Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA

Deliverance – we are rescued from the power of darkness, the domain of darkness. This is in sharp contrast to the life spoken of at the end of verse 12. This rescue includes a change in ownership, we are qualified to be children of light by an act of God in us. Translation – we are translated, transferred, transplanted from the kingdom of Satan and darkness into the Kingdom of Christ....

David had confidence in facing Goliath because the Lord was his shepherd. The Lord had shown up for him in the past, and David had faith that he would do it again. David could identify with the picture of the man who stole his neighbor’s sheep. It stirred up the exact feelings in David that God wanted to bring up. Where we put the emphasis in the first line of Psalm 23 can change the meaning...

Do you know what a standard measurement is? It is a way of measuring things specified by country, or group of countries. Inches, gallons, liters, centimeters, etc. There would be a lot of confusion if there wasn’t a standard to work off of. What is a good way to measure music? If we have a piece of music in front of us, how do we look at it to measure its “goodness.” Has your measuring tape for me...

What is a good method for choosing good music? This morning we are going to look at some music tests that should be helpful for all of us. We all have personal tastes and opinions that form how we look at music. Personal tastes and opinions are not enough for looking at and deciphering what music we should be listening to. We are human, and we don’t see things clearly always. Scripture test &#8211...

Music can grab our attention like nothing else. Does the devil know that? Yes, he does… In seconds most of us can get a message from music. Music is communication. Music has a tendency of going right past all the less personal communication zones straight to the intimate zone. Music matters, we need to be choosing carefully. Scriptures used – Psalm 130:1-2, Psalm 95:1 This is part of a serie...

What matters more in a song? The music or the words? A lot of people think that music is amoral, neither right or wrong. Is a single note right or wrong? Is a single letter right or wrong? Music, in and of itself sends a message. Music, or most of it, is not neutral. Can we put good lyrics to the music of the world? Yes, words affect the listener and yes words matter. If the music itself affects u...

When a subject is controversial we tend to not want to bring it up. We all have different opinions on music, there is room for differences. Is music important to you? To some people, it is more important to some people than others, but music is very important to most of us and affects us very deeply. This weekend we’ll be trying to look at things from the point of view of “what kind of music does...

Paul is talking about how people live. In very practical ways how they move, how they walk humbly and worthily. Paul says this is done as we do four things. Bearing fruit – walking worthy of the Lord Increasing in the knowledge of God – the knowledge of God is a source of truth as we know God, who He is, His character. Being empowered and strengthened – power and strength that eq...

Peter’s message here is for the church. The fact that Jesus is going to return is not something that is new to us, but this morning we want to be reminded about Jesus’ return for the church. There will be (are) scoffers and mockers who deny that Jesus will return. “Where is the promise of His coming?” Not only do they say this with their lips, but also with how they live their lives. They walk aft...

There is a sense in which this morning where we should be taking the shoes off of our feet. We are about to tread on holy ground as we look at this precious prayer. Jesus our Lord was a praying man, He prayed a lot. We only have a few sketches of Jesus praying in His time here on earth. It is important to understand the context in which Jesus prays this prayer. Jesus knows that He is about to go t...

This evening we’d like to look some at the story of Daniel. Daniel chapter 6 is quite a few years after chapter 1. Our convictions in many ways are shaped and formed by our consciences. Our character reveals what our convictions really are. It is the inward conviction to do right to the highest standard of behavior. Daniel chapter 1 covers a good bit of time, maybe three or four years. We find con...

Not only does God’s Word teach us how to live, but it also gives us examples of men and women who actually lived such lives. The faithfulness of the Rechabites had been continuing for generations and generations. If the Lord tarries for another 300 years, may he find our children and our children’s, children standing firm. It is believed that you can find descendants of the Rechabites in the Middl...

The brain is a computer, as well as a chemical factory. Scientists and doctors have a limited understanding of how all the circuits and chemicals of the brain work together. The apostle Paul is reminding the church at Corinth of how he had come to them a number of years earlier. He had determined to not come to them with excellent speech or with lots of wisdom. Paul had a burden for this church at...

