Bethany 365 Daily Devotionals

This 18 part series explores the main moments in the Bible. This is a long story that takes place over thousands of years.  It’s the story of all the ways that God has been trying to rescue and bless and love God’s people since the beginning of time.  It’s the story that has been passed down and shared with billions of people.  It’s a story that was written for everyone to hear, and at the same time it’s a story written specifically just for you. This chapter of the story is about the Passion. While Jesus’ teachings and miracles did communicate the character of God to the world, not everyone liked what they were hearing.  Many leaders and authority figures became upset with Jesus because he was spreading a message that ran counter to their message of control.  Eventually, some of these leaders conspired against Jesus and he was arrested and sentenced to die on a cross....

Click to watch video Today is the Second Sunday after Pentecost We 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 Nate on this Sunday last year. In a world filled with anxiety, silence, and unanswered questions, does God still show up? This Pentecost-season sermon for the Feast of John the Baptist explores how God's grace disrupts our despair not with spectacle, but with presence. Through the story of Zechariah, the prophecy of Malachi, and a personal story of disillusionment and hope, Pastor Nate reminds us that God breaks into our lives in quiet, persistent ways—and even more, calls us to be voices of grace for others. 365 Daily Devotional Bethany Lutheran Church ...

The Book of Haggai – Prioritizing God’s Work "But now be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty." – Haggai 2:4 The Book of Haggai is a call to action. Written after the Israelites returned from exile, it addresses a people who had become distracted from their primary mission—rebuilding the temple of God. Though they had started the work, they quickly became focused on their own homes, livelihoods, and personal concerns, leaving the temple unfinished. Haggai challenges the people to consider their priorities. They were struggling in many ways—crops were failing, resources were scarce, and their efforts seemed fruitless. Haggai makes it clear that neglecting God’s work had contributed to their struggles. In Haggai 2:4, God’s encouragement is clear: “Be strong and work, for I am with you.” This promise reminds...

This 18 part series explores the main moments in the Bible. This is a long story that takes place over thousands of years.  It’s the story of all the ways that God has been trying to rescue and bless and love God’s people since the beginning of time.  It’s the story that has been passed down and shared with billions of people.  It’s a story that was written for everyone to hear, and at the same time it’s a story written specifically just for you. This chapter of the story is about Teachings and Miracles. During his earthly life, Jesus did all that he could to show people what God is really like.  He was often critical of the religious leaders of the day, who were sometimes teaching people that they had to say the right prayers, or do all the right steps in order to be good enough for God to love them. But Jesus didn’t teach like this.  Jesus told the people t...

This 18 part series explores the main moments in the Bible. This is a long story that takes place over thousands of years.  It’s the story of all the ways that God has been trying to rescue and bless and love God’s people since the beginning of time.  It’s the story that has been passed down and shared with billions of people.  It’s a story that was written for everyone to hear, and at the same time it’s a story written specifically just for you. This chapter of the story is about Emmanuel. Throughout history, God has been trying to form a relationship with God’s people.  God was always looking for humans to carry forward God’s ways of compassion and mercy and justice.  But the cycle kept repeating.  God’s people would be faithful and then forgetful.  God was looking for a group of people to bring forth the message of God to all people, but so often God’s people turned i...

This 18 part series explores the main moments in the Bible. This is a long story that takes place over thousands of years.  It’s the story of all the ways that God has been trying to rescue and bless and love God’s people since the beginning of time.  It’s the story that has been passed down and shared with billions of people.  It’s a story that was written for everyone to hear, and at the same time it’s a story written specifically just for you. This chapter of the story is when the Cycle Repeats. The Restoration of Israel was not the end of the story.  The cycle of unfaithfulness and forgetfulness would repeat itself and the next time, a Babylonian army would come through and force the Israelites into exile again.   The story of Israel is one of God’s guidance and blessings followed by forgetfulness and unfaithfulness followed by God’s gracious forgiveness and restoration. ...

This 18 part series explores the main moments in the Bible. This is a long story that takes place over thousands of years.  It’s the story of all the ways that God has been trying to rescue and bless and love God’s people since the beginning of time.  It’s the story that has been passed down and shared with billions of people.  It’s a story that was written for everyone to hear, and at the same time it’s a story written specifically just for you. This chapter of the story is about Restoration. After many long years in Exile, the Israelites were eventually returned to their promised land.  It wasn’t the same as before, and Israel would never again be the great nation it once was, but as you may well know, the joy of coming home is still a special kind of jubilation.     But along with the return to their homeland also came the difficult work of rebuild...

This 18 part series explores the main moments in the Bible. This is a long story that takes place over thousands of years.  It’s the story of all the ways that God has been trying to rescue and bless and love God’s people since the beginning of time.  It’s the story that has been passed down and shared with billions of people.  It’s a story that was written for everyone to hear, and at the same time it’s a story written specifically just for you. This chapter of the story is about Exile and the Prophet's Hopefulness. The Assyrians, a powerful army, besieged Jerusalem and defeated Israel. Many of the people of Israel were forced into exile. The fall of Israel and the forced exile of God’s People was a time of great suffering and pain.  It was as if the Israelites were back in Egypt once again.  In exile, they could not worship God fully.  They could not live freely.  They...