Views from The Ridge 4.8.26
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week’s Scripture: John 20:19–31
Wednesdays
You’re invited to Wednesday Nights at Sunset Ridge Church. Join us for a community supper at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall, followed by programming for children and high school students and a communal Scripture study for adults beginning at 6:30 PM. We wrap up by 8:00 PM. Come be part of our midweek rhythm. Contact Den with questions. April 29th will be our last community supper for spring.
Sundays
Worship
9 AM, Chapel, Acapella
11 AM, Sanctuary, Instrumental
10:15 AM, Bible Class & Discipleship for All Ages
Fellowship Hall
Between the Words: A gathering between our community’s two worship times where we unfold the facets of weekly Scripture together. Join us from 10:15 - 10:45 each Sunday in the Fellowship Hall. Each week stands on its own; come as you’re able. Adults and teens welcome.
BEMA Podcast Discussion group
Room 220
BOYS 5th - 7th Grade, Formation Study w/ Bryan Wolfe
GIRLS 5th - 7th Grade, Formation Study w/ Den Slater
Roots: Children’s Discipleship through Godly Play
Bible Story Focus this Week: Jesus Appears to His Disciples
Key Verse: John 20:19-31
Room 102, PreK - Kindergarten
Room 122, 1st - 2nd Grade
Room 209, 3rd - 4th Grade
Sunday Setlists
What if worship started before Sunday morning? Listening to these songs during the week can help build familiarity and allow the words to begin forming our hearts before we sing them together.
This Week’s Setlist
All 2026 Songs
Community Connections
New at One Another Coffee: The Local Void Pop-Up
We're excited to kick off our first-ever food vendor pop-up at One Another Coffee! On Sunday, April 12th from 8 AM - 1 PM, The Local Void will be set up next to the trailer serving made-to-order breakfast sandwiches with some seriously creative flavor combinations.
Choose from the Brisket Sandwich—coffee-crusted brisket, vegan black truffle aioli, jalapeño maple BBQ, egg, and smoked cheddar on an everything bagel—or the Vegan Sandwich—smoked tofu and portobello cap, vegan black truffle aioli, sun-dried tomato pepper pesto, arugula, and red onion on focaccia. Both come with herb potato wedges and chipotle pickle ketchup, and everything is locally sourced. Whether you're a meat lover or plant-based, there's something here worth showing up for.
Sunset Ridge Church of Christ Foundation
The Annual Meeting of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ Foundation will be held Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary to elect Randy Rutland as our new board member.
Grant Applications: The Foundation supports missions, education, and benevolence ministries beyond routine church operations. Funding requests are open through Thursday, April 30, 2026. To apply, pick up a 2026 application in the church office (not available by mail, email, or fax). Previous years’ applications will not be accepted.
Upcoming Community Events
Every Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
Sunday, April 12, 8 AM - 1 PM, The Local Void & One Another Coffee Food Pop-Up
Saturday, April 18, 9 AM - 1 PM, Garden Work Day, Charis Park
Friday, April 24, Office closed for Battle of Flowers
Saturday, May 9, 8 AM - 1 PMOne Another Coffee Birthday Celebration
Beyond Sunday
The Receding Importance of Confession
Dick Ihfe, DMin, Trustee, Sunset Ridge Church
With this article I enter into a minefield of theology. Confession for the early Church was a foundational sacrament for maintaining and growing a Godly lifestyle set apart from culture. The biblical narrative shows confession to be a relational act between individuals and a communal bond to God (e.g. James 5, Psalm 32, and Psalm 51).
In many Christian communities today, the practice of confessing sin—once central to spiritual life—has quietly diminished. While belief in sin may still be affirmed in doctrine, its regular acknowledgment in daily living has often faded. Confession has, in many cases, been replaced by vague language about “mistakes,” “struggles,” or “growth areas.” This shift, in my opinion, reflects not only a theological softening but also a cultural discomfort with moral clarity and personal accountability.
One revealing example is the way excuses often take the place of honest confession. Rather than admitting, “I lied,” a person might say, “I didn’t want to hurt their feelings,” or “I was under pressure.” These statements may contain partial truths, but they function as shields rather than admissions. An excuse reframes wrongdoing in a way that preserves self-image. It allows a person to avoid the weight of responsibility while still appearing reasonable. Over time, this habit erodes the conscience. What begins as a small justification becomes a pattern of self-deception, where sin is no longer clearly named or confronted.
Several societal factors contribute to this decline in confession. First, there is a strong cultural emphasis on self-esteem and personal validation. Admitting sin can feel like a threat to one’s identity, especially in a culture that equates worth with performance or image. Second, individualism has weakened communal accountability. Many Christians live their faith in isolation, without trusted relationships where honest confession can occur. Third, there is a widespread distrust of judgment. People fear that if they confess wrongdoing, they will be condemned or rejected rather than restored. As a result, silence feels safer than vulnerability.
Additionally, modern life is fast-paced and distracted. Reflection—an essential predicate to confession—is often neglected. Without time to examine one’s heart, sin remains unacknowledged, buried beneath activity and noise. What results is a theological misunderstanding of grace. Some interpret grace as permission rather than transformation, assuming that because forgiveness is available, confession is optional. This distorts the biblical pattern, where confession is the doorway through which grace is personally received and experienced.
The consequences of neglecting confession are significant. When sin is not named, it is not resisted. Over time, even basic moral boundaries—such as those expressed in the Ten Commandments—can lose their clarity and force. Truth becomes flexible, commitments weaken, and reverence for God diminishes. Without confession, there is no regular recalibration of the moral compass. The heart gradually hardens, and what once troubled the conscience becomes normalized. In this way, the failure to practice confession does not merely affect isolated behaviors; it undermines the entire framework of moral life.
Yet confession, when restored, has profound power to renew and strengthen a person’s spiritual walk. Several practices can help reintegrate it into daily life. First, the practice of daily self-examination—perhaps at the end of the day—allows a person to review thoughts, words, and actions in the light of God’s truth. This need not be lengthy, but it should be honest. Second, praying specific confessions rather than general ones deepens awareness. Instead of saying, “Forgive my sins,” one might say, “Forgive me for speaking harshly to my kids,” or “for gossiping about my co-worker today.” Specificity brings clarity and sincerity.
Third, incorporating Scripture into confession can guide the process. Passages such as Psalm 51 or 1 John 1:9 remind believers of both the seriousness of sin and the assurance of forgiveness. Fourth, trusted accountability relationships—whether with a pastor, mentor, or close Christian friend—create a safe space for verbal confession. Speaking sin aloud breaks its power and invites both prayer and encouragement.
Finally, cultivating humility is essential. Confession is not merely a practice but a posture of the heart—a willingness to stand truthfully before God and others. When confession is embraced, it does not lead to shame but to freedom. It restores honesty, strengthens character, and renews the believer’s relationship with God and the community. In a world full of excuses, confession remains a quiet but transformative act of truth.
Peace,
Dick Ihfe
A brother in Christ
MDiv, DMin
Grace & Gratitude
Our hearts are overjoyed to share the following people committed their lives to Christ through baptism this Sunday.
Monica Cazares
Ethan Fry
Aaron Gleason
Addison Hurff
Morgan Smaistrla
Lucy Stephens
Scott Weems
August Wolfe
Kim Wolfe
Prayers of the People
We will celebrate the life of Wiley Hill with a reception in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, April 11th from 3 - 5 PM.
