Know Their Story is Live!
Weekly Bulletin
May 4, 2025
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Sunday Worship
By Faith
Call to Worship
O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing
Welcome & Announcements
Bethany Family Prayer
Jesus
Jesus Thank You
Sermon: God’s Servant Feeds Faith
We Will Feast in the House of Zion
Communion
Benediction & Compassion Offering
Weekly Schedule
View our calendar HERE for the weekly schedule.
Highlights
Know Their Story Progress Update
We’re so excited to celebrate the incredible progress we’ve made—over 680 stories have been shared across our three areas! Each one is represented by a ping pong ball, a powerful reminder of how God is at work through us. Praise the Lord! To encourage everyone on this journey of knowing their story, we’ll soon be giving away free t-shirts to those who are participating!
It’s not too late to get involved—sign up for our 12-week evangelism coaching by text or email, or listen to the full podcast series—all episodes are now available. Visit bethanycentral.org/knowtheirstory to learn more and stay engaged!
Membership Class
Sunday, May 18, 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.
Summer Kick-Off Service & Picnic
Sunday, May 25, 9:30 am
This is a single outdoor service at 9:30am with a picnic to follow. It’s a special Sunday of fellowship and celebration for the upcoming summer. There will be no Sunday school, children’s church, or ABC’s that Sunday.
Announcements
Bethany Family News
Our congratulations to Elijah & Emily Hamilton on the birth of their daughter, Josie Blaire, on Sunday, April 27th.
College Student Letters & Gift Cards
We will send letters to our college students in a few weeks, letting them know we are praying for them. We include gift cards to bless them. If you would like to contribute, please drop off $10 gift cards from various restaurants, coffee houses, or stores by May 9th. If you have a college student, email their address to abby@bethanycentral.org so we can include them in our list.
Parents Praying the Miracle
Wednesday, May 07, 6:15 pm
A ministry for parents burdened by their adult child’s physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. The group meets weekly from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm in the Office Conference Room. Contact Anna Powell at buglenose@hotmail.com with any questions.
Adult Co-ed Soccer
Tuesdays | 6:00PM
Soccer meets outside on the Bethany soccer fields from May-September and inside the Bethany gym from October-April. If you have any questions, contact Mandy Hobbs: aswright@mail.bradley.edu.
RightNow Media
Access an extensive library of faith-based videos for kids, youth, and adults, available on any device. It’s easy and free to join. Visit bethanycentral.org/rightnowmedia and click “Request an invitation.” We’ll send you an email invitation to set up your account so you can take advantage of this great resource.
Together Day by Day
Sign up to receive our Together Day by Day email devotional. This email is delivered each weekday and is written by elders and pastors at Bethany. It includes a devotional and prayer requests for those in the Bethany family as well as our GO Partners. To sign up go to Bethanycentral.org/togetheremail.
Knowing Christ Radio
Our radio ministry featuring the teaching of Pastor Ritch airs each Sunday at 11am on WBNH 88.5FM. Or go to knowingchrist.org to hear each broadcast.
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on? Whom did you go with? What was the occasion?
Discussion 1: When Jesus saw the large crowd, He had compassion on them because they were “like sheep without a shepherd.” Why do you think Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowds? How did this reflect His role as the Good Shepherd?
Application 1: Jesus took a meager lunch and multiplied it to feed thousands. What do you have that might seem meager that Jesus could multiply? Is there anything causing you to feel like God can’t use you? What does this passage show about how God likes to work?
Discussion 2: We’ve seen many times in Mark that Jesus prioritized time alone to pray after ministry to the crowds. What clues does the text give us about Jesus’s devotional time? How long may it have been? What does it say about His practice?
Application 2: Prayer time requires effort and sacrifice and often requires planning. How can you put a higher priority on prayer and time with God in your daily life? What obstacles must be cleared to spend consistent time with God this week?
Discussion 3: Jesus walked on the water but the disciples were amazed and did not fully understand who He was. Why do you think the disciples struggled to recognize Jesus’s power? Why do you think their hearts were hardened about the loaves (v52)?
Application 3: How can miracles harden our hearts towards God? In what ways has your heart been hardened because of the miracles God has done? How can we combat our sinful tendency toward hard-heartedness, even amid a miracle?
