Posts with the tag “lent”

Unlearning for Lent - The Idol of Comfort
by Pastor Nate on March 11th, 2026
Comfort itself is not the problem. Rest, and safety, and joy are good gifts from God. But over time, if we aren’t careful, comfort can become an idol.   It becomes the thing we always protect and the thing we always expect. something we expect and so when discomfort appears, we assume something must be wrong.But the story of Jesus reminds us that faith is not always comfortable. The Spirit leads J...  Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - The Need to Fix Everyone
by Pastor Nate on March 9th, 2026
Unlearning the need to fix everyone does not mean that we stop caring. It means we remember that our calling is faithfulness, not control.   Read More
0
The Third Sunday in Lent
by Pastor Gary on March 8th, 2026
Today is the Third Sunday in LentWe encourage you to join in for worship at Bethany this weekend either in person or through our livestream.  For an additional devotional reflection, we invite you to watch this reflection from Pastor Gary from a Sunday in Lent last year.Who belongs at God’s table? In this powerful sermon on Luke 14:7-14, Pastor Gary explores Jesus’ radical vision of hospitality an...  Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - Silence as Absence
by Pastor Nate on March 6th, 2026
But Lent gently invites us to sit still long enough to discover that silence can be holy ground.   Read More
0
Hidden but Still There
by David Preisinger on March 5th, 2026
Despite the times that it may seem like Jesus is hidden, Lent helps us remember that Jesus always comes through with light and hope.   Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - Despair
by Pastor Nate on March 4th, 2026
It is my firm conviction that God is most present precisely where hope seems extinguished. The crucified Christ stands inside a moment that is marked with betrayal and abandonment and suffering and violence and somehow Christ holds all of it with defiant love.   Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - Scarcity Mindset
by Pastor Nate on March 2nd, 2026
If salvation itself is an undeserved, unearned gift then we are already living in a world defined not by lack, but by grace and mercy.   Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - Performative Faith
by Pastor Nate on February 27th, 2026
Our appearances, or public righteousness, or our carefully curated virtue are not the source of our salvation.   Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - I am what I accomplish Copy
by Pastor Nate on February 25th, 2026
God is not revealed in domination, but in self-giving love.   Read More
0
Unlearning for Lent - I am what I accomplish
by Pastor Nate on February 20th, 2026
Before we do anything for God, we are invited to be with God. Before we prove our value, we are named beloved.  Read More
0
The Season of Lent
by Pastor Nate on February 18th, 2026
Through prayer, fasting, and acts of generosity we bolster ourselves against the cold reality of death and draw closer to the God who has promised us new life.   Read More
0
God, I need
by Pastor Nate on April 15th, 2025
When we pray, “God, I need…” we are not only acknowledging our dependency on God but also expressing trust that God will provide.   Read More
0
Generous God, open my eyes to see...
by Pastor Nate on April 14th, 2025
We can become so focused on what we don’t have or what we’re trying to achieve that we forget to notice the abundant blessings right in front of us.  Read More
0
The Joy of Lent
by Janet Mortinsen on April 4th, 2025
In many ways, this mirrors Lent. It is a journey that invites us to enter a wilderness to explore and test and question. We can use this time to learn and grow in our faith.  Read More
0
Waiting Patiently
by Janet Mortinsen on March 5th, 2025
“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”Romans 8:25 In general, I have thought of myself as a patient person. Recently I have looked out my window to see frost or snow and found myself eagerly awaiting signs of spring and being truly frustrated with winter. (And that ground hog was not my friend this year…) I’m looking forward to sitting outside with sunshine on my f...  Read More
0

Categories

Tags

Abide Academics Acts 2:42 Advent Aging Centering Prayer Children of God Christ the King Christmas College Connection Cosmic Christ Courage Doubt Elijah Faith Forgetfulness Genesis God with Us God's mission God\'s mission God\\\'s mission Good News Hebrews 11:1 Holy Spirit Hope Identity Isaiah 25 Jesus Kingdom of God Lent Marks of Discipleship Mercy Messianic Secret One Simple Tool Practice Presence of God Providence Questions Reason Reconstruction Rising Stars Sermon on the Mount Spiritual Practices Thanksgiving The Story of Scripture The Unexpected Ways of God This We Believe Trinity Trust Uncertainty Unexpected Ways of God Universal Christ Veteran's Day abundant life allegiance art ascension assumptions banquets baptism beginnings bible blessed to be a blessing blessings blessing breathe burdens calling care catechism celebration census change churchwide assembly church communion community compassion confession control covenant creation cross crucifixion daily bread death discernment discipleship discomfort division early church easter emotions encouragement epiphanies for epiphany epiphany eschatology ethical dilemma exile exodus expectations faith in daily life faith into practice faithfulness fear feast food forgiveness freedom fundamentals generations generosity gift good friday grace gratitude grief guest post guidance healing health history holy week humility hymn devo immediately incarnation interruptions joy justice justification lament laws life of faith life light of the world love majesty mentor ministry mission trips music mysticism nature new life ordinary ways of God party patience peace pentecost perseverance personal podcast poetry political prayer promises read reconciliation redemption relationships representatives rest resurrection sabbath sabbatical reflections salavation salvation sanctification scripture affirmation seasons sermon service shepherd silence sing sin societal issues songs stewardship stories of bethany suffering theology of the cross theology time transformation unexpected unity unlearning for lent unseen vocation water weakness wisdom wonder words and actions worship zombies

Archive

 2026