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Say What??

46:10
 
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Manage episode 450725483 series 3030329
Bethel Mennonite Church에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Bethel Mennonite Church 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.

Steve introduced his sermon with three texts from the KJV that share the same punctuation. All use a colon and parentheses at the end of a phrase… that looks remarkably like a smiley face emoticon!

“We don’t want to be irreverent here, but this brings up a subject I’d like to talk about this morning!”

Punctuation is used to help a reader understand the tone and feeling an author is wanting to convey. Emoticons are existing keyboard symbols that are put together to convey a mood or atmosphere. Emojis are different… they are characters that can be placed in text to make a point.

Why use emoticons and emojis? Some say that they are a shortcut to communication, a lazy way to get a point across. On the other hand, emoticons are a way to communicate emotion that just words struggle to convey.

So we are talking about communication here… hence the sermon title, “Say What??”

A major task for Christians is to communicate God’s word to others—God’s truth! How can we do that effectively and well? People are watching… and we are to be “salt and light.”

Communication matters in relationships; when communication breaks down, there is a problem. In Genesis 11:5, speech was confounded at the Tower of Babel, and folks scattered!

Marriage is a prime example of a place where good communication is needed. Communication involves not just talking but listening and understanding—what is perceived!

Talkative folks and quiet folks alike struggle to communicate well with words. And remember, we communicate nonverbally as well! In fact, we sometimes communicate by the things we don’t say!

A few examples of non-verbal communication are:

  • The priest and Levite passing by on the other side of the road in the Good Samaritan story.
  • The nine lepers who did not return to thank Jesus after they were healed.
  • The sad fact that there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph before Jesus’ birth.
  • Another example that speaks volumes was the look Jesus gave Peter after his denial and the crowing of the rooster. Not a word was said, but Peter was smitten to the core.

Words and speech are the main means of communication, but let’s remember that listening is also important.

God wants to use our tongues… for His purposes!

So, Say What?? Say this: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

The post Say What?? appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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859 에피소드

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Manage episode 450725483 series 3030329
Bethel Mennonite Church에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Bethel Mennonite Church 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.

Steve introduced his sermon with three texts from the KJV that share the same punctuation. All use a colon and parentheses at the end of a phrase… that looks remarkably like a smiley face emoticon!

“We don’t want to be irreverent here, but this brings up a subject I’d like to talk about this morning!”

Punctuation is used to help a reader understand the tone and feeling an author is wanting to convey. Emoticons are existing keyboard symbols that are put together to convey a mood or atmosphere. Emojis are different… they are characters that can be placed in text to make a point.

Why use emoticons and emojis? Some say that they are a shortcut to communication, a lazy way to get a point across. On the other hand, emoticons are a way to communicate emotion that just words struggle to convey.

So we are talking about communication here… hence the sermon title, “Say What??”

A major task for Christians is to communicate God’s word to others—God’s truth! How can we do that effectively and well? People are watching… and we are to be “salt and light.”

Communication matters in relationships; when communication breaks down, there is a problem. In Genesis 11:5, speech was confounded at the Tower of Babel, and folks scattered!

Marriage is a prime example of a place where good communication is needed. Communication involves not just talking but listening and understanding—what is perceived!

Talkative folks and quiet folks alike struggle to communicate well with words. And remember, we communicate nonverbally as well! In fact, we sometimes communicate by the things we don’t say!

A few examples of non-verbal communication are:

  • The priest and Levite passing by on the other side of the road in the Good Samaritan story.
  • The nine lepers who did not return to thank Jesus after they were healed.
  • The sad fact that there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph before Jesus’ birth.
  • Another example that speaks volumes was the look Jesus gave Peter after his denial and the crowing of the rooster. Not a word was said, but Peter was smitten to the core.

Words and speech are the main means of communication, but let’s remember that listening is also important.

God wants to use our tongues… for His purposes!

