The Ridgeline Blog https://www.ridgeline.cc Ridgeline Community Church news and events, Souderton area. Ridgeline is a church plant that began in 2013 in Souderton. Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:09:42 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Ugly weather this weekend... https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/ugly-weather-this-weekend https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/ugly-weather-this-weekend#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/ugly-weather-this-weekend Hey church!
I hope you have bread, milk, and eggs! It looks like we have some interesting weather this weekend. If you need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to call or email. Church members in your area will be glad to help if you are in need of food, shelter, or emergency transportation if things get bad.

I also wanted to let you know that we are monitoring the weather and will send out an email and an update through social media regarding our Sunday worship service. 

God bless - 
Gibson

P.S. - you can find updates and additional information about Ridgeline on our website: www.ridgeline.cc. You can also check our social media feeds: Twitter (@ridgelinecc), Facebook (@ridgelinecc), and on Instagram (@ridgelinecc).

]]>
Hey church!
I hope you have bread, milk, and eggs! It looks like we have some interesting weather this weekend. If you need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to call or email. Church members in your area will be glad to help if you are in need of food, shelter, or emergency transportation if things get bad.

I also wanted to let you know that we are monitoring the weather and will send out an email and an update through social media regarding our Sunday worship service. 

God bless - 
Gibson

P.S. - you can find updates and additional information about Ridgeline on our website: www.ridgeline.cc. You can also check our social media feeds: Twitter (@ridgelinecc), Facebook (@ridgelinecc), and on Instagram (@ridgelinecc).

]]>
Understanding Blood and Atonement https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/understanding- https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/understanding-#comments Fri, 16 Nov 2018 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/understanding- I recently preached a message from Hebrews 9:11-22. That passage describes the blood sacrifice of Jesus and why it is sufficient to atone for the sins of mankind. That message (here's the link if you'd like to listen) dealt an awful lot with blood and it’s ability to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. That’s not an easy concept for many people. But don’t allow misunderstanding or discomfort to keep you from understanding one of the most important themes in all of the Bible. Here are two helpful videos to help you better understand the concepts of blood and atonement. Gibson

Understanding Blood and Atonement

Understanding the Message of Hebrews 

 

Hebrews 9:11–22

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

[11] But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) [12] he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. [13] For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, [14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

[15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. [16] For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. [17] For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. [18] Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. [19] For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, [20] saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” [21] And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. [22] Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

 

]]>
I recently preached a message from Hebrews 9:11-22. That passage describes the blood sacrifice of Jesus and why it is sufficient to atone for the sins of mankind. That message (here's the link if you'd like to listen) dealt an awful lot with blood and it’s ability to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. That’s not an easy concept for many people. But don’t allow misunderstanding or discomfort to keep you from understanding one of the most important themes in all of the Bible. Here are two helpful videos to help you better understand the concepts of blood and atonement. Gibson

Understanding Blood and Atonement

Understanding the Message of Hebrews 

 

Hebrews 9:11–22

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

[11] But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) [12] he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. [13] For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, [14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

[15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. [16] For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. [17] For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. [18] Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. [19] For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, [20] saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” [21] And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. [22] Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

 

]]>
Visual Theology - My New Identity in Christ https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/my-new-identity-in-christ https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/my-new-identity-in-christ#comments Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/my-new-identity-in-christ One of the very first concepts a new Christian should grasp is who they are in light of Jesus' redemptive work in their lives. These six passages help us understand what's new and what's true about us in Christ...

Visual Theology - Identity in Christ– Image 1 of 7

  1. I am in Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:22 - "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ESV)
  2. I am justified: Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." ESV
  3. I am adopted: John 1:12 - "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (ESV)
  4. I am secure: Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV)
  5. I am free: Romans 6:5-6 - "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (ESV)
  6. I am unfinished: Philippians 1:6 - "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (ESV)

 

 

]]>
One of the very first concepts a new Christian should grasp is who they are in light of Jesus' redemptive work in their lives. These six passages help us understand what's new and what's true about us in Christ...

