Podcasts about real christians

Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8Faith rarely falls apart for us because of tragic circumstances. It usually comes from a slow, steady, unassuming fade. Today we look at Paul's last letter for a glimpse at what it takes to build an enduring faith. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) May 11, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

VWhy didn't He take us home as soon as we trusted Him. We were totally forgiven. Washes and cleansed of all sin. Why not take us home while we were perfect and clean? We are here to be His witnesses. The light for the world. The salt of the earth. The redeemed and representatives of the King for all to see. How are you doing?

"Persecution" not only includes severe forms, like torture and martyrdom, but also milder forms, like reviling and slander. Genuine Christians will experience persecution because of our commitment to Jesus Christ and righteousness. The temptation is to deny Christ in order to escape persecution. While this is a serious sin, Peter's denial and restoration shows that God's grace abounds even above such sin.

In this message, Pastor Caleb discusses the importance of submission unto God and spiritual leaders as described in the Bible.  Some ministries and Christians have conducted themselves outside the biblical doctrine of submission yet still declare God's approval.  God does not contradict His Word, so real Christians submit to God's Word and will.  Send us a textSupport the showFor more information for our church visit AGCSparta.org.

In this message, Pastor Caleb discusses the importance of submission unto God and spiritual leaders as described in the Bible.  Some ministries and Christians have conducted themselves outside the biblical doctrine of submission yet still declare God's approval.  God does not contradict His Word, so real Christians submit to God's Word and will.  Send us a textSupport the showFor more information for our church visit AGCSparta.org.

Text: Psalm 95The Book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom, and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) March 23, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Psalm 51The Book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom, and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) March 16, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Psalm 19The Book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom, and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) March 9, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Psalm 130The Book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom, and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) March 2, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

