Pastor Tim walks us through the Fourth Commandment and urges us to keep the Sabbath day holy by sharing three compelling reasons to observe it. //Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

Do you ever find that when you’re sitting in church, and the pastor makes a great point, you immediately think of someone you wish could be hearing the message? By doing this, we are missing a vital step in Jesus’ process to encourage others to walk in the truth. However, when we begin in the mirror and look at the log in our eyes, we will understa…

Pastor Josh joins us for another week of "Ten." Looking at the Third Commandment found in Exodus 20:7, he shares three practical applications that can help us keep God's name holy. //Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

How has our culture influenced you? Have you downloaded Instagram? Is there a desire in you to climb the corporate ladder or have a beautiful home that HGTV would want to visit? These things are in and of themselves evil or sinful. However, we must be aware that the world has the habit of trying to infiltrate our hearts, convincing us it’s more imp…

Continuing in our new series, "Ten," Pastor Josh takes a closer look at the Second Commandment and challenges us to tear down the idols in our lives and love God. //Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

During the second week of our “Ten” series, Pastor Tim pointed out that if God has His proper place, everything else will fall into place. If putting God first seems overwhelming, begin by counting your blessings. When we place God first, it does not mean the path will be shorter or easier, but you will be far wiser and find peace in knowing you ar…

What does it mean to give God the proper place in our lives? Continuing in week two of "Ten," Pastor Tim looks to the First Commandment and focuses on three characteristics of those who understand it: we will love God above everything else, "fear" God and obey Him, and serve (worship) God with our time, talents, and resources.//Verses and message n…

Our new series, “Ten,” began on Sunday, and Pastor Tim made the point that the Ten Commandments are not the way of salvation but reveal the path that leads to an abundant, rich, and satisfying life. This message made me think of how it’s easy to make small compromises that can escalate into larger ones. Something that “won’t hurt just this once” ca…

Pastor Tim kicks off a new series about God's amazing gift of the Ten Commandments called "Ten" and shares five surprising observations we can learn from them.//Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

As I have grown in my relationship with the Lord, there have been times when remembering God’s faithfulness has come in great sorrow. It is important to realize that God’s character is often seen through the many circumstances of life. Being able to experience this deep abiding love is foundational to knowing who God is, what He has done, what He w…

Executive Pastor Bruce Lane joins us with a message called "Remember." By exploring God's identity, works, and promises, we will rediscover some important truths God wants us to remember and not forget.//Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

On this Baptism Sunday, Pastor Tim shares the three biggest reasons why we encourage people to get baptized.//Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

The problem the religious leaders were facing was that they had allowed their hearts to become so callous that when they looked at the man with the paralyzed hand, they did not see an image bearer of the highest God, a person with inherent value and worth, someone worth listening to and loving. They didn't even really see the man, but rather, saw h…

Is your heart hard towards God or anyone around you? Pastor Tim wraps up our "I Do, but Do I?" series by encouraging us to evaluate ourselves and humbly ask God to soften our hearts.// Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

Withholding forgiveness was poisoning me and the hope for my new relationships. Realizing this and offering forgiveness was downright painful. It required a total surrender and trust that God knows best. If you are struggling with forgiveness, try starting where I did—pray for the desire to forgive. Remember, only God is truly capable of offering f…

This week, Pastor Tim looks to Luke 7:36-45 to remind us that when we extend forgiveness and grace to those who have wronged us, it cultivates love in the heart of the other person toward us.// Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

During the last couple of years of my mom’s life, she suffered from some pretty severe memory issues, robbing her of recollections and weaving confusion into her day. Now that she has been gone for over five years, I would give just about anything for one of those conversations over the same stories and questions. Instead, I get to reflect on our m…

Do you take time to listen to others before you speak? Pastor Tim continues our new series, "I Do, but Do I," with four reasons why we should learn to listen before speaking. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

When my little sister Bree entered our family, it marked a significant turning point in my life, a transition from self-centeredness to selflessness—everything wasn't about me now. While selflessness still doesn't come naturally to me, I've come to understand how important it is in fostering strong, healthy connections with my husband and with othe…

Continuing in week three of "I Do, but Do I," Pastor Josh reminds us that we can grow in selflessness when we share generously, serve humbly, and submit willingly.// Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

What we all need to recognize is that the intimacy we long for can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no more intimate act than Christ’s death for us. He knew everything about us, all of our sins and shame, and yet, He still laid down His life for us. He fully knows you and fully loves you.…

Pastor Josh joins us for our "I Do, but Do I?" series and shares how the goal of marriage is physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

Marriage matters to God because it reflects the depth of His love for His people. Just as Christ laid down His life for His bride, the Church, so too, are husbands and wives called to sacrificially love and honor one another. In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, marriage became a testament to the transformative power of God's love—a tes…

Pastor Tim introduces "I Do, but Do I?" a new series focusing on the essential qualities needed to build strong marriages and develop relationships. During this week's talk, he explains why marriage matters and defines marriage according to the Bible. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays…

Jesus is our hope! He died as payment for our sins and rose again to conquer death. God’s desire for us to be in a relationship with Him was made possible. Now, each of us has a responsibility to recognize that we have a sin problem that can only be solved by believing in Jesus as the forgiver of sins. The question you must ask yourself is, “Do I a…

Pastor Tim wraps up our "Foretold" series by teaching through Isaiah 53 and sharing five surprising things the prophet Isaiah foretold about the Messiah who was to come. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

