Prayer (How-to’s and What-not)

Last week in my sermon I suggest that our prayer life was critical to our theology. It has a way of bringing us into God’s presence and burning away the nonsense in our life. It cultivates a humility that is good for our theology.

I received several inquiries this week about how to cultivate a more consistent prayer life. I offer up these simple suggestions and a resource. The suggestions I have received in one form or another from others. I hope they help you.

The simple info first, then a resource for you.

Simple info:
1) Regularly scheduled times of prayer each day (ideally the same time). read a Psalm, journal the words of the Psalm in your own words and then spend time praying to the Father. Keep a list of requests. Also keep a list of things you think God may be saying to you during prayer. Look for confirmation of those things throughout the day. I usually fill about a page of a moleskin a day in this exercise. Maybe a half a page. You don’t want it to be a burden… you just want to be able to capture this part of your life.

2) Spontaneous prayer. this is stop lights, when the internet is down, ect. Sometimes it is when you feel crisis, need or anxiety… but it should be more than that. You want to cultivate a discipline of talking to God throughout the day. Becoming more aware of His presence in the ordinary times.

3) Corporate or group prayer. This can be with a couple of people or even just one. Find someone to pray with a couple of times a week. The purpose is to be able to share the conversation you have with God with someone else and for you to hear the conversation with God of someone else. I find I learn much about God when I hear his children speak to Him. Much like you would be able to discern much about me by listening to my children talk to me. It gives you a different insight.

I hope that helps. I am also including a website from a man named Ken Boa. He has some excellent guidance on prayer. He has even published a couple of books on prayer.

http://www.kenboa.org/

(look at the “daily growth” section)

WORLDReach

Wanted to take an opportunity to remind you once again about some great way to engage in the amazing work being done by Bethel’s WORLDReach ministry!

Jim Smithies and our mission team has done a great job of creating multiple opportunities with various levels of involvement and expense. Check out the info below and see if one of these is right for you!

JAMAICA SUMMER MISSION TRIPS

• Meeting this Sunday, April 18 after 2nd Service in Room 202 Email jim@bethelbible.com if you have any questions.
• First Trip is scheduled for June 6-12 and Second Trip is June 13-19
• Cost $1100 and trip does require a passport.
• Trip will involve trailbuilding, landscaping, water system work, painting, general Maintenance, a Sports Day at Community School. We’ll also head to Dunn’s Falls Excursion & Jamaica Market.

BILL GLASS PRISON MINISTRY

• Three upcoming trips with the fantastic outreach!
  
• Day of Champions (men only) May 22 in Bonham, TX. Deadline to sign up is April 28.
  Day of Champions (men & women) July 10 in Dallas/Fort Worth. Deadline to sign up is June 16.
  Weekend of Champions (men & women) November 11-13 in Dallas/Fort Worth. Deadline to sign up is September 29.
• If you are interested in the May 22 trip, email Jim RIGHT AWAY!
• Registration is pretty easy. Click here.
• These trips are great for life groups!

GREETER MINISTRY

• Join us as we greet all who come with the love of Christ
  
• Each team serves 3 times per year, 1 month at a time
• This is a great ministry for couples and new folks
• Growth at Bethel has created the need for many new Greeters!

Don’t forget to email jim@bethelbible.com to get involved!

Waiting For One More Knight

Bethel Family:

We want to connect you to another Bethel Family on an incredible journey.  Josh, Lori, Hunter, Ann and Hunter Knight have recently been united with their new son and brother – Mezekir.  The Knights are currently in Ethiopia and will be returning in a few weeks.  You can keep up to date with the Knights through their blog. Click Here and facebook.

CONNECT is back!

Passion Week Reading: Good Friday

Matthew 27:1-61

^1(A) When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people^(B) took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. ²And they bound him and^(C) led him away and^(D) delivered him over to^(E) Pilate the governor.

