Article 7

Pentecost was a day of miracles, including the miracle of understanding given to peopel who spoke many different languages but understood the proclamation of the Apostles. It was the opposite of the language confusion that took place at the Tower of Babel and it was the beginning of a great sending of the church to every tribe, nation and tounge.  In addition to the Pentecost sermon from Bethany Lutheran, there is a song performed by C2W (Created 2 Worship) at the end of the episode. 

Before a rocket launch, there is a great deal of preparation and just before there is a series of final systems checks. In this sermon from Bethany Lutheran's Ascension Sunday, I am connecting that image with the Apostles who waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This episode also features special music from Linda and Lindsay Hemphill. 

This holiday podcast includes music from many of Bethany's choirs recorded during the Advent and Christmas seasons, with special thanks to Linda Hemphill our Music Director and "Team Roadie" our sound board operators who have been providing some very good material for me to share! I pray the readings and music in this podcast helps you to celebrate the coming our Savior. Merry Christmas! 

This podcast was recorded in the summer of 2021 after Bethany Lutheran finished a challenging season for our children's choirs.  At the start, I'll talk a bit about the name of this podcast and how it relates to what I am thinking about for the future of our church during and after the current pandemic. The sermon and the song after are all about Daniel and the Lion's Den, plus there is a bonus hand bell anthem, "Holy, Holy, Holy".  

In the introduction, I share some news about worship at Bethany in Alexandria, Virginia for the summer of 2021. There are also a few facts about Daniel before the sermon that was recorded on June 6. At the end, enjoy getting your "Marching Orders" from organist, Linda Hemphill. 

31 sermons later, I got to finally say "the end"!  Except that it is not really the end because there is so much of "The Story" that we are a part of right now, and even more that is "not yet." It is better to say "Amen!" It shall be so! This podcast includes the final sermon in the spiritual growth series called "The Story" as well as a special Mother's Day music offering by mother/daughter duo Linda and Lindsay Hemphill. 

The second last chapter of "The Story" gives us some encouragement from the Apostle Paul to Timothy. As a church, we heard this while going through our pandemic self-quarantine when most of our members were worshiping at home. The music at the end is J.S. Bach's "Sheep Will Safely Graze" played by Linda and Lindsay Hemphill. 

This chapter of "The Story" is all about the missionary journeys of Paul. The sermon zooms in on Philippi where the the church starts with a merchant, a slave girl and a jailer's family. This gives us a glimpse of how the Body of Christ comes together and is sent out by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The music in this podcast is performed by the praise team at Bethany Lutheran, Created 2 Worship (C2W). At the beginning and at the end, there are two songs used in our Easter season worship. 

Chapter 28 of "The Story" takes us to the birth of the church after the Resurrection of Jesus. The title of my sermon is "They Never Stopped".  At the time this was preached (one year ago) we were learning terms like "lock down" and "social distance" and dealing with the fact that the church could not hold public worship. Still, "we never stopped" trying to connect with as many people as possible. And today, we are thinking about what will happen post-pandemic. I think the attitude is the same as the Apostles in Acts. May it be said of us that we "never stopped." 

One year ago, I was wondering what would become of Easter during quarantine! As I continue to collect the remaining sermons of "The Story" for this podcast, I reflect a little on how things have changed over this past year. The sermon from Easter Sunday latches onto two phrases in the Gospel of Matthew and "The Story" chapter 27. Finally, listen to an instrumental of "The Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah" performed by the organ and trumpet. 

At the Last Supper, a cup is passed after Jesus says words of blessing and then pronounces, “This is my blood of the new covenant…”.  Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays that “this cup” may be taken away. Cups are used in different ways throughout the Bible, and in this chapter, we see a cup of blessing and a cup of wrath. Both are significant to know the depths of God’s love for us and our salvation.  This sermon is from last year's Good Friday service. At the end, there is an organ postlude, "Echo" by J.S. Bach, performed by Linda Hemphill. 

"The Story" reaches a climax with God's decisive action to overcome our sinful nature and even death itself. The sermon on this podcast was preached one year ago when we only had a small group in church broadcasting online. You will hear some of what we were all going through, including our (no) communion practices at the time. There is also a hymn sung by our small group that began our Maundy Thursday service.  

