Bethany Lutheran Church

"James speaks about wisdom often in this letter. This week James will help us understand where true wisdom comes from and what the kind of fruit wisdom bears in the life of a Christian.” James 3:13-17 (ESV)Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.Matthew 5:10 (ESV)Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” We often underestimate the weight our words carry in our digitalized and depersonalized culture. James reminds us that with our words comes great harm or great blessing. James 3:1-12 (ESV)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, se

James writes, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” His words may make you a bit nervous since you have heard that we are saved by grace. Join us this week as we explore and unpack what a healthy relationship between faith and works looks like in the life of a Christian.James 2:14-26 (ESV)What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from

We are often drawn to people who look successful and powerful, even in the church. But this morning James will remind us that God’s kingdom does not belong to the elite of this world; God has chosen the poor to be heirs to his kingdom. Join us as the Spirit realigns our hearts with the heart of God.Matthew 2:3-8 (ESV)When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”James

“Do you hear me?!” Maybe you feel like that is what God is saying to you most of the time. Maybe to really listen to God we need to make sure we are looking in the right place. Join us this week as we continue to walk through James as we learn how to live our real faith out in the real world.James 1:19-27 (ESV)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blesse

James doesn’t begin his letter with a greeting or prayer. He gets right to the point by addressing the one thing all humans will face- adversity. This week we will explore how the various trials that you will endure, when experienced through faith in Jesus, can turn out to be some of the greatest teachers we can have.James 1:1-16 (ESV)James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings.Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-mind

In the church the Feast of the Holy Innocents is commemorated after Christmas to reflect on the first martyrs because of Christ the children in Bethlehem who lost their lives as Herod, in fear, tried to snuff out the light of Christ to protect his power and his agency. As we remember the loss of innocent lives to unnecessary violence we are invited to reflect on our own darkness and the darkness in this world that still exists and return to the light that continues to shine bright.Matthew 2:16-18 (ESV)Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:“A voice was heard in Ramah,    weeping and loud lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children;    she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”1 John 1:5 (ESV)This is the message we have h

Zechariah, regaining his speech, reflects on how God has been faithful and looks forward to his child preparing people for Christ. With only a few days remaining in Advent the light of Christ burns brighter. We reflect and remember how God has led us over the past few weeks to place our trust in him. God brings light to guide our feet in the way of peace.Psalm 119:65-68 (ESV)You have dealt well with your servant,    O Lord, according to your word.Teach me good judgment and knowledge,    for I believe in your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray,    but now I keep your word.You are good and do good;    teach me your statutes.Luke 1:67-69 (ESV)And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,    for he has visited and redeemed his peopleand has raised up a horn of salvation for us    in the house of his servant David,

The center of Advent is Emmanuel, God with us. Christ came to our messy earth, our busyness, our imperfection. We embody advent when we invite ourselves into one another’s lives and care and love others with Christ at the center. Christ came to overcome darkness and the light is with us. Psalm 37:3-7Trust in the Lord, and do good;    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.Delight yourself in the Lord,    and he will give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the Lord;    trust in him, and he will act.He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,    and your justice as the noonday.Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,    over the man who carries out evil devices!Matthew 1:18-23Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to

Faith, in a world full of shadows, is a practice of letting go and choosing to believe. Faith reminds us that we need a Savior and that because of him we’re worthy of being saved. Advent is an act of faith. Trusting that Jesus comes and he delivers us out of the shadows.Psalm 32:1-7 (ESV)Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,    whose sin is covered.Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away    through my groaning all day long.For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. SelahI acknowledged my sin to you,    and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. SelahTherefore let everyone who is godly    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;surely in the rush of great waters,    they shall not reach him.You are a hiding place for me;    you preserv