The Bridge Church Sermons

Do we own our stuff, or does our stuff own us? When we look at all the things you own, are we any happier? More than a quarter of Jesus' teachings were about wealth, materials, and possessions, and that's likely because we tend to try meeting the voids in our spirits by filling it with things that will make us happier. As time has gone on, it's only gotten worse collectively. If we want to submit our ways towards apprenticeship to Jesus, we have to take His words about our possessions, our money, our stuff seriously. The life Jesus offers his followers is not going to be found in materialism—it’s found in living out the gospel of God’s Kingdom.Listen to "What Owns You?"Support the show

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Have you ever wished for things to look different in your life, but gone back to doing the same old things you’ve always done? We’ve all been there… many times over.The things we do in life always do something to us. If we look at our habits, we can often guess what our future will look like, and the question stands: Are we doing things that will lead to the life we want?There is a concept called The Rule of Life. We all have a rule of life, whether we know it or not, and as Christians, here is what that should look like: an intentional, conscious plan to keep God at the center of our lives. Here's why:In John 15 we are reminded through the words of Jesus that we are to abide in Him, because apart from Him, we can do nothing. Without our central focus on abiding with and knowing Jesus deeply, nothing else we do or accomplish matters in the long run. The habits we create impact who we are and who we're becoming. What is your rule of life?Support the show

What is your view of God? It's one of the most defining relationships we'll ever have, so truly, how do you see Him? For many of us, we've viewed God for years through the distorted lenses of pain, loss, anger, rejection—we can each fill in the blank. But it's often through the moments we're broken-hearted that we break through to see the real love of God. The story of the prodigal son is one that shows us this—it's not in the midst of mere problems that the son realizes the love of his father; it's when he comes with a completely broken heart. It is God's identity of love that gives us hope, and if we don't see that as core to who God is, we're still looking through a distorted lens. It's time for a breakthrough. Support the show

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Why does it seem like the wonder of Christmas fades as we become adults? The season seems marked by the stress of hitting the December 25th deadline—to wrap the gifts, to prep the big meal, to host the family... all while it seems like so much of life isn't filled with the joy this season is meant to hold. We stuff the stockings of our soul with things that can't amount to the peace we're longing for, and until we remind ourselves that we're not the most important part of the holiday, we'll struggle to see who is. What if this Christmas, we stop asking what we want for Christmas and instead ask this: what does God want for us? He's already sent the perfect gift. Let's receive it. Support the show

How do you feel about your human limitations? Are you frustrated by the things you aren’t able to fix, control, or understand?The good news is that God is not surprised that we are not God. We are not designed to control or fix all of the things we wish we could, but we do need hope within those circumstances. The BEST news is that those circumstances are not foreign to God. When God could have so easily sent a messenger or a representative to us, he decided instead to send Himself—fully God and fully human—to experience life. Our limitations as humans do not phase God—His presence is within them. Support the show

There are a lot of things out there trying to convince us that they’re “the light”—that they’re the key to happiness, fulfillment, and meaning. We’re surrounded by these demi-lights, and they’re not always bad things… until we actually believe they’re the true light.In Scripture, again and again, Jesus is referred to as Light. Not just a light, but THE light. Do we recognize him? Or is he just another light among the peripherals?During Advent, we must not lose sight of our Savior. The gift of Him is too great to lose among the demi-lights.Support the show

You can't erase the fingerprints of God's goodness, even when darkness seems to get closer and closer. God's Word promises that the darkness will not overcome the light, and that's not merely affirmation for the Light that it is strong enough... it's reassurance for us that even when the darkness seems strong, it does not win. But we wait. We wait for the day when the Light has the final victory, and that is Advent. We wait on the Lord with longing for all He has promised. Support the show

What do the eyes, ears, heart, and hands all have in common?Don’t overthink it. What they all do is different, but they all do something—important things only they can do. There is intricacy in the way God has designed the human body for function and flourishing—parts working together in their essential functions to make the most complex system in the world work, day-in and day-out. Would we ever think He would have left that same perfect design out of HIS body, the church? Scripture draws this parallel of the body to the church because in the same way that a body needs its parts working together, the church does too. Don’t be fooled—we are all part of the body with a pivotal role to play, even when things seem to be flowing smoothly without us. God has made us and prepared us to play a part in His redemptive story, with and for each other. So what role are you playing?Support the show