Today Pastor Ricky will be explaining that there is a greater significance to the gospel than just being saved from hell. It's a glorious thing that sinners can now be saved from hell however, God didn't just save us from hell, He saved us from our sinful life. You now have the power to say “no” to sin. The Apostle Paul said in the Book of Romans, sin shall have no dominion over you. In this text, Pastor Ricky will be exhorting you to be reconciled to others just as Christ reconciled you to the Father.
Who Am I? - I Am Saved, Part 2
It's by grace alone that you're saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Pastor Ricky will be explaining how the life of a Christian should reflect grace and forgiveness because they've been forgiven so much. Now that you're saved from God's wrath, now what? You're not just supposed to just live for yourself and anticipate going to heaven. In Ephesians, it says that you’re predestined to good works. This means that God has left you here to be a living sacrifice and to glorify Him.
Who Am I? - I Am Saved, Part 1
If you were asked to write an essay explaining who you are, what would you write? Many would write, “I'm an athlete” or, “I'm a mom or dad” some may write, “I'm a teacher” or explain their job title. Christ wants you to identify yourself as dead to the flesh and alive in Him. You are saved and you are a child of God. Who you are in the eyes of God is so much more fulfilling and meaningful than who you are through the world’s eyes. When you believe you're dead to your old self and alive in Christ you begin to act and look more like Jesus.
Who Am I? - I Am Hopeful, Part 2
Pastor Ricky will be challenging us to evaluate our lives, to see if we place all of our hope in Jesus Christ. Do you believe that Jesus is all-powerful and has the ability to transform your life and raise you from death to life? The Apostle Paul in this text wants you to know that the power of Christ is towards you as a believer. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you. When you place your hope in Christ what comes along with this hope is peace and comfort to your soul.
Who Am I? - I Am Hopeful, Part 1
Everyone places their hope in something or someone. If your hope is not in Jesus Christ, then your hope could be in another person, wealth, career, or materialism. Hope is only as powerful as the object you're placing your hope in, many people, helping other people and things but those people and things did not rise from the dead. Those who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure just as He is pure. Your life and actions should prove if you genuinely have hope in Christ.
Who Am I? - I Am a Saint, Part 2
Before Christ, your identity was in Adam, and the bloodline of Adam is deserving of spiritual death because of sin. The Bible says that one man's trespass brought condemnation to all men in Adam. By one man's disobedience, many were made sinners and by one man's obedience, the many will be made righteous. We deserve death but because of Christ, we’re now a new creation. If you're not living a victorious Christian life it may be because you don't believe your identity has changed.
Who Am I? - I Am a Saint, Part 1
As Pastor Ricky begins his new series in the book of Ephesians, he will be teaching on the importance of understanding your true identity. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you're now a saint. When God the Father looks at you, he sees Christ’s identity in you. You may be a teacher, or doctor, mom, or dad but the most important aspect of your identity is being a saint redeemed by Christ. If you worship God then He will shape your identity and mold you more and more into the image of Christ.
The Book of Acts - The Power and Person of Jesus, Part 2
Pastor Ricky will be giving a warning today that it's not enough to just understand the power of Jesus but that you need to be committed to Jesus. You can't rely on the faith of others. You need to be born again yourself. When your motive for coming to church or saying prayers is just for the benefits of God's power and blessings instead of just wanting to intimately know the Lord, you're in danger. The Lord knows when you're being sincere in your worship to Him or if you just want His blessings.
The Book of Acts - The Power and Person of Jesus, Part 2
Pastor Ricky will be giving a warning today that it's not enough to just understand the power of Jesus but that you need to be committed to Jesus. You can't rely on the faith of others. You need to be born again yourself. When your motive for coming to church or saying prayers is just for the benefits of God's power and blessings instead of just wanting to intimately know the Lord, you're in danger. The Lord knows when you're being sincere in your worship to Him or if you just want His blessings.
The Book of Acts - The Power and Person of Jesus, Part 1
In order to know the person of Jesus, you must truly be committed to Him and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. In order to have the power of Jesus, you need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit so you can be equipped for ministry. Not all believers are called to the full-time ministry in a church building but all believers have a ministry that the Lord has given them to carry out. The only way you can be effective for the kingdom of God is to abide in Christ and be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
The Book of Acts - God-Grounded Confidence & God-Glorifying Effort, Part 2
Pastor Ricky will be continuing his teaching on the sovereignty of God and man’s free will. Some Christians believe that because God is the one who controls those who get saved, then there is no reason to evangelize. The Bible is clear that even though God sovereignly opens the eyes of those He chooses to save, believers are still to preach the gospel. You can't completely understand all of God's mysteries but God's command to preach the gospel is very straightforward.
