River City Church Hull Sunday Messages: Recent Episodes
John Flavell
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The church is a mystery in so mystery in so many ways. It is amazing that God loves us so much that he wants to put us on display, to demonstrate his incredible wisdom.
We must learn to draw on the Spirit every day if we are to receive life and give it away.
As we celebrate baptisms this morning, Abi reminds us that we can come to Jesus to receive life-giving water that will truly satisfy all our thirsts.
John returns to one of the key Scriptures that gives us the vision for River City, Ezekiel 47, and reminds us that we are now the temple of God from which streams of living water flow. Do you want to be a 'living stone' in your community, bringing life to all around you?
What is the result of Nehemiah and the Israelites hard work and prayer? An influx of people, dedicated to serving God as they establish the worship of God at the centre of all they do.
in the rebuilding Nehemiah becomes aware that there are those around him who are in desperate need. Covid has revealed to us the depth of poverty in our city, and we cannot ignore their plight. We must divert our resources to serving those most in need.
In this new season, with all God has called us to, we know that opposition will come, both internally and externally. We need to encourage and strengthen one another in this season, and fight for one another through prayer and fasting.
Upon first reading this chapter is just a long list of names, but that would be to miss out on some important truths. As a church we cannot be run by the few for the many, we need everyone to play their part.
For the last year church has not looked anything like what we've done before. It would be easy to want to return to the "good old days", but maybe God is asking us to rebuild the church in this season so that it looks different to how it used to.
Today we start a new series in the book of Nehemiah. After years of exile, Nehemiah learns the fate of Jerusalem, and responds in prayer and fasting. Sensing a call from God he makes a bold step of obedience, and sees God provide in miraculous ways.
Jesus is clear, following after him is not easy, because we cannot just hear the words of Jesus and agree with them, we have to do them! Those who respond to the announcement of the Kingdom will receive all the blessings and benefits that it entails, but there is also a warning for those who don’t. By the end of Matthew Israel has made it’s choice – the wide road – and Jesus returns with a prediction instead of a warning (Matt 24). The same is true for us. We have to choose – narrow or wide path, wise or fo
Again, what Jesus teaches here is both clear and redemptive. Jesus isn’t saying we should ignore other’s faults or allow them to continue, but rather we must resist evil by doing good. That means being self-aware and dealing with our own blindness before talking to others about the speck’s in our brother’s/sister’s eye. ”Self-correction is the beginning of the redemptive righteousness of Jesus’ disciples.” The guiding principle for all the righteousness that Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount is summ
“Anxiety drives the world, driven by the insight that we are limited creatures and the future sets the boundaries of our limitations.” We want to be able to manage our future, to know what is coming, but we can’t. Knowing we can’t manage the future, and yet trying to, can only have one result: anxiety/worry. Jesus announces that the future of God is coming and it is secure in his hands. Trusting God means we know our future is secure because everything is in the hands of a Loving Father who cares for us.
Obedience to Jesus enables us to “treasure up treasures” in heaven. Like Solomon in Proverbs, Jesus presents us with two masters to live under, and the truth that our heart can only choose one. Whichever you choose, they will dictate how you live, and the treasures you store up. Earthly things are good, but heavenly ones are better, and more secure. To do the righteousness of the Kingdom we need to give money away, not hoard it.
It may seem that Jesus is condemning public prayer, which of course he is not, as he openly prays in front of others. Instead, he is condemning the “hypocrites” who pray meaningless prayers because they do not know who they are praying to. The meaning of the word “hypocrite” here is “ungodly” and their prayers are “ungodly” because they are for the judgement and reward of man rather than our good and loving Heavenly Father. When we know who we come to in prayer we can be short, direct and kingdom focused in
Jesus now moves from public acts of righteousness to private ones. Not all righteous acts are to be performed for the world to see. People should see how we treat our enemies, and our spouses, and how we deal with conflict, and see that we are different. The key question for these ‘private’ acts of righteousness us who are we serving? Who is watching?
The “lex talonis” or “law of retribution” limited violence and retribution to like for like. The problem is, Jesus says, this often leads to a cycle of vengeance and tragedy. Jesus wants us to resist evil not by evil means, but by doing good. Jesus reverses “lex talonis” so that we take upon ourselves “double restitution”, bearing the punishment for the one who assaults us. Not just about gritting our teeth and enduring it, but through redemption arresting and reversing oppression. Ultimately we are to emul
Jesus is observing a cultural practice here that meant that people would regularly swear oaths on all sorts of things that in effect made them worthless. And so he is not saying do not make oaths at all, but rather consider seriously what you say you will or won’t do and ensure that you tell the truth. To be a truth telling people is hard, it swims against the tide. But Jesus is the truth incarnate, and we are to follow him and speak truth.
