Life Bridge Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Life Bridge Christian Church
In Revelation 21, God's promises of an incredible future for His people come into incredible focus. Here we have the clearest presentation of exactly why the hope of Jesus is such good news. Human language makes it hard to describe the unlimited nature of this future, but what John reveals to us here gives us a picture of the new heavens and new earth that should give us plenty to daydream about and to inspire our faithful obedience to Jesus.
Life is full of storms; some are avoidable, some are not. We experience them to varying degrees in our lives. They come in the form of tragedies, challenges, and trials. Not only that, but the book of Revelation shows us that there are storms ahead of us in the future for which we must be prepared. In Revelation 20, God shows John that the time leading immediately to the return of Jesus will be a stormy season in which the world will make one final rebellion against God and that immediately after we will all stand before Christ on judgment day. Where can we find safe harbor in a world (and even a future) full of storms? John points us to Christ - the one on the great white throne - as the one who breaks the waves for us so we can find true protection in Him.
BE FAITHFUL in your suffering, as Christ has already guaranteed your resurrectionBE AVAILABLE to proclaim the gospel, satan has been bound and cannot himself hinder the gospel so go with confidence to those who need Christ!BE TEACHABLE in God's wisdom, God has and will give His church authority, steward it well by being humble in spirit to continuously learn from His word.
BE FAITHFUL in your suffering, as Christ has already guaranteed your resurrection BE AVAILABLE to proclaim the gospel, satan has been bound and cannot himself hinder the gospel so go with confidence to those who need Christ! BE TEACHABLE in God's wisdom, God has and will give His church authority, steward it well by being humble in spirit to continuously learn from His word.
There are few places in the Bible with the same kind of intensity and power as what we find in the description of Jesus in Revelation 19. John sees Heaven opened and witnesses Jesus as He truly is. On earth He may have been meek and mild, but in Heaven He is shown in all of His majesty. Everything about this vision communicates one important and undisputable fact: Jesus is King. His power is electrifying enough to strike fear into His enemies; but for those who hold to His testimony this picture is reassuring beyond words. This is OUR king, and He is with us.
There are few places in the Bible with the same kind of intensity and power as what we find in the description of Jesus in Revelation 19. John sees Heaven opened and witnesses Jesus as He truly is. On earth He may have been meek and mild, but in Heaven He is shown in all of His majesty. Everything about this vision communicates one important and undisputable fact: Jesus is King. His power is electrifying enough to strike fear into His enemies; but for those who hold to His testimony this picture is reassuring beyond words. This is OUR king, and He is with us.
Part 1
We've heard of high profile weddings before. They come with lots of hype and planning, and of course they should! A wedding is a big deal in God's eyes because it means two people becoming one in a lasting way. God described His relationship to the Church in the same way: through Jesus, He was making a way for His people to be united with Him in a permanent, lasting marriage. In Revelation 19, John has a vision of the wedding underway, and it's so glorious he's overwhelmed! The marriage of God to His people has come, and we're all invited to celebrate. In fact, God has invited anyone who will accept and come to His feast, so long as they come dressed for the occasion.
When the roots are healthy, trees can withstand a great deal. In fact, they're remarkably resilient. If the roots are bad, however, the tree is lost. Unhealthy roots can never produce a healthy tree. That's essentially the reality John uncovers in Revelation 18. Like a detective getting to the bottom of a case, John is given insight by God into the root causes of Jerusalem's "many crimes." What he sees is that the temple has become a bad root; the source of greed, corruption, and excess. When the roots are bad, God isn't content to trim the tree. The root needs to be removed and replaced. In the same way, through Jesus, God makes it possible for the "roots" of sin in us to be completely removed and replaced with the presence of Jesus Himself, the faithful root who brings us renewal within.
We're all on a journey. The questions we have to answer are "from where?" and "where to?" In Revelation 18, John gets a vision that helps us to answer both. He sees that just like God led the Israelites out of exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem, Jesus has come to deliver His people from this present world to a New Jerusalem. That's our story too, and if we will listen to His voice we have the promise of a future; that is, if we're willing to leave the comforts and trappings of Babylon behind.
We're all on a journey. The questions we have to answer are "from where?" and "where to?" In Revelation 18, John gets a vision that helps us to answer both. He sees that just like God led the Israelites out of exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem, Jesus has come to deliver His people from this present world to a New Jerusalem. That's our story too, and if we will listen to His voice we have the promise of a future; that is, if we're willing to leave the comforts and trappings of Babylon behind.
Everyone loves the story of a dream wedding and the couple that lives happily ever after. That was supposed to be the story of Israel. Yet their relationship with the Lord is a turbulent one. Their commitment is an on-again-off-again thing, and they often go astray to chase after other things. Here in Revelation 17, we read the dramatic conclusion to their story: they've divorced the Lord and gone after someone else. The result is disastrous, and the sobering thing is that we're not so different; we're often unfaithful and allured by other things. Through today's passage the Lord shows us why we should treasure what Jesus has done for us and forsake all others to follow Him.
