Acts 3:6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

You may have seen the movie Avatar.  It was the biggest and most expensive movie ever made.  Some of you may have even seen it in 3D and in this theater.  You were blown away.  The visual effects were literally stunning.  Then you rushed out & either bought or rented the DVD & watched it at home.  You yawned a bit.  The effects just didn’t seem quite as special.  In fact, for some of you, you may have even noticed that the actual story was a bit shallow…and that in fact it was just the futuristic reincarnation of Dances With Wolves.  Some of you just got that too…  Here’s the point:  The glitz & the glam masked the fact that the story was actually pretty weak.  God is different.  He works an incredible miracle, and then when we are able to see the back-story, we realize that the story is so much more spectacular than the special effect.

The Holy Spirit, and I believe Luke, is using Acts 3 as narrative example of Acts 2:43.  Within this example or expression, we get a glimpse of what the early church was like and what they experienced.  Acts is descriptive; it is not prescriptive.  Scripture is not providing a pattern for the healing of human bodies, rather the story of God saving human souls.

All of the healing events in the book of Acts involve unbelievers, and they are always used as providing occasions for the Gospel to be preached and proclaimed.  Because that’s the point:  Jesus is King.  Peter performs a miracle because of the gift of faith given him by Jesus, and then takes the opportunity to deliver a 2nd incredible sermon.  The preacher was on a role.

Peter essentially equates the lame man to his hearers.  We are all natural disasters in need of a Sovereign God of grace to give us transformative life.  We are by nature opposed to God and actually work against Him.  But He has made a way for us to be re-created into the people He originally created us to be:  Repent and return.  Literally, turn and run back to Him when we sin; not from Him as is our tendency.  The healing is the illustration.  The sermon is the illumination.  We are as dependent on him for sanctification as we are for salvation.  Rise and walk!

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Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Food / cooking shows are ridiculously popular these days.  One of the reasons is people love to see transformation and the process of “Before & After.”  That’s in each of us (Ecc. 3:11). There’s a latent question that every person has hard-wired: Luke 18:18(ESV) And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” In other words: What’s the recipe for redemption; how does one cook a Christian?

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical repentance is essentially synonymous with belief.  Repentance is not the fear of consequence but rather the love of holiness and virtue.  It is glimpsing His grace and glory and goodness and recognizing that I deliberately rebelled against it.  And now there is nothing I can do to undo what I did.  That’s what hell is, the eternal and infinite regret of not embracing the Son.  My only recourse is to repent and rethink my thinking.  He’s not just a carpenter’s son from Galilee, He is Lord and Christ (2:36) and I participated in His humiliation & execution (Zech. 12).  So now I want to abandon every aspect of my former mindset and pursue Him.

Water baptism is not saving, but it is a demonstration of the conversion that has taken place.  It is because of the forgiveness of sin.  It is identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:11-12).  We are literally raised to walk in newness of life “in Him.”  Water Baptism is supposed to make it impossible to be a secret disciple.  One who desires secrecy has still not re-thought their thinking and internalized the reality that He is Lord and Christ.

Then, we are entered into one Body.  We do worship, discipleship, ministry, mission, fellowship. Church essentially consists of doctrine and fellowship; praying and “breaking bread” together are expressions of fellowship.  This is God’s plan for this age.

Many of us still need to reorient our thinking and build our lives around what God is doing in the world.  We claim Christ as King, but in reality He is not making the decisions.  The Jews had to abandon their affiliation with Judaism as a primary identity and be identified with someone who had been branded a blasphemer. They risked social, economic, and even physical ostracism.  People who have identified with Christ need desperately to come together to commune and share the experiences of participating in “the rightful King’s campaign of sabotage” (C.S. Lewis).

So what’s the recipe for redemption?  Rotate (repent), Hydrate (baptism), Congregate (Church).  It takes a Church to raise a Christian.  May we mix well.

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Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

Powerful preaching is still God’s plan for proclamation.  That doesn’t mean it’s the only way we should unpack the Word, but it does mean that when both Jesus and Paul give unambiguous commands to teach & preach, we should.  But preaching must be Spirit-lead and Spirit-fed if it is to have any eternal significance at all.  Peter, in Acts 2:14-41, preached the very first Christian sermon ever.  It was powerful then and it is our model now.  Peter takes the opportunity to explain a current conundrum with the exposition of an ancient text.  He essentially says, “this is that.”  All good preaching should aspire to that strategy.  Rather than merely “teaching the Bible to people,” powerful preaching takes the truth of God’s Word, synthesizes it with the contemporary context, and addresses the latent questions of the hearers.  It must matter.  It must change people.

Answers for “why now” and “how then” come from God’s Word written way back when.  Peter explains the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit by preaching from Joel 2, Psalm 16, and Psalm 110.  Interestingly, Joel was also preaching from an ancient text as he references Deuteronomy.  And what is the powerful message?  The Gospel.  Peter explains a mystery.  The last days began at Pentecost, but they haven’t finished.  We’re in them.  The end has come, it’s just not over yet.  He unpacks what Joel and David could not have seen:  There has been one Advent and there will be another.  The first advent was catalytic; the second will be cataclysmic.

