The Bridge RSM: Recent Episodes
The Bridge
Bridging the gap between who we are and who God created us to be.
All teaching and videos, as well as sermon notes, can be found on our website -- thebridgersm.com
One simple line in the Lord's Prayer stoked extra exposition from Jesus as He taught His disciples to pray. "Give us this day our daily bread" contains three key directives that will help us see God as the pinnacle of our source, schedule, and supply. What does it mean to trust Him daily with your needs? Do you trust Him or do you order your life around other sources? He is inviting us into deeper trust to know Him as Father, align our hearts with His, and come daily before Him for all of our needs.
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He taught them to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. He didn't teach them to simply ask for the desires of their hearts or that God would do their bidding. He taught to pray for God's will. In prayer, we come to a place of seeking alignment with the Father. We invite Him to shape our hearts, days, and influence to bring His Kingdom to shape our present reality; not the other way around. When we do this, He will do greater things than we could have possibly imagined as He moves history toward the renewal of all things.
Would you describe yourself as "knowing God"? Maybe you've known Him for a long time. Maybe you're just getting acquainted. Maybe you're simply interested in knowing Him. Wherever you're at, we are invited deeper into a relationship with the One who's positioned us as "Our Father". He desires intimacy and familiarity. And yet there is a beautiful tension in Scripture. He's also meant to be revered above any other. He is, after all, God Almighty. As we begin a series on The Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6, we wrestle out the tension in the first two lines given by Jesus: "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name." There's a gift in the exploration of who God is and how He relates to us as His creatures. Will you step in and embrace learning to know Him more?
Have you ever felt intimidated by prayer? Ever wondered where to begin? You're not alone! You're not alone in your experience or in your practice. We've all felt that way. We've all had to begin to learn to come to God in prayer. And He even offers His own help! We have a teacher in Jesus and a helper in the Holy Spirit to help us train in coming to the Father in prayer.
Have you ever felt unworthy to come to God in prayer? Maybe the picture of Father God doesn't evoke a positive image. Maybe you just recognize the sin in your life. Maybe you're too busy striving for righteousness that you don't feel like you've done enough yet. Wherever you find yourself, we have a God that reaches across the divide and pulls us in. He always goes first to declare that we are His, He loves and accepts us, that we have access to Him, and that He excitedly awaits our coming to Him in prayer. Will you come to Him today? He's longing for you.
Have you ever felt silly talking to someone you can't see? prayer can sometimes feel awkward, especially because God doesn't often speak audibly in the way we're used to. As we learn to recognize His voice, this gets easier, but it takes time. We learn to distinguish His voice uniquely through time spent with Him in prayer, worship, and Scripture and in community. In the in-between space of this learning though can be awkwardness. Be encouraged by the community of faith! As we come before Him in earnestness He will respond. He desires intimate relationship with His creation and with you personally.
In 2026, we want to be a church that gets more engaged with prayer. But like anything, we won't just start praying at length because we resolved to do so. We need training. And that begins with an honest assessment of what our challenges are to a prayer-filled life. Pastor Ryan begins our year in earnest with a series reflecting on What Makes Prayer So Difficult. The starting place? Apathy. It's easy to write prayer off when we're not engaged with it, but beautifully, God has offered His people the dignity of participation. We get to partner with the God of the universe, growing in relationship and bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to bear on the earth through our prayers. It all begins with a single step towards God in prayer. Will you take a step today? What will it be?
Whenever we talk about fasting, we usually ask the question of what we're choosing to go without. Whether it's food or something else, we fixate on the thing we are setting aside. But the whole purpose of setting one thing aside is to take another thing on. We fast from, in order to fast for something greater! Fasting is a tool for us to tend the mess in our hearts and reorder and reorient to the person and way of Jesus. We create space in our hearts, bodies, calendars, and minds to train our attention on the true source and Bread of Life.
What do you live by? Everyone has something they trust in. A source of truth that guides their mental maps of the world they're navigating. For Jesus, that foundation was the Hebrew Scriptures. For His followers, the same holds true, along with writings from His followers in the immediate aftermath of His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. We learn to live a life in proximity to God and guided by His Spirit as we engage Him through the Bible and in community. There are a lot of things we can live by, but only one source of life and truth.
God does not pursue you for your treasure, He pursues you for your heart. His love draws back those who don't know Him, those who have wandered away from His love, and those who have become stagnant and complacent. As we start to conclude this Advent season, Pastor Ryan speaks to us from Matthew 2 about how God's love pursues and humbles our hearts, and how He's given us His all-sufficient love in the form of Jesus, born to us as a baby on Christmas. What can you give more than your heart?
Would you characterize yourself as joyful? What about when things go wrong? Biblical joy is enduring and goes beyond circumstances to become who we are deep down. It can overcome fear to help us think clearly in difficult situations. Biblical, divine joy comes from proximity to God in prayer and worship and it's a fruit of our being recreated into the character of Jesus, full of joy.
As we continue the Advent season this year we look to the Prince of Peace, as the One who provides for us a Peace that is both permanent and unwavering. Peace is not the absence of conflict and chaos, but is rather the presence of the fullness of God. Sometimes it's rewarding to chase after the peace that God gives; to sit back and ask ourselves "Which of these things truly gives me God's perfect peace?" God provides for us a peace that is neither circumstantial or situational. Which peace are you seeking this Christmas season?
As we begin the Advent season this year we look a the story of Simeon, recorded by Luke in his gospel. Simeon's is a story of Hope, at length deferred, but finally fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Simeon heard from the Lord and had hope in Him. He had a trust in things yet unseen. What does it look like for us to step into Simeon's sandals? What can we learn when we come & see the Hope of Humanity, God With Us in the person of Jesus and begin to trust in Him?
Do you have a vision of Heaven? Pastor Ryan concludes our series through the Epic Story of Scripture with just that. We look at the end of Revelation as John paints for us a picture of what eternity in the presence of God will be like! We will have God with us forever, no more pain or sorrow, and a life where all things are new... always. Hallelujah!
What will it be like after Jesus comes back? Is it a time to be fearful of or a time to look forward to with hopeful anticipation? The answer to that depends on you. Do you want to be ruled by King Jesus? That is the reality and the question set before us as Pastor Ryan draws our year-long journey through the Bible near its conclusion with a look at Revelation 20 and the reign of King Jesus in this penultimate teaching from the Epic Story.
Do you know the end of the Epic Story? It's pretty simple: Jesus wins! The power of Satan holds sway in many venues in the world, giving rise to the influence of the Biblical concept of Babylon all around us. Followers of Jesus can, however, have hope. In the end the Lamb of God, the Savior of the World, Jesus the Anointed One, The very God of Creation Incarnate will return in glorious splendor to vanquish Satan and establish His Kingdom of Truth and Justice forever!
Who is it too hard for you to share the love of Jesus with? Who do you think you can't be in fellowship with? Who can you not reach with the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven? People who speak differently? Dress differently? Vote differently? Believe differently? Does being a Christian mean to you that someone think, vote, and believe all the same things as you? Acts 10 paints a picture for us of God blowing the doors off the barriers we create for where the gospel can go and who can be invited in. At the very beginning of the Jewish religious movement that would become Christianity, followers of Jesus were expecting converts to become Jewish first and foremost, and then to join their specific sect that followed Jesus as Messiah. God had other plans! His plans were to bless the nations across ethnic and cultural bounds and create a new citizenry of Heaven. So maybe a better question is: "Who can you reach newly today with the good news that Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death and sits glorious upon the throne?"!
What might the impact be if people knew the Church as simply "the place where God is"? What curiosity and hunger might it stir up? What might it change about what we expect to see when we gather? The manifest presence of God is available to us whenever we gather and He wants to change things in and among us! His presence brings healing, reordered priorities, and makes us an irresistible community that reflects His glory to a world in need of fellowship with the Father.
Have you ever felt like an ill-equipped representative of Jesus? Jesus said that we would have troubles in life, but to take heart because He had overcome the world and He would send a Helper. That Helper came in the pouring out of God's Holy Spirit, initially at the Pentecost feast in Jerusalem following Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension. That same Spirit is available to followers of Jesus today to empower us to carry on the ministry of Jesus and reveal His love and character to a lost and dying world!
What kind of person would forgive while being insulted? What kind of person would forgive while being literally nailed up on a cross? What kind of person would have compassion for the very people murdering them? God would. The beauty of the cross is that God, while we were stuck in our own brokenness and sinfulness, paid the debt that had separated us from Him and drew us into Himself through His radical forgiveness and generosity. Pastor Ryan begins Volume 4 of our year-long series in the Epic Story of Scripture, titled Glory as we look at Jesus exaltation on the cross and the radical grace that is the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Do you ever feel like you need help for this life? Like you don't know the words to say or how to act when in difficult situations? Like you don't know how to comfort those who are suffering? Like you don't know how to follow Jesus in the unique circumstances of your life? There's good news! Jesus promised us The Helper; His Holy Spirit who comes alongside us and leads us into all truth.
Our place is in God's world is defined by two things: our relationship to Him, and our responsibility as citizens of His kingdom. In Jesus, we have been adopted as beloved children of God. It's from that place that we look to God the Father for direction and we respond in obedience; not as a means to receive love, but in response to it. Likewise, we are ambassadors of King Jesus. He has given us authority over powers of evil in this world. The more we learn to walk in that authority, the more of God's power we will see released against pain, oppression, and darkness in our midst.
Jesus redefines our worldly norms in order to change our perspective and benefit His kingdom. Today, Matt Kladnik, our Head of School for RSM Christian, walks us through Matthew 19:13-15, when Jesus' disciples rebuked the parents of children that were looking to be with Jesus. You see, Jesus invites us to have a child-like faith. He wants to have a relationship with us because we are His priority. We have been so wounded by the world that we've forgotten how to wonder. What would it be like if we allowed the Holy Spirit to re-center and heal that part in us?
Are you a fan of Jesus? That's great! But Jesus didn't call us to be fans. He called us to be followers and he called us to Bring The Kingdom to the world. He called us to proclaim the Good News, demonstrate it, and freely give it away. Pastor Grace Kladnik takes us through what it means to be active participants in the work of declaring the Kingdom of God is at hand to all people, all around the world.
Who are you following and where are they leading you? Do you find your life characterized by peace and joy or anxiety and anger? The Bible tells the story of the King over all of Creation. And the best part? His Kingdom is one of peaceful flourishing for humanity and He is always beckoning us to come and follow; to be Followers of the King and live as bringers of light and life, participating in His Epic Story.
Three of the gospel accounts begin Jesus' ministry with a call to "repent for the Kingdom of God has arrived". Pastor Cami takes us through the dynamic fourth chapter of Luke as Jesus' ministry launches into His earthly ministry having been tested in the wilderness and then proclaiming what the Kingdom is like and demonstrating it's power. He shows a Kingdom that is compassionate and concerned with those that would otherwise be cast aside. He shows a Kingdom that heals the sick, cares for the poor, and restores the oppressed without restraint. But in that simple humility He also shows a Kingdom with unmatched power to conquer the forces of evil, greed, pain, and suffering that plague our world. He shows a Kingdom that will one day make all things new as those who choose Him will enjoy His glorious presence forevermore.
What has the whole Epic Story of Scripture been leading us to? It starts here, with the story of John, an Israelite prophet in the wilderness preparing the people to Receive the King that the Old Testament was pointing to all along. Jesus was coming and while John was baptizing people with water in the Jordan, He would come baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John led us to repentance, that we might Receive the King, Bear Fruit, and Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
God's Royal Story isn't like other stories. There are no castle walls keeping out the rabble. There is only a benevolent King who goes into broken places, brings real change to hearts and circumstances, and calls us into ambassadorship right where we are. We don't have to get fixed up and knighted before we're ready to participate in God's Royal Story. We can always begin to proclaim this story far and wide.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by how broken down the world around us seems to be? We can't fix these things on our own, but with God all things are possible. God is looking for people to partner with Him in bringing restoration to the broken areas of life. So how are you partnering with God today to bring restoration in your family, workplace, or community?
Living in a world filled with sin isn't just a time of condemnation. It's an opportunity to be a blessing and to share hope with a world that is so desperate for a savior. Today, Pastor Ryan opens with our third volume in our year long Epic Story series, titled Restore. Living as exiles, we are given an opportunity to press into God's will for His people, as builders to make the world better, blessings for those who need it, and as intercessors for each other in every walk of life. Living in the hope of God, and the future that He has promised, leads to good, only, always. How badly do you need to live in the hope of God today?
Would you say you have an 'eternal perspective'? When you think about Jesus, does the fact that He is coming back to rule and reign on this earth come to mind. Pastor Ryan closes out Volume 2 of our look at the Epic Story of Scripture with a look at the idea of the Day of the Lord. In the Old Testament, we see God outline the consequences of Israel choosing their own way over divine wisdom and then ultimately the fulfillment of that consequence. What can we learn from this? It is a signpost for us that God will likewise grant us the result of our choices. But Peter encourages us in his second letter that, while it's been a long time, God has a different perspective on time, He wants to see all come to repentance, and The Day Will Come.
What is it that derails our destiny? So often, and for so many, it's pride. Pride makes us self reliant, defensive, and stubborn. It insists that we know what's best for our own lives and that we do what seems right to us. But the way of Jesus is different. It seeks the wisdom of God, always! King Asa is an example of how pride can lead us astray. Asa had an opportunity to repent too. He had a golden moment to turn back to trust. And we have a tool to help us to do just that. When you're being derailed by pride, the antidote is to simply turn back to God in praise. To remind yourself that He alone is God and the creator of all and to lift high the name of Jesus.
You are not defined by your history, but you are affected by it. King Josiah came from a history and lineage of predecessors who had become irreverent toward God. And yet, as a young man, barely more than a teenager, he made a choice to bring his life and kingdom back under the scripture instead of standing over it and looking down upon it. God's word is fresh every day; it's about what he's saying to you through hat He's already said. What is God speaking to you today?
We all have influence. We all have people we're around who hear from us, maybe learn from us, respect us. So how do you wield your influence? Who do you let influence you? This week, Pastor Ryan looks at the life of Jeroboam, a king of Israel who got it wrong. He took advice from the wrong people and led the people down destructive paths. What can we learn from a life like this? Where can you identify with Jeroboam's folly and, importantly, how can you turn from that and use the influence you have to lead people closer to Jesus?
