Getting Ready for Easter!

Easter is a time when people who have not been to church in a while are more likely to give thought to spiritual matters.  We want to take full advantage of this opportunity to reach people with the gospel so we have some great things planned for Easter this year.

In addition to a message about the glorious resurrection of Jesus, we have some very special music planned that will glorify God and point the way to Christ.

To help spread the good news and to let people know there is a church in Wilder that desires to help people grow in their knowledge of God, this year we are taking out a full page ad in the Enquirer on the Saturday before Easter.

In addition to this, we are sending customized flyers to 25,000 homes in the area.

Jesus said;

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a lamp stand, so that those who come in can see the light."   - Luke 8:16

That's what we are endeavoring to do -- place our lamp on a lamp stand so all can see the light of Jesus. With regard to our special Easter services there are two things I want to ask you to consider doing.

1.     Please join me in praying that God's Spirit will use the advertising to draw people to Jesus.

Our ad is more about Him than it is about us. Whether people attend our church, or some other gospel preaching church doesn't really matter, we just want to see people come to Jesus.

2.     Please consider making a special Easter offering to help off-set the cost of our advertising.

The cost of everything we are doing in the way of advertising is in the neighborhood of $8,000.  This is not a small amount of money -- but if it helps even one person come to Jesus it will be well worth it! And in light of the sacrifice God made in sending Jesus to die for our sins -- it is nothing!

So, please pray about doing something this Easter that will help cover this cost.

I've worked out a chart to show how this expense can be met if 74 individuals or families give in the following way.

2 X $1,000 = $2,000
4 X $500 = $2,000
8 X $250 = $2,000
20 X $50 = $1,000
40 X $25 = $1,000
Total:         $8,000

Please do what you can and bring your special offering with you on Easter and be asking God to draw people to Himself!

Yours in His love!

Bo

The Most Quoted and Most Misunderstood Commandment in the Bible

So, what would you guess is the most quoted and most misunderstood commandment in the entire Bible?

I can't say I know this is an absolute fact, but my guess would be Matthew 7:1.

"Judge not, that you be not judged."

It seems that any time a person is accused of wrongdoing there is always someone ready to recall this well-known verse from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Sometimes this verse in paraphrased with the question;"Who are we to judge?"

While it is true Jesus warned against passing judgment, does this means that we are never to discern between right and wrong behavior?  We are never to call into question the behavior of a leader or a fellow church member?

This does not seem consistent with other things the Bible says about judging, such as these words from John 7:24;

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

Okay, so which is it?  Are we never to judge another person, or are there occasions when we are to judge?

How do we know when judging is permissible and if it is, how do we judge "righteous judgment?"

"To Judge or Not to Judge," this is the question we will be exploring tomorrow at The Bridge.

I'm confident this is a topic you will find helpful!

See it online at https://vimeo.com/91203443

The Father Heart of God

Of all that Jesus came into this world to do, I believe the most important thing -- aside from dying an atoning death to purchase our salvation, was to reveal to us the Father.

We are so accustomed to referring to God as our Heavenly Father that we forget that until Jesus came into the world this was a designation for God that was seldom used in the Old Testament Scriptures.

In fact, God is only referred to as "Father" thirteen times in the entire Old Testament, while in the Gospel of John alone Jesus calls God His Father 151 times.

It took Jesus, God in the flesh, to reveal the Father heart of God.  And yet, many followers of Christ still find it difficult to relate to God as Father.  I've come to believe that there is nothing is more vital to strong, stable, healthy relationship with God, than knowing how to relate to Him as Father.

Join us Sunday at The Bridge as we explore the Father Heart of God.

Needed -- Envelope Stuffers on Thursday

The Bridge has once again been requested to help stuff envelopes for the upcoming Care Net Pregnancy Center banquet.  This is a great way to serve a wonderful ministry.

If you are free this Thursday, March 20^th and want to help out, please join us at the church at 7 P.M.  With enough hands this will only take about an hour, so please join us if you are able.

Blessings,

Bo

Encouragement

Who among us can't use some encouragement from time to time?  Encouragement can keep us going when the going gets tough.  Encouragement can make the difference between finishing strong and giving up.

