Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God came to a Manger". Reading: Galatians 4.4-7 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God came to a Manger".Reading: Philippians 2.3-11 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves wh...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God came to a Manger".Reading: John 1.14-18 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank th...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God came to a Manger". Reading: Luke 2.1-20Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4Jos...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God came to a Manger". Reading: Isaiah 9.6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He w...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God our MESSIAH". Reading: Matthew 1.18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned ...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God our MESSIAH". Reading: Luke 1.46-56And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49"For the Mighty One has done great things for...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God our MESSIAH". Reading: Luke 1.26-45 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored o...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God our MESSIAH". Reading: Isaiah 11.1-10Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3And...

Each week of Advent we will have a new focus. This week's focus is "God our MESSIAH". Reading: Isaiah 9.2-6 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing t...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is the "Majesty of God". Reading: Revelation 21.3-8 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no lo...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is the "Majesty of God". Reading: 1 Chronicles 16.23-36 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 24Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 25For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all g...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is the "Majesty of God". Reading: Psalm 103.1-22 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkin...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is the "Majesty of God".Reading: Psalm 8.1-9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.3When I ...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is the "Majesty of God". Reading: Deuteronomy 10.14-20 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nationsas it is today. Purify your hearts, t...

David Bird has served on our staff since November 2011. Since joining our staff David has faithfully served as our Missions and Lifegroups Pastor. David will be retiring at the end of December. It has been a blessing and great joy to have him and his wife, Brenda as a part of The Ridge for these last 9 years.This week, I sat down with David and Brenda to reflect on his 50 ...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is "God our Maker". Reading: Isaiah 65.17-19"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered,nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem to be a delightand its people a joy.19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is "God our Maker". Reading: Psalm 139.1-24 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O ...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is "God our Maker". Reading: John 1.1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men....

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is "God our Maker".Reading: Psalm 19.1-6 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4Their line has gone out through all...

Each week of Advent we will have a focus: This week's focus is "God our Maker".Reading: Genesis 1.1-31 Christmas is an incredible story of God laying aside the splendor of His majesty, and coming to be Immanuel - God With Us. Fully God. Fully man. In the world, but not of this world. The God who made the world, now working His plan to make all things new, again. Christma...

The Ridge Church | March 21 Click here for an encouraging word from Pastor Jerry ...

PSALM 1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,Nor stand in the path of sinners,Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!But his delight is in the law of the LORD,And in His law he meditates day and night.He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,Which yields its fruit in its seasonAnd its leaf does not wither;And in whatever he does, h...

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was ...

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept...

While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed." But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Luke 11.27-28 What is greater those who hear the Word of God and obey or being the mother of Jesus? Accordin...

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her...

Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Sa...

And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." And He said t...

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind."But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicingAnd her people for gladness."I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;And there will no longer be heard in herThe voice of weeping and the sound of cryin...

It is always good to get our life fixed on what is most important, especially during the Christmas season. This advent season we will do just that as we fix our eyes on Jesus. We will look at the person and work of Jesus through the book of Hebrews. The recipients of this great letter were tired and weary in their faith. They needed strengthened to stand firm in their fait...

The celebration of Advent begins Sunday, November 30. It is always a special season of focus. Advent simply means coming. Our focus centers around three comings of Christ: His arrival in history as a baby born of Mary, His return in fearsome glory at the end of time and His entrance into our own lives. This season we will be encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus. As we see t...

It is hard to believe that we have crossed over the halfway mark of December. Before you know it we will be ushering in a new year. As we enjoy these final days of December and this last full week of Advent, I wanted to remind you of our Advent giving. Our Advent giving goal is $82,000. $52,000 goes toward our regular monthly needs for December and then $30,000 goes towar...

Seeing Jesus with The ShepherdsLuke 2.8-20 2.8: In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. The same region Near Bethlehem, which is called the city of David (2.4). This is where Joseph and Mary were to go and register due to the census decreed by the Roman government. The prophet Micah declared hun...

