Riverside Church || Sunday Sermons

Scripture: John 3:1-16, Why did Jesus talk about the need to be born again? What does it actually mean?

Scripture: John 18:28-35, What is truth? How can we learn from Jesus' encounter with Pilate of what happens when post-truth is embraced?

Scripture: John 5:1-14, It's not always clear what somebody really wants even if their need seems obvious. How does Jesus help us to see that in our own lives too?

Who was Elizabeth and what did she have to do with the Christmas story? What can we learn from her life?

What's there to be thankful for in these final weeks of a very difficult year?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16, Matthew 20:25-27, Galatians 3:28, Will I evaluate my political views through faith/Jesus, or will I create a version of faith that supports my politics? How are our filters impacting our reactions and thoughts about the future?

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11, Philippians 3:20, John 13:34-35, John 17, So what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in a deeply divided nation days before an election?

Scripture: Habakkuk 2-3, Biblical hope is something more tangible and real life empowered by God's truth and Spirit. So what's the connection between having hope in the dark and praising in the dark?

Scripture: Habakkuk 1 & 2, Why is listening often so challenging? What happens when we learn to listen in the dark?

Scripture: Habukkuk 1, What do we do when we wish we could do things differently? Or when God's answer isn't what we asked for?

Scripture: Habukkuk 1, How do we wrestle and ask the tough questions about life when life doesn't seem fair?

Scripture: Genesis 3:16a, Ephesians 6:4, Ephesians 3, Parenting is hard work. How do we parent while joyfully raising up children in the Lord?

Scripture: Ephesians 5, The Big Picture: What are you looking for in a relationship? Why?

Scripture: Matthew 6, What has prayer looked like for you recently? No matter where we are in our prayer life, we can build from here.

What does it look like to connect with God through His Word amidst the hard struggles of life right now?

What is God showing us about money in this season? What do pain or fear have to do with that?

What does it look like to SERVE amidst our current circumstances?

What does it look like to do life with others?

What does the habit of worshiping together look like in your life?

None of us like to wait/be delayed. God is never in a hurry. What does delay look like in each of our lives?

Scripture: Exodus 1-5, How you define the FIRST job impacts how you define a CURRENT job.

Scripture: Acts 6-8, State of the Church 2020. So this past fiscal year, we have been both the church gathered (through March 8) and the church scattered (since March 15). What does that look like moving forward?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-26 Proverbs 29:11, God never wastes anything, and He has not intended for us to go on this difficult and challenging journey so that the end result will be that we just go back to what we were, or just develop a new normal. What does God have to teach us about anger?

God never wastes anything, and He has not intended for us to go on this difficult and challenging journey so that the end result will be that we just go back to what we were, or just develop a new normal. What does He have to teach us about fear & worry in our lives?

Scripture: Psalm 22, What do we do when God seems far away?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6 & 10, ...since there has finally been an acknowledgement from both national and state governments of the important role faith has in our country, and the doors of church buildings can start to re-open (under serious conditions and restrictions), what does this mean for Riverside?

Behind all anxiety (and rarely addressed) is what’s called existential anxiety = the lack of meaning and purpose in life. What does that look like in relationships in our lives?

Scripture: Psalm 57, When you know that God has a purpose for you, then everything you experience in life...will have a transformed meaning.

Scripture: Psalm 88, When we feel like life will never get better, how do we know that it will be better?

Scripture: Psalm 32, What does happiness REALLY look like in each of our lives, & how do we change direction in our lives?

Scripture: Psalm 1, God tells us that happiness is neither inevitable or unattainable—but it is possible. What does it look like to refocus on God's roadmap to experience happiness?

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, God tells us that happiness is neither inevitable or unattainable—but it is possible.

Scripture: John 20, What parallels are there in our situation to that of the very first Easter weekend?

Scripture: John 16, Is what you and I are carrying worth catching? How is He working in your life and effecting those around you?

God tells us as Jesus followers to bear fruit and produce fruit. Why does the fruit of the Spirit matter so much?

Scripture: Galatians 5, In what ways does the Holy Spirit manifest His fruit (love) in and through our lives and our relationships with others?

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12-15, In what ways does the Holy Spirit manifest His fruit (love) in and through our lives and our relationships with others?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13, So what does the Spirit-filled life look like? And what is the Fruit of the Spirit?

Why does the Holy Spirit fill us? What things do we need to know, & how can we be filled?

Scripture: Galatians 5, So when it comes to following and serving Jesus every day, are we in rhythm with the Holy Spirit, or are we out of step…?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12-14, What is the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues? What are myths and purposes surrounding it?

What are spiritual gifts, and how do they function in each of our lives?

How can we know that we are fully loved? And when change comes, what do we do with it?

What does it mean to sin against the Holy Spirit?

The most powerful and consequential words ever spoken/written are found in the Bible. So what is it that makes this book unlike any other book in human history?

Scripture: John 3, Throughout your entire life, even when you were lost out in the weeds, God has been pursuing you and telling you that something different is possible.

If we don't actually understand who the Holy Spirit is, how will we ever have Him work in us and through us? So just who is the Holy Spirit?

What was on your Christmas list? What are you returning?...And to what are you returning?

What Christmas means to us really depends on what we're looking for. What gifts does God want us to open this Christmas?

Scripture: John 1:1-14, Sharing WHAT you want can either clarify or confuse your understanding of WHY you want.

Has it ever seemed like God is messing up your plans? So what do we do when God puts us in situations that are out of our control?

Why are tears of laughter/joy such an important gift of God to us?

We shed tears when something invades our system that doesn’t belong there. What other types of poisons need to be flushed out of our systems…?

What happens when change comes barreling into our lives, and how can we navigate it in healthy ways?

Scripture: Luke 7, What do different tears tell us? What do tears of grief (experience of loss) look like in our lives.

Scripture: James 2:14-19

Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-27, What matters most in your life? We can't live out our values if we don't know what they are.

We don't control all the circumstances in our lives, but we do control the choices we make.

Scripture: Judges 13, Proverbs 13:20, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Habits eat willpower for breakfast. (Ortberg) Do you like the direction your habits are taking you?

So how do I start developing good habits? We need humility, honesty, & embrace help from God and others.

Scripture: Daniel, Goals don't determine our success; systems do. How can we create a habit...and make it stick?

Why are good habits harder to develop and bad habits are harder to break?

What kind of "creature of habit" does God want to shape my life into?

How do we go about living a more intentional life? Lets examine what does God want, what does it take & why should I do it?

Scripture: Luke 24, How does what you know impact who you know? How does who you know impact where you go?

What id you really knew me? How can we receive or extend peace in conversations today?

Scripture: Luke 22, Acts 1-2, One story always connects to another. Who do you need to invite into a conversation & sit with today?

Scripture: John 12, 19, 20, Things aren't always exactly as we think. How do we trust Him when those expectations are different than ours?

What does building & growing healthy relationships look like in each of our lives?

Scripture: Acts, What is water baptism & why does it matter in my life?

What priority does learning/knowing God’s truth have in your life?

Scripture: Matthew 9, How did Jesus demonstrate compassion? How can we really start to see other people in our lives daily?

Scripture: Hebrews 12, Long distance living leads to greater things but takes determination. How is the pace of your race? What’s tripping you up along the way?

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30, What does it mean to grow spiritually and align our choices/activities more to God's will?

What has to become the center of our hearts & the first priority of our lives when it comes to becoming more like Jesus? And what does this look like at Riverside in the next 12 months?

Our attitude toward our next step significantly impacts the way we approach, take and evaluate that step. What do fear & faith have to do with it in our lives?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16, 19b, Why is stirring up dissension such an ongoing problem…even in churches and among professing followers of Jesus at times?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:19a, 1 Samuel 17-18, What lessons on slander can we take from the life of David?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16, 18b, What do your friendships look like in your life?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-18, Where is your heart at today? Are there things that you need to examine and look at in your life?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-17, The anger God detests is when it controls us and harmfully impacts our relationships with others.

Is speaking and acting truthfully just a quaint moralistic standard from a forgotten past, or is it still something God takes seriously?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-17, What does pride look like in your life, & how does God's Word change it?

Scripture: Proverbs 11:30, 19:7, What does God's wisdom tell us about the priority of sharing Jesus with others?

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, What does a wise trust in God look like?

What things are worth getting angry about?

Scripture: Proverbs, How can we earn the respect of others and develop a good reputation?

Scripture: Proverbs 3, What's the true meaning of the word "discipline, and what does it look like in our daily lives?

Scripture: Proverbs, Children: What should you "turn up the volume" on & follow your parent's lead? Parents: What's that difficult "tightrope" to walk in life when it comes to parenting? Find out here!

