West Ridge Messages

Almost all of us will pray when life becomes chaotic, but why wait that long to express heartfelt prayers?  In "Genuine Prayer" Pastor John reminds us that God is always with us, with His wisdom, encouragement, and provision to prepare you for wherever He calls you.  Hopefully, nothing as dramatic as Jonah's experience, but He is there just like He was for Jonah.Support the show

Rhetorical question: "Have you ever made a choice that was not God's best for you?"  In "Power of Choices" Pastor John says you are not alone, but we always need to confess our mistakes and "forsake" (renounce) your choice and the Bible says we get another chance.Support the show

Where do we find wisdom?  In "Wisdom and Stature", Pastor John shares how wisdom, stature (or maturity) can come from many places and situations, but by far the best source is to receive it from Jesus.  After all, who know more about any subject possible - you or Jesus?Support the show

Isn't it interesting that God's best for us sometimes is hard to receive?  In "This is Love", Pastor John shows that we need to make a choice, but we have help if we ask.Support the show

Have you seen your faith increase in your own life?  In "Faith is on the Rise" Pastor John shares how he has seen his faith increase because of how God has moved in his own life, in his friend's lives, through those in his Life Group and many of us in the church -- so he knows that the same growth in faith is happening throughout the church.Support the show

What is your response when someone says the Lord will increase your favor with God and man?  In "Vision Day" Pastor John shares how we can be ready for a large step of faith, because He is always faithful to complete the good work He began in you and in His church.Support the show

Which of the Ten Commandments are we most likely to break?  In "Power of Trust" Pastor John reveals that the one we break is probably not one you would think of first, and yet it has important consequences for our lives.Support the show

How much do we dwell on the past?  In "New Focus" Pastor John explains that no matter what happened in your past, as a follower of Christ, we are now "Christ's ambassadors; God making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead "Come back to God". (2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT)Support the show

Why should we fast?  In "Prayer and Fasting" Pastor John shows that, while not as common as praying, the Bible considers prayer and fasting to be something done together, in fact, Jesus explains that some prayers aren't answered without fasting!  Are you asking God if He wants you to fast?Support the show

Are you excited when Christmas comes?  In "Christmas Shown" Pastor John shared that even the lights that we use to decorate our trees and houses have parallels to Jesus being "the light of the world" (John 8:12) and they also speaks to references when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and "the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them " (Luke 2:9 Amplified Bible)Support the show

Do you believe that Jesus understands you?  In "Which One are You?",  Pastor John points out that no matter where you are in life this Christmas, Jesus is there for you, believes in you, and has a blessing to give you.  Support the show

Why do we sometimes hold back giving the greatest gift possible?  In "His Mission" Pastor John shares how the joy of Christmas is made more complete by recognizing that the His Mission was to offer a spectacular gift can be freely shared with everyone.Support the show

What would Jesus' government described Isaiah look like?  In "This is Different" Pastor John points out that it would be very different from what what we see today.Support the show

What does it mean to praise?  In "Yadah Comes Together" Pastor John shows that not only will people and nations praise God, but all "works of God's hands" (all creation) will praise and give thanks ('yadah') to God.Support the show

Is it okay to be "crabby"?  In "Give Thanks Out Loud", Pastor John reminds us that no matter what is happening in our lives, we can still thank God for this day.  Remember, His faithfulness never ends and His mercies are new every morning.  Give thanks out loud!Support the show

How do you worship God?  In "To Cast or Throw", Pastor John shows how the Bible teaches believers to honor, respect, surrender and repent and come to God in a posture of praise and surrender.Support the show

Are you now, or have you been in trouble where your mind is reeling, and you are trying to figure out what to do?  In "A Psalm When Trouble Comes" Pastor John shows how in every situation, God's way is the right even if we have to change our heart and be transformed.Support the show

