Good Morning!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AT THE BRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH BERNE CAMPUS THIS MORNING!

Worship

Opening Song:

Joy To The World

Worship Together:

What I See

What You're Worthy Of

Glory Honor Power

Closing Song:

Goodness Of God

Message Notes

Fear Not: The Unbearable Weight of Fear

Speaker: Eric Lehman

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

God’s purpose is often very different from our plans.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. Luke 1:26-29 NLT

Struggle: Confused – Disturbed - Fear

What we call God’s disturbing interruptions are often God’s divine invitations.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!” Luke 1:30 NLT

Favor is the undeserved blessings God lavishly pours out on His children.

You don’t have to understand the plan to trust that God has a purpose.

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” Luke 1:34 NLT

Solution: A Savior

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:31-33 NLT

Sometimes God’s favor doesn’t seem favorable … at first.

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. … For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:35, 37 ESV

Outcome is God’s responsibility - Obedience is ours - Obedience = Submission