December 19, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel lesson examining the role of Joseph in the upbringing of Jesus.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 7:10-16
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Audio

December 12, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel lesson for the Third Sunday in Advent from Matthew 11. John the Baptists's inquiries about Jesus are a call for us to see the reality of Christ being in the world.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 35:1-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 7-10

Sermon Audio

November 28, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel Lesson for this first weekend of Advent. Disciples are called to be awake to the needs of our neighbors instead of being lulled to sleep by the things the world tells Christmas is about.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon Audio

November 21, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson preaches on this Commitment Sunday focusing on letting Christ Reign over our lives and all that has been placed in our hands for care.

Preaching Texts:
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43

Sermon Audio

November 14, 2010

Zach Zacchaeus - the most hated man in town - explains to his wife the life change that will happen because Jesus invited himself to their home for the night. It is in the form of a chancel drama, 'The Day Salvation Came Home' written by Pastor Steve Cook, based on Luke 19:1-10, and performed by Ed & Solveig Krafnick.

Sermon Audio

November 7, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel Lesson from Luke 6 on this All Saints Day. Luke's version of the Beatitudes speak more to the spiritual needs of the hearers than the physical needs and blessings found Matthew's Gospel.

Preaching Texts:
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Ephesians 1:11-23
Luke 6:20-31



Sermon Audio

October 31, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel Lesson on this Reformation Sunday in which Jesus tells his followers that they will find true freedom in him.

Preaching Texts:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36



Sermon Audio

October 24, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson preaches on the Gospel Lesson from Luke 18 in which Jesus tells the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee.

Joel 2:23-32
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

Sermon Audio

October 17, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson continues the 10/10/10 emphasis by addressing Prayer. The persistence of the widow in the Parable of our Gospel Lesson is a model for our prayer life.

Preaching Texts:
Genesis 32:22-31
2nd Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8

Sermon Audio

October 10, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel Lesson in which Jesus heals 10 lepers and only one turns back to thank Jesus. This leper is an example of "seeing" life through the eyes of a disciple. This week begins a seven week emphasis on Serving, Praying and Giving. Serving 10 hours a month is a response to seeing our whole lives as a gift from God.

Preaching Texts:
Psalm 111
2nd Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19

Sermon Audio

October 3, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel lesson in which the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus' response is we must reconsider our priorities and where we are placing our trust or faith. If we focus on the call of God to Worship, Pray, Learn, Give & Serve we will know our faith is sufficient.

Preaching Texts:
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
2nd Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10

Sermon Audio

September 26, 2010

Youth from the Summer Trips to South Dakota and Idaho share reflections on their experiences. Then Katie Christensen, Discipleship Ministries Coordinator for Gr. 7-12, provides a reflection on the preaching texts in relation to the Faith Circles concept and the importance of Summer Trips in building Faith Circles.

Preaching Texts:
Genesis 1:26-31
1st John 4:7-12
John 15:9-17

Sermon Audio

September 19, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel Lesson which features a confusing parable, The Dishonest Manager. Jesus is calling us to be stewards of a new "economy" that doesn't follow the pattern we are accustomed to. In this new economy our wealth is not determined in the marketplace but by a God who finds us infinitely more valuable.

Preaching Texts:
Jeremiah 8:18–9:1
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13

Sermon Audio

September 12, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson preaches on the Gospel Lesson and its connection to the idea of Faith Circles at Bethlehem. Like the parables our Faith Circles are not complete without the 'one' who has become disconnected or 'lost.'

Preaching Texts:
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

Sermon Audio

September 5, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel lesson from Luke 14:25-33 where Jesus says to be his disciple we must hate father and mother. What?!? We must love God so much that everything else seems like hate. Being a disciple does have a great cost but that cost is replacing all those "things" that we have replaced God with.

Preaching Texts:
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Philemon 1-21
Luke 14:25-33

Sermon Audio

August 29, 2010

Guest preacher Rev. John Lunn, an ELCA missionary working with Hospice & Hospital Care Providers in India and Liberia, preaches on his experiences relating them to the Gospel lesson. Jesus turns common understanding of hospitality in Jewish culture upside down telling the powerful to invite the lowly to the banquet without any expectation of being repaid.


Sermon Texts:
Jeremiah 2:4-13
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14


Sermon Audio

August 22, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel from Luke exploring what Jesus calls us to do when the call to love our neighbor conflicts with the Law.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17

Sermon Audio

August 15, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson preaches on Luke 12:49-56 where Jesus warns the disciples of the divisions that they will face and the encouragement found in Hebrews 11:29-12:2 to "run the race with perserverance" even in the face of division and struggle.

Texts:
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56

Sermon Audio

August 8, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel lesson from Luke 12:32-40 where Jesus encourages us "have no fear little flock." Today's culture encourages living paralyzed by fear, but God promises Abraham & Sarah, and us, abundant gifts.

Texts:
Genesis 15:1-6
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Luke 12:32-40

Sermon Audio

July 25, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Gospel from Luke 11:1-13 in which Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray. But if we focus on the "how" we miss the "whom" we are praying to and what we believe that means. She also addresses the parable in the second half of the Gospel reading about approaching God with boldness expecting, trusting, having faith in the promises of God.

