Bridge Community Church Leeds

For all its joys this tine of Christmas is, for some, a challenging time which brings back sad memories of difficult moments in our personal histories.. Pastor Andy takes us to the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 9, - given 700 years before Jesus is born - to encourage us with the truth of who Jesus is, and who He can be to us this Christmas time. Jesus is the light shining in a dark place, the wonderf...

Joe Barnes brings a word of encouragement as he exposits the prophecy from Isaiah chapter 9. Isaiah was writing in a time of fear for Israel with national rulers failing to stand up for justice, and the Babylonian empire becoming increasingly threatening. Throughout history, powerful rulers have abused their powers which can make us nervous about surrendering to God. But we are reassured that God...

As we countdown to Christmas, Pastor Jacqui invites us to pause from the business of our preparations. From the account of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, Pastor Jacqui uses illustrations to ask us what room we are preparing for Jesus. Just as we de-clutter our garages to make room to store precious items, we need regularly to de-clutter our own hearts to make space for the Holy Spirit's inspiring and...

What does it mean to seek the Lord with all our hearts? In our youth-led service, Melissa shares how God is our sustainer, satisfying our deepest desires. Above all, we seek God not because of what He gives us, but simply because He is God. Melissa reminds us of the experience of the woman from Samaria in John 4 - she had sought to satisfy a deep thirst through multiple relationships that repeated...

What "disputable matters" have you come across among Christian believers? Have you heard discussions about what's OK to do on a Sunday, or whether Christians can drink alcohol or have a tattoo? In this final part of our Romans series, Pastor Steve shares how we can distinguish between a question that's disputable and a question of discipleship. He gives six principles to guide how we respond to ea...

What does it mean to say that God is sovereign? Does he meticulously organise everything that happens, or does He choose to limit His power to allow a measure of free will? And what does that mean for our response to rulers and governments? Are they all appointed by God or allowed by God? Can Christians rebel against a human authority that God has put in place? In week 6 of our series on Romans, P...

In part 5 of our series on Romans, Pastor Steve explores how we work our salvation - freedom from the penalty and power of sin. Our transformed life is worked out in relationship with God (our priority from which all else flows) with the world (transformation from it, not conformation to it) and with people where there is no room for comparison or jealousy since all we - and all they - have is by...

How does God rule the world? What was His plan for Israel as part of His wider plan for humanity? Has that plan failed with the widespread rejection by the Jews of Jesus their Messiah? In chs 9-11 Pastor Steve shows how the Gentile mission fulfils God's covenant with Abraham. We discover tat just as the hardening of Pharoah's heart become part of God's plan to deliver Israel, so the current partia...

In the third of our Romans series, Pastor Steve Riley guides us through chapters 5-8. Ch 5 celebrates the work of Jesus and Ch 8 the work of the Spirit. In Chs 6-7 Paul answers questions from his critics on his view of the law and sin. The law is good in that it exposes and restrains sin, but doesn't give us the power to live in victory over it. That power comes through the death and resurrection...

Pastor Manisha Batra shares testimony and vision from the history of revivals in the UK, from the history of BCC, and the story of her own ministry in India. Pastor Manisha inspires us with teaching from Leviticus. As the altar had a fire that was never to go out, so we too carry a fire from God that will never burn out. It speaks of continuity with past UK revivals, and with Elim, birthed in...

Continuing our series on Romans, Pastor Steve explains the bad news that's the basis of the Gospel's good news. The apostle Paul says it's no use comparing yourself to others when asking who the worse sinner is - we have all sinned! Our foundational sin is idolatry - putting something other than God at the centre of our lives. Pastor Steve explains that the "wrath of God" is God's right anger agai...

Pastor Steve Riley begins a seven week series on Paul'e letter to the Romans. Pastor Steve introduces us to the main themes that Paul deals with. What place does the Old Testament law still have now that grace has come through Jesus? What is the Christian's relationship to sin? What place does Israel have in God's unfolding purposes for the world? How do Christians relate to society's rulers - do...

