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Weekly Update
This Week at Bridge Church We’re glad you’re here! Here’s a look at what’s happening around Bridge Church this week. Whether you’re looking for a place to connect, something for your family, or a way to keep growing, there’s a place for you. This Week’s Message The Battle Is Not Yours Pastor Orlando Juarez What if worship is more than a response to what God has done? What if praise can change the way we face what’s coming against us? This weekend, we looked at how praise shifts our focus from the problem to the Problem-Solver and reminds us that the battle belongs to God. When we choose to worship in the middle of challenging circumstances, we’re choosing to trust God before we see the outcome. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch OnlineCheck Out the Blog Wednesday, October 7 Women’s Book Study - 10:00am in the Community Room WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT BRIDGE CHURCH Family Dinner - 5:30pm Bridge Kids, Bridge JV, and Bridge Youth - 6:30pm Breakout Groups - 6:30pm in the Auditorium Bridge Moms - 6:30pm in the Community Room Thursday, October 8 Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the JV Room Healing Sessions - 7:00pm in Bridge Kids (Uptown Room) Friday, October 9 Latino Connect - 6:00pm in the Community Room Sunday, October 11 SUNDAY SERVICE Pre-Service Prayer - 9:20am in the Auditorium Sunday Service & Missions Sunday - 10:00am in the Auditorium. It begins with family worship. Bridge Kids, JV, and Youth will be dismissed to their classrooms after worship. Monday, October 12 Women’s Prayer - 9:00am in the Community Room Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the Community Room UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Camp Out - October 23-25. Click HERE to register. Trunks and Treats - Sunday, November 1. Click HERE for more info on this incredible community event. Giving Your giving impacts people both locally and around the world. To learn more about the ministries and the missionaries your giving supports, click HERE. Thank you for being part of what God is doing through Bridge Church.Give HereNew here? We’d love to connect! 📲 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 💬 Need pastoral care or have a question? We’d love to hear from you. 📩 Subscribe to the Weekly Update and stay connected with what’s happening each week.. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM 7731 E. 119th Dr., Bixby, OK 74008 918-394-4330
October 6, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Update
This Week at Bridge Church We’re glad you’re here! Here’s a look at what’s happening around Bridge Church this week. Whether you’re looking for a place to connect, something for your family, or a way to keep growing, there’s a place for you. This Week’s Message The Battle Is Not Yours Pastor Orlando Juarez What if worship is more than a response to what God has done? What if praise can change the way we face what’s coming against us? This weekend, we looked at how praise shifts our focus from the problem to the Problem-Solver and reminds us that the battle belongs to God. When we choose to worship in the middle of challenging circumstances, we’re choosing to trust God before we see the outcome. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch OnlineCheck Out the Blog Wednesday, October 7 Women’s Book Study - 10:00am in the Community Room WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT BRIDGE CHURCH Family Dinner - 5:30pm Bridge Kids, Bridge JV, and Bridge Youth - 6:30pm Breakout Groups - 6:30pm in the Auditorium Bridge Moms - 6:30pm in the Community Room Thursday, October 8 Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the JV Room Healing Sessions - 7:00pm in Bridge Kids (Uptown Room) Friday, October 9 Latino Connect - 6:00pm in the Community Room Sunday, October 11 SUNDAY SERVICE Pre-Service Prayer - 9:20am in the Auditorium Sunday Service & Missions Sunday - 10:00am in the Auditorium. It begins with family worship. Bridge Kids, JV, and Youth will be dismissed to their classrooms after worship. Monday, October 12 Women’s Prayer - 9:00am in the Community Room Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the Community Room UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Camp Out - October 23-25. Click HERE to register. Trunks and Treats - Sunday, November 1. Click HERE for more info on this incredible community event. Giving Your giving impacts people both locally and around the world. To learn more about the ministries and the missionaries your giving supports, click HERE. Thank you for being part of what God is doing through Bridge Church.Give HereNew here? We’d love to connect! 📲 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 💬 Need pastoral care or have a question? We’d love to hear from you. 📩 Subscribe to the Weekly Update and stay connected with what’s happening each week.. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM
7731 E. 119th Dr., Bixby, OK 74008
918-394-4330
September 30, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
What Does Your Past Tell You About God?
