Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA

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Two of the most important questions facing people of Jesus’ day and today are, “Who is Jesus?” and “What does He want me to do?” John records seven “I am” statements used by Jesus to reveal who He is. John 6 records a sign (the feeding of the 5,000), a sermon (in which He states, “I am the bread of life”), and then shows how this teaching was a stumbling stone to many of Jesus’ followers. The many parallels between the feeding of the 5,000 and the manna in the wilderness seem intended to show that Jesus is the source of abundant life in the wilderness of this earthly life. Jesus calls us to feed on Him by coming to Him in faith, believing that He is able to satisfy our hunger and emptiness. A community of believers who are living by Jesus’ words of life can be a place of abundance even as all of creation longs for the promised land of the new heaven and new earth. The post A Sign, A Sermon, A Stumbling Stone appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Approved workers understand that they need to be living out a therefore response to the Gospel (vv 8-10). Approved workers recognize that the way to life is through union in Christ – a union that dies, lives, and endures with Him (vv 11-13). Approved workers avoid the teaching, influence, and behavior of unapproved workers like Hymenaeus and Philetus (vv 14-21). Approved workers have learned the core competencies of flight, pursuit, and joint effort (vs 22). The post Pursuing God’s Approval appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Genesis 50 looks back and ahead. A major focus is leaving a legacy. At the end of his life, Joseph was satisfied. He had lived his life in such a way that he had no regrets. It hadn’t been easy and he had suffered much along the way, but he had lived well, and he was satisfied with his life. After the lengthy period of mourning for Jacob, Joseph’s siblings were afraid Joseph would retaliate against them for their sins against him. They had never asked for forgiveness, so maybe they still felt guilty. But in all of this Joseph maintained a Godly attitude. He had not forgotten, but he had forgiven. At the end of his life, Joseph requested that his bones be taken to the promised land. He knew that Egypt was just a temporary home and the land of Canaan was where they belonged. Joseph is known for loving and being loved by his father. He is known for his thirteen years of much suffering from the time of being put into the pit until he became ruler of Egypt. He is known for his capacity to forgive. He is known for having no sin recorded against him. We can live a good legacy by living well. Living well requires living intentionally rather than in reaction; telling stories that communicate the truth of our lives and God’s work; being a Godly example for people to follow; building relationships; apologizing when we are wrong; focusing on things of eternal value; finishing well. The post Wrapping Things Up appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 The Holy Spirit is given. The gospel transcends all cultures. Jesus equips his church by giving the church the necessary gifts: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. Jesus is looking for a pure bride so the Holy Spirit exposes sin in the church. Jesus gives the church the power to persevere. The gospel will not be stopped. The post I Will Build my Church appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Psalm 68 – God shares His victory and strength with His people. Ephesians 4:7-13 – Jesus shares His victory with the church, and gives it grace and gifts to equip the saints. II Timothy 2:1-7 – We need to lean on Jesus for the strength to be steadfast. Steadfastness looks like: enduring hardship, staying unentangled, remaining obedient to the Gospel, and working faithfully in hope of harvest. When we’re feeling weak, we should continue to wait on Jesus for strength. We should also be willing to share our struggles with people in the church; not all of the grace we need comes directly from Jesus to us. The post The Strength to be Steadfast appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Jacob’s deathbed prophecies are recorded in Genesis 48-49. The Jews believed deathbed blessings had special powers. These prophecies were prophetic in their own way but didn’t change the future. First Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, after which he blessed his own sons. The applications of the story of Jacob’s deathbed prophecies are: Nothing that happens to us is surprising to God. He gives us choices but knows what we will choose. Many prophecies are dependent on our choices. It might be easy for us to be fatalistic about God knowing the future, as if nothing we do will change the future, but our lives are affected by our choices. It is just that God stands outside of time and knows all that was and is and will be. Things we do affect our children and others, but that doesn’t mean our future is determined by our parents’ past. There is redemption for past failures. Redemption follows true repentance, which includes change. We should never trade liberty for comfort. Our choices and lives matter. We should live thoughtfully and wisely. The post Deathbed Prophecies appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Scripture presents a view of salvation (a soteriological vision) that provides a vision for personal and community life at Bethel. This is the view that Jesus Christ shed His blood unto death so that both Jews and Gentiles can be forgiven of their sins, that by trusting Christ as Savior and Lord a person’s faith is counted for righteousness and the person belongs to Abraham’s worldwide, spiritual family of faith, that by dying and rising with Christ in each temptation and circumstance through the power of the Holy Spirit the believer can walk in the obedience of faith, that it is within the discipling activities in the community of faith that each believer is transformed more and more into the character of Christ, and that the supreme goal of salvation is participation in the work of God’s Kingdom in this life and throughout eternity. This is not the same soteriological vision as saying our sins are imputed to Christ and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us and we will go to heaven when we die no matter how we live. This vision will influence the spirituality of each believer, the way we worship together, and the way we disciple one another. This vision calls us to worship God in spirit and truth, to encourage and admonish one another for the purpose of experiencing the grace and mercy of God, spiritual and emotional growth toward maturity, and “obedience of the faith” (Rom. 1:5). All of this requires human effort energized by grace and cooperation with God. The post The Implications of the Gospel for Bethel appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

