Bethesda Christian Church Sermon of the Week

And as we go through the Sermon on the Mount, we will see Jesus continue to raise expectations on our relationship. If you operate that law is a boundary, you are missing the "heart" of His message. Sin comes from our heart. Jesus wants us to completely surrender out hearts to Him. Jesus focuses more on the internals than the externals.

Lust is a pandemic. It affects men and women, young and old, rich and poor. It steals marriages, rips apart families, and divides homes. When Jesus addresses lust, he instructs his audience to not even let lust be present in their hearts! He then goes on to instruct them to cut off the things causing them to sin. The only way that lust can be rid from the believer’s heart is through confession and...

At the end of Matthew 7, Jesus tells the story of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish man built his house on the sand. After the storms came along, one house was destroyed and the other house was left standing. What made the difference? We’re all building something, but what does it take to build something that lasts? …what does it take to “Build...

In the early part of His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Then to stress His point Jesus repeated His claim with more emphasis and in a dramatic way. Jesus' statement introduced some tension, tension that has remained controversial within Christianity. Jesus has not abolished the...

Sin has been a problem since the beginning of time. Because of sin, mankind was separated from their Creator and restoration could only be accomplished by something severe: sacrifice. The way back to God required a heavy price, a life. But God did not demand the sinner’s life, he allowed a substitute, the life of an animal. To this day God requires sacrifice for sin. Today’s message focuses on how...

Have you ever been hurt, insulted, harassed, or even worse because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus said it would happen, and He gave a simple command on how to respond. He didn’t say “if” you are persecuted, He said “when” you are persecuted, and when you are persecuted for you faith in Him, then rejoice. That was Jesus’ simple command in the face of insult and harassment. Today’s Life App ap...

Baptism is a command of Jesus. He submitted to be baptism as an example for all who would turn their lives to follow Him. Baptism has been called a rite of initiation. That might sound a little clubby, a tad bit exclusive, yet baptism is an initiation in this sense: It marks a beginning, a start, a new life, so fresh and new that the Word of God likens baptism to being raised from the dead. Today’...

When Jesus began His ministry, He started with one word: Repent. Some don’t like the word, it’s beneath them, it’s for others who do really bad things. However, Jesus was clear: All must repent and live out their repentance or else perish. How then is repentance lived? Jesus used a story about a vineyard to teach repentance applied to daily life. This Life App goes to the heart, the very foundatio...

Have you said anything important today? You might not think so, but if today were your last day the words you share would likely be held by those closest to you as memorable and significant. When Jesus was speaking to his disciples hours before his crucifixion, He knew he was facing death. His parting words expressed deep love for his followers and included vital instructions. What were His instru...

God’s Word is not given in “multiple choice” form. We cannot pick and choose from Scripture what we like, then ignore or rewrite the portions not to our liking. Before Jesus ascended to Heaven He told his followers they were to teach everything He had commanded. Everything leaves out nothing. Jesus’ instructions included two small words that were key to His request. It is easy to drop those two li...

“What am I here for?” That question can be taken as existential, plumbing the depths of purpose for this life and eternity. But ask the question in a practical sense as it pertains to church, “’What am I here for?” Or ask it another way, “What am I participating in a church service for.” As you ponder the answer listen in to today’s message as it challenges you to examine your answer in the light...

The church should be a place to join, become a member and begin to contribute. We should be conduits and not reservoirs.

The world is telling us to prepare for “a long dark winter” because “America’s darkest days lie ahead.” That’s been the recent headlines, that’s been the constant refrain of the world. We are in the dark, expect the darkness to last. That dark perspective was alluded to by the ancient prophet Isaiah regarding the city of Jerusalem when he said, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is...

Many have endured being away from church for months due to the pandemic. They long to join together with God’s people and worship Jesus. What would you endure to worship together with the people of God? Do you long to be in the house of the Lord praising God with others? Do you have an insatiable yearning to worship? Be inspired by the biblical account in this message of some who trekked hundreds...

How are you enduring? A nation was waiting four centuries for a word from God. A devout priest well along in years was praying, and when at last he heard from the Lord he did not believe it. He was made to suffer in silence for just a little longer, but his time in silence renewed him. The aged priest came out of his seclusion praising God. What might we learn from such an account of endurance fro...

We are all living differently due to the restrictions imposed because of Covid-19. You might be enduring loss, loneliness, financial stress, children unable to attend school, separation from family or more. How can we endure? A good illustration comes from the last prophet of the Old Testament. He’s called Malachi, and after him God did not speak through a prophet for over four hundred years. The...

The Covid pandemic has affected lives since early 2020. Is God doing something? As we enter the Advent season, a time to reflect on God's timeless plan for Jesus and the salvation of the world, we wonder, is God doing something? God is indeed doing something. This morning an answer is given from the Word of God. God is working, He is doing something, and it will endure forever. Will it endure in y...

When later this week you celebrate Thanksgiving, whether you are alone or with others, take time to express to the Lord something for which you are grateful. Many families have a tradition where prior to the Thanksgiving meal each one tells of something they are grateful for from the past year. Looking back we can all find something for which we can say, "Thank you Lord." And, there are things to...

Have you ever needed a second chance? We all have, and when we are not given that second chance it hurts. We wouldn’t have most of the New Testament if a man named Saul wasn’t given a second chance. His past was so bad, no one wanted to believe he changed. Almost no one. There was one who received Saul and vouched for him. Listen in to discover the name of this giver of second chances and be inspi...

Do you feel idle? You used to have a ministry at church, but since the church ministries have been restricted or gone online you've been left with nothing to do. Is there anything to do except keep on waiting? Yes there is. Take an example from the first century church which was stopped in its tracks. Their lives were at risk, they could have gone into hiding. Instead, they ministered differently...

Tuesday there is an election. For each office on the ballot, who will you choose? Does the Word of God have anything to say about voting? Though the bible might be scarce when it comes to the topic of voting, there is no shortage of direction given in God’s Word when it comes to making a choice for who will lead a community or a nation. If the Lord is neglected in that choice, it is akin to reject...

None of us like to be put on hold. It is often a frustrating experience because we can’t express ourselves to the one who has put us on hold. Yet there are times when we put others on hold, or block their call, so we do not have to listen or respond to them. Have you ever put God on hold, or blocked Him? Since the Garden of Eden humankind has had the propensity to put God on hold or block him comp...

"On hold" is another way of being told to "wait." This does not need to be a negative, depressing, or even a frustrating experience when viewed through the lens of the Lord. This time we live in isn't all that there is. Our time on Earth can be viewed as God's waiting room for our lives. We should stay busy taking time to pray, study, to exercise our gifts, and learn what the Lord would have for e...

Being “on hold” while on the telephone can challenge our patience. But being “on hold” in our lives is a different matter! The Old Testament prophet Elijah had a tremendous victory in the “battle of the gods” on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). But a death threat from an evil queen disrupted Elijah’s life to the point of deep hopelessness. Despite his discouragement, Elijah journeyed for 40 days and 40 ni...

We all know what it’s like to be on hold, and we don’t like it. The multitude of dead-end options, the endless waiting, the never getting through. The frustration! Sometimes we might feel that God has put us on hold and that can lead us to bitterness and despair. In this message hear about someone who believed God was against her although He was always there, and His kindness had not stopped. If y...