Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Category: Sermons

  • Fifth Sunday of Easter

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Readings: Acts 8:26–40 | 1 John 4:1–21 | John 15:1-8 Hymn of the Day: LSB 540 Christ, the Word Incarnate Text: John 15:1-8 If last Sunday has the popular name, Good Shepherd Sunday, then perhaps a good name for this would be “Christ the Vine Sunday.”  Today, the picture of a vine growing and branching…

  • Fourth Sunday of Easter

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
    in ,

    Readings: Acts 4:1-12 | 1 John 3:16-24 | John 10:11-18 Text: John 10:11-18 There are many shepherds in the Bible.  It’s a recurring theme, almost like God’s trying to teach us something.  We come across the first one very early with Abel “who was a keeper of sheep,” who was also killed by Cain. The…

  • Third Sunday of Easter

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Readings: Acts 3:11–21 | 1 John 3:1–7 | Luke 24:36–49 Text: Luke 24:36-49 How can we know if what we hear is true?  In an age of fake news, deep fakes, and just plain bald-faced lies, it’s really a problem.  Because of these things, people’s trust of institutions and media agencies has plummeted.  A Pew…

  • Second Sunday of Easter

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
    in ,

    Readings: Acts 4:32-35 | 1 John 1:1-2:2 | John 20:19-31 Text: 1 John 1:1—2:2 In the Introit at the beginning of service this morning, we heard: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter…

  • The Resurrection of Our Lord

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
    in ,

    Readings: Isaiah 25:6-9 | 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 | Mark 16:1-8 Text: Mark 16:1-9 In our day, despite ignorance of the Bible and a general apathy toward religion, Christianity is so ingrained into the society, that hardly anyone objects to the celebration of Easter.  So long as by Easter you mean spring, sprinkled with subtle hints…

  • Sunrise of the Resurrection of Our Lord

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Readings: Exodus 15:1-11 | 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 | John 20:1-18 Text: John 20:1-18 Mary came early to the tomb of Jesus, similar to how we have gathered much earlier than normal for worship this morning.  She was intent to do for her Lord what they had not time for when He died.  She was prepared…

  • Good Friday

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Text: John 18-19 Additional Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 | Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9 Pontius Pilate marveled when he had Jesus in his court, because He wasn’t like any other person facing condemnation.  And he’s right.  Jesus is very different from other men, including you and me. Take Gethsemane for instance: When Jesus had spoken these words, he…

  • Maundy Thursday

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Text: Mark 14:12-26 Additional Reading: Exodus 24:3–11 | 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 Adapted from “The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper” by Johann Gerhard In the Holy Supper of our Lord, we have a mystery placed before us.  Even though it cannot be explained with specific directions, counted in points for your diet, or given nutrition facts…

  • Palm Sunday

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Readings: Zechariah 9:9–12 | Philippians 2:5–11 | Mark 14-15 Text: Mark 14-15 The Passion of our Lord is stark and cruel.  There’s no painting it with a nice gloss to make it more attractive.  It forces us to gaze deeply and uncomfortably at something grotesque: an innocent Man arrested and falsely accused, with no one…

  • Lent Midweek V

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Text: 1 Kings 21 Every one of the Ten Commandments protects a gift that God has given, as we’ve been hearing through the season of Lent. The Eighth Commandment protects God’s gift of a good name and reputation, which is a very precious thing, as it says in Proverbs 22, “A good name is to…