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This Week
@ The Bridge

Announcements

Annual Business Meeting
Sunday February 5th 
@ 11:45a
The Bridge Church Reno
We will have our annual business meeting and vote. We will look back at 2022 and take a look forward at 2023 as well as vote on the budget and board of trustees as well as several other items of importance.
 
Mexico Mission Trip Taco Feed Fundraiser
Sunday February 5th @ 11:45a
The Bridge Church Reno - Kids Kingdom

We are having an event to raise funds for our Missions team.  This spring we have 15 people headed down to visit our mission partners Buky and Theresa at Mexican Medical Missions. The team is raising funds for their trip.  For a ten dollar donation per person you can come and eat Cowboy Tom’s famous tacos after second service in the Kids Kingdom.  Bring the whole the whole family!

Message Notes

Unstoppable: What We Need

Pastor Bill West
January 20, 2023

The Miracle
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:1–10

What We Think We Need is Rarely What We Really Need!

The Message (and the Miracle)
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”
Acts 3:11–12 

Points us to Jesus.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.
Acts 3:6

Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Acts 2:22 

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:13–16

Points us to Our Real Need.
Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
Acts 3:17–20

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
Romans 2:4

Points us Forward
He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.
Acts 3:21–23

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:1–4

Bottom Line:We are Empowered to Be His Witnesses.

Small Groups Talk About It

Discussion Questions
  1.  What would you identify as your biggest need right now? What’s taking up your mental energy?If you were to imagine what God sees as your biggest need, what do you think God would identify?

  2. Do you believe that God can satisfy your needs? Is it possible to ever feel fully satisfied in this life?

  3. Read Acts 3:1-10. Why were Peter and John going to the temple? What do we learn from Peter and John in this part of the story? How did they respond to the crippled man’s request? When was the last time you were “interrupted” by God?

  4. What did the crippled man see as his most pressing need?  How did Peter and John see his most pressing need?

  5. In what way, was this miracle like Jesus’ miracles? Think about Jesus’ miracles, what is one that stands out to you and why?

  6. Do you think those listening to Peter’s message were convicted of their sin and rebellion against God (Acts 4:11-20)? What are some or the main points of Peter’s message? How did both the miracle and the message point them and us to our greatest need?

  7. How would you describe repentance to a non-believer? Read Romans 2:4. How does God’s kindness lead us to repentance? Is repentance a one-time event or an ongoing lifestyle?

  8. Do you believe Jesus can forgive you of your sins? What does it mean to be refreshed spiritually? How does that relate to sin and forgiveness?

  9. What will Jesus ultimately restore and how does this miracles and message point us this direction? Read Acts 4:21-23 and  Revelation 21:1-4.

Dig Deeper:  preparation for next week’s discussion, please do the following:

Monday: Read Acts 4
  • Why were Peter and John arrested?
  • How did they respond when questioned?
  • What declaration was made in Acts 4:12?
  • What was the mandate from the religious leaders and their response?
  • How did the other disciples respond when they found out they were in prison?
  • How is the early church described in Acts 4:32-35 and how much are we like that today?

Tuesday: Read Mark 5
  • How many times was Jesus interrupted by others?  
  • What could have been his response? 
  • What do we learn from Him? 
  • Take note this week of the “interruptions” God brings to you.

Wednesday: John 1:14-17:  
  • We’ve talked a lot about helping people in this series, but how we help them really matters. Why do you think it’s important to balance the tension between both grace and truth when helping others? 
  • What could be dangers of sharing truth with people without grace?  Dangers of grace without truth? 
  • In responding to others in need, where are you more likely to fall on a continuum between grace on one side and truth on the other?

Thursday: Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
  • How do these verses relate to our willingness to help others?

Friday: Review what you have read this week. 
  • Where do you sense God calling you to help and serve others around you?
  • On a scale of 1-10 how motivated are you to help? 
  • Think of a time when someone went out of their way to help you.  What was the outcome?