³Then when^(F) Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus^[a] was condemned,^(G) he changed his mind and brought back^(H) the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, ⁴saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us?^(I) See to it yourself.” ⁵And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple,^(J) he departed, and he went and hanged himself. ⁶But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into^(K) the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. ⁸Therefore^(L) that field has been called the Field of Blood^(M) to this day. ^9(N) Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying,^(O)10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,

^11(P) Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you^(Q) the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, ^(R) “You have said so.” ^12(S) But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. ¹³Then Pilate said to him,^(T) “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” ¹⁴But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

^15(U) Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or^(V) Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸For he knew that it was out^(W) of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹Besides, while he was sitting on^(X) the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with^(Y) that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today^(Z) in a dream.” ²⁰Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to^(AA) ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”^(AB) They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³And he said, “Why,^(AC) what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

²⁴So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that^(AD) a riot was beginning, he took water and^(AE) washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of^(AF) this man’s blood;^[b](AG) see to it yourselves.” ²⁵And all the people answered,^(AH) “His blood be on us and^(AI) on our children!” ²⁶Then he released for them Barabbas, and having^(AJ) scourged^[c] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

^27(AK) Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the^(AL) governor’s headquarters,^[d] and they gathered the whole^(AM) battalion^[e] before him. ²⁸And they stripped him and put^(AN) a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they^(AO) mocked him, saying, “Hail,^(AP) King of the Jews!” ³⁰And^(AQ) they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and^(AR) led him away to crucify him.

^{32(AS) (AT)} As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. ^33(AU) And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ^34(AV) they offered him wine to drink, mixed with^(AW) gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. ³⁵And when they had crucified him,^(AX) they divided his garments among them by casting lots. ³⁶Then they sat down and^(AY) kept watch over him there. ³⁷And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus,^(AZ) the King of the Jews.” ³⁸Then two^(BA) robbers were crucified with him,^(BB) one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹And^(BC) those who passed by^(BD) derided him,^(BE) wagging their heads ⁴⁰and saying,^(BF) “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!^(BG) If you are^(BH) the Son of God, come down from the cross.” ⁴¹So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, ^42(BI) “He saved others;^(BJ) he cannot save himself.^(BK) He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ^43(BL) He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” ^44(BM) And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

⁴⁵Now from the sixth hour^[f] there was darkness over all the land^[g] until the ninth hour.^{[h] 46}And about the ninth hour Jesus^(BN) cried out with a loud voice, saying, ^(BO) “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁴⁷And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” ⁴⁸And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with^(BP) sour wine, and put it on a reed and^(BQ) gave it to him to drink. ⁴⁹But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” ⁵⁰And Jesus^(BR) cried out again with a loud voice and^(BS) yielded up his spirit.

⁵¹And behold,^(BT) the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And^(BU) the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of^(BV) the saints^(BW) who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into^(BX) the holy city and appeared to many. ^54(BY) When the centurion and those who were with him,^(BZ) keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said,^(CA) “Truly this was the Son^[i] of God!”

⁵⁵There were also^(CB) many women there, looking on^(CC) from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,^(CD) ministering to him, ⁵⁶among whom were^(CE) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and^(CF) the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

^57(CG) When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud ⁶⁰and^(CH) laid it in his own new tomb,^(CI) which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled^(CJ) a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹Mary Magdalene and^(CK) the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Other texts: Mark 15:1-47, Luke 23:1-56, John 18:28-19:42

Passion Week Reading: Thursday

Matthew 26:17-75

^17(A) Now on^(B) the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him,^(C) ‘The Teacher says,^(D) My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'” ¹⁹And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

^20(E) When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.^{[a] 21}And as they were eating,^(F) he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²²And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” ²³He answered, ^(G) “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.²⁴The Son of Man goes^(H) as it is written of him, but^(I) woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!^(J) It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I,^(K) Rabbi?” He said to him, ^(L) “You have said so.”

^26(M) Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and^(N) after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat;^(O) this is my body.” ²⁷And he took a cup, and when he^(P) had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, ²⁸for^(Q) this is my^(R) blood of the^[b] covenant, which is poured out for^(S) many^(T) for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you^(U) in my Father’s kingdom.”