This podcast collects some of the readings and music you are likely to hear at Bethany Lutheran around Christmas time. Merry Christmas! And my God bless us, every one. 

“You are the messiah,” Peter confesses. What is a messiah? The title connects us to the kingdoms of David and Solomon and the expectation of God’s people to be saved from their enemies. People in the days of Jesus debated what signs to look for to know that God has sent the Messiah. As Jesus approaches the end of His earthly mission, He gives a sign to the people and to us that identifies who He is and what He has come to do. This podcast includes the organ piece, "Rhosymedre" by John D. Edwards (1805 - 1885) played by Linda Hemphill. 

Powerful words and powerful miracles astonish those around Jesus of Nazareth in chapter 24 of “The Story”. Jesus gives the greatest commandment, He finds the lost, He silences the wind with a word, and beats back the devil’s hold on this world by banishing demons, sicknesses and blindness. Then there comes the moment when one of His disciples is sinking and shouts, “Lord, save me!”  Jesus reaches out His hand. Through all these words and actions of our savior, we may begin to understand the meaning of the word “salvation” and why the ongoing work of Jesus through the church is so important.

Water is very prevalent in chapter 23 of “The Story”. We begin with the ministry of John the Baptist by the Jordan River and then water is turned to wine at a wedding, and that is followed with a discussion about being born again through “water and the Spirit.” Where is all this water leading us? Jesus discusses “Living Water” at a well in Samaria and the mission and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth starts to come into focus for His disciples and also for us.

 This sermon was recorded at a special "Christmas in the Spring" service where we marked God's entrance into "The Story" with chapter 22.  The mission of Jesus includes adopting us into His family and that gives us something to celebrate! Going with the "Christmas" theme, C2W (Created 2 Worship) offers the instrumental "I Wonder as I Wander." 

“He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given.” – Ezra 7:6 “Let us start rebuilding!” – Nehemiah 2:18 God provides for the exiles who were returning from the east. Two men who were instrumental in rebuilding – one, a person who was an effective and canny leader who helped to defend the Jews from the enemies that surrounded them. The other one “devoted himself to study and observance of the Law of the Lord.” One helped the physical rebuilding, while the other helped the spiritual rebuilding. When the bottom falls out, how does God help us and equip us to rebuild both physically and spiritually?  

The year 2020 has not been good for podcasting, so far, but this sermon I felt I had to get out because I feel it is an important message. Do you belong at our church? Who are the little ones in Matthew 18? Listen to the sermon from this past Labor Day weekend along with music from our Summer Singers performing "Teach Me, O Lord, the Way of Thy Statutes" by Attwood and the hymn "Rock of Ages."  

“…who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14 (ESV) “And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration” – Esther 8:15 (NIV) There are quite a few banquets in the book of Esther, but no mention of God’s name. This story takes place in the city of Susa, which was very far away from Jerusalem. God’s name is never mentioned in this story, but God was still present with His people. With each banquet in the book of Esther, we see His power at work. How do these banquets help us to see God’s work in our time, as well? Who else might be raised up as a hero, called upon for “such a time as this?”

A Persian king decrees that the way home is open to the exiles. Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the High Priest go with the first group, and the foundation for the Temple is laid so that the house of God may be rebuilt. At an assembly of celebration, there were shouts of praise, but also tears of sorrow among those who remembered what was lost.  Enter the prophets Haggai and Zechariah who help keep the people focused on the rebuilding, and Haggai has a message particular who remember the glory days: God will again appear in the Temple. This connects us to the larger story of our salvation when God will indeed suddenly appear. 

Daniel is among the exiles in Babylon who were chosen as advisers to the king. Like his ancestor, Joseph, he stands out for the wisdom and insight God gives to him. Through Daniel and three of his fellow exiles, the kings who sit on the throne in Babylon come to understand who is real ruler who has given them their authority. God’s power is shown time and time again until the day appointed for the exile approaches and the kingdom changes hands. Daniel shows the king the writing on the wall. Through Daniel, we also may come to know and trust the God who rules over all. At the end of the podcast, stay tuned for bonus music from "Created to Worship" (C2W), the instrumental "Just A Closer Walk with Thee".   

