This sermon is the seventh in our message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're looking at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and applying insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. This message is based on Nehemiah chapter 5, which talks about another challenge that Nehemiah faced in the rebuilding process: INTERNAL STRIFE. We'll talk about the challenges of internal conflict, bu...
Jul 05, 2020•42 min
This sermon is the sixth in our message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're looking at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and applying insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. This message is based on Nehemiah chapter 4:11-23, which continues the account that we talked about last week -- describing the opposition by some to the rebuilding efforts. We'll talk about how our effo...
Jun 28, 2020•40 min
This sermon is the fifth in our message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're looking at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and applying insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. This message is based on Nehemiah chapter 4:1-15, which talks about the people opposing the building of the walls in Jerusalem. In it we talk about how our efforts to rebuild our lives are sometimes also...
Jun 21, 2020•47 min
This sermon is the fourth in our message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're looking at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and applying insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. This message is based on Nehemiah chapter 3:1-32, which gives a lengthy description of all the people who helped build the various parts of the wall of Jerusalem. We will focus especially on one part of...
Jun 14, 2020•40 min
This sermon is the third in our message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're looking at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and applying insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. This message is based on Nehemiah chapter 2:11-20, which describes Nehemiah arriving in Jerusalem, examining the condition of the walls, and talking with the elders of the city. We will focus on applying...
Jun 07, 2020•38 min
This sermon is the second in a new message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're going to look at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and apply insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. This message is based on Nehemiah chapter 2:1-10, which describes Nehemiah's conversation with the King of Persia, and his request for a leave to go to Jerusalem. We will focus on this exchange to ...
May 31, 2020•37 min
This sermon is the first in a new message series on the book of Nehemiah. The title of the series is "Rebuilding Your Life." We're going to look at the account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and apply insights to the challenges we face in rebuilding the broken things in our own lives. Tomorrow's message is based on Nehemiah chapter 1, which sets the stage for the book, and shows us Nehemiah's response to some bad news. We'll be focusing on what this teaches us about facing the re...
May 24, 2020•41 min
This sermon is a single stand-alone message given by Pastor Steve Zwart, Sr. Pastor of Unity Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg, Minnesota and is titled: “Keeping it all together when life falls apart.” It is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, and will focus on the teaching Paul gives to the Thessalonians on what they should focus on during their difficulty so they can continue to stay close to Christ. We'll learn about not being anxious or fearful during difficult times, but to press on.
May 17, 2020•31 min
This sermon is a single, stand-alone message. It is based on Deuteronomy 30:11-20, and will focus on the question, "What do you want your life to be like on the other side of this corona-virus crisis?" We have a unique opportunity right now to make decisions about the direction our lives will take ... let's steer on the path towards the life God wants for us.
May 10, 2020•40 min
This sermon is based on Mark 1:14-20, and will focus on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. The important thing to keep in mind as we think about this question is that we all -- whether we realize it or not -- have been, and are being, discipled by someone. Part of what it means to be human is that we are social beings, and we're influenced by the teaching and example of others ... and we are especially influenced by people we choose to follow. Who are you following?
May 03, 2020•35 min
This sermon is the final in a series on "Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount." This sermon will focus on Matthew 7:24-27, which offers the analogy about wise and foolish builders
Apr 19, 2020•36 min
This sermon will focus on a specific verse in the resurrection story (from Mark 16), along with Paul's teaching in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. The theme is "Do Not Be Afraid." I'll be talking about the surprising way that God helps us grow in our ability to follow that invitation.
Apr 12, 2020•23 min
The sermon tomorrow will be a continuation of our message series from Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount. In the verses we're looking at this week, Jesus offers what many theologians refer to as the "hard teaching" about the wide and narrow way, the danger of false teachers, and the reality that many people will say "Lord, Lord..." at the final judgement, but will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Apr 05, 2020•35 min
The sermon will be a continuation of our message series from Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount. In the verses we're looking at this week, Jesus talks about the amazing power of prayer. He talks about how much God wants to answer our prayers. Interpreting and applying this text requires special care, especially in our current environment. Many people struggle to understand their own experiences of praying for things, and God not seeming to listen to those requests. People wonder if God r...
Mar 29, 2020•35 min
The sermon will be a continuation of our message series from Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount. In the verses we're looking at this week, Jesus talks about NOT JUDGING. This topic is timely because we are always judging and condemning other people. Even during this time of national and international crisis I am hearing more than my share of criticism and judging of our leaders, our media, and one another. We judge people for "over-reacting" to the crisis, we judge people for not taking ...