Can you imagine living in a world of perfect peace? Pastor Mike Foell walks us through the promises that God made to King David in 2 Samuel 7. God promised David that He would cut off his enemies from him. Can you imagine being in a place like that? Even though David sinned countless times against God, He was still faithful. Destiny can be derailed by disobedience, but resurrected through repentance. As broken as we are, God still loves us. What promises has God made to you, and how has He continued to show His faithfulness toward you?
Substituting expedience for obedience always yields the "fast food" result. Trying to substitute what we want instead of what God has for us never satisfies our needs. It only ever brings something temporary. The truth of the matter is that there is nothing we can hide from God, and yet He still chooses to love us, care for us, and fulfill His promises towards us. Today, Pastor Cami walks us through how King Saul failed time and time again to listen to God's calling, and how God still loved him and his people through the process.
It's easy to let little things in our life slide for the sake of immediate gratification or convenience. And God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but He does call us to follow Him wholeheartedly. That's the crux of Compromise. It's trying follow other things along with Jesus and it doesn't work. The book of Judges is the story of Israel's compromise and the low build up of decisions that lead the people away from God. But His mercies are new every morning and there is always a way back to Him!
We often build our identity on things that are not the best focus of our lives. We focus on career, parenthood, or status. But there is a better source. Jesus asks Mary Magdalene two questions at the empty tomb: "Why are you weeping?" and "Whom are you seeking?". The second of which is key to rooting our identity in the firm foundation of God's goodness in our lives. Mary sought Jesus, her Gardner (tender caregiver), Teacher, and Lord. It was from that relationship that her identity came. The same is available to us today; abundant life living in the good love of Jesus our Gardner, Teacher, and Lord.
We talk about bridging the gap between who you are and who God created you to be. But how do you know who God created you to be. It starts by recognizing that we have been commissioned by God. Pastor Ryan begins Volume 2 of our series on the Epic Story of Scripture by examining the opening words of Joshua and what it means for us to be Commissioned by God in our lives today.
What is the point of church? Have you ever found yourself wondering this? Why the songs? why the preacher? Why the time to 'turn and greet your neighbor'? You're not alone. This week Pastor Ryan takes a pause after Holy Week to remind us what the point of our gathering together on Sundays is and cast a vision of what it means for us to not only go to church, but be the Church.
What does the love of God look and feel like? It looks like sacrifice and initiative. It looks like laying down His life in the person of Jesus Christ in order to bring us back to Him and live abundantly, eternally in His presence. The choice is ours, each and every day. Will we live through belief in Him and enter into His Kingdom? This Easter we implore you to choose Him and choose life!
There is nothing that King Jesus can't triumph over in your life! As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, the people laid down their stuff, self-importance, and social status to welcome their coming King. Fearless generosity makes a path for the kingdom to advance. The willingness to freely let go of everything you're holding on to, and relinquish it to Jesus loving hands leads only to life. What are you still holding on to?
God's manifest presence changes environments and people. When Moses encounters God in the burning bush, God tells him that the ground he is on is holy ground. The presence of God going with the people of Israel and with Jesus' followers set us apart as a holy people, devoted to His purposes. The question for us becomes, how will we respond to this high reality. Will we choose to live our lives devoted to His designs or our own? The choice, to use Moses' words, is between blessing and curses. The way of Jesus, set apart for His purposes leads to life. The other way? Well that leads to life akin to death.
What does it mean to apply the blood of the Lamb to your life? Today, Pastor Ryan takes us through the Passover in Exodus 12, reminding us that we have a deliverer that will free us from our slavery to sin. We don't have to walk through life alone, or by our own strength. God calls us to bring whatever we face in life under the blood of the Lamb. Why go another day living in fear? Why go another day allowing your past to dictate your future? Bring it to God, and He alone will deliver you.
Have you ever heard news that was too good to be true? The good news that God came to the earth as a man and paid the cost for the separation between God and man on our behalf. He did it for you so that you would get to have a relationship with Him. Step back and think about that for a second. That should seem too good to be true, but it is! And what's more, we can rest assured in this fact that if we believe in our hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, we will be saved.
Throughout our lives, we are tested regularly. And these tests are necessary; they produce testimony, and bring freedom. And not every test we face is orchestrated by God. But what we do know is that every test we face has been filtered through God's loving hands. God doesn't ask us questions because He doesn't know the answer. He asks us questions so that we can grow in our knowledge and our faith in Him. In Genesis 22, Abraham was tested when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. How has God revealed himself to you through your past tests and trials?
What has God called you to? It's a big question, but the root of the answer is simple. He has called each of us into two main things: a covenant family and a Kingdom responsibility. Put simply, we belong and we each have a part to play in bringing the life of Heaven to bear on the Earth. We look to Abraham in the Bible to see what it looks like for us to walk that out in response to a God who wants to lead us in loving relationship.
What areas in your life are you stuck avoiding God's way for your own? In Noah's time, the Bible says that the thought of mankind were only evil continually, but Noah walked with God. And for Noah, trusting God and walking with him led to life. The same is true for us. Judgment is coming on the fallen nature of our world, but trusting Jesus and walking with Him leads us through the flood and into everlasting life. He gives us His Spirit, empowering us with the ability to crush the head of the deceiver who would have us do what's right in our own eyes and truly live.
Do you know that you are uniquely created in God's image, as a part of God's royal family? Today, Pastor Ryan takes us deeper into Genesis 3, speaking about how relationships can't exist without free will. God has given us the authority to represent His image, but how can we do this if we don't trust Him? There's a part of you that longs to be fully known and fully loved. God is the source of this love that your soul is always craving, and it will always continue to long until it finds its home in Him. God will soon crush Satan under your feet. God already did it under Jesus' feet. Now it's your turn.
Do you know who you are? Do you know the intrinsic value that comes with being made in the image and likeness of God Himself? Pastor Ryan begins our year-long look at the Epic Story of Scripture in Genesis, where the Origins of humanity are revealed to answer the foundational question, "Who Am I?" Answering this question with a Biblical worldview that finds our identity in the love of God is central to becoming the sorts of people who point others to the ongoing work of redemption through the cross.
What happens to you when life gets hard? It's in crisis that we're faced with one big question: run TO God or FROM God? Pastor Ryan returns from two months away following open-heart surgery to share out of the Gospel of Matthew on how Jesus points us to the Father, teaching us about Trusting God When Life Gets Heavy.
Do you ever feel unclear or unconnected in life? Maybe it's fear over a big decision. Maybe it's just general loneliness and lack of purpose. That is not the desire of the Creator God for you! The problem is, there are a lot of competing voices vying for your attention and to have the right to declare their truths over you. Only one person has the market cornered on absolute Truth though. His name is Jesus and His Word, the Bible, is a gateway to get to know the real thing. Only then can we learn to suss out the counterfeits, leaving them behind in favor of the voice of God.
Everything that Jesus did throughout His life was meant to serve as our guide; as ingredients for how to live a Jesus-centered life. As we study the Bible, we store up these ingredients in the pantry of our hearts, so that at the proper time the Holy Spirit can help us to pull out the right ingredient at the right time to fight against the enemy. What's in your pantry?
How do you respond to the Word of God? Pastor Mike returns to challenge us on actively responding to the proclaimed Word of God with delight and thanksgiving as we entrust our lives to our Savior and King, Jesus of Nazareth.
Have you ever felt alone in the darkness of this world? Have you ever tried to pursue God's perfect design in your own way? You don't have to. The instructions for God's perfect design can be found in His word. You don't have to do it your way, because there's already a perfect design available to you. The Bible contains the mind of God, and it is ready for you whenever you're ready to listen. Today, Pastor Tim Russell walks us through Psalm 119, teaching us that there's a difference between serving God and knowing Him as a friend. God has already invested in your victory. Are you ready to know Him?
What are your New Year's Resolutions? Better yet, what are your "ins" and "outs" for 2025? Pastor Taylor kicks off a year where The Bridge Church wants to collectively invest in our delight in and meditation on The Bible with a look at Psalm 1 and how we contemplate Scripture in community.
Do you believe that God speaks? He does! The God who made the universe has spoken, is speaking, and will speak and better yet, the Word of God will never Fail! Pastor Sean closes out 2024 by taking a survey of the Israelite patriarchs in the book of Genesis and seeing how they responded to the promises of God in their lives. He leaves us with an invitation to be the sorts of people who seek the Words of God for others and share the blessing freely.
Have you ever met someone that seemed to be happy when it didn't make any sense? Or even though they were sad, there was a calm control about them? The Bible talks about a joy that goes beyond our circumstances. This joy is rooted in none other than the Godhead. It is a joy found in the person of Jesus, in His life, death, and resurrection, and built up in us through our time in the presence of His Holy Spirit. So if you want to be the sort of person that seems to be in good spirits no matter what, it starts with time spent with THE Spirit of God. Be encouraged, step into praise, prayer, and meditation on Scripture and grow in Joy and you enjoy God's Christmas Presence.
Hope can be a funny thing. Have you ever hoped for something that didn't come? Maybe it was an unrealistic hope. Maybe it was a promise made by a human that didn't follow through. Few things are more crushing. But hope in the Bible isn't in people or things. Biblical hope is in a person, but that person is also God, and His name is Jesus. That hope is trustworthy and infallible. One day He will make all things new and take away suffering in His Kingdom restored to earth. He began that work some 2000 years ago and that is why we celebrate the gift of His Hope that comes with His Christmas Presence.
The world wants us to believe that chaos is normal. That there is no hope, and that we need to seek out peace desperately from the brokenness of things. But our God promises a peace that is not temporary. God’s perfect peace is a whole peace. One that cannot be shattered or broken. A peace that cannot be disturbed or interrupted. God provides for us a peace that will guard us against the chaos of the world. What do you need God’s peace for today?
Do you feel overwhelmed by the pace of life? Are you stressed, frantic, rushed, or hurried and harried? That's the normal way of life in the USA. But an ancient Jewish rabbi offered a different way of life. What's more, He offered to be with us to help us live His way of life forever. That rabbi's name is Jesus of Nazareth and His yoke is easy and His burden is light! Pastor Matt Kladnik begins our Advent series looking at a group of gifts that we receive in the presence of Jesus. At Christmas, God came to be present with us in the person of Jesus. As we take time to be intentionally present to God in this season, we receive the presents of His Christmas Presence. We begin with a look at the Rest that Jesus provides.
Have you ever felt blindsided by tragedy or difficulty in life? Sometimes the storms of life come at us Without Warning. They reveal things about what we believe and who we trust. The Gospel of Matthew contains a story of Jesus calming a storm. In it, the disciples respond one way, but Jesus reminds them that He was the power to lead us through the choppy waters of life.
How do you feel about your relationship with God? In Isaiah 6 we see Isaiah come face to face with his own inadequacy, but when he names it something radical happens. He's met with grace! A burning coal purifies him and gives him the right to stand before the King. In response he declares his willingness to be a representative of that call to the nations. What will your response be to the mercy and justice of a loving God?
Pastor Ryan begins a series of one-off sermons leading up to his time away and the Christmas season with a look at the invitation of the Lord to come back to him time and time again.
Pastor Ryan concludes our journey through the book of Jonah with a call to Reflection. Both a call to reflect on our lives and the state of our hearts, but also a call to reflect God's Heart of Mercy to the world around us. The truth is, we've all been Jonah. We've all wished someone would get what they deserved instead of mercy. And yet, God still has mercy on US as well. And in turn we learn to love as He first loved us. We learn to shine with His light and reflect His goodness and compassion to a lost and dying world.
The book of Jonah continues with Jonah's repentance and obedience to God's instruction. But what exactly does it mean to repent? Repentance requires three parts: humble contrition, desperate dependence, and a change of course. True repentance requires us to not only acknowledge our faults, but also to turn away from them. True repentance is our part to play in salvation. God does the rest. So how long has it been since you truly repented; truly cried out before God and turned away from your sins? He's right there waiting for you, and His love for you never changes.
Have you ever felt lost in a mess of your own creation, unworthy of rescue? We all mess things up time and again, and it can be easy to feel like we deserve what we're getting. We recite platitudes like "I made this bed and now I must lie in it." But when we look at the second movement of Jonah, we get a different picture. Jonah had landed himself in the belly of a great fish. While the pagan sailors were praying to their gods in the storm, Jonah didn't even pray once. And yet, when he does finally turn to the Lord, reflecting on His Heart of Mercy, we see the Lord deliver Jonah even though he didn't deserve it. The fish spits Jonah onto dry land and he is Rescued.
The book of Jonah opens on a prophet of God being called to preach to a people that he hates. And Jonah, knowing that God has a Heart of Mercy, runs the other way! How often have you looked down on those less holy than you? How often have you thought yourself better than another? How often have you settled for a heart of wrath, unaligned with the heart of God? The call of God is to stop running, and instead settle in and pray for a lost and hurting world.
What is important to you? That's a good question, but there is a bigger one. What do you NEED? What is it that is vital to your life? What about to the lives of our children? What about to our communities, nations, and world? We MUST impart faith to those coming up behind us. The consequences of not doing this is dire, but God will always preserve a remnant. He will always draw people back to Him. We get to choose if the road there is marked by the fruit of the Spirit or the works of human malice and selfishness. As Moses says in Deuteronomy, life and death are set before you. Choose life.
How are you going to impart faith to the generations coming after you? We might believe that we should take a hands-off approach to raising young people to follow Jesus, but the Scriptures tell a different story. Pastor Ryan continues this series about how we send our Faith Forward to those to follow by being Intentional about the impartation of our faith. We look at Deuteronomy 6 and the command to Israel to make their faith in and relationship with God a part of their home and family lives and to tell the next generation about their story.
How are you going to impart faith to the generations coming after you? We might believe that we should take a hands-off approach to raising young people to follow Jesus, but the Scriptures tell a different story. Pastor Ryan starts off a series about how we send our Faith Forward to those to follow by being Intentional about the impartation of our faith. We look at Deuteronomy 6 and the command to Israel to make their faith in and relationship with God a part of their home and family lives and to tell the next generation about their story.
Have you ever been at dinner with someone who didn't know Jesus, but you just didn't know how to talk about it? It can be overwhelming and intimidating to share our faith. It feels like the pressure is on to have all the answers and say all the right things. But the good news is that we just don't have too! Pastor Ryan concludes our series on engaging those who don't know Jesus with a look at healthy Conversation at the Table. What are we responsible for? And what can we trust to God?
