Bridgewater Church: Recent Episodes
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Every single person has a story—a path that they traveled to arrive where they currently are! The same is true of every follower of Jesus. Some stories are filled with twists and turns, some are more straightforward. Each story is powerful and teaches us something about God. The question is—What is your story?
When you drive a vehicle, where you look determines where you go. The same is true for life. This raises a big question—What has your attention? Maybe it’s time to build some guardrails into your life to keep you from going where you don’t want to go!
If you grew up in an age before the internet, you remember a time when maps were a thing. The map would chart out the way to get where you were going. Someone did the work to figure out how to get from A to B. But here’s the thing—the map was only as helpful and reliable as the maker of the map. The same is true in life. We ask all sorts of people for advice, but the answers you get are only as trustworthy as the people you choose to trust.
Life is filled with all sorts of twists, turns, and construction zones—similar to the open road! When you get in your car, you know exactly how to navigate from point A to point B, but how do you do that in life? How do you avoid crashing? How do you make sure you end up where you want to end up without doing major damage to yourself and others? If we stop and Ask For Directions, maybe we can get there quicker and safer! Have you ever noticed something going on in someone else’s life and thought to yourself, “That’s not going to end well!”? Just about all of us have the ability to see that in other people, but amazingly we often times can’t seem to see when we are personally heading toward a crash! What if there were a way to get some directions that would help us avoid crashing all together?
Everyone knows what a car does. But what does a church do? Like cars, Christians are made to move—to follow and become more like Jesus and help others follow Him too. In Acts 8 we find that the people God calls us to go to may not be the ones we expect.
If you don’t expect people to give their lives to Jesus, why talk to them about Jesus? If you don’t expect God to move, why pray? Peter and John lived in expectation and courage. God is changing lives! Put your foot on the accelerator that motivated the first church – live in expectation and courage.
Our mission is to make more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.The movement of the pistons is what gives an engine its power. The movement and secret to the power and exponential growth of the church is something the apostle Peter called “the gospel.” What is the gospel? It means “good news” but it starts with really bad news: the murder of the Lord Jesus. But God raised Jesus from the dead and if you repent you can be forgiven through Him.
Our mission is to make more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.When most people think about change, they think about surface issues. Most New Year’s resolutions are about fitness or finance. I want to lose weight, eat better, exercise, and save money – exterior things. If life were a car, we’d spend all our time on the paint job. We can even parent this way – focusing only on the outward behavior of our kids. But God wants change to go deeper. Let’s go “under the hood” and examine the first Christians to learn how God can really change us, not just on the outside but on the inside as well. When a car sits, the tires warp and go flat. The battery dies, the breaks rust, the fuel pump breaks down and animals move in. Cars are made to move. As we go “under the hood” in Acts to look at the early church we find the same thing. Christians aren’t just saved to believe something; we are created to do something. Move! What is God calling you to do?
Food is a significant part of our lives! It is such a regular part of our daily lives that it is very easy to give lots of thought or very little thought to our food habits. Regardless of which camp you might be in—food is important, but your heart is more important! Matthew 15:8-11
We have already seen how God, the shepherd, is out front leading and how He comes alongside to provide and protect. Now we get a shepherd who is following. To be in His flock is to hear footsteps behind you, but not the footsteps of disappointment, anger, or judgment. These are the footsteps of goodness and love. This sermon reveals God’s heart for His people, and His desire to give us abundant life.
