Bethel Mennonite Church – Gladys VA

What Jesus won us to (to love God and others), He won us by (His love for God and others). Jesus was not a puppet. He surrendered to the Father and the pain of the cross because of His love. We cannot die for and save ourselves, but we can surrender to Christ. Victory is […] The post Our Surrendered Savior appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The church at Jerusalem, where Christianity began, was composed entirely of Jewish Christians. Peter had preached the Gospel to the Gentile Centurion Cornelius, which opened the Gospel to Gentiles. The question, then, was whether Gentile Christians were required to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Galatians addresses this issue. Paul begins his discussion […] The post Beginning Galatians appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

There is a finish line ahead, and not everyone who starts the race runs all the way to it. Gideon started well but stumbled. Solomon began with great devotion and drifted into idolatry. Demas walked with Paul and then quietly turned back, having loved this present world more than the world to come. These are […] The post Are You Running to Finish? appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

We are not meant to run this race alone, and we were never designed to. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and Psalm 23 shows us everything we gain when we follow him closely: rest, guidance, restoration, courage in the darkest valleys, and the overflow of his Spirit. When trouble comes, the call is simple and […] The post Are You Running with Jesus appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Running hard is not just for the gifted or the strong. It is for all of us, and we are running a race where every one of us can win. The great enemy of running hard is not failure but apathy, that slow drift where we stop caring, stop feeding on what is good, and […] The post Are You Running Hard appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

There is a weight we were never meant to carry into the race. Hebrews 12 calls us to lay aside both sin and every burden that slows us down, and there is a difference between the two. Sin must be confessed and put to death, not managed or hidden. Walking in the light, with openness […] The post Are You Running with Christ appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

There is a race set before us, and each of us must run it. Like a trail through the woods, it has a clear starting point, marked boundaries, and a finish line we cannot see from where we stand. The great danger is not that we mean to go the wrong way, but that we […] The post Are You Running Straight appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The cross is a reality for both Jesus and us. The seven sayings of Jesus on the cross teach us the meaning of the cross. “Father forgive them” speaks of the peace God offers those who trust Jesus. “Today you will be with me” speaks of assurance. “Care for my mother” speaks of concern for […] The post The Reality of the Cross appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

We are living in perilous times. The apostle Paul warns Timothy that the last days bring people who look godly on the outside but are rotten on the inside. They say the right things, lift their hands, and quote scripture, but they deny the power of the Holy Spirit. These are not strangers. They creep […] The post 2 Timothy 3 – Perilous Times appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The believer has a calling to walk worthily that is rooted in the provisions of God, not in human resources and effort. The grand and glorious Gospel message is that the believer is chosen, predestined, adopted, accepted “in Christ the Beloved” and redeemed/forgiven, and this chosen and redeemed person is participating in the grand mystery […] The post Walking Worthily appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Christ is a gift-giver. Each believer is gifted, and each gift and gifted person is for a purpose. Rather than judge one another’s gifts, we are called to love and respect other people and their gifts. The purpose of gifts is the growth of God’s Kingdom. Since people exercise the same gifts in different ways, […] The post Gifting for a Purpose appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

