Author: Bethlehem Lutheran

  • The Holy Trinity (Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17)

    The Holy Trinity (Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR The Holy Trinity + June 16, 2019 Text: Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17 In the course of our lives, there are people we come across who are worthy of respect, who we look up to.  One that comes to mind for me is the technical director at my community college.  As…

  • Day of Pentecost (John 14:23-31)

    Day of Pentecost (John 14:23-31)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Day of Pentecost + June 9, 2019 Text: John 14:23-31 “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word…

  • Sunday after the Ascension (John 15:26—16:4)

    Sunday after the Ascension (John 15:26—16:4)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Sunday after the Ascension + June 2, 2019 Confirmation Sunday Text: John 15:26—16:4 In the Creed, why do we confess “I believe”?  In the original Nicene Creed, it said, “We believe in one God,” because it was the confession of the 318 bishops gathered at the Council of Nicaea.  It…

  • Sixth Sunday of Easter (Rogate) (John 16:23-30)

    Sixth Sunday of Easter (Rogate) (John 16:23-30)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Sixth Sunday of Easter (Rogate) + May 26, 2019 Text: John 16:23-30 Sunday after Sunday, there are many parts of the liturgy that are the same.  These parts are repeated, not because it sounds religious to repeat stuff, and not because the congregation is dull-witted and has to be told…

  • Fifth Sunday of Easter (Cantate) (John 16:5-15)

    Fifth Sunday of Easter (Cantate) (John 16:5-15)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Fifth Sunday of Easter (Cantate) + May 19, 2019 Text: John 16:5-15 The Sundays of the Easter season remind us how it’s possible for Jesus’ disciples to continue to be in fellowship with Him and to glory in the resurrection for the long haul.  For four Sundays in a row,…

  • Fourth Sunday of Easter (1 Peter 2:11-23)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Fourth Sunday of Easter + May 12, 2019 Text: 1 Peter 2:11-23 Two words describe the Christian: a sojourner and an exile. In the Old Testament, these were freighted terms.  The idea of sojourning in a foreign land began with Abraham who was a foreigner in the land of Canaan,…

  • Third Sunday of Easter (John 10:11-16)

    Third Sunday of Easter (John 10:11-16)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Third Sunday of Easter (Misericordias Domini) + May 5, 2019 Baptism of Lincoln Thomas Vorderstrasse Text: John 10:11-16 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” But what is meant by “good”?  When you want to find out more in Holy Scripture, you go to the original languages—Greek in the New…

  • Second Sunday of Easter (John 20:19-31)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Second Sunday of Easter + April 28, 2019 Text: John 20:19-31 “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you,” Jesus tells His disciples on the evening of the first Easter.  He wants His ministry to continue, for the Gospel to be preached to every town throughout…

  • The Resurrection of Our Lord (Mark 16:1-9)

    The Resurrection of Our Lord (Mark 16:1-9)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR The Resurrection of Our Lord – April 21, 2019 Text: Mark 16:1-9 Alleluia! Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed! Alleluia! As Americans, we are used to having options to choose from.  If you were going to buy a car, you wouldn’t want to be told that there was only…

  • Easter Dawn (John 20:1-18)

    Easter Dawn (John 20:1-18)

    Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR Easter Dawn + April 21, 2019 Text: John 20:1-18 MARY MAGDALENE COMES TO THE GRAVEYARD TO WEEP, BUT THE LORD HALLOWS THE GRAVE AND FILLS IT WITH NEW HOPE. When you wake up, you usually come up with a plan of what to expect that day.   Mary was expecting to…