The Book of Acts - God-Grounded Confidence & God-Glorifying Effort, Part 1
How can a believer have free will and choose Christ and God be sovereign and choose those who would receive Him? Pastor Ricky will be tackling this controversial issue with his teaching today. The truth of the matter is that you can't completely understand the vastness and majesty of God's being and His ways. You have to trust that somehow, someway both these truths are a reality and work in God's plan. As a believer, you must be comfortable with God's mysteries and trust Him.
The Book of Acts - Missionary Work in Our Own City, Part 2
Paul had such a good way of preaching the gospel. Pastor Ricky relates Paul’s methods to us today. Paul educated himself on the people group he was going to preach to and then related to them prior to bringing in the big guns of the gospel. He found common ground that got them listening then began to preach the good news. Take Paul's example and apply it to your life. Get to know those around you and be a missionary in your own town. You don't need to travel far to share the good news.
The Book of Acts - Missionary Work in Our Own City, Part 1
Anything we choose that takes the Lord off of the throne of our lives is considered an idol. Many believe that they don't have an idol because they don't have a carved wooden image in their home that they worship. However, if there is a hobby, a job, a car, a person that you put before Jesus, it is an idol. The Lord comes first in our lives or we will become enslaved by whatever we allow before Him. If it's money for instance then there will never be enough. You'll kill yourself working for more and more.
The Book of Acts - A Right & Wrong Response to the Word, Part 2
We have a responsibility before God to examine everything in light of scripture. You will stand before God and will be judged. We will be held responsible for what we believe, the choices that we've made. Pastors and teachers will also be held accountable for what they’ve taught. Know that there will be no way to say that you didn't know. God's word says to find out the truth and not just blindly follow. Pastor Ricky implores us to take every teaching we hear and compare it to the word of God.
The Book of Acts - A Right & Wrong Response to the Word, Part 1
Today Pastor Ricky encourages us to take everything to the Word of God. The tendency of our human heart seems is to want to make choices based on our own self-interest. Paul would preach in different places and Luke pointed out that some of them compared what he said to the Word of God, then they believed. This is what we are called to do, to rightly divide the Word. We’re not supposed to just believe everything that comes our way. We need to compare it to scripture then make our choice.
The Book of Acts - Advancing and Enduring Through Tribulation, Part 2
After Paul is stoned in Lystra, he regains consciousness and goes back into the city. Pastor Ricky shows how this is a picture of Christ. When both Paul and Christ were mistreated and sinned against, neither one of them cursed their aggressors. They both went back to them to tell them the good news. This is so unlike our human nature. Running away or fighting back are more common but they continued to love.
The Book of Acts - Advancing and Enduring Through Tribulation, Part 1
Paul and Barnabas were thought to be Zeus and Hermes. Paul could have allowed these people to continue and make sacrifices to him. Instead, he stuck his neck out and preached the gospel. You may be faced with times like this too when it would be easier to not be the odd man out and stand up for the gospel. You may not want to be known as “that person”. Paul didn’t just preach the popular gospel that God loves you but he preached that what they were doing was wrong, they needed to repent.
The Book of Acts - The Difference One Church Can Make, Part 2
Pastor Ricky teaches about the church in Antioch, their faithfulness to follow God's leading. They faithfully pursued God's word which made them have hearts and ears that could hear His leading. You may be listening today and confused about a decision that you have to make. Diving into God's word and following hard after Him will help to make the right choice clear. It will clear out your heart and mind of the things that don't matter, refocus you in His clear direction for you.
The Book of Acts - The Difference One Church Can Make, Part 1
The church in Antioch gave us such a great example, they loved and cared for others so much. They didn't stop at the members of their own church. They supported other churches that were in need, whether financially or needs of manpower, they helped. They sacrificed in ways that so many people find difficult. Pastor Ricky encourages us to follow their example, to care for others, to break down the walls, and really get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ and love and care for them.