Bridge Community Church Leeds

“May the cross and the fire never simply be emblems of what might have been but the hallmarks of our lives and witness until Jesus comes again.” Pastor Andy reflects on living empowered by the fire of the Spirit and the sacrifice of the cross. We deny ourselves for the sake of Christ and for others who need us to represent him in this dark world. Jesus compares the Spirit to the flow of rivers (pl...

Pastor Steve shares three Biblical truths about giving. First, we give from a heart of worship not duty, trusting God as our creator, sustainer and provider. Second, we are stewards of everything and owners of nothing. Third, he shows us the connection between giving and blessing, and addresses head on what the Bible does - and doesn’t - say about this. He shares how giving attracts the blessing...

“Men and women have run this race in the past. Will you be added to the list?” Pastor Bawa shows us that the message of Hebrews 12 follows on and continues the teaching of Hebrews 11 - there is a great cloud of faithful witnesses who have run and completed the race of faith ahead of us. To inspire us to finish race, Pastor Bawa gives us passages of Scripture that show that we run to win Jesus, we...

Pastor Steve shares three lessons from Hebrews 12.1-4. First, get rid of excess baggage. “Things that hinder” are things not bad in themselves but can keep us from investing in those spiritual practices that promote a healthy life rhythm - time alone with Jesus (even if it’s a walk!), rest, and healthy enjoyment. Sin disrupts our relationships with God and people - get rid! Second, we need to pers...

How do we compete successfully in the race of the Christian life? The apostle Paul tells us that we compete not against each other, but for each other. As Pastor Steve puts it in this message: “You cannot encourage each other, or be encouraged, by running this race alone.” Make it your goal to encourage at least one person every week - it will change your life and the lives of people around you. A...

About this episode What does agape love mean to you? Our young people, share what agape love means to them. They share what they understand by agape love - a love which “seeks the good of the other above all else” and which “challenges us to go beyond what is easy or convenient.” We catch their vision of God who loves in this way, and learn how they apply this selfless and self-giving love in thei...

About this episode Can we really hear the voice of God? How do we recognise it? When we do, how do we respond to it? Rev Tania Harris is a church planter, pastor and lecturer, ministering across the globe to all traditions and age-groups, and through radio and TV in the Antipodes and UK. Tania shares how God spoke in Old Testament times and how he spoke through Jesus. Now, the Holy Spiri...

About this episode “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.” So wrote Thomas Merton. But how can we make sure we are on the right ladder? And who will we meet at the top of it? Pastor Andy Lancaster shares three incidents involving Nicodemus, a key Jewish leader in Jesus' day. What w...

About this episode Jesus calls us to follow Him. But what does it mean to be follow ing Jesus? In a world when many people are calling out for followers, what makes Jesus so compelling? Pastor Bawa explains why we would want to make the radical decision of making Jesus our priority - because He alone is God’s endorsed and approve Son, the source of His forgiveness, healing, and the path to life.&n...

About this episode Building on last week’s talk, Pastor Karen Green shares her experience about being an ambassador for Jesus. Pastor Karen shares various testimonies about how God gradually freed her to be more open and confident in sharing her faith and shows us natural ways in which we can do the same. We are encouraged to build relationships, pray for our friends, neighbours and colleagues, an...

About this episode Paul writes : "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God" But what does it mean to be an ambassador of Christ? Pastor Andy encourages us with these insights. A UK ambassador must first meet the king. What do we remember about our first meeting with king Jesus? Ambassadors g...

About this episode The walls or the rubble - what tends to captivate our attention? Concluding our series from Nehemiah, Pastor Steve shows us how to respond when we become weary, or are tempted to be disheartened. We focus on what God has rebuilt - in His church, and as He works in us to make more like Jesus - more than we focus on what still needs to be done. We build life-affirming spiritual pr...

About this episode In a week where the young people of BCC led our worship, Pastor Bawa shares lessons from Nehemiah about building together. In particular he shares wisdom about building for the future, with and for the next generations of the church. Drawing from the New Testament example of Barnabas and Paul we also learn about both actively investing in our next generations, and when to stand...

About this episode How do you pray when you feel under attack? Humanity, and the church, suffer attacks from dark spiritual forces that damage and disrupt our world. They sow doubt and division by belittling, criticising and creating conflict. Pastor Steve Riley show us how to respond in prayer. We start from the confidence that we don’t need to be afraid - final authority rests with Jesus! Starti...

About this episode What are we trying to build in life? It could be a family, a career, a business, a ministry - whatever it is, it needs to be founded on prayer. In the first of four, highly practical as well as inspirational talks on Nehemiah, Pastor Steve looks at some of Nehemiah's prayers and and encourages us to build four practices into our rhythm of prayer - worship, confession of sin lead...

About this episode Pastor Bawa Leo challenges us to answer the call to consecration, showing us four levels of consecration: Following Christ. Dedicating ourselves to prayer, ridding ourselves of bitterness and unforgiveness. From carrying our own struggles, to carrying those of others in the love and strength of God. Living in such freedom in the mercy and love of God that we truly trust that he...

About this episode James Jephthah draws us into Jesus' conversation with the apostle Peter in John's gospel chapter 21. James invites us to hear Jesus' questions to Peter, as addressed to us. What do you love more than Jesus? How do you show your love for Him? We go on to Jesus' encounter with a woman in Luke chapter 7. She gives her most precious possession. For this, says Jesus, she will be reme...

About this episode Heike Tiedeck inspires us to get ready to talk about our Christian hope. From 1 Peter, Heike speaks about a life that honours Christ, the advice we might give to people who are being persecuted, compared to Peter’s, and different ways to share the good news of Jesus - through stories, questions and ideas. Heike gives examples from her own witness in her working environment as a...

About this episode Pastor Steve Riley shares how we can live a way in which service is less something we do, and more a way of being. Jesus is our supreme example, and in serving others we both serve Jesus and encounter him. Serving is both working for the Lord and act of worship - we can encourage each other in our life of service by making sure our "thank you quotient" is always much higher than...

About this episode Pastor Jacqui takes us through what the Scriptures tell us about God's grace, what it says about God's character, and how Jesus spoke about it. Jacqui addresses the question of whether we have to earn God's grace, how we receive it, what happens when we do, and how we can pass on the amazing, abundant grace that God shares with us. About Bridge Community Church Leeds We welcome...