The Ridge – Weekly Message

In refuting false teachers (Judaizers) and their precepts, Paul brings his teachings to James, Peter and John. He’s seeking their council, yet also accepting responsibility over controversy. Their response: They recognize Paul’s teaching as truth. But there’s one more thing. Peter, James and John ask the apostle to do one more thing in his ministry.   Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced:...

This past week we were in Galatians 1:15-24. Here we get an insight into Saul’s whereabouts the few years after his miraculous conversion. God leads Saul/Paul into a three-year season of deepening — a time of becoming before a season of doing.  Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore what deepening seasons can look like in our lives today. Read the  Beyond the...

Back in Galatians this Sunday, we’ll hear more of Paul’s testimony, specifically the Road to Damascus story — his miraculous conversion. So, what happened next? He went right into ministry, in to leadership in the early church, right? Well, not quite.   Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Galatians 1:15–24 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up...

In the book of Galatians Paul speaks of a gospel of grace, not of works. Yet in James we read that faith without works is dead. So are Paul and James presenting two contrasting truths, or is there something deeper going on? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Strategic Planning and Communication Director Dayne Logan as they discuss ways to approach apparent contradictions in the Bible.  Read the ...

In Galatians, Paul tells us that a person is saved through faith by grace alone. We cannot earn salvation, and we are not justified by following the law (no matter how closely) or completing good works (no matter how many). Yet in the book of James, James writes, “Faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Huh? If we’re not saved through works, what is James getting at? Message...

As we continue our study in Galatians, we get a look into Paul's past, and it wasn't pretty! While "your past doesn't define you" might be a popular saying, it can be challenging to know how to handle a history of deep failure in our own lives and the lives of others. Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss how our experience of God's...

So far we know that the Galatians have strayed from the message of the gospel — they've accepted false teaching. As they ponder which teacher to listen to, Paul’s background wasn’t doing him or his message any favors. His past was dark. As we move further into the first chapter of Galatians, we’ll see just what God does with brokenness. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Galatians...

This week we are back in the book of Galatians where we find Paul fired up about some happenings in the church. The Bible teaches that healthy anger is possible, but what exactly does that look like? How can we go about avoiding destructive expressions of anger? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore these questions and more on this week’s episode.  Read the ...

Galatians 1. Paul is angry. And rightly so. He is confronting the Galatians who have strayed from the message of the gospel and have come to accept false teaching. The Galatians have replaced the truth they know — that which Paul himself preached to them — with something else. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Galatians 1:3–10 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotion...

Walk Sunday — the Sunday we celebrate and recognize youth who have made a commitment to and established a personal relationship with God. Select youth share stories and testimonies of their spiritual journeys. Junkyard Director, Todd Stiles and K-12 Ministry Assistant, Paige Schwickerath with Emma Reaman, Kayla Fox, Sara Brown, Ellie Vaudt.

Walk Sunday — the Sunday we celebrate and recognize youth who have made a commitment to and established a personal relationship with God. Select youth share stories and testimonies of their spiritual journeys. Junkyard Director, Todd Stiles and K-12 Ministry Assistant, Paige Schwickerath with Alyssa Krogman, Isaiah Pine, Meghan Wolf.

The Bible as a whole is honest about brokenness in the human heart but also clear about God's stunning grace toward us. But how do we go about keeping a healthy balance between awareness of our sin and living in the reality of God's forgiveness and grace? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they begin a new sermon series in the book of Galatians exploring the t...

When God freely gives us what we need, even though we don’t deserve it and can never repay it, that's grace. That's the message of Paul's letter to the Galatians. So, why were so many so angry over what he was teaching? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Galatians 1:1–2 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond t...

As we remembered and celebrated Jesus' death and resurrection this past weekend, Pastor Mike honed in on one question that Jesus asked His disciples: Who do you say I am? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore the life-altering implications of how we respond to that question. Click here for more info on the upcoming Ridge U class, Experiencing Jesus. Read...

There is no question about Jesus’ influence, His wisdom or His popularity. But what about His divinity? This Easter, we explore this claim and ask, who do you say Jesus is? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Matthew 16:13–15 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox. 

In John 14:15, Jesus states, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." In other words, one of God's love languages is obedience. Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore how living life God's way is the only way to find the abundance God has for us. Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to rec...

What does it mean to love Jesus? Is it enough to simply say the words? Is He looking for an emotional response? Is it a deep-seated feeling? Those are all nice. But Jesus is looking for something altogether different. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: John 14:15–31 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog i...

It's a term we hear often yet might not fully understand. After all, what does it look like to be a disciple of Jesus when he isn't physically present with us today like he was with his early followers?   Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss what it looks like to love and follow God in the present day. Click here to find our podcast page to share wi...

Have you ever wondered what Jesus was looking for in His disciples when establishing the Twelve? Take Peter. What did Jesus see in Him specifically? And how does that apply to us yet today? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: John 21:15–25 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox. 

Now that we’ve finished out our sermon series on the book of Malachi, we shift the narrative from comfort to discomfort. From numbness to pain. Suffering is always a hard topic. But in and through it, we see God move. Encounter Sunday: Natalie’s Story Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox. 

Have you ever thought about what Heaven will be like? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore what Scripture says about Heaven and highlight the biggest takeaways from the book of Malachi. Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox. 

The last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament. It opens with a warning and continues with assurance and a promise — Jesus and Heaven. It would be a great ending, if the text stopped here. But it doesn’t. There’s one more verse — a curse. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Malachi 4:1–6 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive...

This week we hone in on Malachi 3:6-18 which contains one of the most famous passages in the Bible on financial giving. Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss how healthy motives for giving and how God can use our giving to shape us into the likeness of Jesus. Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Bey...

Do not be anxious. These words of Jesus seem almost impossible to imagine in 21st century life. How could we even begin to live lives with less worry and anxiety? Is it even possible? Join Joni Pine, Director of Hospitality and Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, as they discuss several ways how God can go about freeing us from a life of anxiety. Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get th...