The Bridge Church Sermons

We can’t evade pain. All of us, if we’re not right now, will walk through trouble and difficulty in this life—Scripture tells us so. What we can evade is joy. We can allow the circumstances around us to dictate what is happening inside of us, and we’re especially susceptible to this when we don’t root our greatest joy in Jesus. Then, when trouble comes, we won’t know where to look to be content. Even when we don’t know the plans of God, we can trust the person of God. And then, even when the bottom drops out, we can worship anyways. Where is your greatest joy? Support the show

We are prone to forget—sometimes small things, often major things... major things like when God has been faithful. Has it ever felt impossible to believe the goodness and faithfulness of God, especially when you stood in the face of difficulty or hopelessness? You might be there right now. Things might not be going well... Yet God is still in control, He is still faithful and good, and He is near. We are not short on experiencing God's kept promises, but we can allow it to fall in the shadows of the valleys if we don't simply take time to remember. How might life look different, in all it may hold, if we just remembered? Support the show

“God, I don’t like your timing, and I don’t like your method.”Ever been there? Ever had the courage to tell God that?That’s what Habakkuk told God. But even though he was frustrated, instead of running away, he ran near to God, and waited.And the lesson Habakkuk learns in chapter 2 is just as relevant for us today: God is working in your waiting. It may not always make sense. And it may not be on our timeline. But he is forever faithful, and his timing is always good. And that has the power to change how we wait.Listen again to…Support the show

"How long, O Lord?” Even if we haven’t said those words exactly, we’ve likely all had a moment in our faith where we question God.Does he even care? When things are falling apart, is He going to do anything? Where is He, and what is He doing?Habakkuk wrestled with these very same questions—so much so that we have reason to believe from his account that God not only hears and is okay with it, but He actually welcomes it.Faith and doubt come together in Habakkuk 1, and if you’ve ever been in a season of doubt or are walking through it right now, the journey of a wrestling prophet may bring you some perspective for the road ahead.Support the show

Ancient people would expect God to make a holy place. But instead, God makes a holy day — a day of Sabbath. This day was far more than a day for rest, as good as that is. It's a day designed to grow our intimacy with Jesus, deepen our surrender, and reorient our lives toward God. It's a day for WORSHIP. Have you thought of your Sabbath that way? It changes everything as you think about the gift it is to have a day set apart to worship with our whole selves. Listen again to "Realigning with Worship"Support the show

The Sabbath is an opportunity to refuel—physically, but we can't forget emotionally and spiritually, too. After our weeks filled with hard work of our hands, heads, and hearts, we need our souls to be recentered too, and that happens through delight. We need to think of the Sabbath as a weekly pitstop where we fill our emotional fuel tank with JOY. And there isn't a person in the world who doesn't need a bit more joy. On the Sabbath, we delight in God and remember how He delights in us, as He always has. Listen again to "Refueling with Delight"Support the show

Feeling overwhelmed by constant activity? The discussion delves into the balance between work and rest, emphasizing the sacred rhythm of Sabbath for spiritual connection. Personal stories reveal how aligning with Jesus helps us share burdens and find true rest. There's a focus on the spiritual necessity of rejuvenation and trusting in divine provision, encouraging listeners to step back from societal pressures. Ultimately, it's about embracing our identity in God's love while fostering community support.

Here's a sobering question: If God sabbathed, who do we think we are to think we don't need to, too? Stopping for one day of the week—completely stopping—is uncomfortable because we live in a culture wired to do everything opposite. In fact, of the 10 Commandments, we don't brag about breaking any except for when we brag about how busy we are, or how long it's been since our last day off. We brag about breaking the Sabbath when it's actually a gift we're invited into, not a rule we're bound to. You were not designed for a life you don't have time for. What would it look like to stop? Listen or watch "Start by Stopping"Support the show

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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