May 12, 2013 from The Bridge Church on Vimeo

Apr 28, 2013 from The Bridge Church on Vimeo

Apr 28, 2013 from The Bridge Church on Vimeo

Q is for Questions-Life is full of questions. You are full of questions. What are some of the questions that are bouncing around in your head?
People are full of questions. There are 4 questions that every person will ask in their life time.
Where do we come from?; Why are we here?; What’s right and wrong?; Where are we going?
How a person answers these question will determine the choices they make from the moment they are capable to make rational decisions until the day they die.
4 categories from Questions-Origin, Meaning, Morality and Destiny.
These comprise your WORLDVIEW-A particular philosophy of life or conception of the world. The comprehensive framework of one’s basic belief. The lens through which you see the entire world. It colors everything you see.
Everyone has a worldview. The question is, is your worldview coherent? Does it answer the above questions? If you chose to believe in a certain system, be it religious or non-religious, it must answer these questions in order to be relevant, and it must be relevant in order to be correct. You may have an answer to the question of destiny, but if you do not have an answer to the question of morality then your worldview has a hole in it; there is then something about the way you look at the world that doesn’t make sense, because you have not provided an answer for one of the basic questions of life.
What is your worldview? Is it coherent? And does it satisfactorily answer these questions in a way that makes sense and reflects reality? If not, it may be time to look for a new way to look at the world that is logical and realistic.
Philosophical-Ravi, Jake. Feel more like a seminary lecture than a sermon.
BIBLE-PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS IT ADDRESSES NOT SO MUCH CONCRETE VERSES
4 Competing Worldviews-Atheism, Universalism, Good Enough for Heaven, Biblical Christianity
Atheism-There is no God and I hate Him
• ORIGIN-There is no God/Creator. Everything in existence comes from nothing. The universe sprang into existence completely uncaused, from nothing. Product of time + matter + chance.
• MEANING- You are an accident.
“Brief and powerless is Man’s life; on him and all his race the slow, sure doom falls pitiless and dark.” ~ Bertrand Russell
“There is at bottom no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pointless indifference. We are machines for propagating DNA. It is every living object’s sole reason for being.” ~ Richard Dawkins
• MORALTIY-“The position of the modern evolutionist is that humans have an awareness of morality because such an awareness is of biological worth. Morality is a biological adaptation no less than our hands and feet and teeth. Considered as a rationally justifiable set of claims about an objective something, ethics is illusory. I appreciate that when somebody says, “love thy neighbor as thyself” they think they are referring above and beyond themselves. Nevertheless, such reference is truly without foundation. Morality is just an aid to survival and reproduction and any deeper meaning is illusory.”~ Michael Ruse
• DESTINY-”…all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system…” ~ Bertrand Russell]
• HOW MUCH HAS ATHEISM GROWN?
Universalism-All paths lead to God
• ORIGIN-God created everything. All religions lead to Him. They all believe in God just in different ways. Everyone’s idea of God is equally valid and we should not judge other’s beliefs.
• MEANING-do good, love and be tolerant of others, happiness is highest virtue
• MORALITY-(beliefs lead to actions) left up to each individual and their system of belief. Sincerity is more important than believing something correctly. God cares more about how you believe than what you believe.
• DESTINY-We all get to heaven eventually.
I’m a Good Person-
• ORIGIN-God created everything. Deist (watchmaker). Not real important to them.
• MEANING-don’t have an ultimate purpose. Do good, love and be tolerant. Happy!
• MORALITY-I need to more good than bad. God grades on a curve. God doesn’t expect me to be perfect. He understands my sin. I’m a good person.
• DESTINY-If my good outweighs my bad I get into heaven. Compare themselves to Hitler.
Biblical Christianity-God-Man-Christ-Response
• ORIGIN
• MEANING
• MORALITY
• DESTINY
3 tests of truth-Argument must be logically consistent; empirically adequate, existentially relavant
Does your worldview correspond to reality?
Is it coherent?

