Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church

Church Where You Are

Welcome to the weekly devotional ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church!

We offer this devotional tool as a place to help you be "Church where you are" during any given week. Whether you are out-of-town on the weekend, looking for a format for family devotions, or needing something to help you personally prepare for Sunday morning, these devotions are meant for you.

Sunday, August 18

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To get started this week, watch this video: What Wondrous Love is This

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 12:49-56

49 “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain’; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading? Jesus says that he will not bring peace but division! That certainly makes us think doesn’t it?  What might Jesus be saying here? Consider the times and spaces where your faith has caused a divide in your relationships with others? In what ways does following Jesus put you “at odds” with other people?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, August 11

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To get started this week, watch this video: You Are Mine

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 12:32-40

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading? What makes you afraid or what is a cause of fear for you?  How can your faith and trust in Jesus help you overcome or live through your fear?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, August 4

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To get started this week, watch this video: Lay Up Your Treasures in Heaven

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  Gordon Gekko, in the famous 80’s film Wall Street, said, “Greed is Good.”  Is it? Why would he say that? Why does Jesus say what he says?  Discuss the difference between the two.

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, July 28

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To get started this week, watch this video: The Lord’s Prayer (Andrea Bocelli)

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 11:1-13

1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” 5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  When did you learn the Lord’s prayer? What do you want to happen when you pray to God? What do you pray for most often?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, July 21

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To get started this week, watch this video: Be Still (James Moore)

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  How are you distracted from listening to Jesus?  How can you find moments to be attentive to Jesus in your midst?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, July 14

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To get started this week, watch this video: Mercy Came Running

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 10:25-37

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  Try reading this text from the perspective of the man left for dead.  From whom would you accept help in your most desperate moments?  How might this “perspective” effect your interpretation of the story? What might it say about God?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, July 7

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To get started this week, watch this video: Battle Hymn of the Republic

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!’ 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’

16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  What does it mean to be “sent out” as the people of God? How do you live as a “sent” person in your life of faith?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, June 30

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To get started this week, watch this video: Build Your Kingdom Here

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 9:51-62

51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.

57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  This lesson seems “harsh” to our modern sensibilities.  However, for Jesus, there is an urgency about his message and kingdom that, while off putting to us perhaps, also speaks to its importance.  Do you see your life of faith as something “important” enough to put all things on the back burner because of it?  How does your faith shape all the rest of your relationships/decisions/etc.?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for those on the margins, those children in difficult and desperate situations, and for compassion to reign in all ways.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, June 16 – Holy Trinity Sunday

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To get started this week, watch this video: Holy Trinity Song

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

John 16:12-15

12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  The Trinity can be a really “weird” concept; 3 in 1?  Well perhaps a better way of thinking about it is that God is beyond our full understanding, however God has chosen to “reveal” Godself through the image of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is God’s “self-declaration” that we use to try and understand who God is and what God is about.  What does God’s “self-revelation” say about who God is to you?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, June 9 – Pentecost Sunday

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Acts 2: 1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 
17 “In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams. 
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy. 
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  On this day, the Spirit of Jesus is bestowed upon the world.  What do you think about when you consider “the Holy Spirit”? How would you say that you have been touch and gifte by the Holy Spirit? Does this kind of language engage you? Why or why not?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Bethel Lutheran Church

2077 N. Frederick Pike
Winchester, VA 22603
540-662-3245

Upcoming Worship

August 18, 2019
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This Week at Bethel

Sunday, August 18

Join us on Sunday at 9:30 for worship as we welcome back to our pulpit, our seminarian Kyle Duff! The Back-to-School Beach Party will take place at Lake Holiday at noon! All youth are welcome, please RSVP to Pastor Dave (pastordave@bethelwinchester.com).