Everyone loves the story of a dream wedding and the couple that lives happily ever after. That was supposed to be the story of Israel. Yet their relationship with the Lord is a turbulent one. Their commitment is an on-again-off-again thing, and they often go astray to chase after other things. Here in Revelation 17, we read the dramatic conclusion to their story: they've divorced the Lord and gone after someone else. The result is disastrous, and the sobering thing is that we're not so different; we're often unfaithful and allured by other things. Through today's passage the Lord shows us why we should treasure what Jesus has done for us and forsake all others to follow Him.
Sometimes, as we read Bible passages about judgment, it can be easy to get lost in the intensity of what's being described. Revelation 16 is one of those passages; it's full of extreme, dramatic descriptions of God pouring out seven bowls of wrath. Even here, though, there are powerful reminders of the goodness and grace that God has shown us through Jesus.
Sometimes, as we read Bible passages about judgment, it can be easy to get lost in the intensity of what's being described. Revelation 16 is one of those passages; it's full of extreme, dramatic descriptions of God pouring out seven bowls of wrath. Even here, though, there are powerful reminders of the goodness and grace that God has shown us through Jesus.
God’s desire is that all the wayward sons and daughters come back to Him because ALL people BELONG to Him.
The deepest longings of our hearts and every promises of God find their fulfillment in Christ!
May 21st Sermon Audio Part 2"Ever heard a song that told a compelling story? There are many such examples in modern history. The same is true in premodern history. The art of storytelling through song dates back to many ancient cultures. It may even surprise us to learn that it happens in heaven as well! In Revelation 15, John recounts a vision of all the believers who stayed faithful under the persecution of Rome and Jerusalem singing theBallad of the Lamb; that is, the song of Jesus and His victory. It's thesame song we're invited to sing now as members of His church. As weread it today, we are invited to join in with our own voices. Singing isn'tjust a nice idea to reserve for Sunday mornings, it's a powerful way wedeclare and display the glory of Christ!"
May 21st Sermon Audio Part 1"Ever heard a song that told a compelling story? There are many such examples in modern history. The same is true in premodern history. The art of storytelling through song dates back to many ancient cultures. It may even surprise us to learn that it happens in heaven as well! In Revelation 15, John recounts a vision of all the believers who stayed faithful under the persecution of Rome and Jerusalem singing theBallad of the Lamb; that is, the song of Jesus and His victory. It's thesame song we're invited to sing now as members of His church. As weread it today, we are invited to join in with our own voices. Singing isn'tjust a nice idea to reserve for Sunday mornings, it's a powerful way wedeclare and display the glory of Christ!"
May 14th Sermon AudioJohn's vision in today's passage is one of a twofold harvest. The firstshows Jesus harvesting His people to Himself. The second shows wicked people being harvested to judgment and wrath. Together they provide a sobering picture of two possible outcomes for mankind; we will either be gathered to Christ or we will experience His judgment. At the same time, this revelation invites us to see Jesus for who He is: a loving savior who desires to harvest and hold us in the palm of His hand to preserve us safely through every trial and challenge we face. Not only that, but if we'll open up our eyes to see where He's at work, we can experience the joy of joining Him in the work of His harvest!
May 14th Sermon AudioJohn's vision in today's passage is one of a twofold harvest. The firstshows Jesus harvesting His people to Himself. The second shows wicked people being harvested to judgment and wrath. Together they provide a sobering picture of two possible outcomes for mankind; we will either be gathered to Christ or we will experience His judgment. At the same time, this revelation invites us to see Jesus for who He is: a loving savior who desires to harvest and hold us in the palm of His hand to preserve us safely through every trial and challenge we face. Not only that, but if we'll open up our eyes to see where He's at work, we can experience the joy of joining Him in the work of His harvest!
May 7th SermonIn that last two chapters, John described the visions he saw of a dragonand two fearsome beasts that would rise up against Christ and His people during the church age. The dragon is Satan, and the beasts are wicked rulers and false prophets. In chapter 14, they meet their match as John's attention is drawn to a vision of the Lamb and His mighty, singing church. Along with this vision, God reveals three importantmessages that the church is tasked with carrying to the ends of the earth. In this week's message we'll examine the sobering messages of the angels and what it tells us about the ultimately destiny of those who do (and don't) believe.
April 30th SermonIn this week's passage, John sees another intimidating beastthat rises up to challenge Jesus and His Church. This beast appears incognito; it looks like a sheep, but talks like the dragon. He represents false prophecy, and the threat that it poses to the Church not only in John's day, but in every age. There will always be those who seek to distort God's truth and leave their own mark on the world. We're called to leave a different mark on the world: the mark of Jesus, which we make available to the world when we share the Gospel of grace. When we understand the power of Jesus' Word, we can joyfully and boldly share it with the world.
April 30th Sermon In this week's passage, John sees another intimidating beastthat rises up to challenge Jesus and His Church. This beast appears incognito; it looks like a sheep, but talks like the dragon. He represents false prophecy, and the threat that it poses to the Church not only in John's day, but in every age. There will always be those who seek to distort God's truth and leave their own mark on the world. We're called to leave a different mark on the world: the mark of Jesus, which we make available to the world when we share the Gospel of grace. When we understand the power of Jesus' Word, we can joyfully and boldly share it with the world.