Visual Theology - Identity in Christ– Image 1 of 7

  1. I am in Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:22 - "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ESV)
  2. I am justified: Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." ESV
  3. I am adopted: John 1:12 - "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (ESV)
  4. I am secure: Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV)
  5. I am free: Romans 6:5-6 - "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (ESV)
  6. I am unfinished: Philippians 1:6 - "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (ESV)

 

 

]]>
Love for the Letter Writer https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/love-letters https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/love-letters#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2018 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/love-letters Several years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to head to Florida for 10 days with a friend.  I was a homeschool mom with 2 young and energetic (and not all that interested in school) boys, and my husband made it possible for me to have this time away to simply rest. As I was walking out the door, my husband handed me a pack of letters with instructions on the envelope telling me what day each letter was to be opened. There was one letter for every day of my vacation!

Let me tell you what did NOT happen on this trip. I did NOT set those envelopes in my purse and forget all about them. Nor did I wake up in the morning and think to myself with a sigh, “I guess I’d better get the letter and read it.” No! I could hardly wait to open my letter for the day! Each morning I woke with that day’s letter on my mind and great anticipation in my heart to read what my husband had to say. Not only would I read them but then I would think about what He had said throughout the day, and something interesting happened. My heart was stirred with affection for my husband. Not only because of the words that he said in those letters, but also because of what those letters revealed to me about who he is!

I think you know where I’m going with this. For those of us who are in Christ, collectively we are considered His bride! God has also written His bride a letter. Is it not amazing to you to realize that we have a God who speaks? And not only does He speak, but this infinitely wise God speaks to us in our language. The Bible that sits on our shelves is the very Word of God! Perfect. Without error. The unchanging, powerful Word of God. In our homes! Masterfully, over thousands of years, through unique human authors, the God of heaven and earth, has spoken to us! Why? There is much in the Bible that God teaches us, but His primary purpose in writing to us is that we may KNOW Him. NOT know about Him, but that we may KNOW Him. 

Do you KNOW HIM, sweet sisters? Do you greet each day with eager anticipation of reading His letter to you and how that will deepen your relationship with Him? This eager anticipation doesn’t just happen. It comes over time but it also comes with diligent and consistent time in His Word. Over time what once may have felt like a duty grows into delight, as you grow in your love for the letter-writer. 

It is my passion, that a love for the Word of God and for the God of the Word would identify our women’s ministry at Ridgeline. It is my hope and prayer that this love would overflow to one another and that together as a community of women, we will learn to delight in God’s Word because we delight in the One who spoke it.  

One last thing, if you are on Facebook, please look for and join the Ridgeline Women’s Facebook Group. We post daily Scripture meditations and updates of events that pop up throughout the month! If you’re not on Facebook please let me know if you are interested in receiving an email with the posts from the Facebook group.

Grace and peace,

~Cherie
Ridgeline Women's Ministries

]]>
Several years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to head to Florida for 10 days with a friend.  I was a homeschool mom with 2 young and energetic (and not all that interested in school) boys, and my husband made it possible for me to have this time away to simply rest. As I was walking out the door, my husband handed me a pack of letters with instructions on the envelope telling me what day each letter was to be opened. There was one letter for every day of my vacation!

Let me tell you what did NOT happen on this trip. I did NOT set those envelopes in my purse and forget all about them. Nor did I wake up in the morning and think to myself with a sigh, “I guess I’d better get the letter and read it.” No! I could hardly wait to open my letter for the day! Each morning I woke with that day’s letter on my mind and great anticipation in my heart to read what my husband had to say. Not only would I read them but then I would think about what He had said throughout the day, and something interesting happened. My heart was stirred with affection for my husband. Not only because of the words that he said in those letters, but also because of what those letters revealed to me about who he is!

