Bethel Crc Lacombe

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 telling Deborah, (who was leading Israel at the time) to call Barak to be the Lord’s general and go up against Sisera and the Lord will give Sisera into his hands. Barak wants Deborah to go up with him, so the Lord still promises that Israel will win, but that the hero will be a woman instead of Barak. 

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 Israel and make them his subjects. Once again, the Israelites cry out to God. God stays true to his covenant with them and raises up Ehud, a left-handed man, to deliver them from Eglon. Ehud would not have been Israel’s first choice of a hero, but God often uses the unexpected to save his people. 

Luke 5:12-16 The man with leprosy

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 have in Jesus, to having been washed clean from our sins. This invitation Jesus gives to us and our children to come to him. In baptism, it’s not the parents alone who are called to raise their children in the church, it is also part of the promises we make to the families to walk alongside them in leading their children to know Jesus. 

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 were a number of things Paul also still needed to teach and encourage them in. Today is Thanksgiving Day, it’s actually a government holiday, not a church day. Thanksgiving should not be just a one day a year thing, Biblically, thanksgiving is a way of living. On Sunday, when we spend time in worship to confess our sin and ask for God’s forgiveness, every time we hear God’s words of forgiveness and grace, our response is to turn to God and Jesus in a spirit of thanksgiving 

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 cities. Paul invests in Timothy, training him, sharing what he knew and had learned about Jesus, encouraging him as he became a pastor, and challenging Timothy to faithfully engage his gifts and calling. What Paul does is mentor Timothy into his faith, call, and character.  |   

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 also how God never gives up on them as well as looking at the first judge, Othniel. 

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 strong enemy against the church earlier on. Barnabas went and met Saul, saw his potential to do amazing things for the Lord. He took Saul to Jerusalem to convince the apostles to trust in Saul and help him in the ministry Jesus had called him to. Barnabas used his reputation, the trust others had in him, to help Saul and to even join him on a couple of his missionary journeys. Followers of Jesus are always on the lookout for those with gifts for the kingdom of heaven and then they invest in them. Using their reputation, gifts, and life to help them become who Jesus has created them to be.

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 present in our everyday and that our HOPE and identities are rooted in His story.

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 be a prophet, is walking with Elijah. Elijah keeps telling Elisha that he doesn’t need to come, but Elisha insists on walking this journey together. In a strong mentoring relationship, there is a commitment to walk together through the good and the difficult. After Elijah is taken up to heaven, Elisha carries on the work he has been entrusted with and mentored in. 

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 recognize the potential God has placed in creation. We are to develop it in ways that honour God’s work. This call to take care of creation extends in James in caring for each other. If we see a need or injustice and do nothing; our faith is dead. A community shaped on God’s shalom and imagining the kingdom of God is one where we look for the potential in others and create ways for that potential to be developed and realized. Thus, creating fruit filled communities and people. 

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 and is easily manipulated by those around him, which ends up placing the Jewish people in the empire in danger due to a vengeful advisor to the king. Esther is called to use her position and relationship with the king to save her people, cleverly manipulating the king against his advisor. 

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 everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Boaz stays true to God and is drawn to Ruth who has chosen Israel’s God over her own gods from Moab. 

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 and wisdom to save her household from David’s anger, and to save David from engaging in an impulsive and rash act of vengeance that would have threatened his kingship later on. Abigail helps to ensure that David lives into his godly character.

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.

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.

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 promised them by God. We’re often surprised by the people God chooses to work out his plans through, often choosing people we never would. Rahab becomes part of God’s people and even becomes one of the ancestors of Jesus! We will also be installing Henry Eisses as elder as part of our service.

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 commands God has given us through Jesus.

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 to her, but in the end, she comes to praise the Lord rather than depend on a person’s love to fill her heart. 

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…