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Category: Book

New Partnership to Make Disciples

We are excited to partner with Willow Glen Christian School in creating a new Homeschool Extension program. The Extension will open on the BG campus beginning in Fall of 2025, offering a full-day program for homeschool students in Kindergarten through 5th grade.  Our mission for this program is to offer an academically rich program for […]

BGYouth Goes to Ecuador

Remember your teenage years? Was there a trip that influenced who you are today? BGYouth is providing an opportunity for six teens and five adults to build intergenerational and cross-cultural relationships on a trip to Ecuador. Our Ecuador Team will serve alongside BG supported missionaries Jim and Suzy Olsen at Hacienda El Refugio from April […]

A Plan for BG’s Growth (Part 2)

Bethel Grove will focus on the role of community in spiritual formation in 2025. In this sermon on Proverbs 2.20-22, Pastor Raley lays out some introductory ideas about togetherness in the Christian life.

2025 Focus at BG: Community

In our series on Ephesians in 2023-24, we saw Paul’s strong emphasis on our life together as Christians. The Holy Spirit uses the whole body of Christ to form each of us spiritually (Ephesians 4.11-16). When we live separately, disconnected from other believers, we are “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about […]

A Plan for BG’s Growth (Part 1)

A local church used to be a symbol of something solid in the community. But decades of national scandals involving finances have diminished people’s trust in churches. One key to BG’s growth is talking openly about how we raise and use funds. A study of Proverbs 13.11.

New Year’s Eve Family Game Night

If you are like me, the thought of staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve is not appealing. However, the thought of celebrating the holiday with family and friends is delightful. What to do? The staff at Bethel Grove would like to provide you with a happy alternative to this holiday conundrum: a family […]

Waiting for a Savior

What can we learn from a genealogy? In the record of Jesus’s family lineage, we can actually find the whole story of our need for a Savior. A study of Matthew 1.

When Christmas Holds Joy and Grief

O come, O come Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Christmas is known as a holiday of joy, beauty, and lights, but we usually forget that its founding was full of hardship, dirt, and poverty. The first Christmas was a time of “good tidings […]

Waiting for Forgiveness

The Bible’s Christmas story has a scandal at the center of it: God forgives our wrongdoing. A study of David’s sins of adultery and murder in 2 Samuel 11-12.

Udaya Sharma, Nepal Ministry

Dr. Sharma was one of the recipients of the BG Thank Offering in 2015. He was planning on visiting Ithaca December 12-15 but was hospitalized with pneumonia. Please pray for his recovery. Here is his story. He is from an influential Hindu family in Nepal and his father-in-law was prime minister of Nepal for three […]

Waiting for Redemption

A foreign woman named Ruth seeks food in a barley field, but she ends up finding a redeemer who rescues her from poverty. This is another story about the coming of the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus. A study of Ruth 4.

Keeping BG’s Children Safe

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how we “weave a basket” when designing children’s programming. We shape elements to carry content, but also to hold the children in the container of our church culture. Some of these elements may bend and be flexible—various games or activities can be adjusted to work well for the […]

Waiting for Justice

Two women in Jesus’s genealogy were waiting for justice. In this first week of Advent, we look at the story of Tamar in Genesis 38 and Rahab in Joshua 2. (Pastor Raley answers a question about this sermon in the second video below.)

What are you waiting for?

The season of Advent is about waiting. For children, an Advent calendar counts the days until Christmas, the anticipation of presents becoming more intense. For adults, Advent may become a way to track how many shopping days are left. This year, BG will reorient Advent around the question, “What are you waiting for?” We all […]

Gary & Linda Simons, BG Supported Missionaries

Gary and Linda have been supported by Bethel Grove for 45 years. Gary studied linguistics and computer science at Cornell with Dr. Joseph Grimes as his Ph.D. supervisor. In the early days, Gary and Linda did language survey and then began a translation program in Solomon Islands, before being asked to relocate to the international […]

Squinting in Fog: Confidence

We need confidence in order to make decisions. Since we can’t be confident about knowing the future, or even knowing our own motivations, where should our confidence be? We have to trust God, who sees through the fog of our lives. A study of Proverbs 16.1-9.