Jesus is not saying that lust or desire are wrong, and the phrasing is better put “if anyone looks at a woman in order to lust”, which shows us that Jesus is challenging those who look just for the purpose of arousing lust/desire. In the ancient world lust was seen as a woman’s fault – that her beauty sent out powerful rays that a man was unable to resist. But Jesus is firmly placing the responsibility on the one who is doing the looking. And his solution is a radical one. He’s not literally advocating for
Anger is not wrong, we can be angry at injustice or sin, but here Jesus is linking anger with strife and murder. Anger must be expressed and if we’re not careful it will lead us down the same path as Cain with Abel (Jesus is referencing that story here with 4 uses of the word brother and the journey to the altar to make a sacrifice). Jesus is encouraging us that a greater righteousness is to be a peacemaker, to go and be reconciled, to seek the forgiveness of those we have wronged, and in so doing restore t
It is important that we understand this short section in Jesus sermon in order that the next 3 chapters make sense. What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law? And what does Jesus mean when he says that our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law? I thought Christianity was all about grace and love, not having to be even better than those who work really hard at doing everything right?! Well, we need to understand the meaning of the words for Matthew. For him, Jesus “ful
The Kingdom is to be salt and light to the earth. Salt was to season all offerings given to God to make them palatable to him so that he didn’t spit them out, and was a mark of the covenant between God and his people. We are the light on a hill that all peoples are drawn to. We are the heir to the Abrahamic covenant, but this time not sand and stars but salt and light, one on the earth and one above it. What makes us salt and light? Our good deeds, which flavour the whole earth and bring it light. Without u
Matthew’s story is one of mountaintop experiences (7 mountains in total). Biblically mountains are the places that Heaven and earth meet. Jesus is taking his throne, (note he sits in verse 1) as the only one who has the right to join heaven and earth. And as we gather to him we receive healing, deliverance, renewal, restoration and resurrection life.
The call to discipleship is a radical one. “Every subject of Jesus’ Kingdom, of the kingdom of heaven is called to restructure their time, their spending of money, their desires and hopes, their actions, their plans, their marriages, their work, their leisure, in radical ways. From the roots up, everything is to be redirected towards Jesus.” – Peter Leithart. Why? In order that we might bring others into the Kingdom. In the OT fishing for men represented invading a land and leading it’s people into exile,
Whenever we make a clear declaration that we are citizens of God’s Kingdom, we will experience testing. Jesus shows us this in his wilderness experience. So, why is Jesus tempted? The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, so does God “lead us into temptation”? Surely not! But he will use temptation to reveal our hearts. So, what will he find, and what can we learn from Jesus about how to overcome such temptation? Jesus shows us the importance of not just knowing Scripture, but living it out
In the story of Jesus’ baptism we see the reuniting of Heaven with Earth; that through Jesus the two that were estranged since Adam are now reunited (the dove hovering over Jesus is reminiscent of the Spirit hovering over the new creation). In “fulfilling all righteousness” Jesus is not obeying a command (there is no law that says you must be baptised) but rather becoming the fulfilment of prophecy – Jesus is becoming God’s instrument of righteousness on the earth – just as we do when we are baptized.
In the story of Herod’s reaction to Jesus’ birth Matthew shows us that a new King has arrived, ushering in a new Kingdom for all peoples, every race, tribe and tongue, and we all have a choice – to submit to him or not. Herod refuses to use his authority wisely but in Hezekiah we have an example of authority under submission that we should all follow.
As we approach Christmas Day, John helps us to reflect on how we feel once the waiting is over. Often the arrival of much anticipated gifts can result in disappointment, often due to our unrealistic expectations. But if we truly understand our need for a Saviour, then Jesus should never disappoint.
In Mary we see an incredible example of someone who submits themselves to God’s plans and purposes even at great personal cost. Mary knows that carrying, birthing, raising and witnessing the suffering of her son will not be easy, but she knows that in the waiting and the trusting there will also be great blessing. We must remain grateful that God might consider us worthy to be part of his glorious plan for all of humanity.
John’s testimony was a clear message that there was one greater than he who was coming. Nicky encourages us that as we wait for Jesus to come we can be actively telling as many people as possible about him, but from a place of grace and not works.
Anna helps us look at the stories of two people, Simeon and Anna, who have waited a long time for the promised Messiah. It can be hard to wait sometimes, we can doubt that we’ve heard God or that he is still there. These two stories give us some clues as to how to wait well – with devotion, worship, prayer and fasting.
In the 2nd part of our mini-series on Leadership, John and Abi speak about the changes that will be taking place over the coming months to the Leadership structure of River City as we transition from a church plant to a church.
In this first of a two-part mini-series John speaks about what biblical leadership should look like, in preparation for River City transitioning from a church plant led by John and Abi to a church with a Senior Leadership Team.
We reach the end of Proverbs, and are given a wonderful summary, a literal A-Z of wisdom (in Hebrew each line begins with the next letter of the alphabet). If you want to know what wisdom looks like, and by extension if you are living wisely, then this is her. Have you fallen in love with wisdom?
It is foolish to place our trust in anything other than God, but it is easy to do so. We often believe in the strength or reliability of other things – finances, health, relationships, power, even our own cleverness. But that is folly. We must place our trust in the One who knows all things and controls all things.
Folly tries to teach us that our lives will be complete, happy and fulfilled by the things outside of ourselves that come into our lives – possessions, people, status etc. But Proverbs teaches us that the wisdom know that things work from the inside out, not the outside in. If we ensure that our hearts are submitted fully to God and seeking after life in him then we will experience true fulfilment and fruitfulness.
In the last of his 3 part mini-series looking at the Gospel of John, Ian encourages us that through the work of the Spirit we can experience God 'alongside us' in all 3 persons - Father, Son and Spirit.
Ian introduces us to the Gospel of John by speaking about the wonder of being Friends with God.
Certain events in life teach us that we are not as strong as might think. An awareness of our own weakness should make us more caring and compassionate for those who are experiencing periods of struggle or difficulty. Wonderfully, Proverbs teaches us that if we are wise every time we fall we will rise again.
