May 3, 2026
Lost & Found

Luke 19:10 (NIV)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Lost like a sheep

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,
Luke 15:3-7 (NIV)

Lost like a sheep

‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:3-7 (NIV)

Lost like a coin

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
Luke 15:8-9 (NIV)

Lost like a prodigal // Choice

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
Luke 15:11-13 (NIV)

Lost like a prodigal // Consequence

After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Luke 15:14-16 (NIV)

Lost like a prodigal // Conscience

"When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'
Luke 15:17-19 (NIV)

Lost like a prodigal // Compassion

So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Luke 15:20-22 (NIV)

Lost like a prodigal // Celebration

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:23-24 (NIV)

April 26, 2026
Covenant Love: Strengthening the Marriage Bond

Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV)

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Every time you believe a lie you empower the liar.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Lies that weaken marriage:

Lie #1: I Can Change Him/Her

Proverbs 18:22 (NIV)

He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the Lord.

Ephesians 4:26 (KJV)

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Lies that weaken marriage:

Lie #2: A good marriage is always 50/50

John 15:12-13 (NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Ephesians 5:33 (NIV)

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

A man that loves you will always bring elevation to your value.

A woman who loves you always increases your respect.

Lies that weaken marriage:

Lie #3: Marriage is a contract

Matthew 19:6 (NIV)

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Matthew 19:7-8 (NIV)

"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Lies that weaken marriage:

Lie #4: There is no hope for my marriage

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

...with God all things are possible."

Mark 9:23 (NIV)

..."Everything is possible for one who believes."

April 5, 2026
Easter at Bridge
Uncommon Hope

John 11:1-6 (NIV)

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

John 11:2 (NIV)

(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)

John 11:19-20 (NIV)

and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

Uncommon Hope
1. Reaches Beyond the Present

John 11:21-22 (NIV)

"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Joel 2:12 (NIV)

"Even now," declares the Lord,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Uncommon Hope
2. Rest in God's Promises

John 11:23 (NIV)

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

John 11:24 (NIV)

Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Uncommon Hope
3. Relies on a person, not a plan

John 11:25 (NIV)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

Uncommon Hope
4. Responds with personal faith

John 11:27 (NIV)

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

John 11:34 (NIV)

"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

John 11:33-36 (NIV)

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

John 11:37 (NIV)

But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

John 11:39 (NIV)

"Take away the stone," he said.
"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

John 11:41-42 (NIV)

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

John 11:43 (NIV)

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

John 11:44 (NIV)

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

April 3, 2026
Good Friday
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

The seven last statements
of JESUS on the cross

Statement 1

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Luke 23:34a (NIV)

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Statement 2

And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:43 (NKJV)

Statement 3

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:26-27 (NKJV)

Statement 4

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)

Habakkuk 1:13a (NKJV)

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
And cannot look on wickedness.

Statement 5

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"
John 19:28 (NKJV)

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Statement 6

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:30 (NKJV)

Statement 7

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23:46 (NKJV)

John 10:29 (NIV)

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT)

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

March 29, 2026
Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-5 (NIV)

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

Matthew 21:1-5 (NIV)

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
"Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

Zechariah 9:9 (NLT)

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey--
riding on a donkey's colt.

Genesis 49:11 (NIV)

He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.

Matthew 21:6-11 (NIV)

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

Matthew 21:6-11 (NIV)

"Hosanna to the Son of David!"

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

Matthew 21:6-11 (NIV)

The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Public Honor

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Matthew 21:8 (NIV)

Passionate Praise

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Matthew 21:9 (NIV)

Psalms 47:7 (KJV)

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

Puzzled Perception

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Matthew 21:10-11 (NIV)

Revelation 19:11-12 (NIV)

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

March 22, 2026

Test Me

Haggai 1:5 (NKJV)

5Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!

Haggai 1:6-7 (NKJV)

6"You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."
7Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!

Psalms 24:1 (NIV)

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

Psalms 50:12 (NIV)

If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NASB)

In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you --see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Prioritize the Principle

Romans 11:16 (NKJV)

For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV)

Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Prove the Promise

Perfect the Practice

Malachi 3:6-9 (NIV)

"I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, ‘How are we to return?'
"Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

Malachi 3:6-9 (NIV)

"But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?'
"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--your whole nation--because you are robbing me.

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Malachi 3:11 (NKJV)

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,"
Says the Lord of hosts;

1 It provides for God's house
2 It tells God I trust Him
3 It creates margin in my life for God to fill

4 It reminds me that I am not my source
5 It connects my money to a kingdom purpose
6 It gives my job eternal significance

7 It transforms my money into a seed
8 It breaks greed and self-reliance
off of my heart
9 It lets everything else in my life
know that God is first