As we jump into 2026 we’re going to explore what it means to live by faith. The author of Hebrews makes a statement that says “It is impossible to please God without faith.” What does that mean? Our prayer is that as we go through this series, and explore what’s become known as the great hall of faith in Hebrews 11, we will come to an understanding of the reality of and the power of our faith in Christ Jesus. This week we see what faith is and that we don’t have to check our brains at the door when it comes to having faith in Christ. We’ll also see that unwavering faith in a supernatural God is what keeps hope alive.

As we end 2025 and get ready to shift into 2026, Pastor Javin shares this special online message with us about the idea of starting small. During this year in our hometown, there was an incident that happened that reminds us of a truth from God's word. That truth is that God can take the rubble of our life and do amazing things through it. Don’t despise the day of small beginnings in your life and through your life. Just take a step of faith with Christ through the power of His Spirit and begin.

The prophet Isaiah spoke a prophecy some 700 years before the birth of Christ that child would be born who would be a wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of peace. That child would be a light that shines into the darkness. Jesus is the promise kept from God. He is the light of the world and everything rests on his shoulders. As followers of Christ, we are called to shine the light of Christ to the world around us.

In this podcast episode Pastor Javin and Matt dive deeper into weeks 5-7 of the Philippians series that focused on Philippians chapters 3-4. The discussion looks more at our perspective in life regarding physical and spiritual things, the empathy we have for those who struggle with anxiety and depression, more encouragement for those who do battle with these, sharing our faith in a way that is relatable to others and the generosity that God has called us to.

God kept his promises and revealed his promises through Jesus Christ. In this series we will look at one we can learn from those who waited on the fulfillment of the promise and how we can apply those lessons in our seasons of waiting. We’ll also see how we can be a part of shining the light of the promises fulfilled in Christ. Advent season is a season of waiting. In Luke 2 we meet a man by the name of Simeon and a woman named Anna who teach us about waiting on the promises of God. As they waiting in that first advent we wait for Christ’s second advent. In the middle of that waiting are seasons of waiting and Simeon and Anna teach us that in all of it we can wait actively, gratefully and expectantly with an open mind, not for the answer we want, but for the one in whom every promise is yes and amen.

On this Sunday we had Pastor Don Goude with us to share God’s word. Pastor Don was the Lead Pastor of Bethel for 25 years before he retired in 2010. In this message he shares with us the very purpose for which Jesus was born and that purpose was the cross. The cross did not come cheaply and what Christ did through the cross deserves our all.

As we get to the close of Paul’s letter to the Philippians we see him wrap everything up around contentment in Christ. This is where we draw a close to our study and it’s here we see that joy and peace is expressed in contentment and godly ambition not in discontented selfish ambition.

Paul starts concluding his letter to the church of Philippi with a very powerful statement around a very current issue so many battle, and that’s anxiety. Paul could be taken as insensitive, but that’s not what Paul’s being. Paul is sensitive to the Spirit and knows we have an enemy that wants to divide an individual's mind the same way he wants to divide the body of Christ. In this section we see that joy and peace is produced through prayer and the Holy Spirit, not through our own strength.

As we enter chapter 3 of Philippians we see Paul’s famous resume, but his resume isn’t shared to try to sell himself to others. Paul shares his resume to make a point that what he had made of himself was of no comparison to who he had become in Christ. In this section from Paul’s letter we see that joy and peace is rooted in what we’ve gained in Christ, not in what we’ve lost of ourselves.

Pastor Javin and Matt talk more about the first 2 chapters of Philippians and the first 4 weeks of our Philippians series. Their discussions dive deeper into connecting with people around our faith (sharing our faith and growing our faith), being burned by the church, burnout in the church, things that keep us from celebrating the spread of the gospel, and more.

Within Philippians 1 & 2 lies one of Paul’s famous lines - “for to me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” He goes on from that statement to describe what to live for Christ looks like and why even in the face of death he can rejoice. From this we can see that joy and peace is rooted in Christ’s righteousness not in the temporal, and they're expressed in faith not fear.

Paul continues his dialogue around the importance of unity in the body for the advancement of the gospel. He expresses a boldness and freedom in Christ that allows him to say “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Paul shows us that joy and peace is expressed in selflessness not selfishness.

As we continue along in the first chapter of Philippians we see how much Paul loves those he is partnered together with for the gospel of Jesus Christ. He expresses his gratitude for them and prays for them. Paul shows us that joy and peace is expressed in connection not isolation; where we learn to grow and go with united purpose for the gospel.

The church of Philippi got a unique start with a unique group of people, but Paul’s writing to the Philippians doesn’t just carry truth unique to the them, it still relates to God’s church today. In the first few sentences of Paul’s letter we see some of the byproducts of grace. The grace of Christ not only gives us salvation but it gives us new life in Him. Purpose, holiness, unity, peace and joy are some of the byproducts of Christ's grace.

Pastor Javin and Matt discuss the most recent series done here at Bethel on Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. They talk deeper about the importance of making things in our faith customs that we do, and Pastor Javin describes his "custom" in regards to studying God's word in his personal life and for sermons. They talk more about knowing God's word, trusting in and seeking more of the Holy Spirit, how Christ changed the meaning of death, being busy at work for the Kingdom personally and with the body of Christ, as well as salvation and how we should be relationally with those who may not be covered by Christ's grace.

Paul brings a strong conclusion to both of his letters to the Thessalonians. In these conclusions he’s showing how we are to live our faith out until Christ returns. We have a purpose in the present and that purpose is to live for the Kingdom of God.

Paul continues in his letters to the Thessalonians to encourage his listeners around the return of Christ. Christ will return. We don't know when but we know he will. Until then we stand on the truth of God, reflect the values of his Kingdom and invite others to know Christ.

Pastor Javin and Chuck dive deeper into his message that he spoke as our guest speaker. They discuss more about hearing from God, knowing when it's God directing us, self-control, Bible study tactics, tornadoes in Oklahoma among other things.

Paul begins to explain to the Thessalonians what death looks like when we are in Christ. When you look over the scope of much of Paul’s writings he reiterates these lessons. Paul wants his listeners to know that death is not something we have to fear as followers of Christ and grief does not rob us of hope.

This Sunday we had a special guest, Pastor Chuck Barrineau. Chuck is a friend of Pastor Javin's and he leads a church out in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Chuck has been preaching since he was 15 years old and is married with 3 kids. In this message, Chuck spoke vulnerably about how God had to help him in recent years through something that is probably very relatable for many of us.