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

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That Day, and Today!

Evil is often louder than good. We see it in the news. We see it in our lives. Criticism lingers even as compliments fade.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20ab

The evil around Jesus at the crucifixion was deafening. Mocking and ridicule by the religious leaders, by the executing soldiers, and by guilty criminals next to Jesus rand throughout the hilltop. And Jesus, the innocent One, the recipient of it all. Not only that, His own Father had forsaken Him for a time.

But then there is a voice of hope from a strange place. A voice of confession. A voice of longing. A voice of belief. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And this lone voice from a self-proclaimed sinner elicits a response from the One who had been experiencing only evil before now: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Today! You and Me! In paradise!

When all the world lifts their voice in a cacophony of evil and pain, remember those words for you: through faith in Jesus, His salvation is realy for you today and paradise awaits for eternity!

Let those words of truth and hope echo louder than any evil in your lives; for they are the ones that matter! They are the ones that will last! They are the ones for you; today and tomorrow and forever!

Scriptures

  • Luke 23:26-43

Faith for a Complicated World

The world around us is a complicated place that can be hard to figure out. Life sometimes sends us a fair bit of pain and suffering. It’s not hard to spot cruelty and injustice, pain and confusion, all around us. Much of the time, it’s probably best for us to say two things.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20ab

The first is this: “I don’t really understand how this is all fitting together, but I am here with you as we go through it.”

The other thing that we say and that we believe is: Our God is still at work, and he knows how to take the evil and use it for good.

It’s not a blind faith. The proof of it, simply put, is Jesus.

God worked good from evil for us and all people, through Jesus our King, our living, reigning King through His suffering, trial, death, and resurrection.

And God still does that today, for the people of the King.

Praise the Lord that, even though evil still hurts and affects us, it doesn’t overcome us.

It is a conquered enemy for our eternal future in paradise!

~ The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, edited by The Rev. Scott Heitshusen

Scriptures

  • Luke 23:1-25
  • Acts 4:23-28

When You See Such Blind Ignorance, What Do You Think?

Jesus now stands before the religious leaders for a “trial.”

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20ab

Sure it’s really a mockery of one, but even the leaders know they need to go through the paces to get things taken care of. If a mockery of justice will do it, so be it!

In fact, since it is a mockery, mocking this Jesus is given the green light. The guards, even before the trial begins beat and mock. When in the trial, the leaders ask questions with no intention of listening to the answers; so they can ask in mockery. “Are You the Son of God, then?” They weren’t really asking. They weren’t interested in any response Jesus was going to give; so long as they could turn it around and get to the conviction they had already decided to impose.

Jesus knows this and isn’t interested in helping them in this mockery. But He does say something interesting here: “From now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

This time of evil and darkness will be over soon, true; but is there more to this? Is He giving them the ammunition they need to get it over with; to get the Plan moving forward?

Perhaps.

Or maybe He was also giving them an out: a reminder of who He is and a chance to crawl out of their willful, blind ignorance and into the Light; into Him?

Perhaps some of both.

But we mustn’t fall into the trap of thinking that we would act differently than these soldiers and leaders. We would act godly! We would stand up for righteousness and the Righteous One!

These people likely felt they were fulfilling ‘justice’ – maybe just more efficiently.

This man was guilty; anyone could see it! They were doing their job; their godly job!

They were blind-fully ignorant!

But we are blessed now because the Holy Spirit has given us sight into His Will and cured our ignorance of His Plan! We are called to act, no longer in the blind ignorance of unbelief, but in the gracious way of salvation through Jesus!

The Holy Spirit has removed our blinders and lets us see Jesus, the Son of Man, seated at the right hand of the power of God!

All by His grace. All by His mercy. All by His spirit.

There but for the grace and Spirit of God would we go!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for enduring mockery for our sake and for the Holy Spirit who has removed our blind ignorance in Faith!”

Scriptures

  • Luke 22:63—23:1

EASTER, 2024 — Pancake Breakfast & Egg Hunt!

Come and be with us to celebrate the ultimate Love and true freedom we all have through The Resurrection of Jesus!

Sunday, March 31, 2024

We will have a Pancake Breakfast that morning at 8:30 AM (no Adult Bible Class that day) and an Easter Egg Hunt following around 9:30 AM. Then Worship at 10:00 AM.

Join us!


More information about the Resurrection of Jesus celebrated on Easter from:
lifebridgesealy.com/ministries/worship/easter-the-resurrection-of-jesus/.

“CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED! ALLELUIA!!”

This is the great shout for Easter; the highest day on the Church calendar!

On this day we celebrate the victory of Jesus over sin, death, and the power of the devil. All that He went through and endured is over and exultation and joy remain.

And for all who have faith in Jesus as their savior gain the same victories He won! Our sins are gone and forgiveness takes its place. Death is gone and everlasting life takes its place. Pain and anguish are bound to this life only and joy eternal awaits.

The resurrection of Jesus is the sole event to which all of history hinges. All of the old testament points to its coming and all since draws meaning in the light of it.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17

Without the resurrection everything else would be pointless and moot!

