The prediction business is deeply flawed, because we are deeply flawed, and our wishes easily worm their way into our predictions. Scientists have long understood that the presence of…
Bible Text: Matthew 16:21-28 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | When Jesus takes time to explain things, it’s time to listen and reflect, not listen and reject. Jesus begins to explain…
Bible Text: Matthew 4:12-23 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | In Matthew’s timeline, Jesus has just returned from his time of temptation in the wilderness. We’ll get to that in about…
Bible Text: John 1:29-42 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | Twice in as many days, John the Baptist points to Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God!” (1:29, 36). Lambs had one…
Bible Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:3-16 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | Second Thessalonians is short. When I first read through the Bible, it was a real relief finally to get to…
Bible Text: Luke 17:11-19 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | One of my hardest ministry moments so far was when a very involved member (not here at Bethel) told me that…
Bible Text: Luke 14:25-33 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | Well, our translation says unless we love Jesus more (14:26). You may remember that Jesus says hate: unless you hate your…
Bible Text: Luke 12:32-40 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | I pastored a church in Illinois, right out of seminary. A fellow pastor in that presbytery served two congregations. Those of…
Bible Text: Acts 9:1-20 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | Saul didn’t know Jesus. Blind, thrown down in the dust there on the road, Saul calls the one speaking to him…
Bible Text: John 13:1-17 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Life happens, and we wonder what God…