Welcome to Stonebridge Church Online and thanks for being a part of our community. If you’re new to Stonebridge, we encourage you to take a moment to text the word ONLINE to 319-320-1834 and share a little bit about yourself with us so we can get you connected to life and ministry at Stonebridge
Main Point: Let wisdom guide you on a lifelong pursuit of humility with Christ as your forerunner
Main Point: Wisdom is what gives us the knowledge and skill necessary to live life on God’s terms, for God’s purposes
Main Point: Guard your relationships in the gospel by loving one another genuinely, remembering your eternal family, and nourishing one another with the gospel of Christ
Main Point: Guard the priority of the gospel by keeping your hope undivided and your conduct godly
Main Point: Show your love for Jesus by feeding his sheep with the Word, and following him with unrivaled focus
Main Point: Jesus meets us in our everyday lives and invites us into fellowship with him
Main Point: Jesus brings peace to our fears, and proof to our doubts; Believe in Him, and have life in His name
Main Point: Give thanks to God, for he has brought salvation through his King in the most unimaginable way
Main Point: Jesus’s death accomplished forgiveness of sins so that we might respond in faith
Main Point: The cross of Jesus is the culmination of his earthly ministry, and the climax of God’s redemptive work
Main Point: Christ, in his humility, willingly endured the humiliation of this world, to show us the glory and power of God
Guest Speaker: Brian Wachter
God’s heart for the nations is an important part of our mission to come alongside each person we meet as they take their next step with Jesus. Not only do we seek to carry out that mission as a local church, but we also partner with missionaries and organizations who are giving themselves to the same calling both locally and globally
Main Point: Jesus is the true Judge, true King, and true Substitute, and establishes righteousness, truth, and life for His people through His sacrifice
Main Point: Jesus’ arrest was not a failure, setback, or defeat, but the Son’s loving obedience to the Father for the sake of those being saved
Main point: The Scriptures are the sufficient revelation of God for the ongoing life, health, and ministry of the church
Main point: The Bible is God's Word, and we can have confidence that it is always truthful and trustworthy
Join us as Pastor Keith preaches from 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 on the unimaginable joy waiting for us in heaven and the age to come
Main point: When we grasp the salvation God is accomplishing through Jesus, we can’t help but rejoice
Main Point: Christ was born to experience internal agony and suffer external affliction, in order to secure eternal joy for His people
Main point: The joy of Christmas is rooted in God’s faithfulness to send his promised King
Main point: Before we behold Jesus in glory, we get to make him known through our unity
Main point: Following Jesus is not about avoiding the world, but bearing witness in the world as those who are protected and consecrated by God
APPLICATION: “How should this passage affect me today?”
Define shared principles between the original audience and us today and make a plan to put those principles into practice.
Romans 8:16-17: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
Main point: Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we have exactly what we need to know God, follow Jesus, and make him known
Main point: Don’t be surprised by the world’s hostility, but hold fast to Christ in faithful witness
Main point: Abide continually in Jesus to grow in true life and extend this to one another for His glory!
Welcome our special guest, Pastor Bernard Millard from our partner church in Chemnitz, Germany
Main Idea: God calls his church not only to spiritual maturity, but spiritual multiplication, which requires being equipped and equipping others for the work of ministry
Main Idea: Establishing New Believers in the Faith requires the right foundation, a solid construction, and lifelong participation
Main point: As citizens of Jesus’s kingdom, He gives us labor to do in His rescue mission of those around us that remain in the kingdom of darkness!
