Category Archives: Bridge Church
Helping Kids in Transition
This year our church partnered with a couple of great organizations for Christmas On Mission Projects:
1. The Kids In Transition (KIT) Program through our local schools. KIT as the program is called helps teens who are in substandard or transitional housing. Another term is “couch surfer.” A teen without a permanent address. It also covers teens who find themselves in other situations such as teen pregnancy or fleeing from an abusive parent. We were able to fill a few wishes for some of the kids in this program. Find out more info HERE.
2. James Storehouse and Louisiana Dept of Child and Family Services. James Storehouse is a Non-Profit that mobilizes resources for foster children and families associated with foster care and adoption. Kim Bigler founded and directed the Storehouse with a lot of enthusiasm. They have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Bridge Church was able to provide a breakfast at their new facility on Hwy 21 in Covington for the staff of our local DCFS office.
The DCFS staff does amazing work for our community. This year alone, 192 kids were adopted through our local Covington office! Also, 107 kids were placed in a foster care home and 165 homes were certified as foster care providers. STILL MORE ARE NEEDED!
Incredible people doing hard work for the neediest among us. Praying for these and others on the front lines of need in our communities.
Common Excuses for Not Sharing and Caring
We know we’re supposed to be witnesses for Christ. We know that people need Christ. What is it that is stopping us from being obedient and engaging the real needs of people?
Here are a few excuses that I’ve used over the years, that still plague my selfish heart today.
1. “I don’t have time.”
We make time for what’s important to us. Obeying Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20; John 14:21) and helping others (Philippians 2:3-4) find help and eternal life should be on our list somewhere. If we make time for what we care about, are we really saying “I don’t care about what Jesus wants and others need”? Let’s make time!
2. “That’s not my job.”
This is passing our Christian duty off to the person that does more harm in churches that anyone – SOMEBODY ELSE. “Somebody else will do something” – “Why didn’t somebody help them?” – “The pastor should have done something about that.” Passing off the duty of every Christian to somebody else robs you of an opportunity to see God work and it robs people in your sphere of influence of your unique witness to them. It is your job!
3. “They know where I am if they need me.”
This is the classic rearranging of Jesus’ commission to the church. Jesus said that believers should “Go into all the world…” (Matthew 28:19). It’s a commission that requires intentionality on our part. Jesus didn’t commission the lost world to find the church, but the church to find the lost and bring them to Him. Let’s not wait for them to ask! Take initiative and go and find the lost. Glad someone did that for me!
4. “They’ll never change.”
When we say “They’ll never change” about someone that needs Christ, I believe we’re saying more about what we believe about God, than what we believe about that person. Our faith is not in the ability of people to change, but in God’s power to transform. With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26), so with God, no one is a lost cause. Change is possible for anyone that hears the gospel. It’s not our job to make final judgments about someones heart condition. It’s our job to share the message that can change their hearts (Romans 10:17). We’ll never know if they could have changed, if we withhold the gospel.
5. “I don’t know what to say.”
This can be another way of saying, “I don’t care,” because we tend to find the information that we care about. We can find and remember the best Disney deals, the stats on our favorite football teams, all the restaurants with kids eat free deals, etc. Have we taken the time to learn and understand some keys to sharing the gospel with different people. We don’t have to be Bible scholars or have seminary degrees to correctly share the gospel with people in our lives. You know enough right now most likely. And you have within you the power of the Holy Spirit who promises to help give you the words to say. Don’t hold back. Say it today!
Bridge Church‘s summer message series is designed to tackle the last excuse in this list. In our series What Do I Say When…? we hope to equip ourselves with what to say to people at different points of need in our lives. Join Bridge Church at 10am on Sunday’s at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville and get equipped to make an impact and engage the real needs of your world for Christ. You can also find the messages HERE or on Itunes.
“When you pray… When you fast…” ~ Jesus
Jesus seemed to assume that prayer and fasting would be a part of the lives of his followers. He didn’t say “if” but “when.” With his assumptions we see again that spiritual disciplines were not just meant for the clergy, but for everyone. In January, our church typically participates in a 21-Day Prayer & Fasting plan. With that in mind, here’s some basics on fasting from a few of my favorite books on the subject of prayer.
From Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster:
- Fasting refers to abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. It’s not a hunger strike or a form of dieting. Biblical fasting always centers on spiritual purposes.
- Fasting must forever center on God. It must be God-initiated and God-ordained.
- More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that controls us. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface.
- In Scripture the normal means of fasting involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water (Luke 4:2).
- Sometimes a partial fast is described. Like Daniel, “I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth” (Daniel 10:3).
Isaiah 58 is one of the best resources on fasting in the Bible. Tom Eliff in his great book, A Passion for Prayer shares an outline with us on improper and proper motivations for and the promised benefits of fasting:
Four Improper Reasons for Fasting:
- Fasting to get God’s attention (Isaiah 58:3a).
