Welcome to the Bridges Community Church podcast, your destination for Sunday messages from Bridges Church. Join us each week as we dive deep into the Word of God and explore the life-transforming message of Jesus and the grace He offers us. In each episode, we bring you the dynamic and inspiring Sunday messages delivered by our passionate and knowledgeable pastors. From thought-provoking teachings to practical insights, we unpack the truths of Scripture and their relevance to our everyday lives.…
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Many of us want to feel like we are part of something. Something that matters. Something that can change the course of history. This week, we will see that Paul, the author of Romans, found such a calling. However, it wasn’t just for him, it was for all of us who follow Christ.
We have a love/hate relationship with our work. Sometimes it's awesome, at other times, well, it stinks. Our text speaks directly to this experience and offers an entirely novel way to view it that changes not only our work, but our entire lives.
It's often not until we look back that we begin to understand how God worked in our lives—but that is exactly what He was doing. At each step along the way, He was planting seeds and ensuring that they grow. This week, we will hear from Bill Dwyer, who will share how God initiated and deepened his faith.
We might take vacations, we might sleep well enough, and we might schedule activities we enjoy apart from work, but even so, "rest" may elude us. For some reason, we always feel pressed, anxious, and behind. Is this the life God has for us? Or has He made true "rest" possible? This week, we will study the rest God makes available and how we can step into it.
We may hope that our faith will deepen by experiencing one mountain top experience after another in ever increasing degrees. Further, we may assume that God can only be found in the joys of life. However, Scripture describes our faith development differently. Often, God isn't found on the mountain but in the valley. This week, we will hear from Josh Sun on how various struggles led to a faith…
This week, we will hear Paul Tokar share his story of how “GOD DID.” Paul has found that God always made a way when there seemed to be no way!
There are mountains and valleys in each of our lives. Join us this week as Kay Tokar shares a mountaintop of gladness and a valley of grief from her life story. You won’t be surprised to know that God is enough to teach us through both.
All of us face uncertainty and trials, and beneath those is a greater challenge…fear. When situations are beyond our control, our minds can race with what might happen. However, throughout Scripture, God repeatedly instructs us to “fear not.” This week, Don D’Arcy will share his story about the God who has always comforted and guided him through the fearful situations of life.
In Scripture, we often see Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, and restoring what is broken. We might be skeptical about those accounts, but we would also like to see them in our own lives. However, does God still work that way today? This week we will hear Dustin Keele’s story that shows God is still very active in intervening in our lives in miraculous ways.
While our works do not save us, a living faith will always be displayed through our love and service to others. We miss something, something important, when our faith is only in our heads and hearts. An active faith is not only evidence of salvation, but is also part of what makes Christian life so gratifying. This week, Mandi Schneider will share how serving others has lifted her faith.
Life is full of twists and turns, joys and sorrows. Life with God is no different, however, if we are with Him, we have someone leading us, providing for us, and comforting us through all the ups and downs. This week, Fritz Mueller will share such a journey he’s traveled for decades.
When we first come to Christ, we don’t come fully formed. It takes time to apply the Gospel to all the different aspects of our lives. While we might grow quickly in some areas, we don’t in others, and we might know people who are the exact opposite. They grow where we struggle, and we grow where they struggle. Rather than these differences dividing us, they can actually be used to benefit us.…
The question of Christianity and politics is hotly debated. It always has been. Some advocate for complete separation from all involvement, while others advocate for harnessing the power of government to implement Christian values. This week, we'll study a passage that shows a Christian's relationship to the government is both highly nuanced and highly sacrificial, and must point to the greatness…
The problem of loneliness seems to be getting worse in the world, but Christians have the resources to do something about it. God has given us instructions for how to connect with each other and how to deepen those connections. This week, we will study one such passage where Paul outlines important practices, rooted in what God has already done for us, that can make all the difference in the face…
Scripture is filled with all kinds of warnings. Warnings to both believing and unbelieving people. Warnings about the dangers of sin. This week we will look at two very specific warnings Paul gives to believers, and see how those warnings contribute to our salvation.
