Saying Farewell to 2013

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

How will you say farewell to 2013?

2013 is almost over. Another year is coming to an end. That is 365 days of the rising and setting of the sun that are soon to be a memory. I feel the need to be like Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell and call time out. Can we at-least hit pause? I need to step back and remember the year that was, before I can move on to new goals and resolutions for 2014. I don't want to waste the moments. I don't want to forget the memories. I don't want to miss the joy or the sadness.

I'm sure you have heard the old adage, "Haste makes waste." So why are we always so hasty to party and move on? The tortoise always beats the hare. The tortoise always wins. I've read the ending a million times. This year, I don't want to be in a hurry to move on. I want to slow down. I want to pause. I need time to reflect to not waste the moments. I'm growing tired of being young and arrogant. It's time to number my days and realize that life is short. 365 more days. 365 more days of my short life are gone. What did I do with them?

What did you do with yours?

12 Moments I Will NOT Waste (and one resolution):

1. Reninca Hill came to visit. I have a special spot in my heart for missionaries; specifically young missionaries who walk away from comfortable living to pursue missions. I met Reninca from the Haiti Hospital Appeal in 2011 and was honored to have her come and visit with our faith community. She has been instrumental in the formation of the Peace and Joy Project as well. Look for more details on this in 2014!

2. I turned 30 and the loving people of The Bridge made me a gift! Let's just say that time flies when you are having fun with the people you love. I do finally feel old and "experienced" enough to actually be a lead pastor of a church.

3. The Kaleo Project. I have had the privilege to be a part of training potential church planters and pastors for the past year in the Kaleo Project. I have been blessed to partner with Parkland Chapel and see men like Brian Dunlap, Mike Minghi, Ezra Valencia, Jerrod Tune, Ronnie Buckingham, Marcus Archer, Zack Mills, Randall Turnbough, and Lance Calvert grow. I am increasingly convinced that all churches must be actively in pursuit of raising up and sending out pastors, missionaries, and church planters.

4. I said goodbye to Parallax View.  For over a decade I led worship at various youth events with my band before putting a period at the end of our sentence together in April. You can read about this transition in my life here. I miss these guys. The photos below are from our last show together.

5. Relentless - Easter 2013. I'm still blown away by the grace of God that I experienced within the context of community on this day. I remember your goodness, oh Lord.

6. My family laughed, cried, argued, and prayed together. I am greatly blessed. My favorite family moment of 2013 was celebrating 10 years of marriage to my wonderful wife Becky! But, there were so many other tremendous memories with my family that I can't capture them all. Here are a few below. The videos crack me up every time.

7. The 48 baptisms at The Bridge-Leadington. May this never get old. God thank you for letting us participate in YOUR salvation of men and women!

8. Camp Elevate. We hosted our first ever church camp in 2013 with over 130 kids in participation! I can't wait for July 10-12!!! The water-slide was fantastic!

9. The Night of Worship Concerts at The Bridge. I always enjoy the special nights of worship at our faith community, but this was the first year that I sat in the crowd and was able to just experience them. Our musicians are phenomenal and I was very blessed by the high level of worship and participation in the crowd. My two favorites were the acoustic and Christmas nights of worship. See below.

10. Preaching. I love preaching the eternal word of God. This year I was blessed with the opportunity to preach: the entire book of Acts, the Church Summer School Series on Sunday nights, Christmas is For-Giving (Matthew 1 &2 for Christmas), a mini-series called Restored-How the Gospel makes us Whole, and a two week vision series called GROW to start the year. I don't ever want to stop talking about Jesus. I am thankful that the Lord has entrusted me to preach, proclaim, and entrust the message of the Gospel to others!

11. The Smith Family. We sent our first long-term missionaries to Bangkok, Thailand this past summer. I am honored to know them. I am thankful for them. I miss them like crazy. Pastor Lance was a staff pastor with me at The Bridge-Leadington before embarking on global missions. He is the disciple maker I hope to be one day. Would you join me in praying for them? This photo is from their send-off celebration.

UPDATED:
12. Miss Betty met Jesus.  Becky and I recently watched one of our first celebrations as church plant in Elizabeth Hall, and there was Betty on the front row praising Jesus. I'll forever remember her serving our kids in BK. I'll forever remember her always bringing me gifts. I'll forever remember her story. I will not waste the moments that I had with her. She loved Jesus and today she got to meet Him.


Meet Betty from Roger Durbin on Vimeo.

FINALLY-My new year's resolution for 2014.

2013 was special. I pray that this new year the Holy Spirit will continue to teach me to number my days. With that in the forefront of my mind, here is my resolution:

I want the people closest to me to be able to say, that day-by-day, "He was increasingly driven by the fame of His Father's name."

Happy New Years. Farewell 2013.

Music Project

I am happy to share with my friends that I am working on a new music project. Music has always been a large part of my upbringing and I have a few songs left inside of me that I feel I must get out. I need to sing them and I hope that a few of you need to hear them as well. 

This album is different from anything else that I have been a part of in the past with Parallax View or Bridge Worship. It is not rock. It doesn't fit into the genre of worship. It is simply songs from my basement. Music has always been a way to express myself and come to grips with the big moments in my life. Therefore, each song was either written during or about a specific moment in my life. They are pastoral in some sense. 

For example: 

"Everything Right" was written after my parents lost their home in a tornado. "I Want to Go" was put together surrounding the Holy Spirit's call to preach and teach on my life. Then, there is "I Don't Know Why"  which was written for my wife after we lost our third child. And in a song that still levels me to this day, there is "To the King." It was written after one of our adult volunteers drowned at a church sponsored children's event. But, do not fret, there will be many happy moments and surprises along the way as well. "The Wretch" captures a moment when I realized that the wretch I was singing about in Amazing Grace was actually me!!! And then there is this one itch that I need to scratch.  I think you and I both may need a little bluegrass. 

