BridgePoint Church Podcast

A message about money and the church. The temptation is always to pass over these, but if God has something to say about how we use money (and it's good!!) then don't we want to know? In this message, Tyler reminds us that one of our values at BridgePoint Church is 'we get to give'. We don't have to, we aren't obligated or coerced, we get to. And in so doing, we unlock a blessing from God that He desires for us. God wants us to have the Kingdom, what a blessing, but where your treasure is your heart will be also.

Questions for Reflection:

• If money is the metric of what our heart's trust, what do you trust the most?

• What are the next steps you can take to laying down the anxiety, and experiencing the peace and blessing from God, as it relates to money?

Why does serving matter? It's easy to give it a flippant response - it helps people! That's true. But for believers, there is SO much more to why it matters that we invest. In this message, Tyler takes us to a familiar passage to allow it to land in a fresh way. Serving people, just because, in our American culture is quite honestly a bit radical. The reason it matters for believers is because we were first served by a Holy God. To do like He did to us, is stepping into the power of bringing a taste of Heaven to earth. We don't invest in people because it makes us feel good, we invest in people because we've been invested in by the Almighty.

Questions for Reflection:

• What or whom might God be calling you to invest in?

• How do we prevent serving people from becoming about something to pat ourselves on the back for?

Today's message will unpack the BridgePoint Church Value: we believe we are better together. This is our value of community. We were created by God for togetherness in healthy relationships, and the book of proverbs actually warns against prolonged isolation. This is a value that most folks would probably support. But practically speaking, how easy is it to end up not valuing it with our time? In this message Tyler helps change our perspective on why we are better together.

Questions for Reflection:

• When you look at where you invest your time, talents and treasure, does it reflect a priority of healthy, godly community?

• What's a next step that God is calling you to take so that your better value healthy community and the benefits therein?

The love of God that enters into the world in Jesus is not a fairy-tale kind of love. Jesus disrupted the worlds understanding of love to point us to the fullness of His. In todays message Travis looks at Jesus’ arrival from Joseph’s perspective. What could have been perceived as an unnecessary disruption was actually part of a much larger “love story” that God wanted to announce to the world in Jesus’ birth.

Questions for Reflection:

• In what ways do you see God’s love in Jesus disrupting the patterns and perspectives of this world? How does it challenge your precious understanding of love?

• What does the fullness of God’s love (as revealed from the manger up to the cross) tell you in the midst of life’s disruptions? What can you hold onto when life feels like it’s been turned upside down?

Is peace on earth really possible? I know we're certainly searching for it, and looking for the moments of tranquility in the midst of the crazy/busyness of life. In this message, Tyler focuses on the prophecy that Jesus would be the Prince of Peace when he came at Christmas. Well He came. Did he fail at bringing peace? Or do we often end up missing it by looking for the wrong kind of peace in the wrong places?

Questions for Reflection:

• What are your go-to places, sounds, people, activities to find "peace"?

• Since we find wholeness in trusting Jesus with our lives, what in your life is it time to trust Jesus with?

An Everyday Joy! - The Christmas season is one where we are expected to be filled with joy. But what about the other seasons of life that take place other times of year? Is our joy intended to be a result of holiday excitement or a lasting characteristic that can be experienced throughout the year? Today, Travis unpacks the story of the Good News being announced to everyday, ordinary shepherds and highlights the lasting joy they receive through the hope of Jesus and how to take it back as we move into the ordinary seasons of life.

Questions for Reflection:

• When do you experience the joy that Jesus brings into your life the most? When is it most challenging?

• How can you carry the joy of Jesus into the everyday, ordinary and not-so-great seasons of life?

How does a baby born around 2000 years ago provide hope for us today? Sometimes it's easy to forget how some of the teachings of our faith really matter in present day. How does that birth centuries ago matter in strained modern relationships, frustrations at work, marriage troubles, parenting hardships, and the like? In today's message, Tyler goes back to the original Christmas to make the distinction of how that Christmas matters for us this Christmas and in our every day life.

Questions for Reflection:

• What aspect of your life needs the confident assurance that God is able and enough?

• How can hope look "thrilling" in your life?

A Gratitude Testimony - Faith grows through practicing gratitude.

In this message, you will hear stories of how activating the gratitude loop in the midst of difficult circumstances is a deeply spiritual and profound experience. You will be challenged to trust God deeper as your provider and hear how that will shift your perspectives in your daily life.

Questions for Reflection:

• How has lacking gratitude affected your perspective in the past?

• What are the areas in your life that you need to find reason for gratitude in your present circumstances?

Why is our world so angry? It's everywhere, isn't it? In today's message Tyler unpacks a specific theological and psychological reality about the way human beings' brains are wired. The gratitude loop is the idea that no matter what your circumstances are, the solution to being "in a better head space" is gratitude! We will unpack a Psalm together and explore how the gratitude loop could be something deep in our souls that ultimately suggests we were made for something more than the world can offer to us.

Questions for Reflection:

• Are there things in your life that are regularly causing you to be negative or frustrated by your circumstances?

• What do you have to be grateful for in your life?

In this message, we look at how Paul concluded his letter to Galatia, the book we call Galatians. As we walk through chapter 6, Tyler recognizes that this is a very practical but challenging message about how to use grace. How does grace help us live our purpose? What if we've made that more complicated than it needs to be? If we understand Paul, it's about allowing our faith to help hurting people carry their burdens. Are we? How could we do that better?

Questions for Reflection:
• Who are you helping to "bear their burdens"? (And how are you doing so?)
• Do you tend to lean toward truth without grace or grace without truth? Why? What can you do about that?