Hello, Bridge family. I really appreciate this week’s message because I firmly believe that our way of living reflects our identity as Christians. There are many ways to share the gospel. Still, when we prioritize others’ needs over our own and live selflessly, I believe we embody a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Putting others first is challenging, as our natural instinct is to prioritize ourselves.


Have you ever heard of the “golden rule?” You can find it in Luke, where Jesus teaches what it means to love. It goes like this, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you” (6:31). Years ago, we used a curriculum that emphasized three points each week, one of which was that we should treat others the way we want to be treated. I really took that to heart. If you were to ask me what my life verse is, it would be this, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to everyone else…and here is the kicker, For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).


In our teaching this week, Paul is pointing out precisely what Christ teaches in Mark. If God was willing to do that for you and me, then why should we expect to receive more? Shouldn’t we be willing to give more? This is a hard lesson, and I often fall short more than I want. Still, I find that when I am living to the best of my ability by following Jesus’ example, my life becomes deeply rewarding. When I think about what it cost me to live by His example, it pales in comparison to what Jesus gave up. Let me encourage you to read Philippians 2:1-11, and to teach your children to follow you as you follow Jesus in His example of selfless living. Be a city on a hill that can’t be hidden, so that your family may connect with the heart of God.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a great chance to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discussing how they apply to daily life, and fostering deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob

Hello, Bridge Family. I hope you've had a good week. We're excited because five of our kids will share their testimonies and be baptized in March. God is good, and we're eager to see some of SECC's youngest publicly declare their commitment to follow Jesus in a few weeks. No matter whose child is on stage, I commend you, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, for sharing the message of Jesus. You might not realize it, but your home is the most important mission field you'll ever work in. We at the Bridge pray that God strengthens you for this vital mission.


Taking the time to talk about Jesus with your kids equips them to resist the enemy during challenging times, as Paul described, so they can stand firm after the battle (Eph 6:13). While we all want our children to be healthy and physically fit, it is even more important to desire their spiritual fitness. At the Bridge, we do our best, but we are only a small visible part of the larger picture. The true depth of equipping your child comes from what you do at home. Sadly, this vital aspect often gets lost in our compartmentalized society, where we think that teaching is better left to someone with greater expertise. While you may never be able to teach calculus, or how to throw a hanging curve, or how do a back handspring, you can learn about Christ together and, therefore, equip each other to don the full armor of God. To be strong in Him.


Not sure where to start? Here's a suggestion: each day, read a chapter from the Gospels as a family. Begin with Matthew, proceed to John, and then repeat. Focus on reading without worrying about teaching, and let your family come to know Jesus better. As the song reminds us, there is power in the name of Jesus. By discovering Him daily, you invite that power to strengthen you and your loved ones. This is at the heart of Paul's message to the Ephesians.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a great chance to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discussing how they apply to daily life, and fostering deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob

Hey Bridge family, how are you this week? I hope you’re well. Our story continues from last week, when Paul and 275 others on a ship bound for Rome ran aground on a sandbar and swam or floated to shore. This week, we focus on what happened after they reached land. Notably, Paul shook off a venomous viper bite. The biblical lesson is that God is our protector!


This message is very stressful for me. While I genuinely believe that God is my protector, I have experienced horrible things in my life. I also know others who have endured devastating events. Face it: we all have, or will, have seasons when we are left wondering, “Where are you, God?” I also believe this reality can and does wreak havoc on a child’s innocence. Therefore, I am always concerned that children can sometimes take our message and see life with Christ as a promise of freedom from sorrow and pain.


Regardless of age, anyone can become so overwhelmed by life’s trials and tribulations that they lose sight of the times when God’s protection was present in their lives. I know that in my life, I was so overwhelmed by the darkness around me that I completely lost sight of Him. However, as I look back, God placed others in my life who allowed the light of Christ to shine through the darkness, restoring my hope. That is God’s protection.


I believe God has ordained each of us as parents to be a light in the darkness and to help our kids see God’s hand and His protection in what they are going through. One way that may help is to see how it is revealed to us in the Bible. You could read the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel (chapter 3) and Stephen in Acts (chapters 6 and 7). The outcomes for these faithful men were different, yet in both cases Christ was in the midst of the trial, and both were encouraged by His protection. Then build on that and make it personal by sharing how you witnessed God’s protection in your life.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a great chance to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discussing how they apply to daily life, and fostering deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob

Hey Bridge Family, I hope you’re all doing well. This week, we shared the story of Paul’s shipwreck on the way to Rome (Acts 27). As you read it with your families, you’ll see a crescendo of catastrophe until, at last, all hope was gone (v. 20) for everyone aboard the ship. That was true for everyone except Paul, who had received word from an angel of God that all aboard the vessel would be granted safety (v. 24).


The exchange between Paul and the crew resembles a scene from a Monty Python sketch. After Paul assures everyone of God’s protection, he quickly delivers the bad news that they will be shipwrecked. Imagine this as you read verses 25 and 26: picture Paul’s enthusiasm as he states, ‘Take courage! For I believe in God. It will be just as he said’ (v.25). The crew and passengers cheer enthusiastically! Then Paul adds, ‘But we will be shipwrecked on an island’ (v.26). That’s quite a downer. Immediately, a heavy silence settles over everyone on board. I don’t know about you, but I found that amusing.


I believe that at that moment, only Paul and his companions remained confident that everything would be okay. Their confidence stemmed from their knowledge of God—they trusted His word and knew Jesus Christ, the Word. This relationship was their source of encouragement. The key lesson for us as parents is this: if we want our children to find strength in God, we must help them know God, understand Jesus, and become familiar with His word.


Try this: search for encouraging Bible passages on Google and sit down with your children to study them. Don’t just memorize; understand the story behind each passage and relate it to their lives. Help your kids see that in Christ, regardless of the storms and shipwrecks they face, they are granted safety.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a great chance to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discussing how they apply to daily life, and fostering deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless, and I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob