Sermons from Grace/Bethel

The old covenant was a shadow of things to come. The sacrifices foreshadowed the Sacrifice of Jesus. Because he shed his blood for us we are priests who can enter the presence of God. He gives us his body and blood along with the bread and wine to assure us of forgiveness, strengthen our faith and inspire us to confess our faith without wavering.

Jesus entered Jerusalem humble and gentile, riding on a donkey colt so that he could suffered and die to pay for our sins.

Jesus took hold of us. He redeemed us with his blood. He made us his own, heirs with him of eternal life, citizens of heaven. History shows a long line of people who took their heavenly citizenship for granted and ended up losing it, like the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus. With Paul, we want to pursue the goal of entering eternal life the way an athlete pursues a gold medal. Hold fast to what...

Pastor Justin Dauck Because Jesus willingly obeyed the Father in everything and then suffered for sin in our place the condemnation that was brought on us by Adam and by our own sins has been cancelled.

The father in Jesus' parable had two rebellious sons. We have walked in their shoes numerous times in our lives. He showed his rebellious sons mercy, welcoming his openly rebellious son home and going out and calling his inwardly rebellious son to repentance. 

Like Israel, God has showered us with blessings. The temptation is to take them for granted and think that we can indulge in common sins as Israel did. Jesus crushes  our false security with his call to repentance. May his blessings move you to serve him and your neighbor in thankful love.

Our worth comes from the fact that Jesus was willing to die to save us.

The warning from the Pharisees that Jesus should leave Galilee because Herod wanted to kill him was a temptation hidden in the pretense of caring. Jesus crushed the temptation, trusting that his times were in the Father's hands. He was determined to carry out the Father's will no matter what threats he faced. We are thankful that he crushed this temptation for us because we often take shorts out o...

Pastor Raymond Beckmann

By resisting every temptation perfectly, living with out sin, Jesus can sympathize with us, offer help to us when we are tempted, but most importantly, his perfection is credited to us by grace through faith.

Being yoked to Jesus means that we get the benefit of his live, death and resurrection.

Jesus prepared his disciples for his suffering and death by letting them see his glory, and to see Moses and Elijah in glory. When his suffering tempted them to question whether he was the Christ they would be strengthened and encouraged by what they saw on the mount of transfiguration, and the words from the Father which reminded them to listen to Jesus who had also promised that he would rise fr...

The world says, "stand up for yourself. Don't get mad, get even." God says, "bless and pray for those who persecute you. Overcome evil with good." Jesus overcame evil by taking it on himself. He overcomes our evil with the good of the forgiveness he won for us. Only in view of his mercy to us can we bless those who persecute us.

What may seem to be a blessing may actually be a curse, what may seem to be a curse may actually be a blessing. Example: Paul's thorn in the flesh.

Jeremiah, Moses, David, the Apostles - They are not people we might have expected God to choose to proclaim his word. But that's who God usually chooses. People who are humble, who realize they can't do what they Lord is asking of them on their own. They need God to forgive them, enable them and inspire them so that they respond with Isaiah, "Here Am I, Send Me!"

Jeremiah received a message from God that was very unpopular. God told him he must say what needed to be said, to speak the word he had given him. Paul tells Timothy the same thing. There will always be those who don't want to hear what God's Word says. If we are faithful, we speak the words God has given us in the Scriptures even when they are unpopular.

When even Jesus who never said or did anything wrong is rejected, should we be surprised if people reject our witness? The Bible makes it clear that, because of our sinful nature, we all reject Jesus by nature. Only the Holy Spirit working through the word can bring anyone to faith in Jesus. May God grant us the ability through the Spirit the boldness to share the word no matter what the reception...

Paul prays that the Spirit, working through the word, would enable us to comprehend more and more how much he loves us.

John looked like he might be the Messiah, but God decreed that he would only prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus didn't look like he could be more than just a lowly carpenter from Nazareth, but God decreed that he was his one and only son and that he was pleased with him. What we see in baptism looks like simple water, but God decrees that it is a washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spir...

God has made it clear in many ways that the Savior is for all people, not just Abraham's descendants. Abraham's true children are those who share the faith of Abraham. The Wise Men certainly fit that description as they worshiped a helpless baby as their Lord and King, and obeyed the word of the Lord they were given.

The pandemic has reminded us of our mortality. Nothing here on earth is permanent. Thankfully, in Jesus, we have a permanent city that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept for us in heaven.

Jesus didn't come to earth to help angels. They were either beyond help (demons) or not in need of help, confirmed in glory. He came to earth to live and die as our substitute. 

No one can see the face of God and live, but Jesus reveals God to us and pays for our sins so that we can live in the glory of God forever

Four verses packed full of meaning.

Elizabeth and Mary showed their humility in accepting the word of the Lord and giving him praise. The Lord lifts up all who humble themselves and look to Jesus as their Savior.