3 Tests for Truth
Atheism
LC-cause and effect
SE-cell example
“It comes down to this: No matter how many molecules you can produce with early earth conditions you are nowhere near producing a living cell and here’s how I know: If I take a sterile test tube, and I put in a little bit of fluid with just the right salts, just the right balance of acidity and alkalinity, just the right temperature, the perfect solution for a living cell; and I put in it one living cell. This cell is alive, it has everything it needs for life. Now I take a sterile needle and I poke that cell and all its stuff leaks out into this test tube. You have in this nice little test tube all the molecules you need for a living cell, not just the pieces of the molecules, but the molecules themselves. You cannot make a living cell out of them! You can’t put “Humpty-Dumpty” back together again. So, what makes you think that a few amino acids dissolved in the ocean are going to give you a living cell? It’s totally unrealistic.” ~ Dr. Jonathan Wells (two PhD’s: Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology from Berkeley)
UP-no hope
Universalism
LC-can’t all be right, contradict each other, law of non-contradiction. Radical muslims. Life tells us some worldviews are wrong.
SE-God doesn’t care (where is your evidence)
UP-do good, love others, be happy.
I’m a Good Person
LC-right and wrong come from within us. Internally you define your own right and wrong. But if there is one who decides whether you get in or not, then there’s an external source who defines it. Can’t have both. Fails to account for the origin of sin.
SE-complete assumption that God grades on a curve, convenient but no evidence, all creators have expectations
UP-do good, love others and be happy
Christianity
LC-accounts for existence of world and its design, it can also explain why things are broken
SE-life, death and resurrection, prophecy, historical evidence
UP-life has purpose meaning, direction and hope, ability to deal with suffering

HANDS: WHY DOES THIS MATTER? And as believers we are called to answer other people’s questions. 1 Peter 3:15. We are called to be learners. 2 Peter 1:3-11.
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. (ICEBREAKER) What question do you hate being asked? Or What question do you ask the most?
2. (HEAD) How do you know that what you believe is right?
3. (HEART) Where do you struggle with answering the 4 Basic Questions?
4. (HANDS) Read 2 Peter 1:3-11. In light of the sermon, what knowledge are you adding to be able to answer people’s questions?

Apr 21, 2013 from The Bridge Church on Vimeo

INTRO/HOOK: P is for Peacemaker. ABCs of The Great Rescue. Implications of being a Christian is following Jesus. Romans 8:29. Prince of Peace. Jesus is the peacemaker. Col. 1:15-20. Romans 5:6-11. Jesus made peace. Means peace wasn’t automatic.

We are also called to be peacemakers. (Col. 3:12-15-a command to live at peace) NIV-“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

Conflict-How many of you have ever had a conflict? How many of you are in conflict with someone right now? How many of you had conflict getting to church this morning?

Conflict is a normal part of life-spouse, parents, kids, neighbors, co-workers, friends, pastor. Where there are people there is conflict.

What is the result of conflict between people? Tension and Separation. A wall gets built brick by brick.

Where does conflict start? Conflict starts in the heart-I desire to I demand to I judge to I punish.

CHOICES IN CONFLICT–Run, Attack or Make Peace (Conflict is an opportunity to demonstrate the love and power of God in our lives.