How do we offer hospitality? What does it even mean to show hospitality in the Way of Jesus? Pastor Ryan takes us through the story of Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7 and what Jesus has to say about showing Care at the Table and the attitude necessary to make it happen.
Are you a friend of sinners? Jesus demonstrated a radical willingness to sit with those viewed unworthy in His day. He also violated the social norms of status to give dignity and honor to those who had none. He even went so far as to call you and me into relationship with Himself. So if you've accepted His invitation to Come to the Table, the next question is "Who are YOU inviting?"
Do you long for the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven? There is a tune, a melody, a theme, a song played by the world around us and it is an alluring song. But there is a song in Heaven that is even more beautiful. There is a song in Heaven that leads to joy, love, and life. The problem is you can't dance to both. You can't sit and tune into both. We follow Jesus by Dancing to Different Music. We tune in and dance to the more beautiful song. We dance to the song of Heaven.
Jesus always lead with relationship beyond barriers of all types. This is particularly evident in the story of the Woman at the Well in John 4. Jesus reaches to a woman and people whose worship differed from that of His Jewish people to reveal the true worship of God; a worship in spirit and in truth. Pastor Taylor finishes our series on Reaching Beyond Barriers by looking at how Jesus reach beyond the religious barrier that existed between them and how we can follow Him in doing likewise.
We exist in a world of social hierarchy. Status and celebrity matter to us. Social status matters to us. "Cool factor" matters to us. But none of it matters to Jesus and none of it matters in the Kingdom of Heaven. Julia takes us through the incredible story of a blind beggar being treated as an person of honor in Jesus sight and someone worthy of attention, even though he was an outcast looked down on by the people around him. What does that look like for us? How do we go out and live in the Way of Jesus, Reaching Beyond Social Barriers to see the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven?
In our current society, and throughout history, we tend to foster animosity towards generations that are not our own. It's so common and so easy to see the generations that are older than our as outdated and inferior. That we know more than they do. But God calls us to act differently. Pastor Taylor talks to us about how Paul in his letter to the church of Ephesus speaks about generations. About how the younger generations are to look up to the older and learn. About how the older generations are to see the younger as the future of both the church and of the world. God calls us to show mutual submission to each other across generations, out of a reverence for Christ. What's holding you back from taking your relationships with the generations around you to the next level?
There are a lot of things that we allow to divide us. Most of them are separations of our own creation though. Pastor Cami begins our new series on Reaching Beyond Barriers that we allow to create wedges in the body of Christ and reduce our ability to love the world well. She takes us through the story of Peter and Cornelius and how we can practically move past the Cultural Barriers we create and live more fully as the complete Body of Christ.
There's no question that leadership has great impact on our society. So we ought to pray for every leader who is in authority over us. Because the decisions they make affect our everyday lives. Whether they are godly, ungodly, righteous, unrighteous, fair, unfair, strong, or week; we pray. We never look to them as our hope or savior, but we pray for them. Today, Pastor Ryan reminds us through scripture how God revealed himself to leaders, and to pray for them. Listening also plays an important role in prayer. Listening to what God has for us, how to live, where to go, what to do... God calls us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. How quick are you?
Have you ever felt crushed by someone's words? Or maybe you've done the crushing. Perhaps someone has encouraged you on to greatness with their words? Pastor Matt continues our series on the Indivisible Church as he looks at the power of our words. And make no mistake, words really do have power. So who guides the things that you say? Is your speech from hurt and pain within your heart, or from the wellspring of life that is Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
How do people experience you when they don't agree with you? According to James' letter to the Early Church, it should be as a gentle servant, slow to speak and quick to listen. Is that you? It certainly is not the way of most people. Pastor Ryan takes us through what it means to live a life of Gentleness in a Hostile Environment as we learn to trust in God above being right or winning an argument and ultimate, become Indivisible.
Have you ever felt like the world is becoming a darker and darker place? Have you ever wondered what you can do about it? Pastor Ryan caps off our incredible week of Mega Skills Camp by helping us see how we all can shine the light of Jesus into the darkest places. In fact, it's in those dark places that the light of Jesus often has the greatest impact!
Have you ever felt terrified about the future? Have you felt scared that there won't be enough time, resource, good will to go around? It's easy to look around and slip into a survival mentality. Scarcity mindsets dominate our discourse as a society so often. But the Way of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven invite us into another way. Jesus invites us into an abundant life that trusts God for all things, and that starts with trusting Him for today. As we learn to trust Him we overflow with love and generosity that reflects our King and Creator to a world in desperate need.
There are three ways to go through life: Seeing God as less than you, equal to you, or greater than you. Two of those don't lead to the abundant life that Jesus promised, but living a life of humble submission to God? That leads to life and to a full life! How we are and the life God has for us are not often the same, but through a life patiently following the Way of Jesus day in and day out, we can begin to bridge the gap between who we are and who we were created to be. Pastor Matt Kladnik joins us to deliver this profound and timely Father's Day message.
Don't you hate it when someone talks about you behind your back? Too often, that is the culture that surrounds us. We love to gossip and find fault with others. This is NOT the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven though. The Kingdom of Heaven looks past an offense and yet, manages to restore the wounded to health and wholeness. The Kingdom of Heaven corrects with gentleness to lead us into Christlikeness without condemnation. So the question is this: what culture do you live out of? One leads to death and division, but to find Grace in a Fault-Finding Atmosphere leads to life and to an Indivisible community.
Have you heard the expression about someone living "rent free" in another's head? This is the reality of walking in unforgiveness. It binds us, holds us captive, keeps us from moving into the fulness of the Kingdom of Heaven in our lives. But Jesus has a better Way. Pastor Cami examines how we can be Indivisible as a Church by learning to forgive as we have been forgiven and recognizing what our part looks like and what is beyond our capacity to control on our own.
Everywhere around us, people are judged and discarded at a moment. Say the wrong thing? We're done with you. Not know the best way to say something or have the wrong words to communicate what you mean do say? It's over! But this is not the Way of the Kingdom of Heaven! The Way of Jesus is profoundly counter cultural in that it leads us in Unconditional Acceptance in a Conditional Culture. That is acceptance of the person who bears the divine image in human form and who is worthy of love for that very fact. We grow, we teach, but we trust judgment to the hand of God as we love people into the Kingdom of Heaven and maturity in the Spirit.
Has it ever felt like the world was swirling around you? Or that it was moving way too fast to keep up? The world can feel chaotic, and in fact, it is one of the Enemy's greatest weapons that he uses to divide and conquer. If he can use chaos to divide a church, marriage, friendship and then destroy that community, he will. And yet we have a God who gives peace. He even IS our peace. Do you need Peace in a Chaotic Season? Look to Jesus and the Holy Spirit to form you into a person of peace, capable of holding community together and maintaining an Indivisible spirit.
In many ways the Way of Jesus is counter cultural. One of those ways is the drive towards unity. While division and strife rule our day to day lives and newsfeeds, the Way of Jesus fights for unity, even in the face of disagreement and embraces the differences amongst us to create a community working together for the common good of man in the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you know this sense of unity? Pastor Ryan begins on a series on how we become the Indivisible Church as we practice Unity in a Divided World.
Would you live differently if you believed you were intentionally made by someone? Would it change the way you interacted with others if you believed they were intentionally made by someone? Some see our existence as a matter of happenstance. They believe the right factors lined up by chance and resulted in the world we see. The Bible tells another story though. It tells the story of a Creator God who looks at you with pride and calls you the result of His craftsmanship, created in Christ and for good works. Pastor Ryan wraps our series on Foundations for a Good Race by looking at what it means to be created with Purpose & Calling.
What does righteousness actually mean? And what do I have to do to be "righteous"? If you've ever wondered these things, you might have encountered worldviews that have given you a list of things to do or ways to go about life that can make you a righteous person. The radical thing about Christianity is this: righteousness is not a thing you do, but a Person you know. It is a relationship with a God that became a man and exchanged our interpersonal separation for right standing and restored life and love.
What do you believe you deserve for your life? What is the truth about the condition of your life? Pastor Taylor examines three critical questions when it comes to addressing this foundational issue in our Christian journey. Who has the wisdom to diagnose our condition?; What do they say about our condition?; and What can be done about our condition? It's not a great starting point, but the Great Physician IS great!
Who do you say that Jesus is? What you believe to be about Him is the foundation from which our entire life flows. Some people say that Jesus was a good man and a good teacher. Some would even say He was a prophet of God or a demigod. But the Biblical truth is simply this: Jesus is God. This is the starting place as we begin a series examining four essential truths that are Foundations for a Good Race.
Have you ever heard the word "atonement" and not known what it means? Or maybe you have a picture of Jesus simply being punished on our behalf so we can get into Heaven one day. The full, Biblical picture of atonement is so much greater! Jesus came that we might have abundant life and experience intimacy with the Father right here and now. He came to restore us to a bit of life INSIDE the Garden of Eden today, and all of it in the future.
Do you know "why" you do "what" you do? As we round out our series on Reaching For It All, we focus in on what motivates us to live our lives. Are we mere 'fans' of Jesus, or are we devoted followers, imitating His Way of life and living out the good works He has prepared for us? Are you simply getting by day by day? Or are you dangerous for the Kingdom of Heaven?
Did you know that there will be a time when all followers of Jesus stand before Him and receive a reward for their stewardship in this life? A large part of the mission of The Bridge Church is preparing followers of Jesus to hear "well done!" at that moment. The scene is called the Bema Seat of Christ in Scripture and it's a day to look forward to with eager anticipation. Pastor Ryan unpacks the attitude that looking forward to that day can provide us as we run our race of life in hopes of that day when we bask in His presence.
When Paul paints the picture of an athlete running a race, he does so knowing that the energy source for our spiritual race is never ending. Our week flesh grows weary with physical exertion, but we get to start each leg of our spiritual race - each new season of our lives with God - empowered by His spirit and refreshed by streams of Living Water. As such, we posture our hearts toward Him and renew our focused pursuit of His Kingdom, walking in the good works He prepared for us from the beginning.
Have you ever tried to run a race while facing backwards? As humans, we're not very good at dividing our attention between two things. When we try, we tend to not pay attention to either one. We're called to leave our past in the past; to let go and let God take control. How can we live the life that God has for us if we refuse to let go? How can we run toward Jesus if we refuse to look toward him? Luke writes "whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it." It's time to let go. God only has good for you. Cast your eyes on Him, and let's run this race together.
Why do you run the race of your life? What motivates you? Jesus Christ grabbed a hold of the Apostle Paul while he was on his way to persecute the very Church of Christ and gave him a picture of life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul then grabbed ahold of this "why" that drove the rest of his life. God is inviting us to do the same - to grab hold of the "why" in our lives and allow His love and grace to drive us to run a race of love, side by side, arm in arm.
What are you putting your confidence in? How do you define success or failure in your life? The Apostle Paul said that he was running a race and that the prize was Jesus Christ! But we also run the race WITH Jesus. We are on a course that was designed for us by God to be run alongside Him. But often we choose to run it alone. We try to have the Kingdom of Heaven without the King of Heaven and we wind up hurt. Will you choose your running mate today and partner with Jesus?
We live out a story, not only as individuals, but as a community. There is a unique story that God has called The Bridge to walk out and there are profound ways that He has been at work in that story over the past. Today, Pastor Ryan celebrates 20 years of The Bridge, 10 years since the merge of The Bridge and Mission Hills Community Church, and all that the Lord has in store for us now and in the future.
The Woman at the Well, as she's come to be referenced, was completely outside of community. She was lonely. About as lonely as can be. She had been rejected to the point of coming to her well alone at mid day in unbearable heat. But in the midst of such loneliness and rejection, Jesus saw her, dug past the dirt and met her with a living, life-giving sense of embrace that called her beyond her current station and upward to a life of holiness that led others to know that Jesus was the Messiah. Pastor Cami finishes our series on the Faces of Loneliness with a look at this famous story and how Jesus entered it with true Biblical Community.
Pastor Taylor continues our series looking at Faces of Loneliness in the Bible and how Jesus met them with true Biblical community. He takes us to the story of Zacchaeus and how he and Jesus went deep and shared transparency leading to Zacchaeus' inclusion in the community of Jesus' followers. But what does that look like for us today as we learn to have community with God and each other, and then minister to the lonely out in our surrounding communities?
Genesis 5 says that Enoch walked with God. He didn't sprint, but moved methodically over a life time towards God until God took him and the Bible says "he was no more". Pastor Mike returns from retirement for a special message looking at the life of Enoch and asking some key questions. What does it look like for us to walk with God and what are the implications and outcomes of a life devoted to following Jesus for the long haul?
Pastor Sean takes a look at the story of David and the Ark of the Covenant and what it means to encounter the love of God in a way that transforms us more into the image and likeness of Christ.
You're going to want to watch this one
It's not praise until you let it out. Pastor Ryan concludes our Christmas series with the shepherds and what it looked like for them to release their praise of the incarnate Jesus, the present Messiah and King of Israel. They weren't formally trained, they didn't have experience as orators, but they knew the message they had received and the encounter with the angels that they had experienced. No slick argument could undo that and they extoled the glory of God as a result.
The Light of Christ is always shining, and on Christmas Night it burst forth in a fresh and glorious way. It revealed itself to the lowest of lowly social outcasts in the shepherds. It burst forth and lit the way out of the bondage of their poverty, oppression, and low standing. What's more, Christ continues to be revealed to us today and continues to light the way through the darkness.
Sin has driven a wedge between humanity and the God that created them. Put simply, choosing what seems good in our own, limited eyes at the expense of trusting the way of the loving God who created everything has led us away from relationship with that benevolent God. Praise God, though, that He sent His one and only Son to pave the way for our relationship with God to be restored. What's more, is through His Holy Spirit we have the ministry of reconciliation in our grasp, putting down offense, and engaging in emotionally healthy and healed relationships with those around us.
Hope is the frame that informs all of how we approach life. So the question is, where is your hope? Is it in a bonus at work this Christmas season? What about next years elections in the US and who wins the presidency? Is it in your family to take your hurts away and soothe your pain? Or is it in the only good and perfect One; Maker of Heaven and Earth; The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Biblical hope in God and who He is will carry you through any time of waiting and uncertainty, looking forward to a promised future where He restores heaven to earth and makes all things new.
