God is welcoming... so we're welcoming!

Happy New Year, Bridge family! I hope you had a safe and wonderful time welcoming in the New Year. This week, our message in the Bridge focuses on being welcoming, inspired by Acts 10, where God calls Peter to accept Roman officer Cornelius into God's family for his faith in Christ. It's the first recorded instance of a non-Jew being filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized into Christ. Many may miss its significance, but chapters 11:1-18 reveal the tension—many Jews thought Gentiles like Cornelius were unworthy to follow Christ because they weren't Jewish. In sports terms, Gentiles didn’t make the cut. Fortunately, that’s not true for us.
However, in our world, achieving acceptance and feeling welcomed often seem out of reach, especially for children. Kids can be harsh, forming exclusive cliques over trivial issues. Even those who are accepted may feel confused or hurt when their friends are not. Sadly, similar behaviors occur in the church as well. The church, as the body of Christ, sometimes judges others to determine their worthiness for acceptance. We judge by how a person lives, their appearance, or who they spend time with, deciding if they are like us and deserving of our attention.
In Romans, Paul writes, “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, so that God will be given glory” (v.15:7). This verse highlights the importance of being welcoming. How can we show this to our kids so they do the same? Two ideas: (1) Instead of chatting with friends before or after service, seek out someone new and connect—with your kids in tow. This shows them Romans 15:7 in action and may positively influence how that family views Southeast. (2) Encourage your children to do the same when you pick them up. Recognizing they are part of Christ's body can shape their walk. Pray about it and try it.
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