Bethel CRC Podcasts

Today we continue our series on the Book of Judges by turning to Judges 14 Samson—Doing it His Way. Samson’s birth story is one of those in the Old Testament where God gives a barren woman a child who will be used by God. The angel tells Samson’s parents to raise him as a Nazirite, dedicated to God for His purposes. However, we learn in the histori…

Today we continue our series on the Book of Judges by turning to Judges 11:1-6; 14-40; 12:7 Jephthah—The Foolish Vow. This is a heart-breaking story of a mighty warrior who is called to be a judge in Israel and save the people from their enemies. But Jephthah has been influenced by his culture in how he understands who God is and makes a vow to God…

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. We will continue our Advent series by reflecting on Matthew 1: 18-25 Joseph: Obedience and Righteousness. Joseph is chosen by God to be the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph is described as a righteous man and a compassionate man at the same time. For Joseph, faith and obedience go hand in hand, all while being op…

Today we return to our series on the Book of Judges by turning to Judges 9:1-15;42-57 Abimelech: The Thornbush. Abimelech is Gideon’s son through a concubine and so he murders all his half brothers in order to rule over the people. His half-brother, Jotham, escapes and then curses Abimelech. Israel is looking and acting more and more like the natio…

Today is New Year’s Day. We will be reflecting on Matthew 4:1-17, Following the Spirit into Uncertain Places. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus was led into the wilderness. The wilderness was a place to meet God and to be shaped and refined by him. Jesus fasts for 40 days, a discipline that teaches self-control and trust in God to provide.…

Annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Featuring reading and Carols.By Pastor Jake Boer

Merry Christmas! We will be reflecting on Luke 1:26-38 Mary and Jesus—God with Us. We will be reflecting on the angel’s visit with Mary, informing her of God’s plan for her to carry his child and give birth to a son, Jesus. The Holy Spirit will come over Mary, giving her a child that is both divine and human, fulfilling God’s promise to the serpent…

We will gather during this Christmas season in a spirit of somber remembrance. While the rest of the world seems to celebrate the joyous occasion, we come to the manger realizing that the world is cold as stone, feelings of loneliness and loss overwhelm, and our heart cries out “help me be strong”. You will be invited not to hide or suppress those …

The Scripture focus will be on Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi: The Nations of the World Come to Jesus. With the coming of the Magi to worship Jesus, we see the beginning of God’s promise to Abraham that his descendant will be a blessing to the entire world beginning to be fulfilled.By Pastor Jake Boer

Today we celebratethe second Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the church year. This year we will be reflecting on People Around the Manger. We will continue our Advent series by reflecting on Luke 2:1-20 The Angels—Heaven and Earth Rejoices. While shepherds watch over the flocks in the dark of the night, they are visited by an angel, who tells th…

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the church year. This year we will be reflecting on People Around the Manger. We will begin our Advent series by reflecting on Luke 2:1-20 The Shepherds—Hope and Wonder. While shepherds watch over the flocks in the dark of the night, they are visited by an angel who fills them with hop…

Today we are continuing our journey through the book of Judges, looking at Judges 6: Gideon—The Lord is With Him. Israel has turned away from the Lord again and now God looks to an insignificant man to be his deliverer, insignificant even in his own eyes, yet God calls him “mighty warrior.” Because Gideon thinks so little of himself, he asks God a …

Today we are continuing our journey through the book of Judges, looking at Judges 7 Gideon—the Three Hundred. Gideon has received the reassurance from the Lord that He truly is God and now prepares to enter into battle against the Midianites. In an echo back to Jericho, God does battle differently than anyone else; first whittling away Gideon’s men…

Today we are looking at Deborah—The Prophetess and Judge. Ehud has passed away, the people once again do evil in the Lord’s eyes. The Lord allows them to be sold into the hands of the King of Canaan who has the powerful general Sisera keeping the Israelites under his thumb. The Israelites cry out to the Lord to save them! The Lord responds by telli…

We are continuing our journey through the book of Judges, looking at Ehud—the Left-Handed Judge. Othniel has died and Israel has once again drifted in idol worship and wanting to be more like the nations around them rather than as a distinct people of God. God allows King Eglon of Moab, with the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites, to conquer Isra…

We will be reflecting on a variety of passages, including Mark 10:14, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:11-12, and Ephesians 1:7-8 Baptism: Washed Clean by Jesus. Baptism is one of the two sacraments that we have been given to us as the church. Sacraments point us to who Jesus is, and what Jesus has done for us, and in us. Baptism points to the new life we …