I'll be going into the studio with PureSonic Productions around my ministry schedule to finish it up before releasing them online. Since these guys are my family, I will either finish very quickly or very slowly. Your guess is about as good as mine. It really depends on how often we start and stop to watch sporting events. To be continued. 

It is coming soon. It is fun to make music with friends!

***All proceeds from this music project will go to The Bridge Community Church and selected missions.

Jesus likes cowboys too

The world is trending towards the city-even the church, but I am not. I am a pastor. I am a church planter like many of you. BUT, I live in the sticks. Truth be told, I know more about fishing tackle than indie music. I like to shoot things and set stuff on fire out in fields. And sometimes when I read books, blogs, and attend conferences I sense that I am alone.

I grew up in Mine La Motte, an unincorporated community in Madison County Missouri. It is six miles north of Fredericktown, MO which boasts of a whopping population total right at 3,985 people. Mine La Motte was settled as the first lead mine in Missouri in 1717. But, the only thing we are known for these days is that we filled up a few old mine sites with water and turned them into swimming holes. We still swim in and eat fish from them to this day. At one of these spots you can even cliff dive and zip line into the water while drinking your beer. Oddly enough, people from all over Missouri pay to do it.

Today, I pastor a multi-congregational church in Leadington, MO called The Bridge Community Church. We are a growing faith community in rural America that was planted seven years ago. Leadington has a population of 422 people and resides in a county of around 65,000 people. I am often asked by friends and acquaintances if this ministry stop is a stepping stone to bigger and better things. That question in and of itself can tell a lot about our idolatry and current obsession.

While the obsession with ministry trends towards the city, what about those of us who are not there? What about those of us that feel called to be where we are at in rural ministry? Are we in sin? Does Jesus still send people into the country? Is there a need for rural ministry? Are we denying the great commission? Are there ideals that have gone wrong in rural America that will require the grace of God and a courageous pastor?

These types of questions and more I hope to wrestle with in a book project I have been working on.

I write this all with a genuine love for the city and a thankful heart for pastors who live and plant there. I learn from you. I respect you. I am praying you reach the city and that a genuine movement of God spreads out into our communities. We desperately need you. I am very thankful for your baseball teams, but I am not you. And while I see the need for churches to be planted in the city, I also know the need for churches to be planted and renewed all throughout rural America. And while Jesus does love the city and urban professionals, I have a feeling he loves cowboys too. In fact, Jesus was a rural Galilean himself that was born in Bethlehem which had declined in significance into a small village at the time of his birth. Then, Jesus was raised in Nazareth which had such little cultural significance during his day it led people to ask, "Can anything good come from there?"
 
Book Project Overview:
A Theology for the Country (AKA – Would Jesus Bale Hay)

• The city as an idol
• Galilean Jesus
• Rural signposts of the Glory of God
• Rural men that Jesus called
• Fast is good, but accurate is better 

The Need for Corporate Renewal (AKA – If I hear Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan’s Island one more time…)

• That’s the way it was and we like it (systemic problems)
• The rise of “cowboy churches” (developing problems)
• Why I am not a  huge fan of affinity based only church movements. 
• Cowboy Up (leadership problems)
• Don’t worry, I’ve been in tighter spots than this (The Gospel Solution) 

The Need for Individual Renewal (AKA - Gospel Centered Cowboys)

• Wiping the manure off our boots (faith-repentance-obedience) 
• Yellow-belly no more (recovering courageous leadership) 
• He's studying to be a half-wit (the need for renewed church-based Bible training)
• Crossing the county lines (the country as an idol) 

The Need for Called Men (AKA – I’m your huckleberry)

• Every trail has puddles, son (the reality of hard work) 
• Never kick a cow patty on a hot day (dealing with small-town resistance) 
• He’s all hat and no cattle (serving beyond yourself)
• Mount up and go west young man (raising up and sending disciples off)
• Ride off into the distance (you will not be front page news) 

Jesus Likes Cowboys Too – concluding thoughts re-affirming the necessity of Gospel-driven, mission minded, Biblical churches to be planted and renewed across rural America.

Please pray for me as I write. Yes, I am taking the liberty to have fun with this and will hopefully make you smile here and there along the way.


***All proceeds from this book project will go to The Bridge Community Church and selected missions.

What role does Prayer have in the Christian life?

This year at our annual members meeting we had a focused time of prayer where I challenged our membership to begin praying for some specific items related to our faith community. We believe in prayer and we know that God can do much more than we could ever do on our own. We looked at three scripture passages and then broke out into a set prayer time over some specific items that are listed below the passages.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; (1 Timothy 2:8, ESV)

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18, ESV)

Our Prayer Items:

1. Fill our minds with your greatness, not our own.
2. May we be disciples of Jesus who make more disciples for your fame. 
3. Give us a courageous love for people in our community.
4. Give us opportunities to share the gospel.
5. Empower our teachers and volunteers in Bridge Kids. Save our children.
6. Empower our teachers and volunteers in Youth Ministry. Save our youth.
7. May our missional cells grow us and reach out to others.
8. May “A Night in Bethlehem” be used to reach our community for Christ.
9. May our “Advent Conspiracy” offering bless Lance and Sandy Smith and reach Bangkok for Christ.
10. Bring hope, healing, and salvation to the people of Jefferson County through The Bridge-Arnold. 
11. Use our gifts, talents, and resources to make more disciples of you for your fame. 
12. Empower and protect our elders, staff, deacons, members, and volunteers. 
13. Keep saving lost people in St. Francois County

Then, this question came in from an online source who is not an attender of our church. 

