A Letter to The Bridge Students

Hey Bridge Students,

In this week’s sermon, we are covering the beginning of Acts 16. What I read inspired me to write you this letter. I know it would be much easier to follow if I’d made a tik tok, but my kids haven’t taught me how yet, so you’ll have to settle for a letter. Stick with me though!

At the beginning of this chapter, Paul meets Timothy. Y’all have grown up in church and probably remember the verse “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity”. It was Paul who wrote that to Timothy. But Timothy had begun to set an example well before Paul wrote him those words.

See, in Acts 16, Paul had asked him to come along on his missionary journey, and he compelled Timothy to get circumcised so that he would have more opportunities to share the Gospel with people from a Jewish background. Crazy, right?! Paul knew Timothy would have more impact if he was identified with his Jewish mother, than his Greek father. Timothy was probably 21 at this time, only a few years older than you are now. Can you imagine doing something so painful and sacrificial just to be able to tell someone about Jesus?

My guess is this all seems very unrelatable to you for a couple of reasons. First, you are growing up in a culture that encourages you to find an identity that feels like your true self, so it’s hard to imagine doing something so extreme to change your identity for someone else.

The second reason you may have a hard time relating is because of us. And by us, I mean the church in America. You’ve probably noticed by now that we love our rights. It’s quite possible that you’ve seen us treat other people poorly in an effort to stand up for those rights. You hear the words we say in whispers, see the things we do in defiance, and read our posts on social media even though you never comment.

All of those things have shaped not only how you view US, but also how you view faith in God.

I’m so, so sorry.

We’ve blown it.

Will you forgive us?

If you can, will you read the rest of this letter from your (only slightly!) older sister, and allow me to share my heart?

You guys, following Jesus is worth sacrificing everything. Period. PERIOD.

Jesus told his followers in a parable that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and upon realizing what he had stumbled upon, with joy he sold all he had so he could buy the field and possess the treasure it contained.

You’ve been given the field.

Parents, grandparents, friends who love you have brought you to church, taught you the Bible and tried to show you what an amazing gift you’ve been given.

You’re not here by chance. It is no accident that you are alive in this generation, with the gifts and talents you have, in the city you live in, at the school you attend.

You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which he prepared in advance for you to walk in. You were created by the hand of God to fulfill his purpose in your generation.

While that is going to work itself out differently in each of your lives, your purpose is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength- every fiber of your being- and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Your call is to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all he has commanded, remembering He is with you, with US, to the end of the age.

You won’t be able to do this on your own. You need brothers and sisters. And while you may not be able to see it quite yet, you need the church. You need to gather with other believers, sit under the teaching of the word of God by a Pastor who knows and loves you. You need to keep serving, and we need to encourage one another to continue demonstrating love and stirring one another to good works, especially as we see the day of Christ’s return drawing near.

It’s possible you are skeptical and won’t settle for someone else telling you this. Good! I am like that myself. Right now we are offering Alpha- an opportunity for you to ask those questions yourself. Come, and ask the hard questions.

In Jeremiah 29:13-14 the Lord says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you,” he says. That’s a promise from God himself. I am praying that each of you will seek Truth, because I know the same God who showed himself to this rebel some 25 years ago, wants to be found by you too!

Many years after Acts 16, Paul wrote another letter to Timothy. He was imprisoned, awaiting death, but he told Timothy the suffering he was enduring was no cause for shame because Paul knew who he believed and he was utterly convinced that Jesus Christ was able to guard his soul, until the day he was with him face to face.

May you say the same as you fulfill His purpose in your generation. Jesus is worth it. He is the treasure.

With much love,

Natalie Runyon