4. Doctrine – Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Acts 2:42 Mention the word doctrine today in the vast majority of congregations up and down the length of this nation, and you will be met with suspicion on the one hand and scorn on the other. From my observations, the appetite of so many within the professing Church towards doctrine is like that of children towards sprouts! Mom and Dad know that they’re good for their little darlings, but their little darlings have no stomach for them! Give us baked beans, fries, tomato ketchup and pizza, anything so long as it is not green!! The Apostle Paul warned some 2000 years ago...
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4. Doctrine – Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Acts 2:42 Mention the word doctrine today in the vast majority of congregations up and down the length of this nation, and you will be met with suspicion on the one hand and scorn on the other. From my observations, the appetite of so many within the professing Church towards doctrine is like that of children towards sprouts! Mom and Dad know that they’re good for their little darlings, but their little darlings have no stomach for them! Give us baked beans, fries, tomato ketchup and pizza, anything so long as it is not green!! The Apostle Paul warned some 2000 years ago...
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3. Unity – Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Ephesians 4:1-6 Having laid the foundation for the unity of the Church in the previous sermon, we focus in this sermon on the functional unity of the Body. Why so much division in the Body of Christ? Why so much discord? At the heart of the problem lies the root sin of pride.
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10. Common Cult Heresies - Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Part 10 In concluding this series on the Seventh-day Adventist Church, examination is given to some of the common heresies shared among the sister cults that emerged from the broader Adventist movement in the mid-nineteenth century, arising from the failed predictions of William Miller, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christadelphians. In this teaching, these common doctrinal heresies shall be explored and briefly refuted. To wrap up this series, consideration shall be given to the different positions within Adventism, namely the traditionalists vs. the progressives....
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2. The Mystery of the Church – Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
John 10:16 In this second part of the series, we explore the riches of the mystery of the Church of Jesus Christ. That Gentiles should come to the knowledge of the Saviour was foretold by the Prophets of old. But how it would be possible for Jew and Gentile to be united in one body in Messiah was a mystery hidden from ages past, but has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Come with us as we explore this fascinating mystery!
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9. The Investigative Judgment - Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Part 9 It has been well said that the only distinctive doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. This doctrine lies at the heart of Adventism and is woven into the fabric of how the Adventist Church views atonement. In short, the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment teaches that in 1844, Jesus Christ began a work of judgment, examining the records of all professing believers to determine their worthiness to obtain heaven. When one asks what is the standard by which they shall be judged, the answer is returned, the law of...
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1. The Church
Bethesda Shalom
Hebrews 10:24-25 We are living at a time in history where anything that is of long-standing tradition is being called into question. Renewed calls go forth on every hand, calling for change. Out with the old and in with the new is the resounding cry of this post-modernist generation. Whether it’s marriage, the family home, politics or education, that which once served our forefathers for eons is being re-examined in light of new-fangled philosophies offered by the so-called experts of our day. Sadly, as one looks to the Church, it follows suit, having an insatiable...
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8. What About the Dietary Laws? - Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Part 8 When asking a well-versed Christian, “Is there anything forbidden for a Christian to eat?” they will immediately answer with a resounding “no,” then follow up with a few qualifying comments, turning to key passages in the New Testament, such as Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. When the same question is asked to a Seventh-day Adventist, they will respond with a resounding “yes” before turning to key passages in the Old Testament, such as Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Who is right? Both appeal to the Bible, yet only one can do so using the Bible as...
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Laying Aside Every Weight – Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
Hebrews 12:1-2 Have you ever heard of an athlete on the field with a sack of potatoes bound to his back? Why would an athlete be so foolish to do a thing like that? It’s unheard of, and yet, as I look around the stadium of Christendom, some believers are doing this very thing, and they wonder why they’re out of spiritual breath a few laps into the race! Brothers and Sisters, could it be that they’re carrying too much weight? This sermon is an exhortation to lay aside every weight and to run the race set before us!!
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Whatever He Tells You Do! – Paul M. Williams
Bethesda Shalom
John 2:1-11 Some say that being a Christian is complicated. However, it is we who complicate matters. Mary the mother of Jesus summed up the secret of following the Lord when in her last recorded words she said, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (Jn. 2:5)
info_outlineHebrews 4:14-16
So much of contemporary Christianity is built on hype, but the problem with hype is that it gets you nowhere because hype has no foundation. God has given us three-quarters of a million words of solid text upon which to base our confidence so that our faith is not found flapping in the wind. In this sermon, we consider Jesus as our High Priest and the promise that is given us to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find help in times of need.