The Bridge Churches Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Bridge Church
Anybody can eat. Love starts showing up when somebody decides to cook for someone else. We are here because somebody wore an apron for us. Now it's our turn. What does love require of me?
There's nothing wrong with a bib on an eighteen-month-old. The problem is wearing it at twelve. This week we take an honest look at what it means to move from spiritual consumer to someone who actually owns their growth, using one of the most convicting phrases in Scripture: "by this time." Growth was always the expectation. Becoming starts now.
Even if the Gospels are reliable…what difference does it make? In Week 3, we confront the implications; if the Gospels accurately record that Jesus performed miracles, claimed to be the Son of God, and rose from the dead, then Christianity isn’t just one path among many.Jesus made exclusive claims.“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”That may sound narrow, but truth is not determined by what feels fair - truth is determined by what is real. If the resurrection happened in history, then Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. And if that’s true, then he is not simply a teacher to admire, but a saviour to trust. This final week challenges each of us to move beyond intellectual consideration and respond personally. Because if the Gospels are true, the invitation is clear:Everyone is welcome.The price has been paid.And the decision matters.
Who would die for a lie? This is an important question to consider when evaluating the validity of the Bible. If the Gospels were fabricated, why would their authors suffer and die for what they wrote? In Week 2, we look at the men behind the manuscripts. Were they liars? Were they confused? Or were they simply reporting what they had seen and heard? The earliest Christians did not die for a philosophy - they died claiming they had seen a risen savior. Their message was not “follow this teaching,” but “we saw Him alive.” We’ll examine why theories of legend or conspiracy fail to account for the evidence, and why the rapid spread of Christianity in the first century demands an explanation. When you understand what these witnesses endured, the most probable explanation becomes increasingly clear. Come wrestle with the question: Would anyone die for what they knew was a lie?
Is the Bible just another ancient religious book? Or are the Gospels something entirely different? In Part 1, we will examine the historical reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These aren’t anonymous legends written centuries later. Two were written by eyewitnesses. One recorded Peter’s firsthand testimony. One carefully investigated and interviewed those who were there. We’ll explore manuscript evidence, historical standards used for all ancient documents, and why the Gospels far surpass other accepted ancient histories in documentation anddistribution. What we will discover is: if the Gospels are reliable accounts of real events, then what they record about Jesus cannot be casually dismissed. Join us as we begin examining the evidence and discover why Christian faith is not grounded in blind belief, but in history.
So much of life is spent trying to measure up, blend in, or keep pace with everyone else. But comparison doesn’t just distort how we see others - it obscures who we truly are. When we’re trapped in comparison, we lose sight of the very things that define and shape us. In the final part of The Comparison Trap, we’ll step back and consider the aspects of our lives that have formed us; our gifts, experiences, values, and calling. Rather than minimizing or hiding what makes us different, this session challenges us to recognize it, embrace it, and take responsibility for it.
We spend an incredible amount of time and emotional energy asking questions that were never meant to be answered: are they better off than we are? Are they smarter, funnier, richer? Am I falling behind? Comparison keeps our minds running and our hearts restless, constantly measuring, ranking, and evaluating. In Part 3 of The Comparison Trap, we’ll discover how to step out of this exhausting cycle once and for all.
We all feel the need for approval. Whether we admit it or not, we look to people, platforms, and performance to tell us that we’re okay. But when approval becomes our reference point, our sense of worth is always at risk. In Part 2 of The Comparison Trap, we’ll examine who - or what - has the power to shape how you see yourself, and whose opinion is really worth trusting.
We all want to be rich-er, smart-er, or funny-er. Comparison convinces us that if we just had a little more - what they have - we’d finally be satisfied. It fuels insecurity when we’re behind and arrogance when we’re ahead. But comparison isn’t a ladder to climb; it’s a game designed with no winners. In Part 1 of The Comparison Trap, we uncover why measuring ourselves against others always leaves us empty, no matter where we land.
Why does worry feel so relentless - like a weight we can’t ever fully put down? Often it’s because we’ve taken responsibility for things that were never ours to carry in the first place. We try to control outcomes, secure the future, and solve problems that are far bigger than our ability to manage. The more we hold onto what we can’t control, the heavier life begins to feel. As we conclude this series, we’ll uncover a freeing truth: peace begins when we release the burdens that were never meant for us. As we learn to trust God with what is beyond our control, something powerful happens - pressure lifts, perspective returns, and worry begins to lose its grip. If you’re tired of carrying tomorrow on your own shoulders, this message offers a hopeful invitation: you don’t have to carry it alone.
“What if?”One of the most common traps of worry is imagining a future we think we can predict, and letting that imagined future control how we feel today. When fear takes over, we lose sight of what’s true, forget the moments we’ve already come through, and end up mentally and emotionally far from where we were meant to be. As we conclude this series, this message invites you to step back, remember what’s real, and re-engage with life from a place of strength rather than fear. You’ll discover how worry distorts your perspective, how it pulls you out of the present, and how you can reclaim peace by focusing on what’s in front of you today while releasing what you can’t control about tomorrow. If you feel weighed down by “what ifs,” this message offers a grounding reminder: you can live with clarity, confidence, and calm - even when the future feels uncertain.
Why does worry grow so quickly, feel so heavy, and seem so impossible to turn off? Part 2 reveals a surprising insight: worry expands in the direction of whatever we pursue most. When our primary focus is securing our own comfort, future, or stability, anxiety inevitably grows— because we’re trying to control what was never fully in our control to begin with.But there’s a better way. This session offers a powerful shift: redirecting your devotion. When you stop running after the things that fuel your fear and instead align your energy with a purpose bigger than your own security, something incredible happens—worry loses its grip. Confidence rises. Clarity returns. Tomorrow stops feeling so overwhelming.You’ll discover a practical, freeing approach to navigating uncertainty: do what you can today, release what you can’t control tomorrow, and focus your heart on what truly matters. If you’re ready to stop letting anxiety dictate your thoughts and start living with greater peace and direction, this message will show you how.
What if the things that consume your mind don’t have to control your life? Part 1 of this serieswill reveal a powerful truth: they don’t have to. If that sounds simple, here’s the hope: even when circumstances are stressful, uncertain, orgenuinely difficult, you don’t have to live at the mercy of anxiety. There is a practical, meaningful way to do what you can, release what you can’t, and stop giving worry the power to dictate your future.Join us as we explore an eye-opening approach to breaking the cycle of worry, rooted in real-life insight and perfectly suited for the pressures we face today. If you’re tired of worry stealing your time, energy, and joy, this is your invitation to something better.
The road to Easter didn’t begin with a cross, it began with a parade. Crowds cheered, palms waved, and hopes were high. But they were celebrating a very different King than the one who had come. This Palm Sunday, discover what it means to follow Jesus for who He truly is.
Most of us know the cycle. We try, we fail, we recommit, we try harder, and before long, we're right back where we started. Whether you've been following Jesus for decades or you're simply curious about what faith even has to offer, the feeling that real and lasting change is always just out of reach is something we all share. But the Bible paints a very different picture of how transformation actually happens, one that is messier, slower, and far more hopeful than we might expect. Join us as we take an honest look at what genuine, lasting change looks like.
God isn’t a God who’s silent. He speaks to us daily, and the main way He speaks and reveals himself is through His Word, the Bible. What would our lives look like if we learned how to hear God’s voice, and hear Him accurately?
Does evil really exist? If evil is real, what does that mean for us—and how close does it actually get?We live in a world where darkness seems to operate both openly and quietly, raising questions many people avoid: Is there a personal power of evil at work? Can we tap into it - intentionally or not? And what happens when we do? In Part 3 of Supernatural, we confront these unsettling but essential questions. Drawing from scripture and classic theology we’ll discover how subtle, strategic, and surprisingly ordinary Satan’s influence can be. Evil rarely shows up with fanfare - it works through whispers, distortions, and small compromises that shape the world and our lives. But recognizing evil is the first step to defeating it. Join us as we uncover how evil operates, how it targets us today, and how God equips us to resist and overcome its strategies.
Are miracles real? If so, how do miracles really work - and why do they sometimes seem so unpredictable? If God can heal, why are some people restored while others continue to suffer? Does God show favour to a select few while overlooking the rest? Were miracles just ancient stories, or do they still break into our lives today? In Part 2 of Supernatural, we explore the mystery, the tension, and the hope surrounding miracles. Are they a sham, a relic of the first century, or something far more profound and present than we realize? Join us as we look deeper into what Scripture teaches about healing, divine intervention, and the God who is still at work - often in ways we don’t expect. You’re invited to wrestle with the questions, uncover the truth, and discover the surprising nature of miracles.
Is life limited to what we can see, touch, and explain or is there something more? In a world fascinated by ghosts, miracles, and unseen forces, many wonder whether the supernatural is real and how it fits into our everyday lives. Scripture paints a vivid picture of a world where the natural and supernatural intersect, but it also warns of the dangers of seeking power and control outside of God’s design. The greatest mistake we can make with the supernatural is to either overestimate or underestimate its influence. Join us as we begin this new series, Supernatural, exploring what the Bible reveals about the unseen world and why understanding it matters for your life today.
What kind of person do you want to be? When people have to stand and talk about you when you’re gone, what do you want them to say? Do you realize that’s up to you? What if you decided to be . . . extraordinary?
Chances are your greatest regret can be traced back to a decision you made when your body wanted something that your heart knew was wrong. An appetite was raging. You saw something or someone you wanted… even though he, she, or it wasn’t healthy for you. But you gave in to your body anyway. You yielded to the little kings that want to replace the King who calls you to live from the inside out.What do you do when your body wants what your heart knows is wrong?
