Riverbend Podcast
New: Exploring God’s Promises - New Decisions, New Direction
In God We Trust Series - Feast or Famine
Pastor Joe looks at the story of Joseph, and his foresight in saving during a season of plenty, to save many lives during a season of famine.
In God We Trust Series - Dealing with Debt
The Roman government often exploited its citizens in cruel ways. Rather than instructing the church in Rome to rebel or leave, Paul tells them to give to this government what is owed (taxes, respect, honor). However, Paul warns them not to owe anything, a warning against voluntarily going into debt. While so commonly accepted in our culture, debt is still something Christians ought to view as counter to the freedom that God desires in our lives and should seek to get out from debt- with wisdom in borrowing and wisdom in repayment. Paul also reminds the church that because of Jesus’ costly act of purchasing the church with his blood, we have an unpayable debt to love one another.
In God We Trust Series - Standard of Living
Continuing the series “In God we trust – the heart of money”, we see Paul’s warnings to the church about the ever-present temptation of greed in 1 Timothy 6. Greed is an affront to God, because what God desires for us is a contentment that says “I have more than enough”, but greed says “I will never have enough”. We constantly strive to live financially as our friends, family or culture say we should. We end up walking down an uncertain, ever-shifting, never-ending path and missing out on “that which is truly life” that comes through acknowledging that all that we have is from God, for God, and ultimately to God.
In God We Trust Series - Strive Less, Surrender More
The new sermon series that kicked off is called “In God We Trust – the heart of money”. While many think very secularly about their finances and their resources, the Bible actually talks about these more than almost anything else. This is because how we think about and use our money reveals much about our heart. Money promises a fleeting, worldly freedom, but really ensnares us with worries and anxieties. God intends us to have a life of stewarding and mastering these resources that he’s given to us, experiencing a life with the freedom of knowing that all is from Him and to Him and for Him.
Christmas Tree Series - The Story of Rahab
The new sermon series that kicked off is called “In God We Trust – the heart of money”. While many think very secularly about their finances and their resources, the Bible actually talks about these more than almost anything else. This is because how we think about and use our money reveals much about our heart. Money promises a fleeting, worldly freedom, but really ensnares us with worries and anxieties. God intends us to have a life of stewarding and mastering these resources that he’s given to us, experiencing a life with the freedom of knowing that all is from Him and to Him and for Him.
Christmas Tree Series - The Story of Mary
Joseph speaks continues through the genealogy of Christ, looking to the life of his mother, Mary.
Christmas Tree Series - The Story of Tamar
While we often gloss over the genealogy in Matthew 1, it is truly one of the more shocking things in the Bible. The God of the universe entered the world through a bloodline with so many… issues. Judah and Tamar are one such example. In Genesis 38, we read the somewhat blasphemous history of this family- Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law. When his son died, Tamar and another of Judah’s sons were married. When that son died, according to custom, Judah was supposed to give his next son to her as her husband, but he did not. Tamar, realizing that she was vulnerable if she was without any family or children, pretended to be a prostitute so that Judah would solicit her, and she became pregnant. This shameful, sin-filled event is used by God not only to redeem Judah by showing him his sinfulness and how short of God’s standard he’s fallen, but also is used to perpetuate the bloodline that God enters the world through in the person of Jesus. God’s fingerprints of redemption are prevalent all throughout Jesus lineage, and He calls us out of our own lineage of sin and into His lineage of righteousness.
Living Hope Series - Hope and Humility
Pastor Travis teaches through 1 Peter 5 - and the direct correlation between humility and hope.
Living Hope Series - Faithful Stewards
Pastor Joe teaches through 1 Peter 4, and the idea that we’ve all been given gifts through God’s various graces - and the importance of stewarding those gifts well, in the context of our personal relationships and community.
Living Hope Series - To Be a Blessing
Pastor Joe walks through 1 Peter 3:8-16, and the personal blessing from God’s love and grace as well as the call to be a blessing to others as a result.
Living Hope Series - The Living Stone
Travis continues to 1 Peter 2, looking at Christ as the Cornerstone, the foundation that his followers are build upon.
Living Hope Series - Born Into A Living Hope
Travis preaches through 1 Peter 1:3-16. Looking at Peter's letter of encouragement to early believers going through difficult circumstances - pointing to the living hope of Christ working in and through them.
Family Series - Father and Defender
Pastor Joe teaches through Psalm 63, specifically calling out God’s intentionality and love for the widow, the orphan, and the lonely.
Family Series - Community Groups Kickoff
Pastor Travis looks at Ecclesiastes to highlight a deep personal human need for individuals to share life together. For more information on Riverbend's specific community groups, go to www.riverbendonline.org/groups
Family Series - The New Covenant
Joe talks about the freedom Christ came to bring us through his perfect life, death, burial and resurrection -- and how his spirit informs our generosity and sacrifice toward others.
Family Series - Submitting To One Another
Pastor Joe teaches through Ephesians 5, and the importance of submitting to one another in reverence to Christ within our families.
Family Series - What Is Love?
Pastor Joe teaches through 1 Corinthians 13, answering the question "What Is Love??"
Family Series - Hands and Foreheads
Pastor Joe teaches through Deuteronomy 6:5-9 --- And the necessary investment in the next generation.
Family Series - A Church That Cares
Family Matters. Being a part of one comes with lots of joys and challenges. Family can make you laugh, cry and drive you crazy. How do we experience a fulfilling life within our family even in the most exhausting of days? Join us for Riverbend's series, "Family" as we explore our stories and dynamics within our families - those we’re born into, the ones we make for ourselves, and the family we have with Jesus.
Summer Playlist Series - Psalms 63: The Secret Of Life...
Special guest Michael De Selm teaches through Psalm 63, revealing David's intimate thoughts through a season of disappointment and doubt.