New Bridge Community Church Sermons

As appealing as the concepts of truth and freedom are, we also find that we live in a culture with all kinds of ideas of how to define them and experience them. In our passage this Sunday, Jesus claims to have truth that will set us free. As we often do, His audience immediately argues with Jesus, believing they are already free and living in truth. In the back-and-forth conversation that follows,...

In this week’s passage, Jesus makes yet another claim that demands a response. He says to follow Him is to live a life in the light, and to reject Him is to live in darkness and die in your sins. But what does it mean to follow Jesus? Is it like following a page we like until it no longer interests us or agrees with us, at which point we unfollow Him? Does it mean learning as much information abou...

In John 8, we find Jesus in a high-pressure situation that doesn't go as anyone suspects. The woman involved learns how Jesus would deal with her in her worst moment—and it's beautiful. What we observe should shape our understanding of God's view of us and the way we view ourselves and others. Download the program and sermon notes for this week: https://www.nbccoly.org/downloads We wou...

The Background (John 7:37, 7:2)   The Invitation (John 7:37b-38; Isaiah 55:1-2) Who: anyone, everyone who is thirsty What: come to Jesus and drink Why: the promise (see below)   We tend to focus on our material lives, but Jesus is using a physical metaphor to speak to us about our souls.    ThePromise (John 7:38-39) Never-ending, soul-quenching living water (John 7:38; Ezekiel 47:1,3-5ff) Purpose...

As people, we often put our conventions and norms onto what we expect or anticipate from our leaders. Jesus encountered this and radically challenged it. So, too, are police officers who are trying to defy societal expectations and legislative pressure in East Africa. Download the program and sermon notes for this week: https://www.nbccoly.org/downloads We would love to meet you and get you connec...

This Sunday we celebrate the most significant event in human history, the resurrection of Jesus. But if we’re honest, sometimes that feels like such a distant historical event that we can lose sight of what it means for us today. Or maybe you have friends or family who are asking those kinds of questions. Join us this Sunday as we explore Jesus’ resurrection THEN to see what implications it has fo...

Sometimes, we have conversations, and the claims seem too good to be true. Is that the case when Jesus says that He is the Bread of Life and that any who come to Him will never be hungry or thirsty again? That’s what a group of people seeking Jesus have to decide in our passage this Sunday. And it is what you and I must decide as well. If Jesus’ claim is valid, then everything about how we approac...

Remember from high school English class how we are supposed to “show” and not “tell”? Join us this Sunday as we explore how Jesus “showed” his disciples and a crowd of over five thousand how to believe in him. This was more than just a magic trick; it has real application for us today. Download the program and sermon notes for this week: https://www.nbccoly.org/downloads We would love to meet you...

Last week, we saw Jesus heal two people. For many of us, that raises questions like, “If Jesus has the power to heal, why isn’t He healing me or my loved one?” This Sunday, we’ll explore this question through the lens of Jesus’ comments that follow these healings. We’ll also have a panel of people from within our church community who are walking through a season of physical pain without what seems...

There are fewer things in life that will get our attention than facing our human limitations, especially when it comes to matters of physical, mental, or relational healing. In our passage this Sunday, Jesus engages with two people in need of healing to point us to deeper realities found in Him. What Jesus has to teach us in these interactions goes beyond the cognitive level to questions and chall...

Last week, we heard about Jesus offering the Samaritan woman at the well. His "living water" would never run dry, and she had to go tell everyone about it! This week, we will look at a seemingly random interaction Jesus had with the disciples and discover that it's actually integral in understanding how God both changes our lives and uses our stories to impact others. Download the pr...

Have you ever been thirsty? You need to take a long drink from a deep cup. We are often keenly aware of our needs and search out ways to meet them. The more pressing the need, the more desperate we are to meet it. This Sunday, we explore a passage in which Jesus uses His physical need to engage a woman’s spiritual need. As He leaves Judea, Jesus decides to go right through the heart of Samaria on...

