River Park Church Sermons: Recent Episodes
River Park Church
Sermons from River Park Church (CRC) in Calgary, Alberta (AB). River Park Church's Vision is "Reaching Out, Drawing In, Creating Mosaic Community". Each Sunday, we come together to celebrate our triune God and to be encouraged and challenged in the ways he lead us--individually and communally--in Calgary and beyond.
August 2, 2026 | Rev. Layne Kilbreath | John 3:16-17, Matthew 22:36-40, Luke 4:18-19, Colossians 1:15-20, and Revelation 7:9-10.
June 18, 2023 | Pastor Cari Fydirchuk | God's Word: Acts 12:1-17, Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison
November 06, 2022 | Pastor Harrison Cho | Hebrews 1:3 |
The Son is the dazzling radiance of God's splendor, the exact expression of God's true nature. -- his mirror image. He holds the universe together and expands it by the mighty power of his spoken word. He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins, and then took his seat on the highest throne at the right hand of the majestic one.
October 09, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Acts 7 |
Because God is not just a good friend but also a holy friend, we can trust that he will only guide us to what is good in the future. He will protect from evil the ones that he loves; and even when we suffer, he will bring something even better for us in the future.
September 18, 2022 | Pastor Harrison Cho | God's Word: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
September 11, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Matthew 6:25-34 |
If you are a Christian, God did not save you so that you could devote yourself to yourself. God does not desire that you focus your energy on the same life-sucking priorities that you had before him and that you have without him! God does not desire that you remain unchanged. Instead, God has called us, his church, to be his family.
September 04,2022 | Rev Adrian de Lange | Numbers 14:26-33 |
The good news of Jesus as the way back to God offers rest for those who are always running after the next trend. You can take a break! You can find your honour and comfort somewhere else! But Jesus as the way back to God also offers rest to those who are excluded and left behind: you can have the glory and honour and life of Jesus if you join him—no strings attached! You don’t need to perform or achieve or compete!
August 28, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Mark 2:23-28
Sabbath is God’s scary good gift to us. It seems too good to be true. It’s weird and doesn’t make any sense when you do the math; yet when we set aside time to listen to God and to listen to others; it not only feeds our souls, it not only sustains us for the week to come—it also becomes attractive and interesting to others!
August 21, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Genesis 1:27-31 |
God uses his abilites and power to rule over the whole universe—over everything that is, was, and will be. And then God invites us to use our abilites and power to rule in the same way that he rules. Not for our own selfish benefit, but in order to cultivate beauty, joy, and more creation. God did not create kimchi; he created cabbage. God did not create wine; he created grapes. The things that we make with God’s creation are a good part of our “ruling” and cultivating work. When we do them, we can enjoy rest of all kinds—we enjoy connection with creation as we understand it more fully. We enjoy peace and flourishing and we find a purpose and place for ourselves, for others, and for God’s creation. And we can enjoy Sabbath rest as well—we can take a break from our regular work.
August 14, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | 1 Timothy 1:12-20 |
When we pause and take time to reflect on ourselves as we truly are, we begin to gain a deeper appreciation for God's love for us. We see our strengths and abilities and celebrate God's gifts to us more fully. We also see our weaknesses and our pain, and celebrate God's grace to us and his love for us more fully. As we look at ourselves, our hearts are opened to wonder what more God has for us as individuals and within the communities where he has placed us.
July 24 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange |
John 14:22-27 | In this introduction to a series on "Rest for the Rest of Us", we're looking at a Biblical picture of rest, why we don't normally rest, and why rest is so important.
If you give your life to God…
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You will be humbled (see yourself as you truly are!)
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You will experience amazing grace! (receive far more than you deserve)
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You will begin to want what God wants MORE than what you want (love what God loves, hate what God hates…)
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You will continue to grow!
July 03,2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Romans 12:9-21 |
This week’s question from RPC Youth is about the problem of evil in our world: God seems to prioritize free will (“You can do whatever you like!”) But this is also part of why bad things still happen. Why does God do it this way—and how should Christians respond?
June 05, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Ephesians 4:7-24 |
Spirit-filled faith is about complete transformation: becoming “in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”. Any area where you are not relying on God’s strength rather than your own, that is sin. Not sin primarily as wrongdoing; but sin as separation from God (cf. May 15). We cannot follow God in our own strength, in our own ways, or with our own abilities. Following Jesus and living in the power of the Spirit, we will be completely transformed!