There are few greater joys than that of friendship. True friends bring both comfort, challenge and change in our lives. The wisdom of a good friend is priceless. And as a church we are part of a larger family built on friendship. How good it is to be friends with those we are on a mission with!
If we are to be wise, we need to give thought to our lives; the steps we take, the paths we follow and the choices we make. So, as we survey our own lives, what foundations have we put in place, and how might they help us submit the plans we have to Jesus?
Proverbs shoews us that becoming wise is based on the choices we make. The first choice we can make is whether or not we want to pursue wisdom for ourselves. If we do, then we will find Jesus.
Revelation ends as it began: by revealing Jesus Christ. Hopefully after reading all of this book we join with John in crying “Maranatha!” – Come Lord Jesus!!
After a sequence of judgment chapters, we finally step out into the sunshine of new creation. But John’s focus is not so much on the new world God has made, but on the glorious bride of Christ: the Church – a glorious new Jerusalem prepared for Christ to dwell in with his people forever!
John looks at the different views of the millennium and the return of Jesus, focusing on an invitation from Revelation 19:9 – ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’
These chapters describe the judgement of the whole of creation – it’s a fearful picture but woven through these chapters are reminders of God's desire to deliver people, His true and just character, and that judgement finally brings justice on all that is evil in our world. The call comes to respond by staying awake, and we do this through worship, through witness because the times are urgent, and by waiting in faith, knowing that as believers we are saved because of Jesus.
Luke helps us to see that those who can stand through the troubles of this world are those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit through salvation.
This week we look at the Throne Room of God and the one who is worthy to sit there, both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain.
What does the victorious Christian life look like? Abi takes a look at Jesus' words concerning his church in Revelation 2-3 and shows us it may not be the things we think it is.
We would all agree that God is worthy of Glory and Honour, but what about us? Is it big headed to say that God has honoured and glorified us? How do we receive honour and glory in an appropriate way?
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom. But is our freedom just a license to live as we please, or has God set us free for a purpose?
We have all, as children of God, received mercy - forgiveness of a debt that we could not repay. Are we showing that same mercy to others?
Our guest speaker this week is David Lavery, leader of Resurrection Church, a recent church plant into the city of Wakefield. David shares about the importance of relying on Jesus for all that we need to grow and be fruitful.
In the story of the Prodigal Son we see an incredible demonstration of the grace of our Father towards us as his children when we walk away from him. He is always ready to forgive and restore us into relationship.
As God's children we have complete and unfettered access to our Heavenly Father. Do we make full use of this incredible privilege?
What does it mean to be a child of God? How can having God as our Father change us? What does our inheritance now look like, and how do we claim it?
In Hebrews 11 we hear of an incredible cast of characters, all of whom demonstrated incredible faith. We are called to put our trust in Jesus as they did, in every circumstance.
In Hebrews 10 the writer encourages us to persevere, even in the face of persecution and trial. How can we do the same?
In Hebrews 8 the writer is warning us that we can easily fall into Old Covenant thinking, striving to buy for ourselves what only Christ could afford. We have to rely on the new covenant, made in his blood, not in our own performance.
In Hebrews 6 the writer asks us where our hope is found, is it sure and certain or momentary and optimistic.
Who the heck is Melchizedek? In chapter 7 of Hebrews we are reminded of the story of Abram meeting the King of Salem and giving him a 10th of all he had. Why was he deserving of such honour? Why was he the one who blessed Abram? And what can this teach us about how we should respond to the blessings we have received in Christ Jesus?
What does maturity for the Christian look like? How do we grow as followers of Jesus? Dave helps us to see how we can contribute to our growth and maturity.
Joshua led the people of God into the promised land, with all it's abundance, and yet even he could not give God's people true rest. Only Jesus can lead us into true rest, because he has already done everything for us, his work of salvation is finished and so we can rest.
Jesus has saved us! And what is this great salvation he has purchased on our behalf? It is being raised up to a position of honour, being given authority in Christ, it is being made holy, it is adoption into God’s family, it is freedom from death and atonement for our sin. It is indeed a great salvation!
Moses is a great example of faithfulness to God, he continued to trust in God in even the most impossible of situations, and yet Jesus is even greater than Moses. People wandered away from Moses’ leadership, great though he was, and the same is possible for us today, that we might even wander away from one as great as Jesus. Faithfulness to Christ in difficult moments is of greater value than we realise, as Jesus reveals in his commendations to the churches in Revelation, he loves it when we remain faithful
Matt Hatch from Mosaic Church in Leeds, and leader of our Hub within Catalyst, was visited us. He talked about the courage of Daniel to let things slide which weren't important, but made a stand where they were, and how we can learn from this for our witnessing in our work places (whatever our work may be).
In the first of a new series looking at the book of Hebrews, John asks the fundamental question, who is Jesus to you?
In the last of our series, Jack looks at how the church is to be visible and bold in it's proclamation of the good news of the gospel.
The church is the army of God, fighting a battle against spiritual forces which would seek to hold back God's Kingdom on the earth.