Luke 5:12-16 The man with leprosyBy Pastor Ken Douma

Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica is filled with encouragement and teaching on how to follow Jesus well. Paul had to flee the city when his life was threatened, but Timothy had remained behind to care for the church. Now Timothy has come to visit Paul and has brought back a really encouraging report about how they were doing, yet there we…

Today we will wrap up our short series on the blessings of mentoring. We will be reflecting on Acts 16:1-5, Paul and Timothy: Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders. Paul comes across this young man Timothy and sees the potential in him since others spoke so well of him, so Paul takes Timothy along with him on one of his journeys to different cit…

Today we are beginning a journey through the book of Judges. We will be reflecting on Judges 1:1-3, 2:1-4, 3:5-11, Othniel – The First Judge. We will look at Israel’s relationship with God as they settle into the land, how they began to do things their way instead of fully trusting in God, how God honours their choices but with consequences, but al…

Today we will continue our short series on the blessings of mentoring. We will be reflecting on Acts 9:19-31: Barnabas & Paul, Recognizing Potential. Paul, still called Saul, was bringing a lot of people to Jesus in Antioch. The Apostles in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to check out Saul. Many of them were still scared of Saul because he had been such a …

Today we have the pleasure of having Ron deVries, Youth Ministry Catalyzer for Faith Formation Ministries deliver a message from Acts 4:5-13, Do You Remember When…? We will focus on the need to move from a place of worldly hope to one focused on the resurrected Jesus Christ. Jesus often finds ways to remind us that he has not left us, that he is pr…

Today we will be starting a short series on The Blessings of Mentoring. We will begin by reflecting on 2 Kings 2:1-15, Elijah and Elisha: Walking Together. Elijah knows that the Lord will be taking him home to heaven and begins a journey to the Jordan River where this is going to take place. Elisha, who was chosen by Elijah with God’s guidance to b…

This is Labour Day weekend, and today we will be reflecting on Genesis 1:26-31 & James 2:14-19, The Goodness of Work. We are created to work, to take care of this amazing creation of God’s. We are created in the image of God. We are given the gift of imagination, insight into who God is and his presence in the world. We were given this gift to reco…

Today we are wrapping up our summer series on Women in the Old Testament, looking at some of the most important and impactful women in Jewish Biblical history. We will be reflecting on Esther 7, Esther: The Clever Queen. Esther finds herself queen in the greatest empire of the time, queen to the king of Israel’s enemy. The king is not a wise king a…

Today we are we will be continuing our summer series on Women in the Old Testament, looking at some of the most important and impactful women in Jewish Biblical history. We will be reflecting on Ruth 3, Ruth - Humility & Kindness. Ruth’s humility and kindness stands out to Boaz. Ruth’s story happens during the time of the Judges, a time when everyo…

Today we are returning to our summer series on Women in the Old Testament, looking at some of the most important and impactful women in Jewish Biblical history. This week we are reflecting on 1 Samuel 25, Abigail - Wisdom. Abigail is the only woman in the Bible to be described as being both beautiful and intelligent. Abigail uses her intelligence a…

Today we have the pleasure of receiving the message from Pastor Frank de Boer. He will concentrate on Philippians 2:5-11 and Luke 18:9-14, Humbled & Exalted.By Pastor Frank de Boer

Today we have the pleasure of receiving the message from Pastor Frank de Boer. He will be reading from Matthew 5:17-20, Fulfilling the Law. A time of reflection of the how the law is fulfilled in Christ through faith that comes from the heart.By Pastor Frank de Boer

Today we will be returning to our summer series based on Women in the Old Testament by turning to Joshua 2:1-24, Rahab: On God’s Side. Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute who chose God over her own idols. Rahab, and the people of Canaan, had been watching Israel approach and God placed fear in their hearts as Israel set their sights on the land promis…

This Sunday, Pastor Jake will be reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Teaching Our Children to Love and Obey Our God. This is a beautiful passage which calls us to remember who God is and who he has called us to be as his children and people. This involves shaping our thoughts and beliefs, along with shaping the work of our hands through the laws and c…

Today we will be beginning our summer series Women in the Old Testament. We will start by reflecting on Genesis 29:31-35. Leah: I will Praise the Lord. Leah is the first wife of Jacob, but Jacob loves Rachel, Leah’s younger sister. The Lord sees that Leah is unloved and helps her to have 4 sons. Leah hopes that these sons would turn Jacob’s heart t…

