Comments on:: Recent Episodes
Riverwood Church
Since we are all betrayers, are we going to be blind, unrepentant, or repentant betrayers? While we were still enemies of God, Christ died for us. He is not hurt and wounded by our betrayal. When we sin/betrayal, where do we turn? To beating ourselves up or ignoring the shame and filling the void with substances, food, entertainment? Or, do we turn to Jesus and jump out of the boat and swim to Him?
Learn More and Watch The Sermon here: https://weareriverwood.org/betrayals-mark-48/
Guest speaker, Patrick Ray, teaches about how Churches worldwide have different problems, but we all have the same hope. Through Jesus, we can be unified despite our differences. Democrat or Republican, Russian or Ukrainian, Racial differences, etc. Galatians 3:27 explains how those baptized into Christ are not different, but we are clothed with Christ. We are also Abraham's descendants and heirs to the promise if we belong to Christ.
Watch or Learn More at: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/united-to-christ-together
Throughout the centuries, the Jewish people would celebrate Passover. It was also customary to go to Jerusalem to celebrate. In Mark 14:12-26, Jesus sends some of his disciples ahead to get a room for Jesus and his disciples.
In this room, Jesus breaks bread and gives it to the disciples. He instructs them to eat it as it is His body. He then takes a cup of wine and He tells them that it is His blood of the covenant that is poured out for each of us. The tradition of Passover was typically four cups of wine (Exodus 6). They symbolized sanctification, deliverance, redemption, and praise.
Read More and Watch the Sermon: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/passover-mark-47/
Just as we want to give all of our time/attention/money/etc. to that special person in our life or the hobbies we love, we should feel even more the same way about God. In Mark 14, verse 3, a woman (probably Mary Magdalene) poured a jar of expensive oil on Jesus' head. This perfume was made with pure nard and was worth a year's wages. Imagine using a full year's wages in a quick moment to honor someone you love. For many, that is unfathomable.
What is the purpose of school? It’s not to make friends, to get good grades, or to be able to regurgitate facts. The purpose of school is to learn. It’s essential to know the purpose of what you’re involved in. This is also true of scripture. Many people seem not to understand the purpose of the Bible. Why did God give us the Scriptures? The Bible is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, but those are not the primary purposes of the Bible. Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/revealed-putting-the-Bible-in-its-place-4
How do we know we can trust the Bible and what’s included and intentionally not included? Watch the sermon or learn more on our website at https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/recognized-bible-in-its-place-3
the Bible claims in and of itself to be the word of God. On its own, this can be a weak piece of evidence. Combined with the following points, however...
In 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17, Paul instructs Timothy on teaching sound doctrine. He explains how every detail in scripture is breathed out by God.
Today's sermon is a look at where Riverwood is, as a church, today. Pastor Erin helps us take a look at our past, discuss our areas of growth & areas to work on, and help us see the vision of where Riverwood is planning to focus in the future.
This human yearning for more has been around since sin entered the world but Jesus would have us understand that less IS more.
In Matthew, Jesus extols the spiritual benefits of fasting. He also shows that prayer and fasting are linked.
Jesus tells us that the way we connect with heaven is to pray. In other words, the way to get up to heaven is to get down on our knees in prayer.
What James wrote about 2000 years ago continues to apply to us today. Seek God while you Watch/Listen to the final part of our "Seek" series.
Many people don't believe they could be loved by God because of the mistakes they make in life. We find forgiveness by seeking Jesus.
In today's sermon, Pastor Erin explains how we should Choose Hope during the Holidays - even when hope isn't the obvious choice.
In this sermon from our Advent Series, Pastor Erin shows the difference between knowledge and wisdom through the story of the Wisemen that visit Christ's birth.
The shepherds were often social outcasts making the fact that the shepherds were the first to be told of Christ's birth even more interesting and meaningful.
We often try to fill our need for contentment with new things. Yet, while purchases can provide temporary contentment, it always fades.
We should give thanks to God because of His goodness, guidance, because He delivers & heals, and for His power & blessings.
At the beginning of Mark 13, Jesus and his disciples have “The Olivet Discourse.” One of the disciples remarks at the beautiful stonework on the new temple.
When a poor widow gives all she haves, Jesus marvels about her gift. The amount she gave was great due to the incredible sacrifice that accompanied that gift.
Generosity is not supposed to be disposable or temporary. Generosity should be repetitive and intrinsic just like blinking or breathing is to each of us.
The grace that overflows from God to us so freely should manifest in our giving freely of the abundance we have. Through this, we reflect God's heart to others.
2 Corinthians 9:7 ends with “for God loves a cheerful giver.” Why is cheerful giving hard? How do we overcome the baggage that keeps us from giving cheerfully?
Instead of asking the question "How much should I give?" we should instead try to figure out "How much should I keep?"
2 Corinthians 9:6 uses a simple “If this, then that” statement. Show sparingly and you will reap sparingly. Sow bountifully and you will reap bountifully.
Paul teaches the church at Corinth about giving in 2 Corinthians 9. In part 1 of this 6-week series, we learn from Paul how we are to "give expectantly.”
We were born into our sin yet we are to keep pulling away from that which we were born into feel continually drawn to.
In today's sermon, Pastor Erin pulls apart our misconceptions of who is in charge of the church we attend.
In part 2 of the “Defining Church” series, Pastor Erin shows how the church should be “on mission” together.
This is the first part of a four-week study. If you are not a follower of Jesus, you’re welcome to be a part of Riverwood. We started this church for you.
Shortly after answering the 3 questions previously covered, Jesus immediately addresses how He can be the “Son of David” and also David’s Lord.
The most important commandment in all of scripture is also one of the most famous verses in all of scripture that many churchs have built their mission on.
“Cancel culture” is nothing new. Even Jesus faced being canceled. In spite of that, It’s important understand God and know that we bear his image.
“Cancel culture” is nothing new. Even Jesus faced being canceled. In spite of that, It’s important understand God and know that we bear his image.
In today's sermon, Pastor Erin breaks rejection down for us and explains how we can always rely on God who pulls closer in spite of our constant rejection.
1 Peter 5:6-11 instructs us as believers to be humble, to be watchful, and to stand firm in resisting the devil. Listen now to guest speaker Jonathan Davis.
We navigate the sensitive issue of sexual sin and lust. While very uncomfortable, it's a topic that we all must face and rely on Christ's mercy and forgiveness.
We can often get lost in pride as we rely on ourselves and not on Christ. When our hearts are prideful, we can't truly trust in God or have full faith in him.
Greed is ingrained in our culture. Businesses recognize this & market products directly at our greed. Bigger, Better, & More are all used to trigger our greed.
Proverbs 1:20-33 speaks to our culture. Humanity, as a whole, has turned its back on the wisdom of God and put faith in its own abilities and knowledge.
Proverbs chapter 2 begins with Solomon addressing his son and imparting words of wisdom that his son should heed. The kids join the congregation this Sunday.
Mark 11 tells two stories that intertwine to form one larger picture. In the first story, Jesus curses a fig tree and in the second, Jesus cleanses the temple.
Launch Sermon PlayerJesus, once again, shows his power when healing the blind man, Bartimaeus. More importantly, he shows us how to love those that we might consider unlovable. Even more than that, Bartimaeus gives up one of his only possessions to seek healing from Jesus. What person/people are in your life that you could go […]
Launch Sermon PlayerJames and John approach Jesus asking if they may be seated at his right and left hand in glory. While sincere, this question is based in selfishness. When you live life in a selfish way, you continue to act selfishly even after humbling experiences. Happy Mother’s Day! Good mothers often give up their desires […]
Launch Sermon PlayerWhen the rich, young ruler approached Christ and asked “What must I do to be saved,” Jesus responded by telling the young ruler to give away everything he owns and follow Him. Even the disciples were surprised when Jesus comments how it is harder for a camel to go through the eye of […]
Launch Sermon PlayerJesus showed that he could heal many people simply by touching them. Is it a surprise that parents are pushing their children towards Him in hopes of healing or blessings? Yet, when the children started surrounding Jesus, the disciples were quick to rebuke the parents for surrounding Him with these children. Listen as […]
The topic of divorce can be a sticky subject. It has affected many of us, so to hear some of the Scriptures teaching on divorce can be painful.
And yet on Riverwood’s “Baptism Sunday,” Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Jesus’ teaching on divorce from Mark 10:1-12, showing us how this subject actually points us to the love and faithfulness of Jesus. So listen in to be encouraged to trust Jesus.
We've just celebrated Easter, but how do we respond to God's saving work through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? When we read the story of the early Christians, they got baptized... so what is baptism and why do we do it?
Worship Gathering Director Jake Epley teaches from Acts 2 on the biblical practice of baptism and publicly declaring faith in Jesus.
Easter is the highlight of the Christian Calendar. Without Resurrection Sunday, there is no Christian faith. Join us as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through John 10:1-18 to help us appreciate the resurrection of Jesus and learn how it can change your life over 2000 years later.
As part of our reflective Good Friday service, Pastor Erin shared briefly from John 10:17-18 about the willingness of Jesus to give His life for ours, helping us appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice and enable us to worship Jesus on Easter Sunday all the more.
If you’ve ever anticipated doing something extremely difficult, you might have felt nervous, hesitant, or even tried to delay the suffering. Yet Jesus, knowing what lie ahead of Him, walked willingly with determination toward Jerusalem. How did He do it?
In this Palm Sunday sermon, Pastor Erin Bird shows us what enabled Jesus to resolutely move toward Jerusalem where mocking, torture, and death awaited Him, in the hopes that it will fill you with an awe of Jesus and a motivation to love those around you. So go grab a Bible and listen in as Erin walks us through Luke 19:28-40
Often in life, we “want it all.” We want to buy expensive things without spending much money. We want to lose weight while still eating as much as we desire. In other words, we want to have our cake and eat it too.
We carry this attitude into our relationship with God. We want God’s blessing while still living however we want. But in Mark 9:43-50, Jesus warns us that to truly follow Him and live the life God has for us, it might require us to take some difficult steps. Listen in to learn how to truly live “all for the gospel.”
There are others in the world believing and working along side you, claiming God and his promises. Pride and and inward eye can mar that picture of Gospel Teamwork. Today Elder Ed Pavelec walks through Mark 9:33-42 teaching on this idea
We all depend on something. Some of us depend on our knowledge. Others of us experience. Some depend on their bank account, or reputation, or their spouse.
