Riverwood Church - Waverly, IA: Sermons

When we follow Christ and we feel let down, what do we do? There are many many stories of people that felt like God wasn’t good after going through tough circumstances in life. So if we can “taste and see the that Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8), how do we explain the suffering and issues in life? Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/psalm-34-summer-of-psalms-2/

What is the greatest fear you are facing right now? • Financial? • Grades? • Safety? — Where do I go for help? Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/psalm-121-summer-of-psalms-1/

Sanballat and Tobiah are giving their last-ditch effort to stop Nehemiah from completing the wall. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/the-finish-building-lives-6/

The inside distractions in our lives are even more insidious than violent external threats. External threats can actually motivate you. Internal distractions, however, tend to demotivate you completely and fracture and/or break you from the inside. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/distractions-inside-building-lives-5/

Many people have a dream and goal in life that they are working towards but have to deal with constant distraction and derailment. Similarly, Nehemiah had to deal with distraction while sticking to the mission God gave him. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/the-distractions-outside-building-lives-4/

Nehemiah 3, shows how it took everyone generously giving their time and energy to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Some would build, and some would repair - but they all had a specific job to ensure the completion of the effort. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/the-implementation-building-lives-3/

Waiting can be difficult, awkward, painful, and slow. As humans, we tend to do anything we can to distract ourselves from waiting. Waiting can often bring rich rewards. God uses these moments of waiting to do deep work in His children. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/the-plan-building-lives-2/

Even though he had never been to Jerusalem, Nehemiah was Jewish and cared deeply about his people. He mourned and fasted for days when he heard that the gates had been burned down. Nehemiah needed God to move the king’s heart to allow him to begin rebuilding the walls and gate. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/the-call-building-lives-1/

In movies, happy endings can often feel cheesy. Life rarely works out with a “happy ending.” J.R.R. Tolkien says that he thinks Happy Endings give us a glimpse of something deeper that we long for. Happy endings can point us toward the Easter story, however.

The disciples must have felt pretty special that Jesus would ask them to follow Him so closely. But, just a while before this part of Mark, they learned that He would die soon and that one of them would be the betrayer. At this stage, Jesus started to show worry for the first time. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/pain-before-cross-mark-48

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.

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 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.