I think you know where I’m going with this. For those of us who are in Christ, collectively we are considered His bride! God has also written His bride a letter. Is it not amazing to you to realize that we have a God who speaks? And not only does He speak, but this infinitely wise God speaks to us in our language. The Bible that sits on our shelves is the very Word of God! Perfect. Without error. The unchanging, powerful Word of God. In our homes! Masterfully, over thousands of years, through unique human authors, the God of heaven and earth, has spoken to us! Why? There is much in the Bible that God teaches us, but His primary purpose in writing to us is that we may KNOW Him. NOT know about Him, but that we may KNOW Him. 

Do you KNOW HIM, sweet sisters? Do you greet each day with eager anticipation of reading His letter to you and how that will deepen your relationship with Him? This eager anticipation doesn’t just happen. It comes over time but it also comes with diligent and consistent time in His Word. Over time what once may have felt like a duty grows into delight, as you grow in your love for the letter-writer. 

It is my passion, that a love for the Word of God and for the God of the Word would identify our women’s ministry at Ridgeline. It is my hope and prayer that this love would overflow to one another and that together as a community of women, we will learn to delight in God’s Word because we delight in the One who spoke it.  

One last thing, if you are on Facebook, please look for and join the Ridgeline Women’s Facebook Group. We post daily Scripture meditations and updates of events that pop up throughout the month! If you’re not on Facebook please let me know if you are interested in receiving an email with the posts from the Facebook group.

Grace and peace,

~Cherie
Ridgeline Women's Ministries

]]>
Who are you seeking? https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/who-are-you-seeking https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/who-are-you-seeking#comments Mon, 07 May 2018 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/who-are-you-seeking Whom are you seeking?

“Whom are you seeking?” The man asked Mary that day next to the empty tomb. What were Mary’s thoughts as she looked at him through eyes overflowing with tears? Whom am I seeking? What kind of question is this – here in a graveyard next to a grave that has clearly been robbed of its contents.

I am seeking the body of Jesus –

The One who set me free from the torment of demons.

The One who restored my dignity and worth and removed my shame.

The One in whom I and all His followers had put all our hopes in to save our nation from the oppression of Rome the same way He had set me from the demonic oppression.

I am seeking the body of Jesus – where have you taken Him?

Jesus. No one had treated her the way He did. He looked at her like she was a real person. A person He valued. A person loved. But now He was dead, brutally killed, and to add insult to injury, someone had stolen His body.

She stands in the garden sobbing standing next to an empty tomb, seeking to find Jesus and there He stands in front of her and she doesn’t recognize Him. He is talking to her and she doesn’t recognize His voice. She doesn’t know Him. She doesn’t see Him. She stands in the presence of the very One she seeks and is unaware of Him.

How can this be? How could Mary not see Who was standing right before her? But she was not alone. Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee and they did not know Him. He appeared to the disciples on the Road to Emmaus and had a lengthy conversation with them, and they did not know Him.

The angel had told Mary He had been raised from the dead. The disciples had heard that He was risen. But they still were unable to recognize Him when He appeared to them. Perhaps one of the reasons they did not recognize Him was because their understanding and their vision of Jesus, who He was and what He had come to do, had been distorted by their own personal agendas.  They had sought a healer, a miracle worker,  One who would fill their bellies with bread, a Messiah that would overthrow Rome and establish them as leaders in their new nation.  

But the Messiah that they were seeking and whom they thought they found had died and was buried along with Jesus in the tomb.

But the Jesus that is – the One that died and was buried and raised from the dead, the Jesus that now stood in front of Mary calling her by name is far better than the Jesus that they had wanted, sought for and shaped. This Jesus was not simply a healer of diseases, but He healed the disease of sin that destroys the soul. This Jesus was more than someone to fill their bellies with food, but He was the Living Bread that fills their souls with eternal life. This Jesus not only had power to free Mary from demons, but He would fill her with His Holy Spirit. This Jesus is the King of a kingdom far greater than any earthly kingdom…an unshakable, unstoppable eternal kingdom. He is a Messiah far greater than the One they had imagined Him to be.

