How to Become a Member Of Bethel Baptist Church
Membership in this church may be acquired by any person who has completed the Church Membership Class, and upon the recommendation of the Board of Deacons and Board of Deaconesses and the vote of the church.
Ministering to Detroit’s Eastside Since 1864
The beginnings of our church trail back to 1862 when Karl and Emilie Bock migrated from Germany to Detroit. The Bocks, who were zealous witness for their Lord, established fellowship with other German immigrants who were Baptist. On June 23, 1864, the group of nine believers was formally organized as a church. The early members met in homes until 1870 when a chapel was built at St. Aubin and Mullett. The church was known as the First Regular German Baptist Church of Detroit. Significant activities during the early years included tract distribution as a regular Sunday afternoon pastime, missionary work of students on the west side during summer vacation and the formation of a Women's Missionary Society.
What Is God Saying About the Greedy Rich, the Coming of Christ, and the Power of Prayer?
James 5:1-20
James 5:1-6: It is sad to see anyone weep, but the Lord is telling the selfish rich to cry, groan, howl and lament as they face the miseries of impending judgment. "Your gold and silver is rusted; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you." The dazzling brilliance of treasures, uninvested in the Bank of Heaven, can never satisfy the empty' souls's need for it's God, Jesus Christ. Tear stains on the hoarded treasures, come from workers whom the rich boss has cheated out of their pay. Cries of the poor have reached the Almighty Commander of heaven's armies, and even now he is gathering gold-rust and blood of the innocent, for condemning evidences at the Judgment Day trial. "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy . . . on his day you shall give him his wages, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor and sets his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee" (Deuteronomy 24:14-16). Pleasures and luxuries, self-fatten rich hearts for the day of slaughter (Luke 16:19,25, Job 21:13).
BUT IF NOT . . . trusting God in all His designs
We have the tendency, in the evangelical world, to imagine that when we pray, God is somehow bound to give us what we ask for and, what's more, to shelter us from every painful circumstance that might come our way. One of the reasons for such thinking is the proliferation of preachers who teach that if my faith is great enough, then I will have what I ask for. I go to God with my requests . . . I name what I want . . . I claim what I want . . . and I will receive what I want.
The Bible in general, and this story in particular, would not let us think that way or pray that way. The name it and claim it theology that is so popular today is not an example of Biblical faith, but of the crassest kind of presumption. Faith is not presuming to know what God will do, but rather the rock solid knowledge of what God can do and that everything He does is good and right and holy.
Looking Toward Heaven
Probably, all of us are much like the Apostle Peter. In the midst of the storm he ventured out of the boat, to walk on water with Jesus, only to take his eyes off the Lord and begin to sink. Our focus on Heaven probably isn’t a constant, it probably wavers as well.
When you listen to the news, or hear stories about all the violence, evil, and horror that is life on Planet Earth, if you are like me, you long for Heaven. Hearing news about a fellow believer that has fallen into sin, or a marriage breaking up, or getting a glimpse of our own sinfulness can bring the promises of Heaven to mind.
Bulletin : Week of May 20
Evening Praise Service
Join us this evening for a great time of singing. Pastor Cosand will be answering your questions.
Please Note: Pastor Cosand will be going to Russia to teach second year students Theology. He will be leaving May 24 and will be returning to the church office Monday, June 11. Please be in prayer for a safe and fruitful trip.