BETHEL CHURCH
WELCOME!
Welcome to Bethel! We are so glad to have you here! As you look through this Connect bulletin, we trust that you will quickly find that Bethel has something for you and your family. Our hope is that you will take the next step into our community and get involved. As you do, you will begin to see that Bethel is more than just a Sunday service, it is a family of everyday people following Christ to bring hope and change to the world - one life at a time.
Pastor Tim Gibb Lead Pastor
WWW.BETHELSARNIA.COM
FEBRUARY 2012
THIS MONTH
BETHEL NEWS WEDNESDAY NIGHT HEALING SCHOOL Following the recent Healing School held at Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church in Redding, California, Pastors Keith & Patricia will be duplicating these classes here at Bethel on Wednesday evenings in the Sanctuary from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, featuring powerful video teachings by Randy Clark and Bill Johnson. The first class will be on Wednesday, February 1st and will run for nine weeks. If you believe that Divine Healing is for today, then this is a course you should attend, which deals with all the practical aspects of healing, with examples and activations. During the school in Redding, there were over 500 significant healing within a group of about 1800 people. If you have been discouraged in the past, hesitant to minister in healing, and want to be radically encouraged, then this course is for you.
MEMBERSHIP CLASSES Interested in becoming an official member of Bethel Church? Membership classes are being held on Sundays Feb 12th and 19th at 9:30am in the Board Room by the Main Office. Sign-up at the Welcome Desk.
ANNUAL MEETING Bethel members: Mark your calendars for our Annual Church Business Meeting being held on Wednesday, March 21st at 6:30pm.
WATER BAPTISM - FEB 26TH Wanting to follow the Lord's command in being water baptized? A Water Baptism service is planned for Sunday, February 26th. Speak to Darwin and Angela Armstrong or one of the Pastors. Application forms available at the welcome desk.
COMING SOON
WOMEN EVENTS
Watch This Weeks
BETHEL NEWS
Special Bible Teaching Seminar | The Tabernacle of Moses Join Pastor Tim Gibb on Saturday February 25th from 9:30AM to 12:00PM as he presents a special teaching seminar on the Tabernacle of Moses. Learn about this “moveable tent” that was the place where God met with His people.
The Tabernacle teaching is important because it shows: - God’s desire to live among His people - God’s original design for the world - God’s plan to fix a broken creation - Understanding the offerings and sacrificial system
THE SCHEDULE AN E XSTORY ERPT F ROM T H6 E S TSERIES O R"NEW Y BEGINNINGS" WEEK Jan 29 - Chapter 1 – Creation: The Beginning of Life Feb 5 - Chapter 2 – God Builds a Nation Feb12 - Chapter 3 – Joseph: From Slave to Pharaoh Feb 19 - Chapter 4 - Deliverance Feb 26 - Chapter 5 – New Commands and Covenant Mar 4 - Chapter 6 - Wandering
- Learn the significance of the function of the priesthood - Insight into Jesus’ life, His death, and His resurrection - How the significance and the symbolism of the tabernacle find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ - Follow the movement of the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament - See how the earthly tabernacle was patterned after the heavenly one
SMALL GROUP Want to go deeper in your understanding as you read through The Story? Then join The Story small group Bible study as they discuss each weeks reading. This group is open to all and meets on Thursday nights at
While the Bible provides only 1 chapter to present the creation of the world; 50
7PM in the Bethel cafe. Dave Strevel is leading this
chapters in the Bible present the instructions concerning the construction, function,
group.
and fulfillment of the Old Testament Tabernacle. This shows the importance the Word of God gives to this teaching.
Sign-up at the Welcome Desk to reserve your spot. Handouts will be given out. Cost $10 for light refreshments and presenter’s notes.
• Scripture in Non-Italics
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Fidgets Fundraising Event at Temple Temple Christian Academy presents Improv Comedy Troupe & Silent Auction on Saturday, February 11th from 7:00-9:00pm with The Fidgets. Upon arrival mouse traps will be for sale! For what you ask? We cannot say, but pain and laughs will be apart of that “tail�! There is no charge to attend this event. A free will offering will be taken for TCA.
WHY I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
By: Pastor Tim Gibb
There is no other book in all of human history
of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy
of detailed historical statements found in the
like the Bible. The reason - It is God's book. 2
Spirit." This means that the Bible is not the
Bible.