The Bridegroom is coming! We, his bride, are being made ready. How might we prepare ourselves best for his arrival? Are we as excited as John the Baptist was to see him come? Are we making our best efforts to present ourselves to him as pure and clean? How do we do this? By the blood of Jesus, not by our own efforts. Do we believe ourselves to be beautiful? Do we understand our position? What does it look like love and submit to Jesus like a wife to her husband? How can we lay our lives down for the church
The church is the body of Christ on the earth, our many parts representing his fullness through our multiplicity of gifts.
The church is a family, in fact we define family. So, no matter what your experience of family, the church should be the best example of what it means to love, serve and relate to one another.
It is only by God's grace that sinners like us can be brought together to form a beautiful, diverse and active church community
The biggest barrier to stepping out in mission can often be our own fear. How can we overcome it?
How are we to know who should lead the church, and what should their leadership look like?
The Church is the dwelling place of God on the earth, therefore we are to remain pure and holy. How can we help one another with this, dealing well with impurity amongst us, building one another up and ensuring Jesus is the cornerstone of all we establish at River City?
Jesus speaks of those he loves as his sheep, and of himself as the Great Shepherd. In Acts Paul tells those leading the church that they too are shepherds, charged with guarding the flock that God has entrusted to them. What does it mean for us to be sheep led by a shepherd, are we familiar with his voice, how can we lead the church like good shepherds?
In this story Jesus performs his first miracle, turning water into wine. But there is so much meaning in the miracle Jesus chooses. He is showing that he is providing new wine, that the feast is ready (Isaiah 55) and that in the church he is providing a new wineskin that is better than the old. The church is a new covenant people, the new Israel, and we must be filled with the new wine – no longer law but grace, no longer sacrifices but the blood of Jesus, no longer distant but brought close.
One of the ways Jesus teaches us who we are is by using the imagery of a vine, and the grafting in of new branches. If you understand this process it involves taking a branch from another plant (without any roots of its own) and connecting it to a thriving complete plant. The grafted in branch is completely dependant on the plant for it’s life! The resulting fruit created is of an entirely different variety to the fruit previously produced by that branch as it is changed by being part of the new plant. In t
Jesus so closely identifies with the church that when he firsts meets Paul and confronts him over his persecution of Christians he asks him "Why are you persecuting me?" We are Christ in the flesh to the world today. How does this affect how we treat the church and how we act as a people?
The Church is not a human creation, it was not just a good idea in the 1st Century and maybe something better will come along soon. The church is the creation of the eternal God and is part of his eternal plan. The church will last forever! We need to understand that the church is something God has given us to steward, not to own.
The great thing about being thankful to God is that he never stops giving us more to be thankful for. We are to be a people set apart from the world because of our thankfulness, it is what makes us different and shows the world who God is, which leads them to worship and thank him with us, for all of eternity.
Jesus died and rose again that many sons and daughters may receive an eternal inheritance. What an incredible truth to remember this Easter and to give thanks for!
When thanking God, use words! Gos loves to hear our prayers of thanksgiving, and even more wonderfully, he loves to answer our prayers.
There are few better ways to thank God than through singing his praise, and even more so when we get to sing together. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to make a loud and joyful noise to the Lord. Brian looks at the story of David returning the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem to teach us how to join in reverent and joyful worship.
We often call this communion, which is an Anglican term, but I would far rather we call it the Eucharist – the Greek, Biblical word “eucharisteo” which literally means “thanksgiving”. So, when we break bread together we are performing an act of thanksgiving (not our modern emphasis on remembrance as a solemn act). Let’s remember every week as we gather at the table that we are thanking Jesus for his loving sacrifice.
Surely you are thankful when you receive a gift, at Christmas or for your birthday? Well, God has given to us some of the most amazing gifts we can imagine, the gifts of his Holy Spirit. Let’s eagerly receive and use those gifts to thank God and build one another up, as Paul encourages us to do, just as every good gift comes from the Lord.
God has blessed us not only through a relationship with him, but by restoring our relationships to one another. We are to be thankful for one another, because we can support, encourage and love one another as a body. We are not alone, and for that we should be faithful! This message will lead to a number of talks looking at things within our church body that we are to be thankful for.
It can be hard to feel grateful when things aren’t going as we would want them to, when life is hard and circumstances seem to be against us. But the Bible tells us that even in those moments there are things to be thankful for. How can we be thankful even in the most challenging of situations? Sometimes being thankful can seem like a sacrifice, it can be costly to make yourself thank God when you don’t feel like it, but the rewards for doing so are eternal.
You have hope! In Japanese pottery when a vase was broken the restorer of the vase would not try to hide the damage, but instead would fill the cracks with gold to make the restored vase even more beautiful. God is the master potter. No matter what the circumstance, how desperate or broken things may seem, God is able to restore the ruins and rebuild our broken lives, he is a God of restoration. We must thank him that for putting back together what once was broken into something even more glorious.
We can build our lives on many things, but there is nothing secure except for the sure and certain knowledge that Jesus has won the victory over sin and death. We can stand firm upon that ground, establishing a foundation that will last for all eternity. Let us be thankful that we do not need to fear anything, even death!
Due to a guest speaker not being able to make it, this topic was added in to the series to fill a slot. John looks at the meaning of the word "Hallelujah", which has been a common theme coming up in the church life. We see how we can come against the enticing desires of this world by raising a Hallelujah.
God gives us so much that we do not deserve, because of his mercy. Instead of judgement, punishment and death he brings Forgiveness, blessings and as many fresh starts as we need. Has God’s mercy changed your life? Are you making the most of the fresh start he has given you? Are you still in awe at the eternal life that is now yours in Christ Jesus?