Question: What role does prayer have in the Christian life if you believe in the sovereignty of God?

Here was my response (this is by no means exhaustive) :

I personally feel that our prayer life is a primary way that we experience the sonship of God. The longer I walk as a Christian, the more I am finding my prayer focus changing from mere petition (asking), to fellowship with God. In the same way that communication is vital to any relationship we have physically, communication with God is vital to experiencing our relationship with God spiritually.

The Bible tells us to pray and we should obey scripture (Col. 4:2, Matthew 6:5-6, among many others) The needs of our own life, our church, and world missions is so great that we must depend on God! Wayne Grudem helpfully comments: ‘Prayer is not made so that God can find out what we need...God wants us to pray because prayer expresses our trust in God and is a means whereby our trust in him can increase. In fact, perhaps the primary emphasis of the Bible’s teaching on prayer is that we pray with faith, which means trust or dependence on God’. 

We also know that God acts when we pray in fulfilling his purposes. A. W. Pink writes, ‘God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass, but he has also decreed that these events shall com to pass through the means he has appointed for their accomplishment.'

God is sovereign and He has chosen to carry out His purposes and His plans through the word of God, the Spirit's active work, and human means (the church). This includes our gospel proclamation as well as our prayers. In scripture, we see that we are commanded to pray (1 Thess. 5:17), invited to pray (Mark 11:20-26, among  many others), and we see that prayer is effective and powerful (James 5:13-18). We are even told to pray for healing while trusting that God's ultimate purposes will be carried out. Romans 10:14-17 shows us that God carries out much of his saving purposes via the church, and in addition we see that God carries out much of his purposes on this earth via prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Therefore, God's people must pray. So, we do pray and we enjoy our sonship and fellowship with God.

If you are a part of our fellowship, have you continued in prayer? May we grow in our fervency for prayer!

My Five Hopes for The Bridge-Leadington

It is 9:30 am and I am getting ready for my weekly preaching meeting with Tim and Lance. Did you know that Lance joins us via skype as much as he can? I am REALLY excited that we will begin a new series this Sunday called, "Restored-How the Gospel Makes us Whole." I hope that you have invited a few friends.When was the last time you brought someone to church with you? You can read about the upcoming series here: http://bridgelife360.com/?p=2426 and even share the promo video or link with your friends on email or social media. I am praying that as we go through this series we will experience much joy and hope from the gospel! I am also praying that many non-christians will come to faith! Will you join me in praying daily for this?

BUT, that isn't why I am writing you today...Actually, as I sat down at my desk and prayed the Spirit took me in a different direction than sermon prep this morning. He stirred my soul and took me to five hopes that I have for The Bridge-Leadington as we finish out 2013 and move into 2014. Who knows, maybe I will make this into a sermon series at some point in the future. It will definitely make it into our Members meeting taking place on Nov. 3rd at 5:00pm. But, I had to share them with you today.

Here are my five hopes.

Hope #1 - A renewed love for the people of St. Francois County

Hope #2 - A renewed passion for evangelism

Hope #3- A renewed fervency in prayer

Hope #4 - A renewed devotion to covenant community

Hope #5- A renewed joy flowing from resting in the Gospel that splashes onto others

Here are a few questions I am wrestling with. What does it look like for us individually and corporately to love our community afresh? What distracts us from going fishing with our buddies to catch more people for Jesus? How can we get more specific and regular with our prayer lives. How can we grow closer as a community? What steals our joy and moves our attention away from from the relentless love and grace of God? 

So, these are my five hopes. I didn't wake up thinking about them. I just went and worked out and then sat down and prayed. God interrupted my planning and prepping to stir some things up in my heart. Now, I'm giving them to you. I'm giving them back to Him as well.

I am going to leave you with the verse I read that for some reason sparked all of this.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV

The Gospel for Moral People Sermon Recap

The Gospel for Moral People
Sermon Recap
6/16/2013
Acts 13:13-53

Listen to past sermons at http://www.bridgepodcast.com . Watch past sermons at http://www.bridgechurchonline.tv

In this sermon recap we will see how Paul presents the gospel to a non-Christ-centered religious crowd. Then, in Acts 14 at The Bridge  next week, we will see how Paul does evangelism with a non-religious pagan audience.

Audience: Religious people. Jew and Gentile God-Fearers.

The Big Idea: God has always taken the initiation of grace in the history of his relationship with his people

SEE ACTS 13:13-23

The History of God’s Relationship with his People: 

1. He chose our fathers (vs. 17) 
2. He patiently endured them in the wilderness (vs. 18) 
3. He gave them all their leaders and deliverers (vs.17-22) 
• Moses 
• The Judges
• The prophets
• The kings 
4. He promised and then gave them the savior, Jesus (vs. 23) 

This survey of Israel’s history demonstrates that God has a plan for history, and we need to sense a connection to that plan. Jesus is the goal of history, and as we are in Jesus, we are in the flow of God’s great plan of redemption.

Key: God’s favor has never been earned, has always been graciously given, and has always been mediated through great leaders who saved the people by God’s gracious power 

SEE ACTS 13:24-37 

The Case for Salvation in Jesus

1. Jesus’ life and death fit the predictions of a messiah 
2. The greatest prophet, John the Baptist recognized Jesus as messiah (vs. 24-25) 
3. There were eyewitnesses of the bodily resurrection (vs. 31) 

The Heart of the Gospel

• Christianity is Christ (vs. 27-30) 
• His person and life 
• His death 
• His resurrection 

NOTE:  In calling the cross a tree, Paul drew on the idea from Deuteronomy 21:22-23. In that passage, it says that God curses a person who is hanged from a tree. Paul wanted to communicate the idea that Jesus was cursed so that we could be blessed (Galatians 3:13). 