April 23rd Sermon Audio"In this next installment of the story of the dragon and the woman,John sees another fearsome opponent of the church rising from the sea. It's monstrous appearance is unsettling; John's predictions about its destructive power are even worse. He tells that this beast will actually have success conquering and opposing the Church... for a time. While John's clues suggest that this symbol represents Rome and its Emperor, it teaches us about how to survive the rise of similar beasts in our day. This week, we'll take an in-depth look at how Jesus empowers His people to endure and not back down from the beasts we face as we live for His Kingdom and glory."
In Revelation 13 we see a startling development relating to the dragon's activity in the world: he has friends! In fact, this chapter introduces us to an unholy anti-trinity of villains; the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These three team up against the church using deception, violence, and temptation. How does the Church face down such fearsome beasts and what hope does John's letter give to encourage us today? Dive in with Ryan and Jake as we discuss!
April 23rd Sermon Audio"In this next installment of the story of the dragon and the woman,John sees another fearsome opponent of the church rising from the sea. It's monstrous appearance is unsettling; John's predictions about its destructive power are even worse. He tells that this beast will actually have success conquering and opposing the Church... for a time. While John's clues suggest that this symbol represents Rome and its Emperor, it teaches us about how to survive the rise of similar beasts in our day. This week, we'll take an in-depth look at how Jesus empowers His people to endure and not back down from the beasts we face as we live for His Kingdom and glory."
In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake examine the incredible story that begins in Revelation 12 - the saga of the woman and the dragon. This story tells, in a series of symbols and pictures, a story of God's conquering church fighting against the forces of darkness that are at work in the world. Understanding this vision is key to understanding what is happening in our world today and the role of Christians in the dragon's ultimate defeat!
We're all familiar with stories of dragons, princes, and damsels in distress. They're all over our literature, our movies, and have been told in different cultures for as long as there's been written history. In Revelation 12, we understand why: they're all inspired by the story God is writing in redemption through His Son Jesus and through the Church He has established on earth. In John's vision, God shows Him Jesus as the promised King who finally destroys Satan, the ancient dragon. It's a story of joyful victory and conquering for God and those who love Him. In this week's passage we'll study to understand our place in the masterful story God is has written and celebrate Jesus, the slayer of dragons.
The passages of the Gospels that talk about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week are full of symbolism; "hosannas" in the streets, palms waving, and donkeys saddled up for his grand entrance, just to name a few. Much is said about how Jesus intended for all these to be interpreted. He was declaring His kingship, certainly. Beyond that, a point that is often missed is not just how he entered Jerusalem, but where He was going. This parade down the center of town took Him right to the temple, a fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies that predicted the Lord HIMSELF would one day suddenly visit His temple. When He arrived, His famous reaction was to drive out the money changers and make quite the scene. His explanation included these powerful words: "my house will be called a house of prayer." This week, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we'll take a deep dive into what this important statement tells us about Jesus' mission, His character, and His design for those who are part of His Church today.
In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake take a look at one of Revelation's more complicated chapters. In it, we read about God's two witnesses, a couple mysterious, fire-breathing prophets that are described with all sorts or Biblical metaphors. Who are they? What do they have to do with us? Take a listen and find out!
"History contains many examples of declarations that had a lastingimpact on the world. None of them, however, can compare the declaration in heaven that John hears in Revelation 11. It announces that Jesus has begun to rule as king. Because of His victorious resurrection, He has been given ALL authority and has begun to reign. This is the most important declaration that's ever been made, and through it God calls us to a completely different type of living. In this week's message, we learn about what it means to live in light of this great declaration."
Through His saving work, Jesus "stakes a claim" to those who belong to Him. They are set apart by Him and for Him. John sees that play out in chapter 11 as God gives him the task of measuring out the temple and the worshippers within it. This whole vision, and the description afterward, was meant to predict what the early church would experiencein the turbulent years leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. Theywould serve as God's worshipping witnesses in the world, and theirmessage would cause the world around them to reject and trample them. Despite the trials they would endure, Jesus would deliver themmiraculously. As God's people today, we're called to fulfill the same calling; to be worshipping witnesses to Jesus. Even if the world is at war with the message of the Gospel, we have the hope of Christ's promises to carry us through.
It's been a while! Catch up with us as we talk through some of the big issues in Revelation chapters 9 and 10. In this passage, Ryan and Jake focus on understanding the trumpet judgments, and what to do when we find there are "Jericho-like" obstacles in our own journey.
After the massive revelations of the first half of the book, John receives another vision from the Lord. Essentially, the Lord has more for himto say, and John needs to be prepared to speak it. The vision God gives him is meant to prepare him for the road ahead. As we navigate the last days, this passage contains important information about what we need to navigate our own road ahead as we live in the "last days." Like John, we've been given an important message of both bitter judgment and sweet redemption. If we're going to be God's ambassadors in these days, we need minds that are captivated by Jesus, hearts full of faith in the Lord, and bellies full of passion to receive and to speak God's Word.