If you want to know how to spot a real Christian, it's actually very simple. A real Christian will truly love and care for their fellow Christians no matter how imperfect they may be. A real Christian must love other Christians.    Unity is a sign of the real love for fellow Christians that Jesus declared was a mark of true discipleship, saying ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' (John 13:35). In other words, you can't call yourself a Christian if you hate or hurt a fellow Christian. You can't speak in tongues on Sunday and oppress people on every other day. It's just not possible if you are a true follower of Jesus (see story of South Arican pastor Frank Chikane).   One of the greatest pieces of evidence that you are a Christian is that you will love your fellow Christians whoever they are…black, white, brown, older or younger, male or female. The love mentioned here is not romantic love but love at its highest and most caring that reveals and reflects God's heart of love.   In the first epistle of John, which we are studying, the last surviving disciple of Jesus repeatedly emphasised that that love for fellow Christians was one of the clearest ways to spot a real Christian. And he is very direct as he explains what this means.  1. Love for your fellow Christians is a commandment (1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1-2; John 13:34; John 15:12; John 15:17) 2. Love for your fellow Christians is a sign that you have left the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-15) 3. Love for your fellow Christians means practically caring for one another (1 John 3:17-18; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 25:35-36; Galatians 6:10) 4. Love for your fellow Christians means being friends with one another (John 15:14-15; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7) 5. Love for your fellow Christians means being open and transparent with one another (1 John 1:7) 6. Love for your fellow Christians means being sacrificial for one another (1 John 3:16; John 15:13; Acts 2:44-47; Ephesians 4:2,32) 7. Love for fellow Christians means first experiencing God's love (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16; John 15:10) Apply   1. Love for your fellow Christians is a commandment. Love for fellow Christians is essential, not optional, for a real disciple of Jesus. It's a clear command (1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1-2). You thought there were just 10 commandments? Well, Jesus says: ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another' (John 13:34; John 15:12; John 15:17).   2. Love for your fellow Christians is a sign that you have left the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light. The opposite to love is hate and if you have hate in your heart towards a brother or sister, it is proof that you are still living in darkness. If you have hatred and anger in your heart, you may not be the Christian that you think you are or appear to be (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-15). So passing from death to life means that you have passed out of living with hate to living with love. Real Christians can't be hate-filled, cruel, critical, bitter, hard-hearted, judgemental and unforgiving towards one another. None of us can afford to have a wrong attitude toward anyone else or badmouth anyone. You must love the person next to you (and if that's a family member, that's even more the case) and you must love the person you may not want to sit next to. It doesn't matter whether you are young or old, man or woman or from different social, economic and racial backgrounds we are called to love one another.    3. Love for your fellow Christians means practically caring for one another (1 John 3:17-18). Jesus loved people and looked out to meet their needs, spiritually and practically. He fed the multitudes with the word of God and with actual bread and fish. Jesus cared for people's souls, and He cared for their physical well-being (Matthew 15:32). Jesus taught His followers to care for the poor, oppressed and marginalised (Matthew 25:35-36). A real Christians must: Feed the hungry; Give water to the thirsty; Welcome the stranger or the foreigner; Clothe the naked and poor; Look after the sick; and Visit the prisoner. So, loving one another means we have a tender heart towards others that moves us to do something to help people in any way we can locally and globally, on a big scale and in our personal interactions. The apostle Paul shows us that practical care starts at home and in the church family (Galatians 6:10). To help the world, first model it in the Christian community.   4. Love for your fellow Christians means being friends with one another (John 15:14-15; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7). Now this is, in fact, a very necessary teaching because people have often been Christians for many years but have no real friends. Many leaders are lonely because they have been taught not to get too close to people. But God does not want a church composed of people who are lonely, formal and insecure but people who are at ease with one another, who can laugh and cry and pray and play together. The disciples were once a bunch of individuals and rivals who had their own agendas and ambitions. But Jesus formed them into a team of friends. The Bible says that to have friends you must be friendly. We have to reach out to another and be faithful to one another. Each one of us should aim not just to have good friends but to be good friends with our fellow Christians, especially in core group of committed disciples.   5. Love for your fellow Christians means being open and transparent with one another (1 John 1:7). Fellowship comes when we walk in the light. So many people are bound because of hidden sins, festering resentments, petty jealousies, judgemental attitudes and so on. All these things must go to move forward in loving one another. Jesus modelled that relationships must be transparent (John 15:15). So too we should be open and not to put up barriers and defences of unreality. Friendship means that we don't just share meetings, but that we meet in sharing heart and life.    6. Love for your fellow Christians means being sacrificial for one another (1 John 3:16). Here John is emphasising what he learned from Jesus directly (John 15:13). True love is not about you and me and what we can receive. But it's about what we will give to others. All genuine love costs something. It may cost us money to help others. The first century church was a very large congregation of thousands of people but it was also a caring sharing community (Acts 2:44-45). It may cost us time to be with others (Acts 2:46-47. It may cost us position to love another. King Saul's son Jonathan was faithful to David when he was wrongly accused, even though it cost his crown. He was prepared to risk opposition and misunderstanding rather than betray David and see a good man destroyed. It may cost us our pride to love one another. You must be prepared to take the initiative to say sorry and be vulnerable (Ephesians 4:2,32). It may cost us our lives. Jesus was prepared to give everything to show His love for His disciples. How far would we go to save our brothers and sisters from harm and danger?   7. Love for fellow Christians means first experiencing God's love. John described himself as the disciple Jesus loved and was totally confident in the love of God (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16). The reason John and the other disciples could love their fellow disciples and believers was because they each knew how much Jesus loved them. They had seen how Jesus prayed for them. They had discovered just how much Jesus believed in them despite their faults and failures and arguments among themselves. They had seen how Jesus loved them enough to challenge and correct them but had always stuck with them. They had seen how Jesus restored them after they had quit on Him. They had seen and felt how Jesus never stopped loving them. Today maybe your greatest need is to truly experience the love of God for yourself. Maybe you find it hard to show much grace and mercy because you haven't experienced much grace and mercy. Maybe you struggle to forgive because you don't know what it is to be fully forgiven. You still carry guilt and condemnation. Maybe you are too hard on others because your own heart needs to be softened by the love of God. Well the good news is that Jesus loves you totally and unconditionally. You may have a hard heart, but He still loves you. You may have lost your way and your passion for God, but He still loves you. You may have a lot of bitterness and anger deep inside you, but He still loves you. And today if you will open your heart to the Holy Spirit, you can receive this love. Today decide to obey Jesus and live a life of love. Ask Him to forgive you, to cleanse you and heal your heart so that you can forgive others and bring healing and restoration of damaged relationships (John 15:10). 

If you want to know how to spot a real Christian, it's actually very simple. A real Christian will truly love and care for their fellow Christians no matter how imperfect they may be. A real Christian must love other Christians.    Unity is a sign of the real love for fellow Christians that Jesus declared was a mark of true discipleship, saying ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' (John 13:35). In other words, you can't call yourself a Christian if you hate or hurt a fellow Christian. You can't speak in tongues on Sunday and oppress people on every other day. It's just not possible if you are a true follower of Jesus (see story of South Arican pastor Frank Chikane).   One of the greatest pieces of evidence that you are a Christian is that you will love your fellow Christians whoever they are…black, white, brown, older or younger, male or female. The love mentioned here is not romantic love but love at its highest and most caring that reveals and reflects God's heart of love.   In the first epistle of John, which we are studying, the last surviving disciple of Jesus repeatedly emphasised that that love for fellow Christians was one of the clearest ways to spot a real Christian. And he is very direct as he explains what this means.  1. Love for your fellow Christians is a commandment (1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1-2; John 13:34; John 15:12; John 15:17) 2. Love for your fellow Christians is a sign that you have left the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-15) 3. Love for your fellow Christians means practically caring for one another (1 John 3:17-18; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 25:35-36; Galatians 6:10) 4. Love for your fellow Christians means being friends with one another (John 15:14-15; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7) 5. Love for your fellow Christians means being open and transparent with one another (1 John 1:7) 6. Love for your fellow Christians means being sacrificial for one another (1 John 3:16; John 15:13; Acts 2:44-47; Ephesians 4:2,32) 7. Love for fellow Christians means first experiencing God's love (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16; John 15:10) Apply   1. Love for your fellow Christians is a commandment. Love for fellow Christians is essential, not optional, for a real disciple of Jesus. It's a clear command (1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1-2). You thought there were just 10 commandments? Well, Jesus says: ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another' (John 13:34; John 15:12; John 15:17).   2. Love for your fellow Christians is a sign that you have left the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light. The opposite to love is hate and if you have hate in your heart towards a brother or sister, it is proof that you are still living in darkness. If you have hatred and anger in your heart, you may not be the Christian that you think you are or appear to be (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-15). So passing from death to life means that you have passed out of living with hate to living with love. Real Christians can't be hate-filled, cruel, critical, bitter, hard-hearted, judgemental and unforgiving towards one another. None of us can afford to have a wrong attitude toward anyone else or badmouth anyone. You must love the person next to you (and if that's a family member, that's even more the case) and you must love the person you may not want to sit next to. It doesn't matter whether you are young or old, man or woman or from different social, economic and racial backgrounds we are called to love one another.    3. Love for your fellow Christians means practically caring for one another (1 John 3:17-18). Jesus loved people and looked out to meet their needs, spiritually and practically. He fed the multitudes with the word of God and with actual bread and fish. Jesus cared for people's souls, and He cared for their physical well-being (Matthew 15:32). Jesus taught His followers to care for the poor, oppressed and marginalised (Matthew 25:35-36). A real Christians must: Feed the hungry; Give water to the thirsty; Welcome the stranger or the foreigner; Clothe the naked and poor; Look after the sick; and Visit the prisoner. So, loving one another means we have a tender heart towards others that moves us to do something to help people in any way we can locally and globally, on a big scale and in our personal interactions. The apostle Paul shows us that practical care starts at home and in the church family (Galatians 6:10). To help the world, first model it in the Christian community.   