The Ridge – Weekly Message

The subject of God's sovereignty can give rise to lots of questions. If God is all powerful, why do we see so much suffering in the world? If God is truly sovereign, why doesn't he intervene to rescue us from hardships more often? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Mike Van Rees as they explore how we can approach these kinds of questions while also experiencing peace and hope...

The truth of God’s sovereignty can cause us to ask: If God is all powerful, why do we see so much suffering in the world? Why doesn’t He intervene? Why? In his questioning, Habakkuk leads us to the answer. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Habakkuk 1:5–11 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inb...

When we hear of idols or idolatry, visions of  primitive people gathered around a statue can come to mind. It's easy to assume that when the Bible speaks of idols, it's something of the past. Thousands of years later, however, the subject of idols proves to be as relevant as ever. Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Marketing and Communication Manager Dayne Logan as they...

What does Israel’s struggle with idols and idolatry have to do with us today? We don’t carve idols out of wood or cast them out of metal. Maybe not. But the subject of idols still proves to be as relevant as ever. Message by Dayne Logan Scripture referenced: Isaiah 44:13–20 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in yo...

In the first chapter of Habakkuk, the prophet is crying out to God in the midst of doubt and confusion. As believers, how can we use doubt and confusion as a positive in our relationship with God? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss the ways in which doubt and lament play essential roles in a healthy relationship with God. Read the  Beyon...

Habakkuk is struggling to reconcile a good God with the pervasiveness of the pain, evil and suffering around Him. In Chapter 1 of Habakkuk, we see him cry out to God. So, what does God do with Habakkuk's questions and doubt and confusion? What can we, as followers of Jesus, learn from His response? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Habakkuk 1:1–4 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devoti...

This Sunday we began a new sermon series titled "Nevertheless" on the Book of Habakkuk. The new series will take us through a conversation between an ordinary man, Habakkuk, and God Himself. Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they start off our series by exploring ways to recognize God's presence in our day-to-day lives. Read the  Beyon...

Don’t miss this simple truth found in the Bible over and over: God talks to ordinary people. It’s the big idea of the book of Habakkuk, and it’s the center of our new sermon series, Nevertheless. This Sunday and in the coming weeks, we’ll see what it means to have a personal relationship with God. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Habakkuk 1:1 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals ....

How do we find happiness and joy in life? Depending on who you ask, you may receive a different answer. For some it's money, for others it's their career or their achievements in life. But what does the Bible teach us about living life to the full? What is the "good life" according to Jesus? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they c...

The Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes. More than morals and rules, the sermon reveals what the “good life” looks like. But His depiction isn’t terribly attractive: Blessed are those who are poor, who hunger, who weep. Blessed are those who are hated, excluded and insulted. Seems like Jesus has it all wrong. Does He? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 6 Read the  Beyond the Sermo...

On this special edition of Beyond the Sermon we hear from international speaker, Carol Herron. For the last 50 years + Carol has been ministering/teaching both at home in N Ireland and around the world. The following message is taken from a Women’s Gathering night at The Ridge on Sept 11th, 2023. 

This week we jumped back into the Gospel of Luke where Jesus and His disciples encounter a man possessed by several demons. Jesus miraculously casts the demons out of the man, then encourages him to go and tell others about what happened to him.  Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore how we can go about sharing our experiences of Jesus with...

We find the first Biblical example of a missionary in Luke chapter 8. And he’s likely not who you think. His qualification: knowing what Jesus had done for him. Like this man, we all have a story. And Jesus expects us to tell it. Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox. 

This week, we break from our study on Luke and jump to the Book of Deuteronomy. We are reminded as followers of Jesus that we are not only to listen to God's word and direction but also to live it out. Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Family Ministry Leader Doug Applegate as they discuss how practically applying what we hear from God cannot only change us but also influenc...

In Deuteronomy we’re told that God’s commandments are to be on our hearts. We’re to talk about them and think about them throughout the day from when we get up to when we lie down. But what does it mean for us to truly live out God’s Word? Message by Doug Applegate Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 6:6–9 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive t...

Through the Gospel of Luke, miraculous stories are told with stunning depictions of Jesus' power and His compassion. It's easy to simply read of these stories but fail to truly get to know the One behind the miracles. So how do we move from just knowing about God to walking with Him daily? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss ways...

Sometimes people say they aren’t experiencing God or they aren’t growing spiritually or that He seems so hard to find. That’s not what the Bible says. Scripture tells us that He is available. In fact, we’re promised that if we seek, He will be found by us. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 8:40–56 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  t...

As we continue through our series in the Gospel of Luke, we hone in on one of the most eccentric characters of the Bible, John the Baptist. John preached a message of repentance yet even within this confident proclamation, he had questions and doubts. Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss how doubt can play a constructive role in the buildin...

Following Jesus is the best, most fulfilling life. But it isn’t the easiest life. There are things that God allows to happen that we may never understand—things that can cause us to question our faith. John the Baptist was a man firm in his faith, certain Jesus was the Messiah. Yet even he wrestled with doubt. And it wasn’t a bad thing. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 7:18–35 R...

Luke 6 contains one of the most challenging commands of Jesus in the whole of the gospels; "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you...". But how can we possibly go about doing this? What does loving our enemies even look like? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship and Ridge Leadership and Ministry Director, Julie Wiemann, as they discuss what foll...

In Luke 6, we find one of the most challenging commands given by Jesus: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you. But what does that really mean? How does it apply to us today and what does it look like? Message by Julie Wiemann Scripture referenced: Luke 6:27–31 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyo...

In Luke 8, Jesus calms a storm while on board a boat with His disciples. The story reminds us of God's immense power. Yet how often are we stepping out in faith and trusting in that power? Where is Jesus asking you to step out in faith today? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship and Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss ways in which we can grow to trust in God and step out in big an...

Fear can be a good thing. It can keep you out of trouble and away from danger. But fear can also be in conflict with our faith. It can cause us to miss out on discovering just how good God is and how worthy He is of our trust. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 8:22–25 Read the  Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week!  Sign up  to receive the Beyond the Sermo...

Pain is often a topic we prefer not to address, yet it is a common experience for us all. Thankfully, the Bible has much to say around the subject of suffering and what our relationship with God looks like in those hard seasons. Join Joni Pine and Will Herron as they discuss what lament is and how it plays a key role in our navigating seasons of pain well.  Resources: God on Mute (Pete Greig), A G...

Two disciples are walking along the road to Emmaus in Luke chapter 24. As they talk through the grief and disappointment over Jesus’s execution and death, a third man enters into the conversation. He walks alongside them and offers comfort, yet challenges them in their lament. Turns out this man is Jesus, and His interaction with these men reveals much about Him. Message by Will Herron Scripture r...