Today we have the pleasure of having Pastor Henry Wildeboer leading us in worship. He will be reflecting on John 14:11-14, Even Greater Things…By Pastor Henry Wildeboer

Today we will be completing our series on worship by reflecting on Exodus 24, Sealing our Relationship with God. In this account from Moses on meeting with God and receiving the Ten Commandments, it happens in the context of worship. As part of this worship, Moses and the leaders of Israel meet with God on the mountain and they all see God and God …

Today we will be reflecting on Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost from Acts 2:1-39, The Wind Blows and Fire Appears. We see God on the move as the Holy Spirit comes pouring into the world in a powerful public way. Pentecost is about Jesus equipping us with the Spirit to be his witnesses to the world of the good news found in Jesus. Penteco…

Today we will be reflecting on Jesus’ ascension to heaven, Act 1:1-11, Worship: What Goes Up, Must Come Down. This is a joyous, sad, and even confusing time for Jesus’ followers and yet necessary for them, and us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In returning to heaven, Jesus is also seated at the right hand of the Father and given all author…

Today we have the privilege of having Pastor Frank de Boer from Leduc, AB. He will be delivering us a message from Exodus 20:1-3, Freed to Obey the True God. During the service we will be casting lots for the Office of Elder. May our worship together be blessed.By Pastor Frank de Boer

Today we have the privilege of having Pastor Ron Klok from Edmonton. Pastor Ron will be focusing his message from Corinthians 6:12-20, Body Temples. May our worship together be blessed.By Pastor Ron Klok

Welcome to Bethel! Today we continue our 4-week series on worship by reflecting on Joshua 24:1-28, Worship: Hearing God’s Promises with Anticipation. The Israelites are now in the Promised Land and God has helped them to conquer it. Now it is time to settle down and become a nation that puts its nomadic ways behind them and develop the land and the…

Today we will continue our 4-week series on worship by reflecting on Nehemiah 9:1-15; 26-37, Worship: Confession and Honesty. The Israelites were home again in their own land after 70 years of exile. They have just finished celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, remembering their time in the wilderness. During the feast, the priest Ezra read the Scr…

Today we will begin a 4-week series on worship, as requested by someone through their personal faith plan. We will begin by reflecting on Psalm 81, Worship: Our Relationship with God-Built on Promises. We worship God because of who God is, and because we are commanded to worship. Because worship is based on our relationship with God, worship remind…

It is Easter! The empty tomb is a historical fact upon which the message of Christianity rises or falls. The women in Mark 16 were trembling and bewildered when they encountered it, and we have a hard time believing it ourselves. Yet the eyewitness accounts and the life transformation of the disciples are evidence that it is true. We can believe in…

Today is the sixth Sunday of Lent, which is Palm Sunday, and our theme is Good News. We will be reflecting on Zechariah 9:9-13 and Acts 2:39, Good News: Even Better Than Expected. The king approaches Jerusalem and the crowd shouts for joy as they had for generations and call out for salvation. This is a king of peace who is also a king of might who…

BECOMING THE WAY - A Good Friday Reading by Lee Fennema ~ JESUS ~ Song: Here I Am to Worship ~ BETRAYAL ~ Song: What Wondrous Love ~ TRIAL ~ Song: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross ~ CRUCIFIXION ~ Song: The Power of the Cross ~ BURIAL ~By Bethel CRC

March 27, 2022 Series: Even Now – Return to Me Message: Joy through Sorrow 2 Corinthians 7 : 6 – 13a Pastor Cris HarperBy discoverbethel

March 20, 2022 Series: Even Now – Return to Me Message: With a New Heart Jeremiah 3 : 10-18, 31 : 31-34 Pastor Cris HarperBy discoverbethel

March 13, 2022 Series: Even Now – Return to Me Message: A Foretaste of Heaven Luke 9 : 28 – 36 Cathy FerchauBy discoverbethel

March 6, 2022 Series: Even Now – Return to Me Message: When Renewal Begins with a Return Joel 2 : 12-17 Pastor Cris HarperBy discoverbethel

Today the fifth Sunday of Lent, and our theme is Good News. We will be reflecting on John 12:20-33, Good News: For All. In Jesus’ day, people were divided by ethnicity, gender, and social and economic class. The Pharisees in particular liked to keep people in their place and were disturbed at how Jesus upset the social order (John 12:19). Our cultu…

February 27, 2022 Series: The Good Life Message: Listen to the Spirit 1 John 4:1-6 Pastor Cris HarperBy discoverbethel