No portion of Scripture, Old or New Testament, is so universally celebrated by those who are followers of Jesus and those who aren’t than Psalm 23. Many people who are unfamiliar with the Bible are familiar with Psalm 23. While there may be some who understand and appreciate its meaning and significance, there are likely far more who find some level of comfort in it, but fall short of understanding what it’s saying and experiencing what it offers. In this 4-week series, we’ll unpack some of the beauty and meaning of this beloved psalm and see how God cares for His people through deserts and gardens—and everywhere in between. Metaphors can be powerful figures of speech, helping us to understand what would otherwise be unclear to us. In the opening lines of Psalm 23, the author refers to God as a shepherd and himself as a sheep. He goes on to say that because that is true, he has need of nothing. How can he say that, and how can I experience that? This sermon answers those questions. Psalm 23:1-2
The capacity for addiction can be found inside all of us. In fact, the addict experience could actually be called the human experience. Why do we do the things that we don’t want to and why do we want the things that we do? These questions and more, when brought into the light and laid at the feet of God, can help us find freedom from the addictions that rule over so many of us!
There are two paths to take in this life. You can’t have both. There’s the Easy Button and there’s the Greatness Button. Guess which one Jesus pushed? This gets at a fundamental difference in our desires and God’s desires for us. My goal for my life is happiness and comfort. God’s goal for my life is greatness—to become god-like (more like Jesus). Matthew 16:21-17
One of the greatest giants that we ever struggle with is a giant in our head! Insecurity, low self-worth, and even self-hate all show up because of rejection or feelings of rejection from the events in our lives. What if we could drop that giant? What if we could be secure in who we are and how we are valued? 1 Samuel 17
Everyone experiences fear and worry and sometimes fear can leave us frozen—unable to think clearly or respond effectively. But, is that are only response? Mark 6 gives us hope for when we face fear and worry.
Mark 6:45-52
When we understand all that we have been forgiven of, it compels us to forgive others. We have wronged God far more than anyone has ever wronged us, and yet He canceled our debt. Forgiveness cannot stop with us, it must flow through us. Matthew 18:21-35
Everyone wants peace. But how do we get there? Our sin nature wants to lean into revenge and getting even, but peace is actually found in forgiveness. How do we become healed and whole after being wronged? The only path is forgiveness. It’s not that we become healed and then forgive, we have to forgive to heal.
When you have been hurt deeply, forgiveness can feel like an impossible task. What is the big deal with forgiveness? Does God really expect me to forgive THAT person? How on earth am I supposed to forgive those who have wronged me? Join us as we look at some common misconceptions about forgiveness, how forgiveness leads to peace, and how being forgiven compels us to forgive others. The Bible commands us to forgive. But so much has been assumed about what it means to forgive that we want to take the time to talk about what forgiveness is—and what it is not. In doing so, we will find that Biblical forgiveness may not be what we thought, but it is so much better.
What about when we can’t honor someone? What about abuse? Today we are joining the conversation about God’s heart for the abused and will unpack four responses to the problem of abuse. Luke 4:16-19
Marriages often don’t fall apart in a single day. They also don’t get fixed in a single day. Both healthy and hurting marriages are the product of small choices over time. The “little things” can make a big difference. Song of Songs 2:15
Let’s stop pretending. The longer you are in relationships the harder it is to pretend or fake loving someone. Eventually the real you comes out. We need to stop pretending and genuinely love others. Where do we begin when it comes to relationships? There is ONE thing that all good relationships have in common. Whether it be a husband and wife, two people dating, parents and kids, employer or employee or best friends there is ONE thing that every good relationship has in common.
We’re talking about vision. A vision for the people in your life who don’t know Jesus to become followers of Jesus. A vision for those in your workplace to lean in to hear what you have to say because you live out your faith in such a winsome and attractive way. A vision to have a vibrant, growing, community of faith in communities where it’s lacking. A vision to creatively participate in what God is doing in the world. A vision to ask and expect big things of God while we innovate and take risks. A vision to see exponentially more people jumping in to become a part of what God is doing among us by serving, giving, praying, investing, and inviting. Matthew 25:29 Speaker: Josh Jones & Andrew Peterson
In Matthew 24 Jesus’ followers ask Him THE question: “What sign will signal your return at the end of the world?” What are the six things that Jesus said have to happen before He returns? Are any still unfulfilled? And most importantly, how should we live in these last days? Matthew 24
Since Jesus made it abundantly clear that we are living in the end times - we should know how to live in a way that makes every day count! So how do we live “ready”? Jesus sent letters to churches in Asia Minor to make sure that they were ready for His return and making the most of every opportunity. Will you listen what Jesus says to His church? Mark 13:32-37; Revelation 1:1,4-8, 3:14-22 Speaker: Joel Kessler
So much of the Christmas story seems unlikely, including God’s choice of messengers to tell people about it. Angels were an obvious choice, but shepherds and foreign wisemen? But the most unlikely of all was God’s messenger to earth–Jesus. That God would humble Himself into such a small and weak container, a baby boy, is the most unlikely plan of all.
