Sunday’s Bulletin

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. Can you think of a time when you felt excluded from a group because of a false standard?  How did you feel?  How did you overcome it?

2. Can you think of a time when you were a part of a group that had false standards that may have excluded others.  What were those standards?

3. Can you think of a time when trying harder has led to greater failure?  What did you take away from that experience?  Discouragement?  Disillusionment?  Grace?

4. “I follow the law in order to better follow Jesus.”  Can you think of examples in your own life to support this statement?

5. “The law confronts us with the reality of sin. Sin confronts us with the reality of death. “ What is the difference between taking the law seriously versus being legalistic?  What role does grace play in this?

6. “The root of all sin is autonomy.”  How do you respond to this statement?

7. 2 Corinthians 5:17; I John 3:3.  New creation, new identity that cannot sin; and Romans 7:17, 18. yet sin still dwells in me. How is this dualism in your life apparent to you?

8. We need to see the gap between our problem – “wretched man that I am! – and the solution  - transformation in Christ?  What fills your gap?

9. What is the importance of letting others see your gap?  What are the barriers to allowing others to see your gap?

Each month we are invited to set aside the first Friday of the month to ask specifically for the needs of Bethany and the community. As we ask God to do what we could never do on our own, let us give him the glory for how he is working in and through us in all of the communities that we represent.

Pray that all who attend Bethany will desire, above all else, transformation that comes through repentance and commitment to Christ. Pray that God would speak to each of us through the sermons on Sunday, and that we would respond with obedient hearts.

Pray for us as a congregation as we seek to be intentional in developing a Rule of Life in the areas of prayer, Scripture reading, generosity, and service. Pray that we would each commit to specific practices in these areas that will prepare our hearts to receive what God has for us to be and to do.

Pray for those who are involved in the search for new ministry staff: Worship Ministry Director and Children’s Ministry Director. Pray that God would guide the right person here for each position, and that they would be confirmed by consensus among the search committees. Pray for those who have stepped in as interim directors – Chris Gough and Jean Ballance – that God would guide and strengthen them to continue to lead their respective ministries.

Pray for the preparations for Easter, that we would be welcoming hosts for the visitors that will be here on Easter Sunday, and that each one who comes will encounter Christ in a new way.

Pray for those in our congregation who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Pray that God would comfort them and be present with them in their sadness. Pray also for those in our congregation who are struggling with illness. Pray that God, the Divine Healer, would restore their health and fill them with his strength and comfort.

Pray for those in our congregation who are between jobs and looking for work. Pray that God our Provider would meet their needs and guide them to a new position where they can use their giftedness for him. Pray that God would fill them with his peace during this time of uncertainty.

Pray for the short-term mission trips coming up this month. We will be sending teams to the Lummi reservation and to Macedonia. Pray that God would protect these teams, and that he would accomplish great things in and through them as a result of these trips.

Pray for our Tabitha Ministries. Pray for the women who spend the night at our church; may they feel safe and cared for by the many volunteers who staff the shelter. Pray also for those who staff the Food Bank and host the Community Dinners. Pray that we as a church community will continue to develop ways to build bridges to the surrounding community.

Pray for all of the ministries of Bethany, that they would be sourced and directed by the Spirit of God, so that in all things He would receive the glory and thanks.

Blessings,

Nancy Eckardt

One new area for this year’s trip is a soccer camp. The vision is to bring in 400 kids from around the project and host a camp, with our Costa Rican friends assisting us with soccer skills; teaching a Bible story time; providing snacks; and running a tournament. Each child will receive a soccer ball, t-shirt, and a new pair of tennis shoes.

Along with the soccer camp, we will continue to help build a new sanctuary, pull nails our of donated wood, volunteer with kids in homes and daycare, attend a youth camp, and help with a feeding program.

The trip is 10 full days; please pray for our strength, our ministry to the Costa Ricans, and for what the Lord will want to teach each of us.

Thanks,

Nick Steinloski

Student Ministries Pastor

There are two things going on leading up to Romans 6. Let’s follow the thinking:
- We’ve got big problems
- God has a solution
These truths run the risk of a terribly wrong conclusion. If sin + God’s love = revelation of grace, then sin > love > grace. Romans 6:1–2 addresses this.

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. Vs. 1, 2a “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!” Why can this never be? How is this the true gospel?
2. Have you ever been baptized? Why or why not?
3. Can you think of a time when you have said no to something in order to say yes to the greater thing?
4. What is something right now that you had to or need to say no to?
5. In Hebrews 12:1,2, Jesus is our example of saying no in order to say yes. To what did he say no? To what does he say yes? What does that mean for us?
6. As a community we are committing to incorporate Prayer, Scripture Reading, Generosity, and Service into our lives. How can we approach these spiritual disciplines as saying no in order to say yes to God?
7. What is a “no” that might now be holding you back from being able to say “yes”?

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?

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?

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

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?

Greetings in the name of Christ. I shared just a few weeks ago how grateful I am to the Lord for the privilege of playing a role in the Bethany community. This past week demonstrated, once again, why this is so. When the earthquake struck Haiti, I let you know that we intended to take an offering on January 24th. I asked you to pray and give sacrificially. Our staff carefully and prayerfully considered various options for channeling relief dollars, and decided on giving to World Vision’s relief and long-term support fund. We chose them because of their long time presence in Haiti, low administrative overhead, and the fact that a grant would multiply our gift threefold.

You responded remarkably-giving over $87,000-which, due to the 3:1 matching program, translates into $348,000 to help with the rebuilding efforts of Haiti. Never have I been more proud of our community. This generous outpouring contributes directly to our mission of becoming a visible expression of Christ by “inviting people to God, to community, and to wholeness.” Food, shelter, clean water, public health infrastructures, and education all contribute to the goal of wholeness. Please pray with me for the distribution of these funds, and for Haiti, that the spirit of God would be poured out on that nation so that what comes out of this day of distress will be a new Haiti, better able to serve its own people.

In less than 12 months, we’ve been privileged to contribute $217,000 to serving the neediest in our world in both Haiti and Uganda. Thank you again for your generosity! And if you missed the Haiti offering this past Sunday, there’s still time to give. You can make your check out to Bethany Community Church—make sure to designate “Haiti” on the memo line—and we’ll pass it on to the World Vision fund.

Yours in His Service,

Richard Dahlstrom
Senior Pastor