Advertise on podcast: Bethel CRC Lacombe

Today, we will continue our break from our fall series based on 7 Spiritual Seasons in order to celebrate the baptism of Evan and Dawn’ son, Fraser Alvin Scholing. We will be reflecting on Isaiah 41:17-20, Transformation! This passage is one of hope given to a people who were struggling and needed to be reminded that God is faithful: “I will not forsake them.” Our God is also a God of transformation, a God who can take our desert places, our times of barrenness, and transform them into places that are flourishing, filled with new life . It points to Jesus, who is our living water, and the Holy Spirit, who works transformation in our hearts.

Today, we will take a break from our fall series based on 7 Spiritual Seasons in order to celebrate the Profession of Faith of Kyle  and the baptism of Kyle and Cara’s son, Jake Andrew. We will be reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Love the Lord. Israel is at the banks of the Jordan River, getting ready to enter the Promised Land, so Moses takes time to remind them of the way of life and laws God has given to them in order to grow a strong relationship between God and Israel. Moses calls the people to begin teaching their children early on about God’s laws, to love God above everything, and to do this as part of their everyday life

Today, we will be celebrating our Thanksgiving Day service at 10:30 am, after our annual pancake breakfast. We will be reflecting on Leviticus 24:1-9, Oil and Bread Set Before the Lord. In this passage, the Lord gives Moses commands for the tabernacle. The Israelites are to bring clear oil so the lamps in the tabernacle will burn continually, and to bake twelve loaves of bread for the table that is set before the Lord. We will reflect on why the Lord gives Moses these commands.

Today, we will be reflecting on Malachi 3:1-5, Season 4: Refining. Refining is about purification, removing the dross and dirt from our hearts and lives. This is a season of self-awareness, often a painful time as we are faced with the reality of our own sinfulness and even our love and justification of our sins. This is a season of growing trust in God, of growing closer to Jesus.

Today, we will be reflecting on Deuteronomy 8:1-5, Season 3: Wilderness. The wilderness was a special place for Israel; it’s the place where they were shaped by God as a people, a place where people like David were shaped into leaders and their faith was shaped and deepened. John the Baptist chose the wilderness as the place of his ministry, a place where he led the people back to God. Jesus begins his ministry by going into the wilderness to prepare himself for the years ahead and the journey to the cross. Wilderness times are times when we meet God, places of solitude which help us hear the Spirit’s guidance.

Today, we will continue our fall series based on 7 Spiritual Seasons. We will be reflecting on Psalm 1, Season 2: Rooting. Deep roots grow slowly, drinking deeply from the soil, water, and nutrients in the soil and water. Deep faith roots come from drinking deeply and consistently from the living water that comes from Jesus, who is the water of life. These roots grow from the nutrients that are found in the regular meditation on the law of the Lord, the Torah, the Word of God. What you drink and eat spiritually shapes the health and the strength of your faith, and even the type of fruit you will bear.

Today, we will be starting a fall series based on Spiritual Seasons. We will begin by reflecting on Psalm 126, Season 1: Planting. When I think of planting, my first thoughts have always gone to planting into others, or evangelism. But when we listen carefully to God speaking to us in Scripture, we hear him encouraging us to think on what we plant in our own hearts first. Faith formation begins with being deliberate about what we place in our own hearts because that will determine what grows out of our hearts and shapes our lives. In Psalm 126, the psalmist is celebrating the restoration of Israel after exile but recognizes that the sorrow of exile has deepened the joy of returning home and has revealed the great faithfulness of God to his people. This sowing in tears has grown joy and gratitude to God. What are you planting in your hearts?

Today we will have Pastor Henry Stenbergen lead us in worship. We will reflect on Luke 18:1-8, A Haunting Question! The haunting question is this—will Jesus still find faith on earth when he returns?  Will we keep clinging to God in faith even when life doesn’t always go the way we want it to, even when we don’t get answers to the prayers we lift up to God?  The opposite of faith is not necessarily unbelief, but what shows up as cynicism, where we become weary and are ready to pack it in when everything seems to be going against us.  Jesus urges us to keep hanging in there, to keep trusting that God will stick with us and work out his good purposes in our lives no matter what.

Today, we will have Jerry Roukema bringing us the Word. Jerry Roukema is commissioned to exhort in his classis in Ontario. We have the privilege to have him lead us in the Word this Sunday in celebration of Tenna Stol’s 85th birthday. We will reflect on Matthew 12:46-50, Family Matters. In this short passage, Jesus defines what the family of God looks like. Our nuclear family matters, but the family of God, the body of Christ, is the one that lasts forever, and its population is beyond our comprehension. The family of Jesus does the will of the Father, which is to love God above all, and our neighbours as ourselves. And to radiate that love in everything we do and to everyone we meet.

Today, we will be reflecting on Mark 9:14-29, Overcoming Unbelief. We live in a world in which we need to be on guard against the false narratives with which we are inundated, especially through social media. We are well advised not to believe everything we hear and see. BUT this scepticism and unbelief can affect our faith! Many, including in our own communities, seemingly have abandoned "the faith that was once entrusted to God's holy people" (Jude 3). A good way NOT to allow scepticism to turn into unbelief is through the prayer we find in Mark 9:24: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief".

Today, we will wrap up our series on 2 Peter by reflecting on 2 Peter 3, The Day of the Lord. In chapter 3, Peter moves into talking about the Day of the Lord, or what we see as the return of Jesus when he will come to reclaim all creation again under his rule of the kingdom of heaven. This day will come unexpectedly, and all that is evil and against the kingdom of heaven will face judgment. Peter warns us to be on our guard and to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

Today, we will continue our series on 2 Peter by reflecting on 2 Peter 2, False Teachers. Jesus has always been a controversial leader and teacher simply because his claims and teachings are rooted in his identity as the Son of God, as being divine. This places huge weight on his teachings and great responsibility on his followers to accept his teachings as the foundation of their own lives. This is part of why false teachers entered the church already early on, putting their own spin and interpretation on who Jesus is and what he taught. Peter calls us to be aware of false teachers and to learn to recognize their teachings as false.

Today, we will begin a short summer series based on 2 Peter. We will begin by reflecting on 2 Peter 1, Confirming Your Election and Calling. 2 Peter is not just about Peter’s time; it’s also for us today in that Peter teaches us how to think about God, ourselves, sin, obedience, worship, suffering, community, and hope. His letter invites us to come close to him to understand Jesus and to respond to him. It’s a letter written to warn people about false teachers, but also to stir us out of spiritual laziness. Peter reminds us that God is working with real people in real places; his letter’s not about throwing ideas about who Jesus is out to the people; it points us to Jesus who acts, speaks, judges, saves, and guides his people.

Today, Pastor Jake is away on a pulpit exchange. We have the privilege of having Pastor Ken Vanderploeg lead us in worship. During our worship service, we will reflect on Psalm 130, Because of God’s Grace, Here I Go! The Awesome Character of God: His amazing grace, his unfailing love, full (complete) redemption; He does it all! Because of His grace, we are able to approach him, cry out to him, and reverently serve him. Praise the Lord and give thanks for God’s amazing grace.

Today we will reflect on Exodus 34:1-8, What's in a Name?