“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion” – Psalm 139:1 “Son of man, can these bones live?” – Ezekiel 37:3 In chapter 17 of “The Story”, the scenes shift between the prophet Jeremiah who bears witness to the last days of Jerusalem from within the city walls, and the prophet Ezekiel who is among the exiles in Babylon. Both prophets faithfully rebuke the sins of the people that brought these events about, but they also give the people hope. Ezekiel is taken to a desolate valley where bones are the only thing left of the human lives that once animated them. Can these bones live? God sends a powerful message to His people of life and hope even in the midst of death and devastation.

The Eighth Century B.C. closes with the destruction of the northern tribes at the hands of the Assyrians. The southern tribes need faithful leadership and a clear Word from God to avoid the same destruction.  Who will God send? Enter one of the greatest of the writing prophets, whose message of power and comfort to the people of Judah gave them hope for a future. And the Word that Isaiah saw is not just for that immediate future because God gives the prophet foresight to the time when God Himself will enter “The Story.”

The northern tribes have turned away from The Lord, led by a series of kings who “did evil” and aroused God’s anger. God raises two messengers, Elijah and Elisha. Through the ministry of these two prophets, God wants to turn the hearts of His people back to Him. Elijah is first, and after his time is through, he is succeeded by Elisha, who asks for a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit. That happens when Elisha sees a “chariot of fire and horses of fire” as they bear his mentor away. Those chariots of fire appear again, when Elisha prays for the eyes of his servant to be opened so that servant can see how God was active and working to guide His people. Can Elisha show us how God is at work in this world, opening our eyes and revealing His presence to us?

We have read about prophets in the previous chapters of “The Story,” but going forward, they begin to play a far more central role.  When the nation of Abraham’s ancestors splits in two, the northern tribes are led into idolatry by their king. God answers by sending someone “by the Word of the Lord.” Will the Word bring people back to faith or will they drift further away from God? After the sermon, keep listening for a musical bonus from Created 2 Worship playing "Poor, Wayfaring Stranger". 

“The Lord appeared to Solomon.”  That phrase is repeated a few times through chapter 13 of "The Story". God appears to give Solomon wisdom, and then the glory of the Lord appears when the Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated. And then there is one last time as God speaks after Solomon “turns his heart” away from The Lord.  As we prepare to celebrate the revealing of God’s glory in Jesus through the festival of Epiphany, we’ll look at the life of Solomon and see how wisdom and worship point our hearts to see God’s glory in our lives.   There is also an Epiphany musical bonus in this podcast! The Bethany Singers present a nice arrangement of "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright". 

In chapter 12 of “The Story” a king covets, and that leads to adultery and murder. Is this still the an that is after God’s own heart? Or will God turn away from David like He did King Saul? In this chapter, we discover one of the greatest gifts that we receive from God: FORGIVENESS.

God finds a new king by looking into the heart of the youngest son of Jesse, who was tending the sheep when God sent Samuel to anoint the one God would choose. This is the story of the first kings of Israel and it foreshadows God’s great plan of salvation. Last week, we read about a king who turned his heart away from God. This week, we see that God’s intention for His people is to have a king with the heart of a shepherd.

“Give us a king.” the people say. This points the way to the time when God would send the ultimate King to save His people once and for all.  It begins well with the new king able to assemble the whole nation to repel their enemies. Like some servants before, God calls the person from the smallest and least to do His will. But once this person is given the power and authority, will humble service be his story, or will insecurity and greed get the better of him? Can we learn something for our lives about God’s definition of power?

The story of Ruth is both simple and complicated at the same time. It is a simple story about a bond of love that brought a foreign woman into the tribe of Judah. But it is also covers some complicated points of the covenant law during a time when fidelity to God was hard to find. But through one family’s faithfulness, we get a great foreshadowing of God’s great plan of salvation as Ruth and Naomi find a redeemer who will save them from poverty even as their future descendant will redeem us from our sin. 

Samson’s last words make for a fitting title to this week’s chapter of “The Story”. In this chapter, the people of Israel time and time again forget the covenant God had made with them so that they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy people. Foreign powers invade and only then do to the tribes remember that they have sinned and need God’s help. God remembers His mercy and remembers His covenant and remembers His promises even when the people forget time and time again. What comfort do we have today because God remembers us?