What Does Your Past Tell You About God We all remember certain moments more easily than others. We remember the conversation we wish we could redo. The mistake we wish we could take back. The season when everything seemed to fall apart. Sometimes, those memories become more than memories. They become the lens through which we see ourselves. Soon, memories become identity. We start thinking: I always mess up.
I should be further along by now.
Maybe I’ve gone too far. But what if our memories are telling us the wrong story? What if the same past we use to remind ourselves of our failures could also remind us of God’s faithfulness? Remembering Changes How We See In Nehemiah 8, the people of Israel gathered to hear the Word of God after returning from exile. As they listened, they began to weep. They were confronted with their history. They could see where they had failed to follow God, and their response was grief. But Nehemiah told them not to stay there. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 Their failures were real. But their failures were not the whole story. As the people continued reading the Law, they rediscovered the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot. It was a celebration designed to remind Israel of God’s faithfulness during their years in the wilderness. They had wandered.
They had complained.
They had failed.
But God had provided. He gave them food when they were hungry, water when they were thirsty, clothing that did not wear out, shelter in the wilderness, and His presence to guide them. The wilderness wasn’t only a record of Israel’s failures. It was also a record of God’s faithfulness. Look Back Differently Sometimes, we look back on certain seasons in our lives and only see what went wrong. Maybe you regret some decisions you made. Maybe you didn’t respond to God the way you wish you had. Maybe you’re still living through consequences of choices you made. But what if you looked back through a different lens? Instead of asking, “Where was God?” ask, “Where was God faithful?” The tone of that question matters. We can ask it with frustration, as though we’re accusing God of being absent. Or we can ask it with faith, honestly looking back at our story and recognizing the ways He was present, even when we didn’t see it clearly at the time. Where did He provide when you didn’t know how you would move forward?
Where did He give you strength?
Who did He place in your life at just the right time?Where did He remain faithful, even when you weren’t? Remembering God’s faithfulness doesn’t mean pretending our failures didn’t happen. It means refusing to let our failures become the only part of the story we remember. In Nehemiah 8, God’s people responded to His faithfulness with rejoicing, generosity, and community. Their remembrance didn’t keep them looking backward. It moved them forward. When we remember what God has done, it changes how we live. Remember Jesus This is ultimately where the story points us. During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He also invited the thirsty to come to Him and receive living water (John 7:37–38). The God who had provided light and water for His people in the wilderness was revealing something greater. His provision wasn’t ultimately about food, water, shelter, or a destination. His greatest provision was Himself. And that is still true for us. You may have reasons to look back with regret. But you also have reasons to remember. Remember His presence.
Remember His provision.
Remember His mercy.
Remember His faithfulness. Your past may remind you where you have fallen short, but Scripture reminds us that God’s faithfulness has never depended on our perfection. So take some time to look back at your own story. Don’t only look for what went wrong. Look for where God was faithful. Because the wilderness you remember as evidence of your failure may actually be one of the clearest places to see just how faithful God has been.
