You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who enjoys confessing their failures. Who wants to have to admit you were wrong? Yet confession is something the Bible teaches should be part of the rhythm of our lives. But why? Why is confession so essential to our overall health and our spiritual growth?

Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss this question and more on this week's Beyond the Sermon episode.

The people of Ephesus just witnessed the aftermath of a failed exorcism by the Seven Sons of Sceva and saw demons flee in the name of Jesus. After gaining this profound reverence for Jesus' overwhelming power and authority, an interesting thing happens. The Ephesians openly confess their previous involvement in magic and occult practices and gather to publicly burn and completely destroy their expensive spell books. Clearly, confession and repentance are powerful. So, what does all of this mean for us, and how does it apply to our lives today?Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: Acts 19:17–22

Looking through the Gospels and the book of Acts, it's hard to ignore the frequent encounters of Jesus and the Apostles with the demonic. Whether it’s the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5:1-20 or the boy in Matthew 17:14-21, these encounters pose an underlying question for the modern reader: Are demons still present and active today?

Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss this question and more on this week's Beyond the Sermon episode.

The Seven Sons of Sceva. This group of men would travel from city to city looking for spiritually oppressed people who would pay them to cast out the demonic. While in Ephesus, the men heard about Paul and his ability to heal, restore and bless — power unlike they had ever witnessed before. And they wanted what Paul had. But when the Seven Sons of Sceva tried to get it, things didn't go well for them.Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: Acts 19:1–16

In Acts 17 we get insight into a message Paul gave to the leaders of the city of Athens. At that time Athens was known for its temples, idols and cults, and Paul sets out to contrast the idols of Athens with the one true God. But how is this relevant to us today? What are the equivalent idols of the 21st century? 

Join Ridge Director of Family Ministries Doug Applegate and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss ways in which we can identify and overcome idols in our lives today.

In Acts 17 Paul is in Athens. As he walks to the city, we learn two things: The city was full of idols. And Paul is greatly distressed. At first glance, it seems this passage is a bit antiquated. Idols are a thing of the past, aren't they? Just as idolatry weaves its way through the Bible from beginning to end, so, too, it finds its way into modern day.Message by Will HerronScripture referenced: Acts 17

The book of Acts gives us a clear insight into what it looks like to live out Jesus' call to make disciples. So what can we learn from its chapters, and what does making disciples look like for us today?

Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more on our sermon series in the book of Acts.

The apostle Paul was one of the most pivotal figures in early Christianity. We often think of him as an independent worker, as someone who teaches and preaches on his own. But, truth is, he's rarely alone. Actus chapter 18 tells the stories of the unfamiliar and ordinary but not insignificant men and women who, working alongside Paul, changed the world.Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: Acts 18

Prayer has often been described as something similar to "having conversation with God". And yet when we think about conversations with friends or family, that can look quite different. So how does prayer/conversation with God actually work? In what ways can we incorporate prayer into our lives as we head into a new year?

Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees and BTS Host Will Herron as they discuss these questions and more in our first BTS episode of 2026.

Let's prepare our hearts for what's ahead in 2026 and focus on a New Year's Resolution: Growing closer to God. To do that, we have to enter into relationship with Him — we have to talk to Him. And we talk to Him through prayer. Seems easy enough. But, like any other New Year's resolution, though we start with good intentions and dedication, odds are at some point our desire will start to wane. Why? Because sometimes it smees what we're doing isn't working. The same is true of prayer: We don't always get the outdome we want. Yet in Matthew 7, we're given a promise: Ask and it will be given to you. So does the Bible get it wrong? Message by Mike Van ReesScripture referenced: Matthew 7:7–11