Church At The Bridge Sermon Podcasts

In this series, we have discussed what it means to honor God. This week we continue on the topic and dive into how the church honors God and one another. The honoring church is made up of people whose love for God is evidenced through their actions in life, not where they sit on Sundays. We don't just honor God for the sake of being seen, we honor God and people in the unseen. The church that honors God is one that leads with love first and foremost from within - two powerful reasons for loving one another.

People among us are those that operate in our current sphere of influence and life. They are people that we routinely cross paths with, rub shoulders with, and share similar experiences and commonalities with. We come across them routinely, but we don't take interest in them beyond what's necessary, or we do take interest in them at some point because of what they add to us. If honor unto those among us is contingent upon who it is, what they do, if they deserve, if they'll recieve or if they honor us. The truth is that we don't understand honor and aren't doing it, because the decision isn't already settled in our hearts before we encouter them. To love and honor your neighbor requires appreciating the honor thawt God has bestowed upon your life.

What does honor look like as a child of God? Honor is a reflection of your relationship with God, it doesn’t require a high esteemed position or money. We honor Him by being obedient to our God-given assignment. There is a maturity being exercised when we exercise genuine demonstrations of honor unto others. When you are in a position of humility, you are in a position to give and receive blessings. As you venture into a new week, take a moment to reflect on what God has provided you and how you can use it to honor Him.

What was God’s master plan? Family. The family is like a branch that when attached to the supporting structure of the tree which is our God, grows, bears fruit, and extends the tree's reach even further. When you establish that your home exists to honor God and do not bend on that decision, God will honor you and chart a path into your tomorrow.

A map is a powerful tool because it can show us our destination and the route to get there all at once. If you solely focus on the destination point without mapping out the route, you'll never get to your desired end. You can live in the miracle working power of God, but you must be determined to face your fears with faith in God so you can arrive at the destination that God has in store for you!

Honor is to the Kingdom of God what air is to the life of every person. Without it we cannot go on with our existence as followers of Christ. The way we treat people entrusted to our care either honors God or dishonors Him. We learn in this message how to honor those in our care and how to build them up.

What does honor mean in the Kingdom of God? In general, we think of it as holding high regard, respect, and esteem. This is believed for many things in our daily lives. However, when we think of God and go about our daily lives, are we stopping to consider how we are putting forth honor? Honor aligns itself with a humility that is submissive to the wisdom of God because we reverence God above all. It is not an action, it's an attitude. It is the direction that our heart is oriented toward and follows. True humility is borne out of heart that genuinely cares for others not because they are better but because they hold great value.

This weekend we celebrated Christ’s resurrection! Too often we forget that His resurrection is also ours. It is more than an event to celebrate, it is a power to be experienced. In order for us to fully experience His power, we have to tackle what we believe. At times, this means questioning when we turn to God. Is it in times of trouble only? Is it when we want something? He wants us to break free from any and all bondage. Therefore, when we turn to His story, we are seeing our stories unfold, our redemption, and a hope that the world cannot provide.

At times “today” may feel heavy, hard, or pointless. Today might appear meaningless or difficult, but it isn't. Your life holds promise right now and what you do with it matters. We can easily miss the promises of God by paying more attention to the past or worrying about tomorrow. But when we turn to God, we get to see the promises in today. Don't miss this moment, there is a promise at work today which God has already made available unto us.

If someone came to you with a blank check and asked you, “what do you want,” how would you respond? What would you write on the check? There are some who believe it wrong to think that God would ask you what you want, but they are wrong because God cares about our desires more than some of us care to ask.

Your invitation and your story are the pathways that God uses to bring hope, help, peace, and purpose into the lives of people. The scriptures record a time when a man named Simon accepted an invitation that changed his life. Jesus asked him to cast out his nets which weren’t solely for the purpose of catching fish. His direction was an invitation for Simon to dive deeper and open his eyes to the promises God had for him. Jesus was offering Simon an exchange on life, let go of your nets and your identity as a fisherman, so that I can show you a better life. When you lead people to Christ, you are helping them exchange who they thought they were for who they are in God's eyes. You are helping people discover the true value of their lives.

This week we looked at characteristics of a superhero. Superheroes are willing to meet people where they are; they’re intentional; and they always go for contact. Sharing Jesus can be intimidating and uncomfortable. It requires us to put aside our comforts and doubts and step forward in faith. People matter to God and He has given you everything you need to love others. We encourage you to be intentional about each interaction you have throughout the day, week and month. When we share our testimony, we are sharing Gods story. When we do this, we are passing the baton to another so they can begin to run the race.

Today, God is calling you to bring change because you’re a walking solution. You may struggle with doubt, thinking, and believing you aren’t qualified, but guess what? He has called you qualified and He wants you to share your story with others. Have you considered that your story is actually His story? Matthew 10:8 offers clear direction, to go and give what He has given to us. Every person you encounter is His child. Think of it this way…you are an ambassador for Christ. We are God's plan A; if we don’t show up neither will the truth.

You are battle ready and can overcome every vice of the enemy, but to do so you must fight by praying with understanding from the Word of God. If you don't believe in the authority that Jesus has, you cannot operate in it. Are you giving Him authority in every area of your life? When our prayers are decreed with understanding from God's Word, like Daniel, God's angels respond. Our prayers in the natural wage war in the supernatural. If you are going to fight and win by prayer, you have to know how to fight in the supernatural.

When you pray, do you go to Him with confidence? God wants to exceed your expectations, but it depends on what you see when you pray. It’s easy to pray based on what our senses alert us of and as a result, our time with God can lack insight into the great things He sees. With trust and stability, you can expect to receive what you’re praying for according to God’s will.

Have you ever prayed like you were at a gambling machine? You were hoping and wishing God would hear you, if you said the right words at the right time. We often underestimate the reality that our God hears us each time. Jesus told us to pray about everything, not when circumstances tell us. Each time you pray, you are inviting God to aid you as it ignites a power between you and Him. When you know what God's will is through His Word, you can pray effective prayers because you are asking according to what pleases God.

od is asking “where are you?” He is looking to be in relationship with you. He wants to spend time with you. Today, it’s time to come out of hiding. Prayer isn’t transactional and often we approach God with our needs, desires and wants. It becomes all about us and removes the emphasis of our love for God and confidence in His ability. Prayer is the secret place in our hearts. Our Father understands our deepest emotions and thoughts and He isn’t afraid. But we have to allow Him access to work. As you come to God, don’t let your condition become the death of your position in prayer. Allow Him into the secret place and watch Him work!

This week we started a new series called, “House of Prayer.” We begin to explore the meaning behind prayer and the power it holds. As we see, prayer isn’t restricted to certain locations or times. God looks to hear from us and He wants to hear your voice today. He doesn’t look for religious adherence, He is looking to connect with you and hear what you don’t say. If you find yourself hesitating to pray, we encourage you to take a few minutes (wherever you are) and call out to your father. He is listening.

What comes after the victory? True victory leads us to pass on the victory to others so they can also win. In Matthew 5:14-16, He says we are the light of the world…. Jesus says you are the light of the world. Yes, you! You are how Christ is revealed so the world around you can see who the Savior is. We aren’t to hide our victories, live your faith openly (Mark 5:20). Believe it or not, someone is always watching and learning from you. As you move forward in your week, think about your testimony. Those very stories are true power and encouragement to someone else’s life. Don’t stop learning and growing because there will be more victories to be had.

“When is enough, enough?! When will what God says about you finally be enough for you to get up to believe that you’re not done, to take the risk to start again, to pursue that opportunity, to let go of your fear, to trust God and no longer trust man?