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@ The Bridge

Announcements

Starting Point Class
Sunday May 7th @ 11:15a
The Bridge Church Reno
If you are new to The Bridge Church this is a great place to learn all about our mission and vision and why we believe God has placed us here in this neighborhood.  You will learn all about how we are reaching our community and world, you will also have the opportunity to become a member. Please use the connection card on the website or app to sign up and let us know you will be joining us.

Student Ministry Dessert Auction
Sunday April 30th
The Bridge Church Reno
There will be a dessert auction in the welcome center on Sunday April 30th.  Middle and High Schoolers from our church will be auctioning off tasty treats in an effort to raise money for camp this summer.  Please come with a sweet tooth and consider helping a student get to camp. You will be able to pay with cash or online.
 
Prayer Meeting
Thursday May 4th at 6:00pm
The Bridge Church Reno
The needs of our families, our community, and our world are many right now.  Let us turn to our merciful God and cry out to Him for help.  Please come and spend some time in prayer with us on Thursday May 4th 6-7pm

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Sunday May 21st Noon to 2pm
The Bridge Church Reno
Calling all neighbors! The Bridge Church has been in this neighborhood for over 60 years and continues to bring diverse community leaders together. This year, we’re introducing a difference-making event for everyone in our neighborhood called, Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Neighbors Helping Neighbors is bringing together Awaken, Boys & Girls Club, Cookies for Kindness, FARMily & Katie’s Garden, Foster the City, PILSOS, Project 150, Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission, Solace Tree, The Bridge Food Pantry & CARS Ministry & more. These organizations are a vital part of our community. This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to connect with some of the finest non-profit organizations from the Truckee Meadows, helping people right here in our neighborhood.
 

Message Notes

The Gospel is For Everyone

Pastor Bill West
April 30, 2023

The Gospel Transforms Lives.
Lydia
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:13–15 

Slave Girl
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Acts 16:16–18

Jailer
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Acts 16:27–33

The Gospel Sets Us Free.
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
Acts 16:22–28

When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.
Acts 16:35–40

It’s NOT ABOUT US It’s ABOUT OTHERS
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:3–5
Previous Messages Can Be Found Here

Small Groups Talk About It

Watch the latest Message Summary:

Discussion Questions:
  1. What do you believe is the purpose of the church? Why does it exist? Respond to this statement: God’s plan is not to build a comfortable church? What is God’s plan for the Church?
  2. Read Acts 16:1-10. What stands out in these verses?  What do you learn about the way that God leads us?
  3. Read Acts 16:11-15. Why did Paul go here and what stands out to you in these verses about those who were gathered here? Talk about the way that Lydia is described? Why did she respond to Paul’s message? What else did she do?
  4. Read Acts 16:16-18. Describe the slave girl. How was she different from Lydia? What was her situation? How did Paul respond? 
  5. Read Acts 16:18-24. What stands out in these verses? What happened to Paul and Silas? How did the jailer respond to them?
  6. Read Acts 16:25-34. How did Paul and Silas respond to their suffering and to the earthquake?  What was the response of the jailer? Why did he respond this way? How did this involve his family?
  7. Read Acts 16:35-40. Why would Paul and Silas bring up their Roman citizenship now and not before they were unfairly beaten and arrested?  What do we learn about how and when to set aside our rights? When is it hard for you to set aside your rights? 
  8. Spend Time praying for each other.

Preparation for next week’s discussion, please do the following:

  1. Read Acts 16 - Three times before our small group.
    • What stands out to you about how Paul was told to go to Macedonia? What we he doing before that happened?
    • What caused Paul to go the river? Why did Lydia respond and what did she do?
    • What do you think is the most significant issue from the story about the slave girl?
    • How would you describe the jailer?  Why did he respond to the gospel?
    • How do Paul and Silas end their time in Philippi?

  2. Putting others first and loving others sacrificially can be no small challenge with all life throws at us. What motivation and guidance do the following verses give when it comes to putting this kind of love into action?
    • Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
    • Read Galatians 5:13-15
    • Read John 15:9-14

  3. Humility is a character quality that is vital to putting others first. It allows us to have the vision to see God at work. How do the following verses help us evaluate if we really are humble, as well as understand who we are and who God is?
    • Read 2 James 3:13
    • Read Proverbs 15:32-33
    • Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Previous Messages Can Be Found Here