This phrase is a popular refrain throughout Scripture. We are not only to thank God for what he has done, but for who he is. God could be all sorts of things – tyrannical, distant, cruel – but he is not. God is Good and His Love Endures Forever! Let us always be thankful for that.
In this gospel story Jesus heals 10 lepers, but only one comes back to say thank you, and Jesus notices the absence of the others. God notices when we are grateful for the things he does for us, and he notices when we’re not. How can we develop a habit of thankfulness that ensures nothing God does for us goes without our thanking Him?
Thanksgiving is not a simple transaction – God did this for me and so I owe him a debt of gratitude and once I’ve said thank you I’ve rebalanced the relationship. Who God is and what he has done is so great that we could never repay him, and so our only response must be praise/worship. Status of the giver is far above those who have received the gifts. Also, Paul often thanked God for things he was doing in the lives of others, or for things he was going to do. So, instead, thankfulness is to be part of our
Upon their return Jesus is full of excitement and praise for the work the disciples have done. Jesus is so pleased with us when we are faithful and obedient to him, and he is cheering us on when we see fruit in our mission. But, he also gives us a clear warning, that our identity should never be found in the ‘success’ of our mission to make disciples, but rather in our identity as his.
This is a poor recording, but you can still hear what's being said.
As we have learnt over the last few months, we are not simply to be disciples of Jesus, but to be those who make disciples. In this passage Jesus gives us some incredible wisdom about how we might be successful in this mission. Go with little to offer, look for the person of peace, invest heavily in fewer relationships, don’t fear rejection, and use the authority you have been given etc.
This banquet gives Jesus the opportunity to teach his disciples that those we are called to disciple are those he has invited, not just those we think should get in. We would all love to be in a church full of people just like us, where all our friends had come to faith and we could all just hang out singing Bethel songs and eating meat together! But, the challenging truth is Jesus might not have invited all of our mates but rather those completely unlike us (often the poor and needy) who appreciate the inv
For those we know who seem close to coming to faith, this story is a wonderful example of the simplicity of the gospel, but also the incredible challenge it presents to a world set on the pursuit of knowledge and expertise. Becoming a disciple of Christ is about humbling yourself, recognizing your weakness and your need for God, and leaning wholly on his mercy and grace to save you. When we have the chance to share the gospel with those seeking truth, do we try to give sophisticated and intellectually rigor
In this story we see a ‘non-disciple’ of Jesus teaching his disciples a valuable lesson about faith. As fellow disciples of Jesus, are we willing to learn from those who may seem to have only just met Jesus and yet have greater trust/faith in him? The Centurion would not have been a popular role model for a group of Jews under Roman rule, and yet Jesus uses him as such. Are we willing to learn from those who might seem to us to be completely the wrong people to teach us anything?
This was a bonus talk in our Disciple Maker series, whereby we were going to have a guest speaker, but they couldn't come. So John spoke about Christ like friendship, something which he felt God has been speaking to him about in recent months.
The passage in Mark 7 about Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman is at first glance a confusing one! why does he call her a 'dog' and why does she respond to him the way she does. Helen suggests a number of things we can learn from this encounter.
How people respond to Jesus does not always look like we think it should, in fact, we can often find ourselves dismissing the faith of new believers because they’re not responding to God in the ways we think they should – changing their sinful behaviours first and intimately approaching Jesus only once these things have been put right. But Jesus acceptance, his encouragement of the sinful woman in her response to his grace, shows us that we need to lead people to Jesus first and make dealing with their ‘sin
As with the Woman at the Well, Jesus is the one who takes the initiative in this story to engage in discipling Zacchaeus. I’m sure there are many people who would never expect us to want to know them, let alone honour them and want to build an intimate friendship with them, but if we are willing to take the first step with those people it may well give us incredible opportunities to call them into a different way of life. Christianity is seen in the world as a religion that rejects anyone who doesn’t believ
In challenging this young man’s claim that he had kept all of the law, Jesus asks him questions that penetrate to the heart, helping him to understand that idols still exist there. We can only help people to understand themselves if we take time to learn about them, what they love, enjoy, invest in, so that we might ask them the right questions to help them understand that they have given their worship to those things instead of the Jesus who loves them.
When Jesus is asked how people might gain eternal life, this would seem like the perfect moment to preach a 3-point gospel sermon, but Jesus does the complete opposite, posing a number of questions to the man that mean he leaves without a clear answer to the question he was asking. How quick are we to try and answer all the questions our non-Christian contacts have, rather than trying to ask them questions that might help them to seek and find the truth for themselves?
Jesus was intentional about when and where he discipled others, even taking a diversion into ‘enemy territory’ so that he would meet this Samaritan lady. In their conversation Jesus uses his own weakness/lack to gain the woman’s confidence. This then gives him the opportunity to move the conversation onto deeper issues, showing grace and gentleness in the light of the woman’s story, leading her to faith, and then sending her out on mission into her own community. How can we learn to approach non-believers i
In Jesus’ interaction with this woman we see some challenging responses to the sinful lives of those we would call non-Christians. Jesus is not condemning but instead uses this as an opportunity to provoke those wanting to judge the woman, including us, to consider instead their own sinfulness and in so doing grow in mercy and love for others. Doing this then gives Jesus the opportunity to call the woman into a life of obedience to him. Maybe if we made a greater effort to communicate love and acceptance to
In the two stories in Luke 5:1-11 and Luke 9:57-62 we see summarized the ‘high invitation/high challenge’ discipleship method Jesus used, calling men like Peter to a life of great fruitfulness as one of his chosen disciples whilst a few chapters later making very clear to those wanting to follow him that there was a very high cost. Have you understood that being a Christian involves both wonderful blessing through communion with Christ and incredible challenge as he calls you to lay down everything you have
John brings us the vision for the coming term, encouraging us to come back to the river by pushing in to praying more, and explaining our new preaching series "Disciple Maker", where we will be looking at the one-on-one interactions Jesus has with people throughout the gospels.