Ithaca Women’s Bible Study’s Christmas Gathering

Ithaca Women’s Bible Study (IWBS) began in 1969 when three friends, Letty Ludington, Diana Jenkins, and Nancy Sobel, began meeting in Letty’s living room to study the Gospel of Luke. The location enabled Letty’s mother, who was wheelchair bound and lived with the Ludingtons, to participate. While the women feasted on God’s Word, their children […]

Weaving the Basket

When teaching children and developing programs in cultural mentoring, we sometimes speak of it as weaving a basket. What strands do we bring together that will hold the children well? For Kingdom Kids Nature Day on November 11th, our theme is shelter. A shelter is like a basket covering and holding a person safely. For […]

Squinting in Fog: Errors

It is hard to make decisions when the future is a fog. But even worse is trying to make decisions when our own motivations are shrouded in the fantasy of serial sincerity. A study of Proverbs 30.32-33.

Operation Christmas Child

It’s Operation Christmas Child time again! This is definitely one of my favorite ministry activities. Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse which reaches children around the world with the Gospel message through a simple shoebox filled with new toys and school supplies. Not many of us will have the chance to travel […]

Squinting in Fog: Uncertainty

Wisdom is about decision-making. But how can we make wise decisions if the future is shrouded in fog? A study of Proverbs 14.12-18. (Pastor Raley answers questions about in this sermon in a second video below.)

A Chance to Support NAMI Finger Lakes

I have been sitting on the short-side of Bethel Grove for 20 years now! Some of my past engagements included directing children’s musicals, and leading BG Youth both as a staff interim coordinator as a volunteer.  NAMI came into my life about 10 years ago when I took one of their classes. I was caring […]

Wisdom under a Microscope: Growth

Like all living things, wisdom grows. The liberating reality is that the wise life is not a static one, but a growing one. A study of Proverbs 1.1-7.

Perspective on Lament

What do you do when your circumstances seem to be in direct contrast to God’s character? How do you cope when you feel like God Himself has disappointed you? These are some of the questions we are facing in the Lament Class. We are studying four movements of lament—Turning, Complaining, Asking, and Trusting (TCAT)—as a […]

Wisdom under a Microscope: DNA

The DNA of wisdom tells you what you should do in your roles. But the word we need to use for this information is one we don’t use anymore: duty. A study of Proverbs 1.1-7.

Pregnancy Care in the Name of Christ

For over thirty years, Finger Lakes Pregnancy Care has been helping women and men facing unplanned pregnancies. In a confidential and judgment-free environment, staff and volunteers are committed to walking out the Gospel by offering emotional, spiritual, and practical help. Our goal is to treat each client with compassion and to provide hope, comfort, and […]

Wisdom under a Microscope: Roles

A cell has parts that each play a role in its life. When we look closely at wisdom, we find roles that contribute to our flourishing. A study of Proverbs 1.1-7. (Pastor Raley answers questions about this sermon in a second video below.)

Honduras 2024 Trip Report

Hello, faithful prayer partners and supporters! Thank you so much for all of your prayers as I traveled to Honduras this past July! I returned early in August and I am pleased to report that it was a very successful trip. I grew in both my veterinary skills and my desire for the Lord, and […]

Wisdom under a Microscope: Behavior

Just as we can see the behavior of organisms under a microscope, we can see the virtues of wisdom when we zoom in close. A study of Proverbs 1.1-7.

New Local Ministries Committee

The Local Ministries Committee had its first meeting on September 24th. Our job is to strengthen BG’s relationship with organizations that minister to the Ithaca region. These ministries offer many opportunities for you to serve the Lord right here in our community. A lot of exciting things are happening! BG youth and adults participated in […]

Wisdom under a Microscope: Organism

In this special family service, we start putting wisdom under a microscope. We discover that wisdom is a living whole. A study of Proverbs 1.1-7.