II Timothy 1 – are we living our lives according to the promise of life in Jesus? Paul’s Situation: Imprisoned, anticipating death, abandoned by some, yet unwavering in faith. Timothy’s Situation: Ministry challenges, fears, and discouragement; receives Paul’s letter of encouragement and challenge. Paul’s Greeting: God called Paul to the ministry because of the promise of life in Christ Jesus—this has been a guiding principle for his life. Stir up the gift (vv.3-7): Don’t shrink back; use what God has given, because the Spirit wants to equip us and shape us into people who are brave, loving, and self-controlled. Do Not Be Ashamed (vv. 8-12): Share in suffering for the gospel; Christ has abolished death and given life. Two Entrustings: God entrusts us with the gospel, gifts, and resources – we need to be faithful stewards. We entrust our lives and sacrifices to God – He is able to keep them until “that Day.” Encouragement: Like Timothy, we can be encouraged to stand firm, confident in the life that is in Christ Jesus. The post Living According to the Promise of Life appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Often people believe that the reason they can’t achieve their goals is that circumstances conspire against them. But the more likely reason might be a failure to count the cost and do the hard work necessary to achieve the goal. Grace is free, but that doesn’t remove the need for human effort. One reason people fail to achieve worthwhile goals is that their goal is not what they think it is. Our actual goal is what we invest our time and energy and money in. In response to the rich young ruler who said his goal was to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. Jesus was asking for total commitment, total surrender. To achieve a goal requires identifying the specific goal, determining if the goal is achievable, breaking the process for achieving the goal into specific, necessary steps, and abandoning things that get in the way of achieving the goal. The post Achieving Our Goals appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

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A covenant is more than a contract. Contracts are about “I.” Covenants are about “we.” Covenants are moral commitments sustained by loyalty and fidelity. The Old Covenant included endless sacrifices that looked forward to the New Covenant and the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At communion we look back at Christ’s suffering and sacrifice and death, his shedding of blood for our forgiveness of sins. But we also look forward to Christ’s resurrection and the life he lives with us today. In the new covenant Christ places his life and will in our hearts and motivates us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. The post The New Covenant appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

Are we truly seeking first the kingdom of God, or are we caught up with the world’s desire for more security financially? Are we able to sleep, or do we worry about the future? Are we laying up treasure in heaven or earth? What if Jesus meant every word that he said? The post What Gets You Up in the Morning and/or Keeps You Up At Night appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

