Bridge Church North Carolina

 Ephesians 6:18-20

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer does not prepare us for greater works; it is the...

Ephesians 6:16-17

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons to win! 

Additional Armor to Put On:

The Shield of Faith...

You can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

...

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To 'stand firm' is not an option but a command for the Christ follower. 

How do I stand firm?

Put On: 

The Belt of truth...

Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life".

Jo...

Armed | Be Strong
Ephesians 6:10–13 (NIV)
 Strength for the battle comes from the Lord as we put on His armor and stand.

INTRODUCTION: As followers of Christ, we are not fighting for victory we are FIGHTING FROM VICTORY! Jesus said, "It is FINISHED".

Access God's Power

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Acknowledge the Battle

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Sermon: Chiseled by the Spirit

Scripture: Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:14 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in o...

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15

“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and...

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Chiseled by Correction

Text: Matthew 16:22-23

“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.””

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God builds people not on...

Matthew 19:4-6 NIV

““Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV

EQUATION: Half Hearted Effort + Half Hearted Commitment = Whole Hearted Disappointment.

Lie #3: Marriage is a contract...

"Therefore wh...

Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined toget...

Genesis 2:18; 21-25 NIV; Deuteronomy 6:5–9 NIV

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and fl...

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 11:21-27

““Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the M...

Scripture: Luke 23:32-35

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.””

Nehemiah 2:1-5 NIV

“In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buri...

Esther 4:12-14 NIV

“When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?””

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 Esther’s courage to act on her dream of savin...

Exodus 3:10 NIV

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.””

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Main Idea: Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush ignited a call/dream to free the Israelites, showing that God equips those He calls.

Never underestimate what God can do through one person who is fully submitted to His will. 

Embrace the Ordinary (Exodus 3:1)

Encounter the Extaordinary (Exodus 3:2-4)

Expect th...

Genesis 37:5-11 NIV

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, a...

February 1, 2026

The Process of Transformation

Romans 12: 1-2 (NIV)
1. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.  2. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If You Change Nothing, Nothing Will Change

1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
16. Watch yo...

Joshua 10:12-15

“On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord l...

Joshua 3:5;17

“And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.””

Joshua 3:5 NKJV

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“The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In life, there is always preparation before possession. 

Prepared...

“And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctif...

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Many people rave but few are brave! 

How to culitvate bravery: 

“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and th...

Joshua 1:5

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 1:6 NIV

‭‭“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As we move forward in 2026 we have the promise of God's presence! 

Moving forward will require us to: 

Be Stron...

December 28, 2025

Sermon: Finishing Well
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

INTRODUCTION: Together... It's a beautiful...

Luke 1:26-28

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is the greatest gift giver! 

God's GIft of Salvation:

“She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name...

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

Scripture: ‭‭‭‭Matthew 1:18-21

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had conside...

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Introduction: Joy to the World!

Joy's Source...

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.

-Luke 2:10

Joy's Sound...

    a. Shout

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, a...

Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

Scripture: ‭‭‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

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Introduction: We can have peace when it seems like our world is falling to pieces.

The Promise of Peace

“Of the greatness of...

 Luke 2:25–27

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required...

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Light shines the brightest in the darkest of times. 

 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s deat...

Series: At the Table...

Sermon: The Invitation Scripture: Luke 14:15-24

“When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and se...