LifeBridge Community Church

Reaching the Lost. Discipling the Saved. Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.

Author: Scott Heitshusen (Page 25 of 96)

ASH WEDNESDAY, 2024

January 17, 2024 /

Join us on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024, at 7:00 PM for Ash Wednesday worship and the Imposition of Ashes.

“You Meant it for Evil, but God Meant it for Good”

May our evil ways, by God’s mercy, be left in the ash heap and may we be ever recipients of His loving goodness!

  • Genesis 50:1
  • Genesis 50:15-21
  • Luke 22:1-13

The purpose of repentance is not to be swallowed up by guilt. It is to be freed from a dark and destructive direction by God’s wakening Word, and to be sent on a new path by the sin-conquering Savior. It’s what we all need.

THE REV. MIKE NEWMAN
PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS DISTRICT OF THE LC-MS

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey, which culminates on Easter Sunday with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

On that night at worship we mark our foreheads with an ash cross and, as that cross is marked, we are reminded of our sins. As we are marked by Jesus’ sacrifice; we are drawn to the realization that “[we] are dust, and to dust [we] shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

On Ash Wednesday and throughout the season of Lent, we also focus on our sins, on repentance, and on our broken world; seeing how we and all of creation has fallen far short of God’s intention and glory.

But we do not despair because we look to the certain hope that is ours through the forgiveness of our sins given to us freely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES

Everything we experience in life is finite and temporal, including our own lives. As the Scripture reports, we came from the dust of the ground and we will return to the dust of the ground. (Genesis 3:19 & Ecclesiastes 3:20)

For many centuries the use of ashes has symbolized repentance. Imposing ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead of the worshipper on Ash Wednesday is a vivid reminder that such a person has been redeemed by Christ the Crucified. It is a symbol, not primarily of our sins, but upon the forgiveness of them through faith in Jesus.

As Ash Wednesday is a somber time as we remember that Jesus willingly suffering and death come as a result of our sins and His love. As such, at the conclusion of worship that day, we exit the church in silence.

“Repentance slays selfish pride, turns us from sin’s siren call, quiets arrogant arguments, tames out-of-control egos, pulls us back from distraction, leads us to restoration of relationships, places us on the pathway of walking with God, and restores our hearts with compassion and grace.

We need this personally. We need this as schools and congregations. We need this as a District. We need this as a Synod. We need this as Christ’s Church.”

The Rev. Mike Newman
President of the Texas District of the LC-MS

Posts About Ash Wednesday Worship

ASH WEDNESDAY, 2025

Ash Wednesday worship and the Imposition of Ashes on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at 6:00 PM.
Read More

ASH WEDNESDAY, 2021

Ash Wednesday worship and the Imposition of Ashes on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 7:00 PM.
Read More

You Meant it for Evil, but God Meant it for Good

January 17, 2024 /

Our sermon series for the Lenten season is, “You Meant it for Evil, but God Meant it for Good”. It is based upon a series by the same name ©2022, by Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, Professor Emeritus of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (used with permission).

In this series we will explore the numerous ways God in His grace turns evil intentions and situations into good!

I hope you’ll join us!

No post found!

Life

January 14, 2024 /

We’re going to get into one of those tricky difficult topics today: life and abortion.

We often try to stay away from lightning rod topics like this because we don’t want to put off some people. But the fact is, where Scripture speaks we must also; and scripture speaks very clearly on this topic.

For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13

The Bible tells us that God created us in our mother’s womb; intricately weaving us into exactly the person He wants us to be. And throughout Scripture we know that God is a God of life. That started all the way back in creation in Genesis where He brings life from nothing and breathes His Spirit into humanity.

Scripture is the story of God creating, restoring, promising, and through Jesus being life. So it should not be controversial warranting surprise that God is strongly pro-life.

Perhaps the challenge for us is that we don’t want to come off as judgmental. And that is true. And so let us always remember, that where there has been sin and there is confession, there is forgiveness. The God who forgives sins is available for any who have not chosen life in the past. Period. Not just in the areas of abortion, but in avenues of freezing or discarding embryos; birth control which prevents implantation; or when we belittling, harm, insult, demean, or just don’t seek the best for others through their lives.

When we look at life in all the glorious aspects God has blessed us with, it is evident that we have all failed to be the true pro-life advocates and witnesses He has called us to be.

So, then: let us confess our sins and be renewed in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; forgiven and given a life to live and His life to share in all areas to all people!

“Lord, be our Life and our Light for more abundance for everyone!”

https://youtu.be/RSgZyX746nY?t=1673

Scriptures

  • Psalm 139:1-18
  • Psalm 138:23-24
  • John 14:1-7
  • John 10:10

A New Year. A New You.

January 7, 2024 /

It’s fitting that we start the new year with the start of scripture in Genesis. But that’s not the only start to consider today.

I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:8

In Mark we also see the beginning of Jesus’ ministry when He was baptized in the Jordan.

That might seem like a strange connection, but the newness for Jesus and His ministry and the newness of creation have a deep connection for us. That is, we are new creations when we are joined in our baptism with the baptism of Jesus!

We are new, forgiven, made pure!

So as we look to the new year and trying to make ourselves anew in resolutions, let’s not forget that in Jesus and through His baptism and ours, we are new also truly and perfectly new!

https://youtu.be/e-Xcetmu-eM?t=2085

Scriptures

  • Genesis 1:1-5
  • Mark 1:4-11
  • Psalm 29

“MOVE” – A BridgeKidz Series

January 2, 2024 /

Happy new year!

As we start the new year so we also start a new BridgeKidz series with the tagline, “Active Games for Active Faith!”

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Synopsis

Following Jesus isn’t boring, it’s exciting!

Knowing how much God loves us isn’t something we just keep to ourselves, it’s something so good it can change the world.

When we actively seek to obey God and trust Him more and more each day, it changes us. Just like the more times you play a game, the better you get at it, it’s the same with your faith. The more you practice trusting God and living life His way, the better you get at it.

In this series kids will play a lot of fun and active games and learn that when God challenges us to “move” by obeying Him, it’s time to MOVE!

Objective

Kids will learn that when God says “move!” We should listen.

Dates

Our series begins on Sunday, January 7, 2024, and will continue through February 25, 2024.

Join us!

Always New Again

December 31, 2023 /

My eyes have seen Your salvation.

Luke 2:30

Jesus redeems, renews, and moves us forward to a next thing we may not know or expect.

A new year; a new life in Christ.

Relationship not religion. — Jesus did it all and does it all to move us ahead.

https://youtu.be/QPolpj3sSSc?t=1665

Scriptures

  • Luke 2:27-32

Time to Un-Decorate!

December 25, 2023 /

On Sunday, December 31, 2023, following worship, it’ll be time to take the Christmas decorations down, organize, and store them for next year.

Food will be served, so come help, eat, and enjoy the fellowship!

CHRISTMAS EVE – “Wrapped Up In Love”

December 24, 2023 /

Tonight is the culmination of our series and our waiting! It all comes down to this. To HIM; born for us!

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1-7

May the Lord bless your celebration o f the birth of the Savior, Jesus, through Whom you, too, are “wrapped Up In Love!”

https://youtu.be/qA5mSgGdLh8
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Phone / Email

(979) 885-7270 [Church]
(713) 965-6761 [Pastor Scott Heitshusen’s Cell]

info@lifebridgesealy.com

Location // Mail

2162 FM 2187 Rd (location)
P.O. Box 934 (mail)
Sealy, TX 77474

Connecting People to Jesus by:
Reaching the Lost.
Discipling the Saved.
Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.

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