Bethel Mennonite Church

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 was satisfied with his life. After the lengthy period of mourning for Jacob, Joseph’s siblings were afraid Joseph would retaliate against them for their sins against him. They had never asked for forgiveness, so maybe they still felt guilty. But in all of this Joseph maintained a Godly attitude. He had not forgotten, but he had forgiven. At the end of his life, Joseph requested that his bones be taken to the promised land. He knew that Egypt was just a temporary home and the land of Canaan was where they belonged. Joseph is known for loving and being loved by his father. He is known for his thirteen years of much suffering from the time of being put into the pit until he became ruler of Egypt. He is known for his capacity to forgive. He is known for having no sin recorded against him. We can live a good legacy by living well. Living well requires living intentionally rather than in reaction; telling stories that communicate the truth of our lives and God’s work; being a Godly example for people to follow; building relationships; apologizing when we are wrong; focusing on things of eternal value; finishing well. 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 sin in the church. Jesus gives the church the power to persevere. The gospel will not be stopped. 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, remaining obedient to the Gospel, and working faithfully in hope of harvest. When we’re feeling weak, we should continue to wait on Jesus for strength. We should also be willing to share our struggles with people in the church; not all of the grace we need comes directly from Jesus to us. 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 to us is surprising to God. He gives us choices but knows what we will choose. Many prophecies are dependent on our choices. It might be easy for us to be fatalistic about God knowing the future, as if nothing we do will change the future, but our lives are affected by our choices. It is just that God stands outside of time and knows all that was and is and will be. Things we do affect our children and others, but that doesn’t mean our future is determined by our parents’ past. There is redemption for past failures. Redemption follows true repentance, which includes change. We should never trade liberty for comfort. Our choices and lives matter. We should live thoughtfully and wisely. 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.

The post What Does it Mean to Know Christ appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The post What Does it Mean to Surrender My Will appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The post What Does it Mean to be Led by the Spirit appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The post What Does it Mean to Forgive appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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.

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 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 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.

Two years have passed since the chief butler left the prison. Joseph has been waiting hopefully for a release from prison on the chief butler's promise that he would remember him to Pharaoh. The butler forgot Joseph until Pharaoh had a dream which could not be interpreted. Then the chief butler remembered and told Pharaoh […] The post Joseph Gets Out of Prison appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

We each have to choose if we want to follow Jesus. We're not born into God's kingdom—we must decide for ourselves to become part of His family. Being part of the church is not something we inherit from our parents. It's a decision we make when we hear God's call and say yes to Him. […] The post Religious Affiliation appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Our true citizenship is not in any country on earth—it's in the kingdom of God. We may be born in one nation and hold a passport from it, but we are not born into God's kingdom. That takes a choice. When we follow Jesus, we are choosing a new identity, one that doesn't depend on […] The post Citizenship appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

In God's kingdom, money, power, and status don't define who we are. The world may divide people into rich or poor, high or low, but God looks at the heart. Whether we have a lot or a little, each of us is loved and valued the same. God knows what we need and promises to […] The post Class appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

We are all part of one human family. The Bible tells us we come from Adam and Eve, and later from Noah's sons—but nowhere does it divide people by race. That idea comes from people, not God. Over time, society creates categories like “race” to separate and rank people, but that's not how God sees […] The post Race appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

We're reminded that God creates us with purpose, including our gender. He makes us male and female, and both are equally valuable in His eyes. Our world says we can choose our identity, but God calls us to embrace the identity He gave us. Being a man or woman isn't about liking certain hobbies or […] The post Gender appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Prayer is critical to any mission, as exemplified by Jesus and the early church. Jesus' Prayer Examples in Luke: Praying at his baptism (Luke 3:21) Withdrawing from crowds to pray in the wilderness (Luke 5:16) Spending an entire night in prayer before selecting disciples (Luke 6:12) Praying before asking disciples about his identity (Luke 9:18) […] The post Pray for the Mission appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Joseph is in prison along with the chief cupbearer and chief baker. He has been put in charge of everything that goes on there as well as in charge of the prisoners. When Joseph saw that the cupbearer and baker both looked dejected he asked them why they were sad. They each had dreams that […] The post Joseph in Prison appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Brother John continued his series on the Patriarchs with a study from Genesis 37 on the early life of Joseph. He brought out numerous practical lessons for us today, including the harmful effects of favoritism in family life. Joseph's parents and grandparents were guilty of it, and it affected the family greatly. In today's study, […] The post Joseph, The Favorite Son appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jesus calls us to wake up, endure, and overcome. He sees our struggles, our strengths, and our weaknesses. He isn't impossible to please—He just wants us to be fully committed to Him. The churches in Revelation give us examples of what pleases Jesus and what doesn't. Sardis looks alive but is actually dying. Jesus tells […] The post Wake Up, Endure, and Overcome: Jesus' Call to the Churches appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

How can we encourage vision and joy in people, so they don't need to explore and pursue sinful pleasure? Do you experience church as trying to keep the wheels from falling off the wagon, or do you experience church as pursuing an energizing vision, as trying to reach an energizing goal? People who do not […] The post Life – Giving Vision appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The story of Joseph in Potiphar's house in Egypt is an incredible story of one man's integrity and obedience to his God. Joseph was far away from home and alone. What would he do? How did he resist temptation? He knew God was with him. God had been with him even when his brothers threw […] The post Joseph in Egypt appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Who was Rahab? We read about her in Joshua 2. She was a harlot or maybe an innkeeper in Jericho. She had heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea for the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. She had heard how they had destroyed the Amorites east of Jordan. She hid the […] The post Worth Seeking appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

There are several things that are mentioned in this chapter—Jacob's return to Bethel, a birth, and three funerals. When Jacob was told to go to Bethel, there were three things he wanted his family to do: Purify themselves. Change their clothes. Put away their false gods. Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died during their journey. She was […] The post The Journey Back to Bethel appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

In Revelation 1, Jesus is revealed as a majestic, divine King, Judge, High Priest, and Overseer of the churches. Jesus intended those who heard His message to recall this vision of Himself. Ephesus was a church strong in truth and labor but had lost their love; they are called to remember their previous devotion and […] The post How Jesus Evaluates Churches & People appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The broken body and shed blood of Christ, which we celebrate when we partake of the Lord's Supper, is God's solution for sin. We read of two primary sin problems in the Bible: universal sin that is inherited by all the descendants of Adam, and individual sins. The Bible nowhere says that people are delivered […] The post God's Answer to Sin – The Broken Body & Shed Blood of Christ appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.