September 29, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Update
This Week at Bridge Church We’re glad you’re here! Here’s a look at what’s happening around Bridge Church this week. Whether you’re looking for a place to connect, something for your family, or a way to keep growing, there’s a place for you. This Week’s Message The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength Pastor Orlando Juarez It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong, what we’ve missed, or where we’ve fallen short. But what happens when we choose to remember God’s faithfulness instead? This weekend, we looked at how God’s people learned to recognize His provision and goodness, even after seasons of failure and hardship. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch OnlineCheck Out the Blog Wednesday, September 30 Wednesday at Bridge Church 5:30pm - Family dinner 6:30pm - Worship Night in the auditorium 6:30pm - Bridge JV and Bridge Youth (grades 5-12) Thursday, October 1 Women’s Book Study - 10:00am in the Community Room Healing Sessions - 7:00pm in Bridge Kids (Uptown Room) Friday, October 2 Latino Connect - 6:00pm in the Community Room Saturday, October 3 Men’s Breakfast - 8:00am in the lobby Bridge Youth Bible Study - 9:00am in the youth room. For grades 7-12. Sunday, October 4 Sunday Services 9:20am - Pre-service prayer in the auditorium 10:00am - Sunday service begins in the auditorium with family worship. Bridge Kids, JV, and Youth will be dismissed to their classrooms after worship. Monday, October 5 Women’s Prayer - 9:00am in the Community Room Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the Community Room UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Camp Out - October 23-25. Click HERE to register. Trunks and Treats - Sunday, November 1. Click HERE for more info on this incredible community event. Giving Your giving impacts people both locally and around the world. To learn more about the ministries and the missionaries your giving supports, click HERE. Thank you for being part of what God is doing through Bridge Church.Give HereNew here? We’d love to connect! 📲 Follow us on , Instagram and YouTube. 💬 Need pastoral care or have a question? We’d love to hear from you. 📩 Subscribe to the Weekly Update and stay connected with what’s happening each week.. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM
7731 E. 119th Dr., Bixby, OK 74008
918-394-4330
September 23, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
When Good Things Become Substitutes for Jesus
Most of us would never intentionally choose a ritual over a relationship. But sometimes, without realizing it, that’s exactly what happens. We start with something meaningful. We pray because we want to know God. We read Scripture because we want to hear from Him. We go to church because we want to grow. We worship because we want to honor Him. Then, over time, those same things can become routine. We still do them. We just don’t always stop to think about the One they were meant to lead us toward. That raises an important question: Can something good become something that gets in the way of what’s better? When the Means Becomes the End The Old Testament is filled with sacrifices, feasts, offerings, priests, and instructions for approaching God. These things mattered. God gave them to His people for a purpose, but they were never meant to be the destination. Hebrews 10:1 describes the law as “only a shadow of the good things that are coming.” A shadow is real, but it isn’t the person casting it. It points beyond itself. The sacrifices pointed toward Jesus. The feasts pointed toward Jesus. The priesthood pointed toward Jesus. The entire system was teaching God’s people about sin, holiness, forgiveness, sacrifice, and ultimately God’s desire to dwell with His people. But there was a danger of becoming so focused on the system that they missed what the system was pointing toward. We can do the same thing. When Routine Replaces Relationship Think about the things you regularly do in your relationship with God. Maybe you have a Bible-reading plan. Maybe you pray every morning. Maybe you listen to worship music on your way to work. Maybe you never miss church. Those are all good things. But ask yourself: Are these practices helping me know Jesus, or am I simply measuring how well I’m doing at being a Christian? There’s a difference. Prayer isn’t about checking a box. It’s about talking to your Father. Reading Scripture isn’t about completing a plan. It’s about knowing the God who has revealed Himself through His Word. Gathering with the church isn’t about maintaining attendance. It’s about being part of the body of Christ. The only reason the practice has value is because of the relationship. When we forget that, something intended to draw us closer to God can quietly become another form of performance. Draw Near This is what makes Hebrews 10 so powerful. After explaining that Jesus offered Himself once for all, the writer gives us an invitation: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” — Hebrews 10:22 Draw near. Not hide. Not perform. Not prove yourself worthy. Draw near. Our confidence isn’t based on how consistently we pray, how much Scripture we read, or how well we managed to get everything right. Hebrews 10:23 tells us to hold tightly to our hope because God can be trusted to keep His promise. That changes the way we approach spiritual practices. Why Does It Matter? We pray because we have a Father who wants us to draw near. We read Scripture because we want to know Him. We worship because He is worthy. We gather because we are part of His body. We serve because love moves us to action. The goal isn’t just to become better at the practices. The goal is to become more aware of Jesus through them. So maybe the question isn’t, “Am I doing enough?” Maybe it’s, “Is what I’m doing helping me draw closer to Jesus?” If the answer is yes, keep going. If the answer is no, don’t simply try harder. Stop. Remember what the practice is pointing toward. And draw near to Jesus again. Because the goal was never the ritual. The goal was always the relationship.
