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

Category: Home (Page 1 of 2)

Repentance

Today presents us with an interesting situation.

We know throughout Scripture when there is sin there needs to be confession; where there is sin there needs to be repentance; where there is sin there should be a contriteness of heart.

I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Psalm 32:5

But when we look in Genesis in our journey “from Genesis to Jesus,” we find something missing that we would expect to be there: something important; something ingrained (and rightly so). We don’t find in this recorded account any confession by Adam and Eve of their sin. Plenty of blame, plenty of pointing their fingers, plenty of fear; but we don’t see repentance. Something so fundamental throughout Scripture. Such a central doctrine of what it means to be a believer, to be a follower of God, to be faithful in our Christian living.

And it is.

In Genesis we see Adam and Eve being forgiven without a previous reference to any confession; to any repentance. We go from blaming, to sentence and proclamation of due punishment, to God clothing them and forgiving them with the first sacrifice.

Does that give us leave not to repent? Does that mean that it’s not needed? Not necessary? Not important?

Absolutely not!

Just because that is not in this account does not mean that God is not very clear on the matter.

However, even here we see so many times to confusion on the matter. I’ve heard from countless people — Christians —who say you cannot be forgiven unless there is confession; unless there is repentance. This makes forgiveness a response of God based upon the works of man instead of on the mercy and grace of God alone. It is solely by God’s mercy that we are forgiven through faith in His Son, Jesus – promised all the way back in Genesis. Promised because of the unfaithfulness of Adam, Eve, and each of us. It is only by the grace of God and not by our works of repentance or confession that grants us favor – and that only through faith in Jesus and nothing else.

This doesn’t minimize repentance and the need for it. It gives the basis for why we do it; the basis for our desire for it. We see our need to repent and our want to repent because of God’s mercy and grace through Jesus, not in order to get God’s mercy and grace through Jesus. When we repent we are focused and reminded of our need for a Savior. We are in a state of humility before Him, who alone forgives and saves. We see our need and His fulfillment. We posture ourselves before Him with the realization that God’s grace is bigger than our sin. And all this through the promised Her made for a coming Messiah all the way back in the garden.

What a great God we have!

“Lord God, we praise and thank You for Your mercy and grace given to us before we even repent and confess, because of Your goodness through faith in Jesus. Hear the cries and the humbleness of our heart and our own confession, in our own true repentance, and grant us Your mercy and favor through Your Son who saves. In His name. Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Genesis 3:11-13
  • Psalm 32
  • 1 John 1:8-10

Ramifications

There are always ramifications for our actions. Good or bad. Helpful or unhelpful. Godly or ungodly. Consequences for the decisions that we make.

Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

Genesis 2:17

The consequences for Adam and Eve’s rebellion cannot be overstated. I’m not talking about the specific consequences for Adam and Eve (which are bad) but the ultimate ramification for all of creation. The fall of creation. “In the day that you eat… you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

Death. Destruction. Decay.

This would affect not just mankind but everything. There was one simple requirement and the rebellion that took place from that had the ramification of dying; of death.

It’s hard to grasp of implications more significant than that.

Of course there were other ramifications for Adam and for Eve. Unfavorable outcomes and consequences for the way that they and we live while on this Earth, but being expelled from the garden forever and going through decay, destruction, and ultimately death is the ultimate ramification for rebellion against God’s requirement. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). That’s true not just for Adam and Eve’s rebellion, but for our own. We sin therefore we die. We rebel therefore we suffer the ramifications, just like them.

But thanks be to God that that’s not where things ended!

The ramifications are not permanent. Through faith in Jesus Christ, it’s not the end. Jesus conquered death. He conquered the ramifications of our rebellion. Through faith in Jesus, His victory over death becomes our victory. Death no longer has hold over us because it could not hold Him. The ramifications of the rebellion of our sin is death. But the ramifications of Jesus’ victory is life over death. Living over dying. A new creation over the destruction of the old.

Thanks be to God!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for having the victory over death. For destroying death. For overcoming the ramifications of our rebellion and sin so that we might live; so that we might have life in Your name. Eternally. With You. Thank You for overcoming everything for us. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Scriptures

  • Genesis 2:17
  • Genesis 3:7-13
  • Genesis 3:16-24
  • Romans 6:23

Missions Dinner and Local Talent

Join us for a wonderful dinner and a show – with great food and local talent – and support LifeBridge Missions in the process!

Here are the details:

DATEFriday, May 2, 2025
TIME6:30 — 9:00 PM
LOCATIONLifeBridge Café
COST$50/person
Tables for 4 & 6 are available
(Only 100 tickets available)
MENUAppetizer: Grilled Shrimp or Bourbon Chicken Skewers
Salad: Spinach Strawberry salad with balsamic dressing and candied pecans
Entrees: Prime Rib or Chicken Piccata
Sides: Roasted green beans and garlic parmesan mashed potatoes
Dessert: Trio of mini chocolate tart, chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate mousse
Drinks: Tea and water will be served with the meal
CONTACTAngie at (979) 627-5817

It will be a great time and you won’t want to miss it! Get your tickets today!

