Category Archives: Uncategorized

06.18.13
by

The Trademarked Manhood

To go along with our Biblical Manhood series, here is an excerpt and link to an article on The Resurgence called God Has Trademarked Manhood.  Amen

JESUS RESTORES MANHOOD

In the gospel, Jesus is restoring our vision of manhood. He is blowing up our own versions of what it means to be a man with his own quintessential masculinity. His life, death, love, and resurrection push us onward to our restored relationship with God and others.

In him and in him alone, we can find that the gospel is applied to all areas of our lives that we might become the men God intended for us to be—those conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Let us, then, commit our lives to journeying with our Savior, having repented and being restored by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

Get the FULL ARTICLE HERE

06.17.13
by

A Few Stories From Sunday

Sunday we kicked off a series called Biblical Manhood.  In this series we are talking about what it means for men to love the Lord, pursue righteousness and unleash their biblical manhood.  This Sunday had no shortage of amazing stories and things happen;

  • A woman who visited our church last week was headed to visit another church this week, but her daughter insisted they come back to “the fun” church.  She came.
  • A girl serving with Y.W.A.M. as a missionary in Alaska came to our church while on leave.  She is based just 2 hours outside of where our executive pastor is currently serving on a mission trip.  Small world.
  • A woman told us she was giving up her pursuit for “just a man” and instead will pursue the Lord first.  In the process she hopes to one day find a Biblical man.
  • Another woman stated that although this series was designed to speak mainly to men, the message really spoke to her
  • Another woman said she was encouraged to hear that a church was speaking to and encouraging men specifically to live righteously and to pursue the Lord
  • Lots of men in all services indicated they are taking the next step to pursuing righteousness and love for the Lord

What a great day at Ridge Church!  If you missed Sunday’s message, look for it to be posted here

06.11.13
by

Being Generous Pays Eternally

One of our core values here at Ridge Church is to lead the community in generosity.  Instead of being the church that has the deepest pockets and largest bank account, we would rather be known for the church that gives it away through being generous.  We saw one of the many benefits of this just yesterday.

At Ridge Church we have a resource table full of lots of different free resources.  It costs us a lot of money to give this stuff away, but we’ve done it since day one and will continue to do so.  One resource we give away is How Good is Good Enough By Andy Stanley.  A few months ago, a man visited Ridge Church, picked up a copy of the book and never came back.

Yesterday, we received an email from one of his parents stating that she was grateful for our church and the book we gave him, because he gave his life to Jesus!

If that doesn’t fire you up Church, nothing will!

It pays eternally to be generous.  We are generous simply because our Father was first generous to us.

Let’s continue to be a generous church Ridge Church and lead the way in generosity in our community! 

06.05.13
by

One Last Chance To Donate Gloves

When a disaster strikes, I always hear people say, “I wish there was something I could do.”

As most of know, over the last several weeks there have been several bad tornadoes and flooding rip through Moore Oklahoma and Oklahoma City area. Ridge Church has already sent several hundred dollars in support to a ministry on the ground doing work their. But there is actually something YOU can do that will have you doing MORE.

For last several weeks we have been collecting work gloves to send to a group doing cleanup of the devastation. We have a goal to send 200 pairs of gloves. With one week left to collect gloves, we’re not there yet.

This Sunday is our last Sunday to collect the gloves, so be sure to come ready to donate your gloves. Most places sell these for about $2 a pair.

Let’s reflect the Gospel and GIVE to meet our goal of 200 pairs of gloves given this Sunday!

05.20.13
by

Sunday’s Sermon in 3 Minutes or Less | Prodigal Week 2

Our Prodigal series continued Sunday as we took a look at the heart of the father, specifically the heart of our Father God.  Still in Luke 15, we broke down some distortions that we might have about God, the consequences they bring, and the true reality of our Father’s heart.  

  • Any false distortions we may have about God’s character has a consequence with it
  • If we think God is a cosmic cop out to get us, we’ll be tempted to make deals with God to try and get what we want
  • If we think God will not / can not forgive us for certain sins, we’ll forego the abundant life that Jesus said he came to give us 
  • If we think God only wants something from us, we’ll fail to see that God wants for us joy and that God really wants more FOR us than he wants FROM us
  • Any distortion about God we believe has a negative consequence to it
  • In the story of the Prodigal son, we see the true heart of the Father
  • The heart of the father is to allow us to make our own mistakes.  He uses those mistakes to shape us
  • No ordinary Father would run to someone who basically said they wished he was dead, to embrace him and take him back in.  God is no ordinary Father
  • The heart of the father is to not treat us like second class sinners.  He gave his son who returned the best robe, the family ring, shoes for his feet and the party of the year.  
  • This Father celebrated the return of his son who was thought to be lost and is now found.  We can learn more about celebrating by seeing how the Father celebrate the return of his son.  
  • If you’re in Christ, and you have found yourself far from home, God does not see you as a second class sinner, but as a son or a daughter.  The best seat in the house is still set aside for you

If you want to hear the message, you can listen to it here or download it for on the go

Join us next week as we close the series and look at the older brother in the story.

