Bethany Peerbolte

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Reverend Bethany Peerbolte recognizes her calling is to make scripture relevant to young Christians, and Christians young at heart. She serves as the Associate Pastor of Youth and Mission at First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Michigan. Her blog, Millennial Epistle, seeks to connect scripture to trending topics and contemporary issues. Bethany’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has led her to work with Detroit Pride, The Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, and the National Black Presbyterian Caucus. Bethany holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Divinity degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary.

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

The Ingathering -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B, Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2021

For January 3, 2021:

Chaos Into Order -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11, Psalm 29 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2021

For January 10, 2021:

There’s Bad News and There’s Good News -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2021

For January 17, 2021:

And Immediately, God’s Mind Is Finally Changed -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:5-12 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2021

For January 24, 2021:

Non-Prophet Culture -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111 -- Christopher Keating, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2021

For January 31, 2021:

Dwelling in the Mystery -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9, Psalm 50:1-6 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2021

For February 14, 2021:

Searching for a Sign -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021

For February 21, 2021:

Flipping Tables Sunday -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22, Psalm 19 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021

For March 7, 2021:

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Wanted: Best Friend -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020

As Jesus calls his disciples it seems like he has a criterion for the people with which he wants to

It Is A Puzzle -- John 14:1-14 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020

These verses from John’s Gospel can feel more like a minefield than a hopeful message to teach to ch

Even When You Can’t See Them -- John 14:15-21 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020

Jesus reminds the disciples that they can continue to show their love for him even when he is gone.

Pick the Last First -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2020

Jesus turns the theology of the day on it’s head by saying the people who you thought were left out

Living Water Seeks Out Empty Places -- John 7:37-39 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2020

These verses follow the metaphor of living water flowing from our hearts into the world.

Take the Light with You -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2020

Light was an important commodity in Jesus’ world.

Clean the Mess At the Source -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2020

As Jesus raises the bar on what is considered sinful the foundation of his message is to go to the s

Fighting Racism Is A Big Job, But So Was The Great Commission -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2020

Children are acutely tuned to pick up on disturbances.

Incredible Secrets -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2020

The disciples see Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, and then Jesus tells them to tell no one

Obvious Secret -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2020

Lent can be an odd time for church kids.

You Are Loved More -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2020

Jesus’ audience believed that someone had to be extra special for God to care for them.

Temptation Challenge -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020

Jesus sets the bar high by resisting temptation even from the imagination of the devil.

Before and After -- John 3:1-17 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020

In this exchange with Nicodemus, Jesus is trying to explain what it is to be born again.

Listen Up! -- John 4:5-42 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020

The woman from the well had some great news for people after meeting Jesus.

Illustration

The Immediate Word

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For March 7, 2021:

Jesus On the Throne, Us In the Pasture -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 100, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, George Reed, Thomas Willadsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2020

For November 22, 2020:

Sacrifice or Inconvenience? / Lonely in the Midst of People -- Matthew 26:14--27:66, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16, Matthew 27:11-54, Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Kentina Washington-Leapheart -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2020

For April 5, 2020:

Easter Dawned -- John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 10:34-43, Jeremiah 31:1-6, Colossians 3:1-4, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Easter Day - A -- 2020

For April 12, 2020:

Angels At The Doorway -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46b-55, Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020

For December 20, 2020:

Worship Opens Our Eyes -- Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Thomas Willadsen -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020

For April 26, 2020:

Passing The Torch -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Psalm 148, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, George Reed -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2020

For December 27, 2020:

He Restores My Soul! -- John 10:1-10, 1 Peter 2:19-25, Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020

For May 3, 2020:

Religious in Every Way, or Not -- John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Psalm 66:8-20 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020

For May 17, 2020:

Should I Stay or Should I Go? -- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020

For May 24, 2020:

We Are The 120 -- John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, John 20:19-23, Numbers 11:24-30 -- Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2020

For May 31, 2020:

Trinity of Love, Grace, and Fellowship -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20, Psalm 8 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Thomas Willadsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020

For June 7, 2020:

Laughter’s Healing Art -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Romans 5:1-8, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2020

For June 14, 2020:

Creating a Sense of Injury -- Matthew 10:24-39, Romans 6:1b-11, Genesis 21:8-21, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2020

For June 21, 2020:

An Awful Sacrifice -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42, Psalm 13, Jeremiah 28:5-9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2020

For July 5, 2020:

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Real Value

John Jamison

In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (vv. 14-16)

The Immediate Word

Flipping Tables Sunday

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen

For March 7, 2021:

Flipping Tables Sunday by Katy Stenta — Jesus officially begins his ministry in John with the cleansing of the temple as he walks in and flips the tables of the economy.
Second Thoughts: The Swiss Cheese of Commandments by Mary Austin — Loving God with all that we are and have should make the treatment of other people fall into place.

