The Bridge meets at:
5521 Brydon Crescent, Langley, BC
Services begin at 10:30 on Sunday mornings.
Childcare is always provided.
Core Values
- We honour God through worship.
- We reflect the love of God to all people.
- We bring everything to God in prayer.
- We believe that growing in Christ is lifelong.
- We believe life’s answers are in the Bible.
- We will use God’s given spiritual and financial gifts.
- The Bridge is part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Our Story
The Bridge Community Church held its first worship service on October 2, 1994. This date marks the beginning of a church that had a vision to:
“Build Christian community where genuine life change happens
And share the grace we have experienced with our neighbors
So that we all grow in Christian maturity and devotion to Jesus Christ”.
Many of the first members of the Bridge came from the First Christian Reformed Church in Langley. In October 1992, a group of people were sent out from First Church to attend a Willowcreek Leadership Conference. It was at this conference that some felt God calling them to become involved in a purpose driven ministry – a ministry that created a safe place for seekers to find answers to their spiritual questions. This group of 5 families began to meet together on a weekly basis to consider how God might use them in a ministry like this.
By the summer of 1994, it became clear that the leadership of First Church, while affirming God’s call on the 5 families, did not sense that God was calling them to share in this ministry. They released the families from their involvement in the ministry at First Church with their blessing, and celebrated the beginning of the new ministry with a farewell service.
Ten families attended the first worship service of the Bridge Community Church. They adopted Willowcreek’s 10 core values as their own, and were committed to the vision of this new church. Five members were elected to serve as Board Members, responsible for various areas of ministry: the worship services, small groups, youth ministries, networking and evangelism, and stewardship.
During the first two years of its ministry, The Bridge Community Church grew, both in numbers and in faith. Peoples’ lives were touched, changed, and impacted by the ministry of the Bridge. God gave the Bridge many opportunities to share His love to others, through camping weekends, marriage break-ups, illnesses, and special youth and community events. The members of the Bridge were committed to using their spiritual gifts, and the entire ministry was employed by the members.
After two years, the Bridge desired to move from a Board-governed ministry to a Biblically- based elder governed ministry. They spent six months planning and presenting to the membership the revised governance, which went into effect June of 1997.
In the fall of 2000, the membership of the Bridge participated in the ABCs of Natural Church Development Survey. This survey served as a diagnostic tool to show the strengths and weaknesses of various aspects of ministry. The administrative team working with the membership was involved in a discussion on the purpose statement, the vision, and core values of the church.
In January 2001, the Bridge approached William Delleman to consider a temporary full-time position as pastor of the Bridge. William accepted this call, and joined the ministry in February 2001. Since then, the Bridge has continued to be Christ’s presence in the world. We have experienced the blessings of growth, sending missionaries into the local and distant fields, training and equipping leaders for ministry and see our community draw together through many circumstances. And in all of this, we have been reminded constantly of our Lord’s faithfulness.
The future is bright and as we ponder anew what God would have for us, we’ve begun the journey toward a home of our own. In July of 2005, we purchased The Gathering Place and began to operate in a community centered location. And then, suddenly in November of 2005, a church building became available within walking distance to our new ministry centre.
Again, through much prayer and careful consideration, we met and discussed the possibility of purchasing a church building. The final decision came in early December and on January 29, 2006, we held our first service in the building on Brydon Crescent. It has been, thus far, an incredible journey.
We hope this short survey of our past will help you feel a little more oriented to us and we welcome you to share in what will happen next.
Today, the Bridge is made up of a diverse group from many denominational backgrounds and life experiences. We have a good mix of young couples beginning families, growing families and empty nesters. The services reflect our community with contemporary music, media and traditional elements.
Our Connections
The Bridge Community church is a Christian Reformed (CRC) church located in Langley, British Columbia.
What We Believe
In Essentials we have UNITY
“There is one body and one Spirit … there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
In Non-essentials we have LIBERTY
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. …Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. …So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. …So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1,4,12,22
In Everything we show CHARITY
“If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains – but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 (Phillips)
IN ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE . . .
As a Christian church we hold to the historic ecumenical creedal statements of Christian teaching as found in the following three documents:
The Apostles Creed, C. 250 AD
The Nicene Creed, 350 AD
The Athanasian Creed, c. 400 AD
As a Reformed Church we hold to the Reformed Confessions as found in the following four documents:
The Heidelberg Catechism, 1563
The Belgic Confession, 1561
The Canons of Dort, 1618-19
The Contemporary Testimony, 1986
The three creeds reflect the historic Christian faith, with particular emphasis on the Trinity.
The four confessions reflect the evangelical Christian faith with a broader emphasis on Bible teachings.
We believe the best expression of the essentials of the Christian faith is the Apostle’s Creed. We believe the best expression of what it means to be Reformed is found in the Contemporary Testimony.
Our World Belongs to God
A Contemporary Testimony
Preamble
1. As followers of Jesus Christ1, living in this world–which some seek to control, but which others view with despair–2we declare with joy and trust:
Our world belongs to God!3
1 Ps.103:19-22 2 Ps.4:6 3 Ps 24:1
2. From the beginning,1 through all the crises of our times, until his kingdom fully comes,2 God keeps covenant forever. Our world belongs to him!3 God is King! Let the earth be glad! Christ is Victor; his rule has begun. Hallelujah! The Spirit is at work, renewing the creation. Praise the Lord!
1Ps 145 2 Rom. 11:33-36 3 Rev. 4-5
3. But rebel cries sound through the world:1 some, crushed by failure or hardened by pain, give up on life and hope and God; others, shaken, but still hoping for human triumph,2 work feverishly to realize their dreams.3 As believers in God we join this struggle of the spirits, testing our times by the Spirit’s sure Word.
1 Ps 2 2 Eph. 6:10-18 3 1 John 4
4. Our world has fallen into sin; but rebellion and sin can never dethrone God.1 He does not abandon the work of his hand; the heavens still declare his glory. He preserves his world, sending seasons, sun, and rain,2 upholding his creatures, renewing the earth, directing all things to their purpose. He promised a Savior; now the whole creation groans3 in the birth pangs of a new creation.
1 Ps. 19 2 Acts 14:15-17 3 Rom. 8:18-25
5. God holds this world1 in sovereign love. He kept his promise, sending Jesus into the world. He poured out his Spirit2 and broadcast the news that sinners who repent and believe in Jesus3 can live and breathe and move again as members of the family of God.
1 John 3:1-21 2 Acts 2 3 Acts 17:22-31
6. We rejoice in the goodness of God, renounce the works of darkness, and dedicate ourselves to holy living. As covenant partners, called to faithful obedience,1 and set free for joyful praise, we offer our hearts and lives2 to do God’s work in his world.3 With tempered impatience, eager to see injustice ended, we expect the Day of the Lord. And we are confident that the light which shines in the present darkness4 will fill the earth when Christ appears.
Come, Lord Jesus!5 Our world belongs to you.
1 Mic. 6:8 2 Rom. 12:1-2 3 2 Pet. 3 4 1 Cor. 15 5 Rev. 22:20
Creation
7. Our world belongs to God–not to us or earthly powers,1 not to demons, fate, or chance. The earth is the Lord’s! 1 Deut. 10:12-14
8. In the beginning, God–1Father, Word, and Spirit–2called this world into being out of nothing, and gave it shape and order.
1 Gen 1 2 Ps. 33:1-11 3 Isa. 40
9. God formed the land, the sky, and the seas,1 making the earth a fitting home for the plants, animals,2 and humans he created. The world was filled with color, beauty, and variety; it provided room for work and play, worship and service, love and laughter. God rested–3and gave us rest. In the beginning everything was very good.
1 Gen. 1-2 2 Ps. 104 3 Mark 2:27-28
10. As God’s creatures we are made in his image1 to represent him on earth,2 and to live in loving communion with him. By sovereign appointment we are3 earthkeepers and caretakers: loving our neighbor, tending the creation, and meeting our needs. God uses our skills in the unfolding and well-being of his world.
1 Gen. 1:26-30 2 Ps. 8 3 Matt. 22:35-40
11. Male and female,1 all of us are to represent God2 as we do our tasks. Whether single or married, we are called to live within God’s order3 in lives of loving service.