Scripture contains numerous mysteries. One of the most perplexing we find in the Bible is: how God can be sovereign over all things, and yet, people still be responsible for their decisions and actions? This week, we will study a section of Scripture which addresses God’s sovereignty and our responsibility in regard to our salvation. Does God choose us, or do we choose Him? The answer presents us…
The book of Romans contains unparalleled promises from God. Not only are we set free from our shame and guilt, but we are also guaranteed the brightest future. Perhaps most amazingly, all the wrongs against us will be redeemed. But that raises the question: what about Israel? Weren’t they promised all the same things? If so, are they getting them? If not, doesn’t God lose all credibility? This…
Many of us have heard that Jesus saves, Jesus redeems. But what exactly does that mean? What all is included? Is it simply that we go to heaven when we die, or is it more? This week, we will study the complete redemption provided through Christ and how it is more, much more, than simply a comfortable afterlife.
All of us long to be accepted and included. Known and loved. Some of us can search for acceptance in unhealthy ways. But in Christ, God offers an acceptance unlike any other. This week, we will study the acceptance we have in Christ, and what He did to make it possible.
Paul leads us into his personal experience in the new life, but new questions arise: Are we truly released from the Law? Don’t we need the Law? If we desire to meet the Law of God, why do we have such a frustrating time trying to make it? Why do I feel like I can never win? Why is it so hard to live like a good Christian?
Jesus’ resurrection doesn’t only make eternal life possible, it opens up an entirely new way to live. A way to live in freedom and victory while being released from guilt and the pressure to prove ourselves. This week, we will study the new life we have in Him and how to embrace it.
One of our lingering questions is: if God is for me, then why am I going through this? If He really loved me, then wouldn’t He protect me from this? This week, we will see what hope the Gospel gives us in such moments. While it doesn’t answer all of our questions, it does give us comfort, and it can even help us to rejoice in the midst of our suffering.
Most of us probably know that being a Christian has something to do with faith. But what is faith, exactly? How do we know if we have it? And how can we develop it? This week, will we see what faith is, why it is essential, and what happens in our lives as a result.
Christianity is unique in that God provides what is necessary for us to be reconciled to Him, to receive favor from Him, and to have a bright future. However, for many, this incredible gift is difficult to accept. Why? Because we first must recognize that we will never make it on our own. It pushes against our pride and self-sufficiency. This week, we will see how God makes our restoration…
We’re not surprised when the Bible claims that those with no regard for God are far from Him. We assume immorality, corruption, and depravity would create distance between us and Him. But we are surprised when the Bible claims that the religious can be just as far from God—that those with a high regard for the law and rule keeping can miss Him as well. This week, we will see how each group has…
Romans is perhaps the most comprehensive explanation of the Christian faith ever written. From the opening verses, we learn that it is primarily about the Gospel—what Jesus has done for us. This week, we will introduce this inexhaustible topic, why it is needed, and how it powerfully shapes our lives.
Christianity offers the hope of an enormously bright future—one where we walk in harmony with God and each other. Even when we find ourselves in seasons of exile, uncertainty, or waiting, God’s promises remain steady. He is not finished with us, and He will bring restoration, renewal, and joy beyond what we can currently see.
Jeremiah sometimes has the reputation of being a prophet of doom and gloom, however, he also pins some of the most hopeful words in all of Scripture. After God’s judgment on the nation of Israel, they are promised an immensely bright future, and it begins with the One whom God will send. He will be a king and a priest unlike any that Israel had ever seen, and He will accomplish what no one else…
While the topic of God’s judgment can make many of us uncomfortable, it is a repeated theme throughout Scripture and in the book of Jeremiah. This week, we study one such passage and see that God’s judgment is not only a necessary response to evil and injustice, but it is also a key way that we see the depth of His love for us.
The Bible—and the book of Jeremiah in particular—is filled with commands and warnings. Yet as Christians, we believe our reconciliation with God rests not on what we do, but on what Jesus has done for us. So what role do these rules play? Are they optional, or are we meant to keep them? And if obedience matters, how does that fit with Jesus fulfilling the law on our behalf? This week, we’ll…
We’ve all been there, at the precipice of some decision. We knew what we should do, but we also knew what we wanted to do—and those weren’t the same. We knew it was wrong, but we wanted it anyway. It looked so good, so enticing. So we went for it. And then we found out. While it might have been great initially, it eventually emptied us of joy, and in some cases, it hurt even worse. Such is the…
We probably all notice that something is wrong with the world, but what is it? Has the world always been like this, or was there a point in time when the problems started? More importantly, how will it get fixed? (Or will it?) This week, we will see the cause of all our problems, what God thinks about it, and ultimately, what He will do to restore what is broken.