Scripture: Proverbs, The Book of Proverbs contains great wisdom about simple principles of marriage that can transform our lives, marriages, communities & cultures.

Scripture: Proverbs, In marriage, how is our relationship less like a consumer relationship and more like a covenant relationship?

Scripture: Proverbs 27, What 4 types of people are there that we encounter in our lives, & how do we live out our friendships through God's wisdom?

Scripture: Proverbs 12, Why & when do we lie in our lives? How can we be honest?

Scripture: Proverbs 3, Why & how should we do good works?

Scripture: Proverbs, How do you go from daydreaming about life to a "just do it" attitude?

Scripture: Proverbs, How can we learn to be wise in a culture full of endless chatter?

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, Proverbs, What are the benefits of wisdom for your everyday life?

Scripture: Proverbs 1, In the unending noise of often conflicting opinions, how can we discern what is actually true?

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-15, Romans 12:18, Colossians 1:15-29, The hurdle to forget is never far from the hurdle to forgive. What does that look like in each of our lives in this new year?

What 3 key things does God intend that Christmas is just the right time for?

Will you have an intentional Christmas this year? How did God make sure to "cover all of the bases" for Christmas?

...it's impossible to do an honest series about answering the question, "Do my dollars make sense?" from God's perspective and ignore the topic of giving. So what happens when you give to God's work?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6, Wealth is a 2-sided coin. So how can we make sure we're on the right side of "the coin" when it comes to God's purposes for money?

Scripture: Romans 12, It's often our emotions that drive us down unhealthy, unhelpful, or even dangerous financial pathways. A change in our financial situation starts with how we think about money.

Scripture: Matthew 19, What does Jesus say about "having it all"? What's the illusions and then what does it actually mean to "have it all".

Scripture: Matthew 6, Worry is a dead-end. How do we put God first in our life so that money worries will not dominate our lives.

Scripture: Proverbs 27, What are God's principles for financial freedom?

The reality is that we can become more decisive and receive divine direction more consistently as we trust God’s process.

What are 4 main levels of connection God uses to give us divine direction?

Scripture: Ephesians 2, We are made to make a contribution and not just consume. What does serving mean & look like in your life today?

No matter our age or season of life, one of the most challenging and sometimes confusing aspects of recognizing God’s divine direction in our lives is discerning is He leading us to go or to stay?

Why do we need to STOP and do 3 things before continuing on?

Scripture: John 21, Do you feel like you need to measure up to approach God?

Scripture: Marl 4, Will we interpret our challenges as God’s lack of care or look for God’s care during our challenges?

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28, How often do we label our misinterpretation of Jesus as His misbehavior?

Scripture: John 9, Mark 5, When was the last time you were ridiculously surprised by someone or something you were overly familiar with? When has that happened with Jesus?

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-5, Mark 1:17, 4:18-20, I want all of us to understand that when Jesus says, “Follow Me”, it means something very personal and substantial to every one of us.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11, Communion isn’t supposed to be done in isolation. What are we supposed to look outward to as we look at taking communion?

The Scriptures teach that taking communion is a significant and serious thing. How can we look inwardly before taking communion?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11, Communion not only points us to Jesus' cross and death, but it also reminds us Jesus' work didn't end on the cross.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2, Communion challenges us to look in the right direction. What does that look like in your life today?

Scripture: , So what does it mean to “parent” adult children, and why is it so much more challenging than we ever think it might be?

Who are your parents? Let's explore some family struggles & also who you are as well.

So how do we deal with the anger that is inevitable for us as parents? Anger that is mishandled can create tremendous pain and damage to everyone in a family.

So how do you as a parent make sure that your children are not the C.E.O.’s of your family?

Scripture: Ephesians 6, When the madness gets to be too much, how can we take a step back & re-group? What's the biblical definition of parenting, & how does that apply to your life?

Scripture: Ephesians 5-6, Let's focus & look at students in the church family. What does & doesn't work, and what tools do we have when we're feeling stuck?

Pastor Tom shares the final message of the conference on Wednesday morning.

Join us for the full service on Tuesday morning for a time of worship & teaching together.

Tuesday evening's powerful service & special service elements.

Join us for the message by Dr. Don Wiggins on the first night of the North Central District & Prayer Conference.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6, How do we lead our family well & be intentional in the eternal things that will be carried on through our families?

Who is at the center of our family units, & how has culture effected this shift of focus?

What an Easter weekend to celebrate our risen Savior with powerful music & relevant teaching!

Scripture: Luke 8, Luke 24, How does the life of Joanna remind us of Jesus' transforming power as well as challenge each of us in our own lives?

Is it possible to be liberated from our past failures and be used by God?

Human relationships have always been subject to tensions, disagreements and arguing. How can we relate to the story of Onesimus, Philemon & Archippus?

Scripture: Judges 6, What is the source of our security, worth, and identity? How can we relate to Gideon & his struggles?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8, Galatians 2, Titus, Who was Titus, and how can his life's example help us to become and effective people navigator?

Scripture: Ephesians 6, Romans 15, Colossians 4, Titus 3, 2 Timothy 4, Who is Tychicus, & what 2 characteristics does he have that we should strive to reflect as well in our lives?

Scripture: Colossians, Who was Epaphras, & why is he worth imitating in our lives?

Scripture: Acts 4:13, Even Jesus' closest followers were ordinary people, but what made them for extraordinary?

Scripture: Acts 16, When’s the last time your day didn’t go according to plan? How do we live lives of faithfulness in the midst of the unknown & tough in life?

Who was Epaphroditus, what was he gambling & why? What can we learn about this ordinary man from the Bible?

Scripture: 2 Timothy, Who is Onesiphorus (how do you even pronuounce that), and what kind impact did he have with those around him?

t's easy to forget that most of what God accomplishes throughout history and around the world, He does through people most would regard as unremarkable/insignificant from a human perspective. What can we take from the examples of Andrew & Phillip in the Bible?

Scripture: Luke 21, Jesus never shies away from this critical topic, so what can we learn from the Word about giving?

As we follow Jesus' example, what does it look like in each of our lives to "go"?

…starting a 2nd campus is so much more than just a project… Because it’s Jesus’ church we’re talking about, it’s far more than a human endeavor. So why pray?

Scripture: Isaiah 54:2 Mark 1:38, What a celebration of one chapter & announcing the next chapter for Riverside's multisite journey!

How does Riverside partner with others around the world to make a global impact for Christ?

As Americans we have an odd relationship to work. Work (or the lack of work) dominates the landscape of most of our lives. How do we find a balance in it all?

So what does God want us to hear when "money talks"? How can we understand our true financial situation, & what does that have to do with God?

Scripture: Genesis 3:6-19, What is the biggest problem in relationships, and how can we recognize it in our own lives?

Scripture: Mark 12:29-30, Why do our emotions matter, and how do I manage & deal with those emotions?

Scripture: Romans 12:2, Why does it matter if we manage our thought life? How can we make choices to have a healthy mind?

What are common sources of stress in our lives? So then...what are God's answers for healthier lives?

Scripture: Romans 12:2, Luke 15, The amazing parable in Luke 15 gives us 4 principles that are a pathway back to God and spiritual transformation.

Scripture: Phillippians 3, Romans 12:2, What does your future look How can you make the best of the rest of your life? What does God tell us about setting goals?

Scripture: Joshua 1, The next step can always be scary; what does that look like with courage in our lives?

Now what? In our effort to find a connection we once had, we often lose the focus we now need. What does remaining in Jesus look like?

Scripture: John 6&7, Ecclesiastes 3:11b, Romans 1:20, Our surface problem is almost never the problem, and our longing tells us that something is wrong. What does it look like to have satisfaction in Jesus in our lives?

Scripture: Matthew 13:13-15, Exodus 14:14, 1 Samuel 12:16, Nehemiah 8:11, Zechariah 2:13, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 46:10, Matthew 5:8, Matthew 6:6, If God can really impact every moment of each day, then how does that actually work? Why is listening so hard living in today's culture?

Scripture: Acts, Galatians 5:16, What does it look like to “live by…walk by…be led by…keep in step with…” the Holy Spirit in your life?

Scripture: Acts 2:41, What is baptism and why does it matter so much?

Scripture: Acts, What does it look like when a healthy church takes God's Word seriously?

Scripture: Acts, What kind of worshiper is God seeking in a healthy church?

Scripture: Ephesians, As part of God's "forever family", how should we belong, connect, serve & love in our church?

Scripture: Acts, What should any local church, at it's foundation and core, strive to be as a healthy church?

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, What does it look like when a health church is passionate about Jesus' mission, serious about His last command and always reaching further?