The Gospel presentation lands with the intended wallop.  The hearers are cut to the heart and they are moved to response.  So too must we.  Peter’s Gospel presentation cuts them to heal them; ruins them to resurrect them.  We killed the Christ, but God has made Him Lord.  And it was God’s plan.  Pride is dealt a death blow when we realize that repentance means we envision Christ on the cross by our own hand and will.  Then we ask our Father to apply our sin to our King.  He did.  He also imputes the full righteousness of Christ to us.  What a marvelous exchange.  What we intend for evil, God actually intends for good.  This is that.

Our sole response is our soul response.  We are living in the last days, the days of the soul.  No longer is our identity merely national, it is individual.  The Kingdom has inaugurated, and indeed it is here in it’s spiritual sense.  The earthly Kingdom is yet to come.  Until then, we live as citizens of heaven and we eagerly await our Savior from there, and while we wait, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices in view of God’s mercy.  This is that.

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Register here

First Impressions Team
• A team who greets families that comes into Bethel Kids on Sunday mornings and directs new families to the right place
• Looking for: friendly, engaging adults who can foster a welcoming environment and put others at ease
• Commitment: one hour, twice a month

Pre-game Team
• A team that cares for the children who arrive before 9:30 am on Sunday morning and help with traffic flow starting at 9:30
• Looking for: jr. high/ high school students who can arrive early to responsibly and enthusiastically spend time with a group of 5-10 children.
• Commitment: from 9:10 to 9:40, twice a month

Buddies Team
• A team of people who are one-on-one buddies for Bethel Kids with special needs
• Looking for: students and adults who can be flexible and adapt to specific and specialized needs. Many of our friends integrate very well into the classrooms and simply need someone beside them to give them attention throughout the class, not necessarily intensive special care
• Commitment: either a once a month rotation with friends we
already care for, or “on call” status for when we have new friends come on a Sunday morning

Hospitality Team
• Provides breakfast snacks for the Bethel Kids team
• Looking for: Someone who wants to support the Bethel Kids team
• Commitment: drop off snacks at 9:10, once a month

Take One Teaching Team
• Responsible for teaching a weekly lesson to a group of 15-20
elementary-age children
• Looking for: adults who are called to form relationships with
children on a consistent basis. Essentially, this team functions as children’s life group leaders
• Commitment: first hour, every week (we ask for a September through May commitment)

Take One Host
• A comedic stage personality that hosts during a 20-minute large group segment
• Looking for: an enthusiastic and engaging person with confident stage-presence
• Commitment: first hour, every other month

Tech Team
• Operate all media components during large group settings
• Looking for: Someone who wants to support Bethel Kids. A
one-time, one-hour media training is required.
• Commitment: one hour, once a month

Minute-to-Win-It Host
• Someone who will host a game show-style competition during the
transition between first and second hour
• Looking for: a lively and fun personality who can interact and engage an audience during this busy time. This is a great option for someone who is considering joining the Bethel Kids stage team.
• Commitment: 10:45-11:00, twice a month

Reel to Real Cast
• A team of actors for the second hour large group production
• Looking for: high school students and adults who have an
engaging stage personality
• Commitment: once or twice a month during second hour and an
occasional Wednesday night rehearsal

Reel to Real Host
• A pair of hosts that “emcee” and teach during Reel to Real
• Looking for: over-the-top, flexible and engaging stage personalities
• Commitment: second hour, twice a month

Reel to Real Worship Team Leaders
• Train, coordinate and direct the child-led worship team
• Looking for: high school/ college-age students to be positive role models to older elementary-age children and seek to foster a
relevant and engaging worship environment
• Commitment: second hour, twice a month. Monthly check-in with director

Reel to Real Coaches
• A team of adults that are a part of the Reel to Real audience,
interact with kids and lead a short small group discussion
• Looking for: high school students and adults that want to get involved in Bethel Kids, but need a small commitment. Need to be willing to interact with children and foster a welcoming environment
• Commitment: second hour, once a month

Understudy Team
• A support team that is willing to step in as-needed when a
scheduled volunteer can’t make it
• Looking for: people who are flexible and willing to be called at the last minute!
• Commitment: “on-call” status as often as willing

Team Leaders
• A leadership team that is responsible leading and coordinating a small group of volunteers
• Looking for: adults who are willing to take on a leadership role in Bethel Kids, coordinate volunteers and relay needs to the children’s ministry director
• Commitment: monthly meeting with children’s ministry director, weekly check-in with volunteer team

Co-director
• A leader who will work alongside the children’s ministry director on Sunday morning, helping to meet volunteer needs and interact with families
• Looking for: an adult who is willing to take on a leadership role in Bethel Kids on Sunday mornings, is gifted at problem-solving and thrives in a fast pace environment
• Commitment: one Sunday morning, twice a month. Meeting with children’s ministry director twice a month

CLICK HERE to start serving now!

Contact Lacey Melinder at lacey@bethelbible.com for more information.

Robert and Roberta Adair discuss their calling to Japan and the Japanese people. The Adairs are preparing for a four-year term in Japan to plant churches and spread the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began  to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Luke and Paul must have swapped some amazing stories.  We know that Luke was one of the last and only friends that stuck by Paul near the end of his life (2 Timothy 4:11).  We can, by our sanctified imagination, picture Paul explaining the theological nuances of several events while Luke recorded the description with precision.  And that’s the key to understanding the book of Acts.  It is a description of events that occurred while Paul’s epistles are a prescription for how the saint is to strive.  Luke often provides a play-by-play illustration for what Paul will later prescribe.  Pentecost, the birth of the Church and the coming of the Spirit, is just such an instance.

Pentecost is a big deal.  Perhaps the only equivalent understatement is that God is awesome.  In this new mysterious tapestry, Pentecost weaves together pictures, prophecies, and predictions from all the Old Testament.  It was a fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks from Leviticus 23 and it was the undoing of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11.  Pentecost was the pouring out of God’s Spirit that resulted in a nation of royal priests (1 Peter 2:9).  That was supposed to have occurred in Exodus 19:6, but the people then would not have it.  This time, God instituted it on His timing by His sovereign grace.

After the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11), God inaugurated the Abrahamic covenant in which He said that He would bless all nations through Abraham.  After Pentecost, God inaugurates the New covenant long foretold by Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Joel.  Scripture is full of stunning symmetry.  But Luke’s recounting of those events is for us a description, not a prescription.  Luke “slows down the action” so that we can more clearly understand what happened.  Luke describes the baptism with the Spirit (Acts 2:2-3) and the filling of the Spirit (Acts 2:4).  These are separate events.  Baptism with the Spirit takes place one time at salvation, and is eternal and non-experiential.  Filling of the Spirit takes place repeatedly through the saint’s life and is both momentary and experiential.  The baptism grants the power; the filling turns it on.

And what is the filling for?  Luke details the languages that people spoke to proclaim the mighty works of God.  Again, this is not intended to be a pattern.  What it does show is the practical power that comes from the filling of the Spirit.  Paul explains this practical power in parallel passages such as Ephesians 5:15-20 and Colossians 3:12-25.  What is the power the Spirit offers?  To love our wives, submit to our husbands, disciple our children, and bless our community.  These are also mighty works of of God that we cannot do on our own power.  This filling happens when we yield to His Spirit.  We declare our dependence and release every facet of our lives to His control.  This Spirit-filled life is the only life that really works.  May He have His way in us by having His Word dwell in us richly.

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Acts 1:6 (ESV) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Seems like a fair question to me.  If I had heard Jesus talking about the Kingdom for three years, and then seen Him in His resurrected glory teaching even more about the Kingdom, I’d like to think that I would be thinking about the Kingdom.  I don’t think this was a selfish question, or even a narrow-minded question.  The disciples had been instructed to be expectant for the Kingdom.  It permeated all the teaching of Christ.  But the King didn’t give them the information they wanted.

Acts 1:7-8 (ESV) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Often, when we want to know, Christ merely says “go.”  If we know something, we feel like we control it.  We are certainly not in control.  What a blessing and a relief!  Besides, if I knew the exact date of His return and establishment of the Kingdom, I’m pretty sure I would be utterly useless up until about 48 hours prior to the deadline.  OK, 8.  Fine: 2.  God does not offer us control; He offers us confidence.  We claim to be expectant, but the reality is that we can gauge the sincerity of our expectation by our preparation.

Luke gives us a great little narrative to show what preparation really looks like.  We track, in the story, from the Mount of Olives to the upper room.  Here we see the disciples desperately praying.  They were praying to their teacher, friend, and family member as if He could really hear them and as if they could really hear Him.  What a concept.  How is that really possible in our context today?  His Word.  It’s how He still teaches and touches and transforms.  They depended on it like oxygen.  This led them to diligent study.  They did theology together in community to try & answer some really tough questions, in this case, how to explain what had happened with Judas.  Peter references Scripture (Psalm 69:25 & Psalm 109:8).  The eventual outcome of this study & prayer was decisive action.  Based on Christ’s promises of the disciples’ role in the Kingdom (Luke 22:28-30), they cast lots for Matthias.  We’re not told if this was commanded by God or not, just that apparently God honored it.

So what?  How can we know that this same sort of transformative living is really sustainable today in our context?

Acts 1:12 (ESV) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

This is subtle, but this is special.  Luke is describing Jerusalem geographically to the reader.  Why?  Because the readers (in Rome) had no concept of Jerusalem; they’d never been there.  What Jesus predicts in Acts 1:8 Luke hints has already happened in Acts 1:12.  The Gospel has gone forth.  God is getting it done, and He does so through people who are expecting Him to speak, preparing for Him to move, and acting upon that revelation.

But it happened in Jerusalem first.  That means we have to take care of the business of Christ-likeness at home before we can expect to make a global impact.  Be Christ in your kitchen, then you can address Kuala Lumpur.  May we wait well.  May we live Kingdom-lives now as we eagerly expect our King (Philippians 3:20-21).

Acts 1:1-2 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

What would a doctor for your soul prescribe?  The prescription would be for whatever was necessary for your soul to thrive.  Luke wrote his Gospel and the book of Acts to be a prescription for Theophilus, a “friend of God.”  Was that the recipient’s real name?  We don’t really know so it really doesn’t matter.  What we know is that Luke deeply wanted for this one who was loved by God to get it to the point that he was changed.

Luke 1:3-4 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

In fact, Acts is all about change; about something new.  Luke’s Gospel depicts the birth of Christ, the book of Acts details the birth of the Church.  Prior to His ascension, Christ provided His disciples with preparation in teaching and example, Presence through resurrection, and power through the Holy Spirit.  All of these are available to us here and now.  But that doesn’t mean that we should feel a burden to change the world.  Christ has already done that.  We just have to be Christ in our context.  We are not Messiah, we’re on His mission.