Come and be with us to celebrate this greatest day of the year and see how Jesus, though His resurrection, changes everything – for you!


Other Posts Dealing with Easter

LOVE – is Alive — EASTER, 2022

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.Luke 25:5b-6a God is love! Jesus is alive! Through the resurrection of Jesus, Love is…

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EASTER Pancake Breakfast & Egg Hunt!

Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus and His victory over sin, death, and the devil. And, those who have faith in Him gain those victories as well! Come celebrate with…
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“Mic Drop” – A BridgeKidz Series

We are starting a new BridgeKidz series with the tagline, “Worshipping God Every Day”

Honor the LORD our God. Worship at His feet. He is holy.

Psalm 99:5 (NIrV)

Synopsis

We worship God in church with songs of praise, but that is just one part of worship. Worship can happen anywhere and at any time, regardless of the circumstances of our lives. Worship can happen when we sing, when we pray, and when we show love to others.

Objective

Kids will learn that every day we can praise God in some way.

Dates

Our series begins on Sunday, March 3, 2024, and will continue through May 5, 2024.

Join us!

The Real Battle

Heart-wrenching.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:20ab

That may be the closest we come to describing the happenings in the Garden.

Jesus is about to be betrayed, denied, and much more leading to death. He knows it’s coming. He knows the immense pain and suffering about to take place – and at the hands of His friends and religious leaders who were supposed to welcome the Messiah and prepare the people for Him.

But the main antagonist in this story is the one who is not named – “Satan,” Jesus’ adversary.

He tempted Jesus at the beginning of His ministry and would return at “an opportune time.” He entered Judas and was looking for the right time to betray Him. He is looking forward to “sifting” Peter, leading him to deny Jesus. His chaos in this moment cause the disciples, not to stand firm in the temptation, but flea in fear.

This is his hour. His moment. And Jesus knows it!

He tries to tell the disciples to pray in this moment and He Himself makes sure to; with a pit in His being that is palpable.

The real battle of good and evil. Spiritual forces, flesh and blood. And this is evil’s time.

Heart-wrenching.

But where Satan and evil will have the moment, Jesus will have the rest of eternity!

Satan still works his wares. Our sinful nature still gives in to temptation and evil. These things still affect us for the moments we’re this side of eternity. But those moments will end; forever!

Jesus made sure of it; in those moments. In the Garden with blood and tears. On the cross in agony and death.

But that moment ended, and the rest – life – is yet to come!

Just you wait!

Scriptures

  • Luke 22:39-62
https://youtu.be/g2-6ndF2Img?t=1820

DONATE BLOOD at LIFEBRIDGE – Give the Gift of Life

You are needed – to save lives!

The need for more blood donations is growing daily. Your blood donation is essential to keep the blood supply strong and steady. Without on-going donors, we cannot ensure people have the blood they need.

We’re asking you to come in and donate! The need is real. The need is now.

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR DONATION APPOINTMENT

(Our Sponsor Code is: LCCS)

Or download the DIGITAL DONOR APP for
iOS or Android to schedule your donation.

LifeBridge Community Church
2162 FM 2187 Rd.
Sealy, TX. 77474

Sunday, March 24, 2024
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Donor Bus Parked Outside.

Contact Angie Wolfe for more information.

SEDER, 2024

Come join us for the SEDER MEAL (with Holy Communion) at LifeBridge!

DATE: March 28, 2024 (“Maundy/Holy Thursday”)
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: LifeBridge Sanctuary
CONTACT: Pastor Scott Heitshusen
SHeitshusen@LifeBridgeSealy.com
(713) 965-6761

The meal is FREE (though a freewill offering will be taken)! ALL people and ages are welcome!

Due to the extreme preparations needed, signup for the meal is needed for EACH PERSON ATTENDING. DEADLINE is SUNDAY, MARCH 24!You can do so in the form below.

Mark it on your calendar, sign-up, and plan to attend! You won’t be disappointed!


More about the SEDER MEAL from
lifebridgesealy.com/ministries/seder-meal/

The Seder, celebrated on “Maundy Thursday” (a.k.a, “Holy Thursday”), tells the story of the Passover event and meal from the book of the Exodus in the Old Testament. This is important because this is the event Jesus was celebrating with His disciples for His last supper (and instituted the Sacrament of Holy Communion); and He didn’t choose this connection arbitrarily.

Jews the world over celebrate the Seder as a reminder to the Passover. For Christians, we see the deep and deliberate connection of the Passover and Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). We will see the how God has saved us from death by the blood of His Lamb, Jesus, just as He saved Israel from death through the blood of lambs in the Exodus.

And all of this will tie into the Passion of Jesus through Holy Week as well as Holy Communion.


SEDER, 2023

SEDER Meal. April 14, 2022, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
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SEDER, 2022

SEDER Meal. April 14, 2022, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
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SEDER, 2021

SEDER Meal. April 9, 2020, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
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SEDER, 2020

SEDER Meal. April 9, 2020, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
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SEDER, 2019

Join us for a very special Seder Meal for Maundy Thursday. Those gathered will engage in the rituals associated with the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples, the traditional…
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