As a promise passed on through centuries, the land that God showed to Abraham is now before the tribes of Israel. After the previous generation dies in the wilderness and Moses says his final words, it is time for Joshua and the Israelites to inherit that land. As they enter, God repeats His promises to Joshua, saying “I will never leave you or forsake you.” God is faithful and keeps every promise, going before Joshua’s armies and giving them the victory. The promises and victory that guide this journey lead us to know better the ultimate battle that was fought for our salvation. How can knowing that victory help us against spiritual enemies, today? What promises of God can we cling to? There is a musical bonus after the sermon from Bethany's Created 2 Worship group as they sing the spiritual, "Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho." 

We begin on Mt. Sinai where God thunders on the mountain and the people shrink back in fear. No one can approach God’s terrible power and the radiance of His glory, except for Moses, who was chosen to receive the words God sends to His people. But on the mountain God calls His people a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation” and gives instructions to Moses to build a structure where, God says, “I will dwell among them.” However, it does not take long for the people to turn away from God’s ways. But following this story again sets up a pattern of sin, forgiveness and worship that is still part of the fabric of our story, today. In this podcast, you will hear the sermon preached on Reformation Sunday at Bethany Lutheran in Alexandria, Virginia. As a musical bonus, you will also hear "One Faith, One Hope, One Lord" by Courtney offered by the Bethany Singers and Brass.   

After Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you would expect the rest of “The Story” to unfold in the land God promised to them and their descendants. But, in chapter three, we go from Caanan to Egypt and the road there is filled with a series of misfortunes for Jacob’s son, Joseph. But because God’s hand is in all of Joseph’s life, there can be a reconciliation at the end of this chapter that foreshadows how God will bring all people into His family. 

Abraham and Sarah journey from their home to the place that God promises to them and to their descendants. It is a journey of faith, both because of the physical travel involved, and also because of the way God keeps them on the right spiritual path. Many centuries later, the Apostle Paul writes, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.” How can you be against all hope and also in hope? Abraham, Sarah and later Isaac learn that this is a God thing. And when a child is born, Abraham and Isaac foreshadow how God is going to save His people through the nation built by Abraham’s descendants. God will provide the sacrifice!  

At Bethany's Rally Day service for 2019, we introduced "The Story" - a program to read through the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we see the phrase "these are the generations" repeated. This connects well to our dedication to read and pass on God's Word so that "One generation" can "commend your works to another, and ...declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4)

“Who are you people?” God’s people were meant to be a nation built on love toward God and one another. Kindness and mercy  was built into the fabric of their lives by the covenant God gave through Moses. But through the centuries, sinful greed and selfishness permeated the nation. The society that Amos of Tekoa was sent to preach to was apparently nothing like what it should be. Amos promises that a day of judgment is coming for those who allow injustice to prosper in the nation of Israel.   Being a consecrated steward means not only being generous toward God, but having an open and giving heart toward the people around us. After all, what we do to the least of these, we do also to the Lord and the King is coming for an account (Matthew 25:40). God’s Kingdom is coming, but it is also here and now wherever there is mercy and grace. Our giving supports this kingdom building so that it can continue from one generation to the next until the King comes back.

In the second of three "Kingdom Talks", I preach about “Kingdom Glory” based on 1 Timothy 1:12-17. God has acted in Paul’s life, so as he writes to his former travel partner, he expresses with joy how God has given him strength and has given so much grace that it has overflowed into his life. That leads to an expression of praise, similar to when David expressed his joy at the offerings people gave to build the first Temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 29:11). Our giving is also in response to the great strength and overflowing grace God gives to us!

Church budgets are based on faith and the work of the Holy Spirit as much as they are on math and organizational objectives. That adds a certain supernatural element to church budgeting that drives most pastors and volunteers absolutely nuts while God and His angels (I’m sure) smile at us. In Luke 14:28 Jesus says to the great crowds who are following him that they must “count the cost.” Now here, I don’t think this is divine instruction for how to do a church budget. This is addressing something we do before we do any church budgeting or any work for the Lord. This cost has to do with our heart and our dedication to God as we work in His Kingdom.

