< Back Lead Pastor Cris Harper Pastor Cris joined Bethel Community Church in February of 2020. He is married to Christy and has two young children, Ruth and Gabe. Cris enjoys cooking, keeping up with basketball and soccer through the year, and will talk all things Star Wars with whoever cares to listen. Cris holds an M.Div. degree from Beeson Divinity School (Birmingham, AL). Prior to coming to Bethel, he worked as a Hospital Chaplain at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, offering pastoral support to intensive care units and the Emergency Department. Cris@discoverbethel.com (780) 476-3762

Our Mission, Vision and Values Our Mission Becoming like Christ & Sharing Him with Others Our Vision To Build a House of Belonging in Christ for All People Our Values A House of Discipleship: Committed to growing every day in our walk with Jesus through holistic and biblical formation. A House of Prayer: Moving with the Holy Spirit through a posture of prayer. A House of Togetherness: Embracing life together in authentic and intentional community. A House of All Nations and Generations: Celebrating and nurturing the beautiful diversity of our intergenerational and multi-ethnic family. A House of Mission: Committed to reaching out with the love and Good News of Jesus Christ to our communities, to the city and to the world! Mission, Vision and Values for Bethel: A more detailed explanation Read More Interested in what we believe and teach as a church? Read More

We are community church committed to following Jesus and sharing his love with the world around us. ​ We gather for worship on Sundays at 10 am in Edmonton, AB. We deeply care about our community and would love to encourage you in any way we can. Becoming like Christ & Sharing Him with Others Worship Online With Us Give Give Give Welcome. We are a community church committed to following Jesus and sharing his love with the world around us. We gather for worship on Sundays at 10 am in Edmonton, AB. We care deeply about our community and would love to encourage you in any way we can. For more details about who we are and what to expect, go here Prayer Praying together as a church family is the body of Christ working together. Prayer Request Connect Help us know how we can journey with you. We invite you to fill out a connect card. Connect Card Serve There are many opportunities for you to get involved with the life of the churc h through serving. Serve Give Your faithful tithing allo ws us to carry out the ministries God is calling us to at Bethel. Button Subscribe to our weekly newsletter T his Wee k At Bethel Subscribe View Newsletter Upcoming Events Tue, Aug 18 Youth Snow Valley Aerial Park Trip - New Date! / Snow Valley Aerial Park Learn more Aug 18, 2026, 5:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Snow Valley Aerial Park, 13204 Rainbow Valley Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6H 4L1, Canada Join us for an evening of fun, adventure, and time together at Snow Valley Aerial Park! Multiple Dates Tue, Aug 18 PLOT / Bethel Community Church Learn more Aug 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Bethel Community Church, 14204 25 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 1G5, Canada 7-9pm Tuesday nights filled with games, laughs, snacks, and a quick time in God’s Word. All in the church parking lot. Grades 7-12 welcome. Sun, Sep 06 24-7 Prayer / Bethel Community Church RSVP Sep 06, 2026, 12:00 a.m. – Sep 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Bethel Community Church, 14204 25 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 1G5, Canada This year Bethel will be hosting 24/7 Prayer from September 6 until September 13. Please click RSVP to learn more. Sign up for your one-hour prayer spot by clicking here. Fri, Sep 11 Youth Night / Bethel Community Church Learn more Sep 11, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Bethel Community Church, 14204 25 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 1G5, Canada 7-9pm Grades 7-12 are welcome! Multiple Dates Wed, Sep 16 Oasis Fall 2026 / Bethel Community Church Learn more Sep 16, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Bethel Community Church, 14204 25 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 1G5, Canada We will kick off Oasis with a potluck on September 16, 2026. Fri, Nov 06 Youth Retreat / Camp Nakamun Learn more Nov 06, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – Nov 08, 2026, 1:00 p.m. Camp Nakamun, Busby, AB T0G 0H0, Canada Multiple Dates Wed, Jan 06 Oasis Winter/Spring 2027 / Bethel Community Church Learn more Jan 06, 2027, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Bethel Community Church, 14204 25 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 1G5, Canada We will Kick off Oasis with a potluck on September 16, 2026

