Jesus could have had His choice of anyone. He could have picked a scholar, an influencer, someone living a moral life. But He didn’t. He chose Levi, the tax collector. Instead of shunning Levi for his corrupt behavior and immoral financial practices, Jesus said, “Come. Follow me.” Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 5:27–32 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
Jun 19, 2023•23 min
In Luke chapter 5 we unpack the story of a paralytic man being healed and forgiven after his friends went through great lengths to ensure he was brought before Jesus. So how can we serve our friends and families in the same way? What are we willing to do to bring them to Jesus? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees, as they discuss ways in which we can be stepping stones to faith for our friends and family members. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals ...
Jun 12, 2023•19 min
The friends of the paralytic man went to great lengths to bring him before Jesus. And through their efforts, he was more than healed, he was forgiven. What are we willing to do to bring others to Jesus? How can we serve our friends and families in a similar way? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 5:17–26 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
Jun 12, 2023•26 min
In Luke chapter 10, Jesus sends 72 of His followers to heal the sick and to tell others that the kingdom of God was near. As Jesus followers today, how do we go about spreading the gospel and integrating our faith into every sphere of our lives? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ministry Director Julie Wiemann as they discuss ways on sharing our faith in today's culture. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon ...
Jun 05, 2023•21 min
In Luke chapter 10, Jesus sends 72 of His followers out into the world. He instructs them to heal the sick and to declare that the kingdom of God was near. So, as followers of Jesus today, how are we using our influence? Are we spreading the gospel? Are we integrating faith into all aspects of our lives? Message by Julie Wiemann Scripture referenced: Luke 10 Video referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg3qN2s5fUQ Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign u...
Jun 05, 2023•32 min
As we continue our sermon series in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus encounters a man with leprosy and heals him. Fully and immediately. Moments like this in Jesus' ministry inspire faith, but they can also raise questions: Why don't we see this response from Him each time we ask? Does it have something to do with us—don't we have enough faith—or is God not as willing to heal today as He was then? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss this chall...
May 29, 2023•20 min
In Luke chapter 5, Jesus encounters a man with leprosy and heals him. Fully and immediately. Moments like this in Jesus’ ministry inspire faith, for sure, but they can also raise some hard questions: Why don’t we see this response from Jesus every time we ask? Does it have something to do with us—don’t we have enough faith—or is God not as willing to heal today as He was then? Maybe it’s something else entirely. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 5:12–16 Read the Beyond the Serm...
May 29, 2023•29 min
In Luke chapter 5 Simon (Peter) had been fishing all night with no luck. Jesus comes along and asks him and his men to drop their fishing net one more time and to their delight, they catch a net full of fish. Jesus' direction didn't make sense, but Simon listens, obeys, and casts his net. How can we grow to have a faith like that? How do we say 'yes' to God even when we don't understand and when we doubt the direction we are given? Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pasto...
May 22, 2023•21 min
Logic says cut your losses and go home. Experience says pack up and rest. Faith says go and do it because God says so. Because He says so? How do we listen, obey, and follow even when we don’t understand and when we doubt the direction we are given? Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 5:1–11 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
May 22, 2023•21 min
The Prodigal Son, one of the most well-known parables in the Bible, follows the story of a father and his two sons. As the tale unfolds we see the two sons pursue very different directions in life while remaining equally distant from their father. So, what is Jesus teaching us through this story? And why has it become so popular? Join Joni Pine, Director of Hospitality, and Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, as they discuss some of the crucial spiritual life lessons found within the story of...
May 15, 2023•19 min
The parable of the Prodigal Son is well-known. You likely know this story that follows two sons who pursue very different directions in life, yet remain equally distant from their father. What is it that Jesus is teaching us through this story? And, of all of the parables Jesus told, why has this one gained such popularity? Message by Will Herron Scripture referenced: Luke 15 Video referenced: The Bible Project: The Prodigal Son Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each we...
May 15, 2023•30 min
In the gospel of Luke we encounter the ultimate battle of good versus evil: Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness. But how do we know when we are encountering the enemy in our own lives? How can go about identifying and responding to the tactics of Satan? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they highlight some of the tell-tale signs of the enemy at work in our lives. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the B...
May 08, 2023•17 min
In Luke chapter 4, God exposes a few myths that we might be caught up in. Here’s one: Satan isn’t real. The Bible teaches us not only that he is but that he is the great tempter. So, how do we handle temptation? We do it just like Jesus did when he faced Satan in the desert. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 4 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
May 08, 2023•24 min
One of the key themes in Luke 3:28-38 is baptism. While all Christians agree that baptism is important, it can look different depending on the denomination of the church. So what is the history of baptism, what does it mean and when/how should we do it? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they dive into the symbolism and meaning behind baptism. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your...
May 01, 2023•21 min
Luke 3 is the introduction of baptism to the Christian faith. So, what is baptism? Why is it done? What does it mean? We’ll address all these questions and take a closer look at the baptism of Jesus—what His experience reveals to us about God. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 3:21–38 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
May 01, 2023•26 min
As we begin to journey through the book of Luke, we are introduced to one of the central (yet most eccentric) characters in the gospels — John the Baptist. But how do his teachings, specifically on repentance, connect with us today in the 21st century? And how do we really go about living like Jesus in the way that he challenges his listeners? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore what true repentance looks like and what it means to be empowered and transf...
