The Bridge RSM

What do we mean when we say that the Bible is "inspired"? What does it even mean to be "inspired"? And, maybe most importantly, what does it mean for our lives if we believe that the Bible truly is the "inspired Word of God"? Pastor Bill Dogterom is with us once more to kick off our series, "Aligned" where we'll look at the authority of Scripture and how we relate to it.

Can you tell the difference between a sheep and a goat? Does the way you live reflect God's love in everything you say and do? Pastor Bill Dogterom concludes his series, titled "Be Ready" as he challenges us to reflect on whether we're ready to hear "well done, good and faithful servant."

What's in a parable? Pastor Bill Dogterom joins us to begin a three-part series through Matthew 25. In this survey of the parable of the ten virgins he discusses what it means to be ready and how followers of Jesus can prepare ourselves to actively embody Christ in the ongoing end times.

Sometimes the most profound things in life are the simplest. That's easy to lose sight of when we think about teaching. We think of vast knowledge or deep wells of wisdom. These are good things, but without the ability to communicate and transmit those things they do not constitute the gift of teaching on their own. Pastor Mike finishes our series on the Gifts of the Son with a look first at what the teaching gift is not, then what it is. Finally he leaves us with action steps on how to respond to those with the gift of teaching as hearers of God's Word.

A group of fathers from The Bridge share their stories about how God and Scripture have met and led them as they journeyed raising their children and what it can mean for the rest of us. In what ways has the Lord met you and led you as you go through life?

Not an office, not the responsibility of the select few in vocational ministry, we're all called to care for those around us. That is the very role of the pastor (or shepherd) in the Church. While some are more gifted to do this well, we're all charged with the responsibility. Pastor Mike continues our series through the Gifts of the Son with the Gift of the Shepherd and what that means practically in each of our lives.

What do you think of when you hear the word "evangelist"? Maybe people like Billy Graham and Greg Laurie? Maybe people handing out Bible tracts or standing on street corners with bull horns? Like much of our conversation around Divine Placement and the five-fold ministry, we have painted a cultural picture of the evangelist that isn't what the Bible says. Pastor Cami opens up the text to see how the evangelist functions in the Church and how the evangelistic gift plays out in our day-to-day lives.

We continue our series through the Gifts of the Son and the five-fold ministry with a look at the prophetic gifting. We usually think of a prophet as someone who tells the future. That can be a part of it, but Pastor Mike Foell unpacks here the multiple ways that prophets function both in the first-century Church and the Church of today. You may be surprised to find how the prophetic gift functions in your own life without even realizing it.

The word "apostle" can be intimidating at times. Of course we think of Jesus first 12 followers during His earthly ministry. Or maybe you think of Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament of the Bible. The design of the Church is the same now as it was then. We need all systems to function well. The apostolic gifting is no exception. People with this gift are visionary, creative, innovative, and purpose driven and they function in this way both inside and outside of the Church.

Over the next several weeks we will be going through each of the five parts of the five-fold ministry. We invite you to posture to hear from the Lord on how He has crafted and gifted you you function within the Church and to serve the world for His glory.

The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. What can we do about that? As churches and followers of Jesus we have the responsibility to equip those in our care and each other to the ministry that God sets before us. We have to opportunity to learn and grow in our giftings and to see people fulfill the God-given calls on their lives as they develop into the people He has designed them to be.