The three answers we can give God when He calls us.

Are you willing to let God change you instead of your circumstances? Why surrendering our will to Him can be the most important step we take.

Why does Jesus want us to pray persistently, relentlessly, and continuously -- doesn't He already know what we need?

Why should we ask God to search our hearts -- doesn't He already know what's in them?

Why do hard things happen; how can we believe in a God that doesn't seem to care?

There are times God appears to be silent, why can't we always feel God?

Scripture: Matthew 22-23 Romans 3 Galatians 2, What is the difference between "religion" and following Jesus as Lord?

Scripture: Romans 8, The struggle to believe in God in so many cases is not because people are rejecting the God of the Scriptures; they're rejecting a distorted view of God. Since God isn't "on-demand God", then who is He?

A time of worship, inspiration and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus!

There is a cost to being lost; how does understanding God's mercy save us?

Scripture: Matthew 6, What does forgiveness have to do with mercy, and how does this effect my life?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4, Since we all experience failure in our lives, how do we stay "usable" in serving the Lord through our experiences of mercy in our lives?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4, Because mercy is new every day, what do we need to remind ourselves of each day? What's the prison holding you back today?

Scripture: Matthew 26 , Why do we need mercy in our lives? How do we welcome it into our lives, even in our failures?

Scripture: Acts 10:34 Galatians 2:11 Matthew 4:19 John 21:19, Sometimes despite our successes and spiritual growth and experiences of "Only God!" moments, we can still goof up.

Scripture: Acts 2:41 3:6 5:15 9:34 10 12:1-7, Through looking at Peter's life, how can we see God doing incredible things in and through imperfect people.

Scripture: Matthew 26:33 Luke 22:61-62, Where do you turn when you collide and face "titanic moments" in your life?

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22, Relationships are a huge part of how real faith works and doesn't work in our lives.

Scripture: Matthew16, So why is it we, like Peter, get Jesus and His purpose and mission for our lives so wrong?

Scripture: Matthew 16:16 Acts 2:41, Words hold the power of life and death. How do words matter in this life, & how can they change everything?

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11 Matthew 14:22-33, Real faith is often far messier, difficult and challending than we think it should be. What can we learn as we examine Peter's life & his faith struggles?

Scripture: James 1:2-4, How do we respond when in the providence of a sovereign God, trials, problems, and difficult circumstances land squarely in our laps and test our faith?

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12, Why do we often have a faith experience that looks like Mountain-top Sundays and Rock-Bottom Mondays? How do we live with spiritual disciplines in our life that we didn't necessarily choose?

Doubt gnaws at us and causes us to question. What did doubt look like for the disciples, and what was Jesus' response to doubt?

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, How can we celebrate Christmas when either the “presents” we receive can’t outweigh the pain we feel in our actual “present”?

Scripture: John 3:16 Luke 2:10 11 14, Just where did the tradition of gift-giving begin? It started with God's gift to us the very first Christmas.

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22, Lukewarm? What does that really even mean anyways?

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, Jesus knows His churches. What 3 promises did Jesus make to the church of Philadelphia?

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6, Does our reputation match the reality of our walk with God? Why do we need a "wake-up" call today?

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29, How can we understand the reality and tactics of the evil one? Let's look at the church in Pergamum that was in a very tough place.

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17, What does it mean to understand the reality & tactics of the evil one in our lives?

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11, Genuine wealth is not defined by secular standards. It is God's grace in the life of the disciple who has as their highest priority to be a Jesus follower, and who has the courage to stick to their goals despite setbacks or adversity.

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7, We must be careful not to become worshipers of the Bible instead of worshipers of the God of the Bible. What does Jesus want us to know about our love life and how to avoid legalism?

Join us as we look at "living on mission" across the world & what that looks like for each of us.

Scripture: Acts 1:8 Ephesians 6:18-20 Ezekiel 36:26 Luke 15:1-7, How does prayer fit into a "Life on Mission"? How does the Holy Spirit help us to effectively live on mission?

Scripture: Mark 10, What does it look like to grow in my walk of faith? What does transformation & reproducing have to do with it?

Scripture: Acts 8:4-8 26-40 1 Peter 2:9 Romans 10:14 Luke 21:14-15, We must walk our talk. What does that look like in everyday life, & who do I share with?

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46 Luke 10:25-37 Mark 10:45, Serving others is a huge deal in living lives on mission with God's heart.

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13, How do we stay connected with people around us? What do you think God left you and me on earth to do?

Scripture: Acts 1:8 Matthew 22:38 Matthew 22:39 John 4:1-38, What do you think God left you and me on earth to do? What does it look like to live a LIFE ON MISSION?

Scripture: John 15:12-17, Great friends make life great. What does it take to be a great friend, & where do we start?

Scripture: Acts17 Acts18 Acts19, We want to be winners. We want to make a difference in this world. We want our lives to matter for Jesus. So how do we do this all?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13, How does God's kindness in our lives shape us & our identities?

Scripture: Matthew 23:25 Matthew 7:24-25, What are you chasing in life? What does it look like to chase after Christ in an authentic manner?

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-11 Matthew 3:15 Acts 8:26-31 34-39, What is baptism? Why does is matter so much? Why is baptism so important and what does it have to do with going public with your faith?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses the language of the ancient Olympic games to explain what attitudes and choices are essential in our spiritual journey. How can we apply this in our lives today?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses the language of the ancient Olympic games to explain what attitudes and choices are essential in our spiritual journey. How can we apply this in our lives today?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, God wants us to know this is a match we can win because of what He provides for us.

Scripture: James 4:12 Hebrews 12:15 Galatians 5:17, There are 3 battles/challenges all of us have to face in our lives: selfishness over unselfishness, forgiveness and bitterness, and what's easy & what's right.

Scripture: Isaiah 6:8, What is important for us to know about God, ourselves, and the message He entrusts to us?

Scripture: Esther, Our kids lead us in worship & tell us the story of Esther through drama & music that they learned during their Production Boot Camp week.

Scripture: Matthew 8:26, How does Jesus help us deal with fear in healthy ways?

Scripture: John 21:22, What does Jesus tell Peter to focus on in his life, and why does that matter?

Scripture: Job 38:4, Are all of Job's questions, what does God respond to him with and why?

Scripture: John 21:15, After Peter's denial, what does Jesus do, and what does love have to do with it?

Scripture: John 5:6, What does this question tell us about change, faith and choices in life?

Scripture: Mark 5:30, Had Jesus never asked this question, we would have never known this women's story.

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9, How does this story of Elijah show God's grace and patience with us even when we're not where we're supposed to be?

Scripture: Genesis 32:27, God knew Jacob's name, so why did He ask him this? How did God use this question to impact Jacob's life?

Scripture: Luke 2:49, What happened when Jesus was a boy & His parents realized He was not with them. What is the significance of this question?

Scripture: Genesis 4:9, We take a look at the questions God asks Cain, and see what these questions tell us about the human heart as well as God's heart truth.

Scripture: Genesis 3:9, After Adam and Eve sin and hide from God, this is God's question. He wants them to realize where they are because of their choices. What does this question tell us about us & God?

A powerful Easter Weekend service filled with drama, music, & a great message from Pastor Tom Lundeen!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15, Paul makes it clear that if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then the Christian faith is futile...no Easter, no Church, no life, no forgiveness, no eternal life, nothing. We have the greatest message ever for what a messed up culture and people need most.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7, What does the Bible have to say about marriage and singleness in 1 Corinthians 7?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13, Without love, our gifts, abilities, sacrifices, and achievements are "nothing". Why 1 Corinthians 13 is too often the missing link in church life and is what people outside the church are most attracted to.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12-14, How do we figure out what our spiritual gifts are and not confuse them with other things?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians, A sex saturated society is nothing new. What can we learn from Paul's teaching to the city of Corinth?

Scripture: John 8:31, God wants His Word to infiltrate and permeate every part of our life...so how does this happen?

Scripture: Hebrews 4, Luke 24, What am I able to see when God opens my spiritual eyes?

Scripture: Genesis 21, 2 Kings 6:11-20, Reality is the Bible is hard to understand without illumination. Brightness brings clarity. What happens when God opens my spiritual eyes?

Scripture: Psalm 119, How does God help us to open our eyes wide so we can see and understand His Word?

Scripture: Psalm 33:6 John 6:63b, How does God use His Word to change our lives?

How can we know that the Bible is true and that it's God's Word?

Scripture: Matthew 7:24 Romans 10:17 James 1, What do the 5 senses have to do with studying the Bible, & how can I create a habit in my life with God's Word that sticks?

Scripture: Daniel 1, What does the story of Daniel teach us about tensions, resolve and guardrails?

