eMarch Broadcaster by Bethany Baptist Church

Broadcaster And the Greatest of These Is Love 1 Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings as a starry-eyed couple beam with joy in their love for each other. This provides a lovely sentiment to their marriage covenant and reminds them of the deep commitments that love calls them to make. Such a use of Paul’s famous “Love Chapter” is certainly appropriate, yet a wedding between two young lovebirds is not the context in which Paul wrote these beautiful, pressing words. Paul wrote this chapter on love to a church that was experiencing deep conflict and division among her members. The first application of 1 Corinthians 13 is not to a newly wedded couple, but to church members who are called to live life together in community before a world that does not know God. When we read this “Love Chapter,” the first application to consider is, “Am I

loving other members of my own local church in this deep, lasting way?” Paul begins his encouragement for us to love each other in the church by reminding us that love is not a nice add-on to the ministry of the church in bringing glory to God’s name. Rather, love among the members of Jesus’ church is essential to any church’s worship of God. Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Continued on page 2

Dr. Ritch Boerckel

Senior Pastor 3

March Calendar Highlights KidZone

Children’s Ministry Youth Events & Engage

Women’s Ministries Men’s Basketball PrimeTime Fellowship Bethany Movie Night

Open Hearts Open Homes RESOLVEDto The Gospel Institute

Is Disciple a Noun or a Verb?

“And the Greatest of These Is Love” continued from page 1

Paul is not teaching that love for one another is the only thing that matters in the church. The church in worshipping God must also live purely in obedience to God’s commands. The church in glorifying God must also preach the Gospel to the whole world. The church in loving God must also care for the poor and needy. The church in honoring God must also strive to disciple every believer to maturity in Christ. Indeed, love for other church members is not the only thing that matters to God, but without love, nothing else we do matters to God. This is Paul’s point. If we lose our focus on loving one another, we cancel the spiritual value of anything else we accomplish for Jesus. Our ability to worship God directly depends upon our love for one another. The apostle John makes this same argument: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. . . . And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 Jn. 4:7-8, 21)

members look like? “Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” You may be asking, “How can I begin in my journey to stimulate love and good deeds within my own soul and in others?” The first step in that direction is to find your soul’s deep longings and needs satisfied by God and His love for you. It is the personal knowledge of God’s love for us that provides the spiritual reservoir from which we can love others. If our own reservoir is not filled by God’s love for us, we will not be able to love others. If our own soul is filled by God’s love, nothing can hinder us from loving any person in the body of Christ. Not even those who have deeply hurt and wronged us. Paul understands the spiritual power that flows from an experiential knowledge of God’s love for us and so he prays. “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, . . . that you, being rooted and grounded in love, . . . may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14, 18-19)

“If we lose our focus on loving one another, we cancel the spiritual value of anything else we accomplish for Jesus.”

Love within the context of the local church is so vital to our purpose of glorifying God that God urges us to spend much of our time thinking how God might lead us to increase the measure of love within our own local church. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) In reading this, the Spirit calls each Christ-follower to ask the question, “What can I do to deepen my love for others in my local church?” And then once we gain clarity on that vital question, the Spirit calls us to ask, “How might I be used to encourage others in my local church to love one another too?” The glory of God in the church rests upon our commitment to form deep, lasting and loving relationships with others in the church. What does love in our relationships with other church

The health of our soul depends upon our experiential comprehension of Christ’s love for us … a love that rescues us, a love that defends us, a love that strengthens us, a love that delights in us as His precious possession, a love that clings to us and never lets us go. Only out of the abundance of God’s love for us will we be empowered to love others. Love for others flows not from a deficit of our need, but our love for others flows from the fullness of God’s provision for us in Christ. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 

Calendar Highlights—March 2015 March 1

Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am ABCs/Sunday School, 9:45am

March 4

Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, Youth Group, 6:15pm First Prayer, 6:30pm

March 7

Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm Daylight Savings—Spring forward tonight!

March 8

Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am ABCs/Sunday School, 9:45am OHOH Informational Meeting, 12:30pm

March 11

Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, Youth Group, 6:15pm

March 12

Brittany Neukomm Baby Shower, 7pm

March 14

Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm

March 15

Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am ABCs/Sunday School, 9:45am Jr./Sr. High Roller Skating, 5pm

March 16

PrimeTime Fellowship, 11am

March 18

Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, Youth Group, 6:15pm

March 21

Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm

March 22

Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am ABCs/Sunday School, 9:45am

March 25

Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, Youth Group, 6:15pm

March 27

Bethany Movie Night, 7pm

March 28

KidZone at Grand Prairie, 10am-2pm Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm

View the full calendar at bethanycentral.org! Hover over the “Connect” tab, then click the “View Calendar” button. Use the pull-down menu to select the view of your choice (day, month, week, etc.).

Save the Date: Bethany Baptist Church Annual Meeting Sunday, April 26 at 9:45am

The Birthday & Anniversary list is now available at the Welcome Center.