In this passage, John sees that terrible things are on the horizon forJerusalem; not just conquest by the Romans, but something worse than death itself. In fact, what he sees is a vision of demonic powers infesting the city and causing untold misery and harm. A city that was once hallowed ground has become a haunt of demons. How does that happen? The answer is simple: the leaders in Israel had settled out for hollowed out religion that quickly became hijacked religion. Jesus doesn't settle for our hollowed out religion. He wants to offer us something better than life itself; the promise that if we'll open the doorto Him, He will make His home with us.
We often talk about life as a journey, and for Christians, that's a Biblical way to think. In the book of Revelation, John describes that the early church was on a journey just like the Israelites; leaving captivity behind and marching toward freedom in the promised land. Unfortunately, they had a Jericho in their way; the city of Jerusalem, where the apostles and believers were suffering and being killed for following Jesus. The Lord sends them a strong message: their prayers have been heard, and He's going to "blow the trumpets" on this sinful city. Just like them, as we follow Jesus, we are occasionally going to run into an obstacle, or a Jericho. When that happens, the Lord needs to knock things down in order for us to experience what He has prepared for us. If we trust Him and remain faithful to Jesus, He will lead us in victory as we inherit the land.
With the opening of the sixth seal, John witnesses scenes that can only be described as cataclysmic. He describes disaster on a massive scale as God's judgment rains down on the earth. It's quite the contrast from the previous seal, in which He saw faithful saints who were kept in God's presence. God was revealing to the church that a time of judgment was coming, and the symbols in the text suggest that these predictions would be fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem at Roman hands, which came to pass shortly after. What can we learn from these grim predictions? First, that God's judgment is very, very real. Second, that hard-hearted rebellion against God leads to preventable tragedy. Only Jesus, the Lamb of God who is Holy and True, can bring us from ruin to redemption.
With the opening of the sixth seal, John witnesses scenes that can only be described as cataclysmic. He describes disaster on a massive scale as God's judgment rains down on the earth. It's quite the contrast from the previous seal, in which He saw faithful saints who were kept in God's presence. God was revealing to the church that a time of judgment was coming, and the symbols in the text suggest that these predictions would be fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem at Roman hands, which came to pass shortly after. What can we learn from these grim predictions? First, that God's judgment is very, very real. Second, that hard-hearted rebellion against God leads to preventable tragedy. Only Jesus, the Lamb of God who is Holy and True, can bring us from ruin to redemption.
The fifth and six seals that Jesus breaks reveal two remarkably different pictures. With the breaking of the fifth seal, John sees believers who have been martyred for their faith. They have given the ultimate sacrifice to Jesus. As the sixth seal breaks, God shows John a striking scene of destruction: those who continue in rebellion against rebellion facing the full wrath of the Lamb of God. These scenes predicted and described events that would occur in John's day - the great persecution of early Christians at the hands of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem - but also are instructive for us. They show us the massive difference in the fate of those who give their lives sacrificially to Christ and those who persist in hard-hearted rebellion. One results in redemption and the other in ruin, and the difference between the two is what Jesus has done.
In the book of Revelation, Heaven is described as a place of music and worship. In chapter 4, God is worshipped as creator of all things. In chapter 5, John tells us that a new song begins. It's the song of Jesus, the Lamb, and celebrates the story of His saving sacrifice. Join in as Ryan and Jake discuss Revelation 5:8-15 and how the new song of heaven shows us what worship looks like in our churches and in our lives.
We often say things like: "God has a plan for your life" with goodintentions. For the most part, there's truth in it. At the same time, itcan give the impression that God has many different plans that He'smanaging all at once. That's not the picture John gives us fromheaven. He sees a vision of God with a scroll. On this scroll is one plan:God's determined will for human history. It includes His decrees ofjudgment and redemption. Who can read this scroll? Who can bringabout God's plan for redemption and protect us from the judgmenttherein? No one in heaven or on earth except Jesus Christ, the lion ofJudah and lamb of God, who has conquered through the cross. In thisweek's message we learn about why Jesus is central to God's will forhuman history, and why the solution to our weeping is to behold Him.
Ever dream of getting backstage passes to seeyour favorite band? That's what John got to experience in hisvision of heaven. He gets to go "behind the scenes" not just tosome VIP room at a concert, but to the center of the spiritualuniverse; the most glorious place imaginable, the throne roomof God Himself. What he sees is too much to be contained inmere words, but the descriptions within are given to us tosend us a clear message about who God is and the honor thatis due to Him. As we study together, we'll look at the symbolsand imagery within, which is intended to amaze us with theunimaginable greatness of God's beauty, authority, and rule.John's impression is clear: God is worthy of our highestworship and obedience.
After the letters to the churches in the first few chapters of Revelation, Jesus shows the Apostle John a vision of the heavenly throne room, including a vivid description of God seated upon His throne. This picture of the heavenly realms is telling us all sorts of important things about the Lord, but what exactly is it saying? In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake examine Revelation 4:1-11
New Year's celebrations often bring about thoughts of change. We deeply desire to better ourselves and improve, but often find ourselves battling against the same old temptations or frustrations. Where does real change come from? In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake discuss Galatians 2:15-21 and how Jesus empowers us to be sanctified by giving us victory, access, resources, and motivation that leads to lasting change.