But sometimes, the best place we can be is the spot where we have nothing to depend upon except God.
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 9:14-29 and shows how our “best life” will be found only in full dependence of God.
The Transfiguration is a famous story from the pages of the Bible. But could there be more to the story than just a “shining” Jesus? Listen in as Pastor Erin unpacks Mark 9:2-13, helping us see Jesus like never before.
Sometimes in life, paradoxical phrases lead us to deep truths. For instance, "Less is More" or "The way out is in" are phrases that sound like paradoxes, but in the right moment, they can give you clarity.
In Mark 8:27-9:1, the twelve disciples hear Jesus state what, to them, feels like a paradox. But upon closer inspection, we discover a deep truth that can completely change our lives in 2021. What is that truth? Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird explains.
Many people turn to the teachings of Jesus for encouragement, guidance, and reassurance. But what do you do when Jesus gives a warning? You listen and take it to heart!
In this week’s sermon, Pastor Erin Bird expounds upon the warning Jesus gives in Mark 8 and what we need to watch for in our own lives in 2021.
All people are looking for some sort of “Jesus” to save them from their loneliness, or their past, or their addiction, or their fears, or from whatever. As John Calvin famously put it: “The human heart is an idol factory.” And so in this search for rescue, the “idol factory" turns romantic partners, or money, or fame, or a whole host of things into its own “personal Jesus.”
But rather than look for something or someone to rescue us, we need to look to the one and only Jesus who already loves us, and not just in a general sense (because He loves everyone), but in a very unique and personal sense.
So listen in as Pastor Erin Bird shows us from two different-yet-similar stories from the book of Mark just how Jesus displays this unique and personal love toward you.
Have you ever had a crisis of faith? A time in life where you doubted God’s goodness, or power, or even His existence? Perhaps you are there right now.
In this week’s sermon, Pastor Erin Bird introduces us to a woman found in Mark 7:24-30 who had every right to doubt God’s goodness or power, and yet she displays a big faith in Jesus. Listen in to discover the four ways you, too, can grow to have a big faith in God as well.
For our annual Vision Sunday, Pastor Erin takes some time to look back at all the things God did in 2020 (and it’s a lot of really big things!), as well as where he and the Elder Team believe God is calling us in 2021. While this sermon is primarily aimed at the Riverwood Church family, it is a great message for anyone who has supported Riverwood in the past or is considering making Riverwood their home church in the future.
The “Great Commission,” found in Matthew 28:18-20, are some of the last words Jesus uttered on earth. It is a very famous passage. But what many Christians don’t realize is this passage, which talks about “going” and “baptizing” and “teaching” only contains one command. What is that command?
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird concludes our “Praying the King’s Agenda” series as part of Riverwood’s 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.
Obedience is hard. It feels confining. It feels joyless. It doesn’t feel very fun. So just how does a Jesus-follower actually obey the King’s Agenda without hating their faith and life?
In order for a follower of King Jesus to “pray” the King’s Agenda, he or she must first “hear” the King’s Agenda. But how does one actually hear the King’s Agenda? Listen in as Pastor Erin shares from Matthew 28:18-20 as well as several other passages just how to do that.
When Jesus was born, the angels declared His earthly arrival to shepherds. Inside of their short song are all the other themes of Advent - Hope, Peace, and Joy. But there is one more theme their song helps us see, and it is one of the most important themes in all of the world.
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird helps us hear about God's Love through the Angel's Song.
For many people, 2020 has been a really hard year. We’ve battled a pandemic. We’ve experienced cultural tension over politics, race, masks, and more. And some people have personally battled health issues, the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, or some type of trauma. So the idea of having “joy” this Christmas season seems like an impossibility.
Yet joy is within reach.
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird shows us how we can find joy even in the most difficult circumstances by learning from Mary’s “Christmas” Song found in Luke 1:46-55.
Many people find themselves longing for something in life that will give them peace. It might be a longing to be married, or be a parent, or to have a certain amount of wealth, or finally get that dream home. Whatever it is, we yearn for this external person or item to bring us internal peace.
And yet, it doesn’t work.
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird shows us from the Christmas Song Zechariah sings in Luke 1 where inner peace is truly found.
A big part of the holiday season is Christmas music. But did you know the Bible has some “Christmas” songs?
In this first message of our “Christmas Songs of the Bible” sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through a Christmas song that was written roughly 700 years before the first Christmas. And the words of that song answers the cry of every human heart.
So listen in to “Isaiah’s Song.”
For many people, 2020 has been a really hard year. Whether because of the pandemic, politics, loss of a loved one, or our own personal crisis, we long for this season to pass.
And yet, the Bible commands us to “Give thanks in all circumstances.” How are we supposed to do that in a year like 2020?
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through the “impossibles” of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, helping us discover how we can still give thanks in the midst of intense struggle.
Life is full of tension. If you have parents, a spouse, kids, coworkers, or classmates, you have experienced tension.
But “tension” isn’t just found in relationships. You can also find it in politics, on social media, and even in church. And oftentimes, when we encounter tension, we seek to resolve it.
However, some “tension” can't be resolved. In fact, there are some arenas in life where you should “intentionally” remain in “tension.” Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through one such tension that should exist within a church.
Many people globally are living with fear due to the coronavirus, while many Americans are living with anxiety over the upcoming Presidential election. And this doesn't include the hard things happening in many people's lives personally that are causing stress, worry, and more.
Thankfully, God's Word speaks into our fear and anxiety, helping to bring peace. Listen in as one of Riverwood's elders, Ed Pavelec, takes us to several passages in Scripture to bring encouragement during our troubled times.
Back in His day, Jesus was a celebrity. When a person in our day and age meets a celebrity, they want a selfie, or an autograph, or even some advice. But in Mark 6:53-56, we see the people do something very different when they see Jesus - something that any Jesus-follower in 2020 should also do.
What is it? Listen in to "The Fame of Jesus" to find out.
Ever had an embarrassing moment where you are holding your phone in your hand, and yet think "Wait... where is my phone?" Suddenly, you begin looking all around for your phone, checking your pockets or reaching into your purse, when about 5 seconds later you realize your foolishness. Anyone?
Yeah, us neither.
But other people have missed what is right in front of them, such as some of the Jewish leaders of Jesus' day. And if we are not careful, we can make a very similar mistake they made when it came to faith.
So to avoid "missing the forest for the trees," listen in as Pastor Erin Bird takes us through Mark 7:1-23.
Have you ever thought you saw someone out in public only to discover it wasn’t actually them? Or perhaps you had a conversation with someone, only to later learn who they actually were.
We’ve all done it, making a mistake about a person's identity.
In Mark 6:45-52, we see the author give several clear clues of who Jesus truly was, but His disciples will completely miss the clues. But if you can catch these clues to Jesus’ true identity, it can help you through your most difficult times. So listen in as Pastor Erin Bird shares “Trust I Am.”
Life is full of inconveniences. Whether it is having to gas up the car when you are late for a meeting, coming home after a vacation to a broken refrigerator, or taking care of a puking child at 3:00 am, life is full of inconvenient moments.
But did you know love is also rarely convenient?
In this message from the Gospel of Mark, Pastor Erin Bird helps us see that if a person is going to love like Jesus loved, they have to be ready to love in the inconvenient moments.
In John 20:21, Jesus told His followers that just as His Heavenly Father sent Him to bless the world, He was sending His followers to do the same. But what does it look like for a Jesus-follower to be "sent"?
Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 6:7-13, showing us eight details about what it looks like to be sent by Jesus to be a blessing.
When a typical person faces doubters or haters, the natural reaction is to want to insult or hurt the person back. But is this the reaction a Jesus-follower should display?
Join us as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 6:1-6 as we learn how to live like Jesus when faced with doubters, mockers, and haters.
In case you haven't noticed, our world is really divided. We are arguing about masks, race, politics, and boneless chicken wings. What our world needs (besides more chicken wings!) is for Jesus-followers to step out of the arguments and begin loving people like Jesus loved people.
In this week's sermon, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 5:21-42, looking at two miracles where we discover how Jesus showed love to the miracle recipients more than just giving healing. And if you follow Jesus, these are ways you are called to love as well.
In our current political and cultural climate, the lives of certain people don't seem to matter. Some Republicans don't seem to think certain Democrats are worth much of anything. Some Black Lives Matters adherents don't think too highly of Trump supporters. And many Twitter users are ready to cancel anyone who doesn't agree with them 100%.
In Mark 5:1-20, Pastor Erin Bird shows us that anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus HAS to be pro-life. And not just pro-babies, but pro-human. But how are you supposed to love someone who holds the complete opposite political or philosophical as you? Listen in to learn how.
Ed Pavelec, one of the elders of Riverwood Church, completes our "Summer of Psalms" sermon series with an encouraging message from . Listen in to learn how to "taste and see that the Lord is good!"
The world is open and exposed, yet the Lord provides us a place to hide.
Ed Pavelec teaches from Psalm 91, that we are safe and secure in God's sovereign protection. Listen in!
One of the Bible’s central themes is the worship of God! In this week's message, Worship Leader Jake Epley will walk us through , a praise psalm that teaches us the basics of praising God for who He is and what He’s done.
What does it mean to love the Bible? Guest Speaker Shane Klein teaches on , sharing perspective on the psalmist's love for God's Word and how we ought to as well!
Launch Sermon PlayerGuest Speaker, Shane Klein, teaches from Psalm 147 as part of our “Summer of Psalms” series.
At his lowest point, King David fell into terrible sin, was confronted by God's word through the prophet Nathan, and had to repent of his disobedience. His poignant expression of contrition in Psalm 51 can serve as a model for the Jesus-follower when he or she falls short of God's standards.
Guest Speaker Jacob Tews leads this study of Psalm 51, looking in detail at its context and application for our lives.
These are complicated times. We live in a difficult, confusing, and often frustrating age, and more now than ever does the world desperately need households led by godly dads.
Guest teacher and Minneapolis church planter Patrick Ray shares a Father's Day message from , as well as insight on #BlackLivesMatter, police reform, community well-being, and how we as Jesus-followers ought to respond in light of what the Bible teaches.
