Bethlehem Church

We were privileged to have our very own Dr. James Harris share his story in front of our Congregation. The story of his upbringing, journey to Christ, and all of the transformative moments along the way display God's grace and how he is at work in all of our lives.

Genesis 1–14 traces humanity’s repeated attempts to secure life, wisdom, identity, and blessing apart from God—from Eden, through the fall, to Babel, and into the story of Abraham. In this message, we look back at the journey from the Garden to God’s promise through Abraham and see a consistent truth: we are always the recipients of God’s blessing, never the originators of it. The story ultimately leads us to Jesus, whose body and blood establish the new covenant and invite us back into fellowship with God. This sermon calls us to confront where we have chosen autonomy, allow Jesus to redeem what has been broken, and come to the table not as people trying to earn a place—but as guests welcomed into the family of the King.

Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1neJRDqw1xv06_mzSAsZ_0_BQ3tr0Sz_h/view?usp=drive_link

In this special 10-year anniversary message, guest speaker Dan Hyun reflects on the legacy of presence through the life of Barnabas. While the world often celebrates the spectacular, Barnabas shows us the quiet power of encouragement, advocacy, discipleship, and simply showing up for others. His presence helped open doors for Paul, strengthened the early church, and contributed to a kingdom impact that reached far beyond what he could have seen in the moment. This message reminds us that God often builds lasting legacy through ordinary faithfulness—through believing in people, sharing our lives, using our influence to lift others up, and being present in ways that point people toward Jesus.

Genesis 13:5–14:24 shows Abram learning what faith looks like when God’s promise requires patience. While Lot sees what looks good and takes it for himself, Abram releases control, remains in the land God promised, and trusts God to provide the blessing in His time. In this message, we see that faith does not grasp for what God has promised to give, and that patience is an active expression of trust. From Lot’s move toward Sodom to Abram’s encounter with Melchizedek and his refusal to be enriched by the king of Sodom, this sermon calls us to let God choose, wait on His timing, live generously, and remember that just because something is available does not mean it is right.

Genesis 11:27–12:9 marks another fresh start in the biblical story as God calls Abraham out of Babylon and into a life shaped by promise. Sarah’s barrenness sets the stage for a truth that will define Abraham’s story: God’s promise begins where human ability ends. In this message, we see Abraham presented as a new beginning after Babel, with God renewing the blessing of creation and promising that through Abraham’s seed, blessing will reach all the nations. That promise ultimately points forward to the Messiah, the King from Judah. This sermon calls us to contend for the faith, remain rooted in Christ, and examine where our allegiance truly lies—because Babylon makes promises it cannot keep, but Jesus makes covenants that produce blessing.Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1msrSuYlEyYOp0nIE3vCK92InwiYXcZ35/view?usp=sharing

Genesis 11 shows humanity once again trying to secure blessing, identity, security, and access to the divine on its own terms. At Babel, people gather to build a city, make a name for themselves, and resist being scattered—but the very project meant to secure their future becomes the source of their ruin. In this message, we see how Babel repeats the pattern of Eden: God offers the good, humanity refuses to trust Him, and instead grasps for control. Yet judgment is not the end of the story. God answers Babel by calling Abraham, promising to give the name, land, blessing, and future humanity could never manufacture for itself. This sermon calls us to stop building life around our own name, trust God to provide what is good, and tether our lives to Jesus as He continues His work of restoring the nations to Himself.Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oFOSZrCww851C3y922DM1mZHjGVCQqjx/view?usp=sharing

Genesis 10 may look like a simple genealogy, but it is actually a theological map of the nations and a reminder that God’s plan has always had the whole world in view. In this message, we explore the significance of the seventy nations, the rise of Nimrod and Babylon, and how Genesis begins preparing us for Abraham—the one through whom God will bring blessing back to the nations. We also see that the real problem is not diversity, but rebellion: humanity repeatedly gathers around its own name, power, and glory. This sermon calls us to choose righteousness over rebellion, surrender every gift and ambition to Jesus, and live as people sent into the world with His name—not ours—at the center.

Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I-urw4Bb2q2fMPEUrM5ULm54M3xrW8tm/view?usp=sharing

Genesis 9:18–29 shows that even after the flood, humanity’s deepest problem remains unchanged. Noah steps into a renewed world almost like a new Adam, yet the familiar pattern of fruit, nakedness, shame, and curse quickly returns. In this message, we explore the difficult story of Noah, Ham, and Canaan, what may lie behind the curse of Canaan, and why this passage has been tragically misused throughout history. Ultimately, Genesis 9 reminds us that humanity does not simply need better circumstances, stronger boundaries, or even a washed world—we need redeemed hearts. This sermon calls us to seek God’s wisdom, walk in humility and grace, and recognize that Jesus alone is the answer to the sin that continues to follow humanity into every new beginning.

Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1afl3YNpeokeNOxnlpuRi6EVfpxMKBHOg/view?usp=sharing

Genesis 7–9 shows God judging a corrupted world, preserving Noah through the waters, and establishing a covenant rooted not in human performance, but in His own faithfulness. In this message, we see that being remembered by God does not always mean immediate release, that waiting can itself be an act of faith, and that worship is the proper response to mercy. Even after the flood, humanity still needs grace—and the rainbow becomes a sign that the promise depends on God’s ability to keep covenant, not ours. This sermon points us ultimately to Jesus, the One who keeps the covenant perfectly, carries us through judgment, and calls us to live as people shaped by His promise rather than our performance.

Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqcXpeTmJeFcI5pEwvVdHT-0fzRwFWx8/view?usp=sharing

Genesis 6:5–22 shows a world consumed by sin, yet met by a God who is both grieved and gracious. In this message, Noah’s ark becomes a picture of the salvation found in Jesus Christ—the true refuge from judgment and the only safe place for those who repent and believe. Just as people in Noah’s day continued eating, drinking, and living as though nothing would change, we are warned not to mistake God’s patience for permission. This sermon calls us to stop taking His grace for granted, turn from self-centered living, and respond with the same active obedience Noah displayed by coming into the Ark of Christ.Message Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11EyzfUC7WIov7MzuZQZZDbTf1TzwSgRg/view?usp=sharing