When something is promised, it’s easy to get excited and start watching for the fulfillment of the promise. It’s easy, that is, until time drags on and on, seemingly without any movement or change. Eventually, it’s easy to start thinking “It’s not going to happen”, or “We must have gotten it wrong”, or “They must have changed their mind.” Before you know it the lack of movement convinces us that the possibility of anything happening is highly unlikely. So what do we do when God’s timing seems suspect and leads us to believe that His promises are highly unlikely?
A birth predicted 1000 years before it happened. A star guiding magi to the birthplace of a special child. A heavenly message proclaimed by angels to simple shepherds. A virgin giving birth…to a child…who was God. What do all these things have in common? They seem unlikely. But could it be that God uses the most unlikely circumstances to bring about the most wonderful outcomes? We think so. And we invite you to join us as we celebrate an “Unlikely” Christmas.
We cannot control how likely or unlikely our life events will be. We can only control our response to them. Mary’s circumstances were beyond unlikely; they were miraculously impossible. But Mary had an unlikely response to her confusing and frightening circumstances – she completely trusted God. She wanted what God wanted, even when she didn’t understand. In the most unlikely birth in human history, Mary had a very unlikely response to God – she trusted Him. Will you?
Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth. It’s not just because wealth might be lost; it’s because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions. The more you have, the more you’ll leave behind. So the wise will store up treasures in heaven, living not for what is temporary (the dot), but for what is eternal (the line).
When confronted with a need, it is typical to assess your resources and determine what you can afford to give to meet the need. Is this the right approach? Or is there a better question to ask? Jesus challenges us to ask “What do I have?” rather than “What can I afford?” Then He uses what we give in a powerful way.
Do you do This? This opens doors and solves problems. This inspires others to do This, too—it’s the good kind of contagious. When they tell our life stories, we want them to put This at the top. We are hardwired for This. This is who we are, and This Is What We Do.
Giving may be an action, but generosity is a posture. When we are generous with our resources, we follow the example of our God, who is not only generous toward us, but multiplies the impact of our giving and the joy we experience as a result of our generosity. Generosity, beginning with the tithe, helps us to put God first.
Many people are looking for more purpose in their lives and circumstances. As we wrap up our Starting Point series, we will see that our uniqueness finds its fullest and best expression when connected to God's divine purpose in the world. As followers of Jesus, we are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves--and it's called the Church.
Joel Kessler shares how faith has a starting point. As we discussed in the first week of this series, faith is tied to the resurrection. The Christian faith is founded on a person and an event that is supported by historical evidence, and the evidence demands a response.
Faith has a starting point, and as we discussed in week one, our faith is tied to the resurrection. The Christian faith is founded on a person and an event that is supported by historical evidence, and the evidence demands a response.
The Role of Rules. Rules, Rules, Rules! Why are there so many rules? Sometimes when you read the Bible it can very quickly feel like all it is is a list of do’s and don’ts. Some people even think that the 10 Commandments are the centerpiece of the Christian faith and that obedience is required to get in. But what if a relationship with God doesn’t depend on obedience? When it comes to your relationship with God, what is the role of rules?