September 9, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
What You Need To Know About God
How do you see God when you’ve messed up? Do you expect Him to be disappointed, distant, or waiting for you to do better? Or do you believe He moves toward you with grace? The way we see God shapes the way we relate to Him. And when we look at Scripture, we see a God whose grace moves toward us. Grace Moves Toward Us Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 gives us a powerful picture of the Father’s heart. When the younger son returns home after walking away, his father doesn’t stand back and make him prove himself. He runs to meet him, embraces him, and welcomes him home. That’s the kind of Father Jesus is revealing to us. God’s grace moves toward us. Romans 5:8 says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God didn’t wait for us to become good enough before demonstrate His love for us. He demonstrated His love for us at our worst. Grace isn’t God reluctantly accepting us after we’ve cleaned ourselves up. Grace is God moving toward us with a love we could never earn. Grace Changes Us Grace is more than forgiveness. Grace changes the way we live. Titus 2:11–12 says that God’s grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, and that grace teaches us to turn away from ungodliness and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. Grace doesn’t mean, “God loves me, so I can live however I want.” Grace teaches us a new way to live. We don’t obey God to earn His love. We obey because we have received His love. When our relationship with God is built on performance, obedience can become exhausting. We’re always wondering if we’ve done enough, prayed enough, confessed enough, or been good enough. But when we understand God’s grace, obedience becomes a response to the love we’ve already received. See God as He Is I believe one of the most important things we can do in our relationship with God is allow Scripture to continually shape our understanding of who He is. If your view of God has been shaped by fear, failure, disappointment, or painful experiences with people, bring that view back to Scripture. Look at Jesus. Look at the Father’s heart. Look at the grace that moves toward sinners, brings salvation, and teaches us to live differently. God is good. And when we begin to see Him as He truly is, we can stop living like slaves trying to earn His approval and begin living like sons and daughters who know they’re loved. That’s where grace leads us: not just to a better opinion of God, but to a transformed relationship with Him.
September 1, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Why Does It Matter?
The Jewish feasts can feel like something from another time, another culture, or another part of the Bible. So the question we’re asking in this series is simple: Why does it matter to me? As we look at the fall feasts, we’re not trying to learn how to celebrate them. We’re looking at what they reveal about Jesus and the heart of the Father. Again and again, God has been reminding His people who He is and who they are. We have a tendency to turn our relationship with God into performance. We focus on what we’ve done, what we’ve missed, and whether we’re measuring up. But Jesus shows us a Father who is extravagant in grace, mercy, restoration, provision, and love. The feasts give us the framework, but Jesus is the point. And through it all, we’re learning what it looks like to stop performing for the Father and start living as His children.
Collections
September 1, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Why Does It Matter?
The Jewish feasts can feel like something from another time, another culture, or another part of the Bible. So the question we’re asking in this series is simple: Why does it matter to me? As we look at the fall feasts, we’re not trying to learn how to celebrate them. We’re looking at what they reveal about Jesus and the heart of the Father. Again and again, God has been reminding His people who He is and who they are. We have a tendency to turn our relationship with God into performance. We focus on what we’ve done, what we’ve missed, and whether we’re measuring up. But Jesus shows us a Father who is extravagant in grace, mercy, restoration, provision, and love. The feasts give us the framework, but Jesus is the point. And through it all, we’re learning what it looks like to stop performing for the Father and start living as His children.
