This Week
Announcements
CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICES
Friday, December 24 @ 3:00p & 4:30p
You're invited to the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at The Bridge Church. There will be Christmas music, an inspiring message, and the lighting of hundreds of candles. Join us for family services as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Service times 3:00p & 4:30p, both in-person & online.
WELCOME TEAM ON CHRISTMAS EVE
We need seven volunteers to help welcome people to The Bridge on Christmas Eve If you would like to serve on our Welcome Team, let us know through the Connection Card or email Pastor Tim at tim@thebridgereno.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26 SERVICES ONLINE ONLY
Our normal Sunday services for December 26th will be online at 9:00a & 10:30a. There will be no in person services on this morning. You can our services anytime on our App, website or Facebook page.
NEW TEACHING SERIES
Sunday, January 2 @ 9:00 & 10:30a
Next Sunday, we begin a new teaching series called “This Is Us.” Since the formation of Jesus’ Church, we’ve been on a mission. So starting January 2nd, we’ll dive into our mission, vision, and the core values that drive the things that we do as we seek to bring God’s love and help to make our city a better place for everyone.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
You can support our mission using the Give Button in our App or online at https://thebridgereno.com/giving
Friday, December 24 @ 3:00p & 4:30p
You're invited to the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at The Bridge Church. There will be Christmas music, an inspiring message, and the lighting of hundreds of candles. Join us for family services as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Service times 3:00p & 4:30p, both in-person & online.
WELCOME TEAM ON CHRISTMAS EVE
We need seven volunteers to help welcome people to The Bridge on Christmas Eve If you would like to serve on our Welcome Team, let us know through the Connection Card or email Pastor Tim at tim@thebridgereno.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26 SERVICES ONLINE ONLY
Our normal Sunday services for December 26th will be online at 9:00a & 10:30a. There will be no in person services on this morning. You can our services anytime on our App, website or Facebook page.
NEW TEACHING SERIES
Sunday, January 2 @ 9:00 & 10:30a
Next Sunday, we begin a new teaching series called “This Is Us.” Since the formation of Jesus’ Church, we’ve been on a mission. So starting January 2nd, we’ll dive into our mission, vision, and the core values that drive the things that we do as we seek to bring God’s love and help to make our city a better place for everyone.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
You can support our mission using the Give Button in our App or online at https://thebridgereno.com/giving
Message Notes
Songs of Christmas: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Pastor Phil Burdoin
December 19, 2021
The meaning has changed somewhat over the years. When we sing “God rest you merry gentlemen” we tend to think the author is saying be happy and take it easy because it’s Christmas time. But that wasn’t the theme of the song at all. When you look at the original lyrics you’ll see there was a comma between merry and gentlemen. God rest ye merry, gentlemen let nothing you dismay. The word “rest” probably meant “to keep” and merry was to be “strong” or “mighty.” Now with that in mind it changes the meaning to be that God will in fact rescue those who put their trust in the savior Jesus Christ who was born on Christmas day.
We need rescue because the Bible tells us we are hopelessly lost in sin.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans: 3:12
We all need spiritual rescue, and that is what this song is all about.
Jesus is fully God and fully man.
Jesus has the power to rescue us.
Jesus became like us in order to rescue us.
Jesus rescues us into a new identity.
God loved, and God gave, so God could save
The birth of Christ tells us we need to live with:
December 19, 2021
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is one of the oldest Christmas Carols around. It is so old we don’t even know who wrote it. It’s likely over 500 years old.
The meaning has changed somewhat over the years. When we sing “God rest you merry gentlemen” we tend to think the author is saying be happy and take it easy because it’s Christmas time. But that wasn’t the theme of the song at all. When you look at the original lyrics you’ll see there was a comma between merry and gentlemen. God rest ye merry, gentlemen let nothing you dismay. The word “rest” probably meant “to keep” and merry was to be “strong” or “mighty.” Now with that in mind it changes the meaning to be that God will in fact rescue those who put their trust in the savior Jesus Christ who was born on Christmas day.
We need rescue because the Bible tells us we are hopelessly lost in sin.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans: 3:12
We all need spiritual rescue, and that is what this song is all about.
Jesus is fully God and fully man.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form
Colossians 2:9
Jesus has the power to rescue us.
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:10
God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day To save us all from Satan's pow'r.
Satan through the tempting of Adam and Even ushered in the curse of sin and thus wielded the power of death. But the song says the very reason Jesus was born was to save us from that power.
Jesus became like us in order to rescue us.
In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead
Colossians 2:11-12
He became like us because he had to go through death in order to defeat death. According to scripture in order for us to be rescued there was a penalty that had to be paid.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22
Jesus rescues us into a new identity.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14
We were slaves to sin. Helpless/powerless to fix that problem, but the birth of this child Jesus changes all of that. You don’t have to be a liar, a cheat, a gossip, an addict anymore. Faith in Jesus rescues us into a new identity.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.
2 Corinthians 5:17
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:15
God loved, and God gave, so God could save
The birth of Christ tells us we need to live with:
- Radical Generosity
Learn to live with radical generosity the opposite of selfishness. Radical generosity is the proper response to God giving up his son to rescue us when we were helpless. Radical generosity is one of our core values here at the Bridge church and in a world that values getting all you can we want to promote giving it all away for the gospel of Jesus Christ. - Unconditional Forgiveness
Imagine for a moment that you’ve never done anything wrong. Imagine you’ve never made a mistake but were wrongly accused of a heinous crime and had to endure torture and death because of it. That is what Jesus did for us, and the proper response is to live with unconditional forgiveness.
Small Groups Talk About It
Watch the Message Summary:
1. What is your favorite Christmas song? Why? What memories surround Christmas for you?
2. Have you ever had to be rescued, or have you known someone who has? Share the story.
3. Read Colossians 2:9-10 Explain why you believe Jesus is fully man and fully God. Or explain why you disagree with that statement.
4. According to verse 10, name some things that Jesus has authority over.
5. Read Colossians 2:11-12 What is a circumcision “not performed by human hands?”
6. What does Paul mean when he says “the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ?”
7. What things have changed in your life that shows that this is true?
8. Read Colossians 2:13-15 What debt did you owe to God prior to salvation? Could you ever pay it off yourself?
9. How was this debt dealt with?
10. How would a person normally respond if someone else paid off a huge debt for him? How are you responding to God for doing this for you?
11. What two things were mentioned in the sermon that we should be learning to live with as a result of God sending his son?
2. Have you ever had to be rescued, or have you known someone who has? Share the story.
3. Read Colossians 2:9-10 Explain why you believe Jesus is fully man and fully God. Or explain why you disagree with that statement.
4. According to verse 10, name some things that Jesus has authority over.
5. Read Colossians 2:11-12 What is a circumcision “not performed by human hands?”
6. What does Paul mean when he says “the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ?”
7. What things have changed in your life that shows that this is true?
8. Read Colossians 2:13-15 What debt did you owe to God prior to salvation? Could you ever pay it off yourself?
9. How was this debt dealt with?
10. How would a person normally respond if someone else paid off a huge debt for him? How are you responding to God for doing this for you?
11. What two things were mentioned in the sermon that we should be learning to live with as a result of God sending his son?