How like Mary and the disciples we are. We are in the presence of Jesus and we don’t see Him. We don’t see Him, we don’t recognize Him because we are expecting Him to look like someone else. We are expecting Him to be something else. We are looking for a Jesus that we can shape. One that we can control. One that will fill our bellies and make our lives happy and comfortable. But just like in the Bible, the Jesus that is is far better than one we can create. Just like in the story of Mary, when Jesus calls our name, and we see Him for the first time, we will be amazed by His beauty and will throw ourselves at His feet.

The question Jesus asked Mary is the questions He asks us – whom are you seeking?

 

(*Note - Pastor Gibson Largent recently preached a series of sermons on the encounters that people had with Jesus after the resurrection. The very first person that experienced the risen Jesus was Mary Magdalene. Cherie writes today's post reflecting on that encounter. If you would like to listen to that sermon on Mary Magdalene click here)

]]>
Whom are you seeking?

“Whom are you seeking?” The man asked Mary that day next to the empty tomb. What were Mary’s thoughts as she looked at him through eyes overflowing with tears? Whom am I seeking? What kind of question is this – here in a graveyard next to a grave that has clearly been robbed of its contents.

I am seeking the body of Jesus –

The One who set me free from the torment of demons.

The One who restored my dignity and worth and removed my shame.

The One in whom I and all His followers had put all our hopes in to save our nation from the oppression of Rome the same way He had set me from the demonic oppression.

I am seeking the body of Jesus – where have you taken Him?

Jesus. No one had treated her the way He did. He looked at her like she was a real person. A person He valued. A person loved. But now He was dead, brutally killed, and to add insult to injury, someone had stolen His body.

She stands in the garden sobbing standing next to an empty tomb, seeking to find Jesus and there He stands in front of her and she doesn’t recognize Him. He is talking to her and she doesn’t recognize His voice. She doesn’t know Him. She doesn’t see Him. She stands in the presence of the very One she seeks and is unaware of Him.

How can this be? How could Mary not see Who was standing right before her? But she was not alone. Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee and they did not know Him. He appeared to the disciples on the Road to Emmaus and had a lengthy conversation with them, and they did not know Him.

The angel had told Mary He had been raised from the dead. The disciples had heard that He was risen. But they still were unable to recognize Him when He appeared to them. Perhaps one of the reasons they did not recognize Him was because their understanding and their vision of Jesus, who He was and what He had come to do, had been distorted by their own personal agendas.  They had sought a healer, a miracle worker,  One who would fill their bellies with bread, a Messiah that would overthrow Rome and establish them as leaders in their new nation.  

But the Messiah that they were seeking and whom they thought they found had died and was buried along with Jesus in the tomb.

But the Jesus that is – the One that died and was buried and raised from the dead, the Jesus that now stood in front of Mary calling her by name is far better than the Jesus that they had wanted, sought for and shaped. This Jesus was not simply a healer of diseases, but He healed the disease of sin that destroys the soul. This Jesus was more than someone to fill their bellies with food, but He was the Living Bread that fills their souls with eternal life. This Jesus not only had power to free Mary from demons, but He would fill her with His Holy Spirit. This Jesus is the King of a kingdom far greater than any earthly kingdom…an unshakable, unstoppable eternal kingdom. He is a Messiah far greater than the One they had imagined Him to be.

How like Mary and the disciples we are. We are in the presence of Jesus and we don’t see Him. We don’t see Him, we don’t recognize Him because we are expecting Him to look like someone else. We are expecting Him to be something else. We are looking for a Jesus that we can shape. One that we can control. One that will fill our bellies and make our lives happy and comfortable. But just like in the Bible, the Jesus that is is far better than one we can create. Just like in the story of Mary, when Jesus calls our name, and we see Him for the first time, we will be amazed by His beauty and will throw ourselves at His feet.