Knowing Jesus through the gospel helps us understand our suffering and turns despair into hope
Main point: The aim of Christian giving is the advance of the gospel to the glory of God
Main point: When the grace of God in Jesus grips our lives, it produces willful, joyful, and generous giving
Main point: How we spend or invest our money on earth is ultimately a matter of worship
Main point: Jesus subjected himself to the unbelievable that we might believe in him and know God
Main point: Jesus was crowned on the cross, casting out the ruler of this world, calling all to believe in Him and follow
Main point: Even in the midst of life's activity, treasure the presence of Christ with undivided devotion
Main point: Jesus’ love for us is all-encompassing, ready to meet us wherever we are with the power of his resurrection
Main Point: Whoever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life
Main Point: Draw your conclusions about Jesus according to God’s criteria, not human appearances
Main Point: True discipleship is marked by an abiding faith in Jesus, who alone has the words of eternal life
Main Point: The gospel of Jesus restores us and renews us for life according to God’s vision
Main Point: The gospel of Jesus frees us to be honest about the sin of homosexual practice, because it also supplies the grace to redeem us and make us whole
Main Point: Jesus is our peace, who reconciles us to God and to one another at the same time through the cross
Main Point: Though the abortion crisis can feel so hopeless, God will act justly on behalf of the unborn, and offers forgiveness and cleansing to all who are caught in the deception of this tragic system
Main Point: The gospel bids us to honor the authority of human institutions while living as servants of God
Main Idea: It’s the mercy of Jesus that enables us to meet the constant contempt of this world with the gospel of peace
Only when we understand and embrace our exile status will we be prepared to navigate the cultural challenges we face with the wisdom and grace of the gospel
Beware of teachers or leaders in the church who speak more about their own understanding than they speak of the authority of Christ and His Word
There is only one king who is capable of meeting God’s standards and fulfilling God’s plan, and his name is Jesus
The star of Jacob has risen in Jesus. He is the promised King who brings God’s blessing to all nations, and before whom all nations will one day bow
Humbly approach the LORD with total dependence for the complete forgiveness of your sin
If the object of our hope does not anchor us in Christ, then it will actually testify against us that we have neglected Christ
You cannot honor the Father without honoring the Son. And we honor the Son by recognizing his unique authority, trusting him for eternal life now, and hoping in him for the resurrection to come
The real problem of sin is rejecting the God who has made himself known in Jesus Christ
Jesus came to answer our true and greatest need in life—radical spiritual transformation through faith in the Son
Jesus embodies the holy presence of God as a new temple, that he might make a way for us to enter in
The point of this story is not simply demonstrating Jesus’ power, but revealing something of his person and glory
Depending on where you stand and how you look at it, the same activity can look like a horrible waste, or heartfelt worship
When we see Jesus for ourselves, as he truly is, we can’t help but follow him and make him known
When our self-identification triumphs over everything, it leads to absurdities……What we’re doing today is trying to find our identity by looking inside, which is kind of like sending someone out to hike in a wilderness with a compass that always points to them
As the incarnate Word, Jesus reveals the glory and grace of the Father in a new and climactic way
God is making himself known in a unique and climactic way through the person and work of his Son, Jesus
The forgiveness of God in Christ is one of the greatest treasures we could ever enjoy in this life
Drawing near to God today is not so much about where you go, but what you do. It is to seek him in worship and for relationship
Pursue his ways: every trial is an opportunity to grow closer to God, and to display the heart and character of God. And rest in his mercy: every trial is an opportunity to examine our hearts for sin, and to go deeper into God’s mercy.
Even when enemies are winning and God seems absent, we can trust in the Lord for help and salvation
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20
So when life falls apart, know that it’s okay to pray honesty. To pour out your sorrow and frustration before God. And it’s good to pray for help. To ask God to do for you what he alone can do. And it’s essential to pray with hope, looking to God and his loyal, steadfast love which meets us fully in the cross and resurrection of Christ
The promise of hope for God’s people involves the judgment of the wickedness and sin that has created the chaos and injustice of this world
Understanding who we are as frail humans made in God’s image moves us to celebrate how great and majestic God is over all the earth
New covenant worship is not defined primarily by ritual, but by a whole life focused on God’s will to the glory of Christ
In the book of Hebrews, there is a recurring theme, that Jesus is better, but God has not changed
This passage is not so much about running with endurance, but rather about training so that you can run with endurance
If we have Jesus, there is nothing this world can offer, and nothing this world can take away, that can compare to the inheritance we look forward to in Christ
Because Jesus is better in every way, we have confidence to draw near to God, hold fast to the gospel, and stir one another up to love and good works, that we might persevere in faith together
The single sacrifice of Christ in history was enough to perfect all God’s people for all time for an abiding relationship with God