StoryShare

Forty Years Later

David O. Bales
Peter Andrew Smith

Contents
“Forty Years Later” by David O. Bales
“Signs Or Wisdom Still Allow Discussion” by David O. Bales
“The Guidance of the Law” by Peter Andrew Smith

Forty Years Later
by David O. Bales
John 2:13-22

Semphthenus, to my most esteemed elder sister, Alis, many greetings:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Ways of God

David Kalas

At the beginning of his masterpiece, Paradise Lost, John Milton articulates a part of his task in writing as to “justify the ways of God to men.”1 That may be an ongoing task for us. Fallen humanity is like a perpetual adolescent, always questioning and challenging (and disobeying) the parent. And so there is a continual need for the ways of God to be explained and justified to human beings.

Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2021)

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez

Exodus 20:1-17
None of us are thieves. And so the commandment forbidding stealing does not condemn us! Oh, but it does if you have ever tried to cut a smart business deal, suckered someone to get them to buy your product, or failed to help those in need. Jonathan Edwards explained it this way in his exposition of dishonesty and theft:

The Village Shepherd

How Intelligent Is Intelligence?

Janice B. Scott

There once was a report in "The Sunday Times" about the claims of Francis Crick to have located "the cells of our soul." Fifty years ago, Francis Crick and James Watson won a Nobel prize for their discovery of the DNA double helix, which has been responsible for huge leaps forward in health care and criminal detection.

SermonStudio

The Glory Of God

Elaine M. Ward

It was a new church for Sam. It was his grandmother's church, and because Sam loved his grandmother, he sat on the edge of the pew and tried hard to listen. "Are you saved?" the preacher asked from the pulpit far away. Sam remembered when he had saved pennies for a new plant for Mother on Mother's Day. "Maybe Mother saved pennies for me," Sam thought. The preacher continued, "Will you give your heart to Jesus?" Sam wondered where his heart was. But if Jesus needed Sam's heart he would be glad to give it.

Third Sunday in Lent

Elizabeth Achtemeier

In this season of Lent, we are Sunday by Sunday approaching the foot of that executioner's cross on Golgotha. And I think that sometimes we wonder why it is necessary for us to make that journey. After all, it does not have a pleasant destination. To be sure, human beings often have a morbid curiosity about disasters. We flock to the site of an auto wreck, thereby holding up the traffic with our rubber--necking. Winston Churchill told of the time when a woman remarked on the crowd that had gathered to hear him speak.

The Wisdom Of The Cross

Nancy Kraft

There are some people who have the gift of persuasion. If you've ever seen the Music Man, it's a gift that Professor Hill had as he sold musical instruments to all the kids in town by convincing everyone that they could make beautiful music by just thinking the notes. He was what you'd call a smooth talker, which is a valuable skill for a salesperson. There are also other professions where it helps to have strong verbal skills that can be used for persuasion. Take politicians, for example. Bill Clinton was known as a smooth talker.

No Substitute

David T. Ball

Jesus in the temple -- oh, didn't he show those money-changers who were desecrating the temple grounds with their money-grubbing business? Not to mention the mess that all the livestock were making! Out! Out! Out! He cleared them all out, those traders in things that didn't belong in God's house. And he had every right to do it, we tend to think. Serves them right, despoiling sacred space with their commerce -- profiting off of the desire of the faithful to do something pleasing to God. Exploitation. Good riddance!

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John Jamison

Katy StentaMary AustinChristopher KeatingGeorge ReedBethany PeerbolteDean FeldmeyerThomas Willadsen

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This Week’s Scriptures

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen

David O. Bales
Peter Andrew Smith

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez