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< Back Preparation: Make Way for the King Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 24, 2024 ​ Matthew 21:1-11 ESV 1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee." 1. Make Room Verse 8: Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Revelation 7:9-10 NLT 9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a great roar, "Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!" 2. Open Your Mouth Verse 9: And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" Colossians 2:6-7 NLT Hosanna – (Waava/Owoov) – “Save, I pray”, “Save us”. Matthew 21:15-16 NKJV 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" We should always be making way for the King to come in. Matthew 17:17 NLT Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?" Previous Next

< Back Journey Through James Pt. 4: Mountains Chase Radford Mar 20, 2024 ​ Full message notes here: https://estd.craft.me/Lp4roa44RVHj5Q James 1:2–4 (ESV): Testing of Your Faith 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (endurance; perseverance). 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. “…when life goes into meltdown, when our feet are swept out from under us with the perplexing surprises of life, we do not throw in the towel. We return afresh to God. That moment of life implosion, taken to Christ, is where we will finally get traction and power in our Christian lives. Our agony is where God himself lives.” - Dane Ortlund James 5:10-11 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. "If we endure all things patiently and with gladness, thinking on the sufferings of our Blessed Lord, and bearing all for the love of Him: herein is perfect joy." - Francis of Assisi “Ability, strength, and success feel safe. But they are deadly dangerous, creating conceit. Inability, weakness, and failure feel dangerous. But they are safe ground, creating humility. Beyond this, our lowly weakness physically, psychologically, intellectually, educationally, and even spiritually is precisely the catalyst for divine power. Power for what? For calm, for growth, for joy, for communion with God, for evangelistic unction, for our preaching to sing. In short, for fruitfulness in the Christian life. Jesus himself taught, ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’ (John 12:24).” - Dane Ortlund Romans 8:37–39 (ESV) 37 ...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Previous Next

< Back Preparation: Equip the Body Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 17, 2024 ​ Matthew 28:18-20 NLT 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 1. Therefore GO! Jesus said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” then barks out an order to “GO!” Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 2. Equipped to measure up to the standard of Christ. Maturity - Being mature in Christ is being conformed to His image, and therefore it is walking as He walked. Colossians 2:6-7 NLT 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Immaturity - “lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development.” Hebrews 5:12 NLT You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. Matthew 17:17 NLT 17 Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Instruction was given to them prior. Matthew 16:18-19 NLT Upon this rock I will build my church , and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." 3. When we are United. Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NLT But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. Previous Next

< Back Introduction to Life Groups Chase Radford Mar 7, 2024 ​ Learn more and sign up here: https://www.bridgewaylive.us/lifegroups Pastor Nate or Chase will get back to you via email (give is about a week or so to give other people to sign up). Previous Next

Life Groups God designed us to do life together. There is an all-too-real epidemic of loneliness, lack of sense of belonging, and poor discipleship within many of today’s church communities. How Life Groups Work Life groups are groups of 2-4 people (all men or all women) who read the Bible and follow Christ together. They meet for one hour each week to reflect on the Scripture they read, discuss life — how they were obedient to God's word or how they struggled to live it — and then encourage and pray for one another. 01 Reflection Reflect on the Scripture you read or that week’s sermon. Discuss its application to your life.​ 20 Minutes 02 Obedience + Accountability Share your successes and failures in obeying God’s word. Think about what kind of questions you can ask of yourself and others when admitting to struggles and areas of unbelief (sin). 03 Believe + Pray Commit yourself to actively believing God's word and pray about how you can respond to and demonstrate the realities of God’s Kingdom in your life. 20 Minutes 20 Minutes Why Life Groups Work Life groups work when we love God, love one another, and are obedient to God's word (Matt. 22:34-40; John 14:21). While the life groups format is important to follow and based on biblical principles, without love they are merely rules which, in and of themselves, have no transformative power to renew our minds. Scripture exhorts us to submit ourselves to the ways of the Lord (James 4:7; Jer. 17:10; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 5:21). In following the example and life of Christ, we are to CARE for one another. Companionship Accountability Repentance Encouragement Companionship In the opening chapters of Genesis God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." While solitude and silence are essential parts of life, when God welcomes us and adopts us into His family we are joining exactly that — a family. A family that God desires to do life together, sharing and enjoying the blessings and gifts He has given each one of us. Advancing God's eternal Kingdom of love together. Sharpening and loving one another in all things as we await the Day of the Lord. ​ See: 1 Thess. 5:11; Col. 3:13; 1 Cor. 15:33; Eccl. 4:9-10; et al. Join or Start a Life Group Use this form to request to join a group or to let us know you've started or joined one. This lets us know who is involved in a group and what groups may have openings. First name Last name Starting / Joining / Looking for a Group? Email Phone Age Gender How long have you been attending Bridgeway? Schedule Availability Can you host meetings in your home? Tell us a little about yourself (whatever you feel is relevant: personality type, interests, etc.) Comments / Questions / Preferences / Hopes and expectations for the group Submit

< Back Journey Through James Pt. 3: Selfish Ambition Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 13, 2024 ​ James 3:13-18 NLT 13 If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. 1. Are we wise? Jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. James 3:15 “Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” 1. Earthly Ideology Earthly – (relating to the earth or human life on the earth.) Epigeios - existing upon the earth, earthly, terrestrial. 2. Unspiritual Thoughts Unspiritual - not spiritual; worldly. Driven by the desires of our heart and not our spirit. 3. Demonic Warfare Demonic - of, resembling, or characteristic of demons or evil spirits. Daimoniōdēs – This word in the Greek is only found right here in the Bible. Possible Origins of Demons: Spirits of pre-adamic men (Gap Theory). Spirits of monstrous offspring. Fallen Angels. Things that Demons do: Extend Satan’s power by being subject to him. (Matt. 12:24) Demons influence the philosophy and activity of world leaders. (Daniel 10) Demons promote false religions. (1Cor. 10:20) Demons can afflict the human mind and body. (Luke 13:11, 2Cor. 12:7) James said, “wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” Previous Next

< Back Preparation: Preparing the Way Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 10, 2024 ​ Isaiah 40:3-5 ESV 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Matthew 3:1-3 ESV 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'" Preparation – the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration. Matthew 28:18-20 ESV 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Disciples (mathēteuō) – To become a pupil, to follow his instructions and precepts, to teach and instruct. Lack of Preparation Mark 4:35-41 ESV 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Mark 4:34 NLT In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. Matthew 14:22-33 NLT 22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!" 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here!" 28 Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." 29 "Yes, come," Jesus said. So, Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed. Peter recognized his voice (Relationship). 1 Peter 3:13-16 NLT 13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Previous Next

< Back Life Groups Chase Radford Mar 7, 2024 ​ Notes can be found here: https://estd.craft.me/life-groups Previous Next