Christ only began His teaching ministry while present in His earthly body.  He now continues that work through His Bride.  May we do and teach all that He instructed.

1. There are seven Life Group Sunday meetings this semester:1/8, 1/22, 2/12, 2/26, 3/25, 4/22, 5/24
2. Registration for Life Group semester child care must be done as soon as possible for this Sunday! We need to know by Friday, January 6, at noon so we can staff appropriately, but we will continue to accept semester registrations until Jan 20.
3. Beginning this semester, middle schoolers must be registered also.

Complete your semester child care registration:

Sunday Night

Wednesday Night

Church Office Hours:
The church office is open from 8 am to noon every day this week until Friday, December 30. We will be closed Monday, January 2. Normal church office hours resume Tuesday, January 3.

Year-End Giving:
For your offerings to be included on your 2011 contribution statement, they must be received or postmarked by December 31. For online giving, please process your transactions before 11:59 pm on December 31.

• Dec 23
• Dec 26
• At noon Dec 27-30
• January 2

$30,000 needed to break even for 2011

Bethel strives to fund ministry needs and manage expenses to meet expected giving levels. Our goal is to finish the year at break even and we need another $30,000 this month to cover all of our anticipated expenses for the year. Please consider giving before the end of the month in thanksgiving for how God has blessed you this year. Donations can be made online by clicking here or in the donation boxes on Sundays.

Sounds familiar and seems possible… until you get to the whole “ends of the earth” bit, right? What if the ends of the earth were within a 15 mile radius of your home? Could a nation that’s 80 percent Hindu and in desperate need of the ONE TRUE GOD really be within our reach? What is their culture like? What do they really believe? How can we be effective witnesses for Christ among them? Get some answers and experience the power of prayer in our Hearts for Hindus Sunday Seminar class during the 9:30 hour Oct. 23-Nov. 13 in Room C-214. Contact Emily Manasco at esmanasco@yahoo.com if you’d like more information.

Parents of Kindergarten-5th grade students are invited to the Bethel Kids Fall Kickoff on September 18 in the Bethel Kid’s Theater. We will meet from 4-5pm to reveal Bethel’s plan to combine our church and your home influence to impact our kids. Childcare will be provided, but online reservations are required.

Click here to donate to the Sierra Leone Scholarship Fund

Brothers Bethel bible Church, has been blessing to me and through the grace of God my life has been change from non-Christian to Christian.  And I want to say since God has used Bethel to go back to school with hope from brighter system after I have completed my school my university studies I will in turn be a blessing to others. Bethel Bible Church I love.” - Yvvone  Sesay

Click here to donate to the Sierra Leone Scholarship Fund

I want to thank the Bethel Bible Church for providing me this opportunity through the Grace of God to have acquired prepared education for the future. I also want also thank the GEM Ministry for linking me with Bethel Bible Church , I will always remember you in my prayer.” - Joseph Koroma

Click here to donate to the Sierra Leone Scholarship Fund

The class begins Wednesday, September 21 at Bethel and will run every Wednesday night for six weeks from 6:30-8 pm. The class is free, but registration is required. Click here to sign up.

Agenda

September 21st
Meet and Greet
Overview of Coming Sessions
Where are We
Survey and“Does Business Matter to God”
Lead by: Rick Knight, Executive Vice President, Libertas American, Inc. – Tyler, Texas

September 28th
Biblical “Operations Model” and the Danger of Bifurcation
Speaker: Dr. Gerald Chester, Strategies@Work, LLC – Dallas, Texas

October 5th
“Business as Mission”
Lead by: Justin Forman, Executive Vice President, Sales and StrategicPartnerships – BlueFish TV, Dallas, Texas
Founder of Business as Mission Network

October 12th
“How God is Directing Our Business”
Tod Bush, Chief Impact Officer and Director of Red Dot 100X
RED DOT BUILDINGS – Athens, Texas

October 19th
“Hiring and Managing” & “Resources”
Lead by Rick Knight

October 26th
“What Do I Do Now?”
Lead by Rick Knight

Click here to download a copy of the agenda

Childcare is available for $42.50 per semester paid in advance on the Women’s Bible Study sign-up link below. Childcare reservations are required. A $5 per child per session option will be available closer to the study start date.

Click here to sign up for Women’s Fall Bible Study

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to the SA at Bethel, just mark “Salvation Army” on your giving envelope.

For more information about the salvation army, click here.

Dr. Kimmel has spoken to millions of people throughout the country and is one of the nation’s top advocates speaking for the family today. He has spoken for Promise Keepers, Focus on the Family’s Life on the Edge Tour and has authored several books including: Raising Kids For True Greatness, Grace-Based Parenting, Why Christian Kids Rebel, Homegrown Heroes, Little House on the Freeway (featured in the Billy Graham crusades), The High Cost of High Control, Raising Kids Who Turn Out Right and Surviving Life in the Fast Lane. Altogether, there are more than 800,000 copies of Dr. Kimmel’s books in print.

Come to Iron Men tomorrow, Thursday, at 6:30 am and meet Dr. Kimmel. For more information about Dr. Kimmel and his Family Matters ministry, visit www.familymatters.net.

