In this three-part series, we define the mission and vision of Bridges Community Church. In everything we do, we strive to show: people matter, truth matters, and the Gospel is our only hope. Each of the three weeks will unpack more of how we will fulfill this vision and, Lord willing, change the world.

In a day when people are losing heart, a message of hope could be a timely and welcome relief. Especially if you’re on the verge of giving up, falling apart, or burning out -- or you know someone who is. It may seem like our circumstances are unprecedented, but history says not. Case in point: the Apostle Paul. He could have lost heart in his crazy world but he didn’t. And his story still speaks into our story today.

Everything created by someone was made for a purpose. Kids' toys, computer programs, cars, air purifiers…all have a specific reason they exist. But what about us? Were we also made with a purpose in mind? God says that we were. This week, we’ll examine what that purpose is, what’s at stake if we are out of alignment, and the One who can set us right again.

Throughout the Bible we see that God is uniquely concerned about His people’s memory. Indeed, because we are so prone in the busyness of our lives to forget God -- to forget His unchanging character, His faithfulness and provision in the past, His work in our lives today, His plans for our future, and our utter need for Him every moment of every day -- Scripture repeatedly calls us to be intentional about stopping to remember.

The Bible’s exhortation for us to remember, however, is calling for something far deeper than mere mental recall. It is dealing with something far more transforming than just counting your blessings. In this week’s message, we’ll specifically discover why we need to remember, what we need to remember, and how we need to remember.

In moments or seasons of suffering or discouragement, it’s tempting to allow yourself to doubt the existence, goodness, or wisdom of God. We reason with ourselves that somehow, some way, these moments of suffering or pain or injustice are evidence that God is less than who He has depicted Himself to be.

What are we to do with our doubts? Ignore them? Give into them? Punish ourselves for having them? The psalmist in today’s Scripture -- Psalm 73 -- dealt with these very questions himself and gives us valuable guidance that can help us whenever we’re faced with doubt.

We've all seen the benefit a good leader can bring to an organization and the harm a bad leader can cause--particularly if the leader is self-serving. The ancient Israelites made the same observation, except they also knew the ultimate leader they were waiting for wasn't currently in their midst. The leader they hoped for was one who really would set all the wrongs right and heal every wounded heart in the world. This week, we'll look at the identity of that leader and how we can enjoy His good reign.

The cliche reminds us that none of us will say at the end of their our lives, "I wish I had spent more time at work." We instinctively know that life is mostly about relationships. This week, we'll discover that God intended it that way from the beginning. He ordered the world such that we are at our best when we are in relationship with Him and others, and when something is wrong in one of those relationships, we lose life itself.

Many people turn to the Psalms for joy and encouragement, to sing praises to God, and to be reminded of His character and unfailing love. But every once in a while, we come across in the psalter what are known as the “imprecatory psalms,” which some people have not-so-affectionately come to call the “cursing psalms” or the “hate psalms.” That’s because the imprecatory psalms are those in which the author graphically calls down calamity, destruction, and God’s anger and judgment on his or her enemies.

What are we supposed to do with these types of psalms, particularly since they sound so unchristian and foreign to the spirit of Jesus on the surface? How can they help us to minister and to pray, and how do we apply them? We’ll explore these issues in this week’s message.

Some video game characters have the ability to become invincible. If this “god-mode” is activated, nothing can harm them. They can walk straight through all kinds of dangers without getting a scratch. The Psalmist seems to claim that God has given him a similar ability. Snares, terrors, destructions, and enemies will have no hold on him because he takes refuge in the Lord. But is this true? And if so, how can we activate it? This week, we’ll look at the tremendous promises in this Psalm and how they are even better than they might appear at first glance.

Not all paths lead to the same place. Some lead to sorrow, while others lead to delight. In the end, therefore, what we pursue with our lives matters, and it matters a lot. This week, we will look at various paths we might be pursuing, where they lead, and what ultimately is the only path to delight.