From the Ridge

John 15:26: When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Nathan Allen addresses the fifth belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that good people go to heaven when they die. Listen in as Nathan discusses this belief and how Christianity would answer it.

John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Bruce Wilson addresses the fourth belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when He is needed to resolve a problem. Listen in as Bruce talks about who God is and when we should be going to him.

John 14:9-14: This passage reveals the closeness of the relationship that Jesus shared with the disciples, and that he desires from us.  As we pray in His name, Jesus meets us and hears our prayers. This prayer, isn't a catch-all magic word to get what whatever we ask for. Instead, as we live out our relationship with Him our desires begin to align with Christ's will.

John 14:1-7: This passage is the beginning of a long discourse with the disciples in advance of his suffering and death.  Beginning in John 14, Jesus lays out a plan for the future.  He begins with comfort and encouragement.  While the disciples may not understand Jesus' words fully here, they receive the promise of Christ saying, "I will come back."  Evil doesn't win. What an encouragement we too can receive from this passage of scripture!

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Robynn Collins addresses the third belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that the goal of life is to be happy. Listen as Robynn unpacks this question and how our ultimate goal is actually Jesus.

John 6:35-37: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

This week at Wednesday in the Word, Wesley Huff addresses the second belief of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism— that God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. Now there are two parts to that statement, and the first part (that God wants us to be good, nice and fair) will be addressed in subsequent weeks. But today, Wesley does a deeper dive into the idea that all religions are essentially the same thing.

Matthew 8:1-4: When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”