The Ridge – Weekly Message

The book of Acts is unlike any other. It tells of what happened after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It gives us the account of His ascension and of Pentecost, miraculous healings and bold preaching. It tells of the growth and advancement of the Church. But how does it end? To understand, we have to look closer at what Paul was doing here and determine what it all means for us today as...

The Apostle Paul faced many hard things in his life, yet we can also see how God used those things for the good of others and the spread of the gospel. But what about the kind of things that seem to carry no redeemable value at all? The sudden loss of a loved one, an unexpected divorce or loss of a job. How do we go about navigating these kinds of situations?   Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees...

We know life hasn't been easy for Paul. He's been falsely accused, arrested, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked and snakebitten. In verse 11, we see Paul three months later. He has set sail once again and finally reached Rome only to be placed immediately under Roman guard. There's an irony here in that, for some time, Paul had eagerly desired to go to Rome in order to teach and minister...

The Apostle Paul ends up shipwrecked on an island but even there God works miraculously through him to bring healing to the sick (Acts 28). We see God work through the other apostles in similar ways, so should we expect God to do the same thing today? Does the fact that we see less miraculous healing today suggest that the issue is on our side?    Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host...

Life has been anything but easy for Paul. He's been falsely accused, arrested, beaten and imprisoned. And now, after boarding a cargo ship to Rome to appeal his case to Caesar, he sails straight into a storm which leaves him along with the crew and passengers shipwrecked on a the small island of Malta. Once there, rather than things getting better, they just get worse! While gathering firewood...

One aspect of our response to God's truth is walking in it. When we walk with Jesus, we form a personal relationship with Him. And that's by design. God wants a personal relationship with each of us. Let's consider what that really means. Message by Todd StilesScripture referenced: John 1:35–39, 15:4

In Acts chapter 27, we come across a story reminiscent of Robinson Crusoe, Cast Away or even Gilligan's Island. Paul is trying to get to Rome aboard a ship but soon finds himself, soaked, starving and — ultimately — shipwrecked. Yet somehow, God's glory still shines through. Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS guest host Dayne Logan as they discuss Paul's predicament and the l...

In our study of Acts, so far we know that Paul has been falsely accused by the Sanhedrin. And he's been arrested. Ultimately, Paul appeals his case to Caesar. And in Acts 27, we find him finally on his way to Rome. The text alternates between Luke's detailed description of the sea voyage and Paul encouraging people on board to make choices that won't be detrimental to them all. When hi...

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...