Podcast by Life Bridge Christian Church
The Resurrection of Jesus demands we confidently declare the Truth about who He is, and live BOLDLY in His name!
The Acts of the Holy Spirit - Week 9 After an amazing miracle at the temple makes a lame man well, Peter and John are quick to make sure everyone knows where the power to heal comes from: the mighty name of Jesus. Peter explains with powerful pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus is God's promised Savior. His point is clear and compelling - this Jesus is worth clinging to in faith!
God's redemptive path for each and every person is- hear, believe, be baptized, and you'll be His people
Every Christmas, it's important to remember not just the birth of Jesus but the work of Jesus; not simply that He came, but why He came. In the third chapter of John's first letter, he lays out three mind-blowing reasons that Jesus came. This Christmas, let's commit to trust and serve this Jesus who came on a mission of love to destroy the works of darkness.
"This passage explores one of Scripture's great mysteries about the nature of God's will - humans are responsible for their choices before the Lord, yet God is in complete control of human history and His plan takes human failure into account. In the second part of his sermon at Pentecost, the apostle Peter preaches about how Jesus demonstrated the fullness of God's unstoppable plan to save the world. As they saw it all came together, Jesus' disciples couldn't help but declare that God's plan was magnificent. When we understand this for ourselves, it becomes clear that we can rest in Jesus' control and trust God's magnificent plan."
"In this week's passage, we read about the first Christian sermon ever preached. Peter's message was clear, bold, and powerful. Yet, it wasn't the speaker himself that gave the message authority; it was powerful because the message came from the Lord. The message we preach is the same today as what Peter proclaimed to the people of Jerusalem, and if we will be faithful to share it, we'll find that God's Spirit will work powerfully. Through the Gospel, Jesus has given each of us a word worth sharing."
THE WONDER OF PENTECOST (Acts 2:1-4) THE UNITY OF PENTECOST (Acts 2:5-13)
The ten days between Jesus' return to heaven (we call it The Ascension) and the giving of Spirit (known in the church as Pentecost) was a period of time filled with tension, expectation, and prayerful waiting. During this period of time, Jesus was not physically present with them, nor did they have His Spirit with them. Why the delay? Why keep them waiting? As we'll learn more about this week, God allowed them to go through a liminal experience - a time of confusion and difficulty - to prepare them for what was ahead. He does the same in us; hard times don't tell us He's far away, they tell us He's at work. That means for those in Christ, there is hope in our hard times.
Think of how exciting it would be to experience what it would have been like to be part of the early church in the book of Acts. What we read about in this book is believers who, because of Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit, lived in the power and promises of God. What if that same type of life was available to each of us? How would we begin to live that way? This week, we'll look at the opening passages of this incredible book to understand what we need in order to experience the Spirit-filled life of Jesus.
Jesus comes to calm your chaos Jesus doesn't leave you the same Jesus calls you to serve where you are
"While the word "discipleship" is never used in the New Testament, it's a theme that's inescapable. Those who love and follow Jesus are called to share the joy of Jesus with those around them. We've been given something that's worth sharing, and even more than that - we're capable of sharing it. This week, we'll talk about the ins and outs of discipleship at Life Bridge. After all, the greatest legacy we can leave behind in this life is someone else who loves and serves Jesus."
We've all felt stuck before; in positions where we felt like we couldn't go forward or backward, or felt like there was no way out. That's a hopeless feeling, and it's what Paul describes as our spiritual condition if we don't have Jesus in our lives. He says it even more strongly: "We were DEAD!" At least, until God intervened. The Gospel is God's good message to people who are stuck that there is hope in Jesus. That's the Gospel message we believe, and it's at the heart of who we are. This week, we'll study together what it means that WE ARE A GOSPEL CHURCH.
