This Week
Announcements
Starting Point Class
Sunday, March 3rd @ 11:30a
The Bridge Church Reno – Learning Center
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 go here (https://thebridgereno.com/startingpoint) to let us know you will be joining us.
Discovering My Ministry Class
Sunday, March 3rd @ 11:30a
The Bridge Church Reno - Conference Room
If you have said yes to Jesus and have started a relationship with Him then you have been given at least one spiritual gift. This class focuses on discovering that gift as well as how you can use your talents, abilities, and past experiences all together to serve God. In this class we will develop your personal ministry profile and work towards discovering how God has uniquely shaped you to further His Kingdom. Please go here (https://thebridgereno.com/discover) to let us know you will be joining us.
Baptism Class
Sunday, March 10th @ 11:15a
The Bridge Church Reno – Learning Center
If you are interested in being baptized or just want to know what the scriptures say about baptism, we will be hosting a baptism class on Sunday March 10th after service. Please sign up using the connection card on The Bridge Church App or by going to https://thebridgereno.com/connect
Retirement Party for Bill and Kim
Saturday, April 20th @1:00p-4:00p
The Bridge Church
We will be having a retirement party for Pastor Bill and Kim. We would love to make this a special event by having all of us participate. Please join us on Saturday April 20th at 1pm so that we can celebrate 16 amazing years of a great leadership from Pastor Bill West.
Kids Kingdom News
I just know all of you are having a great week. I know I am. I want to thank the teachers who participated in our training on Sunday, you do so much for our children. We are finishing our series "Out in the Wild: Arctic hill.” We have been learning about using our words and the effect they have on others. We have a date for our 3rd Annual Mad Hatters Tea Party. Mark your calendars for April 28, 2024 10am – 2pm. We will serve brunch around 11:30 and parents are welcome . Please let me know if you plan to share our meal; I want to be sure to have enough food prepared. Volunteers will be needed and we will be having crafts and games. This Sunday is the Shilling Store. I know several of you have earned extra shillings this month to be able to shop with. Have a great rest of your week and we will be looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Sunday, March 3rd @ 11:30a
The Bridge Church Reno – Learning Center
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 go here (https://thebridgereno.com/startingpoint) to let us know you will be joining us.
Discovering My Ministry Class
Sunday, March 3rd @ 11:30a
The Bridge Church Reno - Conference Room
If you have said yes to Jesus and have started a relationship with Him then you have been given at least one spiritual gift. This class focuses on discovering that gift as well as how you can use your talents, abilities, and past experiences all together to serve God. In this class we will develop your personal ministry profile and work towards discovering how God has uniquely shaped you to further His Kingdom. Please go here (https://thebridgereno.com/discover) to let us know you will be joining us.
Baptism Class
Sunday, March 10th @ 11:15a
The Bridge Church Reno – Learning Center
If you are interested in being baptized or just want to know what the scriptures say about baptism, we will be hosting a baptism class on Sunday March 10th after service. Please sign up using the connection card on The Bridge Church App or by going to https://thebridgereno.com/connect
Retirement Party for Bill and Kim
Saturday, April 20th @1:00p-4:00p
The Bridge Church
We will be having a retirement party for Pastor Bill and Kim. We would love to make this a special event by having all of us participate. Please join us on Saturday April 20th at 1pm so that we can celebrate 16 amazing years of a great leadership from Pastor Bill West.
Kids Kingdom News
I just know all of you are having a great week. I know I am. I want to thank the teachers who participated in our training on Sunday, you do so much for our children. We are finishing our series "Out in the Wild: Arctic hill.” We have been learning about using our words and the effect they have on others. We have a date for our 3rd Annual Mad Hatters Tea Party. Mark your calendars for April 28, 2024 10am – 2pm. We will serve brunch around 11:30 and parents are welcome . Please let me know if you plan to share our meal; I want to be sure to have enough food prepared. Volunteers will be needed and we will be having crafts and games. This Sunday is the Shilling Store. I know several of you have earned extra shillings this month to be able to shop with. Have a great rest of your week and we will be looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Message Notes
Loneliness
Jesus Cries Out in Loneliness from the Cross
Our challenge for the week:
From the sixth hour to the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Matthew 27:45-46
Jesus chose loneliness so that we don't have to. He chose to suffer a true abandonment from God so that we could be in fellowship with Him the way we were made to be. We are made in the likeness of God and we were made to need fellowship with each other and with God. So we need to pursue not only relationships with those close to us, but also with God. Many things in our lives separate us from each other, but our pursuit of of Sin, of going our own way is what separates us from God.
Jesus had no spiritual beginning, yes he had an earthly one, but He has existed from before time began in perfect relationship with the Father. Yet he chose to follow through with the plan that caused him so much pain. Jesus is the only person that God has abandoned. He will not abandon anyone else, it is us that turn away from him. God is waiting for us to turn back to Him.
Loneliness is a big problem in society today, one we can't solve alone. We need the love and support of others to help us move into healthy relationships. 50% of American's are lonely sometimes, 33% are lonely frequently or all the time. 60% of married people are also lonely sometimes. The is a growing epidemic that we need to help each other out of. If we are spending time with someone we need to be filling and not draining, and we can succeed in this by just moving our focus from our phones and social media to the people in front of us.
Our challenge for the week:
- Spend time with at least two people in your life. Do this face to face. Don't stop at an email, text, phone call, or social media post. Be old fashioned and meet them face to face.
- If you are lonely tell someone close to you. Please stop pushing those that are in your life away. If you are unable to take that step please put a prayer request in.
Other Bible Verses:
- Psalm 22
- Romans 6:23
- Genesis 1:26
- Deuteronomy 31:8
Small Groups Talk About It
Discussion Questions
- What are your thoughts on the darkness, was it a natural occurrence or was it really God moving his sight from the world as Jesus took on the worlds sin?
- Have you all ready completed your challenge, or made plans to later this week? How did it turn out for you?
- Do you struggle with loneliness? Do you know someone that struggles with it?
- Think of a time in your life when you had to separate from some one close to you, how did you feel?
- Do you think Psalm 22 was a prophecy about Jesus? Why or why not?
- Is there a time in your life where you were lonely? If so what got you there, and what or who got you out?