Bethel Church Temple TX Podcast (Sermons)

Grow Through Problems November 2, 2025 Elwyn Johnston Philippians 1:9 – 21 Verse of the Week: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21 1. Accept love beyond limits “I pray that your love will overflow more and more in real knowledge and discernment.” Philippians 1:9 “approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless” Philippians 1:10 2. Let your problems become your platform for ministry. “my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” Philippians 1:12 “through my being in prison, the Lord has given most of our brothers and sisters courage to speak God’s word without fear” Philippians 1:14 3. Your life purpose is bigger than your current problems. “my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything…I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.” Philippians 1:20 “For me to live is Christ” Philippians 1:21

How To Get What You Really Want October 26 , 2025 AM Brendon Johnston “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15   “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” James 1:13 & 14 Verse of the Week: “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone” James 1:13 1. The hardest fight you will ever have is the fight against yourself.   2. Your desires for the moment will always be more desperate than your dreams for the future.   3. Find something to hold onto. “For I know the plans I have for you” Jeremiah 29:11 4. Pain does not give you permission to abandon your purpose.

The Outcast God Chose October 19, 2025 AM Elwyn Johnston Judges 11 Verse of the Week: “Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah” Judges 11:29 1. Let God use rejection to refine you “Jephthah was the son of a harlot. And Gilead was the father” Judges 11:1 “when Gilead’s wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out” Judges 11:2 Refining leads to redirection “Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob” Judges 11:3 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 Refining comes before release. 2. Let God redeem your rejection “When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah” Judges 11:5 You are redeemed to go. “whatever the Lord our God has driven out before us, we will possess it.” Judges 11:24 We go in the power of the Spirit. “Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah” Judges 11:29 “The is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Zechariah 4:6

Ordinary Tool, Extraordinary God October 12, 2025 AM Elwyn Johnston Judges 3:31 Verse of the Week: “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chron. 20:15 1. You are God’s answer to your world. “After Ehud came Shamgar the son of Anath” Judges 3:31 2. What you have can make a difference “Shamgar killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.” Judges 3:31 “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” Matthew 25:21 “God has given each of you a gift….Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 3. Don’t allow the circumstances to stop you “Shamgar killed 600 Philistines” Judges 3:31 “When the priests who were carrying the ark came to the edge of the Jordan River and set foot in the water, the water stopped flowing from upstream.” Joshua 3:15 & 16 “we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”                    2 Chronicles 20:12 “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel...and he said…Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:14 & 15

Be the Voice October 5, 2025 AM Elwyn Johnston Judges 1 & 2 Verse of the Week: “the Lord raised up judges who delivered them” Judges 2:16 1. Disobedience leads to bondage “And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron” Judges 1:19 Sin is persistent “Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean…for the Canaanites there were determined to dwell in that land.” Jdg 1:27 “When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor” Judges 1:28 Discipleship is demonstrated by obedience “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:19 “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26 “Reckon yourself dead to sin, but alive to God” Romans 6:11 “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5 “You who love the Lord, hate evil!” Psalm 97:10 “make no provision for the flesh to satisfy fleshly desires” Romans 13:14 2. God saves, but gods enslave. “I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.” Judges 2:3 “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them….God sold them into the hands of their enemies” Judges 2:11, 12, & 14 “Whoever loves money never has enough” Ecclesiastes 5:10 “promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God” Psalm 75:6 & 7 “Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 We deserve punishment, but God gives mercy! “the Lord raised up judges who delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.” Judges 2:16 “the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10

Guest Speaker: Rick DuBose

His Story, His Glory September 21, 2025 AM - Elwyn & ReGina Johnston Hebrews 13:8 Verse of the Week: “Now the Lord had said to Abram, ‘Get out of your country…to a land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 1. God gives a call The Call requires us to leave and go The Call is rooted in God’s Promise “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you”  Gen. 12:2 The Call requires simple obedience “So Abram went as the Lord had spoken to him” Genesis 12:4 The Call will necessitate prayer “Abram built an altar there….. to the Lord” Genesis 12:7 “built an altar . . . and called upon the name of the Lord” Gen. 26:25 “God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God’” Genesis 35:1 2. The Call will be tested “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a sacrifice’” Gen. 22:1 & 2 View sacrifice as an act of worship “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” Genesis 22:5 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2 - 4 Watch God provide “God will provide for Himself” Genesis 22:8 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 3. The Call must continue “And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.” Genesis 25:5 “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.”’ Genesis 12:7 “The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you….I will do this because Abraham listened to Me and obeyed my commands.’ So Isaac stayed in Gerar.” Genesis 26:2, 3, 5, & 6 Dig new wells and build new altars “Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them.” Genesis 26:18 “Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord.” Genesis 26:25 “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

