Pastor Rick McGough

Faith, Reason, & Reality:
This is typically the message I share the first time I speak at a church. The message begins by revealing the voices of the culture that falsely claim that “faith” and “reason” do not go together. The bulk of the message is a response to this false claim. Seven areas of evidence from science, history, fulfilled prophecy and the realities of the world today confirm conclusively that the Biblical worldview is both rational and true. The message ends with a testimony of the radical change that comes into the lives of those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The message is fast moving and very visual with PowerPoint pictures and video clips included throughout the message.

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament:
This message is designed to reveal the amazing internal unity of the Bible and to reveal the fact that Jesus Christ is the main character of the entire Bible, not just the New Testament. Jesus is seen in the Old Testament through “Types and Shadows”, through Messianic Prophecies, through the Jewish Feasts. The message ends with discussion of how Jesus fulfilled the Passover feast very specifically as our Passover Lamb. His deep love for us and willingness to sacrifice all is emphasized.

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made:
This message shows the vast difference between the truths of God’s Word and the theory of evolution when it comes to the value of every human life. Amazing areas of evidence from various parts and functions of the human body are shown to clearly confirm that we are created by a loving and awesome God. Systems, organs, processes, cells and DNA are included the areas of evidence discussed. This message reminds every listener that they are created with great value and purpose.

Israel: God’s Timepiece:
This message shows the Bible is the Word of God by dealing with the amazing fulfillments of Bible prophecy seen today in the nation of Israel. The scattering and return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, and the blossoming of the land from a wasteland are among the areas of evidence shown. The message also shows how God has chosen to use Israel as a timepiece to reveal the closeness of the return of Jesus Christ.

Miracles, Then & Now:
This message has both an apologetics emphasis and a faith building emphasis. The reality of the supernatural realm confirms the existence of God and the accuracy of supernatural events recorded in the Bible. In this message miracles recorded in the Bible are quickly mentioned and then numerous modern day miracles are discussed. In many cases video clips explaining details of these miracles are incorporated into the message.

Sonship, Inheritance, & A Pledge:
This message encourages and challenges believers to understand the marvelous truths revealed in Scripture about our identity in Christ. The numbing reality that the believer is truly a son or daughter of God Almighty and that as a result the believer is the heir of an eternal, unchanging inheritance are discussed, along with the fact that the Holy Spirit is given to us as God’s pledge or down payment of the entire inheritance. Included are discussions about glory of God, the difference between fallen man and glorified man, and the true meaning of “adoption” in the Bible.

3 Bold Statements With Eternal Importance:
This message is an evangelistic message designed to share the gospel with skeptics and an unbelieving audience in mind. The 3 bold statements are (1) “In the beginning God Created the Heavens and the Earth”, (2) “All Scripture is Inspired by God”, and (3) “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life, No One Comes to the Father but by Me”. These 3 bold statements are confirmed with evidence from science, history and other external evidences. Listeners are challenged to consider the eternal importance of these statements and respond appropriately. This message works well in allowing Rick to partner with local churches to reach the lost with the Gospel.

From Barrenness to Fruitfulness:
This message is for believers and can also be specifically for Pastors and Christian leaders. The message reveals the frequency throughout Scripture of barren mothers who ended up producing powerful men of God late in life who changed the course of history. Believers are encouraged to realize that the delays in fruitfulness they experience may actually be an indication that God is going to do great things through them.

The Battle of Flesh vs. Spirit:
This message deals in detail with a critical truth revealed in the Bible, the battle between the fleshly nature and the spirit. This battle is described and battle plans are discussed to assist the believer in walking in the Spirit so they do not carry out the deeds of the flesh which bring death and destruction.

Full of Grace & Truth:
This message focuses on John 1:14-17 where we are told that Jesus became flesh and was observed to be full of grace and truth. The importance of this blend of Grace (Undeserved Favor) and Truth is discussed and a challenged is given to believers that for those who would become like Jesus it will be a noticeable characteristic of their life that they are full of grace and truth.

Stewarding the Call of God:
This message focuses on the need to identify the call of God upon your life and upon the lives of your children or grandchildren, and to then steward that call through discipleship, nurturing, encouragement, correction, teaching, etc.

Trusting In a Big God:
This message focuses on the bigness of God and the awesome things He has revealed about Himself through His created things. The message then encourages believers to trust this big, powerful, faithful God and to tangibly acknowledge trust in God through the practice of tithing which is instructed in the Bible.

End Times Mindset:
The first half of this message gives an overview of fulfilled end times prophecies concerning Israel, the move toward Globalism and deception in the world. The second half gives believers Biblical directives on how to respond to these developments and how to live during these last days with the proper mindset.

Revival & A God of Mercy:
Seeing the promises of God regarding His patience and His desire to see all come unto repentance and salvation. Looking then at evidence of revival occurring in America today and in other nations. Finally, challenging believers to pray for revival and spiritual awakening.

Truth In a World of Deception:
This message focuses on the Bible’s numerous warnings concerning deception in the last days. Numerous examples of deception in the world today are revealed. The message challenges listeners to love and cling to the truth of the Bible in these days to avoid being caught up in the deception of these days.

Leaning Into the Grace of God:
This message refers to the end time prophecies being fulfilled today which can create unstable conditions and emphasizes the need to lean into the grace of God that is available for the believer for provisions, for protection, for power and for purpose. The truth that God’s grace is given to us for more than just salvation is stressed.