We were excited to have Helen back preaching again, after having taken some time off preaching due to illness...
As we finish out series in Acts we see Paul setting out on his final journey, one that would eventually lead to his death. But Paul is not afraid or filled with regret because he knows that he has run his race well (something he refers to again in his letters to both the Galatian and Corinthian churches). What sort of race are we running? Are we satisfied with what we have done for Jesus, or c
This short story highlights to us that not everything in Acts is supernatural and powerful and life changing, but not much has to happen for the Kingdom to break through. Paul is clearly talking too much and it’s not that interesting as Eutychus goes to sleep and falls to his death! Paul’s response is to raise him back to life. We need to understand that a lot of our lives may feel ordinary and a bit boring, in fact, even church might feel like that some weeks, but that doesn’t mean that in a moment God can
Almost two years to the day since she visited last, to help in sending a group of us out from Jubilee to plant River City, Angela Kemm is back. Bringing words of encouragement, and showing us that we are all carriers of revival, and that we are to be vessels through which God can bring his blessings and new life to those around us.
Throughout this chapter we see the value of making disciples. Paul has disciple Priscilla and Aquila who then go on to disciple Apollos, to amazing effect across the church. We need to understand that we can achieve far more if we are investing in the lives of others than we can if we go it alone.
In Athens Paul brings one of his most famous gospel messages, revealing to the people that their search for meaning and truth has led them into idolatry, and that the truth they are looking for can actually be found in Jesus Christ. How can we help people to understand that the hope, love, purpose, meaning, success etc that they are looking for today is still to be found in Christ alone?
This is the first time we hear of Lydia, a woman who goes on to have a massive influence in the church. Using Acts 16:13-15 we do character study of Lydia, picking out the significant things we can learn from her.
At this point we witness the first significant disagreement between Paul and Barnabs, so great that they have to separate and go in different directions. However, even in this we are given a great example of healthy disagreement, where we can disagree without leaving behind bitterness or broken relationships. Let's get good at disagreement.
The circumcision groups, as they become known, wanted all of the new gentile believers to come under the Jewish law in order to secure their salvation. But the good news of the gospel is that we are free from the law, no longer required to establish a covenant through the shedding of our own blood, because there is an everlasting covenant established between us and God through the shedding of his blood on the cross.
Paul and Barnabus are an apostolic team, an incredible partnership 'sent' by God to the nations to preach the gospel, perform miracles. plant churches, disciple and train leaders and encourage believers. We are also a sent people.
In verses 2-3 of Acts 13 we see Paul and Barnabus are 'set apart' for a mission to Cyprus. This involved prayer and fasting and laying on of hands. This all means that when confronted by Elymas the sorcerer Paul speaks with such authority that he is struck blind. As we pray for one another, let's pray that we would step into the mission God has for us with authority, knowing that nothing can stand in our way.
When Jesus sets us free there are no chains that can bind us. ere Peter is facing almost certain death at the hands of a bloodthirsty King Herod, and yet as people pray for him God responds by loosing his chains and leading him out of prison. It is all so surreal even Peter things he's having a dream! The freedom Christ offers us can also sometimes seem too good to be true, impossible at times with all the things that tie us up, but God can enter even the most difficult of situations and break us free.
After a powerful time of worship John speaks from the heart regarding breakthrough and changing our thinking.
On Easter Sunday we celebrate baptisms by looking at the Baptism story of the Ethiopian in Chapter 8 of Acts.
In the story of the first martyr, Stephen, we see an incredible example of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, one who is willing to pick up our cross and follow Christ (something Luke, the writer of Acts mentions twice in his gospel - Luke 9:23 and Luke 14:27). What might it look like for you to deny yourself and follow Christ? What sacrifices are you making to follow him? Are we to comfortable?
Whenever the kingdom of God advanced the enemy fights back, often through persecution. Here the disciples are brought before a court that could put them to death, and yet they continue to proclaim the gospel/. In response they are flogged. And yet, they leave thanking God that they get to share in Christ's suffering and encouraged to preach even more! Are we willing to risk rejection by our friends, family, colleagues, an neighbours because of our faith? Do we delight in suffering? Are we encouraged by oppo
This is one of the most challenging stories in Scripture, but also a reminder of God's passion for the purity of His church. At this infant stage God will allow nothing to threaten his church, and so he protects her. We must have a similar passion for purity, wanting to rid ourselves of anything that might threaten the beauty of Christ's bride.
With Angela Kemm not being able to make it to Hull due to the weather we instead spend time listening to God and John brings us a summary of all God has speaking to us recently.
Prayer is powerful! We spend some time as a family celebrating the amazing things God has done. This audio contains 5 incredible stories of God changing lives and doing the miraculous.