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-33, What does God's Word say about money, consumption & guardrails?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6, In every area of our lives where there is a natural desire, we need guardrails. When it comes to you, do you flee or flirt with temptation?

Scripture: Proverbs 13:20, Whether we want to admit it now or later, our friends can determine the direction and quality of our life. What promise and warning does God give us about friendship?

Scripture: Ephesians 5, Your greatest regret could probably have been avoided if you had some guardrails in that area of your life. Guardrails are a standard of behavior that becomes a matter of conscience, &a guardrail is a personal boundary decision you’ll make.

Scripture: Acts 8 & 9, Baptism is a guardrail established by God to help us nail down (in both a personal and a public way) the decision we’ve made to say Yes to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior…

Scripture: Micah 6:8, The “Bigger 3” of Micah 6:8 is really all about attitude. What does that look like in our lives as well?

Spiritually transformed people "walk humbly" with God. Enoch's life tells us what walking with God means.

Scripture: Micah 6:8, Matthew 5, What is mercy? Who are the merciful? And what does genuinely receiving mercy even mean?

Scripture: Micah 6:8, All 3 of these things are deeply connected to each other and in God’s sight, we can only do all 3 of these things together (not pick and choose).

Scripture: Acts 14, The past 12 months at Riverside have been what has seemed to be a "tale of two cities" experience. Watch to hear about this year's annual "State of the Church" message from Senior Pastor Tom Lundeen.

How do we measure historical accuracy, and what does that mean for the Bible's accuracy?

Tolerance use to mean that people who are different from us are to be valued and treated respectfully. Today “tolerance” has devolved to mean that all ideas and behavior have equal value, so it’s wrong…to ever say that any kind of behavior is wrong/sinful.

Why would God allow us to have more than we can handle?

The most popular misbelief in western Christianity is that above all else God wants you to be happy. What does God's Word really say about this?

Good marriages don’t just happen. Jesus made it clear that God’s original intent for marriage was that it be permanent (not temporary); life-long (not convenient); and a marathon (not a sprint).

Now the reality is conflict is normal; it's even an opportunity for growth. But if not handled right, conflict can severely damage and even destroy a marriage.

A great dance takes a talented choreographer to help plan out every step that is to be taken. What does God say the choreography should look like for a wife or husband?

What are some important principals that can help you promote healthy communication in any marriage or relationship?

What are 4 hurdles that we're faced with in marriage that we need to tackle?

Scripture: James 4:1, Why is it so common for parents to disagree on how to raise their children? Here are 5 ways to improve your marriage and parenting.

Scripture: Genesis 1&2, No one goes into a marriage hoping it will be a disaster. So what are God's foundation & core passage on marriage?

In what other normal ways does God reveal His will to us?

How can we reach an unknown destination? God gives the Holy Spirit to be our guide; most of the time, the Spirit guides us in normal ways.

What 3 ways can we partner with God in missions?

Scripture: Matthew 26, 2 Corinthians 12, What happens when God says "not yet" or "not now" in our lives?

The reality is God’s will often includes positive reasons for problems in our lives. How does God use problems in our lives?

Where do you look for guidance? God's will is found in God's Word.

Scripture: Ephesians 2&5, How do we identify the gifts and talents God has given you and use them to serve one another?

There are flawed, defective and unreliable sources that compete for our attention and devotion, but only confuse and distract us from really understanding God's will.

Scripture: Ephesians 5, Since knowing and understanding God's will is based on a relationship with God, then our attitude is critically important.

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2, What does Jesus look like, and why has this question never been satisfactorily answered?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6, What does the popular expression "our bodies are a temple" mean in light of God's Word?

What does it mean to be created and made in God's image?

In a "selfie-centered" culture, how do we be authentic & not just show a filtered version of ourselves for the "me" we want them to see.

What happens when we are preoccupied with our bodies/appearance? How can our priorities get skewed?

Are you satisfied with your selfie? There are huge emotional, relational, and spiritual/theological issues that are present because of our cultural obsession with what we look like.

Join us as guest speaker Tim Meier shares about our newest partnership Taiwan, the exciting things that God is going there, & how you can partner with them!

Scripture: Isaiah 61, Acts 16, Freedom/grace is designed by God to be shared and given away. We all play a part, because the path to freedom isn't just about being rescued, but also being rescuers.

Scripture: Luke 19, Psalm 139, The identity we embrace determines our experience of freedom. When Christ-followers operate out of this identity, then becoming whole and free from destructive labels is the result.

Scripture: Genesis 37, The journey to freedom goes through the door of forgiveness.

Scripture: Genesis 3, 2 Samuel 11, One of the most powerful things we can do in our lives is to take personal responsibility for today.

Scripture: Romans 8, 1 Samuel 17, Jesus invites us to go looking in our story for the broken and busted up things. One of the greatest enemies of our freedom is fear.

Scripture: Matthew 26, Exodus 20, God wants to show how we’re held captive by our pain and how we can eventually find freedom through Him.

Scripture: Luke 15, There’s freedom from your past, your present, your enemies, your memories, and yourself. There is hope. There is an answer. And that answer is grace.

Scripture: Luke 9 & 10, Following Jesus is often emotionally, physically, and spiritually trying. What happens after we choose to lose?

Scripture: Matthew, 2 Timothy, There are times we become so focused on what we want that we fail to realize we are dropping the most important things in life.

Scripture: Matthew 14, "I want to live in a please of amazement that if Jesus doesn't catch me, I'm done." In order for us to obey Jesus, we must let go of what is safe and comfortable.

Scripture: Mark 8, Sometimes following Jesus feels like choosing to lose. Jesus knew that winning would come first through losing.

What makes baptism something so powerful in the spiritual realm? What is believer's baptism, and what does it mean for me?

Scripture: Ephesians, Romans 8, The father of lies is ultimately a bully who is bigger, stronger, and tougher than you or me. We need to be connected to Someone stronger than this spiritual bully.

Scripture: 2 Colossians 2:13-15, John 6:15, When you think about the cross, what comes to mind? It's now a symbol of the enormous price Jesus paid was worth it because of the significance and scope of the victory Jesus accomplished there.

Scripture: Psalm 23, C&MA President Dr. John Stumbo shares with Riverside about his roots here and his incredible story that God has taken him on throughout the years.

Scripture: Galatians 5; Romans 7, Why is the Holy Spirit so important? Many of us are trying to live a good moral life, but we're doing so with human methods & resources that are not sufficient to empower us to live a Christian life.

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-18; Ephesians 6:12, Engage, Experience & Celebrate Riverside's history, mission and future work! We don't want you to miss it!

Check out this Sunday's message from Pastor Chip Garrison, and the amazing story told by the Production Boot Camp kids!

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9a, 1 John 2:14, The most common form of spiritual warfare every Christ-follower faces daily is temptation. When & how are we tempted, and how do we overcome temptation?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, With the "belt of truth" in place, what's our next piece of battle gear?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, What does the "belt of truth" look like, and how do we put it on?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:11, The evil one will not "outwit" us when we are aware of his schemes and when we put into practice 2 important principles: humility & perspective.

Scripture: Exodus 4 & 17, Every hero relies on their team to beat the enemy. When we connect we conquer! Find out how this relates to God's family and your life.

Scripture: Ephesians 6, Many of us are simply unaware that the great, unseen but very real spiritual battle that rages all around us doesn't stop once we close the garage door at our home. So what does this mean for me & my family?

Scripture: John 8:32, Ephesians 6:11 & 2 Corinthians 2:11, In what ways does the enemy of our souls seek to "outwit" us? His primary tactic is an unrelenting assault upon the truth.

Just who is the devil? What power does the devil have, and what is the devil's destiny?

An amazing Easter Weekend filled with drama, music, laughter & a powerful message!

Scripture: Matthew 6:21, If our treasure (our heart) is focused on things outside of God's heart, then it is obvious that we can be spiritually vulnerable to the snares and schemes of the adversary.

Sex is God’s idea and gift…but because of sin, sex (like every other good gift of God) has been twisted, perverted, and disfigured into something that is often harmful…Find out why sex is so much more than just physical.

Scripture: Ephesians 4, What triggers our anger, and when does it become sin? Pastor Tom talks about our response to anger and how we can handle it God's way.

What is sin and how do we deal with it God's way?

Before a soldier can be effective in combat…he needs to learn 2 things: Who is my enemy? & Where am I vulnerable? Spiritual warfare involves conflict with the devil and demonic forces, but it also involves the principle of sin within us (“the flesh”), and the principle of sin in our society (“the world”).

