Bethel Church (princeton, Mn)

Bethel Church (Princeton, MN)

From the beginning, Jesus' life and teaching were so powerful and radical that the Jewish people of his time wondered if He was establishing a completely new pathway to God. Did his coming now make the Old Testament -- the "Law and the Prophets" -- irrelevant? This is an important question for us today as well. Many Christians are not sure what to do with the Old Testament. In this passage, we encounter Jesus' teaching specifically about this issue.

This weekend we return to Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. I'm grouping a series of messages from Matthew 5 under the heading of "Jesus' Teaching on Today's Tough Topics." We'll be talking about such things as hatred, sex, dishonesty, divorce, retaliation, and murder. But we're starting things out with Jesus' teaching about being "salt and light" in the world. I think everybody wants their life to count. Everybody wants to leave a mark in the world. In this passage, Jesus talks about one of the important ways we do that.

This year, we're going to look at the account of Jesus appearing to the disciples, and the struggle to believe. Many people in our world -- and in our churches -- struggle with questions and doubts about their faith. It shouldn't surprise us that this question is faced and addressed in the Easter experience itself. Well see how Jesus compassionately and helpfully dealt with the doubts of one of his disciples ... and reflect on what that means for us and our loved ones.

This weekend is Palm Sunday, the day that we remember Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. The focus of our teaching, however, will be on one of the more challenging issues of our time: how social and political divisions are wreaking havoc in all kinds of places -- including churches. We're going to focus on Jesus' calling of the disciples, and do some reflecting on what that group of followers have to teach us today.

We concluded our message series called "The Good Life According to Jesus" today. The final verses in this section contain the beatitude: "blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness." Persecution for one's faith is a harsh reality for Christians around the globe. Here in the US, we enjoy a tremendous amount of religious freedom, and for this we are grateful. Yet this teaching describes a reality for our lives that is important to think about.

This weekend we continue looking at the Beatitudes as part of a message series, called "The Good Life According to Jesus." This beatitude is inspiring and important for our world today: "blessed are peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Our world today might be characterized in many ways ... but "peaceful" is not one of them. There are conflicts, stress, and anxiety all around. What does it mean to be a peacemaker, and how can we do it?

This beatitude is a powerful promise: "blessed are pure in heart, for they will see God." Of course, we all want to see God. We want to be known by God, and have God reveal himself to us. We want to enter into God's presence in the life to come ... and this beatitude talks about this.

This beatitude is straightforward, but very counter-cultural: "blessed are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." This beatitude is challenging because many of us are not very merciful. Instead, we are proud, judgmental, and selfish ... characteristics that are rooted in anxiety and fear. This beatitude has much to teach us!

This weekend we continue looking at the Beatitudes as part of a new message series, called "The Good Life According to Jesus." After looking at several beatitudes that seem confusing on first read, this one is more straightforward: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Although straightforward, this beatitude is challenging. It invites us to think about what it is we "hunger and thirst" for. Thinking honestly about this can be really helpful, as long as we don't fall into the trap of beating ourselves up, or going to a place of shame.

This beatitude is something that seems to go against how our world works: "blessed are meek, for they will inherit the earth." As is the case with so many of the beatitudes, this announcement seems contrary to how things seem to work. It seems to us that the bold and strong and assertive inherit the earth ... not the meek. But then again, what does "meekness" really mean anyway?

This beatitude is counter-intuitive, and maybe even jarring: "blessed are those who mourn." We'll talk about how to understand Jesus' promise here, and what it means for our lives today.

Bethel Church (Princeton, MN)

This weekend we will start a new message series, called "The Good Life According to Jesus." There is no shortage of people who are happy to offer us THEIR version of the "good life" ... but who's really qualified to tell us what the good life really is? As Christians, we don't often think of our faith in this way. Why follow the teachings of Jesus? Could it be that contained in them is a life not simply of purity and holiness ... but also well-being?

Bethel Church (Princeton, MN)

A song of hope rooted in the worst of times gives a clear focus for deeply meaningful ministry.

Following our own desires and thoughts leaves us without God and without hope. In contrast, God's Word is life and hope.

The God who frees us from bondage is able to provide for our every need. His Word is our source of life.

During the Christmas season we become tired. Following Gods lead, wise-men came with joy, knelt down, gave gifts and moved on.

Bethel Church (Princeton, MN)