Sermon Podcasts

Week 1: Temptation

We’re beginning a new sermon series called The Language of Lent, where we’ll be considering certain words that capture the essence of the season—words like humility, suffering, or today’s theme, temptation. And so we look at not only the temptations that were present for Abraham when God commanded him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac—temptations that we also face every day—but we also consider how Jesus, tempted in the desert and throughout his life on earth, was not just an example for us of how to fend off temptation. He was there fighting the battle for us. Where we fail, Jesus succeeded, and his perfect track record in the face of temptation is credited to our account through faith in him.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Parkway Campus worship on February 21, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Jesus Is, Week 6: Jesus Is the Savior We Need

Over the last several weeks, we’ve looked at a number of different ways that we can finish the sentence, “Jesus is.…” Today we look at the ultimate way to finish that sentence, “Jesus is the Savior we need.” As we consider the glorious scene on the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus’s divine glory came shining through for a time, and as we think about his willingness to leave that glory behind to carry out the work of our salvation, it becomes clear that Jesus is indeed that Savior we needed.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Parkway Campus worship on February 13, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Jesus Is, Week 5: Jesus Is the One Who Heals and Helps

What a comfort it is to know that our Lord has the power to heal, no matter what illness or affliction we face. But even more than that, we have his promise to help in all situations—to be with us and bless us, and use things for our good—no matter what.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Parkway Campus worship on February 6, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Week 4: Jesus Is the One Who Has Authority

What a tremendous comfort it is that when we hear Jesus speak his promises in his Word, he does it with ultimate authority. When he goes to work to fend off our enemies, he does it with a Word that cannot be challenged. As his people, we go about our lives here on earth safely and confidently—because we know that we are protected by our Savior, the one who has true authority.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Parkway Campus worship on January 31, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Week 3: Jesus Is the Only One Worth Following

The question we’re asking today is, “Why do we follow Jesus?” We’ll see the example of Elisha leaving his previous way of life behind to follow the call God had given him through Elijah. We’ll see the example of some of the first disciples—Peter and Andrew, James and John—leaving behind their life and career as fishermen to follow Jesus as his disciples. And here we are, continuing to follow Jesus in his Word and in regular worship. Why do we do it? The truth we’ll consider in this message is that Jesus truly is the only one worth following.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany’s Parkway Campus worship on January 24, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

Jesus Is the Stairway to Heaven. No, not the song. In this week’s message, we’ll be thinking about the incredible dream Jacob had in the wilderness, where he saw a stairway that led down from heaven to earth. And we’ll see how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of that dream—that Jesus is the stairway that connects his people to God on high.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany’s Parkway Campus worship on January 17, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

As we start our sermon series, "Jesus Is," there are so many ways we might end that sentence. But in this series we look at a number of gospel accounts and let God finish that sentence for us, in amazing ways. For our first message, we consider the Baptism of Jesus, and remember the words that the Father spoke on that day, “This is my Son whom I love. With him I am well pleased.” We consider what it means that Jesus is God’s beloved Son, and what that means for us as well.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany's Lynndale Campus worship service on January 9, 2021.

Learm more at bethanyappleton.org

In a rare account from his youth, we have a unique opportunity to see Jesus’s dual nature on full display—how Jesus was obedient to his parents here on earth, while remaining perfectly obedient to his Father in heaven. In this account of 12-year-old Jesus staying behind in his Father’s house, we learn exactly where we can still find him. And we learn exactly who he really is.

Guest preacher Pastor David Wenzel preached this sermon at Bethany’s Parkway Campus worship on January 3, 2021.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

In the story of Joseph—sold by his brothers into slavery, imprisoned in Egypt, raised to second in command to oversee preparations and administration of food during a time of famine—we see more than just a coincidence of being in the right place at the right time. We see God's plan unfolding before us. A plan that shows us God's own heart. Through Joseph, we see a reflection of God's heart of forgiveness in how he treated his brothers. We see God's rescue for his people in a time of need. And we see God's preservation of the line of the Savior to bring that same forgiveness to everyone in the world.

Seminarian Jeremiah Wallander preached this sermon at Bethany's Parkway Campus worship on December 27, 2020.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org

With a word, God created the heavens and the earth. With a word he promised salvation. With words of hope God spoke through the prophets, giving glimpse after glimpse at the redemption he had planned for us.

And when the time had fully come, God spoke his greatest Word—the Word made flesh, God’s own Son born a human child. Born to save his people from their sins. ""In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son."" (Hebrews 1:1-2)

In the Scriptures, we have God’s Word of grace spoken to us directly and revealed to us entirely. His plan of salvation, laid out before us in the life, actions and words of Jesus himself. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and see in him God’s Greatest Word.

Pastor Pat Brown preached this sermon at Bethany’s Christmas Day worship service on December 25, 2020.

Learn more at bethanyappleton.org