Bethany United Methodist Church - Gen Tinio NE

Bethany United Methodist Church - Gen Tinio NE A Christian Church under the Wesleyan tradition proclaiming the gospel to transform the world.

26/07/2026

Blessed Sunday Everyone

Armor for EveryoneIn the first century, Roman armor would have been made of metal and treated leather. Today, we might i...
16/07/2026

Armor for Everyone

In the first century, Roman armor would have been made of metal and treated leather. Today, we might imagine a soldier or police officer's bulky tactical gear with bulletproof vests and helmets.

Not many of us wear this kind of head-to-toe protective gear before heading out in the morning. But the Bible urges us to consider spiritual armor as something essential. Why?

Because unseen spiritual adversaries exist, and we're vulnerable to their attacks. Here are two vital things to notice about our "armor." First, God is the one who gives us armor. It's the armor of God. We can't possibly protect ourselves from spiritual attacks, but God can supply all that we need.

Second, we don't put on our armor or fight alone. The mental image of the lone soldier standing in an arena against an enemy is not what Paul has in mind. The instructions to put on spiritual armor aren't given to you, the individual—they're given to all of us, together, who make up the global Church.

We all suit up together in God's armor, and we stand, pray, praise, and defend… together.

God graciously gives us armor so that, when we experience a spiritual attack, we will stand and fight by His strength. Today, imagine standing strong in God's protective armor. How might this imagery influence how you endure and remain resilient in the face of spiritual battles and uncertainties?

Clothe Yourself in What MattersImagine putting on shirts of compassion, patience, and forgiveness. That might seem ridic...
15/07/2026

Clothe Yourself in What Matters

Imagine putting on shirts of compassion, patience, and forgiveness. That might seem ridiculous, but Colossians 3:12 tells us to “clothe ourselves” in traits that match our identity in Christ. In other words, we need to cover ourselves in actions and attitudes that result in us looking more like Jesus every day.

So, how do we do this? One way to get started is by thinking of the struggles that keep you from living more like Jesus, and then start to replace them with their opposite action.

- If you are sarcastic and cutting, choose to say something kind and encouraging instead.
- If you tend to come across as harsh, choose to do something that requires gentleness.
- If you’re holding a grudge, make the hard but important decision to extend forgiveness anyway.

As you go about doing that, choose to take part in activities that build you up spiritually. This could look like connecting with friends who will keep you accountable, memorizing Scripture that you can apply to your life, or cultivating compassion by serving in your community. The more you intentionally pursue actions that lead to humility, compassion, and kindness, the more those traits will become a natural part of your life.

And as you pursue the qualities mentioned in Colossians 3:12, the changes this produces will be most evident in the way you treat other people.

The apostle John said that we can’t claim to love Jesus if we hate each other (1 John 4:20), so a life that reflects Jesus is going to embody love. And according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is patient and kind, is not irritable, and keeps no record of being wronged. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

A life marked by God’s love is going to display the very things the apostle Paul talks about in Colossians 3:12.

So if we want to live like Jesus, then we need to receive the new life He’s given to us and accept His unconditional love. Only then can we begin to reflect His love to others by showing people compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

So today, what do you need to do in order to clothe yourself in those character traits? Make a note of one or two struggles that tend to trip you up, and make a plan to remove them from your life by replacing them with actions that draws you closer to Jesus.

A Generous InvitationWhile exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and sharing his experience with ...
14/07/2026

A Generous Invitation

While exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and sharing his experience with Jesus, John was given a vision.

He was told to write down what he saw and send it to the seven churches. And though these messages were given to literal churches of that time, they're still just as relevant to and representative of our modern hearts today.

Now, for some context, let’s focus on Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea …

Jesus describes the church in Laodicea as being neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. They’re rich and comfortable, prosperous and self-sufficient, apathetic and indifferent. But despite these things, Jesus still offers a generous invitation:

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you see it? Do you feel it?

This is an invitation for intimacy, relationship, and friendship with the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of everything.

But make no mistake, Jesus is a gentleman. He refuses to force Himself upon anyone. Instead, He pursues hearts and extends invitations—but we must open the door.

The church in Laodicea was full, but empty. They were disoriented by a false sense of security and control. They were successful according to the world’s standards, but distracted according to God’s standards.