Mar 22, 2020•32 min
Understanding suffering, tribulation, trial, pain in light of God's unfailing love and eternal goodness.
Mar 15, 2020•46 min
Message from Rob Braun.
Mar 08, 2020•21 min
A message from Psalm 73
Mar 01, 2020•39 min
The sermon will be from Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount. In the verses we're looking at this week, Jesus talks about NOT WORRYING. This is an especially important and timely message for us today. We'll be looking at the familiar "do not worry about your life, what you will eat, what you will wear, etc." These important words are easier said than done!
Feb 23, 2020•33 min
This message is from Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount. In the verses we're looking at this week, Jesus talks about storing up "treasures in heaven." We're going to talk about what these are, and why we this matters. It is often a confusing thing for Christians to understand how to relate their desires for material things with their spiritual life. Hopefully this passage can give us some clarity about that!
Feb 16, 2020•36 min
The sermon on the Mount. We are picking up where we left off this Fall with the series. We will focus on fasting. I'll do a fair bit of teaching on the what and why of fasting before getting to the teaching about how fasting can go wrong - doing it to show others how devout you are
Feb 09, 2020•27 min
Guest Pastor Les Kuiper preaching from Revelation 1:1-8 "The Key to History".
Feb 02, 2020•26 min
We're continuing our New Year's message series called "A Decade to Make a Difference." This series focuses on the values and practices that God calls us to ... and I'm highlighting four of these for Bethel in the coming years. This message is about "Being a Place of Multiplication." We tend to think about growth in terms of addition ... adding a person here or there as a new attendee at the church. But instead of thinking in terms of numerical growth, it may be more helpful to focus on the sprea...
Jan 26, 2020•37 min
We're continuing our New Year's message series with a message about "Being a Place of Healing." This series is called "A Decade to Make a Difference," and it will focus on the values and practices that God calls us to ... and I'm wanting to highlight four of these for Bethel in the coming years. This week we'll talk about How healing happens, how it fits into our life as a church, and how we experience it in our lives today. As I'm sure you know, there is some controversy about the role of heali...
Jan 19, 2020•42 min
This series is called "A Decade to Make a Difference," and it will focus on the values and practices that God calls us to ... and I'm wanting to highlight four of these for Bethel in the coming years. This week we'll talk about this: What would it mean, and what would it look like for each of us individually, and for us as a church, to dedicate ourselves to being GENEROUS people?
Jan 12, 2020•32 min
Tomorrow we're continuing the message series I started last Sunday with a message about Love. This series is called "A Decade to Make a Difference," and it will focus on the values and practices that God calls us to ... and I'm wanting to highlight four of these for Bethel in the coming years. This first one is obvious, and it often gets lip service, but is actually really hard to live out. What would it mean, and what would it look like for each of us individually, and for us as a church, to de...
Jan 05, 2020•41 min
Tomorrow is the last Sunday of the year ... and, of course, in the decade. What will life bring us in the next 10 years? What do we hope for, what do we fear? On Sunday we're going to think about the upcoming years from a spiritual perspective. What is it that God wants for us, and from us, in the next few years? We can't know the future, but we can know the One who holds the future, and entrust ourselves to His care. Not only that, but we can commit ourselves to live in the way that will bring ...
Dec 29, 2019•33 min
The Good News at the Heart of Christmas ... and our message at Bethel Church People sometimes ask, What does it mean to be a Christian? What do Christians believe? How can I get a new start in my faith? Here is a simple, three-point explanation of the "Good News" (Gospel) that is the heart of our faith: 1. God’s Design God created the world. We can see beauty, purpose and evidence of design all around us. It's impossible to ignore. Just look at the intricate design of plants, the way the moon in...
Dec 24, 2019•26 min
This weekend we continue our message series during Advent, where we focus on the theme of "waiting." Tomorrow I'll be preaching on Revelation 5, which tells us what the apostle John saw when the door opened and he was able to get a view into what heaven looks like. Last week we talked about the view he got of the Throne of God, and this week we'll talk about his view of the Lamb of God, who was "worthy to open the Scroll" with Seven Seals. (I know, I know ... unless you're familiar with the imag...
Dec 22, 2019•33 min
This weekend we continue our message series during Advent, where we focus on the theme of "waiting." Tomorrow I'll be preaching on Revelation 34, which tells us what the apostle John saw when the door opened and he was able to a view into what heaven looks like. What he saw was not a view of the expanse of heaven -- it didn't include any description of what ordinary people are doing there. (That comes later in the book.) In this chapter, John describes his view of the throne room of heaven ... a...
Dec 15, 2019•35 min