The question Jesus asked Mary is the questions He asks us – whom are you seeking?

 

(*Note - Pastor Gibson Largent recently preached a series of sermons on the encounters that people had with Jesus after the resurrection. The very first person that experienced the risen Jesus was Mary Magdalene. Cherie writes today's post reflecting on that encounter. If you would like to listen to that sermon on Mary Magdalene click here)

]]>
Rockhill and Ridgeline to Join Congregations https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/rockhill-and-ridgeline- https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/rockhill-and-ridgeline-#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2018 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/rockhill-and-ridgeline- The merger is official!

What an exciting 10 months it has been for our church! Ridgeline started five years ago and has met in ten different locations throughout those five years. Our growth and strength has been the people of God gathering to worship and serve Jesus, not buildings or locations. But we have been captivated by the love and hospitality of the Christ-followers who gather at Rockhill. They have hosted our congregation on several occasions over the past few months for various events. More than that, they have been selfless and willing in their desire to help a fellow church out and willing to have the conversation of merging with the simple hope that we can be better together. We hope to be better together in our ability to serve the people who live in our community, not just those who worship at our respective congregations. 

There are so many details to work out over the coming weeks and months! But for now, we are so thankful for what God has done among us over these past months. Stay tuned for more information on the merger. 

Here is a message from Larry Moyer (pastor at Rockhill) and myself (Gibson Largent, pastor at Ridgeline).

]]>
The merger is official!

What an exciting 10 months it has been for our church! Ridgeline started five years ago and has met in ten different locations throughout those five years. Our growth and strength has been the people of God gathering to worship and serve Jesus, not buildings or locations. But we have been captivated by the love and hospitality of the Christ-followers who gather at Rockhill. They have hosted our congregation on several occasions over the past few months for various events. More than that, they have been selfless and willing in their desire to help a fellow church out and willing to have the conversation of merging with the simple hope that we can be better together. We hope to be better together in our ability to serve the people who live in our community, not just those who worship at our respective congregations. 

There are so many details to work out over the coming weeks and months! But for now, we are so thankful for what God has done among us over these past months. Stay tuned for more information on the merger. 

Here is a message from Larry Moyer (pastor at Rockhill) and myself (Gibson Largent, pastor at Ridgeline).

]]>
Ridgeline gathering at Rockhill Sunday night at 6 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/ridgeline-gathering-at-rockhill-sunday-night-at-6 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/ridgeline-gathering-at-rockhill-sunday-night-at-6#comments Sat, 17 Feb 2018 14:00:00 -0500 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/ridgeline-gathering-at-rockhill-sunday-night-at-6 No Morning Service - Moved to Evening at Rockhill

Ridgeline will not meet at the Boys and Girls Club on Sunday morning due to the overnight snowstorm. 

We have decided to move our service to 6pm at Rockhill Church. Hope you can make it!

Rockhill Church is located at 3100 Meetinghouse Road in Telford (near the Telford exit off 309).

]]>
No Morning Service - Moved to Evening at Rockhill

Ridgeline will not meet at the Boys and Girls Club on Sunday morning due to the overnight snowstorm. 

We have decided to move our service to 6pm at Rockhill Church. Hope you can make it!

Rockhill Church is located at 3100 Meetinghouse Road in Telford (near the Telford exit off 309).

]]>
Rockhill and Ridgeline: Why Are We Worshipping Together? https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/why-ridgeline-and-rockhill https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/why-ridgeline-and-rockhill#comments Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/why-ridgeline-and-rockhill You don't often hear about two churches gathering together for a combined worship service for a month. It's rare for churches to come together for one combined Sunday morning worship service.

There are great reasons why churches don't gather together for weekly worship services.

First, when New Testament authors talk about the church, what they often refer to was specifically local, not just universal. For example, Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, Ephesus, Galatia, Colossae, Philippi, and others. In each of these letters (called "epistles") he addressed a specific and local group of people.

