The Ridge – Weekly Message

As we continue to walk through the life of Solomon, we become aware of his tendency to partially obey God, which leads to difficult circumstances in his life. Sometimes we experience trouble because of disobedience, but is it also possible that God allows certain hard things in our lives for deeper reasons? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore this question...

Solomon's temple and palace have been built. The temple has been dedicated, and the Ark of the Covenant has been placed inside. Solomon has prayed, a celebration has taken place, and now God blesses him for his obedience. But He also has a stern warning for Solomon. One that also applies to us yet today. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 Kings 9:1–9

In his message, Pastor Mike commented how "God answers our prayers according to His goodness, His will, and His plan." Yet, if we are honest, sometimes that plan is hard to understand, and the realities we face seem to challenge the idea of God's goodness rather than reinforce it. So how do we go about responding in instances or seasons like that?  Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Ree...

The dedication of the temple. The text describes the procession of the Ark of the Covenant into the temple and features Solomon's lengthy prayer of dedication along with the massive festival of sacrifice and celebration. There's quite a lot to cover in 66 verses and even more to see in regard to how it applies to us and our lives yet today. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 K...

The late Timothy Keller defined idols as "good things that have become ultimate things." The Bible certainly has lots to say about idols, so how do we go about identifying them in our lives? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore this topic and more in this week's BTS episode.

Solomon didn't just build a house for the Lord; he also built a house of himself. Really, it was a palace. Or actually, it was more like a royal complexes of five distinct structures. But among all the details, there's something significant to see here. It has a little something to do with the order of Solomon's priorities. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 Kings 7:1–12

1 Kings 5-7 outlines Solomon's extravagant temple building project where no expense was spared in its design and construction. But what about modern day churches? Are we still justified in spending large of amounts of money constructing and maintaining these buildings?  Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore this topic and more in this week's BTS epis...

Solomon's temple was beautiful, extravagant, lavish. It was built with cedars from Lebanon floated on the sea to Jerusalem. It was constructed with such reverence that stones were cut to the desired and exact size at the quarry so that no loud noise from hammers or chisels would profane the building stie. Even the temple floors were pure gold. Interesting, for sure. But what does it matter? What d...

Looking at the life of Solomon one thing is clear, he was a man of incredible wealth. Solomon was in many ways the Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos or Warren Buffet of his day. And yet it raises the question: Does God desire every person to be wealthy? What does the Bible teach us about God's financial provision for us?   Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore this...

Chapter 4 of 1 Kings consists of three major sections. Verses 1–21 list Solomon's officials and governors, verses 22–28 share Solomon's daily provisions, and verses 29–30 reveal the depth of Solomon's wisdom. Ever wonder why Solomon had all that he had? Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 Kings 4

A few weeks ago we started a new sermon series Rise and Fall: The Story of Solomon. This past Sunday, we turned our attention to another rise and fall story, the life of the Apostle Peter. If we are honest, we can see this same dynamic in our own lives. It can be challenging to maintain a steady level of Christlikeness throughout our day-to-day lives. So how can we become more consistent in this a...

During the course of his life, Solomon experiences a dramatic rise and fall. Although so far we've seen him on the rise, a fall is surely coming. And Solomon isn't the only one. Peter, too, experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. So, what does this reveal to us as followers of Jesus today?        Message by Dayne Logan  Scripture referenced: Mark 8:27–36 

On-demand streaming and shopping has in many ways made life easier than ever. Want to get your groceries delivered to your door? Want to watch all the episodes of every season of your favorite show? Both can be accomplished with just a few clicks on your phone or TV. Convenient, yes! But what effect does this on-demand culture have on us? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herr...

God just granted Solomon his request for wisdom — for a discerning heart and an understanding mind to lead God's people. Now two women stand before him both claiming to be the mother of the same baby. Solomon must determine which one is the mother. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 Kings 3:16–28

In 1 Kings 3, God says to Solomon, "Ask me for whatever you want me to give you." A remarkable offer to which Solomon responds, "Give your servant a discerning heart." Solomon could have requested anything, yet he asks for wisdom. So, what exactly is wisdom and how can we grow in it?    Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore these question...

God just granted Solomon his request for wisdom — for a discerning heart and an understanding mind to lead God's people. Now two women stand before him both claiming to be the mother of one baby. Solomon must determine which one is the mother. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 Kings 3:16–28

You don't have to look far to find violence within the pages of the Bible. From the murder of Abel by his brother Cain and the various wars within the Old Testament to the crucifixion in the New Testament, engaging with the Bible means violence is something we can't ignore.   Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore this challenging topic and discover t...

David: As Solomon establishes his kingdom, he also begins to administer justice. And David has justice on his mind as he prepares to die. In fact, the last words David speaks to Solomon are instructions to avenge him from the wrongs suffered at the hands of Shimei. This presents and important question: What do we do with unforgiveness — with holding onto an offense and the desire for revenge. Mess...

Often "joy" and "happiness" can be used interchangeably but as we look to the Bible, we see joy as something much deeper and longer lasting. So what exactly is it and how can we grow to be more joyful?     Join Ridge Family Ministries Director Doug Applegate and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on this weeks BTS episode.

The book of 2 Samuel tells the story of King David's reign in Israel — his rise to power, his military successes, his consolation of the kingdom, and the consequences of his choices both good and bad. But there's one scene where David returns to Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant and does something quite undignified. Message by Doug ApplegateScripture referenced: 2 Samuel 6:1–23More in...

Jesus called his disciples to come and follow Him. More than a simple profession of faith, the decision made by the disciples was highly practical, it involved every area of their lives. So how can we mirror that same devotion and surrender to Jesus today? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore the dangers of partial Christianity and discover afresh Jesus&#39...

As Solomon establishes his kingdom, he also begins to administer justice, which means he is forced to make a decision regarding Joab, the nephew of King David and the commander of his army. Joab's story and his role within the kingdom is a complicated one. But Joab shows us something important — something we as followers of Jesus can't gloss over. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenc...

As we continue our series through the life of King Solomon, we encounter a conflict between his parents, David and Bathsheba. Relational conflict is common to us all, but how exactly should we approach it as followers of Jesus? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore some practical ways we can navigate conflict in a God-honoring way. 

In 1 Kings chapter 1, King David is nearing the end of his life. The obvious question before him is this: Who will succeed him as king? The obvious plan would be David's oldest living son, Adonijah — the heir apparent. That's how monarchies work, isn't it? Turns out God had something else in mind. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: 1 Kings 1

As we begin a new sermon series looking at the life of Solomon, one thing is clear, his family was dysfunctional! Sadly, many of us have similar experiences. So, how do we go about navigating challenging aspects of our family history and our lives as followers of Jesus? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they explore God's ability to redeem even the darkest dysfunctio...