River Valley Church Podcast

In this opening message of “A Different Way: The Sermon on the Mount,” we begin with Jesus’ surprising words in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12). Before giving any commands, Jesus sits down like a rabbi and makes a radical declaration about who is truly “blessed.” The Beatitudes are not a checklist for earning God’s favor, but pronouncements of grace over people who know their need for God—the poor...

What happens after Advent? After the season of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Jesus, one question remains: Now what?   In this message, guest speaker Logan Phillips turns to 2 Corinthians 5:17 to explore what it really means to become a “new creation” in Christ—not as a moment that ends, but a journey that begins. Whether you’re considering faith for the first time or wondering what it looks like to...

In this Christmas Eve message from Isaiah 9:6, we’re reminded that Jesus was not only born … He was given . Christianity tells a radically different story than every other religion: instead of humanity reaching up to God, God came down to us—unexpected, accessible, and of infinite value. Whether you’re exploring faith, returning to church, or looking for fresh wonder this Christmas, this message i...

What does real love actually look like? In this Advent message, we explore love not as a feeling or a slogan—but as a costly, sacrificial gift. Drawing from 1 John 4, familiar cultural stories, and the quiet power of Christmas, this message reminds us that love doesn’t begin with us—it begins with God. Love moved first. Love took on flesh. Love entered the mess. And love has a name: Jesus ✝️ RIVER...

In a world chasing happiness through better circumstances, stronger habits, and curated lives, many of us still feel weary, empty, and restless. Why? Because happiness—while good—was never meant to carry the weight of our deepest longings. In this Advent message from Luke 2:8–11, we look at the angel’s announcement to a group of overlooked shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy for all peo...

This week in The Weary World Rejoices, we focused on the peace Jesus brings — not just calmer circumstances, but peace that settles deep within our souls. The angels declared “peace on earth” at His birth, and we explored what that means for us today. Our big idea: Jesus brings peace within before He brings peace around. If you’re longing for rest, hope, and stillness in a weary world, this messag...

In this first message of our Advent series, The Weary World Rejoices , Justin reminds us that Advent begins in the dark—not to discourage us, but to help us see the Light of Christ more clearly. Drawing from Romans 15:12–13, we explore how the early church in Rome faced weariness, division, and uncertainty, and why Paul prays that the “God of hope” would fill them. Through the themes of waiting, l...

In this final RHYTHMS series message, Justin explores how mission isn’t something we add to our lives—it’s how we live our lives as followers of Jesus. Rooted in Matthew 28 and the everyday spaces we inhabit, this message unpacks four simple practices— Pray, Be a Regular, Eat, and Share —that help us join God’s work in the ordinary rhythms of Monday mornings, break rooms, ball courts, and dinner t...

This week we begin our final RHYTHM — Mission — the natural overflow of a life formed by Jesus. In this message, we are reminded that mission isn’t something we do for God; it’s who we are because of God. From the Father sending the Son, to the Son sending the Spirit, to the Spirit sending the Church, we are part of God’s ongoing story of redemption. ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the Way...

This week we’re continuing in our series called RHYTHMS — where we’re exploring the everyday practices that shape us into the likeness of Jesus. Last week, we talked about why community matters — that following Jesus isn’t something we do alone. In this message, Justin unpacks how authentic community is actually formed. It’s not automatic — it takes intentionality, humility, and sometimes even con...

We were never meant to follow Jesus alone. In this message from our RHYTHMS series, we look at the heartbeat of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 — a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. In a world where "connectedness" is at an all time high, yet loneliness has become an epidemic, this passage calls us back to a shared life with God and with one another....

In this message, guest speaker Jeff Ebert unpacks one of the most beautiful truths about God—that He is a generous God. Through the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13, Jeff invites us to rediscover the joy of finding and following Jesus, the greatest treasure of all. God’s generosity toward us—lavish, undeserved, and life-changing—calls us to live generously...