Have you ever wanted to be kind, gentle, and compassionate, but found yourself responding in frustration and indignation? How did Jesus do it!? Pastor Ryan finishes our series talking about how we can follow Jesus' model and be Fearlessly Sent to Minister with Compassion.
Do you feel confident to minister in the name and power of Jesus by the Holy Spirit? Do you feel confident in your identity as one whom God loves? Pastor Ryan takes a look at what it means to be confident in God, what that confidence enables us to do, and how we find ourselves in that place of confidence as he continues our series on being Fearlessly Sent.
Jesus came to proclaim the Good News. But what does that mean for us? How do we participate in His mission of proclamation? Pastor Cami continues our series on being Fearlessly Sent as we learn how we as a community of Jesus' followers do what He did and bring the present reality of the Kingdom to bear in our community and around the world.
Are you weighed down by stress? anxiety? depression? unmanageable expectations? Jesus has come to bring freedom from your oppression. Are you weighed down by abuse? sickness? spiritual powers of darkness? imbalanced authority structures? Jesus has come to bring freedom from your oppression! And He has commissioned The Church to be the hands and feet that take His Good News and His compassion and healing restoration to our local communities and to the ends of the Earth.
What are you doing with the light you've been given? Do you let it illuminate areas of darkness or hide it? Do you use it as a weapon to condemn those in darkness, or as a lamp to illuminate their path back to God?
We have the unique opportunity to help those lost and stumbling in darkness find their way back home into the loving arms of a gracious God through the work of Jesus Christ. The question is, what are we doing with that opportunity?
The journey to freedom starts by recognizing Jesus is the one to lead us out of captivity. Sin only and always leads to captivity. But Jesus only and always leads to freedom. Freedom does not mean that we get to do whatever we want. That freedom is of the world. The freedom that God gives is the freedom to become who you were created to be. Whatever it is that holds you captive will bow to Jesus if you recognize Him as King. As we abide in His Word, we are empowered by the Spirit to become like him. What are you abiding in today?
We live in a broken world. Brokenness exists all around us: in our workplaces, in our schools, in our families... yet God gives us the Gospel; a practical tool for the here and now that gives us hope for the future. You see, the Gospel to the poor is not just to those in physical poverty. It is also for those in spiritual poverty. That's the thing about poverty; it makes you willing to beg. Today, we dive into how the Gospel breathes life into our brokenness. How can we use the Gospel and the Kingdom within us to feed His sheep? How can we learn to see Jesus in the poor, the hungry, and the impoverished? Access to the resources of the Kingdom just requires a simple ask. All we have to do is keep crying out.
You have been sent by God to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven in your sphere of influence. This is critical for us to grasp as followers of Jesus seeking to see His will be done and His Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven. And if we grab hold of this mission, one thing becomes abundantly clear: we need help! Fortunately, help is available in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is ready and willing to fill and empower all those who ask and are willing participants in seeing the Kingdom of Heaven break into our world in real and practical way as we exalt Jesus the King.
What does it mean for us to "repent and believe"? Pastor Ryan prepares us as a church for an upcoming season of seeking the Lord and hearing His will for how we can reach out and bless our immediate community. He takes us through a valuable tool called The Learning Circle to aid us in our journey of hearing God and stepping into Fearless Response.
What does it mean for us to be exiles here in the world? While it may not feel like it, there is a purpose for us being alive when and where we are. We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. We seek the good of the place we find ourselves and in so doing, reflect the nature and character of Jesus to a world in desperate need of Him.
How do we use the earthly wealth that has been entrusted to us? Do we use it for our own selfish gain, or to invest in the priorities of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Pastor Taylor takes us through a look at the Parable of the Dishonest Manager as we contemplate how we best demonstrate our trust in and allegiance to Jesus with our financial influence through the investments we make to alleviate human suffering.
How do we respond to being indebted to the love and mercy of a benevolent God? Pastor Sean takes us through the Parable of the Two Debtors and outlines how an honest awareness of what we've been given by our Heavenly Father can only result in a restructuring of the way we live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Often times, when we think about being good stewards of our wealth we think about saving. We think about not being wasteful with the finances that we've received. But what if the Lord is inviting us into more. What if He's inviting us into being the sort of community that cares for others when they're in need, that lifts the heads of the destitute, and reveals the heart of Jesus to minister to the whole person, including their physical and financial needs? What does it look like to take risks under the direction of the Holy Spirit that love our neighbors well?
Pastor Josh takes us through the Parable of the Ten Servants as it's titled by the editors of the New Living Translation and asks how it is we can be the good and faithful servant.
"Who is my neighbor?" This is the question an expert in the law asked Jesus that invoked the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told him to behave like the Samaritan in relation to others, with compassion and radical, fearless generosity. What does that look like for us, in our social and historical context?
Pastor Leah begins our summer teaching series on the Economy of Heaven with a look at the Parable of The Good Samaritan.
The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church to follow him as he followed Christ. Whether you're a parent or not, there are people looking to you to learn how to behave, and grow, and live. What we choose to allow to form us and reflect out to others goes a long way into forming those that we are in contact with and have influence with.
We see three feast holidays commanded to the people of Israel in Leviticus 23. This begs the question: "What purpose did these feasts serve that the God of Israel commanded them to His people?" Pastor Ryan concludes our series on Fearless Trust with a look at how we respond to the goodness of our God by Gathering with Gratitude.
How do you think or feel about the poor and marginalized in society? How do you think the God of the universe feels about the poor and marginalized? It might surprise you to learn that God incorporated a social welfare system into the ancient Israelite law codes around how and when land owners could harvest the crops on their land. Through these laws we see God declaring not only that He cares about societal outcasts, but also that He has created a world that provides more than enough to care for you and those you care about. Even in the midst of abundance, we can often take a scarcity mindset that hoards resources for an unknown future. God meets us in that place as a Trusted Promiser and says that it's ok to let the edges go to the poor because He will continue to provide enough.
Pastor Ryan moves us into our third and final subseries in our Fearless Trust series, entitled "Trusted Promiser". We've looked at the story of Abraham learning to see the Lord as his Trusted Partner. We've seen the people of Israel in the wilderness after leaving Egypt learning to see the Lord as their Trusted Provider in a season that they couldn't provide for themselves. Finally, we will follow them into the Promised Land as they learn to trust that His promises are true because He is the Trusted Promiser. The question is this, how do we see the Lord when we have enough. In the season where your job is good and your bank account is full, how do you maintain of dependent and trusting view of God? One tool that He has given us in generosity. We look at what He's given us and choose to use it to honor Him and do the work of His Kingdom here on earth.
Is what you have enough? Have you learned to be content in plenty and in want? For many of us, the answer is a resounding "No!' The question isn't "Do we have anything do eat?", it's "Do we have what we're in the mood for?"; not "Do I have clothes to wear?", but "Are they the latest fashion?"; and not "Do I have a roof over my head?", but "How many square feet are under that roof and how many acres to I own outside of it?" That is our reality, and it's in the midst of that reality the God invites us to turn our hearts to Him, seek Him and say "It is enough.", and allow Him to remove the pressure and frustration of discontentment.
How do you lead the next generation? Pastor Ryan looks at the story of Abraham and Isaac and asks us to consider what it means to demonstrate a life fearlessly pursuing God in the sight of the next generation.
You've probably heard the word "Sabbath" before. But have you ever tried to make it a weekly rhythm in your life? There may have been a time that this was a normal way of life in US culture, but that is no longer the case. Few things are as counter cultural in our present age as Sabbath is. Taking a day every week to say, "God, You are enough. My work is enough. You provide enough. My identity as Your beloved child is enough." is antithetical to our modern age AND is the beautiful, life-giving gift the Lord offers us in Weekly Sabbath.
Fearless Trust moves into it's second set of messages, now looking at how we see God as our Trusted Provider. Often, we think of trusting God in the big picture. We think of large-scale miracles, long-term outlook, and big-picture life events. God, however, invites us into little, daily acts of trust that form us over time into the types of people who are capable of Fearless Trust.
Are you able to set aside your own wants and desires for the sake of others? Are you able to trust God's plan and design for your life, or do you need to scratch and claw to "get yours" or "look out for number one"? We return to our series on what it means to have Fearless Trust in God, seeing Him as our Trusted Partner by contemplating what it takes to be Able to Prefer Others in light of a faithful God.
What is the story of your life? As a follower of Jesus, you should know that you are blessed. Not only that, the purpose of your blessing is, in part, to spread that blessing out to others. Pastor Ryan kicks off our series on Fearless Trust as we look at what it means to be Blessed to Be a Blessing.
It's easy to miss the things God is doing. Whether we're distracted, headstrong, or just not attuned to His Spirit, we can get bogged down in our own things. But as we grow in our practices of following the Way of Jesus we will be motivated to Action by His Spirit. Pastor Ryan concludes our series on Cultivated Hands with a look at what missional action that brings the Good News of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world can look like.
This might be a surprise, but your will does not always align with God's will. Occasionally, you want things that are self serving and, ultimately, detrimental. But there are ways to align our hearts with God's. Pastor Ryan hones in on the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; "not my will, but Yours". This is our desire, Lord: not our will, but Yours.
How big is your view of God? When was the last time you found yourself lost in awe and wonder and the magnificence of the God of All Creation? Pastor Ryan looks at what a life full of awe looks like as we continue to develop Cultivating Hands for our spiritual practice.
What would you want to tell people because Jesus lives? What does it mean for your life? What about the lives of those around you? This Easter, we take a look at some things that Scripture and Church tradition tell us that Jesus said to people, and what we believe He is saying to our city today. You Are Worth It!
What does it look like to follow Jesus down the path into Jerusalem? To participate in His Triumphal Entry? It may end in victory, but it passes through the chaotic waters of death. We cannot have the works of Jesus apart from the ways of Jesus and so, we must set aside our own wisdom and instead head toward victory by Choosing God's Path.
God's thoughts toward us are as many as the grains of sand on a beach. He is always speaking. The question is whether or not we are going to learn to and choose to tune in to what He is saying. Pastor Ryan keys in on three ways He speaks to us in His Word, through His people, and in the worship of His majesty. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but merely three of the myriad ways that our Heavenly Father seeks to communicate with us and grow our relationships with Him.
How often do you notice the presence of God with you in your daily life? What activities do you associate with spending time with God?
Pastor Ryan turns the Page to the second part of our Cultivate series as we look at tools and practices that can help us cultivate a life following the Way of Jesus. We start by looking at what a life aware of His ongoing presence can look like and how we learn that sort of Way as we develop Cultivating Hands.
What do trials in life tell us about the character of God? What do we do when faced with difficult situations? What do we learn in the face of suffering? Pastor Ryan finishes up the first part of our Cultivate series on the Cultivated Heart and looks forward to the second half on the Cultivating Hand.
When trying to grow a lemon tree, it would be silly to plant strawberry seeds. The fruit of our lives is no different. We can choose to invest our time, energy, and attention into natural compulsion and desire, or we can choose to set our minds on things of heaven and sow seeds of the Kingdom. The sorts of things you choose will determine the way you live and interact with others.
What is it that stands in the way of deeper devotion to Jesus? What things are competing for your love; your desire; your adoration? Many good things can become briars in the soil of our hearts when we choose to give them primacy over our seeking after the Kingdom of Heaven. It's time to face those things, lay them before the merciful cross of Jesus Christ, and cultivate a good soil that is ready to receive Jesus' Word deep where it can grow roots and transform our lives.
Pastor Ryan begins a new, two-part series on the Christian life and how we develop lives of devotion that abound in the fruit of the Spirit. He begins by looking at the condition of the heart. How do you approach God and His Word? Do you approach with your decided ideas and presuppositions or with humility and openness to His way?
2022 was an incredible year of God's faithfulness, provision, and active work in our community. We take a look back at where we've been and what we've done and then look forward to what the Lord is stirring in our leadership team for 2023. There are some incredible things in store for this year!
Ironically, true fearless living begins with a Biblical fear of the Lord. Without that, we can end up with a watered-down, narcissistic version of Christianity that falls apart when confronted with the challenges of life. But I life that reveres God, that sees His grandeur and looks on it with awe and wonder is one that can truly be Fearless.
It's easy to let fear run our lives if we lose sight of our true Master. Pastor Ryan looks at the story of David & Goliath through the lens of the ways the Enemy tries to use fear to control us, and then meets that effort with the name of Jesus and His perfect love that casts out fear.
Spiritual hunger isn't like physical hunger. Spiritual hunger grows when you feast, and dwindles when you abstain from spiritual bread. It is the motivation that drives us into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. Pastor Cami unpacks the ways that the Lord meets us in our desire for Him and stirs us up to love and good works in this inaugural message of 2023.
The Good News is good no matter where you are in your relationship with faith. Whether you feel like there have been too many damages to that relationship to ever be made whole again or you've been faithfully pursuing Jesus for decades, we all need to be reminded of the beauty, majesty, and power of the Good News of the present and future Kingdom of Jesus Christ. This Christmas, remember to never lose your wonder of the restorative and regenerative work of the Good News.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17 (ESV)
What does a life of faith look like? What does it mean to trust God when He says "Go."? Where does that faith come from and what does it form in us to practice it? Pastor Ryan continues our advent series of Wonder by looking at the story of Joseph, the man who acted as Jesus earthly father, and the gift of faith. This Christmas, remember to never lose your wonder at the ways God has invited us to trust in Him and to let Him lead our lives.
God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. This week begins a new series of Wonder at the gifts that God gives us and the ways that we can respond to His generosity. Week 1 looks at the way that God chooses to partner with humans throughout the entirety of Scripture but specifically through the lens of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a fallible human in a city most thought badly of. She was unremarkable by most earthly metrics, and yet, the God of the universe saw fit to partner with her for the sake of His entry into flesh in order to save the world from their sins. That is remarkable! This Christmas, remember to never lose your wonder of the ways God has chosen to partner with us.
A new Heavens and a new Earth. Jesus will make all things new. That is the End of the Story. That is the ultimate direction that history as we know it is headed. The question for each of us as we look forward to it is "Will I choose to participate?" He won't force us, but He welcomes us to be full participants in His coming Kingdom. He's called us coheirs with Christ should we choose to accept the designation. THAT is the End of the Story.
After Jesus comes back there will be a time where He reigns from this Earth. And what's more, His Saints will reign alongside Him. Pastor Ryan continues us through out series on The End of the Story.