1 Gen. 1:26-28 2 Gal. 3:26-28 3 1 Cor. 7
12. No matter what our age, or race, or color,1 we are the human family together, for the Creator made us all. Since life is his gift, we foster the well-being of others,2 protecting the unborn and helpless from harm.3
1 Acts 17:22-31 2 Ps. 139 3 Lev. 19; 25:35-38
13. God directs and bends to his will1 all that happens in his world. As history unfolds in ways we only know in part,2 all things–from crops to grades, from jobs to laws–are under his control. God is present in our world by his Word and Spirit. The faithfulness3 of our great Provider gives sense to our days and hope to our years. The future is secure, for our world belongs to God.
1 Matt. 6:25-34 2 Ps. 147, 148 3 Ps. 111
The Fall
14. Early in human history our first parents listened to the intruder’s voice.1 Rather than living by the Creator’s word of life, they fell for Satan’s lie and sinned! They forgot their place; they tried to be like God. But as sinners they feared the nearness of God and hid from him.
1 Gen. 3
15. Apart from grace1 we prove each day that we are guilty sinners. Fallen in that first sin, we fail to thank God, we break his laws, we ignore our tasks. Looking for life without God, we find only death; grasping for freedom outside his law,2 we trap ourselves in Satan’s snares; pursuing pleasure, we lose the gift of joy.
1 Rom. 1:18-3:23; 5:12 2 1 John 1:8-10
16. When humans no longer show God’s image,1 all creation suffers. We abuse the creation or idolize it.2 We are estranged from our Creator, from our neighbor, and from all that God has made.
1 Rom. 1 2 Eph. 4:17-19
17. All spheres of life–1 marriage and family, work and worship, school and state,our play and art–bear the wounds of our rebellion.2 Sin is present everywhere-3 in pride of race, in arrogance of nations, in abuse of the weak and helpless, in disregard for water, air, and soil, in destruction of living creatures, in slavery, deceit, terror, and war,4 in worship of false gods, and frantic escape from reality.5 We have become victims of our own sin.
1 Rom. 1 2 Ps. 14 3 Amos 1-2 4 Jer. 17:9 5 Isa. 28:7-8
18. In all our strivings1 to excuse or save ourselves, we stand condemned2 before the God of Truth. But our world, broken and scarred,3 still belongs to God. He holds it together4 and gives us hope.
1 Ps. 89 2 Rom. 1:18 3 Jer. 14 4 Rom. 5:2-5; 15:13
Redemption
19. While justly angry1 God did not turn his back on a world bent on destruction; he turned his face to it in love.2 With patience and tender care he set out3 on the long road of redemption to reclaim the lost as his people4 and the world as his kingdom.
1 Gen. 3:9-15 2 John 3:16 3 Luke 1:68-75; 3:23-37 4 Rev. 11:15
20. Although Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden1 and their work was burdened by sin’s effects, God held on to them in love. He promised to crush the evil forces they unleashed.
1 Gen. 3:15-19
21. When evil filled the earth,1 God judged it with a flood, but rescued Noah and his family2 and animals of all kinds. He covenanted with every creature that seasons would continue and that such destruction would not come again until the final day.
1 Gen. 6-9 2 1 Pet. 3:18-22
22. The Creator pledged to be God1 to Abraham and his children, blessing all nations through them as they lived obediently before him. He chose Israel as his special people2 to show the glory of his name,3 the power of his love,4 and the wisdom of his ways. He gave them his laws through Moses,5 he led them by rulers and teachers, so that they would be a people whose God was king.
1 Gen. 12:1-3 2 Deut. 7 3 Rom. 9 4 Mic. 6:8 5 Ps. 103:7
23. When Israel spurned God’s love1 by lusting after other gods, by trusting in power and wealth, and by hurting the weak, God scattered his people among the nations. Yet he kept a faithful few2 and promised them the Messiah: a prophet to speak the clear word, a king to crush the serpent’s head, a priestly servant willing to be broken for sinners.3 And he promised the gift of the Spirit4 to bend stubborn will to new obedience.