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—(Galatians 3:13, ESV) 

Key: The heart of the gospel message is not that a teacher has come to show us how to save ourselves, but that a Savior has come to die and be raised for us. 

SEE ACTS 13:38-39 

The Promises of the Gospel 

•  Forgiveness of sin 
• Approval by God 
• For those who trust in Christ 
• Justification by faith alone 

Jesus does not only forgive us, but we are also justified by Him. Forgiveness takes care of the debt of sin, but justification puts a positive credit on our account before God. 

SEE  ACTS  13:40-52 

SIDE  NOTE: Continuing in grace is as important as beginning in grace; we must never leave it as the basic principle of our relationship with God. Far too many only think of grace as the introduction to the Christian life, but God wants grace to remain as the foundation for our life with Him. 

Responses to the Gospel 

1.  Some reject (vs. 45-46) 
• The only way to be worthy is to admit you are completely unworthy.
• Since some considered themselves worthy of eternal life, they were not worthy of eternal life.
2.  Others accept (vs. 48) 
• They do so because God has been at work overcoming their rebellion 
• This is a complete denial that salvation can be by goodness and morality and religiousness. 

Key: When we reject the gospel, it is done so freely. We are not forced to do so — we are responsible for what we have done. But if anyone accepts the gospel, it is because God has been at work in their lives. After we believe we have no one to praise but God! 

What now? 

1.  Trust Jesus 
2.  Live for Jesus
3.  Keep on keeping on amidst life’s circumstances

NOTE ON SHAKING THE DUST OFF: If Jewish people had to go in or through a Gentile city, when leaving the city they shook the dust off their feet as a gesture saying, “We don’t want to take anything from this Gentile city with us.” In this sense, Paul said “I don’t want to take anything with me from you Jesus-rejecting religionists.” 

Where the gospel of grace is preached, it will offend the non-Christ-centered religious, and they may oppose it.

Paul and Barnabas had joy that contradicted their circumstances. 

The joy a Christian has lies far beyond earthly circumstances that always changes. 

How do we keep going as a believer? By recognizing:

1. We have a father (God)
2.  We have a brother (Jesus) 
3. We have a helper and comforter (Holy Spirit)

Enjoying Life by Enjoying God Teaching Notes

Sunday night I taught our first session of Church Summer School answering 15 questions as they pertain to salvation. The 15 questions were: 

1. Why must we be “saved?” 
2. How total is depravity really? 
3. What is the result of our depravity? 
4. Does this mean non-Christians can do no good? 
5. If total depravity is true, what happened to my baby who died in infancy? 
6. So, what about people with cognitive function who never heard the name of Jesus? 
7. If Total Depravity is true, then how is salvation possible?
8. Can I resist His grace? 
9. Does this mean that salvation is then founded in my decisive ability? 
10. What should my response be to such amazing grace? 
11. Will everyone be saved? 
12. Who then will be saved?
13. Can a true Christian lose their salvation? 
14. Doesn’t Hebrews teach a Christian can apostasize? 
15. How should I now live as a believer?

Church Summer School session 1 is in the books! Sadly, I am not sure if the recording turned out or not due to the fact that I taught for three hours. We will know soon. [Update: we have it below] Until then, below is a copy of my entire teaching notes for the night with answers. If you missed a few fill-ins you can find them here.

Download - "Enjoying Life by Enjoying God" teaching notes -- (you will need this for use with the audio)

Audio: Part 1 - Questions 1-10 (70 minutes)

Audio: Part 2 - Questions 11-15 (94 minutes)

The next Church Summer School session will be July 21 from 5-7pm.

Next Topic: Power For Life (Free to live on Mission in His power)

In this session we will take a deeper look at Spirit-Filled living. Sample Topics Covered: What is the Holy Spirit? Are the supernatural gifts available today? What does it mean to be Spirit-filled? Why do I need the Spirit? What have been the abuses of the teaching of the Holy Spirit in recent years? Can we experience more of the Holy Spirit after conversion? How does the Holy Spirit empower me for life on mission?

Jesus Wins - Sermon Recap

Jesus Wins
Sermon Recap
6/2/2013
Acts 12

Listen to past sermons at http://www.bridgepodcast.com . Watch past sermons at http://www.bridgechurchonline.tv



Don't fix it, just listen??? 
Running Theme: Speaking the truth in love can be the most empathetic response we could ever make!

Key Verse:
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. (Acts 12:23, ESV)

The Big Idea:  If you oppose Jesus, you lose. If you stay with Jesus, you win.

Herod pursues idols

The Herods were non-Jews from Idumea.  During the Roman occupation this family served as puppet rulers over the Jews.  The Jews hated the Herods who are remembered for a family of violence, incest and political intrigue.

Family Tree:
Herod the Great—a skillful politician proclaimed king of the Jews by the Romans.  He held this position at the birth of Christ (Mat 2:1).  He slaughtered the children to try to annihilate Jesus.  He rebuilt the temple to try to gain the favor of the Jews, but he also built pagan temples.  He had several sons including: Archelaus (Mat 2:22), Antipas, Herod Philip II, and Aristobulus (father of Agrippa).

Herod Antipas—was the tetrarch of Galilee who divorced his wife to marry Herodias, his half-brother’s wife and also his niece.  he executed John the Baptist and tried Jesus.  He was eventually exiled by Emperor Caligula.

Herod Agrippa I—was installed by the Emperor Claudius as king over all of Jewish Palestine.  Unlike most of the other Herods, he practiced the forms of the Jewish religion faithfully in an effort to maintain the favor of the Jews. This was the reason for his postponement of Peter’s execution (after the Passover) in Acts 12.