4. Love for your fellow Christians means being friends with one another (John 15:14-15; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7). Now this is, in fact, a very necessary teaching because people have often been Christians for many years but have no real friends. Many leaders are lonely because they have been taught not to get too close to people. But God does not want a church composed of people who are lonely, formal and insecure but people who are at ease with one another, who can laugh and cry and pray and play together. The disciples were once a bunch of individuals and rivals who had their own agendas and ambitions. But Jesus formed them into a team of friends. The Bible says that to have friends you must be friendly. We have to reach out to another and be faithful to one another. Each one of us should aim not just to have good friends but to be good friends with our fellow Christians, especially in core group of committed disciples.   5. Love for your fellow Christians means being open and transparent with one another (1 John 1:7). Fellowship comes when we walk in the light. So many people are bound because of hidden sins, festering resentments, petty jealousies, judgemental attitudes and so on. All these things must go to move forward in loving one another. Jesus modelled that relationships must be transparent (John 15:15). So too we should be open and not to put up barriers and defences of unreality. Friendship means that we don't just share meetings, but that we meet in sharing heart and life.    6. Love for your fellow Christians means being sacrificial for one another (1 John 3:16). Here John is emphasising what he learned from Jesus directly (John 15:13). True love is not about you and me and what we can receive. But it's about what we will give to others. All genuine love costs something. It may cost us money to help others. The first century church was a very large congregation of thousands of people but it was also a caring sharing community (Acts 2:44-45). It may cost us time to be with others (Acts 2:46-47. It may cost us position to love another. King Saul's son Jonathan was faithful to David when he was wrongly accused, even though it cost his crown. He was prepared to risk opposition and misunderstanding rather than betray David and see a good man destroyed. It may cost us our pride to love one another. You must be prepared to take the initiative to say sorry and be vulnerable (Ephesians 4:2,32). It may cost us our lives. Jesus was prepared to give everything to show His love for His disciples. How far would we go to save our brothers and sisters from harm and danger?   7. Love for fellow Christians means first experiencing God's love. John described himself as the disciple Jesus loved and was totally confident in the love of God (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16). The reason John and the other disciples could love their fellow disciples and believers was because they each knew how much Jesus loved them. They had seen how Jesus prayed for them. They had discovered just how much Jesus believed in them despite their faults and failures and arguments among themselves. They had seen how Jesus loved them enough to challenge and correct them but had always stuck with them. They had seen how Jesus restored them after they had quit on Him. They had seen and felt how Jesus never stopped loving them. Today maybe your greatest need is to truly experience the love of God for yourself. Maybe you find it hard to show much grace and mercy because you haven't experienced much grace and mercy. Maybe you struggle to forgive because you don't know what it is to be fully forgiven. You still carry guilt and condemnation. Maybe you are too hard on others because your own heart needs to be softened by the love of God. Well the good news is that Jesus loves you totally and unconditionally. You may have a hard heart, but He still loves you. You may have lost your way and your passion for God, but He still loves you. You may have a lot of bitterness and anger deep inside you, but He still loves you. And today if you will open your heart to the Holy Spirit, you can receive this love. Today decide to obey Jesus and live a life of love. Ask Him to forgive you, to cleanse you and heal your heart so that you can forgive others and bring healing and restoration of damaged relationships (John 15:10). 

