Ridgepoint Sermon Audio

Pastor Brent discusses Philippians 1:1-11 and notes five key points we can gain from this section of Paul's letter.

In this sermon, Pastor Brent gives a background of Paul's experience in Philippi and outlines lessons we can learn from Acts 16 in the story of Lydia, Paul, Silas, and the Philippian jailer.

Pastor Brent's sermon encourages fathers and all Christians to shift their focus from striving to meet worldly expectations to seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first. He explains that by surrendering daily to God's rule and allowing His Word to transform them, the "targets" of being a good father, spouse, or Christian will naturally be hit, as promised by Jesus in Matthew 6:33.

Pastor Brent explored the biblical teaching on singleness from 1 Corinthians 7, highlighting how the apostle Paul commends it as a noble state that allows undivided devotion to God. Practical advice was given for how the church can be more supportive and inclusive of singles as they navigate the unique opportunities and challenges of being single.

Pastor Brent encourages us to be intentional in building relationships with our neighbors by: 1) investing in them, and 2) inviting them into spiritual conversations. It's important that we genuinely care without an agenda, driven by real and authentic love. Brent encourages us to pray and also take practical steps to better know and serve our neighbors.

Who are your "3 a.m. friends"--the ones you can call in the middle of the night to help with a crisis? This week Pastor Andy looks at friendship through the example of David and Jonathan in the Old Testament. In a world that seems increasingly lonely, Andy encourages us to pray, be a good friend, and take steps to get more connected in our community.

Pastor Brent preached on the importance of partnering with Jesus in marriage by reading God's Word, heeding the Holy Spirit, and accepting wise counsel. He outlined three types of marriages - selfish, contract, and the ideal "one-flesh" marriage characterized by humility, forgiveness, and putting on love. Despite the challenges, Brent encouraged couples to fight for their marriages by doing their part and partnering with Christ.

For this Mother's Day message, Pastor Brent shares a story from 2 Kings 4 about the prophet Elisha miraculously reviving a wealthy woman's son from death. Like the mother in this story, many of our mothers tend to have a fierce love and perseverance, and the invaluable impact of a Godly mother can't be understated. Moms, your role is crucial, so THANK YOU, don't give up, and stay anchored to God's purposes for you and your family.

In the conclusion of this series, Pastor Brent looks at Jesus' prayer in John 17 that we would experience God's perfect, boundless love for us. God's love for us is *equal* to His love for Jesus. While this surpasses human comprehension, Brent encourages us to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal this truth and help us grasp the depth of Christ's love demonstrated at the cross.

This week Pastor Brent teaches on spiritual growth, the long-term process of becoming more like Jesus. In John 17, Jesus prayed for His followers' sanctification, which Brent explains as a progressive process of being made holy over time. To become more like Christ, we should regularly practice self-reflection, prayer, and active cooperation with God.