LifeBridge Community Church

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

Tag: Online (Page 15 of 48)

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

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!”

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

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

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

“Robed in Righteousness”

December 24, 2023 /

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

There are times we put on our best. For many that was for big, special occasions, like weddings, funerals, anniversaries, and Sundays. (Remember, “Sunday best” for clothes?)

There’s something to that. Something about dressing up in our best attire for special occasions. But it can go further than that. We can also tell some people by the clothes they wear. Military uniforms tell us branches, campaigns, and ranks. Royalty can be observed with crowns and ornate robes. And, in liturgical traditions, some pastors and priests can be differentiated by their garb.

This was true in Scripture as well. In fact, when God commanded the Israelites to build a tabernacle in the desert, He also gave detailed instructions on how the priests were to dress. The outfits were very ornate. They included many aspects, but one that I find interesting is the gems on the ephod (breastplate). There were twelve, each with the names of each tribe, so that when the priest entered into the “Holy of Holies” (or “Holiest Place”), their names would be born “as a continuing memorial before the LORD” (Exodus 28:29).

But we’re getting ready for Christmas. And we see a Savior born for us and bear our name before the Father, not with gems on an ornate breastplate, but through a manger and swaddling clothes!

There is a “great exchange” which takes place tonight: a priestly intercessor for the Great intercessor. Our wretched sins for His perfection. Our worst for His best. Our hurts and pains born by Him on the cross. Our shame on His cross. Our attempt at a holy projection for the Holy One, naked and dying.

Is dressing up in our best good? Sure! But seeing the One born humbly in the manger; the One who died naked on a cross, well, that’s infinitely better!

Through faith in the One born for us, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: we have been clothed and covered with a robe of righteousness, so our soul will exalt!

O Come, O come, Immanuel!

https://youtu.be/O5yRIUUE7KI?t=1637

Scripture

  • Isaiah 61:10
  • Exodus 28:15-30

“Clothed in Conviction”

December 17, 2023 /

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Jonah 3:6

This is a tough one. It involved being “clothed” in sackcloth and ashes. (A far cry from “Louis Vuitton” or whatever the fashionable wear is now!)

Jonah was dreading this. He knew of Nineveh’s true, utter, undisputed wickedness cruelty. And he also knew of God’s mercy for those who repent. In the off chance Nineveh would head God’s Word, Nineveh would be spared and their evil continue.

And that’s what happened.

What a disaster!

But this is precisely the point of God’s call for repentance – a turning from sin and back toward God and His ways.

So what does that have to do with clothing or sackcloth and ashes?

Being clothed in sackcloth and ashes was a sign of one’s sorrow and repentance. A sign that they were truly sorry for what they had done.

God didn’t spare the people of Nineveh because they changed their cloths and got a little dirty. He spared them because they changed their hearts and saw that they were very dirty.

The call is for us, too. We are called to repentance. True repentance. Soulful repentance. Deep repentance. Full repentance. Not an outward change of clothing or actions, but an inward transformation of the heart which produces from our very being a want and desire to change our actions.

If our repentance is done only for God and others to see, well, God sees through that; and He isn’t fooled. He wants to see that our sins, which break His heart have broken ours too. He wants to see that the actions He despises are despised by us too. He wants to see our hearts in sackcloth and ashes because we see the seriousness of our sins.

But He doesn’t leave us there! Where there is faith in Jesus there is forgiveness of our sins! Where there is confession sins there is mercy freely given! Where we were covered in ashes, He has traded us Light. Where we were drowning in sorrow and mourning, He has lifted us to peace and rejoicing. Where we wallowed in despair and hopelessness, He has stood us up in Life and hope.

Take to heart your sins, for they are serious.

Even more, take in His heart the forgiveness of all your sins through faith in Jesus, for it is certain and everlasting!

https://youtu.be/bQJLYi7VLF0?t=2170

Scripture

  • Jonah 3:6-10

“An Enviable Style”

December 10, 2023 /

Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.

Genesis 37:3

Jealousy is ugly in people. It produces hurts and feelings of inferiority. It feeds insecurities and wounds to the core of who we are, what we do, and our feelings of importance within the scheme of things. It focuses us on others, then ourselves, instead of working toward God’s good and the common good.

This can be especially true in families and for siblings. Comparisons of favor – perceived or real – can be the cause for emotional and spiritual wounds that can last a lifetime.

The story of Joseph and his father’s display of favoritism toward him in this special coat give evidence of this and the consequences that can follow.

He is sold into slavery and communicated dead to his father.

Flagrant hubris displayed through clothing produced devastating jealousy.

But that’s not where things end.

God used Joseph and the special gifts He blessed him with to save people – including those who were hurt by him and, in turn, hurt him.

God used this favorite son of Jacob to save his family, a country, and countless others!

But it goes even further: Joseph as a type of Christ!

Said differently: God’s one and only, special Son saved all!

Are we to be jealous of Jesus’ place? Of the clothing He had to wear to accomplish salvation? That would be foolish.

So it is also foolish to be jealous and hurt by others God is using for His purposes, whatever they are.

And here’s another truth: God blessed you with special, unique gifts and abilities to do His will, too! Gifts and abilities He didn’t give anyone else.

He has clothed you in your beautiful, unique skin and package to work, will, and share a message that clothes and saves others. To share Him in everything you do.

That is a truth we can all celebrate and never have to be jealous of!

https://youtu.be/X0yuxKluWZc?t=1816

Scripture

  • Genesis 37:1-4
« Older posts Newer posts »

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.

LifeBridge's logo

© 2025 LifeBridge Community Church

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