Bethany Baptist Church, Salem OR

For the last three Sundays we have been reading Scripture and lighting candles for Advent without much explanation. This morning I want to give some explanation to what we’ve been doing. Advent is the season of preparation for Christ's coming, his presence with us. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

Building friendships is especially important for those who want to honor God, because God made us for relationships. Jesus taught the importance of loving others and then he lived it out before their eyes. He was called “the friend of sinners.” In today’s text, we see that Paul too became a man of many deep relationships. His friendships were vast and covered a great variety of men and women in hi...

Last week we looked at Paul’s powerful charge to Timothy in the opening lines of chapter 4, and in today’s text Paul switches his focus to his own life purpose. In verse 5 he charges Timothy with the words “As for you…” and now in verse 6 he says “For I.” In Greek, the word “I” is emphatic, which the NLT translates “As for me.” While young Timothy was to “preach the Word,” Paul is facing his last...

As we come to the final chapter of our series in the Letters to Timothy, we find some of the most eloquent, memorable declarations of Paul. He begins this final section by calling Timothy to fulfill his duties as a pastor. There are nine commands in this section that Paul wants Timothy to focus on; nine things that will mark the ministry of a faithful pastor. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x...

In our last study in the letters to Timothy, we looked at the beginning of chapter 3 where Paul warned: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” 2 Tim 3:1 (ESV) We acknowledge that our society is, in some ways, falling apart before our eyes, and that we should not be caught off guard by the ways our culture is declining since we are warned about it ahead of...

We were so thankful to have Pastor Samuel Medina, and his family, as a Summer Intern for our Hispanic Ministry at Bethany this year. This was their last Sunday with us as they head off on a new venture in Savannah, GA where they have been called to Pastor a Hispanic Church. The plan was for Sam to find a church in the Northwest, but as this passage will show, sometimes our plans are not God's plan...

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul warned: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the tr...

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

Last week we looked at the Marks of Spiritual Training and three metaphors of toughness: a soldier, an athlete and a farmer (2 Tim 2:1-7). In today's text we are going to see Paul tell young Timothy four things that will enable him to endure spiritually, to hang in there, to finish his course. You and I need these same things if we are going to endure to the end. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/li...

How are you doing, Christian? Are you developing your spiritual strength? Are you developing the spiritual strength of others by sharing life with them, teaching them to love God as you do? And are you taking your task seriously like a soldier, an athlete and a farmer? These are the marks of a godly life – living for God, making disciples, and developing your spiritual stamina so that you can stan...

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

Where does spiritual courage come from? Today we will look at Paul’s continued discourse with young Timothy in Ephesus. Last week we concluded the letter of 1 Timothy, and today we begin the letter of 2 Timothy, looking at the marks of spiritual courage. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

As the Apostle Paul nears the end of his first letter to young Timothy, he seems to elevate his urgency, allowing his pen to become a sword in his hand as he calls Timothy to a wartime mentality. At the same time, he greatly honors Timothy with the title "man of God." I can see Timothy pause, struggling to accept this grand title. "Me? A Man of God?" Paul will proceed to describe four things that...

Last week we looked at the first two verses of ch. 6 where Paul tells slaves to “honor” their masters, whether they are Christian masters or non-Christian. The application of this instruction guides the believing worker in his or her attitude and conduct with their employer. Largely this is because most Roman Empire slaves were voluntary slaves, more of indentured servants than possessions of mast...

Last week Keith Darwin concluded 1 Tim 5, looking at the marks of church elders, noting how a church is to honor them, discipline them, and select them. As we begin 1 Tim 6, we encounter two verses directed at slaves, where Paul instructs Christian slaves in Ephesus to honor and submit to their masters, linking ch. 6 with ch. 5. Some read this text and believe that because Paul tells slaves to do...

Last week we looked at the first half of chapter 5 where Paul instructed Timothy regarding the church’s responsibility to care for its own, exercising discernment within a permeating atmosphere of love. As we finish chapter 5, we shift our attention to principles and practices for dealing with church elders. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.b...

Last week we concluded 1 Tim 4, looking at the marks of young leaders, noting the Bible’s exhortation to lead by example, to build with the Bible, to know if God has called you to some ministry, and to keep your eyes on prize, the final outcome of your life of service. As we begin chapter 5, Paul will now instruct Timothy on the church’s responsibility to care for its own. YouTube https://www.yout...

Last week Joe Mogford led us through 1 Tim 4:6-10, on the marks of training in godliness. Today we will finish chapter 4, where Paul urges Timothy to live out his godliness by embracing his calling as a young leader. How can a young, aspiring leader possibly get traction in ministry, especially when they so often serve their elders? How can a young person successfully begin in ministry? YouTube ht...

We were privileged to have Peter & Jamie Hudson, ABWE, Colombia, in our service today sharing a ministry update. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.com/sermons

Last week Pastor Samuel led us through the end of 1 Timothy 3, a beautiful passage extolling the virtues of the church as the “pillar and buttress of the truth.” Today we will look at the opening of chapter 4, where Paul contrasts the beauty of truth with the ugliness of falsehood. The church has a responsibility to protect and preserve truth. Having explained the mystery of godliness, he explains...

 How to behave in the household of God (vv. 14-15a)   How to behave as the church of the living God (vv. 14-15b)   How to behave as the pillar and buttress of the truth (vv. 14-15c) "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:...

This morning as we study our passage, we'll be answering a few key questions: What Is a Deacon? Where do we get the word “deacon”, and how is this word used in Scripture? What role do Deacons play in the church? What are the qualifications for the office of Deacon? How do Deacons Serve? YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/x0KojABkyFo?si=ibusrpnmM2_PBZ8j Website https://www.bethanybaptistchurch.co...