River Church Sermons

Habitual Pt. 2: Meditation By Louie Marsh, 1-26-2025   1) Biblical meditation is FOCUSED THINKING.   " 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. " (Psalm 104:34, ESV)   ·        Yes, I CAN do this!   " 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. " (Luke 2:19, ESV)   2) Different kinds of biblical meditation:   ·        For spiritual GROWTH.   …...

Introduction to Habitual Pt. 2: The Power of Good Habits By Louie Marsh, 1-12-2025       " 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. " (Hebrews 5:14, ESV)   1)     A habit is a CUSTOMARY way of doing or not doing something.   " 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, " (Philippians 2:14,...

Habitual Introduction: Pt. 1: Don't Waste Your Life By Louie Marsh, 1-5-2025         15  Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is . Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)   John Wesley taught his Methodist followers to pray each new year:    "I am no...

New Years 2024 Rosh Hashanah & a Christian New Years By Louie Marsh, 12-29-2024     Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה‎, lit. 'head of the year') is the New Year in Judaism. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎, lit. 'day of shouting/blasting'). It is the first of the High Holy Days (יָמִים נוֹרָאִים‎, Yāmīm Nōrāʾīm, 'Days of Awe"), as specified by Leviticus 23:23–...

Christmas 2024 The Purpose of Christmas By Louie Marsh, 12-22-2024   1) Christmas is all about God's PLAN.   4  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)   2) Christmas is all about Christ's PURPOSE.   27  "Now is my soul troubled. And...

Jesus Calling Pt. 7 – Puking the Lukewarm By Louie Marsh, 12-15-2024   Last slide – Super Barf Bag/   1) Jesus is the TRUTH & CREATOR of everything/   " 14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness , the beginning of God's creation. " (Revelation 3:14, ESV)   " 15 He is the image of the invisible God , the firstborn of all creation. 16...

Jesus Calling Part 6: Little Power & an Open Door By Louie Marsh, 12-8-2024 Last slide – SWOT.   1) Jesus is Lord & in CONTROL.   " 7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one , who has the key of David , who opens and no one will sh ut, who shuts and no one opens . " (Revelation 3:7, ESV)   2) He knows how WEAK I really am.   " 8 " 'I know you...

Jesus Calling Part 5: Strengthen What Is About to Die By Louie Marsh, 12-1-2024   Last slide – hypocrisy word cloud.   1) Jesus holds the Spirit of LIFE.   " 1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. " (Revelation 3:1a, ESV)   Verse NOT on outline! " 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The...

Jesus Calling Pt. 4 Hold Fast to What You Have By Louie Marsh, 11-24-2024   1) Jesus sees it ALL.   " 18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. " (Revelation 2:18, ESV)   2) Jesus COMMENDS them for growing their witness.   " 19 " 'I know your works, your love and faith and service...

Jesus Calling Pt. 3: Holding Fast to His Name 11-17-2024 Last slide – Hold fast to that which is good.   1) Jesus is my JUDGE.   " 12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. " (Revelation 2:12, ESV)   ·        Two-edged sword = judgement.   " 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a poli...

Jesus Calling Pt. 2: Faithful Unto Death By Louie Marsh, 11-10-2024 Last slide – sparta.   1) Jesus is GOD.   " 8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. " (Revelation 2:8, ESV)   " 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am ." 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himse...

Jesus Calling Pt. 1 Ephesus: First Love Lost By Louie Marsh, 11-3-2024     1) Jesus is in CONTROL.   " 1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ' The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. " (Revelation 2:1, ESV)   ·        He can - & will – execute JUDGEMENT on the church at any moment.   2) Jesus KNOWS!   " 2 " ' I know your...

True Stories Pt. 11: Not A Patch Job By Louie Marsh, 10-20-2024   Intro. Last pic wall patch   1) If I want to change I've got to admit that I'm  BROKEN. 36   He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment.  Luke 5: 36 (ESV)   ·         I'm not  WHOLE  because I've got holes in my soul.   The context of this parable:   30   And the Pharisees and...

True Stories Pt. 10: The God of Another Chance By Louie Marsh, 10-13-2024   Fish cartoon last one.   1) I can't judge my spiritual life by EXTERNAL circumstances.   1   There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.   2   And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other G...

True Stories Pt. 9: Humble Myself Before the Lord By Louie Marsh, 10-6-2024   Intro Slides – last one think of yourself less.    1) I should never seek SELF- JUSTIFICATION .   9   He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:  Luke 18:9 (ESV)   ·         The fatal flaw of self-justification is  COMPARISON.   15   And he said...

True Stories PT. 8: God's Not Fair – Thank God! By Louie Marsh, 8-19-2018   Pics of unfair stuff -last one workers in vineyard.   1) God's Kingdom often works in  REVERSE.   23   And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.  24   Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a ric...

True Stories # 10 Pt. 7: Unworthy Service By Louie Marsh, 9-22-2024 1) ENTER  into the reality of real service.   7   "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'?  8   Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you...

True Stories Pt. 6: Love God Not Money By Louie Marsh, 9-15-2024   Intro slides – last one love of money kills   1) I need to  BEWARE  of materialism.   13   Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  14   But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"  15   And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against a...

True Stories Pt 5: Real Prayer Is Persistent By Louie Marsh, 9-8-2024    1) When I pray I must not LOSE heart.   1   And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not  lose heart . Luke 18:1 (ESV)   1  Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not  lose heart .  2 Corinthians 4:1 (ESV)   What Does This Tell Me?   ·         Praying isn't EASY.   13   A...

True Stories Pt. 4: Seeking the Lost By Louie Marsh, 9-1-2024   Intro – 4 slides, Helen Keller last one.   1) If I love the lost I'm going to be  CRITICIZED.   1   Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.  2   And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."  Luke 15:1-2 (ESV)   ·         Loving the lost like Jesus mea...

True Stories Pt. 3 – Loving the Unlovely & Inconvenient By Louie Marsh, 8-25-2024   (2 Sam 15.23–16.14) chronicles the story of David and his followers who escaped Jerusalem along this route after David's son Absalom had declared himself king. King Zedekiah of Judah used the road when he tried to escape the advancing Chaldeans in 586/587 B.C.   Josephus tells us that the Tenth Roman Legion used th...

True Stories Pt. 2: The Far Country At Home By Louie Marsh, 8-18-2024   Intro – 3 graphics and then what is a parable.   1) Never forget – Christianity is all about my HEART.   25   "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26   And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  27   And he said to him, 'Your bro...

True Stories Pt. 1: The Prodigal God, Luke 15:11-24 By Louie Marsh, 8-11-2024   What is a Parable?   1.      a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. 2.      a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like. 3.      Jesus did not invent parables, they were a common Rabbinic tea...