Acts 4:13 states that 'Ordinary, schooled men,' had been transformed into men with the courage to proclaim the gospel whilst in chains. Why? Because they had been with Jesus.
Matt's back at River City and as ever brings us something so encouraging and spot of as he calls us to pray for revival in our city.
We can often be tempted to offer people all kinds of things to get people into church instead of realising that God has given us all we need in him. Let's pursue being a people of power, we don't just offer a load of services to the community, but who meet their needs with God's resources.
After the resurrection Jesus gives his disciples a purpose, a power and a promise - to preach the good news of the gospel all over the world, by the power of his Spirit, until he returns. Nothing has changed for us.
Jesus was obedient to everything his Father wanted him to do, even unto death. We too, if we are to be like him must be obedient if we want to become like him, even if that leads to suffering. We want to be a church of people who say yes to God no matter want he asks of us, be is small or big.
God loves it when we celebrate, especially when what we're celebrating is Him! Jesus was full of joy in the Holy Spirit, he loved a party and that same Holy Spirit is given to us that we might experience that joy also. We need to be good at having parties and festivals and weeks of thanksgiving and praise because of all God has done for us.
Jesus is the true vine, and it is only remaining in him and submitting ourselves to the pruning of the gardener that we might become more fruitful, showing ourselves to be disciples of Jesus.
Jesus came no to be served but to serve, and demonstrated this is washing the disciples feet, and example of how we are to honour others above ourselves.
Brian speaks on us as a community being called to lift shame from people by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
John talks about being a church that are called to refuse cynicism including having faith in the things God says to us even when they seem unfamiliar and unbelievable.
Jesus was God made visible, he came into the world that we might know what God looked like, and so he made himself seen. Jesus made himself available to us and showed us what it was to be fully human. He showed emotion and lived so closely with his disciples that they could see him at his strongest and weakest moments. Do we open our lives up to others? Do we let them see who we are, are we vulnerable with one another, and are we in close enough relationship with non-Christians that they might see God in us
Jesus demonstrated all of the Gifts of the Spirit, and we must also. The body of Christ is to encourage one another by using our gifts, be they prophecy or encouragement, miracles or giving, we are to bless one another and work together to reveal Christ to the world by using the unique gifts God has given us, and not envying the gifts given to others.
Jesus saw incredible potential in people. He trusted his disciples to take the kingdom of God out into the world, he encouraged people to seek him and find him and ask him fro things, he was full of positive encouragement. Likewise, we are to encourage one another, lifting one another up, praying for one another, and lifting one another's faith.
Jesus has a heart for the nations. He wants all people to know and love him. his body is a multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-cultural group of people who love God and love one another just as he has loved us. Wherever you're from Jesus loves you and wants you to be part of his church, and so should we. God's plan for the church is not that we all conform to looking like each other, but that we conform to look like him.
John spoke brilliantly without notes this week as we spent a morning listening to the Holy Spirits leading.
First and foremost we long to be a people who hunger and thirst after God. We are aiming at becoming mature disciples of Jesus that know only He can satisfy our deepest longings and needs (our spiritual thirst), and easily run to him instead of looking for other things in life to satisfy us.
John lays out a new terms teaching topic. After studying the kingdom o fGOd last term,; this term we look at the culture of River City and who we are to be as people and what should characterise us as a family.
Chris Mason visits us from The Oak Church Leeds. As a good friend to many of us he encourages us to be investing in the secret place with Jesus.
Many might and glorious kingdoms have risen and fallen since the beginning of the world, but there is one kingdom that will never fade or perish, one king who will forever be seated on a throne. Better is one day in his Kingdom than a thousand elsewhere. And the promise to those who live in this kingdom is that we will dwell with him forever, and ever and ever.
One of the paradoxes of the kingdom is that it is here, and yet it is also coming. We have seen the Kingdom being established on the earth and yet the complete and utter submission of all of creation to Christ has not yet been accomplished. That is why we do not see everyone we pray for healed, or the dead raised, or sin and death removed. But, we cannot allow that to make us complacent, thinking that we can relax and take it easy. Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom fully once and for all, and we
The promise of God is that the Kingdom he is establishing on the earth is one of power, not just of persuasive words or good presentation. The proclamation if the good news of the gospel, the work of Jesus on the cross, is accompanied with a power that can bring many to salvation. As we go out into the world to bring the kingdom of God, let's use great words but let's also show people God's glorious power.
The Kingdom of God is one in which we look to serve the needs of others before our own wants or desires. We are so often told by the world just to go and get whatever we want, no matter who we might hurt or offend along the way. But those who live in the Kingdom live very differently, seeking to put the needs of others above their own, seeking never to cause another to struggle because of our actions, even if they are not wrong in themselves.
God desires that many should come into his Kingdom, the invitation is open to all. But only few choose to accept it, and often it is not those who we would expect. The Kingdom is not for the elite, the rich, the clever, the deep thinkers but rather for the lost, the lonely and the outcast, who do not take for granted the value of being invited to such a great feast.
The mercy we have received frim God, in being forgiven the debt we owed by our sin, is unlimited. There is no way we would have been able to settle our account with God through our own efforts. Why then, should we not forgive others when they wrong us in much smaller ways than we have wronged God? As citizens of Gods' kingdom, we must make sure we are forgiving others as we have been forgiven.