Click here to register

Noahs Ark Details

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July 24-30 – Noah’s Ark Camp (6th-12th graders), $400 ($100 Deposit Required)

Iron Men Resumes June 2Iron Men is on break through the end of May. In June, Iron Men will kick off a summer series called “Basic Training – A Few Good Men” by Dr. Tim Kimmel. In August, Iron Men will begin a fall series called “Men’s Fraternity.”

Additions to the Bethel StaffWe are pleased to welcome three new members to the Bethel staff. Stephanie Focht will replace Erin Richards as the Sunday nursery coordinator. Erin and her husband Joel will be moving to Bryan this summer. Lacey Melinder joins us from Pine Cove as the interim director of elementary education, replacing Paula Meyers who is moving to Houston. Jeff Bice, who has served as interim missions director will now serve full time as the director of missions and discipleship, responsible for missions, life groups, connection and men’s and women’s ministries.  Please join us in welcoming them to the Bethel Staff and praying for their ministry.

Why does evil exist?

Did God create evil?

Why is there suffering in the world?

Find out at the next Bethel Institute on Saturday, May 14 with Dr. Douglas Blount from Dallas Theological Seminary. The Institute is from 8 am to 4 pm and breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee of $25.

Come for one session, or stay all day
8:00-11:30 am – God’s Goodness, Knowledge and Power
11:30-12:00 – Lunch provided
12:00-2:00 – Apologetics
2:00-4:00 – How do you respond to people that are suffering?
Sign up for Unshakable! Registration is $25 and includes breakfast and lunch.

Click here to visit ‘V’

// Good Friday and Easter Services //

Join us on Friday, April 22 for our Good Friday service at 7 pm in the Worship Center.  Child care will be provided for children under two years of age. On Easter Sunday, April 24, we will have three identical services at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 am. The 8 o’clock service will only have child care available for children under two years of age. The 9:30 and 11:00 am service will have full child care (under 5 years of age) and all other church programs will meet as usual during their normal times.

Click on the grade level to reveal the girls and boys host homes for that grade.
View DNow 2011 Host Homes in a full-screen map

6th Grade Girls

Jeff and Stefanie Bice
2451 Crescent Circle Tyler TX 75703

6th Grade Boys

Warren and Ann Abrameit
1801 Delano Road Tyler TX 75701

7th Grade Girls

Rod and Rachel Anderson
5020 Chad Tyler TX 75703

7th Grade Guys

Josh and Lori Knight
8515 Carli Circle Tyler TX 75703

8th Grade Girls

Matt and Paula Myers
4021 Fry Tyler TX 75701

8th Grade Guys

Jeff and Charslie Andreason
249 Heritage Court Lindale TX 75771

HS Girls

Mark and Paula Brookshire
5925 Brixworth Tyler TX 75703

HS Guys

Mark and Marla Kuykendall
418 Dublin Avenue, Tyler, TX

You can purchase “Family Worship” by Joel Beeke from Pastor Ross’ sermon this morning at christianbook.com.

Order this book online

Other books by Beeke

Begins Friday, March 25 at 7pm until Sunday, March 27 at 2:30 (pick-up at the Timbers). Registration deadline is March 20.

Bring sleeping bag and pillow, clothes, close-toed shoes, bible, flashlight, toiletries, a great servant’s attitude and a friend.

Please register online here.

Bring sleeping bag and pillow, clothes, close-toed shoes, bible, flashlight, toiletries, a great servant’s attitude and a friend.

Please register online here.

See more available positions at: http://www.bethelbible.com/about/job-opportunities/

This Sunday is the grand opening of our new elementary area! All classes and Reel to Real have moved to the first floor of the Education Building. K-5th graders will now be checked in at their new entrance (near the exterior staircase) and will be picked up at 12:15 at the exit doorway of the new Reel to Real room (former youth room).

Cost: $75

Sign-up Deadline: Sunday, April 3rd to guarantee yourself a shirt Sign-up in the Attic or on-line here.

Stuff to bring: Sleeping bag & Pillow, Clothes,, Bible, Flashlight, Toiletries, snacks & 2-liter drinks and a Friend.

Sign up online here.

Cost: $20 (to cover supplies & t-shirt)

Important Dates:
JUNE MEETING: Wednesday, June 1st “EVERYBODY MTG” – 6:30pm in The Attic
Sunday, June 5th “TEACHING TEAM MTG.” – 12:30pm in The Attic

Sign up online here.

Today was all about the boys.  They taught the B.E.E. Course, working through Galatians.  Nick, Lee, and Jeff commanded a presence; but most of all, they LOVED listening to Pastor Conteh.  Nick said he loved Peter’s fervor from the pulpit and his sound doctrine.  God used this to encourage the men that He placed the right person in the perfect place to lead the people of Molambay.

Our day continued with a meeting with Restore Hope (hearing about their work), playing with the most wonderful children outside of the Molambay church, listening to Fatamata share her story of the war and loosing her husband, her parents, and her children, perusing the market for needless whatnots, meeting with Gwen (a woman working alongside the government to improve education, and finally to dinner at Country Lodge, which has a breathtaking, scenic view of the entire city.

Ramatu came to say goodbye.  She just left our room where we enjoyed one more moment of sisterhood and comradery.  Now, we will pack and prepare for tomorrow’s departure.   Although bits of the trip have been difficult, we are preparing for the most difficult portion – goodbyes.  God knit each of our hearts to our sisters and brothers here in Sierra Leone.  Departure will be hard.

