Riverbluff Church Sermons

How to Live Without All the Lies In this message, Pastor Joe Still continues our journey through JESUS’ Sermon on the Mount.  We pick up in Matthew 5:33-37 and learn from JESUS how to “LIVE WITHOUT ALL THE LIES”!

"Jesus on Divorce" In this message, Pastor Curt Bradford continues in our teaching series based on The Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. This passage is direct teaching from Jesus to His disciples about life as one of His disciples. Christians have the wonderful gift of forgiveness and a relationship with God that lasts forever; but we also have been given a new and grace filled way to liv...

When a Lingering Look Brings Hell on Earth In this message from Pastor Joe Still, our verse-by-verse journey through the Sermon on the Mount brings us to Matthew 5:27-30. Here JESUS addresses how a lingering look leads to lust and unleashes a kind of “hell on earth” for everyone it touches. And, like JESUS always does, HE brings hope and healing into the devastation of desires gone wrong. **ATTENT...

"I Must See the Murder in Me" As we continue in our series “ETERNITY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS”, in this message from Pastor Joe Still we’ll see the incredible value JESUS assigns to relationships and their critical role in the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN! Additionally, JESUS will confront us with the seed of murder we all have in our hearts. HE then shows us how Kingdom living can keep that seed from germinatin...

" How to Follow Jesus into the Bible" In this message on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” (A.K.A.-The Greatest Sermon ever delivered).  We will turn our attention to Matthew 5:17-20. In these verses, we will see Jesus addressing a divisive issue among those following Him in His day that, remarkably, is still a divisive issue in our day.  Believe it or not, the source of this controversy is the BIBLE!...

Storms like Hurricane Ian have a way of increasing our anxiety and fear. For those of us who are “In Christ”, GOD our FATHER has given us many promises for our lives as we face storms. HE has also given us a very relevant demonstration through a “storm event” the first disciples faced. There is much we can learn from their “storm encounter”. We can clearly identify the sources of our own anxiety....

"Handling Hostility to Your Faith" There is no one kinder or more loving or more compassionate or more filled with grace, than JESUS.  I love that about HIM!  I also love that HE always speaks the truth, even when that truth may be hard to hear. Last week as we took our first steps into the GREATEST SERMON ever, we saw on full display HIS infinite, marvelous grace, made available to anyone and eve...

This week we take our first big step into the Greatest Sermon ever preached.  (And no, I’m not talking about the one I’m going to preach this week!) I’m talking about a single message that JESUS taught, often called THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! We’ll look at the part of His Sermon that many consider to be “the introduction”.  This part is often called “THE BEATITUDES”. Looking back over the course of...

THE KINGDOM OF GOD'S GRACE In this message Pastor Dave Hardin continues teaching in our series focused on the Sermon on the Mount. He’ll compare the “old covenant” God had with the Jews of Jesus’ day and the “new covenant” relationship we have now, based upon God’s grace. Listen now to discover the new identity we have been given in Christ, as disciples of Jesus.

The King and His Kingdom are at Hand The beginning chapters of the book of Matthew help set the context for the Sermon on the Mount that we will be looking at through this sermon series. Last week pastor Joe talked about the gospel of the kingdom, and a close look at Matthew chapters 1-4 shows Matthew begins to establish the truth that Jesus is the promised King who has come to redeem and renew Hi...

As citizens of these Unites States it is difficult, if not impossible, for us to fully grasp the relationship between a King and his subjects. True Kings ruled and reigned with absolute authority. An invitation into a King’s presence, and his inner court, to have a glimpse into his personal life, was a rare and deeply treasured gift. To have a personal relationship with JESUS means to know HIM and...

In our day, many will say that “Truth” is a relative term, stating, “you have your truth and I have mine”. They instruct us to find “truth within ourselves”. Statements like these actually defy the very definition of truth, demonstrating that there is a vast difference between truth, and the perception of truth. This “truth confusion” is not something that has just arisen in our day. Jesus faced i...

