Bethany UMC

Romans 8:23, 31 - 32, 35, 38 - 39

God sees the treasure in our broken lives.

Exodus 24:12 - 18 Guest Speaker, Rev. Susie Fitch-Slater, Pastor at Ocracoke UMC. Rev. Susie was rasied in Wanchese at Bethany UMC.

THE LAST WORD, John 19: 16 & 26-30 Luke: 23”: 33-34 & 39-43 & 46 (Luke 23:34). "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"

Forgive them. Who are they? The wonder of this Word from the Cross is that there is forgiveness. Forgiveness for the disciples who forsook Jesus and fled in the night. Forgiveness for those who cried out for his crucifixion. Forgiveness for the soldiers who nailed him to the tree. Forgiveness for the bitter hearts of his religious enemies, the priests and teachers. Forgiveness for those who stood by and did nothing to stop it. Forgiveness for every person who has ever sinned or made a mistake.

Matthew 18: 1-6 Luke 18: 15-17

Today we are once again celebrating our youth and time of worship with them. As we read the scriptures, I hope all of us were reminded of how Jesus responded to children. How he invited them to come to him; how he welcomed them, and took them in his arms, and prayed for them. Jesus didn’t view children as an annoyance or an interruption; he didn’t consider them unworthy of his time and attention. On the contrary, he held them up as examples of faith; as illustrations of how we must approach God if we are going to enter the kingdom of heaven.

(1 Cor 11:28-32) But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

It is rather interesting to me that in the medical profession, doctors will so frequently encourage the practice of self-examination. Self-examination does not necessarily prevent disease. It helps to find problems and to minimize the impact the disease has, and provide the swiftest, least painful cure. That is exactly the same purpose that self-examination has for the Christian. You and I are sinners. We are going to sin; if we “let it go,” it will become a habit of vice that can be very hard to break. But if we catch it early, God, the Great Physician, can deal with it gently and root it out.

Acts 17: 1-9 The Kingdom of God should turn the business of the world upside down, but sometimes it looks like the church is the one being turned upside down.

Luke 7: 1-10

WHAT A STORY OF FAITH. The Roman Centurion sent the Jewish leaders of all people to get Jesus to come to his house and heal his servant, but before Jesus can get there the Centurion sends some of his friends who tell Jesus he is not worthy for Jesus to come into his house just say the word, just speak it and my servant will be healed. THAT IS EXCEPTIONAL FAITH. That is the kind of faith that should be found everywhere, and not just then, but now as well. That should be the norm, not the exception.

Matthew 3: 13-17 This is one of our core beliefs as Christians. This is a defining moment of truth.

Epiphiany Sunday. Matthew 2:1-12

Ephesians 1: 3-14 2020 New Year Sermon. Are you ready?