Bethel Christian Center

In this story found in John 8, Jesus confronts a band of cold, self-righteous prudes and a woman who was guilty of open sexual sin, and handles both with such wisdom and grace that the story has become a favorite of many. The motive of the Pharisees was not passion for holiness, but a desire to entrap Jesus in a dilemma (v.6).

Christian believers today seem to have a full understanding of God the Father and God the Son, but God the Holy Spirit seems to be a more confusing and misunderstood person. It is vitally important to the believer today to understand the purpose and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself makes it very clear what the role of the Holy Spirit will be during the age of grace. Everything that is accom...

God had made covenants of blessing with Israel, but they were conditional. Because of blatant disobedience, the pleasurable aspects of blessing would be replaced by punishment. The moral decline of the kingdom of Judah would lead to its defeat and captivity. This book is literally titled Oh My Gosh! How Could This Have Happened? Lamentations and the United States.

It is time for the church to rise and declare the sound of praise that changes the atmosphere inside the building and lives that change the environment outside!

Communism, Humanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, does not have the answer to the meaning of life. In the Bible, and there only, do we find the answer to: where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going? As we look at a few verses in the book of Ecclesiastes we find that King Solomon came to the conclusion that life is meaningless apart from God.

Job is introduced as an extremely rich man who is also God-fearing. Subjected to the loss of all he owned; Job still keeps his attitude of wholehearted devotion to God. Even when Job is subjected to personal physical suffering, he maintains his integrity and does not renounce God. In this study we will look at FIVE MISTAKES IN JOB.

I’m profoundly impressed with the unlimited resources of the God of the Bible. He makes an ocean, makes it so deep no man can fathom it. He makes a mountain, makes it so large no one can measure or weigh it. He makes a flower, scatters multiplied millions, no one to admire but Himself. “Makes” grace, makes it without sides or bottom and leaves the top off; Pours salvation forth like a river.

Gideon was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites are recounted in chapters 6 to 8 of the Book of Judges. Gideon is among the brightest luminaries of the Old Testament history.

Throughout the New Testament, water for drinking is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God that comes to the sinner and shows him his need of salvation, John 16:8. It is the Holy Spirit that applies the Word of God in conviction, John 6:44. It is the Spirit that baptizes the new believer into the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:13. It is the Spirit that seals that believer, Eph. 4:30. It i...

Where there is the anointed Word of God presented with power, love, and compassion, and where there are hearts turned to the Lord in repentance, the power of the Lord will be present to save and heal.

Romans 1:13-32

The touch that taps into Jesus' power and five kinds of people you can't help.

Today we look squarely and honestly into the center of the dark clouds and the raging storm in the life of Job. Job is portrayed as a wealthy man of upright character who loves God. Yet God allows Satan to destroy his flocks, his possessions, his children, and his health. Job refuses to give up on God, even when he does not understand why this is happening to him. We, too, must trust God when we d...

Job was an enormously wealthy man. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He lived in Southeast Palestine nearly three thousand years ago during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had seven sons and three daughters, but there was much more to his legacy than his bank account. Job is an exa...

We certainly live in days when the spirit of the good Samaritan is needed, and the place it should be displayed is in the lives of Christians. By using a simple story, Jesus shows that enemies can prove to be neighbors, that compassion has no boundaries, and that judging people on the basis of their religion or ethnicity will leave us dying in a ditch. "Racism is not a skin problem, it's a sin pro...

We need unity and prayer now more than ever if we expect to see evangelism similar to Pentecost.

In describing the Holy Spirit’s coming, Jesus specifically said, "Rivers of living water shall flow from the inner being of all those who believe me" (John 7:37-38). On Pentecost, what Joel had prophesied, Peter preached: "God has poured out His Spirit; a stream of restoring, healing power is released to mankind!"

special memorial day sermon from brother Todd

After being chased out of Thessalonica & Berea for preaching the good news about Jesus, the apostle Paul spent a few days in the city of Athens. While waiting he did a little sightseeing. Paul came to Athens as a sightseer and became a soul winner. Paul did not purpose to evangelize these Gentiles, but he could not help but do so when he was deeply stirred in his soul over their rampant idolatry....

Mother’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the role our mothers play in our lives. For the vast majority of people their mum is a faithful, caring, loving person whose nurturing hand is one that shapes and influences them for the rest of their lives. This post for Mothers’ Day looks at the influence that a faithful mother and a faithful grandmother had on the life of someone who became a signific...

Escaping from Egypt is only the first half of the exodus. There is the freedom from: from oppression, and from the power of sin. This aspect of liberation, as wonderful as it is, is only half the deal. In the Scriptures, more emphasis is placed on the freedom for: for worship, for flourishing, for growth in obedience, joy and glory. Human beings are not designed to be free from all constraint. Eve...

In last week’s study, we looked at the first step to freedom is recognizing areas where we are imprisoned. Understand, where there is a problem, hope begins with acknowledging the problem. Then, Christian freedom is being free from guilt, the power of sin, the wrath of God and the tyranny of Satan. We also examined the source of true freedom: (1) Truth, Jesus is truth; (2) then Son of God; true fr...

All liberty is precious, but political and physical freedom, are freedoms merely of the second order. Freedom of the first order is spiritual freedom, and this is transcendent. Superior Today, many people are living in spiritual slavery without realizing it. They chase false gods of money, success, personal comfort and romantic love—only to realize they still have an emptiness that can’t be filled...

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is alive! The tomb is empty! Jesus came out of the tomb, victorious over death and the grave. The same supernatural power that raised Christ from the dead is the same resurrection power that He wants to work in our life every single day. His power in our lives enables us to live a productive life. Christ conquered sin i...

We are dealing with arguably the biggest crisis in most of our lifetimes. The Corona virus is spreading rapidly throughout the nation, state and right here in Durham. Many have lost their jobs and are worried about how they are going to make ends meet. These circumstances can lead to worry, anxiety and yes fear. We know that the scriptures have a lot to tell us about fear and we have seen many pos...