There are times where the Biblical Authors were intentionally vague, stirring us to meditate on the Scriptures daily. Inviting us to read along with the Holy Spirit to uncover the depths of truth contained within and to grow in relationship with The Father and Son along the way. One thing that is perfectly clear though? Jesus Will Return. He is coming back to be King over all creation and partner with His Saints to do so. The question isn't "If?", but "When?".
It's easy to pick sides. It's easy to treat others the way they do treat us, not the way we wish they would. It's easy to fight back against those who persecute us, disagree with us, speak badly about us, or attack us. Those things are not the Way of Jesus though. We finish our series through the Sermon on the Mount looking at how Jesus calls us to love. It's impossible apart from His Spirit, but praise God He gave us His Spirit to aid us and form us into the types of people who love well and love the way He does.
Has anyone ever wronged you? Offended you? Even just not helped you when you needed it? The usual human response is to get that person back. Like for like. Or even amped up from how they wronged us. Jesus however, gives another way. The Way of Jesus that seeks restoration and relationship over retribution is counterintuitive. But for some reason it is the way to life. From Gandhi to Jackie Robinson to Martin Luther King Jr., seeking the good of those who harm you softens hearts, draws others to your side, and most importantly points people to the One who empowers such a radical response; Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
How seriously do you take your commitments? Can people believe you when you tell them something? The Way of Jesus is one of integrity. It means to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no". As His follower, are you fully honest with everyone around you or do you deal in half truths. It's easy to say something that is technically true, but designed to deceive. The Way of Jesus doesn't do that. It's easy to craft our language to provide ways out or loop holes in what we said or committed to. The Way of Jesus doesn't do that. The Good News is this: a community of honesty and integrity is safe, secure, and flourishing; and Jesus provides His Spirit to help guide us to look and act more and more like the God we follow every single day.
There are things we esteem above others. You prize a certain pair of shoes above your others, a certain watch, a family heirloom, a piece of tech. When you prize something like that you give it honor and you treat it differently. In short, you treat it as though it MATTERS. This is how we're called to treat marriages. Whether you're in one or not, marriages deserve your honor. Maybe that looks like taking a step toward loving your spouse in the ways that they most receive love. Maybe that looks like allowing for space for your married friends to invest into their marriages. As you pray, how do you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to honor marriage today?
"People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -1 Samuel 16:7c (NIV)
No matter what the setting, we as humans seem to try and stretch and twist God's way to suit our desires. The Pharisees in Jesus' time and Legalism today made and make it about behaviors. They say that if you simply don't do certain things then you're right with God. Never mind what your inner spiritual and thought life look like. Other's say that the Way of Jesus is outdated and not applicable for today. Never mind what the interpersonal consequences might be. Jesus was clear, however. He said to love the LORD with all of your heart and mind. The behaviors will flow naturally from that place of devotion.
The law says that you shall not murder and that those who do will be judged in kind. But Jesus goes a little farther than that. It's a heart thing. He would rather us reconcile ourselves with our brothers and sisters in Christ, than to offer Him praise. We cannot know God fully while hating those around us. Ephesians tells us to "be angry, but do not sin."
Today we explore how to let go of our anger and reconcile with others, in order to be set free through Jesus. Is your heart free?
Shouting from a soapbox; Asserting organizational authority; Posturing and shouting; There are a lot of ways we can exercise influence, but there is a Way that leads to human flourishing where others don't. Pastor Ryan begins a new series through the Sermon on the Mount as we look at the Way of Jesus. Jesus' Way is calm yet powerful and His Way alone leads to abundant life.
What does it look like to be The Church? What does it mean to be in deep, Biblical community? Pastor Cami leads us through our need for one another, gathered around Jesus, corporately seeking after His will.
God wants to use you! We serve a God that is constantly using imperfect people. No matter how disqualified you feel, God will use you if you seek after His Kingdom first.
Our summer series concludes today with the topic of God's Love Perseveres. Through the thick and the thin, God is with us no matter where we are, or what we're doing. Be it grief, anxiety, relationship struggles; whatever it may be God is always there. Everyone has their stories of how God has helped them through the muck and the mire. What's yours?
This week we continue our summer series on how God's love protects us, and how he steps in to save us from ourselves. What does it look like to step in and protect others with love? God stepped in and sent us his Son. How can we step in to other people's lives and show them how God protects them?
We continue on in our series on love looking at what it means to trust in God. What does it look like for you to believe that God wants only your ultimate good and that He's fighting for you in both the valley and the mountain top?
Pastor Sean starts off our new summer teaching series on the way of Love. In it he talks about the way love hopes. And not just a common, human hope. Instead, we're given a divine, living hope by the Spirit of God. This is a hope that defeats death, that confronts heartache, and that stands victorious in the name of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Cami concludes our series surveying the last part of the book of Genesis and considering the areas that God demonstrated His ability to work difficult things For The Good. In this final installment, we look at perhaps the most difficult of the five. We look at where God is in the midst of our loss. The last couple years have brought with them a great lot of loss for a many great people, not dissimilar to the famine experienced in the known world at the time of Joseph's time in influence in ancient Egypt. God was present then, working For The Good, and He is present now.
The world is full of injustice. People wrongfully accused and convicted, people skipped over or shown preferential treatment, and people denied access to necessities because of their faith or the color of their skin. In this part of For The Good, Pastor Ryan talks about how we respond in the face of injustice committed against us. Do we seek to get others back for what they've done to us? Or do we turn the other cheek? To we treat our enemies in kind? Or do we treat them with kindness?
"God is our Provider." It's easy to say, but hard to believe. Add the pressures of economic downturn, high cost of living, and social pressures to impress to this disconnect between our heads and our hearts and the results can be devastating. We might put our hope in finances. We might draw our identity from our careers or incomes or our roles as breadwinners in the family. Or inversely, we might draw identity as the "have nots", regardless of our position globally. All of this turns our attention away from a loving Father who not only cares for us, but desires to teach us to abound in wealth and in scarcity. He wants to teach us to- and aid us in overcoming scarcity for the good.
Pastor Mike has been an integral, influential, and infectious leader in the community of The Bridge since The Bridge and Mission Hills Community Church merged. He's been impactful at the property the church resides for even longer, not only as a pastor, but as a teacher, counselor, and mentor. Before addressing the content of this teaching we say thank you Pastor Mike. Happy "refirement"!
We look at the larger of body of Psalm 145 and examine how the psalmists points us to the greatness of God. Not only His greatness, but His glory, goodness, generosity, and His grace. As verse 8 points out, we worship a God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Few things have the emotional capacity to wound quite like rejection. We continue to look at the story of Joseph in Genesis, who faced a rejection of incredible violence. Despised by his brothers, He was cast away and sold into slavery. There was a long journey in between, but by the work of God Joseph was able to overcome the pain of that rejection. He became the model of restorative grace that pointed forward to the work of Christ. That form of grace that restores us into the Family of God is now available to us through that very work. He has made us sons and daughters, coheirs with Christ.
There is no quick fix to hardship. No matter who you are, you will have to endure it to some degree. For followers of Jesus, this hardship is part of the process by which we begin to resemble our Savior and Teacher. You can't avoid it. You must experience it. The good news, however is this: You don't go through it alone. Even in hardship we can trust in the name of God. We can trust in His goodness and that His purposes are ultimately, eternally good.
How great is our God? Pastor Mike delivers his penultimate message before retirement in which he begins a two-part survey of Psalm 145. Here he keys in on the first seven verses and explores the praises heaped upon God as the psalmist wonders at the magnitude and incomprehensibility of God while calling the community of His people to praise through the word of their testimony.
You can tell someone all day about your faith, about what is right and wrong, and about your ethics. It won't carry much weight unless you actually live it out. As you lead and mentor, you have to exemplify what it is you want to see grow in those you're leading. This is true of children, students, mentees, etc. There is no "do as I say, not as I do". The only effective leadership that leads to health is one that models the truth to which their words point.
You are a missionary. We encounter a lost and dying world in desperate need of a Savior everywhere we go. Pastor Evan Levine visits us from Israel to encourage us with practical ways to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the mission field in front of us every day. You can learn more about Evan and his ministry at www.hatikvaproject.org.
Calling over career. As followers of Jesus we're called to love God first. This means following Him before worrying about your job, your income, your public image, any of it. Then you trust Him to handle the rest as He sees fit. We also seek to establish a culture of calling focus in our Homes that seeks first the Kingdom of God and lives to hear "well done, good and faithful servant."
Prayer has an impact. Know it. Believe it. God has invited us to partner with Him in ruling over His creation and one way that we participate in heavenly realms is by praying. As such, we have a responsibility to those we care about to cover them in prayer.
Occasionally we find ourselves taking a passive approach to our spirituality. We treat God as an addendum to our lives and, as a result, allow things outside of God's Word and Spirit to shape the way we see the world. To be a Healthy Home in the Kingdom of God however, means that we actively pursue practices that shape in us a view of our world and circumstances that reflect the view of God.
No matter what you're home looks like, who lives there, or how old they (or you) are we're called to share the stories of God's work in our lives with the next generation. Spiritual conversations are one rhythm that, when fostered, lead to a healthy home. It's not too late. You can start discussing God, His Word, and His work with those closest to you today!
Jesus is King of the valley and of the mountain top. Julia Schmaltz leads us through a look at the Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem of Jesus Christ on Palm Sunday and the ways that He is faithful in every season.
In life we have identities spoken over us often. There is only one Person, however, who has the right to declare our identity. That Person is the one and only God Most High and He calls us beloved, clean, righteous, empowered, and blessing. As we begin to take hold of the identity that God speaks over us we begin to live into that identity and it transforms the way we live and the confidence we have. As we begin to see others the way God sees them it transforms the way we love.
It's for freedom that Christ has set us free. But we can have some pretty twisted ideas of what freedom is. Usually, in our 21st-century, enlightenment context, we think of freedom as the right to do as we please. This is not what Jesus or the Biblical authors had in mind. Pastor Ryan finishes our series on our identities as followers of Jesus as he unpacks what it means to be free in Christ.
What does it mean to be adopted into God's family? How does it impact the way we treat others to see them as a part of that family? To see all people as desired by God, worthy of adoption? We often believe things about ourselves based on the messages we receive from a fallen world. These messages, regardless of their intentions, fall short of the identity that God has spoken and is speaking over us. It's only when we receive identity and calling from Him that we can live into the full potential of our lives to see His Kingdom come and His will be done.
Pastor Cami takes us through the life of Moses as we ask what it means to be known by God. Where is our identity derived? Is it in what we've done? Our profession? Where we've been? Our likes and dislikes? or is it rooted in I AM? As we get to know our God, our identity as His son or daughter comes into focus because the frame isn't our own, but who He is.
Pastor Ryan begins a new series that not only explores our identities as followers of Jesus and Brothers and Sisters in Christ, but the identities of all persons as Image Bearers of God.
What does it look like for you to represent Jesus to people in the storm? What does it mean to be a Person of Peace? Paul gave us an example of a follower of Jesus bringing the peace and encouragement of his Savior to people who didn't know the Lord. This was only possible because of his immense trust in God. Where does your trust lie today, and how can you reflect trust in God as you endure storms in your life with others.
Why do we doubt? What are the things that distract us from the presence of Jesus. Sometimes the storms of life don't stop when we call out to God. It's in those moments that we have Jesus, with us in the storm, walking on the waves and beckoning us to do as He does.
When the seas of life toss and churn, who is with you in the boat? Do you have the Presence and Promise of Jesus Christ? If you do, know that He is able to do more and greater than you can possibly imagine. And furthermore, don't just know it, but believe it as we open a new series looking at stories of how Jesus is With Me In The Storm.
We live as exiles on earth because our citizenry is in Heaven. The promise is this: I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Forever basking in the joy, splendor, and magnificence of God. Forever worshiping. Forever receiving and giving love. As followers of Jesus we, like David who wrote those words so long ago, will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. That is our promise and the reality into which we live.
As we continue our series through the 23rd Psalm we see David celebrating the presence of the Lord and the way He seeks to do only good, always. He prepares a full spread before us and welcomes us to enjoy His heavenly presence and grace. Step up to the table and enjoy your Heavenly Father.
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus leads us in the path of righteousness that leads to restoration. There are ways that seem right to us, but those, apart from the guidance of the Lord, lead to ruin. Even when we follow the wrong ways though, part of the goodness of God is that He provides a path back and He journeys with us on the road. He is always there to guide and guard our way as we follow Him.
What does a life of trust look like? The world around us in madness. Do our lives, as followers of Jesus, reflect our Shepherd's ability to quiet the storms of life? Or do we exude the same panic, coping mechanisms, and rhetoric that anyone without Him would? Pastor Ryan begins a series through Psalm 23 as we choose to look at a loving God and say, "You Are With Me".
Let's be honest. Not many of us get giddy at the idea of fasting. Whether you fast food, TV, video games, social media, or any other of the countless things that claw for our attention it isn't often a fun notion to give up things that bring us pleasure. The question though, is what are you missing glued to that thing. Even if what you fast is good for you (like food), the choice to set it aside opens us up to everything the Lord wants to do. We make a choice to turn our attention and devotion to the well of Living Water and allow Him to work in us and speak to us as we kick off the year with 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.
How long do I have to actively follow Jesus? When does the daily decision to choose His lordship end and I get to just coast as a fully-realized, conformed Image of Christ? Well the bad news is this: it never ends on earth. But the good news is also this: it never ends! We get to be pursuing our God, learning from Him and growing in His wisdom every day of our lives. We get to choose Him again and again; and we get the privilege of sitting at His feet as often as we desire. He has invited us to follow Him for as long as we live, His perfection is unattainable, but His grace is sufficient and by it we continue to be spiritually formed into His likeness.
Your expectation of the future affects how you live today. As followers of Jesus we have a hope that cannot be matched. We have a Biblical expectation for a future where God restores creation to wholeness. How can that hope shape the way you live? How can it affect the way you love? Where does the knowledge of Jesus having come to earth and the hope of His return manifest in your life?
What is the joy of the Lord? How does it look? Where does it really come from? When does it present itself and when is it needed most? Pastor Ryan looks at how Jesus made Joy Incarnate and how He continues to empower us with His joy today.
Pastor Ryan begins a new series on how Jesus incarnated the characteristics of the Advent season; Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace. In Part 1 he looks at the ways Jesus was the embodiment of love on earth and how we, as His followers, can continue to do so through the empowerment of His Holy Spirit.
