The Bridge Church
Summer Road Trip - Week 1 - The DNA of a Healthy Church
June 1, 2025
Locations & Times
Bridge Church
2410 N River Rd, Venice, FL 34292, USA
Sunday 7:45 AM
Sunday 9:30 AM
Sunday 11:15 AM
DNA of a Healthy Church:
1. Healthy churches are gospel-centered
1. Healthy churches are gospel-centered
DNA of a Healthy Church:
2. Healthy churches mature through discipleship
2. Healthy churches mature through discipleship
Barnabas - “son of encouragement”
- Disciples (Acts 6:1)
- Followers of the Way (Acts 9:2)
- Saints or Brothers
Greek χριστιανούς (Christianous)
— means “followers of Christ”
- Followers of the Way (Acts 9:2)
- Saints or Brothers
Greek χριστιανούς (Christianous)
— means “followers of Christ”
DNA of a Healthy Church:
3. Healthy churches give generously
3. Healthy churches give generously
Our mission is to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, here and around the world.
Our vision is to multiply healthy, gospel-centered churches to fulfill the Great Commission in Southwest Florida and beyond.
Our vision is to multiply healthy, gospel-centered churches to fulfill the Great Commission in Southwest Florida and beyond.
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. What are some of your favorite road trip memories? Why?
2. What do you consider signs of a healthy person? What about a healthy church?
3. How many missionary trips did Paul take in the book of Acts? Which one are we focusing on in this series?
4. Read Acts 9:31. What is happening at this time?
5. Read Acts 11:19. As the number of Christians grew, what also grew? Why?
6. Read Acts 11:19-20. Look up an ancient map to see where these locations are. Are these “far away” to you? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the men who were speaking to the Greeks focused on? What about the men only speaking to Jews?
8. Why was Antioch chosen as the place for this particular church plant?
9. Read Acts 1:8. Why does the church exist? Who does it exist for?
10. Read Acts 11:21. Who was the Lord with? What is the evidence of this?
11. Why are more people coming to faith Christ, being baptized, and discipled a sign of a healthy church?
12. Why do healthy churches multiply disciples? What does it mean to multiply disciples?
13. Read Acts 11:22. How do you think the church in Jerusalem was hearing the news about the church in Antioch?
14. What could the church in Jerusalem have done at that moment? Instead, what did they do?
15. Find out more about Barnabas? Why is he classified as a leader? What actions display this?
16. Read Acts 11:23-24. How did Barnabas encourage them? What did he not do that some might think a leader should do?
17. What does it mean to encourage someone. What might people confuse encouragement with?
18. Who is someone you consider a Barnabas in your life? Do they know that they are?
19. Would you consider yourself a Barnabas to others? Why or why not?
20. Read Acts 11:25-26. Before using the words Christians, followers of Jesus were referred to as disciples, followers of the way, or saints and brothers. How is the word Christian the same as these references?
21. Much like in the 1st century, how might the term Christian be interpreted today, both inside and outside of the church? How is this different that it’s true root from the Greek?
22. Read Acts 11:27-30. Who participated in sending relief? What does it mean when it says, “according to their ability”?
23. Why is giving a step in discipleship? How do we learn to trust God through giving?
24. How is The Bridge Church the same as the church in Antioch? How is it different?
25. How are you living on mission to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, here and around the world? What is your next step to be a part of what God is doing in your live and the lives of others around you?
Live It Out:
If you are new to The Bridge Church or have been here for a while, we want you to join us on where God is leading our church for the future.
Our mission remains the same: Our mission is to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, here and around the world. Our mission comes from the Great Commission in Matthew 28. It mission tells us “what we are called to do.” If we are faithful to fulfill God’s mission, we believe the vision statement paints a clear and compelling picture of where we sense God is leading us in the next five years.
Our vision for The Bridge Church is multiplying healthy, gospel-centered churches to fulfill the Great Commission in Southwest Florida and beyond. We envision a family of healthy, multiplying Bridge campuses spreading the gospel in Southwest Florida. Why multiply churches? There are communities along our coast that need gospel-centered churches.
How do we see this vision become a reality? The most important need we have in our church right now is equipping multiplying leaders. As the church has grown, there is a greater need for more mature leaders. This vision means that every one of us plays a part in spreading the gospel!
The Bridge Church is launching The Bridge Institute this fall. The Bridge Institute equips and empowers healthy, multiplying church leaders. The Bridge Institute will help train members of our church into missional leaders. It is the key way to help you grow as a leader. This means that if you are a follower of Jesus and want to step into greater impact, this is for you. We also pray that we can help raise up the next generation of Pastors and missionaries. We have an incredible curriculum, a monthly gathering of leaders and practical training for ministry and life. The Institute will not conflict with your small group or ministry that you are already a part of.