Despite the clear evidence in Scriptures and in real life experiences, many Christ-followers today are quite unprepared for spiritual warfare; and the results of this unpreparedness are seen everywhere.

The idea of “commitment” isn’t that popular in our culture. Nothing great ever happens without making commitments. How will God "Stretch Us" at Riverside to extend our reach?

Multisite will stretch us in a number of ways, including financially.

It’s important to talk about money…because our attitude about money reveals the spiritual condition of our hearts (note Matthew 6:21). How does God want to stretch our hearts in becoming more and more generous in our giving to His work?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9, Multisite is not the only strategy a church can use; but we do think it’s the best one at this stage of Riverside’s life and timeline. Why do we believe this is such an important next step for our church to take?

Scripture: James 3:14-16, How can we know if we’re really changing for the better?

Scripture: Luke 6:45, God does have a spiritual X-ray tool for us. It’s our tongue.

What God is really about is inwardly transforming you and me to resemble Jesus more and more each day and not faking it. We need to talk about having the right motivation.

We all want to change for the better, but superficial focus and superficial analysis produces superficial temporary change.

What Christmas means to us really depends on what we’re looking for at Christmas.

What do “dark days” look like in our lives and what can the light of Christmas do to counteract our “dark days”?

Clearly the first Christmas was described as a joyous occasion. But how can we experience joy right now...?

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-8, What challenging "next steps" is God asking you to take in your spiritual growth and development in your relationship with Him?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:3, What's the difference between unity & uniformity? Why does unity matter, and what can chip away at it in our lives?

Encouragement gives us perspective, hope and strength; it inspires us to continue to walk with God despite trials. Encouraging others doesn't happen accidentally and it can even be challenging for us to do. So why do we sometimes find it hard as Christ-followers to encourage each other?

As odd as it may seem to us at first glance, the Scriptures indicate it’s really urgent for us to make “rest” something we work very hard at!

Jesus is the ultimate model of forgiving others. How do we "do" forgiveness in our lives?

Why do we need to "make every effort" to be people of integrity? Why is it such a huge deal to Christians? Let's dig into 2 Peter 3:14 to see what God has to say about it!

We have all been in a situation where we have said, "Don't Send Me!" Have you said that lately? Where is God sending you?

Check out how your support to the Great Commission Fund has impacted missionaries John & Betty Arnold in Burkina Faso, Africa. They share about what God's been doing lately in their ministry.

Everyone is searching; not everyone know it. How can you know that Jesus is the only way?

In order to answer the question, "Who is Jesus?" you must first weigh the available evidence, possible conclusions & an appropriate response. Whether you're here today as a skeptic, seeker or follower, this message is for you!

If God is really good and all-powerful, why does He allow so much pain and evil in the world?

What is the Bible? Fact, fiction or fable? Learn about how the Bible is absolutely unique, and how it is God's gift to open a door to faith for you and me.

To engage in this quest, regardless of where we may be starting from, will be very spiritually significant thing for all of us to do. The reality is, “Everyone is searching; not everyone knows it.” Let's begin this GodQuest together on an All-Church Journey; what is truth and how do we know that it exists?

Open your eyes to see God's GREATER authority & vision for the world & for your life.

Scripture: John 14:12, The reason we fail to turn inspiration into implementation is that we want miracles. Not work orders. Is your plan man driven or God driven?

There are times in our lives where we need a review. Do you trust God in the midst of your trials and tribulations? Do you trust God no matter what?

Join us as we dig deeper into what it looks like as God invites us to a higher calling, deeper surrender & greater things!

There are some important principles in Acts 8 that will encourage us all to take a next step in our spiritual journey.

Scripture: Acts 13:11-16, Join with Pastor Tom as he takes a look at a passage in Acts about Paul and reasons why he was recognized in hell and what that means for each of our lives.

I want us to see that not only are either heaven or hell our final destination, but that both heaven and hell come into play in our lives on earth. What was it about Job that caused God to brag about him in heaven?

The idea of hell is something that of talked about at all, is either confined to usage as a curse word, something to joke about, or something reserved for gruesome exploitation in a horror movie. Today I want to help us move past our wrong ideas, images, and prejudices about the reality of hell.

As it is in heaven...what does that really mean? Even if we believe in heaven’s existence and that our final destination is heaven, we don’t think about it very often because we don’t have a solid grasp on exactly what heaven is.

Riverside is a place for people to experience grace, grow in love, and give of themselves. How has Riverside lived this out in the last year, and how will we live it out in the coming year/

Let's take some time to celebrate what God has been doing over the past 12 months, look ahead to the vision God is giving us for the next 12-24 months and remind ourselves WHY we do what we do at Riverside.

Check out this Sunday's message from Pastor Chip Garrison, and the amazing story told by the Production Boot Camp kids!

Becoming a Christ-follower doesn’t immediately change everything about us before we were Christ-followers. So how can we recognize if we’re driving people nuts with our religious thinking or whether we are building people up because of our relationship with Jesus?

Two of the most important choices we'll ever make in life are: Will I get married? If yes, who will I marry? Let's find out what the Bible has to say about relationships and marriage.

Sin can tear families apart relationally and geographically. Everyone’s family bucket is broken. God’s family can substitute where our own families fall short.

How can we avoid the trap of approval addiction? If God can't please everyone, we're foolish to think that we can.

What principles are in the Bible that can help us to break free from abuse and to recover from the pain of it?

Conflict is part of life in a broken world; how do we live peaceful lives and resolve differences in a healthy way given this reality?

We all have family dynamics, and the truth is that when we get with our family, sometimes, it’s dynamic! How do you successfully navigate relationships with the "EGRs" in your life, and what does it look like to create and maintain healthy boundaries?

How can we learn to control our anger and neutralize the button pushers n our lives? Learn how God can give you a brand new heart and a new identity.

Relationships are absolutely critical for our lives and for our spiritual, emotional, and even physical health…yet fewer things in life cause us more problems, heartaches, and struggles than relationship tensions/issues. How do we define and develop healthy relationships?

Discover the victory and power we have in Jesus to transform our lives and secure our future. The promise of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection provides real hope for everyone!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, The cross is also God’s great invitation to the world. Jesus never intended His cross to become a campfire that Christ-followers sit around to warm themselves, He did intend His cross to light a wildfire in Christ-followers to send us out into a broken and needy world.

Did you know as Christ followers our union with Jesus means we experience freedom not only from any past sin, but also the ability to reject sin's power in our lives now? Learn more about what Jesus meant when He said to 'take up your cross' and how the transformative power represented by the cross can move us from a self-centered lifestyle to one marked by spiritual growth and health.

Without hesitation or apology, the New Testament declares that it was at the cross that Jesus disarmed and triumphed over Satan and all spiritual beings at his command…

The community of Christ is the community of His cross…the cross is the GPS that gives us clear directions in a dysfunctional and confused world.

While most people have an opinion on what they think love is, and books have been written to define and distinguish the various kinds of love, the Bible clearly indicates there is only one way to understand what real love actually is: the cross.

When it comes to the cross and forgiveness, often we have incorrect answers and we’re even asking the wrong questions because we do not fully comprehend. Forgiveness is such a huge issue to navigate because it’s the place where divine perfection and human rebellion collide…

What did a cross mean in ancient Roman and Jewish worlds? Why is the cross intersecting with my heart, and what does it tell us?

This series culminates today by focusing on our responsibility to God and what He expects of His followers. God’s expectation is that we bring Him back a portion of what He gives us…it’s called a tithe.

What does contentment look like in your life, and where does God fit in?

Why does the Bible tell us that saving is wise?

We have a "credit crisis" in America. Let's look at debt danger signs, the danger of debt, stewardship and practical steps with debt.

Money is fun - if you've got some! What does the Bible tell us to hear when money talks? Would you like to watch the sermon in a player where you can fast forward/rewind, click here?

What does it look to have "big faith" in this day and age?

So what’s the relevance of Christmas? Why is it for a "real person" like me?

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7, Christmas is about transformation. Why is this something either so challenging or so neglected in so many people's lives?

How many of us, knowing what we know now, if we had the opportunity to do it all over again, would live life a little differently? What does "right spending" have to do with Christmas and Jesus?

God’s presence is the first Christmas present. Other people may walk out of your life...but God will never do that.

How do we play God? What are the consequences of playing God? And what does unconditional surrender look like?

Where do we find the strength to go on when life just wears us out?

We can’t live without loss. All of us will have storms of stress, floods of failure, gusts of grief, and torrents of tragedy slam into our lives. When we feel desperate, what does the Bible tell us we should do?

God has provided 3 resources/remedies to help reduce the pain of loneliness in our earthly lives: His plan to live for, His people to connect to and His presence to live in. Take a look at each of these as Pastor Tom expands on each of them, and what they mean in your daily lives.

