Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Category: Sunday

  • Second Sunday in Advent (Populus Zion)

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    Readings: Malachi 4:1–6 | Romans 15:4–13 | Luke 21:25–36 Text: Luke 21:25-36 “Encouragement and Instruction for the Last Days” Talk of the end of the world again?  Didn’t we just have that less than a month ago?  This topic can leave us weary (possibly) disappointed that the end has not yet come.  Isn’t this what…

  • First Sunday in Advent (Ad te levavi)

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    Readings: Jeremiah 23:5–8 | Romans 13:11–14 | Matthew 21:1–9 Text: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Romans 13:11-14 The Lord promises three things through the Prophet here: Salvation, security, and righteousness.  We know salvation most of the time from the lack of it.  Nobody asks to be saved from good days, joys, and pleasures.  Instead, people cry out to…

  • Last Sunday of the Church Year

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    Readings: Isaiah 51:4–6 | Jude 20–25 | Mark 13:24–37 Text: Mark 13:14-37 “Watching in between the Shadows of the Cross of the Last Day” What do we do with this information about the end of the world? We heard our Lord say last week to be on our guard and to expect many and great…

  • Second to Last Sunday of the Church Year

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    Bethlehem Lutheran
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    Readings: Daniel 12:1–3 | Hebrews 10:11–25 | Mark 13:1–13 Text: Mark 13:1-13 About 30 years ago, the pop group R.E.M. popularized the phrase, “It’s the end of the world as we know it; and I feel fine.”  At the time, they were reacting to political movements and the end of the Cold War.  From their…

  • All Saints Sunday

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    Readings: Revelations 7:2-17 | 1 John 3:1–3 | Matthew 5:1–12 Text: 1 John 3:1-3 St. Paul writes to us, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)  While…

  • The Festival of the Reformation

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    The word of the Lord endures forever. ~1 Peter 1:25

  • Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

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    Readings: Jeremiah 31:7–9 | Hebrews 7:23–28 | Mark 10:46-52 Text: Mark 10:46-52 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  The Gospel last week ended with this ominous statement from Jesus.  While thinking about the rich young man who refused to benefit the poor with his wealth, we might hear it…

  • Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

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    Readings: Ecclesiastes 5:10–20 | Hebrews 4:1–13 | Mark 10:23–31 Text: Mark 10:23-31 Covering points from Formula of Concord – Article II on Free Will Last week, we heard the rich man go away from Jesus disheartened by His invitation, “Follow me.”  It was quite sad, and actually remarkable that this is the only time in…

  • Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

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    Readings: Amos 5:6–7, 10–15 | Hebrews 3:12–19 | Mark 10:17–22 Text: Mark 10:17-22 Covering Points From: Formula of Concord, Article VI – The Third Use of the Law You may or may not remember this from Catechism class, but there are three uses for the Law of God, and in this encounter that Jesus has…

  • Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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    Text: Mark 12:28-37 I think all of us would agree that idolatry is foolish.  The idea of manmade gods is a ridiculous notion.  The Lord, through Isaiah gives this illustration in chapter 44: He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of…