Do you ever find yourself seeking a rest from life's daily grind through things like Netflix, YouTube, disc golf, or even drinking coffee?
In this week's message, Matt Townsley walks us through which shows us that God is our protection, provider, and power. If you a desire to seek true rest from the stressors of this world, listen in to know what it means to "be still" and know a God who loves you more than you can imagine.
This will be our first Sunday back for in-person gatherings! While we are excited to be together again, most of us have undoubtedly been through some turbulent times. To some extent, we've all encountered loss, grief, frustration, and suffering within the span of these last few months.
In this week's message, Worship Leader Jake Epley will walk us through , a lament that teaches us that in the midst of depression and discouragement, our only hope is found in God alone who truly satisfies.
Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about work? Is it wise to put in 40 hours and be done? Is working overtime punishment or pleasing in the eyes of God?
In this week's message, Matt Townsley walks us through showing how overconfidence and overworking can lead to an unfulfilled life. So, if you have a desire to work at home or in the office in a way that honors God, listen in!
The parable Jesus tells in Mark 4:21-25 is often referred to as "The Parable of the Lamp." But as you'll hear in this sermon from Pastor Erin Bird, the gospel story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the lamp to the parables.
In this week's passage, Jesus surprises his listeners (and us, the readers) by declaring that true family isn't the one you're physically born into, nor is it the racial group you identify with, nor is it even our best friends at work or on a sports team. Rather, Jesus declares that true family comes through the gospel.
To hear more, listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 3:20-35.
We all long to be chosen. To be selected by a team, company, or that special someone feels like we have worth, and value, and are loved.
So you can imagine when Jesus chose His twelve disciples, those twelve guys were on top of the world. But in truth, to be chosen by Jesus is actually very, very humbling. Why?
Listen in to discover how the calling to follow Jesus is a humbling event, and yet a moment that also instills us with a very different type of confidence.
Ever thought you knew the words to a song, but it turns out you were singing it all wrong? Some of the Jewish leaders of Jesus' day thought they knew how to do thing likes fasting and observing the Sabbath, but turns out they were off the mark.
In this week's message, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 2:18–3:6 showing how we are much like the ancient Jewish leaders who were off in their understanding of religion and obeying God. So if you have a desire to have a close relationship with God that isn't a burden to your soul, listen in.
What should a healthy church look like? And how do we trust God when He doesn't give us what we want?
These are two questions that strangely get answered in a story about a healed paralytic. If you've ever asked yourself either of these two questions, listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 2:1-12.
Too often, Americans will read a Bible story and "insert" themselves into the story. For instance, when we read the famous story about David and Goliath, we imagine ourselves as David, slaying the "giants" in our lives. But when we twist a Bible story into a personal story, we actually rob the story of having greater power in our lives.
This week, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Mark 2:1-12, showing us that to insert ourselves into the story as the outcast leper cheats us of seeing something better. And what is better? Listen in to find out.
Every Easter Sunday, the global Church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. But then most people who attend those churches just go back to regular life on Monday. Should the resurrection of Jesus impact the life you are living in 2020?
In a unique short-film sermon, Pastor Erin Bird teaches from the Parable of the Soils in Mark 4:1-20, helping us think about the type of legacy we want to leave behind when our time on earth is done. And he will argue that the resurrection of Jesus makes all the difference in the type of life you live.
In Mark 1, we see Jesus begin to become famous, but it wasn't for being rich, or for being attractive, or even for displaying talent in a sport or art form. His fame came from a display of authority.
This is good news for you! Because His authority means He is with you, He cares for you, and is still in control in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird challenges us to trust God no matter what.
First words matter. Whether in a speech or a job interview, your first words set the stage for what is to come.
Mark strategically waited until verse 15 of his Gospel account on the life of Jesus to let us hear Jesus speak for Himself. And the first words we hear from Jesus have the potential to change your life.
All humans are tempted, the question is, what will you do when tempted?
Even though He was fully God, Jesus was also fully human during His time on earth. So just like you, He was tempted. Through the gospel accounts of Mark and Matthew, we discover how Jesus faced temptation and managed to never give in.
The Bible teaches that Jesus was without sin. And yet, we see in Mark 1 that Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptizer. Why we Jesus baptized? What was significant about this moment? And what does it mean for us in 2020?
Listen in as one of Riverwood's elders, Ed Pavelecs, walks us through Mark 1:9-11.
This week, we begin a series studying the book of Mark, which will allow us to see the purpose and person of Jesus. If you want to learn more about Jesus, or be reminded of His awesomeness, listen in as Pastor Erin walks us through Mark 1:1-8.
According to Barna, Americans pray for their family, for guidance, for health and wellness, and even to express thanks. But one thing they don't pray for - boldness.
Maybe it's because we are already bold. But more likely, we don't pray for boldness because we like our lives safe and comfortable.
But if Riverwood is going to be a church after God's heart, we need to take a page out of the early church's book and pray for boldness. If you are curious about what this looks like, or how one even begins to pray a "bold" prayer like this, listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through a story found in Acts chapters 3 & 4.
Money. (Yep, we went there!) Why do churches seem to always talk about money?
Well, we can't tell you why other churches talk about money so much. But at Riverwood, we don't talk about it as much as we probably should, but when we do, we look at not what we can get FROM you as much as what God wants FOR you. And we believe God wants you to be generous like Him.
So listen in as Pastor Erin Bird teaches from the book of Acts about the joy that can be found through generosity.
Perhaps you've heard the phrase, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." There definitely are times in life a person needs to move fast. But for a church to go far, they MUST go together.
But that proves to be especially difficult here in America, because Americans are extremely individualistic (plus, they prefer fast!). So how is a church in the midwest of the U.S. in 2019 supposed to move forward together? We let the early church as seen in Acts 2:42-47 give us some clues. If you want to learn what these clues are, listen in as Pastor Erin continues the Forward sermon series.
Having faith in something brings confidence and peace. For instance, when you place your "faith" in a chair, you have peace that it will hold you when you put your full weight upon it. When your faith is in your team before a big game, you have confidence they will emerge victoriously.
But what do you do when the person or object of your faith has let you down?
In this first message in the "Forward" sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird shows us from Acts 2:42-47 what the first church did to build their faith and how the steps they took can help the faith of any follower of Jesus as well as help the faith of an entire church family.
We believe God has given Riverwood a very important mission, to invite the spiritually disconnected of our communities to find and follow Jesus. But are we accomplishing it?
On Vision Sunday, Pastor Erin Bird helps us look back at 2019 to see how we did and did not accomplish our God-given mission, and Elder Tim Corcoran helps us look ahead to 2020 to see what might be ahead to help us continue helping people in our region find Jesus.
This is a memorable Sunday in the life of Riverwood, so give this week's message a listen!
Your understanding of who God is affects your prayers. Whether you see God as demanding, loving, distant, or something else, it will affect how you approach Him and talk to Him.
This is why Jesus begins His teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 with defining who God is. And when you learn what Jesus teaches, your prayers will possibly be very different - and more meaningful.
We all want to know "the secret." Whether it's the secret to a happy marriage, how to make a lot of money, or how to advance in a career, we want to know the one magic bullet that will bring us success.
In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus teaches "the secret" to prayer. So if you have ever desired to have a robust prayer life, listen in to this first message in the Teach Us To Pray series.
Every Christmas, churches and families will spend time looking at the stories of the various biblical characters involved in the narrative of the birth of Jesus (which we have done through this Cost of Christmas series). But there is one character that surprisingly sometimes gets overlooked: Jesus.
So in this week's sermon, Pastor Erin helps us see through Philippians 2:5-11 what the first Christmas cost the Son of God. Listen in to be inspired by Jesus and challenged by what Jesus-followers are called to give-up as well.
Americans love to spend a lot of money and time on Christmas. Did you know the average American will spend over $900/person and spend well over 40 hours in the month of December on Christmas related activities such as shopping, traveling, and worship services? (Yep, that's a lot!)
However, if you are a follower of Jesus, God has a different plan for your money and time than just to use it all on a cultural holiday. To learn His better plan for you, listen in to part 3 of Riverwood's series "The Cost of Christmas."
The Oxford Dictionary defines livelihood as "a means of securing the necessities of life." But often times, we confuse what a "necessity of life" truly is, fooling ourselves into thinking wants are actually needs.
These false "needs" keep Jesus-followers from a closer relationship with God. In week 2 of our Advent Series, Pastor Erin Bird shows us from Luke 2 the incredible risk the shepherds took that first Christmas night, and how their example can lead us to sacrifice the things we think we need in order to be happy.
If someone were to ask your friends to describe you, the words your friends use would reveal your reputation. Most of us hope to have a good reputation in life. But did you know that to follow Jesus might actually cost you a good reputation?
In this first message in The Cost of Christmas Advent series, Pastor Erin Bird unpacks several passages of the Bible, showing how the first Christmas cost Joseph & Mary a good reputation on earth, yet they willingly gave it up because they believed the coming Messiah, their son Jesus, was worth it.
Launch Sermon PlayerEven back in John’s time, people were twisting what the Bible has to say about Jesus. Today, things haven’t changed a whole lot. Pastor Erin Bird of Riverwood Church teaches from the book of 1 and 2 John about how to walk in wisdom.
Last week, we saw in 2 and 3 John the power and importance of truth. But if a church is only about truth, it will cease to care for people. That's why John shifts from "walk in truth" to "walk in love."
But what exactly does it mean to "walk in love"? Listen in as Erin Bird helps us explore 2 & 3 John to discover the second way for us to walk.
This week Pastor Erin Bird teaches from the book of Hebrews about how we should use rest to see Jesus. True rest is not: - a place - a day - lack of activity Rather, true rest is - a person (Jesus) - found in the gospel
Our culture is very work-centered. When we meet someone for the first time, we often ask, "So what do you do for a living?" If someone is in college, we ask, "What's your major and what do you hope to do with it?"
But did you know the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection changes our approach to work? This week at Riverwood Church, Worship Leader Jake Epley teaches from the book of Colossians about The Gospel and Work.
People LOVE stories. We read them in books, watch them at the theater, and exchange them around the water cooler. But did you know that if you are a Jesus-follower, your spiritual story might actually "bless" someone?
In this final message in the How to Bless sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird shares a story from John 9 that will encourage you, if you are a follower of Jesus, to share your story.