Timothy 3:16 states: "All Scripture is given by
thoughts of man but rather that God
inspiration of God, and is profitable for
overshadowed the mind and spirit of the
3. The third reason why I believe the Bible
doctrine (shows you the path to walk on), for
human writers of the Scriptures motivating
is the Word of God is that it is supernatural
reproof (shows you where you’ve gone off
them to write the precise words as recorded
in its unity of content.
the path), for correction (shows you how to
in the word of God.
get back on the path), for instruction in
Consider this…Take over 40 writers over
righteousness (shows you how to stay on the
Recently I spoke a message at Bethel where I
1600 years, speaking 3 different languages,
path), that the man of God may be complete,
talked about why I believe the Bible is the
from different continents. Take people from
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Word of God. Let me review those reasons
different walks of life…doctors, kings, tax
with you here.
collectors, fishermen. Give them little to no
The word “Inspiration” is the Greek word
chance to communicate. Ask them to write on
Theo Pneumatos which literally means “God
1. I believe the Bible is the Word of God
religion, poetry, health, ethics, science, and
breathed”. It is equivalent to the Hebrew
because it claims to be.
morality. Ask them to make predictions on
into Adam. Just as God breathed life into
Now I quickly admit that this reason alone is
Adam and he became a living soul, so there is
not sufficient, but it is worthy of note. The
“ The Bible is the greatest
life in the Scriptures. It means that the
Bible claims to be the word of God. The Bible
Scripture literally takes on the very nature
writers emphatically and repeatedly state
and character of God. This means the
that the words they wrote were not their
Scripture is:
own but came from God. Not only that, but
word that was used when God breathed life
the Bible provides a clear presentation for
of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the
1. A Living Book – because God is Life. Jesus
the salvation of man. Either it is true or it is
highest of all goals.”
said, “The words I speak to you are Spirit, and
not true. To say the Bible is just a good book,
― Charles C. Ryrie
they are life.”
with good principles and good thoughts, is at
least a total misunderstanding of the book; or
future events, the meaning of life, the
2. A Perfect Book – because God is perfect.
at worst, a mockery of its claims. Intellectual
creation of the world, man’s salvation. Then
Meaning the Bible is inerrant, without flaws,
honesty demands you cannot be neutral with
you be the editor. What do you have? Literary
and incapable of error. The Psalmist said,
the Bible. Either the Bible is true and we're
HASH!
“The law of the Lord is perfect converting the
responsible to His teachings, or it is false and
soul.”
we are free from its demands.
But the Bible was written just like that. And
yet ask any honest reader who has carefully
3. An Eternal Book – because God is
2. The second reason why I believe the
examined its message and you find the Bible
eternal. Meaning it is indestructible and
Bible is the Word of God is because it has
to be one amazing whole from Genesis to
imperishable. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth
proven to be credible in its content;
Revelation – united in theme, consistent in
will pass away, but the Word of God will abide
specifically as it relates to history.
concept, logical in development, and agreed in doctrine. With one doctrinal system, one
forever.”
The Bible does not present itself as a history
moral standard, one plan of salvation, that is
4. An Unchanging Book – because God
book, but much history is in its contents.
simply supernatural.
never changes. Meaning that it is never
Credible secular students of history and then
outdated or irrelevant. Its truth applies to all
also through archaeology, have consistently
4. The fourth reason why I believe the Bible
cultures, races, and societies.
and without exception verified the places,
is the Word of God is because of the
times, and cultural aspects of much Bible
scientific information it provides BEFORE
No other book has the power to transform
history. Especially in the last 100 years of
that information was universally
lives like the Bible. 2 Peter 1:20,21 states:
archaeological exploration in the Middle East,
understood.
