Bethany Church

Today, Pastor Dave will continue our sermon series from the book of Mark--Chapter 14. Join us online or in-person at 8:00 am AND 10:30. ONLINE VENUES The Bethany Live Stream will continue to stream to Facebook and YouTube - as well as to Apple TV and Roku. Auto-Closed captioning will be a feature only available to Facebook at this time. Our website - www.bethanyumchurch.com... Facebook - Bethany Church YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/c/BethanyChurchMacungiePA See more

On Sunday, Pastor Dave will continue our series through the book of Mark. He will be preaching from Mark 14. Be sure to read and pray through the Scripture ahead of time. We look forward to seeing you there!

Prayer is a vital part of life. Consider some of these suggestions to help develop your prayer life: ONE -- If you have not done so, make a list of three to five people you know are not saved. Each morning, pray for those people TWO -- Have a prayer basket on your kitchen table to reference during meals. Resources such as a PrayerPoint booklet, that is available for free through Samaritan’s Purse, will give you specific things to pray for each day... THREE -- If you have children, pray with them before school, before bed, at meals, and any other time you can think of FOUR -- Stay up to date on current events and keep them all in prayerconsider also praying for specific politicians and others in key positions in our country and culture

Looking to make a difference for eternity? Consider the following: ONE -- The Bible says, in 1 Peter 3:15, that we should be prepared to share the Good News at all times, so take some time to think and prayer over what you would say to an unsaved friend, relative, associate, or neighbor TWO --Prepare a 3-minute testimony where you can briefly share with someone what you were like before you met Christ, how you met Christ, and what you are like now after having lived for some ...time with Christ as Lord of your life THREE -- Write the names of 3-5 unsaved people that you have regular contact with and dedicate to praying for those people every day

Every day, over 153,000 people die around the world. Breaking that down, close to 6,400 die every hour. That equals nearly one hundred and seven a minute (or almost two people every second), with two-thirds going into a Christ-less eternity. If you checked out the obituaries in your local paper, you would find the names of several people who were alive last week but now are not. One day, one of those names could be a friend, a relative, an associate, a classmate, or a neighbor. What will you do when you realize it’s too late to bring them to Christ? Today, consider if you are using your time and talents to reach the lost before it is too late.

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you want to, you can make me well again," he said. Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" Instantly the leprosy disappeared the man was healed. ~ Mark 1:40-41 What Jesus does in this Scripture was unthinkable in Bible times. Did you catch it? He TOUCHES the leper. This man considered unclean; this man despised by all others; this man who has gone without human touc...h for untold years, Jesus touches him and says those beautiful words, I want to. What more encouraging words could you find in all of Scripture? I want to. Perhaps you think that if you came to Jesus with all the sins you’ve tried so desperately to hide for so long, He will reject you. Perhaps you wonder how Jesus would react if you, the mess that you are, were to cry out, Jesus, if You want to, You can make me well again. Jesus wants to reach out and touch you in your brokenness. With compassion in His voice, He wishes to speak those infinitely precious words, Oh My child, I want to. Be healed. Today, don't run from His love and touch. Run to them!

When it comes to following the Lord, we usually have some good areas and some not so good areas. Check out the list below and prayerfully determine which areas need some extra attention heading into 2021. YOUR MIND: Do you struggle with lustful thoughts? Bad attitudes? Thinking poorly of others? Pride and ego? Lies? Worry? Do you watch or listen to things that are filled with sexuality, foul language, unbiblical themes, blasphemy, etc.? YOUR BODY: Are you keeping your body p...hysically fit and in shape? Are you exercising and eating right? Do you avoid sexual immorality? Do you drink alcohol excessively, smoke, use drugs, or abuse prescription medications? YOUR TIME: Are you using your time wisely? Do you spend time in the Word, in prayer, in Bible study, in worship, and in service? Are you wasting too much time with hobbies, TV, the internet, the apps on your phone, social media, sports, etc.? YOUR TALENTS: Are you using the gifts, talents, and abilities God has given you for His glory or for your own? Are you taking the passions and desires He has filled your heart with and using them for ministry or for self-advancement?

Jesus Through Mark's Perspective

Today, Pastor Dave will be starting a new sermon series from the book of Mark -- Follow Me. Join us online or in-person at 8:00 am AND 10:30. ONLINE VENUES The Bethany Live Stream will continue to stream to Facebook and YouTube - as well as to Apple TV and Roku. Auto-Closed captioning will be a feature only available to Facebook at this time. Our website - www.bethanyumchurch.com... Facebook - Bethany Church YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/c/BethanyChurchMacungiePA See more

On Sunday, Pastor Dave will begin a new sermon series entitled "Follow Me" from the Gospel of Mark. Read and pray through Mark 1 in preparation for the sermon. What better way to step into the new year than to learn to follow after Jesus' steps!

