The Bethany Bullet - Week of April 9, 2017

Sermon: Am I Still Needed?

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “God loves a cheerful giver.”  Some are familiar with the old adage that counters, "But the church will take offerings from any grouch."  Far from "grouchy" were the givers that led Paul to pen those words, "God loves a cheerful giver" in his second letter to the Corinthian church. In fact, the Greek word for "cheerful" is the word from which "hilarious" is derived.  Ever met a hilarious grouch?

Some might consider the events of Palm Sunday "hilarious."  Who would allow another to take their possession, a donkey in this case, simply to pave the way for Jesus to enter Jerusalem, via Bethany, with but the promise of the creatures return.  Yet, that is exactly what happened.  In so doing they mirror the Lord who is a cheerful giver.  

God gives because of His nature: freely, willingly, generously, and unilaterally.  Before we even knew we had need God's plan was in motion, through which "He gave His Son and with Him would give us all things."  A cheerful giver is Jesus, "who gave Himself to deliver us."  Cheerful, like the Lord, were the donkey's owners that first Palm Sunday, glad to give that the Lord might enter His city and more importantly many hearts and lives in route.

That is why over 200 households at Bethany have cheerfully made sacrificial commitments to our Renaissance; to pave the way for the Lord to enter hearts and lives as He arrives via Bethany...that is Bethany's ministry.  For those who've been unable to make a cheerful commitment yet, it's not too late!

Renaissance commitment cards are in the Narthex and we will be receiving cheerful commitments through April 23rd in the Narthex and through April 27th in the office.  On April 30th we will be announcing the total of our cheerful sacrificial commitments to our Renaissance.

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer