Bethesda Christian Church Sermon of the Week

What if your life really isn’t about you? What if you are here for a far different purpose than chasing after your dreams, your hopes, and your desires? We celebrate St. Stephen’s Day by remembering the witness Stephen was for Jesus Christ even until death. Jesus never said life would be easy. He actually promised the opposite. So will you follow him and be a witness no matter the cost?

A young pastor led a church in Philadelphia. His congregation had lost fathers and sons in a devastating war, his own brother had died, and he was struggling to connect with his congregation. Looking forward to preaching a message of hope the first post-war Easter, the president was assassinated on Good Friday. Easter became a day of collective mourning, and this pastor was burned out. We are battling an ongoing plague, and many are burning out. What can we do? Be inspired by scripture and the account of this pastor who dealt with his burn out and birthed the beautiful Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

The third Sunday of Advent traditionally represents joy. The oldest known Christmas carol, nearly 500 years old, was written during a time when there were schisms in the church, Christians were being martyred, war was ongoing, and crime was rampant. Yet the melody of the carol was upbeat, and the lyrics repeated a blessing of joy because of the Savior’s coming and concluded with a call to worship. Our perilous times are not so different than when this carol originated. On this third Sunday of Advent be encouraged by its message which was inspired by God’s word, and be joyful for your Savior Jesus has come.

A parent holds a newborn baby and wonders… What does the future hold for this little baby? Who will my child grow to be? That’s the image presented in the beautifully poignant carol, What Child is This? The hymn asks the question, and gives the answer: Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you. That cross was His purpose. Listen in and be reminded today of the manger to cross mission of Jesus: He was born as we all are, then gave His life, dying once, for all, and that includes you.

When Jesus was born, it was a not so silent night. His birth was announced by messenger angels to shepherds. Those shepherds became heralds for the new born king. Will you be a messenger for your Savior?

Prayer is an activity that is do-able by every Christian. Have you noticed there is no gift of prayer? All Christians – whether you have been saved five minutes or fifty-five years, have the ability to talk to God in prayer. So when the opportunity comes along to pray - seize it! And if there is no opportunity - create it!

Jesus - the name above all other names. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Today is the International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians. 1 in 8 Christians, over 340,000,000 worldwide, suffer because of their faith in Jesus. Listen to this message and be encouraged to pray for these persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe.

Untold numbers of broken and hurting people are near you. Many have no help and have resigned themselves to living in pain. You can be their help. Yet, you will be a struggle if you too are wounded and bearing a burden of your own. Jesus stands at the pool of Bethesda, the house of mercy, asking you a question. When you hear Him and answer affirmatively, you can rise to walk with your burden relieved, enabled to assist others to His house of mercy. Don’t miss what He is asking you today.

Are you crazy? Have you ever been accused of being crazy because you believe in Jesus? If your mental faculties have ever been questioned because of your faith, you are not alone. It has been happening in every generation since Jesus rose from the dead. In has occurred in every era and it occurs today, the culture insists that your faith is foolish, unfounded and might even be unhinged. How can a believer respond to such an indictment? An example from the New Testament expounded on in this message gives a true and reasonable answer.