05.06.13
by

Sunday’s Message in 3 Minutes or Less: Oh Snap! Week 5

Sunday we concluded our Oh Snap series with arguably one of the hottest topics in our culture currently, Jesus and homosexuality.  More specifically, what Jesus had to say about it and how we should respond.  If you missed Sunday’s message, I highly encourage you to listen to it.  If you think you know how all Christians believe and think about homosexuality, then I also encourage you to listen as well.  (link to follow)

  • The Oh Snap series was one of my all time favorite series we have ever done at Ridge Church
  • The level of excitement for this series for each week was off the chart
  • The bible paints a very clear picture of what Christ followers should believe about not only homosexuality, but ALL sin (Romans 1:21-34 & 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
  • We can not and should NOT elevate homosexuality over any other sins.  Unfortunately, we have done just that.  It’s almost like it’s the unforgivable sin.  But according to 1 Corinthians 6- it is not that sin.
  • God does not hate homosexuals or just homosexuality- no God hates ALL sin, including being lazy, lust, or that extra piece of cake I had when I should have passed
  • Jesus created tension and contrast by showing us how He loved and responded to sinners
  • Read stories about the Samaritan woman, the Rich Young Ruler, and the woman caught in adultery
  • John 1: 14-18 was our main scripture for the day
  • Jesus was full of both grace and truth.  100% of both- not one or the other
  • If you want to see how Jesus loved, watch what he did
  • Church we are to be dispensers of both grace and truth – not just one of the two – especially when it comes to homosexuality
  • To speak only truth drains the cross of its grace and to speak only grace drains the cross of its power
  • With those that struggle with homosexuality or with any sin, lead with grace with a helping of truth and another side of grace.
  • Romans 15:7 says that we should accept one another the way that Christ has accepted us- that doesn’t mean we turn our heads to sin- no we call sin, sin, love the sinner and extend grace

If you would like to listen to the message or download it to listen to later, here’s your link. 

05.02.13
by

Know Before They Know

Some people that attend Ridge Church come in ready.  They’re ready because they know what’s coming, as in what the message will be about that week.  It’s not powerful knowledge, but it is kinda cool.  You can know too.  

Each week we send out an update via email, usually on Fridays, that will give announcements, what’s coming for the week, a preview of the next series, and all kinds of other great bits of information.  

If you would like to get on “the list”, go ahead and sign up today, right now, while you read this.  You’ll be glad you did.  

04.30.13
by

Sunday’s Message in 3 Minutes or Less: Oh Snap! Marriage/Re-Marriage/Divorce

Sunday we tackled the difficult topic of marriage/re-marriage and divorce in our sermon series, titled Oh Snap!  Here are a few highlights of the day and the message

  • Every week I’m blown away by how our band brings the people into worship and how they flawlessly set up the message each week.  We have always been blessed with talented people in our band, and this group is no different.  AND- they get better every week
  • This week they used a Zac Brown Band song called Goodbye in Her Eyes to set up the message.  Perfect
  • The topic was a difficult one because the truth of the Gospel on this topic is pretty tough.  But I think we approached it with grace and people grew from it
  • Our scripture was Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19: 3-10
  • There are times Jesus speaks metaphorically.  This was not one of those times.
  • Jesus spoke about the topics that were relevant to the people at that time- and in relevant terms
  • How can someone who is divorced be committing adultery if adultery is what we understand it is? Jesus is saying there is something about marriage that maybe we have forgotten, missed, or just don’t understand
  • The Pharisees when confronting Jesus wanted to to know, that even though God made 2 become 1, when can 1 become 2 again?
  • Jesus’ answer was simple- what has been oned can not be un-oned (Andy Stanley)
  • This is problematic for some who have been divorced.
  • We may recognize the divorce, but it’s possible that God does not.  Oh Snap
  • We may think it has been un-oned but God says that you can not un-one what has been oned. #OhSnap!
  • The bible is NOT picking on divorced people- the same Jesus that said these also said that he did not come into the world to condemn the world but to save the world
  • There is GRACE
  • Here’s what we do- Embrace – Confess – Ask
  • Embrace the truth of the scripture, regardless of any objections you may have
  • Confess any/all sin, especially sin that this may expose
  • Ask for marriage grace- Marriage grace will fill the gap
04.10.13
by

Why Do We Have Hip Hop Songs In Our Worship Sets?

If you’ve been at the Ridge the last few months you have noticed a new flavor sprinkled in some of our worship sets; hip hop.  Hey- I saw your foot taping, Jack!  Don’t try and hide it.  I (Bobby) can’t deny the fact you might hear me bumping some hip hop in my car or at the gym.  In fact, I’m listening to some hip hop as I write this.

It may be odd to some of you to hear a song with hip hop in it sung to bring honor and glory to God.  Let’s be honest for a moment about worship first; it’s not about you or me.  We don’t sing songs in worship on Sunday to make ourselves feel good.  We are responding to the greatness and goodness of God; for what He has done and will do, for His honor and His glory.  So if we believe that the lyrics we sing in songs honor God, then what difference does it make the rhythm to which they are expressed?  Correct.  It doesn’t.

So at Ridge Church from time to time, you’ll hear a song with hip hop in it.  We have been blessed with amazing musical talent to be able to pull it off so we’re going to let those gifted and called to express honor to God in such a way, use their talents at the Ridge.  Big props to Austin Bradford for bringing the flavor.

Here’s a song (not our version) we’ve done at the Ridge with some hip hop