Sermons from Grace/Bethel

Most would agree with Jesus’ teaching that “Few things are needed” (Luke 10:42). We understand that people often confuse their wants with needs. We may want many things, but in reality, we only need a few. So, we would agree with Jesus. “Few things are needed.” However, Jesus said more. “Few things are needed—or indeed only one.” Now we might object. There seems to be more than one true need. We n...

We tend to think of distraction and focus as opposites. If someone is focused, they are not easily distracted by random events and encounters. If someone is focused, every decision about how to spend time and resources is calculated. Apart from Christ, that type of focus spells disaster for our neighbor. We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, thinking, “If I spend time helping him, that will di...

In recent weeks, we learned that everyone who has seen the grace of God will, whenever the opportunity arises, serve as a witness for Christ. However, Scripture teaches that there is also a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-time focus. There are many different terms for these workers: shepherds, pastors, teachers, ministers, missionaries, etc. These workers are called...

There is the type of fan who follows his team if they make the playoffs. Then there is the type of fan who, regardless of his team’s record, watches every game and knows the stats for every player. There are different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested in followers who pay attention to his Word and will only when their other pursuits provide the time....

We tend to think of mission work as being “over there,” something done in a far-away place. It is good and right to support foreign mission work with our prayers and offerings. However, something is off if we allow our appreciation for “over there” mission work to take our eyes off the mission that is right before us. Here is the two-fold reality worthy of our undivided attention this week. First,...

At the top of the list of things worthy of our undivided attention: God. That does not mean that if we focus long and hard, we will understand all there is to know about God. That is impossible! For example, Scripture teaches that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our reason objects, “How can three be one?” So, God’s very existence is a mystery, far beyond our abilit...

Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospel has ceased to spread around the world. For Jesus promised to send another advocate to represent God to the world: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the constant companion of believers in these Last Days. We conclude this worship series with this glorious thought: because he lives, Christ sends us his Spirit. That raises some questions. Where?...

After he rose, when Jesus’ followers gathered together, they comprised a group that was not very diverse. They all belonged to the same ethnic group, grew up in the same culture, spoke the same language, and followed the same customs. That would change drastically on Pentecost, when the gospel would be proclaimed in many languages to people from “every nation under heaven” (Acts 1:5). This diversi...

Conventional wisdom suggests that joy is a direct result of circumstance. Our disposition is merely the product of the events, conditions, and relationships that constitute our lives. Therefore, it seems that for our disposition to change, our circumstances must change. However, Jesus offers a joy that is superior. It is not a product of circumstance; it’s a product of Easter. Easter demonstrates...

If someone saved you from a horrible death, what would you do to thank them? You would probably do just about anything they asked! You would be that grateful. Jesus not only saved us from eternal death in hell, but he also won for us an eternity in paradise. What shall we do to thank him? This week, we see that Jesus asks for just one thing—love. He asks us, in every interaction with others, to de...

The world is filled with talkers. Many people claim to care about you. However, we know what many of those individuals do when it's time to turn their words into action. Jesus tells you in his Word that he cares for you dearly... that he would do anything for you... that he’s leading you into the green pastures of paradise. How do you know you can trust him? Simple. Jesus followed up his words...

A recent survey asked Americans which five senses they would least like to lose. 77% chose sight. Navigating life blind poses many challenges that the sighted do not face. This is why Scripture often uses the concept of blindness as a metaphor for how hard it is to navigate life without a correct understanding of Christ. Spiritual blindness can take many different forms. In some cases, it is hosti...

If Jesus had stayed dead, he would have been only a good example. His followers would simply share advice: “Love like Jesus did,” or “Think about money like Jesus,” or “Pray like Jesus prayed.” But because Jesus is alive, our mission is much greater. We don’t just share teachings—we testify to the truth: Christ is risen! Jesus isn’t just a model for living; he’s our Savior and the way to eternal l...

Death can sting in many ways. It casts a shadow over every joyful moment, reminding us that nothing on earth lasts forever. It separates us from those we love—no more conversations, no more hugs. It can also stir fear about what comes next, a sense that judgment waits beyond the grave. But notice the word "can." For those who trust in the living Lord, death has lost its sting. Because Je...

As we begin Holy Week, we see Jesus bury humanity’s endless attempts at seizing power. In our world, power dynamics are almost always in play. Those who don’t have power want it, often more than anything else. Those who have power are willing to do anything to keep it. In contrast, Jesus, who possesses all power as the Son of God, willingly surrendered his power and placed himself in the hands of...

This week, we see how our Father makes the treasures of His house available to all. He places them in the last place we’d expect—the trash. In God’s family, the things the world prizes and pursues are counted as worthless. Conversely, what the world rejects and discards is considered priceless and worth pursuing. The best example of this is Jesus Christ himself. The Father sent his greatest treasu...

We assume people get what they deserve. We assume that what goes around comes around. We assume God helps those who help themselves. Those assumptions are false. God does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. God never turns it off. At the entrance of God’s open door is not a Father looking to condemn us, but a Father who has eagerly longed...

The heavenly Father is always present in the lives of his children. He sees every sorrow we endure. He also sees every sin we commit, even if only in our thoughts. He is always present. Yet, he is also always patient. God does not snap at us the second we turn from him. He gives us time to see the error of our ways. He assures us that the door back to him remains always open. By giving us room to...

The door to God and the glory he has prepared for us stands wide open. However, he has mapped out a very specific pathway to that door. It is not an easy one. As it did with Jesus, this route takes us through opposition, suffering, and even death. While our human nature may cause us to want to detour around these things, Jesus' life shows us that no detour is allowed. His cross came before his...

Normally, in a family, everyone must do their part. . . pitch in. . . pull their weight. In God’s family, he assigns and accepts the work of one on behalf of all. In God’s house, God’s Son—our brother, Jesus— stands alone on the field of battle against our enemies in our place. He fights vicariously. He fights victoriously. This week, we see one man, Jesus Christ, stand against Satan. We simply si...

Would you look directly at the sun? Only if you wanted to burn your retinas and have permanent blind spots. Would you like to look directly at God? It sounds wonderful in theory. Yet Scripture describes God’s glory as being brighter than the sun. Moreover, one component of God’s glory is his holiness. Being holy doesn’t just mean God loves good; he also hates evil with burning intensity. And we si...

Throughout this season of Epiphany, Jesus has described the governing principles of his kingdom as being completely opposite to the governing principles of the world. This week, Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, love those who hate us, and repay evil with good. Worldly logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet, haven’t we seen this tactic work? When we were Christ’s enem...

Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus reminds His followers of their God-given identity and purpose as redeemed children of God. He calls them the "salt of the earth," preserving the truth of God’s Word in a world prone to decay, and the "light of the world," reflecting the light of Christ through their lives. This ligh...

Imagine needing heart bypass surgery. When meeting your surgeon, you ask, “How many of these have you done?” He smiles and says, “You’re my very first patient!” Would you feel honored—or anxious? For important jobs, we know qualifications matter. And what job could be more important than sharing the good news of salvation? You might expect Jesus to entrust that task to the most qualified, like the...

In 2009, Facebook introduced the “like” button, and Twitter added the “retweet” feature. It is easy to think that the more people like us, the more successful our lives must be. Likewise, it is easy to believe the more people like a church, the more successful it is. But popularity does not equal success. While the gospel and its messengers may sometimes be popular, that is never the goal. A churc...