He decided to use food as a potent reminder of God's graciousness and His abundant blessing. John 6:1-21 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disc...

Nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Nothing! All we need is faith, and God will do the rest. Luke 10:25-37 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you...

In our world, so saturated with words that promise little more than quick distractions and material things - we try to remain focused on the Word of Truth that gives us life. Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to b...

Take nothing on your journey of faith - for when your hands are full and you back weighed down you will not be able to help your neighbor. Mark 6:1-13 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been giv...

Live generously! By God, it's possible!! Today Pastor Opalinski reminds us of the joys of generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness o...

Jesus' arrival on Earth was bound to be intimidating. After all, from our captive perspective He looks like a thief and a robber. Mark 3:30-35 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, as...

We forget that God is always with us, even to the end of the age. We go to God only when our boat of life is about to capsize. Mark 4:35-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat,...

We are the ones who will get to reap the harvest and enjoy the benefits of God's rule and reign. Mark 4:26-34 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when...

Sunday is known as the Sabbath day, a day for rest, family, and worship with God. So, what are we supposed to get out of this holy day? Mark 2:23-3:6 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never re...

Who is God? Moreover, where is God? There are, among us mortals, no more challenging questions than these. Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they f...

Has anyone ever prayed for you? Its a pretty amazing and humbling feeling. Today we learn how Jesus prayed for us that all may come to know abundant life through the one true living God. Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit thro...

Today's reflection from Karen Eddinger on Music Ministry Sunday emphasizes the importance of singing new songs because God is constantly doing new things among us. Psalm 98 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He...