Audio - Bethel Worship Center

Pastor Javin's wife Jenny unpacks for us that a A Proverbs 31 woman is a Wise Warrior who is Willing to Work to contribute to the Wealth of her family and community.

We look scripturally at what it means to be a woman of God. God created females for a purpose and with a purpose. In this week we look at what it means for a woman to be a helpmate, humble and holy. God created women with humble beauty, set apart from the world as indispensable, invaluable helpers to do what God has called us to do together for his kingdom.

Jesus declared himself the true vine. If you're feeling dry and unproductive in your life, if you're trying to find joy, abide in him and you will produce much fruit. You will overflow with joy.

Right before Jesus was arrested and headed towards his crucifixion and resurrection, he explained to the disciples why he was doing what he was doing. This was a very confusing and difficult time for them, but Jesus declared himself the way, the truth and the life. He is the way to the Heavenly Father, the truth by which our life should stand on, and the fullness of life we long for. Applying this to your life, he's the way you're trying to get to, the truth you're trying to find and the life you're wanting to live. All answers are found in a relationship with Him.

In one of the most famous accounts from the gospels, the time Jesus called a man named Lazarus out of his grave, Jesus declared himself the resurrection and the life. By calling Lazarus from his grave, and then walking out of his own after being crucified on a cross, Jesus proved who he was by defeating our greatest threat - death.

Jesus didn't just call himself the gate, or the door, for the sheep. Right after he gave that declaration he said, “I am the good shepherd.” He is there to lead us, care for us, pick us up, and protect us. He pursues us so that we can follow him.

After Jesus healed the man who had been born blind, he proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, the promised Messiah. The Pharisees were indignant and kicked the former blind man out of the temple. Jesus found him and in a conversation with him said, “I am the door (gate).” Jesus's declaration proclaims that he is the entrance to salvation, to freedom and to abundant life.

During one of the Jewish festival's while Jesus was in his earthly ministry, the Festival of Booths, he made his second I Am proclamation. Jesus declared himself the light of the world. We do not have to stay in darkness. Through Christ we can see more clearly.

In one of Jesus' I Am declarations he said, “I Am the bread of life.” The appetites of our soul will never be fully satisfied by our own effort. Christ is the only one who can fulfill the hunger and thirst of our soul.

We have an opportunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not an impersonal one. The more we hunger and thirst for him, the more we should long to know who he is. Jesus revealed his identity through seven different I Am statements that John points out in his gospel. This name has a deep meaning. Join us as we explore who Christ is. God introduced himself to his people as the I Am from his early on, and when Jesus was here on this earth he introduced himself as the I Am. We can have a personal relationship with the God of creation, the one who is sufficient in every way we are inadequate. The more we realize who he is the more we begin to be at peace when we are not enough, because He is!

One other word in the Greek language for love is Storge. This love is a familial love. The Spirit of God enables us to have a love for our family and wants us to experience the care of a family, whether that's family by blood or the blood of Christ.

Another word in the Greek language for love is Agape. This love is an unconditional, sacrificial and generous love. The more we remain in the unconditional love of God, the more that love will be produced in us.

Another word in the Greek language for love is Phileo. Phileo love is a friendship love. God himself has shown us this love and longs to receive this love from us. This is a love that goes two ways and allows us to face life better and grow stronger.

We've probably all asked or pondered the question, "what is love?" In our language, we have the one word, but the Greek uses four different words for love that can help us dive a little deeper into what genuine love looks like. Join us as we jump into this season of love! One of the words in the Greek language for love is Eros. Eros love is a passionate romantic and intimate love that has been created by God and meant to be a beautiful thing. This is a love God created but the world perverted.

We can participate with the body of Christ practically speaking by giving with joy as a body together to make an impact in each other's lives and our community.

We can participate with the body of Christ practically speaking by being involved in Christ centered community growing with one another.

We can participate with the body of Christ practically speaking by serving together to make an impact in our community.

We can participate with the body of Christ practically speaking by sharing the good news of the gospel with others.