Text: Psalm 23The Book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom, and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) February 23, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Psalm 100The Book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom, and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) February 16, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Psalms 1The book of Psalms is a rich and thought-provoking book that has inspired believers for generations. More than a book of lamenting, Psalms has songs and poems full of rich calls to worship, repentance, wisdom and reflection. This series we will learn about some practical applications to worship and spiritual growth by gleaning from the Psalms.. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) February 9, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Reviewing lesson 19 from the “Enjoy Life Forever” publication. If you haven't already, please listen to or watch the introduction before checking out the lessons. To check out past lesson reviews, go HERE. Subscribe to the JW Review Podcast HERE (Apple/iTunes), HERE (Spotify), or HERE (Amazon) Support MJF Apologetics through Patreon HERE Skype contact: mjfelk82_1 WhatsApp: please contact me directly for my number Email me HERE

Text: Habakkuk 3Everywhere we look there's injustice, brokenness, pain, and suffering. It's hard to see good and harder to imagine there's a good God who loves and cares for people when we see all the injustice that we do. There was a prophet in the Old Testament named Habakkuk that had a hard time seeing God's goodness in the midst of evil, too. This series looks at his life and ministry and helps us to see how God is still working in this world and how He plans to bring healing. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) February 2, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Habakkuk 2:2-20Everywhere we look there's injustice, brokenness, pain, and suffering. It's hard to see good and harder to imagine there's a good God who loves and cares for people when we see all the injustice that we do. There was a prophet in the Old Testament named Habakkuk that had a hard time seeing God's goodness in the midst of evil, too. This series looks at his life and ministry and helps us to see how God is still working in this world and how He plans to bring healing. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 26, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Reviewing Lesson 18 from the “Enjoy Life Forever” publication. If you haven't already, please listen to or watch the introduction before checking out the lessons. To check out past lesson reviews, go HERE. Subscribe to the JW Review Podcast HERE (Apple/iTunes), HERE (Spotify), or HERE (Amazon) Support MJF Apologetics through Patreon HERE Skype contact: mjfelk82_1 WhatsApp: please contact me directly for my number Email me HERE

Text: Habakkuk 1:5 – 2:1Everywhere we look there's injustice, brokenness, pain, and suffering. It's hard to see good and harder to imagine there's a good God who loves and cares for people when we see all the injustice that we do. There was a prophet in the Old Testament named Habakkuk that had a hard time seeing God's goodness in the midst of evil, too. This series looks at his life and ministry and helps us to see how God is still working in this world and how He plans to bring healing. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 19, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4Everywhere we look there's injustice, brokenness, pain, and suffering. It's hard to see good and harder to imagine there's a good God who loves and cares for people when we see all the injustice that we do. There was a prophet in the Old Testament named Habakkuk that had a hard time seeing God's goodness in the midst of evil, too. This series looks at his life and ministry and helps us to see how God is still working in this world and how He plans to bring healing. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 12, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: John 1:1-5Is a new beginning really possible in life? Does God really want us to have a new start in Him? Join guest speaker, Pastor Nicholas Muteti, as he preaches through the opening of John's Gospel to help us answer these and other questions.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 5, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-6Christmas is a wonderful time of year! Each year the myths and ‘culture' of Christmas grows, but what does it all mean? Join us as we dive into the reality of the Christmas story and look deeper into the story, history, and purpose of Christmas. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) December 22, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Luke 2:1-14Christmas is a wonderful time of year! Each year the myths and ‘culture' of Christmas grows, but what does it all mean? Join us as we dive into the reality of the Christmas story and look deeper into the story, history, and purpose of Christmas. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) December 8, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Isaiah 9:2-7; 11:1-10Christmas is a wonderful time of year! Each year the myths and ‘culture' of Christmas grows, but what does it all mean? Join us as we dive into the reality of the Christmas story and look deeper into the story, history, and purpose of Christmas. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) December 1, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: 1 John 5:5-21What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) November 24, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: 1 John 4:7 - 5:4What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) November 17, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: 1 John 4:1-6What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) October 20, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