Do you really want to be like everybody else? Everybody else takes their cues from everybody else. Being like everybody else makes you average - worried, in debt, bored, and dissatisfied with what you have. If you knew that living like everybody else on the outside would leave you feeling like this on the inside, would you have done what you wanted, when you wanted, with whom you wanted?NEXT STEPS: For all next steps mentioned today in our announcements and to download the verse wallpaper for your phone that Scott mentioned, click here: https://bridgechurches.churchcenter.com/pages/next-steps
We want to do what we want and live our truth.“I can do what I want, when I want, with whom I want…as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.”We don’t want “kings” in our lives, whether those kings are parents, bosses, the government…or God. But in our attempts to do what we want, when we want, with whom we want, we end up serving little kings like appetite, lust, fear, comparison, insecurity, generational dysfunction, addiction, loneliness, and greed.
***This episode contains mature content and is not appropriate for children. Listeners be advised that there is discussion of murder, sexuality, and sexual assault.“It’s my life. I have the freedom to do what I want, when I want, with whom I want, and nobody can tell me what to do…as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody.” You’ve heard it a million times. Maybe you’ve been the one to say it from time to time. But what if life doesn’t work that way? What if our desire to live our lives our way has major consequences for us, for the people with us, for the people who love us, and for the people coming after us?
As we conclude our series, Away in a Manger, we’ll reflect on how this season invites us to engage our imaginations and embrace the wonder of Christmas. But what if we let that same imagination inspire something even greater? What if we truly embraced the way of Jesus—the way of love—and allowed it to shape our world?
In Part 2 of our series, Away in a Manger, we’ll discover that while Jesus came to show us the way back to God, He also came to show us the way back to one another. The same grace that restores our relationship with God empowers us to pursue reconciliation with people, whenever and wherever possible.
In part 1 of our Christmas series, Away in a Manger, we’ll begin by asking an honest question: have you ever felt like you’ve lost your way? Usually, by the time we realize we’re lost, we’ve been wandering for a while and our first instinct is to ask, “What should I do?”. But what if there’s a better question to start with? This week, we’ll explore how Christmas reminds us that when we can’t find our way back, God makes a way to us.
What’s the real purpose of the church? Too often, our preferences get in the way of the mission Jesus gave us. This week, we’ll look at how the early church wrestled with putting Jesus’ purpose above their own preferences and what that means for us today. In part two of FOCUS, we’ll discover how the church can truly be a search party for the lost and the kind of movement our world desperately needs.
Most people think God gets angry when we wander, but Jesus told a different story. A story oftwo people who saw the same person, but neither saw him correctly. In the same way, weoften see God through distorted lenses — shaped by fear, pride, or past experiences.In part one of this series called FOCUS, we’ll talk about how to see God clearly — not as adistant rule-keeper or reward-giver, but as a loving Father who runs toward both the recklessand the religious. When we learn to see God through the lens of His love, it changes everythingabout how we see ourselves and others.
Fear feeds off uncertainty about the future. But hope anchors us when everything else falls apart. In the final week of Scared to Death, we’ll explore the kind of hope that doesn’t collapse under pressure, a hope that lasts when everything else lets us down.
When life feels out of control, fear tells us to grab tighter. But control never delivers the peace we’re searching for. In this message from Scared to Death, we’ll discover how prayer shifts the weight off our shoulders and brings a peace that can steady us, even in chaos.
When fear hits, it feels brand new, I’ve never been here before. The first job loss. The first diagnosis. The first time someone walks away. But while it may be new to us, we are not the first to go through it. God’s people have faced fear and uncertainty throughout history, and every time, He’s proven faithful.
When fear hits, it feels brand new, I’ve never been here before. The first job loss. The first diagnosis. The first time someone walks away. But while it may be new to us, we are not the first to go through it. God’s people have faced fear and uncertainty throughout history, and every time, He’s proven faithful.
Life has a way of throwing us into fights we never saw coming — some we expect, some that blindside us, and others we fight just to keep standing. In part one of our new series The Fight, Pastor Scott shares a powerful message from Isaiah 43:2 about the God who walks with us through the waters and the fire. With humor, honesty, and hope, he reminds us that God doesn’t promise to keep us out of the storm — He promises to be in it with us. Whether you’re in a battle right now or trying to make sense of one you’ve just come through, this message will remind you that you’re not alone — and that your fight still has purpose.
Hearing the words of Jesus is not enough—He calls us to live them out. In the final message of this series, we’ll explore the parable of the wise and foolish builders and ask ourselves: Are we building lives on His truth or simply admiring His teachings from a distance? True discipleship is revealed not by what we say we believe but by how we live each day. This week, we’ll be challenged to apply what we’ve learned and walk forward in obedience, empowered to be more than “Christian”—empowered to be followers.
Following Jesus will stretch you. Striving to more than a “Christian” will lead you into places of discomfort where faith becomes real and growth happens. This week, we’ll look at Peter’s bold step out of the boat and into the storm, and how Jesus meets us in those moments of courage. Faith doesn’t grow in the safety of the shore—it grows in the tension between fear and trust. This message will challenge us to leave behind passive belief and step into active, obedient faith.
Jesus never promised comfort or ease—He promised transformation. And transformation comes through surrender. This week, we’ll hear Jesus’ call to “take up your cross” and follow Him, embracing a faith that costs something. We’ll face the hard truth that following Jesus means dying to self, letting go of control, pride, and comfort. But in that death, we discover the power of resurrection living. It’s not about what we lose—it’s about who we become.
Jesus never promised comfort or ease—He promised transformation. And transformation comes through surrender. This week, we’ll hear Jesus’ call to “take up your cross” and follow Him, embracing a faith that costs something. We’ll face the hard truth that following Jesus means dying to self, letting go of control, pride, and comfort. But in that death, we discover the power of resurrection living. It’s not about what we lose—it’s about who we become.
Sometimes life falls apart without warning, and we’re left wondering if anyone really sees us in the chaos. In the story of a broken man in Mark 5, we discover that Jesus doesn’t run from the ruins, he steps into them. This message is an invitation to consider what it might mean to have a presence with you that’s stronger than the storm, closer than the hurt, and steady even when everything else crumbles.
The world is running a race toward money, influence, career status, often at the expense of one another. But Hebrews teaches us the real race is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, together.You don't win by being first, you win by being faithful
We live in a world where it’s easy to create a version of Jesus that fits our preferences. One who blesses our opinions, endorses our lifestyle, and never asks too much.This week, we’re tackling a challenging truth: If your Jesus never disagrees with you, you might be following yourself.Join us as we explore what it means to really follow Jesus, not a custom version we’ve created, but the one who calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and truly live.
Feeling weighed down by life? Ever wonder what happened to the dreamer you used to be—the one who lived with optimism, bold plans, and a head full of possibilities? This Sunday’s message in our At The Movies series will revolve around the movie TOP GUN, and is for anyone who’s ever felt grounded by reality, discouraged by circumstances, or just worn out by the pressure of everyday life. Come hear a powerful and uplifting talk that will challenge everything you’ve believed about attitude and circumstances. You’ll discover how the right mindset—modeled after Jesus himself—can lift you above life’s turbulence. Don’t miss this inspiring reminder that your attitude doesn’t have to follow your circumstances…it can lead you to something greater.
We’ve all fallen for something that seemed too good to be true, only to realize it was just smoke and mirrors. In this message, we explore how the enemy deceives us not with force, but with illusion, just like a magician. What if the lies we believe are costing us more than we think? Join us as we expose the oldest trick in the book and discover how to see through the deception.
We all know people whose life fell apart, not because of a text they sent, but because eventually their heart caught up with them.They pushed what was going on inside of them as far away as they could, and put on and sent the emoji they had to.They were good at putting on a facade, but behind closed doors, deep down inside, there were emotions that weren’t’ dealt with until it was too late. In part 2 of this series, we’re going to discover why that happens, and what we can do to ensure that the fate of others doesn’t become our own.
Controlling what emojis we choose to send digitally is easy. Navigating the emotions we truly feel on the inside isn’t as simple.Sending a thumbs up when you agree, a smiley face when your team wins, or a sad face when they lose is one thing – but when it comes to responding to real life and the real emotions we feel based on what’s happening to us or around us is a challenge.In part 1 of these series, we’re going to unpack the words of Solomon, the wisest man in history, to discover where our emotions begin, and how to deal with them in a healthy way.
What if work could be more than survival—or success? What if the job you don’t love was about something holy? Together, we’ll learn how you can bring a spiritual approach to your every day work space. Whether you're a boss or an intern, at home or in the marketplace—God wants you to see your work as sacred.
“What do you do?” It’s a question we often ask to try to figure out someone’s identity. But should work and identity be connected? Whether you're chasing success or dreading failure, it’s easy to let your work define your worth. But that kind of pressure will break you. In part two of Made for Monday, we’ll unpack how the Gospel frees you from proving yourself—and gives you a title no promotion ever could.
You weren’t made for a meaningless Monday. In part one of the series, we’re rewinding to the first job description in history. Why was work created, what changed, and how can it be meaningful for you again? You’ll leave with a whole new reason to show up on Monday.
Whether it’s a health issue, financial struggle, or broken relationship, we often find ourselves in a season of life where there’s nothing we can do.What do you do in those moments when there’s nothing you can do?As hard as it may be to accept, it’s often the most difficult of circumstances that God uses for the greatest purpose.The struggles in our lives often position us to comfort and serve others who are facing similar challenges. Rather than seeing hardships as purely personal struggles, what would happen to us, in us, and through us if we would embrace or hardship as a gift to help others in theirs. As we conclude this series, we’ll going to discover how to embrace the fellowship of suffering.
Everyone deals with unexpected, unresolvable tensions in life.Jesus told his followers that unavoidable trials aren’t aberrations; they are expectations.His brother, James, took it a step further and said they can actually serve a beneficial purpose.In part 3 of this series, we’re going to discover how God can redeem, use, and work through the undeserved, unavoidable, circumstantial trials in our lives, and what our role in that happening is.
