BridgePoint Church Podcast

Why does spiritual growth sometimes feel so slow? We pray, serve, read Scripture, and try to become more like Jesus, yet the change we're hoping for doesn't always happen when we expect. In the final week of our I AM series, Pastor Tyler explores Jesus' declaration, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1). Through the picture of a vine and its branches, we discover that lasting spiritual growth isn't something we can force through our own effort. Jesus invites us to stop striving to earn God's approval, remain connected to Him, and trust His timing—even through seasons of waiting and pruning. Because fruitfulness isn't about what we do for Jesus, but what Jesus produces in us.

Questions for Reflection:

• Where in your life are you trying to force growth or results instead of trusting Jesus and His timing?

• What's one practical step you can take this week to remain connected to Jesus and abide in His love?

What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In Part 6 of our I AM series, Pastor Will explores Jesus' declaration, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Through Jesus' conversations with Thomas and Philip, we discover that following Him isn't about having every answer or simply knowing the right things. It's about trusting Jesus enough to let His way, His truth, and His life shape how we live. Even when we're uncertain, Jesus welcomes our questions, gives us His Spirit, and invites us to put our faith into action. Because how we follow shows who we follow.

Questions for Reflection:

• Where in your life has knowing about Jesus become easier than actually following His teachings?

• What's one practical way you can put Jesus' love into action this week?

What do you do when you've prayed, waited, and hoped, but nothing seems to change? In Part 5 of our I AM series, we explore Jesus' declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life,” through the story of Lazarus in John 11. When Mary and Martha thought it was too late, Jesus showed them that His power reaches beyond what they could see or understand. Jesus doesn't just promise life after death—He offers new life here and now. Even when our circumstances don't turn out as we hoped, we can trust that God is still at work.

Questions for Reflection:

• Where in your life have you begun to believe that hope is lost or that the story is over?

• What would it look like to keep trusting and following Jesus, even when you don't understand what He's doing?

We live surrounded by voices competing to influence the direction of our lives. In Part 4 of our I AM series, we explore Jesus’ declaration, “I am the Good Shepherd,” and why His is the voice we can trust. Jesus doesn’t simply tell us where to go—He knows us, cares for us, stays with us, and lays down His life for us. As we learn to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd, we discover what it means to trust Him to lead us toward the life He came to give.

Questions for Reflection:

• What voices have the most influence over the direction of your life right now?

• What would it look like for you to trust Jesus more fully as your Good Shepherd?

We spend so much of our lives searching for things that will make us feel safe, secure, accepted, and at home. In Part 3 of our I AM series, Pastor Tyler explores Jesus’ statement, “I am the door,” and what it reveals about the life He offers us. Jesus isn’t trying to keep people out, He is inviting us in. Through Him, we find access to God, rest for our restless hearts, and the life we were created for.

Questions for Reflection:

• What are you looking to right now to give you a sense of safety, security, or belonging?

• Are there any “old doors” you keep returning to instead of trusting Jesus with the weight of your life? 

Pastor Tyler explores Jesus’ declaration, “I am the light of the world,” and how He brings guidance, hope, and freedom to those walking through darkness. He examines how Jesus’ words challenged the Pharisees and revealed His divine identity as the presence and light of God among His people. This message challenges us to surrender every area of our lives to Jesus and trust His greater perspective, even when we cannot see the way forward.

Questions for Reflection:

• Where am I walking in darkness right now, and how do I need Jesus to bring clarity, hope, or direction to that area of my life?

• What areas of my life am I still trying to control instead of surrendering fully to Jesus?

We spend so much of our lives chasing things we want—comfort, control, relationships, success, security—believing they’ll finally give us the life we’re looking for. But even when we get them, they can leave us wanting more. In Part 1 of our I AM series, we explore Jesus’ words, “I am the bread of life,” and discover the difference between what we want and what we truly need. Jesus doesn’t simply offer us something better to chase—He offers us Himself as the source and sustenance of real life.

Questions for Reflection:

• What are you currently treating as a need that may actually be a want?

• What is feeding your faith right now, and how might you return to Jesus as your source?

Our emotions are real, and following Jesus doesn’t mean ignoring or suppressing what we feel. But what happens when anger, fear, frustration, jealousy, shame, or another strong emotion begins determining how we respond?

In this message, Pastor Brad looks at Ephesians 4 and Psalm 4 to explore what it means to follow Jesus with our emotions. As God makes us new, we can learn to recognize what we’re feeling without allowing those feelings to control us, refocusing instead on our relationship with God, what is real and true, and the peace that comes from surrendering to Him what we cannot control.

Questions for Reflection:

• What emotion or feeling is most likely to take control of how you respond when life doesn’t go the way you hoped?

• When a strong emotion begins to take over, what would it look like to acknowledge what you’re feeling while surrendering control of your response to God?

Getting closer to God isn’t only about what happens between you and God personally. In the final week of our Closer to God series, we explore what it means to become His people and discover how God also forms us as we participate in His work alongside others.

Walking through Ephesians 4, Tyler reminds us that Jesus doesn’t simply save us from sin—He saves us into a family with a mission. As we serve others, use the gifts God has given us, live generously, and invest in the lives of others, we don’t just help build up the body of Christ. God uses those experiences to shape us and make us more like Jesus.

Questions for Reflection:

• Where might God be inviting you to move beyond personal spiritual growth and participate in what He is doing for others?

• What gift, opportunity, or next step could you use to serve others and become more like Jesus?

Knowing what Jesus taught isn't the same as actually living it. In week three of our Closer to God series, we explore what it means to move beyond simply being informed by Jesus and allow His teachings to transform the way we think, live, and relate to others.

Following Jesus isn't about behavior modification or earning God's approval. It's about trusting Jesus enough to put His words into practice, and learning to do that alongside His people. Because faith is personal, but it was never meant to be private.

Questions for Reflection:

• Are you simply being informed by Jesus, or are you allowing Him to transform the way you live?

• What is one teaching of Jesus you sense Him inviting you to put into practice more intentionally?