This sermon is taken from Ephesians. The first three chapters tell us the divine blessings that make the worthy walk described in the last three chapters possible. The believer is chosen, predestined, adopted, accepted in the Beloved, redeemed and forgiven by the shed blood of Christ, participants in the final gathering together of all things […] The post Walk Worthy of Your Calling appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jesus had a reason for instructing his followers to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We know there is something special about this service and that Jesus is present to minister to us in a special way, but exactly how Christ is present is a mystery. We may not fully understand the mystery, but we know that […] The post The Table of Victory appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I Corinthians 12:31 introduces chapter 13, saying, “and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” Charity is a requirement to honor Christ and bless others. Chapter 13 presents Christian charity–its importance, description, growth in it, and its permanence. Then chapter 14 begins, “Follow after charity” (KJV). Jesus was a GREAT LIGHT in a […] The post Pursuing Charity appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Two of the most important questions facing people of Jesus’ day and today are, “Who is Jesus?” and “What does He want me to do?” John records seven “I am” statements used by Jesus to reveal who He is. John 6 records a sign (the feeding of the 5,000), a sermon (in which He states, […] The post A Sign, A Sermon, A Stumbling Stone appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Approved workers understand that they need to be living out a therefore response to the Gospel (vv 8-10). Approved workers recognize that the way to life is through union in Christ – a union that dies, lives, and endures with Him (vv 11-13). Approved workers avoid the teaching, influence, and behavior of unapproved workers like […] The post Pursuing God’s Approval appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Genesis 50 looks back and ahead. A major focus is leaving a legacy. At the end of his life, Joseph was satisfied. He had lived his life in such a way that he had no regrets. It hadn’t been easy and he had suffered much along the way, but he had lived well, and he […] The post Wrapping Things Up appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 The Holy Spirit is given. The gospel transcends all cultures. Jesus equips his church by giving the church the necessary gifts: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. Jesus is looking for a pure bride so the Holy Spirit exposes […] The post I Will Build my Church appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Psalm 68 – God shares His victory and strength with His people. Ephesians 4:7-13 – Jesus shares His victory with the church, and gives it grace and gifts to equip the saints. II Timothy 2:1-7 – We need to lean on Jesus for the strength to be steadfast. Steadfastness looks like: enduring hardship, staying unentangled, […] The post The Strength to be Steadfast appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jacob’s deathbed prophecies are recorded in Genesis 48-49. The Jews believed deathbed blessings had special powers. These prophecies were prophetic in their own way but didn’t change the future. First Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, after which he blessed his own sons. The applications of the story of Jacob’s deathbed prophecies are: Nothing that happens […] The post Deathbed Prophecies appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Scripture presents a view of salvation (a soteriological vision) that provides a vision for personal and community life at Bethel. This is the view that Jesus Christ shed His blood unto death so that both Jews and Gentiles can be forgiven of their sins, that by trusting Christ as Savior and Lord a person’s faith […] The post The Implications of the Gospel for Bethel appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

II Timothy 1 – are we living our lives according to the promise of life in Jesus? Paul’s Situation: Imprisoned, anticipating death, abandoned by some, yet unwavering in faith. Timothy’s Situation: Ministry challenges, fears, and discouragement; receives Paul’s letter of encouragement and challenge. Paul’s Greeting: God called Paul to the ministry because of the promise […] The post Living According to the Promise of Life appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Often people believe that the reason they can’t achieve their goals is that circumstances conspire against them. But the more likely reason might be a failure to count the cost and do the hard work necessary to achieve the goal. Grace is free, but that doesn’t remove the need for human effort. One reason people […] The post Achieving Our Goals appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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A covenant is more than a contract. Contracts are about “I.” Covenants are about “we.” Covenants are moral commitments sustained by loyalty and fidelity. The Old Covenant included endless sacrifices that looked forward to the New Covenant and the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At communion we look back at Christ’s suffering and sacrifice and […] The post The New Covenant appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Are we truly seeking first the kingdom of God, or are we caught up with the world’s desire for more security financially? Are we able to sleep, or do we worry about the future? Are we laying up treasure in heaven or earth? What if Jesus meant every word that he said? The post What Gets You Up in the Morning and/or Keeps You Up At Night appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

According to Scripture, whoever believes in Christ has eternal life and will not perish, and the person who does not believe in the Son of God is condemned and under God’s judgment (John 3:15, 18, 36). Becoming a believer starts with the realization that I have sinned and need a Savior. Becoming a believer in […] The post Becoming a Believer in Christ appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why does he let people suffer and die? When he lived on the earth, he calmed the ocean and raised the dead. If he is present with us now, why doesn’t he do the same things he did back then? Why does it seem that he is sleeping? Joseph […] The post The Problem of Pain appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I believe Christ’s mission or commission to the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 includes His intention that His disciples disciple one another. Christ says go and make disciples who learn to do whatever Christ wants them to do. Learning to do what Jesus wants us to do is not an easy task. Several hindrances come readily […] The post Making Disciples of Fellow Believers appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The return of Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy more food represents not simply a physical return but a time of repentance. It is obvious that Judah has learned something life-changing since that fateful day when Joseph was sold into Egypt. Now in these circumstances Joseph is threatening to keep Benjamin in Egypt and send […] The post Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

