River Valley Church Podcast

What if one of the greatest opportunities to follow Jesus is waiting just outside your front door? In the opening message of our new series, The Art of Neighboring , we explore Jesus' words in Luke 10 and discover that loving our neighbors isn't just a nice idea—it's central to what it means to apprentice ourselves to Jesus. Through the Great Commandment, the Parable of the Good Sam...

What does it mean to be invited into the Kingdom of God? In this guest message, Steve Aldrich unpacks Jesus' parable of the Great Feast from Luke 14, revealing the incredible invitation God extends to all who will come. Through this powerful story, we're reminded that the Kingdom of God is not reserved for the deserving, but is a gracious invitation offered to the overlooked, the broken,...

After twenty weeks in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus leaves us with one final question: What will you do with His words? In the closing message of A Different Way , we explore Jesus' powerful illustration of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24–29). While two houses may look identical from the outside, only one survives the storm because of what lies beneath the surface. This message i...

This week in A Different Way , we come to one of the most unsettling passages in the entire Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven..." These are people who know the right words, have strong emotions, and are active in religious activity—yet Jesus says, "I never knew you." What does authentic faith...

Not every road leads to the same destination. As Jesus brings the Sermon on the Mount toward its conclusion, He presents a series of stark contrasts: two gates, two roads, two kinds of prophets, two kinds of trees, and two kinds of fruit. Behind each image is the same question: Which way will you choose? In this message from Matthew 7:13–20, we explore Jesus' invitation to enter through the n...

In this message from our A Different Way series, we explore the meaning of the Golden Rule and discover how Jesus takes an ancient principle and turns it into a radical call to active love. Rather than simply avoiding harm, followers of Jesus are called to intentionally pursue the good of others. Through biblical teaching, practical examples, and gospel-centered application, we’ll see how the Gold...

In this message from A Different Way , we explore Jesus’ invitation to persistent prayer in Gospel of Matthew 7:7–11. What does it really mean to ask, seek, and knock—and why doesn’t God always answer prayer the way we expect? Together, we look at prayer as an expression of dependence on a good Father who gives what we truly need, even when the answer is “wait,” “no,” or something better than we i...

What did Jesus actually mean when He said, “Judge not”? In a culture where “no judgment” is seen as the ultimate virtue, many assume Jesus was calling us to never challenge, confront, or speak truth into someone’s life. But is that really what He meant? In this message, we unpack one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus in Matthew 7:1–6. You’ll discover the difference between harmful, self...

We live in an anxious world—and many of us feel it daily. In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus speaks directly into our worry, not with quick fixes, but with an invitation to trust our Heavenly Father. Continuing our series A Different Way , this message explores how anxiety is often tied to what we worship—and how Jesus redirects our hearts toward the Kingdom.  This isn’t about ignoring anxiety, but learnin...

Guest speaker Jeff Ebert unpacks Jesus’ teaching on money, priorities, and the heart in Matthew 6:19–24. In a culture chasing more, Jesus calls us to something better—eternal treasure over temporary gain. Through the themes of security, focus, and devotion, we’re reminded that money makes a good servant but a terrible master. Where is your treasure—and what is shaping your heart? ✝️ RIVER VALLEY C...

Fasting is more than a health trend—it’s a spiritual practice that Jesus assumed His followers would embrace. In this message from Matthew 6:16–18, we look at how fasting reveals what’s going on in our hearts and helps us refocus on what matters most. Jesus challenges the idea of performative faith and invites us into something deeper: a private, authentic relationship with our Father. ✝️ RIVER VA...

In this message from Matthew 6:5–15, we take a fresh look at the Lord’s Prayer—one of the most familiar teachings of Jesus—and rediscover its power to shape our lives. Rather than a prayer to simply recite, Jesus gives us a pattern that forms how we relate to God, align with His kingdom, depend on Him daily, and walk in forgiveness. If prayer has ever felt routine or reactive, this message invites...

