What to Expect
What to Expect
Welcome
When you arrive at Bridge of Life, we hope that you immediately feel at home. You can expect to be welcomed by a group of people who are glad that you have come!
Every Sunday, we have a multitude of different Sunday Morning Small Groups meeting at 9 am. The worship service starts at 10:30am, followed by the Kid’s Minute with the Pastor and sermon.
Every church has distinct practices in worship. We want you to know what to expect. Below are some of the things that you may notice at Bridge of Life:
Worshipping God Through Songs
Singing gives expression and words to the emotions of the heart. Music surrounds us in almost every aspect of life. The scriptures declare:
Psalms 30:12 – “that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever”
Psalms 7:17 – “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”
Psalms 9:2 – “I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
Raising Hands
Often during our worship, you may observe individuals lifting their hands upward. Actually, this is a Biblical sign of worship. The Scriptures declare:
Psalms 28:2 – “Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.”
Psalms 63:4 – “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
Psalms 134:2 – “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD”
1 Timothy 2:8 – “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
In our everyday life, lifting one’s hands is a sign of surrender and admiration. We invite you to join us in this form of worship this Sunday.
Dancing
During our worship, you may observe individuals “dancing.” During our worship, you may observe individuals dancing. This is an action of praise and our worshipping our Father. The Scriptures declare:
Psalms 30:11 – “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness”
Psalms 149:3 – “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.”
Psalms 150:4 – “praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,”
Psalms 150:5 – “praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.”
Psalms 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”
2 Samuel 6:14 – “David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,”
Clapping
Often during our worship, you may observe individuals clapping their hands. This is a biblical sign of worship. The Scriptures declare:
Psalms 47:1 – “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”
Clapping one’s hands is an expression of joy and appreciation. Most public events would seem empty without applause. Join us as we rejoice in our God during worship this Sunday!
Flags & Banners
Banners are rallying points, physically and spiritually. They are used for three main purposes:
- To identify a group
- To claim possession of a space or territory
- To lend festivity to a celebration
Numbers 2:2 – “The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.”
Psalms 20:5 – We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
Exodus 17:15 – Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.
Exodus 17:16 – He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Song of Songs 2:4 – “His banner over us is love”
With Instruments
Psalms 98:4 – “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;”
Psalms 98:5 – “make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,”
Psalms 98:6 – “with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.”
Psalms 150:4 – “praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,”
Psalms 150:5 – “praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.”
Rejoicing
Psalms 100:1 – “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.”
Psalms 100:2 – “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”
Psalms 95:1-2 -” O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”
Psalms 98:4 – “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;”
Kneeling & Bowing Down
Psalms 95:6 – “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;”
Daniel 6:10 – “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
Philippians 2:10 – “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
I Corinthians 12:8-12 provides a list of manifestation gifts that God has given to His people. We believe that encouragement to walk daily in these gifts develops when they are experienced as part of our corporate worship. The result is, “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (I Corinthians 14:26)
Offering
Visitors occasionally express surprise that an offering was not taken as we worship. We are blessed to offer you an opportunity to sow financially into the kingdom of God through our congregation. Offering boxes are positioned on the walls just before leaving the sanctuary. Envelopes are available above each box if tax deductibility is helpful for you. (A receipt will be sent at the end of the year.) We encourage you to anticipate the blessing of our Lord as you give!