Nothing can purify us completely but the blood of Christ which forgives sin and changes our worship. So eagerly await the fullness of his salvation
As a better priest, Christ mediates a better covenant that brings better promises to bear on God’s people—promises of a renewed heart and lasting relationship with God based on mercy not performance
Because he comes from a more ancient and abiding priesthood, Jesus alone is qualified to complete God’s work of salvation in us
If our actions are not anchored in the truth of Christ, or guided by the Word of Christ, it won’t be long until they become detached from Christ altogether
Jesus is uniquely able to help us in our time of need, because he is the better priest who can relate to us in our weakness, and who has overcome
Hold fast to the gospel, through any trial and every temptation, that we might finish well and enjoy the eternal rest that Christ alone can give
This weekend we hear from Mutua Mahiaini about reaching the next generation and the importance of disciple-making. Mutua serves as International President of The Navigators overseeing the Worldwide Partnership of more than 5,300 staff serving in 112 countriesFor the past 36 years, Mutua has served in various leadership capacities with The Navigators, mainly in Africa. He and his wife, Stephanie, now live in Colorado Springs, CO. They have four grown children
When we fix our eyes on Jesus and keep them there, we will be utterly and thoroughly convinced that the prize is worth it
Because of the opportunity it will produce - testifying to Christ is the only source of hope in a world of suffering
What is actually best for our families is being shown, and not simply told, that Jesus really is better than everything
What we do with the salvation revealed in Jesus reveals the attitudes and condition of our hearts
If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and King, your greatest problem has been decisively dealt with
The obedience He calls us to is an obedience that comes only from our union with Jesus Christ. And in giving us Jesus, God has given us everything we need
The way of Jesus is neither easy nor common, but it’s the better way to live, and the only way home
What Jesus is correcting here is not the concept of sin, but a critical and hypocritical spirit
Your possessions are not your status or your true need, but rather are resources for advancing the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world around you today
The righteous acts that God rewards are those offered to him in secrecy and sincerity, for the sake of his kingdom
Jesus calls his followers not to respond to personal offense by protecting and demanding our rights, but with self-giving love that demonstrates the gospel of Jesus
Marriage is a holy covenant and sex is a holy activity. Both have been designed by God for God and his kingdom purposes
Jesus really does seem to indicate that there is a way for His people to not simply avoid the pattern of sin, but to initiate a better pattern
The light we shine is Jesus. Nothing more, nothing else than Jesus, and difference he makes in our lives
True comfort and joy in a fallen world comes from living under God’s reign, which begins by treasuring Jesus
A full and rewarding life, even in a fallen world, is a life surrendered to the Son of God
As we finish the book of Jonah, what have you learned about God's heart for the nations?
Salvation belongs to the Lord. And no sin and no situation can stop his plan of salvation
This passage completes our definition of a disciple: a forgiven sinner who is learning the way of Jesusin communityover time
This passage continues our definition of a disciple: a forgiven sinner who is learning the way of Jesus in community over time
This passage continues our definition of a disciple: a forgiven sinner who is learning the way of Jesus in community over time
A disciple is a forgiven sinner who is learning the way of Christ in community over time
Main Idea: The sacraments help us to remember that Jesus Christ is our unity in death and in life
Main Idea: Without church discipline, the beauty of holiness and grace that come from the gospel of Jesus is swallowed up by the ugliness of selfishness and sin
Main Idea: God’s vision for his church is one of mutual commitment, contribution, and care
Main Idea: Real spiritual maturity, real progress in our faith, is measured by what comes out of the heart
Episode 17 :: Brandon and Keith discuss Discipleship, and specifically mentoring in the church
Main Idea: Christ sent His church into the world so his followers would multiply through the power of the gospel
Episode 16 :: Brandon and Keith discuss Expositional Preaching, and the role that Christians play in participation.
Episode 15 :: Brandon and Keith dig into the dangerous territory of congregational singing.
Episode 14 :: Brandon and Keith discuss the importance of the Gathering of God's People
Main Idea: There are many things we can give ourselves to. However, the one mission that is unique to the church is making disciples for Christ
Sermon Podcast from 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 // 💡 Main Idea: Because Christ is risen, the world is different, and God calls us to live differently in it: not in slavery to sin or fear of death, but by faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection
Sermon Podcast from Mark 11:1-25 // 💡 Main Idea: Knowing and enjoying God’s saving presence is not about going to a certain place, but being united with a certain person and his people
Sermon Podcast from Malachi 3:16-4:6 // 💡 Main Idea: Remember the saving work of the LORD as you live and work and breathe
Sermon Podcast from Malachi 3:6-12 // 💡 Main Idea: Genuine faith in the greatness of God fuels generous giving for the kingdom of God
Episode 12 :: Brandon and Josh are joined by Dr. Christopher Yuan for a discussion on sexuality
Episode 11 :: Brandon and Keith discuss strengths and weaknesses of Evangelical Informalism, and practices to help grow robust churches.