Second, pastors shepherd and lead those specific local people. Those local people are called together for a purpose and often need specific teaching, instruction, direction, and shepherding to accomplish a common goal. To add another local church assumes overlap in leadership and vision and purpose.

Keeping those two reasons for separate local churches in mind, there are also great reasons for churches to gather together as one united church of a region.

You often see this during times of revival, regional outreaches, prayer services, or in times of tragedy. I think it's really healthy for churches to come together and celebrate our common salvation in Jesus Christ! I wish we did it more often. I also appreciate it when churches that have a dominant racial or ethnic group gather with other churches to encourage oneness amidst diversity. I have benefitted from worshipping with Christians of many racial backgrounds on five continents. 

Ridgeline will be gathering together with Rockhill Mennonite for the month of November 2017. And despite all of the reasons listed above, none of them explain why we are gathering together! 

In May of 2017 I was approached by one of the lay leaders at Rockhill to have a conversation about our respective churches combining in some form. To be honest, while I really liked to dream about the possibilities of multiple churches coming together to form regional and intentional and more regular gospel partnerships, I did not have much hope that this idea would become a reality.

Why didn't I think it would work out?

Well, Rockhill is a 275ish year old Mennonite church and we are a 4.5 year old Southern Baptist church plant! That's a lot of difference to overcome! 

Each church has its own unique set of challenges and difficulties due to our respective ages and stages. The natural lifecycle of an organization or church mirrors to some degree the lifecycle of a person. A person and a local church has a beginning - a birth. Both have awkward immature stages (that's where Ridgeline is). Both have a period leading up to maturity, attaining maturity, years of productivity, reproduction, approaches twilight, retirement (a stage that often speaks more of memories and traditions of the past rather than a compelling vision for the future), and then ultimately death. Unbeknownst to many people, churches are "born" (or planted) every day and churches "die" (or close) every day.

Unlike humans though, churches have a unique ability through either good leadership or generational baton passing to go backward to the beginning parts of the lifecycle and start over to some degree. But like a great t-shirt that loses its form after too many wash cycles, churches and organizations can only cycle back through so many times before they die a slow and unceremonious death.

Still awake? Still reading? 

Okay, well what does that have to do with Ridgeline and Rockhill meeting for a month?

Well, the conversation that began in May with a couple of guys dreaming has gone through six more months of conversations and meetings. I'll be honest, I'm a bit surprised we're still talking! Ridgeline is a bit messy, like a toddler church. We have 50 kids under age 16 in our church of almost 100 people. We meet in a gym at the boys and girls club. We meet in homes during the week. We have met in 9 different locations and have had 5 different offices! We use a P.O. Box because we are a bit transient. We're just unsettled until we, you know, get settled and grow up a little!

So a few of the Rockhill leaders thought that we could be a perfect fit for one another (and I happen to cautiously agree). Their strengths are some of our weaknesses and vice versa. 

So we decided to meet together for a month to see if there is compatibility for a long term partnership. We don't know what that partnership will look like right now. Maybe some form of short or long term partnership, maybe just this month of worship services, maybe some form of a merge, or maybe just occasional support - all of it is undefined and loose at this point. I would never ever ever encourage a young couple considering marriage to do what we're doing haha! That is, to move in together for a short time to see if we're compatible. But for two churches that are prayerfully exploring what it might look like to have some form of partnership (or not), this step makes sense to us all. We may hate each other in a month haha, or we may see no room for partnership, or we may love it and continue to take the next step!

We all agree on this point: Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church universal, and local. Which means that just because He (Jesus) called me to plant Ridgeline it's not "my" church - it's His church! And just because Rockhill has seen twenty or more pastors and hundreds of members in her 275 year history, Rockhill isn't "their" church - it's His church! And because we both agree on that we are each willing to continue the conversation until doors close or until we have clarity or until we continue in some form of partnership.

