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The city of Philippi had been economically decimated by civil war and Roman greed. Despite their poverty, Paul tells us that they excelled in the "grace of giving." Their simple obedience came from hearts transformed by the Gospel and led to a legacy of faith that outlasted them. As we offer our time, talent and treasure before God as an offering of praise, what do the 'Riches of Glory' look like in our lives and the lives of those who come after us?

Avocado toast, punk rock and the 'OK boomer" - if we are honest, each age group has an incredible capacity to judge the others. Tucked away as the last prophecy of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi spoke of a day when the generations would experience a turning of hearts towards each other. How can the church be a place of inter-generational harmony where all are blessed?

While Jeremiah was often the prophet who told people what they did not want to hear, in chapter 18 God gave him a beautiful picture of His redemptive heart. When the world is chaotic and confusing, our hearts can harden, leading us to live a deformed life. Thankfully, God, the Sovereign Potter, gently and firmly shapes us for the good of the world and for His glory

While the Western world has wealth and all the material comforts imaginable, statistics paint a bleak picture when it comes to lasting joy & a real sense of meaning. On the edge of the Promised Land, Moses gave Israel a message to "Remember the Lord" when the comforts of their new life arrived. What if Thanksgiving is a remedy to the sickness of the modern heart?

The Christian faith is more than a list of beliefs and practices - it is a living relationship with Jesus. While at times it feels like this living relationship burns bright in our hearts, there are times when the flame fades and needs tending. What does it look like to build practices in our lives that "sustain the flame" without it all devolving into obligation?

When you set out for a journey if you pack too much baggage you are weighed down. Baggage can keep us from being flexible and nimble. Before we step into a new season of ministry as a church and in our lives, where can we drop some baggage? Where does God want to free us from unforgiveness, spiritual apathy and past wounds?

When Israel was in exile they were feeling the weight of shame, defeat and powerlessness. Despite their situation, God gave them a word to expand their vision of the future. Even when we feel fatigue and disillusionment in life, through the Lord who pitched His tent among us, we can find courage and an expanded vision to face the day.

Have you ever felt outside of God's blessing? Jacob felt that way. After living the messy life of a scoundrel, he had hit rock bottom. Yet in an ordinary place, when Jacob was asleep, God broke through into his life. In the wilderness we can build altars of praise to the God who never stops pursuing us.

On the edge of finally crossing into the Promised Land, rather than telling the people to sharpen their swords, God told His people to consecrate themselves so that they would see the Lord "do amazing things among" them. God's blessing flows in our lives, and in our city, when we repent of our sins and allow God to cleanse our hearts.

Whenever you desire to see a change in yourself (or someone else) you quickly discover that human beings are very complex creatures. As we look towards all sorts of good (and not so good) solutions to meet our goals, we eventually find out we need something stronger than the world has to offer. A continuous flow of the Holy Spirit equips us to meet the challenges life throws at us and leads to deep, lasting change.

Sometimes a TV show or movie ends in a way that makes people confused or even upset. Acts has one of those classic anti-climatic endings. But what if big endings are overrated? What if the measured and ordinary are actually more beautiful than the grand gesture? "Though the earth gives way and mountains move into the sea," the Gospel spreads unhindered; unstoppable.

A storm, a shipwreck, and a snake couldn't stop Paul from forward motion on his journey to Rome. While life can feel fragile and precarious, God holds us in His hands. Join Bridge Church this week as we experience 'the Odyssey according to Paul' and find assurance from God's sovereignty along the way.

Have you made a rash decision out of fear that you later regretted? This common occurrence results in unnecessary misery and suffering: leaving a good job out of fear of missing a better opportunity, or staying in a bad relationship for fear of being alone. In Acts 26, we will see how the religious leaders' fear of the gospel actually caused it to spread more rapidly, and how Paul's fearless sharing of the gospel led many to salvation.

Despite living in an age where complex information and knowledge are just a simple prompt away, wisdom is hard to come by. While wisdom literature in the ancient world was usually reserved for the educated and elite, in Israel it was different. Available to all and focused on God, wisdom was in the streets for all to benefit from.

The new Governor Festus heard Paul's testimony of faith and concluded that it was both trivial and irrational. What he was lacking was an imagination to see the bigger story God was telling in his life and the world around him. At times we too can get stuck looking at the world through merely a pragmatic and rational lens. Thankfully, God's Word invites us into a faith of the mind and the heart which that leads to a life of love, beauty and adventure.