Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Pentecost was a major Jewish holiday that remembered God for His care of creation by celebrating the harvest of grains. This OT feast became significant for the Church, recast, ironically, into a day for the harvest of souls. The disciples of Christ were transformed into God’s messengers by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gave them God’s gift of saving faith in Christ Jesus and enabled them to speak the Gospel to others.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Just look at how holy the early church was!

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

This Sunday brings together a favorite theme in John’s Gospel and First Epistle: that we love because we have been loved by Christ. God’s love flows to us from the Father through Jesus. This love is expressed chiefly when Jesus lays down His life for us on the cross (Jn 15:9, 13). It is then Jesus’ commandment that we love one another (15:12). Our loving is solely by God’s initiative; we did not choose Jesus, but Jesus chose us and appointed us to bear the fruit of love (Jn 15:16).

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Easter is all about life and the Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, insists that it is only through our connection with Jesus Christ that we live the kind of life in Him that bears fruit.

The Shepherd as a metaphor was already established in Jesus’ day, and it was his application of the significant Old Testament Shepherd theme to Himself that amazed Jesus’ hearers and offers the greatest comfort and peace to us.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church