4 G’s of Peacemaking

Glorify God: How can I please and honor God in this situation? Peacemaking doesn’t begin with you or the other person. It begins with God. Values. Will you to choose to honor Him no matter what it might cost?
Get the log out of your own eye: How can I show Jesus’ work in me by taking responsibility for my contribution to this conflict? Very rarely a one way street. Though we may not start it we often add to it.
7 A’s of Confession
Address Everyone Involved
Avoid If, But, Maybe
Admit Specifically
Acknowledge the Hurt
Accept the Consequences
Alter Your Behavior
Ask for Forgiveness (and Allow Time)
Gently Restore: How can I lovingly serve others by helping them take responsibility for their contribution to this conflict?
Follow Matt 18:15-17. Try to keep it between the 2 of you
Speak the truth in Love-Hope through the Gospel, quick to listen
Go and be Reconciled: How can I demonstrate the forgiveness of God and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict?
Col. 3:13-Forgive as God forgave you. The most forgiven should be the most forgiving.
Forgiveness is neither a feeling, nor forgetting, nor excusing
Forgiveness is a decision. Unforgiveness is the poison we drink, hoping others will die. Forgiveness can be extremely costly, but if God has saved you, then you have more than enough to make these payments.
Forgiveness doesn’t guarantee reconciliation.
WHO DO YOU NEED TO MAKE PEACE WITH? God or Others.

COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(ICEBREAKER) If you were in control how would you bring about world peace?
(HEAD) What is a recent conflict you’ve been involved in?
(HEART) Review the 4G’s of Peacemaking. In your most recent conflict, which of the 4 did you not follow? How would you handle it different?
(HANDS) Do you need make peace with God or someone else? What steps do you need to take?

Apr 14, 2013 from The Bridge Church on Vimeo

Notes

What are some of the actions that make a person offensive? Outspoken, closed mind, completely assured, Know it all, always right, thinks he/she is better than me/ narrow minded…intolerant???
So do you wonder why everyone hates Christians? Everything we just said is true. Think about it and list…
We all know Christians who act this way. But let me ask you something. If no Christian ever acted that way would we still be offensive? Yes.
Why? Because Jesus is offensive. Jesus said more things to offend people than anyone who ever lived. But Jesus isn’t offensive. He is sweet, loving, pretty, non-judgmental. He loved children and helped the sick and broken. He hung out with prostitutes and low lifes. He isn’t offensive. If you believe that then you don’t know who Jesus is.
And right now some of you are highly offended that I said Jesus was offensive. Good. Because now maybe you will listen.
ABCs of the Great Rescue-O is for Offensive
1 Peter 2:4-8. Jesus is offensive. People will tell you he’s not that it’s just Christians. If someone tells you that then you can be assured they have no idea what Jesus actually said.
Jesus is- Outspoken, closed mind, completely assured, Know it all, always right, narrow minded
Offensive Statements by Jesus:
• I am God (John 8:58-59)
• Your works are evil (John 7:7)
• Gate is narrow and few find it (Matt. 7:13-14)
• I am the door (John 10:7-9)
• I am the way the truth and the life (John 14:6)
IMPLICATION-Think of the best person you know personally. Think of the most horrible person you know.
Romans 9:30-10:4-You can never earn it? Romans 10:9-10-It’s just too easy.
No religion is as pessimistic as Christianity. Every other religion says if you work hard enough you can get to God. Christianity is the only one that says you can’t.It’s also the most optimistic. With God eternally and no sin. No pain. Increasing pleasure.
Invitation to turn to Jesus
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. (ICEBREAKER) Which is more likely to happen: you get offended or you offend someone else?
2. (HEAD) Read 1 Peter 2:4-8. How were you bothered when it was said that Jesus was offensive?
3. (HEART) Review the 5 offensive statements Jesus made. Which one do you struggle with the most and why?
4. (HANDS) How are you building “non-offensive” bridges so you can share the “offensive” news of the Gospel?
Because Jesus is offensive, we are offensive. (John 15:18-25) We bear his name. Christianity is an offensive religion, and offending people is the capital crime of the early 21st century Western world. Whether what you say is true or not, you will be hated. The validity of your claim doesn’t matter.
But we need to open our Bibles and do more than let our eyes pass over the pages. We need to recognise that Christianity cuts. If yours is a Christianity that has no sharp edges, no distinctive flavours, then it is not the true Christianity of the Bible. Paul made clear that the gospel of a crucified Christ was “to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (1Cor 1.23). If your gospel does not cause the hackles of the self-righteous to rise and the lips of the worldly-wise to curl in a sneer then it is not the gospel of God, and will not prove the power of God to salvation. If your gospel does not declare a freeness in God’s grace that makes the self-righteous feel that you are giving wicked men a licence to sin then it is not the gospel of the Bible. If your gospel does not call men to an obedience so complete and entire that you are despised as narrow and shrivelled (1Pt 4.4) then it is not the gospel of the Bible. If your gospel does not offer salvation to any wretched sinners who call upon the name of Jesus Christ, however great their sins, and however far and long they have wandered from the Lord, then it is not the gospel of the Bible. If your gospel does not proclaim that those same sinners rely entirely upon the saving and sanctifying grace of a sovereign Lord then it is not the gospel of the Bible. If your gospel does not entreat, demand, command, invite, and compel sinners to come in, then it is not the gospel of the Bible. If your gospel has no cutting edges it is not the gospel of the Bible.
If we are honest we don’t desire to offend. If you do you there is something wrong with you.
One question before us is this-Can we do anything about it? Is it possible for a Christian to not be offensive? The answer is no. Why? Because of what we believe. You can try and sugarcoat it all you want.

