The Ridge – Weekly Message

For such a familiar part of the Christian life, prayer is often the most neglected aspects of our relationship with God. Well meaning aspirations of setting aside time to pray succumb to busy work schedules, personal commitments, or general tiredness. Join Will Herron and guest host, Dayne Logan, as they seek to re discover the treasure and joy of talking with the God of the universe. Read the Bey...

The disciples saw Jesus praying, and they wanted to know how to do it themselves. So, He teaches them. Jesus instructs them in the same patterns He Himself lived by and gives them The Lord’s Prayer. There’s so much Jesus reveals through this template of prayer, the most important being this: Prayer is an invitation into relationship with God. Message by Will Herron Scripture referenced: Matthew 6:...

In this week's episode, Pastor Mike and Will address the very real possibility of our faith becoming an academic exercise where following Jesus entails knowing the right things but not necessarily living the right way. So how do we avoid this pitfall? How can we learn about God while also applying what we hear in our daily lives? Listen in as we explore these questions and more. Read the Beyond th...

When it comes to following Jesus, often we aren’t lacking facts and information. We already know , but we don’t do . The goal of reading the Bible isn’t simply to understand; it’s to put into action. If we aren’t careful, the Christianity can morph into an academic exercise instead of a lifestyle. How can we be sure our faith isn’t something we simply study but something we become? Message by Mike...

Things like shopping, entertainment, dining and banking have never been more convenient. From ordering food to your door to viewing your favorite new movie releases right in the comfort of your living room, many every day things have never been easier. Join Pastor Mike and BTS host Will Herron as they discover that, while convenience is helpful in certain areas of life, it doesn't work so well as...

The kingdom has split. Israel to the north and Judah to the south. With Jerusalem in the north, now the southern kingdom is without a temple, it's without a place to worship. So, King Jeroboam makes some changes. He lowered the standards of God, substituted what was right for what was easy, and created a faith that demanded little. But why? What was behind the decisions Jeroboam made? Message by M...

Decision making is a part of our everyday. From the simple things like what we are going to eat for breakfast to bigger things like whether to accept a new job or not. Yet how do we go about making decisions? Particularly the potentially life changing ones? Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees, and BTS podcast host, Will Herron, as the explore some practical ways to approach making good choices in...

Rehoboam had a decision to make — one that would greatly affect the future. He did a couple of things right: He waited. And he sought counsel. The advice he ultimately took, though, was from unwise friends. As a result, the kingdom split in two. How do you go about making decisions? Who are you listening to? Who are you surrounding yourself with? Who are you influenced by? Message by Mike Van Rees...

Many in the modern day believe that discerning right and wrong is a personal endeavor. Our morality is defined not externally by God but internally by each individual. Join Will and Marketing and Communication Manager, Dayne Logan, as they explore what the Bible has to teach us about discerning good/evil and growing into people of wisdom. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional...

He could have had absolutely anything. But when God asked Solomon what he wanted, he didn’t ask for riches or fame, peace or long life; rather, Solomon requested wisdom. But here’s the thing: When we are made aware of the existence of good and bad, we have the power to do enormous good, but it also occurs us that we have the option of doing evil things. Message by Dayne Logan Scripture referenced:...

This week we begin a new sermon series on the kings of the Bible. In this week's episode, Pastor Mike and Will take an opportunity to discuss ways in which we can use the influence that we hold in our lives to honor God. They also explore some ways that we can avoid some of the pitfalls that befell the kings of the Bible. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign...

With the exception of Job, every book from 1 Samuel to the end of the Old Testament is about the kings. That's about half of the Bible. This sermon marks the beginning of a series in which we'll take a close look at the leaders of ancient Israel and all the ways they used — and abused — their power, influence, and resources. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 17:14–20 Read...

