Welcome to Bethlehem Bible Church!
As a church and a pastoral staff, we are delighted that you’ve chosen to visit our site. We pray our Savior will use the content here to strengthen your walk with Him. Bethlehem Bible Church is different from many churches by design. We have one primary aim: to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ by preaching the Word of God verse-by-verse. There are those who see such preaching as passé, but we see it as a Biblical mandate (2 Tim. 4:1, 2).
Because of our desire to be true to that mandate, we emphasize: (drawn from the Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever)
Expositional Preaching
This is preaching which expounds what Scripture says in a particular passage, carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation. With few exceptions, we preach through entire books of the Bible verse-by-verse.
We want to demonstrate, in context, what Scripture says and not use the Word as a platform for our own opinions. All of our sermons are available for FREE download.
Biblical Theology
Paul charges Titus to “teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Biblical theology is a commitment to know the God of the Bible as He has revealed Himself in His inerrant and infallible Word.
The very word “theology” frightens some people. However, everyone is a theologian. That is, you have a system of beliefs about God. We want you to have the tools to fashion an understanding of God from His Word—that’s why He gave it to us.
Biblical Understanding of the Good News
The gospel is the heart of Christianity. The good news is not that God wants to meet people’s felt needs or help them develop a healthier self-image, rather it is that Jesus Christ lived the perfect life we could never live, died the perfect death needed to procure our salvation, was resurrected on the third day and lives to intercede for those who believe.
It is frightening to us how fragile a grasp today’s church has on the Gospel. We want to stress the Gospel so that our members can “do the work of ministry.”
Biblical Understanding of Conversion
Genuine faith in Jesus Christ is not merely intellectual assent to the facts of the Good News, but a complete change of desires and affections. The spiritual change each person needs is so radical, so near the root of us, that only God can do it. The Bible teaches that conversion will result in a changed life.
Knowing how God saves and transforms lives is key to living your Christian walk.
Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
The whole truth is that our deepest need is spiritual life, and that new life only comes by repenting of our sins and believing in Jesus. We present the gospel openly, and leave the converting to God.
Every Christian has an obligation to share the good news! Furthermore, inviting someone to go to church is not “evangelism.”
Biblical Understanding of Membership
Membership should reflect a living commitment to a local church in attendance, giving, prayer and service; otherwise it is meaningless, worthless, and even dangerous.
Church membership matters and is biblical.
Biblical Church Discipline
Church discipline gives parameters to church membership. Each local church actually has a biblical responsibility to judge the life and teaching of its leaders, and even of its members, particularly insofar as either could compromise the church’s witness to the gospel.
If the Lord commands it, and He does, how dare His church disobey?
Promotion of Christian Discipleship and Growth
A pervasive concern with church growth exists today – not simply with growing numbers, but with growing members.
We value the interpersonal relationships that develop in the Body and believe they are instrumental in helping individual Christians to mature in Christ.
Biblical Understanding of Leadership
A plurality of elders is not only biblical, but practical – it has the immense benefit of rounding out the pastor’s gifts to ensure the proper shepherding of God’s church.
We believe these to be the Biblical “ingredients” of a healthy church – one that can assist you in growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many churches have as their emphases – programs and property, however, we want to have the same priorities as the Lord Himself did during His ministry – people and principles. We want to provide for the genuine needs of people: the accurate teaching of the Word of God, opportunities to exercise spiritual giftedness, loving shepherding and discipleship, and fellowship with those of like precious faith.
We have programs such as: AWANA, Sunday School, a prayer ministry, men’s and women’s ministries, and more. Every one of our programs is built around our central theme: “(Our) delight is in the Word of the Lord” (Ps. 1:2).
On behalf of the membership here at BBC, we pray you will find your time here edifying, glorifying to God, and maybe a bit challenging. We would love to have you visit us in person! If that is not possible, please call us during the week. We stand ready to minister to you in any way we can.
More information about BBC and our ministries may be obtained by calling us Monday through Saturday 8:30-5:00 at (508) 835-3400 or by contacting us.
In Awe of the Grace of God,
The BBC Elders
Pastor Mike Abendroth
Pastor Steve Cooley
Elder Pradeep Tilak
Elder Corey Lagunowich