Thanks for reading and would you pray for us during this process? Also consider visiting during the month of November!

God bless - Gibson

]]>
You don't often hear about two churches gathering together for a combined worship service for a month. It's rare for churches to come together for one combined Sunday morning worship service.

There are great reasons why churches don't gather together for weekly worship services.

First, when New Testament authors talk about the church, what they often refer to was specifically local, not just universal. For example, Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, Ephesus, Galatia, Colossae, Philippi, and others. In each of these letters (called "epistles") he addressed a specific and local group of people.

Second, pastors shepherd and lead those specific local people. Those local people are called together for a purpose and often need specific teaching, instruction, direction, and shepherding to accomplish a common goal. To add another local church assumes overlap in leadership and vision and purpose.

Keeping those two reasons for separate local churches in mind, there are also great reasons for churches to gather together as one united church of a region.

You often see this during times of revival, regional outreaches, prayer services, or in times of tragedy. I think it's really healthy for churches to come together and celebrate our common salvation in Jesus Christ! I wish we did it more often. I also appreciate it when churches that have a dominant racial or ethnic group gather with other churches to encourage oneness amidst diversity. I have benefitted from worshipping with Christians of many racial backgrounds on five continents. 

Ridgeline will be gathering together with Rockhill Mennonite for the month of November 2017. And despite all of the reasons listed above, none of them explain why we are gathering together! 

In May of 2017 I was approached by one of the lay leaders at Rockhill to have a conversation about our respective churches combining in some form. To be honest, while I really liked to dream about the possibilities of multiple churches coming together to form regional and intentional and more regular gospel partnerships, I did not have much hope that this idea would become a reality.

Why didn't I think it would work out?

Well, Rockhill is a 275ish year old Mennonite church and we are a 4.5 year old Southern Baptist church plant! That's a lot of difference to overcome! 

Each church has its own unique set of challenges and difficulties due to our respective ages and stages. The natural lifecycle of an organization or church mirrors to some degree the lifecycle of a person. A person and a local church has a beginning - a birth. Both have awkward immature stages (that's where Ridgeline is). Both have a period leading up to maturity, attaining maturity, years of productivity, reproduction, approaches twilight, retirement (a stage that often speaks more of memories and traditions of the past rather than a compelling vision for the future), and then ultimately death. Unbeknownst to many people, churches are "born" (or planted) every day and churches "die" (or close) every day.

Unlike humans though, churches have a unique ability through either good leadership or generational baton passing to go backward to the beginning parts of the lifecycle and start over to some degree. But like a great t-shirt that loses its form after too many wash cycles, churches and organizations can only cycle back through so many times before they die a slow and unceremonious death.

Still awake? Still reading? 

Okay, well what does that have to do with Ridgeline and Rockhill meeting for a month?

Well, the conversation that began in May with a couple of guys dreaming has gone through six more months of conversations and meetings. I'll be honest, I'm a bit surprised we're still talking! Ridgeline is a bit messy, like a toddler church. We have 50 kids under age 16 in our church of almost 100 people. We meet in a gym at the boys and girls club. We meet in homes during the week. We have met in 9 different locations and have had 5 different offices! We use a P.O. Box because we are a bit transient. We're just unsettled until we, you know, get settled and grow up a little!

So a few of the Rockhill leaders thought that we could be a perfect fit for one another (and I happen to cautiously agree). Their strengths are some of our weaknesses and vice versa. 

So we decided to meet together for a month to see if there is compatibility for a long term partnership. We don't know what that partnership will look like right now. Maybe some form of short or long term partnership, maybe just this month of worship services, maybe some form of a merge, or maybe just occasional support - all of it is undefined and loose at this point. I would never ever ever encourage a young couple considering marriage to do what we're doing haha! That is, to move in together for a short time to see if we're compatible. But for two churches that are prayerfully exploring what it might look like to have some form of partnership (or not), this step makes sense to us all. We may hate each other in a month haha, or we may see no room for partnership, or we may love it and continue to take the next step!