Guest Speaker

Double Anointing September 7, 2025 Michael Santiago & David Barnes 2 Kings 2:1-14 1. Membership “not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 2. Mentorship “’Follow me,’ he told them,” Matthew 4:19 3. Message “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” Romans 1:16 4. Ask for more “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 2 Kings 2:9 More requires being fully present in the pursuit of God’s anointing. To live in the land of MORE – We need fresh annointing 5. Pick up the mantle “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him….” 2 Kings 2:13 “…struck the waters, they were divided here and there” 2 Kings 2:14  We must discover the fire of God for our individual lives, church, & community

Don’t Waste the Wait August 31, 2025 Elwyn Johnston 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - 28; 2 Thessalonians 3 Verse of the Week: “the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 1. Live a peaceful life “Live in peace with one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:13 Honor spiritual authority “honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love” 1 Thess. 5:12 & 13 Be patient with people “be patient with everyone” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “encourage the fainthearted” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Keep your spiritual filter clean “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 2. Live a disciplined life “Now we command you” 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Be productive, not passive “keep away from every believer who doesn’t live a disciplined life” 2 Thessalonians 3:6        “we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing            no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11        “I must be about My Father’s business” Luke 2:49 Be determined, not distracted. “do not grow weary of doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 3. Live a hope-filled life Live holy “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept blameless” 1 Thess. 5:23 “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20 – 22 Live ready “until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “I am confident of this very thing, that God who began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Anchored While Waiting August 24, 2025 Elwyn Johnston 2 Thessalonians 1:1 – 12; 2:13 - 17 Verse of the Week: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul” Hebrews 6:19 1. Anchored in community “Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians” 2 Thessalonians 1:1 We grow together. “your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3 “we keep on praying for you” 2 Thessalonians 1:11 We go through tough times together “We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships” 2 Thess. 1:4 2. Anchored in eternity “God will provide relief for you who are suffering. He will do this when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7 We are loved by God “God is love” 1 John 4:8 “loved by the Lord” 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “God our Father, who has loved us” 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3 We are chosen by God “God has chosen you….God called you through the gospel” 2 Thessalonians 2:13 & 14 “God does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 We have hope by God “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul” Hebrews 6:19 “good hope by grace” 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you” 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Hope Beyond The Grave August 17, 2025    Mason Worthy  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18    Verse of the Week: “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”                      1 Corinthians 5:57  1. Be Hopeful “Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”                         1 Thessalonians  4:17  Don’t fear what you are meant to hope for. “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55  2.  Stay Alert “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.”                    1Thessalonians 5:2 Stay alert according to the word, not people. “Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.”           2  Thessalonians 2:2  3.  Be Equipped “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”  1Thessalonians 5:8  Be equipped with  Godly armor. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.”                                                    Ephesians 6:14 “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”                                             Ephesians 6:17 “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”                                         1 Peter 1:13  4.  Stay Encouraged “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1Thessalonians 5:9-11  We are destined for life with God, not destruction.                        

Excel Still More August 10, 2025 Elwyn Johnston 1 Thessalonians 3:11 – 4:12 Verse of the Week: “Then your way of life will win respect from those outside the church” 1 Thessalonians 4:12 1. Stand out, don’t blend in. “God’s will is for you to be holy” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 “be holy, for I am holy” Leviticus 11:44 Resist cultural drift “as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 Live a sexually pure life “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor” 1 Thessalonians 4:4 “God didn’t call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7 “who rejects this is not rejecting man but God” 1 Thessalonians 4:8 “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…you are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 “Where can go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Psalm 139:7 “confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 “Two are better than one….for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 2. Live differently to make a difference “we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other….you already show your love for all the believers. But we urge you, as believers, to excel still more” 1Thessalonians 4:9 & 10 “aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Don’t allow the storm around you to create a storm in you “we are not ignorant of satan’s schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 Write your own story. Don’t try to write someone else’s. “one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.” Proverbs 26:17 Don’t just dream it – do it! “Then your way of life will win respect from those outside the church” 1 Thessalonians 4:12

Stand Firm August 3, 2025 Elwyn Johnston 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:10 Verse of the Week: “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8 1. Embrace the Word, not the world “In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 “suffered at the hands of your own countrymen” 1 Thess. 2:14 “have persecuted us” 1 Thess. 2:15 “they please not God, and are contrary to all” 1 Thess. 2:15 Accept the Word as from God “when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Allow the Word to have final authority in our lives “this word continues to work in you who believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13 “Jesus gave up His life for the church that He might make her holy by cleansing her by the washing of water with the Word” Eph. 5:26 “this person will be blessed in what they do” James 1:25 “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 2. Stay connected, even when you feel disconnected “We wanted very much to come to you… but satan hindered us” 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Community will strengthen you “I sent Timothy… to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” 1 Thessalonians 3:2 “so that no one should be shaken by these afflictions” 1 Thess. 3:3 Community will encourage you “in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you because you have remained strong in your faith.” 1 Thessalonians 3:7 “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8