Mark Pugh, General Superintendent of Elim UK shares from Ephesians chapter 4. In a polarised world we are all to live lives 'worthy of our calling.. always being humble and gentle.' Mark asks us to consider a wider understanding of the Ephesians 4 gifts. How might entrepreneurs and visionaries carry apostolic gifting, how responding to injustice reveals the prophetic gift, seeing evangelistic gift...

It was 47 years ago that Pastor Dave Green became a friend of God. As Pastor Dave says: "The greatest thing in a human being's life is to be a friend with God." Pastor Dave uses a number of illustrations to explain how sin prevents us from being able to experience that friendship, creating a barrier between us and God. Jesus takes the catalogue of our sins on Himself, making open a way so that we...

"Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you. (Augustine of Hippo). Pastor Peter Clothier draws parallels between the idols Paul found in Athens, and the idols of our current generation. An idol is anything that claims to provide the fulfilment that only comes from God himself. Idols diminish us, whereas God frees us. Money and career can be blessings when they serve us, but demanding mast...

In the challenging and inspiring message, Pastor Bawa Leo shares the heart of God for mission. Throughout history, be it through liberation, migration, or strategic mission, God has been bringing His good news to the world. Pastor Bawa gives us the different ways we can ourselves spread, scatter, and share the Gospel, the character we need to support the credibility of the message, and how to over...

Pastor Jacqui Richmond encourages us to take up Jesus’s commission to Go and Tell - someone is waiting! Evangelism is a command, not a suggestion, and can be as easy as telling your story and trusting that God has put, within your sphere of influence, people who are ready to hear it. Evangelism is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so whatever we have to share, He is able to use. And evangelism is driv...

How do we take the word of God and so invest it in our children they become bearers of the church's heritage of faith, and its ongoing story, testifying to God's grace? Pastor Bawa shares how from Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and other scriptures. Discover how to take the word of God and impress it our our children, talking about it, packaging it in ways they can understand, so that it guides their way snd s...

Pastor Steve concludes our series on the big picture story of the Bible focusing on the church - how it came into being, what it is, its purpose, and its destiny. He reminds us that the church was birthed in the Spirit at Pentecost and continues to live and minister in the Spirit's power and leading. The church is in His Majesty's service - up to God for worship and adoration, in to the family of...

In series on the big story of the Bible, Pastor Steve left us last week at the end of Genesis 3 with mankind subject to the twin powers of sin and death. How will God now liberate His fallen creation. Pastor Steve takes us on a journey through the Old Testament covenants, division, exile, and restoration of the Israelite tribes, and the warnings and hopes of the Hebrew prophets. He shows how the s...

How do we explain the world as it is today with its moral and natural evils? Pastor Steve shows us how we all still face today the key issue of Genesis 3 - will we trust God and His boundaries or set our own? Pastor Steve explains where the devil came from, how he seeks to undermine God's work and His good creation, and what happens when we believe the devil rather than God - a broken relationship...

Pastor Steve explains that humans, uniquely, are made in the image of God. Discovering what it means to be made in His image, answers the question "What does it mean to be human?" This includes Representing, Relating, and Ruling. We represent God as His image bearers, carrying His presence living His values, and carrying the message of the Kingdom. We are made to be in relationship with God as wel...

Pastor Steve Riley continues the Bible’s account of history in six acts, with foundational teaching on sex and marriage. The Bible begins and ends with a marriage - Eve to Adam (with God the Father "giving the bride away!" and Christ's wedding to His church. In marriage two become one flesh - the couple start a new family the final responsibility for which rests with them. It's a life-long, monoga...

Pastor Steve begins the Bible’s account of history in six acts. The drama of redemption history is founded in Genesis 1-3. God is eternal, He is great and He is good. God created everything, including us. Creation itself, though its beauty and complexity, points to its intelligent Creator. God has the first word, sustains the universe by His continuing word, and will have the last word on history...

What happened on the cross? What does it mean for me? How should I respond? Pastor Bawa shows how the cross is God's answer to the pollution and penalty of sin, and the sinful self that connives with Satan to steal, kill and destroy what God has made. Beyond the sinful nature is a world system set up to resist God’s plans. It destroys the works of the devil, strips away his power and disarms power...