We all agree on this point: Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church universal, and local. Which means that just because He (Jesus) called me to plant Ridgeline it's not "my" church - it's His church! And just because Rockhill has seen twenty or more pastors and hundreds of members in her 275 year history, Rockhill isn't "their" church - it's His church! And because we both agree on that we are each willing to continue the conversation until doors close or until we have clarity or until we continue in some form of partnership.

Thanks for reading and would you pray for us during this process? Also consider visiting during the month of November!

God bless - Gibson

]]>
Loving Difficult People https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/loving-difficult-people https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/loving-difficult-people#comments Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/loving-difficult-people You are the best equipped to love difficult people when you realize you are a difficult person and you are loved…

It may not too hard for you to think of someone who is difficult to love. Maybe bad habits, bad decisions, or personality traits contribute to the struggle. But oftentimes the best relationships result when you are able to overcome those obstacles by persevering and by working through issues. A few years ago a friend confronted me with some real issues that had created tension in our relationship. I'm ashamed to say that I was prepared to allow the tension to remain and the relationship to drift had this person not come to me. It is now one of my most valued friendships.

You might be on the verge of losing a potentially great relationship. Take a few minutes and see if your heart changes after reading this article on difficult people. You may just find (as I did) that the most consistent variable in all of your unsatisfying relationships is you.


http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/loving-difficult-people

]]>
You are the best equipped to love difficult people when you realize you are a difficult person and you are loved…

It may not too hard for you to think of someone who is difficult to love. Maybe bad habits, bad decisions, or personality traits contribute to the struggle. But oftentimes the best relationships result when you are able to overcome those obstacles by persevering and by working through issues. A few years ago a friend confronted me with some real issues that had created tension in our relationship. I'm ashamed to say that I was prepared to allow the tension to remain and the relationship to drift had this person not come to me. It is now one of my most valued friendships.

You might be on the verge of losing a potentially great relationship. Take a few minutes and see if your heart changes after reading this article on difficult people. You may just find (as I did) that the most consistent variable in all of your unsatisfying relationships is you.


http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/loving-difficult-people

]]>
My Unbelieving Spouse https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/my-unbelieving-spouse https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/my-unbelieving-spouse#comments Thu, 27 Apr 2017 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.ridgeline.cc/ridgeline/post/my-unbelieving-spouse I recently saw the movie "A Case for Christ" about Lee and Leslie Strobel. I had read the book several times and it is one of my recommendations for couples who struggle when one is a Christian and the other does not believe. The book is great and I thought the movie was even better (I'm biased, I know). I won't spoil it but the Strobel's story takes them from atheistic intellectuals through various crises and intellectual objections to conversion.

What I appreciated most about the book after all these years was the depiction of the wife's (Leslie) genuine love and respect for her husband through changing times and adversity. Marriage is difficult when everything is going well, let alone when trials invade and threaten to destroy a good relationship.

If you could use some help navigating the difficulties of having one spouse who believes and another who doesn't, consider reading the book or watching the movie. Here's another help by John Piper: http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-do-i-love-my-unbelieving-spouse

]]>
I recently saw the movie "A Case for Christ" about Lee and Leslie Strobel. I had read the book several times and it is one of my recommendations for couples who struggle when one is a Christian and the other does not believe. The book is great and I thought the movie was even better (I'm biased, I know). I won't spoil it but the Strobel's story takes them from atheistic intellectuals through various crises and intellectual objections to conversion.

What I appreciated most about the book after all these years was the depiction of the wife's (Leslie) genuine love and respect for her husband through changing times and adversity. Marriage is difficult when everything is going well, let alone when trials invade and threaten to destroy a good relationship.

If you could use some help navigating the difficulties of having one spouse who believes and another who doesn't, consider reading the book or watching the movie. Here's another help by John Piper: http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-do-i-love-my-unbelieving-spouse

]]>