Most of us would rather serve ourselves before others. This week, Pastor Erin Bird talks about the importance of serving. Begin with prayer Listen Eat Serve Story (How to BLESS)
Every one of us eats most every day. But did you know you can turn this simple act into a way to bless someone else?
Listen in as Erin Bird, teaching pastor for Riverwood, shows us from Luke 5 how sharing a meal is a great way to let someone else know they matter.
At Riverwood, we believe that what this world desperately needs is for Jesus-followers to "love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived." This week, Pastor Erin Bird teaches that this includes "listening like Jesus listened." Whether you realize it or not, listening is a powerful way to bless the people God has put in your life.
So if you want to learn how to listen like Jesus, listen in to the second message in the How to BLESS series.
In this sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird teaches how to "BLESS" others:
Begin with prayer Listen Eat Serve Story
This week, he teaches from Colossians that the first way to "bless" someone is to begin with prayer.
Subscriptions are becoming more popular than ever before. People spend money monthly on things that they think will give them contentment. Instead of relying on worldly things for contentment, we should seek the Gospel. Pastor Erin Bird of Riverwood Church discusses how we use the Gospel to find contentment.
When it comes to saving money, most of us believe we don't have enough. Whether we have $10 in the bank or a million, we tend to think we need more.
But what if God gives you money not simply so you can keep more for yourself, but use more of it to help others? Listen in as Riverwood's teaching pastor, Erin Bird, helps us consider from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 how God desires us to use the money we would normally stash in the bank.
Well-known pastor Andy Stanley says that "Giving isn't about what God wants from you, it's about what God wants FOR you."
Riverwood's pastor, Erin Bird, agrees. In this second message in the "Money Edition" of The Everyday Gospel, Pastor Erin shows from 2 Corinthians 9 that the financial contentment you long for comes not in a big bank account or huge pay raise, but rather through giving in six different ways. May this challenging yet inspiring message help you discover what God wants for you and your money.
It can be hard to earn a living and make ends meet these days. It can be even harder when God calls us to give to others out of those earnings. In this sermon, Pastor Erin uses Psalm 50 to dig into the idea of stewardship, what belongs to God and what belongs to us. He helps us understand what it means to follow Jesus and love others with our resources.
Some people seem to believe emotions are "bad" and should not be shown. Others, on the other hand, wear their emotions on their sleeve. So which is better? Are we to downplay our emotions so they don't lead us into making a poor decision? Or do we embrace our emotions so that we can feel alive, even if those emotions hurt those around us?
In this third message in the "Self Edition" of "The Everyday Gospel" series, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through a passage out of 2 Corinthians 2, showing us that while our emotions are natural, they are not to rule us. Rather, our emotions should be clarified and corrected by the Gospel and move us toward God.
All of us have a past. Some of us are quite proud of the things in our past - accomplishments, relationships, or fond memories. Others of us are ashamed of our past. And some of us probably have a mixed past, one filled with both pride and shame.
But have you ever stopped to consider how the gospel speaks into your past, both the good moments and the regrettable ones?
In this second message in The Everyday Gospel (The Self Edition) (and part 7 overall in the series), Riverwood Partner Matt Townsley teaches from 2 Corinthians 5:10-23 to help us see how the death and resurrection of Jesus changes the way we view our past and how God can use it for the future.
Riverwood joined Grace Baptist and Denver Baptist Churches for a combined outdoor baptism worship service and potluck. Jonathan Davis, lead pastor for Grace Baptist, taught us from Acts 10:34-43, showing us how the life of Jesus WAS the gospel, and how, through baptism, we declare the life and gospel of Jesus.
It is very important to have joy in all circumstances. But what do we do when something so tragic happens, that there seems to be nothing to be joyful about? How do we be joyful when things aren't going like we expect? This week, Pastor Erin Bird teaches why it is so import to find joy under all circumstances.
Everyone longs for peace. We look for it in relationships, through our entertainment, even in the foods and drinks we consume. We want something that is going to tell us that everything is going to be alright.
In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul talks about how to find a peace that surpasses understanding. If you long for that type of peace that will carry you through whatever situation you find yourself in, this is the message for you.
All of us are on a journey. On our journey through life, we encounter difficulties, struggles, obstacles, and even our own mistakes. How do we make it through the journey of life, and to do it with joy? Ed Pavelec, one of Riverwood's elders, walks us through Philippians 3:12-4:1, showing us the encouragement the Apostle Paul gave his original readers so they might find joy in the journey.
It is important to watch out for those who claim the Bible is wrong. It is also important to find joy in Christ alone. This week, Pastor Patrick Ray talks about the book of Philippians and where we should find our true joy.
Many Americans think "bigger is better," including when it comes to church. "If you have a bigger attendance, you must be a more successful church." The book of Philippians shows us you can find joy in sending others to teach the Gospel, not just keeping people in your church. Pastor Erin Bird of Riverwood Church talks about how there can sometimes be more success when you show the Gospel globally than if you just worry about how many people attend a particular church.
Some humans will hear about various dangers in life, whether smoking cigarettes, eating too much sugar, or driving a motorcycle without a helmet, and proceed to ignore them. Why? Because they believe the "rules" of life don't apply to them.
Sometimes, Christians will do the same thing. They will hear the "rules" of the Bible, but think they don't apply to them. What they don't realize is that these so-called "rules" don't exist to make life miserable, rather, they exist to bring them joy.
Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through Philippians 2:12-18, showing how gospel-motivated obedience can lead to genuine joy.
Want to know the secret to great relationships? Believe it or not, the book of Philippians holds the secret. So if you long for great relationships at home, work, school, or church, this message from Pastor Erin Bird as part of our Genuine Joy series will give you the inside scoop.
Have you ever longed for something so much, you were willing to give almost anything for it? Perhaps you were willing to give up sleep to be first in line for the new iPhone or Black Friday sales. Maybe you left a job and city to move to be near someone with whom you hoped to spend the rest of your. Or maybe you emptied your entire savings to start a business you had been dreaming of for years.
Unfortunately, many times the things we long for and expend our time, energy, and money to get fade over time. They don't provide the same level of joy they once did. Is there something in this life that is brings everlasting joy?
Without a doubt there is. But as Pastor Erin Bird warns us in this message from Philippians 1:19-30, it will cost you everything.
Is it possible to find joy in suffering? If so, how? Paul writes in his letters how to suffer well and use the hardships to grow in your faith. This week Jake Epley discusses the importance of suffering well.
This week, we kick off a study of the New Testament book of Philippians by looking at Acts 16. Listen in to meet the first three people who helped start the church in the ancient city of Philippi when they decided to follow Jesus.
This Easter, Riverwood Church celebrates its 5th birthday! Pastor Erin Bird talks about the history of Riverwood and the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Most people want glory without putting in the effort. In this week's sermon in Riverwood Church, Pastor Erin Bird talks about the 3 ways to stay firm in your faith; just like Daniel in Daniel chapter 6. Daniel stays firm in his faith; rebelling against the law that he could not worship the one true god and trusting that everything was in God's control.
For most of us, it's easy to forget God when things aren't going our way. Years after king Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Belshazzar took over the throne of Babylon. After all those years he forgot that God was the one that he should worship and obey. He was forgetful of a lesson that was taught to Babylon a long time ago. This week Pastor Erin Bird discusses the importance of obeying and remember the rules God has for us.
Worship means to give worth to something. To have faith in something. Some of use put our faith things like media, food, people. God says our primary faith should be in him. This week, Pastor Erin Bird talks about the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and how worshiping himself led to humiliation and embarrassment.
Launch Sermon PlayerLife can put us in some awkward or difficult situations. Sometimes we do something or don’t do something and all of a sudden we feel trapped in a hard situation. If its bad enough, it may feel like everything is on fire and we don’t know what to do next. This week Pastor […]
Have you ever had a dream so real that you woke up wondering what it meant? Sometimes, we wonder if the dreams have any meaning or power in our real lives. In the second chapter of Daniel, Elder Ed Pavelec dives into a story about a king, his dreams, and his search for truth. Many of us turn to the world and it's knowledge, especially in times of trouble. Instead, Daniel shows us how to approach God in humility to seek His mercy and find true wisdom.
While imprisoned by his enemies, Daniel could have chosen complete rebellion against their king. Yet he chose to wisely and respectfully negotiate out of faith. How can we, even through hard and difficult times when it seems like God is far from us, continue to trust His promises and the gospel? In this message, Elder Luke Anderson will encourage us to ignore the temptations to abandon our trust and belief in God and stay true to our faith in Jesus.
Most people want to get along with others, but does it really matter to God whether we are nice or selfish in our relationships? Today, listen as Pastor Erin explains how the gospel impacts our relationships and how we interact with the people in our lives.
For many people, there is a strong sexual desire that leads them to engage in sexual activities that traditional Judeo-Christian teaching says is wrong. But what does the Bible really say about sex? And does God actually care about how we use our bodies for sexual pleasure?
In this second message of The Everyday Gospel series, Pastor Erin Bird sensitively tackles the tough topic of sex, showing from a Biblical perspective why God has a right to tell humans what they should and should not do with their bodies. Because it turns out the gospel story of Jesus' death on a cross even affects what happens between the sheets.
In 2019, the Riverwood family will be looking at how the Gospel affects multiple areas of life. We will look at how the life & death of Jesus affects our view of self, our view of money, and our view of time. But before we get to any of that, we will be looking at how the Gospel affects our relationships. And in this first week of the series, Riverwood's Teaching Pastor, Erin Bird, tackles the topic of marriage.
Most people naturally share that which pleases them. We typically don't hesitate to share about a movie we enjoyed, or a great new restaurant we visited.
Guest teacher and Riverwood "missionary" Patrick Ray, a church planter from North Minneapolis, shows us from John 1 that when people met Jesus, they got excited and couldn't help but tell others. If you are a Jesus-follower, may this message inspire you to find joy in Jesus, so you, too, can share Him with confidence.
Just as the decorations at a party can serve as clues as to what type of party you are at, the Bible is filled with clues that God has established a theme in life of sending people to bless others.
In this final message in the "Dangerous Prayers" series, Pastor Erin Bird shows us God's sending theme by taking us through multiple passages of the Scripture, inspiring Jesus-followers to pray "Lord, Send Me."
Are you ready surrender everything to God and let Him send you to bless others?