October 6, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Update
This Week at Bridge Church We’re glad you’re here! Here’s a look at what’s happening around Bridge Church this week. Whether you’re looking for a place to connect, something for your family, or a way to keep growing, there’s a place for you. This Week’s Message The Battle Is Not Yours Pastor Orlando Juarez What if worship is more than a response to what God has done? What if praise can change the way we face what’s coming against us? This weekend, we looked at how praise shifts our focus from the problem to the Problem-Solver and reminds us that the battle belongs to God. When we choose to worship in the middle of challenging circumstances, we’re choosing to trust God before we see the outcome. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch OnlineCheck Out the Blog Wednesday, October 7 Women’s Book Study - 10:00am in the Community Room WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT BRIDGE CHURCH Family Dinner - 5:30pm Bridge Kids, Bridge JV, and Bridge Youth - 6:30pm Breakout Groups - 6:30pm in the Auditorium Bridge Moms - 6:30pm in the Community Room Thursday, October 8 Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the JV Room Healing Sessions - 7:00pm in Bridge Kids (Uptown Room) Friday, October 9 Latino Connect - 6:00pm in the Community Room Sunday, October 11 SUNDAY SERVICE Pre-Service Prayer - 9:20am in the Auditorium Sunday Service & Missions Sunday - 10:00am in the Auditorium. It begins with family worship. Bridge Kids, JV, and Youth will be dismissed to their classrooms after worship. Monday, October 12 Women’s Prayer - 9:00am in the Community Room Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the Community Room UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Camp Out - October 23-25. Click HERE to register. Trunks and Treats - Sunday, November 1. Click HERE for more info on this incredible community event. Giving Your giving impacts people both locally and around the world. To learn more about the ministries and the missionaries your giving supports, click HERE. Thank you for being part of what God is doing through Bridge Church.Give HereNew here? We’d love to connect! 📲 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 💬 Need pastoral care or have a question? We’d love to hear from you. 📩 Subscribe to the Weekly Update and stay connected with what’s happening each week.. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM
7731 E. 119th Dr., Bixby, OK 74008
918-394-4330
September 29, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Update
This Week at Bridge Church We’re glad you’re here! Here’s a look at what’s happening around Bridge Church this week. Whether you’re looking for a place to connect, something for your family, or a way to keep growing, there’s a place for you. This Week’s Message The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength Pastor Orlando Juarez It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong, what we’ve missed, or where we’ve fallen short. But what happens when we choose to remember God’s faithfulness instead? This weekend, we looked at how God’s people learned to recognize His provision and goodness, even after seasons of failure and hardship. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch OnlineCheck Out the Blog Wednesday, September 30 Wednesday at Bridge Church 5:30pm - Family dinner 6:30pm - Worship Night in the auditorium 6:30pm - Bridge JV and Bridge Youth (grades 5-12) Thursday, October 1 Women’s Book Study - 10:00am in the Community Room Healing Sessions - 7:00pm in Bridge Kids (Uptown Room) Friday, October 2 Latino Connect - 6:00pm in the Community Room Saturday, October 3 Men’s Breakfast - 8:00am in the lobby Bridge Youth Bible Study - 9:00am in the youth room. For grades 7-12. Sunday, October 4 Sunday Services 9:20am - Pre-service prayer in the auditorium 10:00am - Sunday service begins in the auditorium with family worship. Bridge Kids, JV, and Youth will be dismissed to their classrooms after worship. Monday, October 5 Women’s Prayer - 9:00am in the Community Room Women’s Bible Study - 10:00am in the Community Room UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Camp Out - October 23-25. Click HERE to register. Trunks and Treats - Sunday, November 1. Click HERE for more info on this incredible community event. Giving Your giving impacts people both locally and around the world. To learn more about the ministries and the missionaries your giving supports, click HERE. Thank you for being part of what God is doing through Bridge Church.Give HereNew here? We’d love to connect! 📲 Follow us on , Instagram and YouTube. 💬 Need pastoral care or have a question? We’d love to hear from you. 📩 Subscribe to the Weekly Update and stay connected with what’s happening each week.. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM
7731 E. 119th Dr., Bixby, OK 74008
918-394-4330
September 30, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
What Does Your Past Tell You About God?
