The Ranch Church Podcast

You're listening to the Ranch Church Podcast. For more information and service times, go to ranchchurch.com. John and Debby Wright, who are stepping into the role of global leaders of the Vineyard movement, join us at the Ranch while on sabbatical in the Santa Ynez Valley with their family. Debby opens with a greeting from the worldwide Vineyard family and a picture of churches gathering in every kind of place, open-air settings like ours, centuries-old buildings, shanty towns, and countries where worship is not permitted, so that around the clock the Lord is receiving worship somewhere. John then preaches from three consecutive stories in the book of Judges, built around a question most of us have asked at one time or another. Could God really use me? He starts with his own story: a quiet, bullied, introverted boy who tested out as a perfectionist and a specialist, wired to be a jeweler, who has now spent almost 40 years in pastoral ministry. Then he walks through Judges 3, 4, and 6. Ehud was a left-handed man in a right-handed world, marked by a stigma that made him look expendable, and that same left hand is what God used to free Israel from 18 years under Moab. Jael was a woman in a man's world, not a leader and not a judge, a tent wife who knew how to drive a peg because she had done it a thousand times, and God used that ordinary skill to break 20 years of Canaanite oppression. Gideon was a timid man in a dangerous world, threshing wheat down in a winepress out of fear, calling himself the least in the weakest clan, and the Lord told him to go in the strength he had. The thread running through all three is Paul's word in 2 Corinthians 12, that God's power is made perfect in weakness. God's pattern is to choose people who cannot do what he is calling them to do in their own strength. The message closes with John and Debby leading a time of ministry, welcoming the Holy Spirit, praying for those held back by fear, setbacks, or the sense that they do not quite fit, and calling the church forward for prayer. Scriptures: Judges 3:12-30; Judges 4:1-24; Judges 5:24; Judges 6:1-16; Judges 7:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

You're listening to the Ranch Church Podcast. For more information and service times, go to ranchchurch.com. Guest speaker Pastor Lars Linton opens John 5 at the pools of Bethesda, where a great crowd of sick people waited for the water to stir and one man had been lying there thirty-eight years. Out of that entire crowd, Jesus walks straight to the one person nobody noticed. Around that single moment, Lars builds three truths: Jesus sees you, Jesus saves you, and Jesus is superior. He traces the God who sees back to Genesis 16, where Hagar meets God in the wilderness and calls him El Roi. He shows that Bethesda means house of mercy, and that Jesus skipped the palaces during the feast and went to the hospital instead. He follows the healed man into the temple, where Jesus finds him a second time, because the word translated made well means whole, and Jesus came for the soul as well as the body. From there Lars teaches a practical pattern for biblical confession, a practice he believes the church has largely lost: regard the great love of Jesus, recognize your own responsibility, realize the seriousness of the offense, and receive forgiveness. The message closes in the Sabbath controversy of John 5:16-22, where Jesus answers his accusers by claiming equality with the Father in nature, power, and authority, and calls every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that he is Lord. If you have been waiting a long time, or if you have wondered whether anyone notices, this message is for you. Scriptures: John 5:1-22; John 5:39; John 9:1-3; Genesis 16:13; James 5:14-16; 1 John 1:8-9; Philippians 2:10-11 For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

You're listening to the Ranch Church Podcast. For more information and service times, go to ranchchurch.com. Continuing through the hall of faith in Hebrews 11, Pastor Rick Soto turns to verses 13 through 16, where the saints of old are called strangers and exiles who died in faith while seeking a better country. His message begins with a simple charge: don't waste your life. Using the picture of packing luggage for a trip, he asks the question every traveler settles before zipping the bag. Where are you going? If heaven is the destination, pack accordingly. Rick gives five packing instructions for the journey. Pack God's story, letting God write and interpret the narrative of your life instead of the stories we tell ourselves, with the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 as the guide. Pack contentment, a harder discipline than it looks, commanded in Hebrews 13:5 and commended in 1 Timothy 6:6. Pack significance, giving your life away to what matters in Jesus, as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah did. Pack Sabbath, the stop that God built into creation before there was ever a tabernacle, temple, or church. And pack heaven, a real place of no pain and no decay, a great reunion, and a kingdom that cannot be shaken. The message closes with an invitation to let God become the author and interpreter of a brand-new story, and to take a step of faith toward prayer. Scriptures: Hebrews 11:13-16; Matthew 5:1-9; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6; Hebrews 12:1 Pastoral invitation: Come forward for prayer during the closing ministry time. The changing of a story needs a new beginning, a pivot, a new interpreter, and a new storyteller. Getting out of the seat, even when socially awkward, is itself framed as the step of faith.

Continuing in the book of Hebrews, Pastor Rick Soto opens what he calls the hall of faith in Hebrews 11 and walks through three lives: Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. He teaches that all of life revolves around faith, and that our faith is never in faith itself but in the person of Jesus Christ. Tracing David's confrontation with Goliath and his prayers in Psalm 18 and Psalm 62, he shows how God builds faith across our past, present, and future. From Noah comes the urgency of obeying God's warning and the promise of Genesis 7:16, that God himself shut the door. From Abraham, obedience without knowing where the road leads. From Sarah, trusting God's timing when the promise seems impossible. The message closes with what faith needs in order to grow, love, contentment, and simplicity, and an invitation to come out of hiding and let the Lord minister to the secret places of the heart. Scriptures: Hebrews 11:7-12; 1 Samuel 17:36-37, 45; Psalm 18:1-3; Psalm 62:8; Genesis 7:16; John 10:10 Pastoral invitation: Stop hiding. Closing ministry time asked people to come forward for prayer, framing the step out of the seat as itself the act of faith, the same step Noah, Abraham, and Sarah took.

