Bethel Christian Center

The prodigal is the stereotypical rebellious adolescent who doesn't know how much he doesn't know. He reaps what he sows and learns a valuable lesson in the process. His is the classic story of the great turnaround. If only all prodigal children could get so smart so quickly! This parable has been called the greatest short story ever told. Some have described it as the parables of all parables. Others have called it the gospel within the gospel.

Do you ever feel like portions of your life seem unimportant or meaningless? Sometimes the menial tasks, circumstances, and details in the day-to-day may not seem like they’re preparing us for anything, but they are actually preparing us for a divine set-up. This morning we are going to look at how two Egyptian Hebrews in scripture caution us against taking our circumstances for granted with regards to what God has prepared for you.

The Baptism of Jesus by John

How did the early church turn the world upside down? Jimmy Chapman A supernatural power was loose among them that healed the sick, drove out demons, twice blinded its opponents and made hypocrites fall dead on the spot. Within one generation, only by word of mouth, everyone within the known limits of civilization was reached with the Gospel! Incredible!

Joseph of Arimathea is one of the few who is mentioned in all four Gospels. His deed of giving his own tomb for Jesus burial was foretold by Isaiah in the suffering servant passage. (Is.53:9) “He made his grave with the rich.” An overlooked irony is that a disciple of Jesus was found among the Sanhedrin. Not only was Joseph of Arimathea a member of the exclusive seventy, Joseph was a prominent member of the Council. After Jesus death Joseph asked Pilate for the body. Today, I want to look at Joseph’s Character; Joseph’s Concealment and Joseph’s Courage.

The bible has several examples of the depth of a Mother's love and commitment to her children. Whether it is Jochebed, the mother of Moses, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, or the unnamed mother that would rather give up her child than have him killed, a mother's love for her children is a unique love that God gives for her children. Today we will look at the life of another special mother in the Bible. Mary, the mother of Jesus. Although wrongly considered divine by some, Mary was uniquely chosen by God to bring forth the greatest gift to mankind. Jesus the savior of the world.

Max Lucado asks a question. Have you and your congregation been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.

It is my desire that we would understand the benefits of worship. Often, when we come to worship, we are not challenged or changed, and we don’t have an encounter with God.

Each spring millions of people around the world acknowledge, in some fashion or another, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Today, here at Bethel, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

HOSANNA is a word that we hear frequently in worship services, for it is found in many great old hymns and modern spiritual songs. Indeed, it is a word we should hear often, and yet do we all understand what we are singing?

The topic of money and stewardship is always an awkward topic in the church. However, you can't study the scriptures and not know that the bible gives clear direction and commands in both areas. However, this is the most frequent area that church Pastors and leaders are often criticized. How many times have we all heard, "all that church wants is my money!". What the church really wants is for us all to submit every area of our lives to the Lordship of Christ and that includes what is often the most important to us, our money!

The Philippian Christians had learned the secret of joyful, liberal financial giving. The church in Philippi had taken up an offering to give to Paul, in prison because of his faith. Paul wrote back to the church and expressed his joy (see verse 10). Joy, or its derivative, occurs almost 20 times in this letter. Have you discovered the joy of giving? In what ways can giving make you a joyful person? Gary Hardin “Our consumer-oriented society pressures us to place too much value on material things, to the point that our joy is based on how much we have. This approach to life results in chronic dissatisfaction. We never seem to have enough.” Unknown

Words of wisdom: “Giving is a matter of the heart and not the pocketbook.” “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” “God will give to us what will flow through us.” “Our life is to be like a river, not a reservoir.” “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” Four simple suggestions when it comes to giving.

“All over the world the Spirit is moving.” We tend to look at everything from an American perspective when around the world the Holy Spirit is moving as never before. Churches are being built in unprecedented numbers. People are being saved at astronomical rates. They are receiving the Holy Ghost baptism by the thousands daily. In China in any given 24-hour period 30,000 people are coming to Christ. In Sub-Saharan Africa 20,000 and in Central and South America 10,000. Why is that? Because God’s people are penetrating the world with His word that is being confirmed by signs and wonders on a daily basis.

“All over the world the Spirit is moving.” We tend to look at everything from an American perspective when around the world the Holy Spirit is moving as never before. Churches are being built in unprecedented numbers. People are being saved at astronomical rates. They are receiving the Holy Ghost baptism by the thousands daily. In China in any given 24-hour period 30,000 people are coming to Christ. In Sub-Saharan Africa 20,000 and in Central and South America 10,000. Why is that? Because God’s people are penetrating the world with His word that is being confirmed by signs and wonders on a daily basis.

Dr Mark Rutland honors Pastor Don after fifty years of pastoring Bethel Christian Center by preaching on the need to reflect on and perhaps reorient our definition of grace after considering Zechariah 4:7.

Many guests of Bethel visit on a Saturday night to honor Pastor Don for 50 years of service and leadership.

Many voices speak to God's Faithfulness Tammy Smith, Missions Committee- 0:00 iTunes time stamp -1:15:41 remaining Moses Choudary, Missionary to India- 2:07 iTunes time stamp -1:13:35 remaining Johnny Blake, Charter Member- 6:20 iTunes time stamp -1:09:22 remaining Antoinette Master of Ceremonies and Testimony- 13:43 iTunes time stamp-1:01:59 remaining Bethel Kids Angela and Jeremy Fisher, Chip and Shelley Lappert and Ann Fisher- 14:05 iTunes time stamp-1:01:37 remaining Bethel Tots Angela Fisher, Kristen Ferrer and Ashley Smith- 16:00 iTunes time stamp-59:43 remaining Bethel Youth Michael Christy and Jennifer- 17:00 iTunes time stamp-58:47 remaining Jennifer Clark, what is was like to grow up at Bethel 21:21 iTunes time stamp-54:14 remaining Angela Cross, what attracted you to Bethel 30:12 iTunes time stamp-45:45 remaining Felisha Westbrook, on family legacy and "the torch" 32:52 iTunes time stamp-43:08 remaining Dr. Renee Vaughan, Testimony of Jubilee 50:10 iTunes time stamp-25:5

We cannot look at what is going on in our country and not realize that the battle lines have been clearly drawn. The signing of the abortion bill in New York, the comments from the Virginia Governor on infanticide, the drug epidemic in our nation, the chaos in many of our public schools, and the prevailing humanist thought on the college campuses, serve to remind us as follower of Christ that we need the full armor of God. Gone are the days when the society and the word of God and his precepts were mostly in harmony, they are now in direct conflict and the casual Christian will soon have to decide if they will take up the full armor or be overtaken by the enemy and ultimately the culture. Paul writing to the church at Ephesus reminded the believers there that they must put on the full armor of God to fight their spiritual battles and we must do the same.

Being led by the Holy Spirit is at the heart of the Christian life. This is clear in the Bible and in the history of the church. If we let the Spirit lead us, our lives will blossom and flourish. But if we neglect or refuse His leading, our lives will languish. Strangely, many believers today seem to misunderstand the Spirit’s leading and how it relates to personal transformation. A clearer grasp of what the Bible teaches about this vital truth will help us all as we seek to grow in grace. Thomas A. Tarrants III, D.Min.