What Does Your Past Tell You About God We all remember certain moments more easily than others. We remember the conversation we wish we could redo. The mistake we wish we could take back. The season when everything seemed to fall apart. Sometimes, those memories become more than memories. They become the lens through which we see ourselves. Soon, memories become identity. We start thinking: I always mess up.
I should be further along by now.
Maybe I’ve gone too far. But what if our memories are telling us the wrong story? What if the same past we use to remind ourselves of our failures could also remind us of God’s faithfulness? Remembering Changes How We See In Nehemiah 8, the people of Israel gathered to hear the Word of God after returning from exile. As they listened, they began to weep. They were confronted with their history. They could see where they had failed to follow God, and their response was grief. But Nehemiah told them not to stay there. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 Their failures were real. But their failures were not the whole story. As the people continued reading the Law, they rediscovered the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot. It was a celebration designed to remind Israel of God’s faithfulness during their years in the wilderness. They had wandered.
They had complained.
They had failed.
But God had provided. He gave them food when they were hungry, water when they were thirsty, clothing that did not wear out, shelter in the wilderness, and His presence to guide them. The wilderness wasn’t only a record of Israel’s failures. It was also a record of God’s faithfulness. Look Back Differently Sometimes, we look back on certain seasons in our lives and only see what went wrong. Maybe you regret some decisions you made. Maybe you didn’t respond to God the way you wish you had. Maybe you’re still living through consequences of choices you made. But what if you looked back through a different lens? Instead of asking, “Where was God?” ask, “Where was God faithful?” The tone of that question matters. We can ask it with frustration, as though we’re accusing God of being absent. Or we can ask it with faith, honestly looking back at our story and recognizing the ways He was present, even when we didn’t see it clearly at the time. Where did He provide when you didn’t know how you would move forward?
Where did He give you strength?
Who did He place in your life at just the right time?Where did He remain faithful, even when you weren’t? Remembering God’s faithfulness doesn’t mean pretending our failures didn’t happen. It means refusing to let our failures become the only part of the story we remember. In Nehemiah 8, God’s people responded to His faithfulness with rejoicing, generosity, and community. Their remembrance didn’t keep them looking backward. It moved them forward. When we remember what God has done, it changes how we live. Remember Jesus This is ultimately where the story points us. During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He also invited the thirsty to come to Him and receive living water (John 7:37–38). The God who had provided light and water for His people in the wilderness was revealing something greater. His provision wasn’t ultimately about food, water, shelter, or a destination. His greatest provision was Himself. And that is still true for us. You may have reasons to look back with regret. But you also have reasons to remember. Remember His presence.
Remember His provision.
Remember His mercy.
Remember His faithfulness. Your past may remind you where you have fallen short, but Scripture reminds us that God’s faithfulness has never depended on our perfection. So take some time to look back at your own story. Don’t only look for what went wrong. Look for where God was faithful. Because the wilderness you remember as evidence of your failure may actually be one of the clearest places to see just how faithful God has been.
