Bethel Church Temple TX Podcast (Sermons)

1 John 1:9 (NIV) – "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Romans 8:1 (NIV) – "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

James 1:6 (NIV) "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Philippians 3:12-14 …But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters:

but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV. … let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on

Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

March 2, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” Romans 11:29

1. God still speaks to us today!

“the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time” Jonah 3:1

“Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and announce My judgment against it” Jonah 1:2

2. If you want to run from God’s call, the devil will always give you a ride.

3. Pay attention to life’s storms.

“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6

“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

“Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.” Jonah 1:5

4. Do God’s will.

“have a form of godliness, but denying its power.”   2 Timothy 3:5

“The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.”   Jonah 1:17

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

5. You’ve got to love people

“I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. You turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!” Jonah 4:2

February 23, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Col. 3:24

1. Start building disciplines

“I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preach to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

"discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” 1 Timothy 4:7

“do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2

“Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

2. Serve the Lord

“It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.” Colossians 3:24

Call of salvation

“God chose me and called me by Hs marvelous grace.” Gal. 1:15

Call of service

3. See the need, meet the need

“While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” Acts 13:2

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13

“whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” Colossians 3:17

4. Stay in community

“it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church” Acts 15:22

Guest Speaker Q & A: Rocket Ismail

February 9, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” Matthew 16:16

1. Follow the right coach

“Though Jesus was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” Philippians 2:6 & 7

“humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and at the right time He will lift you up.” 1 Peter 5:6

“As a result of this many of His disciples turned back and deserted Him.” John 6:66

“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” John 6:68

“God knows everything.” 1 John 3:20

2. Go all in for the team

“I will build My church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

“before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

February 2, 2025 Elwyn N. Johnston

Verse of the Week: “The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord” Psalm 97:5

1. People of His presence

“presence” - face

“Nod” – wandering

“let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 1 Chronicles 13:3

2. Promises of His presence

“Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165

“I discovered Your words…they are my joy” Jeremiah 15:16

“they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” Isaiah 40:31

“My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex. 33:14

“When my enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence.” Psalm 9:3

3. Price for His presence

“ark” - box or chest.

“After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.” 2 Samuel 6:13

4. Position yourself to live in His presence

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving” Psalm 95:2

“come before His presence with singing” Psalm 100:2

“God inhabits the praises of His people.” Psalm 22:3

Jeremiah 1:4-10

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

The responsible person seeks to make his or her whole life a response to the call of God! - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jer 1:4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 

Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 

Your assignment isn’t a destination but an invitation

Don’t worry about knowing your purpose as much as living with one!

Jer 1:6 “Ah Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak for I am a youth"

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. - Ben Franklin

FaithFULL vs faithFILLED

If you live your life minimizing risk then life will minimize your passion

Jer 1:7-8 - 7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord 9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 

Jer 1:10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”  

When we raze the things of this world, we raise the name of Jesus 

WHAT’S YOUR MORE?

WHO’S YOUR MORE?

January 19, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” Daniel 3:29

“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?” Dan. 3:14

“what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Dan. 3:15

“Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to prosper in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:30

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” Matthew 16:24

“Therefore we do not lose heart and give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.” Daniel 3:26

“the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.” Daniel 3:27

“there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” Daniel 3:29

January 12, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side” Matthew 14:22

1. Know your God

“we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” 2 Chronicles 20:25

2. Get out of the boat

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. I will hold you up with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead” Philippians 3:13

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

3. Focus on the person, not the problem

“When you walk through the waters, I will be with you” Isaiah 43:2

“Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them, walking on the sea” Mark 6:48

4. Know that God hears you when you call

“Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him” Matthew 14:31

5. God has an assignment for you on the other side

January 5, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

Verse of the Week: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

1. Stay in step with God

“Stay about half a mile behind them because you’ve never been this way before.” Joshua 3:4

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

2. Step in the water

3. Stand in the water

“the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm” Joshua 3:17

4. Step out and bless others