September 14, 2025
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Sunday Worship
The Lord is My Salvation
Call to Worship
All My Boast is in Jesus
Welcome & Announcements
Bethany Family Prayer
All Creatures of Our God and King
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
Only a Holy God
Sermon: God’s Servant Tried, Part 1
All I Have is Christ
Benediction
Weekly Schedule
View our calendar HERE for the weekly schedule.
Highlights
Membership Class
Sunday, September 21, 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.
Fall Festival
Sat, Sept 27 (1–4pm)
We’re bringing back our Fall Festival—a fun-filled community outreach event with games, activities, and a Story Wall designed to spark gospel conversations. Mark your calendar, invite friends and neighbors, and sign up to volunteer at bethanycentral.org/volunteer to help make the event possible.
Gospel Sunday
Sun, Sept 28 (9 & 10:30am)
The celebration continues as we welcome our community back for Gospel Sunday. This special service is an opportunity for both guests and our church family to gather in worship and hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Invite your friends and neighbors from the festival to join you, and pray with us that many will encounter the hope of the Gospel for the first time.
Announcements
Bethany Family News
Our congratulations to Nate and Melissa Burnham on the birth of their son, Rhett Jackson, on Thursday, September 4.
Our sympathies to Pastor Ritch and Kimberly Boerckel, and to Joy and Joe Unseth, on the passing of Ritch and Joy’s brother, Jim, on Sunday, September 7.
Our sympathies also to the family of Kathryn Mosier on her passing on Sunday, September 7.
Fall Festival Candy Collection
Donate by September 21st
We’re collecting candy donations for this year’s Fall Festival! To help cut costs, we’re asking the congregation to provide individually packaged, peanut-free, non-chocolate candy. Collection bins will be located in the Children’s Wing (near the registration desk) and the Adult Wing. Please bring your donations by Sunday, September 21, so we’ll have time to purchase any remaining needs.
Men's Genesis Bible Study
Sep 10 - Nov 11 | Wednesdays 6:15 pm to 7:45 pm
Join us this fall for the Men’s Bible Study as we explore the life of Abraham, seeing how God showed Himself faithful to Abraham and to each of us today. Come ready to engage, ask questions, and build connections with other men at Bethany as we seek to encourage one another and grow together in the faith.
Ladies Hobby Night – All Ages Welcome!
Friday, September 19, 5:30 pm
Bring your latest project and enjoy a relaxed evening of creativity and connection in the Lakeside area. Whether you’re crafting, knitting, journaling, or anything else—come when you can and leave when you need to. For questions, contact Abby Pfeiffer at abby@bethanycentral.org.
Parents Praying the Miracle
Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
A ministry for parents burdened by their adult child’s physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Their next meeting is Thursday, September 18th. The group will meet weekly from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm in the Gathering 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.
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: What’s your go-to snack when you’re feeling stressed or anxious?
Discussion 1: According to vv. 55-59, the Sanhedrin sought to condemn Jesus even without a fair trial. What do you think motivated this miscarriage of justice? Read Isaiah 53:7. Why do you think Jesus didn’t defend himself during the trial?
Application 1: Because Satan is the god of this world, we can expect to face injustice in the world. How should we respond when we face injustice? Read John 15:20. Why should we expect to face persecution just as Jesus did?
Discussion 2: In the midst of the trial, Jesus responded to all the accusations by saying, “I am.” This echoes Exodus 3:14 and the covenant name of God given to His people. It also echoes Daniel 7:13, “the Son of Man,” who will come “with the clouds of heaven.” Why did Jesus finally affirm His true identity? Why did He try to hide it earlier in the book of Mark? Why did the leaders respond the way that they did?
Application 2: Why is Jesus’s true identity so important? Why is it so important in THIS MOMENT? How does Jesus’s true identity change how you relate to Him personally (such as praying in His name and worshipping Him as God)?
Discussion 3: Both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus throughout the night. What do you notice about the differences in their reactions, attitudes, and outcomes? What makes their reactions so different from each other?
Application 3: The difference between Judas and Peter was that one returned to Jesus after his failure (see John 21), while the other wallowed in self-pity and thought he could never return to Jesus (see Matt. 27:3–5). How do you respond to failure in your life? Whom do you go to in the midst of failure? Do you have brothers and sisters in Christ you can confess your sin to (see James 5:16)?