Apr 7, 2013 from The Bridge Church on Vimeo

Notes

Good Morning! Intro. Really. Why is this weird that I’m wearing shorts and a t-shirt? Order of service. (Almost every church has the same format. Why? There’s none in Scripture.)

What is normal? Normal-Conforming to a standard; usual, average, typical or expected.

Normal is relative to each culture, abnormal is the deviation from the mean. The culture designates which deviation becomes abnormal. Behavior for example: conforms to the most common behavior in society (known as conforming to the norm). WHY? Being seen as “normal” or “not normal” can have social ramifications, including being included, excluded or stigmatized by larger society.

Normal behaviors- Picking your nose. Behaviors evolve and standards change. Pajamas. Normal in private but not in public.

ABCs of The Great Rescue (N-Not Normal )

From a biblical perspective and wanting to help you navigate life. What are some normal behaviors/actions you see in the world today? FACEBOOK No value judgments.

Consumer
Want better for your kids
2.2 kids
Love only those who love you
Debt
5 hours of TV a day
Gossip
Political unrest
Disposable relationships
Live paycheck to paycheck
Worry
Fear
Absolute truth doesn’t exist
Sexual immorality
Immediate gratification
Entitlement
Only hang with people I like
Only do what is comfortable
World revolves around me
Unforgiveness
Hate enemies
Want to be happy
Pain and hurt
Brokenness
ABCs of The Great Rescue (N-Not Normal )

Normal-Conforming to a standard. There is a lot of Conformity-Behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards: It is normal to conform.

The Bible has a lot to say about Conformity. Don’t!

Romans 12:1-2-I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect
1 John 2:15-17-Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Do not conform to the world. What happens when you don’t conform. Go back to original thoughts. You will be considered NOT NORMAL. If you are a Christian you will never be normal. Why? Is Jesus normal? Who are you called to be like? To Conform? Jesus. If you don’t conform you will not be normal. This is why the Bible calls us aliens and strangers in this world.
Normalcy has a weight to it, an unspoken pressure put upon society by the majority to conform to the behavior of the majority. Those outside of normal are often punished, teased, and rejected.

1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, you are outsiders and strangers in this world. So I’m asking you not to give in to your sinful longings. They fight against your soul. 12 People who don’t believe might say you are doing wrong. But lead good lives among them. Then they will see your good works. And they will give glory to God on the day he comes to judg3.
CHART.
Come and Listen vs Go and Tell

Where are you conforming?

Where is Jesus calling you to be NOT NORMAL?

You need others. Things are best in a group. Get in Community.

COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(ICEBREAKER) Confess something not normal about yourself.
(HEAD) Read Romans 12:1-2. Where are you conforming to the world?
(HEART) Where do you struggle being seen as alien to the rest of the world?
(HANDS) Where is Jesus calling you to be NOT NORMAL?