So, Say What?? Say this: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

The post Say What?? appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

  continue reading

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What we believe in our minds and what feels true in our hearts determines how we live. Unbiblical beliefs lead to sinful living. This is especially true of beliefs about the relationship between faith and works. Here are five faulty views: True faith requires perfection in all areas of life: obedience, spiritual desire, applications of Scripture, and submission to the church. This is impossible because we’re not God and can’t have perfection. This view robs people of rest and assurance. Faith results in Christ’s righteousness being imputed to our account, which becomes a substitute for following Christ as Lord and makes works of faith unnecessary. No response of faith like repentance or regeneration, can contribute to justification. This view is faulty because God doesn’t justify an unregenerate person. Works produced by faith are equal to works of the Law. In Scripture, like Romans 3:20 and 28, and Galatians 2, Paul isn’t rejecting works of faith but is opposing the view that believing Gentiles must be circumcised and practice the Law of Moses to be a person of faith and a member of Abraham’s and God’s family of faith. Church guidelines/applications of Scripture function like works of the law that Paul condemns. The decrees given to the church in Acts 15 are an example of guidelines and applications of Scripture, and the New Testament doesn’t view the decisions in Acts 15 as functioning like works of the Law. The post Championing a Faith That Works appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt because of a famine. We know that their “going to Egypt” was part of God’s plan, even though God generally warned his people about assimilating into any of the cultures around them. Perhaps God knew they were better off being in Egypt as a people to themselves than being in Canaan among a people they could not conquer. God used the circumstances surrounding the drought to accomplish good things for everyone, despite their faults. Jacob refusing to send Benjamin demonstrates that he still valued some of his sons over others, and we see a lack of faith in God. When Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt, Joseph acted like he did not know them, accused them of being spies, and put them in prison. His intention was to test them, to see if they were as selfish and hateful as in the past. At this point, Joseph’s brothers feared Joseph more than they feared their God. In the midst of Joseph’s interaction about Simeon being kept in prison until they bring Benjamin back, the brothers talked among themselves, thinking they were experiencing divine judgment for their mistreatment of Joseph. This is how guilt about the past tends to work. We can also see that Joseph was a trauma survivor. Time does not resolve guilt, and time does not automatically heal trauma. Applications for Today God can work with pessimists. Jacob was a pessimist. He mourned for Joseph and refused to be comforted. God does not require that we are gloriously happy all the time, but we are called to be joyful. People who don’t have a divine perspective tend to fall into an abyss of darkness. Everything happens according to plan. In this story, God uses even the negative things that happen to accomplish a good end. Trauma does not resolve on its own. The solution to real trauma is not to forget what you have been through. How long it takes to deal with a traumatic event or a series of traumatic events depends on the person, the events, and how deeply the person experienced those hurts. There are no easy fixes to traumatic events. Healing requires a community of caring people and someone trained in helping people deal with difficult experiences. Becoming a Christian will not automatically deliver a person from the effects of trauma. Jesus invites us to rest in him. We also need people in our life who understand us and give us a safe place to belong. The post Joseph’s Brothers Come to Egypt appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
I believe most believers want to experience in their mind and heart what they profess to believe. I also know that many believers struggle to experience what they say they believe. This sermon will explore the meaning of baptism as expressed in New Testament Scriptures that speak about conversion and baptism, and consider whether this understanding agrees with the view we have inherited in our Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition. Our tradition says baptism is reserved for people who have believed and repented; baptism is testimonial (not regenerational); that in baptism the person experiences the death and resurrection of Christ; that in baptism the person commits to live life in harmony with other believers. The Scriptures we will examine are John 3:5-6, Titus 3:5, Ephesians 5:25-26, Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38-41, Colossians 2:11-13 These Scriptures clearly teach that in conversion and baptism the Holy Spirit cleanses and regenerates the heart, and the person who is baptized or immersed into Christ experiences a death and resurrection in their person that mirrors the death and resurrection of Christ. This is a work the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the heart of the “surrendered to Jesus” heart. Scripture also clearly teaches that this death and resurrection of Christ results in the “putting off the body of the sins of the flesh,” or is the basis of deliverance from the practices of sin. This deliverance from the practices of sin is the result of a lifelong process of repentance and growth. One reason people do not experience what they say they believe is that they cannot experience what they do not live. This is the challenge we face: to live out what we say baptism means. The post Experiencing the Meaning of Baptism appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