In this message from Matthew 6:24–34 , guest speaker Jeff Ebert unpacks what it means to live with a heart that reflects the generous grace of God. Drawing from Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, Jeff reminds us that generosity isn’t primarily about money—it’s about learning to live like Jesus, free from anxiety and full of trust in the Father’s provision. When we recognize that God owns...

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” In this message, Justin unpacks this paradox of rest—showing how true peace isn’t found in doing less, but in walking with Jesus at His pace. Discover the freedom that comes when you stop striving and start surrendering. ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." 📲 FOLLOW US Website: http://www.rivervalleychurch.c...

What if the most spiritual thing you could do this week... was stop? In this message from our RHYTHMS series, we explore one of the most countercultural invitations in Scripture—the call to Sabbath. In a world addicted to motion, where our worth is often measured by what we do or produce, Jesus offers something radically different: rest for your soul.  From the very beginning, God designed creatio...

Recently, we looked at the story of Mary and Martha, and we were reminded that the most important thing isn’t doing more for God—it’s being with Him. But once we slow down long enough to sit at His feet, the question remains: how do we actually pray? That’s the question the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 6: “Lord, teach us to pray.” And what He gave them wasn’t just words to repeat, but a patter...

Welcome to the River Valley Church Podcast! Each week we’re learning what it means to practice the way of Jesus together through daily and weekly rhythms that shape us into His likeness. In this episode, we continue our RHYTHMS series by focusing on prayer—learning from Jesus’ own example, and from the story of Mary and Martha, what it means to choose presence with God over distraction. Our hope i...

In this week’s message, we continue our RHYTHMS series by looking at the transforming power of Scripture through the lens of the resurrection. Just as the slow drip of water carves stone, the daily rhythm of God’s Word shapes who we are becoming. Together, we’ll explore what Jesus Himself believed about the Bible, how the resurrection is the “aha moment” that makes sense of the entire story, and w...

In this opening message of our new fall series RHYTHMS, we explore how the patterns we practice—in life shape who we become. Rhythms form us slowly but powerfully over time. As a church, we’re setting out to look at five key rhythms that we think will help us “Practice the Way of Jesus Together." They are: Scripture, Prayer, Sabbath, Community, and Mission. This week, we begin with Scripture....

This week we looked at an important strategy when it comes to the mission of God to reach people... OIKOS. No, not the Greek yogurt! The 8-15 people in one's closest relational network, including friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Discover how God wants to use you to reach your OIKOS! ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." 📲 FOLLOW US Website: http:...

For this special "Bluegrass Sunday," Logan Phillips shared about the importance and power of our stories and how God can work through them to reach others. ✝️ RIVER VALLEY CHURCH "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." 📲 FOLLOW US Website: http://www.rivervalleychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivervalleynh/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rivervalleynh/ 🎁 G...

This week we conclude our Acts: Ordinary People. Extraordinary Mission. Paul here gives his farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17–38). In his final words, Paul gives us a picture of what a true Gospel-shaped church looks like. A Gospel church is committed to the truth of God’s Word, even when it offends the culture. It is a serving church, where leaders lead by example through sacrifice and...

In this week’s message, we dive into Acts 19:23-41, where Paul’s message sparks a riot in Ephesus as it confronts the power of idols. Because of the gospel, we see how idols—whether material or personal—shape our lives and hold us captive. This message challenges us to recognize that idols are powerful, empty, and ultimately destroyed through Christ’s sacrifice. Tune in as we explore how the gospe...

What happens when the gospel collides with a city full of idols, philosophies, and spiritual confusion? In this message, Justin shares insights from his recent trip to Greece, standing on the very ground where the Apostle Paul addressed the people of Athens at Mars Hill. Whether you're surrounded by skepticism, confusion, or indifference in your own context, this message is a call to courageo...

In Week 11 of our message series through the book of Acts, we’re looking at the church in Antioch—born out of persecution, planted in a diverse city, and shaped by ordinary people transformed by Jesus. It became one of the most vibrant, Spirit-led communities in the early church. We’ll see how they lived out the gospel through bold outreach, prayerful dependence, deep discipleship, and radical gen...