What’s the secret to being happy no matter your circumstances?Rather than simply enduring difficult seasons in our lives, it is possible to see these seasons as opportunities to experience God’s power in new ways.In part 2 of this series, we’re going to discover a promise that can be found in the most difficult of circumstances, even if and when they don’t change.
Life often presents challenges that have no easy fix, or worse yet, no fix at all.Whether it’s a health issue, financial struggle, or broken relationship, we often find ourselves in a situation where there’s nothing we can do.What do you do in those moments when there’s nothing you can do?In part 1 of this series, we’re going to look at the life of a man who held on to hope as he was stuck in the dark.
Our anxious culture is quick to argue, and it can spill over into our relationships.Every family has its share of fights—some are icy and distant, while others are fiery and intense.Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, and disagreements happen at all ages.Things can get heated in the moment.But the real question is, how do we fight with the end in mind?How do we fight for each other instead of with each other?In this message, we’re going to look at a Biblical principle around how rules and relationships work, and how to build spiritual influence in the lives of our kids for the long haul.
Current studies have identified that the younger you are, the greater your chances of experiencing loneliness and a lack of meaning in our anxious culture.How do we grow spiritually resilient kids in the face of these deep challenges?What if the answer is found in teaching our kids the power of spiritually influential adults and a caring community of people who point them to the Father who loves them?In this message, we are going to look at the Biblical practice of building community around children and how to speak life into the hearts of the kids we love.
In recent years, the evidence has become clear - screens aren’t just linked to our kids’ struggles; they’re a driving factor. Our gut reaction is often to clamp down with strict rules around screen time – rules we just keep fighting over.But what if there’s a better way?Instead of just managing screen time, what if you discovered the wider rhythm for your family life that God calls you to? In this message, we’ll zoom out to explore a more positive and proactive approach. We’ll focus on how to create a family dynamic where screens take their proper place—not as the main event, but as a small part of a bigger, faith-filled rhythm that brings some balance and purpose back into your every day life.
We get it—kids today are carrying around a lot of anxiety, and let’s be honest, parenting isn’t exactly a breeze either. In fact, sometimes the adults are just as anxious as their kids.What if a reason many of us are anxious is an ancient and timeless one?What would it mean to look at the experience of the kids around us through a Biblical lens?In this message, we’ll dive into one of the biggest traps people fall into when they care deeply about a kid. More importantly, we’ll unpack how breaking free from this trap can completely shift the atmosphere in your home and transform the way you love and support the kids in yourlife.
Religion highlights our inability to live up to a divine standard, thus creating a gap.But we don’t need religion to tell us that we really aren’t all that good.We fall short of our own expectations.We’ve all had to say, “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong.”Once we fail, there’s something in us that prompts us to try and make up for all our failureswith better behaviour, generosity, or promises. The problem is, while we can do better goingforward, there’s nothing we can do about the past.That’s what makes Easter amazing grace.
Grace is like a coin. It has two sides. It is both something to be received, and something to be extended. The two are connected, but one is generally easier than the other. The challenge with grace is that God wants to so overwhelm you with the reality of his grace toward you that you find it almost impossible not to extend that same grace to the graceless relationships in your life.
Grace is like a coin. It has two sides. It is both something to be received, and something to be extended. The two are connected, but one is generally easier than the other. The challenge with grace is that God wants to so overwhelm you with the reality of his gracetoward you that you find it almost impossible not to extend that same grace to the graceless relationships in your life.
Grace is the most uncomfortable and explainable of verbs.Over and over, we find Jesus mixing it up with people who were, by their own admission, far from God. Yet there they are, face-to-face with righteousness personified. If that wasn't strange enough, on occasion Jesus would issue these non-law-abiding citizens an invitation. But not the invitation we may expect. His invitation was simple: “Follow me.”
When you think about your prayers over the last few months, or the last year, if you’re like most people who believe there’s a God, your prayers are likely consumed with the minutia of life. Have you ever stopped to consider how much you care about your prayer?A famous evangelist once said: “Prayer is almost the greatest human privilege that we have.”We’ve all been given this privilege and opportunity to connect with our Heavenly Father in prayer, and yet for many of us, there’s a frustration that comes with prayer.We’ve told God what we want, what we need, but it rarely, if ever works out the way we want.At one time or another, we’ve all been asked to pray, thought we should pray, and even tried pray. But how should we pray?Jesus’s disciples had the exact same question, and in part 3 of this series, we’re going to unpack Jesus’s answer and learn to pray like him.
There was a time in the ministry of Jesus where his disciples saw him praying, and apparently, the way he prayed and the way they prayed was different. These were young Jewish boys who had grown up praying. They knew the scriptures and had heard and lots of prayers, but when they saw and heard Jesus pray, they felt compelled to say, “Jesus, would you teach us how to pray?” What an odd request.Few people have ever asked someone, “Would you teach me how to pray?”Why? Because prayer is just talking to God isn’t it? Apparently not.After being asked, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, and in part 2 of this series, we’re going to unpack Jesus’s answer and learn to pray like him.
We’ve all been given this privilege and opportunity to connect with our Heavenly Father in prayer, and yet for many of us, there’s a frustration that comes with prayer.We’ve told God what we want, what we need, but it rarely, if ever works out the way we want.What if none of that was the point of prayer to begin with?What if we were to discover that the point of prayer really had very little or nothing to do with getting God to do stuff? What if we were to suddenly discover that what we thought, and what, for many of us has been modeled to us, was wrong?Very few ask how to pray, we just kind of mimicked what we saw and heard other people do.What if we’ve gotten it wrong?And if so, how should we pray?Jesus’s disciples had the exact same question, and in this series, we’re going to unpack Jesus’s answer and learn to pray like him.
Your time is one of your most valuable resources. When you invest it in the right places, it creates incredible returns—not just for others, but for you. The generations before you invested in the local church and spread the message of God's love. Now, it's our opportunity to pour into the next generation.Join us this Sunday as we talk about the future of the Bridge, and how you can play a pivotal role in seeing it happen.
We’ve all been given this privilege and opportunity to connect with our Heavenly Father in prayer, and yet for many of us, there’s a frustration that comes with prayer.We’ve told God what we want, what we need, but it rarely, if ever works out the way we want.What if none of that was the point of prayer to begin with?What if we were to discover that the point of prayer really had very little or nothing to do with getting God to do stuff? What if we were to suddenly discover that what we thought, and what, for many of us has been modeled to us, was wrong?Very few ask how to pray, we just kind of mimicked what we saw and heard other people do.What if we’ve gotten it wrong?And if so, how should we pray?Jesus’s disciples had the exact same question, and in this series, we’re going to unpack Jesus’s answer and learn to pray like him.
The vast majority of us started 2025 with really good intentions, but we haven't followed through. The sad news is that so many of us had our goals, but by the end of this year, we'll still weigh more than we wanted to weigh, or we'll still spend more money than we actually make, or we'll still want to read the Bible daily…but we won't.As frustrated and hopeless as you may feel, it’s possible to find the power to change so you can start living the life you want.Join us as we conclude this practical series, and discover together that the key to lasting change is counter-institutive: we all need to stop trying so hard.
Nobody plans to mess up their lives.But people mess up their lives all the time.When they do mess up their lives, a lot of times, other people look on and will summarize what could be months, years or decades of unwise decisions in one sentence.How do people mess up their lives?They do it one bad decision, they do it one wrong step, and they do it one harmful habit at a time. One unwise decision, one wrong step, one bad habit at a time.Few things in life are more frustrating than knowing you need to change, trying to change, but not actually changing. You may feel like a hamster on a wheel, but in part 4 of this series, we’re going to discover how to get off the wheel and that it’s possible to find the power to change so you can start living the life you want.
Do you have something specific in your life that you are hoping to change?Hope is good.But hope alone won't change your life. Habits will.Transformation doesn’t happen because of hope, intention, or even prayer.Transformation happens when we focus on what we want most instead of what we want now.Spiritual discipline, paired with dependence on the Holy Spirit, empowers us to break free from short-term desires and align our actions with long-term goals.This message is for those who want to change, hope to change, have tried to change, but you're not even sure that change is possible
Have you have ever stopped to ask yourself, “why do you do what you do?”Maybe you wanted to make a change in your life but just couldn’t stick to it.You’re not alone.The problem many face is, not only do we not experience the change we long for, but we begin to believe things about ourselves that aren’t true as a result.Identifying and rejecting the lies we tell ourselves and believe about ourselves is a vital part of breaking through the destructive patterns keeping us from the change we long for.This message is for those who want to change, hope to change, have tried to change, but you're not even sure that change is possible
The vast majority of us started 2025 with really good intentions, but we haven't followed through. The sad news is that so many of us had our goals, but by the end of this year, we'll still weigh more than we wanted to weigh, or we'll still spend more money than we actually make, or we'll still want to read the Bible daily…but we won't.As frustrated and hopeless as you may feel, it’s possible to find the power to change so you can start living the life you want. This message is for those who want to change, hope to change, have tried to change, but you're not even sure that change is possible.
As we begin 2025 Scott shares a message that has been on his heart for many months and challenges us to become more than just textbook Christians. He challenges us to look within us to see if we're taking up our crosses and to what extent as we learn to become true followers of Jesus.
At Christmas we sing, “God and sinner reconciled,” because that’s what Christmas did. Christmas represents reconciliation between God and people.But what about between person and person?Christmas is the time we’re reconnected with our family, and reminded of unresolved issues within our family.Christmas is the time where for an hour or two, or maybe day or two, you have to pretend that everything is fine. Pretending that what actually happened didn’t happen.Pretending that your family is the perfect family everybody thinks you are, not the dysfunctional family you know you are.It’s Christmas. You’re supposed to be cheerful.As we close this Christmas series, we’re going to unwrap how to demonstrate what we celebrate.
At a time where family create spending caps for Christmas gifts, we’re reminded that is the only thing fair about Christmas.Christmas is the time where for an hour or two, or maybe day or two, you have to pretend that everything is fine. Pretending that what actually happened didn’t happen.Pretending that your family is the perfect family everybody thinks you are, not the dysfunctional family you know you are.It’s understandable to repay hurt for hurt, but if and when you do, you will write a pretty predictable story.Christmas is an invitation to write a remarkable story instead.That is the heart of Christmas, and in part 2 of this Christmas series, we’re going to unwrap how to do that.
Christmas is stressful because of the people.The ones you love. The ones you’re supposed to love.The ones that are difficult to love.The ones who would make Christmas more merry if you didn’t have to see them.Christmas is the time we’re reconnected with our family, and reminded of unresolved issues within our family.Christmas is the time where for an hour or two, or maybe day or two, you have to pretendthat your family is the perfect family everybody thinks you are, not the dysfunctional family you know you are.It’s Christmas. You’re supposed to be cheerful.In part 1 of this Christmas series, we’re going to unwrap treating someone that hurt you the way you want to, and have every right to, makes you like the person you dislike.
The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t just a set of virtues; it’s the outward evidence of Christ actively working in us. It’s how we reflect His character to the world—not to make ourselves look good, feel superior, or judge others, but to offer those around us a glimpse of who God truly is.
The Fruit of the Spirit doesn’t just appear; it grows slowly as we remain connected to Christ. In a world that craves instant results, we often feel frustrated and inadequate, struggling to embody the qualities we know should define us as followers of Christ. Yet, like anything of true value, this growth takes time. God is at work within us; we just need to keep cultivating our relationship with Him.
Have you ever felt frustrated in your walk with God? Whether you're new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, you’ve likely experienced the gap between who you want to be and the reality of falling short time and again. But what if living a Christ-centered life isn’t about trying harder, but much more about staying connected to Him?
Accepting Jesus’s invitation to follow him doesn’t cost anything, but it demands everything.It demands that we go, “all in.” A term that simply means placing all that you are, and all that you have, into God’s hands.Pushing it all in.The generations before you went “all in” on the local church and spread the message of God's love. We have benefited from what they did, and now it's our opportunity to go “all in” on the church for the sake of the next generation.
Accepting Jesus’s invitation to follow him doesn’t cost anything, but it demands everything. It demands that we go, “all in.” A term that simply means placing all that you are, and all that you have, into God’s hands.Pushing it all in.And that’s where we get stuck — spiritual no man’s land. We’re afraid that if we go all in that we might miss out on what this life has to offer.It’s not true.The only thing you’ll miss out on is everything God has to offer.
This Thanksgiving, Scott shares about some of the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday, specifically dating back to that very first thanksgiving in an upper room thousands of years ago.
What you naturally want is often in conflict with what you ultimately value. The good news is your heavenly Father knows what you need. He wants for you what you really want.So, how do you put aside those natural wants and pursue what you ultimately value? That’s what we’re going to talk about in the final part of this series because the icing on the cake is: you’ll never get what you really want until you discover what you really value.
What do you want? What do you really want? You’ll never get what you really want until you discover what is most valuable. What you naturally want is often in conflict with what you ultimately value.So, in order to figure out what you really want, you have to figure out what you value. That’s what we’re going to talk about in part 3 of this series because the icing on the cake is: you’ll never get what you really want until you discover what you really value.
We’ll never get what we really want until we discover what is most valuable. But choosing what’s valuable isn’t natural. We’ve all had the experience of getting what we naturally wanted only to discover it wasn’t what was most valuable—it wasn’t what we ultimately wanted.How do we avoid being deceived by our short-term desires? That’s what we’re going to talk about in part 2 of this series because the icing on the cake is: you’ll never get what you really want until you discover what you really value.
What do you want for yourself? Is it a what? Is it a who? Are you sure it’s what you really want? We all have wants. But actually getting what we want can be tricky... and even dangerous. It usually leaves us wanting more and more. If this is true, maybe we want the wrong things.That’s what we’re going to talk about in part 1 of this series and do you know what the icing on the cake is? You’ll never get what you really want until you discover what you really value.
A historical event?An iconic painting?However you view it, you can’t deny that a recent portrayal of the Last Supper at the Olympics has made waves.Does it matter?Should it matter?How should you respond to the Last Supper?That is what we’re going to talk about this Sunday as we gather around the table and remember Jesus.
In our fast-paced, digitally connected world, many of us still find ourselves battling feelings of isolation and loneliness. It is an interesting dichotomy, we are more connected than ever while simultaneously feel more lonely than ever. This week, we will explore the profound need for community and genuine connections in our lives.
Do you ever find yourself longing for a different time in your life? Maybe you can’t wait to get married or have kids. Perhaps, you're looking forward to a promotion or climbing the corporate ladder. Or, maybe you find yourself reminiscing about days gone by, like when your kids were young and would rush to greet you at the door when you got home. Maybe you're struggling to figure out what to do now that you’re finally retired. The secret to a happy life might not be in wishing it away, but in appreciating the season you are in right now.
When going through difficult circumstances or painful seasons of life, people have the tendency to say the most ignorant and hurtful things. They don’t mean to, but they do.Has that ever happened to you?Have you ever done that?Have you ever noticed that the best of intentions don’t always result in the greatest form of action?Forrest Gump had a lot to say in the film that bears his name. As we’re going to discover this week, Forrest spoke to this reality in our lives - not by what he said, but what he did.Join us this week “At the Movies” so you can learn how to do the same.
1 bullwhip and an iconic hat has led to:5 films over a 42 year span and over 1 billion dollars in box office revenue.While most critics agree that the third installment of the franchise is the best film within the franchise, this week “At the Movies” we’re going to focus on something within this film that reveals why there is an “Indiana Jones” franchise.Join us this week “At the Movies” and discover what you and Henry Jones Jr. have in common.
Sermon series by Craig Groeschel of Life.ChurchPRAYER ISN'T OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. IT'S OUR FIRST LINE OF OFFENSE.WORRY IS NOT OUR MASTER. OUR FAITH IS IN GOD AND GOD ALONE.BUT YOU CAN CONTROL HOW YOU FRAME IT.
Sermon series by Craig Groeschel of Life.ChurchIF YOU LOOK FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD EVEN IN THE BROKENNESS OF THIS WORLD, YOU'LL FIND IT.YOU CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU.BUT YOU CAN CONTROL HOW YOU FRAME IT.
Sermon series by Craig Groeschel of Life.ChurchIf you don't control what your think you'll never control what you do.Nothing can separate you from God's Love.PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S PERFECT POWER, NOT IN YOUR IMPERFECT ABILITIES.
Our thoughts are powerful. They change our perspective, impact our decisions, and influence our habits. But what do we do when we become trapped by our thoughts, unable to escape negative and unhealthy thinking? Let’s learn what it means to take our thoughts captive and win the war in our minds.3 ways to stop toxic thoughts: identify the lies you're believing, replace the lies with God's Truth, Train your mind to rinse and repeat!
What does it mean to give your life to Christ? Is it simply a way to ensure a place in heaven, or is there more to it? Do we really need to surrender everything to God, and is that even possible? Whether you're new to faith or have been a Christian all your life, you've likely wrestled with these questions. In this message, we will explore our calling to follow Him.
We all enjoy comfort. Whether it's lounging on a warm beach, sitting in our favourite chair, or curling up under soft bed covers, comfort is something we all naturally seek. This week, we will explore how our desire for comfort, security, ease, and predictability can actually become a spiritual stumbling block. We will uncover how the pursuit of comfort can distance us from the adventurous, faith-filled life that God intends for us.
Betrayal can be painful. Not only does it create division among two people but it can also impact future relationships with others.In other words, placing one's trust in someone else can become more difficult.In a Communion Sunday entitled, "Betrayal", Scott will be looking at how Jesus responded to betrayal. We will also discover how God can bring hope and healing out of a hurtful situation
Have you ever felt “stuck?”You aren’t where you were or who you were, but you aren’t where you want to be or who you want to be?You’re stuck, and it’s easy to stay in that place. To get comfortable in that place. To accept this is as good as it gets.If your comfort is more valuable that your promise or potential, you will never experience more than what you know.This uncomfortable place forces us to make a decision.Which would you rather: Past or promise?
9-5.5 days a week.The majority of our lives are spent in the pursuit of, and the accumulation of, a treasure. No matter how big our treasure gets, there’s always more.While there is always more we could have, and more we can get, the challenging thing is, no matter how big your treasure gets, it’s never enough and you can’t take it with you. This reality begs the question.Which would you rather: A treasure you can’t keep or a treasure you can’t lose?
Hot coffee or iced coffee?Hot tea or iced tea?Depending on the season or situation, either is fine.But no matter the season or situation, what isn’t fine is being in the “middle.” Being lukewarm.When it comes to faith, that’s where many people are.Which leads us to a place of decision: Which would you rather: Hot or cold?
Mistakes.We’ve all made them.One of the interesting things about the mistakes we’ve made in our lives is it’s almost impossible to see them as we’re making them. It’s not until after the fact that we can see what we did or didn’t do as a mistake.What we can see, and what we see clearly, is the mistakes other people are making.We can see in others what we can’t see in ourselves.Which leads us to place of decision: Which would you rather: Judge or be judged?