Fall Kick-Off Next Sunday

It’s almost that time! We are excited to invite you to our Fall Kick-Off on September 29. This will be an opportunity for you to explore the ministries in which you can be involved, ministries hosted both by Bethel Grove and by various organizations in our community. The ministries represented have been expanded this year […]

Wisdom for Missions

BG seeks wisdom from four seasoned guides about the future of global missions. Pastor Raley talks with Chuck and Barbara Grimes and Dave and Joyce Jones.

Supporting Global Christians

On Sunday, September 22, a wonderful convergence will occur at BG. Two couples who have long been part of our body, most recently laboring alongside indigenous believers overseas, will be part of a panel discussion. Come and hear about their work and how God has blessed many churches as a result of decades of faithful […]

Wisdom Journey: Turns

What should you do when your journey to Wisdom gets on the wrong track? A study of Proverbs 3.7.

Wisdom Journey: Arrivals

There are places of enjoyment in our wisdom journey where we arrive at healing. Due to technical problems, this sermon recording was cut off. But we were able to recover the majority of it.

The Power of Moms in Prayer

My son was 5 when I first heard about Moms in Prayer. I was new to Ithaca, and a friend from BG, Taryn Deets, whose daughter was in my son’s 1st-grade class, got me started with MIP. We were both crazy busy, but decided to meet weekly to pray knowing the ministry’s goal was important […]

BG Youth on Mission

The week of July 14th, a group from BG Youth traveled to Newark, NY to take part in a “week of hope” with Group Missions Trips. The “week of hope” involved several youth groups working on various community service project. Group Missions hosts similar weeks of hope around the country during the summer months. The […]

Wisdom Journey: Guides

Whenever we journey to a new place, we need a guide–a person who will show us where to go and what to avoid. In this study of Proverbs 3.1-6, we observe three guides for our journey to wisdom. (Pastor Raley answers a question about this sermon in a second video below.)

Nature Camp: Fire Stories

God is the author of all creation and we revel in his power as we learn about the natural world. Human beings are a unique part of God’s creation, made in his image. One of the things that sets us apart from other creatures is our ability to use fire. BG Nature Camp is an […]

Wisdom Journey: Departure

All journeys to wisdom depart from the same station–what Proverbs calls “the fear of the Lord.” This study of Proverbs 1.7 probes the reasons why our journey needs to start here.

Mobilizing for Discipleship

At 11:15 next Sunday, BG will start mobilizing for a new year of discipleship. On August 25th, September 1st, and September 8th, discipleship committee members and I will present ways that you can be involved in creating more community groups to deepen our spiritual formation together. Last June, the committee set two goals for this […]

Wisdom Journey: Invitation

This year, we start a journey to Wisdom in the book of Proverbs. In this study of Proverbs 8, we hear an invitation from Wisdom herself. (Pastor Raley answers questions about this sermon in a second video below.)

You and Your Bible: Authority

Like Jesus’s authority to turn water into wine, the Bible has authority to give light in the darkness. A study of John 12.44-50.

Vision Goals Update Rick & Donna George

Pastor Ron Cousineau was an interim pastor here at Bethel Grove Bible Church as we prepared for our next phase in the life of the church. One of the important things that Pastor Ron did was to enlist the entire church body to think about the future of Bethel Grove, and to come up with […]

You and Your Bible: Inspiration

The Scriptures are like water turning to wine. Jesus describes the words of a man like Moses as God’s own words. A study of John 5.37-47. (Pastor Raley answers questions about this sermon in two additional videos below.)

Drum roll please!

Today, the music ministry team guided by Pastor Raley is introducing a new instrument, replacing the electronic drum set with an acoustic set. For nearly 15 years, the church had been using the electric set, which offered some advantages but became difficult to maintain. They were equipped with sensors to mimic drum sounds, often breaking […]

You and Your Bible: Revelation

The Bible reveals knowledge that we cannot get anywhere else, the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. A study of John 17.6-17.

