Bethesda Christian Church Sermon Of The Week

Jesus responded to the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Matthew 5 saying, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Sometimes we see ourselves as the Pharisees. We believe we are righteous on our own, however, all are in need of repentance. As Christians, we share the same mission, to call sinners. Jesus sacrificed His life calling all to repentance. All, even if they're in denial, must repent.

Our pain and loss can sometimes prevent us from seeing God. We often will go to someone or something to give us relief. Jesus is standing there calling out to us. He is the resurrection and the life. Mary Magdalene heard him and responded. Will you?

Who do you say I am is a question that everyone will have to answer. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and Jesus is our Savior. God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to take our place. Who do you say He is?

Jesus promised that he would not leave us alone, and that promise was fulfilled with the Holy Spirit. The promise wasn't to only have the Holy Spirit within us, but that we would be empowered by the Holy Spirit. The power is there, available. How available are you? How open are you to welcoming the connection? In times of trouble, when doubts rise in your mind, the power of the promised Holy Spirit in you can defeat and put down those doubts and fears.

Do you love me? That is a question that Jesus asked Peter three times, and it is a question that we should put before ourselves daily. The way that we can answer is through our priorities, our commitment, and our actions.

God is focused on your spirit and what is in your heart. His Word is true and life giving. Jesus is the bread of life and eternal life is found only through him.

As we start a new series, we will be going over some of the many questions Jesus asked. In this message, Pastor Pat talks about cynicism and how it can pop up in those around us and in our lives.

In Jesus, we are heirs to the promised eternal inheritance, and it is only by faith that one becomes an heir. Are you dying for something that is pulling you from your promised eternal inheritance?

As Christians, we are called and empowered to be a witness wherever we go. There is an adversary that wants to prevent us from being a witness to those around us. Our ability to conquer and overcome our adversary is through faith and obedience to Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, we are all one. Jesus made it possible by giving his life on the cross as a sacrifice for the sin of the world making it possible for all to receive forgiveness. It is possible for all to enter, but there is only one way. By faith, believing that Jesus has opened the way. Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

If we are going to be a church that does what the church did when the church first did it, then we have to be individuals who have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Repent and do the things you did at first.

In Jesus, we have received a new heart, spirit, outlook on life, new way of living and that includes how material resources are handled. The early church excelled in the grace of giving. It was in response to what Jesus has done. The generosity of the Holy Spirit resulted in their generosity to one another. An act of worship yielding everything to the Lord.

Jesus told his disciples that he would build his church, and the early churches in the New Testament were organized and built on a solid framework. The church was created with a structure and within that structure is connectivity and community that bestows blessings onto those who are connected with a local church.

In follow up to last week's message, Pastor Pat talks about how even though the world has changed since the first century church, Jesus Christ and His word has not changed. We should love and accept with a zeal that reflects the love and compassion of Jesus. We cannot allow the heart of man to define the heart of God.

How can the church succeed in 2024? Pastor Noah goes back to what the early church in Acts did after Jesus' resurrection.

Our great invisible God became visible to us and for us. The Son, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God. Jesus is the image of the Father, and we are called to be conformed to the image of Jesus, the Son and shine his light.

Focusing on getting the impossible can take our focus off of what God truly desires. God's will for us is to recognize Him in the good and the bad, the possible and the impossible, in the best of times and the lamentable times. The conclusion is "all things are possible" within the context of God's purpose and will for you and for humanity.

The supernatural God entered the natural world so us in the natural could become supernatural. 1 John 1:12 "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

The mortal birth of an immortal God. Christmas made the immortal mortal so that the mortal could become immortal! Christmas then, while it reveals the true nature of our King, reveals also our own destiny.

As we begin the Christmas season, Pastor Pat talks about how our faith is both incredible and credible. It is amazing and extraordinary while also believable and historical.