The Bride Church

Considering the promise of Jesus return, what are we to do and be? Peter says we are to be stirred up. He reminds us that this has been foretold from Prophets, Apostles, and The Lord Jesus. He tells us to be diligent and know that He comes quickly. The second coming of Christ is both great and terrible. Great for the Church and terrible for the judgment that He brings. The witness of our lives to...

No one knows the hour of His return. All will see and hear Him when He returns. The Master and Servant parable gives us responsibility. 1. If you expected His return was emanate, what would you be doing? 2. What does it look like in your life to stay awake and watch the door? 3. How does perseverance and patience serve as a testimony?

Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Jesus’s disciples ask when all these things will be accomplished. Jesus emphasized “Do not be led astray.” Jesus explains what the signs are not. Jesus emphasizes “Be on Guard.” 1. How often do you think about the return of Jesus? 2. What does it look like to be led astray? 3. How do we stay on guard?

By teaching in the temple, Jesus asserts Himself as the messianic promise. Jesus watches those making offerings and teaches the disciples the offering from the widow is greater because it came from a place of sacrifice. Our giving flows from a trusting and devoted heart. If our time, talent, and treasure is devoted to good or bad it will come back multiplied. This is the spiritual principal of rea...

The new birth is the act of the Holy Spirit, connecting our dead, selfish hearts with God’s living, loving heart. His life becomes our life, and His love becomes our love. Notice the scribe has answered correctly but Jesus says, “you are not far from The Kingdom of God.” When we allow God to love us, and we manifest that love, we then realize who we were destined to be. We love others when we desi...

Jesus is just a few days away from the cross and Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians are trying to trap Him in conversations. They are questioning His allegiance to the authorities of Rome as well as the reality of the resurrection. His reply: you’re wrong, you don’t know the scripture nor the power of God. “Render to God what is God’s” begs the question, “What is God’s?” Everything! Our lives, ou...

The idea of the body being evil finds its roots in Docetism (“to seem”). We need to keep Paul’s concept of the “flesh nature” separate from the “body.” Our bodies are ground zero for our sinful nature and give visibility to that nature. Early attacks on Jesus denied His bodily existence and His resurrection. Our own embarrassments at our bodily functions/limitations might be at odds with the God w...

Jesus has authority over all things in Heaven and on Earth. Jesus’s authority is from God the Father, not from man. The religious leaders challenged Jesus’s authority because they were afraid of Him, and they wanted Him dead. Jesus used questions and parables as effective teaching tools. The Pharisees were not satisfied being tenants; they wanted to be owners. We have been entrusted as stewards of...

One story within another almost always points to parallel stories in the Bible. The presence of God produces fruit. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it did not produce fruit in the season of the coming of the Kingdom of God. The tables of the money-changers were overturned to show that atonement is not something that can be bought with money. The buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals were dri...

Quarreling is a sign of foolishness and ignorance and is a snare of the Devil to take control of your life. When we think we are right (and righteous) and begin to judge others, we might actually be wrong and ensnared by our enemy. We are born with a snare in our soul that encourages us to have our own way. We must be born again to overcome our selfish ambitions. The turn from quarreling to doing...

We must recognize our need for prayer. Jesus encourages persistent prayer when He tells the story, “ask, seek, knock.” The Father answers our prayer with the best gift of all: Himself through the person of the Holy Spirit. At our new birth, the Holy Spirit unlocks God becoming Father and we are joined to Him in spirit. At our new birth, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spiri...

There is always room in our lives for more Scripture and more prayer. The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was nothing like a Roman triumphal entry. There were no spoils of war, prisoners, army, or golden chariot. The people were expecting a conquering king to come and reestablish Davidic reign. Riding on a young colt was a symbol of Jesus coming in peace rather than as a conqueror. Hosanna...

John was amazed that Jesus loved them to the end. Jesus models love by washing their feet, then commands them to love one another as He has loved them. Jesus models right actions flowing out of right thinking. (John 13:3) If we don’t know who we are (identity), where we are heading (destiny), and what we are about (purpose/mission), we will falter in teaching our kids who they are. There is still...