While the truth of God's sovereignty can bring great comfort and hope, it can also raise some deep questions: "How could God let ... happen to me?" or "If God could stop something but chooses not to, does that make Him ultimately responsible?" Join Mike and Will as they explore these challenging questions in this week's edition of the podcast. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devot...

The book of Genesis concludes with Joseph looking back over his life. But how does he make sense of his great reversals from favored child to slave then to hero? The theological word to explain it all is sovereignty, which basically means God is in control. Nothing can thwart his plan and purpose — not even the sin of man. Rather, He uses it all to bring forth good. Message by Mike Van Rees Script...

Pastor Mike and BTS host, Will Herron, cover a variety of topics on this weeks episode. From exploring how we speak the truth in love without judgement, to unpacking why being involved in the life of the church is key to our spiritual growth. Join Mike and Will as they explore these areas and more. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond...

Sometimes the deepest blessing is to point out truth. Here’s the message that comes screaming out of Genesis 49: Present actions have future repercussions. Temporary pleasure does not equal lasting fulfillment. Our choices today have consequences for tomorrow—our choices effect our lives, the lives of our children, and generations to come. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Genesis 49...

More than ever it feels like we are in danger of becoming overly self focused. Everywhere you look, things are catered to what we want, how we want it, when we want it. So how does this line up with Jesus call to be "last" and "the servant of all"? To live more focused on others than ourselves? Join Director of Outreach, Mary Kohlsdorf and BTS host, Will Herron, as they explore these questions and...

Honoring our father and mother can be difficult sometimes, particularly if they've fallen short of God's intention for those roles. So how do we go about living out this commandment? And how do we parent/influence younger generations in a way that honors God?  Join Pastor Mike and Will as they explore some practical ways to approach these questions in our weekly podcast. Read the Beyond the S...

What is the goal of parenting? To do everything in your power to influence your children to willingly and joyfully follow Jesus. It starts here: Do you love and follow and grow in your relationship with God? You can’t give what you don’t have. Here’s the rest of it: Every conversation is an opportunity to point to God. He isn’t just in a book or in our heads. He influences what we believe and how...

While we can celebrate with Jacob and his family over their relocation to an abundant land, we also recognize that the lands of Egypt and Canaan remained in severe famine. As we think of our own lives, God doesn’t promise that we won’t have famine or troubles, but He does promise His presence and provision within it.  Join Pastor Mike and Will as they share stories of how they have exper...

There is a belief that is widely held. It’s false. And it can train wreck your faith. Here it is: God will keep you from pain and deliver you from difficulty. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that. What it does say, what God does promise, though, is that He is with us ready and waiting with provision. He is good, even when our circumstances are not. That is why we can worship in every season. Mess...

Peter's letter was received by Christians undergoing severe persecution. Often in church history it's at such times that we see great spiritual growth. And while we may not experience the same level of suffering as this first century audience, we can still encounter challenging seasons in our own lives. So is it possible for God to use these situations to help us grow in a similar way? If so, how?...

Peter writes about glorious, inexpressible joy. And he reveals that the reward for trusting Jesus will be the salvation of the soul. So, even in the face of horrific daily challenges, Peter encourages first-century Christians — and us — to rejoice. Because we have a joy that comes from heaven and one we can’t humanly describe. It’s joy in the reward yet to come — joy in the eternal hope we have in...

The Bible teaches us that God desires to speak to us and lead us in His plans and purposes. But how do we go about discerning His voice amongst all the other voices both inside and outside of us? How can we be sure we are hearing from God and not just ourselves?  Join Pastor Mike and Will as they explore some practical steps to growing in hearing God's voice. Read the Beyond the Sermon devoti...

Should he stay or should he go? Jacob is living in the Promised Land. But he discovers his beloved son is alive and doing very well in Egypt. Jacob is desperate to see him. But he knows once he steps foot beyond Beersheba, he will exit the Promised Land. If he leaves, what about the promises? What about the land? What about the covenant? Jacob puts aside his emotions and seeks God’s will. Do you d...