The rewards of the kingdom are great, and we shall all receive them for the work that we do in serving to establish the kingdom of God on earth. But what we receive will not be determined by our length of service or the number of our good deeds, but by the grace of God, which gives us all more than we deserve.
Jesus redefines for his disciples what success looks like. Success or 'greatness' looks like being children and servants.
Wendy and her team visit us from Kings Arms Church in Bedford. Speaking on compassion Wendy encourages us to be motivated by Jesus love for people.
The seemingly insignificant seeds of the Kingdom can have a disproportionate effect on the earth. Citizens of God's kingdom are attractive people to those who live in the world, because we offer protection and shelter. In your workplace, street, school, etc. You should expect to have an impact far greater than others, because you take the seeds of the kingdom of God into those places with you.
The kingdom of God is like a good seed, it takes root, grows and produce a plentiful harvest. But, the seed must first be buried and die. Jesus was the first of many such seeds, his being buried producing many millions more seeds over the years since. We too must be willing to be scattered, buried and die that on the day of Christ's return and our resurrection we will all see what an incredible harvest we have produced.
To establish a kingdom, you must have a king. And what a king we have! Who is this king? The King of Glory!
Those campaigning for us to leave the EU built heir message around the aspiration of people to determine their own futures, to have the freedom to determine for themselves their own laws and rules and borders. This desire for a kingdom of our own is one of man's greatest weaknesses, it is the very heart of sin. As Christians we are to look instead to establish the rule of one far greater than us, we are eagerly seek the establishment of a kingdom ruled not by man, but by God.
The amazing stories of four lives changed by Jesus, shared on our first ever baptism Sunday!
Our lives as Christians are to be a representation of the Kingdom of which we are now a part.
Abi shows us how Jesus promises us a life filled with joy, hope, awe and wonder at what God has done for us. In life there are things that often rob us of these things, yet the bible shows us how we can overcome.
There are few things more wonderful than to know that you are a child of God, a heir with Christ in an eternal inheritance that can never perish or fade, that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you and welcomes you as his child, and from whom you can ask for anything and he will happily give it.
Despite being created by God, man has distanced himself from his creator. The gap exists between us was too great for any of us to cross, but Jesus has made a way.
Matt visits River City Church for the first time to encourage us on our journey of church planting.
There is nothing special about us that God might want to make himself known to us. Yet God choses us by His grace.
John begins our new series Humans looking at our identity in Christ. God created us for relationship with Him.
John reminds us that like in the days of Noah, people in our neighbourhood are going about oblivious to the fact Jesus will return soon. He encourages us that we are called as the people of God to build a study boat into which those far from God can be rescued.
Abi speaks on our second of two vision Sundays. We are called to be God's harbingers this year - those that prepare the way hearts and minds ahead for Jesus' arrival. Apologies for the sound quality on this file. We are still included the content here as the message is worth a sticking with!
This is the first of two Vision talks for the start of 2017. John speaks about God's desire to walk with us through the year as his companions, in intimacy with him, not simply to regard ourselves as his tools.
Jesus coming into the world declares to us all that the life we have ben seeking, hoping for, dreaming of has arrived!
Isaiah 55:5 says that as we display the life of Christ, the splendour of the King, nations will gather to us. We are to be a church that gathers those from the nations of the world, even nations we don't know about, and in turn be sent out to the nations of the world to be a blessing.
The River of Life in Ezekiel 47 meets the seas and its fresh water begins to remove the salt from the sea. The sea was so salty nothing could live. The River brings life to dead places. Jesus intended his people to be those of influence who's words and actions bring life to dead places in our city.
Luke reminds us that Jesus sent out his disciples to pray for the sick and gave them authority to pray and see sickness and disease leave (luke 9:1-6).
Ezekial 47: 12 and Psalm 107:37-38 says that Life in all it’s fullness is a life that produces fruit, regularly. We are to be a people who look to produce fruit in our lives, and not just one harvest, but ongoing, regular fruit. How do we produce fruit, and what does it look like? Matthew 3:8, Matthew 12:33-35, John 15, Galatians 5:22. We want to be a church that encourages you to continue to produce fruit through repentance, good works and ultimately through remaining ‘in Christ’.
Wherever the river flows there is growth. In the passage trees and plants and fish and food, represent areas of growth and provision from God in our lives. God desires that we grow as we draw on Him.
God desires to bring life to barren places in our lives and give us life in abundance. Sarah shares her story of coming to believe for herself this was true
Isaiah 55:1-3 Just as Ezekiel is invited to come to the waters of the river of life, we are also invited to come and eat and drink a priceless feast, one we simply cannot afford but is offered freely.
The supply of life that Jesus promises us is unending and unlimited. In John 7:37-38 Jesus promise is clear - if we come to Him, streams of living water will flow out of us, the Holy Spirit.
In John 7:37-38 Jesus declares that if anyone is thirsty, he should come to him and he will receive living water that never runs dry. In believing in Jesus' death and resurrection we receive a life that is far better and more satisfying than we could ever imagine.
In the Old Testament the Temple is the dwelling place of God with man, this is where we can meet with God and be in his presence of God. And this is where the river flows from. It's source is the very presence of God. The source of our lives should be the same. We must find all that we need in life in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
John kicks off the first ever Sermon at River City! Taking a brief look at the story of Joshua leading the people of God into the Promise Land. How can we be strong and courageous as we head through transition into the promises of God?