We can all agree that our world is a mess! The world’s three largest faith traditions claim the same starting point - Abraham, and they all agree that God stepped into the mess of our world to do something about it. The question is - how do we get the help He provided?
Everyone makes mistake, right? But is it a mistake when you do it on purpose? What do you call a mistake that you can’t seem to stop doing even though you really want to? Our problem isn’t that we are mistakers. Our problem is that we are sinners. We must first recognize our sin for what it is. But we must also see how Jesus came not to condemn us in our sin but to restore us.
Paul wrote a dozen books of the Bible and was beheaded for following Jesus and telling others about Him. What was the starting point of his incredible faith? What was most important to him and the other Christians who knew Jesus personally?
You may have noticed that at Bridgewater Church we value community. We live in a culture that is very individualistic, yet in Scripture, we are encouraged to be connected so that we can contend for one another, be united in love, and increase in our understanding of God. All of this is so that we may share our faith and continually be built up and strengthened in our faith. This can produce a heart of thankfulness, but it does not happen by simply showing up; it requires connection.
If you’ve been a part of Bridgewater for very long, you realize that we place a significant emphasis on reaching out to people far from God. Why? The actions of Jesus show us that He values people and has an urgency in having spiritual conversations. If you’ve been found by Jesus, it’s time to help find others.
We love moms at Bridgewater and so does God. In fact, God has incredible plans and purposes for women! Join us as we discover how God is using the season you are in right now to bring about His good plan in and through you.
This weekend is a weekend of celebration. It’s a weekend of celebration because what we celebrate at Easter changed everything for humanity. It brings hope to those that are hopeless. It speaks new life to those who are desperate for a brighter future. In times of difficulties we cling to hope that our worst days won’t be all of our days, & Easter provides that hope!
Conflict is an inescapable reality. No one is immune to it. It has a unique way of exposing the motives of our hearts. So we’re going to follow James’ lead and lean into the source of human conflict to see how it brings the quality of our faith to the surface so that we can pursue an authentic faith in God
Faith is essential to having a relationship with God. But is it possible to have a kind of faith that God doesn’t accept? The answer is yes! So we’ll discover qualities and characteristics of both real and counterfeit faith to determine which we have.
Temptation is part of the human experience. We’re all tempted to do what we know is wrong. But how should we respond to temptation? And when does temptation become sin? What does our response to temptation reveal about our faith? We’ll look at the process of temptation from beginning to end to better understand how sin works and how to overcome it.
In a world of copies and counterfeits, it can be difficult to know that you have something authentic, something real. And when it comes to issues of faith, it can be even more confusing. But James offers us help as he shows us what real, authentic faith looks like in the context of everyday life.
Everybody experiences times of difficulty and suffering. But for followers of Jesus, these trials not only expose the condition of our faith in Jesus, but also serve to strengthen and develop it. We’ll see how our responses to suffering shed light on whether our faith is real or counterfeit.
Anything in life that is worth changing, is worth doing the work to keep that change. We can’t clean our house once and expect it to stay clean forever, in the same way we can’t expect one short season of trying to change make us different forever. Real, lasting change is a result of choosing to pursue and keep that change day in and day out.
There are so many things our lives can be about. So many really good things can become the center of our priorities, even. In Christianity it can feel a little overwhelming when you consider all the “good things” we could and maybe feel like we should be doing. But what if it was really much simpler than that? What if the entirety of everything we ought to aim for in life could be boiled down into two things?
As you consider last year, are there things you would have wanted to be different? Are there things that were great that you want to keep doing? Are there things that maybe aren’t so great that you want to stop doing? The New Year provides a great opportunity to hit the reset button and make some changes—to take one step closer to the life we want. Are you ready?
We are going to be looking at 4 key factors in change. Pastor Matt from our Hallstead Campus will be sharing that we get the power to change, what change should we be aiming towards, what is the pathway to that change, and finally, how do we keep the change we worked so hard to get.
