Have you ever been looked at disparagingly because of your race? Maybe walked into a place that you thought you didn't belong? Or maybe you have tattoos, or are watched when your shopping because you’re thought to be a thief? Pastor Ricky preaches the gospel to you and to me. He wants us to do the same. The gospel breaks down worldly dividers. The gospel changes things for everyone. We're no longer a certain race or group. We become sons and daughters of God. We’re family.
The Book of Acts - Leaders, Ethnic Dividers and the Gospel, Part 1
During the early church, they had the same issues arise as we do. They had people with needs. They had widows, orphans, and handicapped people who couldn’t work and relied on the goodness of others for their sustenance. Just like today, there are millions of people that without humanitarian efforts would be dead. The lesson here in Acts, that Pastor Ricky is teaching, is that the main thing needs to stay the main thing. The Gospel is to be preached first.
The Book of Acts - Gospel Advanced, Part 2
Pastor Ricky likens our sharing Jesus to a balance scale. The scale has the other person, issue, or obstacle on one side, it's totally way down. But when we get on the counterbalance side alone, nothing happens, it barely budges. But we aren't alone. We have the power of Jesus on our side. He is on the scale with us and it's weighed down enough. This is what happens when you share Jesus. You may not know the words going in but the Holy Spirit will give you the wisdom and power.
The Book of Acts - Gospel Advanced, Part 1
We get our power from Jesus. His name is where our power to share the gospel comes from. Pastor Ricky speaks about Peter being uneducated but having the power of Jesus. He stood before educated men and preached the Gospel in a way that blew them away. They spoke to each other saying that he was uneducated but the way he spoke about the Gospel made them see and believe there was a real change in him. That's what will bring people to Jesus around us, the change they see in us.
The Book of Acts - The Spirit Poured Out, Part 2
Pastor Ricky reminds us of Day 1 stuff of Christianity. Repent, that’s it. Troubled Christians don't need a bunch of counseling sessions, they need to repent. They need to go back to Day 1 stuff. Do you get caught up in trying to clean up your act a little before spending your quiet time with Jesus? Or wanting to change something before you give it all over to Him? Repent. It's as easy as that. Turn around and give it all over to the One who already knows where you are and has promised to handle it.
The Book of Acts - The Spirit Poured Out, Part 1
Have you been looking forward to The Last Days? The Israelites were looking forward to The Last Days too, for when the Messiah came and saved them. We can look forward to the same thing, The Second Coming of Christ. We have heaven waiting for us, we have our new bodies and an eternity with the Lord. How could we not be looking forward to The Last Days? We're not very different than the Israelites waiting for Jesus to come the first time. We have so much to gain from His glorious return.
The Book of Acts - Prologue, Mission and Power, Part 2
The book of Acts recounts amazing occurrences of the Lord through the apostles. Pastor Ricky wants us to realize that we too are filled with that same amazing power. The Holy Spirit power was also given to us when we came to know the Lord. We have been given this power that can bring dead men to life. We’re to go out and tell people about the change that's happened within us. Why would we keep such an amazing power a secret? Be encouraged today that you Christian, have that power.
The Book of Acts - Prologue, Mission and Power, Part 1
Jesus came and paid for our sins. He is our King, our risen Lord, and our Savior. When you're commanded by authority to do something, you do it. When you're asked to do something by someone you love it isn’t a burden, but a blessing. We’re told by Jesus to go out into all the world and share the Gospel. This is commanded by our King and lovingly told to us by our Savior so our response should be immediate and done in love. The sharing of the Gospel should be a blessing and reveal Jesus.
Thy Kingdom Come - Deliver Us From Evil, Part 2
The Lord's Prayer teaches us so much about the character of God and the hope of redemption that we have in Christ. When we accept the gift of salvation not only is our past sin forgiven but we're also given a hope for a life free from sin. As Pastor Ricky reminds us in today's message, as long as we live in the flesh were subject to the temptations of this world but when we allow God to lead us, He’ll not lead us into temptation but further us into righteousness and freedom.
Thy Kingdom Come - Deliver Us From Evil, Part 1
When we pray the words, “deliver us from evil” we may picture God as an armored tank, protecting us from the external forces of evil that surround us. Well God certainly does offer that kind of protection, there is another danger lurking that we often overlook. As Pastor Ricky warns in today's message, all of us are born with sinful desires, like ticking time bombs in our hearts. We need to be alert and aware of these desires and be ready to run to Christ as soon as they rear their head.