If you've ever been lost, whether while hiking or driving, you know that sometimes in order to go forward, you have to first go back.
In our spiritual lives, sometimes in order to go forward in our faith, we need to go back in a sense, to allow God to break us, to remove some things in our lives, such as selfishness or sinful patterns, so that He can mold and shape us into who He sees us to be.
In this second part of our "Dangerous Prayers" series, Pastor Erin Bird shares through Jeremiah 18:1-6 as well as through his own life story, how painful the breaking process can be, but also how necessary it can be. If you are the type of person who wants to follow Jesus closely, listen in to "Lord, Break Me."
A dangerous prayer isn't one that asks God to put you in dangerous situations. A "dangerous" prayer is a bold prayer, a prayer that completely surrenders your life to God. A dangerous prayer isn't about ruining your life, but if God answers it, your dangerous prayer will upend your life.
In this series, we will look at three dangerous prayers. In the last week, we will pray "Lord, Send Me." But before a Jesus-follower can be sent, they need to be surrendered. And so in the second week, we will pray "Lord, Break Me." But that is a scary prayer! And so this week, to prepare our hearts to be lovingly broken, we look at David's prayer "Lord, Search Me."
Have you ever had a chance to meet someone famous? If so, perhaps you were at a loss for words, or perhaps said something silly, or embarrassed yourself by acting differently than you normally do.
But what would it be like to meet Jesus?
Listen in as guest teacher, Shane Klein, walks us through Hebrews 4:14-16, seeing Jesus as our Great High Priest.
We all long for peace. From birth to death to multiple points in-between, we long for calm in the midst of the chaos of life.
But all of our attempts to find peace usually end up temporary and ineffective. How do we find true lasting peace?
In this final message in the Advent series A Son is Given, Pastor Erin Bird shows from Colossians 1:19-20 why Jesus was given the name "Prince of Peace" more than 700 years before He arrived that first Christmas Day, and how you can find a peace that surpasses understanding.
Dads make a huge difference in our lives. Their presence or absence affects us far more deeply than we may realize. The love of a good daddy can make all the difference.
Did you know that Jesus displays love like a perfect dad? Listen in to this third message in the Advent series A Son is Given to discover why Isaiah called Jesus "Everlasting Father."
Have you ever had an initial impression of someone only to discover you were totally wrong? You might have made a wrong assumption about their age, education level, or importance at work.
Throughout history, large swaths of humanity have made the same mistake about Jesus. They have thought of him as just another human, or a wise sage, or even a great prophet from God. But those assessments are WAY off.
Listen in to this second message in the A Son is Given Advent series to be reminder or even to discover that Jesus isn't just a great human, but rather the Mighty God.
If you've ever found yourself in need of some advice or insight, because you were unsure of what to do, what you needed at that moment was a counselor. Approximately 700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet called Jesus a "Wonderful Counselor." Listen in as Riverwood's teaching pastor, Erin Bird, explains how to seek after Jesus to be your "Wonderful Counselor" during Advent and beyond.
If you are like most people, you don't want to be seen as a bothersome pest, whether at work, home, or in your relationship with God. And yet, Jesus invites His followers to persist in prayer, almost to the point of seeming like a spiritual pest to God.
In this last message in the ACTS of Prayer sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird helps us see why persistent prayer isn't bothersome to God, but rather honoring and glorifying. So listen in to learn the importance and power of proper supplication.
It's that time of year - Thanksgiving! In this devotional message, Luke Anderson (one of Riverwood's Elders)† teaches through Psalm 100 on why we should give thanks, to whom we give thanks, and how we might express our thanksgiving.
Have you ever had a problem in life that, in the moment, seemed overwhelming, but years later, as you look back at that moment, you realize it wasn't that huge of a deal?
That's perspective.
In this second message in the ACTS of Prayer series, Pastor Erin Bird helps us see how the letter A (Adoration) in the ACTS model of prayer gives us perspective. And that perspective leads us to the letter C - Confession. And Confession leads us to connecting deeper with our Creator.
For many people, prayer is awkward, hard, confusing, or boring. Recognizing this, Pastor Erin Bird is using the month of November to teach the Riverwood family about the ACTS model of Prayer in an effort to help us connect with God. And in this first message, he takes us to Psalm 34 to tackle the topic of Adoration.
The Lion King had the "Circle of Life," but the True King invites you into the "Circle of Love." What is this circle? Listen in to find out, and learn how it can radically change your life and relationships.
Our American culture LOVES to talk about love. But do we truly understand what true love is and what we are supposed to do with it?
In this sixth message in the 1 John series, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through one of the most famous passages from the book of 1 John, and helps us see not only God's intense love for us, but what He wants us to do with that love.
Just as a dolphin is designed to swim and an eagle is designed to soar, all Jesus-followers are designed to do something. But the only way a Jesus-follower can do this one thing is to understand who they are as part of God's family.
So if you are a Jesus-follower, listen in. And if you are NOT a Jesus-follower, listen in as well to know what it is God will expect of you if you do become a follower of Jesus.
The famed "bad guy" of the end times is supposed to be "the Antichrist." But who is this "man of lawlessness"? And when will he show up - or has he already appeared?
In this week's non-scary message from 1 John, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through the end of chapter two and beginning of chapter 4, looking at what the Antichrist values, and how Jesus-followers can be sure to not fall for anti-christ teaching.
As part of our Celebration Sunday, guest teacher Bob Westfall taught from Colossians 1:24-29, reminding Riverwood's new elders (and all of us) that "Being precedes Doing." Listen in to this fantastic message that will encourage you to just "be with Jesus."
To become an expert on a particular subject, you have to study it in detail. This type of study requires you to hear and read the same material repeatedly until you practically have the subject memorized. And when you have the subject memorized, it becomes a part of you, affecting the way you think and what you talk about, making you an expert.
If you are a follower of Jesus, what if the subject you knew in and out was the gospel? What kind of effect would that have on your life? More importantly, what kind of effect would that have on the lives of those around you?
Listen in to this third part in the 1 John series with Pastor Erin has he talks about how to fulfill the "New Old Commandment" in 1 John 2:3-17.
To be human means to be a hypocrite. And that's a problem, because hypocrisy is a sin, and sin cannot be in the presence of a perfect holy God. So what is a human to do? In this week's message, we look at the challenging yet encouraging words written by the Apostle John so long ago that let us know we do not need to be trapped in the darkness of our sin and hypocrisy.
As humans, we long to be accepted by others. We want to connect with people through the things we enjoy, whether a favorite hobby, sports team, musician, movie, or something else.
Because we find meaningful connection through these things, we often make them the most important things in life. But what if God has something else for you that can lead to meaningful connection with humans AND with Him?
If someone asked you, "What's your greatest struggle?" you might be tempted to respond something like "gossip," or "lust," or "overeating," or "spending too much money," or something else. No matter what your answer, though, THAT is not your greatest struggle.
To learn what your greatest struggle actually is, listen in to guest teacher Patrick Ray, who explains from Hebrews 10:11-14 what our biggest struggle actually is, and how being part of something like a Growth Group can help you radically overcome that struggle.
In America, we are quite independent as people, and many Jesus-followers bring this same independence into their spiritual growth. However, the writer of the biblical book of Hebrews encourages Jesus-followers to NOT go it alone in their pursuit of Christlikeness.
In this first message in the two-week "Grow in Groups" series, guest teacher Andrew Boone unpacks Hebrews 10:19-25, showing God's call to all Jesus-followers to make Jesus-centered relationships an intentional part of their spiritual growth.
There's a lot of confusion about what a church elder is expected to do. Do they manage budgets? Do they oversee the pastor and staff? Do they manage the projects of the church, or oversee the administrative details, or simply control all the happenings of the church?
In this third and final message in the Elders series, Pastor Erin Bird helps us answer the question "What is an elder supposed to actually do?" by looking at 1 Peter 5:1-5.
Last Sunday, we heard why a church would want elders to lead them. But who should these elders be? The most outspoken guy in the church? The bank president who has proven to be a success and great manager? The lady who has been a part of the church the longest or served on every other committee?
In this week's message, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through the qualifications the Apostle Paul gave to Titus about who would make a great elder for a church.
There are SO many types of church governance out there in Christendom: deacons, councils, boards, dictatorships, church staffs, and more. So why is Riverwood choosing to move to an elder form of leadership?
In this first message in a three part series, Pastor Erin Bird explains why he believes Riverwood will benefit from installing elders to help continue the mission of inviting the spiritually disconnected to find and follow Jesus.
For many Jesus-followers, engagement with the spiritual disciplines can be tiring, frustrating, and difficult. Whether it is prayer, Bible reading, fasting, or something else, they find themselves drifting toward comfort and disengagement, eventually quitting the spiritual discipline altogether.
But what if your best days are found on the other side of your spiritual funk?
In this final message in the Disciplined series, Pastor Erin Bird teaches from James 1:2-4 about the power of perseverance, and how your greatest days and spiritual maturity will be found through the struggle of the disciplines.
No one accidentally wins an Olympic gold medal. It takes tremendous work and sacrifice to obtain something of such incredible worth.
Likewise, to grow to love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived often requires great sacrifice. In this seventh part of the Disciplined, Pastor Erin Bird teaches from two parables the Jesus told to show the power of sacrifice. If you want to have an amazing relationship with God, listen in for how you can grow spiritually through three different disciplines of sacrifice.
Money.
Yep, we're going there. The topic of finances is quite the sticky topic to discuss in church. And yet, if you want to love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived, you have to wrestle with the topic.
In this sixth part of the Disciplined series, Jacob Tews helps Jesus-followers see the beauty of living generously, particularly when it comes to the area of finances. So listen in to be challenged and inspired to enter into the spiritual discipline of giving.
If you were to ask a random Christian to name some spiritual disciplines, "serving" would probably not be one of the first disciplines listed, if at all. And yet serving is an incredibly important discipline because it helps to change our selfish hearts.
So listen in to learn how the discipline of serving can help you grow spiritually, as well as learn who you are to serve.
Ever felt like prayer is boring? Or have you felt like you couldn't pray because of sin in your life and/or past? Or maybe you're simply afraid to pray because it has just been so long since you've tried to talk with God and you fear He might be a bit upset that you've been ignoring Him?