Do you ever feel pulled into the comparison pitfall? Why them, not me? Do you feel the insecurity or the sense of superiority that comes with it? In our passage this Sunday, a conflict arises that surfaces these kinds of questions and emotions. John the Baptist masterfully points us to the important choices and perspectives that set us free to live a meaningful life. Download the program and sermo...

Have you ever revisited an old, familiar place and noticed some things you missed before? This week, we’re going to walk down the lane of a passage you’ve probably heard before and certainly seen referenced at sporting events. But might there be something new we can notice about how Jesus describes “the good life”? Join us Sunday as we continue our study, John: That you would believe. Download the...

Remember that time when Jesus used a whip to clear the people and animals from the temple? What was going on? Was Jesus just raging and out of control? Or is there more being exposed in this story that hits much closer to home than we may realize? Join us this Sunday as we continue our study through the Gospel of John. Download the program and sermon notes for this week: https://www.nbccoly.org/do...

So Jesus and His disciples show up at a wedding, and the host runs out of wine. This sounds like a setup for a joke, but it is the scene of Jesus’ first recorded miracle (sign) in the Gospel, according to John. What seems like a magical way to bail out an ashamed host is actually far more significant. John uses this sign to point us to eternal hopes found in Jesus that we might miss otherwise. Whe...

We are excited to have Jon & Kathy Graciano with us this Sunday. Jon and Kathy are longtime friends and ministry partners of ours, serving faithfully at Freedom River Outreach. They are regularly part of leading our Living Free classes and also travel frequently, both domestically and internationally, to provide Living Free and prayer trainings. Jon will continue our study in the Gospel of Joh...

Our phones constantly notify us, telling us to look at something important. The news, sports, and social media all call for our attention, pointing us to the best athletes, performers, or life-impacting events. We are people who are busy, constantly looking about for what is most urgent and most important. In our passage this Sunday, John the Baptist sees Jesus and says, “Look!” But why should we...

Knowing who you are not helps you to focus on who you are. In our passage this Sunday, John shows us that receiving who God has designed you to be and the purposes He has for you frees you not only from feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome but also frees you to receive and fully live into who God has designed you to be. Join us this Sunday as we continue our study in John 1:19-28. Download...

Who could've imagined what it would be like when the God of the universe would come to earth as a human? The glory of God was always more than any human could handle to look at and would put those who got a glimpse on their knees. In our text this Sunday, John leads us through the significance of Jesus coming to dwell among humanity in such a way that we could observe the glory of God. The imp...

As the Christmas season ramps up, so does the busyness! How do we prepare for the gifts and meals and to be present with Jesus and those around us? How can we point ourselves and others to the powerful reality that Jesus is God in the flesh who came to be present with us? In week 2 of Advent, we’ll continue to explore John’s introduction of Jesus. This week, we’ll be in John 1:6-13 and see that be...

Live & Light (Advent) In a world of distractions and busyness, compounded by this season of shopping and activity, how can we be more aware of Jesus’ presence with us? Join us this Sunday as we begin our Advent study through John 1. John’s introductory verses make claims about Jesus that are revolutionary for our lives and those around us. Let’s journey together to be reminded of the life and...

This week we will take a look at one more meal with Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. With an unexpected guest and a disgruntled host, Jesus responds in a way that surprises some and brings great hope to others. Join us as we take a look together and consider where we fit in this account, and how it might change the way we relate to Jesus and others. Download the program and sermon notes for this week:...

Important conversations often take place during meals. Sometimes, those conversations are uncomfortable and even challenging. This week, Jesus compassionately confronts the priorities in our lives through a conversation He has with the host of His meal. Join us Sunday for this timely invitation to examine our hearts and lives to see how we can grow in choosing what is right and best in our daily l...

In our hurried and busy culture, sometimes meals are on the go, separate from those we love, or simply a matter of filling our stomachs. But Jesus often used meals to have meaningful conversations and teach significant values of what His kingdom is like. Join us this Sunday as we kick off a 3-week study: Meals with Jesus, to see what we can learn, especially as we head into a season with holidays...