Show notes You're listening to the Ranch Church Podcast. For more information and service times, go to ranchchurch.com. In this interactive teaching, Pastor Rick Soto opens Psalm 23 as a school of prayer. He teaches two simple practices, praying scripture by agreement and praying scripture by application, and leads the church in praying the shepherd psalm together, line by line. Along the way he traces the shepherd heart of God from Psalm 28 and Isaiah 40 through John 10 and Revelation 7, names seven marks of a good sheep, and speaks honestly about rest, soul restoration, and fearing no evil because "you are with me." He also brings a direct challenge: to recover the bold, praying spirit that marked Ranch Church's earliest days, and to become a church genuinely devoted to prayer. Scriptures: Psalm 23; Psalm 28:9; Isaiah 40:11; Matthew 9:36; John 10:2, 11-14; Revelation 7:17; Galatians 5:1 Pastoral invitation Two layers. Personally: learn to pray scripture, agreeing with it and applying it to the specific places you carry fear, pain, and want. Corporately: step into a renewed culture of prayer, concretely a 24-hour prayer chain and ongoing prayer chapel, and receive prayer from the team for soul restoration.

Scripture references: Primary: Hebrews 11:4-6 (Abel's offering, Enoch's walk, faith pleases God) Supporting: Genesis 4 (Cain and Abel), Genesis 5 (Enoch), Ephesians 2:8-9, Luke 1:37, Galatians 5:16, Psalm 14:1, Romans 1:22, Proverbs 20:12 Message summary: Dr. Rich Danson opens Hebrews 11 by establishing that faith is the foundation of the Christian life—not earned works, but God's gift received through trust. He contrasts Abel's extravagant, faith-filled offering with Cain's selfish, mediocre gift to God, showing that what flows from the heart matters more than the mechanics. Moving to Enoch, Danson illustrates what it means to "walk with God": a life aligned with the Holy Spirit's desires, nourished by prayer and Scripture study. He closes with the call to radical faith: believing God's power despite atheist objections, living as extravagant givers of our time and lives to Christ, and recognizing that 50 percent of America is "primed" to respond to the gospel if believers will evangelize faithfully. Major themes: Grace and faith together—salvation is a gift, not performance Faith expressed in action—what we do reveals what we believe Extravagant giving—offering God our best, not leftovers Walking with God—an intimate, continuous relationship sustained by prayer and Scripture Faith as spiritual courage—trusting God despite fear, emotion, or circumstance Evangelism as responsibility—believers are witnesses; sharing the gospel with neighbors is not optional

SERMON TITLE: Pray Our Father SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer) You're listening to the Ranch Church Podcast. For more information and service times, go to ranchchurch.com. THE MESSAGE Pastor Rick Soto teaches on prayer through the lens of relationship. The deepest truth about God is not a doctrine but a person: He is Father. The power of praying the Lord's Prayer lies not in repeating the words but in knowing God relationally. Rick emphasizes that through Jesus' blood, you have access to intimate relationship with God, who knows everything about you and loves you anyway. The sermon works through the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase: Our Father in Heaven. God is actively Father toward you. He is not passive. His fatherhood is the foundation of everything else. Having the right Father changes everything. Rick illustrates this through Cherry Bentley's story from Ethiopia, where she realized that the only difference between her sitting in a nice restaurant and a woman begging on the street was her father. Through Christ, you have access to the right Father. Hallowed Be Your Name. God's holiness is absolute purity, more pure than anything in creation. When you pray this, you are aligning yourself with His sacred character. Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven. Through Jesus' blood, you have been given power and authority. Heaven's economy is not distant; it is working in your heart now, so that earth can be blessed through you. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread. Jesus used a Greek word (epiousios) that did not exist before He spoke it. It means "upon substance and identity." He is saying: You need supernatural power and nourishment to face what you're facing right now. Not everything you want, but everything you need to live. Forgive Us Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors. Unforgiveness is a lock that grabs hold of you. You must break that hold by forgiving others, so you can step into the abundance God has for you rather than clinging to pain, rejection, and loss. Lead Us Not Into Temptation, but Deliver Us From Evil. God often answers prayers with "no" out of love. He is protecting you from paths that would harm you, not withholding blessing. Trust His judgment as a loving Father. THE PASTORAL INVITATION Step forward. Accept God's fatherhood. Let go of what has hurt you. Embrace the promises He has for you now. God is calling you to trust Him with both His yes and His no. CONTINUITY WITH PREVIOUS SERMON This continues the Hebrews series' focus on Jesus as the source of everything (following from Hebrews 5-6 on Jesus as High Priest and the call to maturity). Here, Jesus teaches us that intimacy with the Father through relationship is the substance of mature faith.

