BridgePointe Christian Church

<p>The human heart is sinful. We will always be inclined to do what is right in our own eyes and rebel against God. That deserves judgment and wrath from God. However, the story of the flood ends with a promise that God will deal differently with our sin--He intends to rescue not destroy, to save rather than condemn.</p>

<p>Sin separates people from the God who created us. It creates problems at every level of our lives. There is no way we can fix this problem on our own. God promised long ago to cleanse us of sin and cover our shame. That work was completed through Christ's death on the cross.</p>

<p>God created. This is the foundation of our faith. God is sovereign and He is good. The crown jewel of His creation was mankind, made in His image. As His image-bearer in this world, we are to live in relationship with Him and carry out His purpose.</p>

<p>The best Gospel message and mission come from a heart like God's. His love never gives up and His grace never runs out. Like with Jonah, God patiently and persistently pleads with us to have a heart like His, especially for those who are still running away from God and who He is still running after. We have received God's grace and He, therefore, wants us to run after others with Him.</p>

<p>People are saved whenever they respond to the Good News of God. But people can only repsond to the message of God when they hear it from someone else. (Romans 10:14-15) God sends us with His message of judgment and salvation so that people will stop running from Him and turn toward Him through repentance.</p>

<p>Jonah is saved by God in the depths of his rebellion. This story shows Jonah's personal experience of God's grace. It is the turning point in Jonah's story, when he chooses to honor God and take God's message to the people of Ninevah. Likewise, we are most motivated to share God's grace when we know how much we need it, too.</p>

<p>God pursues those who are running from Him, whether it's people who know Him well (Jonah) or not at all (Ninevah). This intro to the book and series, will set up the theme that God wants us to have His heart for people who are far from Him, and that means running after them to bring them back to God!</p>

<p>Simeon (and Anna) had waited so long for God's Promised One. Simeon had been promised that he wouldn't die without seeing the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, the Spirit affirmed that Jesus was God's Chosen One. Simeon believed and rejoiced because God keeps all of His promises, from least (the personal one) to the greatest (for all people). We have a reason to rejoice because Jesus shows that God keeps all of His good promises for His people.</p>

<p>The shepherds had been told all their lives they didn't belong, especially in the presence of God. The angels had an invitation to the shepherds that a savior had been born to them and they were welcome to meet him. This is why the angels burst into song and its the reason the shepherds went home praising God. God welcomes us, despite who we are or what we've done. He wants us to come close to Him, which is all the reason we need to celebrate!</p>

<p>Elizabeth and Zechariah have felt the weight of unmet expectations and unfulfilled hopes on many levels. God promises to give them a son in their old age. This son will prepare the way for the Messiah. After John is born, Zechariah praises God for his redemption and rescue, specifically from sin, which is our reason to rejoice in Christ, too.</p>

<p>After Mary receives news of what God is going to do, and when she's greeted by Elizabeth, Mary rejoices over how God has been mindful of her in her humble state. For her, Israel, and all people, God cares deeply about our needs and came to meet them all in Jesus.</p>

<p>God invites us to look at ourselves through His lens and not ours. We are chosen, royal priests, holy, and God's special possession. Once we understand how God see us and who we are in Christ, it gives us a clear identity and purpose: We are people who belong to Jesus and bring others to Him.</p>

<p>James 2:14-26; giving examples or faith in action from throughout the book. If we truly believe in Jesus and are filled by the Spirit, our lives should be radically transformed. It should affect the way we treat the poor, think about wealth, use our words, respond to suffering, deal with temptation, and so much more.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>