Bethlehem Baptist Church

Introduction: What is the “swankiest” place that you have ever been invited to eat at? For many in the room, these are rare and special occasions that you only go to once in a while. Perhaps you are invited to be the guest of someone at a banquet to honor someone. There are several of these types of…

Introduction What keeps you up at night? Is it stress? Anxiety? Anger? Guilt? I have often heard the old joke where someone will ask a person, “How do you sleep so well at night?” and the reply is, “A peaceful conscience!” Perhaps that is true of us tonight. As we read Psalm 4 , we need to keep in mind…

Introduction: If you have a driver’s license, have registered to vote, and are an adult, you meet all the qualifications for getting a nice letter in the mail to appear before the local magistrate for the wonderful privilege of jury duty. It’s interesting that so many people try to get out of jury duty,…

Introduction: A little over a week ago we celebrated our freedom as a country. A little less than two months ago we celebrated the lives of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us those freedoms. In Israel, there was a festival known as Passover. It too celebrated freedom. It celebrated…

Introduction: As we continue looking at things related to the church, we move on to one of the most helpful and most neglected doctrines in the church and that is the doctrine of church discipline. Now, in the age of mega churches, one can see why this doctrine might have been tossed out. We have churches…

Introduction: Yesterday around the country, people celebrated the 250th anniversary of American independence. I was astonished, though I shouldn’t have been, to scroll through social media and find an article that said that after polling people, many Americans didn’t know what the 250th celebration was…

Introduction: How did you learn most of the things that you know how to do? If you are handy with construction projects, you probably had someone that taught you on the job. If you are good with mechanical things, you may have started with learning how to change your oil. If you are good at knitting…

Introduction: What are your favorite holidays? We are about to be celebrating the 4th of July and this year is a special celebration as we celebrate 250 years of America’s Independence. You may have certain traditions that you follow and certain foods that you throw on the grill. You may find a pool…

Introduction: What is the worst trouble you ever got into? Don’t glorify your sin, but consider the response of your parents (or the lack thereof) Why did you parents discipline you? Because they love you Because they saw the danger your actions could create You’ve probably heard the phrase: “You are…

Introduction: 6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this…

Introduction: Vignettes Definition in Photography A vignette in photography refers to a technique where the edges of a photo are darker or less saturated than the center. This effect can be used intentionally to draw the viewer's attention to the subject in the center, creating a sense of depth and focus.…

Introduction: As a parent, one thing you have to learn to do is to sort things out when your kids get into a tussle over something. You might not have been in the room when it happened, but you hear the voices begin to raise and then you hear the house being rearranged and before you know it, you have…

Introduction: How many of you have a motivational coach? There are some famous ones out there. Some of you know of Tony Robbins or Michael Hyatt or Oprah Winfrey. These are all people that use positive, encouraging language to try to influence their audience and followers. We live in a world of influencers.…

Introduction: We are entering into wedding season where friends and acaquaintances will soon be sending out invitations to join them for the celebration of their unions together as husband and wife. When you go to a wedding, there are certain steps you take to prepare, aren’t there? You get the invitation…

Introduction: Some of you have had the wonderful experience of having to start going to the doctor on a more frequent schedule in order to keep your health up as you have gotten older or if you have had some kind of health issue that now requires more frequent checks. All of us will at some point get…

Introduction: Who is the most virtuous woman you know? I don’t want you to answer that out loud in case she is not sitting right next to you. Throughout your life, you have probably had several women that fit the bill. I am blessed to be married to a virtuous woman and I remember preaching this particular…

Introduction: BOLO - person of interest Lookouts are also positioned on battle encampments to guard against the enemy 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know…

Introduction I don’t know how many of you have ever heard of a woman by the name of Monica of Hippo. You may have heard of her son, Augustine. Augustine was one of the early church fathers, but he did not start out that way. He actually was a very wicked young man. He lived a life of sexual immorality…

Introduction 1. Worship in Spirit and Truth ( John 4:23 ) 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 2. Worship with All Your Being ( Rom. 12:1-2 ) 1 I appeal to you therefore,…

Introduction 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let…

Introduction: We say all of the time that we need people to pray for us. How often do you think people genuinely pour their heart out for you when you ask them for prayer? Most won’t even pray in that particular moment. However, even if it feels like no one else is praying for you, know that Jesus prays…

Introduction: What the best gift you ever received? Some of you may immediately blurt out the church answer, so I’m going to take that one off the table as a given. Think about the next best gift you’ve ever received. For those of you who are married, I’m going to take your spouse as an answer off the…

Introduction: We are going to be spending a few weeks in Matthew 24-25 in a discourse known as the Olivet Discourse. Jesus describes in these passages what the times will be like when He returns. We certainly seem to be getting close as we see the news around the world of wars and famines and natural…

Introduction Many of you, I’m sure, have played a round or two of tennis, or at a minimum, you’ve watched it played on TV or gone to a game. You know that when the players are good, they hit the ball back and forth in a volley that can last a few minutes. It’s always exciting to see the hard shots and…

Introduction 1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was…