Though there are innumerable things the Bible teaches us, we’ll narrow the focus to three things to remember as we walk with God in 2024. 

Message by Will Herron

Scripture referenced:

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The Christmas star. Shepherds left their flocks and fields to find Jesus. The Magi went to look for him. But how did they know who Jesus was and where to find him? And how do we?

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Luke 2, Matthew 2

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It's not uncommon to see a manger scene this time of year. Whether it's a decorative set on a mantel or a Christmas card sent by a friend, we are used to seeing various depictions of the scene of Jesus' birth. But, if we are not careful, over familiarity can lead to our losing our sense of wonder and gratefulness over God's gift in Jesus. So how can we maintain a sense of awe and gratefulness of God's great gift? And how can God's movement toward us change how we engage with others?

Join Will Herron, Ridge Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Family Ministries Director Doug Applegate as they explore these questions and more in our last Beyond the Sermon of the year.

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The Nativity. It’s one of the most recognizable and most popular scenes of Christian art that recounts the birth of Jesus and His adoration. You know the elements: the baby Jesus in a manger, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, angels, cattle, sheep, a donkey, and often wise men. But is this fully accurate? And how does knowing this story and our familiarity with it impact our lives today?

Message by Doug Applegate

Scripture referenced: Luke 2:4-7, 16, 20

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The Christmas season can evoke a mixture of memories and emotions. For some, it truly is "the most wonderful time of the year" but for others, loss, loneliness and relational dysfunction are magnified amidst the festivities.

Join Will Herron, Ridge Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore how the message of Christmas can speak lasting hope into our lives whatever our experience within the season.

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Christmas is full of beauty and grace. It brings peace and comfort, reassurance of God’s profound love for us. That’s the story we tell. And it’s true. But there’s something — someone — we often overlook. Herod. When he realized he had been tricked by the wise men who came seeking the newborn king, in fury, Herod killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under. That first Christmas was filled with pain, suffering and hurt. And there has been weeping each Christmas since.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Matthew 2

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In our final episode in the Habbakuk series, we turn our attention to joy. In contrast to happiness, joy is not something dictated by circumstance but a permanent underlying presence in our life. But how and where can we find such joy?

Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they explore how Habbakuk found joy in the midst of serious challenge and hardship.

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Have you ever asked God for something or been in a situation you knew God had the capacity to do something, but He didn’t? That’s where Habakkuk is here in the last verses of chapter 3. So what does he do? What do we do in those situations? Hint: We find joy. 

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Habakkuk 3:12–19

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For many of us, forgetfulness is an unwelcome attribute we live with. Whether we are naturally prone to it or we just get distracted with the business of life, it's easy for us forget who God is and what He has done. So how can we become a people of remembrance rather than forgetfulness? And how does remembering help us navigate the difficult seasons in our lives?

Join Will Herron, Director of Discipleship, and Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees as they discuss why remembering what God has done is so important and explore some practical ways to incorporate this practice into our lives.

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Life was hard enough for Habakkuk, and then he got even more bad news. What do we do when life is like that? It’s so easy to get consumed by problems, responsibilities, pain, suffering. Challenges distract us and cause us to forget when what we should be doing is remembering.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Habakkuk 3:1–11

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