“No prophecy of Scripture is of any private
archaeologists have been provided with an
interpretation. For prophecy (Scripture]
abundance of evidence confirming thousands
never came by the will of man, but holy men
Read the Bible and you will discover amazing scientific information that the world only
discovered hundreds of years after it was
(1788) there would be no Bible in the world
Of course probably the greatest example of
written. For example: even to the time of
unless held by chains in some museum. He
fulfilled prophecy is seen in the life and death
Columbus, most of science/humanity thought
claimed “I see the end of Christianity.” Yet 50
of Jesus Christ. Over 300 Old Testament
the world was flat. Yet Isaiah 40:21,22 speaks
years after his death, the very house in which
prophecies were completely fulfilled in Jesus
of the circle of the earth. Job 26:7 factually
he once lived became a Bible publishing
Christ. Prophecies such as: that He would be
describes the earths free float in space: “He
house. And from his former home, thousands
from Nazareth yet born in Bethlehem, that
hangs the earth on nothing.” This was
and thousands of Bibles were sent all over
He would spend time in Egypt, that He would
discovered hundreds of years after it was
Europe! At the same time, a complete set of
be sold for 30 pieces of silver, that He would
written. The same is true of such scientific
the works of Voltaire sold in the market in
ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, that He
facts of the moon being a reflector (Job 25:5)
Paris for 11 cents. Yet that same day, the
would be crucified yet with no broken bones,
and the reality of the water cycle through
British Government paid the Czar of Russia
that the soldiers would cast lots for His
evaporation and condensation given in Job
$500,000 for a copy of the Word of God that
garments, that He would be buried in a rich
36 & Isaiah 55. This is centuries…
had been discovered on Mount Sinai.
man’s tomb, and that He would rise again on
millennia….prior to scientific discovery. All of this speaks to Divine authorship.
the 3rd day. This is an impossibility without 6. The Sixth reason why I believe the Bible
Divine orchestration.
is the Word of God is because of its For centuries it was the common
influence.
understanding that the earth was flat and
Then there are the prophecies concerning the days in which we are living in. From the
there were at the most between 1044 to
The worldwide influence of the Bible is
days of Adam until the early 1900’s, man rode
1056 stars. Until Galileo came around in the
unmatched by any other book. It has touched
by horse. Yet the Bible predicted a time of
17th century and brought about modern
every nation on the earth and influenced
great knowledge explosion. And the Bible
astronomy. Yet I saiah 55:9 says that the
countless cultures. It has been translated into
spoke of a coming time when there would be
heavens are so high they're immeasurable.
more languages and reproduced in larger
international travel and communication, a
And Genesis, the first book of the Bible,
quantities than any other book. The Bible has
cashless economic system, a world economy
equates the number of the stars of heaven
produced the highest results in all walks of
and government. All of these for the first time
with the number of grains of sand on the sea.
life including music, art, law, and science.
in human history are possible and are daily
Jeremiah 33:22 said that the stars can't be
Millions of lives have been changed by its
talked about in our news programs. Israel is
counted. We now know that there are
truth and only eternity will reveal its full
another shining example of Bible prophecy.
probably a hundred billion in our galaxy
impact on mankind. Abraham Lincoln said: “I
The Bible prophesied that Israel would be
alone.
believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever
dispersed and trampled under by the
given to man.”
Gentiles, but there would come a time when
A well-known scientist, named Herbert
the nation of Israel would be reborn. That
Spencer, who died in 1903 made one of the
7. The seventh reason I believe the Bible is
Jewish people would return to the land of
greatest scientific discoveries of his time. He
the Word of God, and probably the greatest
Israel. That the barren wilderness will spring
discovered that everything that exists in the
reason, is its fulfillment in Bible prophecy.
forth and blossom with agriculture. That the
universe can be contained in five categories…
Hebrew language would be re-established.
time, force, action, space and matter. Spencer
Let me give one outstanding Old Testament
That there would be a resurgence of the
even listed them in that order. This was a
example. In Ezekiel 26, God said, through the
Israeli military. That world politics would
major science discovery in the 19th century.
prophet, that the city of Tyre would not only
focus on Israel and Jerusalem, and that
Yet the very first verse in the Bible, Genesis
be destroyed, but that the entire city would
Israel’s neighbours would come against Israel
1:1 provides this very discovery… "In the
be scraped clean and everything left on the
to “cut her off from being a nation” (Psalm
beginning (time) God (force) created (action)
city's surface will be thrown into the ocean.
83). All of this concerning Israel, we are
the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).
That's a rather bizarre prophecy. And then
seeing fulfilled in our lifetime.