Not surprisingly, God is the greatest of all encouragers.

Join us tomorrow for an encouraging message on encouragement.

Operation Bunk Beds

To date we have received almost $3,000 toward materials for the construction of bunk beds in Grenada.  Last week we received almost the entire amount needed to cover the living expenses for the team that will be doing the work ($630).

Tomorrow we hope to offset at least a portion of the travel expenses for this project.  Airfare is about $800 per person for a total of $2,400.  Please come prepared tomorrow to do what you can to help with this project that will make it possible for future teams to minister in Grenada.

Spring Forward!

It's that time again. Don't forget to set you clocks ahead one hour before going to bed tonight.

Blessings!

Bo

The Most Controversial Gift of All

Nothing stirs controversy more than the gift that was first manifested on the day the Holy Spirit was poured some 2000 years ago.  We read of this is Acts chapter two.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and onesat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  - Acts 2:1-4

As long as this "speaking with other tongues" was confined to this and a few other passages in the New Testament, most Christians had no problem with this peculiar manifestation.  But when people living in modern times began manifesting this gift it became the source of endless controversy and conflict.

If we are going to be faithful to God's Word we must be willing to examine even this - the most controversial gift of all.  This we will do Sunday at The Bridge as we seek answers to the questions:

• What is speaking in tongues?
• Is it for today?
• Must a person speak in tongues in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
• Why would God elect to create such a strange gift -- when He knew it would cause such controversy and even division?

Please say a prayer for me as I dive into this interesting topic!

Operation Bunk Beds

A small team of Bridge members have agreed to travel to Grenada (yes, that warm, tropical island in the Caribbean) for the purpose of constructing bunk beds for the base being established at the home of Justin and Erica Zauflik.

Over the next few weeks we hope to raise the entire cost of materials, which is $4,600. Please consider what you can do to help with this project that will make it possible for future teams to minister in Grenada.

Anything raised over the $4,600 will be applied to the cost of airfare ($1,500 per ticket) for the individuals who are going at their own expense.

Blessings!

Bo

Does God speak through people today?

Two weeks ago we asked the question; does God speak to people today?

Tomorrow at The Bridge we will address the even more controversial question; does God speak through people today -- by means of the gift of prophecy?

Don't let the weather keep you from hearing a very important message!

Besides, unlike last week's Superbowl where 60,000 people sat outside in 49 degree weather for three plus hours to watch a very one-sided football game -- it will be a balmy 70 degrees at The Bridge! Unfortunately we won't be selling nachos and hotdogs.

Connect Group Sign-up

More than 200 people have already signed-up for a Connect Group.  If you haven't done so, please go to our website and check-out all the groups being offered this semester.  You can either sign-up online or tomorrow at church.

Go to www.thebridgenky.com to find the group that fits your schedule and area of interest.

See you tomorrow!

Bo

Are Miracles for Today?

As we continue our series on The Spirit-filled Life --this Sunday at The Bridge we will be exploring the topic of miracles.

Among the questions we will seek to answer are:

• Are miracles even possible?
• Does God perform miracles through people today?
• What role does faith play in miracles?
• Why don't we see more miracles?
• What purpose do miracles serve?
• Can Satan work counterfeit miracles?

Join us for a fresh look at a very interesting and yes, controversial topic.

A Big Thanks to the Building Your Home Conference Team!

Thank you Whitney and Ali Clayton, Grant and Alecia Dawson and to the entire team of more than sixty volunteers who helped with our first Building Your Home Family Conference.

We had great attendance -- despite the weather and every speaker provided practical and insightful tips for how to create God-honoring homes where young lives can be formed for Christ.

We especially want to thank Jeremy and Amy Tye, Kim Styles, Elissa White and all those who took on the monumental task of providing child-care and a night of fun for our kids.

It was a great event! I'm already looking forward to next year!

Connect Group Fair is On!

Be sure to sign-up for one of our more than 30 Connect Groups being offered this semester! Connect Group leaders will be in the lobby between services to answer questions and help you find the group that right for you.

See you Sunday!

Bo