Sermon Podcasts

Last week we talked about temptation. This week we see what is at the center of every temptation: a promise of a shortcut to glory. Even in a world as sharply divided as ours, there is near universal agreement that the preferred path to glory is the shortest and easiest. To walk the path our Savior puts us on, one on which the cross comes before the crown, puts us out of step with the world. Thankfully, the determination required to walk this path starts with our Savior and not with us. Because of his determination, we are offered a glory far superior to anything the world can offer.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Saturday worship on March 12, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

It was a custom known as “battle by champion.” Two opposing armies would each send out their best warrior to fight each other. That is what we see this week. The demons send their champion: Satan. Humanity’s best warrior, Jesus Christ, steps forward to meet him. In this fight he does not use his divine power. He uses the same weapon we have, God’s Word. Because Christ fought the battle against Satan as one of us, he won that battle for all of us. Jesus is our perfect substitute. Even as the devil still seethes in rage against us, we can face him and his temptations unafraid, confident that our champion has already won the victory.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Sunday worship on March 6, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Throughout Epiphany, we have seen that God must uncover for us the truths that could not be discovered by us. As this season ends, we are presented with a twist. For God's glory to be revealed, it actually must be covered. God's glory needed to be hidden in Christ. It is hidden in the gospel. This is how God enables sinful human beings to see his glory and, rather than turning away in fear, stare at it in wonder for as long as they want. The truth God uncovers for us today: when his glory is hidden, it is most on display.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Saturday worship on February 26, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

This week we see that truth in how Christ would have us react to those who wrong us or oppose us. Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, and to repay evil with good. Logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet, have we not seen this tactic work? When we were Christ's enemies, he loved us to the point of death. He repays our daily evil with the daily goodness of his mercy. In doing so, he has won us for himself. Following the strategy Jesus lays out today is not a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.

Pastor Brad Krause preached this sermon at Bethany's Sunday worship on February 20, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

It does not surprise us that from the beginning of his ministry Jesus demonstrated his commitment to proclaiming good news of the kingdom of God, regardless of whether people rejected his message or embraced it. That was Christ's agenda, and he was committed to it. What is surprising is that, also from the beginning, Jesus demonstrated his plan to carry out this proclamation by sending others to speak on his behalf. More surprising is whom he sends, not angels, but mere human beings. In many cases, it was individuals who seemed to lack the qualifications to speak on Christ's behalf. Yet, Christ equipped and prepared them. Do you feel unqualified to tell others the good news? Then be assured, Jesus plans to use you exactly for that purpose.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Sunday worship on February 13, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Paul wrote to Timothy, “The time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Often, that’s our agenda too—what our ears want to hear. But today God will show us that he has a better agenda. He has given us the charge to say what must be said—the truth of his law and gospel—rather than what is asked to be heard.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Saturday worship on February 5, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

When one proclaims God's Word, typically the intentions are good. We want others to know the joy of salvation and the love of Christ. Therefore, it can be surprising to us when God's Word is met with apathy or rejection by those who hear it. It's easy to conclude that when the Word of God offends human minds and hearts (including our own), something has gone wrong. The truth that is uncovered this week is that rejection of Jesus' words is not the exception but the rule. Jesus' words will always offend. However, we will see that God can use even the rejection of his Word for good.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Sunday worship on January 30, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Our theme, the The Value of Every Human Life, calls for us to acknowledge that there is much for which our society needs to repent: the death of countless unborn babies, the elderly treated as burdens to society, the sexual trafficking of young people, the rejection and devaluing of those differently abled, the premeditated ending of life, the gluttony/wealth of some in the midst of another's hunger/poverty, and many other sins against our fellow human beings. At their core, all these sins evolve from a lack of respect for human life, for which God issues a call to repentance. Those who heed the message will always find grace and forgiveness through the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Mark Henke preached this sermon at Bethany's Sunday worship on January 23, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Is the pursuit of God and the pursuit of pleasure two separate paths? Many make that assumption—that life with Jesus is a boring, sterile experience. They are dead wrong. Jesus came to undo everything that is wrong with our world as a result of sin's curse. He also came to multiply our joy and deliver delight beyond our wildest dreams. Note that when Jesus begins to reveal his glory, it isn't by going to a hospital to cure every ailment. Instead, he starts at a local wedding, one of the greatest sources of joy in this life. The truth uncovered for us this week is that life with Jesus is not a life with less delight, but infinitely more.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Sunday worship on January 16, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Our sight tends to be the sense we trust most. We say we will believe something when we see it. That presents a problem when it comes to the work of God. So often what our eye sees differs from what God decrees. This is true of the life of Jesus. In the eyes of the world, he was nothing special. This is also true in the life of the Christian. To the world, the believer does not look more blessed than the unbeliever. In fact, the believer may appear to have more hardships as the devil and his allies attempt to destroy him. So, to assure his children, God connects his grace, power, and blessing to something we can see—a visible sign: the anointing of baptism.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Saturday worship on January 9, 2022.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org