Show Notes: "Faith Is" (Hebrews 11:1-3) You're listening to the Ranch Church Podcast. For more information and service times, go to ranchchurch.com. Scripture Hebrews 11:1-3 Message Pastor Jeff Clay defines Christian faith by starting with a simple but profound question: What is faith? While everyone exercises faith in some form, Christian faith is distinct because its object matters entirely. Faith without an object is worthless. True faith is connected to something solid, something that holds. The Greek word hupostasis, translated "being sure," literally means that which stands under, like a foundation. Our hope rests on something firm and substantive. This is what separates Christian faith from every other worldview. We don't have faith in faith itself. We have faith in Christ. Christian faith produces hope, and hope produces perseverance. When hard times hit, which they will, faith gives us somewhere to go and someone to trust. The ancients were commended by God precisely because they believed what they could not see and were absolutely certain of what they hoped for, even when circumstances suggested otherwise. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship an idol, knowing that God was able to deliver them, yet even willing to trust Him if He chose not to. That kind of faith honored God. But Christian faith isn't merely historical or spiritual. It addresses the real needs we face now: loneliness, love, meaning, freedom, forgiveness, and hope. Jesus offers not a checklist but Himself. Through Him, we find purpose when life threatens to become trivial, love when we're isolated, forgiveness when we've fallen, and hope that extends beyond death. Faith is both decisive and personal. It begins in a moment but must be maintained and sustained through community, discipleship, and intentional growth. Without maintenance, faith withers. Main Themes Faith defined by its object, not by itself The foundation beneath hope Faith as historical reality (Old Testament examples) Faith addressing present human need Faith as a muscle that must be exercised

Don't Throw Away Your Confidence - Pastor Rick Soto SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Primary: Hebrews 10:31-38 Supporting: Genesis 35:5, 2 Chronicles 17:9, Acts 5:11, Matthew 3:15, John 1:38, John 3, John 5:6, John 5:47 MESSAGE SUMMARY: Finishing out Hebrews 10, Pastor Rick builds the case that true confidence in God is inseparable from the fear of the Lord. Using free climber Alex Honnold as an illustration, he reframes fear not as terror but as the highest form of respect, the kind that produces unstoppable people. Drawing on three Old Testament examples where the fear of the Lord fell on surrounding nations, he shows that this posture toward God is a power key for the church. The heart of the message lands on three principles of confidence: knowing who you are, accepting who you are, and being who you are, illustrated through both Jesus and John the Baptist at the Jordan. The message closes with Jesus asking four questions that anchor faith and draw people to himself. MAJOR THEMES: Fear of the Lord as reverence, respect, and awe rather than terror Confidence rooted in the fear of the Lord, not in self-reliance Three principles of godly confidence: knowing, accepting, and being who you are Endurance as a product of confidence in where you are going Faith as the normal operating mode of every human life Jesus walking in your heart the same way he once walked in Galilee   Most people think confidence and fear are opposites. In Hebrews 10, they are the same thing. In this message, Pastor Rick Soto finishes out Hebrews 10 with a teaching on what it actually means to fear the Lord, and why that fear is the foundation of genuine, unshakeable confidence. Using free climber Alex Honnold as a window into what it looks like to respect something greater than yourself, Pastor Rick shows how this posture toward God produces people who are, as the text puts it, absolutely unstoppable. Three principles anchor the message: knowing who you are, accepting who you are, and being who you are. Jesus and John the Baptist at the Jordan River become a masterclass in all three. The sermon closes with four questions Jesus asks in the Gospels that he is still asking today. This is part three from Hebrews 10. Start with Draw Near and Lines Not to Cross for the full arc. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

Lines Not to Cross - Pastor Rick Soto Primary: Hebrews 10:26-29 Supporting: 2 Timothy 2:15, Philippians 1:21, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 14:22, Revelation 2:4, Luke 7:41-48, Hebrews 2:1, Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 5:11, Hebrews 6, Hebrews 12:15 MESSAGE SUMMARY: Part two of the sacred space series, following directly from Hebrews 10:19-25. Pastor Rick turns to the warnings in Hebrews 10:26-29, making the case that God draws lines not to restrict but to protect. The passage addresses three specific acts of rejection: trampling underfoot the Son of God, profaning the blood of the covenant, and outraging the Spirit of grace, a Trinitarian rejection of the gospel that the text calls apostasy. Pastor Rick is careful to clarify this is not primarily about moral sin but about heart posture, whether Christ remains your first love. Drawing on the church at Ephesus, Peter walking on water, and the woman who loved much, the consistent pastoral answer is a single phrase: eyes on me. MAJOR THEMES: God's warnings are acts of love, not condemnation Apostasy as a Trinitarian rejection of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Heart posture over moral performance, first love as the real issue "Eyes on me" as the antidote to drift, doubt, and rebellion The power of God versus the power of man Following Christ versus following your own heart, way, or rules The kingdom of God clashing with the kingdom of man SHOW NOTES: There are lines in life you do not cross. God put them there for your good. In part two from Hebrews 10, Pastor Rick Soto preaches from verses 26 through 29, taking on the serious warnings woven throughout the book of Hebrews. The text is direct: deliberately trampling underfoot the Son of God, dismissing the blood of the covenant, and outraging the Spirit of grace are not things to take lightly. But this passage is not primarily about a list of moral failures. It goes deeper. Jesus' concern for the church at Ephesus was not their doctrine or their deeds. It was that they had left their first love. That is what is on the table here. The answer is simple and consistent: eyes on me. Whatever you are facing, whatever line you have been tempted to cross, God is calling you back to himself, back to the place of his power, his grace, and his presence. This is a part two message. Listen to last week's episode first for the full foundation. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

The Power Of Sacred Space - Pastor Rick Soto - Hebrews 10:19-25 The cross doesn't just forgive you. It gives you access. In this message, Pastor Rick Soto unpacks Hebrews 10:19-25 to show that the invitation of the gospel goes further than the removal of sin. Through the blood of Jesus and his role as great high priest, you are now welcomed into a sacred space with God, a place of healing, identity, hope, and strength. Drawing from the "let us" outline in Hebrews 10, Pastor Rick walks through three anchors for the Christian life: draw near, hold fast, and stir one another up. He speaks directly to the growing loss of hope in younger generations and calls the church to actively cultivate real hope together, not wishful thinking, but a confident trust in the promises and presence of God. This message closes with a pastoral call to vulnerability and prayer. If you need hope, this one is for you. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