Acerca de Our Beliefs We believe that there is one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16, 28:19; John 1:1-3, 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14 We believe that humans bear the image of God; yet, they are corrupted by sin—by both the sinful nature with which they are born and the ongoing sins they commit. Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:22; Titus 3:3 We believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and lived a sinless life. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22 We believe that He died an atoning death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:14; 1 John 2:2, 4:10 We believe that He rose bodily from the grave. Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:16-20; 1 Peter 1:3-5 We believe that He has ascended to the right hand of God where he rules the world as our Lord and high priest. Matthew 28:18; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, 4:14-16 We believe that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31 We believe in the resurrection of the body which is a resurrection to eternal life for those who receive God’s offer of salvation in Christ and a resurrection to eternal condemnation for those who refuse it. Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:12-16; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone. Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:8-9 We believe that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. John 14:6; Acts 4:12 We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling Christians are enabled to live a godly life . John 3:5-6; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11-12 We believe that all who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are spiritually united as members of His body, the Church. John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:1-6 We believe that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and the only rule for faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

Advent: Meet the Family The Genealogy of Grace from Matthew's Gospel < Back Advent Week 1: HOPE *The BibleProject : What is Advent? The Unexpected and Unwanted | Matthew 1:1-6a Tamar | God’s promises have power for the powerless Rahab | God includes the scandalous in salvation Ruth | Those who have lost greatly gain a home and a family in Christ Advent Week 2: PEACE The Fallen and the Forgiven | Matthew 1:6, 2 Samuel 7 God chooses David ( and us ) to receive, fulfill and pass on his divine promises Whom God chooses he also confronts and challenges God forgives in the midst of the consequences of sin Advent Week 3: JOY The Resistant and the Repentant | Matthew 1:7-11 Advent Week 4: LOVE The Wandering and the Waiting | Matthew 1:12-17 The Wandering and the Waiting

< Back Pastor of Congregational Care and Discipleship Wendy Werkman Wendy has been a member of Bethel since 2003. She brought her diversified work experience to Bethel and became the Administrator in August 2011. Wendy went to seminary and received an MDiv from Taylor Seminary, as well as completing the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidates (EPMC) from Calvin Theological Seminary. In August 2022 , Wendy was installed as the Pastor of Congregational Care and Discipleship. Her passion is to see people become connected within the church family and grow deeper in their faith walk. When not at Bethel, you can find Wendy spending time with her husband, Melvin and their family, gardening, reading, enjoying walks or her new e-bike! Wendy@discoverbethel.com (780) 476-3762

RightNow Media One of the goals and prayers we have as a church is that each of us would be continually grow in our relationship with Christ. And we continually work to provide resources to help with that maturity. We are pleased to announce our partnership with RightNow Media , an online, user-friendly library for individuals in every age and stage of life. With RightNow Media, you will find an array of wonderful, Bible-based content for all ages from churches and pastors around the globe. You’ll find discipleship training videos ranging from topics such as parenting and marriage to finance and mission, and a great library for kids. These resources are relevant for all age groups and spiritual seasons and can be streamed directly to your computer, tablet, or mobile device. You can search by category, topic, or speaker. We pray that you will take advantage of this incredible online resource that is free of charge. Utilize the links above to start using this resource today. Login Sign Up