I was incredibly angry at God for many years because He allowed my siblings and mother to die in spite of my family's faithfulness to Him and the incredible amount of prayer that people offered for my family. I couldn’t understand it. Why would God allow that? That’s a question I have wrestled with for most of my life. While this was originally som…

Holy Saturday is an invitation to stillness, contemplation, and anticipation. On this day, the tomb would still be inhabited—Jesus’ body lying there, broken for us. All the momentum the disciples felt as they were celebrating Jesus coming to be crowned King just days ago came to an abrupt halt—forced stillness. This was a day of sorrow for the Apos…

It was on Golgotha, the place of the skull, that Jesus was crucified. But before His hands and feet were nailed to the cross, He endured unimaginable pain. For hours leading up to the cross and for six long hours nailed on it, Jesus endured shame and suffering in every imaginable way. Yet through His agony, Jesus exemplified His love for humanity, …

Barabbas’ story points to the idea that the Gospel is about a righteous Savior dying for guilty sinners—setting them free. Barabbas was a rebel and murderer. He was probably the next in line to be nailed to a cross, but because of a tradition related to the Passover festival, he was set free instead.…

As I read through the text, I found myself looking for the emotions of those involved. When you search for the emotions, you question the hows, the whys, and the whats. How could Judas betray Jesus? Why did the disciples not understand what was going to happen to Jesus? What emotions did Jesus go through as He spent His last moments with His discip…

We are commanded to love God with every piece of us—our hearts, our souls, and our minds. However, Jesus also commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we aren't going to go to our neighbors and say the unloving things we say to ourselves. We must begin by loving ourselves just as Jesus loves us.…

Pastor Tim continues our “Foretold” series by pointing out three Old Testament stories from Israel's time in the wilderness that lead us to Jesus and the cross. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

During the last week of Jesus’ life, He returned to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When He entered the temple complex, Jesus expected to see people praying, praising, and thanking God. Instead, He witnessed money changers and merchants exploiting and overcharging the people. And, because they set up shop in the Court of Gentiles, they made it…

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. It was the hardest thing that He had to do and something He didn’t necessarily want to do, but He obeyed His Father. He took on the sins of the world by dying on a cross for every one of us.על ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

The instructions God gave the Israelites during Passover were not to be followed alone; they included other people. This is how we are called to live once we have received the grace God has given us—together.על ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

Pastor Tim brings us a powerful message centered around how the Passover story clearly points to Christ. Jesus is our Passover lamb. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

For those of us who know the story well—we can miss out on just how shocking it is to see God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. My encouragement to you would be to read through some of the most familiar stories in the Bible with fresh eyes because when we don’t genuinely wrestle with God’s Word—when we don’t ask hard questions and wonder, “W…

Pastor Tim joins us for another week of "Foretold," magnifying the significance of how the story of Abraham and Isaac foreshadowed God's willingness to sacrifice His Son, Jesus, on the cross for our sins. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

Jesus' substitutionary atonement serves as the cornerstone of our faith, underscoring the depth of God's love and the unfathomable extent of His grace. It is a testament to His unwavering commitment to reconcile humanity to Himself, offering redemption and restoration to all who choose to accept it.על ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

Continuing in our "Foretold" series, Student Ministry Director Andrew Archer teaches through Genesis 3, highlighting the story of Adam and Eve and the fall of man. From this story, we can see that God instituted an entire sacrificial system to temporarily atone for the sins of His people until Jesus Christ came as the Lamb of God to take away the s…

Just like Legacy Marbles provide a visual reminder of the number of weeks you have left with your child before they graduate high school, what if we had a jar of marbles that represented our lives? Would we be more intentional with our time with God? Would we be out spreading His Word and love more than we are right at this moment?…

Pastor Tim kicks off our new Easter series, "Foretold," focusing on some of the hidden messages of redemption found in Old Testament Bible stories. This week, he explores seven Old Testament references that prove God planned ahead of time to save us through His Son, Jesus. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live onlin…

It is easy to start an argument when you want to ensure your opinion is heard—but why? What do we gain by starting arguments? Do we really persuade other people to agree with us by voicing our opinions? Do we show other people the type of love that God wants us to convey?על ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

Have you ever struggled to communicate with someone who has a different perspective than you do? Pastor Tim wraps up our "Truth Is" series by sharing five guiding principles to help us speak the truth with love.// Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

Pause, slow down, and think about what you believe—about the world, yourself, humanity, and God. Ask yourself, “Why do I believe this?” “Where does this ‘truth’ I’m believing come from?” Then, with diligence and patience, relentlessly seek the truth.על ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

How is your spiritual sight? Pastor Tim comes around the story of Paul and shares three resources that God has given us to see, know, and live the truth. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/liveעל ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

“Two Roads Diverged in a Wood” is from the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. Just like in Robert Frost’s poem, we must pick from two paths in life, one leading to life and one leading to death.על ידי Chestnut Ridge Church

How are you living your life and by whose standard are you living? Pastor Josh takes us through the story of the Prodigal Son to remind us that doing life God's way is the only life-giving way.// Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us live online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live…

A number of us would quickly agree that we are a "good person." If we look at our lives as a whole, we feel like we are doing good. On the other hand, a number of us would say that we aren't good—we feel like a failure or have made too many mistakes. You can probably place yourself in one of those categories, but the truth is, we are both. We are w…