Life often feels like a series of branching paths, each one promising a different outcome. In today's message, Pastor Ricky helps us slow down enough to recognize that spiritual direction isn't shaped by dramatic moments but by the quiet daily choices that form our character. He invites us to consider the influences we welcome, the habits we practice, and the kind of person we are becoming, often without noticing. It's a needed reminder that every step shapes a destination.
The God of Chance - The Great Reversal, Part 2
The story that plays out in the book of Esther is one that begins with impending doom for an entire people, it ends instead with their victory over their intended destroyers. It’s remarkable to watch the intrigue and behind-the-scenes dealings of a real-life drama playing out before our very eyes. Pastor Ricky will be teaching about the providence of God and how His hand works in our lives even when we can’t perceive Him. It’s beneficial for us to pay attention to history because we can learn from it.
The God of Chance - The Great Reversal, Part 1
We all like celebrations, right? So did the Israelites. It’s interesting that God mandated not just solemn assemblies like the Day of Atonement but also joyous ones like the Feast of Tabernacles where people camped out and ate for a whole week. Pastor Ricky will be teaching from the book of Esther focusing on the creation of the feast called Purim. He’ll be showing the importance of remembering events through celebration and how these lessons from the past apply to us today.
The God of Chance - Perfect Justice in God's Timing, Part 3
It can definitely be vexing to observe injustices being done around us and it’s hard not to get frustrated with God in those regards. We want justice and we want it done now. At those times, it's best to listen to Pastor Ricky. He’ll be teaching about the importance of our submitting such frustrations over to God and understanding that His timing will always be perfect. He also is the only just judge because He knows all of the circumstances as well as the heart of those involved.
The God of Chance - Perfect Justice in God's Timing, Part 2
As Christians, we believe that what the Bible tells us is true. It indicates that in the last days, there will be a final judgment. Although that’s sometimes not a comfort at this present time, it is comforting to know that God has not turned a blind eye to what’s occurring. Pastor Ricky will be teaching from Esther, emphasizing that God is indeed watching over all and is keeping track of what men are doing. He alone will be the final judge and His verdict will be final.
The God of Chance - Perfect Justice in God's Timing, Part 1
So often we see people get away with doing bad things, and that’s frustrating to us. We see people getting away with crimes without any consequences. It seemed like the same thing was going to happen in the story of Esther. Haman was planning to kill all of the Jews and no one realized it. But as Pastor Ricky will be teaching, God knew all about Haman’s plans and He had already put His own plans into motion. And as we’ll learn, God’s plans included appropriate justice for Haman and preservation for the Jews.
The God of Chance - Where the Story Turns, Part 3
We all have different stories about how we came to saving faith. The undercurrent in all of them though is God’s grace in showing us our need for Him and then providing the faith necessary to receive His son’s salvation. The story of Esther is in many ways a foreshadowing of our own redemption. Pastor Ricky will be teaching about how Esther and the exiled Jews’ deliverance by God is a precursor to our own rescuing by God. He’ll also teach us about God being the final arbiter of justice.
The God of Chance - Where the Story Turns, Part 2
So often it’s hard to see God working in our lives. Maybe we’re looking for something obvious, like being able to see angels stopping out-of-control vehicles. The truth is, God works most often than not behind the scenes. We only see His hand after the fact. Pastor Ricky continues teaching from the fascinating story of Esther where we’re allowed to peak behind the curtain as it were. In this story, we can observe all the players involved and watch God orchestrating circumstances for maximum effect.
The God of Chance - Where the Story Turns, Part 1
All around us, we see bad men and women prospering seemingly without a check on their actions or behaviors. It’s really frustrating and we wish for justice to be done to them and for them to be stopped. Pastor Ricky will be continuing to teach from the story of Esther where we find a similar situation. Pastor Ricky will be reminding us of God’s sovereign will and how He has the final say in all matters. This should be encouraging to us despite the aggravation we often have to endure.
Advent - Peace on Earth
The timing of Jesus’ birth is amazing. The prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the Messiah’s heritage and location of birth required meeting formidable odds, and yet, Jesus' mother was who she needed to be, and they and Joseph were where they needed to be at the time of His birth. Pastor Ricky will be teaching on how the orchestration of the confluence of these events shows the sovereignty of God. This is also a reminder that God knows where we are and has us on this earth for His reasons as well.