"Few words used in the Bible can claim to bemisunderstood as much as the word "love." It is essential in ourunderstanding of what God feels toward us and how He acts for us. Inthis passage, John the Apostle writes to us with a staggeringlyimportant truth about both God and love: "God is love." How do wemake sense of the love of God? John directs us to Jesus: we can'tunderstand love without understanding atonement. There is no lovewithout atonement; no Christmas without the cross. It was becauseof the love of God that Jesus came, and that same love sent Him tothe cross so that we could both receive and experience love."
Peace is often desired and rarely found. The human condition makes peace a natural impossibility! Yet, during Advent we celebrate that God made a declaration that peace is possible. In fact, that's the message that was announced in the skies above Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. This grand message of peace was for the whole world, but what exactly was God saying? And to whom? How is His peace received? In this week's message we will examine how all peace (or lack of it) is downstream from our peace with God.
The coming of Jesus includes a gospel announcement of peace in Luke 2:8-14. Yet, this peace is different than anything we can create for ourselves. Where does peace come from and how can we have it? In this week's episode, Pastors Ryan and Jake talk about the peace of Jesus that we celebrate during Advent.
In this week's episode Pastors Ryan and Jake discuss how the story of Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-45 teaches us about the Joy of Jesus
The Advent season is meant to point us toward joy. If there is one word that we could use to describe what Jesus' coming means for humanity, joy would be an obvious choice. People all over the world share the desire to experience true joy, and go to great lengths to get it. In this week's passage we explore the story of Mary and Elizabeth meeting, and why true joy only can only be found by recognizing Jesus, responding to the Holy Spirit, and receiving God's grace.
In the night sky, there are a lot of places to look for direction. The question that ancient navigators had to answer was: "which star will help us get where we need to go?" It's hard to imagine setting sail with no map and only the night sky to guide you, but when you've got the right star to follow, it makes all the difference. In the same way, the Scriptures describe the coming of Jesus as the dawning of a new day, the rising of a new star that would serve to illuminate for us the way back to God. If we step out to follow the light of Jesus, it will lead us into everlasting life and rejoicing, but the path that gets us there is the path of faith. If we learn to look at Jesus instead of other shiny objects, He will lead us faithfully. The question is: which star will we choose to look at?
In the leadup to a big thunderstorm during the summer, you can always tell that a storm is coming. The air gets heavy and things get still. You can almost feel the pressure and sense of expectancy in the air, until all of a sudden the wind picks up and the fireworks begin. The 400 years in the leadup to Christ's birth must've felt the same way; a buildup of anticipation that God's Messiah would arrive and save His people. In the meantime, those who feared and trusted the Lord waited in hope for that day to come. The coming of Jesus was the fulfillment of their hopes and the prophets' promises. Jesus showed us that those who put their hope in Him will never be disappointed. As we celebrate the first week of Advent, we look back to the first coming of Jesus and are invited byGod to renew our hope that all of God's promises to us will be fulfilled when Jesus comes again.
There are few things more disgusting than lukewarm food. It'snot appetizing. Some dishes are best served hot and some are best served cold, but lukewarm is food no good. According to Jesus, neither is lukewarm faith, yet that's exactly what was being served in the church at Laodicea. Jesus has nothing good to say about it. Their faith is devoid of Gospel passion because they've been cooled by their own comfort. If we're not careful, the same thing can happen in our faith. Comfort is the enemy of passion, and if there's on thing the Gospel should do in our hearts, it's to light us ablaze with passion for Jesus.
Knowing the right person can sometimes open all the right doors. As the old adage goes; "it's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know." In today's passage, that saying happens to ring true. Jesus' letter to the church in Philadelphia reminds them that He's the one that has the keys. Even though they're in shaky times, He has opened doors for them to walk through so that they can experience unhindered access to His Kingdom. In our own day, there are plenty of things that are shaky, but if we look to Jesus, He will help us see the doors He opens for us and focus our eyes on what is permanent.
The stories that surround the Christmas story in Luke 1-2 are stories of ordinary people swept up in an overwhelming story. Why did God choose them? Only He knows, but the text suggests to us that each of the characters we read about was a person who demonstrated true faith. They weren't the most gifted, significant, or important, but God involved them in His work because their hearts were full of faith. In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake discuss the meaning and everyday practice of Biblical faith will studying the text of Luke 1:5-20
As we head into the advent season, Pastors Ryan and Jake take an in-depth look at the story of Simeon in Luke 1 and how it helps illustrate to us the hope of Jesus. The first week of Advent remembers that Jesus' coming was the announcement of a powerful hope for humanity. Hope that the curse of Adam would be broken and that we could walk in freedom from the power of darkness. Check out this week's episode as we share why we can look ahead to the future with hope because of Jesus!
Out of all the letters in the first couple chapters of Revelation, Jesus saves His harshest feedback for the church in a city called Laodicea. The problem is their faith has gotten lukewarm. Even more than some of the important issues that were happening in other churches, Jesus singles out this as perhaps the greatest spiritual threat to the Church. In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake unpack how to leave lukewarm faith in the dust.
