As we continue our study on religion, the Gospel, and Christ, Pastor Ricky points us to the cross. Jesus' death and resurrection calls us to lay religion down at the foot of the cross. They free us up so we can take hold of the gospel of grace. We don't need religion to try to earn our salvation from Christ. Nothing we can do can make Him love us any more than He already does. Likewise, nothing we do can make Him love us any less either.
Why Religion is Not The Gospel - Christ, Part 1
Pastor Ricky teaches today about the difference between religion and Jesus. Religion takes what Jesus did and adds to it with works as if we could earn our salvation, as if Jesus needed more convincing to die on the cross for us. Jesus died because He loves us. He was the creator of the universe. He was fully man and He was also fully God. Maybe today you're trying to earn what Christ did on the cross for you, no need. He already saved you from your past, present, and future sins.
Why Religion is Not The Gospel - Man, Part 2
Today Pastor Ricky compares the two sons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. There is the irreligious that is shown to us in the prodigal son, the type of person who says they don't care what's right, they're going to do and get what they want. Then there is the religious, shown to us by the son who stayed with His father. He did what he thought he should do to earn the father's wealth but like the Lord, the father wanted to give his wealth to them both. They didn't have to earn or deserve it.
Why Religion is Not The Gospel - Man, Part 1
Today we cover the simplicity of what it takes to be saved. You need nothing more than to come to Christ. We don't need religion or idols. You may be thinking to yourself that you don't have a little wooden statue that you daily pray to, that you're free from religion or idols but is there something that you would allow first in your life before Christ? Anything that you place above Christ in your life is an idol. Christ laid it all down for us when He died on the cross. He wants the same in return.
Why Religion is Not The Gospel - God, Part 2
Have you ever been outside and just looked around? Everything you see God has created. God is not boring. For someone to create all of this, how could He be? Today Pastor Ricky reminds us from the book of Ezekiel that everything started with God. He's merciful, gracious, and loving. We live inside His universe that He created, and God is beyond what we could imagine, He's better than we can imagine. He's not a boring God. The question is, do you know Him?
Why Religion is Not The Gospel - God, Part 1
The Bible is a story about God. The very beginning of everything started with Him. God's people in the book of Ezekiel thought that He was powerless and distant. As they were in exile, they wondered where and what God was doing. Pastor Ricky will remind us that we can't put God in a box. He's not a tamed God. He's living and active whether you can see Him working or not. He's all-powerful and all-knowing. This is the God of the Bible and the God of today. Are you following Him?
Vision - Witnesses, Part 2
Have you ever been corrected about something you were doing and instead of being gently redirected the person blasts you for doing it wrong? It turns your heart away from that person because their manner towards you was distasteful. In today's teaching, Pastor Ricky mentions that people can have a similar reaction to you if you tell them about God in a way that's belligerent or offensive but there's a better way to tell about Jesus. Let your message be inviting, not inciting.
Vision - Witnesses, Part 1
Just think of all the things that it takes to qualify for a loan. You need to have good credit and have proof of who you are and where you live, who you’re dependents are, etc… There's paperwork and some red tape that you have to cut through to get qualified. What do you think it takes to qualify for the kind of witness that God wants you to be? Pastor Rickys informs you today that it's simpler than you might think. The typical resume that the world requires is inconsequential as a Christian witness.
Vision - Family, Part 2
The underlying message of so many movies out there is a so-called empowering agenda of rising above the community that you've been a part of. You’re departing from your past to find yourself and own it, regardless of the ones you left. This message is slightly misguided but what should the message be? Today Pastor Ricky expresses the type of heart that's good to have when you're a part of a community or family of believers. It’s essential to embrace, love, and serve your spiritual family.
Against The World For the World - Holiness is a Result of Hope, Part 2
All throughout the Bible, there is an emphasis on having an eternal perspective and living in light of eternity. Some have said that you can be too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good. The Bible teaches however that the more heavenly-minded you are, the more focused you'll be in furthering God's kingdom on earth. Pastor Ricky will be exhorting us today to live our life as though we can come face-to-face with God at any moment. Go into eternity without having any regrets.