According to Scripture, whoever believes in Christ has eternal life and will not perish, and the person who does not believe in the Son of God is condemned and under God’s judgment (John 3:15, 18, 36). Becoming a believer starts with the realization that I have sinned and need a Savior. Becoming a believer in Christ requires believing, repenting, and becoming humble. The first step of faith is believing what God says is true about me and believing that Jesus died as the sacrifice for my sins. The person who trusts Jesus has his/her faith counted for righteousness and sins forgiven. Repentance refers to the turning of the mind and heart away from sin and independence and turning toward God. Repentance involves (1) a change of mind or purpose, (2) sorrow for sin and sadness or remorse about the effects of one’s sins, and (3) turning away from sin and turning toward God and the attitudes that please God. The importance of humility is especially evident in Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and Publican in Luke 18. Two men went into the temple to pray. One of them trusted in himself that he was righteous “and despised others . . . and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican” (Luke 18:9-11). But “the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:12). Jesus said that the Publican “went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14). In the Nicodemus story, Jesus did not explain to Nicodemus the mechanics or give him the equation for how to be born again. Rather, Jesus described being born again as “the wind [of the Spirit] blows where it wishes” (John 3:8, NKJV). No one can save himself. Everyone is in need of Christ. The same faith that regenerates leads to good works and sustains one’s relationship with God. The post Becoming a Believer in Christ appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why does he let people suffer and die? When he lived on the earth, he calmed the ocean and raised the dead. If he is present with us now, why doesn’t he do the same things he did back then? Why does it seem that he is sleeping? Joseph is an example of someone who endured suffering and came to a good end. But maybe that only works if you survive suffering and become the prime minister of one of the greatest countries on earth. But what if you come through the suffering and you simply feel exhausted and angry and a little bitter about what you went through? While suffering, even onto death, is a Godly thing to do, suffering is not something we should seek, for the sake of suffering. Menno Simons and Pilgrim Marpeck died natural deaths because they actively sought ways to avoid suffering and death. God works to uphold people during times of suffering, but it would be wrong of us not to help people who are suffering. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we forget what happened. Joseph had forgiven his brothers, but that didn’t keep him from testing his brothers. The only way to come through difficult situations well is to tell ourselves stories that indicate that God is present and working, but that is not the same as saying that God is going to control everyone and make them do what he wants. God does not make people do evil, and suffering is sometimes the result of people’s poor decisions. The post The Problem of Pain appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

I believe Christ’s mission or commission to the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 includes His intention that His disciples disciple one another. Christ says go and make disciples who learn to do whatever Christ wants them to do. Learning to do what Jesus wants us to do is not an easy task. Several hindrances come readily to mind. One hindrance is the common belief that if you trust Jesus as Savior, you don’t need to become a better person. But another hindrance is that it is much harder to change than people think, until they actually try to do it. In Romans 15:14 Paul says believers are qualified (have the moral character and knowledge) to admonish (encourage, warn, advise [both preaching and personal counsel]) others. Gal. 6:1-5 says believers are responsible to restore other believers who are “overtaken” (snared by the temptation) with a spirit of humility. Matthew 18:15-18 offers a process for engaging fellow believers. Several examples of believers discipling believers include Aquila and Priscilla admonishing Apollos (Acts 18:34-28), Paul admonishing Peter in Galatians 2, and Paul engaging in conversations in his own rented house (Acts 28:17-31). Two levels of disciples discipling disciples: Level 1 is one on one or small group “friendship conversation” in which people agree to talk about life and allow other people to offer their reflections. Level 2 is when someone invites or allows a “deeper dive” to unwanted habits or addictions. The post Making Disciples of Fellow Believers appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.

The return of Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy more food represents not simply a physical return but a time of repentance. It is obvious that Judah has learned something life-changing since that fateful day when Joseph was sold into Egypt. Now in these circumstances Joseph is threatening to keep Benjamin in Egypt and send the other brothers home, but Judah realizes that their dear father cannot possibly survive such a catastrophe, so in repentance Judah offers his life in exchange for Benjamin’s life. In this story we witness Judah demonstrating a completely different attitude toward Joseph and Benjamin than when the brothers stood looking at the well into which they would put their brother Joseph. This new attitude is the result of repentance. We see this same attitude of repentance in the story of the prodigal son. In the prodigal son’s return to the father we see four stages of repentance: regret, confession, abandonment of former behavior, and resolve. These are the necessary steps of repentance. What do we need to abandon to find victory? The post Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt appeared first on Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA.