The Bethany Bullet Sermon Message - Week of May 10, 2020

Link to Worship Video for 5/10/20 – HERE

*If unable to open link copy/paste this into your browser: http://www.bethanylutheran.org/worship-service-resources/

*Direct link to Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user4580656

Link for printing Sunday’s Bulletin for 5/10/20 – HERE

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Link to Bible Discovery Resources for 5/10/20 – HERE

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http://www.bethanylutheran.org/bible-discovery-resources/

Holy Gospel: John 14:1-12

Message: “Troubling Times…Untroubled Hearts”

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.”   Jesus, who was going to that place, (heaven) came to this place (earth) for us.  Jesus came to this place to take our place that He might take us to HIS place.  Now that place is one that we do not deserve and could never earn!  For none of us have kept God’s law whole or ourselves holy. 

Jesus lived in perfect conformity to God’s commands and His commission, in absolute obedience to His will and to His Word.  Jesus never once gave into temptation.  When the devil “promised” jump down from this high place (temple’s pinnacle) and I’ll give you all the nations; when the crowd “promised” come down from that high place (Golgotha’s spectacle) and we’ll give you all our adoration; He did not yield to temptation, neither in desire or deed. 

Jesus came to this place to take our place in obedience to the law and in punishment for breaking the same.  So that, by the grace of God, through faith in God’s Son, we have a place with Him in heaven!  That truth, this promise, such a certainty is why this text is so prominently heard at many a Christian funeral!  “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms and I’m going to prepare one for you.”  Yet, these words perhaps should also be central to the Christian’s daily life.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  They’ll do even greater.”  That’s how Jesus wraps up this conversation.  What’s greater than the work of salvation, the accomplishment of redemption, the preparation of a place in heaven?  What does Jesus mean by “greater things?”  Many believe the Lord means continuation of His work by the great multiplication of the workers. 

This is a corporate declaration but a call to individual action.  You, you, serve others! Jesus did so in this text by washing feet, humble yourself and lift others up.  You, you, understand the nature of your being (in and of yourself – lost, astray, worthy of condemnation, unworthy of eternal celebration – yet in Christ righteous before God, holy in His sight, deployed on earth as His Servant for the work of restoration of society, ministry, a lone hurting body…Society:  praying for leaders, valuing honest and decency and being honest and decent.

Ministry, when things start to reopen we’ll have more irons in the fire than ever; time, talent and treasure given will be vital.  To a lone hurting body – just one makes a difference – in fact think about the great parables about personal action leading to restoration – they are individual conversations – Samaritan, a prodigal’s parent. And teach about death and resurrection, simply means long after the Easter season is ended the cry continues…Christ has died, Christ is risen…and Christ shall come again. 

When He does, He shall take us to be with Him that we may be where He is; until then, do not let your hearts be troubled.  God’s got this.  God’s got you!  In Christ, you’ve got Him. And oh Christian IN YOU the world’s got Christ.

-Pr. Kevin Kritzer

Worship Resources for Sunday, May 17

will be up on Bethany’s website

by midday Saturday, May 16!