What does Jesus say about giving, generosity, and our motives? In this message from Matthew 6:1–4, we explore Jesus’ warning against performative faith—doing good deeds to be seen by others rather than for the glory of God. As we continue our A Different Way series through the Sermon on the Mount, this teaching challenges us to examine the “why” behind our obedience. Jesus shows that it’s possible...

Most people today are skeptical of the resurrection - like it sounds too good to be true. But what if the offer of Jesus isn’t a scam… but the greatest reality in history? In this Easter message from Matthew 28:1–10, we explore how the resurrection is both rational and personal,  grounded in real evidence and inviting you into a brand new life with God. ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the...

What if you could see Jesus and yet, still miss Him? On Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered Jerusalem… but just days later, they cried, “Crucify Him.” In this message from Mark 11:1-11, we explore how Jesus revealed Himself as King—just not the kind people expected. ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." 📲 FOLLOW US Website: http://www.riv...

What if the most radical evidence of following Jesus isn’t how we treat our friends… but how we respond to our enemies? In Week 9 of our A Different Way series through the Sermon on the Mount, we explore one of Jesus’ hardest teachings: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In a world that runs on retaliation, resentment, and self-protection, Jesus invites us into a completely...

What if the church is far more significant than we realize? In this standalone message, guest speaker Paul Voltmer unpacks Ephesians 3:1-13 and shows how God is revealing His manifold wisdom to the world through the Church. ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." 📲 FOLLOW US Website: http://www.rivervalleychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivervalley...

What did Jesus really mean when He said, “turn the other cheek”? In this message from Week 8 in the Sermon on the Mount, we explore one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings. Rather than calling us to passivity, Jesus invites us into a radically different way of living—one marked by humility, sacrificial love, and trust in God’s justice. Discover what this passage actually means in its original con...

In Matthew 5:33–37, Jesus addresses the gap that often exists between what we say and how we live. In this message from our “A Different Way” series through the Sermon on the Mount, we explore what Jesus meant when He said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no.” In a culture where promises are often padded with excuses, exaggeration, or loopholes, Jesus calls His followers to something deepe...

This week at River Valley Church, guest speaker Jeff Ebert shares a message from Matthew 6:28–34 on Jesus’ invitation to live free from worry. Instead of being overwhelmed by anxiety about the future, we’re called to seek first God’s Kingdom and learn what it means to set our hearts and minds on Christ. Discover how fixing your focus on Him can quiet your fears, reshape your thinking, and help you...

In this episode of A Different Way, we explore Jesus’ challenging words on marriage and divorce from Matthew 5:31–32. In a culture where divorce had become casual and one-sided, Jesus raised the bar — restoring God’s vision for covenant faithfulness and protecting the vulnerable. We look at what Jesus meant, how the broader witness of Scripture addresses issues like sexual immorality, abandonment,...

In this message from our series  A Different Way , Jesus confronts the deeper issue beneath behavior: the heart. In Gospel of Matthew 5:27–30, He raises the bar from external obedience to inner transformation, showing why desire is powerful—and never neutral. This sermon explores why Jesus takes sexuality so seriously, how unchecked desire distorts what is sacred, and how grace, honesty, and heali...

Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount refuse to let us stay on the surface. In this message, we look at how Jesus takes a command everyone already agrees with ("You shall not murder”) and drives it deeper into the heart, addressing anger, contempt, and unresolved conflict. We explore why anger, when left unchecked, is so destructive, why reconciliation is central to true worship, and why Je...

What happens when two different systems collide? In this message from Matthew 5:17–20, Jesus addresses one of the most misunderstood ideas in the Sermon on the Mount: Righteousness . This passage serves as the foundation for everything Jesus will teach next about anger, lust, enemies, and love. Rather than calling for stricter rule-keeping, Jesus reveals a deeper righteousness—one that flows from...

What are followers of Jesus actually for in the world? In this message from our series A Different Way, we turn to Jesus’ words in Gospel of Matthew 5:13–16, where He calls His people the salt of the earth and the light of the world. After describing who is truly blessed in the Beatitudes, Jesus now reveals our purpose—to live with visible, life-giving influence as we practice the way of Jesus tog...