You need family. Sadly because of sin and selfishness, as well as things that are out of our control, all families are broken in some way. Even the most perfect-looking family has its faults if you start to dig deep enough. That's just a part of living in a fallen world. But as Pastor Ricky reminds us in today’s message, the situation isn’t hopeless. Your family may not be perfect but if you cling to and rest in God's promises, you can find peace and unity that you can't find anywhere else.
The Perfect Family? - The Perfect Mom? Part 2
God doesn't love you because of your talents or your skills. He doesn't scan humanity looking for people to add to His team because they possess some useful talent. He desires for everyone to come to Him not because of what they possess but because they're His creation and they lack the intimacy, freedom, and the life that He designed them for. As Pastor Ricky reminds us in today's message, to come to the Father you have to humble yourself and allow Him to save and equip you for any good work.
The Perfect Family? - The Perfect Mom? Part 1
Throughout scripture, you can see a pattern in the way that God works. He doesn't look for the powerful, the rich, or the famous. It's not that He can't use those people, but as Pastor Ricky points out in the example of Jesus's mother Mary, God chose her because she was humble. She was a nobody and God loves to work with nobodys. When you acknowledge that you're incapable and incompetent on your own, it allows room for God to come in and work in a way that glorifies Him alone.
Behold - It's Not About You, Part 2
It's quite miraculous and remarkable that anyone could ever be saved. As sinful and as depraved as humanity is, everyone deserves destruction from God who is utterly holy and righteous. Yet as Pastor Ricky will explain today, the truth is that God initiated salvation for mankind. He needs nothing from man. Yet He revealed Himself, not to punish and condemn but in order to save man. He offered Himself to take away all of your sins and He gives you righteousness in exchange.
Behold - It's Not About You, Part 1
The reality of man is the tendency to think that life is all about you - your hopes, your plans, your needs, your pain. The Bible is often viewed from this perspective as well. How can it benefit you? But ultimately it's about God, His Holiness, and His plan for creation. You'll discover today with Pastor Ricky that once you recognize the reality that God is holy and reigns in glory, you'll have a joy, freedom, and purpose in making much of God. You're meant to find fulfillment and satisfaction in Him alone.
Behold - You Lose Some, You Win More, Part 2
Which would you rather have, a ring lollipop or a real diamond ring? A toy car or a real one? Today, Pastor Ricky shares that the things you cling to for security are just cheap imitations of the real thing that God offers. When He takes those weak substitutions away, He replaces them with what He alone can provide. God longs for you to have something far greater than you would get for yourself. Pastor Ricky reminds you that God wants to give you an amazing life that's filled to the brim with His presence.
Behold - You Lose Some, You Win More, Part 1
What do you count on for stability in your life? Where do you turn when things are shaky? Today, Pastor Ricky asks you to consider your answer to those questions. As you study today’s passage from Isaiah 2, you’ll learn that God took away the things that the Israelites were leaning on for their sense of security. He did this because He loved them and He wanted to help them. Pastor Ricky invites you to discover that these earthly things will never be able to give you the peace and stability that you find in God.
Behold - The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, Part 3
You hear stories all the time about people being rescued from scary situations, like accidents or fires. In today's edition of Better News Radio, Pastor Ricky encourages you to let Jesus rescue you from the consequences of your choice to go your own way. Because you're secure in His love and grace, you don't need to be afraid of God's judgment. You’re safe in Jesus. Pastor Ricky reminds you that Jesus opens the door for you to have a relationship with God and to live in peace and hope.
Behold - The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, Part 2
People were devastated when the stock market crashed in 2008. The sudden loss of financial security caused some to spiral into depression and despair. What people thought they could count on disappeared in an instant. Today, Pastor Ricky asks you to consider what you are putting your stock in. Are you relying on the Lord for your security and your identity, or are there other things that you're hoping will sustain and comfort you? Today you’ll learn that God and His ways are the only stable foundation for your life.
Behold - The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, Part 1
Can you imagine driving home one day when all of a sudden your car falls into a giant sinkhole that opened in the ground? What you thought was stable fell away in the blink of an eye. Today Pastor Ricky cautions you that you could be building your life on things that can't hold you up in the long run. Like the ground over a sinkhole, these things will fail you leaving you devastated in hurting. Pastor Ricky shares that following God's plan for your life is the only foundation that you can trust.