"We're created to do good work. Even predestined, according to the Bible. That said, what's the difference between "serving" as God defines it, and "community service?" Are "good works" just a churchy way of saying "volunteerism?" Not so fast. In this passage, Jesus tells the church in Sardis that good works are how they work out what God has worked in. They are how we wear outwardly what Jesus has given us inwardly. The difference is that when we do these things, we do so with the name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips. As we serve God in good works, with Jesus as the source and object of our labor, God does something incredible: He illustrates and communicates His grace to the world around us. In this week's message we'll learn more about how to "put on" the outfit Jesus gave us."
"Every church and every Christian are created to have a glorious impact on the world around them. He's put us where we are for a reason, to work for the glory of God and the good of others. Some have called this Kingdom Impact Potential, and every Christian has it. The church in Thyatira was living that out. They had a faith that was working and growing. Yet there were problems on the horizon that threatened to cancel out the good they were accomplishing because they were holding onto other things besides Jesus. Christ reminds them, and us, that an incredible future awaits us if we will let go of all else and hold onto Him, because He's the one who is holding onto us."
Do you remember in school when taking a test, your teacher would say "Pencils Down!" once time was out? Well in our lives when time runs out at the end of your days, Jesus may say, "Pencils Down!" and when He does, will you have completed everything you wanted to and will you have done everything God had set out for you?
Is doctrine a dirty word or something vital to our lives? The churches of Asia Minor that are mentioned in the book of Revelation were facing all sorts of challenges and threats when Jesus sent His letters to them. Surprisingly, it wasn't the challenges they faced from the outside that posed the greatest threat; it was the temptation to compromise about what they believed within. In the church at Pergamum, they had put up with teachings that were opposed to the Gospel of Jesus. Left unchecked, these teachings would be their undoing. The solution was to return to the sound teaching of Jesus and to stand strong on His truth. In a day where many churches and denominations have stopped prioritizing sound doctrine, the church needs a reminder from Jesus to put first things first!
"Jesus' second church letter in Revelation is to a little congregation in the big city of Smyrna. This group of believers was facing incredible hostility from those around them, but were hanging tough and staying true to the Gospel. Nonetheless, they were tempted to fear or lose heart. Jesus writes them encouragement to tell them that He knows, that He is with them, and that they will conquer if they stay faithful. Jesus' word to us is the same. He knows our greatest needs, and promises us the crown of life if we will continue to hear and listen to His voice."
Why did you come to Jesus in the first place? Being able to remember those feelings and why you chose to follow Him is important to not let your light dim for him! Don't let yourself get caught in the busyness or mundane tasks of life, and don't let doing tasks for God or by being "busy" in ministry be greater than a real relationship with Him...let us not hear from Him at the end of our days, ‘I never knew you'.
"There are many things that try to put out your fire as a follower of Jesus. As Jesus wrote his letter to the churches listed in Revelation, He foresaw that the culture around them would try to extinguish the flame of their faith through pressure, persecution, and compromise. It makes sense, then, that the vision of Himself that He reveals to us in today's passage is one full of fire and light. His point is that if we will behold His fiery gaze and listen to His thunderous voice, Jesus will keep our fire ablaze, burn away our fears, and light our way with hope!"
Week 2 of our Revelation Series!
"Introductions are important. Whether it's a job interview or meeting new people at church, everyone wants to make a good first impression. In this passage, John takes care to make sure we get the right introduction to the God who speaks to us through revelation. Through a series of repeating descriptions and titles, John wants us to know who we're dealing with: the God who is exceedingly eternal, mega worthy, and who has shown His ultra, exponentially multiplied love to us through the hugely glorious work of Jesus, our savior. We're left to get the hint; this God is always in control and always greater than anything we find ourselves up against in this life."
The book of Revelation is scary and complicated, isn't it? Not so fast! John introduces this book as a revelation given by God to SHOW His servants. It's not meant to hide or confuse! It's a thrilling saga of Jesus' victory over the cosmic forces of evil, and if we will take a step back to understand its big picture imagery we'll find that it's not scary at all, but rather an electrifying source of hope as we live faithfully for Jesus.
Check out our new series, Revelation: The Victory and Worth of King Jesus!
"Worship Jesus because He is WORTHY. That's the thesis statement of Revelation. If you want to understand it, it's not impossible. You don't have to have a degree or a decoder. You've simply got to come with a heart full of worship. In today's passage, the Apostle John introduces us to this spectacular and mind-blowing book. If we allow it to have its full effect, it won't simply reveal truth to us about God, but it will unveil the truth about us; the condition of our hearts and our churches. It will serve as a spiritual defibrillator to jolt us back to awestruck worship of our mighty God. It will infuse our lives with HOPE because of the glorious future ahead of us, and it will call us to faithfully love and serve Jesus in the face of whatever the world may throw at us."
Check out this weeks Sermon Audio! This is the Part 2 of 2 from our mini Foundations Series!
"What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means being devoted to His people, because if you are devoted to Jesus then you are faithful to his people."