For the Beauty of the Earth

What can a tree or a butterfly teach about God? Can running around getting muddy be worship? In Kingdom Kids each Sunday morning, we have been focusing on various aspects of creation in springtime. We are following this exploration as a springboard to discuss God and our relationship to him through Christ. Our time begins […]

A visit from the Hicks family and a new start!! 

New Start for the Hicks FamilyDonna Stauffer Spring is when we often say goodbye to those graduating or moving to another location. But this is also the season of welcoming back friends who are passing through. This weekend, we welcome Aaron and Holly Hicks to Ithaca for a couple of weeks. Catch them now because […]

Life Against Darkness: Incorruptible

What fuels the Christian life? Paul gives the answer in the very last word of Ephesians. A study of Ephesians 6.23-24. (A second video below answers a question related to the sermon.)

Veterinary Mission Trip

I have been part of the BG community and involved in Cornell’s International Christian Fellowship for years while studying in veterinary school. This has helped strengthen me to in turn help lead Cornell’s Christian Veterinary Fellowship (CVF) . Now, as I am about to become a veterinarian this childhood dream feels unreal. I want to […]

Veterinary Mission Trip

I have been part of the BG community and involved in Cornell’s International Christian Fellowship for years while studying in veterinary school. This has helped strengthen me to in turn help lead Cornell’s Christian Veterinary Fellowship (CVF) . Now, as I am about to become a veterinarian this childhood dream feels unreal. I want to […]

Life Against Darkness: Armed

Paul takes tiles from Isaiah and the Psalms and makes an image of Christ in his armor of strength. This is who lives in us. A study of Ephesians 6.14-22.

Veterinary Mission Trip

I am finishing up my first year of veterinary school at Cornell and I want to thank you all for welcoming me into your church family. For several years, I have been involved with an organization called Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM). This group is composed of veterinarians, veterinary students and technicians, and other animal health […]

Life Against Darkness: Strong

The ancient Greeks and Romans fought battles in a formation called a phalanx. Soldiers were strongest when they stayed together. Paul calls us to be strong through unity in Christ. A study of Ephesians 6.10-13. (Matt answers two questions about this sermon in a second video below.)

Life Against Darkness: Sincere

Paul addresses the relationship in Ephesus with the most extreme disparity of power: masters and slaves. A study of Ephesians 6. 5-9.

The virtues of Christ, Coffee & Conversations

This past fall, Christ, Coffee, and Conversation was announced at BG, a Bible study held on Sundays before the service for students and young adults. We began attending a couple weeks after its start and have been going ever since. CCC is led by Pastor Matt Raley and is a wonderful opportunity to dive deeper […]

Kindling a Flame

Imagine a group of children in the woods, gently tending a small fire. Carefully they feed it twigs for fuel, learning the delicate skill of adding wood without putting their own hand in the flame. While it burns, their teacher shares a story—some eyes are on her, some remain fixed on the fire. After a […]

Life Against Darkness: Obedient

Is Christian parenting about gaining a child’s compliance? The relationship between a child and parent is about something much deeper. A study of Ephesians 6.1-4. (Another sermon question answered in the second video below.)

Life Against Darkness: Sacrificial

Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. What does this mean theologically and what does it require in daily life? A study of Ephesians 5.21-33. (Answers to additional questions in the second and third videos below.)

BG’s UpcomingNew Members

Jim Lawson began attending BG in January 2019. He attended membership classes at that time just to learn more about BG’s beliefs. More recently he was convicted of the importance of being accountable and committed to a church body, which led Jim to attend the recent membership classes and decide to become a member. “It […]

BG Annual Church Spring Clean Day

As a kid, I was the youngest of four, and our typical Saturday morning was spent cleaning our house. Ack! It was not what I wanted to wake up and do! And I felt that the worst jobs were relegated to me since I was defenseless against my siblings. However, as I bitterly began to […]

Life Against Darkness: Submitted

Marriage is the most intimate workshop of God’s grace. Wives and husbands become cold when they forget this. A study of Ephesians 5.21-25.