Once for All -- Hebrews 10:1-18 - Jeff Clay The old sacrificial system was never meant to save anyone. It was meant to teach. Every animal brought to the altar was a reminder of sin, and a pointer toward the one sacrifice that would actually settle the debt once and for all. In Hebrews 10, Jeff Clay shows how the author builds an airtight case for the supremacy of Christ as the perfect high priest. He traces a remarkable pre-incarnate conversation between Jesus and the Father, drawn from Psalm 40 a thousand years before the cross, in which Jesus says with eagerness and joy: here I am, I have come to do your will. The priests in the old system never sat down. There were no chairs in the tabernacle because the work was never finished. Jesus sat down at the right hand of God. It is done. This is part of our ongoing series through the book of Hebrews. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

How Can We See Revival in the Valley? -- Matthew 9:35-38 - Dr. Rich Danson Revival does not start with an event. It starts with a heartbeat. In Matthew 9, Jesus looked at the crowds and was moved with compassion, and that compassion is exactly where Dr. Rich Danson begins this message on what it would take to see genuine revival in the Santa Ynez Valley. Drawing on his own conversion during the Calvary Chapel revival in South Orange County, a conversation with a Superior Court judge sentencing 136 people a day, and the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14, Dr. Danson makes a personal and urgent case. The harvest is plentiful. The laborers are few. And the church is the answer, if the church is willing to get clean, get praying, and get out into the world as ambassadors for Christ. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

Before Timothy became one of the most trusted leaders in the early church, two women shaped his faith from childhood. His grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice gave him something no school or program could: a life rooted in God's word, lived out in front of him every day. In this Mother's Day message, Mike Waliser traces the story of Timothy and the apostle Paul to make a simple and serious point. Children are arrows, as Psalm 127 says, and arrows need a target. But before you can aim them, you have to know where you are aiming yourself. You cannot pass on what you do not possess. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

Knowing the Lord -- Hebrews 8:1-10 - Pastor Rick Soto What was God doing before he created anything? Before the universe, before time, before you, the Father and the Son were already in love with each other. That love is the foundation of everything, and you have been invited into it. In Hebrews 8, Pastor Rick traces five things that Jesus as our high priest actually does: he rules at the right hand of God, he closes the gap between you and God, he cancels your debt of sin, he cements a new covenant by writing God's law on your heart, and he brings goodness and blessing into your life. This is what it means to know the Lord, not just know about him. This is part of our ongoing series through the book of Hebrews. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

He Has Risen John 20:1–29 Jeff Clay & Rick Soto  ·  Easter Sunday   On Resurrection Sunday, Jeff Clay and Pastor Rick walk through John 20 together and show you what the disciples actually saw inside that empty tomb, and why it matters that John believed before he ever saw the risen Jesus.   "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed." — John 20:29   This message covers the grief of Mary Magdalene, the moment faith broke through for John, Jesus appearing to his frightened disciples behind locked doors, and what it means that he said peace be with you. That peace is not a feeling. It is a covenant promise, bought by blood, offered to anyone ready to stop fighting with God and receive it.   For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

The Four Mysteries of Melchizedek -- Hebrews 7:1-22 - Pastor Rick What does a mysterious king-priest from Genesis have to do with your life right now? In Hebrews 7, Pastor Rick unlocks four mysteries hidden in the figure of Melchizedek and shows how each one points directly to Jesus Christ as the eternal king and high priest. In this message you will hear why Jesus had to fulfill the Melchizedek priesthood and not the line of Aaron, what the tithe really is at its core, and why God's promise over your life cannot fail. From Abraham to Moses to David to the cross, a single unbreakable oath runs through thousands of years of scripture and lands on you. This is part of our ongoing series through the book of Hebrews. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