This evening we’ll be looking at three men who desired to follow Jesus. For us to understand properly we need to understand the context that Jesus gives these words in. What was Jesus experiencing? Jesus was on a mission, He was on the way to Jerusalem. The Call to Follow Christ Requires a Commitment This first man says “Lord I will follow you wherever you go!” A “following Jesus gospel&#822...

The Word of God is for all people, wherever we find ourselves, God’s Word is for all of us. It is our desire to better understand scripture and to grow in wisdom, but just because we haven’t discovered it yet doesn’t mean that it isn’t true. 1 Thessalonians 3 – Pray that the Word of God would have freedom and be able to minister to our hearts this week. 2 Chronicles 30 – We need to be...

Biblical forgiveness must be conditioned upon repentance. Repentance is a turning and changing, and a recognition of what was being done was a sin. God is perfect and holy and in no way in need of our forgiveness. We may feel angry at God, but he doesn’t need our forgiveness. When horrific evil takes place, through God’s help we may offer forgiveness, even if pardon is never sought. We are called...

In the fall from fervently following Christ to bitterly opposing Him, there is a state of sluggishness that occurs. The writer Hebrews says this can happen, but he doesn’t want it to happen to the reader. In verse 13 we have an example of Abraham. We have a God who promised, and we have Abraham who obtained the promise. We’ll also take a look at how firmly the anchor of this promise held and holds...

You’ve heard the saying “the devil is in the details.” This means that the idea sounds simple, but the success of the plan depends on the little plans of the details. This morning we’ll be looking at how God cares about, arranges, and notices the details. The God Who Cares About Details 2 Kings 6 – The story of the floating ax head. It was a borrowed ax, the head flew...

Communion symbolizes why Jesus came. Our commemoration of Christs death and remember His life and sacrifice is symbolized and typified in the symbols of communion. In a larger picture, our lives need to be an extension of what communion is all about. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Paul was not one of Jesus 12 disciples, so he is passing on what he had learned from the original disciples. Can we pr...

Each verse from 6-10 here in 1st John is written as a condition and if that condition is met there is a result. According to scripture, no one can have peace with God and live in known sin at the same time. The remedy for this condition is to walk in the light and to do what you know is right. This is the ongoing work of Christ. When we are walking in the light, living what is right and good, we a...

The mission of the early church is found in the words of Jesus in Matthew. To grow people into whatever it is that Jesus wants them to do by immersing them in scripture, the presence of other believers, and discipling each other for spiritual and emotional growth. In order to fulfill this mission, a church needs to intentionally provide opportunities for worship, teaching the word, developing hone...

In Genesis, we have the story of Joseph. Joseph’s response to his brothers when they came down to Egypt to get food during the famine is an incredible act of kindness. Joseph had the power to do whatever he wanted to his brothers, instead, he chose to forgive them. Joseph believed that God had a purpose in what had happened to him and why he had ended up in Egypt. Joseph was willing to be God’s lo...

Colossians 1:1-12 – Paul starts out by talking about people, himself, Timothy. Paul refers to himself as an Apostle, called and appointed by God. Timothy had a Jewish mother and a Greek father, Paul viewed him as a “son in the faith.” Colossians is addressed to the “saints.” This is a position then, separated to God and separated from sin. It also refers to the kind of life a person who is a...

Introduction: Theme verses: Fear not, Mary; you have found favor with God and will conceive and bear a Son, for nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:30-31, 37). How does a person capture the awe and wonder and even fear that Mary and Joseph and Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced?   How can we enter into the story they experienced first hand? Two weeks ago Rich preached a sermon with the title,...

John 3:14-21 – As we learn to know the love of God, it will change us. There is condemnation talked about here, but Jesus explained to Nicodemus that God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. The primary purpose of Christ coming to earth is to redeem and to save. Genesis 1 – Let us think about the world, the creation that God made. We know the history...