Bethany Community Church

Teacher: Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, February 21, 2010.

Teacher: Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, February 14, 2010.

There will be times when we all feel like quitting. Often, the quitting comes
not at the beginning, but halfway up the mountain—or, worse, after all the hard
parts are behind us. That’s why Hebrews 10 calls for endurance. How does
Paul motivate us to continue in our journey with Jesus?

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. What makes you wonder if God is for you?
2. How have you wrestled with God?
3. Can you think of a time when wrestling with God was painful? How did it lead to intimacy?
4. How does proven character lead to hope?
5. He is safe because he loves us. He who knows us best loves us most. It is based on his capacity to love, not our capacity to be lovable. Why is it difficult to believe this?
6. Why do you hang in there?
7. What does “more” look like to you? How has Christ provided more for you than anything that is strictly human?
8. How does your activity reflect the reign of Christ?

Teacher: Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, February 7, 2010.

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. How has biblical truth become knit with your story?
2. What does fruitfulness look like to you?
3. What are your areas of barrenness where you desire fruitfulness?
4. Are there areas where fruitfulness seems impossible?
5. Can you share the time when you came to Christ, recognizing y our need for him to transform you and make you fruitful?
6. How do you believe in transformation when all you see is failure?
7. How have you seen Jesus revealed in another?
8. Can you think of a time in your life when you have added to faith as the requirements of righteousness?
9. When have you been tempted to give up on God? What keeps you persevering?
10. What have you committed to God by faith that seems impossible?

Sometimes we make prayer too difficult.  Paul’s instruction on the matter can be summarized by half of Philippians 4:6, which reads:  “tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand…”

In keeping with Paul’s practical instruction, I’m happy to invite to join with me in praying the following thanksgivings and intercessions, blended together in the following areas of our life as a church:

Thank God for all He has done

1. We’re profoundly grateful to the Lord that our community has been able to raise over $100,000 for relief and rebuilding in Haiti.  Pray for the World Vision team and all their affiliates as they use these resources for both immediate needs and long-term issues.
2. Give thanks for Scott Sund, Shonnie Scott, and the families that are forming core leadership teams for satellite campuses in both West Seattle and North Seattle.  Pray for their continued wisdom and strength, asking that God would shepherd them every step of the way so that the works that are established testify of His grace and power.
3. Give thanks for the provision of two wonderful finalists in our search for a new Director of Worship & Arts.  Pray for our search task force as we meet soon to make important decisions regarding next steps, asking that our decisions would be right.
4. I’m grateful for the many people at Bethany who have signed up to attend retreats.  Pray for the Middle School, High School, Post-College/Early Career, and Guys’ retreats, all of which are happening this month.  Pray with me that each participant will encounter the living Christ in significant ways, resulting in transformation, and the strengthening of life in Christ, both for individuals and for our church.
5. Pray also for the upcoming Ash Wednesday service and the beginning of Lent.  We’ll be inviting the Bethany community to go deeper with Christ and enter an intentional discipleship effort (which we’re calling Rule of Life) during this season, focusing on the areas of Bible Reading, Prayer, Service, and Generosity.  Pray that we will collectively be responsive to Christ’s invitation to follow Him fully, and that our development of a Rule of Life community will result in Christ’s life being seen with greater clarity.
6. We’re searching for a new children’s ministry director and ask for prayer for the task force involved in that search.
7. Megan Dobrasz is preparing a team for a March trip to Macedonia.  Pray for Megan, her team, and their preparations, asking that God would be providing all that’s needed for His purposes on this trip.
8. There are many who continue to feel the effects of unemployment.  Pray for those looking for work and direction, asking for God’s provision of both, and comfort in the midst of the trials.
9. Finally, Bethany continues to be the recipient of God’s mercy and grace in countless ways.  Please pray for all our leaders, especially our staff and church council, asking that God would protect us from presumption, keeping us ever dependent on Him for each step, and ever grateful for His goodness.

Thanks so much for making time to pray with me on these important matters. May His life continue to strengthen, protect, and direct us in all we do.

In His Service,

Richard Dahlstrom

Senior Pastor

Teacher: Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, January 31, 2010.

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. How would you describe “vampire Christianity’?

2. How close was Moon’s description of the gospel, quoted by Moon, to your own understanding?

3. What do you see as symptoms of the sickness in the world?

4. What do you hear as inaccurate diagnoses of the symptoms?

5. Richard defined sin as “the sickness in us that makes intimacy with God impossible.” How does sin get in the way of intimacy?

6. How is shame a part of our barrier to intimacy with God?

7. “none righteous, no not one….none who seek God.” Why don’t we seek God?

8. Richard suggested that we want intimacy with armor. What is makes up your armor?

9. 2 Cor 5:20 – As an ambassadors of Christ, Paul begs us “Be reconciled to God!” Why do we resist being reconciled to God?

10. 2 Cor 5:21 The righteousness of God – we live into the righteousness that has been bestowed on us. We “move into our uniform.” How have you seen this reflected in your life?

11. How does the original definition of the gospel as escape from hell allow room for boasting? How does this new view of the gospel leave no room for boasting?

12. What might you be tempted to overlook in your life, rather than walking into intimacy, opening yourself up to exposure?