This fall, Bethany's Confirmation class has been exploring the major themes of the Bible and reflecting on stories that reveal the larger story God is telling through scripture. These devotionals follow that same path, inviting you to pause, reflect, and discover how each theme connects to your own journey of faith.
Bethlehem | Emmanuel | Monday
The Bible begins with God’s blessing in Eden.
And then there was idolatry at Babel.
Next we experienced suffering in Egypt.
Followed by God saving and making promises at Mt. Sinai.
But we often forget what God has done, like the people in Jerusalem.
And so we find ourselves in a form of exile at Babylon.
It is a cycle that keeps repeating itself.
Which is why God did what God did at Bethlehem.
Bethlehem is the place where God comes to turn our idolatry upside-down and to put an end to our forgetfulness and suffering, once and for all.
Matthew 1:18-23
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.”
Bethlehem is where Jesus was born. It is the small, unassuming town where God entered into our human existence. Bethlehem is where God came to be with us so that the cycle of sin and suffering might finally be undone.
Bethlehem | Emmanuel | Monday
The Bible begins with God’s blessing in Eden.
And then there was idolatry at Babel.
Next we experienced suffering in Egypt.
Followed by God saving and making promises at Mt. Sinai.
But we often forget what God has done, like the people in Jerusalem.
And so we find ourselves in a form of exile at Babylon.
It is a cycle that keeps repeating itself.
Which is why God did what God did at Bethlehem.
Bethlehem is the place where God comes to turn our idolatry upside-down and to put an end to our forgetfulness and suffering, once and for all.
Matthew 1:18-23
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.”
Bethlehem is where Jesus was born. It is the small, unassuming town where God entered into our human existence. Bethlehem is where God came to be with us so that the cycle of sin and suffering might finally be undone.
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March
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April
Preserving Lord, save me fromAwesome God, I am amazed byThe Joy of LentThe Book of 2nd Samuel - God's Redemptive PowerCompassionate God, I Weep ForThe Book of Acts - Being the ChurchPalm Sunday Spoken WordGenerous God, open my eyes to see...God, I needCursing the Fig Tree Spoken WordMaundy Thursday Spoken WordGood Friday Spoken WordThe Book of 1st Kings - Wisdom and DivisionHoly Saturday Spoken WordSing - Practice ResurrectionClean - Practice ResurrectionDo a Good Deed - Practice ResurrectionGrieve - Practice ResurrectionGive Thanks - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of Romans - The Saving Work of GodLive BoldlyPlant - Practice ResurrectionForgive Yourself - Practice ResurrectionCare for a friend - Practice Resurrection
May
Enjoy a Good Meal - Practice ResurrectionListen to Music - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 2nd Kings - Hope in ExileWorship - Practice ResurrectionAppreciate Art - Practice ResurrectionLaughter HelpsDrink Water - Practice ResurrectionWatch a Sunset - Practice ResurrectionStretch - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 1st Corinthians - Hope in the TurmoilThe Lord is My ShepherdBreathe - Practice ResurrectionRead - Practice ResurrectionCreate - Practice ResurrectionWalk or Run - Practice ResurrectionCall a Friend - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 1st Chronicles - God's Presence in HistoryLove in ActionFor Aging GracefullyForgive - Practice ResurrectionLearn - Practice ResurrectionWash - Practice ResurrectionExplore - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 2nd Corinthians - The Importance of ReconciliationGod Our ParentAdvocate - Practice ResurrectionLight a Candle - Practice ResurrectionTaste - Practice ResurrectionTake a Nap - Practice ResurrectionDonate - Practice ResurrectionThe Book of 2nd Chronicles - Consequences of Unfaithfulness
June
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