SEE Acts 12:1-2

Idols are things or pursuits that we give meaning in our eyes to more than God

1. The idol of control

Control Idolatry:  I have meaning if I can control my ______________________.

What we seek:  control (self-discipline, certainty, standards)
Greatest nightmare:  uncertainty.
Others often feel:  condemned.
Problem emotion:  worry




SEE Acts 12:3-4

2. The idol of approval

Approval Idolatry: I have meaning if I am loved and respected by _______________.

What we seek:  approval (affirmation, love, relationship).
Greatest nightmare:  rejection.
Others often feel:  smothered.
Problem emotion:  cowardice.

SEE Acts 12:5-19

3. The idol of power.

Power Idolatry:  I have meaning if I have power and influence over others.

What we seek:  power (success, winning, influence)
Greatest nightmare:  humiliation.
Others often feel:  used.
Problem emotion: anger.

SEE Acts 12:20-25

4.The idol of comfort.

Comfort Idolatry:  I have meaning if I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life.

What we seek:  comfort, (privacy, lack of stress, freedom).
Greatest nightmare:  stress, demands
Others often feel:  hurt
Problem emotion:  whiny

God smashes Herod’s idols

• Herod receives judgment from the God he refused to glorify
• No power will ultimately triumph over God

Making it personal:

1.  We are to live for the Glory of God.
    a. Living for our own glory is fleeting
    b. Fighting against God is silly
**Nobody stands at the base of a mountain and says, "Look how big I am!" Nobody stands at the edge of the ocean and speaks of their own vastness! So, why would we live in such a way with the God of all creation?

2.  This does not mean that we will automatically have an easy life.
    a. See Hebrews  11:32-40, Job 1
    b. James was one of the intimate three (saw the transfiguration) and got the sword.
    c. Peter escaped this time but not later

3.  We should pray for other Christians.
    a. The church prayed together
    b. The prayer of the church was full of doubt
    c. God answered a weak prayer
    d. You might say that it was the angel brought Peter out, but it was prayer by the church gathered that  brought the angel out.
    e. We see the sovereign will of god aligning people up with his Sovereign purpose through the means of prayer!

4.  It may look like defeat, but if we stay with Jesus we win.
    a. God is never taken by surprise; He is always in control.  We are called to follow Him in faith, with confidence, serving whether by death or by life.
    b. "We may feel small and insignificant; we may think that we are overpowered when some of our best leaders are killed on a political whim. But the truth is: if we stay with Jesus, we win, and if we oppose him, we lose. So be encouraged. Don't be impressed by temporary worldly triumphs over the gospel. Be bold and courageous to spread the Word of God and leave the outcome to God." - John Piper

5.  If we do not glorify God the wrath of God remains on us.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. – (John 3:36 ESV)

    a. Herod received judgment from the God he refused to Glorify
    b. If you reject Christ, God will reject you.
    c. If God smashed Herod’s idols, what makes us so arrogant to think he cannot smash ours?

6.  We can turn from our idols to Jesus.
    a.  Have you grown tired of chasing empty idols?

Our intro video (above) was called it’s not about the nail. Through a funny depiction we saw that it really was about the nail. You may be reading this today and you know the sin that you have turned to. You know, the one that you repeatedly give more importance to than God. No matter what your idol of choice is,  it is time to turn from it and look to His nails.

You can find forgiveness, hope, love, and meaning by looking deeply at Christ’s nails. The nails He took to bring you home to God and release you from the vain pursuit of self. Yes, his nails can forgive, redeem, and redirect your life pursuit. How? He took the nails. Jesus took your sin judgment. And by his wounds you can be spiritually healed!

BUT, if you are proud, arrogant, and shrug your shoulders at God. Hear me. God will win.

And if you feel small, overpowered, outnumbered, and crushed underneath life’s circumstance. Never forget.
Jesus wins.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)

Those Crazy Christians - Sermon Recap

On May 19th, we celebrated Church Planting Sunday at The Bridge Community Church! Special guest preacher Scott Thomas shared with us Five Reasons for Church Planting. In doing so, he gave an illustration of churches that are pregnant with future pastors and planters in expectancy of birthing new churches. Then, this past Sunday we jumped back into our series in Acts. In Acts 11, we saw a new church birthed in Antioch and its subsequent stages of development in the process. It was a perfect text for us to follow-up Church Planting Sunday with! Antioch was also the first place that we were called "Christians." Why did they call us that? In this week's sermon recap we get a glimpse at why they called us Christians, as well as the stages of development in a young church plant.

Those Crazy Christians
Sermon Recap
Acts 11:19-30

The Big Idea: Disciples are made to make more disciples. Churches are planted to plant more churches.

Antioch (modern Antakya) - the largest city of the area and capital of the Roman province of Syria, with a population of a half million or more. Only Rome and Alexandria were larger in ancient times.

Antioch was known for its business and commerce, for its sophistication and culture, but also for its immorality.

One might say that Jerusalem was all about religion; Rome was all about power; Alexandria was all about intellect, and Athens was all about philosophy. Adding to that, one might say that Antioch was all about business and immorality.

Stages of Development in a Young Church

See Acts 11:19-20

1. Courageous Gospel sharing across boundaries 

What does that look like for you in your context?

• Community boundaries
• Socio-economic boundaries (class)
•  Racial boundaries 
• Special interest boundaries 

Early Missionary Witnesses - took the gospel to the Jews
Early Missionary Pioneers – took the gospel to the Hellenists

See Acts 11:21

2. Movement from God resulting in salvations

The hand of the Lord brought belief, and those who believed turned. When the Gospel came to Antioch, it came to an utterly pagan city.

