Bethel Lbc Podcast

As we continue to work our way through Mark's Gospel, Jesus addresses the important topic of marriage and divorce. It's a timely discussion, and Pastor Craig makes some valid points about how we, as husbands and wives, should view marriage -  and divorce. The scripture reading comes from Mark 10:2-16. We also refer to Ephesians 5:21-33

You might have heard someone tell you to "Mind Your Own Business", but would Jesus ever say such a thing? Well, in this lesson, that is, in essence, what Jesus says, to the Apostle John. Apparently, someone was doing some work in God's Kingdom, and John told them to stop doing it, because they were from a different group. It's a lesson for all of us in this divisive world we live in, just about everyone is in a different group, and we all have our own opinions that we somehow feel obligated to state. Is that the Christian thing to do? Or not? Our lesson uses the parallel of an old Hank Williams song. Our scripture reading is from Mark 9:38-50. We also quote Romans 3:23.

"I don't get it!" It's a response that we often have when we just do not understand something that's been said. We can all relate. But what about Jesus? If you think people must have understood everything He said, think again. Jesus spoke and people did NOT hear. This week's message is all about us acting as "The Servant",  but somewhere along the line we have a disconnect where we just don't "get it"!  Our reading comes from Mark 9:30-37 

This week, Pastor Craig takes us on dual journeys that end up connecting together in unexpected ways. Jesus heals a deaf/mute man, and it becomes a lesson for us today. Our reading is from Mark 7:31-37

We continue our readings from the Gospel of Mark, and we discover something missing. This week, Pastor Craig uncovers some mysteries: Where was Rosie's Ring? Where is Jesus in this mixed up world? Where is the missing verse in the Scriptures? All these and more as we uncover the mysteries within our own hearts. Our reading is from Mark 7:14-23

Oops! We had some technical glitches today, so Pastor Craig's message is recorded in his office this week. Using the image of a Train, we can see that the traditions of faith, though similar in many ways to the traditions of life, can be used in positive ways and can keep us 'on-track'. Or, as traditions often do, they can also derail us. Our message is based on some comments Christ made in the Gospel of Mark 7:1-13. And as Jesus did, we also refer to Isaiah 29:13. 

This week, Pastor Craig tells us he used to play 'hide and seek' when he was young, and the story is a great illustration of the questions we use to hide behind, to avoid the tough times in life. The main reading is from John 6:51-58, and we also refer to Hebrews 11:1

As we continue to examine the aftermath of Jesus feeding the crowd, this week it seems many people didn't believe that the Lord could be the son of Joseph, and be send by the God of heaven as well. Over and over, Pastor Craig reminds us how God uses everyday activities to teach us eternal things, and here, Jesus declares He is the "Bread of Life". But nobody seems to really believe Him.  It's a lesson for all of us today. Our reading is from John 6: 35-38, 41-51 and 1 Kings 19:7-8.

It's always annoying to have someone do something for us, only to find out they had Ulterior Motives. That's the subject of this week's message. As the people who had either seen or heard about Jesus feeding the crowd, many of them sought after Jesus and the Lord calls their motives into question. It's a relatable idea: do we really seek the Lord with the right motives? Our scripture passage is from John 6:22-35, and we also refer to Galatians 5:13

As we continue reading from last week's scripture passage, we hear the story of Jesus walking on water, and through the experience of the Disciples, we learn more about how we handle the storms in life by ourselves. The Lord Jesus comes to our aid, but like the men in the boat that morning, we don't see the Savior clearly, and our natural tendency is to call it something it really isn't. We tend to ask, is it "Really Him?"  Our scripture reading is from Mark 6:45-56, and we also refer to Psalm 46:1 and Psalm 121:1-2

Most Christians are familiar with the miracle of Jesus Feeding the 5000, where miraculously a large crowd is fed to satisfaction with only 5 loaves of bread and a couple fish. Pastor Craig brings a practical and unconventional approach to this story of old, that I just may be our "sheepish" ways that cause us to be in want. Tying together the old 23rd Psalm and the Old Testament lesson from Jeremiah 23, we learn that there really is a common theme running throughout scripture. The readings used in this message include Psalm 23, Jeremiah 23:1-5, Mark 6:33-44, John 6:14 and Philippians 2:8.