May 29, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Luke 24:44-53 |
Christians are first witnesses to who Jesus is and what he has done in our lives. We are not about changing other people or convincing other people. We are simply witnesses! (cf. Myron Penner “End of Apologetics”)
May 22, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Luke 23:32-43 |
The question, “Who is Jesus” has captivated people ever since he lived. But each of us see Jesus in different ways because we are distinct individuals. Jesus gathered people around him by loving them and challenging them. He invites all he loves to join him in paradise—eternally and presently. How are we receiving Christ’s love? How are we receiving his challenge?
May 15, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Ephesians 2:11-22 |
Sin is a biblical category about separation from God. We cannot be transformed by God when we are apart from him. WE cannot be transformed by God individually or (only) as individuals. Transformation (Sanctification), where we become more like God, is a relationship practice, not an intellectual argument. Shallow relationships will transform us in shallow ways. Deeper relationships will transform us in deep ways. Who are you “related” to? Cf. “Unwanted” by Jay Stringer (7).
May 08, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | John 19:25-27 |
Johnny Cash’s song “When the Man Comes Around” mistakes Jesus’ words in this text; betraying a macho version of Christianity that has too often been afraid of feminism and femininity. Jesus surrounded himself with women and men; not as a harem, but as a family. Jesus shows us what the love of a mother is for children; what the care of a mother hen for her chicks is.
May 01,2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Elected from the Beginning | The Reformed Doctrine of Election is not first about our position; but about our role. God has predestined us in love to join him in his good purposes—both now and forever. But he has definitely elected us to join him now! Transformation is about stepping out of our old selves and our own strength and stepping into our God-given roles.
April 24, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Luke 24:13-35 |
God does not reveal his whole self to us; God does not love us because he needs us for some purpose or to complete himself. God’s love is fully devoted to the other—attending to our needs, meeting us where we are, inviting us further into relationship with him. This is our example to follow. The very act of following God’s example is transformational.
April 17, 2022 | Pastor Adrian de Lange | Luke 24:1-12 |
This Sunday, we join the church around the world in celebrating our Risen Lord and we look eagerly for his transforming work in our hearts, in our community, and in our world
Pastor Adrian de Lange
March 27, 2022
Lamentations 4:1-17
This chapter better helps us to see God’s value system. God doesn’t respect what we respect; his ways are not our ways. But Lamentation necessitates us to struggle and find liberation in honesty before God: we fall short and we will continue to do so; thus we can never hope in ourselves: we hope only in God’s restoration and his righteousness, not in our own strength.
March 20, 2022
Pastor Adrian de Lange
Lamentations 3: 19-33
The justice of God move us from third-person speech ("racism is a problem") to first-person repentance ("how can I live differently?"); from the abstract to the personal.
Pastor Adrian de Lange
March 11, 2022
Lamentations 3:19-42
The book of Lamentations comes to a climax in chapter 3, with an acrostic poem, which brings order to the chaos that the words of ch. 3 express. “Lament presents the possibility of an order ordained by God in the midst of a broken reality”. Jeremiah’s personal experience of suffering reflects takes sin and suffering from the abstract to the personal and experiential. Like Jeremiah, all of us experience pain and lament in deeply personal ways. The justice of God moves us from third-person speech (“racism is a problem”) to first-person repentance (“how can I live differently?”); from the abstract to the personal.
March 06, 2022
Pastor de Lange
Lamentations 1:1-11
Our community is growing in our need for and value of lament. We have moved from a “celebration” culture (where most our lives are in a good place) to a reality in which it is difficult for us to rejoice. Yet in pain, God desires to bring us together—close to one another and closer to himself. We cannot return to our old ways, we cannot find simple solutions, and we should not withdraw. God’s desire for us: lament together.
Sunday, February 27, 2022.
Pastor de Lange.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-24
Scripture consistently pictures Satan as the accuser of God’s people. When we gossip and accuse one another, we do the devil’s work for him and tear down the body of Christ. Instead, we should “encourage one another and build each other up!” (1 Thess 5:11). This is what scripture calls edification: seeing the good and saying the good in the presence of others.
February 20,2022 Pastor Adrian de Lange Luke 18:18-30; Luke 19:1-10
Imagine the conflict if the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus joined the same church! The first wants to hold onto what he has and follow Jesus; the second gives up everything. Do we love the dream of community (as the rich young ruler) or its reality (as Zacchaeus)?