Faith & Reason Made Simple:
Faith & Reason Made Simple is the 4 hour (8 half hour sessions) video series we have produced which is designed to equip believers with information about Creation vs. Evolution, Evidence Confirming the Bible is the Word of God, and Evidence Confirming That Jesus Christ is Who the Bible Says He Is. This summary teaching gives an overview of the material in the video series and can be adapted to circumstances, settings and time constraints.

The Gospel of John:
This teaching reveals the uniqueness of the Gospel of John and shows how it fulfills its purpose statement in John 20:31 which says, “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
The Book of Hebrews:
This teaching shows how the book of Hebrews shows the superiority of the New Covenant to the Old Covenant, the superiority of Jesus Christ, and the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews connects the Old and New Testaments maybe more than any other book of the Bible.

The Christian Response to Transgenderism:
This teaching shows how the issue of Transgenderism has impacted society and reveals what the Bible says about this issue. The teaching also gives guidance from Scripture of how believers can respond to this issue and to those promoting Transgenderism.

The Christian Response to Homosexuality:
This teaching shows how Homosexuality has grown in American culture and how this growth compares with the prophetic words of Romans 1:18-32. The teaching also reveals what the Bible says about Homosexuality and gives Christians guidance in how to respond to the promotion of Homosexuality within the culture.

Climate Change, Pandemics, & Globalism:
This teaching includes information on how the issue of Climate Change is being used to promote the growing movement toward a Global System, which was prophesied in the Bible. The teaching also includes information on how the Global Pandemic and growing power of the World Health Organization are related to the movement toward Globalism.

The Christian Response to Eugenics & Abortion:
This teaching includes information on the connections between the theory of evolution, the Eugenics movement, and the promotion of Abortion. The teaching reveals what the Bible has to say about these issues and the value of every human life.

The Pastor, God’s Servant:
This message is specifically for Pastors and Church leaders. The message is drawn from key principles Rick has experienced and learned in over 45 years of Christian ministry. Rick has shared this message with groups of pastors and Christian leaders in various settings.

Ministry & The Heart of God:
This message is a different version of the message “The Pastor, God’s Servant” which is designed to encourage and challenge pastors and church leaders.

The Christ of Christmas:
This presentation includes live preaching, video clips and live music. It tells the story of Christmas with an apologetics emphasis included revealing that the Christmas story is not just a pretty story but is true history. Great emphasis is put on Who Jesus is! This presentation normally takes up an entire Sunday morning service and includes congregational Christmas songs but can be adjusted as needed.

Redemption’s Story:
This presentation includes live preaching, video clips and live music. It tells the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and incorporates apologetics into the story to help the listener understand that the Biblical narrative is historical fact. The love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ are a major theme in “Redemption’s Story”.

Faith & Reason Made Simple:
This is our main apologetics training series. It covers 6 scientific flaws within the theory of evolution, 8 areas of evidence of a Creator, 8 areas of evidence confirming that the Bible is the Word of God, and evidence confirming Jesus Christ was a historical person, is God, is the Christ, and bodily rose from the dead after being crucified for the sins of the world. The video series is 4 hours long and includes 8 half hour sessions. The live version can be adapted to a church’s needs and to the number of sessions and time made available. This series can also be adapted and presented to teen and elementary school age audiences. (Adjustable: 1-6 sessions)

Israel, God’s Timepiece:
This series expands upon the sermon by the same title and deals in depth with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people from a Biblical perspective. Topics include the scattering and return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, the blossoming of the land of Israel in the last days, the promise of the Jews to be a blessing to the nations, Jewish impact upon the world in these last days, the war of Gog and Magog, oil in Israel and more. All of this is seen in the context of Israel as the fig tree which gives indication of the nearness of the return of Jesus. (Adjustable: 1-4 sessions)

Understanding the End Times:
This series deals in depth with Biblical eschatology and Biblical prophecy dealing with the end times. The material for this series comes from Rick’s 2 books, “Rapture First or Rapture Later, And Why It Matters”, and “Israel, Globalism and the 2nd Coming of Christ”. (Adjustable: 2-6 sessions)

Overview Unique Parts of the Bible:
This series deals with 3 unique sections of Scripture, showing the unique purposes of each of them and how they impact the overall teaching of the entire Bible. Genesis 1-11 gives us the foundational understanding of all of life. The Gospel of John reveals Who Jesus is, especially the deity of Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews reveals the superiority of the New Covenant, the superiority of Jesus Christ and the priesthood of Jesus Christ. (Adjustable: 3-6 sessions)

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made:
This series makes room for in depth teaching on the value of human life and the amazing attributes of the human body, from systems, to organs, to cells and DNA. (Adjustable: 1-4 sessions)

Responding to Contemporary Issues:
This series is designed to give believers a Biblical perspective on contemporary issues within the culture such as Abortion, Transgenderism, Homosexuality and Climate Change. Emphasis is also given to understanding what the Bible teaches a believer’s response should be to these issues. (Adjustable: 4-6 sessions)

Apologetics & Discipleship in the Home:
This series is designed to assist parents in bringing apologetics and discipleship into their home and family. Parents are facing great challenges today and the need to teach Christian apologetics and Biblical principles to children at an early age is of paramount importance. (Adjustable: 1-2 sessions)