The Ridge – Weekly Message

Has Easter — Jesus' sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection — changed your life? Truly? It's an important question — one that traces back to the very first Easter Sunday. It's the question two disciples asked each other as they left Jerusalem and walked along the road to the village of Emmaus. Suddenly, a man comes alongisde them and joins their conversation. (The Gospel of Luke...

As we come down to the last number of chapters in the book of Acts, Paul's whereabouts appear largely controlled by Roman rulers. He is imprisoned, taken to different locations and imprisoned again. So where is God in the midst of all this movement? Turns out He is sovereignly working through people and circumstances to accomplish His plans and purposes. Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees an...

Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It's the beginning of Holy Week. Jesus rode in as a King as was greeted with shouts of praise. Yet just days later, He found Himself standing before rulers on trial as a criminal. As we continue our sermon series Sent: A Study of Acts, we'll take a closer look at Acts chapters 24 through 26. Here, we see a serva...

Reading through Paul's missionary journeys in the book of Acts, it seems like he faces persecution at every turn. Whether it was beatings, floggings or imprisonment, Paul suffered much for the name of Christ. But what about us today? What kind of persecution do we encounter in our context and how should we respond? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss t...

At the end of Acts 22, the Roman commander wants to find out what it is the Jews are accusing Paul of, so he releases Paul and orders the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then, he brings Paul to stand before them. This is where we are at the beginning of chapter 23. Almost as soon as Paul begins speaking, the high priest Ananias orders those standing near Paul to str...

As we think about why we obey God, we may find a variety of motives, both positive and negative. Amongst Christian, moralism is a common underlying motive for obedience, but what exactly is it and what are some ways we can we steer clear of it?   Join Ridge Director of Strategic Planning & Communication and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on this week's Beyond...

Recently, we've been learning a lot about the behaviors of the early church; what they did, how they did it, what problems they faced. Now we ask why? Why did the early church do the things it did? What motivated them? And how does it all apply to us as followers of Jesus yet today by looking specifically at our relationship and obedience to the law. Message by Dayne Logan Scripture referenced...

Acts 19 gives us a front row seat to the power of the gospel. The city of Ephesus is witnessing great transformation due to the work of God through Paul and his companions. But what can this chapter tell us about how we can see change in our won cities and communities?  Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on this week's Beyond...

Paul has preached the Gospel in Ephesus, and his message has changed the entire city. An uproar ensues as people discard and abandon their once-treasured idols made by human hands to fully follow Jesus. As a result, those who made a profitable trade of manufacturing silver shrines for the goddess Artemis have suddenly lost their lucrative businesses. A silversmith named Demetrius incites a massive...

Living in the information age has, along with other things, produced a wide variety of opinions and convictions amongst people. You don't have to look far to encounter people fighting for a particular cause or movement. But what does the Bible teach us about when to hold to our convictions and when to compromise? Is it possible to "fight the good fight" yet also be approachable and f...

In Acts 21 and 22, Paul reaches a pivotal point in his ministry. He decides to go to Jerusalem despite what he knew he would face there. Upon arrival, Paul is met by angry opposers. All of this sets him on a course careening toward more trials, including the threat of imprisonment. Yet, despite everything, Paul continues to preach the Gospel of Christ for the sake of the Lord. So, what does all of...

In Acts 20 we see a meaningful exchange between the Apostle Paul and leaders in the church in Ephesus. Paul is about the depart from them for what he believes will be the last time. As he leaves, he shares how his primary purpose as a follower of Jesus is to testify "to the good news of God's grace." So, what does that mean for us today? And what things tend to distract us from this...

Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesian elders begins in verse 17. He reminds them how he has faithfully ministered to both Jews and Gentiles. And though the Holy Spirit has revealed to him that he will soon be imprisoned and likely never see them again, it's not his life Paul values but the fact that he dutifully delivered Jesus' message of salvation. Through this, Paul reveals somethi...

This week we turn our attention to a topic few of us, if any, enjoy thinking or talking about: suffering. Living in a culture that is geared toward comfort and efficiency (as we do), we are often at a loss on how to face suffering whether personally or in the life of a friend or family member. So what does the Bible teach us about walking through hardship?   Join former Ridge staff member Julie Wi...

In 2 Corinthians Paul offers a great deal of insight into his life that we don't find anywhere else in Scripture. In chapter 4, he focuses his message on maintaining hope, integrity and purpose in life and ministry despite suffering and weakness. He contrasts jars of clay (our human frailty) against the treasure within (God's power) and tells us that there's more to temporary hardships...

Spend any time looking through the stories of Acts and you'll find faith that is alive and active. "Boring" is certainly not one of the adjectives you'd you use to describe it! And yet often Christianity and church life carries a reputation of being boring and mundane. So what are we are missing here? What does a vibrant and active faith look like? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van...

Paul is preaching long into the night in an upper room. A young man named Eutychus is there sitting on a windowsill. As the sermon continues on (and on and on), Eutychus eventually drifts off to sleep and falls three stories to the the ground. The fall is fatal. But Paul performs a miracle and brings Eutychus back to life. What a thing to have happened! But what is it that we're supposed to se...

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who enjoys confessing their failures. Who wants to have to admit you were wrong? Yet confession is something the Bible teaches should be part of the rhythm of our lives. But why? Why is confession so essential to our overall health and our spiritual growth? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss this question and more...

The people of Ephesus just witnessed the aftermath of a failed exorcism by the Seven Sons of Sceva and saw demons flee in the name of Jesus. After gaining this profound reverence for Jesus' overwhelming power and authority, an interesting thing happens. The Ephesians openly confess their previous involvement in magic and occult practices and gather to publicly burn and completely destroy their...

Looking through the Gospels and the book of Acts, it's hard to ignore the frequent encounters of Jesus and the Apostles with the demonic. Whether it’s the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5:1-20 or the boy in Matthew 17:14-21, these encounters pose an underlying question for the modern reader: Are demons still present and active today? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as...

The Seven Sons of Sceva. This group of men would travel from city to city looking for spiritually oppressed people who would pay them to cast out the demonic. While in Ephesus, the men heard about Paul and his ability to heal, restore and bless — power unlike they had ever witnessed before. And they wanted what Paul had. But when the Seven Sons of Sceva tried to get it, things didn't go well f...

In Acts 17 we get insight into a message Paul gave to the leaders of the city of Athens. At that time Athens was known for its temples, idols and cults, and Paul sets out to contrast the idols of Athens with the one true God. But how is this relevant to us today? What are the equivalent idols of the 21st century?  Join Ridge Director of Family Ministries Doug Applegate and BTS Host Will Herron as...

In Acts 17 Paul is in Athens. As he walks to the city, we learn two things: The city was full of idols. And Paul is greatly distressed. At first glance, it seems this passage is a bit antiquated. Idols are a thing of the past, aren't they? Just as idolatry weaves its way through the Bible from beginning to end, so, too, it finds its way into modern day. Message by Will HerronScripture referenc...

The book of Acts gives us a clear insight into what it looks like to live out Jesus' call to make disciples. So what can we learn from its chapters, and what does making disciples look like for us today? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on our sermon series in the book of Acts.

The apostle Paul was one of the most pivotal figures in early Christianity. We often think of him as an independent worker, as someone who teaches and preaches on his own. But, truth is, he's rarely alone. Actus chapter 18 tells the stories of the unfamiliar and ordinary but not insignificant men and women who, working alongside Paul, changed the world. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture refere...