Please, pray for safe travel and continued wellness.  Pray for peace between our brothers as they work through church business.  Pray for provision for spiritual and physical heath and nourishment.  Both are needed.  Thank be to our Lord for the provision He has already granted.  Praise to him for the churches and people in Molambay, who have already committed themselves

We were not sure if Ramatu’s body or heart was more exhausted as she plunked her body down on the bench outside of the B.E.E. building in Molambay.  We sat on the porch and talked to Ramatu.  She revealed the pains in her heart.  They were very similar to the weight that every mama I know carries, plus some.  As a wife to a pastor, a co-shepherd to the congregations, a Bible teacher, a problem solver, a mom and tutor, a nurse and financial contributor, a sister, a daughter, and ultimately, a servant of the Most High, she is struggling to resolve the roles to carry and what God would have her relinquish.  She grieves over the time away from her husband and children, but she is grateful for the provision God’s given her with her job.  Once Ramatu and Peter move out of the home they share with their 14 relatives into a family home, with travel time, Ramatu’s nursing job will take her away from home from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Once home, she still assists her children with studies.  Housework and cooking will still needs attention; and then, there’s always Peter, whom she loves and adores, and with whom she desires to relationship.  Now, factor in the weight of the other roles above, and the time she gives to growing in the Word, Ramatu works on negative time.

Our hearts ached for her, not out of pity, but out of understanding.  Understanding to some degree…not of others.  To pretend we understand perfectly, would imply the difficulty of this impoverished country are not great.  That is not the case.  We understand as women.  We understand as mothers.  We understand as wives and servants of Christ.  We understand as laborers.  We sat and approached the throne of God together and the time was sweet.  There’s no doubt, the Spirit orchestrated her sharing her struggles so we will continue to think and pray for her and her family.  Please, commit to praying with us for God’s wisdom for Ramatu to balance work, family, leadership, growth and guiding the women of Molambay.

The men affirmed the BEE course got off to a great start.  Jeff couldn’t be more proud of Nick and Lee, who he says did a prodigious job.  They were successful in explaining the role of a facilitator in the body.  Each meeting shows advancement and hope in the attendees.  These men are growing in the Lord and His word!

The G.E.M. pastor business meeting, which we had the joy of attending, ran long.  This made the team late to the Youth ALPHA course (even on Africa time).  Regardless, “Chief” impacted the group with a lesson on the master potter and the vessel.  How we do wish you could see him fashioning not just clay but also lives.  The Lord has gifted “Chief.”

Each part of this group embraces the privilege of serving as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the Heart!  It is true joy to be a part of His work, to see His hand, and to walk this road together with you, with Young Life of Sierra Leone, with G.E.M. Ministries, and the other parts God is bringing together.

Please, pray for a spirit of unity and breakthrough for the conflict, which exist in reconciling G.E.M Ministry and Canaan Poultry Farms and for the G.E.M Ministry board meeting, which takes place at 11:00 a.m. CST on Monday.   Also, the men preach in three of the churches tomorrow, the team would covet your prayers for clear delivery and receptive hearts of those hearing.

Traveling from Waterloo to Freetown, we saw a perfect picture of the spiritual turmoil existing in Sierra Leone.  Two punta-punta (public transport vans) traveled one after another.  One read “Jesus Reigns.”  The other read “Allah Reigns.”  The worship of other gods exists plainly side by side with the movement of the gospel.  The conflict plays out in every realm.  It reminded us that the battle here is not of flesh and blood but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Pray for the continued redemption of souls and protection of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

On a serious note, the Spirit definitely equipped the women as they completed the women’s conference today.  Several Sierra Leonean women, who are new to faith, don’t belong to a body of believers, practiced Islam, and are in a marriage with unbelievers, attended the conference today.  This was a bold move for them and the first time Martha and Yeanoh shared the hardships of their marriages publicly.    How tremendous to know the Lord allowed us to use the story of Abigail to encourage women in difficult marriages!  They were vulnerable and shared.  They live in hardship.  They left with hope.  Pray for their husbands, their faith, and their pain.

Peter and Albert both shared their personal encounters with the civil war, which gripped the nation from 1991-2002.  The Lord’s joy and restoration dwarf the devastation, the death, the incomprehensible suffering, and the physical and lasting evidence of the war.  Albert recounted the moment the R.U.F. (rebel force) took him to chop his hands as was common during the war.  The machete fell.  With only a Bible and ID card in hand, Albert shared that he was a pastor of a local church.  This caused the rebel to stop and spare him.  The Lord interceded.  The men in front of him and behind of him were not so fortunate.  He explained (with a smile on his face), “The Lord plucked me out and spared me!”  None of us could believe how fully the Lord has healed the mental and emotional scars of this experience.   God restored Albert’s great hope and chance for a future.

While the women were teaching and fellowshipping with the ladies, the men filled their day with meetings.  Nick, Lee, and Jeff met with Edgar, the chairman of G.E.M. board.  God’s hand accompanied them.  The meeting was a success.  The men were glad to confirm Bethel and G.E.M. are on the same page.

