Bridgetown Video Podcast

A Pastoral Word on our Cultural Moment

We are all reeling from the last few months of life in America. The partisan divide between Right and Left, and the level of anger and acrimony, is at an all-time high, into the global pandemic of COVID-19, into a global recession, which so many out of work, or living in fear of a layoff, into a tipping point in the outcry over systemic racism in our country after George Floyd’s murder set off a wave of protest unlike anything in our nation’s history, where for the first time, the vast majority of the population is ready to do whatever it takes to change, into rioting and violence – the cascade effect has felt like wave after wave.

An Interview with Richard Probasco

We are honored to have Richard Probasco, founding pastor of New Song Community Church, with us to tell the story of his life in Portland as a Black man, a musician, a pastor, and an adoptive father.

Race & Justice with Mark Strong

We want to stop and acknowledge the reality that our Black and Brown sisters and brothers experience in our country. We are honored to have Mark Strong, lead pastor of Life Change Church in North Portland, with us to share what the Gospel of Jesus has to say about race and justice. 

A Pastoral Word on Bridgetown & Racial Justice

As a church, a city, and a nation, we are angry and heartbroken over the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. And of the many Black men and women before them. We are in an historic moment. People are waking up. The majority culture can no longer ignore the reality of systemic racism that goes back for centuries. And we pray this is the tipping point in our nation. And in our church. Bridgetown repents for not doing more. We are sorry for not leading into what the Spirit of God is doing in our time. There is no short, easy fix to systemic racism. But we are committed to doing the work now and into the future. Discover ways to listen, learn, and give to our Black and Brown brothers and sisters as we go on the journey of racial reconciliation and healing.

 

http://bridgetown.church/racial-justice

Simplicity of Apparel

Part 4 of the series "Simplicity" as part of Practicing The Way. We humans have a surpassingly complex, emotional relationship to clothing. Behind the excess, waste, and vanity of modern fashion is an ancient biblical story in which clothing is a response to sin and shame. A strategy to mask our deepest fear - that we cannot be loved as we are. It comes as no surprise that the New Testament writers warn of the many ways that clothing can cause distraction and division in Jesus’ community of love, the church. In this teaching we go beyond minimalism to discover a deep internal freedom. 

Simplicity of Speech

Part 3 of the series "Simplicity" as part of Practicing The Way. We explore the ancient Christian practice of simplicity of speech, a disciplined attempt to talk like Jesus. And not talk like Jesus. To become aware of all the ways we utilize speech to manipulate people to do or think what we want them to do or think. By learning to embrace silence, we deepen our confidence in God.

Simplicity of Heart

Part 2 of the series "Simplicity" as part of Practicing The Way. We begin our exploration of the practice of simplicity with what previous followers of Jesus called “simplicity of heart.” It’s not enough to simplify our possessions, we must simplify around something (or someone). And what you center your life on will define who you become, for better or worse.

The Propaganda of More

Part 1 of the series "Simplicity" as part of Practicing The Way. We live with a nagging sense that we never have enough – enough time in the day or money in the bank. We feel torn in multiple directions. Tired of low-grade fatigue. Behind on everything. Beset by constant distraction. We all know the cliché that “the most important things in life aren’t things” is true, and yet time and again we fall for advertising’s ploy. Is there a practice from the way of Jesus that could set our heart free from what Jesus called “the deceitfulness of wealth,” the false promise that money and stuff can give us security and satisfaction? To get free of the endless cycle of desire, and find contentment, margin, and life in the kingdom with Jesus? Yes. It is the practice of simplicity.

Holy Uncertainty

In times of great uncertainty and trauma, we can feel powerless, and our default tendency is to grasp for control. That is antithetical to the faith, hope and love of the way of Jesus. We end our series of pastoral words with a teaching on “holy uncertainty,” and a vision for the coming season in the confusing in-between. This coming year in the desert could be the defining moment for our church, and set the stage for our future.

COVID-19 As Crucible

The metaphor of a crucible has long been used for the role that trials play in our spiritual formation. As far back as 1 Peter, writers have used the art of metallurgy as a word picture of the potential that trials have to forge us into people of love. In this teaching we explore the idea of COVID-19 and the stay home order as a crucible for our interpersonal relationship and hear from multiple leaders in our church about navigating relationships in this unique time.