There are fears all around us in our society today. Political, economic, relational and family fears surround us. What do we do? When Jesus arrived on the scene 2000 years ago, the world was likely even worse than it is today, and yet a small group of people started to have hope. Why?
The road to Hell is subtle and paved with good intentions. Discover from the life of Absalom three counter-cultural choices you can make that will help you avoid becoming the monster you hate.
What keeps you from the greatness God has called you to be? Join us as we look at the lives of three kings whose lives and choices provide a map to great success or devastating failure.
The difference between success and failure begins in the smallest of choices. How did Saul become a failure? Physically he had “it.” Spiritually he had “it” – he was literally chosen by God. But in the end he killed hundreds of innocents and took his own life.
What is the connection between money and happiness? Discover the paradox of when and how money and happiness collide. Money can increase your joy, but too much of a “good thing” will make you tired and miserable. Embrace the counter-cultural happiness of the less God wants to give you.
Have you ever been watching a show or movie and it was all well and good and then suddenly it kind of takes a turn and you’re getting a little uncomfortable with it? All of a sudden, it’s not a movie you want to watch if your mom is in the room. Somewhere along the way, follower of Jesus or not, you might have asked the same question our friend asked: Should I watch this?
Did you know that overdose is the leading cause of death for people under 50? More than heart disease, cancer, and homicide. Does God have an answer for those struggling to find freedom from addictions and substance abuse? Join us as we tackle a very relevant topic for our communities.
Did you know that overdose is the leading cause of death for people under 50? More than heart disease, cancer, and homicide. Does God have an answer for those struggling to find freedom from addictions and substance abuse? Join us as we tackle a very relevant topic for our communities.
Asking for a friend, when does God give up on you? Like how bad is too bad for God? Is there some sin or something we could do that God would never want us?
We have gone over 4 of our 5 values and the vision/mission for Bridgewater Church. Each week, as people have had the opportunity to respond to God’s word, next steps have been taken— and yet, when we take next steps we have to realize that at times our choices will be unpopular and we may even suffer to some extent. So, what do we do when things get difficult? How should we respond? The natural tendency is to be discouraged and complain. But what if God is actually up to something good!
Satan hates it. It may be the most counter-cultural activity you can possibly do. But it’s an essential part of making more and better disciples: Found people, find people.
Life is better connected. Almost everything (eating, sports, work, or following Jesus) is more fun and more effective when done with someone else. Join us as we discover how we can connect with others in a way that helps us become more like Jesus.
What’s the big deal about baptism? Listen in to some common misconceptions about baptism and the reasons why so many people don’t follow Jesus in this important spiritual step.
The third and last step toward a national spiritual awakening may be the most counter-cultural of all. Could it be that this old, outdated, traditional idea is the missing ingredient to a spiritual revival in your life and beyond?
We all know what prayer is; it’s asking God for help. But what if that’s not what most prayer is about? What if there is more to prayer than we have always thought? And what if those missing prayers are what is needed to not just change an individual life, but to change a nation.
How does God turn an entire nation back to Him? Join us as we look at how Israel was transformed in Nehemiah’s day and what we can do to to start that spark in ourselves.
Spiritual change on a national scale begins with God’s Word. But that spark of change doesn’t come from just reading or understanding the Bible—that’s for spiritual babies. America will never change until Christians grow up and take this step beyond just believing God’s Words.
Anyone who has kids or cares for kids knows that kids have needs. Parents spend much of their time meeting their kid's needs or helping their kids learn how to meet their own needs. But when it all shakes out, what do our kids need most? What really should be our highest aim for our kids?
Everyone who is married or one day hopes to be married comes to the relationship, the engagement, and the altar with hopes, dreams, desires, and expectations. How do we ensure we have the right expectations and goals in our marriage?
What is the goal of dating? If someone were to ask you why you were in a romantic relationship with someone, what would you say? Would your reason be so that you aren't alone? Or would it be "because I'm bored"? Maybe you just want someone to pay attention to you. What if there were bigger goals to dating than just swiping right or swiping left? Join us as we discover what the Bible has to say about this pivotal season of life.