Pastor Jerry Stott joins us from the missions field to talk about what it looks like to be a blessing in the name of Jesus. He reminds us of who the Bible says that we are as followers of Jesus and what it looks like, practically, to bring Jesus with us into every situation we enter.
What does it look like to be grateful at all times and what does that do to our spirit? Gratitude isn't just about giving thanks for the obvious blessings, but Pastor Sean takes this time before the Thanksgiving Holiday to outline the ways gratitude even in the dark leads us closer to the Light of Jesus.
How do we practically live as the Church God Uses, meeting each other where we are and lifting each other. Pastor Ryan rounds out chapter 14 of the Letter to the Romans with a look at what it means to obey the Law of Love as we relate to one another as followers of Jesus.
What are the issues that unite us? What about the issues we let come between us? Should we let them? Pastor Ryan continues our series on The Church God Uses by looking at the grace we give each other and what it looks like to be a family, accepted by God, united in the blood of the Lamb.
There is coming a day when Jesus returns, coming on the clouds, to establish His kingdom fully on earth as it is in Heaven. The question for the Church that God Uses is, "Are you ready?" How is the knowledge of His imminent return forming the way that you go about your every day life? Are you attentive or have you fallen asleep?
There is one debt that can never be paid. That is our debt of love to our neighbor. Not only does Paul challenge us to love, but Jesus challenges our notion of who our neighbor is and blows our categories out to include even the most socially despised person we can think of. Jesus take the word neighbor and includes those with different religious observances, political views, and ethics. When it comes to loving your neighbor, do you include those same people?
The Way of Jesus comes with a difficult call. The call to submit to authority. Pastor Mike Foell takes us through what it means to be a Christian citizen and how we relate to authority, both government and otherwise as we continue our series in Romans on The Church God Uses.
One of the hardest things to do in the Way of Jesus is to love your enemies. And yet, it is central to the call to follow Jesus. Pastor Ryan looks at Paul's commands to do so as he continues through Romans 12 in our series on The Church God Uses.
What is it to be genuine? How are we meant to engage each other as fellow believers in authenticity, without ulterior motives? Pastor Ryan continues our series on The Church God Uses in today's message on Authentic Spirituality.
We are made to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Furthermore, God built the Church in part to be salt and light into the world and to use the gifts he's given us to make things better. What does it look like for you to learn the ways that God has made and gifted you and then to turnaround and offer those things back to Him as a living sacrifice?
There is a tremendous amount of noise in the world circling around us. It will overwhelm and influence us beyond the Way of Jesus if we let it. The key for the effective church is to keep our focus on our north star. We must block out the noise and follow the voice of our Shepherd, maintaining clear thought and being transformed daily into the likeness of Christ.
Pastor Ryan begins a new series about "The Church God Uses". What does it look like for us to be the type of people and assembly that can move powerfully for the Kingdom of God? It starts with Surrender. It starts by bringing everything we have and are to the feet of Jesus, laying those things down, and proclaiming "here I am. Send me." Over the next few weeks we'll look at the 'practicals' of the Christian life laid out in Romans 12-14 as we seek to become The Church God Uses.
What is baptism and why does it matter? We welcome Pastor Ryan Oddo back from sabbatical as he leads us in our Baptism Celebration.
As a community of believers, we want to be just that: a community. We care about each other, celebrating the contributions and mourning the struggles that each member experiences. With the new school year is upon us, our K-8 school's (RSM Christian School) administrative team members Carrie Gulino, Mike Margy, and Lori Jensen teach on what it means to be servants and to raise children who serve and represent the Kingdom of God well.
How do we trust a moral code that seems to contain so much immorality? Is that even what the Scriptures are? What is the nature of God? Can He be trusted? Is He just?
Celine Sandoval tackles these questions and more as he brings our series "Aligned" to a close with a look at the morality of The Bible.
Pastor Mike continues our series on the Living Word of God. How is the Bible relevant to our lives today? Isn't it just a 2000-year-old book after all? Pastor Mike provides a litany of reasons that we should take the Bible seriously now and apply it to our modern lives.
Taylor Schwab continues our series on being Aligned to Scripture with a look at whether or not it is in fact, accurate. How do we know that what we have in our Bibles is what was written? How do we know what was written is true? Taylor leads us through how to answer those questions and what to do with the answers in this weeks teaching on the doctrine of Scripture.
What do we mean when we say that the Bible is "inspired"? What does it even mean to be "inspired"? And, maybe most importantly, what does it mean for our lives if we believe that the Bible truly is the "inspired Word of God"? Pastor Bill Dogterom is with us once more to kick off our series, "Aligned" where we'll look at the authority of Scripture and how we relate to it.
Welcome to Mega Skills Sunday! Today, Pastor Gabe reflects on the message we've been teaching your kids all week at Mega Skills Camp, about finding our identity in Christ.
Can you tell the difference between a sheep and a goat? Does the way you live reflect God's love in everything you say and do? Pastor Bill Dogterom concludes his series, titled "Be Ready" as he challenges us to reflect on whether we're ready to hear "well done, good and faithful servant."
What are you doing with what God has given you? That is the crux of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. Pastor Bill Dogterom continues his series, titled "Be Ready" as he challenges us to respond to the invitation of Jesus to be active participants in the Kingdom of God.
What's in a parable? Pastor Bill Dogterom joins us to begin a three-part series through Matthew 25. In this survey of the parable of the ten virgins he discusses what it means to be ready and how followers of Jesus can prepare ourselves to actively embody Christ in the ongoing end times.
Sometimes the most profound things in life are the simplest. That's easy to lose sight of when we think about teaching. We think of vast knowledge or deep wells of wisdom. These are good things, but without the ability to communicate and transmit those things they do not constitute the gift of teaching on their own. Pastor Mike finishes our series on the Gifts of the Son with a look first at what the teaching gift is not, then what it is. Finally he leaves us with action steps on how to respond to those with the gift of teaching as hearers of God's Word.
A group of fathers from The Bridge share their stories about how God and Scripture have met and led them as they journeyed raising their children and what it can mean for the rest of us. In what ways has the Lord met you and led you as you go through life?
Not an office, not the responsibility of the select few in vocational ministry, we're all called to care for those around us. That is the very role of the pastor (or shepherd) in the Church. While some are more gifted to do this well, we're all charged with the responsibility. Pastor Mike continues our series through the Gifts of the Son with the Gift of the Shepherd and what that means practically in each of our lives.
What do you think of when you hear the word "evangelist"? Maybe people like Billy Graham and Greg Laurie? Maybe people handing out Bible tracts or standing on street corners with bull horns? Like much of our conversation around Divine Placement and the five-fold ministry, we have painted a cultural picture of the evangelist that isn't what the Bible says. Pastor Cami opens up the text to see how the evangelist functions in the Church and how the evangelistic gift plays out in our day-to-day lives.
We continue our series through the Gifts of the Son and the five-fold ministry with a look at the prophetic gifting. We usually think of a prophet as someone who tells the future. That can be a part of it, but Pastor Mike Foell unpacks here the multiple ways that prophets function both in the first-century Church and the Church of today. You may be surprised to find how the prophetic gift functions in your own life without even realizing it.
The word "apostle" can be intimidating at times. Of course we think of Jesus first 12 followers during His earthly ministry. Or maybe you think of Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament of the Bible. The design of the Church is the same now as it was then. We need all systems to function well. The apostolic gifting is no exception. People with this gift are visionary, creative, innovative, and purpose driven and they function in this way both inside and outside of the Church.
Over the next several weeks we will be going through each of the five parts of the five-fold ministry. We invite you to posture to hear from the Lord on how He has crafted and gifted you you function within the Church and to serve the world for His glory.
The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. What can we do about that? As churches and followers of Jesus we have the responsibility to equip those in our care and each other to the ministry that God sets before us. We have to opportunity to learn and grow in our giftings and to see people fulfill the God-given calls on their lives as they develop into the people He has designed them to be.
A group of mothers from The Bridge share their stories about how God and Scripture have met and led them as they journeyed raising their children and what it can mean for the rest of us. In what ways has the Lord met you and led you as you go through life?
The Church, like many things, has a variety of systems that are designed to help it function. The body wouldn't function at its optimal level without a healthy circulatory system. Likewise, The Church is the most effective when it's members are operating in all of the gifts the Lord has designed us with. Lose or neglect one and the Church becomes less effective.
This week, Pastor Cami begins a new series on the Gifts of the Son and how we work together to advance the Kingdom of God on Earth.
In a world full of division, vitriol, rhetoric fueled by anger, and growing divides amongst philosophical camps, how will you respond? Will you choose to come to the table seeking understanding and reconciliation or seeking to be right? The Church is called to point people to Jesus and earnestly seek His way. We don't do that well with public in fighting and and outward anger. Inwardly, we disagree well and seek the way of Jesus in all things. Outwardly, we love well and point people to the way of Jesus in all grace and gentleness. The choice is yours. Will you be a part of the problem or a part of the solution?
Every believer is given the gifts of prophecy and discernment. Prophecy to speak and understand God's will toward us and others. Discernment to understand what voices we're listening to. In the world around us, we are constantly being bombarded by voices of destruction. But God's plan for us is good, only always. What voice will you listen to?
What do you have faith for? What box have you put God in? Our God is bigger than our notions and our limitations. He's bigger and more powerful than we can even conceive, and yet we often put limits on the things we believe he'll do. Particularly in our modern, western context we have eliminated gifts like healing and miracles from our practice of The Way of Jesus if not from our doctrines altogether. But they were promised. They're available and they're happening all around the globe. Are you willing to step in and trust God's power for more astonishing, miraculous works through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?
He is risen! Jesus has demonstrated the power of God through His resurrection. He has shown Himself worthy to be Lord of all and capable of leading the way through every struggle. The world is not without its trouble, but take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. It's in light of this powerful truth that we let go of what is weighing us down and get ready to let God lead the way.
What does it mean for Jesus to be King? What does that look like? We know that the Kingdom of God doesn't look like our kingdoms. We know that God's ways are not like ours. Jesus came to a nation expecting their Messiah to come and deliver them out of the hands of their occupiers with force and bravado. They had developed a picture of what the coming Kingdom of God would look like based on the way human kingdoms functioned, but Jesus came and defied the human narrative. Jesus came and fulfilled the Scriptures to deliver a kingdom of love, grace, mercy, and compassion. He came to deliver His people from the strongholds of sin into the stronghold of God's loving arms.
How does God speak and what sorts of things does He speak? What's the purpose of His speech? The Lord wants to partner with us in ministry and to do that He shares His thoughts and plans with His people. That's really what we're talking about when we talk about things like words of wisdom, knowledge, or prophecy. These are revelations from God to someone that we wants to partner with to accomplish His purposes on earth. Pastor Cami unpacks the practicality of these gifts as we continue our series through 1 Corinthians 12 and Divine Power.
Ministry under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is not a role for the isolated few. It isn't a privilege of the clergy to use the gifts of the Spirit. It is the joy and honor of all followers of Jesus to join in with the Body of believers in partnering with the Holy Spirit, for the common good.
One way that spiritual gifts get abused is when we see people as having power, rather than being empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's important to keep our focus on the power of God working through us and remember that all believers are gifted to function empowered by the Spirit for the upbuilding of the Church. We do however, have to actively choose to engage with the Spirit and participate in His work on the Earth.
Pastor Ryan opens a new series on the "spirituals" described in 1 Corinthians 12. Western culture doesn't tend to take spiritual matters very seriously. Even people who claim to believe in such things don't tend to practice them in any significant way. But Paul said he didn't want us to be ignorant of such things. Not for lack of information nor for lack of interest. This new series is an opportunity to learn about the way Jesus has invited us to come alongside Him and minister empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we follow Jesus and learn to do what He did, we have to learn the way He did things. That is what Divine Power is all about.
Followers of Jesus are called to tell people about Jesus. The question is, "Are you somebody worth listening to?" Is there anything about your life that is enticing, that makes someone want what you have? Do you have anything to share? Do you share with conviction? The Lord helps us to grow in our ability to share His love and character as we continue to earnestly seek after Him and follow His ways. The key there is that we need His ways to share who He is in an effective and credible way.
Jesus called His followers to proclaim His coming "to Jerusalem, Judea, and the ends of the earth." What does that mean for us now? What is our Jerusalem and Judea? And how are we supposed to reach people? The answer is simple: empowered. We don't have to do it alone, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can be witnesses of the character and majesty of God to our community, country, and globe.
We can choose to go about our lives as is. We can choose to just try and be a good person and act kindly and live our lives in our own strength. But Jesus told us that it would be better for us if He went away for a very specific reason. That reason was the promise that His Holy Spirit would come and give us the power to live supernatural lives. We don't have to live this life in our own strength because He has offered His. The question is this: Do you want and are you ready for the God of the universe to fill you and help you live the life He is calling you to?
Tools have their purposes. You could use a screwdriver as a hammer, but it wouldn't be nearly as affective at that as it is at driving screws. More importantly, it's not available to fulfill its true purpose while its being used inconsistently with its design. Likewise, we've been made by a Creator with design and purpose. We get to choose to either misuse and abuse the way God has crafted us or make ourselves available to the Master. It's then that He can use us the way He truly intended to fulfill His work.
We all have gifts and talents. More than that, we all have a story. Last week we talked about how we are vessels made to be filled. Part of that filling is the things that we're good at, but part of that filling is simply our story. It's the word of our testimony. It's the places that we've failed and been hurt. As vessels made for honorable use by the Father we are also made to be emptied; to be poured out. We are made to share those stories and experiences and use our gifts and talents to bless others. That is honorable use for His Kingdom: when we use what we've been given to bless others and point them to Jesus.
Pastor Ryan continues our series in 2 Timothy with a look at what we, as vessels, are filled with when we proclaim and follow Jesus. It's things that the Spirit is doing in and through us that change who we are from the inside into Kingdom people, equipped for the work of the saints.
Pastor Cami opens our new series and theme for 2021 of being ready. "Ready for Every Good Work" requires a posture of openness to the things of God and a willingness to allow His Spirit to work in us and cleanse the dishonorable things from our lives. We choose to position ourselves as vessels of honor, ready to do the work of the Kingdom when His voice calls on us.
Pastor Mike teaches through Psalm 73 and traces the train of thought that the psalmist, Asaph, takes. Asaph looks around and sees the wicked seemingly winning at life. Ecclesiastes says "there's nothing new under the sun" and often we look around and see the same thing. Asaph is troubled by this and walks through his emotions as he processes the unfairness of the world at this stage, but when he turns to God and puts his trust in Him he is comforted. Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble, but take heart because He has overcome the world.
