A good question to ask ourselves is: Why do we attend our church? Hopefully, it’s not just because it’s where we grew up, but because we see something worthwhile here. The emphasis of the Great Commission is discipleship, not just conversion. Our focus shouldn’t be on what is the bare minimum to get to heaven or only doing the things that make sens…

A good question to ask ourselves is: Why do we attend our church? Hopefully, it’s not just because it’s where we grew up, but because we see something worthwhile here. The emphasis of the Great Commission is discipleship, not just conversion. Our focus shouldn’t be on what is the bare minimum to get to heaven or only doing the things that make sens…

How can we, as a church, bless and be an encouragement to each other? Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, commends them for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. He also thanks God for them and prays for them. It is extremely important that a body of believers should be known for speaking good and not evil of each other. S…

How can we, as a church, bless and be an encouragement to each other? Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, commends them for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. He also thanks God for them and prays for them. It is extremely important that a body of believers should be known for speaking good and not evil of each other. S…

Acts 1–5 is a picture of a vibrant, healthy church. These events took place within 4–6 months of Christ’s resurrection. Acts 2 describes the coming of the Holy Spirit “as of a rushing mighty wind” and “divided tongues, as of fire” that sat on each person, and “they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spiri…

Acts 1–5 is a picture of a vibrant, healthy church. These events took place within 4–6 months of Christ’s resurrection. Acts 2 describes the coming of the Holy Spirit “as of a rushing mighty wind” and “divided tongues, as of fire” that sat on each person, and “they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spiri…

Historically, cynics were thought to be crazy since they didn’t seem to care much about the necessities of life or doing work that was productive. Cynics today seem to be selfish and only interested in themselves. They are sure that nothing will work out well and everything in life is discouraging or depressing. Older people tend to be more cynical…

Historically, cynics were thought to be crazy since they didn’t seem to care much about the necessities of life or doing work that was productive. Cynics today seem to be selfish and only interested in themselves. They are sure that nothing will work out well and everything in life is discouraging or depressing. Older people tend to be more cynical…

The reason people struggle to stop doing the bad things they say they want to stop is that their choosing capacity is not an independent part of them that lives in a separate room of their house and can just choose the right thing no matter what is going on in other rooms of their house. What this means is that will alone cannot carry us to change …

The reason people struggle to stop doing the bad things they say they want to stop is that their choosing capacity is not an independent part of them that lives in a separate room of their house and can just choose the right thing no matter what is going on in other rooms of their house. What this means is that will alone cannot carry us to change …

I John 2:6 – When we read the Gospels, we should ask ourselves if we have any resemblance to Jesus. John 4 – Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman can challenge us in several ways. 1) First challenge: Do I engage with people the way Jesus did? Jesus did not avoid this potentially awkward conversation. He showed interest and concern and made the…

I John 2:6 – When we read the Gospels, we should ask ourselves if we have any resemblance to Jesus. John 4 – Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman can challenge us in several ways. 1) First challenge: Do I engage with people the way Jesus did? Jesus did not avoid this potentially awkward conversation. He showed interest and concern and made the…

Jesus is the light of the world. The opposite of darkness is light. You can hide in the darkest closet, light a candle, and the darkness is gone. Many people live in darkness because they are afraid of light. Light exposes sinful deeds. Things that we are trying to hide will eventually be made known. Light also shows us the way along a dark path so…

Jesus is the light of the world. The opposite of darkness is light. You can hide in the darkest closet, light a candle, and the darkness is gone. Many people live in darkness because they are afraid of light. Light exposes sinful deeds. Things that we are trying to hide will eventually be made known. Light also shows us the way along a dark path so…

In the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 5 we see that the Corinthians had a poor response to sin in the church. A man, who “has his father’s wife,” is being allowed to continue to participate in the life of the church (v. 1). Rather than mourning the sin of this man, the Corinthian believers are puffed up and arrogant (v. 2). Paul provides instruc…

In the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 5 we see that the Corinthians had a poor response to sin in the church. A man, who “has his father’s wife,” is being allowed to continue to participate in the life of the church (v. 1). Rather than mourning the sin of this man, the Corinthian believers are puffed up and arrogant (v. 2). Paul provides instruc…

Steve began his sermon with the story of Robert Reid, who, though afflicted with cerebral palsy, graduated from Abilene Christian University and then, though severely handicapped, traveled to Portugal where he found someone to feed him, someone to wheel him to a park, and spoke to people for hours every day! He learned fluid Portuguese and, over th…

Steve began his sermon with the story of Robert Reid, who, though afflicted with cerebral palsy, graduated from Abilene Christian University and then, though severely handicapped, traveled to Portugal where he found someone to feed him, someone to wheel him to a park, and spoke to people for hours every day! He learned fluid Portuguese and, over th…

Proverbs 14:1 – A wise mom is a builder, and creates something that will bless a lot of people for a long time. II Timothy 1:5 – Timothy’s mom and grandmother played a major role in his spiritual development. Faith isn’t passed on to the next generation unintentionally. See II Timothy 3:15. Luke 1:28-38 – Jesus needed a good mom, and Mary was one b…

Proverbs 14:1 – A wise mom is a builder, and creates something that will bless a lot of people for a long time. II Timothy 1:5 – Timothy’s mom and grandmother played a major role in his spiritual development. Faith isn’t passed on to the next generation unintentionally. See II Timothy 3:15. Luke 1:28-38 – Jesus needed a good mom, and Mary was one b…