A lot of things can overwhelm us…So what do we do when we feel overwhelmed?

Check out how your support to the Great Commission Fund has impacted missionaries Chuck & Robbi Fanberg in Costa Rica. They share about the ups and downs of missionary life as well as what God's been doing lately in their ministry.

Scripture: Luke 15, Luke 15 contains 3 parables that show us Jesus’ heart for lost people…He used these parables in response to an experience in Luke 15:1-2. What principles do these parables teach us about being outward focused?

God’s plan for us is develop His moral character, to value what He values, think what He thinks, and do what He does. What does growing look like in each of our lives?

Worship is at the very heart of the Christian life…The Bible tells us we were created to be loved by God, and God wants us to love Him back.

The Church is not just something we go to, but the Church is something we are to become...

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, True to Jesus' vision, the church was like nothing anyone had experienced before. How does a church become like that original church in Acts 2?

What's the plan, and what does "perpetual motion" have to do with it? Watch and find out!

While no two adults have the exact life experiences, there are predictable stages you’ll encounter the closer you get to God. Take a closer look as we look at the model of how God connected with Abraham.

The older we get the more difficult the decisions become. The more difficult the decision the more unclear the right decision.

Growing in faith is important for every age. We must help children grow in their faith in a way that engages them fully.

Throughout the New Testament there are specific examples of people being baptized. We'll explore one specific story and how this decision impacted her life.

Why does it seem sometimes that God doesn't answer our prayers? How does God answer prayer?

Connecting with God through prayer begins with the right attitude, and it also happens with the right priorities.

Prayer can be an intimidating and challenging subject for most of us. Prayer is something we know is vitally important, but it can also seem elusive as a reality in our own lives.

How can we learn to become “self-feeding” Christ-followers with God’s Word?

…we’re going to talk about the Bible and why the most important thing for us to learn is how to become “self-feeding” Christ-followers…

Taking a look at where Riverside has been this past year and where we're headed. How do we stay focused on God's mission for Riverside?

Simplifying our lives is a popular topic in our society… Do we want to reorganize our lives, or revolutionize our lives? How does Jesus show us how to keep life simple, from the inside-out?

Margin is not just cutting things out of our lives, but making time for what matters most…it should help us have more time, energy and resources for what really counts

It matters what we do with our time because life is short. Are you using your time here on earth wisely?

Many of us are driving through life’s intersections with our foot on the accelerator…and one of the places where we feel the rush of life the most is the workplace.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29, How does Jesus tell us to lighten our load?

What does having God in the center of your family have to do with balance in your life? Why is it so important? We are called by God to unleash single minded, Christ centered, biblically anchored, world changers.

So what does God tell us matters most in this life? If we would take seriously what God says and put it into practice…our lives would be healthier, our families happier, our businesses and careers would be more productive, and there would be fewer divorces and separations.

We are busier than ever. So what advantages are there to having "margin" in our lives?

Just what is this fast-paced lifestyle doing to us? What biblical principles are there to help us start slowing down?

What difference can Easter make personally in our lives? Why does Easter really matter?

Knowing about the future from God’s perspective should not cause us fear or panic, nor should it cause us to sit back complacent. What does God want knowing about the future to do for us?

NOTE: Message video includes footage of all of this Sunday's baptisms. // What does the Bible tell us about the Antichrist and why do we need to know?

What is the Great Tribulation? What do we know about the Great Tribulation from God's Word? Join us as Pastor Chip digs into the topic of the Great Tribulation.

In theological circles the rapture has been the source of much debate and disagreement not because of the concept itself...but because of arguments about the timing of when it will occur. So what is the rapture, what is the purpose, and why does God want us to know about it?

Scripture: 1 and 2 Timothy, Today let's also see from 1 and 2 Timothy that the end times are also a time of hollow spirituality. How do we then find hope in these uncertain times?

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3, In 1 and 2 Timothy, we see that the end times are a time of moral collapse. What are the characteristics of this morality collapse in relation to love and relationships?

Scripture: Luke 21, Though no one knows the exact time and date of the return of Jesus Christ (and run from anyone who claims to know!), the New Testament talks about the future no less than 300 times...What are some characteristics of the end times?

How do we sort through the noise and decide what to believe about the future? What does Jesus Christ have to say about the future?

...the order really does matter because sex is not a human invention, but God's creation, and our bodies are not our own personal playgrounds.

This message will answer your many questions about living together like "what are the top 5 reason why people move in together?," "what arguments are there for not living together?," and "what does the Bible have to say about living together before marriage?"

Pornography is nothing new. What impact does pornography have on our lives, and what does God tell us about dealing with pornography?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-17, Can sex be separated from the emotional, mental and spiritual parts of our lives and just be a physical act without any complications or consequences? Join us as we explore what the Bible says about this subject.

While the Bible is not a book about sex, the Bible speaks a lot about sex because sex is God's creation. As we do an overview study of the Bible today, we're going to discover that God tells us 2 profound, indisputable, and seemingly contradictory things about sex.

What does it mean to have a cheerful heart? What must Riverside do to be good medicine in our community and make 2012 the year of cheer?

It's important for us to consider the dreams, hopes, and fears that we have about the future are all answered by the Christ of Christmas.

We can also struggle with the "ghosts" of our "Christmas present." What does this struggle look like and how does God want us to deal with them?

How can we deal with the "ghosts" of our past that shackle our hearts and lives?

As we start our 81st year as a church, where do we believe that God is leading us in the next few years?

Why are "The Big 3" really big for Christ-followers at Riverside? Don't miss this sermon as Pastor Tom explains what "The Big 3" are at Riverside and why they matter to you.

"Lost people matter to God. He wants them found." ...our natural inclination (in everything) is to be inward, not outward-focused. So what does being outward-focused look like?

What kind of future will Riverside have...Are Riverside's best days in our past, or still ahead? What does a healthy church look like?

To take the good news of Jesus to all the nations is no small or easy task. It's costly to share the gospel around the world (money, time, lives). So why do we do it?

Scripture: Luke 19, Guest speaker Pete Brokopp, from Burkina Faso, Africa, shares about his experiences and calling to be a missionary in Burkina Faso. A moving and encouraging sermon that you will not want to miss!

In our honest moments, we know we're holding onto a rock of our anger, hurt, and bitterness, and some of the issues we have in our lives are there because we're living life with rocks inside our heart that weighs us down... Pastor Tom looks at Joseph's journey revealing how to overcome the evil aimed at Joseph.

Scripture: I Samuel 18, 19, 20 & 23, What is authentic community? Let's take a look at the story of Jonathan and David to see how they modeled how to experience authentic community.

Scripture: Exodus 2 & 3, Understanding who we are will be a huge factor in determining the quality of our relationships and contentment with our own life. It's not about who we want to be or who we think we are; it's about who and what God has made us.

Scripture: Daniel, Take a look at the life of Daniel for an example of how to get God's best for your life.

Scripture: Genesis 12-17, 22, Dive in to the journey as Pastor Tom takes us through Abraham's spiritual journey and call from God to follow Him. What tests did Abraham have to face to trust God with his future?

Go WHERE? How do we love people around us? What does it mean to really care for others?

God calls us to DO WHAT? Watch this message to find out the answer as Pastor Bill Gilfillan unpacks Scripture.

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37, Love WHO? Jesus gives three different approaches to showing compassion in the story of the Good Samaritan. Join us as we dig in to what that means.

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-15, Acts, Why does baptism matter and when should a person consider this step of faith? Listen in as Pastor Tom shares Biblical truth about this important principle of obedience.

Scripture: Romans 16, ...as Paul finally does bring to a conclusion the spiritual powerhouse of a letter in Romans 16, his focus is on people...

Scripture: Romans 14 & 15, Last week focused on why unity was worth fighting for. This week we will dive in to how we fight for genuine unity in a healthy way.

Scripture: Romans 14, Paul urges us in Romans 14-15 to seek real unity and acceptance of each other ... that it's worth fighting for.

Scripture: Romans, As each minute passes and eternity gets closer, what kind of life is the Lord urging us to live?

Scripture: Romans, What does it mean for you and me to be people who are passionate about and have as a priority God's vision and mission?

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7, In Romans 13 Paul gives instructions to individual Christ followers about how to respond to government authorities...and in so doing, he gives us some very important truths about God's purpose for human governments.

Scripture: Romans 12, What should be the effect of the power of God's love in our lives?

Scripture: Romans 12, What are some of the principles Paul gives concerning spiritual gifts, their use, and our attitude towards them?

