Student Ministries Wednesday Night Youth Group – Delayed Start
NOT starting this Wednesday at 6pm
The Bridge Church Reno
Unfortunately we will not be starting the Student Ministries Wednesday Night Youth Group this Wednesday.  We are doing everything we can to get the group started soon.  We will keep you posted.  Also, we are looking for female leaders who would like to help on Wednesday nights between 6-8pm.  Please email info@thebridgereno.com


Reno Journal Jog
Sunday August 25th 7:30 – 9:30am
The Bridge Church Reno 
The 53rd running of the Reno Journal Jog will be hosted at the Reno High School Track (across the street from the church) on Sunday August 25th.  Foster Drive will be closed between Booth St. and Hunter Lake Dr. from 5:00am to 9:05am.  Therefore there should be no traffic impact for our 10am service.  However, leaders that need to be here early may need to use the Hunter Lake Dr. entrance.


Pastoral Candidate Sunday
Sunday August 25th 10am
The Bridge Reno
On Sunday August 25th our pastoral candidate, Rob Ham, will be visiting.  He will preach that Sunday morning.  After our normal 10am worship service we will have an in-person members only vote.  With a simple majority needed to affirm him.  If you have questions about this, you can email boardmembers@thebridgereno.com


Church Wide Small Group Campaign
Sunday September 8th 
The Bridge Reno
We will be starting a 6 week church wide small group campaign based off the book “Anxious for Nothing” by Max Lucado.  These days fear and doubt are around every corner but we as followers of Jesus want to live lives that are anxious for nothing.  We are encouraging every Bridge attender to try a small group for these six weeks.  We will begin sign ups next week with more information to follow.

Kids Kingdom News
I am so sorry that we had to cancel our Water Park outing. The weather service was predicting severe thunderstorms, and to be cautious we decided to cancel. We are trying to reschedule. Stay tuned for more on that. This Sunday is our "Moving On Up" celebration. We will recognize those who are moving up to the next class. We will also have a special snack that day. Can't wait to see everyone on Sunday.

Today’s scripture: John 19:23-39
 
Jesus speaks several things here on the cross, each one with significant meaning a purpose behind it.

Words of Compassion:
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27
 
At this point Jesus has been interrogated, beaten, tortured with the crown of thorns, forced to carry his cross, all after a sleepless night. He has been on the cross for six hours and he is in terrible pain and anguish and yet he thinks of others.
 
Words of Humanity:
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28
 
Jesus was fully God but at the same time fully man.  He got tiered, experienced, emotions, he got hungry, and he got thirsty.
 
Words of Finality:
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
 
He had done all the father had given Him to do.  He had said everything he was supposed to, he had healed everyone he was supposed to, he had faced the judgement from the Father for sin on the cross and now EVERYTHING was finished.

The next day is a special holy day and the Jewish leader did not want the bodies hanging there.  So the soldiers broke the legs of the first two men.  But when they came to Jesus he was already dead. Instead, they trust a spear into his side.

John was writing this many years after it had happened and no doubt rumors have developed that Jesus never actually died.  He only appeared to be dead.  He had passed out.  But John wants us to know one thing very clearly.  Jesus was DEAD!

This fact is incredibly import to the resurrection story.  Because if Jesus was not dead then he did not rise.

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. John 19:34-35
 
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. John 19:38-39
 
Josephe or Arimathea and Nicodemus are not ready to pledge their belief that Jesus is the messiah.  Are you?

Discussion Questions
1 Have you ever had to testify as an eyewitness?  Share that story.

2 What do you think people’s main objection to believing that Jesus was the son of God is?

3 Read John 19:23-30 Why do you think Jesus would ask John to take care of His mother?  Why not ask his brothers? What does this request show about Jesus’ heart?

4 What is unique about Jesus asking for a drink?  Why does this have to happen? What scripture is being fulfilled?

5 What type of unfinished business do you have?  How had Jesus completed everything? What did he mean when he said “it is finished?”

6 Read John 19:31-39 What was the point behind breaking the legs of the criminals?  Why didn’t they do that to Jesus?

7  What did they do instead?  Why does John stress this point? What are the scriptures that are fulfilled here?

8 Which two people came to burry Jesus.  What was special about these two people?  How do you suppose the Jewish leaders responded to this?

9 Where were the disciples at this time? What public commitment to Jesus have you shown?