While you are waiting, the Lord is working. During times of waiting, God wants to teach you the following things: PATIENCE. In our instant society, we expect stuff immediately. Next day shipping, microwave meals, fast food restaurants, all of it turns us into impatient people when we have to wait. So, breathe deep and remember that slow-baked meat tastes much better than microwaved meat. Further, it takes six hours for God to make a mushroom and fifty years for Him to fashion... a sturdy oak. Which one do you want to be? HUMILITY. When we have to wait, we realize that things are not up to us. We are not in charge, and we are not in control. God is. Take your hands off the wheel, slide over to the passenger seat, and humbly allow the Lord to drive your life FAITH AND TRUST. Waiting requires trust. If you call on someone to pick you up from the airport, you don’t get a taxi because you know a ride is coming. You have faith your friend will arrive. Likewise, when you call on God for answers, have faith. Trust He will show up when the time is right

Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well. The Lord told the great missionary these words in Acts 23 after the Sanhedrin interrogated him. Hearing those words, perhaps Paul thought that he would soon be off to Rome to fulfill God’s will. It would not be nearly so quick. God’s timing is rarely the same as ours. His plans unfold with eternity in mind, not with our agendas and to-do lists in min...d. For Paul, as we discover in Acts 24, it would be two full years (of prison life) before he set sail for Rome! Today, consider how patiently you wait for the Lord’s plans to unfold.

10:30 AM Sunday Morning Service

Join us today as we continue our "Be the Church" series today at 8:00 am AND 10:30. Pastor Dave will be speaking from Acts 24. In person or online at one of the following live.bethanyumchurch.com Facebook.com/bethanychurchwescosville... https://www.youtube.com/c/BethanyChurchMacungiePA See more

Dwight L. Moody once stated, A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine. The Greek word most often translated glory in the New Testament (150+ times) means brightness or shining. In other words, bringing glory to God is like shining a spotlight on who He is. Would you say that you are living in a way that shines a light on what God is really like?

Yesterday, we looked at John 16:33 where Jesus promises us peace. Today, think about what you’ve been through the last week or two. Have you had any troubles, any trials, any struggles? Have you seen peace come and go with circumstances and people? If so, are you ready to receive God’s gift of peace that never ends? If you’re tempted to doubt that such a gift exists, I challenge you to: ONE -- Pray for the gift of peace. Say, Lord, I hear you have a peace that is hard for me... to imagine, and I need that peace. My life has problems, struggles, and issues, and the peace I have never lasts. Please, Lord, give me Your peace. A peace that surpasses all understanding and never ends. TWO -- Open the gift the of peace. You must open a gift for it to become yours. It’s one thing to say the words and ask God for His peace; it’s another thing to actually grab hold of it THREE -- Use the gift of peace. Focus on this gift that you have. Feel God’s arms spread out over you as you travel through whatever trial you are going through

John 16 ends with some of Jesus’ most comforting words, Here on earth you will have trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (verse 33). The fact that there will be trials and sorrows here on earth is undeniable. But, equally undeniable, is the fact that we are not alone. We have a Savior, and that Savior promised us the Holy Spirit. More than that, through Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, He opened a way to the Father. All of God’s power, grace, guidance, wisdom, and love is just a prayer away. Today, consider how you are living your lifelike you are all alone or like you have the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by your side.

Of all the things we can gain in this world, gaining the wisdom of God should be near the top of the list. If you are seeking such wisdom, check out the list below: ONE -- Spend time in prayer, asking the Lord for His wisdom. James 1:5 states, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." TWO -- Study the Word of God. The Bible is more than words on pages. The Bible is the mind of God. His will, His ways, His passio...ns, His plans, these things fill each and every chapter THREE -- Focus on the book of Proverbs. The wisdom God imparted to Solomon (the smartest man to ever live) fills the pages of that book FOUR -- Rely on the Spirit. Stay connected to the Spirit not just through prayer and Bible study, but by staying centered on Him throughout the day

Sometimes, we mistakenly believe that if God wants us to do something, then it must be easydone without much cost or effort. This is rarely the case. As we have seen in Acts, the Lord has a plan for His message to spread across the known world. For this to happen most effectively, Rome would be an ideal launch point. From that capital city, the ends of the earth could be reached. The Lord promised Paul that He would get him there. But, as we saw in Acts 23 on Sunday, the journey will not be a simple one. With that in mind, consider how you view God’s will. Do you view it as something that should be simple and easy or something that will demand your all?

BE3 Group Announcement and Launch

We will continue our "Be the Church" series today at 8:00 am AND 10:30, as Pastor Dave preaches from Acts 23. Come and join in person or online at one of the following live.bethanyumchurch.com... Facebook.com/bethanychurchwescosville https://www.youtube.com/c/BethanyChurchMacungiePA See more

On Sunday, we will continue our "Be the Church" series on Sunday at 8:00 am AND 10:30 as Pastor Dave preaches from Acts 23. Be sure to read and pray through the Scripture in preparation for the message.