Everybody does it. Believers, unbelievers, church goers non church goers. Some do it a lot, some rarely but eventually we all have situations in life that cause us to do it. I am talking of course about prayer. Prayer is one of the most basic aspects of the Christian life, but does it really work or is it just a last ditch attempt on our part to assure ourselves we have done everything possible to get help? Have you ever prayed and heard...nothing? People tell me that happens to them all the time. How frustrating. It may surprise you to hear that that very thing has happened to me, more than once. Does that mean God doesn't answer prayer or at best has selective hearing? Join us Sunday morning as we address this very frustrating aspect of the Christian life.
To say, “life is challenging to navigate,” is an understatement to say the least. Not only do we constantly second guess ourselves but we often find ourselves asking questions that oftentimes there are no answers to.What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? Who do you turn to when you find yourself in a desperate situation Where do you look for hope when all hope seems lost?In part 3 of this series, we’re going to discover what the prophet Elisha helped a desperate woman discover: hope begins with what you have, not what you can’t answer.
Life can be scary and the world can be a scary place. With news headlines making every day seem like doomsday, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos. But, guess what? The sun still rises every morning. Join us as we chat about sorting through our fears and finding that sweet spot between caution and calm. Because when we trust in God, we can face anything with courage and hope. See you Sunday!
Ever felt like you're just not measuring up? Whether it's feeling not attractive enough, not smart enough, or not funny enough, we've all been there. But guess what? Despite what the world and our inner voices might say, God's got a different message: you're more than enough. Despite the doubts and insecurities, God sees us for who we truly are, on the inside. Come find out how embracing this truth can set you free from the constant pressure to measure up.
When you have a mess to confess and address, first options aren’t usually the best options. Getting back at the person who wronged you, lashing out, taking risky gambles—first options often make messes messier. Doing the right thing is more difficult. Doing the right thing doesn’t offer quick, simple fixes. But it results in a story worth telling, a story that glorifies God. That’s because doing the right thing begins with following Jesus.
We’ve all made messes in our lives. In fact, we know a mess when we see one because we are messes. It’s something we all have in common. One misconception is that the Christian life is all about avoiding messes. But that’s not true. If you dumb Christianity down to being about avoiding trouble, then your faith will be all about you—the foundation of another mess. Following Christ isn’t about avoiding something; it’s about becoming something.
We’ve all made messes in our lives. In fact, we know a mess when we see one because we are messes. It’s something we all have in common. Our messes may bring us together, but they also make us feel separated from God. When we can’t even live up to our own standards, how can we live up to God’s standards? We assume our messes must disappoint or anger our heavenly Father. But the truth is, the mess that brings us together is the mess that brought God near.
Whether you’re religious or not, we all have at least one thing in common: we’ve all made some messes in our lives.You’ve said things like, “I messed that up,” “I made a mess of that,” or, “My life is a mess.” We’ve all been in, are in, or are only one decision away from a mess. But there’s something you need to know: there’s a powerful connection between your messes and your relationship with God.
This Palm Sunday, hear the story of Jesus' triumphant entry from a different perspective as Scott shares this famous story in the Gospel of Luke. Scott focuses in on the word "untied" as it is repeated over and over again in the story. What does it mean for the donkey in the story and what does it mean for you?
When dark clouds roll in, we know our time under the sun is going away for a few days.The thing that gets us through is the hope of the sun.What happens when those dark clouds aren’t in the sky, but in our hearts?What happens when the storm clouds of bitterness and discouragement begin to creep into our lives on a consistent basis?That important question is what we are going to talk about as we close this series.
We all have a collection of relationships, and within that collection of relationships there’s a climate.Within every relationship, there is something that sweeps in and when it’s not dealt with, when it’s not resolved, the relationship flatlines.Conflict.If you’re going to participate in friendships, if you’re going to have work relationships, neighborhood relationships, family relationships, if you want to get married and stay married, you will not be able to escape conflict.Conflict is a by-product of relationships.In part 3 of this series, we’re going to look at the words of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, as the thankfully weighed in on our reality and gave us wisdom to help us navigate the storms of conflict.
Each of us has a collection of relationships and each of those relationships has a climate.One of the most significant climate shapers in all of our relationships is: insecurity.What insecurity does to the climate of our relationships is it creates an unstable climate. Unfortunately, for many years, our culture has sold us on the idea that self-esteem is the cure for insecurity. This is simply not true.In part 2 of this series, we’re going to talk about the insecurities in our lives and discover what God has to say about who we are, and as you take his words to heart, your relationships and the climate of your relationships will begin to stabilize.
No matter how old you are, and regardless of what you do or don’t believe, one thing we all have in common is that we all have a collection of relationships.What’s true about you is that within that collection of relationships, there’s a climate associated to every single one of those relationships.In part one of this series, we’re going to discover a principle that is at play in our lives that we may not be aware of, and the principle is this: the climate of our relationships dictates the forecast.
While salvation is not attained through works, James emphasizes their significance. He claims, "Faith without works is dead." Is he contradicting Paul? How can we maintain a dynamic faith that doesn't rely on works for salvation yet actively incorporates them? This week we will discuss what it looks like to have a vibrant alive faith, full of good works.
We've all heard the old adages, "You can't get something for nothing," or the classic, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." These phrases have been ingrained in us since childhood, making us naturally skeptical because, let's face it, we've seen those warnings play out in real life. This scepticism wanders into our faith too. We ask question like, “Does the same principle apply to God? Is His offer of Grace really free, or is there a catch? Does it apply to people who have done the "really bad stuff”?" Let's dive into what being saved by grace alone is all about.
It’s likely that you’ve heard the phrase, “What goes around comes around.”It’s also likely that you’ve experienced this principle play out in various ways, in various arenas of your life and to varying degrees.Thankfully there is an exception to this rule, and as we conclude this series, we’re going to discover what that exception is, how we can experience it, and most importantly, why experiencing that exception is possible.
It’s likely that you’ve heard the phrase, “What goes around comes around.”The interesting thing about this principle is, it doesn’t always happen right away.It can take days weeks, months, or even years for a split-second decision to “come around.” In part 3 of this series, we’re going to look at a famous story that took decades to unfold. It’s a sobering reminder that actions and decisions have consequences, even when and if we don’t see them or experience them right away.
No doubt you are familiar with the saying, “What goes around comes around.”What about, “What a tangled web we weave when first we try and deceive?”What goes around does come around. Deceit has a way of catching up to us and making our lives, relationships, finances, and futures complicated. When deceit catches up to us, it’s easy to be angry at the consequence and while being blind to where it all started.In part 2 of this series, we’re going to look at how one man’s decision led to a series of complications it was almost impossible for him to get out of, until a decision someone else made led to a turning point in his life.What we see in their past will shed light on our present.
It’s likely that you’ve heard the phrase, “What goes around comes around.”It’s also likely that you’ve heard the phrase, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”Things truly aren’t always what they seem, nor are people.Often times it’s easy to hide our true emotions and motives under a contradicting façade. It’s often because of what people see on the outside that makes “what comes around” seem so unfair.In part one of this series, we’re going to look at a famous story, but a character who often goes overlooked because he was a master of disguise.
We kicked off 2024 with a special service entitled “Best Year Ever,” where we also took communion. In this message, Pastor Scott shared Biblical advice for how to keep our busy lives in balance by keeping Jesus at the center of everything we do.
Christmas is the season of wonder, laughter, song, and celebration...it’s a time to be surrounded by the ones you love, but let’s face it: some people have a way of getting under our skin.Would we see them differently if we first took a look at ourselves?God’s grace to us is an invitation to be amazing. It’s our chance to extend to others what God has freely extended to us. But while most of us are full of something . . . it’s usually not grace. What are you full of?What would it take for you to give someone what they don’t expect? Or deserve?We’ll find out together as we close out this series, “All I Want For Christmas.”
Have you ever put “limit” on how much you and other family members were going to spend on each other at Christmas? On one hand, we want to keep each other from unnecessary financial stress. One the other hand, deeper than that, there is sense in which we don’t want there to be in imbalance in what one gets over another.In part 2 of this series, we’re going to look at what to do when what we’ve gotten and what we need to give isn’t equal or fair.
What do you want for Christmas?What we all want for Christmas is the very thing we hope no one asks us for.When we're on the receiving end of this gift, it is extraordinarily refreshing.When it's a gift we have to give to someone else, it is extraordinarily disturbing.In this 3-part Christmas series, we’re to unwrap the undeserved, unearned, unearnable favor that Jesus came to offer us.
Building trust can be a real challenge—especially when it comes to trusting a God we can't even see. It's a constant struggle of relinquishing control and allowing ourselves to "Let go and let God." We grapple with the idea that maybe, just maybe, God knows better than we do. While we might understand this concept intellectually, when life throws its curveballs, there's that lingering uncertainty deep within us. Trusting isn't always easy, but it's a journey worth taking.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and had the distinct feeling that they weren't truly engaged? Perhaps the TV was blaring in the background, their kids were demanding their attention, or their mind seemed miles away. Similarly, there are times when we struggle to hear God, not because the message isn't there, but because we're drowning in distractions. To truly hear from God, sometimes all we need to do is silence the external chaos and attune our hearts and minds to the His frequency.
You likely have individuals in your life whom you can consistently depend on. These are the people who are always there to give you a ride when you need it, offer excellent advice, or provide a comforting shoulder to lean on. Their trustworthiness is unquestionable, built upon a history of being there for you when it truly mattered. In the same way, we can have faith when he is silent because he has shown up before.
It happens to many people. You decide to give the Bible a shot. You sit down with a good translation. But how do you get something out of it? And when you start to understand it, how do you experience God? It might surprise you to discover that the key to experiencing God through the Bible is more than what you can read and understand.
One of the biggest challenges with the Bible is how to approach it. With so many genres, where do you begin? How do you interpret it accurately? And how do you go from simply reading the Bible to experiencing it? In this message, we’ll show you the overarching story of scripture and how you can leverage it to experience the Bible for yourself.
