Perhaps one of the hardest skills to master is the ability to truly listen to others. This kind of listening is not just a matter of hearing others audibly but carrying a loving curiosity for them and their story. But let's be honest. Few of us do this well. So how can we learn to be "slow to speak" and "quick to listen" as James instructs? (James 1:19)

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore ways we can get the balance right between speaking and listening.

Here in chapter 1, James implores us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry and to rid ourselves of moral filth. James doesn’t just instruct us and leave us, though. He doesn’t offer tools or tips or techniques. James tells us how.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: James 1:19–21

Moses and the burning bush. Great story. But what does that mean for us today? Well, several things. But namely God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

Christmas makes some very bold, reality-altering claims. You’ve likely heard them. But do you know what they really mean? This Christmas, let’s move beyond simply hearing and knowing the story of Jesus and His birth to applying it to our lives.

The Christmas story is a familiar one to most. It’s one we’ve probably heard over and over. But there’s a surprising thread that runs through this story and nearly every other story in the Bible.

Message by Will Herron

Scripture referenced: Luke 2:1–18

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who enjoys waiting. Whether it's waiting in line at the grocery store or waiting for a package to arrive at your door, patience is generally not something that comes naturally to us. And yet sometimes God asks us to wait, just like he did with Simeon in Luke 2:25-35.

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they finish out the year by discovering ways we can grow to be people of patience who wait well on God.

Mary, Joseph, Jesus, angels, wise men, shepherds. All are part of the Christmas story. So is Simeon. Remember him? He was the one who greeted Mary and Joseph when they brought the infant Jesus to the Temple for purification and dedication. Simeon boldly took the baby Jesus in his arms and celebrated the arrival of the Messiah. It’s the moment he had been waiting for.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Luke 2:25–31

The Bible clearly teaches that God is good and that everything that is good comes from Him. But how do we square this away with the hurt, pain and conflict we see in the world and in our own lives?

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore this age old dilemma in this week's Beyond the Sermon episode.

God is good. And He is working to lead us into the deepest, richest, fullest life possible. In a world that’s full of sin and darkness, at times, that’s hard to see. But, despite our situation or circumstance, He is still good. All the time.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: James 1:16–18

Whether we realize it or not, we are being formed. It's a plain fact that the things we do frequently shape us. So, it stands to reason that If we are to be formed into the likeness of Jesus, we have to think intentionally about the habits and rhythms of our lives.

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Julie Wiemann as they explore some habits we can adopt whereby God can change us into the likeness of Christ.