In this masterful sermon on the spiritual discipline of prayer, guest teacher Patrick Ray walks us through Romans 8, showing us why we shouldn't let shame or fear or boredom keep us from this God-given gift called prayer. So if you want to grow in your conversations with God, listen in to this fourth part of the Disciplined series.
You may not realize it, but you are almost always worshipping. The question is: who or what are you worshipping?
In this third part of the Discipled series, we look at how easily we worship the things of this earth instead of the One who made the earth, and how to go about changing that. So listen in if you want to grow as a worshipper of God.
Relationships are hard. Hang out with someone long enough, and you will inevitably get hurt, whether through their words or actions. And when we get hurt, we often want to pull away from the relationship.
However, humans were created as relational creatures. So we want to be in relationship, and yet we get hurt by those relationships. So how do we live in this tension?
Listen in to learn how to allow the spiritual discipline of community help you grow to be more like Jesus.
For the summer of 2018, Riverwood Church is taking a look at the topic of spiritual disciplines. Over 9 weeks, the Riverwood family will look at nine different disciplines Jesus-followers can engage in.
However, there is a danger to this topic. In this opening message in the Disciplined series, Pastor Erin Bird helps us learn what the inherent danger is with spiritual disciplines, how to avoid this danger, and the reason Scriptural intake is a foundational discipline for those who want to grow spiritually and follow Jesus.
What should a church family really look like? How should a church family operate? What should a Jesus-follower be willing to give up for the sake of others within the church family?
In this final message in the "& Jesus" series, guest teacher Andrew Boone takes us to Romans 15 to challenge Jesus-followers to critically think about how they are to live within a church family. Listen in to this encouraging & challenging message that all Jesus-followers need to hear.
When it comes to the role of conscience in the Christian faith, things can get a bit sticky. The conscience of one Jesus-followers allows him to enjoy a beer while the conscience of another Jesus-follower won't let her even walk into a bar. Does this mean God is unfair? Or that one of the Jesus-followers is wrong in his or her conviction?
Join us as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through this difficult issue by studying Romans chapter 14.
Oftentimes, when a person feels stressed or uncomfortable in life, he or she will seek out pleasure to bring some relief. But sometimes, the pleasure they seek keeps them from the life they truly want.
In this sixth part of the & Jesus sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird walks through Romans 13:11-14, which shows Jesus-followers that life on this earth is not the time to fill up with as much pleasure as one can get. Rather, it's time for something far more meaningful and important.
Listen in as we look at the topic of "Pleasure & Jesus."
Most people see the government as a bureaucratic nightmare that is focused on getting and keeping power. How should a Jesus-follower respond to the government, especially when government leaders make decisions that a Jesus-follower might disagree with.
The answer might surprise you.
Listen in as we learn from Romans 13 how a follower of Jesus should approach his country's government.
Many people within our American culture think of marriage as an emotional and sexual prison. Why else do 41% of all marriage experience emotional and/or physical infidelity? And why else would 74% of men and 68% of women be willing to have an affair if they knew they wouldn't get caught? Clearly, marriage is viewed by many as a shackle.
But rather than be a jail that keeps us from joy, what if God designed marriage to not only fill us with joy, but to help us become more like Jesus? Whether you are married or not, learn how God designed for husbands and wives to operate within marriage.
In our modern American culture, some people view kids as trouble, or annoying, or just something to be ignored. But have you ever considered how God views kids?
In this third message in the & Jesus series, teaching pastor Erin Bird shows us from Romans 12 and Ephesians 6 why we need to love and honor kids if we are going to be followers of Jesus.
The story of Batman isn't just a comic book story or a super hero story. It is actually a revenge story. It is a story about Bruce Wayne getting revenge upon crime for taking his parents from him when he was a kid.
Living inside of you is an inner Batman - a character that wants revenge whenever something or someone is taken from you. This inner Batman makes us feel strong, but he actually robs us of having amazing, healthy relationships. If you want to have the type of relationships that you dream about, then your inner Batman has to die.
In this second part in the & Jesus series, our teaching pastor, Erin Bird, walks us through Romans 12:9-21, showing us how to help our inner Batman die so the image of Jesus can rise within us.
Have you ever had to make a decision that those around you thought was absolutely crazy, but you knew beyond a shadow of doubt was the right thing to do? Some times, that's what it looks like to follow Jesus. An unbelieving world thinks a Jesus-follower is nuts for some of the things he or she believes God is calling them to do. How does a Jesus-follower make these difficult decisions in the face of such questioning?
Listen in to this first part in our & Jesus sermon series from Romans chapter 12 as Pastor Erin Bird helps you answer that question, whether you are a follower of Jesus or not.
Many people in our American society are familiar with the Easter story, even those who don't go to church. But do these miraculous events from over two-thousand years ago mean anything for people living in 2018?
In this Easter message entitled Glorious Day, Pastor Erin Bird shows how the physical resurrection of Jesus points to a spiritual resurrection that God wants to do within you, changing you at your core.
Most people in life spend their time trying to be happy. They selfishly focus on whatever they believe will make life easier, more pleasurable, or more memorable.
But then there a few people who seem to devote the majority of their time to helping others. They are incredibly Unselfish. How do they do it?
By having a shift in their motivation.
In this message, Riverwood's teaching pastor, Erin Bird, walks us through Colossians 3:1-17, helping us see how to make a shift in motivation in our spiritual lives that will help us not fall into a pit of selfishness, but a life filled with compassion, love, and peace.
It is very natural for humans to think that in order to achieve a certain level of holiness, they have to "earn" it. Whether it be through classes, practices, or upholding certain traditions, they believe they have to jump through certain hoops in order to be "saved" or to please God.
But as Erin Bird, teaching pastor for Riverwood, shows us from the book of Colossians, what we need isn't to add classes or religious practices in order to make God happy - rather, we just need to continue with Jesus.
So no matter where you are at in your spiritual journey, listen in to learn how you can love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived.
Have you ever seen those videos of people texting on their phones while walking who end up running into a sign, or into a pond, or even into a wall? They are so distracted by their phones, they miss what is around them.
In the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul didn't want his readers to spiritually walk into "walls" by getting distracted by the things of life. So to protect them, he helps them by telling them to keep their eyes on Jesus.
If you are a Jesus-follower, this message will help you learn how to keep your eyes on Jesus. And if you aren't a follower of Jesus yet, listen in to learn why you might want to follow Jesus.
Evangelism. It's a scary word for a lot of people. Most Jesus-followers don't engage in it, and those that do often do it from impure motives. Teaching from 2 Corinthians 5:9-21, guest teacher Steve Erickson walks Jesus-followers through four reasons why they should share the gospel with others, and how to do it with the right heart.
Imagine a scientific lab that discovered a cure for cancer, but didn't tell anyone. That would be awful, wouldn't it? Yet on a spiritual level, many Jesus-followers know the "cure" for sin, but remain mum.
In this last message in "The Gospel" sermon series, Pastor Erin Bird shows from the book of Colossians that if someone is a Jesus-follower, it is expected he or she will "speak the gospel." And as we'll see, Jesus-followers are to speak the gospel to those who don't know Jesus as well as to those who already follow Him.
So far in this series called "The Gospel," we have seen the importance of continually learning the gospel (week 1) so that we can think the gospel (week 2). But the purpose for allowing the gospel to be a filter to our way of thinking is to impact our way of living. The Scriptures do not teach us the gospel simply to fill our heads with the story of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible shows us how the gospel is to impact our everyday lives and relationships.
In this third part of "The Gospel" series, Pastor Erin Bird takes us through Ephesians 4:1-6, showing us exactly how God calls us to "live the gospel," which will impact our relationships at home, at work, and even in our churches.
How you see yourself shapes what you do. If you see yourself as a great athlete, you'll keep trying your best at your sport. If you see yourself as a horrible cook, you'll stay away from the kitchen.
The same goes for your faith. How you think about yourself spiritually affects what you do and how you feel about life.
In Romans 12:1-3, the Apostle Paul talks about this very thing - how your thinking affects your behavior. Listen in as Pastor Erin Bird explores these ancient words while also giving a "tool" that can help you think the gospel, leading you to the life you deeply desire.
Just like a person can become fluent in a foreign language with study and practice, a Jesus-follower can become "fluent" in the gospel by studying it. This week, in part one of "The Gospel" series, we look at the importance of learning the gospel continually, because it has the power to shape how we think, speak, and live.
On this particular Sunday, Erin Bird, our lead pastor, takes a moment to look back at what happened in the Riverwood family in 2017, and what is possibly to come in 2018.
After you breathe your last breath, what do you hope to have left behind?
Nice thoughts about your life? A full bank account that will provide for your children? A building bearing your name? If you are a Jesus-follower, these things are too small. God wants to do so much more than just see people say nice things about you at your funeral.
If you want to leave a legacy that will make an eternal impact, listen in to "Committed to the Gospel" as Pastor Erin Bird walks us through 2 Timothy 4:1-8.
Ever been lost in a strange city? Some people stop and ask for directions (well, at least most of the women reading this do...). Some people just try to figure it out (which many of the guys reading this try to do...). But most often, in our day of smartphones, we consult a map.
A map helps us get reoriented to where we currently are and how to get where we want to go.
Sometimes, we need the exact same thing spiritually - we need some sort of "map" to figure out how to move forward in our spiritual journey with Jesus. Thankfully, God has provided just the thing!
Listen in to learn more about this God-given map, and how it can help you grow spiritually in 2018.
People are committed to all sorts of things: family, work, hobbies, sports, etc. But underneath our devotion to such items is often a greater dedication - a commitment to self.
In this first message in the Committed message series, we hear from 2 Timothy 3:1-13 how a commitment to self actually keeps us from the life we want and that God has for us. So listen in to learn how to make the primary commitment in your life a commitment to God.
Many Americans love to drive around town in December looking at Christmas lights. (We are like bugs drawn to the light!) Why? Perhaps because light, while it is outside of us, does something within us. Light gives us some joy, a bit of hope, and a sense of awe.
Maybe this is why Jesus is called "the Light of the World."
In this third part of our teaching series "An Incarnational Christmas" we discover that Jesus, as the light, has come to give us joy, hope, and awe. But his incarnation does more than just give us light. It also changes how we live.
So listen in to "An Incarnational Life."