- Fasting w/o focusing on the Lord (Isaiah 58:3b).
- Fasting w/o humility of heart (Isaiah 58:4).
- Fasting for a brief external show of piety (Isaiah 58:5). Jesus spoke against this as well in Matthew 6:16-18.
Proper motivations for fasting (Isaiah 58:6-7):
- To bring spiritual liberation and freedom.
- To relieve heavy burdens.
- To increase our awareness of the needs of others.
God’s promised benefits for those who fast sincerely and seriously:
- Insight and understanding (v. 8)
- Physical well-being (v. 8)
- A deep sense of what is right (v.8)
- God’s presence to protect and provide (v. 8)
- A sense of immediate access to God (v. 9)
- Release from spiritual oppression (v. 10)
- Real-time guidance from God (v. 11)
- Satisfaction and joy during difficult times (v. 11)
- Increased strength to accomplish the Lord’s work (v. 11)
- Fruitfulness (v. 11)
- Recovering and restoring culture (v. 12)
- Rebuilding what was destroyed (v. 12)
Some Options for introducing fasting into your life:
As you consider fasting, before conducting an extended, lengthy complete or total fast from all food, consider your past health and conditioning and some of you may want to consult a doctor. Consider your work. If your work is rigorous then you need food for energy to give your best to your employer. A complete fast may not be for you at this point. Here are a few other options:
- One meal each day—The fast is not about only giving up food, but also includes praying during mealtime. Jesus said, “Could you not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40). It takes about an hour to prepare a meal or travel to a restaurant or get ready to eat. So this time is a perfect opportunity to pray. Those who work in hot exhausting jobs cannot fast completely because they need their strength and stamina for physical exertion. However, they can sacrifice one meal a day for the Lord.
- Two meals each day—Some people can pray for two hours each day, sacrificing two meals to the Lord.
- Eat only veggies—The Daniel Fast involves giving up meats, desserts and snacks, eating only the food that Daniel most likely ate. While the fast doesn’t give extra time to pray, it is a commitment of the heart that when joined with prayer, moves the heart of God.
- Give up television—Secular people might laugh at “fasting television” or “sacrificing television” but it is a commitment to God to place loyalty to Christ first above all else. This is a spiritual choice in response to Christ, who promises, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
- Give up sports—Giving up bowling league, golfing, fishing, jogging or other activity for a season (such as 40 days) to pray during that time is a choice. It places spiritual exercise above physical exercise.“Bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1Timothy 4:8).
- Give up pleasure reading—Beyond what you must read for your work or preparing for teaching the Word of God, pleasure reading could be turned into prayer time. You could consider laying aside reading the daily newspaper too.
- Restrict mobile phone use and text messaging—While some of these communication devices are necessary, they are serious time robbers that could be placed aside for praying.
- Facebook and other social media—These activities can consume huge chunks of time. Part of a fast could be to cease social media and use the time for prayer and intercession.
- Other—There may be something that the Holy Spirit brings to mind that you could place aside for a season while you focus on more prayer.
The Daniel Food Fast
Also check out www.ultimatedanielfast.com & www.danielplan.com/ for info, recipes, & more.
The Daniel Food Fast is a very healthy way to eat. So health professionals will support this eating plan but might suggest a few modifications if you have health issues that need special attention. For example, pregnant and nursing mothers might get instructions to add fish, chicken and cheese into the Daniel Food Fast but otherwise stay the course. Diabetics may need to add more carbohydrates or include chicken and fish. Also, those who are especially active either through sports, bodybuilding or vocation may need to slightly alter the eating plan. I encourage you to check with your doctor . . . and by the way, being addicted to Snickers and Coke don’t count as a special need!
What is the Daniel Food Fast?
The Daniel Food Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world are using as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting.
There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Food Fast. In Daniel 1, the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water. So from these scriptures we get two of the guidelines for the fast:
1. Only fruits and vegetables
2. Only water for a beverage
Then in Daniel 10, we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine for 21 days. So from this scripture, we get a third guideline:
3. No sweeteners and no breads
Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast. So that’s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not allowed on the Daniel Food Fast.
Check out www.danielplan.com & www.ultimatedanielfast.com for more info, including recipes.
Other resources for your 21 Day’s of Prayer & Fasting:
Celebrating Small Group Life
Round tabled with our Bridge Church Small Group Leaders this week for a seasonal troubleshooting and celebrating session. Proud moment for the church planter, when you realize that what started as one small group in 2011, has now grown to 10 groups! We celebrated new groups and first time group engagements. We trouble shot consistency, communication, pastoral care issues. A few of the highlights and developing strategies from our journey to effective group ministry:
- Seasonal Rhythm. We’ve adopted three seasons as opportunities to start new groups, for groups to take natural breaks, and to emphasize new connections. This includes a Small Group Leader round table, one month prior to each new seasons kickoff. A rhythm is a system that can give natural start and stops for groups.