February 13, 2022__Pastor Adrian de Lange 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Paul wrote to Corinthians in one church with different worldviews. Like the Corinthians, River Park Church has the exciting opportunity to find ways to honour different needs of different groups. Our goal is not, “Let’s all get together” but rather, “How do we make room for others to experience the good news of the Kingdom of God without stumbling blocks?”
August 1, 2021 Pastor Adrian de Lange. Jonah 1
There is no difference in magnitude between the rebellion or sin of Christians and the rebellion or sin of those who are not in Christ. Jonah reminds us of the rebelliousness of God’s people, but also of the power of our God to order our lives and his world so that “all things work for the good…”
July 18, 2021 Pastor Layne Kilbreath Matthew 17:1-13
Old Testament Law recognizes that everything we have belongs to God already. Tithing simply recognizes God’s ownership of everything by returning the first portion of our earnings to God as an act of faith, trusting God that more will follow. Paul illustrates that a life of faith begins with giving generously, trusting that our generous God will give us even more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20-21). When we do this, God will bless us greatly with the riches of his Kingdom.
July 25, 2021 Pastor Case Vink Psalm 19: 1-4
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Psalms 19:1-4a
July 11, 2021 Pastor Adrian de Lange Nehemiah 13:29-31; 2 Cor 9:6-11
Old Testament Law recognizes that everything we have belongs to God already. Tithing simply recognizes God’s ownership of everything by returning the first portion of our earnings to God as an act of faith, trusting God that more will follow. Paul illustrates that a life of faith begins with giving generously, trusting that our generous God will give us even more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20-21). When we do this, God will bless us greatly with the riches of his Kingdom.
July 4, 2021 Pastor Adrian de Lange Nehemiah 13:23-29; Rev. 5:9-12
What is Biblical Purity? We’re not talking purity rings and we’re certainly not talking ethnic separation. Purity in the context of the Old Testament sacrificial system is complete dedication to God of the entire community. Are we willing to please God before we please our own sexual desires? Are we willing to dedicate ourselves to God before we care for our own biological families? Are we willing to humble our cultural preferences for what is “obvious” or “the right way” to do things and seek unity with all God’s people instead? Revelation shows us what a pure community focused in worship to God looks like.
June 27, 2021 Pastor Adrian de Lange.
Nehemiah’s final reforms are Sabbath Rest, Purity in the Family of God, and Firstfruits (Tithes). This Sunday begins a three-part series wrap-up focusing on Sabbath Rest. Summer is a natural time for rest, but do we really rest as a way of connecting with God; or do we simply flee, exhausted from our busyness. Jesus has a better way for us to rest: abiding with the Father.
Pastor Adrian de Lange on Sunday, November 28, 2022. New Series on Advent. Message based on Luke 24:13-32.
Message from Pastor Adrian de Lange on Sunday October 31, 2021.
Based on 2 Kings 5:1-19.
Message from Pastor Adrian de Lange on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Based on scripture from Galatians 3:23-4:7.
Message from Pastor Harrison Cho on Sunday October 10, 2021. Based on the scripture passage of 1 John 1 : 1-4.
A message delivered by Pastor Adrian de Lange on October 03, 2021. Based on John 1:1-14.
Message from Pastor Adrian de Lange base on Sunday, September 26, 2021.
God's Word: Mark 3:13-35.
A message from Rev. Adrian de Lange on Sunday, September 18, 2021. New series about our Vision Statement, entitled: “Mosaic: Unity in Diversity”. Message based on Romans 12:1-5.
Sunday, February 5, 2022. Pastor Harrison Cho leads in the message based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
The love of Christ unites us and allows us to flourish: only God’s love grows in us an ability to make room for others. When we try to love others in order to make them like us, we fail. But God has given us differences so that we might learn from, care for, and honour each other. The love of humans is short-lived; but the love of God is powerful and eternal.
January 23, 2022. Based on Matthew 16:13-22. Pastor Adrian de Lange.
Jesus’ words to Peter on Mt. Hermon kindled the supernatural offense of the Kingdom of God against the powers of sin and darkness in this world. Jesus built his church at the gates of hell, with the intent that nothing could fracture the church (Christ's body)
Sunday, January 30, 2022. Based on Colossians 1:15-29. Pastor Adrian de Lange.
Reformed Christians perhaps spend too much time emphasizing “total depravity” (the way in which sin affects all of creation); and not enough time focused on the Image of God given to each person we meet. When we spend our time magnifying and adoring Jesus Christ, we can only celebrate how our God reconciles all things and all of us to himself