The less certain our futures seem to us the more we begin to lean on our own understanding. It's important for us as a church family to humble ourselves before the Lord as we look forward to a new year and begin with 21 days of fasting and prayer. We lay ourselves down at His feet and ask what updates does He have for us as we move forward. What are the things you need to let go of? What are the strongholds that need to be broken down in your life? Who are the people that you need to forgive?
We wrap up our Christmas Hope series with a message about the Wise Men of the East. The faith that they demonstrated is difficult at times to picture, but when we do it's even more difficult to grab hold of. We see them brought face-to-face with the Christ Child through their active pursuit and trust in the Word of God. The question for us this Christmas, in the midst of struggle, is will we choose to pursue Jesus and trust in the promises of God?
Sometimes simply talking to someone about Jesus can be the most intimidating thing. Whether it's feeling like it won't matter, we don't know enough, or our standards of success aren't helpful we shy away from sharing the Good News about Jesus with those around us. Jesus told us not to hide our light. We have the cure for the disease of sin and hope for a hopeless world. His name is Jesus. Let's shout it from the mountains!
Salvation means more than just getting into heaven. Salvation is about healing and restoration in all things. Pastor Ryan looks at the Christmas story from Joseph's perspective and what it means to find salvation for relationships, destinies, and even nations in need of healing and hope.
How is your hope? Do you feel like you're rooted to the person of Jesus, or is hopelessness and despair getting the better of you this year? It needs no further mentioning that 2020 has been a trying year. Still, as Christmas approaches we're reminded that divine hope came to this earth over two millennia ago. Hope has a name and His name is "Jesus".
Humility is a highly touted virtue that is impossible to walk out in our own ability. It's often confused with self deprecation, but true humility isn't about thinking less of ourselves. True humility is about the willingness to submit to authorities placed over us and to ultimately submit to the will of God, trusting in His goodness and faithfulness when we don't understand the moment. It demands that we look to God and anchor to His strength to empower us to trust and to see us through to the other side.
It's always helpful to know what's expected of us. Whether in it's in our personal or private lives, clearly stated expectations are critical to healthy relationships. The same is true as we cultivate our relationship with God. Fortunately, He has made His expectations clear. Pastor Ryan goes through 1 Peter 4 and looks at what it means to be Christians, living lives that are accountable to Jesus Christ and understanding what it is that God expects from us despite a world that rejects Him and His ways.
We have an ultimate hope in Jesus. Pastor Cami continues our series in 1 Peter by looking at how Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection, and exaltation give us victory over the trials of our past, present, and future.
What does it mean to be blessed to be a blessing? What does it look like to bless those who curse you? It's easy to get caught into the dog-eat-dog world we live in or to allow bitterness to control our speech. Jesus calls and empowers us to a different life though. Pastor Ryan looks at what it means to have a lifestyle of blessing in part 7 of our series through the book of 1 Peter.
How do I live in a way that wins people to Christ? Too often we live compartmentalized Christianity. We worship and pursue Jesus passionately in our church circles, but our home lives and work lives don't reflect His Spirit at work in and through us. Being a living witness means following Jesus with our entire being, in every sector of our lives. Pastor Ryan continues our series through the book of 1 Peter with a look at how a culture of honor can help us reflect the light of Christ to a lost and dying world.
There are a lot of things in life that are drains on our energy. Be it physical, emotional, or spiritual there are things that suck the life out of us. There are however, also things that are life giving. Jesus said that if anyone comes to Him then He would give them Living Water. Peter frames out a few of those life-giving sources of Living Water for us here in chapter 2 as we continue our series Anchored through the book of 1 Peter.
What does it mean to be holy? What does it look like for the Church to live lives that make people take notice and that points those people to Jesus? Pastor Ryan looks at the things that motivate us as followers of Jesus to live distinct and holy lives as he continues in our study through 1 Peter.
What is your hope tied to? If the thing we tie our hope to is moveable, shakeable, changeable then it will be tossed about and crushed by every wave of the storm of this world. If, on the other hand, our hope is tied to an immoveable, unshakeable, and unchanging anchor then our hope will stand. A living hope must be tied to the Person of Jesus Christ and His work through death on a Roman cross and a resurrection Life three days later. Jesus Christ is the One who stands firm for us in the midst of the storm and provides us with solid footing to embrace life's challenges, to meet the testing of our faith, and to come out the other side refined, with a faith more precious than gold.
Jesus will never be dethroned. What does it mean to anchor our faith in something that was built to last? In the midst of the storms of this world, we need something to hold on to. As Christians, we are called to be different, to be nomads; to live our lives with Jesus at the forefront. What does it look like to live differently, while anchored to a heavenly homeland?
What does it mean to put our hope in Jesus? The world is as tumultuous as ever and we need a North Star. We need something to keep us steady when all around us is uncertainty, fear, and chaos. The Good News is that the King of Creation has entered the very world He created to redeem us and guide the way back to Himself. Jesus is our rock and our firm foundation. He is our Anchor in the storm.
Sometimes it just feels easier to retract. It's easier to stay at home, keep to ourselves, and not press into community. This is not the abundant life that God has for us in Christ. He calls us into community; to bear each other's burdens. He calls us to love well and support each other. He calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. We can do none of this unless we move away from a casual approach to community and begin to live Christian community with fervor and Jesus at the center.
It's easy to approach our Christian lives and choose to sit on the sidelines, choosing to let others do the work of ministry. It's easy to tell ourselves little things like "I don't know enough Scripture to help that person struggling with their mental health" or "That serious stuff is for pastors to do", but Jesus calls us all into a passionate pursuit of Him. He calls us to come be with Him, follow Him and His teachings, and go do the things that He did. This takes us stepping out of a casual commitment to Him and jumping in all the way to a passionate, life pursuit of Jesus and His Way.
Pastor Ryan opens up a new series looking at God's purposes for our lives and the things that get in the way. It's easy to get bogged down in the chaos and uncertainty of every-day life, but God's calling is bigger than any of that. He sees you where you are and He wants to lead you into the life that He intends for you. Are you willing to follow?
Daniel lived a life of integrity. Pastors Celine and Taylor look at the life and story of Daniel in the Lions' Den and the impact of a life of integrity and how we get there. God wants to change our communities and the world through us, His hands and feet. How do we become the types of people that His power can flow through?
Pastor Josh look at the familiar story of Jonah through the lens of mercy. God gives mercy to the Ninevites freely in the story. This is something Jonah was opposed to and the source of the conflict between God and Jonah. God has given each of us that same, free mercy. The question is, are we willing to pay it forward?
Christa shares the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace and the confidence they had in God. Then Pastor Sean challenges us to prayer and fasting. He challenges us to have faith that God can do everything He says he can and to put that faith into action. God can answer prayers, God can sustain us in the hardest of times, and God can deliver us from the whatever force the enemy may try to come against us with.
Pastor Gabe introduces our new series that take a look through some classic Bible stories and asks how we can apply these stories to our present-day lives. First up is David and Goliath. Pastor Gabe, along with Shae West, ask the question what it means to be courageous while examining the different perspectives represented in this classic tale.
The culmination of the #unphased series looks at what it means to live in context of eternity. There are constant worldly pressures to live for immediate gratification, the good job, the big house. But the way of Jesus demands that we set aside our idea of what 'the good life' is and turn to God for His plan and purposes for our life. Living for eternity means discovering the specific call God has on our individual lives and pursuing that calling with our every fiber.
Competency number seven on our list of eight competencies that we believe every follower of Jesus needs to develop in their pursuit of a Godly life is living a life that is fearlessly generous. What does it look like for you to trust God completely with your finances? What does it mean to know that He is our shepherd and because of Him we shall not want? What does it mean for you to be fearlessly generous?
Pastor Ryan picks up our survey through the eight competencies that we believe every follower of Jesus must develop to bridge the gap between who they are and who they are created to be. Competency number six deals with how we engage each other in love, and what Jesus' love looked like in a practical sense.
Pastor Ryan returns to our series through the eight key Kingdom competencies that we believe are critical to every follower of Jesus hearing "Well done" when they stand one day before the throne of God. This week he looks at the early church and what it looks like to practically and confidently minister in the empowerment and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Celine Sandoval tells the story of how his relationship with his father went from non-existent to thriving and how the Lord taught him lessons about life in the Kingdom of God through the restoration of that bond.
Part 4 of our series through the eight Kingdom Competencies we believe are essential for every follower of Jesus to live out their calling and become the people God intends them to be is Living Missionally Everywhere. What would it look like if all of us as followers of Jesus kept our focus on the objective of advancing the Kingdom of God and bringing hope and healing to a lost and dying world?
Continuing our series looking at the eight Kingdom Competencies we believe are essential for every follower of Jesus to heart "well done" one day at the judgement seat of Christ, we look at what it means to stand confident in our identities as God's beloved. What does it mean for us to know that our value and worth doesn't come from our accomplishments but from His active and undying love for us.
The second of the eight kingdom competencies we believe are critical to living into our Godly calling and hearing "well done" at the judgment seat of Christ is the ability to walk in kingdom authority. Pastor Ryan Oddo talks about the keys to doing just that and how we stay focused on the true enemy of our souls.
Pastor Ryan Oddo opens up a new series on how we engage trying times as believers. Part 1 asks whether we're listening to the voice of God or the voices of this world and what voices we're letting inform our actions.
Pastor Ryan Oddo concludes The Character of Destiny series that looked at the life of Joseph as he was sold into slavery by his brothers and rose to prominence in Egypt. Genesis 45 shows us the redemption of his family relationships when he reveals himself to his brothers and reflects on the incredible things God did for good through their evil act.
Guest speaker Lisa Espinoza shares the incredible gift it is to live in the beautiful in-between. How do we grow and mature in our lives and walk with Jesus while maintaining a childlike sense of awe, wonder, and rest in the Father's love?
Pastor Sean Thompson takes us through Joseph's first encounter with his brothers since they sold him into slavery. Joseph is at a crossroads and has to decide whether to pay his brothers back for their injustice or extend grace, mercy, and blessing to the undeserving.
We see Joseph thrust into a position of tremendous influence in this part of the story. The question is what he does with it and how God has prepared him for this moment.
In Part 7 of The Character of Destiny we see Joseph having grown into a man that trusts God's ability to get him wherever He needs to take him, whenever He needs to take him there.
Pastor Ryan Oddo looks at the various ways we try and fill the emptiness in our lives and how they all fall short of fulfilling God's presence in our lives.
Part 6 of our series walking through the story of Joseph in Egypt. This week we look at the need for God in us becoming overcomers.
Part 4 of The Character of Destiny sees Joseph faced with a decision about who the moral authority is in his life. Would he succumb to the pressures around him or would he look to God as the ultimate authority in his life?
Part 2 of The Character of Destiny. Joseph's brothers throw him in a pit and sell him into slavery. Something happens to Joseph in that pit that transforms him and strips him of his pride. What are the pit moments in our lives and the things that need to be stripped away to allow us to live the God-dreams that God has for us?
Pastor Ryan Oddo begins a news series titled "The Character of Destiny". In it The Bridge will look at the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. God had ordained a plan for his life, but He needed Joseph to develop the proper character to live out that plan well. Part 1 is about how God took Joseph from arrogant favorite child who boastfully declared his own greatness to humble and contrite servant.
Part 3 of Changing Your World Through Praise. Pastor Ryan Oddo works through the story of Paul and Silas in a Philippian prison, their release, and the salvation of the Philippian jailer.
Part 2 of Changing Our World Through Praise. Pastor Ryan Oddo talks about songs of praise as a weapon of spiritual warfare.
Part 1 of the series "Changing Your World Through Praise". Pastor Ryan Oddo takes us through the story of King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with praises and thanksgiving, welcoming the presence of God. In the presence of God is blessing and freedom.
Pastor Ryan Oddo helps recalibrate our attitude towards the lost and hurting world around us by highlighting Abrahams compassion towards the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Pastor Ryan Oddo teaches from the story of Daniel. He outlines how, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are not only capable but commanded to stand against spiritual forces of darkness in unseen realms.
Pastor Ryan Oddo introduces our new series on intercessory prayer. He outlines the authority we've been given by God and the need for us to cover others in prayer.
Pastor Ryan lays out the need for the Bridge as a local church and for believers in general to come together, relying on one another for strength. He outlines the need for relationship with God, each other, and the World around us to see the Kingdom of Heaven come on Earth.
Pastor Mike Foell takes us through what the Bible has to say about fasting ahead of The Foursquare Church's 21 Days of Fasting to start the year of 2020.
There are times when the storms of life have waves beating us into submission. It's in those moments, when we can't make it on our own, that abundant living means reaching out and letting Jesus take us by the hand.
We experience rejection for a multitude of reasons and in a multitude of ways. Jesus sees the pain and brokenness we feel in rejection and has compassion on us to heal and restore us. Pastor Cami Wittwer explores two stories of how Jesus meets the rejected in this week's message.
"In this life you will have trouble." Jesus spoke this message both as a warning and an encouragement. Pain is inevitable, but Jesus overcame the world and all of its heartbreak. Pastor Ryan Oddo reflects on Jesus raising a man from the dead and how he met a widow in her grief.
Life is not always kind. The trials and tribulations of life can often lead to doubt and disillusionment, but Jesus wants to meet us in those moments and use us to meet others as well.
The Woman at the Well saw her life and priorities radically transformed by her single encounter Jesus. They say every journey begins with a single step and one step closer to Jesus has the power to change the world.
Jesus had a clear sense of the mission of His life and what the mission of the lives of His disciples ought to be. Pastor Garett McClure unpacks how He demonstrated this after His encounter with the Woman at the Well and what the Father's heart is for us as we engage a world in need of His love.
Our ultimate goal in meeting people where they are spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually is to help them connect with God on their own. Transformation is only accessible through the power of God at work in our lives. That connection is pivotal in seeing people renewed in the love and power of Jesus.
It is a powerful truth that the Holy Spirit knows each of our points of pain. As people who walk in the power of the Holy Spirit we have the ability to love each other through those places whether they be spoken or not. All we have to do is trust the Spirit and take the risk of obeying His voice.
