In our dreams as children, most of us never imagined our lives working 9 to 5 at a monotonous job. We dreamed of great fantastical lies. We wanted to be heroic soldiers, princes, princesses, or superheroes. Yet at some point, most of us decided to grow up and accept reality. As Pastor Ricky warns in today's message, many of us do the same thing in our lives as believers. We forgo the greatness God desires for His Kingdom replacing them with plans that we deem more realistic.
Thy Kingdom Come - Hallowed Be Your Name, Part 2
So often our prayers are centered around asking God to accomplish our will. We may tack a ‘thy will be done’ onto our prayer but is that really what we want? As we continue to study the Lord's Prayer, Pastor Ricky reminds us that this prayer should reflect a state of our heart. When we hallow God's name, we put Him in a place above all else. That means His will begins to take precedence to ours even if it means temporary hardship or discomfort, it becomes our foremost desire.
Thy Kingdom Come - Hallowed Be Your Name, Part 1
When we recite the Lord's Prayer it's easy just to ramble off the words with little thought of what we're saying. Certain phrases may stand out but ‘hallowed be your name’ isn't usually one of them. As Pastor Ricky explains, this phrase is much more meaningful than it's usually given credit for. It represents setting God above all else that battles for our heart’s affection. Today's message will continue to reveal the heart of what Jesus intended when He taught His disciples this way of praying.
Thy Kingdom Come - Who Art in Heaven, Part 2
There are many misconceptions and false doctrines regarding prayer. The prosperity gospel teaches that if we have enough faith and ask God for material wealth and blessings, we're guaranteed to receive them. Then there are those that believe that prayer has little to no effect in this world and things will just happen as they're supposed to happen. As Pastor Ricky continues his in-depth study of the Lord's Prayer, we can gather a lot of insight into God's intentions for the gift of prayer.
Thy Kingdom Come - Who Art in Heaven, Part 1
Does prayer really work? It's a question many Christians don't want to ask. At its core, we want to say that we believe it does, but our lives often paint a different picture. Most of us spend very little time in prayer and it's often only a last resort. There are many different reasons but as Pastor Ricky suggests in today's message, our limited use of prayer most likely reflects a lack of faith in its effectiveness. If we really believe that prayer could influence outcomes, we would probably make it a much higher priority.
Thy Kingdom Come - Our Father, Part 2
Every loving parent knows that feeling of having their child come to them scared or in need. All we want to do is help them feel safe and provided for. Most of us would quickly drop whatever we're doing and take the time to comfort them and address their needs. As Pastor Ricky explains in today's message, our parental love reflects the way God views His children. He loves us with a deep sacrificial love and when we pray, He delights in listening to the cries of our heart.
Thy Kingdom Come - Our Father, Part 1
The gods that men create and imagine typically have power and authority in a form that men wish they possessed. These fake gods often sit on a pedestal, above their worshippers. They rarely, if ever, come down to the level of their subjects. Yet, as Pastor Ricky points out, the God of Israel loves to be amongst His subjects. He loves us so much that He endured the agonizing pain of the Cross, equating Himself with the lowest level of humanity. This type of love simply doesn't exist in the gods of man.
Thy Kingdom Come - When You Pray, Part 2
We were designed to have an intimate connection with God. Adam and Eve walked with Him in the Garden and talked to Him every day. The consequence of their sin was a break in that relationship. All of mankind displays an innate longing to return to that intimacy. As Pastor Ricky explains in today's message, it's exhibited in various forms but our quest to understand our world and the universe around us can always be traced back to that intimacy that was lost in the Garden.
Thy Kingdom Come - When You Pray, Part 1
One word that aptly describes our culture today would be, distracted. How many of us have spent more time watching shows or browsing social network feeds than we did reading the Bible and praying this week? As Pastor Ricky warns in today's message, these distractions while not bad in and of themselves, are designed to be addicting. If our time with God is taking second place to the diversions of life, the intimacy He desires to have with us is guaranteed to suffer.
Jesus is Greater - Than Wins and Losses, Part 2
As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series on how Jesus is greater, he'll be exhorting us to rid ourselves of any known sin that has taken over our lives. When we choose to sin we're believing that what sin has to offer is far greater than what Jesus has to offer. Don't buy into the lie that sin can satisfy. The Bible says that sin is pleasurable for a season. Of course, sin is fun, otherwise, nobody would be doing it but the fun and pleasure only lasts for a season. Jesus satisfies the soul in the long run.
Jesus is Greater - Than Wins and Losses, Part 1
Today Pastor Ricky will be explaining how Jesus turns our so-called gains in the world into losses and turns the losses we experience into gains. Jesus asked the question, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but to lose his soul? When we come to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He puts everything into proper perspective. We realize the things that used to make us feel good don't really satisfy the longing of our souls.
Jesus is Greater - Than Karma and Wrath, Part 2
In today's message, Pastor Ricky compares a cultural idea of karma versus Jesus’ sacrificial love. The cultural idea of karma insists that we should receive treatment from others based on how good or bad we are but truly understanding the depth of our human sinfulness would mean that we would not earn anything good. However, Jesus sacrificially took upon Himself the punishment for which you and I were destined. Therefore, you and I receive God's love and life instead of what we deserve.
Jesus is Greater - Than Karma and Wrath, Part 1
Have you ever thought about karma? In our culture today, karma can often be seen as the question of, do nice things and get nice things back or do bad and get bad in return. In today's message, Pastor Ricky discusses this cultural notion of karma which reveals the God-given ability to desire fairness and justice. If we always receive what we deserve, our sin would earn us punishment and death. But Jesus is greater than our sin and He frees us from the wrath of God, giving us grace and mercy.
Jesus is Greater - Than Mountains & Galaxies, Part 2
In today's message, Pastor Ricky paints an extraordinary picture of the incredible scope of this universe, and knowing that this universe is so complex and vast, Paul's description of Jesus as being over all of creation is awe-inspiring. If Jesus then can rule over all of creation, He can certainly care for our lives. Isn't it amazing that the God who created all that is with His immense power, directs His attention and love toward us through His Son.
Jesus is Greater - Than Mountains & Galaxies, Part 1
The name and person of Jesus can be polarizing in our world today. For Christians, Jesus is the center of their faith for He is God and Savior but for others in our world, Jesus and His teaching is opposed. In today's message, Pastor Ricky says it's actually a good thing that Jesus is polarizing because He's radical and it may be worse to be comfortable and complacent with Jesus. As God, Jesus is greater than the mountains and galaxies and He can radically transform your life.
Behold Your God - Behold His Plan, Part 2
Today Pastor Ricky will be warning us against building up our own cities here on earth rather than putting our trust and faith in our eternal city with the Lord. What is in your life that you hold precious that cannot be shaken? The only thing in your life that cannot be moved is your eternal destination with the Lord. Be careful to not build up your own empire here on earth rather than focusing on building up the kingdom of God. Keep an eternal perspective. The kingdom of God cannot be shaken.
Behold Your God - Behold His Plan, Part 1
If you place your hope in the temporal things of earth, you will become greatly disappointed and depressed. As a Christian, you have a heavenly city and eternal home with the Lord. You don't need to seek the things of the world to find fulfillment. Purpose to seek the city that is to come, whose maker and builder is God. You're a pilgrim just passing through this world. You should have an anticipation for eternity to come. If Christ came back today, would you be ready and excited, or ashamed?
Behold Your God - Behold The Servant, Part 2
Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of a true servant. When Jesus had the Last Supper with his disciples, He took the lowliest of jobs and washed their feet. You should look at Christ’s example and purpose to imitate Him daily. Whenever you read of Jesus, you will find Him always pouring Himself out and serving His community. Are you radiating the presence of Christ in your community by your service? The only reason why God hasn't taken you home yet is because He has service for you to do.
Behold Your God - Behold The Servant, Part 1
As Pastor Ricky teaches through the book of Isaiah, he will be teaching us how the prophet Isaiah is speaking of Christ the Servant. Now that Christ lives inside of you, you're now a servant in the Kingdom of God. The Lord delights in you and pours out His spirit on you in order to equip you to further the Kingdom of God. The mission of the servant is to act rightly in accordance with the Word of God, and to draw others to redemption in Christ. Are you accurately representing Christ?
Behold Your God - Behold His Sovereignty, Part 2
There is a common thread among believers that live in fear. That common thread is that they consider the temporal more dear to their hearts than the eternal. God's purposes for you will not be frustrated. He is in control of your life. He has plans to prosper you and give you hope. The Lord desires that you live for eternity and not for the temporal things of the world. When you keep your priorities in order, your fear of losing the temporal will begin to dissipate.