Vision - Family, Part 1
Just about everyone can relate to some dysfunction in their family, right? There are different personalities that are forced to come together and somehow get along. But then there's inevitably some kind of family drama because there's no way everyone gets along without any conflict. So how does this fit in the context of a church family? Today Pastor Ricky explores the various facets of what it means to have community with other people in a way that proves you're in it together for God's purposes.
Vision - Disciples, Part 2
When you choose to vote for someone you identify with them in some way. You publicly proclaim that you're backing them up, enough to endorse them as someone you want in leadership. But if you don't buy into the message they're expressing, you're not going to sign your name to that person being in a position of authority over you. What about when it comes to God? Today Pastor Rickys asks if you're prepared to follow God in a way that you could support and even imitate His way of living.
Vision - Disciples, Part 1
Being a follower of someone these days is usually associated with following someone on Instagram. What does that even mean? Are you just checking up on pictures that someone is posting but you don't really know them? In other times, being a follower of someone meant a very different thing. In today's passage, Pastor Ricky touches on how being a follower of Jesus entails living, and breathing, and following everything about what Jesus stood for. So who are you choosing to follow today?
Vision - Gospel Renewal, Part 2
Until you look at a specimen under the microscope, you might overlook something that initially seemed insignificant. Once you make a concerted effort to really see the object for what it is, you start to appreciate its intricate details and functions. In the same way, God wants you to truly look at people and see them, see their hurt, their circumstances and not just look past it as if it doesn't exist. Pastor Ricky encourages you today to be effective right where you are, with the people who are right in front of you.
Vision - Gospel Renewal, Part 1
When you have some kind of sickness it can be easier to treat the symptoms but not rid yourself of the disease. It's frustrating because even though you're curing some of the immediate discomforts, you know that there's a deeper issue at the root of it all. This is how it is with the world around you too. There are many grievous hurts and struggles amongst the people that you're around but today Pastor Ricky mentions how important it is to have a heart for people and their deeper need for Jesus. Jesus is the cure.
Vision - Strength in Weakness, Part 2
How many self-help books or programs are out there seeking to have you buy into what they're selling? It's not wrong to want to believe in yourself or to have a more positive view of yourself but what Pastor Ricky gets at today is that the greatest treasure to find is when you come to the end of yourself. This is so countercultural to today's way of thinking but it's actually what makes you stand out in contrast to the world around you. When you're acknowledging God's power in you, you're strong.
Vision - Strength in Weakness, Part 1
Wouldn't it be odd if someone made their platform about something they were weak and incapable in? This would be the opposite of anything that's successful in the world's mindset. What are some of your greatest weaknesses? Would you be willing to brag about those weaknesses to the world at large? As preposterous as this sounds, Pastor Ricky explains today that this was the mindset that Paul had when approaching ministry because he knew his tendency of being proud in his abilities.
Who Cares? - Encourage the Fainthearted, Part 2
It can be really difficult to encourage someone who has cancer, or someone who's just lost a loved one. Those are difficult situations to navigate but you are called to encourage those who are faint-hearted. Today Pastor Ricky is going to give you some practical ways that you can encourage people around you who are feeling a bit discouraged. He's going to remind us that Jesus should always be the starting point of those conversations, remembering always to point people to Him and not to ourselves.
Who Cares? - Encourage the Fainthearted, Part 1
Are you feeling discouraged today? Being discouraged isn't a sin but discouragement is a result of the sin in our world. You might feel like there isn't any hope left in the world, that there isn't any hope left in your own life but there is hope. That hope comes through Jesus. He wants to encourage you. He wants to remind you that our life here on earth is only temporary and that we have an eternal hope in Him. Today Pastor Ricky is going to remind us that our discouragement can be turned to joy.
Who Cares? - Admonish the Idle, Part 2
Our culture generally doesn't align with what the Bible teaches us. Many people in our current culture believe that supporting those around us means supporting every choice that somebody makes, whether it's a good one or a bad one. But the Bible tells us that we should call each other out as brothers and sisters in Christ. When you see your friends doing sinful or harmful things you should lovingly help them get out of that sin. Today Pastor Ricky is going to encourage you to keep your friends accountable.