This year, our nation's birthday falls on the Lord's Day Sunday, and it is the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of the principles that our founding father's used to establish these 50 independent states called the United States. Pastor Craig digs back in the history books to find out what they say: were the founding fathers just some immature jerks who came up with a crazy self-centered plan to become a big country? Or did they have guidance and a pure heart devoted to God. In this message, we'll hear what the truth is, and we'll hear where the falsehood lies. From the Pilgrims in Massachusetts to the founding fathers' words in the Declaration of Independence and the U-S Constitution, we hear of our roots based on the Holy Bible. We refer to these scripture passages: Galatians 5:1, 13-14; Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 1 Timothy 4:10-11, Ephesians 6:4 and John 8:36.

Today we observe The Day of Pentecost which marks the end of the festive season on the Church Calendar, and we begin the long season of Pentecost. We've heard the story before, the rushing wind, the tongues of fire, people speaking in foreign languages that everyone could understand as everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit. But this lesson is actually Jesus, at the Last Supper, teaching the Apostles (and us) what it will be like when the Holy Spirit comes. Learn how the world has it all wrong, and learn how the Holy Spirit is our Advocate and our Counselor. The scripture text is from John 15:26-27 & John 16:4b-15.  We also refer to Ephesians 2:8 and Joel 2:27-32.

After a couple of weeks off because of other events at church, this week Pastor Craig encourages us once again with a prayer that Jesus prayed. We might call it "The Lord's Prayer" except this title is already given to "the prayer that Jesus taught us", so we'll have to call this one, "The Other Lord's Prayer".  It IS from the Lord, and it is another prayer, but what makes this one so interesting is that Jesus is praying about US, you and I.  What would Jesus pray for, with you and I in mind. That's the topic and the focus of this week's message. The main text comes from John 17:11b-19. We also refer to Hebrews 13:14 and 1 Peter 2:11.

We don't often hear about shepherds in our world today. So when the Bible uses a those references to sheep and shepherding, it's sometimes hard to relate to. This week's message is to put it all into perspective. We learn what a shepherd is like, what they do and, surprisingly, what we are supposed to be like in our Christian lives. With Christ as our example of the Shepherd, we too are called to help, guide and serve the church, each of us as shepherds. The main reading is from John 10:11-18, and we also refer to 1 Corinthians 14:33; Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34:2-6, 16; and Isaiah 40:11. 

Many people enjoy courtroom dramas on TV and in movies, but some have never considered that the many people who wrote the Bible are giving their testimony.  Just like a courtroom scene, the authors of the Bible are giving their first-hand accounts of what they saw happen. In this episode, Pastor Craig shows us Luke's 'key witness testimony' of what he saw that day when the risen Christ showed up before the Apostles. We are also challenged to give our own testimony of how God is working in our world today, in your church, in your family, in your job . . . . in your life.  Our reading comes from Luke 24:36b-49

As we proceed into the joyous Easter Season, we can explore our faith with the Lord's assurance. Today, we look at the apostle Thomas, also known as "doubting" Thomas, as though we should not have doubts like he did. But don't we have doubts exactly like him? Of course we do, but we look to our Lord Jesus for faith, not to Thomas. Today's scripture reading is from John 20:19-31. We also refer to Hebrews 11:1-2 and the verses that follow. 

Most all of us can tell stories about how something unexpected happens in life. Whether it's a small inconvenience or a major life-changing event, we all experience a "Turn of Events".  Well the Easter Story is the most unlikely "Turn of Events" in all of human history, and this Easter message from Pastor Craig points out that even at the time, there were times during the resurrection story that we could all relate to as totally unexpected.  Our main reading is from Mark 16:1-8. We also refer to Mark 14:28, 2 Corinthians 6:2b and Matthew 10:32-33.

The Palm Sunday edition of the podcast, and Pastor Craig uses an ambulance illustration to show us an example of "The Death That Leads to Life." Read along in John 12:12-33. We also refer to James 1:3 and 1 Corinthians 6:19.

As we continue in our Lenten Series, we hear a Bible lesson wrapped around the High School Basketball Season which is just wrapping up for this year. Pastor Craig tells a story when he was part of his High School Basketball team, not as a player, but as a trainer. A trainer is an important position, just as any position on the basketball team, and Pastor Craig, got reprimanded by the coach, because an error was made. Likewise, Jesus has to reprimand a couple of the Apostles, because they made an error as well.  It's a lesson if you're a sports fan or not, it's a lesson if you're a disciple or not, it's a lesson if you're Christian or not. The reading is from Mark 10:35-45, and we also refer to Jeremiah 31:34.