Please read the following and sign below before continuing.
As part of the volunteer team at The Bridge you are celebrated as a leader in the church! It’s an absolute honor to get to influence the body of Christ every day – inside and outside of the building. The Bridge staff exists to equip you to live and lead like Jesus would. The first step in that direction is to give you a biblical standard of what a Spirit-led lifestyle looks like.
Galatians 5:16-25 (NLT) “16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension (opposition/rebellion), division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Your growth in your relationship with Christ is important – the number one priority! Inside and outside of this building, you are a leader in the Kingdom of God and people are looking to you as an example of what to do. The Bible sets a very high standard for Believers and The Bridge’s intention is to meet you with love and a gentle spirit to encourage you to grow.
Lifestyles to Pursue:
Love, Righteousness, Faith, Honesty, Encouragement, Humility, Forgiveness, Purity, Gratitude, Grace, Bible reading, Prayer
When you walk by the Spirit, the evidence produced is the fruit of the Spirit. (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.)
1. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
2. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
3. “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13 NLT
As Christians, the way we conduct ourselves to others is of vital importance to the way others perceive Christ. Our conduct should exemplify the best qualities of a mature believer and servant-leader. We are Christ’s ambassadors – representing Him everywhere we go!
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) - So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
The Bridge asks everyone serving in any area to avoid lifestyles that don’t glorify God such as the listed lifestyles below. We believe there is a difference between a heart that is struggling and trying versus a heart that believes the ‘Lifestyles to Avoid’ listed below are acceptable for believers.
Lifestyles to Avoid:
Profanity (Eph. 4:29), Drug use (1 Peter 5:8), Love of money (1 Tim 6:10) (Heb 13:5), Drunkenness (Rom 13:13), Lying (Matt 15:19), Pornography (Rom 13:13), (Matt 5:28) (Job 31:1), Sexual immorality (Rom 13:13) (Heb 13:4), Homosexuality (Eph. 5:31) (Eph. 5:25), Cohabitating before marriage (Gen. 1:27-28) (Eph. 5:25-33), Arguments on social media (2 Tim 2:23-24)
*If you are struggling to live out the ‘Lifestyles to Pursue’ or disagree with the ‘Lifestyles to Avoid’, please talk to the leadership at The Bridge, and let’s figure out a solution together. We want to support you!
Romans 12:1 says: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
If you ever have a concern involving the church or serving at The Bridge, please direct those concerns to leadership that can provide a solution. Attempt to keep all conversations with others Christ-focused and graceful.
By providing an example in speech and action, we encourage others to grow in Christ and become servant-leaders themselves. This is a way of life measured by the heart and commitment of each leader in The Bridge family. It’s the next step we take in multiplying the Kingdom of God.
By signing below, I state that I agree to represent Christ, His Kingdom, and The Bridge. I will strive to lead others in the principles, beliefs, and values of God’s Word found in The Bridge’s ‘What We Believe’ statement. (Found at thebridgemaryville.com/about).
*I understand that I need to inform The Bridge of any changes that take place that go against this Leadership Honor Code after signing.