SHOW NOTES Who was Melchizedek, and why does the book of Hebrews make such a big deal about him? In this message from Hebrews 7:1-22, Jeff Clay takes us back to one of the most mysterious figures in all of scripture and shows us why he matters more than most people realize. Using the 1976 Israeli raid on Entebbe as a backdrop, Jeff draws a line from Abraham's daring hostage rescue of his nephew Lot straight to the moment Abraham meets Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High. That brief encounter in Genesis 14 is the only historical account of Melchizedek in the Bible, but the Holy Spirit placed it there with purpose. A thousand years later, King David calls him back in Psalm 110. A thousand years after that, the writer of Hebrews builds an entire case on it. The case is this: Melchizedek is a type, a foreshadowing, of Jesus Christ. He was both king and priest, a combination forbidden under Levitical law. He had no recorded genealogy, no recorded birth, no recorded death. His priesthood was not inherited. It was appointed by God alone. When Abraham, the great patriarch, paid him a tithe of the choicest spoils of war and received a blessing from him, he was acknowledging that Melchizedek was greater. And if Abraham was greater than Levi, and Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, then the priesthood of Melchizedek, and the priesthood of Jesus that it foreshadows, stands in a category entirely its own. For the first-century Hebrew Christians reading this letter, the loss of the temple, the sacrifices, and the Levitical priesthood felt like a loss of their entire way of worshipping God. The writer of Hebrews says: you have not lost anything. You have gained everything. Jesus is the sinless, perfect, eternal high priest who made a once-for-all sacrifice and now stands in heaven making intercession for you. The law made nothing perfect. Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant. Have you received that sacrifice? And if you have, are you taking full advantage of the great high priest who is interceding for you right now? Scripture: Hebrews 7:1-22 | Genesis 14:14-20 | Psalm 110:4 Sunday services at Ranch Church are at 10am. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com. MAIN PASTORAL INVITATION Twofold at the close: (1) an invitation to receive Christ's sacrifice for anyone who has not yet done so, with an explicit call to come forward; (2) an invitation for believers to bring whatever they are currently carrying to the great high priest through the prayer team, framed around the truth that Jesus is actively interceding for them. HEBREWS SERIES CONTINUITY Strong continuity confirmed. Jeff explicitly references the prior message: he preached Hebrews 5 a couple weeks ago, where the writer of Hebrews first introduced Melchizedek and then pumped the brakes, saying the congregation was not ready. Hebrews 6 served as the corrective interlude (covered in last week's transcript), and Hebrews 7 is now the payoff Jeff was building toward. He frames this explicitly, calling the chapter five mention a setup and Hebrews 7 the delivery. The previous sermon (Hebrews 6:9-20) ended with the note that verse 20 introduced the Melchizedek thread and likely set up this message. That prediction landed correctly. Looking ahead: Jeff closes by noting that Pastor Rick will likely cover the remaining verses of Hebrews 7 very soon, specifically the material on the change of law, the permanence of Christ's priesthood, and the once-for-all sacrifice in verses 23 through 28. Flag for next week: watch for Pastor Rick picking up mid-chapter or opening Hebrews 8.

In this message from Hebrews 6:9-20, we explore what it means to live with confident hope in the promises of God. The passage opens with the word "beloved," and the preacher anchors the entire sermon there: everything that follows, the call to diligence, the warning against sluggishness, the illustration of Abraham, flows from the fact that God loves his people unconditionally. Key stops along the way: God's love motivates service (v. 9-10). It was not nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was love. When that settles into a person, the question shifts from "what do I get?" to "how can I serve?" Diligence is a duty and a delight (v. 11-12). Spiritual sluggishness has a diagnosis: malnourishment. The cure is the Word. Start the day with it. Two real patients, Stuart the dying preacher and a newly saved woman, illustrate what it looks like when someone is fully alive to God regardless of circumstance. God's promises are immutable (v. 13-18). When God swore to Abraham, he swore by himself because there is no higher authority. That same unchanging purpose applies to every believer. The nation of Israel exists as a standing miracle of God keeping his word. Hope is a soul anchor (v. 19-20). An anchor does not stop the rocking. It stops the drifting. Christ, our forerunner and high priest, has already entered the holy place on our behalf and intercedes there with full compassion for whatever we bring. The sermon closes with an invitation to personal faith and a call to anyone who has drifted to return. Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-20

Episode Title: Go Deeper: From Elementary Faith to Maturity Text: Hebrews 6:1–8 In this message, we continue our study through Hebrews and confront one of the most sobering and misunderstood passages in Scripture. “Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.” That is the invitation. Go deeper. This message wrestles with what spiritual maturity actually looks like and why God often uses storms, hardship, and even silence to grow us. Whether you are in a difficult season or walking through a time of blessing, the call is the same: go deeper with the Lord. We explore: • What it means to move beyond elementary faith • Why storms are part of spiritual formation • The difference between experiencing church and truly being saved • The Parable of the Soils and the condition of the heart • The dangers Hebrews warns us about, including drifting, unbelief, and spiritual immaturity • The difference between the Mercy Seat and the Judgment Seat • What apostasy really is, and why it matters Hebrews is a book filled with warnings, but those warnings are not meant to paralyze us. They are meant to anchor us. God is not calling us to shallow religion or surface-level Christianity. He is calling us into rooted, resilient, Spirit-filled maturity. The kind that holds steady in storms. The kind that bears fruit. The kind that trusts Him even when we do not yet understand His will. If you are in a hard season, this message is for you. If you are in a joyful season, this message is also for you. The road to maturity always goes deeper. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

Episode Summary In this message from Hebrews 5:11–14, we step into a sharp but loving rebuke. The writer of Hebrews pauses his deep teaching about Jesus as our High Priest to address a serious issue: spiritual immaturity. The problem is not ignorance. It is sluggishness. A drift. A loss of hunger. This passage challenges us to examine whether we are growing in Christ or settling into spiritual complacency. Are we moving from milk to solid food, or have we grown comfortable staying immature? Scripture Focus Hebrews 5:7–14 Hebrews 6:1–3 2 Timothy 3:16 Matthew 13:12–15 Romans 3:22 1 Corinthians 2:16 Key Themes 1. The Danger of Spiritual Sluggishness The writer says, “You have become sluggish in your hearing.” This is not a mental limitation. It is a chosen drift. Spiritual dullness happens slowly: The excitement fades. The hunger weakens. The listening becomes passive. And over time, growth stalls. 2. Milk vs. Solid Food Milk represents foundational truths: Repentance Faith Baptism Resurrection Eternal judgment These are essential. But they are not the finish line. Solid food represents maturity: Deeper theological understanding Practical righteousness Discernment between good and evil The Christian life is meant to build on the foundation, not camp out on it. 3. Use It or Lose It Truth heard but not internalized will be lost. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 13. If we do not apply what we hear, we gradually lose sensitivity to it. Spiritual growth requires: Engagement Application Repetition Practice Constant use leads to maturity. 4. Righteousness: Both Imputed and Lived The “teaching about righteousness” includes: Doctrinal truth God imputes righteousness through faith in Christ. Practical truth We actively pursue righteous living as evidence of transformation. It is not either/or. It is both. Orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Belief and practice. 5. Constant Use Produces Discernment Maturity comes “by constant use.” Like physical training, spiritual strength grows through practice. You do not become mature by: Owning a Bible Attending church Hearing sermons You grow by: Studying Applying Obeying Teaching others what you’ve learned Practical Challenge Try this: Choose one verse. Look up its cross-references. Follow those cross-references. Spend 20 focused minutes exploring context and connections. This simple discipline trains your spiritual senses and guards against sluggishness. Reflection Questions Am I growing spiritually, or coasting? Do I know foundational truths well enough to explain them to someone else? Have I become hard to teach? Am I applying what I hear each week? Closing Encouragement The rebuke in Hebrews is not harsh for harshness’ sake. It is loving correction meant to protect believers from drifting. The call is simple: Move forward. Train your senses. Pursue maturity. Eat solid food. For more information and service times, visit ranchchurch.com.