1 2 Chron. 36 2 Isa. 10 3 Isa. 53 4 Jer. 11; 31
Christ
24. God remembered his promise1 to reconcile the world to himself; he has come among us2 in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh.3 He is the long-awaited Savior,4 fully human and fully divine, conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.
1 2 Cor. 5:18-21 2 Gal. 4:4-7 3 John 1:1-14 4 Luke 1-2
25. In the events of his earthly life–1 his temptations and suffering,2 his teaching and miracles, his battles with demons and talks with sinners–Jesus made present in deed and in word the coming rule of God.
1 Luke 4 2 Phil. 2:1-11
26. As the second Adam he chose1 the path we had rejected. As our representative, serving God perfectly, and loving even those who scorned him,2 Christ showed us how a righteous child of God lives.
1 Rom. 5 21 Pet. 2:21-25
27. As our substitute1 he suffered all his years on earth, especially in the horrible torture of the cross. He carried God’s judgment on our sin;2 his sacrifice removes our guilt. He walked out of the grave, the Lord of life! He conquered sin and death.3 We are set right with God, we are given Bridge Community, and called to walk with him4 in freedom from sin’s dominion.
1 Isa. 53 2 Heb. 10 3 Rom. 4:18-5:11 4 Gal. 5
28 Being both God and man,1 Jesus is the only Mediator between God and his people. He alone paid the debt of our sin;2 there is no other Savior! In him the Father chose those3 whom he would save. His electing love sustains our hope: God’s grace is free to save sinners who offer nothing but their need for mercy.
1 1 Tim. 2:5-6 2 Acts 4:10-12 3 Eph. 1:1-14
29. Jesus ascended in triumph1 to his heavenly throne.2 There he hears our prayers, pleads our cause before the Father,3 and rules the world.4 Blessed are all5 who take refuge in him.
1 Acts 1:1-11 2 Eph. 1:18-23 3 1 John 2:1-2 4 Rev. 5 5 Rom. 8:31-39
The Spirit
30. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit1 was given to the church. In pouring his Spirit on many peoples God overcomes the divisions of Babel;2 now people from every tongue, tribe, and nation are gathered into the unity of the body of Christ.
1 Acts 2 2 Rev. 7
31. Jesus stays with us in the Spirit,1 who renews our hearts, moves us to faith, leads us in the truth,2 stands by us in our need, and makes our obedience fresh and vibrant.
1 John 14 2 2 Cor. 3:7-18
32. The Spirit thrusts1 God’s people into worldwide mission. He impels young and old,2 men and women, to go next door and far away3 into science and art, media and marketplace with the good news of God’s grace. The Spirit goes before them and with them,4 convincing the world of sin and pleading the cause of Christ.
1 Matt. 28:18-20 2 Matt. 9:35-38 3 Luke 14:15-24 4 John 16:5-15
33. The Spirit’s gifts are here to stay1 in rich variety–fitting responses to timely needs. We thankfully see each other as gifted members of the fellowship2 which delights in the creative Spirit’s work. He gives more than enough to each believer for God’s praise and our neighbor’s welfare.3
1 1 Cor. 12-14 2 Eph. 4 3 Rom. 12
Scripture
34. God has not left this world1 without ways of knowing him. He shows his power and majesty in the creation; he has mercifully spoken through prophets, history writers, poets,2 gospel writers, and apostles–and most clearly through the Son. The Spirit who moved humans3 to write the Word of God4 speaks to us in the Bible.
1 Rom. 1 2 Heb. 1 3 2 Tim. 3:14-17 4 2 Pet. 1:12-21
35. The Bible is the Word of God, record and tool of his redeeming work. It is the Word of Truth,1 fully reliable in leading us2 to know God and have life3 in Jesus Christ.
1 James 1:18 2 Acts 8:26-39 3 John 20:30-31
36. The Bible tells God’s mighty acts1 in the unfolding of covenant history.2 It is one revelation in two Testaments, which shows a single plan of salvation, and reveals God’s will infallibly. As God’s people hear the Word and do it,3 they are equipped for discipleship, to witness to the good news: Our world belongs to God and he loves it deeply.
