Bethel Mennonite Church

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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.

Luke 2:8-14 – Angels gave the shepherds a wonderful message. God didn't use angels to spread the gospel. For that, God used people. When the shepherds left the stable, “they made widely known” what they had heard and seen. The message of the angels had become the message of the shepherds. The core of the […] The post Hark the Herald Shepherds Shared appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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Jesus as the Son of God: The Son is what His Father is—He is God. The Son has always been the Son—He is eternal. The Son is the only one who knows the Father—He is reliable. Jesus as the Son of Mary: The Son of Mary is also the Son of God. The Son of […] The post Let Heaven and Earth Combine appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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What happens when true forgiveness does not happen, and what does true forgiveness look like? When Jacob and Esau met, Jacob did not bring up his hurtful behavior in the past or apologize for it. Neither did he ask what he could do to make things right. Esau was comfortable with Jacob and wanted him […] The post Jacob Leaves Esau appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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Forgiveness is not a one-time quick fix for trauma; that is the upfront message that John wanted to convey in this morning's sermon. Forgiveness takes time and effort. Trouble between brothers is not a new phenomenon. We have Cain and Abel at odds soon after creation. In modern history, we have Rudolph and Adolph Dassler, […] The post Jacob Meets Esau appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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To believe Jesus depends on knowing who Jesus is, and we learn who Jesus is in the stories of Scripture. According to John 1:7-13, to receive Jesus is to believe in Him. God gives those who believe Him the authority to become children of God. A person becomes a child of God by receiving Jesus. […] The post The Meaning of Believing appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jesus states that He works as His Father works, and has come to do the Father's will, not His own. Jesus' sacrificial life shows that He is completely authentic and trustworthy; His life never provided a basis for suspicion that He had a hidden agenda or mixed motives. The Jesus of the Gospels is who […] The post Jesus' Identity and Purpose appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jacob had a lot of challenges in his life. His first challenge was with Esau, but then he left home and faced a similar challenge with Laban. It seems that God's intention was to bless Jacob, but since Jacob didn't seem to know that, he connived and deceived people in an effort to get ahead. […] The post Jacob Wrestles appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

History of Anabaptist/Mennonite singing: Some early Anabaptist/Mennonites expressed negative views of congregational singing, but by 1900, four-part acapella singing and singing schools were common among Mennonites, except for Old Colony Mennonites, Old Order Mennonites, and Amish. My early memories of singing and singing at Bethel: My earliest memories of singing are prior to seven years […] The post Speaking to One Another in Songs appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Genesis 31 opens with Jacob hearing Laban's sons discussing how Jacob was stealing from their father. Jacob's flocks had become very large, so he must be stealing. And Jacob also notices that Laban is not feeling kindly towards him like he did when he first came. Jacob has a dream, and in this dream, the […] The post Jacob Flees From Haran appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I Corinthians 11:24 reads, “This is my body which is broken for you,” but in the Gospels, Jesus' statement reads something like, “This is my body which is given for you,” and has the idea, “This is my body which is for you.” Hebrews 9 and 10 say that one difference between the Old Testament […] The post Christ Given for You appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

What kind of person was Jacob? In comparing him with Job, they were both very wealthy. Job was also very invested in his family and in his relationship with God. In comparison, Jacob seems more invested in material gain. He doesn't seem to be around much with his family. The story as told in Genesis […] The post Jacob in Haran appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Psalm 36:7-9 – God wants to satisfy us with the fullness of His house, but we are often interested in a lot less. In the John 4 story of the healing of the nobleman's son, Jesus was concerned about the shallow faith of the people of Galilee. The nobleman, however, exhibited the kind of faith […] The post Two Concerns of Jesus appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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Jacob was fleeing from his home, traveling to his Uncle Laban's place in Haran. Officially, he was going to find a wife, but he was also fleeing from his brother's anger. He stopped for the night under the stars, with a stone for a pillow, and as he slept, he had a dream. In his […] The post Jacob Meets Laban appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Life is filled with challenges; what kind of person does well during a crisis? James 1 tells us that those who have faith grow through trials, but those who are double-minded cannot rely on God. Daniel is an example of James 1 applied—he faced trials and received wisdom and strength. Daniel's hymn of praise in […] The post Facing Life's Challenges appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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Why do we do what we do? People around us may think we are weird. Even if the culture around us changes, that does not mean that we need to change. We must never elevate our practices to be equivalent with the Bible, but they can still be beneficial. Some Biblical mandates for Biblical practices: […] The post Why I Am an Anabaptist – Applications appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The book of Nehemiah is the account of the Jews rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem 280 years after the Assyrians had deported the 10 northern tribes and scattered them over the known world. Nehemiah was a cupbearer for the king of Persia when he heard about the challenges his people were experiencing in Jerusalem, so […] The post Courage Amidst the Challenge appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

A good question to ask ourselves is: Why do we attend our church? Hopefully, it's not just because it's where we grew up, but because we see something worthwhile here. The emphasis of the Great Commission is discipleship, not just conversion. Our focus shouldn't be on what is the bare minimum to get to heaven […] The post Why I Am an Anabaptist – Theology appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

How can we, as a church, bless and be an encouragement to each other? Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, commends them for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. He also thanks God for them and prays for them. It is extremely important that a body of believers should […] The post Blessings & Encouragement appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.