God's Church celebrates what God calls good and rejects what God calls evil. At times, celebrating what God says is good requires us to go against the grain, to live counterculturally in regards to the "ways of the world." In our day, one of our countercultural values is that we are PRO-FAMILY, because fatherhood and family are God-ordained. That means we recognize the value of investing in families and BEING a family to one another. We care about family because God made us a family and adopted us into HIS family through Jesus! This week we'll talk about how life looks different when we invest in God's family, our family, and other families!
The most important thing about a church is the same as the most important thing about water. It matters what their source is. Where does a church get its authority and teaching from? At Life Bridge, our most fundamental believe is our belief in the authority of the Bible. This week, in the first of our "Basics" series, we will examine what we believe about the Bible and why it's so important not only to our faith, but our love and service to others.
Final Sermon on our Revelation Series! "Let's live in the joy of Christ, the One whose words are faithful and true, and let us commit together to the work, to putting this book to work in our lives because when we do we will be blessed!"
In every church, there are imperfections and letdowns, and at some point you'll let someone else down too. It's a result of our fallen nature. The only perfect Christian community we'll experience is going to be in the New Creation. Nonetheless, the important question is: are we building the church according to God's design? In John's vision of the New Jerusalem, God gives us a rendering of all the Church is meant to be and one day will be. The symbols within make it clear: the city is made for people to be brought in from every nation to walk in the glory of Christ.
In every church, there are imperfections and letdowns, and at some point you'll let someone else down too. It's a result of our fallen nature. The only perfect Christian community we'll experience is going to be in the New Creation. Nonetheless, the important question is: are we building the church according to God's design? In John's vision of the New Jerusalem, God gives us a rendering of all the Church is meant to be and one day will be. The symbols within make it clear: the city is made for people to be brought in from every nation to walk in the glory of Christ.
In Revelation 21, God's promises of an incredible future for His people come into incredible focus. Here we have the clearest presentation of exactly why the hope of Jesus is such good news. Human language makes it hard to describe the unlimited nature of this future, but what John reveals to us here gives us a picture of the new heavens and new earth that should give us plenty to daydream about and to inspire our faithful obedience to Jesus.
In Revelation 21, God's promises of an incredible future for His people come into incredible focus. Here we have the clearest presentation of exactly why the hope of Jesus is such good news. Human language makes it hard to describe the unlimited nature of this future, but what John reveals to us here gives us a picture of the new heavens and new earth that should give us plenty to daydream about and to inspire our faithful obedience to Jesus.
Life is full of storms; some are avoidable, some are not. We experience them to varying degrees in our lives. They come in the form of tragedies, challenges, and trials. Not only that, but the book of Revelation shows us that there are storms ahead of us in the future for which we must be prepared. In Revelation 20, God shows John that the time leading immediately to the return of Jesus will be a stormy season in which the world will make one final rebellion against God and that immediately after we will all stand before Christ on judgment day. Where can we find safe harbor in a world (and even a future) full of storms? John points us to Christ - the one on the great white throne - as the one who breaks the waves for us so we can find true protection in Him.
BE FAITHFUL in your suffering, as Christ has already guaranteed your resurrection BE AVAILABLE to proclaim the gospel, satan has been bound and cannot himself hinder the gospel so go with confidence to those who need Christ! BE TEACHABLE in God's wisdom, God has and will give His church authority, steward it well by being humble in spirit to continuously learn from His word.
BE FAITHFUL in your suffering, as Christ has already guaranteed your resurrection BE AVAILABLE to proclaim the gospel, satan has been bound and cannot himself hinder the gospel so go with confidence to those who need Christ! BE TEACHABLE in God's wisdom, God has and will give His church authority, steward it well by being humble in spirit to continuously learn from His word.
There are few places in the Bible with the same kind of intensity and power as what we find in the description of Jesus in Revelation 19. John sees Heaven opened and witnesses Jesus as He truly is. On earth He may have been meek and mild, but in Heaven He is shown in all of His majesty. Everything about this vision communicates one important and undisputable fact: Jesus is King. His power is electrifying enough to strike fear into His enemies; but for those who hold to His testimony this picture is reassuring beyond words. This is OUR king, and He is with us.