Sermon Podcast from Malachi 2:17-3:5 // 💡 Main Idea: Ministry that honors God is driven by his glory and guided by his Word
Episode 10 :: Keith, Brandon, and Josh discuss how to approach reading the OT prophets, and some practical help for study and interpretation.
Sermon Podcast from Malachi 2:10-16 // 💡 Main Idea: Treating marriage as though it is common, is treating God’s love as though it is common
Sermon Podcast from Malachi 1:6-2:9 // 💡 Main Idea: Ministry that honors God is driven by his glory and guided by his Word
Sermon Podcast from Malachi 1:1-5 // 💡 Main Idea: The greatness of God’s love is not measured by our circumstances but by his grace and justice in eternity. And that grace and justice meet at the cross
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 6:11-18 // 💡 Main Idea: The cross of Jesus is our only proper boast, because our Heavenly Father is the only one whose approval matters
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 5:16-26 // 💡 Main Idea: It’s the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that makes all the difference in walking with Jesus
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 5:13-15 // 💡 Main Idea: True biblical freedom expresses itself not in selfish indulgence, but in self-giving love
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 5:1-12 // 💡 Main Idea: The first step to understanding true freedom, is understanding the natural state of every human being
Sermon Podcast from Hebrews 11:1-40 // 💡 Main Idea: An unseen hope is founded on the belief that God WILL accomplish everything He has promised
Episode 9 :: Brandon and Keith talk about the reality and definition of persecution
Questions? online@stonebridge.church
Sermon Podcast from Hebrews 12:18-29 // 💡 Main Idea: In Jesus we belong to an unshakeable kingdom, entirely unlike and infinitely better than anything the kingdoms of this world offer
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 4:21-31 // 💡 Main Idea: Because our inheritance is secure in Christ, persecution should neither surprise us nor deter us
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 4:8-20 // 💡 Main Idea: We must guard against seeking the approval of others, and strive to see Christ formed in His people
Episode 8 :: Brandon and Keith discuss Heaven, misunderstandings, and the 'big deal' about Eternity.
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 3:23–4:7 // 💡 Main Idea: In Christ we are no longer slaves, but sons of God and heirs of his kingdom
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 3:15-22 // 💡 Main Idea: Justification by faith is rooted in God’s unbreakable promise
Episode 6 :: Brandon and Keith talk about reasons and approaches for reading the Old Testament (Galatians 3:6-14)
Questions? online@stonebridge.church
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 3:6-14 // 💡 Main Idea: Justification has always been by faith, and the redemptive work of Christ is what makes it possible for sinners
Episode 5 :: Pastors Brandon & Keith discuss the question "What Does Gospel-Centered Look Like?" (Galatians 3:1-5)
Questions? Email online@stonebridge.church
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 3:1-5 // 💡 Main Idea:The gospel of Jesus is not just for beginners; it’s what every Christian needs for every step of life
In Context :: Episode 4 // Pastors Brandon & Keith discuss justification (Galatians 2:16-21)
Questions? Email online@stonebridge.church
Sermon Podcast from Galatians 2:15-21 // We can only be delivered by the curse of the Law through dying with Christ
Sermon podcast from Galatians 2:11-16 // Preserving the truth of the gospel is not just about what we believe or say, but also how we live and behave
Stonebridge Elder, Stefan Christensen, will share a message titled "Hope for Life" based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
In Context :: Episode 3 // Pastors Brandon and Robin discuss legalism and how it is different from obedience (Galatians 2:1-10)
Questions? Email online@stonebridge.church
The gospel of Jesus is for everyone—unbound by ethnicity, unrestrained by performance, free and full of grace through faith in Christ
In Context :: Episode 2 // Pastors Brandon & Keith discuss the difference between religion & revelation (Galatians 1:11-24)
Questions? Email online@stonebridge.church
In Context :: Episode 1 // Pastors Brandon and Keith discuss the question "What do we mean when we say the Gospel" (Galatians 1:1-10)
Questions? Email online@stonebridge.church
There is only one gospel, and holding fast to it is a matter of life and death (Galatians 1:1-10)
Marriage and family are designed to point us to Jesus, and to help us display the goodness and beauty of Jesus to the world
A God-centered life means building our lives around God’s kingdom and righteousness, rather than the worries of the day
The fulfillment of God’s promises depends not on the effort of a sinful people, but on the faithfulness of his eternal Son, Jesus Christ