Ephesians 2:10

There is a difference between knowing and believing truth with the mind, and feeling and believing truth with the heart. People cannot be changed into the likeness of Christ, cannot grow and change, by believing falsehood. According to Scripture, Christ, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit are the sources of spiritual truth. You cannot interpret and app…

There is a difference between knowing and believing truth with the mind, and feeling and believing truth with the heart. People cannot be changed into the likeness of Christ, cannot grow and change, by believing falsehood. According to Scripture, Christ, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit are the sources of spiritual truth. You cannot interpret and app…

Titus 2:3-5

Genesis 27 begins with Isaac who is sure he is dying, although he did live for 50 more years. But he was feeble and blind. Isaac decided that now was the time to give his blessing to his favorite son Esau. He called Esau to him and gave him instructions to bring him savory food. But Rebekah overheard this and wanted Jacob to get the blessing. So Re…

Genesis 27 begins with Isaac who is sure he is dying, although he did live for 50 more years. But he was feeble and blind. Isaac decided that now was the time to give his blessing to his favorite son Esau. He called Esau to him and gave him instructions to bring him savory food. But Rebekah overheard this and wanted Jacob to get the blessing. So Re…

Romans 8, Ephesians 5, I Timothy 2-3

Genesis 1-3

A healthy church is made up of people who are in close communion with God and each other. I John 1 – Jesus is our basis for this communion. Communion with God enables us to walk in the light and have fellowship with each other. In our communion with God we receive incredible resources not available to those who are in darkness; but we still need fe…

A healthy church is made up of people who are in close communion with God and each other. I John 1 – Jesus is our basis for this communion. Communion with God enables us to walk in the light and have fellowship with each other. In our communion with God we receive incredible resources not available to those who are in darkness; but we still need fe…

Daniel 3:15-182 Corinthians 1:3-5

Sin blocks/hinders fellowship with God. Repentance clears sin away, opening the way and restoring fellowship with God and joy. Walking in the light of fellowship with Christ is the life of a penitent. In the Light they see their sins. They’re sensitive to sin and repent of it to keep fellowship flourishing. (Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:4-9). What makes up …

Sin blocks/hinders fellowship with God. Repentance clears sin away, opening the way and restoring fellowship with God and joy. Walking in the light of fellowship with Christ is the life of a penitent. In the Light they see their sins. They’re sensitive to sin and repent of it to keep fellowship flourishing. (Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:4-9). What makes up …

Luke 24:1-12

Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:41-44, Revelation 19:1-16

Scripture commands believers to turn from sin to righteousness many times. Examples of this are found in Romans 6, Eph. 4:17-32, and Phil. 2:12-13. Romans teaches us that in principle, in God’s reality, a person’s habits of sin die when they are co-crucified with Christ. If a person wants to stop sinning, it is helpful to know and believe that the …

Scripture commands believers to turn from sin to righteousness many times. Examples of this are found in Romans 6, Eph. 4:17-32, and Phil. 2:12-13. Romans teaches us that in principle, in God’s reality, a person’s habits of sin die when they are co-crucified with Christ. If a person wants to stop sinning, it is helpful to know and believe that the …

Luke 13:6-9

Luke 13:1-5

Many of us have often wished we could read a letter from Paul “to the Church at Gladys.” Although that is, unfortunately, impossible, we can learn from the circumstances, struggles, and successes of the Corinthian church and apply it to our own situation here. 1 Corinthians begins with Paul praising God for the many rich blessings the Corinthians h…

Many of us have often wished we could read a letter from Paul “to the Church at Gladys.” Although that is, unfortunately, impossible, we can learn from the circumstances, struggles, and successes of the Corinthian church and apply it to our own situation here. 1 Corinthians begins with Paul praising God for the many rich blessings the Corinthians h…

When we face difficulty, we ask why God allows misfortune in my life. A better question would be, how does God want to use adversity in my life? What would He like to accomplish? Misfortune is the wrong word to use because it is too early to tell. Is God present and active in our difficulties or is he the cause of them? Heb. 11:7; I Pet. 1:7. We te…

When we face difficulty, we ask why God allows misfortune in my life. A better question would be, how does God want to use adversity in my life? What would He like to accomplish? Misfortune is the wrong word to use because it is too early to tell. Is God present and active in our difficulties or is he the cause of them? Heb. 11:7; I Pet. 1:7. We te…

The ultimate witness to the world is the love believers have for one another in the life of the church. How do we maintain harmony? Most churches do not have brotherhood. They do not pursue brotherhood. Instead, they have either individualism (everyone does what works for them) or they have family first (whatever works for my family matters more th…

The ultimate witness to the world is the love believers have for one another in the life of the church. How do we maintain harmony? Most churches do not have brotherhood. They do not pursue brotherhood. Instead, they have either individualism (everyone does what works for them) or they have family first (whatever works for my family matters more th…

2 Corinthians 8:7

God wants us to know Him as He truly is, and Jesus is the accurate revelation of God. Believers are the last revelation of God. If you would experience a great disappointment, would it be distressing to you to know that God knows? I ask this question because there is a strong emphasis among us: you have to strive perfectly to enter in; you have to …

God wants us to know Him as He truly is, and Jesus is the accurate revelation of God. Believers are the last revelation of God. If you would experience a great disappointment, would it be distressing to you to know that God knows? I ask this question because there is a strong emphasis among us: you have to strive perfectly to enter in; you have to …

The post Another Trip to the Altar appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.By Bethel Mennonite Church

The post Another Trip to the Altar appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.By Bethel Mennonite Church