Bethany Church

Many have asked, why didn’t Jesus or Paul call for the immediate abolishment of slavery? This morning we are going to answer this question along with seeing that there is great value in the gospel redeeming the call to servanthood and in shaping the way we respond to those whom we are subordinate.

It is ok to admit that there are differences in the church between the different genders and age groups. By doing so, we can remind ourselves that in the gospel, we in the church are called to relate primarily to each other as family members who love, honor, and care for one another, even as Christ did for us. This morning we look at two topics: the family relationships of the church and care for widows.

Key Text: “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

This morning Paul turns his attention to the identity and mission of the church as truth bearers by focusing on our conduct and confession of Christ. We will also see how false teachers always add to the pure unadulterated gospel and how to spot them.

Jesus Christ himself not only modeled what biblical leadership looks like, but he also designed the way the church would be led by servant-leaders, and leading servants. Today we look at the two official offices of the church, why they matter, how the requirements really apply to us all, and how only Jesus makes leading possible.

What is Paul’s primary concern for the church? That we be a praying people whose desire lines up with God’s desire. This morning we will look at: the CALL to pray, the MOTIVATION to pray, and the IMPLICATION of praying.

God has put in place a design of wide-ranging order for all of creation and human society at all levels. Human flourishing and God’s glory is brought about when we live into, and all submit to this ordering of creation and society. Today we look at the challenging call for men and women, created equal by God, to submit to the God-given order of distinction in their complementing roles within the church. Today we look at three calls. The call to men, the call to women, and the call to us all.

Chapter 1 is all about Paul’s CHARGE to Timothy and the people of God to protect the gospel from the distortions of false teachers which cause division and pride. We are charged to not only to celebrate the gospel, but so work it into our personal lives and churches that we overflow with praise as Paul did, due to God’s grace overflowing in his life. This morning we look at 3 elements of the CHARGE. How to guard, be thankful, and fight.

This week in Sanctification 2.0 we are going to consider how our identity and union with Christ in both his death and resurrection are integral to our change and growth. We will see that it is both by believing in repentant faith, and exercising grace fueled effort, that we can actually live as one who has died to sin and is resurrected with Christ. Your sanctification is certain! Let’s consider two integral truths to sanctification.

When Jesus came to earth, he established a kingdom that transcends all earthly kingdoms. It is a kingdom that exists here and now, but will ultimately be fully realized when Jesus comes back again. We have been invited into that kingdom which is worth far more than anything that the kingdoms of this world have to offer.

To ask how we are sanctified is to ask how we change and grow more in obedience to be like Jesus. How does this process of change take place for the disciple of Jesus? Is it just try harder at obeying the commands of God, or is it a lackadaisical approach to change because we have been saved by grace? It is neither. Real change comes from the gospel being worked deep into the heart. This morning let’s look at two responses to God: moralism and real gospel growth.

Chapter 4 of the Gospel story is a look at the street view response of individuals to the gospel and a future forward look to the Google earth view, restoration of all things. This week we answer the question, how can I be made right, by looking at two sides of the gospel coin of repentance and faith. We will also look towards the end of time as we know it to see FOUR REALITIES about the coming restoration.

Chapter 3 of the Gospel story is the heart of the Gospel. This week we answer the question, what will make things right, by looking at Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection, and the redemption he brings not only to humanity, but to the entire cosmos. We will examine three concentric circles of gospel reconciliation: the personal, the corporate, and the creation.

We began our new series last week exploring the mountainous heights from where we began in the garden as image bearers given life, identity and purpose to shine God’s glory as royal priests on the globe. This morning we look and see just how great our fall was by examining what took place at the center of the garden and a horrific exchange that took place.

This morning we are beginning our new series on the Gospel. Throughout this series we are going to be looking at the Gospel on two levels. One is the personal street view level. The other is the cosmic Google Earth view. My hope is that by weaving the two together we will see that the Gospel is even more than we hoped for. Today we begin where it all started, with God. Let’s look at three foundational truths that answer the question, where did we come from?

Through baptism we see the gospel rehearsed. Just as a person must be submerged into the water and then raised back up again, so also as believers we have been united with Christ and in that union we have died with Christ and been raised back up to newness of life in him. It is no longer you who live but Christ who lives through you.

Sometimes the Lord has to bring us to a point of absolute desperation before we give Him our undivided attention.  In today's scriptural text Christ's disciples had run out of human solutions and had only Jesus to lean upon for help.  God certainly delights in hearing a sinner's cry of desperation resulting from the realization of one's own inadequacy since it is the first step in turning to Him.  God also delights in hearing His own children desperately cry out to Him in their trying times because that is a sign that they remember to whom they belong.  Today you are invited to learn what the disciples did when Jesus calmed the fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee--the Lord can be trusted even in the most severe, threatening, and helpless situations.