There are lots of people over the last two thousand years who tried to read the Bible and gave up. Others are skeptical about whether they can trust the Bible or if it’s just a bunch of made- up stories. However, there are also billions who would say it’s a book that’s changed their life. Why is that? Why do and how do these Christians read the Bible?The answer might surprise you.
We invite you to join us this Thanksgiving Sunday, as we celebrate the one thing that we are most thankful for - Our Lord Jesus - through communion. If you’re watching online, you’re also welcome to participate in communion by preparing some crackers and juice as emblems to represent Christ’s body and blood.
Statistics say that 70% of people will experience a major traumatic event in their lifetime and that 20% will develop PTSD. Sadly, in our broken world, many people experience trauma and aren’t able to process it—and, in turn, they often hurt the people around them. In addition, every day our screens bring us to live feeds of events that can be too much for any human being to bear. What does scripture have to say about all of this? How does Jesus want to meet us in our trauma?
We all know someone who is dealing with anxiety—or perhaps you yourself are dealing with it. As we survey the world around us, there are many tools and resources to help, but what about the spiritual side of anxiety? In this message, we’ll look at the practice of peace laid out by the apostle Paul.
What’s the conversation you have in your head with yourself about yourself? Whether it’s on the golf course, at work, at home, or in the car, you can at times find yourself overwhelmed by this internal conversation—and in particular, your inner critic. In this message, we’ll be looking at why your internal conversation is so important, where your inner critic comes from, and what to do about it.
The Spiritual Side of Mental Health
Stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, addiction, etc. The world around you is struggling more than ever. Chances are you, or someone you love, may be struggling as well. It might surprise you that the clinical world is discovering the power of spirituality in improving mental health. And yet, while there are many facets and supports for mental illness, the spiritual side is often ignored. As we introduce this conversation, is there a connection between mental health and spiritual health? And if there is, what does it mean for you?
Part 1: I'm Not Okay
To kick-off this series, Scott will dispel myths about mental health and share some of his own personal story. He’ll also share a framework for how we can handle whatever comes our way by paying attention to our soul.
Have you ever seen one of those YouTube videos or social media reels where a person is having a meltdown? Not just a small upset, a full scale explosive meltdown. You wonder what’s wrong. What horrible atrocity fell upon person? Did a friend or family member get hurt? Did someone die? Only to realize that it is their 16th birthday and their parents didn’t buy the correct colour of BMW for them. Common, seriously? We shake our heads at our screens and call them out on how they should be more grateful for what they have. Unfortunately, we may have more in common with this teen than we would like to admit.
Do you believe in Jesus and if so, why? It’s a crazy story, right? Some guy predicts his own death and resurrection and actually pulls it off. It’s ridiculous! When people die, they die. They are not “mostly dead,” they are all the way dead. So, what happened to Jesus? Did he even die in the first place? Let’s explore this topic together and learn how we can have faith without leaving our intellect at the door.
Maybe your dad is your hero. Maybe you never knew your dad. Maybe your dad is someone you can’t get far enough away from. This week, we will explore just how deep our Heavenly Father’s Love can be. A love so perfect and profound we can barely grasp or comprehend. It may just seem too good to be true, but that’s exactly what it is. TRUE.
Do you ever feel like God has abandoned you? Like He just doesn’t care? Life sucks sometimes and it gets hard, especially when you’re not where you imagined you would be. When you look around all the evidence seems to point in the same direction - He’s not there. What if, He hasn’t left you at all? What if He is not only right there with you, but using your current situation to prepare you in ways you could never dream?
Original Series by Andy Stanley, used with permission from North Point Community Church If your main goal is your kid’s obedience, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Instead of obedience being the objective, there’s a different long-term target that will help you win as a parent.
Original Series by Andy Stanley, used with permission from North Point Community Church When our kids mess up, our tendency is to take something away from them. However, punishment shouldn't be the end goal of discipline—restoration should be.
Original Series by Andy Stanley, used with permission from North Point Community Church Moms and dads dream of a future when their kids become adults and still want to come home regularly to visit. As parents, there’s something we can do to lay the foundation for that dream to become a reality.
Original Series by Andy Stanley, used with permission from North Point Community Church Ideal can seem out of reach, and it sometimes feels easier to put it out of sight. Part of being a parent is to point our children toward the ideal, while at the same time navigating what is real.
“I’m going to Church.” “The worship at that Church is amazing.” Many us have said those kinds of things and the reason is because we believe that “church” is a building we enter or a service we attend. The tragedy in that misconception is it causes us to believe “church” is something we consume. What we think informs what we do, and that thought leads us to be consumers instead of contributors. If you’ve ever struggled with believing the church is more than a program, you’re not alone. Your Pastor struggles just like you and is often missing the power and potential of the church, and his role and responsibility to it. As we close this series, Scott Landry is going to sit on the couch and share his heart. You’ll be shocked to hear just how much you have in common.
We live in a culture that is sexually active. There was a day when you had to intentionally look, but that day has long gone. Everywhere you look, you are confronted with sex. Access is easier than ever and remaining pure is more challenging than ever. The cost of losing that challenge is profound. It consumes our minds, heart and our finances and it impacts the relationships we value most. Knowing the cost is one thing, but winning the battle is another.
If you’ve ever struggled with maintaining a pure heart and mind, you’re not alone.
Your Pastor struggles just like you and is often ashamed to admit it.
In part three of this series, Scott Landry is going to sit on the couch and share his heart. You’ll be shocked to hear just how much you have in common.
“Why?” That one word is the great equalizer. No matter how prosperous, educated, or experienced you are or aren’t, every one of us asks the same question. “Why?” “Why did this happen? Why didn’t that happen?” If you have ever asked that question, you are not alone. Your Pastor asks that same questions more than he’d like to admit. In part two of this series, Scott Landry is going to sit on the couch and share his heart. You’ll be shocked to hear just how much you have in common.
It’s amazing how quickly we can be made to feel incredibly inadequate. It's comparing yourself with someone that's financially successful and you think, "What's wrong with me? Why do they have this and I don’t?" You drive into a really nice neighborhood of homes and you wonder, "What do those people even do for a living?” Or you go to a friend's house and it’s perfect. You walk in and it smells good while your house smells like laundry. You say to yourself, "Why can't I live up to that?" Maybe you're a student and you study hard to make B's and C's, and your friend who doesn't seem to study at all makes A.'s. You think to yourself, "What's wrong with me? Why don't I measure up like this?" If you’ve ever felt this way and found yourself asking yourself these questions, you’re not alone. Your Pastor feels those same feelings and asks those same questions. In part one of this series, Scott Landry is going to sit on the couch and share his heart. You’ll be shocked to hear just how much you have in common.
When we think of generosity, we often go straight to finances, however that’s not the only meaning of the word. This week we’ll be drawing attention to what it means to be generous with our time and our talents to help build bridges between unchurched people and Jesus Christ. Our Dream Team here at the Bridge does just that! From Guest Services and Family Ministry to Tech and Worship, would like share with you some of the many opportunities where you can get involved and become a part of The Dream Team!
Do you believe in, “love at first sight?” Some do. Some don’tBut it happens.It happens all the time.Is this important? Yes.When it comes to romance, practically speaking, we’re willing to allow the undeniable to eclipse the unexplainable. As it is with love, so it is with faith.Most adults who become Christians do so because something happens along the way that makes them willing to carry into their relationship with Jesus some things that are absolutely unexplainable.In part 3 of this series, we’re going to discover how to focus on what is undeniable as opposed to what is unexplainable.
A destination wedding somewhere hot. A traditional wedding in an old church. Everyone wants their wedding day to be perfect, and everybody has a different definition of what perfect is. In part 2 of this series, we’re going to discover that while each of us has made assumptions as to who God is and what he should do, it is actually God who ultimately designed and defines what perfection is and what will make a relationship with him possible.
Contrary to what many people say, marriages don’t work because two people are “focused on their marriage.” Marriages work when two people are focused on each other.In a similar way, while questions are valid and important, most adults don’t become followers of Jesus by getting all their questions answered. In most instances, something happens that causes them to focus on the person of Jesus, as opposed to their questions about Jesus.In the New Testament, the church is referred to as “the bride of Christ,” and in part 1 of this series, we’re going to unpack the reality that you don’t have to understand everything to say “yes” to someone and say “yes” to the dress.
LOVE WEEK is an opportunity for the diversity of our church community to collectively make a difference. Each story of impact provides a glimpse into the difference-making power of collective generosity and compassion. Through the generosity of those who participate, individuals, organizations, and communities are transformed. Participants also experience the difference made in their own lives when they give of themselves.This year our focus will be on providing food for the city.
Have you ever made promises to yourself about what you were going to do, or what you were never going to do again, only to fail to keep that promise?Have you ever struggled with knowing how to forgive yourself?Have you wrestled with nagging guilt?What if you could be forever released from that?As we close out this series called “Paint,” were going to look at the story of a man who made promises he couldn’t keep and who had a past he couldn’t escape. His vulnerability about his own story has much to offer us as live out our own.
In part 2 of this series we discovered that unless paint is stirred, it doesn’t retain its consistency or it’s color. While that is true, paint is still useless unless or until it is applied.Paint works and is valuable when you apply it.The same is true of faith.Many of us struggle in our faith because we think our belief is enough. That, “because I believe in God means he should act.”In part 3 of this series we’re going to focus on a man who shared a similar sentiment, but after an encounter with Jesus, he realized his belief was as useful as a an unused can of paint.
Have you ever left paint in a can for an extended period of time?When you open it, the immediate conclusion is, “It’s old. It’s ruined. Throw it out.”Paint needs to be stirred. Unless the color is stirred, the color can’t be restored.In part 2 of this series, we’re going to remove the lid of our lives and discover that each of us needs to be stirred in order to be retain our resolve in, and zeal for life.
