BridgeWay242 Blog

The Bible says: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 NIV).  In every time and season, our heavenly Father cares for us and works for our good (1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:28).  One way the Father has cared for us is by enabling our church family to be gracious, kind, and respectful to one another through difficult times.

This year BridgeWay242 has held a series of Church Forums for its members and other active participants of the church family.  In these meetings we considered present challenges and our future as a church family.  This past Sunday, June 27, we met together and individuals shared their hearts and future plans.  In light of this meeting, it became clear to the leadership team that the time has come to officially close BridgeWay242.  At our upcoming business meeting on July 25, the leadership team will be recommending to the congregation that BridgeWay242 formally close.  Since we expect this recommendation to be approved by the congregation, we are making plans to facilitate a gracious, loving and wise final month to BridgeWay242.

We do not want anyone to feel a sense of defeat in BridgeWay242’s anticipated closure.  Yes, there is sadness.  And it is right to grieve and mourn and weep.  At the same time, we want the month of July to be marked by the love of God, love for one another, and purposefully going forth for the sake of the Father’s kingdom.  Then, at a special service in August, we want to celebrate what the Father has done in and through BridgeWay242.  So here’s the plan:

To hold our regular services on each Sunday in July: July 4, 11, 18, and 25.
• To hold our final Sunday service on July 25.  The purpose of this service is mutual send-off: we will mutually send off existing members of the BridgeWay242 family into other parts of the Father’s kingdom, with blessing and prayer.
• To have a special, celebration service on Sunday, August 15, 5:00 PM.  We will invite past members of the BridgeWay242 family and other people who have had a meaningful part in the BridgeWay242 experience, to join us in remembering and celebrating what God has done through BridgeWay242.  Individuals will have an opportunity to share experiences, memories, and testimonies.

So almost 9 years after its first service in September 2001, BridgeWay242 plans to officially close.  Even though we will be parting ways, our love for one another remains.  Pray that we continue in this spirit and finish well.  Pray also that we – as individuals and families – move forward wisely and patiently into a new chapter of our lives.  If you have any questions about this announcement or if we can serve you during the month of July, please call the church office: 703-527-9200.

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“”Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”" (Matthew 4:19 NIV).  Jesus was speaking to fishermen.  To keep with the fishing imagery, we may say – in light of Matthew 4:12-22 – that King Jesus catches people (“follow me”) and makes caught-people people-catchers (“I will make you fishers of men”). Caught-people become people-catchers.  In The Gospel of Matthew we can discern at least ten qualities of people-catchers.  I have listed them below.  Ponder them – for your own benefit and for the benefit of those who have not yet been caught.

People-catchers are people who …

• … have already been caught and are living in fellowship with Jesus (Matt 4:19a).
• … want the Father to be honored (Matt 5:16; Matt 6:9).
• … are being made by Jesus into people-catchers (Matt 4:19b).
• … see the Christ-less spiritual landscape for what it really is: darkness and death (Matt 4:15-16; Matt 9:35-36).
• … see Jesus as people’s only hope – as the Savior-King to whom people must come for salvation (Matt 1:21-23; Matt 3:11-12; Matt 3:16-17; Matt 4:15-17).
• … proclaim the Word (Matt 3:1-2; Matt 4:17, 23; Matt 13:1-23).
• … are compassionate and merciful (Matt 5:7; Matt 9:36; Matt 15:32).
• … catch people’s attention by the quality of their lives (Matt 5:13-16).
• … pray for people to be caught (Matt 6:9-10).
• … pray for more people-catchers (Matt 9:35-38).

May God’s grace be with all of you who have been caught by Jesus the King.

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In the Incarnation, the eternal Son of God entered into the full range of human experience.  As we encounter Jesus in the New Testament, we learn that Jesus wasn’t play-acting as a man.  Jesus was fully human, a real man, subject to the limitations and vulnerabilities of life in this finite, fallen world.  The Son of God didn’t have a quasi-human or super-human existence; he didn’t use his high rank or divine power to minimize his experience of humanity.

The issue is not whether Jesus would use his high rank and divine power.  The issue, rather, is for what purpose would he use his privileged position.  For the Father’s glory or for his own self-defined glory?  For his own advantage or for the good of others?  In Matthew 4, Satan tempted Jesus to seek his own advantage and glory.  But Jesus sought only to glorify his Father and do the Father’s will.