Only God!
the prophecy ended by saying men will dry their fishnets there and it will never be
8. The final reason I believe the Bible is the
5. The fifth reason I believe the Bible is the
rebuilt. It was just a few years after this
Word of God is because of its power to
Word of God is because it is supernatural in
prophecy that King Nebuchadnezzar came
transform lives.
its survival.
and destroyed the city, leaving it in rubble. But the prophecy wasn't fulfilled because the
Simply put, millions and millions of lives have
The Bible not only has received more
rubble was still there. 250 years later came a
been transformed by its message. What other
reverence and adoration than any other
man by the name of Alexander the Great who
book has ever come close to doing that?
book, but it has also been the object of more
came into that area and he picked up all the
persecution and opposition. Emperors and
rubble that was left from King
This article has been adapted from Pastor Tim’s
Kings have tried to destroy it, yet it has
Nebuchadnezzar’s devastation and threw it
sermon given on Sunday, January 15th. You can
multiplied with every assault.
into the sea. The city has never been rebuilt,
hear the message on Bethel’s webpage
The famed French philosopher Voltaire made
just as Ezekiel prophesied.
www.bethelsarnia.com
this boast that 100 years after his death
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Sunday mornings during service: Nursery - Newborn to Age 3 Pre-School - Ages 3 to 5 Kidsplosion - Grades 1 to 4 YOUTH MINISTRY Revo 3 - Thursday night Jr. & Sr. High Youth service [Ages 13-17} Additional activities planned throughout the year. ADULT MINISTRY We have many groups with ongoing activities, check the bulletin and website for details of what’s upcoming! Young Adults - Weekly Bible Study group called “Life” meets Tues. nights in Bethel Cafe. Led by Chris & Linda Guerette and Steve & Kathy Fraser. Real Women - Ongoing activities for women of all ages. Led by Pam Lozon. The Core Men’s Ministry - Activities for all men. Led by Shannon Smith. Keenagers Seniors Ministry - Monthly lunch or special activity. Led by Carl & Faye Johnson. Music Ministry - Is always looking for new talent, including choir, audio and visual personnel. Speak to Caleb or Stephanie Courtney. Home Fellowship groups - New to Bethel or desire to connect with others? Join one of our Thursday evening Home Fellowship Groups. Contact Darwin & Angela Armstrong or Pastors Keith & Patricia for more details. A great way to connect with others. Bible Study - Tuesday night Bible Study & Hymn Sing. Led by Gilbert & Margo VanSligtenhorst. Foundation Course - A course on the essentials of Christian faith followed by a retreat weekend. Led by Pastor Keith Patrick.
Connect at Bethel
6:30 PM Financial Peace Course
6:30 PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb
Follow-up
6:30 PM DivorceCare
7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults
6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room
28
7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults
6:30 PM Financial Peace Course
27
6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room
21
7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults
6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room
14
7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults
6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room
7
Tue
School
6:30 PM Healing School
29
6:30 PM Healing
22
6:30 PM Healing School
15
6:30 PM Healing School
8
6:30 PM Healing School
1
Wed
7:00 PM REVO3
7:00 PM “THE STORY” Small Group
6:30PM Fellowship Groups
23
7:00 PM “THE STORY” Small Group 7:00 PM REVO3
6:30PM Fellowship Groups
16
7:00 PM REVO3
7:00 PM “THE STORY” Small Group
6:30PM Fellowship Groups
9
7:00 PM REVO3
Men’s Night Out– Stings Game
Sat
18
9:30 AM Real Women Event
11
4
9:30 AM Teaching on Tabernacle
25
REVO3 Ski Trip 9:30 AM Mom’s Group -Foyer/Café
24
12NOON Keenagers Luncheon
9:30 AM Mom’s Group -Foyer/Cafe
17
9:30 AM Mom’s Group -Foyer/Cafe
10
9:30 AM Mom’s Group -Foyer/Cafe
7:00 PM “THE STORY” Small Group
3
6:30PM Fellowship Groups
Fri
2
Thu
FEBRUARY 2012
6:30 PM DivorceCare Follow-up
Family Skate 4-5pm Clearwater Arena
20 OFFICE CLOSED
6:30 PM Financial Peace Course
Follow-up
6:30 PM DivorceCare
1:00 PM Mom’s In Touch
13
6:30 PM Financial Peace Course
Follow-up
6:30 PM DivorceCare
1:00 PM Mom’s In Touch
6
Mon
26 Water Baptism 10:30 AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb “The Story-Chapter 5”
12:30PM Inside Out Jr. High-Hub 6:30 PM Service Rev. Glen Blazosek
10:30 AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb “The Story-Chapter 4”
19 Membership Class
6:30 PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb
12 Membership Class 10:30 AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb “The Story-Chapter 3”
6:30 PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb
12:30PM Inside Out Jr. High-Hub
5 Communion 10:30 AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb “The Story-Chapter 2”
Sun
www.bethelsarnia.com