September 23, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
When Good Things Become Substitutes for Jesus
Most of us would never intentionally choose a ritual over a relationship. But sometimes, without realizing it, that’s exactly what happens. We start with something meaningful. We pray because we want to know God. We read Scripture because we want to hear from Him. We go to church because we want to grow. We worship because we want to honor Him. Then, over time, those same things can become routine. We still do them. We just don’t always stop to think about the One they were meant to lead us toward. That raises an important question: Can something good become something that gets in the way of what’s better? When the Means Becomes the End The Old Testament is filled with sacrifices, feasts, offerings, priests, and instructions for approaching God. These things mattered. God gave them to His people for a purpose, but they were never meant to be the destination. Hebrews 10:1 describes the law as “only a shadow of the good things that are coming.” A shadow is real, but it isn’t the person casting it. It points beyond itself. The sacrifices pointed toward Jesus. The feasts pointed toward Jesus. The priesthood pointed toward Jesus. The entire system was teaching God’s people about sin, holiness, forgiveness, sacrifice, and ultimately God’s desire to dwell with His people. But there was a danger of becoming so focused on the system that they missed what the system was pointing toward. We can do the same thing. When Routine Replaces Relationship Think about the things you regularly do in your relationship with God. Maybe you have a Bible-reading plan. Maybe you pray every morning. Maybe you listen to worship music on your way to work. Maybe you never miss church. Those are all good things. But ask yourself: Are these practices helping me know Jesus, or am I simply measuring how well I’m doing at being a Christian? There’s a difference. Prayer isn’t about checking a box. It’s about talking to your Father. Reading Scripture isn’t about completing a plan. It’s about knowing the God who has revealed Himself through His Word. Gathering with the church isn’t about maintaining attendance. It’s about being part of the body of Christ. The only reason the practice has value is because of the relationship. When we forget that, something intended to draw us closer to God can quietly become another form of performance. Draw Near This is what makes Hebrews 10 so powerful. After explaining that Jesus offered Himself once for all, the writer gives us an invitation: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” — Hebrews 10:22 Draw near. Not hide. Not perform. Not prove yourself worthy. Draw near. Our confidence isn’t based on how consistently we pray, how much Scripture we read, or how well we managed to get everything right. Hebrews 10:23 tells us to hold tightly to our hope because God can be trusted to keep His promise. That changes the way we approach spiritual practices. Why Does It Matter? We pray because we have a Father who wants us to draw near. We read Scripture because we want to know Him. We worship because He is worthy. We gather because we are part of His body. We serve because love moves us to action. The goal isn’t just to become better at the practices. The goal is to become more aware of Jesus through them. So maybe the question isn’t, “Am I doing enough?” Maybe it’s, “Is what I’m doing helping me draw closer to Jesus?” If the answer is yes, keep going. If the answer is no, don’t simply try harder. Stop. Remember what the practice is pointing toward. And draw near to Jesus again. Because the goal was never the ritual. The goal was always the relationship.
September 9, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
What You Need To Know About God
How do you see God when you’ve messed up? Do you expect Him to be disappointed, distant, or waiting for you to do better? Or do you believe He moves toward you with grace? The way we see God shapes the way we relate to Him. And when we look at Scripture, we see a God whose grace moves toward us. Grace Moves Toward Us Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 gives us a powerful picture of the Father’s heart. When the younger son returns home after walking away, his father doesn’t stand back and make him prove himself. He runs to meet him, embraces him, and welcomes him home. That’s the kind of Father Jesus is revealing to us. God’s grace moves toward us. Romans 5:8 says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God didn’t wait for us to become good enough before demonstrate His love for us. He demonstrated His love for us at our worst. Grace isn’t God reluctantly accepting us after we’ve cleaned ourselves up. Grace is God moving toward us with a love we could never earn. Grace Changes Us Grace is more than forgiveness. Grace changes the way we live. Titus 2:11–12 says that God’s grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, and that grace teaches us to turn away from ungodliness and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. Grace doesn’t mean, “God loves me, so I can live however I want.” Grace teaches us a new way to live. We don’t obey God to earn His love. We obey because we have received His love. When our relationship with God is built on performance, obedience can become exhausting. We’re always wondering if we’ve done enough, prayed enough, confessed enough, or been good enough. But when we understand God’s grace, obedience becomes a response to the love we’ve already received. See God as He Is I believe one of the most important things we can do in our relationship with God is allow Scripture to continually shape our understanding of who He is. If your view of God has been shaped by fear, failure, disappointment, or painful experiences with people, bring that view back to Scripture. Look at Jesus. Look at the Father’s heart. Look at the grace that moves toward sinners, brings salvation, and teaches us to live differently. God is good. And when we begin to see Him as He truly is, we can stop living like slaves trying to earn His approval and begin living like sons and daughters who know they’re loved. That’s where grace leads us: not just to a better opinion of God, but to a transformed relationship with Him.
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All Rights Reserved.