This Week
Announcements
KIDS KINGDOM "MAD HATTERS TEA PARTY"
Saturday, February 19 from 1:00-4:00p
Join the Queen of Hearts for the "Mad Hatters Tea Party." for a very merry un-birthday party. There will be tea, hot cocoa, finger foods, and games. Please wear your best tea attire and your maddest hat! Please R.S.V.P. to Crystal Hoffman at crystalehoffman@gmail.com
WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES
Saturday, February 19 from 9:00-11:00a
Join us in supporting our mission partner, Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. On Saturday, February 19th, more than 600 people from our community gather early in the morning to make the one-mile walk to Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission on Record Street. We do this to experience the same walk our homeless brothers and sisters make many times a day to receive services at the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission and the organizations dedicated to serving the homeless and those in need. Get more information at https://subspla.sh/9jhc9s6/
FOSTER THE CITY INTEREST MEETING
Sunday, February 27 after second service
The Bridge has chosen to partner with Foster the City is a coalition of churches providing support and loving homes for children in foster care. Since 2015, Foster the City has grown to more than 200 churches and mobilized more than a thousand households – as Foster Parents, Support Friends, and Advocates. This meeting is to answer your questions and help you to see how you can support this ministry. Foster the City: Get Involved.
BLOOD DRIVE @ THE BRIDGE
March 20 from 9:00a-12:00p
Our community is currently experiencing a critical shortage of blood. This means we have less than a two days supply of key blood types. The best thing you can do as a donor is to book your appointment early to help with plans to build a steady supply in the weeks ahead. In keeping with updated CDC guidance, masks will be required for all donors, staff, and guests, at all Vitalant blood drives and facilities regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for your understanding. COVID-19 vaccinated? Great! You are ABSOLUTELY allowed to give blood or platelets if you meet all general blood donation eligibility criteria. All donors, regardless of vaccination status, are needed for blood, platelet, and plasma donations. Reserve your donation time now at https://thebridgereno.com/donateblood and help our community rebuild our blood supply.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
You can support our mission using the Give Button in our App or online at https://thebridgereno.com/giving
Saturday, February 19 from 1:00-4:00p
Join the Queen of Hearts for the "Mad Hatters Tea Party." for a very merry un-birthday party. There will be tea, hot cocoa, finger foods, and games. Please wear your best tea attire and your maddest hat! Please R.S.V.P. to Crystal Hoffman at crystalehoffman@gmail.com
WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES
Saturday, February 19 from 9:00-11:00a
Join us in supporting our mission partner, Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. On Saturday, February 19th, more than 600 people from our community gather early in the morning to make the one-mile walk to Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission on Record Street. We do this to experience the same walk our homeless brothers and sisters make many times a day to receive services at the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission and the organizations dedicated to serving the homeless and those in need. Get more information at https://subspla.sh/9jhc9s6/
FOSTER THE CITY INTEREST MEETING
Sunday, February 27 after second service
The Bridge has chosen to partner with Foster the City is a coalition of churches providing support and loving homes for children in foster care. Since 2015, Foster the City has grown to more than 200 churches and mobilized more than a thousand households – as Foster Parents, Support Friends, and Advocates. This meeting is to answer your questions and help you to see how you can support this ministry. Foster the City: Get Involved.
BLOOD DRIVE @ THE BRIDGE
March 20 from 9:00a-12:00p
Our community is currently experiencing a critical shortage of blood. This means we have less than a two days supply of key blood types. The best thing you can do as a donor is to book your appointment early to help with plans to build a steady supply in the weeks ahead. In keeping with updated CDC guidance, masks will be required for all donors, staff, and guests, at all Vitalant blood drives and facilities regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for your understanding. COVID-19 vaccinated? Great! You are ABSOLUTELY allowed to give blood or platelets if you meet all general blood donation eligibility criteria. All donors, regardless of vaccination status, are needed for blood, platelet, and plasma donations. Reserve your donation time now at https://thebridgereno.com/donateblood and help our community rebuild our blood supply.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
You can support our mission using the Give Button in our App or online at https://thebridgereno.com/giving
Message Notes
This Is Us: Radical Generosity
Pastor Phil Burdoin
February 13, 2022
Giving can be hard because we believe we might have to go without. That’s why we often give out of our excess.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.
Generosity is a reflection of where your trust is.
February 13, 2022
Giving can be hard because we believe we might have to go without. That’s why we often give out of our excess.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.
Mark 12:41-44
Generosity is a reflection of where your trust is.
Being generous is important to God, it matters to him. It matters not because he wants your money. God doesn’t want your money he wants your heart.
God’s definition of generosity needs to be our definition of generosity.Wealthy people put in LARGE amounts. This widow, who most likely had no source of income put in two very SMALL copper coins. Mark is pointing out a contrast here. They put in LARGE amounts, she put in a VERY SMALL amount. Which one did Jesus recognize as radical generosity?
Jesus says, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."
Jesus says, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."
Luke 16:9
We are to use our Master’s resources to further our Master’s goals. We have been entrusted with material possessions, and we are to use them for the eternal benefit of others. That’s God’s definition of generosity.
Generosity is part of who God is.
Bottom Line: Radical generosity is a way of living, not an act of giving.What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:31-32
The reason Jesus stood up to take the punishment for you, when you were the one who deserved death and separation for God, was not just an act of goodwill. It was to provide a substitution. The God that provides all things provides the one thing you need the most and that is to escape his judgment. And the only way you can do that is by recognizing that Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s acceptable substitution as payment for your mistakes.
How do we take radical generosity from an act of giving to a way of living?
Move from owner to manager
Move to grow your generosity
Move generosity to a way of life
Move to grow your generosity
Move generosity to a way of life
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Small Groups Talk About It
Watch the latest Message Summary:
- How would other people rate you on a scale of 1-10 on being a generous person?
- Define radical generosity. Share a time when you saw radical generosity in action?
- Read Mark 12:41-44: What was Jesus’ observations about the people as they gave?
- Do you identify more with the wealthy people in the story or the poor widow, or neither? Why?
- What does “gave out of their wealth mean?” Why do you think most people only give what’s left over?
- According to Jesus, what percent of her money did the woman put in? Why did Jesus commend that?
- What can a wealthy person learn from this story? What can a poor person learn from this story?
- What might Jesus say to a person who decides to wait until they have more before they give?
- What steps will you take this week to grow towards making radical generosity a way of life?