Behold - Dream With Me, Part 3
Everyone wants their life to matter in some way, to have purpose and meaning. As you continue in today's study of Isaiah, Pastor Ricky invites you to explore God's vision for humanity. You'll discover that you can count on the fact that God will actively move in the world around you. When you live with the anticipation that He'll show up, your life becomes an adventure. Pastor Ricky shares that God wants you to join Him in the things that He's doing. Partnering with God in this way will bring you joy and purpose.
Behold - Dream With Me, Part 2
Every two years, the Olympic Games bring together people from all over the world. For those few days, athletes from every corner of the earth put aside their differences and gather together in an amazing display of diversity and strength. Today, Pastor Ricky reminds you that God wants all people to know Him and to love one another. He's broken down the barriers that separate you. Because of Jesus, you can live in peace and unity with everyone. Not just for a few days, but for all time.
Behold - Dream With Me, Part 1
Some people are just good at giving gifts. They always seem to know the perfect thing to make your day. Well today, Pastor Ricky shares that God loves giving you gifts that will change your life. You’ll discover that not only has God made a way for you to have a relationship with Him through Jesus but He's also made it possible for you to live at peace with other people. This gift of reconciliation has paved the way for you to break through barriers so that you can experience true community with others.
Behold - Perspective, Part 2
Parents typically know when their kids are trying to butter them up and sadly, the sweet words and unusual helpfulness, they lose their meaning when a child uses them to try and get what they want. Today, Pastor Ricky shares that God feels the same way about how you interact with Him. As you’ll hear, God doesn't like it when people only do things, even if they're good, because they want something from Him. Pastor Ricky reminds you that God wants you to walk closely with Him and love the people around you.
Behold - Perspective, Part 1
If you’ve ever flown in an airplane, you’ve had the privilege of seeing the earth from a whole new vantage point. This shift in perspective allows you to understand the world around you in an entirely new way. As Pastor Ricky begins a new series in Isaiah today, he challenges us to let the truth in this study shift our perspective. Just like looking out of an airplane window, the Book of Isaiah can help you live your everyday life with a new outlook, making a difference where the rubber meets the road.
Wisdom for Life - The Lies of Temptation, Part 2
There's always forgiveness available for those that have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Today Pastor Ricky will be reminding us that even though God will forgive us when we sin against Him, it doesn't necessarily mean we won’t suffer the consequences of that sin. There is a reason God has given us boundaries and commands us in His Word. It’s to keep us safe, to keep us on the straight and narrow path. When we decide to venture off the path that God wants us on we will eventually suffer the consequences.
Wisdom for Life - The Lies of Temptation, Part 1
It's been said that sin will always take you farther than you want to go and keep you there longer than you want to stay. As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series through the Book of Proverbs, he’ll be exhorting us to confess our sins to God as well as to confess our sins to one another. The temptation to sin always comes along with the temptation to keep it in the dark and a secret. Just like Adam and Eve hid from God after they sinned, we too have this same tendency.
Wisdom for Life - Wisdom and Sexuality, Part 2
As Pastor Ricky continues his series through the Book of Proverbs, he'll be reminding us that although sexual attraction is important, there's much more to marriage than sex. We were created to glorify God and to be well-pleasing to Him first and foremost. In our culture, sex is everything. We see it in commercials, we glorify it in conversation. And although sex certainly is a gift from God, sometimes we tend to elevate it to be even more important than pleasing God.
Wisdom for Life - Wisdom and Sexuality, Part 1
Contrary to popular belief, you were created by design and we're not some cosmic accident that evolved from a primordial soup into an intelligent being. Today Pastor Ricky will be encouraging us to live for the Lord and to glorify Him with our bodies because we were created in His image. We are held to a high moral standard of holiness because we are to imitate God as His dear children. If the devil can convince people that they evolved from animals, people will start acting like that.
Wisdom for Life - The Heart and the Springs of Life, Part 2
Just because you don't suffer the consequences of your sinful activities or behaviors right away doesn't make it any less sinful and detestable to God. As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series through Proverbs, he'll be encouraging us to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strength. We need to be careful not to allow certain images into our minds. We need to be cautious against playing with sin because sooner or later it will destroy us.