And yet, Jesus still called out to them. Jesus still knocked for them. Just as He’s still calling out and knocking... for you. The same God who flung planets into space and carved mountains into existence wants to be near you and with you, and to save you.

So if you hear Him calling out to your soul, or you feel Him knocking on the door of your heart, it’s your move.

He is waiting with open arms.

Reconciled for a PurposeHave you ever attempted to balance a difficult equation? There’s a lot more to it than simply ge...
13/07/2026

Reconciled for a Purpose

Have you ever attempted to balance a difficult equation? There’s a lot more to it than simply getting the right answer. You need to understand the step-by-step process if you want to be able to apply it and find new solutions in the future. In fact, most solutions in life involve a process, and the idea of reconciliation is no different.

It’s not enough to know that reconciliation is the answer to disunity and injustice. We have to seek to understand and actively engage in the process. Reconciliation is the hard-but-good, messy-yet-beautiful, worth-it kind of work.

“Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 34:14

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are not only called to understand and engage in the process of reconciliation; you are thoroughly equipped to be a minister of reconciliation. Scripture affirms that every believer is a minister of reconciliation, empowered by God Himself (2 Corinthians 5:11-21).

So how do we do that? Psalm 34:14 lays out a few steps for us:

TURN FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD. Turning from evil means both rejecting evil outwardly and addressing it inwardly within our own hearts. We confess the sin that caused the fracture by acknowledging our role in conflicts with God and others, and we turn from our old ways and actively seek peace.

SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. Peace isn’t the absence of conflict; it’s the presence of restored harmony. Seeking peace means we aren’t just peace-keepers; we are peacemakers who actively pursue being a part of restoration. We listen empathetically and strive for understanding. We see and are attentive to the brokenness around us and ask where God might be calling us to be a part of reconciliation. And we put in the work because this kingdom work is worth it.

Because of the reconciliation work of Jesus Christ, accomplished on the cross, reconciliation is not a problem to be solved—it's a process that you’ve been invited to. Jesus Christ is reconciling the world to Himself. How will you join Him?

God’s Presence in the ProcessIn the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is on the record for speaking the following words: “For whe...
10/07/2026

God’s Presence in the Process

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is on the record for speaking the following words:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Due to many other texts in the Bible, we know that God’s ability to be with us is not hindered by a crowded stadium or an empty room. He’s able to be just as present whether there’s more or less than 2-3 people gathered.

So, in this case specifically, what did Jesus mean?

When we look at the surrounding context, Jesus is actually explaining to His disciples how to correct a believer who has sinned against them. He encourages them to:

- First, go talk to the person alone.
- Second, if they don’t seem to listen the first time, bring one or two others along.
- Third, if they still don’t listen, bring the issue before the church.
- Fourth, if they still refuse to heed the wisdom and counsel of the church, treat them like you would an unbeliever.

So when Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them,” He’s reminding them that, as they navigate church-discipline situations with humility, grace, and love, He will be with them in the process.

Throughout God’s Word, we’re given instructions for handling various situations—whether it’s money, relationships, sin, health issues, etc. And even when things don’t appear to be black or white, we can listen to the Holy Spirit and look to the leaders He’s appointed.

Jesus knew that conflicts and issues would inevitably arise, so He taught His disciples to ask for whatever they needed (see verse 19), and promised to be with them on the journey.

Learning to Fight Good FightsWhen we became Christians and first believed in Jesus, we began a journey of faith. We comm...
09/07/2026

Learning to Fight Good Fights

When we became Christians and first believed in Jesus, we began a journey of faith. We committed to becoming a disciple of Jesus, who follows His commands and trusts in Him.

The apostle Paul, in his instructions to Timothy, encourages him to fight the good fight of faith. This implies that the journey of faith will often be difficult. It will sometimes be messy, hard, and harrowing. Paul’s words serve as a reminder that sometimes—faith looks like a fight.

However, rather than a fight against people, this journey of faith is a fight for goodness, beauty, and faithfulness. We are fighting against our own broken natures, but also against God’s enemies within the spiritual realm.

Fighting often looks like making the right decision even if it’s not the easiest decision. It might mean being gentle when we want to be harsh. It might mean choosing love when it would be easier to be selfish.

Fighting well means remaining faithful to Jesus over the course of your life. You were called to a new life in Christ when you came to faith, and you are called to remain faithful over the course of your life.