Family relationships, friendships, coworkers, acquaintances and romance...we are all in relationships. Sometimes things get messy and we react by going through 'relationship rituals’; just doing what we've always done without giving it much thought. Few things in our life are more important than the relationships we have. Sure, we make goals for things in our life that we feel are important, whether it be our career, our finances, or our living situation. What if we created relationship goals that were based not on what the world called successful, but on what God called successful? How do we know how to navigate these relationships so we don't just survive, but we thrive? Join us as we discover the relationship goals the Bible gives us for every area of our life.
What is your goal for singleness? Is it just a waiting room for marriage or is it something more – something even greater and more significant?
No one has more power to destroy my life than I do, however, there is another enemy. The devil stands opposed to God and opposed to those who follow Him. The Bible talks openly about the devil and his plot to take people away from following God and giving Him praise. But the Bible also talks plainly about how God has given us a plan and a strategy to fight off the schemes of the enemy.
Sin doesn’t usually get us to go from zero to a hundred—it gets us to go one degree at a time; one small moral compromise that doesn’t seem like a big deal. But when it comes to our moral life, there is no such thing as a small decision. We have a phenomenally powerful choice on our hands. One choice affects another, and the effects of those choices accumulate and magnify over time.
There is a war being waged on the next generation. Raising kids that grow up to love God and win the battles that they are fighting doesn’t happen by accident. Kids are humans who have been given free will, which means there is no perfect formula or guarantee on how our kids will turn out. However, we do think the Bible lays out a great battle plan. A strategy to give them the best fighting chance at winning their own battles.
Unchecked thoughts rarely stay just in your mind—they will almost always express themselves in words or actions. The words you speak, come from somewhere. They didn’t just originate on your lips—they came up out of your heart; they came up out of your inner person. If we believe lies about ourselves, about others, and about God, we are going to eventually start speaking those lies. There is great power in the words we say, how are you using them?
The reality is we all face battles in this life. Various difficulties and trials come our way. You’re in one right now, whether you want to admit it or not. The Bible presents a number of different verses that help us to see that life is not a playground but a battlefield. But a battle that God has promised victory for those who follow Him. Join us as we take on the fight for our lives against darkness, against our selfishness, against our self-sabotaging tendencies, against our minds, against our mouths, against our sin, against our enemy, and for the next generation. Join the fight and get your life back.
Our minds are the battlefield where we probably take the most shots from the enemy and it is perhaps the most important territory to take back. Not every single problem in your life can be solved simply by mind over matter, but what happens in your mind really does matter.
Jesus said He’s coming back. What’s taking Him so long? What did He predict would happen before His return and what should we do now to be ready?
Where did everything come from? Are people merely a more complicated version of monkeys, fish and bacteria? Let’s look at the Bible’s explanation of where life, the universe and everything came from.
Saggy pants, rat-tails, powdered wigs and men in tights are no longer in fashion. Beliefs come in and out of fashion as well. But is truth determined by popular vote? Join us as we look at some “outdated” beliefs of the Bible that are still true.
Is Hell real? How bad is it? Who goes there? Let’s dig into what Jesus says about the place many people only know as a cartoon or swear word.
Though we have been called to unity as a church, we are also instructed to draw lines and make judgements. The problem is we don't often judge correctly and we don't often judge the right people.
The Christian life is lived by grace. And that grace does not leave us where it found us but grows us up into living like Christ. But the Bible might define spiritual maturity differently than we do.
Everything in the church and the Christian life must be centered on and filtered through the cross. Everything changes in light of the cross. Our unity as a church hinges on Christians living a cross-centered life.
A divided church is an unhealthy church. A divided, unhealthy church is a dying church. Therefore the church must fight for unity.
