LifeBridge Community Church

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

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Received Him Joyfully

November 2, 2025 /

We have nice China and silverware. When we were engaged we were told that’s what couples register for so they can entertain properly.

I think we may have used it 2-3 times in our 34 years of marriage.

So [Zacchaeus] hurried down and received Him joyfully.

LUKE 19:6

You may have noticed, we are not China and silver folks. Paper plates and paper towels for “napkins” works just fine, thank you very much!

Our home is small, but warm. It is clean, but not we don’t keep it in a perpetual state of readiness.

We’re just not the “entertaining type” of people.

Not knocking, of course, those who are! I am amazed by those who do – and enjoy it!

It makes me wonder what type of person that “wee little man,” Zacchaeus was.

We know he was a man of means and wealth due to his career. We know that he was despised because of it, too.

But was he an “entertainer”?

Probably? I wonder.

What we do know is that this man wanted to see Jesus and when Jesus invited Himself to his home, Zacchaeus was excited and “received Him gladly!”

Did he worry about the state of his house? Did he wonder what he would serve the Lord? Did he fret about what Jesus would think of him when he welcomed Him into his home?

I don’t think so.

He “received Him joyfully!”

The heart of Zacchaeus was joyful and glad to have the Lord come to him! His heart received Him before his house did. His heart was prepared, whether or not his house was.

Indeed, the Lord wanted Zacchaeus’ heart, not his home; his mind, not his meal; his soul, not his stuff; his strength, not his station.

Jesus wanted salvation for Zacchaeus and when that was accomplished, others were blessed through Zacchaeus as well!

What would we do if Jesus invited Himself into our home; into our lives; into our hearts?

Would we be concerned about all the preparations that need to be made; worry about the state of it all, or would we set those aside and “receive Him joyfully” regardless of how much of a mess everything is. How much of a mess we are?

Here’s a newsflash: Jesus knows the state of your heart. He is fully aware of the mess that is there.

And because of His love for you invites Himself into your mess anyway!

We may be horrified by the thought, rightly disgusted with how bad we are and unprepared for the Holy One to enter; but He wanted to come anyway.

So receive Him joyfully through the power of the Holy Spirit; for when He comes, lives are transformed! Through faith in Jesus, your life is already transformed! You are already saved! You are already able to see all the areas of your life that are wanting and seek ways to correct and improve through Him!

You are forgiven through the Cross! You are saved through faith in Jesus! He wants to come to you in every way – mess and all! Because of Him we can receive Him joyfully – always!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving us and pursuing us; inviting Yourself into the mess of our hearts and lives. We receive You joyfully and recommit ourselves to a life transformed by You through the Holy Spirit so that our sanctification can also be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Luke 19:1-10
  • Psalm 130

If You Abide in His Word

October 26, 2025 /

Reformation Sunday!

The day we remember the importance of Scripture as the only source for knowing God and the Way of salvation in Jesus.

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32

The foundation for faith. The cradle for comfort. The lamp for living. The Word and the Way.

Ok, I’ll stop.

But it’s important.

Through Scripture we learn about Jesus who sets us free from sin. Free from the Law which condemns. Free from death itself.

All of us were slaves to sin and the Law.

In Jesus we are free and saved.

That’s not just “a big deal,” it’s the only deal that matters!

Jesus is the only Way of freedom and salvation. If we “abide in [His] Word, [we] are truly [His] disciples” (John 8:31) and He sets “us free indeed” (John 8:36).

Believe in Jesus. Follow Him. Trust in Him. Abide in Him. Be free in Him.

A truly reformed life and eternity follows!

“Thank You, Jesus, for setting us free from the law of sin and death. Thank You for that Truth of eternal life and present living. Help us to hold tightly to You in our lives and share You for the lives of others. In Your precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Romans 3:19-28
  • John 8:31-36
  • Psalm 46

Continue in What You Have Learned

October 19, 2025 /

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.”

2 Timothy 3:14

Today’s Scripture is one of my favorites. From the Scriptures “which are able to make wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15) to “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16) to people accumulating “for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3).

So much good stuff.

And so applicable for today.

False teachers who lead people astray are everywhere. “Pastors” and “preachers” who teach what they want instead of what God says. They align themselves with the culture instead of with the Christ; with the world instead of with the Word; with the secular instead of with the sacred.

And people follow them instead of Him.

This is a travesty. This is idolatry. This is heresy.

It does not lead people to paradise but to perdition.

We are called to “continue in what [we] have learned,” – i.e., continue in the Holy, inerrant Word of God and nothing else.

But to “continue” in something means we also need to have learned it in the first place.

We need to constantly and consistently be in the Word, for It is the only rule and norm for living and the only Word that leads to Christ Jesus, the Savior.

Everything else is just for “itching ears” to satisfy sinful hearts and a fallen world.

Continue in the saving Word of God, through faith in Jesus!

Every day. In every way.

“Thank You, Lord, for Your precious, holy, perfect Word, which makes us ‘wise for salvation through faith in Jesus.’ Grant us to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest It daily, so we may dray closer to You, know how to live holy lives, and be ready for all that comes our way. Help us identify false teachers and teachings and instead cling to You, live You, and teach You. Every day. In every way. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • 2 Timothy 3:14-4:4
  • Psalm 121

The Book of EZEKIEL

October 16, 2025 /

Starting Sunday, November 9, 2025, we will begin a journey through the fascinating, often misunderstood, challenging book of the prophet EZEKIEL.

Join us as we explore this major prophet, what it meant for Israel, and how it applies to us.

Pass the Salt

October 12, 2025 /

Today we hear a lot of closing greetings from Paul to the people at the church in Colossae. Greetings from folks who are with the Colossians and ones who are with Paul.

Some typical stuff there.

But with those greetings come some closing exhortations that are important: “Continue steadfast in prayer…Walk in wisdom…Let your speech be gracious.”

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

Colossians 2:8 (CSB)

Pray, walk, and talk.

He has preached the Good News to them, countering heresies and false teachers and philosophies. He has addressed these people – who he did not know – in a fatherly, pastoral way on the full divinity of Jesus (and why that is essential). He has shared that they are dead to sin and alive in Jesus. He has has reminded them to set their “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.” He has given them practical reasons to deal with all relationships in love, honor and respect, as serving the Lord.

And now it is time to close his letter with “pray, walk, and talk” like the redeemed people they are. A loving reminder to both “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” as a praying Christian.

As we conclude our journey through this beautiful book of the Gospel, may we see Jesus in and through every page. For everyone. Forever.

So we pray, in Jesus. We walk, in the wisdom of Jesus. We talk with the graciousness of Jesus.

Jesus.

Always.

For everyone.

Forever.

“Thank You, heavenly Father, for sending Your Son, our savior, Jesus, in whom the fullness of the deity dwells, to accomplish everything for us and our salvation. Let all our thoughts and actions be based as ones who respond to Your gift of mercy and grace in Him through our relationships, our philosophies, our actions, and our prayers. Grant that in every way, we are pointed to Him, dependent on Him, share Him, live Him, and love Him. Always. In His precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Colossians 4:2-18

Serve the Lord Through Relationships

October 5, 2025 /

Today’s lesson is a tough one. It has a lot in it that, albeit short, is not easy to hear or do.

There is a list of what seem to be directives that can go against our desires, sensibilities, and culture.

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

Colossians 2:8 (CSB)

They deal with wives, husbands, fathers, bondservants, and masters.

It seems so out-of-date and out-of-touch. So cringe. So wrong.

But that’s because we are still viewing things through earthly, cultural lenses, not on God’s “higher things” lens.

If we view our earthly duties and relationships merely in the context of this world, they will be twisted and distorted; adulterated; out-of whack.

The way to view any and all the relationships God has given us is through His lens and His example.

Jesus came and gave everything for us. He sacrificed. He endured wrong and humiliation. He turned His cheek. He gave His very, innocent life for us and our sins.

He humbled Himself. For us. Forever.

That’s the example. That’s the mindset we should have in dealing with those we interact with all around; those who we serve under and those who we serve in positions of authority.

And even further, we should view our service as serving Him in all things!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23).

He came to serve and sacrifice for us, who were completely unworthy, because of His immense love for us.

We respond by serving Him as best we can in love and heart-felt gratitude by serving others in every relationship we have.

We have salvation through what Jesus did. We get to respond to that everlasting Gift of mercy and grace through our service of, to, and with others.

What a blessing!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to serve and give Your life as a ransom for many; for us; for me. Grant me the will and desire to respond to Your Gift in my service to everyone You have placed in my life in the same way of sacrificial love. In Your previous name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Colossians 3:18-4:1

Higher Things

September 28, 2025 /

We’re now moving from a time when Paul was preaching the Word and teaching the Colossians about some theological aspects of the faith to a time when he is going to instruct and exhort them in how to live; what to do and what not to do; what is godly and what is not.

Today he gets to the heart of the matter of setting our minds on “things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.”

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

Colossians 2:8 (CSB)

That’s good advice for Christians, especially when our culture seems to be going in all the wrong directions. We can get so tied up in the news and the issues of the day; so many worries and concerns that we forget that we are dead to this world and way of doing things and are united with Christ. We forget that we should be clothed with Him, and so should set our minds on things above where He is, instead of all of these things that are around us. We should be putting off those things of the world, those concerns, those issues. Things like “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness.” We should look at things that divide us and put them off as well because they are a part of this world. We are to set our minds on higher things, on things Above. Because if we are dead in Christ, then we should be dead to this world.

Certainly those things will still affect us and touch us, and we will be hurt by some of them. That is the reality of being still on this side of eternity. But the reality for Christians is that our Home is above and our mind should be on what is Above; not stuck here, not worried here, not concerned with anything here.

We look to Christ and what He has already done for us. That He has already conquered all of these things here – even death itself. So since we are dead to these as well now, let us look to Him. Let us look Above. Let us look on the godly, holy things, the higher things, and not on the things here.

Christ has already accomplished it all for us, for all, forever.

“Thank you, Lord, for conquering all of what is down here on earth, all of the bad that affects us each and every day. Thank you for letting us die to them as well through faith in You. Help us now, Lord, focus not on the things here, but on You and the things above; on how to act in a spiritual way; in a way that is holy; in a way that is pure; in a way that is honorable; and not in ways of our culture and world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Colossians 3:1-17
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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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