Dear Church Family, Due to the inclement weather, road conditions and parking lot conditions, we have decided to cancel our Sunday services. Since we won't be able to gather as a corporate body, we do want to encourage you to gather as a family or even with neighbors to worship. It might be a great opportunity to put some hot chocolate and coffee on and have some neighbor...

Advent: More of Jesus, Less of Me And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospe...

The celebration of Advent begins Sunday, December 1. It is always a special season of focus. During this time we focus on three 'comings' of Christ: His arrival in history as a baby born of Mary, His return in fearsome glory at the end of time and His intermediate entrance into our own lives. As we look back at the coming of Christ and expectantly look forward, this season...

As we discover, celebrate and enjoy the gospel this season my prayer is that it would compel us to abandon all things for Christ and lay our life down on a daily basis. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5.14-15 says, The love of Christ controls us (compels us)so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. I p...

Advent Gatherings: Sundays, December 2, 9 and 16 at 9 and 11 amSunday, December 23 at 10:30 amMonday, December 24 at 5 pm The celebration of Advent is always a special season of focus. During this time we focus on three 'comings' of Christ: His arrival in history as a baby born of Mary, His return in fearsome glory at the end of time and His intermediate entrance into ou...

What a joy the past few weeks have been to fix our eyes on Jesus and who He truly is. I pray you are enjoying this advent season as you behold Jesus. This week we continue our advent celebration as we look at Jesus and His second advent. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and also for our Christmas Eve and Day gatherings. Christmas Eve: 4:30 and 6 pmChristmas Day: 1...

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy ...

Once a year the elders put forth a special offering goal to the congregationduring the advent season. This advent season the elders have put forth an offeringgoalof $80,000. In years past, you have given above and beyond to help fund the work of the gospel both locally and globally. We want to invite you to pray and join in doing the same again this year. As you pray let...

advent, jesus, isaiah, wonderful counselor, might god, everlasting father, prince of peace, sovereign king, the ridge church, jerry witham...

This time of year is filled with many things. For some it is a time filled with traditions and family. Some may go with their family and cut a Christmas tree down. There are others who might have the yearly white elephant gift exchange. Some will make trips to see family who are out of town. There are others who will be filled with pain and sadness during this season. This...

We live in a culture where there is a great deal of attention placed on Christmas and Easter, not to mention other holidays. We must be careful with how we view such observances. The Apostle Paul speaks about our observance of certain days in Romans 14.6 saying, He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord. Whatever the celebration may be, I believe Paul's main point ...

God grants to us Kingdom practices or forms, so that we would seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is not something that comes natural to you and I. Remember we are born into this world as those who are not righteous and who do not seek God (Romans 3.10, 11b). In fact, our sinful flesh wages war against such a desire or pursuit of seeking first the Kingd...

But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6.3-4 This Sunday we heard the call of Christ to identify with the poor and afflicted helping them in their distress. We are to give to those in need in secret. It is no...

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealthBut seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6.24-33 Don't waste your life. That is one of the messages I hear from Jesus in Matthew 6. Matthew 6 is our ...

What are you willing to trade in this season to give financially to God's work? Is it the daily runs to Starbucks? Is it changing your spending habits this Christmas season? As part of our focus on giving this season, the elders have put an Advent giving goal before us. The goal for this year is $70,000. Our monthly budget requirements are $40,000. Our desire is to reach t...

What if Christmas looked different this year? What if it wasn't about all the gifts, going to the mall or the rushing around from here to there? We want to invite you to rethink Christmas with us this year and to experience it for what it was meant to be. On Sunday, November 28 Advent begins. Advent is the anticipation-filled season of celebrating Jesus' birth and His com...

This past Sunday marked the beginning of our celebration of Advent. Advent is the celebration of the love of God for sinners. It is the love of God that brought Jesus Christ into the world. God forbid that this would be forgotten or lightly considered this season. Instead may the birth of our Redeemer, which redeemed us from wrath, death and hell, be the center of our thou...

What if Christmas looked different this year? What if it wasn't about all the gifts, going to the mall or the rushing around from here to there? We want to invite you to rethink Christmas with us this year and to experience it for what it was meant to be. On Sunday, November 29 Advent begins. For me and my family, this is a season that we have grown to love and enjoy. The...