King Asa seems an admirable leader as he takes the throne. He knows what needs to change, and he sees to it. All is well for awhile. But soon he goes against God’s instruction in an effort to protect himself and his kingdom. His intentions were good. The outcome was just what he wanted. But did the end justify the means? Even if it meant blatant disobedience against God?

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: 1 Kings 15:9–19

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

For such a familiar part of the Christian life, prayer is often the most neglected aspects of our relationship with God. Well meaning aspirations of setting aside time to pray succumb to busy work schedules, personal commitments, or general tiredness.

Join Will Herron and guest host, Dayne Logan, as they seek to re discover the treasure and joy of talking with the God of the universe.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

The disciples saw Jesus praying, and they wanted to know how to do it themselves. So, He teaches them. Jesus instructs them in the same patterns He Himself lived by and gives them The Lord’s Prayer. There’s so much Jesus reveals through this template of prayer, the most important being this: Prayer is an invitation into relationship with God.

Message by Will Herron

Scripture referenced: Matthew 6:5–13

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

In this week's episode, Pastor Mike and Will address the very real possibility of our faith becoming an academic exercise where following Jesus entails knowing the right things but not necessarily living the right way.

So how do we avoid this pitfall? How can we learn about God while also applying what we hear in our daily lives? Listen in as we explore these questions and more.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

When it comes to following Jesus, often we aren’t lacking facts and information. We already know, but we don’t do. The goal of reading the Bible isn’t simply to understand; it’s to put into action. If we aren’t careful, the Christianity can morph into an academic exercise instead of a lifestyle. How can we be sure our faith isn’t something we simply study but something we become?

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: 1 Kings 13:1–19, 23–24

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

Things like shopping, entertainment, dining and banking have never been more convenient. From ordering food to your door to viewing your favorite new movie releases right in the comfort of your living room, many every day things have never been easier.

Join Pastor Mike and BTS host Will Herron as they discover that, while convenience is helpful in certain areas of life, it doesn't work so well as a general life philosophy.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

The kingdom has split. Israel to the north and Judah to the south. With Jerusalem in the north, now the southern kingdom is without a temple, it's without a place to worship. So, King Jeroboam makes some changes. He lowered the standards of God, substituted what was right for what was easy, and created a faith that demanded little. But why? What was behind the decisions Jeroboam made?

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: 1 Kings 12:20–33

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

Decision making is a part of our everyday. From the simple things like what we are going to eat for breakfast to bigger things like whether to accept a new job or not. Yet how do we go about making decisions? Particularly the potentially life changing ones?

Join Ridge Lead Pastor Mike Van Rees, and BTS podcast host, Will Herron, as the explore some practical ways to approach making good choices in our lives.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

Rehoboam had a decision to make — one that would greatly affect the future. He did a couple of things right: He waited. And he sought counsel. The advice he ultimately took, though, was from unwise friends. As a result, the kingdom split in two. How do you go about making decisions? Who are you listening to? Who are you surrounding yourself with? Who are you influenced by?

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: 1 Kings 12

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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

Many in the modern day believe that discerning right and wrong is a personal endeavor. Our morality is defined not externally by God but internally by each individual.

Join Will and Marketing and Communication Manager, Dayne Logan, as they explore what the Bible has to teach us about discerning good/evil and growing into people of wisdom.

Read the Beyond the Sermon devotionals:

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