God's word is meant to inform us so that it can transform us. We don't just store the information we glean from his word, we apply it. James said we're not to just be hearers of the word, but doers. Join us as we see what we can do, practically speaking, to apply God's word as his church and be a part of what he wants us to be in advancing the Kingdom of God. While every thing about the local church doesn't look exactly like things did when the church began, the principles of the church still remain. We can learn a lot from the early church, one of which was how they were devoted to God, his word, and to each other.

When Jesus was born there were quite a few different visitors to his birth. What may be just as shocking was those that didn't come to see this miraculous birth. Jesus was born into our world to get our attention. How you respond is very important.

King Herod was infuriated when the wise men didn't return to tell him where Jesus was after his birth. In his anger he decided to kill every male 2 and under in Bethlehem. Matthew points out that this act links back to a prophecy from Jeremiah about the weeping of mothers in Ramah, saying that there is a hope for the future, a hope that would bring a new covenant. The good news was born into our dark world, into our pain, so that he could take what causes our pain and die for it on a cross to fulfill the promise of God and offer hope to the world.

Matthew keeps going in his writing surrounding the birth of Jesus to tell us how God led Mary and Joseph to take their new child to Egypt in order to protect him from a horrible mandate that had been decreed by King Herod. Matthew tells us that by Mary and Joseph doing this it fulfills a prophecy from Hosea. We can learn through this that no matter the uncertainty, no matter the wait, following Christ wherever he leads is always better because Christ is far greater than anything else in our life.

Join us as we look at Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus and how he points out that Jesus is the Messiah the prophets were speaking about. Along the way we'll look at Joseph and Mary's commitment to trust God, their obedience to follow him, and the hope we now have. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a virgin birth that would change the world. Matthew tells us that this birth happened through a young girl named Mary who was betrothed to be married to a young man named Joseph, who was in the line of David. Mary and Joseph's trust in God and willingness to yield their life to his will is remarkable. What can we learn from them?

This Sunday Pastor Caleb, our student pastor, reminds us of what Jesus told his disciples - the harvest is ready, we have to be willing to work it.

Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians with a very compelling call and a reminder that the gospel teaches us that love requires something from us. We have a call to to hold each other accountable and help encourage each other in our faith journeys.

As we move into Galatians 5 we see Paul's theme come to full light - our freedom in Christ. Christ has set you free and one of the greatest freedoms you have now is to pursue a relationship with the one who pursued you through the cross to purchase your freedom.

Paul calls back to Abraham again and this time references Sarah and Hagar and how they went about trying to bring to fruition the promise of God. Even when we feel like we're in a barren place in our life, we have to trust Christ to bring to completion what he's started in us through salvation.

Paul transitions his conversation to show the Galatians what their relationship to God and the law is under Christ. We are not to look at our relationship with God as if we are servants trying to pay off a debt. Instead, Paul again talks about the Holy Spirit and reminds them that the Holy Spirit unites us with the Father as a child of God. In Christ, you are a child of God, an heir to the promises of God.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul asks and then answers the question that so many of us ask, what is the purpose of the law? Why was it given? Does it still have a purpose? While the law is not what saves us, it points us to the one who does. We now live under a new covenant through Christ empowered by the Spirit to honor God. Everyday we need to clothe ourselves in Christ.

As we move into Galatians 3 we see even more Paul's frustration with what the Galatians have allowed the Judaizers to do th them. He wants to remind them, and us, that the grace we receive at the starting line of faith is what powers us through the finish line.

In his letter to the Galatians Paul shows us how God freed him to live from His grace and not allow the fear of man to control how he lived his life. Paul also had a strong enough relationship with Peter and other church leaders to point out when their life wasn't reflecting the gospel. We live this life from the approval of God not for the approval of man, but we do need to give room to others to speak into our life when our life is not reflecting the gospel.

Paul shares his transformation story with the Galatians and further verifies the truth of the gospel and it's power to transform. In Christ we all have, or can have, a transformation story that points to the gospel story.

