Hickory Ridge-cast

We’re quick to judge others. And we love to decide who deserves a chance and who doesn’t. But you know who doesn't operate like that? Jesus.In Luke 19, Jesus stops in the city of Jericho and chooses the last person anyone expected to eat and stay with... Zacchaeus, a corrupt and hated tax collector.If you’ve ever felt like you don’t measure up, this message from Mike Steinsdoerfer might just change the way you see God.

In this message from the book of Hosea, Pastor Justin talks honestly about something we don’t often think about; that there are things we do that actually tick God off.Yet even when we frustrate Him, or our hearts grow cold, God’s love keeps pursuing us and inviting us to return to a real relationship with Him.We pray this message encourages, inspires, and challenges you no matter where you are in your relationship with Jesus.

Our God has FEELINGS. He's more than an ethereal cloud, or distant deity... He's a Father. In this message, Pastor Justin shares that God is deeply personal and His heart is affected by how we live. God genuinely cares when we sin, walk away, or choose to follow something other than Him.This sermon also looks at how God sometimes lovingly disrupts our plans, using obstacles to redirect and protect us from where we were headed apart from Him.

Hosea is a story in the Bible full of scandal, sin, symbolism, and salvation.In part one of this three week series, Pastor Justin begins breaking down the first chapter of Hosea, and how it seeks to answer the age old question: "If anyone really knew me, deep down, my hidden thoughts, secret desires, failures, and emotions, would they really love me?" By exploring the book of Hosea, we'll come face-to-face with the truth. Yes, we are broken, broken people. But God’s relentless, pursuing love is not based on our faithfulness; it’s based on His.

Here are stories of surrender, redemption, and joy, shared by Jim Forakis. Jim has served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Valley branch of Adult & Teen Challenge for over 20 years. Using scripture and testimonies, we pray Jim's message will be an encouragement to you today!

As we close out this series on learning how to be more like Jesus, we have to touch on the idea of His heart. How does Jesus, and by extension, our Heavenly Father, feel about us? What emotions and plans does He have for us?Despite how we often feel about ourselves, the truth is God's heart towards us is caring, gentle, tender, and fiercely loving.If you've ever struggled with self-hatred, identity, or doubts about God's continuing, lasting forgiveness, we pray this message brings you the hope and truth you need!

We all like to feel heard. To be understood. To know that someone really listened to us. And yet, so many of us struggle to be good listeners.Jesus is the greatest listener that ever lived, and if we're willing to learn from Him, we'll find a skill that is worth the effort to practice.Because listening done correctly can do more than just make someone feel good... it can save lives!

Have you ever felt stuck in your own thoughts?In this message, Pastor Andy Sileno explains how our thoughts shape our emotions, words, and actions... and why God wants access to our minds, not just our hearts.Through Scripture and practical insight, this message shows how prayer and truth create new pathways that lead to life and peace. You don’t have to be controlled by unhealthy thoughts. God invites you into transformation from the inside out.

What does walking with the Spirit look like? This sermon explores what it means to walk with the Spirit and to be led by the Spirit. In Luke 3 we saw Jesus submit to the Father and was affirmed by the Spirit stepping into his role as the Son of God.

The Bible has a lot to say about our words, and how we talk to other people!"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words." says Proverbs 18:21So how do we talk in a way that shows others we are followers of Jesus? How do we learn how to talk like Jesus?In this message, Pastor Justin explores how we can begin to speak truth, life, and blessing over those around us!

What do you do when you’re doing everything you can and nothing seems to change?In this message, Pastor Justin speaks to anyone facing resistance, delay, or discouragement. This message isn’t about pretending life is easy or waiting passively for things to get better. Instead, it explores how real breakthrough often begins before conditions improve - through trust, action, and choosing to worship in the face of difficulty.Whether you’re navigating stress, loss, anxiety, relational strain, or addiction, this message offers perspective on how to keep moving forward when the way ahead feels closed.

We use our hands for nearly everything we do. Work, play, creating, caring, designing, destroying... But while we're limited with how much we can accomplish with our OWN hands, there is no limit to what Jesus can accomplish with His hands.Jesus's hands offered forgiveness, blessing, and healing to the world around Him. And now, as His followers, Jesus invites us to do the same... and be His hands here on earth.In this message, Pastor Justin explores how we can overcome our own shortcomings and limitations to become effective world-changers!

Tired of seeing life your way? The way that sees people as problems, situations as frustrations, and every outcome as an inevitable disappointment?As followers of Christ, we're called to see life differently. To see not with our eyes, but with spiritual eyes! In this message, Pastor Justin shows us how we can come into this year with a fresh perspective that is ready to see miracles, abundance, purpose, possibilities, and provision!

What happens when one bad moment, one frustration, or one mistake starts to derail everything?In this message, Pastor Aaron shares a story with a powerful reminder: it’s not about the red lights... it’s about God’s presence.Drawing from Philippians 3, Isaiah 43, Hebrews 12, and John 10, this sermon challenges us to stop letting our past define us and start actively pursuing what God has placed in front of us. Too often, we allow yesterday’s failures, hurts, or circumstances to shape our identity and limit our future. But Jesus didn’t die so we could live stuck. He died so we could live free and abundantly.If you’re tired of being derailed by the past, or walking in circles instead of forward, this message is for you.It’s time to stop replaying the past and start stepping into what God is doing now.