For a second time, Ken welcomes Rev. Ben Cremer to the podcast for Season 5. Ken starts by thanking Ben for that first interview, "Myths We Believe," which is far and away the most downloaded podcast of Ken's more than 300 episodes (exceeding the former first-place interview with Kristin Kobes Du Mez). Ben is a prolific author, just finishing up the manuscript of his first book. He has a big audience for his newsletter, which is delivered weekly on Sunday mornings. He calls it "Into The Gray." It's a resource of books, podcasts, and then a thoughtful essay of his own around important issues of the day. Ken chose three to discuss on this podcast - first, "A Troubling Conversation" highlighting the commonly held doctrine of Total Depravity. The second contemplates the common default answer when Christians encounter those who hold opposite views. They'll say, "Well, they aren't REAL Christians." The third addresses a spiritual discipline that is widely ignored in the traditions both Ben and Ken grew up in - lament. Ben brings fresh, sometimes provocative thinking to all three issues. Ken predicts that this conversation will be another that breaks records. SHOW NOTESSign up for Ben's Newsletter INTO THE GRAY | Become a PatronKen's Substact Page | Philip Yancey's Blog Site - Hole in the WallSupport the show

Text: 1 John 3:11-24What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) October 20, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: 1 John 3:1-10What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) October 13, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: Luke 15:11-32Today marks our 126th Homecoming as a church family. More than it being another anniversary, today reminds us that every Sunday is homecoming in the life of a Christian. Today we look at one of the most famous homecoming stories in the Bible: the Prodigal Son.  Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) October 6, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Go to any comment section where someone has made a controversial claim about the Bible and you'll see it: someone gatekeeping the idea of who qualifies as a "true Christian". Real Christians believe in the trinity, or else decidedly DON'T believe in the trinity. Real Christians believe we're saved through works. Or through faith alone. Or neither. Or both... On this week's episode, Dr. David Congdon joins us to discuss his book Who is a True Christian. If you think that question is settled or remotely easy to answer... well you haven't paid attention to this show. Dr. Congdon walks us through the history, politics, and power struggles behind these questions, and gives us big insights into ways we can address this difficult quandary going forward. For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma      Follow us on the various social media places: https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Text: 1 John 2:12-29What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) September 29, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