Many people start well but don’t finish well. One reason for this is the habit people have of wanting Jesus to be their Savior but not their Lord, the habit of making choices that have disastrous results, results that make it impossible for their lives to end well. In the parable of the soil, the kind of fruit depended on the kind of soil the seed fell on. People play a part in the direction of their lives. God works but people make choices. The direction of our lives is determined by the decisions we make about many large and small things, like the way we respond to temptation, and the way we use our phones, the kind of movies we watch. Social media is not Scripture. All of these kinds of decisions determine the direction of our lives and determine how our lives end. You can’t be a Christian and you can’t end well if you continue to live your old life. The only way we can end well is if we follow Christ in obedience. If we have to think a long time about what God’s will is, we are on the wrong path. When we walk in the Spirit, we can know the will of God. God has put everything in place for us to live a victorious Christian life and end well. The post Finish Well appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
Our relationship with God is connected to our relationship to other people. This is obvious in verses that talk about God forgiving us as we forgive others. God considers how we relate to other people. Are we willing to apologize? When trust grows, relationships grow. When relationships are healthy, husbands love and wives respect; parents love and nurture and children respect and obey; employers treat employees as equals and employees work as if they are working for Jesus. When relationships don’t work, people are scared, tense, and afraid, and there is sadness and pain. When relationships struggle, there are usually unrealistic expectations. Also, when relationships struggle there is not enough grace to cover the shortfall. When I am wrong I can ask for forgiveness. When I’m wronged I can forgive. We can’t hold people to a perfect standard. Am I a relationship breaker or am I a peacemaker? The post Relationships – Do They Matter? appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
The impact of Christ’s death on those who experienced it was definitely profound. The words used to describe their response are “affrighted, amazed, afraid, believed not.” These words speak of panic, having a phobia, shock, standing outside oneself. They were confused and hopeless. They definitely had not understood Christ’s words when he said he would die. But neither did they understand his words when he said he would rise from the dead in three days, so they were not only shocked and devastated by his crucifixion, but they struggled to believe that he had risen from the dead. In light of the confusion and shock of the crucifixion and resurrection, it is amazing that sixty days after the resurrection, on the day of Pentecost, the women and apostles had grasped the meaning of the death and resurrection. This is proven by Peter’s sermon at Pentecost and by the sermons preached and the missionary work carried out throughout the book of Acts. The meaning of the death and resurrection of Christ is more than popular Christianity since the Reformation has proclaimed. The primary meaning/theme introduced by Luther and developed further until the present time was that Jesus died on the cross to provide a way for God to forgive sins so people can be relieved of their guilt and go to heaven when they die. The means or method Luther offered is that God put all human’s sins on Christ at the cross, punished these sins in Jesus (made Jesus pay the penalty for these sins), and puts all Jesus’ righteousness on the account in heaven of every person who trusts/believes that Jesus paid the penalty for their sins. A more Biblical view of the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection includes the following ideas: Jesus offers forgiveness of sin to both Jews and Gentiles, which fulfills God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the spiritual father of both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus rescues people from their worship of idols and sins and restores to people the ability to worship the God of heaven and earth. Jesus establishes Christ as the supreme authority, king, and ruler of heaven and earth, the one who can defeat all his enemies “in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil. 2:5-11). Jesus restores to the believer the ability to “exercise dominion” as described in Genesis in the creation story. The post The Impact & Meaning of the Resurrection appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
