For the last few weeks, we’ve focused on different aspects of our new mission statement: Connecting to Jesus, people and purpose — essentially what God has placed us here to do. Now we focus on purpose — on the meaning of this life we’ve been given, on God’s will for our lives.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Select passages from Matthew, Mark and John

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God has designed us to share life with one another. We’re not meant to be alone. Through this special community-focused Encounter Sunday of personal testimony, we see the importance of Christian community and of prioritizing God-centered relationships.

Videos from this service can be found here.

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This week we continue unpacking our new mission statement: Connecting to Jesus, people and purpose. 

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss why community with other followers of Jesus is critical to our spiritual health, as well as what we can do when we are hurt by those in the church. 

Resource: Download our "On Mission" devotional here. This resource comes alongside Pastor Mike's messages each week providing Scripture, short reflection and questions for personal or group use.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

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In Genesis, God told Adam it was not good for him to be alone. Rather, God wanted and had something more for Adam — for us. Relationship. We have been created us to be in community with people.Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Select passages from Genesis

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

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For the next few weeks we'll pause our current series in Galatians to focus on our new mission statement as a church: Connecting to Jesus, people and purpose. 

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they unpack how we can connect neighbors, coworkers, friends and family to Jesus at a time where faith- based conversations feel harder than ever.

Resource: Download our "On Mission" devotional here. This resource comes alongside Pastor Mike's messages each week providing a scripture, short reflection and questions for personal or group use.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

Get the devotional each week! Sign up to receive the Beyond the Sermon blog in your inbox. 

The purpose of the church. At the core, Christianity isn’t a set of ethical teachings or religious practices. It isn’t just good advice. The basis of our faith is not something or even several somethings; rather, it’s someone — Jesus.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Select passages from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts and Colossians

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

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The word freedom can conjure a variety of ideas and definitions depending on who you ask. But how does Scripture define freedom? And just what freedom have we been invited into as followers of Jesus?

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore this crucial topic in light of Galatians 4 and 5 and the broader teaching of Scripture.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

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What is freedom and how do we experience it? What we think about freedom might not be true at all. According to Jesus, it isn’t found in doing whatever we feel like doing whenever we feel like doing it. No, true freedom is found in something much different.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Galatians 4:21–5:12

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

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Over the course of history millions of people have amassed large amounts of possessions and money believing that they would bring lasting happiness. Yet time and time again the end result was the same — the happiness they discovered turned out to be shallow and fleeting. In the Bible, God invites us into something much deeper and long lasting – a life marked by joy. 

Join BTS Host Will Herron and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss the differences between happiness and joy and how we can discover joy in our own lives.

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The Galatians have lost something since Paul last taught and preached among them. Something significant. The Galatians have lost their joy. Learn more about the situation the Galatians found themselves in and discover what it means to truly live a life of joy.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Galatians 4:8–20

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals.

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