Luke: Benedictus Dominus
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:67-80 Much like Mary's song of praise, upon hearing about the child she would bear, so Zechariah has a song of praise after his son is born. We might expect that Zechariah's expressions would center on his beloved son. He does mention the boy (Lk 1:76), but the focus of this blessed exaltation of praise is on the Lord God and the One whom He will send. The word 'salvation' is mentioned three times in this declaration (Lk 1:69,71,77). The song may be divided into two sections. First, Luke 1:68-75 refers to a future national 'salvation' in which...
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Luke: Mary's Song - The Grace of God
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s exultation in God in this wonderful poem is both passionate and insightful. And we have the same God. Even though for her to bear the Messiah is a unique event, it is possible for us to know the same awe and joy that she experienced. For us to feel what Mary felt we must see with the eyes of our soul, what she saw, and we must deeply know the God that she knew. It is significant that Mary’s song does not focus on herself The Center of these statements is the person of God, namely what He is like and what He has done. In the birth of Christ Mary sees...
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Luke: Mary's Song - The Majesty of God
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-55 To a wide-eyed 5-year-old, the celebration of the birth of Christ means lights and toys and brightly-wrapped boxes under a living room tree. To a retailer it means increased sales and profits. To a busy housewife Christmas is a fatiguing schedule of shopping, decorating, and cooking. But to Mary, Jesus' mother, the promised birth of the Messiah was an occasion for an impassioned declaration of unbridled joy. Her joy is firmly founded on the character and works of God. In her prayers of thanksgiving, Mary unashamedly proclaims what He is...
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Luke: The Child Will Be Called The Son Of God
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:34-38 One of the foundational things to be said about Jesus is that He was/is the Son of God. The angel declared this wonder to Mary. "And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God'" (Lk 1:35). Simon Peter declared this wonder when Jesus asked what the disciples thought about His identity. "Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" (Mt 16:16). The ramifications of this...
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Luke: The Virgin's Name Was Mary
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Matthew and Luke both record that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus, but only Luke writes about the conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary. This account parallels, in many ways, the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. Among other significant truths revealed in this passage, is the staggering fact that Mary would give birth to a son without a human father. Though many would discount the importance of the doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ, it is not a peripheral doctrine. Why is the doctrine of the virgin birth of...
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Luke: Yahweh Remembers
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-25 In his recounting the life of Christ, Luke begins with the announcement, not of the birth of Christ, but of John the Baptist. John would be the prophesied herald of the Messiah. In the first two chapters of his gospel, Luke draws a connection between John and Christ, by means of alternating accounts of each man. This literary devise emphasizes the wonder of the coming of the Son of God into the world. First, there is the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist ... then there is the announcement of the birth of Christ. Next, there is...
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Missionary Dale Kellar: The Son Lifted Up, the Dragon Cast Down, the Church Sent Out
Bethel Baptist Church
Bethel Baptist Church is delighted to host visiting missionaries from Iceland Dale and Linnea Kellar.
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Luke: That You May Have Certainty
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1-4 The Holy Spirit has chosen to give us four accounts of the life of Christ, and not just one account. Like four men standing around a great mountain, each writing what he sees, the gospel writers each wrote from a different viewpoint what he 'saw' when he looked at Christ. Matthew and John were apostles and so they were eyewitnesses of Christ's life. Mark seems to have seen Christ as well, though he was not an apostle. Luke, however, places himself outside of the group of eyewitnesses (Lk 1:2). Luke, whom Paul calls "the beloved physician"...
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Revelation: Behold, I Am Coming Quickly
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:6-21 The epilogue of the book of Revelation highlights two final themes ... the authenticity of the book and the approaching wonder of the return of Christ. As Christ is called "faithful and true" in Revelation 3:14 and 19;11, so His words are "faithful and true" in Revelation 21:5 and 22:6. There is a marked emphasis in Revelation on what John has written (Rev 1:3,11,19; 14:13; 19:9). Now, there is a stern warning to anyone who might deliberately change what is written, distorting what God has revealed (Rev 22:18,19). What a grace from God that He...
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Revelation: We Will See His Face
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:1-15 John ends his glorious book by describing heaven to his readers. Here we have a final description of the population of heaven ... and the pleasure of heaven. The people who will enjoy the presence of God will be His servants who will reign with Him (Rev 22:3,5). They are the righteous and holy, who have washed their robes (Rev 22:11,14). The people who will not be in heaven are also mentioned in this final passage, one last time. They are the unrighteous and the filthy ... immoral, murderers, idolaters, liars (Rev 22:11,15). ...
info_outlineScripture Reading: 2 Kings 14:23-29
Jeroboam II was the 14th king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He had a long reign of 41 years and enjoyed security, and even the expansion of his kingdom. It was the most prosperous time in the history of the northern kingdom.
2 Kings 14;23-29 tell us of the material success of Jeroboam II, while Amos and Hosea … prophets contemporary with him … tell us of the spiritual corruption of Israel during this time.
There was great expansion of territory under the rule of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14;25) and God saved the Israelites from its enemies (2 Kgs 14:26,27), but this was a display of divine grace because Jeroboam II "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kgs 14:24).
But beneath the surface of material success was a dark spiritual reality. The land was filled with lying, murder, theft, adultery, and oppression of the poor (Hos 4:1,2; Amos 4:1). The people had forgotten God's law (Hos 4:6) … and His omniscience and judgment (Hos 7:2) … and His steadfast love (Hos 11:1-4). Spiritually speaking, they were 'feeding on the wind.'
When we turn away from God, we replace Him with water that does not satisfy and bread that does not nourish. In His mercy God beckons to us "Listen diligently to me, and eat with is good" (Isa 55:2).