1 Acts 7 2 1 Cor. 10:1-11 3 2 Tim. 3:14-17
God’s New People1
Eph. 1-4
37. In our world, bent under the weight of sin, Christ gathers a new community.1 Satan and his evil forces seek whom they may confuse and swallow;2 but Jesus builds his church,3 his Spirit guides, and grace abounds.
1 1 Pet. 5:8-11 2 1 Cor. 3:10-17 3 Matt. 16:13-19
38. The church is the fellowship of those1 who confess Jesus as Lord. She is the Bride of Christ, his chosen partner,2 loved by Jesus and loving him:3 delighting in his presence, seeking him in prayer,4 silent before the mystery of his love.
1 Rev. 21:9 2 1 Pet. 2:4-10 3 Eph. 2 4 Col. 1:1-23; 3:1-17
39. Our New Life in Christ1 is celebrated and nourished in the fellowship of congregations2 where God’s name is praised, his Word proclaimed,3 his way taught; where sins are confessed,4 prayers and gifts are offered,5 and sacraments are celebrated.
1 Acts 2:41-47 2 Eph. 4:1-5:20 3 Rom. 10 4 Eph 3:1-13 5 Matt. 6:5-15
40. God meets us in the sacraments,1 holy acts in which his deeds2 elicit our response. God reminds and assures us in baptism,3 whether of those newly born or newly converted,4 that his covenant love saves us, that he washes away our guilt,5 gives us the Spirit, and expects our love in return. In the supper our Lord offers6 the bread and cup to believers to guarantee our share in his death and resurrection, and to unite us to him7 and to each other. We take this food gladly,8 announcing as we eat that Jesus is our life and that he shall come again9 to call us to the Supper of the Lamb.
1 Gen. 17 2 Ex. 12 3 Matt. 28:18-20 4 Acts 2:37-41 5 Col. 2:9-14 6 Matt. 26:26-29
7 1 Cor. 10:16-17 8 1 Cor. 11:17-34 9 Rev. 19:6-9
41. The Spirit empowers each member1 to take part in the ministry of all, so that hurts are healed and all may rejoice2 in the life and growth of the fellowship.
1 1 Cor. 12-13 2 1 Cor. 1:1-9
42. The church is a gathering1 of forgiven sinners, called to be holy,2 dedicated to service. Saved by the patient grace of God,3 we deal patiently with others. Knowing our own weakness and failures, we bring good news to all sinners with understanding of their condition, and with hope in God.
1 Eph 2 2 1 Pet. 1 3 Matt. 5:43-48
43. We grieve that the church1 which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope, and spans all time, place, race, and language2 has become a broken communion in a broken world. When we struggle for the purity of the church and for the righteousness God demands, we pray for saintly courage. When our pride or blindness blocks the unity of God’s household, we seek forgiveness. We marvel that the Lord gathers the broken pieces3 to do his work, and that he blesses us still with joy, new members, and surprising evidences of unity. We commit ourselves to seeking and expressing the oneness of all who follow Jesus.
1 Eph. 4 2Gal. 3:26-29 3John 17
The Mission of God’s People
44. Following the apostles, the church is sent–1 sent with the gospel of the kingdom2 to make disciples of all nations, to feed the hungry,3 and to proclaim the assurance that in the name of Christ4 there is forgiveness of sin and New Life for all who repent and believe–to tell the news that our world belongs to God. In a world estranged from God, where millions face confusing choices, this mission is central to our being,5 for we announce the one name that saves. We repent of leaving this work to a few, we pray for brothers and sisters who suffer for the faith, and we rejoice that the Spirit6 is waking us to see our mission in God’s world.
1 Matt. 28:18-20 2 John 20:21-23 3 1 John 3:11-24 4 2 Cor. 5:11-6:2 5 Acts 1:8 6 1 Thess. 1
45. The rule of Jesus Christ covers the whole world.1 To follow this Lord is to serve him everywhere,2 without fitting in, as light in the darkness,3 as salt in a spoiling world.
