BridgePoint Church Podcast

As we close out the year, it’s time to reflect on God’s transformative work in our lives. Revisiting meaningful messages from the past 12 months, this message calls us to remember key teachings about worship, grace, purpose, and love. Additionally we can take a moment to ask ourselves the questions: Where are we spiritually? What is God inviting us into next?

Let’s reflect and prepare to take intentional steps with Him into 2024.

In this message we look at how to experience God's peace beyond understanding. The key lies in letting go of our need to control. As we celebrate Christmas, it's important to remember that true peace comes from trusting God's plan, not in managing every detail of our lives. Join us as we explore how the birth of Jesus teaches us to trust in God's guidance, helping us find peace amidst the holiday bustle and in every aspect of our lives.

Questions for Reflection:

• What circumstances in your life are currently robbing you of peace?

• How can letting go of the need to control our circumstances this Christmas help us experience a deeper sense of peace?

The "good news of great joy" declared at Jesus' birth is far more than fleeting happiness. Biblical joy is soul-deep contentment that comes from trusting God in every circumstance. Though Jesus endured the agony of the cross, he modeled how we can choose enduring joy because of God's love and sovereignty. When we behold the miracle of Christ's birth, we discover a reservoir of joy that can transform how we walk through daily life, no matter our present troubles. Christmas invites us to embrace Jesus as the source of joy that never runs dry.

Questions for Reflection:

• How do the dictionary definition and the biblical concept of joy differ, and how does it change your ideas of joy?

• What is a circumstance in your life where God is inviting you to receive His joy in the midst of it? How would that change your perspective in that circumstance?

The heart of this Christmas series is to make sure we SEE IT - the biblical meaning behind "behold." In this message, Tyler reminds us that Christmas is about love. One of the foundational aspects of our faith is that God incarnated, born into His creation. That's hard to fathom, but the reason why is even more unfathomable: His love for you. Jesus came to rescue us from sin and death, and to see Jesus is to see love in action. "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth." You are never alone and never unloved. Who needs to experience the love of God through you this Christmas season?

Questions for Reflection:

• In what ways are you still trying to earn God's love or acceptance? Why do you think it’s so hard to simply embrace His unconditional love demonstrated at Christmas?

• Who needs to experience God's love through you this Christmas? How can you reflect the grace and understanding Christ modeled by dwelling among us?

Former Bridgepoint staff member and Lead Pastor of City Light Church, Brennan Washington, returns to preach on the nature of biblical hope. He explains how Jesus is the fulfillment of God's long-held promises to bring hope to the world, contrasting worldly wishful thinking with scriptural confident expectation. Brennan shows how God's faithfulness throughout history should build our trust and hope in Christ. He urges us to find hope in Jesus in every life situation rather than despair.

Questions for Reflection:

• Can you relate to feeling stuck between expectation and revelation? What promises of God are you waiting on?

• When have you practically experienced the hope that Brennan describes - confident expectation rather than wishful thinking - in your own life? What did that look like? How were you able to maintain real hope rather than just positivity?

We often allow our circumstances and past experiences to define us. Just like the man in this passage who was paralyzed for 38 years, we can get stuck in an identity shaped by what we cannot do or overcome on our own. Our impossibilities form our excuses. But Jesus sees beyond these excuses and false identities. He asks, “Would you like to get well?” inviting us into a new identity grounded in His grace, not our limitations.

When Jesus said “stand up and walk” to the man, He gave Him a new identity not constrained by the past 38 years. The man’s old identity said “I can’t.” His new identity enabled him to stand up and walk in grace and healing. What excuses is your identity making that keep you from experiencing the fullness of God’s grace? Don’t let the “I can'ts” define you. Jesus is ready to give you a new identity as He calls you to rise up in faith and walk transformed into His freedom and purpose.

Questions for Reflection:

• What are some common "if only" statements we tell ourselves? How can we remind each other that God's grace covers it all?

• When have you related to feeling stuck in an undesirable circumstance in life? What did it look like to wait upon God's grace in that season?

• What are some ways Jesus gives us identity and purpose beyond our past? How can we encourage one another to embrace the new life Christ offers?

In this final message on 1 Corinthians, Tyler focuses on chapter 15, which Paul used as the glue holding his letter together. Paul's point: Jesus' resurrection anchors everything in our faith. Many eyewitnesses saw Jesus die and come back to life. This pivotal event changes everything - it proves Jesus defeated sin and death!

The resurrection invites us to find new life in Christ today. Do we embrace this gift? Or do we struggle to know what to do with this history-altering truth? Tyler reminds us that because Jesus lives, we can face any challenge with hope. His resurrection doesn't erase pain, but gives us purpose, peace, and power to endure.

Though written long ago, Paul's words still speak today. We serve a risen Savior who walks with us through every valley. Our faith can be anchored in the hope of Christ's empty tomb.

Questions for Reflection:

• Do you have any doubts or skepticism about Jesus' resurrection? What evidence speaks loudest to you - for or against? How could fully believing this change your perspective?

• What areas feel "dead" or hopeless in your life right now? How can you invite Jesus into those spaces to bring new life and transformation?

• If you truly believed Jesus rose and lives today, how would that change how you live starting tomorrow? What new courage or purpose might it give you?

In this timely message, Pastor Tyler unpacks 1 Corinthians 12 to address how churches can thrive today. He explains that God has gifted each believer - despite their differences - to serve others in love. Unity in diversity displays Christ's power.

The key is moving from passivity to actively investing our gifts. Pastor Tyler challenges spectators to take next steps of service. He stresses that when each person uses their abilities to help others encounter Jesus, the church fully thrives. This ancient letter still speaks truth - we must mature from self-focus to putting love into action. Our world desperately needs the hope embodied in a church unified by faith, hope and love.

Questions for Reflection:

• What do you feel like is your giftedness to offer the church? How do you use that gift?

• What is a next step you can take to put love into action?

Knowledge vs. Love: Which One Builds Up the Church?

In this message, Tyler unpacks a heated debate in the early church - should believers eat meat sacrificed to idols or not? He explores how Paul rebuked both sides, not for being wrong, but for puffing themselves up with knowledge rather than building up the church in love.

This message challenges us to consider how we use our own knowledge of faith. Do we value being right over people? Or do we live like Jesus, who served us in love when we were at our worst?

Get ready to look inward and examine if your knowledge builds up or tears down. You'll be inspired to walk in greater love and unity with fellow believers.

Questions for Reflection:

• Have you experienced or have you ever placed "unwritten rules" on other people following Jesus? How did that turn out?

• As you evaluate your interactions with others, does your knowledge puff you up or help you build others up?

Does God care about what we do with our bodies? In this conversation, Pastors Travis and Brad explore what Scripture teaches in 1 Corinthians about honoring God with our bodies. God created us for a purpose - to reflect His image through how we live. Our choices matter, including those regarding sexuality and relationships. The conversation reminds us that Jesus provides redemption, healing, and an invitation into God's truth and goodness. No matter our past, we can live in light of our identity in Christ. As believers, our unity is found in Christ alone. We are called to holy lives that point others to Him. The big idea is that we honor God most when we steward our bodies according to His wise and loving design.

Parental discretion is advised.

Questions for Reflection:

In light of Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians on honoring God with our bodies and maintaining unity in Christ, consider:

• How can I reflect Christ's love to someone in a practical way this week?

• What's one way I can honor God with my body and live a holy life?