This series takes a look at Paul's letter to the church of Galatia. The theme throughout his letter is about the freedom we have through Christ. It's not a freedom to live however we want. It's a freedom from the penalty and the power of sin. It's a freedom to live how he has created, and called us to live, in relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ empowered by the Spirit. Paul starts strong out of the gate in his letter to the Galatians, but Paul only starts this way because he's so passionate about the gospel. The Galatians were listening to outside voices that wanted to add stipulations to their salvation in Christ. We have to be careful who we allow to influence our faith. If we're not, we can find ourselves in a similar place as the Galatians. When it comes to eternal salvation, faith in Christ plus anything ruins everything.

This generation is often a very digitally connected but a relationally disconnected and lonely generation. We were created for relationship but we can also turn our loneliness into aloneness with God.

We cannot allow cancel culture in this generation to keep us quiet about our faith. Believe deeply and do not be ashamed to speak and live boldly from a heart of brokenness that loves others.

This week, our Student Pastor, Pastor Caleb, shares how there is a battle in this generation to favor "my truth" over "the truth." The truth of the matter is though that there is only the truth and that's found in Jesus Christ.

This week, Pastor Brandon Teachey from Overflow Church in NC came to remind us that God is a generational God and it is our call as a follower of Christ to have generational interaction, conversation, and engagement, passing the baton of faith to the next generation.

For us as followers of Christ to not passionately share what we believe from one generation to the next is wrong. It's important for us to understand what this generation is facing and challenge ourselves individually with the question - how can I as a part of my generation link arms with another generation to do what we are called to do and share the goodness of God from one generation to another. Don't allow your generation to be a part of the problem for the next generation by refusing to reveal the God who never changes to a new generation with new struggles.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be strong supporters of Jesus Christ and his kingdom. How do we do that in a nation of multiple parties who have believers and followers of Christ within them all? Do the actions of our life reflect a life lived under God or under nation? What should unite us is not our politics but our identity in Christ, our call as his followers and our commission to grow the kingdom of God.

Prayer is our opportunity to give to God what's a burden to us. We have the faith to believe He can do in his power whatever needs to be done, and we trust His will as the Sovereign God.

What do we do in the middle space between desire and fulfillment? We have to remember God is working even in the middle space and our patient endurance is worth it.

Life is temporary and so is the stuff we acquire in this life. Do we trust in our ability to obtain more than we do God's ability to provide? Is our life characterized by generosity or greed?

Even though life is fleeting and fragile, we don't have to live it foolishly and frivolously. Our lives submitted to Christ should be lived in humility, with immediacy and making an eternal impact. Make the most of your mist.

Two individuals that Pastor Javin has the joy of playing a part in their life and their call to ministry shared from God's word on this weekend - July 7, 2024. In the 10:45am service, George Randolph shared with us and challenged us to learn from the faith of Abraham.

Two individuals that Pastor Javin has the joy of playing a part in their life and their call to ministry shared from God's word on this weekend - July 7, 2024. In the 9am service, Matt Burge shared with us and challenged us to consider where we are putting the majority of our life's focus.

Our desire to fight and quarrel reveals more about what's happening inside us than it does what's happening around us.

This Sunday Pastor Caleb, our student pastor, takes us into Scripture to cause us to ask the question of whether or not we're listening more to God's promises or the enemy's threats. God makes promises and the enemy makes threats. Whose voice are you listening to?

Our mouth has the potential to cause problems, but when we are in Christ we can begin to sound more like him.

The salvation we have through the grace of Jesus Christ by putting our faith in him is demonstrated by our actions towards others, no matter who they are.

This year's Summer Reading Series will focus on the book of James in the New Testament. James gives us a lot of helpful instruction on how we should live our lives as followers of Christ. James calls us to live steadfast, holding to God's word, to not show favorites and to have an active faith. He calls us to understand the power of our words, the source of all our arguments, the brevity of our life, the importance of generosity, the value of patience and the power of prayer. James is loaded! Let's dive in together this summer. The trials we face can be tests that reveal our faith or temptations to escape to sin. Submit your desires and emotions to God, seek Him for wisdom, and stand on His word.

Pastor Javin invited a former student from his youth ministry days to share an impactful word with us on this weekend. Kaleigh Ward Cox is a child of God who serves as a wife, mom, career woman and the church where her and her family faithfully attend. In this message she will share how you don't have to be a pastor or missionary to participate in Christ's commission to make disciples, or God's commission to bring heaven to earth.