So how do you remain faithful? One of the ways you can cultivate faithfulness is by reading God’s Word every day. When you regularly spend time with Him, you begin to love what God loves, and hate what He hates.

But as you seek God in this way, it’s also important to have friendships with people who can encourage you. Having two or three people in life who can help keep you accountable is a necessary part of your faith journey.

As you consider what next steps you need to take to fight well, remember that you do not fight alone. God is with you—and when you draw near to Him, He will empower you with the strength you need to finish your faith journey well.

A Rhythm of RestWhere did the idea of a seven-day week come from? Throughout history, cultures have experimented with va...
08/07/2026

A Rhythm of Rest

Where did the idea of a seven-day week come from? Throughout history, cultures have experimented with varying the number of days in a week, but the most enduring pattern for human work and rest is woven into how the Creator made us.

When God first created the world, He finished all He wanted to do in six days. He could have moved on to the next project on His to-do list, but instead, God intentionally rests and enjoys His creation. This is the standard pattern of work and rest created for us from the beginning.

How we create and produce reflects how we are created in His image. Just like God, we make things and name them. We work and then rest. When we intentionally stop working to enjoy the blessing of just being in a relationship with God, one another, and His world, we reflect His image, too.

When God rests, that does not indicate laziness or exhaustion from work. From the beginning, God models a rhythm of work followed by rest and reflection. Rather than pausing out of tiredness or when we finally finish our long list of projects, God asks us to plan a time to rest every week.

When it comes to knowing when it’s time to take a break, choose the rhythms of our Maker over our exhaustion-driven routines. He intends to bless you.

Jesus Does The ImpossibleJesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this ve...
07/07/2026

Jesus Does The Impossible

Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this verse to mean that they can do anything they want in life because God can do the impossible. Often this can lead to us asking God to do something selfish.

In order to understand what Jesus is saying, we should read the preceding verses. In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man comes to Jesus asking for eternal life. Jesus tells him that he must give up all of his earthly possessions—something the young man is not willing to do. Because he failed the test, the young man failed to inherit eternal life.

Jesus says in Matthew 19:23 that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The point is that loving Jesus requires everything we are. Our ultimate love cannot be split between Jesus and something else.

The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus responds in Matthew 19:26 that it is impossible for man to save himself—but it is possible with God. God can do the very thing that man cannot.

We cannot earn our salvation. We cannot work hard enough to attain it, and we can’t achieve it on our own. It is impossible. But with God all things are made possible for us to be saved. It is only through the work and power of Jesus that we have access to salvation. And through the empowerment of the Spirit, we are enabled to have faith in God.

What in your life is keeping you from faith in Jesus? Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s material possessions. Maybe it's a wrong mindset. Whatever it might be—God has the power to remove these things from your heart so that you can have faith in Jesus.

So spend some time with God today, and ask Him to search your heart. Ask Him to reveal anything within you that is keeping you from loving Jesus better. Then, do something daring—surrender those things over to God.

Honoring the PoorHow different would our world, communities, and homes look if we committed to helping the hurting aroun...
06/07/2026

Honoring the Poor

How different would our world, communities, and homes look if we committed to helping the hurting around us?

The writer of Proverbs, typically considered to be King Solomon, penned these words:

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are those who are financially or materialistically poor. Maybe they were born into a cycle of poverty, have hit hard times, or are physically or mentally sick. But there are also those—like Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5—who are poor in spirit.

Giving generously to those in need, caring for the vulnerable, and living an open-hearted life is the call of every believer.

Jesus echoed this theme in Matthew 25, explaining that good works like feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, showing hospitality to strangers, and visiting the sick or incarcerated will not go unnoticed. In fact, when we do such things, we're actually serving Jesus (Matthew 25:40).

How wonderful would it be to end poverty, stop hunger, and witness the day when the world is entirely at peace? Eventually, Jesus will make all that is wrong right, once and for all. But until then, we get to keep serving Him and loving others every chance we get.

No one can do everything, but we all can do something.

Genuine followers of Jesus will be compelled by His Spirit to love the people He’s created. And if that’s not enough, we can believe Him when He says that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

John put it this way:

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When we serve God’s people out of obedience, we're really serving Him!

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Brgy. San Pedro
General Tinio
3104

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