Defining Success July 27, 2025 Elwyn Johnston 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 12 Verse of the Week: “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 1. God does not define success the way the world does. “some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot.” Acts 17:5 “Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea.” Acts 17:10 “You yourselves know…that our visit to you was not a failure.” 1 Thessalonians 2:1 “Failures” are a launching pad, not a landing pad. “God gave us the courage to declare His Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.” 1 Thessalonians 2:2 “A righteous person may fall seven times, but they get up again.” Proverbs 24:16 “Failure” can be a great teacher! Our goal is to please Christ, not culture. “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”         1 Thessalonians 2:4 “We didn’t seek praise from people, from you or from anyone else” 1 Thessalonians 2:6 2. Society defines success by riches. God defines success by relationships. “we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother gently cares for her own children” 1 Thessalonians 2:7 “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “we were exhorting and comforting and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children” 1 Thessalonians 2:11 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 “Don’t you remember, brethren, how hard we worked among you?”               1 Thessalonians 2:9

A Magnetic Church July 20, 2025 Elwyn Johnston 1 Thessalonians 1 Verse of the Week: “people speak of how you are waiting for the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10 1. A team that advances the church “some of the Thessalonians were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas” Acts 17:4 “Paul, Silas, and Timothy” 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in these churches.” Acts 14:23 “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.” 1 Timothy 4:14 2. A faith that is active “work of faith” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:26 3. A love that works hard “labor of love” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 4. A hope that endures “the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “In spite of a lot of tribulation, you welcomed God’s word with the joy of the Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 5. A life that echoes “You imitated us and the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “you became a model for all the believers” 1 Thessalonians 1:7 “Let your light shine before others” Matthew 5:16 “people keep talking about…how you turned from idols to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9 “the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you to people everywhere…wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God….people keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us….And they speak of how you wait for the coming of God’s Son” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 - 10

Your God is Too Small part 2 July 13, 2025 Elwyn Johnston Job 38 – 42 Verse of the Week: “I Am Who I Am” Exodus 3:14 “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone” Romans 5:12 “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 1. God uses suffering to redirect us. “Sometimes painful experiences make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30 “You asked, ‘Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I - and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.” Job 42:3 2. God uses suffering to realign us. “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your statutes.” Psalm 119:71 “the testing of your faith produces endurance, so let endurance do its work so you become mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:3 & 4 “I have made them for My glory.” Isaiah 43:7 “God saved them for the sake of His name” Psalm 106:8 3. God uses suffering to reposition us “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. He repositioned me so I could save the lives of many people.” Gen. 50:20 “give me this mountain that the Lord promised me” Joshua 14:12 “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue His work until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6 “satan has desired to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. When you have come through the time of testing, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31 & 32 4. God uses suffering to refine us. “I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” Isaiah 48:10 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I despise myself and I repent” Job 42:6 “no purpose of God’s can be stopped.” Job 42:2 “God knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as pure gold.” Job 23:10 “None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood God’s wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:8

Your God is Too Small July 6, 2025 Elwyn Johnston Job 38 – 42 Verse of the Week: “I Am Who I Am” Exodus 3:14 1. Change our perspective of God “I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.” Job 42:3 Fear the Lord “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” Proverbs 8:13 “In the fear of the Lord there is security, and His children will have refuge” Proverbs 14:26 2. Embrace the character of God. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 13:8 “God never changes” James 1:17 “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6 “God is love” 1 John 4:8 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’” Leviticus 19:2 “Only God is truly good.” Mark 10:18 “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.” Nahum 1:7 “O taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8 “God who calls you is faithful” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “God does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 “the Lord longs to be gracious to you.…For the Lord is a God of justice.” Isaiah 30:18 “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

A Good Friend June 29, 2025 Elwyn Johnston Job 2:11 - 13 Verse of the Week: “It is not good for man to be alone” Genesis 2:18 1. A good friend shows up “when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon Job, they came each one from his own place.” Job 2:11 “A friend loves at all times” Proverbs 17:17 2. A good friend will empathize with you. “When the friends recognized Job, they began to weep and wail, tearing their clothes in grief and throwing dust into the air and on their heads.” Job 2:12 “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 “You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8 3. A good friend listens “Listen to what I am saying; that is all the comfort I ask from you.” “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 “Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; but any fool will quarrel.” Proverbs 20:3 “A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his steps.” Proverbs 29:5 “Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed?” Job 4:7 “ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.” Job 8:8 “If only you would prepare your heart….Get rid of your sins….Then your face will brighten with innocence….You will forget your misery….Your life will be brighter than the noonday.” Job 11:13 - 17 “they sat down on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him” Job 2:13

Guest Speaker