This Week At Bethel August 14, 2026 This Sunday Church Family News Announcements Community News Calendar Bulletin Archive This Sunday This Sunday, we continue our summer series through Proverbs, The Way of Wisdom. The problem we are presented with in this Proverb is that Satan will seek to separate us from God’s love using whatever means possible. How do we avoid those temptations? How do we honor him first, whether in our marriages or singleness. The message this Sunday will focus on Proverbs 5, “The Protection of Wisdom.” For past messages, subscribe and follow our podcast: discoverbethel.com/podcasts To explore our resources on Proverbs, visit: discoverbethel.com/resources Our Sunday Offerings: BETHEL MINISTRIES AND MISSION : The ministries and programs of Bethel SEEDS OF NEW CREATION: provides resources, training, and connections for a wide variety of churches and smaller ministries throughout the country of El Salvador. Seeds of New Creation assists local families to grow their own food in a sustainable way. They help people to see the Holy Spirit’s call to live out God’s mission in every aspect of their lives! It is a project through Resonate Global Mission. For more information: resonateglobalmission.org/ COLLECTIONS IN AUGUST AUGUST 2 Pregnancy Care Center AUGUST 9 World Renew AUGUST 16 Seeds of New Creation AUGUST 23 Home of Blessing AUGUST 30 Ministry Shares Church Family News & Prayer Requests: Please continue to pray for: CALLIE G (niece to Becky and Michael), JANNY B EVANS K KATHY M JENNY P ELEANOR P ASHLEY P Announcements: LAST WEEK’S INVITATION TO PRAYER: Thank you for praying this past week as the Governing Elders met to discuss our church’s mission and vision. GE sees the next month as an important time of ongoing discernment and reflection with the rest of Council. In the Fall, we are planning a process for the church to review what it means to belong to Bethel, especially as it relates to our mission and direction. We welcome your continued prayers and participation in God’s kingdom work. THANK YOU!!: The Summer Interns and Selikke would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our amazing Kids Camp volunteers and everyone who generously donated supplies. Without your support, there would be no camp! Because of your time, generosity, and dedication, we’ve witnessed countless smiles, laughter, and, most importantly, a newfound love for Jesus in the hearts of these kids. Your efforts truly make a difference in their lives and have helped impact them for the better. We are so grateful for every one of you and everything you have done to make this camp possible. Thank you so much! We appreciate you more than you know! ❤️ BETTESU UNIFORM DRIVE: This drive will continue until all students have been sponsored. Thank you for your faithful support as we continue our 11th annual Bettesu Uniform Drive for the children of Bettesu and the surrounding villages. We are praying for another great response this coming Sunday as we work toward sponsoring every child. A gift of $50 provides one child with a school uniform, essential school supplies, and teacher instructional materials for the entire school year. Your generosity is a tremendous blessing to families who would otherwise struggle to provide these necessities. You can give online by clicking here , or sending an e-transfer to accounting@discoverbethel.com (please note Bettesu Uniform Drive in the memo box). If you give online or by e-transfer, please stop by the sponsor table at the back of the sanctuary and let John or Marci know so the sponsorship list can be updated. Thank you again for your generosity, prayers, and continued support. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of these children. John & Marci BACK TO SCHOOL IN BANNERMAN 2026: This is the final week to contribute to the Bannerman School Supply Drive Thank you for your continued generosity and care for our community, together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families as they prepare for the year ahead. 24/7 PRAYER WEEK, SEPTEMBER 6-13 : This is a week where people commit to pray for hour-long blocks of time so that we have people praying EVERY HOUR of EVERY DAY for an entire week. You can sign up here You can pray at the church, from your workplace, or from home. If you're able, consider signing up for more than one hour. Throughout the week, you'll be encouraged and equipped through: Lectio 365 daily prayer resources A kickoff service on Sunday September 6 and wrap-up celebration on Sunday September 13 A Wednesday evening worship gathering A devotional guide A dedicated prayer space at the church Questions? Contact Taliah Jeske or Helen Krol. DRUMMER NEEDED: Would you like to be part of our worship team? We are currently looking for a drummer to serve once a month during our Sunday morning service. Your time commitment would be to attend Thursday practice from 7:00–9:00 p.m. prior to the Sunday morning service. If you’re interested in dropping in for a practice or would like more information, please contact lisa@discoverbethel.com.We have so much fun at practice, and we’d love to have you join us. OASIS: Oasis, Bethel’s Wednesday morning women’s study, is kicking off with a potluck on September 16, followed by our first study on September 23! Join us weekly from 9:30–11:00 AM in the lower level. We begin together with a video, song, or devotional, then break into smaller groups for discussion and connection. This fall, we’ll be diving into Gateways to Empowered Ministry, exploring the Holy Spirit through the teachings of Dunamis Fellowship Canada. There are also snacks and free childcare for children Kindergarten age and younger. Oasis runs from September through mid-May, and all women are welcome! Questions? Email Laura at OasisBethelEdmonton@gmail.com Bethel Youth: SNOW VALLEY AERIAL PARK 2.0: Come join us for our final PLOT of the summer! On August 18 we will take a bus to Snow Valley Aerial Park. Everyone will need to register for the new date , All of the details can be found on our events page at: Youth Snow Valley Aerial Park Trip - New Date! | Bethel Community CRC Back To Top Community News: EXPLORE MINISTRY IN THE CRC: Do you believe God has called you to ministry in the CRC? Has anyone ever encouraged you to consider ministry but you don’t know what to do next? Join the Classis Alberta North Student Support Committee at a gathering for prospective ministry candidates, current students, and newly declared candidates at Ebenezer CRC in Leduc on Monday, August 17 at 7pm for conversation, encouragement, and refreshments. RSVP online or contact Rev. Rebecca Hall (rebecca.george.hall@gmail.com ) or Rev. Andrew Aukema (pastor.andrew@inglewoodcrc.org ) if you are unable to attend but would like to talk some more. CRC NEWS: Check out what’s happening in the CRC community here. CRCNA ANNOUNCEMENTS: Connecting church members with the ministries of the denomination. Find out more by visiting the website here . Back To Top Our Weekly Calendar SUNDAY, August 16 10:00 a.m. Worship - in person & live stream MONDAY, August 17 7:00 p.m. Prayer - Zoom TUESDAY, August 18 WEDNESDAY, August 19 6:30 a.m. Prayer - in person & Zoom 8:00 p.m. AA THURSDAY, August 20 2:00 p.m. Food Bank FRIDAY, August 21 SATURDAY, August 22 Bulletin Archive Bulletin - August 14, 2026 Bulletin - August 7, 2026 Bulletin - July 31, 2026 Bulletin - July 24, 2026 Bulletin - July 17, 2026 Bulletin - July 10, 2026 Bulletin - July 3, 2026 Back To Top Bulletin - June 26, 2026 Bulletin - June 19, 2026 Bulletin - June 12, 2026 Bulletin - June 5, 2026 Bulletin - May 29, 2026 Bulletin - May 22, 2026