We have currently been driving for over an hour and traveled a mere 3 kilometers.  The bumper-to-bumper, sluggish traffic allows time to debrief, laugh and share.  “Chief” (Lee Ridenour) provided many chuckles.  In a fatherly manner, “Chief” protects the ladies; so as the ladies visited the loo, “Chief” waited outside.  A local asked him what he was doing.  “Chief” answered, “I’m just watching.  I mean, I’m just listening.”  At that point he stopped.  There was no need to go further.

God provided ease on our final leg of travel from London to Sierra Leone.  We easily passed through baggage claim and customs.  Peter and Sarrah greeted us warmly at the airport.  Abu, the usual driver, is unavailable due to his brother’s illness.  The ride from the Lungi (where the airport is) to Freetown provided much culture and entertainment.  New national friends, whom we met on the ferry, gave the women (and Lee) their African names, from here on to be referred to as Mariama (Paula), Aminata (Sarah), Fatu (Lori), and Pa.Alimamy or Chief (Lee).  Pa.Alimamy is a term of respect reserved for the important – rightly given to Lee.

Our car disembarked the ferry and headed to the hotel.  All enjoyed the ride as it allowed views of Freetown and the lively culture of Sierra Leone.  Driving to the hotel, the buildings half demolished from years of war, the obvious presence of amputees and polio cripples, and the absence of light and people appeared eerie and unnatural.  As the girls sat in the room and decompressed from the sites seen, we agreed the best description of what we saw was not “impoverished”, it is more war-torn and oppressive.  What a reminder that in the midst of the darkness and pain of our own lives and culture, Christ is the light and hope.

Today the group met for breakfast and quickly headed out for a full day.  Once again, we tried to take in some of the sites and sounds of the city around us.  It is truly difficult to absorb and process them at the rate in which they come; it’s nice that we don’t have to process them in order to move forward in the name of Christ.  We traveled to right outside of Freetown to Restore Hope in order to look at the facilities for future stays and possible partnering, on to Waterloo, and into Molam Bay.  Here, the men spent time making acquaintance with the BEE group and fellowshipped.  Meanwhile, God was busy answering the prayers of peace for the women as they led bible study at the women’s conference.  “Mariama” credits the Lord for a flood of the Spirit covering her with peace and allowing a delivery of His word.  I believe, each of the women wept as we had the privilege of worshiping alongside the women gathered for the conference.  There is such a sweetness of experiencing how the Spirit links us together even when languages collide.  The day with the women ended well as we were able to take and share personal photos of each of the women attending the conference as reminder of their identity in Christ.  The responses of the women varied from embarrassment to thrill.  Peter was grateful for the team’s arrival.  He says it allows him a bit of reprieve as the congregation interacts with us, and he can relax.

As I type, we are sitting in traffic at a standstill in the middle of Freetown because Sam Sumana, the Vice President, is entering town and bound to cross our paths.  Next, we will head to eat dinner at Alex’s.  The team is tired, but we are also fully restored in the Lord.

Please, continue to pray for a complete healing for Jeff.  His sinuses are blocked and his ears have great pressure.  Pray for each of the members of the team as we interact with the nationals and share God’s truth, love and hope.  Pray for wisdom and discernment to rule.

Blessings,

Your Sierra Leone Team

Blessings,

Lori Knight
The Sierra Leone Trip

Keep checking the website for more updates and cancellations due to the inclement weather.

C. S. Lewis wrote, “It is painful, being a man, to have to assert the privilege, or the burden, which Christianity lays upon my sex. I am crushingly aware of how inadequate most of us are, on our actual and historical individualities, to fill the place prepared for us.”  Join Senior Pastor Ross Strader on Thursday mornings at 6:30 at Bethel beginning next Thursday, February 17 for a new Bible Study.

The church offices are closed Friday, February 4 due to inclement weather. The forecast indicates that Bethel will hold church services as scheduled on Sunday, February 6.

Bethel Book Club will meet on Monday, February 28 at 7:00 pm at the home of Sarina Hager (17844 CR 134) in Flint. Our selection for February is Tim Keller’s, “Generous Justice.”Copies will be on sale for $12 in the lobby or you may check out a copy from the Bethel Library. Please join us for coffee, dessert and fellowship as we discuss the Bible as a fundamental source for promoting justice and compassion for those in need. For more information about book club or for directions, please call Sarina Hager at (903) 952-1110.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has instructed utility companies to begin rotating outages to compensate for a shortage because of the extreme weather. The scheduled, temporary interruptions of electric service usually last about 10-45 minutes (hospitals and nursing homes are generally not included in the outages). For more information regarding the power shortage, visit www.ercot.com.

Chris Legg has been married for17 years to his lovely wife, Ginger,and is a Licensed ProfessionalCounselor with many years ofexperience counseling, speakingand ministering with men andwomen. In his informal andinformational style Chris willoffer practical motivation foryou to use the power God hasgiven you to enrich the lives ofthe people you care about…today! He owns and operates acounseling and consulting clinichere in Tyler, Texas.

http://bible.us/e/5eA

To download the youversion app on your smartphone, visit youversion.com/download.

Also, consider joining Bethel on a mission trip to Namibia this summer; June 10-19, 2011.

This is a Women’s Event (18+) and we encourage you to invite your neighbors and friends.

