Riverwood Church - Waverly, IA: Sermons

Paul starts the passage in Colossians 2:16-23 by saying, "Do not let people judge you." By that, he is trying to say not to let people’s judgments/assumptions affect you. Watch/Listen/Read More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/jesus-centered-religion-centered-8/

Growing in faith isn’t found in super complex methods. Like Daniel learns from Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid," it’s the basics that help you grow. Watch/Listen/Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/jesus-centered-growth-centered-6/

Is same-sex attraction ok? 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 tells us that our body is not our own but, instead, it belongs to Christ. Our spirit becomes one spirit with his. Watch/Listen/Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/desexualizing-imago-dei-5/

We don’t own ourselves - God owns us. We deserved death, but Jesus took our place on the cross. We were bought with a price and shouldn’t become slaves of man (1 Corinthians 7:23.) Last week, Erin talked about how we can see the Imago Dei in others because it helps us view others the way we should. This week, however, we are going to look at the Imago Dei in ourselves.

Listen/Watch and Learn More at: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/value-of-the-imago-dei-1/

Typically, we try our hardest to avoid suffering. Yet, if we spend our whole lives actively working to avoid suffering, we will miss out on moments where suffering brings us closer to others and closer to God. Listen/Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/jesus-centered-suffering-centered-5/

So many people justify their wrongdoings in the name of Jesus. Society, as a whole, doesn’t truly understand who Jesus was at this point. Watch/Listen/Read More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/stronga-jesus-centered-faith-centered-3-strong/

When we encounter an idea that we are not familiar with, we wonder, “What does that look like?” Paul is trying to answer that question for us in Colossians 1:9-14. Watch/Listen/Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/jesus-centered-walking-centered-2/

Watch & Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/psalm-8-summer-of-psalms-5/

There is an insurmountable gap between how glorious God is and how sinful we are. If we perfectly apply the law, God will cover the gap. Yet, we cannot perfectly apply the law on our own. This is why we need Jesus. Watch and Learn more: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/psalm-19-summer-of-psalms-4/

Fret Not: fear/anger-based worry • The wicked (verses 1 and 2) - do not be envious of wrongdoers (of what they have - ie money, fame, power, etc.) • The success of others (verse 7) • Life in general (verse 8) - don't get angry; don't lose your cool Watch & Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/psalm-371-9-summer-of-psalms-3/

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.