Why did the Apostle Paul say he is a "bond servant"?  In "Clear Living and Thinking" Pastor John reviewed Pau's letter to the Colossians where we learn that we as followers of Christ are forever legally and spiritually indebted to the one who saved us and paid our debt.Support the show

Has God called you to live differently and think differently?  In "Think Differently" Pastor John shows how, if you can be transformed and live this out, you will be a blessing to the Lord, His Church and even your enemies!Support the show

What is the difference between reading the Bible and living out the Bible?  In "A Boldness for Truth", Pastor John explains how we are to "spend less time in our heads (tree of knowledge of good and evil) and more time with Jesus (tree of life).Support the show

What can each of us do to help the lost, hurting people who don't know the freedom that comes from following Christ?  In "2025 Vision", Pastor John shares the message that we are the messengers, the "runners" described in Habakkuk, to help people know God, find freedom, discover their purpose and make a difference. Support the show

When tough times come, will your faith allow you to trust God all the more?  In "No Matter What ... Faith" Pastor John shares that when we listen to God, we must trust and be faithful to what He says.Support the show

Have you ever read (or heard about) a story in the Bible and realized you may be the "bad guy" in the story?  In "A Story", Pastor Doug tells is how while we all make poor choices and go against God's laws, we are not only forgiven while were sinners, but He also commands us to forgive others -- and do so even before they ask for forgiveness.Support the show

Have you been presented with choices, one "easy" but not requiring much faith, and another that would require more faith?  In "Demonstrate Your Faith", Pastor John shares how faith require sacrifice.  But remember, faith in Christ makes the impossible possible. Support the show

Can a tragedy become a turning point?  in "Heavenly Hope", Pastor John explains how, as followers of Christ, "... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."Support the show

What do you place your faith in?   In "Impossible without Faith", Pastor John explains we all believe certain things and for certain reasons, but, do we say "I can't see it, so I don't believe?"  Many people in the Bible said the same thing, but God always proved to be faithful.Support the show

Is the purpose of the church to point out how wrong someone is acting?   In "Catch and Retain", Pastor Manny explains that the church is a place to restore, bring in and heal those in need.Support the show

Have you ever said "I'm not a leader"?  In "Spiritual Leaders Make Disciples" Pastor James reminds us that the Bible is filled with examples of ordinary, flawed people, but who are then equipped by God to become great leaders.  Can God equip you?Support the show

Does your mind sometimes drift to other things while you are in a conversation with someone?  In "Seen and Served", Pastor Bryan showed great examples of how we should be imitators of Jesus, showing where He took the time to listen and truly see the person in front of Him.Support the show

Are we seeking wisdom from the Lord and helping others, or are we just giving our input?  In "Get Wisdom" Pastor John unpacks Proverbs chapter 15 shows how to be gentle rather than defensive in our responses to certain situations.Support the show

Do you share "news" (gossip) about other people?  In "Testing What is Inside" Pastor John reminds us that 1) we really can't make proper judgments without knowing the full story and only God knows another person's heart  plus 2) we wouldn't want someone else to judge us that way.  Support the show

Do we consume the Word of God like "birthday cake" or as "bread".  In "The Breath of God" Pastor David described birthday cake being something that is served to you on special occasions versus something you take and eat daily as food.  In other words, do we wait for a Pastor to serve up the Word of God once a week or do we go and actively seek and consume it on our own?  And like his example of the bodies of the starving children who no longer felt hungry for food, we too may be starving for His Word and not recognize it.Support the show

How do we define "truth" today?  In "The Truth" Pastor John shares that while many people think they know the truth, the "truth" is that we are all flawed people with incomplete understanding of any situation.  The only complete truth can come from from someone who knows the situation perfectly, in fact the Bible says that it is Jesus who is the "truth".Support the show

What does it mean when the Bible says we are lying to ourselves?  In "I am the Vine", Pastor John explains how he's heard people say "I don't want to give up my freedom by becoming a Christian" and what that really means.Support the show

