The Bridge Austin

As we walk through life with God, we discover that He gives us spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit, gifts that allow us to do amazing things, but only through His power. These gifts aren’t given for our glory, but to serve others and point people back to Him. Today, Pastor Chris reminds you that if you want to be used by God for His purpose and glory, you must first come to Jesus. When you give your life to Christ, He fills you with the Holy Spirit, and that’s when true change begins: in your mind, heart, and soul. 

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that Saul was the leader of Israel’s army, and still could not face Goliath. But, like David, we need to live with the expectation of victory. The Christian life isn’t always easy, but with the Lord, we don’t have to live on the sidelines or feel defeated.

What lessons do we learn from the stories of Bethsaida and Jerusalem? How do lessons from the Holy Land matter to us today? Rabbi Schneider shares how the cities in the Holy Land rejected Jesus, how that affected those cities, and how that concept is an important example of what happens when we reject Jesus. Learn to choose life, obedience, and relationship with God.

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Today, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur explain that effective discipline flows out of a healthy relationship, not anger or authority alone. Parents often lean too far into being either “tough” or “tender,” but teens need a balanced blend of strength, gentleness, listening and compassion. True authority comes from connection, not control, and the goal is to reflect God’s character — firm when necessary, but tender, patient and relational at heart. Mark encourages parents to examine their own reactions, seek honest feedback, and pursue counseling if needed so they can model the calm, balanced strength their teens require.

If you're struggling raising your teen, Mark has many resources designed to help! Visit parentingtodaysteens.org to explore blogs, podcasts, books and more.

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org. 

Questions in this episode:

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Friendships with the opposite sex, plus what we can learn from the elderly, and the difference between the Holy Spirit and your conscience.    

Featured musical artist: Phil Wickham

Roundtable: Platonic Guy-Girl Friendships

Is it possible for men and women to be “just friends”? There’s an ongoing debate on the topic, with some arguing it’s possible while others maintain that it inevitably leads to something awkward (or worse, inappropriate). Our guests break down the pros and cons and give tips for doing friendship with the opposite sex in a God-honoring way.       

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Culture: Practical Love for the Elderly

Whether it’s your parents, grandparents, neighbor or fellow church member, God’s call to love our elders is clear. But it isn’t always easy. Senior citizens may be slower than us, have different perspectives, and can even be critical or aloof. But if you have the patience and intention to dig deep, there’s potential for rich relationship and even the opportunity to learn. Isabel Tom lived her entire childhood and young adult years with her aging grandparents. She now works with the elderly and shares her thoughts on what you stand to gain by prioritizing time with the seniors around you.   

 The Value of Wrinkles: A Young Perspective on How Loving the Old Will Change Your Life  

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Inbox: Conscience or the Holy Spirit?

Venturing into a dangerous situation. Asking someone out. Knowing God’s will on a job offer. We all look for direction in various circumstances, but how do you know whether that prompting is your conscience or the Holy Spirit? Pastor Mark Bates weighs in.    

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When you picture Jesus Christ, what image comes to your mind? A tiny baby in a feeding trough? A grown man teaching the multitudes? Or a powerful monarch seated on a throne? Dr. Robert Jeffress looks at an unexpected passage from the New Testament that reveals the identity of Christ.

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Faith shapes every part of life—not only what we believe, but how we spend, save, invest, and give. Every financial decision reveals something about what we value, trust, and treasure most. That’s why conversations about money are never just about budgets or balances; they’re deeply spiritual.

Today, Afton Phillips, our Head of Content at FaithFi, joins the show to talk about how our faith reshapes the way we steward God’s resources. This conversation grew out of our upcoming 21-day devotional, Our Ultimate Treasure, and the themes behind it.

Afton has been shaping this project from its earliest concept to its final pages. She shared that when she first joined FaithFi, she longed for a place where people could revisit core biblical principles—not simply hear them once, but reflect on them deeply.

“Money isn’t just about math,” Afton said. “It’s really about our hearts.”

The devotional walks readers through foundational truths:

• God owns it all.
• Money issues are heart issues.
• Our financial lives are deeply connected to our spiritual formation.

If that’s true, then what we need isn’t a formula—it’s space with God. Scripture. Prayer. Reflection. This devotional is designed to help readers slow down long enough to allow God to reshape how they see and handle money.

One of the early themes in Our Ultimate Treasure is the truth that God doesn’t measure success by what we store up, but by what we surrender.

We’re all tempted to believe that just a little more—more savings, more security, more achievement—will finally bring peace. But no amount of accumulation ever delivers the rest our souls crave.

True biblical success is about formation more than finances.

• Are we growing in Christlikeness?
• Are the fruits of the Spirit becoming more evident in our lives?
• Are we learning to let go of fear, control, and comfort so God can shape us?

When surrender becomes the lens, money stops being a monument to ourselves and becomes a tool for becoming more like Jesus.

Another key section of the devotional explores a truth we often forget: work is not a curse—it’s a calling.

From the very beginning, God designed work as something good. Not something we merely do to earn or survive, but something through which we participate in His redemptive mission.

Your desk, job site, classroom, or kitchen table isn’t just a workplace—it’s holy ground. Your work is one of the primary arenas where God shapes your character and blesses others through you.

Margin is one of the most important threads running through the entire devotional.

Afton put it simply:

“Margin creates space for God to move.”

When we max out:

• our money
• our time
• our energy

We leave no room to listen, pause, or respond to God’s leading.

Margin isn’t restrictive. It’s freeing. It enables generosity, rest, trust, and wise decision-making. It’s one of the clearest marks of faithful stewardship.

Money can feel personal—sometimes even private. But Scripture is clear: we’re not meant to navigate finances alone.

Every day, callers to our program remind us how many people long for guidance, encouragement, and clarity. That’s why we devoted an entire day in the devotional to seeking wise counsel.

Afton shared:

“When we invite wise counsel into our lives, we begin to see things we might have missed.”

That’s also why