Think of how much food dominates our daily lives. Our relationship with food is highly complicated... So what does the Bible tell us about food? What is the next move God wants us to make about food?

Exercise. If we are fully-devoted followers of Jesus and our destiny is eternal life, why is exercise something that we should really care much about?

Scripture: John 16:33, What can parents do to create and maintain a spiritually healthy home and family?

Few of us are really happy with our bodies and our overall fitness...Does the Bible tell us anything about our physical and emotional health?

Why is Easter an "in your face" holiday? Pastor Tom explains why Easter identifies a need and demands a response from each one of us.

Scripture: Romans 12, How does God's great good news practically express itself in all of life? What are the details in having Jesus as the Lord of every area of life?

Scripture: Romans 9-11, Paul closes this "parenthesis" (Romans 9-11) by focusing on 3 truths about God's dealings with both Jews and Gentiles.

How will people all over the world of different races, languages and geographic locations be able to become a part of God's family? Romans 10 tells us just what God's plan is...

Scripture: Romans 9, In Romans 9-11, Paul stops to ask some hard questions. The first one is "how come this great good news gets missed by people?"

Scripture: Romans 8, What does it mean for us to succeed according to Romans 8:28-39?

Scripture: Romans 8, So far we have examined 4 great principles in Romans 8:1-17 about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Join us to hear about the 5th principle of how the Holy Spirit fortifies us to live in an imperfect world.

Scripture: Romans 8, In Romans 8:12-17 there are 2 more fantastic principles given about the beautiful work of the spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit empowers us to queel our tendencies, and it joins us into the family of God.

Scripture: Romans 8, It's not a coincidence that in Romans 7 there is no mention of the Holy Spirit as all as Paul focused on our struggle with sin...but in Romans 8 the Holy Spirit saturates the chapter as the answer to our need.

Scripture: Romans 7, "The Christian lives in two worlds simultaneously and so long as this is so he lives in a state of tension." (F.F. Bruce) What does Romans 7 tell us about this struggle?

Scripture: Romans 6, Join us as we explore "part 2" of understanding how sanctification goes beyond the theoretical and actually works.

Scripture: Romans, How does sanctification (the process by which fully devoted Christ followers grow in spiritual maturity) go beyond the theoretical and actually work? Find out the truth that we must personally embrace and act on!

Scripture: Romans 6, What does baptism mean and who is it for? Find out how this "divine makeover" effects your life!

Scripture: Romans 6, How can you and I avoid the slavery that abusing God's grace always leads to?

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21, What Paul does in Romans 5:12-21 is contrast and compare the massive effect that 2 individuals had on the entire human race.

Join us as Pastor Matt Archer shares with us "An Invitation to a Friend."

Scripture: Matthew 2:12-23, There are three things we need to see behind the scenes of Christmas.

Why does everything else become secondary in the light of Christmas?Discover 3 miracles Christmas invites us to embrace.

Scripture: Isaiah 9, In Isaiah 9, 4 titles or descriptions of what this child, our Savior would accomplish are listed. Find out what this amazing Source invites us to receive in His promise!

Scripture: Romans 5 & Matthew 27:51, What are the benefits for fully-devoted Christ-followers because God has justified them? Find out what peace, joy, and hope look like in light of God's truth.

Scripture: Romans 3, The book of Romans tells us that the God of the universe flawlessly executed something never tried before...He solved the problem of sin by dealing with it Himself.

Scripture: Romans 2, What are the principles that God has established regarding His judgment? Learn how God judges according to truth, actions, and conscience.

Scripture: Romans 1:17-18, Romans tells us that there are two things God is revealing: His righteousness and His wrath. Join us for this powerful message addressing the question, "just how bad is the problem of sin for human beings everywhere?"

Scripture: Romans 1, Romans tells us as human beings we are nothing but broken down obsolete "cell phones," but God has the power and the apps to transform us.

Peggy Drake shares with Riverside her heart for missions in Burkina Faso and how "delays are not always denials."

Pastor Chuck Fanberg & Pastor Marco Marroquin share what's on their hearts for missions, and what projects they are currently working on, as well as giving us an update on our sister church in Trujillo, Peru.

Jesus did not necessarily come to add years to our earthly lives, but He did come to add life to our earthly years. So how can we restore our passion for life?

The Bible tells us that every day of our lives we're building a legacy, and every moment we get to choose what materials to build that legacy with.

Of all 4 OMTL principles, learning humbly is the most difficult, but it’s also the most powerful. Discover 3 ways to learn humbly in your life.

Scripture: I John 3:4, Love completely. What does that look like ? What mountains do we need to climb in our relationships to love people in our lives?

Scripture: Luke 5, "Life can beat the passion right out of you." How do we keep life from getting too crowded...even too crowded for Christ?

Scripture: Psalm 90:12, What does it mean to "live in the dash instead of dashing to live?" What did Jesus do when he knew He had 30 days until the cross?

What does it mean to know God's will, God's ways and God's Word? Learn about the power of 4.

Scripture: Acts 20:22-24, Acts 21:10-24, What are 4 markers on the road of life to following God's will and how can I see them?

What are 3 common mistakes that people make when seeking to know the will of God?

Our lives are shaped by our decisions. What is our "divine assignment" is according to God's will for our lives?

See how God’s “dynamic duo” of love and truth play out in the lives of three people mentioned by name in the very personal letter of 3 John.

Scripture: 2 John, Truth and love are God’s “dynamic duo”…they are an inseparable combination required in order for professing Christ-followers to live balanced, effective, meaningful, growing lives.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11&12, Acts 1:8, What does the Bible teach us about when "playing hurt" is the right response to have as a fully-devoted Christ-follower ?

For the disciples to become the leaders that the early Church would need, they would need to become great followers first. What are some of the primary characteristics of great followers?

Scripture: Luke 22:42, Exodus 2 and 3, No matter who we are or whether or not we have some sense of "holy discontent" in our soul, it is so important we pray that God's mission and agenda will matter to us.

Scripture: Psalm 66, God highly values us intentionally remembering what He has done. Join us as we remember what the Lord has done through Riverside Church in the last year.

Spiritual power that really matters is for ordinary people, enabling them to do extraordinary things. Find out more about the first people who were filled with the Holy Spirit and what happened to them as a direct result.

Scripture: Exodus 34:1-9, Why should we "go all in" when it comes to Jesus Christ and the church? Both the Old and New Testament provide a glimpse into God's heart and why the Great Commission and our work for Him has always mattered.

It takes 90 days to form a habit. Review the top 10 things that Pastor Bill Gilfillan goes over as things that healthy families do. Choose 2 out of the 10 and try to implement them by the summers end!

Anger that is mishandled can create tremendous pain and damage to everyone in a family. What does the Bible tell us about dealing with anger? Join us and find tips on how to acknowledge, comprehend, contend, and govern your anger.

Scripture: Proverbs 24:3 & Psalm 139:13, With the enormous job of parenting, how do you complete the task of bringing out the best in your children? Join us and find out ways to acknowledge your child's individuality and to love them undeservedly.

How do we create healthy environments for our families? God understands our desire for a healthy family and His Word provides pathways for avoiding anger as we discipline your children.

What are some critical things parents need to know and do in the parenting season? Find out how to express love, train, and build up your children in ways they understand.

Parents need to be the C.E.O.'s in their families; what should the organization of the family look like, and what should the schedule be based on God's priorities?

Why do the wrong people end up leading the family, and how does this end up happening? What does the "parent trap" look like?

Having a healthy family is not an accident. How do you prepare your children for life? How do you direct your children to God? Listen and hear the answers to these questions and more!

Scripture: 1 Coninthians, Easter changes everything because it demonstrates 3 great truths of Christianity and brings us face to face with the resurrection and life of Christ.

Scripture: John 1, What does the Bible tell us about how God can use us to help others "come and see" about Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 9 & 23, What is evangelism and how does it play out in our everyday lives?

Why is it so difficult to follow Jesus' command to follow him? Wat if...we didn't look at Jesus saying "follow me" as a command but as an invitation?

Scripture: Revelation 20-22, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Revelation 17-19, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Revelation 13-16, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Revelation 9-12, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Revelation 5-8, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Revelation 1-4, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: 2 John 1, 3 John 1, Jude 1, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: 1 John 1-5, John 21, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

How do we live life in view of eternity? Join us as Pastor Bill Gilfillan dives into the subject of eternity.

Scripture: John 19-20, 2 Peter 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 17-18, 1 Peter 3-5, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 15-16, 1 Peter 1-2, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 13-14, James 4-5, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 11-12, James 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 9-10, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 7-8, Hebrews 11-13, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: I John, What is God's love language? Obedience. Find out how to show obedience to God through loving Him, loving His people, and loving His mission.