RESURRECTION — Easter, 2025

EASTER SUNDAY!!

The men said to them, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

Luke 24:5b-6a

This Sunday marks the highest, most Holy day of the year; because the Resurrection of Jesus changed our eternity!

It is the quintessential pivot point from despair to joy; from no future to an everlasting one; from death to life!

It is also the culmination of our journey this Lenten season from GENESIS to JESUS.

Join us as we celebrate!

Scriptures

  • Luke 24:1-12

EASTER, 2025 — Pancake Breakfast & Egg Hunt!

Come and be with us to celebrate the ultimate Love and true freedom we all have through The Resurrection of Jesus!

SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2025

We will have a Pancake Breakfast that morning at 8:30 AM (no Adult Bible Class that day) and an Easter Egg Hunt following around 9:30 AM. Then Worship at 10:00 AM.

Join us!


More information about the Resurrection of Jesus celebrated on Easter from:
lifebridgesealy.com/ministries/worship/easter-the-resurrection-of-jesus/.

“CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED! ALLELUIA!!”

This is the great shout for Easter; the highest day on the Church calendar!

On this day we celebrate the victory of Jesus over sin, death, and the power of the devil. All that He went through and endured is over and exultation and joy remain.

And for all who have faith in Jesus as their savior gain the same victories He won! Our sins are gone and forgiveness takes its place. Death is gone and everlasting life takes its place. Pain and anguish are bound to this life only and joy eternal awaits.

The resurrection of Jesus is the sole event to which all of history hinges. All of the old testament points to its coming and all since draws meaning in the light of it.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17

Without the resurrection everything else would be pointless and moot!

Come and be with us to celebrate this greatest day of the year and see how Jesus, though His resurrection, changes everything – for you!


Other Posts Dealing with Easter

RESURRECTION — Easter, 2025

EASTER SUNDAY!! The men said to them, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”Luke 24:5b-6a This Sunday marks the highest, most…

Read More

The Power of the Easter Promise

EASTER SUNDAY!! The men said to them, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”Luke 24:5b-6a This Sunday marks the highest, most…

Read More

GOOD FRIDAY, 2025 — Reparation

ANNOUNCEMENT

On Friday, March 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM, we will worship and “celebrate” Good Friday with a form of a “Service of Darkness.”

It will be a meaningful, but difficult service. We pray you will attend.

More information on “Good Friday” and a “Service of Darkness” from
lifebridgesealy.com/ministries/worship/good-friday/.

“Good Friday.” Such a strange name for the day when the innocent Savior of humanity and God’s Son died horribly. Yet, for us, the day marks a pivotal event in history. A holy and unbelievable imbalanced exchange: His perfection and innocence for our sins and guilt.

And twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a reed in His right hand. And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on Him and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe and put His own clothes on Him and led Him away to crucify Him.

Matthew 27:29-31

Lord, have mercy!

And He did. Have mercy. For us. When we were still in sin and rebellion.

We worship and “celebrate” this event and exchange with a form of a “Tenebrae” service. Tenebrae means “darkness” and the service takes its name from the ceremony of extinguishing the worship candles in such a way that the Church is gradually cast into darkness, except for the light of a single candle. The focus of the Tenebrae is the consequence of sin and the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice. The worship ends in darkness and silence, symbolizing our Savior’s death upon the cross. The single candle symbolizes the hope of our Savior’s resurrection. At the completion of the Tenebrae service, the worshipers are asked to leave in silence, in order to maintain the spirit of the Good Friday commemoration of our Savior’s crucifixion.

Experience the depth of God’s love for you on Good Friday so that you can sour with the news of His resurrection on Easter Sunday!

You will be blessed.


Other Posts Dealing with Good Friday

GOOD FRIDAY, 2019

‘Good Friday” – the day Jesus died, is the pivotal point in human history; where God laid the sins of the world upon His Son for our sake. Jesus bore…
Read More

SEDER, 2025

Come join us for the SEDER MEAL (with Holy Communion) at LifeBridge!

DATE: April 17, 2024 (“Maundy/Holy Thursday”)
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: LifeBridge Sanctuary
CONTACT: Pastor Scott Heitshusen
SHeitshusen@LifeBridgeSealy.com
(713) 965-6761

The meal is FREE (though a freewill offering will be taken)! ALL people and ages are welcome!

Due to the extreme preparations needed, signup for the meal is needed for EACH PERSON ATTENDING. DEADLINE is SUNDAY, APRIL 13!You can do so in the form below.

Mark it on your calendar, sign-up, and plan to attend! You won’t be disappointed!


More about the SEDER MEAL from
lifebridgesealy.com/ministries/seder-meal/

The Seder, celebrated on “Maundy Thursday” (a.k.a, “Holy Thursday”), tells the story of the Passover event and meal from the book of the Exodus in the Old Testament. This is important because this is the event Jesus was celebrating with His disciples for His last supper (and instituted the Sacrament of Holy Communion); and He didn’t choose this connection arbitrarily.