The church is messy because it is full of messy people. Yet it still is God's chosen instrument to bring light to the world. How do we reconcile the mess church can be with the perfect of God. How do we love and serve the church in the way Christ served the church? 1 Corinthians shows us how God loves, chastens, disciplines, and restores His church even when it looks too far gone.
How far would you go to save someone you love? To the ends of the earth? God loves the world and following Him means joining Him in His plan to bring that love to the ends of the earth.
Peace isn't dependent upon circumstances or luck. Jesus said that He wants to give us peace. How do we receive the peace He offers?
It's time to arm yourself with these three weapons to put your worries on life-support.
Some of the most godly people have struggled with depression. Discover from God's Word how we can fight depression physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
What do we do when we face obstacles in life? In this message, Pastor Matt from Bridgewater Hallstead shares the three most critical steps we need to take to experience God's blessing.
Stress is a part of all our lives and can push us to the breaking point. What are the causes of stress and what is the pathway out of stress and into peace?
Have you ever been given something that should be a blessing, but really doesn't feel like one? What does it even mean to be blessed? Are blessings found in the accumulation of stuff, or the greatness of our achievements? Perhaps the greatest blessing of all isn't something, but someone.
In a time of life that should feel full of joy, celebration, and warm feeling, we know that is not always the case. What do you do when, you're not seeing what you hoped to see, you aren't where you hoped to be, or you long for something that isn't a reality. Where do you turn?
God dramatically delivered His people from Egypt. He demonstrated His great power to them, gave them a new identity, and provided for their needs. He led them out to freedom. But for what? What did He have in mind for this nation? God chose them not only to demonstrate His love for them, but also His love for all people. He didn’t just save them with no purpose. He gave them an incredible purpose, to represent Him to all people. They, like the people of God today, have not been saved simply to enjoy our salvation, but to offer that salvation to the people in our world. We have been commissioned.
Though God redeemed His people and brought them out of Egypt, the journey of freedom wasn’t easy. They faced challenges and questioned God and their leaders along the way. Like us, they were longing for rest and desperate for provision. But God miraculously led and sustained them all along the way, whether they chose to recognize it or not. We, like them, can be led to believe that we don’t have the resources we need to do all that God requires of us. But even in our doubt, God still provides and resources us for our journey through life.
Stories of rescue are some of the most amazing to be told. The account of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt is no different. When God brought His people out of Egypt, He also decimated the false religious system of the people of Egypt by bringing plagues against their country that served to reveal their god had no power to save them. The pivotal moment was the final plague, when God commanded Israel to make sure they were covered by the blood of a lamb. This pictures the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, whose death redeemed us from slavery to sin.
When God chooses to use someone to accomplish something significant, what kind of person does He choose? Does He look for the strong, able intelligent, or popular? Or does He look for something else? When God chose Moses, we learn not only the kind of person He may choose, but we also learn that His agenda for what He will accomplish through that person is as important as what He will accomplish in that person.
When God chooses to use someone to accomplish something significant, what kind of person does He choose? Does He look for the strong, able intelligent, or popular? Or does He look for something else? When God chose Moses, we learn not only the kind of person He may choose, but we also learn that His agenda for what He will accomplish through that person is as important as what He will accomplish in that person.
Loss, heartache, and disappointment have a way of affecting our faith. Maybe you thought God was going to heal someone, or change a situation and he didn't come through like you hoped. That disappointment can drive us to a place of unbelief and doubt. What does Jesus have to say about the hardest moments of our lives?
There is nothing more important than what you believe about God, salvation, and eternity; yet so often other things cloud out the most important decision you will ever make. Is the reason you can't believe because something else has caught the attention of your heart and has led you away from what matters most?
Are doubts and unanswered questions holding you back? Have you heard things about God and believe that they have left you with more questions than answers? Before you get answers to your questions, there may be something else you need. Join us this weekend as we unpack what may be getting in the way of you believing.
