Bethel Community Church Orlando

Fear disrupts normal life. Success hinges on managing fear, as illustrated in Judges 6 with Gideon: God Makes the Called Brave: Gideon, a coward, is called a "mighty man of valor" not for his courage but for what God will make him. We Are God’s Instruments: God uses us to accomplish His work in our generation. Start at Home: Gideon destroys his family’s idol first, showing personal transformation...

In Judges, Israel’s idolatry led to oppression by King Jabin and Sisera. God raised Deborah, a prophetess and judge, who directed Barak to defeat Sisera’s army. A miraculous rainstorm disabled Sisera’s chariots, ensuring Israel’s victory. Jael killed the fleeing Sisera with a tent peg. Deborah’s song teaches that faithful leadership glorifies God, inaction is cursed, and obedience achieves God’s p...

The Book of Judges follows a repetitive cycle: Israelites worship idols, God allows enemies to oppress them, they cry out, and God raises a judge like Ehud to deliver them. Ehud, a left-handed man with a disabled right hand, kills the Moabite king Eglon, showing God uses unlikely heroes. God triumphs through our weakness, gives us salvation through faith, overcomes opposition, and values availabil...

Throughout the book of Judges, one can see Israel’s spiritual cycle of disobedience, judgment, cries for help, rescue by judges, and then relapse. They start strong (1:1-4) but fail to fully obey, blaming iron chariots (1:19) and enslaving some (1:28). Key lessons from Judges chapters 1 and 2: Disbelief breeds disaster. Forgetting God’s works leads to abandoning Him. Idols enslave; God saves. Flaw...

"When You Believe in God but Worry All the Time" explores how chronic worry among believers reflects a lack of trust in God. So many of us have a restless soul. We are always searching but never finding. We are interested in everything, but satisfied by nothing. Worry is futile and harmful. Believers must surrender anxiety, focus on what they can control, and trust God’s provision in order to thei...

"When You Believe in God but Trust More in Money" addresses Christians who claim to trust God but prioritize money for security and happiness. Jesus teaches that your heart follows your treasure and you cannot serve both God and money. The love of money, not money itself, leads to evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Wealth often fosters trust in money over God, especially in affluent societies. True peace come...

"When You Believe in God but Pursue Happiness Your Way" considers how believers choose joy in God despite dire circumstances. Happiness is not tied to external conditions, is a deliberate choice, and is found in God alone. Scriptures like Philippians 4:4 affirm joy is always possible through faith. This focus on God offers eternal hope through salvation in Jesus.

"When You Believe in God but Aren't Sure He Loves You" explores the struggles of believers who grapple with doubts about God's love and presence despite their faith. Pastor Robert investigates several biblical insights that address the doubts and insecurities which can plague believers, particularly the fear that God may not truly love them. 

"When You Believe in God but Don't Think He's Fair" is a common struggle among Christians who question God's fairness in the face of life's injustices. Personal pain, loss, or unanswered prayers can lead to doubts about God's fairness, causing believers to live as if He isn't trustworthy. But God's fairness is not about equal outcomes but about us trusting in Him for salvation and trusting in His...

Pastor Robert begins our new sermon series with "When You Believe in God but Don’t Really Know Him," and introduces the concept of a "Christian Atheist"—someone who believes in God but lives as if He doesn’t exist. Mere belief in God is insufficient. Authentic Christians must move beyond intellectual acknowledgment to a relational, authentic faith, fostering a life aligned with God’s presence and...

Jesus' raising of Lazarus, as described in John 11, demonstrates His divine power over death. Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, had been dead for four days when Jesus arrived. Despite Martha and Mary's grief and the skepticism of onlookers, Jesus prayed to God, affirming His divine authority, and called Lazarus to come out. Miraculously, Lazarus emerged alive. This act not only showcased Jesus' po...

Philip, an early Christian missionary, encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official under Queen Candace, traveling from Jerusalem. The eunuch was reading Isaiah but struggled to understand it. Guided by the Spirit, Philip approached and explained the passage, revealing it as a prophecy about Jesus. He shared the gospel, and the eunuch, moved by faith was saved and baptized. This accoun...

Was Simon a phony Christian? When Philip preached the gospel and performed miracles, many believed and were baptized, including Simon the Magician. However, Simon’s true motives came into question when he offered money to the apostles Peter and John to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, leading to a sharp rebuke from Peter, who accused him of having a heart not right before God. 

After the stoning of Stephen, a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, causing many believers to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Meanwhile, those who were scattered preached the gospel wherever they went. Philip, one of the seven deacons, went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. As a result, many believed and there was great joy in the city...

From start to finish, Stephen’s life was an example of service and dedication to Jesus. Stephen served the Lord and, on the surface, did everything right; yet he ended up dying for his faith and service. Stephen’s most effective contribution to the kingdom of God came through his martyrdom. God used Stephen's death to produce the greatest Christian missionary, Paul. 

Not everyone can be great in the eyes of the world. Not everyone can be rich or famous. But anyone can be great in God's economy, because serving others is within the reach of everyone. Greatness is open to all, because anyone can be a servant.

We’re here to be witnesses for Jesus. The Holy Spirit will empower us to continually testify the name of Jesus. Although Christians may face opposition or persecution, they are to continually speak the name of Jesus and minister to those who don't know Him.

Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, conspire to hold back a portion of the money they received from a sale of some land, while pretending to donate the full amount to the early church in Acts 5. Because of their lies, they died instantly. From their story, we learn that God’s not after perfection, but He’s after our heart. And ultimately, He wants our honesty. 

Despite the persecution that the apostles and early Christ followers began to experience, they prayed for God to give them boldness. Because they prayed this way, the gospel went forward. In addition, because future generations responded this way, the gospel eventually went all around the world. Their heroism led to our salvation. From where does boldness and courage like that come?

Throughout the New Testament, miracles were God's way of showing His divine power and giving validation to the apostles. Ultimately, the need for physical miracles points to our need for spiritual healing through salvation in Jesus Christ. 

The first message ever preached happened in Acts 2 at the Day of Pentecost. The Apostle Peter urged the people there to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. That day 3,000 people put their faith and trust in Christ. It marked a turning point in their lives. We have the same opportunity today -- to repent and trust Christ or to trust in ourselves.

Whether Jesus comes back tomorrow or in a thousand years, we have a mission to accomplish for Him. We are to be His witnesses. Jesus's mission is under His sovereign rule to expand His kingdom among all nations. Jesus wants us to be less concerned with His coming and more concerned with our going. 

While different apostles do appear throughout the book of Acts, the only single character who unifies the story from beginning to end is Jesus, appearing personally or acting through the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts is about Jesus leading his people through the Spirit to go out into the world and invite all nations to put their faith in Jesus. 

Guest speaker Ward Hodges presents the mystery of the blindness of the Jewish people to Jesus as the Messiah. He expounds on God's working in Israel through the ministry of "Grace for Israel."

Paul is one of the most externally righteous people we read about in the Bible, yet he also persecuted other Christians. His good works didn't lead him to Jesus. No matter what you do to look or act like a Christian, what matters is your relationship with Jesus. Paul realized that on the road to Damascus. Do you have an earnestness to know, to follow, and to worship Jesus Christ?