In Hebrews 11:1, we read that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” The prophet Jeremiah held to his faith, convinced that the words of future judgment on Jerusalem were the true Word of God. The trouble was, there were so many other voices at the time that were giving a false testimony about God and a false hope to the people. Jeremiah teaches us that holding on to the Truth leads us to a conviction that is first believed, and then seen.   After the sermon, Soprano Barbara Yatrousis sings "O Savior, Hear Me.": Oh Saviour hear me, I implore thee,  In thee alone can peace be found, Thou canst sustain and thou restore me Whate'er the cares that hover round. Hear my supplication. O turn on me thy loving eyes; Lord I long for thy salvation, And would feign attain the prize. When cares of earth to me seem heavy Heart-sore I seek of thee relief, Thy grace remaineth ever ready To soothe my pain, to assuage my grief. Hear my supplication. O turn on me thy loving eyes; Lord I long for thy salvation, And would feign attain the prize.

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”. If I were able to talk to the writer of Hebrews, today, I might challenge that person and ask why Abraham and Sarah are said to have had faith in what they hoped for without any mention of the redirection they had to receive from God along the way. But, looking again at Hebrews chapter 11, I think I can see that the writer is not focused so much on Abraham and Sarah, but on the object of their faith. After the sermon, there is a special instrumental version of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" performed by Bethany's Created 2 Worship (C2W). 

We will reap in due time if we do not give up! Paul gives us many reasons for not giving up all through the letter to the Galatians. In our last trip to this little garden in Galatians, we'll revisit how Paul connects the Kingdom of God to God's creation and all the ways we may reap the good that is sown by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

A second walk through Paul's Galatians garden brings us to the fruit that grows by the power of the Holy Spirit.  As an added musical bonus, Linda and Lindsay Hemphill offer a beautiful rendition of "America, The Beautiful" - a song that is quoted throughout the sermon. 

Happy Summer! The Article 7 Podcast is back, again with three early summer sermons from a series preached at Bethany Lutheran Church and Preschool. This is a different look at Galatians for me as I noticed that there were a few agricultural connections that Paul makes, using language similar to other parts of the Bible. So, come and plant yourself by your listening device for a bit and prepare to grow in our love for God and for each other. 

Another five meditations are offered in this special holiday Podcast. This time, hear five Christmas Carols recorded live at Bethany Lutheran's Christmas and Advent services along with a little information about each carol. Merry Christmas! 

It has been a while, hasn't it? Well, the Article 7 podcast is back with a special Christmas gift for you. Normally, I share my sermons in this podcast, but this special episode is filled with readings and music to get you ready for the Christmas celebrations to come. The music you will hear was recorded at Bethany Lutheran Church during Advent and Christmas services from the past decade. Two offerings are from 2011 - a brass quintet and the Bethany Bells. You will also hear the children's bell choir (The King's Ringers) playing "O Come, O Come, Emmanual" from this year's Sunday School service; the group Created 2 Worship (C2W) offers "Song of Joy" from the Second Sunday in Advent, also this year. And the Bethany Singers and Praise Ringers are also heard from last year's Christmas services. In between are readings from the Hebrew prophets heard during the Advent season this year. 

Hello! It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, it is time to podcast again, especially since our Easter celebration at Bethany Lutheran was so joyful, this year. In this special episode of the podcast, you will hear all our choirs combine on a "Canon of Praise for Easter Morning" and then something unexpected. A rendition of "Dry Bones" from a special quartet that was put together for our annual Sunrise service. After the message from Easter Morning titled, "The Glory, Forever", you will hear some more joyous music to close out the episode. May God bless you with a bright and happy Easter season! Christ is risen...!

The Easter worship at Bethany Lutheran continues with the Praise Ringers, Bethany Singers, Bethany Brass and more congregational singing.  Part two of the Easter sermon is also here as once again we proclaim the Good News that Christ is risen!

Christ is risen! Hear some of the Easter celebration in word and song from Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia.  This podcast has music from the Bethany Singers, Bethany Brass as well as some singing by the congregation.  The first part of the Easter sermon is here, as well.  Part two will be in the next podcast along with even more music from Easter Sunday

What is so good about Good Friday? A short explanation in the opening segment is followed by three readings and more music recorded at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia.