Riverbluff Church Sermons

Maundy Thursday Communion Service 2025 Maundy Thursday service is a meaningful and sobering prelude to the Easter weekend. It simply means we will focus on the Lord’s Supper and what happened the night before Jesus was crucified. It is indeed a somber time but we need to be reminded regularly of what it cost God to save us.

Fun fact: In a healthy human being over half of our body’s composition is water, 60% to be exact.  That means that if you weigh 175 pounds you’re walking around with about 105 pounds of water! Even with all of that water, your body still must have an adequate daily supply, or bad things begin to happen in you. Most people don't realize how bad dehydration is for you. When you get dehydrated, you g...

JESUS FORSAKENNESS means my FORGIVENESS  FOR OUR FORGIVENESS, JESUS FORSAKEN SUBSTITUTES? The label might read “plant-based meat substitute”, but I’m sorry, there’s just no such thing as a “Garden Burger”; I don’t care who puts one on their menu. “Hamburger” means meat! And please, don’t try to fool me into thinking “carob” is “chocolate.” It never has been nor will it ever be, in any universe! Se...

This Sunday, as we continue in our teaching series, “WHAT JESUS SAID IN RED”, we examine the third of the seven, recorded statements, Jesus made while dying on the Cross.  This statement, found in John 19:25-27, is a very personal statement of love Jesus makes directly to his mother and one of his very best friends. Jesus endured incredible pain as his organs began shutting down. Even in the midst...

The older I’ve grown, the more aware I’ve become, I can learn something new from anyone, if I will listen carefully and truly “be in the moment” with them. My grandkids have been especially helpful in teaching me this lesson! This principle is particularly applicable when it comes to GOD’s Word. Every person who shows up in the scriptures had their story handpicked by GOD to be included in His Hol...

While it may not surprise anyone, I have a number of hard copy Bibles in my personal library, (along with many digital editions)! My favorite Bibles, are the “Red-Letter” editions. They have the words the incarnated JESUS spoke printed in red, which make HIS spoken words really stand out. Yes! I am keenly aware that every word in the Bible was GOD-breathed. But, I also know that every word in our...

Have you ever been peppered with the “Why” questions from a young child? Why are clouds white? Why does the car blinker make that sound? Why do birds fly or dogs bark? And during hardship, we can begin asking our own questions. Why did this happen? Will I ever get back to normal? How will this affect the people I love? Why do bad things happen to good people? If you have ever asked these questions...

This Sunday, as we open ourselves up to God’s Word together in worship, I’m excited to say that Dr. Curt Bradford will be leading us! For those of you who are newer to Riverbluff, Curt was Lead Pastor at Riverbluff from 1988-2014. He has also been personally mentoring me since 1981. The LORD has multiplied Curt’s mentoring ministry, as he now mentors pastors all around our state. He is currently s...

It only takes a few moments with any news source to realize that evil is active in our world today. But, as bad as things are, the Bible says that there is “restraining power” at work, holding back the full measure of evil that could be released on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote to his friends in the church at Thessalonica about this: “I expect you remember now how I talked about this when I was wi...

This morning as I write this, it’s Valentine’s Day.  Kathy and I have already exchanged gifts and cards. We’re looking forward to spending the day together, and hopeful we’ll get a nice lunch at a great little Lowcountry restaurant! The Greeting Card Industry is also “hopeful” today.  They’re hopeful they’ll make a ton of money off of card sales. I guess, in some small way, I helped fulfill their...

This week, I’ve had conversations with several people who expressed the same concern. I actually don’t recall a week, when this particular topic came up unsolicited, as frequently as it did this week. The topic and concern was over seeing an increased activity of Satan, in our world, but specifically right around them personally, and how it brought on feelings of hopelessness. In the Gospels, we n...

This week has been a week of extremes! Tuesday was filled with such great joy as our 4th grandchild, Easton Everett Housand was born. He got here with a few minor struggles, but by the grace of God is progressing very well and will be going home very soon! Then came the news of the Wednesday night mid-air collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk Helicopter in our nation’s c...