Check out this weeks Sermon Audio! This is the Part 1 of 2 from our mini Foundations Series!
"Living for Jesus will mean sacrifice, but one that Jesus, himself has already made, showing us the depth of God’s love in his death, and His faithful promise that like Jesus, WE WILL RISE AGAIN. The sacrifice is WORTH it!"
Discipleship is a word that gets used a lot, almost to a fault. What is it? How can it be possible both to be a disciple and to do discipleship? In this week's episode, we examine Jesus' call to discipleship in Matthew 16:24-26 and learn about Jesus' call for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
One of the most genius parts of God's design for the Church is that the Holy Spirit gives every believer the power to create beautiful things for King Jesus. For generations, Christians were creators of art, music, architecture, and many of the things that shaped the direction of western civilization. What happened? A theological shift that began to convince believers that the return of Jesus was only a year or two away. How do we correct the short-term thinking that's gotten us here? Join Ryan and Jake as they discuss Matthew 24:45-51.
Check out this weeks Sermon Audio! This is the last teaching on our summer series, This Isn't The End!
When can we expect Jesus to return? According to Jesus Himself, that's a great question. In Matthew 24, Jesus shares the shocking answer that not even He Himself knows. What He does share is that it will be a lot like the days of Noah. In this episode, Ryan and Jake break down the best ways that we can prepare for that day, whenever it may be.
At first glance, the text of Matthew 24 looks like it would make a great end-of-the-world movie. But beneath the cosmic-sounding language is are important messages to His people, if we have ears to hear it. In this episode, Ryan and Jake break down this important passage and tell us why we can take Jesus' promises to the bank.
Jesus was never shy about confrontation, and no one was the target of His confronting criticism more than the religious establishment. While many might take his words to be "anti-religion," they're anything but. Jesus doesn't reject ALL religion, just DEAD religion. In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake discuss how Jesus' warnings (woes) to the religious leaders should cause us to take a long look at our own hearts!
One of the most controversial texts in the Old Testament prophetic books is the 70 weeks passage in Daniel 9. What is God saying, and what does the timeline mean? In this episode, Ryan and Jake explore how we can make sense of this passage with a high view of Jesus at the center!
A time, times, and half a time. How do we understand some of the predictions of the future that Daniel's vision reveals? How do we navigate the uncertainty of the future when it may involve suffering? Jesus gives us a hope and a joy that outshines suffering and alleviates our future fears. In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake discuss a confident approach to understanding suffering and God's call to faithfulness under fire.
It's the end of the world... or is it? Christians have varying ideas about what the Scriptures teach when it comes to eschatology (last things). It can be confusing to navigate to the point that many Christians throw up their hands in frustration. Nonetheless, what we believe about the end matters, because it changes how we approach the present! Join in as we start to explore Daniel 7 and other "apocalyptic" passages!
Joy is a Biblical command. We're called to it. It's a Christian duty, and one of the ways that followers really are called to be lights in the world. Because of Jesus, we can paint with different colors in a world that's full of black and grays. What does it mean to rejoice always? How do we do that when we constantly struggle to feel joyful? This week, Ryan and Jake talk about joy in Jesus and much more!
We have a hard time letting go of the past. Even as Christians, we hang onto past failures and mistakes. It impacts our ability to move into the future that Jesus has won for us. But Jesus never intended for us to stay stuck in the things of the past. In this week's episode, Jake and Ryan explore Philippians 3:12-4:1 and discuss how being gripped by grace frees us to let go of the past and reach for God's glorious future.
In this week's episode Athletes In Action missionary Everett Schroeder joins the podcast to talk about Philippians 2:12-18 and understanding the work that God does in the life of the believer through Christ. To put it simply, God does a work FOR us, and does a work IN us, so that He can do a work THROUGH us. Join in on the discussion as we discuss why each of these Gospel truths really is good news!
There have been many epic showdowns on the big screen: Godzilla v. King Kong, Luke v. Darth Vader, etc. You could probably name a few as well. What about Paul v. Jesus? Setting Paul's words against Jesus' words is a trend in modern scholarship. What's the deal? Do we need to see them in opposition or can we reconcile them? What does the Bible have to say on the topic? On this week's episode, Ryan and Jake hit back at modern scholarship's attempt to set them apart by drawing on the unity of Scripture.
This world is deadly, and in more ways than one. Yet, in Philippians 1, we read about the Apostle Paul having joy and confidence in saying: "to live is Christ, to die is gain." That sort of peace doesn't come naturally in the world, it can only come by way of the grace of Christ. In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake discuss how living for Christ can bring us joy even in a deadly world.
As we start a new series on Philippians, we take a look at the opening of the letter and what the Apostle Paul's greeting tells us about the nature of Gospel friendships. In this episode, Ryan and Jake discuss Gospel friendship and why it is both unique and needed in a world in a world that experiences loneliness.
Words have power. We know that. Whether it's movie quotes or lines from famous books, some words just seem to stick with us. None, however, compare to the words of Jesus. In this episode, Ryan and Jake discuss the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11; how we might understand Jesus' call to leave the grave behind and how post-modern metaphor/narrative driven interpretation does damage to our understanding of Scripture because Scripture is not about us, it's about Jesus!