Texts:

Genesis 18:20-32

Collossians 2:6-15

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon Audio

July 11, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel lesson from Luke 10:25-37, the Good Samaritan. Often we take this story at face value, that we should love our neighbors like the Samaritan. But Pastor Steve reminds us that we should rather identify with the man who is mugged and in need of a savior to tend to his healing, the Samaritan is Jesus!

Preaching Texts:
Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Colossians 1:1-14
Luke 10:25-37

Sermon Audio

July 4, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the gospel story of Jesus sending out 70 disciples to tell communities "the kingdom of God is drawn near to you." Jesus instructions to "pack light" parallel our own instructions to go out into the world trusting that God will provide the tools and resources to announce the Kingdom is near.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 66:10-14
Galatians 6:1-10
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon Audio

June 27, 2010

Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” To the cross and resurrection. Then – and now – Jesus calls disciples, saying, “follow me!” In the Gospel reading from Luke 9:51-62, the earliest disciples exhibit three different kinds of responses to Jesus’ call: Some want to do away with those who don’t welcome them and Jesus! Some are “eager beavers,” but don’t recognize what discipleship means. And some make excuses. But then – and now – there is only one way to follow Jesus, and that is to follow him where he’s going.

Preaching Texts:
1st Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

Sermon Audio

June 13, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel from Luke 7:36-8:3 the story of the sinful woman anointing Jesus' feet with perfume at the Pharisee's home. The Pharisee criticizes Jesus for letting a sinful woman touch him, Jesus in turn tells a parable about forgiving debts. Pastor Steve relates our own need to see Jesus from the woman's perspective. We are so deeply in need of forgiveness that the only one who can forgive us is the one willing to die for our sins.


Preaching Texts:
1 Kings 21:1-21a
Psalm 5:1-8 (UMH 742)
Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:36–8:3

Sermon Audio

June 6, 2010

Today we hear of Jesus restoring life to a widow’s only son. That is what Jesus does – brings life from death! Jesus continues to give us life each and every day, saving us from the one thing that brings true death – sin.

Preaching Texts:
1st Kings 17:17-24
Romans 7
Luke 7:11-17

Sermon Audio

May 23, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on the Pentecost story, reminding us that it is a living story. That we are each called by Holy Spirit to reach out in our particular "language."

Preaching Texts:
Acts:2:1-21
John 14:8-17

Sermon Audio

May 16, 2010

Due to technical difficulties this recording begins part-way into the sermon. Pastor Dee Pederson preaches on the 2020 Faith Vision report of challenges facing the church today. We can minister to our neighbors even in light of these challenges because Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit with us into the world.

Preaching Texts:
Acts 16:16-34
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
John 17:20-26

Sermon Audio

May 9, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson challenges us to see the people God has placed in front of us that need our help. Much the way Lydia's household was placed in front of Paul & Silas in the reading from Acts, God is calling us out into the world to serve an unexpected group in unexpected places if only we follow the vision (dreams) God provides.

Preaching Texts:
Acts 16:9-15
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
John 14:23-29

Sermon Audio

March 21. 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with costly perfume from John 12:1-8. Mary understood the "new thing" that was coming, especially having experienced the miracle of her brother Lazarus' resurrection.


Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8

Sermon Audio

March 7, 2010

As the Evangelism ephasis, "I Love to Tell the Story" wraps up Pastor Dee Pederson reminds us that listening is just as important as speaking our faith story. She invites us to listen for that place in a conversation where the Holy Spirit has opened a door in the conversation. Listen for the "God Questions" in the other person's story. Jesus provided a model in the Gospel lesson while listening to the questions of the crowds and finding a door to share the true story of God with them.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
Like 13:1-9

Sermon Audio

February 28, 2010

As the Evangelism emphasis "I Love to Tell the Story" continues Pastor Steve Cook invites three members of the congregation to share their personal faith story in 100 words or less. After sharing their stories Pastor Steve asks a few questions about the process and then invites the whole congregation to craft their own faith story in 100 words or less.


Sermon Audio

February 21, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook continues the exploration of Bethlehem's evangelism emphasis "I Love to Tell the Story." Jesus found the strength to resist the Tempter by recounting God's promises from scripture.

Texts:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13

Sermon Audio

February 14, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson introduces the "I love to tell the story" Evangelism Emphasis at Bethlehem on Transfiguration Sunday. Sharing our own story of God's work in our lives is the best way to share the Good News of God's love with those around us.

Preaching Texts:
Exodus 34:29-35
2nd Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-43

Sermon Audio

February 7, 2010

Pastor Janine Olson preaches on all three lectionary texts this week. Together they help us recognize our sin, our need for salvation and reveal that Jesus' death and resurrection is our only hope.

Preaching Texts:
Isaiah 6:1-13
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

Sermon Audio

January 24, 2010

Pastor Dee Pederson preaches on the gospel lesson from Luke 4:14-21 on Jesus reading the scroll of Isaiah and proclaiming that he is the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Preaching Texts:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21

Sermon Audio

January 17, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on John 2:1-11; Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine and why it was important that this first miracle took place at a wedding feast.

Texts:
Isaiah 62:1-5
1st Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

Sermon Audio

January 10, 2010

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the Gospel Lesson from Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Jesus' Baptism by John. Pastor Steve asks the question "What's so important about Baptism?" The answer comes in our identity as children of God.

Texts:
Isaiah 43:1-7
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon Audio