“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
II Peter 3:18
Once you become a Christian it is important for you to join a local church where you can become accountable and also where you can mature in Christian growth. Becoming a member of Bethel Baptist Church provides you with a place where you can meet with other Christians on the Lord’s Day, fellowship with one another, worship the Lord, serve Him, spend time in prayer, and hear the Word of God taught and preached. Through this ministry you will be encouraged to walk with the Lord. Here you will find strength and help to face each day as a child of God.
How does the church help you grow? The fundamental means of grace which God uses to strengthen the church are the reading and preaching of the Bible, a ministry of prayer, and a faithful observance of the Lord’s Supper (Communion) and Baptism in the life of the church. It is through these God-given tools that the Lord blesses and strengthens His flock. Being part of a church will bring the great blessings of these works into your life. Below is a summary of these helpful ministries at Bethel Baptist Church.
THE WORD OF GOD
YOUR PERSONAL TIME IN THE BIBLE – Paul tells us in I Timothy 4:13, to “give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” This reading starts with your own personal time in the Word of God. It is good to begin your day with the Bible. Under the “Recommended Reading” link you will find some helpful instructions on how to read your Bible every day. Reading, meditating upon and applying the Word of God is crucial for your growth as a Christian.
THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL – At Bethel Baptist Church we are committed to going into the entire world in order to preach the good news that Jesus Christ has come to save sinners. We believe that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation; therefore, you will find us continually calling sinners to repent from their sins and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our morning service is especially designed to not only to strengthen God’s people in Scripture, but to also call the lost in our midst to surrender to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
THE PREACHING AND TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD – Our church is committed to biblical exposition of the Scriptures. In our preaching and teaching times, you will find a clear explanation of what the Bible means along with helpful applications to your walk in Christ. As you listen to the Word of God being preached and taught you will find food for your soul which will help you grow closer to God and stronger in your walk with Him.
PRAYER
Prayer is essential to the life of the Christian. Once again, this is a discipline that begins privately in your quiet times with God, but also extends to the church as we meet together to pray to the Lord. Every Wednesday night our church meets for prayer. Here we bring our requests to God as well as our thankfulness for His blessings. Joining the church in prayer will strengthen you as a believer. When you see the Lord answering these requests you will be amazed at His work in our midst, as well as be encouraged to bring your own requests and needs to the Lord.
THE LORD’S TABLE AND BAPTISM
The two great signs which Christ has given to His church are the enjoyment of the Lord’s Table and the blessing of Baptism. Through these two services we proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ and acknowledge His presence with us and in us.
THE LORD’S TABLE – Each month at Bethel we celebrate the Lord’s Table. It is a time for God’s people to once again confirm their faith in Christ as well as remember the blessedness of salvation in Him. Jesus gave us this service on the night that He was betrayed. Through eating the bread and drinking from the cup, we are proclaiming the Lord’s sacrifice and death for us. These symbols of His body and blood remind us that we have been bought through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Through eating and drinking we declare our loyalty and love to the One who has saved us from our sins. This communion with Christ strengthens our faith and sets us apart as God’s holy people in the world. After an examination of our hearts before the Lord, all of God’s people are encouraged to eat and drink the elements at the Communion Table to proclaim our unity and loyalty to our Saviour and Lord.
BAPTISM – When a person becomes a Christian, it is necessary for him to be baptized. Why is baptism so important? It is through baptism that we display what has taken place in our hearts; that we have trusted in Christ, have died in Him, and have risen to new life in our Saviour. Baptism is the sign and seal of our faith in Jesus Christ. Through this work we are testifying to the church and the world that we are the Lord’s. The picture of baptism reflects our union with Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. We are commending ourselves to God in order to live and walk in newness of life. Everyone who has repented of theirs sins and has looked to Christ in faith should be baptized.