Life Against Darkness: Full

Dionysus, the god of theater and spring, wants you to be full of wine. Paul says that he will only waste your vitality. True renewal comes from being filled with the Spirit. A study of Ephesians 5.18-21.

Women Build with Habitat for Humanity

When my friend David Stipanuk calls me about home improvements and repairs he couches the work in terms of “opportunities.” Our life in Christ is filled with opportunities to shine our light before others. Each year, Tompkins Cortland Habitat for Humanity hosts a Mother’s Day weekend opportunity for service, training, and fundraising called Women Build. […]

Holy Week Prayer Tents at Cornell

For this year’s Holy Week, the Christian fellowships at Cornell set up two tents on campus to pray, worship, and share our faith with others. These tents were occupied by at least one person for 24 hours every day of Holy Week. We were both really moved by the hearts of those who tirelessly reached […]

Be Our Guest

“Be Our Guest”Katie Winkler What difference does Christ’s resurrection make to everyday life? As we think about our work responsibilities, interactions with coworkers, stress over homework and class schedules, caregiving for the young or elderly or vulnerable, and our conversations with friends, what difference does Easter make? Easter might simply be an annual holiday that […]

Jesus, Power, and Mary Magdalene (Part 1)

A look at the women who followed Jesus and their importance for us today from Luke 8.1-3. (Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024.) In a second video, Matt answers questions about the sermon.

Life Against Darkness: Wise

The call to walk wisely is a call to ask, “Where are you going? What path are you on?” A study of Ephesians 5.15-17. (Matt answers questions about this sermon in a second video below.)

“Children, You Are Dismissed”

At these words each Sunday morning, you hear a gentle stampede of feet, voices barely subdued, as the young children practically trip over themselves to head down to their program: children’s church. Do you ever secretly wish you could follow them, peek into what goes on downstairs, and just be a fly on the wall? […]

New Projects for the Larsons

David and Beth Larson have been overseas since the end of January working on a new initiative with International Students Inc. (ISI) to reach students in other countries. David’s new role as the Director of Global Reach also involves creating new alumni networks that meet frequently based on geography and ethnicity. Although the International Christian […]

Life Against Darkness: Awake

The presence of Christ wakes us up. It shines light on the evil that is both around us and in us. A study of Ephesians 5.6-14. (Video answering questions on this sermon included below.)

Life Against Darkness: Beloved

We are called to be like a beloved child who imitates his parent. As Christ loved us, we are to love others. A study of Ephesians 5.1-5. (A second video answering questions about this sermon is posted below.)

Inspiration from Chile from Jack Benjamin

On February 6th, after leaving the gym, I switched on the car radio only to learn that the former president of Chile, Sebastian Piñera, had died in a helicopter crash in the nation’s southern lake district. The 74-year-old dignitary was piloting his own aircraft when it went down in a lake shortly after takeoff for […]

Life Against Darkness: Sealed

Letters from a Roman emperor were sealed in wax. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. A special family service devoted to Ephesians 4.25-32.

Engage with Delight

During the discipleship mini-series, we were challenged with the idea that discipleship flows through delight—that we are what we love. If we are shaped by what we love, what are some ways that we can engage with children that are delightful to them? On Saturday March 23, from 10am-12pm we will host a community Egg […]

Life Against Darkness: Mature

Many believers are carried around by every wave of teaching. What does it really take to become mature? A study of Ephesians 4.13-16.

BG’s New Community Coordinator, Katie Winkler

As we grow, it will be increasingly important to integrate new attenders into the life of BG. We are grateful to the Lord for every person he brings to us, and we want to take good care of each one. The elders decided to open a new staff position to ensure that we are building […]

Life Against Darkness: Equipped

Jesus Christ equips us to build his Kingdom. Everything we need comes from him but he equips us through his Word and other people. A study of Ephesians 4.11-12.

