The Bridge RSM

What do we mean when we say that the Bible is "inspired"? What does it even mean to be "inspired"? And, maybe most importantly, what does it mean for our lives if we believe that the Bible truly is the "inspired Word of God"? Pastor Bill Dogterom is with us once more to kick off our series, "Aligned" where we'll look at the authority of Scripture and how we relate to it.

Welcome to Mega Skills Sunday! Today, Pastor Gabe reflects on the message we've been teaching your kids all week at Mega Skills Camp, about finding our identity in Christ.

Can you tell the difference between a sheep and a goat? Does the way you live reflect God's love in everything you say and do? Pastor Bill Dogterom concludes his series, titled "Be Ready" as he challenges us to reflect on whether we're ready to hear "well done, good and faithful servant."

What are you doing with what God has given you? That is the crux of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. Pastor Bill Dogterom continues his series, titled "Be Ready" as he challenges us to respond to the invitation of Jesus to be active participants in the Kingdom of God.

What's in a parable? Pastor Bill Dogterom joins us to begin a three-part series through Matthew 25. In this survey of the parable of the ten virgins he discusses what it means to be ready and how followers of Jesus can prepare ourselves to actively embody Christ in the ongoing end times.

Sometimes the most profound things in life are the simplest. That's easy to lose sight of when we think about teaching. We think of vast knowledge or deep wells of wisdom. These are good things, but without the ability to communicate and transmit those things they do not constitute the gift of teaching on their own. Pastor Mike finishes our series on the Gifts of the Son with a look first at what...

A group of fathers from The Bridge share their stories about how God and Scripture have met and led them as they journeyed raising their children and what it can mean for the rest of us. In what ways has the Lord met you and led you as you go through life?

Not an office, not the responsibility of the select few in vocational ministry, we're all called to care for those around us. That is the very role of the pastor (or shepherd) in the Church. While some are more gifted to do this well, we're all charged with the responsibility. Pastor Mike continues our series through the Gifts of the Son with the Gift of the Shepherd and what that means practicall...

What do you think of when you hear the word "evangelist"? Maybe people like Billy Graham and Greg Laurie? Maybe people handing out Bible tracts or standing on street corners with bull horns? Like much of our conversation around Divine Placement and the five-fold ministry, we have painted a cultural picture of the evangelist that isn't what the Bible says. Pastor Cami opens up the text to see how t...

We continue our series through the Gifts of the Son and the five-fold ministry with a look at the prophetic gifting. We usually think of a prophet as someone who tells the future. That can be a part of it, but Pastor Mike Foell unpacks here the multiple ways that prophets function both in the first-century Church and the Church of today. You may be surprised to find how the prophetic gift function...

The word "apostle" can be intimidating at times. Of course we think of Jesus first 12 followers during His earthly ministry. Or maybe you think of Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament of the Bible. The design of the Church is the same now as it was then. We need all systems to function well. The apostolic gifting is no exception. People with this gift are visionary, creative, innovative, and...

The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. What can we do about that? As churches and followers of Jesus we have the responsibility to equip those in our care and each other to the ministry that God sets before us. We have to opportunity to learn and grow in our giftings and to see people fulfill the God-given calls on their lives as they develop into the people He has designed them to be.

A group of mothers from The Bridge share their stories about how God and Scripture have met and led them as they journeyed raising their children and what it can mean for the rest of us. In what ways has the Lord met you and led you as you go through life?

The Church, like many things, has a variety of systems that are designed to help it function. The body wouldn't function at its optimal level without a healthy circulatory system. Likewise, The Church is the most effective when it's members are operating in all of the gifts the Lord has designed us with. Lose or neglect one and the Church becomes less effective. This week, Pastor Cami begins a new...

In a world full of division, vitriol, rhetoric fueled by anger, and growing divides amongst philosophical camps, how will you respond? Will you choose to come to the table seeking understanding and reconciliation or seeking to be right? The Church is called to point people to Jesus and earnestly seek His way. We don't do that well with public in fighting and and outward anger. Inwardly, we disagre...

Every believer is given the gifts of prophecy and discernment. Prophecy to speak and understand God's will toward us and others. Discernment to understand what voices we're listening to. In the world around us, we are constantly being bombarded by voices of destruction. But God's plan for us is good, only always. What voice will you listen to?

What do you have faith for? What box have you put God in? Our God is bigger than our notions and our limitations. He's bigger and more powerful than we can even conceive, and yet we often put limits on the things we believe he'll do. Particularly in our modern, western context we have eliminated gifts like healing and miracles from our practice of The Way of Jesus if not from our doctrines altoget...

He is risen! Jesus has demonstrated the power of God through His resurrection. He has shown Himself worthy to be Lord of all and capable of leading the way through every struggle. The world is not without its trouble, but take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. It's in light of this powerful truth that we let go of what is weighing us down and get ready to let God lead the way.

What does it mean for Jesus to be King? What does that look like? We know that the Kingdom of God doesn't look like our kingdoms. We know that God's ways are not like ours. Jesus came to a nation expecting their Messiah to come and deliver them out of the hands of their occupiers with force and bravado. They had developed a picture of what the coming Kingdom of God would look like based on the way...

How does God speak and what sorts of things does He speak? What's the purpose of His speech? The Lord wants to partner with us in ministry and to do that He shares His thoughts and plans with His people. That's really what we're talking about when we talk about things like words of wisdom, knowledge, or prophecy. These are revelations from God to someone that we wants to partner with to accomplish...

Ministry under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is not a role for the isolated few. It isn't a privilege of the clergy to use the gifts of the Spirit. It is the joy and honor of all followers of Jesus to join in with the Body of believers in partnering with the Holy Spirit, for the common good.

One way that spiritual gifts get abused is when we see people as having power, rather than being empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's important to keep our focus on the power of God working through us and remember that all believers are gifted to function empowered by the Spirit for the upbuilding of the Church. We do however, have to actively choose to engage with the Spirit and participate in His...

Pastor Ryan opens a new series on the "spirituals" described in 1 Corinthians 12. Western culture doesn't tend to take spiritual matters very seriously. Even people who claim to believe in such things don't tend to practice them in any significant way. But Paul said he didn't want us to be ignorant of such things. Not for lack of information nor for lack of interest. This new series is an opportun...

Followers of Jesus are called to tell people about Jesus. The question is, "Are you somebody worth listening to?" Is there anything about your life that is enticing, that makes someone want what you have? Do you have anything to share? Do you share with conviction? The Lord helps us to grow in our ability to share His love and character as we continue to earnestly seek after Him and follow His way...

Jesus called His followers to proclaim His coming "to Jerusalem, Judea, and the ends of the earth." What does that mean for us now? What is our Jerusalem and Judea? And how are we supposed to reach people? The answer is simple: empowered. We don't have to do it alone, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can be witnesses of the character and majesty of God to our community, country, and globe.