Scripture: John 5-6, Hebrews 8-10, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 3-4, Hebrews 5-7, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: John 1-2, Hebrew 3-4, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 24, Hebrews 1-2, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 23, Philemon 1, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 22, Titus 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 21, 2 Timothy 3-4, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Galatians 5, What does genuine godliness look like? How do we begin to develop genuine godly character? Listen to find the answers to these questions and more!

Scripture: Luke 20, 2 Timothy 1-2, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 19, 1 Timothy 4-6, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 18, 1 Timothy 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 17, 2 Thessalonians 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 16, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 15, 1 Thessalonians 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 14, Colossians 3-4, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

What are misconceptions about forgiveness? How much have I been forgiven? How do I release and rebuild relationships with forgiveness? To understand what forgivenss IS we need to also understand what forgiveness IS NOT.

Scripture: Luke 13, Colossians 1-2, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 12, Philippians 3-4, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 11, Philippians 1-2, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 10, Ephesians 4-6, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 9, Ephesians 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 8, Galatians 4-6, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 7, Galatians 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Philippians 2, What does a servant look like? What does a servant do? How do we live servanthood out? Join us as we explore the answers to these questions in light of God's truth.

Scripture: Luke 6, 2 Corinthians 12-13, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 5, 2 Corinthians 10-11, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 4, 2 Corinthians 7-9, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 3, 2 Corinthians 4-6, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Luke 1-2, 2 Corininthians 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 15-16, 1 Corin. 14-16, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 13-14, 1 Corin. 11-13, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

How do we follow God's will for our life despite all of the counter influences in the world? Learn what perseverance looks like in your life through the power of Christ.

Scripture: Mark 11-12, 1 Corinthians 8-10, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 9-10, 1 Corinthians 5-7, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 7-8, 1 Corinthians 3-4, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 5-6, 1 Corinthians 1-2, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 3-4, Romans 16, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Mark 1-2, Romans 13-15, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 27-28, Romans 10-12, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

What should generosity look like in our lives according to the New testament? Join us as we explore how to be generous with our time, gifts/talents, finances, and your story.

Scripture: Matthew 25-26, Romans 7-9, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 23-24, Romans 4-6, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 21-22, Romans 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 19-20, Acts 28, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 17-18, Acts 25-27, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 15-16, Acts 22-24, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 13-14, Acts 19-21, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Biblical love is not a feeling; Jesus describes 4 radical love choices in the Sermon on the Mount.

Scripture: Matthew 11-12, Acts 16-18, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 9-10, Acts 13-15, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 7-8, Acts 10-12, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 5-6, Acts 7-9, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 3-4, Acts 4-6, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Scripture: Matthew 1-2, Acts 1-3, Just press play and listen to today's readings!

Kick-off for the Epidemic Seriesl the Challenge of the New Testament.

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-16, What steps can we take in our walk with God to move forward and experience His power and presence in our lives, every day.

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26, What does it mean to be a peacemaker? From reconciling broken relationships to managing anger, Pastor Bill looks at how God calls us to take the intiative as peacemakers.

When it's Christmas time, it means that it's time to let go of your fears, embrace faith, and receive forgiveness. Don't waste this Christmas time; find out the truth about our Savior!

When God messes up our plans, even at Christmas time, He is often trying to get our attention so we can see His plan and learn to trust Him.

Scripture: Matthew 2, How and why can Christmas seem disturbing? Learn more about why Christmas threatened the status quo and continues to challenge people even today.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8:7, How do we approach an unknown and uncertain future?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2, 3, 7, 9, Learn what death looks like from the human perspective and God's perspective in this life changing message which alllows you to see the biblical truth of what happens to you when you die, and how people prepare to die.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:16-2:26, Ecclesiastes 2 is a description of Solomon's search for happiness. From education and pleasure to accomplishment and money, Solomon tried it all; find out how out to find happiness in life God's way.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:10-11, What do we think that wealth brings in our lives and What does wealth REALLY bring in out lives?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:5-8, Work (or lack of work) is one of our primary sources of restlessness; how can we avoid extremes that produce apathy and instead embrace an attitude to R.E.L.A.X?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, Since our lives matter to God, how then should we live?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, Life can be unfair...why? This message answers the question of why life can be unfair, why God allows it and how we can choose to respond to difficult circumstances.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-15, Is This It? Why do we so often just go through the motions of life? Does this life even have a point? The book of Ecclesiastes asks these very questions and helps us discover how to invest in something that matters.

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47, What is the starting point for community, and how does real community happen?

Scripture: Gen. 27-1-46, Genesis 27 portrays a family in a big mess (that they created themselves). This chapter clearly displays what can happen to any family when God and His Word are ignored.

Scripture: Gen. 25:21-34, We give inspiration and hope to our kids and to the next generation by the way we live our lives and by the things we value.

Scripture: Gen. 25:19-34, God chooses imperfect people to fulfill His will; are you willing to admit your weakness so God can use you?

Scripture: Gen. 24:1-67, God uses ordinary people.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-25, Parents and every individual that makes up the church body have influential lives. Therefore, we are called to be present in youth's lives, obedient to God and share His story!

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-19, How does the value of discernment help us avoid discontent and unwise spending and debt?

Debt is the greatest wealth-stealer and relationship-crippler in our society.

Scripture: Prov. 21 & 27; Eph. 1: 7-8, What is at the core of our economic woes today? An over-emphasis on consumerism.

Scripture: John 3:16, We can have hope in desperate times because of the assurance we have in God's love and sacrifice made on the Cross for us.

Scripture: Gen. 22:1-18, We grow through our trials. We may not always know when God is testing us, but we can know that God never wastes anything in our lives.

Scripture: Gen. 21:1-7, God always does what He says He will do.

Scripture: Gen. 20:1-18, We never outgrow temptation, however God's grace is amazing!

Scripture: Gen. 19:1-38, If you play with fire you will get burned. Why is the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah such a profound event and example today?

Scripture: Gen. 18:16-33, Prayer: does it make a difference?

Scripture: Gen. 18:1-17, Prayer, is it our first response or last resort?

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-6, The best, but often hardest route to take in life is God's will, God's way. Are we going to things our way, or will we seek to know and obey God's perfect and sometimes mysterious plan for our lives?

Scripture: Genesis 14:14-24, The significance of Melchizedek; God is in control and has a heart for the world.

Scripture: Genesis 11:27-13:1, Being friends with God's people brings blessings, however we are responsible for our own spiritual journey. Lot's life served as a warning sign of how straying from God equals a wasted life.

God is friends with people who believe, but still mess up. Abraham was human and experienced grace; what can we learn from his story?

Scripture: Genesis 12, God's promises are for those that choose to be obedient.

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3 & Galatians 3, God's promises are for all people of all time. We need to see ourselves as something bigger and be ready to share the blessings of redemption in Jesus Christ with others.

People are fickle, but God's character is the same.

Scripture: Genesis 8-9, The origin of promises and how we receive them.

Scripture: Genesis 7:1-8:5, Two truths emphasized in Genesis God is very serious about: judgment and grace.

A series of two Christmas messages from 2008.

A series of two Christmas messages from 2008.

Scripture: Genesis 6, What made Noah stand out in a world so wicked the Lord had decided "enough is enough" and that humanity had to "face the music?"

Scripture: Genesis 6:6-7, What brings God's love, mercy and patience to the point of declaring, "Enough!"?

Scripture: Genesis 4:17-5:32, The continuing tailspin of thet human race caused by sin and how we are still not beyond the reach of God's grace.

Today's sermon combines a report and update, a focus on the real meaning of "our time," and teaching about the vision God has given to us as a church.

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16, Genesis 4 clearly shows us that playing with sin is not a game but an invitation for sin to unleash destructive power in our lives and the lives of others.

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-24, In Genesis 3 the problem of human sin will be graphically described and God's response to human sin will be clearly seen.

Message from Pastor Marco Marroquin from our sister church in Trujillo, Peru.

The first speaker to start our Make Your Mark Missions Festival is a Pastor in Iraq.

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13, Examining Genesis 3, let's have the courage to face the truth about ourselves and how often we follow in Adam and Eve's footsteps.

Scripture: Genesis 2, What is God's intention for marriage? What can Genesis 2 teach us about marriage and sexuality in the confusion of the 21st century?

Scripture: Genesis 2, What kind of world did God intend for human beings, and what does that tell us about our world and our lives today?

Scripture: Genesis 1-2, What does Genesis teach us about the creation of mankind and what it means to be created in His image?

Scripture: Genesis 1, The description of creation in the first book of Genesis makes it very clearn how and why our world began.