Pastor Mike Foell Continues the series on John 4 and the Woman at the Well. He dives into the concept of living water, how the Woman at the Well engaged the concept, and how Jesus serves as an example to us to engage people in meaningful conversation no matter where they find themselves spiritually.
Jesus chose to encounter the woman at the well in a remarkable way despite the social barriers that existed between them. He broke through methodically with love and grace to meet her in her brokenness.
Ryan Oddo begins a new series titled "Going Out of Our Way" where he'll explore John 4 and the Woman at the Well. Here he works through John 4:1-6 and how Jesus met the woman at the well where she was - not only physically, but also spiritually and emotionally - and how we should too.
The world around us lives by a set of pressures to perform in certain ways in order to have value. God however, has declared us valuable simply for being His creation.
We're are free through grace to reach out to the lost and hurting. We're free to restore them in love. We're not bound by pride, condemnation, and legalism, but rather free to love unconditionally.
We look at how salvation through Jesus Christ didn't only save us from the Law, but saved us for something greater. In the Gospel of Grace we are given access to the Holy Spirit and empowered and permitted to live our lives under His guidance.
Pastor Ryan returns to begin Section 3 of Radical Grace titled The Liberating Gospel of Grace. He talks about the difference between conviction and condemnation and how, in Christ, we get to enjoy our lives free from the oppression of condemnation and shame.
In a world falling further and further into disarray it is incumbent on those mature in their faith to take responsibility for the next generation and declare that we will not let them slip away to the deception of the enemy.
Paul takes the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac and applies it to life under the Law and life under Grace. He explains how life under the Law is one of bondage and slavery and life under Grace is that of the Promise.
Garett McClure unpacks the significance of the parent-child relationship that God the Father has chosen to include us in alongside Jesus Christ and how we're drawn into not only reverence for, but nearness to God through the Cross.
Justin Taylor explores the plethora of ways that the promised blessing to Abraham is superior to the Law of Moses in its reach and application and how through that promise, the whole world was brought into grace.
Connie Taylor begins Section 2 of our Summer series through the book of Galatians, titled "The Inclusive Gospel of Grace". In chapter 3, Paul reminds the Galatians how they were given the Spirit through faith and not by works of the law.
Pastor Ryan Oddo teaches from Ephesians how we were created uniquely to know God and bless others.
Pastor Ryan Oddo delivers part 4 of our Radical Grace series and the final installment in Section 1: The Pure Gospel of Grace. He explores how grace looks at our failures and meets them with love and kindness in a way that will always contradict the response of this fallen world.
Pastor Cami continues our summer series through the book of Galatians. She examines how Paul defends the truth of the gospel through chapter 2 in verses 1-10. Paul tells reminds the Galatian church that the message he gave to them was delivered to him by God, reviewed and approved by the apostles in Jerusalem, and requires no changes or addendums.
Pastor Mike Foell continues our series through the book of Galatians. He looks at why Paul had such ownership of the message being preached and why we should too.
Part 1 of a line-by-line teaching series through the book of Galatians. This week we explore the authority of book of Galatians as well as what it means to be saved by grace, rather than through works.
Having a posture to obey or respond to his voice is just as important as learning to hear. It is one thing to truly not know and something entirely different to ignore or forget what you hear. It says something about our value for, trust in, and commitment to God and his will for our lives.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. This Father's Day we learn about the empowering influence a father can have in their children's lives by the words they choose to use or not use and father's learn how to initiate healing if they haven't always 'spoken life'.
Expectations? We all have them…we bring them into every relationship. We even have expectations of God. But do we expect to hear from God?
This is the question we explore in this 3rd message in our Hearing God series.
Have you ever asked yourself, "Is that God's voice, mine or the Enemies?" Most of us have, and in this message we will discuss how to learn to recognize God's voice.
Should I take this Job? What school are you calling me to? How should I handle this situation? Or “Father, I’m so frustrated right now!” “Father, I’m anxious and stressed about this & I need your peace.”
One of the most common questions regarding our faith is how to hear God's voice. In this message and the series that follows we will talk about how to heard God's voice.
Baptism & Communion are both a command from Jesus. They are an identity marker for us -- centered around what Jesus did for us, who we are in him, and the kingdom provision available to us!
Tim Goeglein, from Focus on the Family, speaks to us about the state of our nation and encourages us to pray for our state, leaders and our country.
The path to the cross -- the suffering and the resurrection -- begins at the top of a hill just east of Jerusalem. It is not a path that our world and culture would choose. It is a path that requires faith and hope for a future reality.
We’ve been looking at the importance of abiding, staying connect to Jesus, the life-giving source of all spiritual fruit. The tremendous importance & effects of silence and solitude have been looked at. In this message, we turn to another tool called fixed-hour prayer. Don’t be fooled by the boring title! This tool may just be the most practical, simple, transformational tool of them all!
In this message we continue to discuss the areas of silence & solitude and the 7 steps towards the inward journey.
The Unhurried Life (Easy Yoke, Embracing Limits, Simplicity, Margins) is all about a clash of cultures. The “busy” culture of Orange County that crowds out the abundant life God promises us VS the Kingdom culture of Jesus’ lifestyle that produced the abundant life He promised.
In this series we will unpack the dynamic of abiding & give 4 practical tools/practices for living this out daily.
Today we will look at 3 things: // Jesus is the source // Fruit is the byproduct // Healthy relationship is the point
The call to discipleship with Jesus, is a call to practice the way of Jesus, to embrace His way of life or lifestyle and live with margin.
We all know that the best version of us is not the stressed out, anxious, busy version. The best version is the rested, peaceful, alert, joyful version. Jesus promise is give us abundant life.
But getting there will require changes in our approach to life. It is not an invitation to lazy, rather, it is an invitation to life. It will challenge our identity & our idols.
The unhurried life gives us permission to become fierce defenders of the best things.
We live in a culture that wants to transgress all of our limitations and cheat time itself, to read every book, watch every movie, see every site, play every game, travel to every country, eat at every restaurant, try every coffee, go to every concert, rise to the top of every field, YOLO!
How was Jesus able to accomplish changing the world while living within limits?
In the midst of a culture of overload and exhaustion, Jesus invites us to come and follow him into a new way of life, a lifestyle that is light and easy, one that will bring the rest our souls long for. Each week we will look at a different aspect of Jesus’ way of life, and consider how we can live it out in our world today.
Last week we looked at some of the fears we have in “sending the wrong message” or “minimizing sin.” Jesus was able to show perfect love to the sinful, ungodly, & and even antagonistic- staring with us!
This week we look at two more barriers that can keep us from building bridges of relationship with our community. They are not as much fear-based as they are perspective-based. They deal with some of the fundamental beliefs about the church’s purpose. If we don’t resolve them they will present a formidable barrier.
Are all people equally valuable? The Bible declares that all humans have been made in the image and likeness of God, male & female. Our value is intrinsic coming from our Creator.
Jesus promised that the way we loved each other would distinguish his followers from the world, meaning they would SHINE.
In every relationship there can be drift. We need to regular renew them. Sometimes it feels like we’ve drifted so far we can’t get back, but that’s not true! There’s a way back!
What is the secret sauce of the church -- that thing that sets us apart? In this message, Pastor Ryan discusses what sets us apart to shine in a dark, broken, rebellious, hurting world and makes us attractive to them.
In this last message in our Christmas series we look at Peace. How can we have peace with God and others? And what is our part in striving for it and what is God's part?
At Christmas we celebrate the great gift of God’s love for us. His love for us compelled him to come and make a way for us to know him and be with him forever. The Father sent His Son into the world, in order that the world would be saved through him. Before Jesus went to cross for our sin & rose again for our redemption, he taught his disciples how to love one another.
Christmas celebrates a great demonstration of God’s love for mankind!
This week our Christmas Carol is Joy To The World. Joy is a positive emotion that flows from a revelation, experience, or truth. In this message we talk about how to have Joy in every season.
The Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a song of hope. It begins with Israel’s dark & desperate season of hope for Emmanuel and it leads to everyone’s hope for the reign of the Righteous King.
The hope we have affects the way we live today.
“Oneness” is possible but it requires: shared vision, shared responsibility, & shared identity (1 Cor 12). Oneness necessitates a heart to humbly serve & embrace each other without walls (Rom 15).
Does our embrace have limits? Do we embrace some better than others? Oneness requires that we learn to widen our embrace.
As we prepare for the transition to one campus & one service let’s remember that the invitation is not to “less work” or “less campuses” it is the distinct call to the synergy and power that comes through “oneness.”
Most races today are tied to a cause. You run to support and raise funds for a particular cause you believe in.
In this message we contrasts the two types of races we run. The race under the Old Covenant VS the race under the New Covenant. The Fear-based Race and The Grace-based Race.
Over the last few weeks we’ve been discussing the power or value of discipline in your race -- the way it trains & refines us in our race. In this message we discuss 3 areas that discipline has the power to train and refine us in our race.
Even though this season is painful, you are not abandoned, your not alone, God is with you, he’s refining you, running alongside you, helping you take the next steps…this suffering will work like discipline to strengthen & deepen your faith in the race! You can embrace it as part of the race. Discipline has power.
BACK TO SCHOOL SUNDAY!! What do students and school staff have in common...they both need perseverance to make it through the school year. :)
//when our understanding can’t comprehend “how?”…faith is required //when our emotions don’t match God’s word…faith is required //when our will is begging to move toward comfort…faith is required
Here’s the powerful truth: a faith-filled race will speak to generations long after you… faithfulness is a legacy!
Who are your neighbors? In this message we will discuss what Jesus is calling us to when he says, "Love your neighbor..."
In part 3 in our Matthew 25 Challenge series, Pastor Mike Foell discusses God's heart for the poor. Through looking at the overwhelming amount of scriptures in the Old & New Testimony, as well as Church history we begin to see God's heart for the widow, orphan, poor & disenfranchised.
We are blind to injustice because our vision is distorted, “we see through a glass, dimly.” (1 Cor 13:12) It's as if we are all wearing thick glasses with multiple distorting lenses that cloud our vision: o Race o Rich/Poor o Male/Female o Republican/Democrat/Other o Educated/Uneducated o White collar/Blue collar o American patriotism (Football players protesting) o Previous generations of Christians didn’t see slavery. o We didn’t see the oppression of women or civil rights for African-Americans. o We still don’t see clearly God’s great concern for the “least of these” in our world, who often don’t look or speak like us.
God sees all people without these distorted lenses and we must do our best to see the world as God sees it.
Matthew 25:31-46 is a sobering passage that provide incredibly specific details about what Jesus expects from those who claim to follow Him. They describe what till take place on the day of final judgment. It’s not a parable like the verses before it…it’s a prediction.
God calls us to share in this concern as we build His kingdom. Over the next 5 weeks, we will read this passage carefully, seek to understand it fully, and consider how we can live it out in our daily lives.
Pastor Rick McGee teaches on how God invites us on a journey through generosity toward others.
What is a steward or manager? Someone entrusted with caring for something that belongs to another.
The tithe is more than act of religious observance or an obligation of the Law; it is a declaration of trust in God as our provider. Through it we learn to trust God with our finances and for our provision.
Discipleship begins by surrendering control over calling the shots. Through loving relationship, trust deepens, leading to a life of joyful obedience where our Lord & King calls us friends!
Like many things, God defines generosity differently than we do. When we think about generosity we think in terms of “amount” God looks at our “heart”. In this message we will look at 3 passages of scripture to see that generosity is a heart issue. So we will invite the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts as we look into his word.
Every dad loves a good teachable moment! A lesson in responsibility, integrity, consequence for actions, hard work, perseverance.
Don’t undersell the power of a teachable life. A teachable life trumps a teachable moment any day.
It’s easy to overestimate what you can accomplish in 30 minutes and underestimate what you can accomplish in 30 years!
We can have a tendency to beat ourselves up over missed opportunities. We can have a tendency wear ourselves down trying to make sure we don’t.
But the real impact of a father is born out of the example of their life. What a father pursues in life will impact his children more than the things they tell them.
Your life speaks more than your words. Fathers have tremendous influence in their kids’ lives. That God-given influence may feel like it diminishes over time as other voices speak into their ears and culture tells you you’re irrelevant but don’t buy it! Your influence is not like any other.
God wants to bless people in this world by caring for their needs, validating their value, easing their suffering, by giving them hope, by showing compassion through generosity! He delights to be generous to all, even those who do not know him or want know him. So He’s looking for people who will be his “agent of blessing.”
Generosity reflects God’s nature! God is lavish in his love & care for us (2 Cor 8:8-9). God’s love for us is demonstrated by what he has done for us. Love is the motivation of heaven & giving is the action of heaven. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son (John 3:16).
In every season of motherhood it is hard to find time to just breathe. Whether you have young kids, work or are even caring for your elderly parents, it’s a struggle to find time to breathe and be with God.
However, this is not a new idea -- everyone knows you need to breathe, what are the practical steps?
In this message our mom's discuss some of the issues they faced and how they have been able to find time to breathe.
Nehemiah gives a case study in the enemies strategies to stop God’s work. If an attack from the outside can’t stop the work then what about attack from within?
The church is equipped and called to contend with the forces of darkness in this world as citizens of the light. We are not here to ignore the darkness, placate the darkness, or hide from the darkness. We are called to contend with the forces of darkness in this world for the sake of the world.
Sometimes it’s easy to identify strongholds in our culture, but God cares deeply about our families. He wants to address the strongholds in our families before he uses us to contend against the strongholds in our culture. It always begins with our house (individual house, church house). Once He leads us, He can use us to lead others.
As we advance forward in our faith to contend against the forces of darkness we will encounter enemy strongholds. These are places with entrenched ideologies and attitudes that oppose the truth about God or his way of life. These strongholds are protected by intimidation, fear of retribution, social pressure (ostracizing or acceptance), reward for compliance (promotion). As we learn to contend strongholds will fall.
This series called “Contend” is intended to teach about the authoritative responsibility we have to stand against the darkness in prayer. When we contend in prayer: people are freed, strongholds are demolished, and strategies are thwarted!
Our missions partners share with us about what is God is up to in their countries and area of influence.
The church is referred to as the community of faith. We are truly intended to be a community or family that encourages and stokes the fires of our faith in each other.
This series called “Ask” is intended to teach about the privileged access we have to heavenly resource. It’s intended to raise our faith and confidence access the blessing and help God so desire to give.
Incarnational living looks to identify with people, to relate compassionately, and represent them before the Father.