River Church - Messages

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 (NIV)

We are conditioned to believe that our faith is a private matter. We preach a message with our lives... what is that message? Whatever it is, it shows where our hope lies.

Join us this week as we fast together as a church in response to the xenophobia in our country right now. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you… Therefore honour God with your bodies.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

7 Practical Tips for Prayer: Ronald Rolheiser 1. Show up 2.  Quiet your heart 3. Look inside 4. Establish a routine and stick with it 5. Be honest, vulnerable, and bold 6. Let go of anxiety and shame 7. Listen for God’s voice and accept God’s love

This message is for you if... • You're not sure if God has a plan for your life • You're looking for the hand of God in a season of difficulty or hardship • You're feeling like you're coming apart at the seams in the waiting for His promises to be fulfilled • You've heard Him speak promises over you that seem impossible, but you're following Him anyway

Am I living in such a way that I'm storing up treasure in heaven? Or I am I only focusing on this life? The last of 'The Essentials of Faith' series.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NIV

The most important responsibility a Christian has is to grow in his or her faith in God and His Word! Faith results in a changed life and behaviour - it looks like something!

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 ESV

Dead works are outwardly righteous acts done to impress people or God. Good works are a result of faith and done out of a response to God's saving grace and love. Michael Pretorius shares the importance of repentance from dead works as an essential of our faith.

Without well built foundations, a building can not stand. A new series laying the essential foundations on which our faith will stand. “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.” Acts 4:11 ESV

"God's judgement was grace and mercy. God's verdict was guilty, but forgiven ... Perfect love is God's precious gift to us. The Pearl without price." ~ Peter Habberton

We are made by the Lord, for His glory - a diverse people working together in harmony with one another, for Him alone. One body, many parts, driven by love.

Your 'Yes!' could be the depending factor on someone else's healing. When you say 'Yes!', expect nations and history to change.

Jesus wants to get to my deeply held beliefs, not only to change my behaviour, but to change who I am... because who I become is the only thing I can take to heaven one day. Jesus is more interested in who I am becoming as a disciple to Him, than what happens to me.

Praise opens prisons!

“He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one af...

'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...' Luke 4:1 Are we going to be led willingly or reluctantly?

“Because of your low expectations for what He can do in your life, you’re not treating Him as a King. You’re not preparing the way.” Tim Keller

Luke 2 Vs 1 in those days… Vs 6 the time came… Vs 21 when it was time… Vs 22 when the time…. Vs 38 at that very moment… Jesus is never late . Nor is he early; he arrives precisely when he means to.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1: 37 (ESV)

The 3rd and final week of this series explores the sensitive topic of tithing. Why it's important, what we believe about it and, most importantly, what the Bible says about it.

In everything Jesus did, He flipped the world on it's head! “...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants  to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20: 26-28

Are you the chicken or the pig? Are you involved with, or committed to the things of God? The 1st of a 3 part series.

Jesus was fully God, and fully man. (Philippians 2:5-11) This Christmas, we look into the deity and humanity of Christ... celebrating His coming and the reason for it all. All He wants for Christmas, is you.