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Weekly Bulletin
February 2, 2025
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Sunday Worship
Prelude: Come Thou Fount Come Thou King
Call to Worship
I Believe
Welcome & Announcements
Bethany Family Prayer
Psalm 8 (How Majestic is Your Name)
Turn Your Eyes
Sermon: God’s Servant Introduced
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
Communion
Benediction & Compassion Offering
Weekly Schedule
View our calendar HERE for the weekly schedule.
Highlights
Newcomer's Lunch
Sunday, February 09, 12:00 pm
After second service. Anyone new to Bethany is invited to join. Meet Elders & Pastors, ask questions, and get to know us. Go to bethanycentral.org/lunch to register.
Membership Class
Sunday, February 16, 9:00 am
The class meets in Rm 813 in the adult wing. This one-session class features videos & class discussion. You’ll learn more about Bethany and discover the importance of membership and joining your local church. Sign up by going to bethanycentral.org/membership.
Leadership Candidates
The Elders are pleased to announce the candidates entering the leadership development process for this cycle. They each shared their testimony and why they are excited to pursue the calling of leadership at Bethany. A webpage containing their answers is available at Bethanycentral.org/candidates.
Special Services
Sunday, February 23rd
We will have a normal service at 9:00 AM, followed by a special baptism service at 10:30 AM. Children’s Sunday School and Children’s Church will occur in the usual manner, but instead of our normal second service, we will spend this time celebrating as several individuals get baptized. Later at 6:00 pm we will have our spring Night of Worship.
Announcements
Welcome New Members
The following people were voted on and approved as new members.
- Keith & Alisa Beyer
- Addison Beyer
- Adane Mamo & Fikerte Bekele
- Samuel Muthusamy
- Travis & Abigail Penick
- Nathan & Erica Smith
Sermon Notebooks
We’re kicking off a new series this week on the book of Mark! To help you engage, we’ve created a special notebook for sermon notes, group discussions, and prayer requests. While our physical copies are delayed, you can access a digital version at bethanycentral.org/notebook.
Compassion Offering Today
Our February Compassion Offering donations will support those affected by the California wildfires through Samaritan’s Purse. You can give to the compassion offering by going to bethanycentral.org/compassion or give to the compassion fund after our service this week.
Legacy Grandparenting Summit 2025
Saturday, March 08, 9:00 am
All grandparents are invited to join us on Saturday from 9am – 4pm for the Legacy Grandparenting Summit simulcast here at Bethany. You can Register or learn more at bethanycentral.org/lgs.
Gospel Institute: Listening to God
February 3rd - 24th | Mondays at 6pm-9pm
Taught by Pastor Ritch and Daniel Sheaffer the class will help you learn how to listen well to the personal messages that God has for us each day. We will cover some common misunderstandings about listening to God and consider the scripture’s instructions for us.
The class will meet for 4 weeks as an active learning environment including group discussion and light reading. Sign up using your myBethany or call the church office. The cost is just $5 to signup.
Pickleball
Thursday, February 13, 6:30 pm
A Pickleball group meeting in the Bethany Gym. All skill levels are welcome, come for fellowship and exercise. They meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 6:30 – 8:30pm.
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: What would the two pictures be if your life were captured in the “expectation vs. reality” meme? How has your life turned out differently from what you expected when you were younger? (Give one example)
Discussion 1: Mark begins his gospel by quoting Isaiah, referring to John the Baptist as the messenger preparing the way for Jesus. Why do you think Mark emphasizes preparation for Jesus’s coming? What is striking about John’s message?
Application 1: Just as John prepared people’s hearts to meet Jesus, how can you help to prepare others to encounter Jesus? What are practical ways to point others toward Him or to be like Christ in your dealings with unbelievers?
Discussion 2: John the Baptist called people to repentance and pointed to someone greater than himself. What does John’s role teach us about humility? What does it look like to humble ourselves so Christ can be made great? What might we endure on that path?
Application 2: Are there areas of your life where you seek your glory rather than Jesus’s? Are there ways in which we as Christians need to take criticism, ridicule, and scorn for Jesus’s sake?
Discussion 3: At Jesus’s baptism, the heavens opened, and God declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Why is this moment significant for understanding Jesus’s identity and mission?
Application 3: God’s declaration over Jesus — “You are my beloved Son” — reminds us of our identity in Christ. Through the finished work of Christ, we now reflect that same Identity before God. How can embracing your identity as God’s beloved child shape how you live and face challenges this week?