Jesus died at the time of the Passover, not on the day of Atonement. God knew even at creation that the people he created would sin and that would require the suffering and death of His Son. And the Father knew what Adam and Eve’s sin would cost Him. What kind of love did the Father have that he would allow his son to die on a cross to redeem the same people who had rebelled against Him? God demonstrated His love for humans by dying for them. In John 15:9-17 Jesus says there is no greater love than for a person to lay down his life for another person, and certainly there is no greater example of love than the Father sending His Son. This is the ultimate sacrifice. Exodus 12:1-30 records the Lord’s instructions to Moses about how to observe the first Passover. A lamb was slain and a bundle of hyssop branches was dipped in the blood and brushed across the top and sides of the doorframes of their homes. The houses with blood applied did not lose a single person, but the oldest son in every house with no blood applied died. In other words, the death angel passed over the homes with blood applied. Also, Israel was redeemed or delivered at the time of this original Passover. They were freed from bondage. This teaches us that Jesus’ death and resurrection established a new kingdom: a nation of slaves had been rescued and redeemed from bondage to the most powerful nation of the ancient world and now would launch a new kingdom. As we celebrate Communion, we understand that we are in this new kingdom – not totally perfected as it will be in the new Jerusalem, but as a bit of a foretaste. When Jesus told people that the kingdom was the pearl of great price and that people should be willing to sacrifice everything in order to obtain it, He wasn’t talking about some distant future time, but about a freedom from death and sin and Satan that comes to those who choose to follow Him. We understand that we are unworthy and do not deserve God’s love, but this is what God chooses to do. Romans 5:6-10 says that God loved us when we were unlovely. That’s when Christ died for us. Even as God has loved us, we are called to love others. This is our mission, our calling. And just as God’s love is demonstrated to us in the sacrifice of His Son, our love for others is demonstrated in our deeds of love. God’s love for us is based in his nature, in who he is. Those who have been redeemed by Christ possess the nature of God and are freed to love others as they have been loved by God. The post Greater Love appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
The difficult truth of Psalm 23 is that to experience the goodness of God, we need to accept his authority and shepherding. Moses struggled to accept God’s call because he focused too much on his own inadequacies and fears. In spite of having Aaron as a mouthpiece, Moses experienced many setbacks in Egypt because they were actually part of God’s plan. For us, God’s call can include service opportunities, relationship challenges, confession, seeking help, or remaining faithful in a difficult role. We should remember the Shepherd sometimes asks us to do difficult things, there is a cost to saying no to God, setbacks are typical of God’s plans, and our focus should be on “who am I with?” rather than “who am I?” The post The Shepherds Call appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
Two years have passed since the chief butler left the prison. Joseph has been waiting hopefully for a release from prison on the chief butler’s promise that he would remember him to Pharaoh. The butler forgot Joseph until Pharaoh had a dream which could not be interpreted. Then the chief butler remembered and told Pharaoh about Joseph, the man who could interpret dreams. Joseph, a young man of 30 years, was sent for. He was a humble man; he told Pharaoh that only God can interpret dreams, not me. Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, and he was also able to give direction on how to deal with the 7 years of prosperity and then the 7 years of famine. Pharaoh liked Joseph’s plan and gave him a promotion. He went from being an imprisoned servant to being second in command in Egypt under Pharaoh. We need to remember that God’s timing is perfect. Joseph would have preferred to get out of prison much sooner but God had a timetable for him. Waiting on God is hard because we do not know what his plans are for us. We must have humility. Any gifts and talents that we have come from God. God hates pride. Joseph was fruitful in Egypt even though he had no plans to ever go there. If we would have been Joseph while he was in prison, what would we be thinking as we waited on the butler to remember? What do we do with the things that are not working for us? Can we rest in the fact that God is at work even though we can’t see it? Can we trust Him? The post Joseph Gets Out of Prison appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
We each have to choose if we want to follow Jesus. We’re not born into God’s kingdom—we must decide for ourselves to become part of His family. Being part of the church is not something we inherit from our parents. It’s a decision we make when we hear God’s call and say yes to Him. God’s kingdom is not the same as the world around us. We don’t try to control or fix the world by force. Our job is to live as wheat in a field full of tares, showing love, truth, and grace. The church is meant to be separate from the world, a family of people who have chosen to follow Christ. We are called to care about each other, correct each other with love, and help each other stay faithful. We don’t want to treat our faith like a rule book. Instead, we want to see it as a relationship with our Father—our Abba. When we know we are God’s children, we stop asking, “What can I get away with?” and start asking, “How can I honor my Father?” Our identity isn’t something we’re stuck with. We get to choose to follow Jesus, to be part of His family, and to live with purpose and joy. We are not just servants—we are heirs of God’s kingdom. This is part of a series of sermons preached by Nathan Zook around the theme Is your identity determined at birth or a flexible choice? Gender Race Class Citizenship Religious Affiliation The post Religious Affiliation appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