1 Phil. 2:1-10; 4:8-9 2 Rom. 12 3 Matt. 5:13-16
46. We serve Christ by thankfully receiving our life1 as a gift from his hand. We protest and resist all abuse and harm of this gift2 by abortion, pollution, gluttony, addiction, and all foolish risks.
1 1 Cor. 6:19-20 2 Ps. 139
47. Since God made us male and female in his image,1 one sex may not look down on the other, nor should we flaunt or exploit our sexuality. Our roles as men and women must conform2 to God’s gifts and commands3 as we shape our cultural patterns. Sexuality is disordered in our fallen world;4 grief and loneliness are the result;5 but Christ’s renewing work gives hope for order and healing and surrounds suffering persons6 with a compassionate community.
1 Gen. 1:26-2:25 2 Song of Songs 3 Gal. 3:28 4 Prov. 7 51 Cor. 7:9-20 6 John 8:1-11
48. We serve Christ as singles1, whether for a time or a life, by undivided devotion to the work of God and so add our love and service to the building of his kingdom.
1 1 Cor. 7:25-35
49. In marriage and family,1 we serve God by reflecting his covenant love in life-long loyalty, and by teaching his ways, so that children may know Jesus as their Lord and learn to use their gifts in a life of joyful service.
1 Eph 5:1-6:4
50. In education we seek to acknowledge the Lord1 by promoting schools and teaching2 in which the light of his Word shines in all learning,3 where students, of whatever ability, are treated as persons who bear God’s image4 and have a place in his plan.
1 Prov. 4; 9:10 2 Ps. 119:105 3 Col. 1:17 4 Deut. 6:1-9
51. In our work, even in dull routine,1 we hear the call to serve our Lord. We must work for more than wages,2 and manage for more than profit,3 so that mutual respect and the just use of goods and skills4 may shape the work place, and so that, while we earn or profit, useful products and services may result. Rest and leisure are gifts of God5 to relax us and to set us free to discover and to explore. Believing that he provides for us, we can rest more trustingly6 and entertain ourselves more simply.
1 Eph 4:17-32 2 2 Thess. 3:6-13 3 Eph 6:5-9 4 1 Thess. 4:9-12 5 Phil 4:8 6 Heb. 4:1-13
52. Grateful for the advances in science and technology1 we make careful use of their products,2 on guard against idolatry and harmful research, and careful to use them in ways that answer3 to God’s demands to love our neighbor and to care for the earth and its creatures.4
1 Gen. 1:28-31; 9:1-7 2 1 Chron. 29:1-19 3 1 Tim. 4:1-5 4 Rom. 8:19-23
53. Since God establishes the powers that rule,1 we are called to respect them,2 unless they trample his Word. We are to obey God in politics,3 pray for our rulers, and help governments to know his will for public life. Knowing that God’s people live under many forms of government, we are thankful for the freedoms4 enjoyed by citizens of many lands; we grieve with those who live under oppression,5 and we work for their liberty6 to live without fear.
1 John 19:11 2 Rom. 13:1-7 3 Acts 4 4 Isa. 61:1-2 5 Gen. 18 6 Rom. 6:16-19
54. We call on governments to do public justice1 and to protect the freedoms and rights2 of individuals, groups, and institutions,3 so that each may freely do4 the tasks God gives. We urge governments to ensure the well-being of all citizens5 by protecting children from abuse and pornography,6 by guarding the elderly and poor,7 and by promoting the freedom to speak, to work,8 to worship, and to associate.
1 Matt. 5:6 2 Isa. 61:8 3 Luke 4:17-21 4 1 Tim. 2:1-4 5 Ps. 72 6 Isa. 1:16-17
7 Lev. 19:13-16 8 Jer. 9:23-24; 22:15-17
55. Following the Prince of Peace,1 we are called to be peacemakers, and to promote harmony and order. We call on our governments to work for peace;2 we deplore the arms race3 and the horrors that we risk. We call on all nations to limit their weapons to those needed in the defense of justice and freedom. We pledge to walk in ways of peace,4 confessing that our world belongs to God; he is our sure defense.