There was a time, in America no less, when true evangelicals, real born-again Christians, were of great moral influence and persuasion numbering perhaps as many as 75-80 million citizens. The Moral Majority was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. and it was indeed a powerful organization, politically, culturally, and spiritually.But today, far from constituting a moral majority, the evangelical Christian of today finds little tolerance, much less acceptance, by their fellow citizens, many of whom are anti-Christian to the core. The shared moral ideals of old have indeed deteriorated and no longer have the priorities they once did. That includes FAITH. Real Christianity, biblical Christianity, born-again Christianity is ridiculed or ignored by the IMMORAL MAJORITY of today's culture. The concept and value of FAMILY are torn apart and the governments of today substitute foreign and often godless concepts and meanings which attack and depreciate traditional values and definitions. Freedom, once a burning priority, now hangs in the balance, watered down by legislation, indifference, and constant attacks on our constitution.Especially within the last decade, faithful, biblical Christians have witnessed ideological disintegration of trusted religious institutions. That has resulted in an incredible cultural compromise. Conduct and behavior that was once forbidden is now not only allowed but encouraged. So much of the freedoms Americans take for granted was relinquished during the pandemic and even church attendance, the freedom of assembly and religious worship, was also forbidden by government action.That sense of compromise and indifference even permeated the church pulpits. Church after church, pastor after pastor, seceded to the demands of an anti-Christian culture, accepting compromise and change to traditional and long accepted Christian tenets and the gospel message, once proudly preached, was seldom heard in one denomination after another. So many American pulpits fell silent, fearing retribution or alienation.Many Christian believers witnessed evangelical leaders' quart secular acclaim by compromising on conservative Christian values and, like the false prophets predicted, preached a foreign gospel or none at all. Strong Christian values that contributed to American strength and vitality but were recast by these false prophets, outmoded and second class. New concepts, often man-made were formed to water down traditional biblical concepts of salvation, born-again, faith and works, and so much more. Those believers who held fast to strong biblical principles and concepts were often depicted as “violent enemies of democracy” because they failed to recognize, accept, and give credence to the priorities and beliefs of the anti-Christian majority which seemed to be taking place in America.Consequently, so many Christians abandoned the world of politics in their very own country. In a recent survey by the respected George Barna, more than half of the Christians surveyed reported that they did not pay much attention at all to political news, which would inevitably be essential to understanding the issues most relevant to believers. As a result, an estimated 7 million evangelicals in swing states did not participate in the 2020 presidential election. Had they done so, results would have been entirely different up and down the ballots. Barna estimates as a result of the conclusions of that survey that shockingly:AN ESTIMATED ONE THIRD OF ALL EVANGELICALS IN AMERICA SATON THE SIDELINES (DID NOT VOTE) IN ELECTIONS 2020.Even if they did, those evangelicals not paying attention to news and information about politics and government were in so many cases incapable of making informed, educated, voting decisions.The one presidential candidate who addressed the Christian audiences, spoke to the issues which concerned Christians, and otherwise collaborated with the National Religious Broadcasters was Donald Trump. Trump addressed in positive ways, the issues which really concern Christians including freedom of expression (First Amendment, Speech and Press), prayer in schools, homeschooling, America's support for Israel, and the role of religion in public life. No other candidate for president did so. In fact, the Left has extended no hand of friendship to born-again believers. The Left has in fact elevated “unlimited abortion” as the non-negotiable priority of their policy agenda. No true Christian can tolerate such a position, and it leads to the question:CAN ANY TRUE CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT?Further, and disturbingly so, many Christians will not vote for a candidate whose personality they find offensive. Many for example do not personally like Donald Trump and even though his policies are more akin to their beliefs, they will not vote for him. Many will also not vote for a candidate whose private life they do not like. Many use that excuse not to vote for Trump, at least for now a convicted felon. Perhaps even more do not like the way Trump communicates, speaks, and finding his public image objectionable, will not vote for him. What a tragic loss for America, for Trump and the republican party champion values and decision making which is far more akin to Christian values and positions than their democratic counterparts. The withdrawal and non-involvement of Christians and Christian voters is indeed tragic for America. Real Christians, many believe, have no choice but to vote for Trump and the Republican party and its candidates if they wish traditional America and traditional American values to remain.Real evangelical Christians must thoroughly examine the records of candidates on the critical issues, including:immigration and illegal immigration (the border)pro-family policiesreligious freedom (the Constitution and the First Amendment)national securityfederal spending and the incredible American debtthe economy and inflation (pricing)parental rights (in the world of the transgender)conscience protectionsAmerica's support for IsraelChristian voters must also consider the regulatory overreach of the Federal Government and the disastrous fiscal policy which the democratic government has adopted and utilized and what some believe is the weaponization of government against private citizens, including and especially people of faith.Christian radio, and I am proud to say the Crawford Broadcasting Co., devote much of their broadcast time, finances and concerns in programming which seriously address the concerns of Christians today and our beloved America at large. So many of us, who love our America, are deeply concerned with what is happening in all facets of our great country, and we are determined to make a difference, to educate all people including and especially Christian believers, real evangelicals, and encourage them to do their duty as American citizens and become fully involved in government, in politics, in the elections, and to take a stand for what is right, for traditional moral values, and to do everything possible to have America and its citizens return, rethink, and reevaluate the disastrous moral and cultural trends which now affect and radically change our once great country. Said one Christian politician:“WE ARE THE BLESSED STEWARDS OF A TEMPORAL HOME BUILTON A FOUNDATION OF FAITH TO THE BEST OF OUR FOUNDER'SABILITIES. WE MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN OUR POWER TOSAVE AMERICA FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.”Amen. We, the Crawford Broadcasting Co., fully agree, and we are dedicated to that purpose, and we hope and pray you believe and act the same and that you will do so for the glory of God and the salvation of America in Elections 2024. It really is our Christian duty.

Text: 1 John 2:1-11What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) September 22, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Text: 1 John 1What makes someone a Christian? What separates a true believer from a counterfeit? Or light from dark? How should Christians walk as truth in a world full of lies? This is a study on 1 John and will guide us through these questions and many more. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) September 15, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

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