This spring, in honor of its 100 year anniversary, we're studying J. Gresham Machen's Christianity and Liberalism. Machen was involved in the Presbyterian controversy in the early 1900s. When his denomination (the Presbyterian Church in the Unites States of America, PCUSA) began to compromise on the gospel, Machen left Princeton (the seminary of the PCUSA) to found, first, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and, later, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. A hundred years later, Christianity and Liberalism is considered a classic. Church historian George Marsden described it as "one of the most important religious works of the twentieth century." His book remains relevant today. It helps us get and keep the gospel clear, sharpens our discernment, and encourages us "to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.” Join the class Sundays at 9:30AM!

I encourage you to get the book and read it. I have a couple extra in case anyone wants to borrow a copy. We'll take a couple weeks to introduce the book, so you have time buy a copy and begin reading. Reading isn't required, but you'll get more out of discussion if you do choose to read.

Our discipleship strategy at Bethel is based on Paul's conversation with the Ephesian elders in Acts. Paul labored to keep the gospel of the grace of God clear and foremost in the hearts of believers AND toward that end he taught whatever is profitable, the whole counsel of God. He wanted the church to do the same. In the preaching ministry of the church, we labor to keep the gsopel clear and foremost in our hearts. In our Sunday school classes and Bible studies, we teach whatever is profitable, usually revolving around four key areas of growing maturity (summarized by the acronym TREE):

• Thirsting for Christ (the gospel),
• Reaching out with Christ's love,
• Exalting God in worship, and
• Evangelizing the lost

We teach through each major discipleship theme in regular rotation, occasionally adding  a class to teach "whatever is profitable." We hope you'll join us!