A ministry can’t turn rebellious people to the Lord unless the hand of the Lord is with them.

• You can turn people to a personality without the hand of the Lord. (tv preachers, comedians and etc..)
• You can turn people to a social club without the hand of the Lord. (bars, country clubs, civic organizations)
• You can turn people to a church or an institution without the hand of the Lord. (mom said this is the right thing to do)
•  But you can’t turn people to the Lord without the hand of the Lord. 

If you are peaking in from the outside in, Christianity is not simply a formula to follow. It is not a man derived list of best practices. It is a supernatural experience with the living God.

Church, when we get out of our comfort zone, we must rely on the hand of the Lord. We must pray and we must ask the Holy Spirit to work. This is supernatural.

See Acts 11:22-23

Barnabas finds evidences of the grace of God among them. It is important that others be able to see the grace of God among us. They should not see an emphasis on self, on man-made rules, on human performance – but on the glorious grace of God.

Have you ever even thought about what we SHOULD look for? We place high importance on so many things (mission, giving, evangelism, service), but these things are vain if not centered, founded in, and boldly proclaiming the GRACE OF GOD. THE GOSPEL must be permeating our lives. Gospel in the pulpit. Gospel in our lives. Gospel in our community.

 So, we have a new young church with new Christians. NOW WHAT?

3. Quick follow-up and investment in new believers.

Babies are not mean to stay babies. New Christians are meant to mature. God gives leaders to equip this process in the direction of the Holy Spirit,  under the authority of Christ, and centered in His holy word.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

See Acts 11:24

4. New believers begin sharing the gospel 

Barnabas exhorts and encourages the church and they start sharing the gospel themselves. We see disciples making disciples and the church growing when new believers engage mission, evangelism and ministry…

See Acts 11:25-26

5. Discipleship training and leadership development

Perseverance in the faith is a community project.

What do you have in place to train and develop new leaders and elders in your church? Is it holistic?

At The Bridge there are opportunities to grow deeper in knowledge at this year’s Summer School. You have opportunities to engage in holistic training in community via cell as well. For students and children there is also summer camp. You can read all about what is being offered this summer at The Bridge by clicking here (Leadington Summer Schedule).

 See Acts 11:27-30

 6. The young church begins to serve other believers in crisis and plant new churches 

Notice that one of the first signs of vitality is, again, financial generosity! (cf. Acts 4:31-37). Then later in Acts 13, the church in Antioch sends off their best to plant to new churches. We see churches planting churches.

Those Crazy Christians
The Antioch church was the first place that the gospel had created a truly new Humanity out of many different nationalities. There were people coming to faith across cultural, racial, and class boundaries! They were not only coming to faith but they also began serving and giving to others!

The barriers came down and this shocked onlookers. No other religion had produced it. How could this religion, then, be seen as simply the power-grab move of a particular culture or strata of society? It could not. That is why only in Antioch were believers called “Christians” and only there did the world realized something remarkable had been unleashed in the empire.

Those crazy Christians were giving to other believers and serving beyond themselves. Is this still what we are known for today? Brad Paisley's new song "Those Crazy Christians" talks about Christians who are willing to jump on an airplane and go to Africa and Haiti and risk their lives in Jesus' name. If that is considered crazy, I'll take that label. May we never lose the drive the serve others in our own communities and abroad because we have been served by Christ. And if that's crazy, so be it.

Listen to past sermons at http://www.bridgepodcast.com . Watch past sermons at http://www.bridgechurchonline.tv

Jesus Has a Family - Sermon Recap

This week's sermon recap is:
Jesus Has a Family
Acts 10:30 – 11:18

Jesus has a family! And Jesus still adopts people into the family of God -- the church -- and together, as a family, they grow to be more like him. So, who is the family of God? How can I be part of that family?

Note: We began this sermon with baby dedications. 

Sunday's Big Question: How do I become a part of the family of God?
Acts 10:30-33

1. The Call of God
A running theme through the book of acts is that this is God's story and he is leading, guiding, and directing from all sides. In this specific story God is very sovereignly lining things up to bring the Gentiles in. We have seen him do this already with the Ethiopian Eunuch and Saul. God initiates.

2. The Message of God
If you remember from last week Cornelius needed to hear the message of God to be saved (cf. Romans 1:16). So what is it? Peter shares the good news!

Acts 10:34-343
a. Jesus, bringer of peace (36)
b. Jesus, Lord of all (36)
c. Jesus, a man among us (37)
d. Jesus, anointed with the Holy Spirit and Power (38)
e. Jesus, stronger than Satan and sin’s effects (38)
f. Jesus, killed on the tree (39)
g. Jesus, raised to life forevermore (40-41)
h. Jesus, the head of the church (42)
i. Jesus, the final judge of all people (42)
j. Jesus, the one the prophets foretold (43)

3. The Response of Man
a. Supernaturally driven
b. Empty Handed, but willing

Acts 11:18
Two empty hands...
i. Repentance – to see your need
Screen Acts 10:43
ii. Faith – to cling to the only one who can help

4. The New Family of God
Acts 10:44-48
c. All who are in Jesus Christ
This is quite a moment as Gentiles and Jews have never been allowed together unless a Gentile converted into the family of Judaism first.

Early in the Bible in texts such as Leviticus 20:22-26, God himself put separation into practice to keep Israel free from sin and from being tempted to follow after their false gods. But now, this family has new cousins, but because of long history and Roman occupation, this is going to feel strange. God needs to communicate.

Acts 10 is described as another Pentecost type event. This description is not typical for every experience. The speaking in tongues here happens to show that the Gentiles received the same Gospel, the same spirit, in the same way as the Jews. This whole thing is very divine and God-driven. It shows beyond a doubt that the gentiles will be included in the family of God.