There are few places in the Bible with the same kind of intensity and power as what we find in the description of Jesus in Revelation 19. John sees Heaven opened and witnesses Jesus as He truly is. On earth He may have been meek and mild, but in Heaven He is shown in all of His majesty. Everything about this vision communicates one important and undisputable fact: Jesus is King. His power is electrifying enough to strike fear into His enemies; but for those who hold to His testimony this picture is reassuring beyond words. This is OUR king, and He is with us.
Part 1 We've heard of high profile weddings before. They come with lots of hype and planning, and of course they should! A wedding is a big deal in God's eyes because it means two people becoming one in a lasting way. God described His relationship to the Church in the same way: through Jesus, He was making a way for His people to be united with Him in a permanent, lasting marriage. In Revelation 19, John has a vision of the wedding underway, and it's so glorious he's overwhelmed! The marriage of God to His people has come, and we're all invited to celebrate. In fact, God has invited anyone who will accept and come to His feast, so long as they come dressed for the occasion.
When the roots are healthy, trees can withstand a great deal. In fact, they're remarkably resilient. If the roots are bad, however, the tree is lost. Unhealthy roots can never produce a healthy tree. That's essentially the reality John uncovers in Revelation 18. Like a detective getting to the bottom of a case, John is given insight by God into the root causes of Jerusalem's "many crimes." What he sees is that the temple has become a bad root; the source of greed, corruption, and excess. When the roots are bad, God isn't content to trim the tree. The root needs to be removed and replaced. In the same way, through Jesus, God makes it possible for the "roots" of sin in us to be completely removed and replaced with the presence of Jesus Himself, the faithful root who brings us renewal within.
We're all on a journey. The questions we have to answer are "from where?" and "where to?" In Revelation 18, John gets a vision that helps us to answer both. He sees that just like God led the Israelites out of exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem, Jesus has come to deliver His people from this present world to a New Jerusalem. That's our story too, and if we will listen to His voice we have the promise of a future; that is, if we're willing to leave the comforts and trappings of Babylon behind.
We're all on a journey. The questions we have to answer are "from where?" and "where to?" In Revelation 18, John gets a vision that helps us to answer both. He sees that just like God led the Israelites out of exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem, Jesus has come to deliver His people from this present world to a New Jerusalem. That's our story too, and if we will listen to His voice we have the promise of a future; that is, if we're willing to leave the comforts and trappings of Babylon behind.
Everyone loves the story of a dream wedding and the couple that lives happily ever after. That was supposed to be the story of Israel. Yet their relationship with the Lord is a turbulent one. Their commitment is an on-again-off-again thing, and they often go astray to chase after other things. Here in Revelation 17, we read the dramatic conclusion to their story: they've divorced the Lord and gone after someone else. The result is disastrous, and the sobering thing is that we're not so different; we're often unfaithful and allured by other things. Through today's passage the Lord shows us why we should treasure what Jesus has done for us and forsake all others to follow Him.
Everyone loves the story of a dream wedding and the couple that lives happily ever after. That was supposed to be the story of Israel. Yet their relationship with the Lord is a turbulent one. Their commitment is an on-again-off-again thing, and they often go astray to chase after other things. Here in Revelation 17, we read the dramatic conclusion to their story: they've divorced the Lord and gone after someone else. The result is disastrous, and the sobering thing is that we're not so different; we're often unfaithful and allured by other things. Through today's passage the Lord shows us why we should treasure what Jesus has done for us and forsake all others to follow Him.
Sometimes, as we read Bible passages about judgment, it can be easy to get lost in the intensity of what's being described. Revelation 16 is one of those passages; it's full of extreme, dramatic descriptions of God pouring out seven bowls of wrath. Even here, though, there are powerful reminders of the goodness and grace that God has shown us through Jesus.