Our view of self as humans vacillates wildly. We shift from thinking we are one of the most awesome persons on earth to one of the worst people to have ever lived. (And sometimes we even think all of that on the same day!)
But the Incarnation of Jesus actually addresses our view of self, helping us see who we really are in the eyes of God. And that view will simultaneously humble us and embolden us as humans.
So listen to "An Incarnational Mirror" to better understand who you truly are and who you are meant to be.
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines "incarnation" as "a person who embodies in the flesh a deity." In Christianity, the incarnation of Jesus, God the Son, into human flesh is a foundational doctrine to the faith. But this doctrinal truth does more than just separate Christianity from other religions, it impacts the meaning of Christmas and our view of God.
As part of our annual Thanksgiving Family Worship Gathering, Riverwood's very own Jacob Tews shared some thoughts about why Jesus-followers can give thanks in all circumstances - even the hard ones.
In this final message in the His Story sermon series, we wrap things up in a different way. Rather than see how the Bible points to Jesus, we ask "How does your story point to Jesus?" To answer that question, we look at the story of a woman in John 4 and then hear from five Jesus-followers who reveal how their story really does point to Jesus.
Ever seen a Magic Eye picture? It looks like a mess on the surface, but if you peer through it, you see something entirely different - a 3D image inside the picture.
The Book of Revelation is somewhat similar. On the surface, it appears to first be apocalyptic literature all about the end of the world. But as you peer deeper, you discover that it first points to Jesus.
Listen in to discover at least four ways that the Book of Revelation shows us Jesus in its pages, and in the process actually encourages you rather than scare or confuse you.
The Epistles in the New Testament are letters written to individuals and churches to help them follow Jesus. Listen in as we look at 1 John 2:1-14 to learn the four things the Epistles can do for those whose faith is in Jesus.
Sometimes in life, we see, hear, or experience an event, and yet somehow we misunderstand the truth. For instance, you might meet an incredibly tall athletic-looking man and assume he plays basketball. Yet the reality might be that he hates sports and actually has an affinity for the fine arts.
Well, something similar has happened to Americans' view of church. Because of our experiences, we have created definitions of what a church is, and yet we misunderstand what it truly is.
So as you listen in to this message from Pastor Erin Bird, be prepared to have your definition of church challenged - which will help you understand more clearly what it means to follow Jesus.
Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead after his brutal crucifixion, he ascended to heaven in front of his followers. Right before he lifted off the ground, he gave one last instruction. This final command of Christ has been feared by Christians throughout history. Many find this command too difficult to obey, or they want to obey it in their own way in their own timing.
But as we hear in this next part of the His Story series, this final command of Jesus isn't supposed to be drudgery, rather it is for our good and the good of others. It is supposed to be a command that Jesus-followers gladly obey with joy. What is this command and how can you (if you follow Jesus) fulfill it? Listen in to "The Ascension of Jesus."
Christians all around the world throughout history have remembered the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for sin. But did you know the gospel message doesn't stop with the crucifixion of Jesus? There's more to the story.
Listen in to discover why the resurrection of Jesus is crucial to the gospel story. Because if there's no resurrection, there's no Christianity.
The crucifixion of Jesus is the central aspect of the Christian faith. Churches around the world every Sunday sing about it, talk about it, and take communion elements to remember it. But have you really looked at the crucifixion? Do you know what Jesus truly went through?
In this next part of the His Story series, we take a deep look at the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering of Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane to the spear thrust in his side. And as you listen to this gruesome message, may you realize the immense love God has for you.
Christian churches all around the world celebrate the sacrament of communion (also called the Lord's Supper). But where did this practice come from?
Listen in to discover the roots to this ancient ceremony. And as you do, you will discover how the Lord's Supper, like the Bible, points to Jesus.
Have you ever experienced a "wow" moment? You know, a moment that takes your breath away, and all you can say is "wow"?
Jesus gave his disciples and the people around him some "wow" moments. We call them miracles. And as we study the reaction of the disciples in Mark 4:35-41 to one of the biggest miracles Jesus, we see how the miracles of Jesus should affect us.
So listen in to this next message in the His Story series. You might just have a wow moment while looking at the miracles of Jesus.
Some people become famous in life for having one consistent message. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. is known for his speeches on civil rights.
Jesus also had one consistent message. In this next part to the His Story series, we look at His one repeated message, and discover how it should affect the one message of your life.
The first-century disciples (followers) of Jesus were ordinary men and women like you and me. But some of them did extraordinary things because they allowed their lives to not be about themselves, but to be all about the message and life of Jesus.
No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, if you want to follow Jesus (or are simply curious about following Him) listen in as Riverwood's Worship Pastor, Jeff Willis, talks about the call and cost of following Jesus.
Everyone one of us has experienced a disruption in life. Some disruptions are good, like finding out you got the job. But some disruptions seem to wreck our personal stories, like hearing the doctor say "It's cancer."
The arrival of Jesus into the pages of history was a disruption. But in this message, we learn how the arrival of Jesus should be a good disruption to our story. So listen in to hear three points that help you see how the birth of Jesus impacts you personally.
In this stand-alone message, guest teacher Steve Erickson shows from the life of Jesus how a Jesus-follower can use the everyday spaces he or she finds themselves in to grow spiritually and be a blessing to others.
We live in a day and age where "fake news" is a regular part of the cultural conversation. But did you know that there has been quite a bit of "fake news" shared about the sacrament of baptism?
This week, we look at the baptism of Jesus and the context surrounding it in Matthew chapter 3. Through this passage, we discover 5 "fake news" headlines about baptism that get debunked, helping us see what baptism is truly all about.
So listen in to learn more about the beautiful sacrament of baptism.
This week, we look at the biblical story of an incredibly hypocritical Jewish prophet, and see how his hypocritical life points to the non-hypocritical life of Jesus.
Oftentimes when people read the Bible, they engage in a case of "mistaken identity." When they read a story, they unintentionally read it as if they were the main character. And one story we often engage in "mistaken identity" is the story of Daniel and the Lions Den.
In this week's message, Pastor Erin Bird helps us see that Daniel's story in the sixth chapter of the book that bears his name isn't first about us, but rather about Jesus. And when we realize that the identity of Daniel points to Jesus, we discover something about ourselves in the process.
In the book of Ezekiel is a famous story about dry bones becoming skeletons which become bodies which become living human beings. But did you know this famous story from Ezekiel 37 can also help you in the moments you are struggling to trust God in your darkest moments? Listen in to be encouraged that your current condition is not your forever condition.
In America, we are addicted to new. New movies, new music, new clothes, new cars, new relationships, new everything. Let's face it: We like new. But oftentimes, we make the mistake of believing that "new" makes us better.
Now, don't make the mistake of thinking "new" then is bad. God actually wants you to experience "new" life. But rather than give us external things like clothes or cars, He wants to give us a new heart. If you want a new heart and to experience the life God has for you, listen in.
In this unique Worship Gathering, we weaved together passages from the Old Testament book of Isaiah with contemporary songs that point to the birth, life, death, & resurrection of Jesus. As you listen, may you worship God and be blown away at the revealing of Jesus over 700 years before He ever was set in a manger in swaddling cloths.
If you've ever been ridiculed, or betrayed, or lost a dear loved one, or battled depression, you have felt alone. You have felt unloved, unwanted, disconnected, and isolated. Some people, when they feel this way, try to medicate the pain through sleep or drink or thrills.
But some people try to medicate the pain spiritually. And for thousands of years, many people have used the Book of Psalms to try to spiritually heal the emotional aloneness they feel.
In this twenty-second part in the His Story series, we take a look at the comfort and encouragement the Psalms can bring. But we also see Jesus inside these ancient song lyrics, and as we do so we realize that we do not suffer alone and we will not suffer forever. So listen in to be encouraged.
Have you ever considered what it is that makes people like Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr. so inspiring?
It's humility.
Humility is the ability to put the needs of others before your own. It's hard, but it can be powerful. Listen in to the story of Naaman and the power of humility, even when shown reluctantly.
Most people know a temple as a sacred building that some religion believes contains the presence of their deity. They gather at the temple to engage in various religious practices to worship their god and fulfill spiritual requirements.
The ancient Jews weren't much different. In the book of 1 Kings, the wise King Solomon had the first Jewish temple built to house the Ark of the Covenant so that the presence of God could be with the nation and the people could worship the One True God.
As Solomon dedicates the temple to God before the assembled nation, he reveals in a prayer four things about temples that actually help Jesus-followers understand God's design for how to live out their faith. So no matter where you are in your spiritual journey, listen in to see how knowledge about temples can help you positively impact the people around you.
When making small talk with a young person, we often ask, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" And when they respond, we might follow up with something like, "That's great! How are you going to make that dream become a reality?"
But rather than ask WHAT they want to do and HOW they are going to do it, perhaps we should be asking "Who are you?"
When we ask this of ourselves, this critical question of WHO helps us know who we are, which then affects what we do. But did you know this question also helps us understand the Christian faith? For when we ask "Who is God?" it helps us discover the character and nature of God, which explains what He does and how He chooses to do it.
So listen in as guest teacher Steve Erickson teaches us "Three Core Beliefs."
Ancient nations longed to have a king rule over them because they believed that a good king would make them safe, strong, victorious, and fulfilled as a nation.
We aren't much different in our day and age. While we do not want political kings, we do find personal kings. We long for things, people, or experiences that make us feel safe, strong, victorious, and fulfilled.
The problem is, none of these kings can ever come through 100% of the time. Each and every one of them will fail.
But this is actually a good thing. Listen in to this 19th message in the His Story series and discover how Jesus is the one true King you have been looking for and actually need.
This week's passages are from 2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51, and Psalm 145.
Ever felt like a failure when your Plan A didn't go as envisioned? This week, in "The King 2.0" (Part 17 in the "His Story" sermon series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA), Pastor Erin Bird shows us the biblical pattern that Plan B might actually be God's Plan A, and you aren't a failure at all - rather you are exactly where God wants you to be.
"Jesus Loves Ruth" is Part 16 in the His Story series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week, Pastor Erin Bird walks us through the Old Testament book of Ruth.
