Kids Kingdom Needs Volunteers
The Bridge Reno
Kids Kingdom is looking for 4 volunteers to help out in our children's ministry.  This will create a larger rotation so that all volunteers will have a change to attend worship service. We need 2 Pre-K – First Grade teachers and 1 Second – Third Grade Teacher.  You would be asked to arrive 15 mins. early to set up and help with snacks.  Then escort the children to their classroom and teach a scripted lesson. We also host a “Shilling Store” each month that all teachers help with.   The other volunteer would be a dedicated helper with the monthly “Shilling Store.” A free background check is required. Please consider serving with this critical ministry in our church and help children come to Jesus and grow in his grace.
 
Worship Team Needs Volunteers
The Bridge Reno
Do you have the desire to minister to God's people through singing and music? Our desire is to build a team of singers and musicians who love to worship.  We also have openings for sound board operators, lighting techs, and camera operators.  We are willing to train the in tech areas too.  If these opportunities sound exciting to you please contact Elizabeth Kirk at eakirk@outlook.com

Pastor Search Input Meeting
Sunday, January 21st @ 11:30a
The Bridge Church Reno
We will be hosting a meeting after service on Sunday January 21st in the worship center.  In this meeting everyone will have a chance to share input to the pastor search committee.  We are looking for you suggestions about the key gifts and talents you would like to see in the next future senior pastor of The Bridge Church.  If you are interested in sharing what you would like to see in the next senior pastor please plan on attending this meeting.
 
Budget Q & A Meeting
Wednesday, January 24th @ 6:00p
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 @ 5:00p
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.  Potluck assignments are as follows: last name starts with A-E = Salad/Appetizer, F-M = Main Dish, N-S = Side Dish, T-Z = Dessert. To view the proposed 2024 board members we will be voting on you can visit this link https://thebridgereno.com/2024board
 
Financial Peace University
Starting Sunday, January 28th @ 11:30a
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
Hope everyone is having a great week and staying warm.  More snow is on the way.  Ms. Crystal is searching for just the right new series for us.  More to come on that.  In the next few weeks I will be giving every family a new registration form.  This is so we can update our files.  Some people have moved and we need to update everything.  If you could fill these out and get them back to me I would appreciate it  .  Thanks and have a great rest of your week.  See you all on Sunday.
 

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 
Two Opposite People

• Pharisee: The Inviter/Host/Insider/Good Reputation 
• Prostitute: Party Crasher/Outsider/Sinner

Two Different Responses

• Pharisee: Intellectual Response:  I now know who He is. He stood back, watched and judged.
• Prostitute: Emotional Response: I know Who He is and His Love for Me. She weeps, wet his feet with her tears, she kissed them, poured expensive perfume on them. Wiped them with her hair. This is a very intimate and uncomfortable response in this public setting!

Jesus’ Story
Jesus’ Point
Bottom Line:  Big Forgiveness Big Love; Little Forgiveness Little Love!

Discussion Questions

1. Share a time when you were at a meal and real meaningful conversations took place.  What do you believe caused that to happen?
2. Read Luke 7:36-50. Why do you think Simon, the Pharisee invited Jesus to a meal?  Why do you think Jesus accepted?  Why did the woman show up?
3. What are the big differences between the woman (prostitute) and the Pharisee?
4. In what ways was the woman more like a host than Simon was?
5. Why did Jesus ask Simon, “do you see this woman’? How well “do you see” people? The woman’s response to Jesus was a very intimate one, verging on the erotic and inappropriate.  Why do you think she acted this way?  Why do you think Jesus did not try to restrain her actions? What might we learn from this? 
6. Discuss the story Jesus told.  What was his point for Simon and for us? What do you think of this statement: It does not matter how much you owe if you have nothing with which to pay!  
7. What did the woman understand about her sins?  What did Simon understand about his sins? What do you understand about your sin?

Big Forgiveness/Big Love.  Little Forgiveness/Little Love.