Welcome to The Ridge - Part 1 [Notes]

You’re invited to join us for “Welcome To The Ridge,” a six-week series focused on our past, present, and future as a church. Whether you’ve been at The Ridge for a month, a year, ten years, or thirty, our hope is that this series will give us all a clear, compelling, and unifying vision of who we are, where we’ve been, where we are, and where God is leading us in the future. Each week, we’ll study a different Bible passage that has shaped us, guided us, and kept us focused. This series is not only for those who call The Ridge home, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to invite others to come and experience it with you. Welcome To The Ridge!

Takeaway: The foundation of Chestnut Ridge Church is Christ.

When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
– Matthew 22:34–40 (HCSB)

“Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
– Matthew 22:36 (HCSB)

“The rabbis had counted 613 commands – 268 positive commands (corresponding to the number of parts of the body) and 365 negative commands (corresponding to the days of the year). Although rabbinical teachers could also indulge in giving summaries of the Law, there was also the view that all commandments were equal, with any ranking of them being mere human presumption in evaluating the divine law, all of which was equally binding.”
– Dr. M. Eugene Boring, The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.
– Matthew 22:37-38 (HCSB)

“Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
– Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (HCSB)

The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
– Matthew 22:39 (HCSB)

Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh.
– Leviticus 19:18 (HCSB)

All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.
– Matthew 22:39 (HCSB)

“All the Old Testament develops and amplifies these two points: love for God and love for others, who are made in God’s image.”
– Dr. Louis Barbieri, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

“When Jesus was asked to reduce everything in the Bible to one command he said, Love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. What if Jesus meant that we should love our actual neighbors? You know, the people who live right next door.”
– The Art of Neighboring

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:16–20 (HCSB)

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.
– Matthew 28:16 (HCSB)

When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted.
– Matthew 28:17 (HCSB)

Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
– Matthew 28:18 (HCSB)

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.
– Matthew 28:19-20a (HCSB)  

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
– Matthew 28:20b (HCSB)   

“The final words of the Lord recorded by Matthew were a promise that He would be with them always until the very end of the Age. Though the Lord did not remain physically with the Eleven, His spiritual presence was with them until their tasks on earth were finished.”
– Dr. Barbieri

“We want to be fishers of men, not keepers of an aquarium.”

Our vision is to be an inviting church that leads people into a growing relationship with God and others.

If you love Me, you will keep My commands.
– John 14:15 (HCSB)

Who Is Like the Lord // Trustworthy // Gratitude // How Great Is Your Name

You can watch or listen to past messages online!

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