Jews the world over celebrate the Seder as a reminder to the Passover. For Christians, we see the deep and deliberate connection of the Passover and Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). We will see the how God has saved us from death by the blood of His Lamb, Jesus, just as He saved Israel from death through the blood of lambs in the Exodus.

And all of this will tie into the Passion of Jesus through Holy Week as well as Holy Communion.


SEDER, 2023

SEDER Meal. April 14, 2022, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
Read More

SEDER, 2022

SEDER Meal. April 14, 2022, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
Read More

SEDER, 2021

SEDER Meal. April 9, 2020, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
Read More

SEDER, 2020

SEDER Meal. April 9, 2020, 7:00 PM, LifeBridge Sanctuary. All welcome, but sign-up needed.
Read More

SEDER, 2019

Join us for a very special Seder Meal for Maundy Thursday. Those gathered will engage in the rituals associated with the Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples, the traditional…
Read More

DONATE BLOOD at LIFEBRIDGE – April 13

You are needed – to save lives!

The need for more blood donations is growing daily. Your blood donation is essential to keep the blood supply strong and steady. Without on-going donors, we cannot ensure people have the blood they need.

We’re asking you to come in and donate! The need is real. The need is now.

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR DONATION APPOINTMENT

(Our Sponsor Code is: LCCS)

Or download the DIGITAL DONOR APP for
iOS or Android to schedule your donation.

LifeBridge Community Church
2162 FM 2187 Rd.
Sealy, TX. 77474

Sunday, April 13, 2025
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Donor Bus Parked Outside.

Contact Angie Wolfe for more information.

Yard Sale for Missions Support

Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

Items will be available both days.

All sales are cash only.

Anyone can contribute items.

You must contact Angie at 979-627-5817 to schedule drop off on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

All items left after the sale will be donated and all proceeds will go to the summer 2025 mission teams from LifeBridge.

Support missions and get some nice things in the process!

“MAGNIFIED!” – 2025 VBS at LifeBridge

Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:3

We are going to encourage kids to look closely at the details of God’s amazing world and magnify, or proclaim, the greatness of God.

God made us, cares about us, loves us, forgives us, and is faithful to keep all His promises to us.

We can praise God together!

We were made to magnify God!

DATES: June 9-13, 2025
TIME: 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon

NOTE!

Children must be entering 1st through 6th grade to register! (Form coming soon!)
(i.e. They must have completed Kindergarten through fifth grade.)

Register Below!

Watch the Video

https://youtu.be/Qx8Sje77HQY

Our Time Together

DAY 1

BIBLE POINT

God created everything there is, and yet He still wants to spend time with me!

BIBLE STORY

Jesus and the Children
(John 1:1-3, 12; Mark 10:13-16)

BONUS VERSE

John 1:12

DAY 2

BIBLE POINT

God keeps the whole universe going, yet He still cares about what’s happening to me.

BIBLE STORY

Jesus Calmed the Storm
(Mark 4:1, 35-41)

BONUS VERSE

Deuteronomy 31:8b

DAY 3

BIBLE POINT

God is not OK with sin, and yet He still loves sinners like me.

BIBLE STORY

The Woman at the Well
(John 4:1-42)

BONUS VERSE

Romans 5:8

DAY 4

BIBLE POINT

Jesus came to save the world, and that includes me.

BIBLE STORY

Jesus and Nicodemus
(John 3:1-21 {John 3:18-20}; 1 Corinthians 15:6)

BONUS VERSE

John 3:16

DAY 5

BIBLE POINT

God is faithful with the big things in my life, and He will be faithful with the small things too.

BIBLE STORY

Jesus Taught about Worry
(Matthew 6:25-34)

BONUS VERSE

Psalm 100:5

Fish Dinners in Lent for CHAMPions!

Good food; good cause!

This year during the Fridays in Lent, there will be awesome fish dinners available to pick up at LifeBridge.

The organization, Charitable Heroes Achieving Memorable Performances” (aka: “CHAMP”) will be doing this at LifeBridge as a fundraiser while their permanent location is being finished.

CHAMP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity organized to raise funds to promote Youth Activities, (Scouts, Special Olympics, Little League), provide scholarships to graduating High School Seniors, and assist Veterans organizations.

These Fish Dinners help them raise money for these and other causes.

Dinners include the following:

  • Fish
  • Potato Salad
  • Pinto Beans
  • Coleslaw
  • Hush Puppies
  • Tartar Sauce

They can be picked up on during the following:

March 7 4:30 – 7:00 PM
March 14 4:30 – 7:00 PM
March 21 4:30 – 7:00 PM
March 28 4:30 – 7:00 PM
April 4 4:30 – 7:00 PM
April 11 4:30 – 7:00 PM
April 18 (Good Friday) 3:30 – 6:00 PM

Why cook? Pick up dinner at LifeBridge on Fridays this Lent and help others out while doing it!

« Older posts