Acts 11:1-18

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13, ESV)

See also Ephesians 2:11-22, Galatians 3:28

You may be thinking, but you don't know me and my family. You don't know my past! I can't possibly be adopted into the family of God?

Does your family include incest? Does it include adultery? Does it include prostitution? Does it include murder? Jesus' family does. The Bible is honest about it and invites you to be honest as well, so that you can see the sins of your family and know that you all need a Savior. Jesus welcomes you to be adopted into the family of God -- the church -- and together, as a family, grow to be more like him.

The Ladies in Jesus’ Family Tree from Matthew
• Tamar – Slept with her father-in-law
• Rahab – A Canaanite prostitute famous for lying
• Ruth – Her entire race of people was the result of incest
• Bathsheba – Committed adultery with King David
• Mary – others questioned her reputation

Some of the Men
Abraham - Pimped out his wife twice
Judah - Thought he slept with a prostitute, turned out to be daughter-in-law
David - Committed adultery and murder; son tried to murder him
Solomon - Wisest man ever made dumb choices due to sexual deviancy

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV)

Two empty hands by which you grab the gospel
1. Repentance- to see your need.
a. The way I have been living my life has not been working
2. Faith - to cling to the only one who can give you what you need
a. I need more than better thinking. I have real sin. I need a real savior

Listen to past sermons at http://www.bridgepodcast.com Watch past sermons at http://www.bridgechurchonline.tv

The Gospel > Moralism & Racism - Sermon Recap

I am often asked two questions by those peering in or hanging out around our faith community. They are:

1. "Do people who are sincere and do good go to heaven?" 
2. "Why does The Bridge invest resources and send people to take the gospel to the nations?"

This past Sunday I sought to answer both of these questions straight from our text in Acts 10. Below is an overview of the teaching. To listen to it in its entirety visit http://www.bridgelife360.com and grab the podcast  or video on Tuesday. 

Question 1: Do sincere people who do good go to heaven?

I contend that the default religion being taught by our society today is that good people who are sincere in their efforts are those who go to heaven. We are taught this at funerals, on television, on radio, in sports culture, and via social media.What does the Bible say in regards to this teaching? It is important for us to see what Cornelius was as well as what he was not to answer this question.

Text: Acts 10:1-23a
And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” - Acts 10:22 (ESV)

Cornelius was:

• A military man
• A virtuous man
• A generous man
• A spiritual man
• A respected man

Note: He was a god-fearer. He was sympathetic to the Jewish faith but not a proselyte. He had a positive experience with the Jewish faith and respected what he knew. All the Jewish people in turn loved him even though he wasn't a convert. But...

Cornelius was not:

• A saved man

While he had all these admirable qualities, he was still a lost man in need of being found.

Four Passages That Bring Clarity
A. Acts 11:14 - Cornelius needed the Gospel message to be saved.
B. Acts 10:43 - Forgiveness of sins comes via belief in Jesus
C. Acts 2:5,37-38 - Peter didn't tell these devout men to just keep doing what they were doing, but to repent.
D. Acts 11:18 - It takes repentance to have life (salvation)

Answer to #1 = No, our good and sincere work alone does not save us.
Implication = If Cornelius needs salvation via the Gospel, so do you.

However, there will be non-Christians that are very like-able, who do virtuous things, that we should show love and gratitude for. This is due to God's common grace. I prefer to call it God's restraining grace. While humanity is totally affected by sin, we are not as bad as we could be because of God's restraining or common grace. If we do not see this as a possibility, we can become hyper-conservative and very unloving people. We can become very unlike Jesus.

Two types of non-Christians in need of Jesus:

1. There are bad and nasty people who need Jesus. 
2. There are honest, spiritual, and compassionate people who are not Christians and need Jesus.

While we need to see what Cornelius was to guard against hyper-conservatism. We also need to see what Cornelius was not to guard against liberalism. He was not a saved man. And while the default religion in America says if you are sincere and do your best you get in. The Gospel proclaims you must repent and have faith in Jesus to receive salvation. To leave this out is to miss the gospel. We must not miss the GOSPEL.

Question 2: Why do we invest resources & send people to take the gospel to the nations?

Text: Acts 10:23b-29
And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. – Acts 10:28 (ESV)

• Peter’s vision in the text is about food, but his interpretation is about people
• There is no one on the basis of their skin color, ethnic heritage, language, or nationality that is untouchable by God
• Therefore, they must not be untouchable by us.

Answer to #2 = There are people being prepared by God in every ethnic people group to
hear the Gospel message
Implication #1 = Christians must have no part in renewed racism
Implication #2 = Christians must never think any race or ethnic group are unfit to hear the
gospel message from them

May we never think that someone is too unclean for us to go into their house and share the gospel with. May we never think to ourselves, or mumble to others, that "they" are not worth evangelizing. And may we never declare because "they" have offensive habits we will never go near them.

Truth: God has always planned for the nations.

Also see Genesis 22:18 and Psalm 67. 

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. – Malachi 1:11

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” - Revelation 5:9-10

God declared persons clean. There is no room for racism in heaven.

Our non-white,  middle eastern looking, Jewish Jesus went to the cross and purchased a people from every race, nation, tribe, and language.

God is saving people from all over the world via the gospel. Maybe it is you today? Maybe you have been like Cornelius and open to God and sympathetic to the faith, but today it makes sense. It makes sense that it wasn't good enough for Cornelius to be decent, compassionate, and generous because you can see the dark places of your own heart that others cannot.   And although you can still pull off "good" work,  you know your sin. You know you cannot merit God's salvation. You know that sin must be cleansed. Repent and turn to Jesus in faith.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7, ESV)

Listen to past sermons at http://www.bridgepodcast.com

Watch past sermons at http://www.bridgechurchonline.tv

May It Be Said of Us - Sermon Recap

Sermon Recap - "May it be said of us" 

Have you ever thought about the reputation that you are leaving behind? What do others think and say about you? What do others think and say about our faith community? Can they see Jesus clearly?

