First Place for Health Bible Study
Starting Monday January 8th 5-6pm
Online via Zoom
Our First Place for Health women’s group will be starting a new Bible study to kick off the year.  They will be going over the book “A New Beginning” by Christin Ditchfield.  They will explore 10 key scriptural principles that will help them stand strong in their commitment to live the life God is calling them to live, a life of obedience, balance and victory!  Email Janet McHenry (prayer@thebridgereno.com) to join.  
 
Budget Q & A Meeting
Wednesday January 24th 6pm
The Bridge Church Reno
In preparation for our annual business meeting we will be hosting a Q & A meeting on the proposed 2024 budget.  This will be a great opportunity for all voting members to ask questions about the proposed budget.  This will also help our annual meeting to go smoothly.  If you have questions about the proposed budget, please plan on attending this important meeting.
 
Annual Business Meeting and Celebration
Sunday January 28th at 5pm
The Bridge Church Reno
On the last Sunday of January we will have our annual business meeting, celebration, and potluck. We will look back at 2023 and take a look forward at 2024 as well as vote on the budget and board of trustees.  Come celebrate with us January 28th at 5pm in Kids Kingdom.  We will be sending out potluck food assignments next week.
 
Financial Peace University
Starting Sunday, January 28th 11:30am
The Bridge Church Reno - Learning Center – Bring a sack lunch
The Bridge Church will be hosting Financial Peace University on Sundays after church. Financial Peace University is a nine-lesson course that teaches you how to save for emergencies, pay off debt fast, spend wisely, and invest for your future. And no complicated financial blah blah blah over here. For over 25 years, Dave Ramsey’s been teaching commonsense, biblical money principles that work.  Sign up at thebridgereno.com/fpu
 
Kids Kingdom News
Happy New Year! As we begin this new year I am anxious to see what God's plans for all of us are.  We start this month with our Shilling Store this Sunday.  We will be finishing up our series on God's Blueprint. Congratulations Liam on earning extra Shillings last week.  Can't wait to see all of you on Sunday.


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Jesus eats with Tax collectors and sinners at Levi's House: Luke 5:27-32
1-7-2024

Jesus boldly invited Levi to follow him. Levi left it all to do exactly that and answer the call. He then invited Jesus to share a meal with him, his tax collector friends and sinners. Jesus infuriates the Pharisees as he eats with these people. Jesus is trying to say to those there and to the Pharisees that God's Graces is extended to everyone.

Levi may or may not have known Jesus well but he knew who he was due to his Job. Levi was part of Jesus's Oikos. The bold invitation by Jesus and Levi's radical response set the scene for the banquet.

The change in Levi's life was radical as he walked away from his Tax booth leaving behind his Job, money, records, and safety net. He let it all go to follow Jesus, then he threw a party at his house. This was more than a meal. It was a social occasion. This was a large crowd one that attracted the notice of the Pharisees and teachers of the law; people that would never attend or associate with Tax Collectors or their friends.

To Jesus Everyone that attended the banquet was in the need of the same thing - Spiritual healing. Jesus is our spiritual healer or physician, and as we see those that approach him and seek to be healed are. Those that refuse to acknowledge that they need his help to feel better will not be healed.  We need to approach Jesus and seek his healing presence in our lives. He is waiting for us to know him and learn who he is. Even if we are regular attenders to church we still need spiritual healing as we stumble through life. None of us are perfect, that is why God's grace is given.

The Greek word Anistaymee means to rise up, not just a physical action but a spiritual resurrection as well. We all need that in our life. We all need to rise up and move away from what holds us back. We need to let go of things that may be harming us so that our healer, Jesus, can pour his love into us.

Jesus knew the importance of sharing life with people in a close and personal setting. Sitting down to get to know people. Building a relationship with them in the hopes of sharing the ultimate truth with them. What would it be like if we were to slow down and take the time to do that with those God has placed in our life?

Meals as a ministry may be new to some of us, but we need to purposely schedule time to invite, serve, have meaningful conversations, and introduce Jesus to people in our lives.

Other Bible Verses:
Matthew 9:9-13
Mark 2:13-17

Small group questions:

1 What are some of your favorite events or holidays that have a meal associated with it?

2 Have you been to, or prepared a meal, that was planned with the purpose of sharing Jesus?  Share that story.

3 Read Luke 5:27-32  Why do you think the first thing Levi does is host a banquet for Jesus?  What is his motivation for doing this?  Why was he so comfortable with other tax collectors and “sinners?”

4 Who are the Pharisees and why do they criticize Jesus for eating with these certain people?

5 What does Jesus mean in verses 31-31?  What is he implying?  Who is the doctor?  Who are the sick?  How can they be healed?

6 What category do you fall into?  The healthy, the sick, or the doctor? Is there something in your life that you need spiritual healing for?  Please share it.

7 In verse 28 it says the Levi “got up.” In the Greek the word is “anistaymee.” It means to rise up, not just a physical action but a spiritual resurrection as well. Have you experienced an “anistaymee” moment in your life?  Share the story.

8 How can you begin to use sharing a meal with your oikos as an opportunity to share Jesus?  What can you do to start a meals ministry?