1 James 3:18 2 Mic. 4:1-5 3 Matt. 26:52 4 Matt. 5:9
New Creation
56. Our hope for a new earth is not tied1 to what humans can do,2 for we believe that one day3 every challenge to God’s rule and every resistance to his will shall be crushed. Then his kingdom shall come fully,4 and our Lord shall rule forever.
1 1 Pet. 1:3-12 2 2 Pet. 3:1-13 3 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11 4 Rev. 11:15
57. We long for that day1 when Jesus will return as triumphant king, when the dead will be raised2 and all people will stand before his judgment.3 We face that day without fear, for the Judge is our Savior. Our daily lives of service aim for the moment4 when the Son will present his people to the Father.
Then God will be shown to be true, holy, and gracious. All who have been on the Lord’s side5 will be honored, the fruit of even small acts of 6 obedience will be displayed; but tyrants and oppressors, heretics, and all who deny the Lord will be damned.
1Rev. 20:11-21:8 21 Cor. 15 3John 5:28-29 42 Thess. 1:5-10 52 Cor. 5:10 6Matt. 25:31-46
58. With the whole creation1 we wait for the purifying fire of judgment. For then we will see the Lord face to face.2 He will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight. Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish3 who made us a kingdom and priests.4 God will be all in all, righteousness and peace will flourish,5 everything will be made new, and every eye will see at last that our world belongs to God!
Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.6
1Rom. 8:18-39 2Rev. 21-22 3Rev. 5 41 Cor. 15:28 5Isa. 11:6-9; 60:11, 19-20; 65:17-25 6Rev. 22:17, 20
What We Believe About Baptism
Jesus commanded his disciples to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19. Our desire is to be obedient to this command. Bridge Community practices both believers baptism and infant baptism.
Believers Baptism
In Acts 2:38-39 Peter was asked in response to the gospel message what people should do to be saved? He stated, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Peter’s first command was to repent. The Bible teaches that we are sinners from birth. Sin alienates us from our heavenly Father and leaves us spiritually dead. Our sin has made us so impure that we must undergo a cleansing which only God can accomplish. When we believe and trust Jesus Christ as the only answer to our sin problem and look to the cross and his blood as our cleansing from sin, we receive Bridge Community. We get a fresh start. We are born again. We become dead to our sin and alive to Jesus Christ. We receive his resurrection life into our lives. In many ways the sinful self dies and Christ becomes alive in us. Repentance means to change – to change from our way which leads to death to God’s way. The Holy Spirit is given by Jesus to help us build a God-honoring life. Over time I become more and more dead to sin and increasingly live a holy life.
Believers baptism is a powerful symbol of this reality. It is the outward symbol of this inner change. As surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly Christ’s blood and his Spirit wash away my soul’s impurity. Romans 6:3-4 state this succinctly: “All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead,… we too may live a Bridge Community.” Colossians 2:12 states: “For you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” Going under the water symbolizes death and coming out of the water symbolizes life.
Believers baptism is also a symbol of our baptism (immersion) into the family of God. The new believer is no longer alienated from God, but becomes immersed in his family – the church. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.” I Corinthians 12:13
Bridge Community encourages people who have repented and found life in Jesus Christ to publicly acknowledge this through profession of faith and believers baptism.
Infant baptism
Bridge Community also practices “infant baptism”, or, more accurately, the baptism of children of Christian parents. God has always included the children of believers in his plans to redeem the world. In Genesis 17:7 when God established a relationship with Abraham and promised to be his God, he also promised that “I shall be your God and the God of your children.” Circumcision was the sign of God’s intention to keep his promise. Jesus welcomed children into the inner circle of his relationships. “Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). Jesus rebuked those who tried to push the children away. He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14). The apostle Paul made clear that children of believers are holy in the eyes of God (I Corinthians 7:14). In Acts 2:38-39 God once again includes the children of believers in his plan of salvation. The Church from its earliest records has practiced infant baptism.
