BridgePointe Sermons

Paul writes a letter to another pastor and dear friend, Timothy. In this letter, we see how we can each do our part to help the church reach its potential. In this message, we look at how the church is at its best when we preserve the truth of the Gospel, pray for others, provide care for each other, protect each other's dignity and partner with God through generosity.

The return of Jesus is the secure hope that one day all the brokenness of this world will be restored for those who believe in Jesus. This should give us the strength we need in order to keep living for Jesus and loving others, even when life is really hard.

Colossians 3:1-17; applying the household instructions in the conclusion to show that the Gospel should have its greatest impact on the people closest to us. It is critical that we do not return to the sins that Jesus died to set us free from. Jesus has changed our status before God, and that change just also be evidenced in the way we live for Him.

Philippians 2:1-11; with references to the living examples of Timothy, Epaphroditus and Paul. Jesus brings the Good News of God's love, mercy and kindness into the flesh by surrendering to God the Father. The same thing happens when we assume a posture of humility and surrender--we bring the love, mercy, and kindness of God in the flesh into our world so that more will see Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-10 is the text that will most clearly present the Gospel during this series. It leaves no room for us to think that we earn or deserve salvation. God loved us so much that He pursued us, even when we were enemies of Him and dead in our sins. As a result, we have been given grace--we have so much more than we deserve because of the riches of Jesus.

The Spirit of God leads Jesus followers into the life of freedom and peace. We all strive for this in one of two ways--keeping all of the commands or breaking them all. But neither produce freedom nor make us into who we want to be. True life and freedom are found only in the Holy Spirit for those who believe in Jesus.

In the Old Testament, people were devoted to knowing the Law and putting it into practice so that it might lead them into the life God desired for them. In the New Testament, disciples listened to Jesus and learned from Him. Once the church started, the Holy Scriptures (eventually including the apostles' teaching) became an essential component of discipleship.

Throughout the New Testament, it is clear that believers need other believers in order to thrive in their faith. We support and strengthen each other so we can continue to be faithful to Jesus. Jesus established the identity of his church. The early church modeled fellowship. The New Testament letters give instruction for the church to be connected.

While worship shouldn't only be understood as singing, singing is one of the most natural overflows of a person who worships God. Angels sing. The Old Testament is full of song. The arrival of Jesus is characterized by song. The disciples and Jesus sang. The believers in the New Testament gathered to worship and were instructed to sing.

Hope is confidence that things will change and despair is fear that they won't. The major difference between the two is the degree of control we have in a situation. When everything felt out of control, we looked for ways to regain it. We need to Knock It Off in order to worship the One in control and embrace the uncontrolled mess of relationships.

This present crisis has created plenty of reasons for us to need comfort. But instead of finding true comfort in God, we often settle for coping with the discomfort by distracting ourselves with food, alcohol, porn, shopping, Netflix, gaming, etc. We need to Knock It Off so we can find the true comfort of God during difficult times.

We are conditioned to be consumers, looking for the products and deals that most meet our needs. We know church isn't supposed to be viewed like that, but COVID-19 has made it so easy for us to approach church like a consumer. We need to Knock It Off in order to keep growing in Jesus.

Isolation isn't good for us: studies show it; prisons use it; people feel it. The isolation of COVID-19 has taken a toll on us and we need to find a way to knock it off in order to regain our spiritual health.

The book of Joshua ends with the land claimed and settled by Israel. Joshua speaks to Israel, charging them to choose whether or not they will be faithful to God. Their decision will determine whether they remain in the land or are exiled away from God. God intends for us to enjoy eternal life (now and forever) with Him, but our faithfulness determines whether or not that becomes our reality.

After the land had been allocated and settled, the eastern tribes (on the other side of the Jordan) were worried that the others would eventually forsake their unity. So they built an alter, a memorial reminder to the unity that all the tribes shared. Our unity can be easily forgotten or forsaken, too. And it's the alter of sacrifice, the cross of Jesus, that reminds us of our unity in Him.

The Gibeonites feared being destroyed by Israel, so they tried to deceive Israel into a treaty. Israel's error was that they did not consult God. They trusted what they saw and do not gain God's perspective on the situation. Like them, we are vulnerable to deception if we don't gain God's perspective.

Immediately after their first victory, the Israelites make two mistakes. Individually, a man named Achan keeps something that belongs to God. Collectively, they enter into their next battle confident in themselves. Not until they have repented to do they experience victory. Our sin, hidden or public, will keep us from all that God wants to give us. We must eradicate our sin so that we can experien...

Jericho was the first battle the Israelites faced in the new land. It was an imposing city. However, God's instructions to Israel demonstrate one very important thing -- their success will be entirely dependent not on their strength but on their surrender to Him. Likewise, in our lives, we experience life and victory not through our own strength but in surrendering to God so His power works in us.

God's path into the Promise Land begins with a remarkable step of faith--into the flooded waters of the Jordan River. God acts, but not until Israel steps. Our life with God is a series of steps that show our trust in God to do what He promises, including the first step of believing in Jesus and passing through the waters of baptism.

Through faith, all people have access to the life that God has promised.

On the edge of the Promise Land once again, Israel must have faith that God will keep His promises and give them this new land (and life). Just what is the life that God offers us? And how can we have faith in God to do what we cannot?

In light of recent events and an outcry of injustice, brokenness, and pain in our nation, BridgePointe made space to cry out to God in prayer and worship. In his message, Jared looks to the Gospel to find unity and points to the source of our healing and change.

Suffering often has such a negative effect on us emotionally and spiritually because we perceive that it's the opposite of what we deserve. Job grapples with this in the beginning of the book, resolving to worship God because everything he had and lost was God's to begin with. In the middle of the book, Job becomes resentful because he believes he deserved better. And then, by the end, when Job ma...

The book of Job is a trial… most think God is on the stand, needing to defend himself when life hurts. In the heavenly dialogue, we see that humanity is on trial--will people love God when they have no earthly reason? The question is needed today. The end of Job shows the reason for our love for God--he delights, irrationally, in His creation. His love for us is all the reason we need to love Him,...

Job was a really good man. So, when he suffered, Job concluded that God wasn't just. His friends argued that Job must not be good because God is surely just. How many still come to one of those conclusions in the midst of suffering– God isn't fair or this must be my punishment for sin. By the end of the book, God explains that suffering is more complicated than they think, and the right response f...