Easter is a time of celebration, reflection, and renewal. It’s a time when we can look around us and appreciate the beauty and potential of fresh starts and new beginnings.It’s also a season full of color.In this special Easter celebration, we’re going to focus our attention on the ultimate artist, Jesus Christ, who gives us the ability to cover the canvas of our lives with the colors of Easter. When we hand Jesus the brushes and the paint, it is then we discover that through Easter, he has created the most amazing masterpiece we’ve ever seen!
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where life suddenly takes a sharp turn, and you're left feeling lost and uncertain? We've all been there, but the good news is that there's hope even in the darkest moments. Join us as we explore the profound message behind Palm Sunday and discover how Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem can speak into those shattered moments of our lives. You'll be reminded that amidst the unpredictability of life, there is no other king who can offer unwavering hope, peace, and strength to navigate any challenge that comes our way.
Wise decisions, in any realm of life, greatly reduce the chances of waking up one day and feeling like you need to be delivered.When it comes to the issue of finances, most people tune out wisdom before they hear it because they don’t want to be reminded of, or feel guilty for, what they already know: they’re lost.As we conclude this series, we’re going to talk about 4 things that aren’t intuitive but will serve you well as you take another step towards financial freedom, and faithfully follow Jesus.
“Why do I have so much.”Very few ask this question because most think, “I don’t have enough.”The reason we need to slow down occasionally and force ourselves to wrestle with the question, “Why do I have so much?” is because we live in a culture keeps us laser-focused on what we don’t have. The danger in that is when we continually focus on what we don’t have, it makes our hearts vulnerable to greed.In part 3 of this series, we’re going to focus on a story Jesus told to draw attention to this conflict. What we’re going to discover in the story he told is that chances are we’ll run out of time before we run out of things.
“Why do I have so much.”Very few ask this question because most think, “I don’t have enough.”The reason we need to slow down occasionally and force ourselves to wrestle with the question, “Why do I have so much?” is because we live in a culture keeps us laser-focused on what we don’t have. The danger in that is when we continually focus on what we don’t have, it makes our hearts vulnerable to greed.In part 3 of this series, we’re going to focus on a story Jesus told to draw attention to this conflict. What we’re going to discover in the story he told is that chances are we’ll run out of time before we run out of things.
Everyone gets lost. It may not be geographically, but at some point and in some arena of life, everyone gets lost. “I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what do next. How do I get out of this?” Maybe it was because of inaccurate directions, unexpected distractions, or simply poor choices, but if the statistics are right, over half of all Canadians are lost financially. They don’t know where they are. Many don’t know how they got where they are. In part 1 of this series, we’re going to focus on this practical and tangible area of our lives because Jesus had more to say about it than any other subject, and we’re going to wrestle with this tension: you can’t follow Jesus and remain lost financially.
Love God & Love Others. This is how Jesus himself summed it all up.So…did we do it?2000 years later, is that what the church is known for?No?How did we get it so wrong? How did we get so lost along the way? What would it look like if we actually got this right?In part 2 we look at the golden rule we will use to simplify our spiritual life and be getting Back to Basics.
Love God & Love Others. This is how Jesus himself summed it all up.So…did we do it?2000 years later, is that what the church is known for?No?How did we get it so wrong? How did we get so lost along the way? What would it look like if we actually got this right?In this two week series, we are going to simplify our spiritual life and be getting Back to Basics.
All of us have made a bed we have to lie in.What is yours like? How well do you sleep?No matter the arena of life, the stage of life, or our age in life, all of us make choices, and those choices result in consequences we have to live out.Many of us would do or give anything to go back and make a different decision so we could get out of the mess and bed we’re in, but we can’t.In part 6 of this series, we’re going to stand at the crossroads of our next decisions and discover the key to a good night sleep.
The older we get, the easier it is to get trapped.Many of us make the mistake of thinking that the older we get, the wiser we get. That isn’t true, and you’ve seen it. You know people who are older than you who make bad decision, after bad decision.Age and experience don’t make one wise.There’s something else.What is that?In part 5 of this series, we’re going to learn where wisdom comes from, and how to leverage it in our lives.
Protection and prosperity are things we all want.So much so, we’ve all gone and continue to go to great lengths to ensure we experience these things in our lives.But what if we’re going about it the wrong way?In part 4 of this series, we’re going to discover what leaves us defenceless in life and what hinders us from prospering in the ways we so desperately want.
There’s an old saying we’ve all heard. Maybe you’ve said it.“He’s all talk.”We have all encountered people in our lives who say one thing, and then do another.As a result, we’ve all seen the impact that type of irresponsibility has.Why it is it’s so easy to see duplicity in other people than it is in ourselves?In part 3 of this series, we’re going to uncover what it means for our actions to speak louder than our words and to be responsible, no matter the arena of life.
Regardless of age and stage, every single person has a kingdom.We may not live in a castle, but we all use kingdom language:“No. That’s mine. You’ve crossed the line.”We all have a kingdom, but kingdoms don’t always last forever. Many times, the more we pursue and the harder we try to build our kingdom, the faster and easier it seems to crumble. Why is that?In part 2 of this series, we’ll discover that when my kingdom becomes about me, it ultimately leads to my own destriction.
What is the key to making great decisions?Most people would likely agree that having the right information is crucial to making decisions. To some degree that’s true, but while information is very important, it’s not the most critical factor in guaranteeing you make the right choice.So what is it?In part 1 of this series, we’ll look at something that is even more important than information when it comes to “the places you’ll go.”
Take a look at the people around you. Most of them work similar jobs, have similar relationships, and live in similar houses. Yet, some how their lives play out very differently. Why are some happy and some sad, some fit and some overweight, some rich and some poor? In most cases, it all comes down to the small decisions they made along the way. Decisions that either makes their lives better or worse. What if, a better life for you was only a few small decisions away?
There are so many different characters in the Christmas story.If you had to identify with one of the characters in the Christmas story, who would it be? Mary? Joseph? The Shepherds?There are so many stories within the Christmas story, and in part 2 of this series, we’re going to focus on a character that we might be surprised to find we have a lot in common with.
Selfish people are the worst aren’t they? They only care about themselves. Unfortunately, we may have more in common with selfish people than we think. In fact, we may even be one. This week we will be exploring how small acts of selfishness can grow into something much, much bigger.
Every day when you wake up and look into the mirror what is it that you see? Join us this week as we explore a common battle that we face and together find out what it is that we can do about it.
Is the idiom, “The Devil is in the Details” actually true? Do those seemingly insignificant decisions we make each and every day actually amount to something? What does this have to do with Lego? Join us Sunday as we launch this new 4-part series examining the big difference the little things make in our lives.
Having fun isn’t something we often view as a spiritual issue, but as we journey to our tomorrow together, we’re going to discover that laughing and having fun is an essential part of getting there. As we close out this series, we’re going to unpack the powerful reasons why fun is such a vital issue in life and in the church, and as we do, we’ll discover some amazing benefits that emerge from such a seemingly superficial an unspiritual act.
One of the best things about a road trip is the stories that are born out of that time together, and the stories that are told between point A and point B. Here’s an interesting thought. Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or the passenger’s seat, someday you’ll be driving with someone who will be sharing their story with you, and what they’ll need in that moment to help them get through isn’t a Bible story, but the truth of your story.
One of the best parts about old road trip photos isn’t just being reminded of what you say, but it’s seeing who you saw what you saw with. But sometimes pictures don’t do the moment justice. Sometimes pictures don’t tell the whole story. Not just about what we saw, but about who we were. No matter where we’ve been or where we’re going, all of us know what we want to be known FOR, but there’s something in all of us that hopes nobody finds out who we really are. All of us want to be known for something, but what we really need is to known by someone, and that is exactly what the local church is supposed to provide as we journey together towards our tomorrow.
Traveling with others isn’t always easy. At times it means listening to music we don’t know or enjoy. It means eating at places that don’t appeal to us. It means space is limited and that means at times it’s uncomfortable. We can’t take everything we want with us, so as we journey to our tomorrow together, we may end up saying “no” to things we value in order to make space for those who are traveling with us.
“That’s good enough.” We’ve all said it…but we wouldn’t want our mechanic to say it. As we travel to our tomorrow together, and take a look under the hood at our culture, we’re going discover that excellence may not always be attainable, excellence is a choice and mediocrity is a curse.
“You shouldn’t have!” “You didn’t need to do that!” All of have said those words. Maybe even heard them. What if our life was meant to be defined by them? What if what we give is actually a gauge of our understanding, not of what we have, but of what we’ve been given? As we continue to journey towards our tomorrow together, we’re going to open up the hood and look at our culture: what is actually going to take us there.
At this time in 2019, we did a series called, “Carpool” where we talked about our future and how we could go further, faster, if we went together. After experiencing some momentum towards the end of 2019 and into 2020, a global pandemic caused us to take detour onto some back roads that had not been traveled. Thankfully the time has come for us to get back on the highway, and as we merge over to the far left lane so we can reach our maximum speed, this series is going to focus on 6 things that are going to drive us forward.
The air is getting cooler. The days are getting longer. It’s that time of year. “Back to school.” While most parents look forward to this time for their kids to get back into some routine, for many children and teenagers, this is a season of transition. New halls, new classrooms, new teachers, and new schools. Here’s the thing: transitions aren’t easy. It doesn’t matter your age or stage, transitions aren’t easy. And just because you or your child has what they need for this year, it doesn’t necessarily mean they or YOU…are ready for this year. This Sunday we’re going to talk about transitions and what we need to be mindful of as we go “Back to School” so we can make this year count.
Do you admire those long-time married couples who still have that newlywed spark? Do you wonder what their secret is? Maybe you doubt it’s even possible to keep your marriage commitments. Pastor Craig’s sharing three secrets to getting the marriage you want. No matter your relationship status, there’s something in this message for you.