Yes, Jesus would later multiply the fish and the loaves.  But why?  For the Father’s glory and for the good of other people.  Jesus exercised power over demons and disease and death.  But why?  For the Father’s glory and the good of others.  Jesus performed miracles in order to reveal the Father’s glory and to reveal his own glory as the Son of God.  This, too, was according to the Father’s will and for the good of his people.  What Jesus wouldn’t do was use his high rank and divine power in order to have a more comfortable human existence, a more convenient lifestyle, an easier life, or to “cash in” on the excitement of the crowds by pursuing worldly fame, worldly power, or worldly wealth.

Jesus, following his earthly father’s trade, would have been a carpenter (Mark 6:3).  If he worked with wood, he wouldn’t have used his divine power to instantaneously turn wood into a table.  He would have taken time, thought things through, applied strength and skill, worked the edges, hammered the nails, and perspired.

Jesus didn’t use his divine power to instantaneously have a Ph.D.-level knowledge of theology at the age of 3.  He learned.  He studied.  He asked questions.  He listened.  Scripture says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52 NIV).

Jesus didn’t use his high rank as a reason not to submit to human authority.  At the age of 12, Jesus “went down to Nazareth with them [his parents] and was obedient to them” (Luke 2:51 NIV).  The perfect Son of God was obedient to his imperfect parents, Mary and Joseph.

Jesus didn’t use his high rank and divine power to create 5-star hotel accommodations wherever he went.  On the contrary, Jesus experienced need.  He said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20 NIV).

On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus was resolved to fulfill the Father’s will.  He prayed to the Father, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV).  In the face of his unjust arrest, Jesus had ready access to the armies of heaven: “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53 NIV)?  But Jesus didn’t come to preserve his own life in this world; he came, rather, to lay down his life – to offer himself as a sacrifice to God and to thereby be our Savior from sin.

Dear friends, behold the grace of God in the humanity of our Lord.  “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 NIV).

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Michael Horton reminds us that the church’s calling is, first and foremost, to announce what God has done, not accomplish things for God.  He writes:

“Calling us to accomplish great things for God is part of the hype that constantly burns out millions of professing Christians.  Telling us about the great things God has accomplished – and, more than that, actually delivering his achievement to sinners – is the real mission of the church.  And it might even put wind in the sails of those among us whom God has called to extraordinary achievements.  But it will be enough if it puts wind in the sails of those whom God has called to ordinary and fruitful lives.  On Monday, a congregation once again assured of God’s amazing grace to sinners, will be scattered into the world as salt and light.  If we think the main mission of the church is to improve life in Adam and add a little moral strength to this fading evil age, we have not yet understood the radical condition for which Christ is such a radical solution.”

Source: Michael Horton, Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, p. 211.

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Consider these helpful words about applying the Bible to our lives:

“Remember that application is not simply a cognitive exercise, a kind of “thought replacement” task in which we substitute good and true thoughts for false thoughts and idolatrous motives.  True application – living wisely in light of the passage – is always a relational experience that involves our whole being.  Fruitful application warms our hearts toward God and others.  It realigns our thoughts and attitudes according to the contours of God’s truth.  It involves concrete actions that evidence outwardly our devotion to God and service to others.  Wise application is nothing less than wholehearted worship of God and tangible love for others.”

Source: Michael R. Emlet, CrossTalk: Where Life & Scripture Meet, p. 105.

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Everyday life includes difficulties, trials and pressure points.  Your calling is to bear fruit for God’s glory in the context of these everyday realities.  Difficulties and trials are actually opportunities for growth – opportunities to experience the Father’s pruning.  Pressure points are pruning points.  In an effort to apply John 15:1-17 in the midst of trials, ponder these questions:

1. Is my heart attitude that my heavenly Father is pruning me (refining me) in the midst of this trial?  (John 15:2)

2. Is my heart’s desire to be in fellowship with Jesus and for his life to flow through me in the midst of this trial?  (John 15:4-5)

3. Am I remembering that Christ’s love for me is essential to my stability in the midst of trials?  (John 15:12-13)

4. Am I giving attention to Christ’s words in the midst of this trial?  Are Christ’s words shaping my perspectives and values?  (John 15:3, 7, 10-11, 15)

5. Am I letting Christ’s words shape my prayers related to this trial?  Am I praying in accordance with Christ’s priorities and purposes?  (John 15:7)

6. Will I obey Christ in the midst of this trial?  In particular, will I love others in the midst of this trial – including those who may be a part of the difficult situation?  (John 15:9-10, 12-17)

7. Finally, realizing that I am not the only one going through trials, will I encourage my fellow Christians to live in response to John 15:1-17 in the midst of their trials?  And will I humbly receive encouragement from others when they remind me to faithfully follow Christ?