This sermon is to encourage Dads to do well and to encourage children to have good relationships with their parents. Proverbs 17:6 shows us three generations, grandparents, parents and grandchildren, a picture of what God would like to see in families. Even in the beginning of time we see broken relationships between fathers and sons; […] The post Parent Child Relationships appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Just as academic tests reveal hidden facts about our knowledge, tests of the heart reveal the often-hidden state of our heart – whether we love God with all our heart. Three kings gave three tests of the heart. David was faced with conflicting accounts about Mephibosheth, but when he gave half of Mephibosheth’s land to […] The post The Test of the Heart appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Ephesians 3 and 4 both contain passages that talk about growing into the “fullness” of God. Ephesians 4:2,3 names elements that are important for that growth to happen — lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering. When lowliness is missing, our service becomes contaminated, we treat people roughly, we don’t listen well, and we don’t respond to correction. […] The post Virtues for Church Life appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The title for this sermon is taken from Christ’s response to John the Baptist’s disciples who followed Jesus. Jesus asked them, “What do you seek?” and they asked, “Where are you staying?” and they followed Jesus and stayed with him the rest of the day. In these three accounts of Jesus’ encounters with people (Nicodemus, […] The post What Do You Seek appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The New Testament was written to people who lived in the pagan Roman Empire, in which government leaders didn’t care who you worshipped as long as you respected and paid homage to Caesar. The story of Peter going to visit Cornelius demonstrates that Christianity is a worldwide movement that is not bound to any earthly […] The post Is God an American? appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The question is, how does the faith counted for righteousness relate to the fruit of faith? For 500 years, Mennonites have connected faith and its fruit in a way that makes the fruit of faith the foundation of faith, and for 500 years, Protestants have separated faith and its fruit in a way that makes […] The post Championing a Faith that Works Without Losing One’s Faith appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Proverbs 3 emphasizes the need to trust God and be faithful to Him. Solomon talks about three areas in which we need to trust God “above” something else: our understanding, our possessions, and our circumstances. To trust God over our own understanding is to consider who God is and what He may want from us […] The post A Proverbs 3 Challenge appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Good leaders are focused on the welfare of the people they lead, take responsibility for their poor decisions, are under authority, speak truth with love, and lead but don’t push. In the story of the prodigal son, the father didn’t go after the lost son, didn’t berate him, but instead longed and waited and prayed […] The post A Message for Fathers appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The Corinthian believers were not recognizing the Creator’s design and purpose for their bodies. Paul addresses their problem with sexual immorality by making several points: You aren’t asking the right questions. Your bodies are designed for the LORD. Your members are members of Christ. The Creator designed marriage. You must flee sexual immorality. Your bodies […] The post Designed With Purpose appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

What we believe in our minds and what feels true in our hearts determines how we live. Unbiblical beliefs lead to sinful living. This is especially true of beliefs about the relationship between faith and works. Here are five faulty views: True faith requires perfection in all areas of life: obedience, spiritual desire, applications of […] The post Championing a Faith That Works appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt because of a famine. We know that their “going to Egypt” was part of God’s plan, even though God generally warned his people about assimilating into any of the cultures around them. Perhaps God knew they were better off being in Egypt as a people to themselves than being in […] The post Joseph’s Brothers Come to Egypt appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I believe most believers want to experience in their mind and heart what they profess to believe. I also know that many believers struggle to experience what they say they believe. This sermon will explore the meaning of baptism as expressed in New Testament Scriptures that speak about conversion and baptism, and consider whether this […] The post Experiencing the Meaning of Baptism appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Many people start well but don’t finish well. One reason for this is the habit people have of wanting Jesus to be their Savior but not their Lord, the habit of making choices that have disastrous results, results that make it impossible for their lives to end well. In the parable of the soil, the […] The post Finish Well appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Our relationship with God is connected to our relationship to other people. This is obvious in verses that talk about God forgiving us as we forgive others. God considers how we relate to other people. Are we willing to apologize? When trust grows, relationships grow. When relationships are healthy, husbands love and wives respect; parents […] The post Relationships – Do They Matter? appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The impact of Christ’s death on those who experienced it was definitely profound. The words used to describe their response are “affrighted, amazed, afraid, believed not.” These words speak of panic, having a phobia, shock, standing outside oneself. They were confused and hopeless. They definitely had not understood Christ’s words when he said he would […] The post The Impact & Meaning of the Resurrection appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jesus died at the time of the Passover, not on the day of Atonement. God knew even at creation that the people he created would sin and that would require the suffering and death of His Son. And the Father knew what Adam and Eve’s sin would cost Him. What kind of love did the […] The post Greater Love appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The difficult truth of Psalm 23 is that to experience the goodness of God, we need to accept his authority and shepherding. Moses struggled to accept God’s call because he focused too much on his own inadequacies and fears. In spite of having Aaron as a mouthpiece, Moses experienced many setbacks in Egypt because they […] The post The Shepherds Call appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.