I grew up in the era when Muhammad Ali became the world heavy weight boxing champion.  If you were around at that time, you might recall that he nicknamed himself "The Greatest".  This desire to be known as “The Greatest”, is not limited to professional athletes.  It impacts people from every walk of life and every culture in the world, even those who closely followed Jesus.  And Jesus, had some v...

To be truly seen, and truly known, and truly loved and cared for is a great longing in every human heart. That is GOD’s design for us. Yet, the world in which we live, seeks to withhold from us that which we so deeply need. It trains us to falsely believe this could never be true for us. So, we stuff that need and we medicate those feelings until our lives one day erupt and spew our fear, frustrat...

“Cancel-Culture” is a destructive movement that has actually been around for a very long time, but recently rebranded with this new title. It is the act of publicly shaming someone so they’re cut-off from community and ostracized by the mass of people who do not even really know them. In our day, it has been weaponized using social media platforms! JESUS gives His followers a stern warning about t...

In Shakespeare’s work, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, we find that famous quote: “The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” The context of that quote is a main character Portia, urging another character Shylock, to have mercy on Antonio’s life. Portia appeals to Shylock based...

Anyone who begins to seek after GOD will eventually face difficult questions on that journey. In JESUS’ earthly ministry, He never avoided those. In fact, JESUS masterfully addresses the most difficult questions in life in His everyday encounters with the people he met. Even those who set themselves against Him! One of those tough questions is: “Is there an unforgivable sin; and if so, what is it?...

This July 4th, we celebrate our nation’s 246th birthday. Throughout these years GOD has truly blessed these United States. We have so much for which to give HIM thanks, and we should! Even though HIS great blessing has been poured out on our nation, we live in a time of great division and chaos. Our land is in need of healing. While GOD’s plan is for HIS people, the Church, to be HIS instruments o...

It’s been an incredible week at Riverbluff’s 2022 VBS! GOD has done some amazing things in the lives of many children, teens, and even the ministry partners! This week’s theme verse for VBS is Ephesians 2:10. The entire week was all about how GOD, the Master Artist, is working to redeem, reclaim, and transform us, His creation, to the original design He planned for us. We are HIS “Masterpiece” in...

The history of Father’s Day is interesting. The first known celebration was proposed by Sonora Dodd who had the idea come to her while sitting in a Sunday service on Mother’s Day in 1909. She desired to honor her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, who as a single parent, raised six children. The first celebration took place in the YMCA in Spokane, Washington, in 1910 with her father...

In this life, everyone experiences some discouragement and disappointment. But what do you do when those bring you to the brink of despair? In this message, Pastor Joe Still follows Elijah through his greatest discouragement and disappointment and discovers how he found the Kindness of GOD on the other side.

One of the great lessons that life teaches us is that failure is certain if you attempt anything, but failure doesn’t have to be fatal! Failure never has to be fatal if you find the pathway to restoration. In one of the last encounters the Risen Jesus has with his disciples, Jesus reveals the path for restoration in the Kingdom of GOD. He does this in an intimate encounter with the ever-zealous, b...

I write this on Friday morning seated in our sunroom as a thunderstorm is rolling through. Our sunroom faces into our backyard, and there, stands a large wooden swing set that I built. Our grandchildren love to play on that swing set. As I look outside at those swings, that just yesterday held the joyful bodies of my grandchildren, they are now empty, hanging in a torrential downpour, in the midst...

Have you had doubts? Have you ever struggled with unbelief? Have you ever thought, if God really loves me then why? Why am I facing this circumstance? Is God really good? If we are honest, there have been moments when we doubted. I know the Sunday School answer “I’m too Blessed to be Depressed” “I’m too Anointed to be Disappointed”. But on the inside I have some doubts, I have some questions. And...

With great detail, God’s Word provides us multiple accounts of the “First Encounters” Jesus’ followers had with Him after His Resurrection. These accounts are filled with paths of blessings for our lives today that are rich and incredibly relevant! Though we continue our First Encounters teaching series, this Sunday we have a special treat. Pastor Curt Bradford will be here leading us to explore o...