May the Lord’s grace be with you.

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“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him….  The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:2,9 NIV).

Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on the function of stars.  Stars are glorious luminaries in the heavens above, but their purpose is not to draw attention to themselves.  What is their purpose?  King David tells us: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).  The function of stars is to draw attention to the glory of God and the greatness of his work.

This “star in the east” – the so-called Star of Bethlehem – was assigned a special purpose in keeping with the function of all stars.  The function of the “star in the east” was to draw attention to the birth of the Son of God, whom the New Testament reveals to be the very glory of God (Hebrews 1:3) and the light of the world (John 8:12).  Moreover, the Incarnation is surely among the greatest of God’s works.  So this “star in the east” was afforded the unique privilege of drawing the attention of the Magi to the glory of God in the person of our Lord and to the majesty of the Incarnation.

Christian brothers and sisters, you are called to imitate this star.  It is your proper function and privilege.  If we may personify the star, the star would have said, “Look at me, but only so that you may look upon him; look at my light, but only so that I can direct you to the true light.”  And this reminds me of the beginning of John’s gospel:

“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (John 1:6-9 NIV).

Do you see the similarity between the star’s mission and John’s mission?  What happens if we substitute “star” for “John” in the above passage: “There came a star that was sent from God.  It came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him all men might believe.  The star itself was not the light; it came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”

This is our calling: to testify to the light.  The star “went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.”  The star led them to the Son of God and then faded from the scene.  Mission accomplished.  Likewise with John the Baptist.  He testified, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 NIV)!  John pointed others to the Savior-King and then faded from the scene.  John said, “He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30 NIV).  Mission accomplished.  Eventually John was beheaded.

Dear friends, imitate the Star of Bethlehem; imitate John the Baptist.  In all of your holiday giving and receiving, remember that you can give no greater gift than the gift of testifying to the Son of God.  Let your light shine so that others will be drawn to the true light.  And once you have led people into the heart of the Christmas story, get out of the way.  After that, you can vanish into outer space or be beheaded, and whether it’s one or the other will make very little difference.  Just let it be said of you: mission accomplished.

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This Advent Season we will be taking a look at the book of Matthew, chapters 1 and 2.  Here are the four Advent sermons:

Nov. 29 – Matthew 1:1-17

Dec. 6 – Matthew 1:18-25

Dec. 13 – Matthew 2:1-12

Dec. 20 – Matthew 2:13-23

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There are many things for which to be thankful, but here are two.  In some of his letters, the apostle Paul tells the people that he is giving thanks for them – and he tells them why.  Listen in:

“We always thank God … because we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints” (Colossians 1:3-4 NIV).

“We ought always to thank God for you … because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV).

Faith.  Love.  Paul also takes note of these spiritual virtues in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and Philemon 5.  They are important.  So look around you, and wherever you see signs that people have faith in the Lord Jesus and love for God’s people, give thanks to God.  They are among the most precious of gifts.

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God created your mouth not only so that you can be fed (with physical food), but also so that you can feed others (with spiritual food).  God created your tongue not only so that you can taste the sweetness of honey, but also so that you can share with others something (the Word of God) that is sweeter than honey.  God created your lips not only so that you express your affection to a loved one (whether with a word or a kiss), but also so that you can express God’s affection for His people (by speaking forth the word of grace).  So consider:

• Proverbs 2:4 encourages the reader to look for understanding “as for silver” (NIV).
• Proverbs 10:20 says, “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver” (NIV).
• Now imagine that the people around you – in your home, in your church, in your neighborhood, in your workplace -  are looking for understanding “as for silver.”  Here’s the question: will they find what they are looking for on your tongue?  In other words: Is your tongue “choice silver”?

Dear friend, let your tongue be taught by the Lord Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 NIV). Then your tongue will be a “choice silver” tongue, with precious and valuable words rolling off of it for the good of others, and you will nourish many.  May it be so.

Note: This meditation has been inspired by Proverbs 10 (verses 11, 13, 20-21, 31) and Psalm 19 (verse 10).

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