When children of believers are born they become part of a family, but they also become part of the family of God. Members of the church family make a commitment to love them, encourage them, train them and help them grow to be fully devoted followers of Jesus. God himself takes them under his wing and shepherds them. They are literally “immersed” or “baptized” into the body of Christ and the love of their heavenly Father. They become part of the family even before they are able to repent of their sin and turn to Jesus. We understand this as a beautiful sign of God’s grace. Baptism is the symbol of their inclusion or immersion into the family of God.
Bridge Community encourages believing parents to bring their children forward publicly for baptism. These children are encouraged as they grow to acknowledge Jesus personally as their Lord and Savior. When they reach an age where they are capable of making a personal and informed decision to follow Jesus and have done that, they too are encouraged to make a public profession of their faith.
Because Bridge Community has made an attempt to encourage diversity, to incorporate people of different theological backgrounds, and to expose ourselves to other traditions in the broader Christian community, we have attracted people who have a variety of ideas concerning infant baptism in our church family. Not all agree that children of believers should be baptized. Some prefer to “dedicate” their children to God and allow them to be baptized later at the time of their personal profession of faith in Jesus. Bridge Community has tried to remain flexible and to respect those who hold a different view on these matters. From time to time you will see “dedications” of children in our worship. These children are every bit as much a part of the family of God. We eagerly anticipate the day when they will profess their faith and be baptized in public worship
Summary
Baptism is meant for the upbuilding of the church family. It is meant to be a blessing to the body of Christ – a sign of God’s grace and love. It is meant to portray the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is meant to celebrate the inclusion of people into the church family and the kingdom of God. In Bridge Community we are committed to keeping this positive focus. We will not become narrow or legalistic on questions regarding baptism. We will not allow what God has meant for our blessing to become an opportunity for dissension.
What We Believe About The Lord’s Supper, Communion, or The Eucharist
It is interesting that Jesus never told his followers to remember his birth. Yet he did instruct them to remember his death. He asked them to do this in a very meaningful, powerful, and visible way:
“On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus 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 death until he comes.” I Corinthians 11:23-26
What is the Lord’s Supper?
1. It is a remembrance of Jesus death. It is a means by which we remember his death on the cross in payment for the entire sin of the world. It helps us focus on that event as the central act of Jesus ministry enabled us to have fellowship again with a holy God. It is a time to take our sin, failure, and brokenness to God. It is a time to receive his forgiveness, healing, mercy, and grace. It is a time of profound thankfulness.
2. It is a fellowship with God himself. By eating the bread and drinking the juice we are united with God. He is present in the sharing of the elements of communion. We experience a deepening of our relationship with him. “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” I Corinthians 10:16. It is a time to commune with him.
3. It is a fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a family meal. It unites us. “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” I Corinthians 10:17
4. It is food for eternal life. As we take food and drink we are physically strengthened for our daily existence. As we eat the bread and drink the juice at the Lord’s Supper we are refreshed and strengthened in the inner person, in our spirits for the life he calls us now to lead. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6: 48,51
5. It is a witness. It is a public proclamation of Jesus death.
How do I prepare for the Lord’s Supper?
Participation in the Supper is a profoundly personal experience, because in the Supper we truly encounter the person of Christ. And in encountering Christ, we encounter one another. Our union with Christ is personal but never individual. To be in Christ is to be in common union-in communion-with all who are in Christ.
“Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” I Corinthians 11:27-28
1. By taking a look at my life. It has been said that an unexamined life is not worth living. Communion is a key time to assess the state of our soul. To look at our priorities. To see who and what we are serving. To ask God to reveal to us blind spots in our lives.
2. By confessing my sin. By acknowledging my sin to God – telling him I’m sorry for what I have done and the offense it has created.
3. By recommitting my life to God.
“I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Romans 12:1-2
4. By cleaning up my relationships
“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
Who should participate in the Lord’s Supper?
Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30. In keeping with this verse we invite those who know Jesus as saviour, their children and those seeking to know Jesus, to participate in the supper.
May children participate in the Lord’s Supper?
We encourage families to come forward together for communion. Parents are to take primary responsibility for whether their children take the bread and the juice. We would expect that any child participating would have a good understanding of what they are doing. If a child desires to participate and is showing a genuine interest in the things of God, we encourage them to take a special class that is geared to help them gain a deeper understanding of these matters.