- Geaux Projects for Groups. Each group is encouraged to organize around the strategy Gather-Grow-Geaux. How are we going to gather this season (where, how often, how long, etc.)? How are we going to grow this season (track with sermon series, marriage study, financial study, etc.)? How are we going to geaux this season (how will we serve and make a difference in our community together)? This seasons Geaux Projects have included projects for local widows, helping flood victims, serving local children’s home, shared date nights for couples, neighborhood block parties, etc.
- Putting our Money Where our Mouth Is. A few years ago it hit me that we talk about how important groups are but our budget doesn’t back that up. So now, each group gets $1,000 per year to make magic happen with group life. This is turned into incredible impact through the opportunity for groups to be responsive to the needs around them and creatively serve one another and their communities. This year, we were able to do that twice. Love hearing the stories of how this money is spent.
Capacity for making disciples is best expanded at the group level. Churches that grow must find ways to multiply gatherings (rows), groups (circles), and teams (strengths).
If you go to a church, but are not involved in a group, get involved ASAP. We like to say,
“Life change happens best in circles, not rows.”
Getting involved in a group that forms in a circle is different than sitting in a church with rows.
– In a circle you look someone in the face.
– In a circle there is dialogue & conversation.
– In a circle, you let down your defenses & engage.
These are critical elements of the kinds of relationships that bring life change.
If you’re in West St. Tammany Parish, and want to connect with one of our Bridge groups, sign up here.
A Mission Greater Than Yourself
Highlights from our Bridge On Mission Message Series
November was On Mission Month at Bridge Church. We tackled the questions of how to live life ON MISSION to the Vulnerable, the Nations, the Next Generation, & to our Neighbors.
Check out a few great quotes from this series presented by Evan McGinty, Steve Elworth, Cherish Leblanc, Elizabeth Johnson, & myself.
- Christ Followers never say, “That’s not my problem.”
- There’s no such thing as an unwanted child in God’s Kingdom.
- The drive behind our mission is obedience to God. Sustainable mission is a series of small steps of obedience.
- In Christ, our lives will not end in brokenness, but with promised restoration.
- If God calls you to it, He’ll give you the grace to do it. – Cherish LeBlanc
- God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. – Elizabeth Johnson
- God is a missionary. Therefore, the church is a missionary church.
- Missions is something God does, not something I do.
- “God’s mission is a reason there is a Bible at all.” – Steve Hawthorne
- “Do not ask ‘what is God’s will for my life?’ Instead, ask, ‘what is God’s will for the world and what is my place in fulfilling his will?’” – John Perkins
- If every evangelical gave 10% of their income to missions we could easily support 2 million new missionaries.
- Your Character, Lifestyle, & Example as a parent, or other influence in their lives, help kids know WHAT is right.
- Good character around them can be a kind of North Star. That’s also why we need a church community, b/c our kids are not just watching us, but those we associate with.
- Your Intentional Words, Discipline, Discipleship help them know what AND WHY the Christian life is right.
- “There is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go and that is to travel that way yourself.” — Abraham Lincoln
- Missions does not equal distance. We have a mission field within walking distance of us everyday.
- Consumers like the mission. Disciples own the mission. Romans 1:14
Listen to the messages HERE or on Itunes.
Growing Churches = Growing Leaders
Last night was our annual Leadership Appreciation Dinner with Bridge Church. Bridge Church started in 2009 and in 2010 we held the first Leadership Appreciation Dinner with one table at a restaurant. Last night, we had six tables and another two tables full of leaders that couldn’t be there for various reasons. Grateful for these great friends in ministry and grateful to God for what He is doing in our lives together.
The real task of growing churches is that of growing, releasing, encouraging, equipping, and increasing leaders. Nothing increases the capacity of our churches to make a difference like leaders. A growing church is finding ways to grow leaders, PERIOD.
The struggle to grow leaders is often our own.
- The fear of losing control – as if control is what God called us to.
- “they’re not ready yet” – ministry was Jesus’ tool for development of leaders. Giving people opportunities was His model.
- and the “If I only had” – instead of developing leaders, waiting on someone else to send them.
Leaders are drawn by vision/mission and relationship.
- Like Mark, who shared last night about his journey beginning with two guys from our church showing up at the hospital after he was in a major accident. Today, he and his wife lead our Kids Ministry Team.
- Like Josh, who said, he’d been encouraged by numerous families from our church at area Foster Care meetings. Today, they’re adopting and have plugged in to our kids ministry team.
- Like Evan, who said the church said yes to his crazy ideas allowing him to explore his calling. Today, he’s on our Pastoral Leadership team and shares the teaching and preaching load.
It’s not just about how many are there on Sunday, but how many are influencing others, multiplying themselves, being shaped into disciples who make disciples. How many tables do you have right now? Grow leaders and grow your church.