Sign up online at bethel events or in the foyer. When signing up, please be sure to include the recipe you’ll be preparing for that evening. In order to swap recipes we will be making the recipe cards in advance. For question, email Autumn at autumnl@suddenlink.net

It’s the start of a brand new year, so let’s read the Bible in 2011 from cover to cover! This is a new year’s resolution that will benefit your spiritual life and it’s one that you can keep because everyone at church will be reading through it with you. If you have read through the Bible before, this will be a good time to read it again and discover something new as God reveals more to you during your readings.

Today’s reading is the first three chapters of Genesis. Check out bethelbible.com/resources/read-the-bible for more information or go to the home page, click “Resources” then click “Read the Bible in 2011″. We will be using a free resource, provided at youversion.com to track our progress and utilize their free tools for our mobile devices. Click here for more, or start your reading now!

Sign up and pay registration here.

As God has blessed you this year, please consider a year-end gift to Bethel. December is a vital month for us as our ministries rely on sacrificial end-of-year giving in addition to regular offerings. This December, we are praying for $450,000 for the General Fund. To date, we still need $257,000 to meet the goal and move forward with the investment in children’s ministry, adult education, discipleship and missions. We can reach our budgeted number, but not without your help. Will you prayerfully consider helping us reach our year-end budget goal so these vital ministries can move forward?

You can mail your gift, postmarked on or before Friday, December 31 or give online with a debit or credit card at bethelbible.com before midnight on December 31. Please join together this year to honor God and fund the ministry He has called us to at Bethel through a special gift.

If you have any questions or desire assistance with your year-end giving, contact Andrew Green, Finance Director, at 903-839-5007 or by email at Andrew@bethelbible.com.

Sincerely,

Ross Strader

Click here to give online

Dear Bethel Family,

I don’t know how long it has been since you noticed the sign at the front of Bethel’s property. I see it at least 10 times a week as I come and go out of the entryway. I know I have seen it before, but I noticed it afresh a couple of weeks ago.

The picture that was chosen to represent the ministry of this church: a tree. A tree coming out of God’s word. The caption says, “Being Firmly Rooted in the Word.” It is a picture that comes straight from the entryway into the Psalms:

“Blessed is the man who delights in the word of God… He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

This has been a year of prosperity and fruit in the ministry of Bethel, and we praise God for His blessing. Looking back on 2010, we can see God at work at Bethel: More than 60 new believers baptized, launching Bethel Institute with visiting professors to deepen our understanding of God and His Word, and our growing youth ministry that pours God’s truth into young people at a very crucial age. Through your generosity, God has blessed us materially with a record year of giving of $1,309,527 and the completion of Phase I of our expansion project with the opening of the Attic, our larger youth meeting space with classrooms for small group discipleship.

I pray and believe that God will continue to favor Bethel in 2011 as we work to build disciples through:

• Expanded Life Groups and their focus on community, serving, and teaching;
• Additional Bethel Institutes so that as our understanding of God grows, so will our love and gratitude for what He has done for us;
• A greater investment in the children’s ministry to train up a new generation of followers of Christ.

To accomplish this, we estimate our financial need for 2011 to be $1,563,781 for the general fund and $120,000 as an immediate need for the building fund. These resources would enable us to add additional pastoral staff focused on children’s ministry, discipleship, adult education, and complete the expansion of the children’s ministry facilities and relocation of the children’s classrooms to the first floor. December is a critical month for Bethel as our fiscal year begins.

December giving in years past has been more than 30% of total annual giving and provides us with a strong indication for the giving trend for the year. The goal for this December is $450,000 and we plan to base our hiring and building for the year in large part on the funds received in December. So, as you reflect on God’s blessings on you and how he has used Bethel in your life, would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift to Bethel to further His ministry?

If you would like to see a little more what God has done at Bethel this year and what we believe He will do next year, click here to see our State of the Church video.

If you would like to make your year-end contribution now, you can click here to give online.

My family and I are grateful for this church and all the ways you bless, encourage and care for each other throughout the year. Being a part of the Bethel family is one of the greatest blessings of our lives, and we thank you. I pray the Lord will reveal His deep love and grace for you during this beautiful season and bless the coming year in ways beyond what you can even ask. To the praise of His glorious name!

Thankful for our roots,

Ross Strader

On Sunday, December 26, there will be one service at 10 am. Only Baby Snapshots (birth to under 2 years old) and Snapshots (preschool) child care will be provided. The Gallery, Reel-2-Real (R2R), Middle School, High School and Sunday classes will not meet.

Starting December 1 and continuing every day through Christmas Eve, Pastor Ross will post a short insight about “one word” related to Christmas and the Advent season, like: love, peace, hope and joy. To listen to “One Word” click here or subscribe here to receive daily emails when the podcast is available.

So, if you want your contribution counted in 2010, make sure it is received by the church by Friday, December 31st or mail it with a December 31, 2010 postmark and check date.

Please note office hours in the schedule above.  We must abide by IRS rules to retain our tax exempt status. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Click here to give online now!

Click here to give now!

This year on December 11 and December 18, Bethel will be responsible to ring at two entrance locations at the mall: Sears and JC Penney. Help raise money and awareness for the Salvation Army by taking a time slot. You can sign up at the ministry tables in the foyer or in your SS Class.

Bethel Bible Church presents the financial outlook of the church, the budget for 2011 and progress towards the vision as established by the elders.

Using a mobile device? Watch the video on YouTube.