Episode Summary In this message from Hebrews 5, Pastor Rick explores the obedience of Jesus and what it means for us today. Jesus’ obedience led to perfection and eternal salvation. Ours leads to direction, maturity, and discernment. This teaching challenges believers to grow beyond spiritual milk into spiritual maturity, learning to love God deeply, walk in wisdom, and hold fast to Christ in a culture that often pulls in the opposite direction. Obedience is not about moral perfection. It is about gospel direction. It is about loving God with all your heart and letting that love shape how you live. Key Scripture Hebrews 5:8–14 John 14:15–31 Matthew 22:34–40 Hebrews 4:14 Romans 12:9 Main Themes 1. The Obedience of Jesus Hebrews tells us that Jesus “learned obedience” and became the source of eternal salvation. His obedience included: God’s timing — Christmas, the cross, resurrection. Messianic prophecy — fulfilling what was spoken. A holy lifestyle — power without corruption. Protection of His disciples — guarding those entrusted to Him. Obedience to the Word — defeating temptation. Submission to the Father’s will — “Not my will, but Yours.” Jesus’ obedience led to perfection. Our obedience leads to direction. 2. Obedience Is Love Jesus says plainly: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 Love for God is not abstract. It shows up in: Trust Surrender Alignment with His Word Loving your neighbor Obedience flows from relationship, not pressure. 3. Obedience Produces Discernment Hebrews says mature believers have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice. Discernment grows when we: Know the Word Stay close to the Spirit Practice obedience consistently Learn to distinguish good from evil Spiritual maturity is not automatic. It is cultivated. 4. Hold Fast Hebrews 4:14 calls us to “hold fast” to our confession. God reaches for us. We reach back. When we hold fast to Christ, He releases strength, grace, and power into our lives. Practical Takeaways Obedience is a filter that protects your soul. Maturity comes through practice, not just knowledge. The Holy Spirit presses Jesus into your life. Growth requires intentional response. Ask yourself: Where is God calling me to deeper obedience? Am I moving toward spiritual maturity or staying on milk? What would it look like to “hold fast” this week? Next Steps at Ranch Church Want to get involved? Give your life to Jesus. Join a small group. Consider the School of Ministry. For more information and service times, visit: ranchchurch.com

Episode Summary In Hebrews 5, we are reminded of a powerful truth: you need a High Priest. Every person must answer the question, “How am I connected to God?” Scripture teaches that no one appoints themselves to that role. A high priest is called by God. Jesus did not exalt Himself. He was appointed by the Father. In this message, we explore: • Why Jesus alone qualifies as our High Priest • What it means that He suffered “with loud cries and tears” • How His obedience secured our salvation • The difference between tragedy and obedience • What spiritual maturity looks like Jesus’ suffering was not weakness. It was reverent trust. On the cross, He placed His life fully into the Father’s hands. Because He trusted the Father with death, we can trust Him with our lives. The resurrection reveals the power of the Trinity at work. The Father raised the Son. The Spirit raised Christ from the dead. Jesus declared He would raise Himself. This is divine authority and divine love in action. Hebrews then shifts to spiritual growth. Believers are called to move beyond milk to solid food. Maturity requires training. Discernment must be practiced. We learn to distinguish good from evil through constant obedience. The message closes with a clear invitation: stop resisting God. Make it personal. Extend your life to Him in trust, and receive new life in Christ. Key Scriptures Hebrews 5:1–14 Romans 6:4 Romans 8:11 Galatians 5:1 John 2:19–21 1 Peter 3:18 Revelation 1:5 Main Themes Jesus Is Our High Priest Connection to God is not earned. It is mediated through Christ alone. The Sufferings of Christ His prayers, tears, humiliation, obedience, and trust. Resurrection Power The Father, Son, and Spirit working together in victory over death. Obedience and Spiritual Discipline Learning to follow Jesus is not tragedy. It is transformation. Spiritual Maturity Moving from milk to solid food. Training discernment. Growing in wisdom. Application • Examine what you are trusting as your “high priest.” • Practice obedience in everyday decisions. • Train your discernment through Scripture and prayer. • Make your faith personal, not theoretical. A Final Invitation Jesus suffered so you could be forgiven. Jesus obeyed so you could be saved. Jesus stands as your High Priest today. Respond to Him.