Sometimes, as we read Bible passages about judgment, it can be easy to get lost in the intensity of what's being described. Revelation 16 is one of those passages; it's full of extreme, dramatic descriptions of God pouring out seven bowls of wrath. Even here, though, there are powerful reminders of the goodness and grace that God has shown us through Jesus.
God's desire is that all the wayward sons and daughters come back to Him because ALL people BELONG to Him. The deepest longings of our hearts and every promises of God find their fulfillment in Christ!
We find peace when we are in step with God's divine mercy!
God can save anyone, He can use anyone, and he's often at work in the background!
Jonah is content to live A MISSION, but be unchanged in his HEART CONDITION.!
May 21st Sermon Audio Part 2 "Ever heard a song that told a compelling story? There are many such examples in modern history. The same is true in premodern history. The art of storytelling through song dates back to many ancient cultures. It may even surprise us to learn that it happens in heaven as well! In Revelation 15, John recounts a vision of all the believers who stayed faithful under the persecution of Rome and Jerusalem singing the Ballad of the Lamb; that is, the song of Jesus and His victory. It's the same song we're invited to sing now as members of His church. As we read it today, we are invited to join in with our own voices. Singing isn't just a nice idea to reserve for Sunday mornings, it's a powerful way we declare and display the glory of Christ!"
May 21st Sermon Audio Part 1 "Ever heard a song that told a compelling story? There are many such examples in modern history. The same is true in premodern history. The art of storytelling through song dates back to many ancient cultures. It may even surprise us to learn that it happens in heaven as well! In Revelation 15, John recounts a vision of all the believers who stayed faithful under the persecution of Rome and Jerusalem singing the Ballad of the Lamb; that is, the song of Jesus and His victory. It's the same song we're invited to sing now as members of His church. As we read it today, we are invited to join in with our own voices. Singing isn't just a nice idea to reserve for Sunday mornings, it's a powerful way we declare and display the glory of Christ!"
May 14th Sermon Audio John's vision in today's passage is one of a twofold harvest. The first shows Jesus harvesting His people to Himself. The second shows wicked people being harvested to judgment and wrath. Together they provide a sobering picture of two possible outcomes for mankind; we will either be gathered to Christ or we will experience His judgment. At the same time, this revelation invites us to see Jesus for who He is: a loving savior who desires to harvest and hold us in the palm of His hand to preserve us safely through every trial and challenge we face. Not only that, but if we'll open up our eyes to see where He's at work, we can experience the joy of joining Him in the work of His harvest!
May 14th Sermon Audio John's vision in today's passage is one of a twofold harvest. The first shows Jesus harvesting His people to Himself. The second shows wicked people being harvested to judgment and wrath. Together they provide a sobering picture of two possible outcomes for mankind; we will either be gathered to Christ or we will experience His judgment. At the same time, this revelation invites us to see Jesus for who He is: a loving savior who desires to harvest and hold us in the palm of His hand to preserve us safely through every trial and challenge we face. Not only that, but if we'll open up our eyes to see where He's at work, we can experience the joy of joining Him in the work of His harvest!
May 7th Sermon In that last two chapters, John described the visions he saw of a dragon and two fearsome beasts that would rise up against Christ and His people during the church age. The dragon is Satan, and the beasts are wicked rulers and false prophets. In chapter 14, they meet their match as John's attention is drawn to a vision of the Lamb and His mighty, singing church. Along with this vision, God reveals three important messages that the church is tasked with carrying to the ends of the earth. In this week's message we'll examine the sobering messages of the angels and what it tells us about the ultimately destiny of those who do (and don't) believe.
April 30th Sermon In this week's passage, John sees another intimidating beast that rises up to challenge Jesus and His Church. This beast appears incognito; it looks like a sheep, but talks like the dragon. He represents false prophecy, and the threat that it poses to the Church not only in John's day, but in every age. There will always be those who seek to distort God's truth and leave their own mark on the world. We're called to leave a different mark on the world: the mark of Jesus, which we make available to the world when we share the Gospel of grace. When we understand the power of Jesus' Word, we can joyfully and boldly share it with the world.
