From the Ridge

Matthew 5:13-16:   “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.   Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to...

1 Corinthians 12:12: "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ."

Acts 2:42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

John 15:5:   “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Matthew 16:17-18: Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.   And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church , and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

John 15:26: When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Nathan Allen addresses the fifth belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that good people go to heaven when they die. Listen in as Nathan discusses this belief and how Christianity would answer it.

John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—   the Spirit of truth.

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Bruce Wilson addresses the fourth belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when He is needed to resolve a problem. Listen in as Bruce talks about who God is and when we should be going to him.

John 14:9-14: This passage reveals the closeness of the relationship that Jesus shared with the disciples, and that he desires from us.  As we pray in His name, Jesus meets us and hears our prayers. This prayer, isn't a catch-all magic word to get what whatever we ask for. Instead, as we live out our relationship with Him our desires begin to align with Christ's will.

John 14:1-7: This passage is the beginning of a long discourse with the disciples in advance of his suffering and death.  Beginning in John 14, Jesus lays out a plan for the future.  He begins with comfort and encouragement.  While the disciples may not understand Jesus' words fully here, they receive the promise of Christ saying, "I will come back."  Evil doesn't win. What an...

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Robynn Collins addresses the third belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that the goal of life is to be happy. Listen as Robynn unpacks this question and how our ultimate goal is actually Jesus.

John 6:35-37: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.   All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away ."

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Wesley Huff addresses the second belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. Now there are two parts to that statement, and the first part (that God wants us to be good, nice and fair) will be addressed in subsequent weeks. But today, Wesley does a dee...

Matthew 8:1-4: When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.   A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”   Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “ I am willing ,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.   Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone....

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Joel addresses the first belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that a God exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth. Listen in as Joel outlines how God is not a passive observer of life on earth, but is intimately engaged in it!

Matthew 4:18-20: As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.   “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This week, our Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Leader Jacob Pearo teaches on the impact that simplifying our spending habits and schedule can have on our desire and ability to seek first the kingdom of God. 

Week 6 of our series on the Lord's Prayer. This week, our focus is on " For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Week 5 of our series on the Lord's Prayer. This week, our focus is on "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Week 4 of our series on the Lord's Prayer. This week, our focus is on "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

Week 3 of our series on the Lord's Prayer. This week, our focus is on "Give us this day our daily bread."

Week 2 of our series on the Lord's Prayer. This week, our focus is on " Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Week 1 of our series on the Lord's Prayer. This week, our focus is on "Our Father."