I know that not all perceptions are true, but what should be true of us?

It is time to start thinking about legacy!
Teenagers – Set the course. You won't hit the bulls eye if you don't aim the arrow!
Young Adults – You are making your mark right now.
Middle Age Adults – You still have time to fix yours.
Older Adults – It is time to impart wisdom to others.

The Big Question: What will those who come after us say about us? What story will we tell?

Key Verse
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. - Acts 9:31 (ESV)

Sermon Text: Acts 9:26-43

May it be said of us that:

1. We helped new believers (27)
2. We were bold (27)
3. We matured ourselves (31)
4. We feared The Lord (31) 
5. We were comforted by the Holy Spirit (31)
6. We continued the ministry of Jesus Christ (34)
7. We were used to lead others to belief (35)
8. We were known for good works and charity (36)
9. We prayed (40)
10. Our prayers were effective (42)
11. We built our Identity in Christ (43)

May it not be said that:

1. We discouraged new believers
2. We were cowards
3. We never grew spiritually
4. We feared man
5. We were always on the edge
6. We tried to build a ministry for ourselves
7. We failed at evangelism
8. We were selfish
9. We never prayed
10.  There was no fruit from our prayers
11.  We built our identity on cultural status

We are formed in the Legacy of Christ
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:4-11

We are free to give of ourselves and bring glory to God with our lives because we know what is coming in the season finale! Will you be a part of the legacy that Jesus began, was carried on by the early church, and then passed down to us?

Legacy Project

• Ask others how they would describe your reputation as it currently is.
• Write out what you would like your future reputation to be.
• In what areas of your life will you need to rely on the grace of God?
• In what areas of your life do you need to apply grace-driven effort right now?
• Spend time thanking Jesus for redeeming your life!

Listen to past sermons at http://www.bridgepodcast.com

Watch past sermons at http://www.bridgechurchonline.tv

Radical Grace - Sermon Review

I have decided to start posting weekly sermon overviews for our faith community. You can listen back to this past week's sermon here. You can watch it here.

Sermon Overview for "Radical Grace" 

Have you ever heard the saying, "God helps those who help themselves?" It is amazing how many people believe this saying to be true. It is even more amazing to realize the countless number of people who think the saying is found in the Bible.

When did we start expecting grace, rather than being amazed by it?

Let’s raise our eyes from ourselves to God and rediscover the radical grace found in God’s Holy Word.

We will learn this truth!

“God helps those who cannot help themselves.” - Charles Spurgeon

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Acts 9:1-6(ESV)

The Big Idea: Saul's conversion is proof of the power of God's radical grace

Lessons from Saul's Conversion

1. Hold out hope for everyone
      a) Even those who are hostile to the gospel  message
      b) Do not count out brilliant, highly educated, leaders
      c) God interrupts Saul’s rebellion

Radical grace initiates before we do!
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8(ESV)

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. - John 6:44 (ESV)

We love because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19 (ESV)

2. See the real problem clearly
      a) Our problem is not just that we are failing God, but we are fighting God

Putting the amazing back in grace. It is God's mercy that is the center of grace.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, - Colossians 1:21 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. - Ephesians 2:1-3, ESV

The self-centered gospel says, “I am valuable, and that’s why God loves me.” The biblical gospel says, “I am valuable because God loves me!”

The self-centered gospel makes grace expected, but the biblical gospel makes grace amazing because God is the center of all grace.

Let me be clear. When the spirit draws you and you come to Christ, you do not come as the giver, you come as the receiver. You do not come to try, you come to trust. You do not come to cover a scratch, but to be rescued from certain death. You do not come to simply be made better, you come to be made alive!

Augustus Toplady had it right in the hymn "Rock of Ages":

Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die!

Is he drawing you? Then shout it from the rooftop.
Oh wretched man that I am.  Raise this corpse from the dead! I am tired of dancing with this cadaver.  Wash me savior, make me whole, bring me to life!

3. Stop messing around with Jesus' bride
      a) When you persecute the church, you persecute Jesus.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. - Ephesians 5:29-30

Grace is shown in Jesus’ sacrificial death for sinners. He laid down his life for those who he loved while they were taking his life.

Let’s make it personal. While we took his life, He took our sins! What radical grace. And it wasn’t an after thought.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:14-18, ESV)

God made plans for you, and Jesus willingly went to the cross for God's glory and your joy!.

Come take a piece of the bread – his body we broke
Come drink freely of the cup – his blood shed for our salvation

COMMUNION.
I broke up this sermon with communion in the middle. Our fellowship sang "Rock of Ages" and "All I Have is Christ" together. 

Results of Saul's Conversion

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. – Acts 9:7-9 ESV

1. A new relationship with God.

2. A new relationship to the church.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. Acts 9:10-19

a) Ananias had an ear open and courageous obedience.

Question: Who will go to the hostile in our society?

b) Saul responded in baptism and connection.

“‎There is no such thing as secret discipleship. Either your secrecy will destroy your discipleship, or your discipleship will destroy your secrecy.” – Alistair Begg

3. A new relationship to the world.

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” - Acts 9:20

a) Saul proclaimed Jesus as savior.

b) Saul goes from persecutor to persecuted.

And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket - Acts 9:21-25

Truth: The radical grace of God saves and transforms the hardest of hearts.

Visit The Bridge Community Church for information on meeting times as well as ways to connect in cell family, baptism, and mission.