April 30th Sermon In this week's passage, John sees another intimidating beast that rises up to challenge Jesus and His Church. This beast appears incognito; it looks like a sheep, but talks like the dragon. He represents false prophecy, and the threat that it poses to the Church not only in John's day, but in every age. There will always be those who seek to distort God's truth and leave their own mark on the world. We're called to leave a different mark on the world: the mark of Jesus, which we make available to the world when we share the Gospel of grace. When we understand the power of Jesus' Word, we can joyfully and boldly share it with the world.
April 23rd Sermon Audio "In this next installment of the story of the dragon and the woman, John sees another fearsome opponent of the church rising from the sea. It's monstrous appearance is unsettling; John's predictions about its destructive power are even worse. He tells that this beast will actually have success conquering and opposing the Church... for a time. While John's clues suggest that this symbol represents Rome and its Emperor, it teaches us about how to survive the rise of similar beasts in our day. This week, we'll take an in-depth look at how Jesus empowers His people to endure and not back down from the beasts we face as we live for His Kingdom and glory."
In Revelation 13 we see a startling development relating to the dragon's activity in the world: he has friends! In fact, this chapter introduces us to an unholy anti-trinity of villains; the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These three team up against the church using deception, violence, and temptation. How does the Church face down such fearsome beasts and what hope does John's letter give to encourage us today? Dive in with Ryan and Jake as we discuss!
April 23rd Sermon Audio "In this next installment of the story of the dragon and the woman, John sees another fearsome opponent of the church rising from the sea. It's monstrous appearance is unsettling; John's predictions about its destructive power are even worse. He tells that this beast will actually have success conquering and opposing the Church... for a time. While John's clues suggest that this symbol represents Rome and its Emperor, it teaches us about how to survive the rise of similar beasts in our day. This week, we'll take an in-depth look at how Jesus empowers His people to endure and not back down from the beasts we face as we live for His Kingdom and glory."
In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake examine the incredible story that begins in Revelation 12 - the saga of the woman and the dragon. This story tells, in a series of symbols and pictures, a story of God's conquering church fighting against the forces of darkness that are at work in the world. Understanding this vision is key to understanding what is happening in our world today and the role of Christians in the dragon's ultimate defeat!
We're all familiar with stories of dragons, princes, and damsels in distress. They're all over our literature, our movies, and have been told in different cultures for as long as there's been written history. In Revelation 12, we understand why: they're all inspired by the story God is writing in redemption through His Son Jesus and through the Church He has established on earth. In John's vision, God shows Him Jesus as the promised King who finally destroys Satan, the ancient dragon. It's a story of joyful victory and conquering for God and those who love Him. In this week's passage we'll study to understand our place in the masterful story God is has written and celebrate Jesus, the slayer of dragons.
The passages of the Gospels that talk about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week are full of symbolism; "hosannas" in the streets, palms waving, and donkeys saddled up for his grand entrance, just to name a few. Much is said about how Jesus intended for all these to be interpreted. He was declaring His kingship, certainly. Beyond that, a point that is often missed is not just how he entered Jerusalem, but where He was going. This parade down the center of town took Him right to the temple, a fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies that predicted the Lord HIMSELF would one day suddenly visit His temple. When He arrived, His famous reaction was to drive out the money changers and make quite the scene. His explanation included these powerful words: "my house will be called a house of prayer." This week, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we'll take a deep dive into what this important statement tells us about Jesus' mission, His character, and His design for those who are part of His Church today.
In this week's episode, Ryan and Jake take a look at one of Revelation's more complicated chapters. In it, we read about God's two witnesses, a couple mysterious, fire-breathing prophets that are described with all sorts or Biblical metaphors. Who are they? What do they have to do with us? Take a listen and find out!
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