KidZone Easter Activities on the Prairie Saturday, March 28 10am-2pm at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie This event will be a fun-filled way to reach out to the community and serve our neighbors with a fun, family-friendly event that will portray God’s love and encourage a positive witness for Bethany Baptist Church in our community. We are seeking cheerful, excited & smiling volunteers to serve at an activity station for one shift: 1st Shift (9am-Noon) or 2nd Shift (11:30am–2:30pm)  Stations include: - Face painting - Live music - Serving popcorn - Hosting a carnival-type game - Handing out church literature - Inflatables 

Candy Donations are also needed: 

Candy should be small, individually wrapped, and of the non-chocolate variety



Donations can be dropped off in the collection bins located near the Welcome Center and in the hall of the Children’s wing beginning March 1.

If you would like to help or have questions, please contact Kari Rabenhorst (kari@bethanycentral.org).

Ginny Smith

Children’s Ministry

ginny@bethanycentral.org

March is a blustery month. It is a month for kite flying. It is a month to hold onto your hat, so it doesn’t fly away. It is a month to keep umbrellas from turning inside out. It is a month to watch the sky for tornados. It is a month to teach your child how God is sovereign even over the wind and storms — the weather storms and the storms of life through trials. Yes, our all-sovereign, all-good, all-wise God lets us experience storms and blustery times, so that we can experience complete dependency upon Him and be amazed and worship Him when He calms the storms and tells the winds to be still. Share Mark 4:35-41 with your child, and then share with him how Jesus has been with you during the storms of life or how He has calmed storms in your life. Ask your child how Jesus has calmed storms in his life. Make a book of testimony, so your child remembers these answers to prayer, and God’s intervention in his life. Let the blustery month of March help you prepare your child for all the storms in life and make his faith real!

3-1

Sunday School (SS) and Children’s Church (CC) Lessons in March: SS: Ex. 12-13 God Ordains the Passover CC: Mt. 25:14-30, Lk. 19:11-27 Parable of the Talents

SS: Mt. 21-23; Zech. 9:9 Jesus Enters Jerusalem as King CC: Mk. 10:17-34, Lk. 18:18-33 Rich Young Ruler 3-15 SS: Mt. 26:1-19, 36-50 Judas Betrays Jesus CC: Mt. 26: 17-19, Mk. 14:12-16, Lk. 22:7-13 Preparation for Passover 3-8

VBS 3-22 SS: Mt. 27 Jesus Endures the Cross Get on your hiking shoes! July 13-17, we are CC: Mt. 26:20-30, Mk 14:17-26, Lk. 22:14-23, Jn. 12:21-30 going to take a Journey Off the Map. Volunteer to The Last Supper help our children know Jesus, their Guide. 3-29 SS: Mt. 28 Jesus Rises from the Dead Registration coming soon. CC: Mt. 21:1-17, Mk. 11:1-11, Lk 19:28-44, Jn. 12:12-19 The Triumphal Entry

Youth Events In March March 4 March 8 March 11 March 15 March 18 March 25 March 28 March 29

Jr./Sr. High Youth Group at First Prayer, 6:15pm Sr. High To Sharon Pines during second service Youth Group—Small Group Focus, 6:15pm Volunteer Student Leader Meeting, 8pm Jr./Sr. High Roller Skating, 5:00-7:45pm Jr./Sr. High Youth Group, 6:15pm Jr./Sr. High Youth Group, 6:15pm Volunteer Opportunity at KidZone Sr. High Pancake Breakfast

For details, about these events, contact Josh Beakley (josh@bethanycentral.org) or Aaron Boerckel (aaron@bethanycentral.org).

Wednesday, April 8 at 6:15pm Engage is a Biblical Ethics and Bible Teaching event for youth in grades 7-12. Students may participate in one of two areas: Biblical Ethics (7-12 grade males/females) Male Bible/Female Bible Teaching (9-12 grade) Applications must be received by March 13. For more information, please contact Josh Beakley at 692-1755 or josh@bethanycentral.org.

Women’s Ministries

Men’s Basketball

Baby Shower for Brittany Neukomm Thursday, March 12 at 7pm Alex and Brittany are expecting a baby girl. They are registered at Babies R Us and Target.

Women Helping Women Monday, March 16 at 7pm Women Helping Women serves those experiencing miscarriage, still birth, early infant death, and infertility. On work nights we prepare products and kits for keepsake boxes that will help parents through the difficulty of losing a child. Sewing skills are not required. Contact: Nicole Pepper at 683-1181

All men college age and up are welcome to play basketball on Tuesday nights at 7pm.

Daylight Savings Don’t forget to set your clock ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 7.