Episode Description In this teaching from Hebrews 4 and 5, we enter what Scripture calls the “deep waters,” exploring Jesus as our great and eternal High Priest. Unlike every human priest who came before Him, Jesus alone fully bridges the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. This message unpacks why every person needs a high priest, how Jesus uniquely fulfills that role, and why believers can approach God with confidence rather than fear. We also confront false ideas of spiritual mediation and are reminded that forgiveness, mercy, healing, and restoration flow only through Jesus Christ. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can come back to God again, whether grace really covers ongoing weakness, or what it means to live as part of a “royal priesthood,” this teaching speaks directly to those questions. Teaching Highlights Why the book of Hebrews presents Jesus as superior to all others What a high priest does and why humanity needs one Jesus as the only true mediator between God and humanity The difference between the Old Testament priesthood and Jesus’ eternal priesthood Why believers can approach God with confidence, not shame The role of confession, forgiveness, and ongoing grace What it means to share in Christ’s priestly ministry without replacing Him How God uses weakness to cultivate dependence and spiritual growth The compassion of Jesus, even in His suffering on the cross Key Takeaway Jesus is not a distant or harsh mediator. He is a compassionate High Priest who understands human weakness, invites honest repentance, and continually offers mercy, healing, and grace to all who come to Him. Closing Call If you are carrying spiritual weight, unresolved sin, or deep discouragement, Jesus invites you to draw near. He remains faithful, present, and powerful to restore what has been broken.

In this episode of the Ranch Church Podcast, we continue our study through the book of Hebrews, focusing on Hebrews 4:14–16. The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is not only our Savior but our Great High Priest, one who has passed through the heavens and now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. Written to a small, persecuted house church with many Jewish believers, this passage addresses the temptation to return to familiar religious systems instead of fully trusting Christ. This teaching explores the contrast between the temporary Levitical priesthood and the once-for-all priesthood of Jesus. While earthly priests entered the Holy of Holies year after year with fear and limitation, Jesus entered the ultimate Holy of Holies through His own sacrifice and sat down, His work complete. We are reminded that Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was fully human, tempted in every essential way we are, yet without sin. Because of this, He does not merely understand our struggles intellectually. He shares in them, empathizes with them, and intercedes for us personally. The passage culminates in a powerful invitation. Because of Christ, we are invited to approach the throne of grace with confidence, receiving mercy for our past and grace to help us in our present need. This grace comes at exactly the right time and is accessed through prayer. The message closes with three key responses for believers today. Confession of Christ as our living High Priest Understanding Christ as one who truly empathizes with our weakness Prayer as the means by which we access God’s grace and mercy This episode offers deep encouragement for anyone facing pressure, hardship, or temptation to look elsewhere for relief. Jesus is sufficient, present, and faithful.

Sermon from Jan 18th. 2026   Hebrews 4:1–13 is a direct warning and a gracious invitation: don’t let your heart harden. This message explores how God’s acceptance, on God’s terms, softens the heart and produces real transformation. A key takeaway is simple but penetrating: spiritual experiences are powerful, but experience alone is not acceptance. The tender heart is formed when we receive God’s Word, obey His voice, and rest in what He’s done. We also walk through Psalm 95’s rhythm, worship and joy, followed by the urgent “today” warning. From there, we explore Sabbath rest as a creation principle, and practical pathways that keep the heart soft, including healthy community rhythms and the Spirit’s work of making us new. Key Scriptures Hebrews 4:1–13, Psalm 95, John 6:68, Isaiah 53:5, Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 5 Key Themes The danger of a hard heart, and how it forms over time “Today, if you hear His voice”, respond, don’t resist Experience is not acceptance, surrender to God’s terms Sabbath rest as worship, wisdom, and spiritual alignment The Word of God pierces in order to heal and restore

Sermon from Jan 11th, 2026   In Hebrews 4:1–7, we hear the best news: God’s rest is still available, and we’re invited to enter it by faith. This message reframes acceptance, not as self-acceptance, but as Father God’s acceptance of us through the blood of Jesus. From there, real identity, authenticity, and spiritual power begin to take root, and the inner conflicts that keep us restless start to lose their grip. We also trace the warning behind the passage, Israel received good news but didn’t benefit because they weren’t united by faith. The invitation stands for us today: don’t harden your heart, don’t drift into unbelief, and don’t settle for a version of “rest” that leaves God out. Key Scriptures Hebrews 4:1–7, Psalm 95 (referenced), Exodus 19:3–6, Exodus 23:20–33, Romans 3 (referenced) Key Themes God’s rest is promised, available, and entered by faith The difference between cultural self-acceptance and God’s acceptance Identity and inner peace flow from God’s finished work, not our self-effort A warning and an invitation, don’t miss what God is offering today

Sermon from Jan 4th, 2026   Hebrews chapter 3 confronts a critical question for every believer: will we finish well? In this message, we’re reminded that while Moses was the greatest figure in Israel’s history, faithful as a servant and prophet, Jesus is infinitely greater. He is both the Apostle sent from the Father and the perfect High Priest who brings us full access to God. The writer of Hebrews warns new believers, and us today, not to drift into unbelief when hardship comes. Using Israel’s wilderness story and Psalm 95, we see how a strong beginning can still end tragically if faith gives way to disbelief. The issue isn’t a lack of miracles or evidence. It’s a hardened heart that forgets what God has already done. The call is urgent and personal: today, if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart. Encourage one another daily, hold fast to the hope we first confessed, and trust that God will do exactly what He has promised. Key Scriptures Hebrews 3:1–19, Numbers 12:6–8, Exodus 3, Psalm 95 Key Themes Jesus is greater than Moses, servant versus Son The danger of unbelief after a strong spiritual beginning Why disbelief leads to disobedience The importance of encouragement and community “Today” as the moment to respond, believe, and persevere