Cross through the Cliché < Back Sermon Notes May 11, 2025 Outline summary of message: "Love like God" (Luke 6, Luke 10) "Love the Sinner. Hate the Sin." Where did this come from? Origin: Augustine's Letter 211, written in A.D. 424: Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum , “With love for mankind and hatred for sins.” Also, “hate the sin and not the sinner…” (Mahatma Ghandi) Jesus’ message: He loved all people. He also called out, and challenged sins He framed loving God in the context of also loving one's neighbor. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27) Jesus also said we should love our enemies. “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) We are all sinners! “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) Understanding the Bible with the Bible’s Help Illustration of a blueprint The Bible is one unified revelation about God from God What does the Bible say about God’s love “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) What does the Bible say about what God hates “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27) “But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.” (Isaiah 59:2) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 8:16-17) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 7:37) “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:9-10) Application: Place in the Big Picture of God's Story “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16) Through the cross, God sees Christ’s work in us, and not our own works. God hates sin. As he sees us, and Christ within us, In response, we love by acknowledging our sins, acknowledging our need of God to rescue us and change us Embrace being known, loved and challenge in community with God's Word Questions to consider: Is my reaction towards a person coming from God’s love? Is the action or choice I am concerned about sin? Am I seeking to judge a person by what I want to say or do? If not, what is my ultimate goal? The Bible Project Resource: What is Sin in the Bible?

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