As a result of the Hebrew people's hard-hearted rebellious unbelief in the good news, they did not enter God's promise of rest in the land. Today, God calls us to believe the Good News and strive to enter His rest. Today's Sabbath-rest is a faith-based spiritual position of the entire self, surrendered in relentless loyalty to the will of God, flowing from the finished work of Jesus Christ. The fu...

Rebecca Cofer shares her story of being blinded self-pity, pain, and lies about who God is. Like blind Bartimaeus, Rebecca now depends on the Lord as she has started a whole new life trusting Him. "You've never been blind too long because, when He gives you your sight, you forget how long you've been blind."

Bartimaeus: Son of Timaeus, his name in Hebrew is “unclean” but in Greek it’s “highly prized.” Jericho is 900 ft. below sea level and Jerusalem will be a 3,300 ft. climb.  Look closely at Bartimaeus’s approach to Jesus. He didn’t listen to the crowd, he continued to cry out for mercy, he threw off his cloak, he sprang to his feet, and then followed Him. Sometimes we are blind beggars looking for a...

Jesus heads uphill to Jerusalem and explains to the disciples what will happen to The Son of Man. James and John ask to be put in a position of glory in His Kingdom. We are called to glorify God, not to be glorified. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Jesus serves us daily, and from His death we receive freedom to serve. We have been ransomed by the greatest Servant of all. Jesus helps us, we...

God’s heart’s desire is for us to honor our mothers. Honor is placed on a person; respect is placed on what a person does. We are all flawed and fall short, including our moms. If our heart is bitter towards our moms, one way to honor them is to forgive. Honor the heart that God gave mothers to nurture and teach. Honor is building others up in love. Honor is as simple as a phone call. 1. What has...

Jesus introduces the Kingdom by welcoming children. If there is a Kingdom, there is a King. The rich young ruler was being ruled by his money and power. The rich young ruler wanted to merit eternal life & was not willing to give up his power or his possessions. It is impossible to be saved by earning. We owe a debt that only Jesus can pay. Following Jesus is a divestment of self and an investment...

God’s design for marriage is for the covenant to last until death separates us. God’s design for marriage is a mirror of Christ and the Church.  Moses instituted a divorce certificate because of the hardness of man’s heart. (sin) Divorce and remarriage are permitted in cases of sexual sin, abandonment, and abuse. Men are called to protect, lead, and to help sanctify their wives. Women are called t...

Knowing the power of the resurrection helps us to trust, believe, hope, and persevere through trials.  There is power in God’s law to charge us as sinners condemned to die. There is power in our nature to be self-willed. There is the power of love and obedience when Jesus surrendered His will to the Father in the garden. There is power in the cross of Christ to atone for sinners. There is power in...

Jesus instructs the disciples regarding the consequences of sin. Jesus describes hell as unquenchable. Jesus instructs His disciples that all will be salted and go through fire. Salt was used in covenant making as well as offerings. Salt is one part sodium and one part chloride and is immutable.  Salt purifies, preserves, seasons, and changes to everything it is added to. Jesus says we must be the...

Jesus tells the 12 of His impending fate and resurrection for the second time. The disciples were afraid to ask questions and did not understand. Their hearts were consumed with self and their own potential greatness. Jesus says greatness is only achieved in the Kingdom through serving. A child is brought in to demonstrate the need for humility as well as serving without the applause of people but...

Expect evil to present itself after times of refreshing. Jesus rebukes all for their faithlessness. Jesus privately explains to His disciples… no prayer, no power! Great stress or circumstances generally weaken our faith, but at the same time motivate us to pray. Unbelief causes the believer to be double minded and uncommitted, and displeases God. Prayer stretches and builds our faith muscle, thus...

The account of the transfiguration of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the life and ministry of the Messiah. After the assent to the top of the mountain with Peter, James, and John, Jesus will descend from the mountain and head towards Jerusalem. Jesus tells his disciples of his impending rejection, death, and resurrection for the second time. This time gives them a glimpse of His glorified state of d...