Our true citizenship is not in any country on earth—it’s in the kingdom of God. We may be born in one nation and hold a passport from it, but we are not born into God’s kingdom. That takes a choice. When we follow Jesus, we are choosing a new identity, one that doesn’t depend on politics, race, class, or the flag we pledge to. We live in a world full of strong opinions and political fights. It’s easy to get caught up in who should be in charge or what laws should be made. But Jesus says His kingdom is not of this world. If it were, His followers would fight—but He calls us to something higher. He calls us to peace, humility, and trust in His leadership. Sometimes we’re tempted to speak for God, to say what we think He wants politically. But when we act out of impatience, we risk speaking wrongly. Whether it’s from the left or right, trying to force God’s hand through protests or political power doesn’t reflect His heart. We are called to live in a different way, to be people of quiet strength and deep trust. Our job isn’t to change the world through power, but to reflect God’s love in how we live. We choose His kingdom, and we wait on Him to act in His time. This is part of a series of sermons preached by Nathan Zook around the theme Is your identity determined at birth or a flexible choice? Gender Race Class Citizenship Religious Affiliation The post Citizenship appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
In God’s kingdom, money, power, and status don’t define who we are. The world may divide people into rich or poor, high or low, but God looks at the heart. Whether we have a lot or a little, each of us is loved and valued the same. God knows what we need and promises to take care of us. Chasing after wealth can leave us tired, anxious, and empty. True peace comes when we trust God, live simply, and care for others. We don’t need to show off or prove anything—our Father owns everything, and we belong to Him. If we have more than we need, we’re called to bless others and not just store things up for ourselves. The church can be a place where everyone is treated with love and respect, no matter how much they have. We don’t want to judge based on clothes, income, or background. Instead, we want to be a family that welcomes everyone, shares what we have, and helps those in need. This is how we live out God’s heart in a world that often gets it wrong. This is part of a series of sermons preached by Nathan Zook around the theme Is your identity determined at birth or a flexible choice? Gender Race Class Citizenship Religious Affiliation The post Class appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
We are all part of one human family. The Bible tells us we come from Adam and Eve, and later from Noah’s sons—but nowhere does it divide people by race. That idea comes from people, not God. Over time, society creates categories like “race” to separate and rank people, but that’s not how God sees us. The world has used race to justify slavery, unfair treatment, and discrimination—even by people claiming to follow Jesus. But God never curses people by skin color, and He never tells us to treat others as less than human. Instead, we are called to be a blessing to others, no matter where they’re from or what they look like. We see throughout history—and even today—how unfairness still exists. Some people are treated better simply because of how they look. But in God’s family, we are all equal. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. God invites all people, from every background, into His kingdom. So we choose to be part of a different kind of community—a church family where we treat each other with love and respect. We don’t ignore our differences, but we don’t let them divide us. God made each of us, and we want to reflect His love to everyone. This is part of a series of sermons preached by Nathan Zook around the theme Is your identity determined at birth or a flexible choice? Gender Race Class Citizenship Religious Affiliation The post Race appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
We’re reminded that God creates us with purpose, including our gender. He makes us male and female, and both are equally valuable in His eyes. Our world says we can choose our identity, but God calls us to embrace the identity He gave us. Being a man or woman isn’t about liking certain hobbies or wearing certain clothes—it’s about living out the roles God designed with joy and honor. Even though culture tries to blur the lines between genders, we see in Scripture that God wants there to be a clear difference. Men and women are created to complement each other, not compete. We each have unique roles, but that doesn’t mean one is better than the other. It just means we’re different on purpose. God calls men to take responsibility, to lead with love, and to protect. He calls women to support, nurture, and manage the home with strength and wisdom. But we all are called to follow Jesus, show love, and live out our calling faithfully. We want to accept the identity God gave us, not fight against it. He made each of us on purpose, and when we live according to His design, we find peace and joy. This is part of a series of sermons preached by Nathan Zook around the theme Is your identity determined at birth or a flexible choice? Gender Race Class Citizenship Religious Affiliation The post Gender appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA .…
 
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