The vision becomes real when each of us gets involved. Pray about how God might use you – maybe through giving, serving, joining a small group…or enrolling in The Bridge Institute to grow as a leader.
To learn more visit: thebridgevenice.com/bridgeinstitute
1. What are some of your favorite road trip memories? Why?
2. What do you consider signs of a healthy person? What about a healthy church?
3. How many missionary trips did Paul take in the book of Acts? Which one are we focusing on in this series?
4. Read Acts 9:31. What is happening at this time?
5. Read Acts 11:19. As the number of Christians grew, what also grew? Why?
6. Read Acts 11:19-20. Look up an ancient map to see where these locations are. Are these “far away” to you? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the men who were speaking to the Greeks focused on? What about the men only speaking to Jews?
8. Why was Antioch chosen as the place for this particular church plant?
9. Read Acts 1:8. Why does the church exist? Who does it exist for?
10. Read Acts 11:21. Who was the Lord with? What is the evidence of this?
11. Why are more people coming to faith Christ, being baptized, and discipled a sign of a healthy church?
12. Why do healthy churches multiply disciples? What does it mean to multiply disciples?
13. Read Acts 11:22. How do you think the church in Jerusalem was hearing the news about the church in Antioch?
14. What could the church in Jerusalem have done at that moment? Instead, what did they do?
15. Find out more about Barnabas? Why is he classified as a leader? What actions display this?
16. Read Acts 11:23-24. How did Barnabas encourage them? What did he not do that some might think a leader should do?
17. What does it mean to encourage someone. What might people confuse encouragement with?
18. Who is someone you consider a Barnabas in your life? Do they know that they are?
19. Would you consider yourself a Barnabas to others? Why or why not?
20. Read Acts 11:25-26. Before using the words Christians, followers of Jesus were referred to as disciples, followers of the way, or saints and brothers. How is the word Christian the same as these references?
21. Much like in the 1st century, how might the term Christian be interpreted today, both inside and outside of the church? How is this different that it’s true root from the Greek?
22. Read Acts 11:27-30. Who participated in sending relief? What does it mean when it says, “according to their ability”?
23. Why is giving a step in discipleship? How do we learn to trust God through giving?
24. How is The Bridge Church the same as the church in Antioch? How is it different?
25. How are you living on mission to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, here and around the world? What is your next step to be a part of what God is doing in your live and the lives of others around you?
Live It Out:
If you are new to The Bridge Church or have been here for a while, we want you to join us on where God is leading our church for the future.
Our mission remains the same: Our mission is to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, here and around the world. Our mission comes from the Great Commission in Matthew 28. It mission tells us “what we are called to do.” If we are faithful to fulfill God’s mission, we believe the vision statement paints a clear and compelling picture of where we sense God is leading us in the next five years.
Our vision for The Bridge Church is multiplying healthy, gospel-centered churches to fulfill the Great Commission in Southwest Florida and beyond. We envision a family of healthy, multiplying Bridge campuses spreading the gospel in Southwest Florida. Why multiply churches? There are communities along our coast that need gospel-centered churches.
How do we see this vision become a reality? The most important need we have in our church right now is equipping multiplying leaders. As the church has grown, there is a greater need for more mature leaders. This vision means that every one of us plays a part in spreading the gospel!
The Bridge Church is launching The Bridge Institute this fall. The Bridge Institute equips and empowers healthy, multiplying church leaders. The Bridge Institute will help train members of our church into missional leaders. It is the key way to help you grow as a leader. This means that if you are a follower of Jesus and want to step into greater impact, this is for you. We also pray that we can help raise up the next generation of Pastors and missionaries. We have an incredible curriculum, a monthly gathering of leaders and practical training for ministry and life. The Institute will not conflict with your small group or ministry that you are already a part of.
The vision becomes real when each of us gets involved. Pray about how God might use you – maybe through giving, serving, joining a small group…or enrolling in The Bridge Institute to grow as a leader.
To learn more visit: thebridgevenice.com/bridgeinstitute
Reading Plan:
Monday: Acts 9:31, Acts 11:19-20
Tuesday: Acts 1:8, Acts 11:21
Wednesday: Acts 11:22-24
Thursday: Acts 11:25-26
Friday: Acts 11:27-28
Saturday: Acts 11:29-30
Monday: Acts 9:31, Acts 11:19-20
Tuesday: Acts 1:8, Acts 11:21
Wednesday: Acts 11:22-24
Thursday: Acts 11:25-26
Friday: Acts 11:27-28
Saturday: Acts 11:29-30