Who we are in God, how God sees us is crucial in our ability to connecting with God.
In this message we look at the story of Gideon and learn lessons from his story that we can apply to our own lives about our identity and how God sees us and how that effects our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
We can control our busyness by re-prioritizing our values. God wants us to put Him ahead of our daily worries and then He will take care of all our needs. If Jesus is our first priority, all other things will fall into place. Busyness is just a symptom of seeking the wrong things first.
Busyness is another enemy of intimacy with God. Knowing God requires that we give Him "un-rushed" time and our undivided attention. If we are too busy to spend time each day with our heavenly father, we've lost perspective. Are we willing to re-prioritize our lives to invest in things with a long-term benefit?
We have a Heavenly Father who desires to have an intimate relationship with us, a relationship in which we can be fully known with no fear of rejection. But what stops us? What are obstacles the hinder that relationship.
In this message we start to unpack some of the obstacles that hinder a close relationship with God.
Zach Williams performs "To the Table" live.
This video was played before Kevin’s Message.
We have a Heavenly Father who desires to have an intimate relationship with us, a relationship in which we can be fully known with no fear of rejection.
Scripture: John 15:5, John 5:19, Revelations 3:20, Genesis 1:26-28, Revelation 21:1-4
In this skit, packed with humor and depth, The Skit Guys dig into what the Serenity Prayer is all about. As one man prays the prayer, God challenges him to understand what the words actually mean, and to actually mean the words he says. This video was used prior to the interview.
We should remove every unnecessary barrier to the person and message of Jesus. It’s for the world. People should feel like the message is for them. The gospel is an invitation for everyone. That should be clear.
Scripture: Acts 15:1–2, 5, 7–8, 10–11, 19–21
Aftermath Part 3 - Discussion Questions
The apologetic of the early church was built on the resurrection.The Jewish flavor of early Christianity created an unhealthy, blended-model tradition, that almost derailed the entire enterprise. Things came to a head at the Jerusalem Counsel.
Scripture: Acts 9:1-6; 10-19; Acts 10 & 11; I Corinthians 5:12; Galatians 5:6
If you were raised on a version of Christianity that relied on the Bible as the foundation of faith, a version that was eventually dismantled by academia or the realities of life, maybe it’s time for you to change your mind about Jesus. Maybe it’s time for you to consider the version of Christianity that relies on the event of the resurrection of Jesus as its foundation. If you gave up your faith because of something about or in the Bible, maybe you gave up unnecessarily.
When you lose your fear of death, all fear is gone. The disciples’ hope was not in the Scriptures, but what they had seen and heard. The reason for our faith in Jesus—and thus our hope—is the resurrection. We must reclaim this hope for the sake of the generation that left faith and the next generation as well. So if you gave up on Christianity because of something in the Bible or something about the Bible, maybe it’s time to step back onto the firm foundation of our first- century friends, placing your confidence in the event that started it all.
The Bridge supports Tricia DeBoer who serves as a Missionary in Uganda working with the Acholi Tribe. On Sunday April 14th, Steve Brethour and Bill Scholfield traveled to Uganda to see first hand the work that Tricia is doing there as she serves in the Acholi Quarter and works with “I Live Again Uganda”, in Gulu. This is a report from that trip…
The Resurrection changed everything and brought joy in the midst of darkness.
And it still accomplishes the same thing in our lives today if we choose to allow it.
Jesus didn’t come to initiate Judaism 2.0. He came to offer something entirely new to the world: a new covenant that would forever change humankind’s relationship with God. And with that new covenant came a new ethic—one that insisted that the greatest choose the back of the line.
Scripture - John 11:57; 12:12; Luke 22:6; Matthew 22:15–16, 24–25, 33–40; John 13:34–35; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Corinthians 13:4–5; Philippians 2:5; Ephesians 5:1–2; John 13:34
The words “unlimited” and “unconditional” make us suspicious. Whether those words describe an insurance policy, cellphone agreement, we assume unlimited is really limited and unconditional has some conditions. That suspicion extends to our relationship with God. Unconditional love? Unlimited forgiveness? There must be a catch. But what if there isn’t?
Scripture - John 11:57; 12:12; Luke 22:6; Matthew 22:15–16, 24–25, 33–40; John 13:34–35; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Corinthians 13:4–5; Philippians 2:5; Ephesians 5:1–2; John 13:34
Jesus introduced the most powerful, transformational, and inspirational leadership principle on the planet. Every leader you respect practices it. The leaders you don’t respect don’t practice it. You can lead without it, but you won’t be a leader worth following unless you embrace it.
Scripture - John 11:46–48, 53–54; 12:9–12, 19; 13:4, 8, 13–17; Mark 10:32–38, 41–45
Jesus claimed to be greater than the temple. He made the temple obsolete. Most of his followers assumed his end game was to declare himself king. The more discerning among them sensed something else was going on. Jesus spoke with authority but refused to take charge. He wielded extraordinary power, but never for himself. What was he up to?
Zach Williams performs "To the Table" . This video was played at the end of Steve’s message.
Scripture - John 3:1–10, 14–15; John 3:16–17
Something in us is tempted to believe God loves his law more than his people. We’re tempted to prioritize rules over people. Maybe you left church because somebody prioritized the Bible over your divorced mother or gay brother. But Jesus came to offer us a life greater than keeping religious rules.
This video was played at the end of Kevin’s Message.
Scripture - Matthew 5:17; 7:28–29; 12:1–2; Mark 2:27; Matthew 12:6; Mark 13:1–4; 1 Corinthians 6:19