Followers of Christ must take sin seriously, “cleaning house” daily to ensure that we are not weighed down by sin as we, unified in Christ, run the race he has set before us
Life in Christ is the only hope for righteousness and justice on this earth, and therefore the only sure means of loving others
God is not whoever we want him to be. He is who he is, and he has revealed himself to us in his Word and ultimately in his Son, Jesus Christ
God calls His people to walk in purity, love Him, and deny the comfort of the world, relying on His Spirit
The Lord will accomplish salvation for his people, even through the most unlikely of circumstances
Don’t let a seemingly desperate situation cloud your vision of God, but trust him to keep his word for our good and his glory
The only escape from the depth of our sin is repentance and faith through God’s great mercy
Making yourself king destroys lives and leads to judgment; surrendering to Christ our king is the point of life and frees us to love
If we want to be used by God for his purposes in his power, and not replace them with our own, we must keep our eyes on the cross
God is the only one who is able to make right what is wrong in this world and in our lives, and he has ultimately accomplished that salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ
Each week Pastors Brandon and Keith will answer a question submitted by our congregation about life, faith and following Jesus
God is the one who accomplishes his victory, and his salvation is always worth celebrating
Remember the Lord and his saving work, respond to him with faith and obedience, and receive his discipline as from a loving Father
It’s not just what we do for God that matters, but how we do it. We are called to carry out God’s mission on God’s terms, and Jesus supplies the grace and strength to do it
Following Jesus is a community project, and the aim of our project is to grow up in Jesus
Gathering for worship is our regular reminder and recognition that God is the center of the universe, not us
The strength Christ provides is not dependent on others, circumstances, or self-contentment
Standing firm in God’s peace means letting our perspective and practice be shaped by the gospel of Christ
Being faithful to our gospel mission in the world requires believing and applying the gospel to our relationships within
Walking faithfully with Jesus requires following the example of those who know their citizenship is in heaven and who hope fully in the resurrection to come
The prize of knowing Jesus requires humility, passion, and perseverance that come from the gospel
There is no gain in the world that compares to knowing Jesus and being united with him in his death and resurrection
God calls us to a Spirit-empowered obedience, that we might shine the light of his gospel amid this dark world
This weekend we welcomed friends from our partnership church in Chemnitz, Germany. Bernard Millard serves as the pastor and Josua Schulze led worship and he also leads their church planting project called "The Blessing."
Partnership in the gospel requires laying aside the glory of self and following the pattern of Christ
When the church is centered on the gospel of Jesus, we operate as a community on mission, with unity, humility, and love
When Christ is everything to us, the goal of our living and dying becomes the joy of others glorying in Christ
Suffering for the gospel is not losing; rather God is at work through our proclamation of Jesus in all circumstances to make much of Christ in us and through us
The gospel is our central navigation point for all of life, relationships, and ministry
Jesus accomplishes his victory as king not by coming down from the cross or avoiding death, but by enduring death and rising victoriously over it
Though all humanity bears the guilt of Jesus’ death, he gave his life in willing obedience to his Father to bring us back to God
True greatness in Jesus’ kingdom is not being exalted or exalting oneself, but trusting him and following the pattern of his cross
Legalism and license are both superficial, man-centered, and empty; true obedience is anchored in grace, empowered by the Spirit, and comes from the heart
Jesus is powerful enough to ultimately overcome unbelief and opposition, either through judgment or revelation
Jesus displayed the power and authority to create a new family, called to be with him and proclaim his victory
Jesus’ resurrection is God’s plan and is to be proclaimed to the world by the power of the Spirit
Our new identity in Christ changes our relationships, as we practice humility and submission in the same manner as Christ
Our new identity in Christ changes our behavior, and causes us to walk in love, light, and wisdom
God unifies His church and gives everyone a spiritual gift to build up His body in love
God strengthens believers by His Spirit, in order to comprehend the love of Christ, to the praise of His glory
One result of the new life in Christ is the replacement of unhealthy storing with unlimited sharing