Advent - Everlasting Father, Part 2
The story of Jesus’ birth is one of the triune God deciding to intervene on man's behalf to fix the problem that man had caused. We messed up in the Garden of Eden with eternal damnation as the consequence. Fortunately, the Trinity loved us enough to make a way to restore the original relationship we had with them. Pastor Ricky will be teaching about how the names of the Messiah in the book of Isaiah relate to the character of God the Father and to Jesus, and how those are applicable to us today.
Advent - Everlasting Father, Part 1
It's funny how family resemblances work, isn't it? Facial characteristics, even vocal qualities, are passed on from generation to generation. In the same way, Jesus embodied the characteristics and nature of His father. Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” Pastor Ricky will be teaching from Isaiah, using the prophecies about the Messiah to show how the qualities of God the Father will be present in He who is to be the Savior of the world, showing His love for us as well.
Advent - Mighty God, Part 2
Sometimes, as we go through life, we get into situations where we have no solutions to fix our circumstances. It's in those times when we find out what our foundation is, what we really are relying on. God, through the prophet Isaiah, was trying to get the people of Israel to turn back and rely on Him. Pastor Ricky will be teaching from the book of Isaiah, sharing what God was trying to communicate to the Israelites. He'll also teach how the promises given those centuries ago apply to us now.
Advent - Mighty God, Part 1
We read in the Gospels that those who were closest to Jesus struggled at times with believing the one who performed miracles right in front of them. So it's no surprise that we would have the same struggles. Pastor Ricky will be teaching from the book of Isaiah, sharing one of the stories that Isaiah wrote down. The Israelites were threatened and looking for help everywhere except to God. This is a good lesson for us and a reminder that God's help is closer than we think.
Advent - Wonderful Counselor, Part 2
There is a whole lot of insanity going on in the world these days. We observe the wars and threats of war and ask ourselves if these people really know what they're doing. We often find ourselves praying for wisdom for our leaders. God often pleads for His people, Israel, to take advantage of the wisdom that He had to offer. Pastor Ricky will teach about God's wisdom versus man's wisdom and the importance of our asking for the insight that comes only from the author of the universe and using it.
Advent - Wonderful Counselor, Part 1
It certainly seems that keeping in the loop in regards to our surrounding circumstances is the wise thing to do, and that's exactly what the Israelites of Isaiah's time did. After all, they thought their nation was being threatened by the big power of the time. As Pastor Ricky will be teaching, Israel missed the point. God was their refuge and strength. The prophet Isaiah was trying to point this out to them. In the same way, we need to let God be our refuge and strength in spite of what danger surrounds us.
The God of Chance - Risking Everything, Part 2
It’s difficult, or even impossible, to conceive how good can come out of accidents or disasters. We hear the verse that Pastor Ricky quoted and wonder how that can even be. Surely the Israelites in exile asked themselves what good would come from their situation as well. Pastor Ricky will be sharing from the book of Esther, and other scriptures, teaching us about the sovereign will of God. He’ll be teaching us how God with His ability to see the end from the beginning orchestrates events for our benefit.
The God of Chance - Risking Everything, Part 1
Throughout the Old Testament, we see where God’s people turned to foreign idols and God has to discipline them to bring them back to Himself. We in the New Testament era like to think that because we have chosen to follow Jesus, we don’t have those kinds of problems. Not true. We can at times put things like money or jobs ahead of our relationship with God. Pastor Ricky will be teaching on the disastrous result of Israel’s turning away from God and His faithfulness to them nevertheless.
The God of Chance - When Injustice Reigns, Part 2
There’s no question that there are unjust actions occurring in our world. There are wrong things being done on a personal level, as well as the corporate and even international level all the time. Part of the story in the book of Esther deals with a threat that is real faced from a man who is a member of a tribe that was hostile to Israel. Pastor Ricky will be teaching on this and showing how man’s rebellion against God allowed injustice to enter the world and how God saves the day for the Jews.
The God of Chance - When Injustice Reigns, Part 1
As we see events going on around us, particularly in the government, we’re tempted to feel completely helpless. We want things to change for the better and we elect people we think will do good things yet nothing changes. “Where’s God?” we might be tempted to ask. Certainly, the Jews must have felt like this being under the control of a heathen king, far from their homeland. Pastor Ricky will continue with the story of Esther and how God used this king to accomplish His purposes.