recent Sermons from The River
The River Online - March 29, 2020
/Claire Andrews preaches on Psalm 23 and how this psalm can guide us during these uncertain times.
Repentance and Rest: What is Repentance
/This sermon will introduce the series and explain what repentance is.
Scriptures Used: Isaiah 30:8-17 and Luke 24:36-49
Ash Wednesday 2020
/Pastor Jonathan shares during our Ash Wednesday service, looking specifically at three questions: What is Lent? What isn’t Lent? And what is Ash Wednesday?
Topics the Church Should Care About: Immigration
/Immigration is a contentious and complicated issue today, but it’s one that we can’t avoid studying. What do the Scriptures say about immigration and immigrants? We’ll look to both the Old and New Testaments to find principles for us to apply to our lives today.
Scriptures Used: Ephesians 2:11-22; Matthew 2:13-23
Meaningful conversation starters:
What preconceptions do you bring when it comes to immigration, and how do those align with the commands we find in the Old Testament?
What are some practical ways that you could potentially get involved with understanding and showing hospitality to “strangers and foreigners”?
Topics the Church Should Care About: Poverty
/The Bible has a great deal to say about poverty. This sermon will define financial poverty, focus on what the Bible says about it, and provide practical steps for applying God’s Word into our lives.
Scriptures Used: Isaiah 58:1-14; Matthew 25:31-46
Topics the Church Should Care About: Race
/What does preaching against racism have to do with the gospel? Everything. The biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration offers us a guide to explore history, examine the present, and build hope for the future in terms of dismantling racism and pursuing God’s multi-ethnic Kingdom together.
Scriptures Used: Luke 4:16-21, Ephesians 2:11-22
Topics the Church Should Care About: Creation Care
/God created the earth as good and assigned his human creations the job of “tending the garden.” As with everything else, mankind botched that task, and as a result nature is corrupted. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to witness by returning to our original calling: using the earth’s resources wisely and generously for good, and restoring the broken world to beauty where we can, in practical ways.
Scriptures Used: Genesis 1:24-31, 2:15-22; Luke 12:22-34
Meaningful discussion points:
What is one creation care practice you can start (or restart) this week? 2. What is a natural setting in your local area that causes you to be in awe at God’s creative beauty and to worship him? Plan some time to get away to this spot and spend some time in prayer.
Topics the Church Should Care About: Politics
/The Bible has a great deal to say about politics. Today’s sermon will look at several passages which give us principles to live by as we engage in our world today.
Scriptures Used: Romans 13:1-8; John 19:1-11
Three Critical Components of the Christian Life
/What is essential for the Church, and for followers of Christ? These three: worship, discipleship and mission -- can repeatedly be found in Scripture as central to the Church and for the Christian walk. Join us as we look at two passages of Scripture that expound upon these three critical components of the Christian life.
Scriptures Used: John 7:37-38; Luke 8:26-39
The Psalms: God's Language for Calling Out our Souls - Psalm 119 - A Heart for the Word
/The Word/Law is more than “information” - it is “formation” as we meditate on the Word and let it shape us. We have a tendency to read the Bible for information rather than for formation. God invites us to obey him through his Word, as a response to his love for us.
Scriptures Used: Ps 119: 41-44, 97-112, John 1:1-5, 14
The Psalms: God's Language for Calling Out our Souls - Psalm 96
/Do you want to make 2020 your best year yet? Mary McDonald preaches on how to use Psalm 96 to help make 2020 your best year yet.
Scriptures used: Psalm 96, John 5:24
The Psalms: God's Language for Calling Out our Souls - Psalm 100
/Sometimes it’s hard to feel joyous when there is so much chaos going on around us. There are three things that we can do to help find the joy God desires us all to embody.
Scriptures Used: Psalm 100; Revelation 2:2-5
The Psalms: God's Language for Calling Out our Souls - Psalm 126:1-6 - Keep Working While You Wait
/This sermon was delivered during the Bishop’s annual parish visit.
Scripture Used: Psalm 126; Nehemiah 6:1-9 and 8:13-18; Mark 4:26-34
Psalms: God’s Language for Calling Out our Souls
/Waiting can be incredibly exciting or terrifying. How can we wait with hope and expectation? Psalm 130 gives us guidelines for waiting.
Scriptures Used: Psalm 130, Luke 18:9-14
Meaningful Conversation Starters: What does it look like for you to prepare for Christmas? What would it take for you to get ready?