On Monday, January 21, 2025, our nation, and the world, witnessed the peaceful transfer of power as President Trump took the oath of office. This week we’ve witnessed a flurry of political and governmental “shake-ups” that once again reveal the great rift of brokenness in our country. Throughout His Holy Word, GOD makes many “If/Then” declarations, none more renowned than 2nd Chronicles 7:14. Here...

Our culture assigns the title “Religion” to groups of people that adhere to the same beliefs, most often derived from written “sacred scriptures”.  The Holy Scriptures of two of the world’s “great religions” begin with the same declaration: “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.” (Genesis 1:1) In both Judaism and Christianity, human life, is seen as different from every other for...

Last year one of the many blessings GOD brought into my life was the introduction to a new scripture translation. It is entitled THE PASSION TRANSLATION. I have enjoyed both reading and listening to it. For the last two weeks, I have been meditating on Luke 10:17-20. Here is how the PASSION TRANSLATION reads: 17 When the seventy missionaries returned to Jesus, they were ecstatic with joy, telling...

At the ripe age of 62 there are a lot of things that I remember. I remember playing outside until it was dark. My mom would call us in for dinner and we would beg to play another “kick-the-can” game until we had to come in for the night. I remember our only TV was a console TV with 3 channels and an antenna that was attached to our house. My job was to change the channel – the original remote cont...

In this message, we continue our Advent journey together and light the fourth Advent candle, the candle representing Love. Fortunately, this coincides with our study of Isaiah 9:6, as we turn our attention this Sunday to another name for JESUS, “EVERLASTING FATHER”! These two biblical truths intersect at JESUS! At first glance, it may seem a bit confusing to call GOD-the Son, the “Everlasting Fath...

Christmas Eve 2024 - full length service

A baby changes everything...I am quite certain many parents would attest to this fact! I can recall many things that changed during the early days after having my own children. They certainly rocked my world in many wonderful ways and continue to do so each day! But the birth of Jesus, well, that was a baby that would change the world for all time! Now, the world would have you believe that Christ...

I pray that like me, your 2024 Advent celebration is increasing your joy in our LORD, and raising your anticipation of HIS certain 2nd Coming. Just thinking about that washes the heaviness in my heart away and resets my mind to a place of great peace. I hope you’re having similar experiences. This Sunday, in our Christmas Teaching series entitled NO OTHER NAME, we look at the next name that Isaiah...

Names matter! Based on information gathered from the Social Security Administration, the “Top Baby Names for 2023” were: For Boys             For Girls 1. Liam                   Olivia 2. Noah                 Emma 3. Oliver               Charlotte Because names matter, I actually work hard at trying to remember names. I wish I were better at it. It is something for which I regularly ask GOD’s help...

I love that our country devoted a “national holiday” to give thanks to GOD for HIS blessings on us.  I pray that on the day of “Giving Thanks”, you were able to take a few moments to reflect on the goodness of GOD in your life and thank HIM for all that HE has done! If for nothing else, I pray you thanked HIM for sending HIS One and only SON, through whom we might have Eternal Life.  If you didn’t...

I don’t know about you, but when I look at the culture around me, here in the country that I love, I don’t see very many people talking, or tweeting, or posting thankful thoughts. In fact, just the opposite seems to be true. About all I see and hear, is griping and grumbling. When JESUS walked among us, He called those who would follow Him to join Him in creating a new culture, the culture of the...

We are in a difficult season for many in our nation, and in our church.  We’re still coming through an extremely contentious election season and entering a transition of leadership at the highest levels of government. We’re also entering the holiday season, which for many becomes a time of heavy-heartedness due to loss. All of this brings unique triggers for depression. Just the sheer brokenness o...

Like many, I am grateful that this election season is almost in our rearview mirrors. While I would never diminish the importance of any election, and hold with conviction that participation is a high privilege and the significant responsibility of every citizen, not every election can be the “most consequential election of our lifetime”! All too often media personalities, political pundits, socia...