Recent Sermons

Preparation is always the key to a successful outcome. The same is true when we consider suffering. Although the thought of suffering is distasteful, nevertheless it is the lot of Christians.

The first century church was an amalgamation of Jewish and Gentile believers who had to be educated in Christian behavior.

The writer of 2 Samuel tells the story of how David the king showed kindness to the lame man, Mephibosheth, also the grandson of David's enemy Saul. This narrative is an analogy of the kindness shown by God to poor sinners in salvation.

James 1:22 exhorts us to be "doers of the Word, and not hearers only." The pastor is required in Scripture to feed the sheep, over which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer of the local church (Acts 20:28). This involves 1) intense study of the Word of God, 2) understanding the original language and culture in which it was spoken, 3) sound hermeneutics which is the principle and method of interpreting the text of God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15) and 4) the exposition, which is the process of carefully translating the Word into food for the hearers. The believer's responsibility begins with being swift to hear, having an intense hunger for the Word which assists him in properly receiving it (James 1:19).

Captured by the Babylonians, Daniel helplessly watched as the city of Jerusalem was laid waste. Taken to Babylon he might have been tempted to think, "Where is God in all of this?" Disaster storms into our lives just like it did Daniel's. God was sovereign in Daniel's life. God's sovereignty is always at work; therefore, you must remain faithful to Christ.

Two ways, two kinds of faith, two kinds of works, two kinds of justification. Which kind is yours?

Jehoshaphat was a godly king in Judah. But, he made a series of mistakes in allying himself with Ahab. The progression of mistakes nearly cost him his life and certainly displeased God.

Why is respect of persons sinful? What is God's view of favoritism?

Just prior to His departure into Heaven, Jesus instructed His followers to WAIT for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4). He recognized that there would be a time of transition between His departure and the arrival of the Holy Spirit of God. Not only did Jesus instruct them to wait, He also gave them instructions as to how they were to wait. Acts 1:14 reveals how they waited - "with one accord in prayer and supplication." Being now in a time of transition, we also need to follow the instruction of our Lord and Savior who said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they FOLLOW Me (John 10:27). Therefore, like the disciples of Christ, we are to wait until the Lord brings us another shepherd and the key to achieving God's blessing and direction is to wait with one accord in prayer and supplication.

As Peter neared the end of his ministry to the church, he was intent not to give the Lord’s people something new, but to stir their spiritual memory, or make them recall what they already had. Likewise, as my pastoral ministry at Bethany draws to a close, I would like to remind you of several essential blessings that are yours as believers in Christ.