Bethel Church Temple TX Podcast (Sermons)

August 18, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17

1. God is eternal, but life is temporal

“it is appointed for us to die once and after this comes judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

2. God sees our sins, so confess them

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ” 1 John 1:9

3. God knows your days, so make every day count

4. God loves us, so be satisfied with His love

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

5. God has a plan for your life, so live it

“Let us, Your servants, see You work again” Psalm 90:16

“Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down” Is. 64:1

“For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who wait for Him!” Isaiah 64:4

August 11, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10

1. Remain in God’s presence

“My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord” Ps. 84:2

“Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young” Psalm 84:3

2. Rely on God’s strength

“O Lord of Heaven’s Armies” Psalm 84:1, 3, 8, 12

“the Lord’s arm is not too short, that it cannot save; nor is His ear too deaf that He cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“wait” – to bind together

“I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; and they will spring up” Isaiah 44:3 & 4

3. Rest in God’s character

“Cease striving and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

“God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

August 4, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

1. Faith stumbles when you focus on people

“I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness” Psalm 73:3

“They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.” Psalm 73:4 & 5

“Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?” Psalm 73:13

2. Faith is strengthened when you focus on God

Be honest with yourself and with God.

Know your God

1. God will be with you.

“I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. It was too painful for me—until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I finally understood” Psalm 73:16 & 17

“God has taken hold of my right hand.” Psalm 73:23

2. God will guide you

3. God will satisfy you

4. God will strengthen you

5. God will protect you

6. God will be good to you!

July 28, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:15

 God is the Supreme Sacrifice

 God is the All-Sufficient One

 Points people to Jesus.

 Reminds us that we are people of eternity, not merely

the present.

 Worship is relationship-based, not ritualistic.

 Worship must be from the heart, not simply the head.

“giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me.” Psalm 50:23

 Worship must affect our everyday walk.

“you refuse My discipline and treat My words like trash.” Psalm 50:17

“When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers.” Psalm 50:18

“Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue tells lies. You sit around and slander your brother” Psalm 50:19 & 20

“While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I was just like you.” Psalm 50:21

“Repent, all of you who forget God” Psalm 50:22

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:15

July 21, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:8

“For the LORD Most High is to be feared” Psalm 47:2

“O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of triumph.” Psalm 47:1

“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength” Jeremiah 17:5

“put your trust in the Lord” Psalm 4:5

“I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation” Micah 7:7

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord” Psalm 130:5 & 6

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20

“For the LORD Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2

“For God is the King of all the earth” Psalm 47:7

“God subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.” Ps. 47:3

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” Psalm 145:3

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side” Psalm 124:1 & 2

“Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Ps. 124:8

“God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:8

“God has ascended with a shout, the LORD, with the sound of a trumpet.” Psalm 47:5

July 14, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “Jesus considered me faithful, putting me into service” 1Timothy 1:12

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” 1 Timothy 1:15

“The fear of man brings a trap.” Proverbs 29:25

“Don’t be afraid for you are deeply loved by God” Daniel 10:19

“Love from the center of who you are. Don’t fake it.” Romans 12:9

“We refuse to wear masks and play games. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display so that those who want to can see.” 2 Corinthians 4:2

“To Timothy, my true son in the faith” 1 Timothy 1:2

“To Titus, my own son” Titus 1:4

“welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me” Philemon 1:17

“If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.” Philemon 1:18

Mason Worthy

1. We must commit to training ourselves in Godliness.

  1 Timothy 4:7 & 8

2.  We must be an example of faithfulness.

3. We must steward what the Lord has given us.

Guest Speaker

June 23, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Leadership ≠ position

Leadership = influence

Verse of the Week: “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity” Psalm 26:11

“good reputation with those outside the church” 1 Timothy 3:7

“well respected and have integrity” 1 Timothy 3:8

“if they are found to be blameless and beyond reproach, let them serve” 1 Timothy 3:10

“integrity” – completeness, undivided

“he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.” Psalm 78:72

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7

“not greedy for money” 1 Timothy 3:8

“If you point out these instructions to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus” 1 Timothy 4:6

“manages his own household well, having children who respect and obey him.” 1 Timothy 3:4

“Pilate sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!’” Matthew 27:24

“Jesus poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel” John 13:5

“not addicted to wine or violent, but gentle, peaceable” 1 Timothy 3:3

“must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.” 1 Timothy 3:11

June 16, 2024 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “Run your race that you may lay hold of the prize and make it yours.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

1. Know God - Salvation

“God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Thessalonians 5:9

“if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they were amazed; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

2. Grow in God - Sanctification

“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 3:18

 Direct you

Disrupt your plans

3. Sow into people - Serving

Benefits:

You will be satisfied.

You are strengthened

“Run your race that you may lay hold of the prize and make it yours.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Specific calling:

Seek God

Sensitive to the Spirit

Start serving now

“Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10