Why do we celebrate Palm Sunday? Is there a reason that days like this are important on the Christian calendar? And what does the story of Lazarus have to do with it? This week on the Bible Lab, we examine the lead-up to Jesus' triumphal entry in John 11. Ryan and Jake discuss wrestling with God's timing in times of suffering, and how God makes His glory known in our lives by pointing us to Christ.
Resilient systems are systems that are challenged constantly. Our faith is the same way: it grows and adapts when provoked. In Nehemiah 13, we read about spiritual decline that results directly from a lack of resilience. In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake discuss how we can grow a resilient and enduring faith.
In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake talk through Nehemiah 13, and the controversy that erupts when Nehemiah revisits Jerusalem after some time away. When he arrives, he finds things in disarray and one of his fiercest enemies has made himself an apartment in the temple courts. How could this happen? Small compromises and creeping sin. God's Word gives us an action plan for evicting the things in our life that take up the space that God is entitled to.
In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake talk about Nehemiah 12 and the importance of Gratitude. You might think that gratitude is a popular and empty hashtag for Instagram, but it is more than a fuzzy, cliché feeling. It's a subversive rebellion against the selfishness of our world. It's also a duty of mankind to express gratitude toward God as our creator and sustainer. Yet, even gratitude itself is a powerful gift from God with the ability to transform our lives. Jump in as we explore the transforming power of gratitude together.
What does redemption mean and where does it come from? In this episode, Jake and Ryan examine Nehemiah 11 and what it communicates about God's redemptive vision for our lives and communities.
Vision is a nebulous word that gets thrown around a lot. It's used in organizational leadership and in terms of personal goal setting. In Church, it's vaguely to talk about dreaming big dreams for your life. Is vision a Biblical term? What does it mean to have a vision for you life, and what sort of a vision should we seek to be living out? In this episode, Ryan and Jake explore Nehemiah 10 and talk about Gospel vision for our daily lives.
Confession is an intimidating prospect. Why would we ever share the things we're bad at? Why would we ever let anyone see our failures or weaknesses? Culturally, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Yet, in Nehemiah 9, that's exactly what we see God's people doing. The passage sets an important precedent for the church today; that there is blessing and freedom awaiting if we will confess our sins in the presence of God and one another. Listen in as we dig into the practice of confession and God's liberating promises of forgiveness and deliverance.
Resurrection is the heartbeat of the Christian life. It animates our hope and informs our living. In this week's episode, Jake and Ryan explore the themes of 1 Corinthians 15 and why resurrection is not simply a future reality, but a present experience that is at work in the lives of all those who believe in Jesus.
Why do we make the Bible so important in our church, lives, and even our podcast? In our inaugural episode of The Bible Lab, we handle some big questions about the Bible, including: where does the Bible come from? What do we believe to be true about the Bible, and where do those beliefs come from? If I love Jesus, why do I have to love the Bible too? Jump in with us as we explore these topics together!
God's design for families is about flourishing. Throughout His Word, the key to cultural renewal was the family. Changing culture meant changing families, and changing families happened through the leadership of the home. The primary responsibility for discipleship in the home falls upon parents, and fathers are the ones called to take the lead in setting that culture.
In Nehemiah 8:13-18, Ezra and Nehemiah teach the heads of Jerusalem's families about how to observe the festivals proscribed in the Law of Moses. These had fallen into disrepair and hadn't been practiced faithfully for generations. These family leaders were called to teach the Law to their families, lead them in observance, and ultimately show their families that their true deliverance and shelter came from faithfully following the Lord. In the same way, God's design for dads is that they would teach their families to find shelter in Jesus Christ.
Many people equate piety with misery. Even in the Church, it's common for people to think that God wants them to be especially serious all the time, with a healthy dose of misery to show that we really take sin seriously. But the purpose of God's Word isn't simply to afflict us, it's to bring us into joy. In fact, the Bible invites us to confront our sin so that we can discover the love of our savior.
In this week's episode, we take a deeper look at Nehemiah 8:8-12 and discuss the nature of joy and the ways God makes it available to us through His Word!
How do we elevate and understand the Bible in our lives when we live in a culture that has so much to say about it? When there are so many places to go for information about the Scriptures, how do we grow?
In this week's episode, we take a deeper look at Nehemiah 8:1-8 and explore how the Bible is God's message book to us, translated for us through Jesus, and translated through us to the world.
LBCC Podcast Teaching Ep. 8 (The Letter Of The Law vs. The Spirit Of The Law) by Life Bridge Christian Church
LBCC Teaching Podcast Ep. 6 (Matthew 5: Salty Righteousness) by Life Bridge Christian Church
LBCC Teaching Podcast Ep. 5 (Matthew 5: Blessed Are The Poor) by Life Bridge Christian Church
LBCC Teaching Podcast Ep.4 (Matthew 4: Message Of The Upside Down Kingdom) by Life Bridge Christian Church
Join Pastor Jake, Collin, and our Student Director Katrina this week as we dive into Isaiah 9 and discover our amazing, astounding, and wonderful counselor!