Launch Sermon PlayerTo surrender is incredibly difficult (just ask a kid who doesn’t want to obey their parent!). But to have the type of relationship with God that we want, it means we have to surrender. In the story of the battle of Jericho, there are four types of surrender that can help someone become […]
Launch Sermon PlayerOn April 30, Riverwood member Nate Luck shared his story about his spiritual journey of finding Jesus.
Launch Sermon PlayerIn Deuteronomy 18, Moses told the Israelites that God would raise up a prophet, a leader, like him. Listen in to learn how Jesus fulfills this prophecy completely.
Launch Sermon PlayerHave you ever looked at a decision and said in your head “I can’t do that!” or “That’s not possible”? In the book of Numbers chapter 13, we see the Israelites, upon hearing some hard news, adopt a mentality of “impossible!” But in the midst of the people saying, “we can’t!” there were two men who looked toward God […]
Launch Sermon PlayerWhat is your definition of a GOAT? Is it an animal or is it more? In this next message in the His Story series, we take a closer look at (the very boring book of) Leviticus and see how 2 goats show us that Jesus is the GOAT.
Launch Sermon PlayerA few years ago, the Ten Commandments were in modern-day news. Should they still be observed? Should they be ignored? Or do these ancient Jewish laws fulfill some other purpose for Jesus-followers in light of the Gospel? Listen in as Pastor Erin explains from Exodus 20:1-17 how the Ten Commandments should or should not affect your life today.
Launch Sermon PlayerEvery human alive has had at least one significant day that changed their lives. Whether it’s the birth of a child, a wedding, graduation day, or their own birth, everyone has gone through a day that changed everything. The ancient Israelites went through a day that changed them as a nation and changed their religion. […]
Launch Sermon PlayerRunning a marathon requires a lot of work and training to get up to the point of running 26.2 miles. But what if you did all the prep work in the last week instead of taking months to train? Or what if you had to give a book report, but all you used in your […]
Launch Sermon PlayerThe story of Jesus goes through some very questionable characters. For instance, this week in Genesis chapters 37-50, we meet a cocky 17-year-old who gets sold into slavery by his half-brothers and thrown in prison by his master, while his older brother sleeps with a cult prostitute – who turned out to be his daughter-in-law. Pretty […]
Launch Sermon PlayerEver felt unloved or even unlovable? The story of Leah and her dysfunctional relationship with her husband, Jacob, and sister, Rachel, from Genesis 29 shows that you are seen, heard, and attached to God, who is worthy to be praised. So listen in to hear just how much you are loved.
Launch Sermon PlayerAbraham is the father of the Jewish faith. The covenant God established with Abraham in Genesis 15 promised a nation would come from Abraham and his descendants. But did you know that same covenant ceremony also pointed to Jesus and the Gospel? Listen to to hear how God revealed the Gospel thousands of […]
Launch Sermon PlayerWe use language everyday. When we communicate well, things go very smoothly. But when there is a breakdown in communication, there is a breakdown in unity. So why would God confuse the language of humans in Genesis 11? And how does the story of the Tower of Babel point to Jesus? Listen in to […]
Launch Sermon PlayerThe story of Noah and the Ark is one of the most horrific stories in all of Scripture. The mass killing of every human on earth except 8 people? Really?!? Come on! And yet, hidden inside this Rated-R story is evidence of Jesus and His gospel message of love and grace.
Launch Sermon PlayerWhy do we do the things we don’t want to do? We eat too much, we drink too much, we buy too much. We know we shouldn’t do them, but we do them anyway. In this fourth message in our His Story series, we see through the sad story of Cain & Abel […]
Launch Sermon PlayerFor some people, the subject of sin is a very uncomfortable topic. For others, it is a ridiculous topic. And yet for others, it’s simply no big deal. But the Bible treats the topic of sin as a very important one that MUST be addressed. And the topic is first discussed very early in […]
Launch Sermon PlayerThere is a mistake that many Christians make with their theology. They start at the wrong place in the Bible. If you follow Jesus and don’t want to make the same mistake, listen in. And while you are at, you’ll also hear about the crazy love God has for humans.
Launch Sermon PlayerWe all love stories. We love reading about a character who overcomes great odds on some kind of adventure. Well, guess what? God wants to author an amazing story in your life. But we’ll warn you – that epic story begins when you understand what the Bible is.
Launch Sermon PlayerSometimes we mistakenly treat intangibles (like love) as if they were tangible objects (like cookies). We act as if giving away the intangible will leave us with less. But things like love and grace and respect aren’t like cookies or gum. Rather, the more you give it away, the more you actually have. […]
Launch Sermon PlayerTruth is incredibly important. In this second part to the Values series, we look at the topic of truth, seeing how there is a negative affect of truth, but a powerful positive aspect to it as well. So listen in to learn why Riverwood as a church values truth, and what it can do for you as […]
Launch Sermon PlayerIf your relationship with God seems a little stale, or you are investigating the Christian faith, or you just want to start your new year off right, we invite you to listen in to this first message from the Values series about the amazingness of Grace.
Part 4 of 4 in the Do Christmas Different series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This week's passage is John 3:16-17 (along with Luke 2:10).
Part 3 in the Do Christmas Different series (an Advent Conspiracy message series) from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week's topic was Give More. The passage was Matthew 2:9-12.
Part 2 in the Do Christmas Different series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This Advent Conspiracy message is from Matthew 2:1-8.
Part 1 in the Do Christmas Different Advent Series at Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week's theme is Worship Fully and the passage is Luke 1:26-56.
The ninth and final message in the Uphill message series, a study of 1 Peter from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This week's passage is the entire chapter of 1 Peter 5.
Part 8 of the Uphill sermon series at Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa, a message series from 1 Peter. This week's passage is 1 Peter 3:18-4:11.
Part 7 in the Uphill series from 1 Peter at Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week's passage is 1 Peter 3:13-17, 4:12-19, which is all about suffering.
Part 6 in the Uphill series, a study of 1 Peter from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This week's passage is 1 Peter 3:8-12, all about how to be a blessing to others through honor.
Part 4 of the Uphill sermon series out of 1 Peter from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week's passage is 1 Peter 2:13-25.
Part 3 in the Uphill message series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week's passage is 1 Peter 2:1-12.
Part 1 in a verse-by-verse series from 1 Peter called Uphill at Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This week's passage is 1 Peter 1:1-12.
Launch Sermon PlayerIt’s easy to see when someone is engaging in an activity that isn’t good for them. But when someone tries to interrupt OUR desires, well… that’s a different story! But what if God is interrupting our desires not to rob us of something good, but rather to give us something even better? That’s […]
Launch Sermon PlayerWe carry expectations into everything. Into the movie theater, into restaurants, into marriage, into our jobs, into a class, into church, and even into our relationship with God. Some expectations get met, some are exceeded, but some never get met. But what do you do when God fails to meet your expectations? That’s what this […]
Launch Sermon PlayerJust like an addict needs an intervention from their loved ones who desire the best for them, sometimes people need a spiritual intervention from God who desires the best for them. But how will YOU respond when He intervenes in your life? In this third part of our Interrupted series studying the book of […]
Launch Sermon PlayerMost people long to have someone pursue them – to go to great lengths to display their love and devotion. In the story of Jonah, we see God go to tremendous length to show His love for Jonah. Likewise, in the gospel, we see the extreme lengths God went to to show His love […]
Launch Sermon PlayerDon’t you just hate interruptions? And yet, life is filled with them! So what should you do when a major interruption disrupts your everyday living? That’s what we look at in this new series, “Interrupted.” Through this series, we will study the Old Testament book of Jonah, discovering how Jonah messed up the […]
The final message in the #Unexpected teaching series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa, where we look at the baptism of Jesus, the prequel to the Sermon on the Mount.
Part 15 in the #Unexpected teaching series, a study from the Sermon on the Mount at Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This week's text is Matthew 7:24-29.
Be Stupid is the 13th part of the #Unexpected series, a study from the Sermon on the Mount from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa. This week's passage is from Matthew 7:7-12.
Here is the next part in Riverwood Church's #Unexpected series, a study of the Sermon on the Mount. This week, we learned how to judge the way Jesus teaches us to.
This message is Part 11 in the sermon series Unexpected a study of the Sermon on the Mount from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
This is part 9 of the #Unexpected message series from the Sermon on the Mount at Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
Part 7 in the #Unexpected series, a study of the Sermon on the Mount from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
People of The(ir) Word is part 6 in the #Unexpected sermon series about the Sermon on the Mount from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
Part 5 in the #Unexpected sermon series, a study of the Sermon on the Mount from the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7, from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA.
Part 4 in the #Unexpected sermon series, a study of the Sermon on the Mount, from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
Jesus the Abolitionist is Part 3 in a study on the Sermon on the Mount, from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
Be a Rubber Band is the second message in the #Unexpected sermon series about the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7, from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
Easter 2016 message from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa, entitled Easter Changes Everything.
Launch Sermon PlayerIf you are a follower of Jesus, then you have been given the most precious, valuable thing the universe has ever seen. It’s called the gospel. But you aren’t supposed to hoard it. It’s to be shared. The gospel possesses the power to repair a person’s relationship with God, so it should be […]
Part 2 of the Putting Go Back in the Gospel series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA. This week's passage is from Luke 5:27-32.
Part 1 of 3 of the Putting GO Back in the Gospel series at Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA.
Part 4 of 4 in the Redefining Love series (a study of 1 Corinthians 13) from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA.
Part 3 of the Redefining Love series, a study of 1 Corinthians 13 from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa.
Love is Tough is part 2 in the Redefining Love series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA.
Part 1 of a four-week series at Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA, looking at the topic of Love as defined by 1 Corinthians 13.
A sermon from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa looking back at 2015 and ahead to 2016.
Launch Sermon PlayerSo far in this “New You” series, we’ve seen that in order to set and meet our spiritual resolutions, we need a New Leader (aka Jesus), we need New Rhythms, and we need a New Outlook. But there is one critical component that we must talk about. It’s a must-have step to keeping […]
Part 3 of the New You teaching series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA, all about setting and keeping spiritual resolutions.
Part 2 in the New You series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, Iowa, a teaching series about establishing spiritual New Year's resolutions.
Part 1 of the New You series from Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA, a series all about setting and keeping spiritual New Year's Resolutions.
Abounding in Thanksgiving is a stand-alone message from Colossians 2:6-7, as part of the annual Thanksgiving Worship Gathering at Riverwood Church in Waverly, IA.