There are many reasons people give for why they can’t believe in Jesus. Maybe it’s disappointment. Maybe they are skeptical of the whole story, or maybe they just find other things more important. What would change for you, if Jesus satisfied every reason why you can’t believe.
The first type of person who says they can’t believe, might not be who you think it is. Maybe it’s someone who says they already believe, but truly hasn’t believed in Jesus. They’ve got just enough religion to think they have the real thing, but lack saving faith.
There are three kinds of people: Committed (stool), comfortable (recliner) and camal (bean-bag). Which one are you and why are two of those options so terribly wrong? If true, Christianity is of utmost importance. If untrue it is of no importance. The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important.
The kitchen is where life happens with our family. It's where we serve others with others. Where and how does that happen in our church? Who and how does God want you to serve?
The living room is where we connect as friends. How can we do that better at Bridgewater Church? And why is interacting in circles more powerful than sitting in rows?
The porch is where we welcome guests. How can we be a welcoming church? How do we make the church as irresistible as Jesus?
After the resurrection, Jesus could literally do anything. He did one thing. And He tells us to do this one thing. What is it? And how do we accomplish it?
For all the times that we do not know what to pray and for all the times that we feel caught in the rut of praying for the same thing in the same way, there is a solution. We can pray God's words back to Him.
Sometimes there is nothing that we can do to change God's answer to our prayer but sometimes we can make a difference. The outcome of our prayer is not disconnected from our relationship with God. We can take steps towards praying more productively.
What if we were to tell you that Gos answers all our prayers? Would you believe us? What would happen in your life if you believed God answered all your prayers?
There are three characteristics of Nehemiah’s life that allowed him to build more than a wall, and become one of the greatest leaders of all time. What victories will God accomplish through you if you do the same?
Most people believe great deeds are done by great people. But what if greatness isn’t measured by ability? What if God is looking for something else entirely?
Changing your reality starts with a picture - a vision - of what should be. These four questions will help you identify your vision of what God wants to do through you to change this world.
Sometimes we encounter seasons of life that throw us down and beat us up. They leave us wondering if we really have what it takes. We can feel fearful and struggle with our faith. Is there a type of faith for that? What about someone who is imperfect by trying?
How do you know it's really God? How can you be sure that what you feel led to is actually of God? How do you have faith when you also have doubt? How do you move forward when all you have is a maybe?
Before you can have crazy faith you have to start somewhere. That somewhere is baby faith, and it's something that God said He can do great things with. What if you started your faith journey and took God at His Word?
The people of the Bible who lived with a crazy amount of faith built floating zoos, left the country to an unknown land, and slew giants. What do we need to know about faith to live all out for God? Discover how to have faith beyond "the status quo, or just getting by," and really start living out crazy faith.
Rule #5: Forgiveness: What is it? What isn't it? When do I need to forgive and how do I do that?
If you sneeze and I say, "Bless you!" - it isn't going to change your life. Much more powerful than the blessing of a man or woman is the blessing of God. But how do we get God's blessing? God's promise to prosper us and give us His happiness?
Rule #4: When you confront, confront with love and gentleness. Every conflict provides you with an opportunity to please God. Every conflict provides you with an opportunity to love others.
Rule #3: Humbly asking for forgiveness is the most powerful relational remedy in conflict. Remember: There is a big difference between an apology and asking for forgiveness.
Scripture Passage: Matthew 7:3-5 Speaker: Bob Kadlecik
Rule #2: You must focus on your part of the conflict regardless of what the other person does. Remember: your biggest enemy in conflict is YOU!
Your goal in conflict cannot be to win the conflict or avoid the conflict. Your goal must be to please God. Remember: Sinful people tend to respond sinfully when sinned against.
Although the world lives with the end in mind, with Jesus our story is not a story of ends. Regardless of what you have done in the past, Jesus wants to turn your grave into a garden. Jesus isn't finished with you. He's just getting started.