The Ridge – Weekly Message

Even for those who have made a commitment to follow Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit can be somewhat of an enigma. It seems that while God the Father and God the Son are easier to wrap our heads around, the Holy Spirit seems nebulous and mysterious all at once. So who is He? How can we know Him and hear from Him in our day-to-day lives?   Join guest BTS host Dayne Logan and Ridge Dire...

One thing we see throughout all but one of Paul's letters is the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts (chapter 19, specifically) reveals much of the Holy Spirit — who He is and what He does. Spoiler: It's likely much more than you know and more than you think. Message by Will HerronScripture referenced: Acts 19

In Colossians 1:19 we learn that God has "supremacy" over all things. Yet when we look at the state of the world and the random, seemingly unjust hardships people face in their lives, it can cause us to wonder: Is God really in control? Is He really sovereign over all?   Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on this week’s...

The second half of the first chapter of Colossians holds what may be the most densely packed theological passages about Jesus in all of Scripture. These verses reveal something significant: Jesus doesn’t simply show us who God is, rather, He is God. The one and only. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: Colossians 1:13–20

TV Adventurer Bear Grylls once said that the church is a mixture between a hospital and a party. We have lots of reasons to celebrate together — recognizing who God is and what He has done in our lives — but it's also a place full of broken people. Pair that with instances of moral failure of church leadership and you might begin to wonder if the church is really worth the risk. However, as we...

The book of Colossians is a letter Paul wrote during his first Roman imprisonment to the followers of Jesus living in Colossae. His intention was to address the problems the church was facing and to challenge the followers of Jesus to examine their lives, ultimately encouraging them to be transformed by the resurrection and the love of Jesus. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: Colossian...

As Joshua's life draws to an end, he leaves the Israelites with one last challenge: Whom will you serve? Famously, Joshua responds, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." But what does that mean, exactly? What does it mean to serve the Lord when He's not physically here with us? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS host Will Herron as they discuss these questio...

The active military conquest is long over. The Promised Land has been allotted and dispersed among the tribes of Israel, and they've settled in. They're establishing themselves and their lives and their families in Canaan. A long time has passed, and Joshua is now an old man. Nearing the end of his life, he has something more to say. He calls the Israelites to remembers, and then he calls...

While knowledge of God and the Bible is important to our spiritual growth, it doesn't necessarily indicate our level of spiritual maturity. The Bible uses a different gauge: the fruit of the Spirit. So how do we move beyond mere information to tangible transformation in our lives? How can we begin to see Christlikeness in how we think, what we say and what we do?   Join Ridge Director of Strat...

As the Israelites are settling in to the Promised Land, Joshua is surely focused on the nation of Israel, how it is to function, and obedience to the Mosaic covenant. Put another way, he's starting to layout the blueprint for God's church. Given that, we'll look at Ephesians — a letter about what God calls His churches to do. It's also about how we — as members of His church — can...

The Bible teaches clearly that, for followers of Jesus, our future lies with God in Heaven. Beyond that, lies a new Heaven and new Earth when God draws history to a close. But how should this future hope impact our present day-to-day? How do we strike the right balance between looking ahead while actively fulfilling God's purpose today?   Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS host Will...

As the Israelites are settling in to the Promised Land, God instructs Joshua to name cities of refuge. These were six cities strategically placed and designated as safe-haven towns where anyone accused of causing an accidental death could flee and be protected from the avenger of blood (the person from the victim's family who had the right and responsibility to bring justice to the matter). Th...

Dissatisfaction with what we have and the desire for more are two characteristics of our Western modern mindset. But what's behind this? Is more really better? Or is it possible that God's desire for us is a life of greater simplicity? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on this week’s Beyond the Sermon.

The active military conquest is over. And it's time for the land to be dispersed among the tribes of Israel. These chapters detail all the territory that was allotted to each tribe. Each is listed — with one exception: the tribe of Levi. After hundreds of years of promise, when the day finally came, the tribe of Levi gets no mountain, no valley, no river, not even desert land. Seems harsh. Why...

As we read through the accounts of the conquest of the Promised Land by Joshua and the Israelites, it's hard for our modern sensibilities not to take offense. After all, aren't all these people groups being driven from their homes and cities just so that the Israelites can take up residence? What is different from this conquest than other unsettling invasions over the course of history?  J...

Joshua and the Israelites have conquered Jericho, Jerusalem, Ai, Lachish, Libnah and Hebron. They've defeated the Amorites, Hittites and Canaanites. Joshua id what he was supposed to do — he led and ultimately won the war. Yet pockets of resistance remained. These were battles that belonged to the tribes of Israel in the areas in which they settled, but they were battles the Israelites decided...

In Joshua 10 we read of God's judgement upon five Amorite kings. Joshua's men execute and impale each of these kings who opposed the Israelites and their allies. Yet its not only within specific Old Testament stories that we read of God's judgment, we encounter it right across the Biblical library. Many find it hard to reconcile God's love and justice in the Bible, so how exactly d...

As word of the conquest to claim and obtain the Promised Land spreads, the five kings of the Amorites decide to join forces and attack the city of Gibeon. When the Gibeonites learn of the coming danger, they send to Joshua for help. He responds, gathering his troops, leading them to an all-night march from Gilgal to Gibeon to defend the city. As the battle ensues, Joshua boldly asks God to make th...

At several points in the Psalms, we encounter the writers crying out to God from a difficult situation. They, like us, experience things in life that cause use to raise not only prayers but questions of God: Where are you? Why is this happening? So, how should we respond in situations or seasons like that? Where is God and what is He doing when it feels like everything is falling apart? Join guest...

Most often, God places desires in our hearts long before they come to fruition. Waiting is often intentional because that in between time is formational. If we learn anything for Joseph's story, it's this: In the journey, God equips us for the destination. Message by Will HerronScripture referenced: Genesis 37:3–11

On any given day, the average person makes thousands of decisions, some big, some small. While God doesn't expect us to pray about what kind of cereal we might have for breakfast, there are many other decisions which require greater wisdom than just our logical thinking. So what role should prayer play in our decision making process? And how do we go about hearing from God and receiving His di...

Lately, things have largely been in Joshua's and the Israelites' favor. But now here, in chapter nine, five of the most powerful kings in the region come together and form an alliance with the intention of annihilating Israel once and for all. One nation — Gibeon — has a different idea. The Gibeonites put together an elaborate plan to trick Joshua into establishing a peace treaty with them...

The Lord called Jonah to Nineveh to preach and to call the city to repentance. Jonah first said no. But when he finally said yes, he ultimately saved the city from destruction. Here's the exciting news: Like Jonah, we all have a unique call on our lives to serve the Lord in impactful, significant, life-changing ways. We just have to give Him our yes. Message by Rob LinkScripture referenced: Jo...

Statistics show a large percentage of kids whose parents become erratic in church attendance end up following a similar pattern, if not disconnecting from God and church altogether. So what is it about being consistently connected to church that ends up being so important for the development of kids? How do we manage age ranges where church feels irrelevant and boring?   Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mik...

The wall of Jericho has fallen. God has delivered the city into the hands of the Israelites. Up next? The conquest of Ai. Set to be quick and easy, the battle becomes anything but, ending in sudden, unexpected defeat. Joshua cries out to God in confusion and despair, and God reveals the reason behind Israel's loss: the hidden sin of a man named Achan. Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenc...