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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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He could have had absolutely anything. But when God asked Solomon what he wanted, he didn’t ask for riches or fame, peace or long life; rather, Solomon requested wisdom. But here’s the thing: When we are made aware of the existence of good and bad, we have the power to do enormous good, but it also occurs us that we have the option of doing evil things.

Message by Dayne Logan

Scripture referenced: 1 Kings 3–4

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This week we begin a new sermon series on the kings of the Bible. In this week's episode, Pastor Mike and Will take an opportunity to discuss ways in which we can use the influence that we hold in our lives to honor God. They also explore some ways that we can avoid some of the pitfalls that befell the kings of the Bible.

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With the exception of Job, every book from 1 Samuel to the end of the Old Testament is about the kings. That's about half of the Bible. This sermon marks the beginning of a series in which we'll take a close look at the leaders of ancient Israel and all the ways they used — and abused — their power, influence, and resources.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 17:14–20

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While the truth of God's sovereignty can bring great comfort and hope, it can also raise some deep questions: "How could God let ... happen to me?" or "If God could stop something but chooses not to, does that make Him ultimately responsible?"

Join Mike and Will as they explore these challenging questions in this week's edition of the podcast.

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The book of Genesis concludes with Joseph looking back over his life. But how does he make sense of his great reversals from favored child to slave then to hero? The theological word to explain it all is sovereignty, which basically means God is in control. Nothing can thwart his plan and purpose — not even the sin of man. Rather, He uses it all to bring forth good.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Genesis 50

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