Are there things, as a child, that made you afraid of the dark?  In "Light of the World" Pastor John reminds us that darkness can only occur when there is an absence of light.  The Bible says that Jesus is light, in fact he said "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12).  Jesus can overcome "darkness" that you may experience.Support the show

We all know about wars, but did you know there is a spiritual war being fought and do you know what weapons are used?  In "Water of Life" Pastor John shows how there is a battle of words being fought.  Where do our words come from?  From where do we learn truth?  Where do we learn what God has to say?  From "God's Word"!Support the show

When the Bible speaks about "bread", what might that include?  In "The Bread of Heaven", Pastor John discusses how the Bible describes it as physical food, it is also described as something more profound - "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:31 NKJV)Support the show

Do you honor the authority figures in your life?  In "The Big Three" Pastor John shows that while honoring certain authorities may be difficult, they have been placed there by God (Romans 13:1) and God honors those who follow His will.Support the show

Isn't it interesting that God not only sees you, as you are today, but also knows your legacy - of how your life will affect others, even after we are gone from this Earth?  In "The Sky and Stars" Pastor John explains that Daniel, now in the latter part of his life, continues to receive revelation from God about things that will occur long after Daniel's life.  But because these prophecies are recorded, they continue to provide insight down through the ages.Support the show

Have you felt like you had no strength remaining to fight some battle?  In "An Inside Look", Pastor John recounts how even someone as favored by God as Daniel, mourned over a situation in which he felt he had no control.  What he learned, however, that God was very much aware, and in fact had dispatched powerful angels to assist Daniel.Support the show

Is praying out loud, especially in a group of people, a little awkward?  In "Talking with God", Pastor John points out that it is really just talking with God - keep it simple, real and honoring.Support the show

Did you know that the predictions found in the book of Daniel are so accurate that skeptics claim the book had to have been written after they occurred?  In "Sealed Vision" Pastor Bryan outlines how the book of Daniel not only predicted Alexander the Great's rise to power, but we also learned how this leader learned about himself and his battles, all from the book of Daniel, even though that book was written hundreds of years earlier.Support the show

Why is it important to understand the prophecies mentioned in the book of Daniel?  In "Daniel's Heavenly Short", Pastor John reminds us that the Bible is always spot on with its historical prophecies.  Because of this, we should trust the Bible to be accurate with its prophecies that are yet to come.Support the show

So what exactly was the Jewish event called "Pentacost"?  In "Set Apart", Pastor John describes the feast, but more importantly, discussed what happened during the first Pentacost after the crucifixion of Jesus.Support the show

How accurately was the predicted date of when the Messiah would be "cut off"?  In "The Anointed One", Pastor John shows how the exact year was prophesied over 400 years before it happened, providing another proof that Jesus is indeed Israel's Messiah.Support the show

What if you were told to not pray?  In "integrity in Faith" Pastor John describes how Daniel faced the same situation, but chose to honor God.Support the show

How do you live out one's faith as God would call one to do?  In "Comprehension and Courage", Phil Puleo outlines that there are three key components that produce culture engaging Christian leaders.Support the show

What does it mean when it is said "you will either have humility or humiliation"?  In the "Pride Test", Pastor John discusses how when don't listen for God's direction, we naturally move forward with incomplete understanding, and set ourselves up for failure.  Instead, stop relying on your own "wisdom" and ask God for His perspective.Support the show

What is "true worship"?  In "A Clear Difference in Worship" Pastor John describes the various methods that the world tries to counterfeit the Kingdom of God, and how this counterfeit always rules through fear and control.Support the show

Do people control the plans God has for you?  In "God is in Control of All", Pastor John reminds us that people can call you anything they want, but they can't change the calling God has put into you.Support the show

What are these two spirits?  In "Two Spirits at Work", Pastor John explains that the only way we can know we are being influenced by something other than God, is to know God.Support the show