Sermon from 12.14.25

In this message from Hebrews 1, Pastor Rick Soto teaches us how angels see Christmas. While we often view the season through tradition and celebration, Scripture shows a different angle: the unseen realm watching the eternal Son step into the world. Hebrews 1 walks us through Old Testament promises that point to Jesus as fully God, worshiped by every angel, and superior to every spiritual power. Rick explains what the Bible actually says about angels, why their anticipation of Christmas matters, and how Jesus becoming the Son of God in history opens the door for us to be born again. The heart of the message is simple: Christmas is heaven’s joy breaking into our world, and Jesus is the One who will never leave or forsake us. Key Themes • Angels as witnesses to God’s plan • Jesus worshiped as God • Christmas and the unseen realm • What it means to be born again • Confidence in Jesus’ promise: He will never leave us

In this family-service message, Pastor Rick continues from Hebrews 1 and moves into Galatians 5 to show that God’s word doesn’t just inform us, it transforms us. The same Jesus who upholds the universe by the word of His power now speaks through His Spirit to set us free from the slavery of sin and self-destruction. Using a simple comparison between old combustion engines and new electric cars, and a creative walk-through of the fruit of the Spirit using American Sign Language, Rick unpacks how love, joy, peace, and the rest of the Spirit’s fruit are not self-improvement goals but divine life planted in us. The message ends with a call to be baptized afresh in the Holy Spirit and to “keep in step with the Spirit,” so that our lives bear real, lasting fruit in Christ.    

In this message on Hebrews 1:1–3, Pastor Rick Soto walks through the startling announcement at the heart of the book of Hebrews: God has spoken finally and fully through His Son. We look at how declarations shape the Christian life, how Jesus fulfills every Old Testament covenant, and why He alone brings true purification and power. Along the way, we hear stories of creative wedding announcements and the Mayflower Compact that help frame what it means when God Himself announces something life-changing. Key Points • Hebrews opens with an announcement: God has spoken through His Son, not just prophets. • Announcements and declarations matter. Romans 10 shows how faith is expressed with the heart and the mouth. • Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament system. The old covenant points to Him; the new covenant is found in Him. • Two Passover neighbors illustrate that deliverance rests on God’s promise, not the amount of our faith. • Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, and Heir of all things. Because He is heir, believers become co-heirs with Him. • Arguments for God’s existence (cosmological, design, ontological) point to a world created and held together by Christ. • Jesus has made purification for sins and now sits at the right hand of God, signaling a finished, complete work.

Episode Overview This week, Dr. Richard Danson walks us through Revelation 3:14–22, the message to the church in Laodicea. It’s a passage that cuts straight to the heart, exposing the danger of spiritual complacency while offering one of the most tender invitations in all of Scripture: Jesus standing at the door and knocking. Dr. Danson unpacks what it means to be lukewarm, why self-deception is so spiritually destructive, and how Jesus offers real renewal through repentance, renewed devotion, and anchored intimacy with him. The teaching moves line by line through the text, making the historical context clear and the application unmistakably practical. Key Themes • Why lukewarm faith is so distasteful to Jesus • How wealth and comfort blind us to our real condition • What Scripture means by buying “gold refined by fire” • How the Word and the Spirit open our eyes to truth • The path back to zeal, repentance, and intimacy with Christ • The staggering promise that Jesus invites us to dine with him and reign with him Why This Matters Laodicea believed everything was fine. Jesus said otherwise. Dr. Danson shows how this same gap exists in us, and how Christ lovingly confronts it so we can become people whose hearts beat in rhythm with his. Next Steps If you sense Jesus knocking, take time today to open that door through prayer, confession, and fresh commitment. For help, community, or prayer, join us this weekend at Ranch Church. Visit Us Service times, directions, and more: ranchchurch.com

In this message from Revelation 3:7–13, Pastor Rick Soto walks us through Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia, a small but faithful community that Jesus loves and commends. We explore what it means for Jesus to hold the “key of David,” to open doors no one can shut, and to describe Himself as both meek and lowly, and holy and true. Along the way, Pastor Rick shows how God has always been sovereign over “open doors” in history – from Rome to modern China – and why our own digital age may be one of the greatest windows for the gospel. This teaching calls us to three things: keep God’s word, embrace patient endurance, and hold fast so no one steals our crown. The service concludes with baptisms and a powerful time of prayer for those struggling with resilience and perseverance. Key Takeaways for Ranch Church Jesus loves small, faithful churches and sets real, unshakable open doors before them. Our digital, AI-filled world makes embodied, relational church life more precious, not less. Everything good – including following Jesus – requires patient endurance. We must guard our hearts, hold fast our crowns, and protect one another from being robbed spiritually. God marks His people with His name; our deepest identity is not our failure, but His ownership and love.

Pastor Rick Soto walks through Revelation 3:1–6 (Sardis) and how Jesus “wakes up His bride.” We explore obedience, the unseen realm, victorious promise, and the “laws of sacred fire”—moving from reputation to reality in Christ.

Pastor Mike Waliser walks us through Acts 2, Matthew 22, and John 17 to answer one big question: What does Jesus want for His church? From the call to repent and be baptized, to the unity Jesus prayed for, to the joy of belonging in a local body, this message invites us to live as the Bride of Christ—robed in His righteousness and on mission together.

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