Apr 17, 2023•19 min
People packed their bags, left their homes and camped in the desert to hear John the Baptist teach this: There’s sin in your life, repent! Why would they go to all that trouble to hear that message? We’ll find out while discussing true repentance — what it looks like and how to do it. Hint: It’s not by willpower or grit. It’s something more. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 3:1–20 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Bey...
Apr 17, 2023•23 min
Just under 2000 years ago the most pivotal weekend in history took place: Jesus died and rose again that we might know the beauty of relationship with God. Yet how does this historic event impact not only our future but also our present? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore how the death and resurrection of Jesus centuries ago can have a profound impact on how we live today. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to...
Apr 10, 2023•21 min
Easter. The most pivotal weekend in history: Jesus was crucified, died and rose again that we might know the beauty of relationship with God. This event took place just under 2,000 years ago, yet it still impacts our present and our future. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Luke 24:1–6 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals . Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
Apr 10, 2023•22 min
There are 250 instances in Scripture where God implores His people to praise Him. Some in the past have accused the God of the Bible of being prideful and egotistic for commanding this. So how do we respond? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Marketing and Communication Manager Dayne Logan as they explore reasons why God's leading to worship Him is not only justified but also loving. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon ...
Apr 03, 2023•21 min
There are 250 instances in Scripture where God implores His people to praise Him and to declare who He is. Whether we acknowledge the truth about Him or not, it doesn’t change what is actually true. And if we don’t do it, the rest of creation will. Message by Dayne Logan Scripture referenced: Luke 19:36–40 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
Apr 03, 2023•25 min
As followers of Jesus, we believe the Bible to be the authoritative word on truth. It informs how we see God and the world, and it shapes how we live. Yet for many of our friends, family, coworkers, etc., the Bible doesn't hold much authority at all. So how can we go about sharing the message of the gospel in a culture that doesn't acknowledge the validity of the Bible? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discover how we can use things like nature and popular st...
Mar 27, 2023•22 min
During his visit to Athens, the leading intellectuals and brightest minds challenged Paul to see if Christianity had intellectual chops. Paul didn’t go to the Bible. He met them on common ground to show them that Christianity isn’t a blind leap of faith into the absurd, but there is credible, logical evidence to defend what we believe. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Acts 17:16–34 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond ...
Mar 27, 2023•26 min
Christians believe the Bible to be God's very words to humanity. It provides truth about who God is, who we are, and how we were made to live. But what reasons do we have to hold to the authenticity and authority of the Bible? Why should we base our whole lives on this ancient book? Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore answers to these questions while also providing some practical tips for engaging with the Bible. Resources mentioned in this podcast: www....
Mar 27, 2023•18 min
As Christians, we believe the Bible is God’s very word to us. But how did what was written get in there? How do we know it’s true and accurate? And why should we base our whole lives on this ancient book? When we ready and study the Bible, we discover it’s not just a list of rules; it’s a story that not only tells us about God but reveals Him to us. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Acts 17:1–15 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receiv...
Mar 20, 2023•23 min
"Love your neighbor" is probably one of the most famous commandments of Jesus yet perhaps the least practiced. Let's face it, loving those who have hurt us or who we deeply disagree with is challenging and at times seemingly impossible. So how do we go about loving people like this? Join guest host Dayne Logan and Ridge Director of Discipleship Will Herron as they explore what it means to follow in Jesus' footsteps and love our neighbor well. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devo...
Mar 13, 2023•27 min
It’s one commandment we all know: Love your neighbor as yourself. Loving some people is easy, particularly those we have much in common with and those who share similar viewpoints and opinions. But we’re also called to love those who challenge us—those we deeply disagree with and those we would do anything to avoid. How do we do that? What does it really mean to love all our neighbors well? Message by Will Herron Scripture referenced: Matthew 22:34–40 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get...
Mar 13, 2023•25 min
While it might not be the most obvious lesson from Acts 16:16-34, how we relate to money and others is a key underlying theme within the passage. Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss why the "Prosperity Gospel" ultimately proves to be unbiblical and a danger to our relationship with God. Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox....
Mar 06, 2023•21 min
Earthquake. Prison walls crumble, chains fall, doors open. Paul and Silas are free! But they stayed. They stayed because of the jailor. They were aware that their actions would affect his life. And they chose to offer love and grace despite his cruelty toward them. Radical love is counter intuitive, and it has power. Message by Mike Van Rees Scripture referenced: Acts16:16–34 Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals : Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in y...
Mar 06, 2023•27 min
It doesn't seem like many people would turn down a direct line to God. If we needed to make a big decision in life, we could just call or text and receive an answer right back! While God at times has spoken in a direct manner over specific circumstances, more often than not it is through other less obvious means. Join BTS host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore how God speaks to us today and how we can know his guiding voice in every aspect of our lives. Read the Bey...
Feb 27, 2023•21 min