Thy Kingdom Come - Forgive Us Our Debts, Part 2
Have you been hurt by someone? Maybe they harmed you or someone you love in a way that just seems unforgivable. As Pastor Ricky continues to lead us through the Lord's Prayer we're challenged to do the impossible. It won't be easy. It won't feel as good as revenge does in the moment. It'll take a lot of prayer and the Holy Spirit’s helping hand but forgiveness is vital for all followers of Christ. We've been given an immeasurable grace and we need to extend that same grace to our debtors.
Thy Kingdom Come - Forgive Us Our Debts, Part 1
Most of us have opened a bill and found ourselves in a mild state of shock over the debt it contained. Medical bills, tax bills, loans, whatever it was, it may have felt insurmountable in that moment. Imagine if a benefactor walked up to us, took that bill, tore it up and declared that they would take care of it. As Pastor Ricky reminds us in today's message, that is exactly what Christ has done for us. He took our debt of sin, a debt we could never pay, and He paid it with His own life on the cross.
Thy Kingdom Come - Give Us Our Daily Bread, Part 2
Our culture strongly encourages hoarding. Whether it’s food, money, or possessions, we never want to be without. Some have such a fear of not having that they even buy things that they have no intention of using simply because it's a good deal. In today’s message, Pastor Ricky compares that mindset to our approach to prayer. We can’t hoard God's blessings and guidance. As Jesus taught us to pray, we need to depend on God for our daily sustenance, both spiritual and physical.
Thy Kingdom Come - Give Us Our Daily Bread, Part 1
Our culture strongly encourages hoarding. Whether it’s food, money, or possessions, we never want to be without. Some have such a fear of not having that they even buy things that they have no intention of using simply because it's a good deal. In today’s message, Pastor Ricky compares that mindset to our approach to prayer. We can’t hoard God's blessings and guidance. As Jesus taught us to pray, we need to depend on God for our daily sustenance, both spiritual and physical.
Thy Kingdom Come - Your Will Be Done, Part 2
We only get one chance to live a life that glorifies God. Bringing Him glory is at the backbone of living within His will. As we walk in the flesh, in this temporary existence, we have free will. We have the choice to live for self or to live for Him. As Pastor Ricky leads us through our study of the Lord's Prayer, he challenges us to surrender ourselves fully to the will of God. Will we use our time on this earth to make a name for ourselves and accrue earthly treasures or will we live for Him?
Thy Kingdom Come - Your Will Be Done, Part 1
When we pray, “Thy will be done”, do we really know what we're asking? The answer is not as simple as it may seem. As Pastor Ricky continues to explore the Lord's Prayer, he asks the question, “What is God's will?” We often think of His will as a secret map directing us on every life decision that can only be deciphered through years of study and prayer. Often times His will is much more straightforward than that. He doesn't withhold it from us but instead offers to lead us as a Good Shepherd.
Thy Kingdom Come - Your Kingdom Come #2, Part 2
Whose kingdom are you advancing in your life? Are you praying for the kingdom of God to come while making decisions and living a life focused chiefly on bringing about your own kingdom? It's a common error for many believers. In today's message, Pastor Ricky emphasizes the importance of praying for God's kingdom. Even if we find ourselves stuck living for ourselves, praying this way from the heart, will lead us towards a life that reflects the desire for that Kingdom over our own.
Thy Kingdom Come - Your Kingdom Come #2, Part 1
When we imagine the rewards of heaven, we may have a tendency to picture the mega-mansions that will be given to Christianity’s great icons - famous authors, and leaders who are nearly as well known as the apostles themselves. But in today's message, Pastor Ricky draws our attention to an act just as important as preaching the Gospel in front of packed stadiums. Prayer warriors are the unsung heroes of our faith. Their great work is almost never seen by others but its influence cannot be ignored.
Thy Kingdom Come - Your Kingdom Come #1, Part 2
When we die to ourselves and allow Christ to make us new in Him we become citizens of a great kingdom. We can't realize it fully in the flesh but our actions will start to reflect the love that abounds in that kingdom. It knows no physical limitations or boundaries. From the land of the free to lands oppressed by dictators, this kingdom reaches in and exists in the heart of believers. In today's message, Pastor Ricky urges us to actively involve and align ourselves with this beautiful kingdom.
Thy Kingdom Come - Your Kingdom Come #1, Part 1
In our dreams as children, most of us never imagined our lives working nine-to-five in a monotonous job. We dreamed of great fantastical lives. 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 us in today's message, many of us do the same thing in our lives as believers. We forego the greatness God desires for His kingdom, replacing it with plans that we deem more realistic.