The Virtue of Faith is Social

This is the conclusion we reached at Christ, Coffee, and Conversation last Sunday. Since September, college students and young adults have been gathering at the ministry center at 8:30 each Sunday morning. Over a delectable breakfast and some good coffee (courtesy of Copper Horse), we talk about spiritual formation with Pastor Matt. Specifically, we have […]

Life Against Darkness: Victorious

In Ephesians 4.7-10, Paul describes Christ’s victory parade using Psalm 68. To understand Paul’s message, we begin in Numbers 10.35.

Women Discipling Women

No one would dispute that we need to learn from one another’s stories to grow in our faith. Similarly, the process of telling our stories bears witness of God’s work of grace while solidifying our faith further still. To learn someone’s story, it helps to begin with a question—sometimes lots of questions, addressing the littlest […]

Life Against Darkness: Worthy

Every Christian is called to a high purpose. What does it mean to be worthy of that calling? A study of Ephesians 4.1-6.

The Sanctity of Human Life in 2024

Since the Dobbs decision in June 2022, in which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, there have been at least seven state ballot initiatives on abortion. The initiatives mostly sought to establish a right to abortion or ban the practice at the state level. One initiative sought to require medical care for babies […]

On The Edge of 2024

Dear Friends,Standing on the edge of 2024 invokes many questions and emotions. International conflicts and economic uncertainties, as well as individual challenges, often tempt us to retreat into perceived “safe places.” What’s true personally also can be true of any global outreach ministry. In many ways, walking into a new year requires us to look […]

BG’s New Art Team

For our study of angels during Advent, BG relaunched its arts team, a group of painters, writers, and musicians conspiring to enliven our worship. We started in August looking at how the Bible describes angels and allowing their strangeness to challenge us. At first, we were a little worried. We might succeed in showing the […]

New Year, Old Grievances

Jesus’s parable of the unmerciful servant highlights forgiveness. But what exactly is forgiveness? Why should Christians extend it to others? A study of Matthew 18.23-35.

Angels on Guard

The last time the glory of God appears in the Old Testament, it is leaving the temple. Will it ever return? Where and when?

Laying Up Our Treasures

It’s been said that where we place our treasure indicates the real priority of our hearts. Treasure can be much more than money—our time, energy, education, skills, or reputation. No preaching from me here, as God’s Word can speak it best (Matthew 6.19-20). Just something to keep in the forefront of our minds. Speaking as […]

Little Blue Pantry by Jessica Romero

Perhaps, you have seen the unassuming Little Blue Pantry off the parking lot of the Family Center andwondered what this small cabinet is doing in what seems an unlikely spot? While you won’t find the wayto Narnia, if you open its doors, you will find cereal, oatmeal, pasta, granola bars, raisins, ramen anddiapers… enough to […]

Angels on Fire

There is a world beyond what we can see. In Isaiah 6.1-7, the prophet sees beyond the earthly temple into the heavenly places, where fiery angels fly around the throne of God.

Angels in Command

A priest on duty in the temple, surrounded by symbols of angels, suddenly encounters a real one. A study of Luke 1.18-20.

Willow Glen’s Exciting Start

Willow Glen Christian School finished its first quarter just before Thanksgiving with 100 students—both full time and hybrid homeschoolers. The new Parent Teacher Fellowship has decorated the Lower school for Christmas. Leaders are planning fundraising. Curriculum teams are meeting, while budgeting and staffing plans for next year have already begun. A new website is in […]

While They’re Here With Is

Three Ithaca College seniors have served at BG since the spring of 2021. Discover more about them and how to support them in prayer as they complete their degrees.  Megan Burghdorf is a Trumpet Performance Major from Middletown, PA, who also has remarkable vocal skills. She is active on BG’s worship team and leads worship […]