Is everyone designed with a special purpose or only some people? Does God knit each one of us together with a certain plan in mind? This week, we will study God's intentionality with Jeremiah and how it isn't just his story—it's all of ours.
Message from Derek Brown on January 4, 2026
Message from Dave Kellejian on December 28, 2025
Message from Dan Stockum on December 24, 2025
Long before God spoke about Messiah through the prophets, He spoke about the Messiah with one family–Abraham’s family. This week, we will study the “seed” of Abraham who was promised through generations and came to bless all nations.
In our series, we’ve seen many prophecies foretell that the Messiah to come will be a king, and, in some ways, this passage from Isaiah is no different. However, rather than describe what the king will do when He arrives or hint at the king’s divine identity, in this passage Isaiah tells us what the coming king will be like. Specifically, we will see His heart, His perfection, and His power.
Many of us are familiar with the Christmas carol about the small town of Jesus’ birth, but we may be less familiar with the Old Testament passage foretelling it. This week, as we study Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem and the One who would be born in it, we will see the perfect unfolding of God’s plan—both then and for us today.
Isaiah offers immense comfort for his hearers—all wrongs will eventually be set right because of the One to come. But how could this be? As Isaiah speaks these words, Israel is destined for exile and their city will be destroyed because of their own unfaithfulness. Why would God promise such sinful people such a bright future? This week, we will study Isaiah’s prophecy and how it can give hope to…
Ever since the earliest days of Christianity, the church has sent missionaries. They weren’t content waiting for people to come and see, they wanted to go and tell. Our church is no different. This week, we will affirm God’s call on Steve and Shannon’s life to work alongside Restoration Ministries in Brazil, and see how our efforts align with those of the earliest churches.
When the people of Israel and Judah found themselves in deep darkness, Isaiah's prophecy pointed to a time that would bring peace and righteousness, and a future hope. As we look at this familiar Christmas prophecy this week, we'll see that Isaiah's message of hope stretches far beyond Christ's arrival at Christmas. And in a world longing for peace and justice, God’s answer is not always what we…
This is the time of year when we begin to experience the first few joys of the Christmas season. It won’t be long until our stores and radios will be filled with the decorations and sounds that remind us of Christ’s birth. In these weeks leading up to Christmas, we will study passages written long before Jesus came to earth that detailed exactly who to expect, why He must come, and what He would…
Often, it helps to begin a project with the end in mind—a vision for what it will be like when everything is completed. Along the way, there will be challenges and setbacks that would make it easy to turn around and give up. But by keeping the end of the story in view, we’re motivated to keep going. This week, we’ll study the end of the story of Nehemiah’s building project, and how it can help us…
Following where we believe God has led into our NEXT85 years will require something of us. Throughout Scripture, when God’s people began a project, they each brought what they could in order to help the effort. We will be no different. The dream for our future campus won’t happen without all of us participating. This week, we’ll look at what will be required of us, and the blessing for following.
Every Sunday, we literally sit in the dreams, sacrifices, and plans of people who came before us. We have a place to gather because they built it. But that raises the question: what is our responsibility to those who come after us? If we hope that Bridges remains a fixture in our community, what must we build to ensure that it happens? This week, we will dream about the future of our campus and…
85 years ago, a small group of ordinary men and women gathered with a simple vision: to plant a gospel-centered church here in Los Altos. They couldn’t see the future, but they knew one thing: God had called them to know and study His Word, to love their neighbors, and to plant seeds of the gospel of Jesus that would outlive them. And we at Bridges Community Church today are living proof of their…
Every person, family, team, or organization is heading somewhere. They might have chosen their direction on purpose, or they might simply flow along with the current around them. We plan to be the former rather than the latter. But where are we headed? As we turn the page from the last 85 years of our church into the next, we remain true to our original mission, and this week, we will take a…
We've seen throughout this series that various kinds of prayer align with the types of conversations we have with those closest to us, and thankfulness is no exception. If we don't express thanks in our relationships, we can forget having much connection in them. This week, we'll study a Psalm of thanksgiving showing us why God deserves our deepest gratitude.
When we hold onto or try to cover up our sins and weakness before God or before others—hiding them, excusing them, or pretending they don’t exist—it crushes us. It drains our strength and steals our joy. But Psalm 32 reveals that God has made a way for the guilty to be forgiven, for the burdened to be set free, and for that which is broken to be restored.