Special thanks to Life.Church for access to these messages.
Money can be awkward to talk about and difficult to understand. But how we spend our money often determines how we spend our lives. In this message, Dave Ramsey is teaching us the power of intentionality when it comes to our finances.
Special thanks to Life.Church for access to these messages.
This Sermon courtesy of Life.Church. Have you ever been told empty promises? It can be confusing and hurtful when someone you trust lets you down. Does God keep all of His promises? How can we know? We’ll find the answers together with special guest Sadie Robertson Huff.
Anxiety is not part of God’s plan for your life. In this message, Shawn Johnson’s teaching us how to attack anxiety and fight for the freedom God wants for each of us.
Special thanks to Life.Church for access to these messages.
We do it all the time. We compare our friends vacations to ours. We compare our home to our neighbours. We compare our cars, marriages, kids, jobs, and so much more to everyone around us. As we look around we are certain that everyone, or at least many, have it better than we do. But, what if we are chasing after something that is not even real?
Our perspective and understanding can bring us down as the experiences and things we know from this world impact our outlook and perception. We often put ourselves in these boxes of self-doubt and a false understanding of the self and what God calls us to. Through faith, we can see clearly as it is a means of deciding, acting on what to do, with what we experience and learn to better ourselves, the lives of others around us, and the kingdom of God. What is faith and how does it help us to respond to our circumstances in life?
We all have things we say we love, basketball, coffee, chocolate milk, the cold side of the pillow but what do you really love? Love enough to sacrifice for, to give up everything for? This week we will take some time to unpack a moment Jesus has with one of His disciples to find out what kind of love he has for Him and what that love requires of him.
There is no denying that Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, is the boss. No matter what impossible mission is set before him he does what he needs to do, alongside some faithful friends, to get it done. Join us this Sunday as we explore what Mission: Impossible teaches us about what God is doing and how he uses us to do it.
He didn’t command them to increase, but he expected them to increase. There is something God has put in you. It’s a basic instinct. The instinct to do something with what we’ve been given. God desires that we live with an instinct to be like him – the image we were created in. Our temptation is to think we’d do more or be more if we had more. That is the manifestation of the instinct to make excuses.
God is not fair, but God is.
God considers your ability before he gives you responsibility.
Jealousy is dangerous because it implies we want a responsibility we were not built to handle. God isn’t fair, but he is, and in his wisdom, he knows what we can handle, not what we think we could, or would, handle.
Contentment isn’t wanting what other people have but enjoying what God has for you.
“The Three Stooges” are just like us. They didn’t have the same talent, but each was responsible for taking advantage of an opportunity.
“I found God.”
“I came back to God.”
Statements and sentiments like this are common, but that doesn’t mean they’re accurate. The most amazing thing about a story of faith isn’t that “we came to God” is that “God came to us.” This is an important revelation and distinction because when we get this part of the story backwards, it impacts everything – how we view ourselves and what we do or don’t do.
In the first part of this series, we’ll look at Jesus’s famous tale of “The Three Stooges” and discover who the “Master” is and, as a result, what the implications are for each of us today.
For more information, or to order, the book mentioned in this podcast, Jesus Farted and Other Uncomfortable Thoughts, it can be purchased on Amazon:
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What do you do when what you need isn’t what you want? What do you do when what’s asked of you doesn’t make sense? We’re forced to ask these questions as we deal with the “wilderness walk.” The place of “in-between” God often has us operate in. The Israelites found themselves snake bit after they lost sight of who God was and what he and Moses were doing and leading them to, and even what God asked of them to heal them made no sense; it was exactly what they needed to do, and it was a foreshadowing of what God would do for us.
In part 2 of this series, we’re going to discover that the antidote we need often comes from the very thing that has afflicted and infected us.
Whether we like it or can admit it or not, most of our lives are spent somewhere “between” places. We’re not where we used to be, but we’re not where we want to be either.
When we’re somewhere between places, we have to deal with “wilderness walk.” It’s in those moments we find ourselves asking the big questions: “Where is God? What is going to happen? How do I walk in this place of uncertainty?”
In part 1 of this series, we’re going to look at a group of people wandering and wondering in that very place, and through their experience, we’re going to discover the most important thing to hold on to in the treacherous place of “in-between.”
Our Lead Pastor, Scott Landry, shares a special message about keeping the lights on at The Bridge and how practical expenses have eternal implications. Plus, three young women get baptized!
Joseph had a dream in Genesis 37, but he wasn’t big enough to experience it. He had to grow into it. He had to encounter and endure certain things so he could be robbed of the position it required for his dream to become a reality. Often we have to grow into something, which helps put current circumstances into better perspective. Do you have the grace to accommodate a change in others? Do you have the grace to accommodate a change in yourself?
Joseph held on to love after years of betrayal, hardship, and loneliness. While his brothers were in a famine for food, Joseph was starving for his family.
When they betrayed him years earlier, it wasn’t just his coat they stripped off and ripped apart – it was their family that was torn apart – and there was more at stake at that moment than anyone could see or understand.
Mending torn relationships requires more than a simple thread. *Do you have the strength of heart to mend a relationship?
NOTE: In this episode, Scott uses the visual representation of a suit jacket to illustrate his main point. Near the beginning, he cuts the suit jacket up.
In Genesis 45, Joseph went from the prison to the palace, and while it didn’t come through a straight line, there is a thread of God’s providence and Joseph’s character throughout. It’s been said that “Clothes make the man,” but in Joseph’s story, we see that they couldn't strip him of his character even though they stripped him of his clothes. What about you? What do you do when you have the upper head? What do you do when you’re torn in your thinking? When you have the opportunity AND ability to respond in two different ways?
If something requires power in order to work and isn’t connected to a power source, it will not work. While not an earth-shattering statement, the implications for us as followers of Jesus are significant. Join us this Sunday as we conclude our series, ABCs, where we will explore the final ingredient of Circles: Connecting to Jesus.
Some say we’ve never been more connected yet disconnected than ever before. And for many, this disconnectedness leads to loneliness, which profoundly impacts us physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. But why is loneliness so hard? Why do we have such a deep need for community as a human race? What does God have to say about it? And most importantly, how is that need met in the church?
When cooking, recipes are a vital part of the process. Unless you have a recipe that tells you how to use the ingredients you’ve collected, the final product could range from magnificent to entirely inedible, depending on your skills. Equally, if two people start with the same ingredients without a defined path and outcome, the end result could look completely different. In this series, we will explore the three key ingredients (ABCs) and the process we are using here at The Bridge to connect people into deeper communities with each other.
It’s easy to think we have someone figured out based on a few quick data points. But for us to see others the way God sees them, we have to trade in the narratives we create about people and instead get to know them.
Waiting is hard. No one likes it. We want it, and we want it now. But, what if God has something better waiting for you? Could you resist the immediate and wait? You see, Satan always tempts us with the immediate, but God offers something greater than what is right in front of us.
Fear can keep us safe. Fear can also cripple us and keep us trapped. So what do we do? Do we stick our heads in the sand and pretend there is nothing to be afraid of? As we kick off this series, we will be asking the question, “How do we keep ourselves from being trapped in fear, even when there are things to be afraid of?”
Rollercoasters take you on a journey of high speeds with significant highs and lows! Some people love them. Others hate them. But everyone has a choice whether to strap into a rollercoaster or not. On the other hand, life doesn’t give us that choice, yet it’s got more twists and turns that we know how to handle. In this three-part series, Scott will open up the scriptures and talk about maintaining HOPE amid the ups and downs of life.
The ups, downs, twists and turns of the rollercoaster of life are relentless, unpredictable, exhausting, and overwhelming – and as Solomon pointed out, the rollercoaster has the potential to make not only our stomachs but our hearts sick.
Many times we get to the place where it hurts too much to hope.
In part 2 of this series, we’re going to look at an encounter between Elisha and the woman who was in that very place. The rollercoaster she had been on for years left her at the place where she believed in God but gave up hope that he could or would do anything about her circumstance.
Riding a rollercoaster in a theme park can be fun, but rollercoasters in the theme park of life are harder to endure. The twists and turns, ups and downs…they leave us asking questions that oftentimes there are no answers to.
In part 1 of this series we’re going to discover what the prophet Elisha helped a desperate woman discover: hope begins with what you have, not what you can’t answer.
What do Wordle and Baptism have in common? A lot more than you think! Watch this week as Scott dive’s into what baptism is all about.
During our current series, LEGACY, the question we’ve wrestled with is, “What will people say about you when you’re gone?
This week, rather than talking about YOUR legacy, we’re going to talk about OUR legacy as a church.
What are we building? What will we leave for the next generation?
What will “they” think about God because of us?
Join us this week as Scott concludes this series and shares where all of this talk of legacy lands for us…and where it has all landed for him personally.
You have a million things on the go, and because you don’t want to be selfish, chances are you put everything and everyone ahead of yourself. That’s potentially a fatal mistake.
Maybe the key to being a better spouse, a better parent and a better human is actually putting yourself first?
Could it be that’s what Jesus did?
When it comes to building and leaving a legacy, all the competence and accomplishments in the world won’t compensate for lack of character.
But where does a lack of character begin? How do we get to the place where we end up doing something we’ll regret for a moment, season, or a lifetime? Where does it start? Surprisingly, a lack of character never starts with the BIG stuff. It’s way more subtle than that.
Join us this week for part 2 of LEGACY, where we will discover what to watch out for as we live the story we want those we love to tell.
As much as no one likes to talk about it, one day we’re all going to not be here anymore. So here’s the socially awkward question: what will people say about you when you’re gone? Believe it or not, it’s not that hard to predict. Join us Online for a brand new teaching series and start off your New Year by becoming the person you want the people you know and love to talk about years from now.