^30(V) And when they had sung a hymn,^(W) they went out to^(X) the Mount of Olives. ³¹Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will^(Y) strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³²But after I am raised up,^(Z) I will go before you to Galilee.” ^33(AA) Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” ^34(AB) Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night,^(AC) before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ^35(AD) Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

^36(AE) Then Jesus went with them^(AF) to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷And taking with him^(AG) Peter and^(AH) the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, ^(AI) “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and^(AJ) watch^[c] with me.” ³⁹And going a little farther he fell on his face^(AK) and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let^(AL) this cup pass from me;^(AM) nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ^41(AN) Watch and^(AO) pray that you^(AP) may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴²Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it,^(AQ) your will be done.” ⁴³And again he came and found them sleeping, for^(AR) their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for^(AS) the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.^[d] See,^(AT) the hour is at hand, and^(AU) the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

^47(AV) While he was still speaking,^(AW) Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” ⁴⁹And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings,^(AX) Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰Jesus said to him, ^(AY) “Friend,^(AZ) do what you came to do.”^[e] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. ⁵¹And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his^(BA) sword and struck the servant^[f] of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵²Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For^(BB) all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ^53(BC) Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me^(BD) more than twelve^(BE) legions of angels? ^54(BF) But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ⁵⁵At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day^(BG) I sat in the temple^(BH) teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶But^(BI) all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”^(BJ) Then all the disciples left him and fled.

^57(BK) Then^(BL) those who had seized Jesus led him to^(BM) Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸And^(BN) Peter was following him at a distance, as far as^(BO) the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with^(BP) the guards to see the end. ⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole Council^[g](BQ) were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰but they found none,^(BR) though many false witnesses came forward. At last^(BS) two came forward ⁶¹and said, “This man said,^(BT) ‘I am able to^(BU) destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'” ⁶²And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”^{[h] 63(BV)} But Jesus remained silent.^(BW) And the high priest said to him,^(BX) “I adjure you by^(BY) the living God,^(BZ) tell us if you are^(CA) the Christ,^(CB) the Son of God.” ⁶⁴Jesus said to him, ^(CC) “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on^(CD) you will see the Son of Man^(CE) seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”⁶⁵Then the high priest^(CF) tore his robes and said,^(CG) “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶What is your judgment?” They answered,^(CH) “He deserves death.” ⁶⁷Then^(CI) they spit in his face^(CJ) and^(CK) struck him. And some slapped him, ⁶⁸saying, “Prophesy to us, you^(CL) Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

^69(CM) Now Peter was sitting outside^(CN) in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” ⁷¹And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus^(CO) of Nazareth.” ⁷²And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for^(CP) your accent betrays you.” ⁷⁴Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, ^(CQ) “Before the rooster crows, you will^(CR) deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Additional texts: Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-71, John 18:1-27.

Passion Week Reading: Wednesday

¹Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ²But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

³As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” ⁴And Jesus answered them,  “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. ¹⁰And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹²And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

¹⁵“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand), ¹⁶then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, ¹⁸and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ¹⁹And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! ²⁰Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. ²²And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. ²³Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵See, I have told you beforehand. ²⁶So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

Other texts: Matthew 16, Mark 13:3-14, Mark 11, Luke 21:4-22:6 & John 16:17-17:26.

Passion Week Reading: Tuesday

Today’s reading comes from Matthew 22:41-23:39.

⁴¹Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, ⁴²saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” ⁴³He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
⁴⁴“‘The Lord said to my Lord,Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet’?

⁴⁵If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” ⁴⁶And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, ³so practice and observe whatever they tell you— but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ⁶and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.¹¹ The greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

¹³“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. ¹⁵Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

¹⁶“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? ¹⁸And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. ²²And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

²³“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. ³³You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? ³⁴ Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, ³⁵so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.³⁷ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! ³⁸See, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

Other Gospel readings for Tuesday: Mark 12:13-13:2, Luke 20:27-21:4, John 14:15-16:16.

Passion Week Reading: Monday

This week, we’re encouraging people at Bethel to read through the Passion as we prepare for Easter. Today’s reading comes from Matthew 21:18-22; 40.

¹⁸In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. ¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

²⁰When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” ²¹And Jesus answered them,  “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. ²²And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

⁴⁰When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

Other Gospel selections for today: Mark 11:1-19, Luke 19:28-46 and John 12:12-50.

The Gospel & Adoption

Based on Twitter and Facebook output, Mark Kuykendall’s sermon on adoption was a big hit! Mark did a great job – he spoke from the heart and stayed firmly in the context of scripture as we explored what God says about adoption.

For those of you who’d like to share it, we’re including the Knight/Everett video from Sunday’s service. In addition to that, you’ll find two separate videos of each family with more in-depth background on their adoption journey. These additional videos provide with an even better glimpse of the love that these two families have for the ministry of adoption.

Thanks for watching!