Hats of Hope Tuesday, March 17 at 6pm

Work

Work nights provide an opportunity to Nights meet cancer survivors, use your gifts and talents in sewing and knitting, or simply to cut fabric and make fabric flowers for hats for cancer patients. Yarn and materials are supplied for you if you desire to make hats at home. Contact: Holly Miller at 648-1693 or hlm112770@aol.com

New Ladies’ Bible Study Beginning in March Authentic: Developing the Disciplines of a Sincere Faith (James MacDonald) Tuesday afternoons 12:30pm (March 17-April 28) This study introduces believers to spiritual disciplines that will help them develop a closer walk with God. Discover how much you can grow in Christlikeness as you pursue the practices of Bible study, prayer, fasting, fellowship, service and worship. This study identifies spiritual disciplines that Jesus practiced so that believers can follow in His steps and adopt spiritual practices that lead to authentic Christian living. Taught by: Lona Hudson Book Cost: $13 Sign up online at http://bethanycentral.org/ connect/adults/bible-studies/register/

PrimeTime Fellowship Monday, March 16 at 11:00am All those age 50 and up are invited to join us! Lunch will be provided. To sign up, call the church office at 692-1755.

Bethany Movie Night Friday, March 27 7pm in the Gym The Master’s Touch ABC class invites the entire church family to a Bethany Movie Night on Friday, March 27 at 7pm in the gym. The evening will feature the movie, “God’s Not Dead.” The film will educate, entertain, and inspire viewers to explore what they really believe about God, igniting important conversations and life-changing decisions. Popcorn and light refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Brad and Nancy Dunham at 657-1106.

Open Hearts, Open Homes Orphan Ministry Informational Meeting Sunday, March 8, 2015 12:30pm in the Jr. High Room Seeking to encourage and equip the body of Christ to care for the fatherless is one of the goals of the Open Hearts, Open Homes Orphan Ministry. Would you like to hear how that is currently being done and how you can be a part of that mission? An interest in fostering or adopting personally is not necessary. If you are interested in knowing more about the ministry of Open Hearts Open Homes you are invited to attend our informational meeting. Lunch will be served. Please call the church office at 692-1755 if you plan to attend.

RESOLVEDto Service Project Join the RESOLVEDto group on Saturday, March 14 at Bethany Community Church in Washington for a service project at their new building. More details to follow via email. For questions or to sign up, contact Susan Weldon at (309)370-0304 or littleweldon@gmail.com. RESOLVEDto Thursday Night Bible Study The RESOLVEDto Thursday Night Bible Study recently started a new study! Join Rodney & Katie Harms and the RESOLVEDto group at the Harms’ home (3318 S. Hilton Lane, Bartonville) as they look at 1 Peter. The study meets weekly on Thursday evenings. Dinner is at 6:30pm and the study begins at 7:30pm. Contact Rodney Harms (rdharms@gmail.com) with any questions. Our RESOLVEDto Singles ministry at Bethany seeks to compel our members to become “resolved to” Bless our Church, Build our Community, and Reach our City — all for the glory of God!

Make plans to participate in the Summer 2015 Semester! Soul Care 2 Soul Care 3 Missions and Evangelism and the Local Church Communicating Biblical Truth Check the website often for registration details: www.peoriagospelinstitute.org

Childcare provided for children through age 3.

Is disciple a noun or a verb? Pastor Kevin Sauder

Yes … to both! In the New Testament, the word mathetes is a noun that means “learner, follower, adherent, imitator of the teacher” (Matthew 9:14; John 8:31, 15:8; etc.). The related word matheteuo is a verb that means “to make disciples” or to initiate or instruct others to follow or imitate the master teacher (i.e Matthew 13:52, 28:19). So discipleship can refer to both the identity of the Christian and the work of a Christian. Followers of Jesus Christ are called disciples. Yet all disciples are also charged to go and make disciples. So a focus on discipleship must emphasize both our identity (who we are in Christ) and our activity (how we live out our identity Christ). Our life is all about Jesus. We must be born again by the Holy Spirit before we can follow Jesus Christ. Following Jesus begins with submission to His Word as evidenced by a life of faith and repentance – all by God’s grace (John 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus then calls all of His disciples to help others come to worship Jesus. In this way God multiplies generations

of worshippers who are continuously walking others through a right understanding of their new-found identity and witness in Christ (Matthew 9:37-38; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1). At Bethany all of our discipleship ministries aim to fulfill our church’s vision statement – to glorify God by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and preparing one another to worship Him forever. In short, this means our adult ministries seek to make disciples – that every person would know and follow Jesus Christ! Discipleship ministry always occurs in community from gatherings of hundreds to personal meetings between two individuals. Some discipleship settings are more formal and structured; others are not. But all aim towards making disciples who follow both the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). So connect to all that God has for you! There is no greater pursuit for your soul than Jesus!

Bethany Bible Studies Attend one of our 14 classes on Sunday mornings at 9:45.

Sign-up online to join one of our men’s or women’s Bible Studies.

Sign-up online to join a small group at bethanycentral.org.

Benefit from a personal one-on-one mentoring relationship. Contact the church office to sign-up.

Bethany Baptist Church 7422 N. Heinz Lane Edwards, IL 61528

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First Prayer Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30pm Join us for a special time of prayer in the sanctuary.