Rivercrest Presbyterian Church - Sermons

The book of Ruth opens with tragedy, no mention of God, and no relief from the hardship. Naomi has lost her husband, her sons, and is in the foreign land of Moab outside of the Promised Land. Yet, the Lord is present in the struggle. In the bitter providence that has no explanation, the Lord is still good and He is still God. He is the same today and always, that however life leads us - He remains...

The early church devoted themselves to what was most important; to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Their devotion is both personal towards the Lord, within their households, and also as a congregation of faith. The devotion of a believer is both fueled by and encourages  the body of Christ. Ultimately our devotion is limited, but God'...

As Jesus was teaching, He is challenged by a lawyer on what must be done to inherit eternal life. Pointing to the Scriptures, Jesus has the man answer correctly, yet the way is impossible to achieve. Because God loves us while we were still sinners, we are now able to love Him and others out of the very love we receive by grace. Having accomplished salvation for us, we no longer live to earn God&a...

On the road to Emmaus, two disciples encounter the risen Christ and are forever changed. Jesus meets them in their processing and hopelessness, and reveals Himself to them in explaining the Scriptures and the breaking of bread. For believers today, Christ reveals Himself in the same way, and encourages us to walk together by faith as His people; because recognizing Jesus is just the beginning to a...

Everyone approaches and addresses the resurrection of Jesus, whether as fact or fable. And in order that we'd be certain of its historicity, Luke conveys in great detail the accounts of the witnesses to Jesus rising from the grave. The angels give the announcement of the resurrection, the women who observe the empty tomb take the message they heard to others, and the apostles who go from doub...

Jesus dies on the cross and is buried in the tomb. In this atoning sacrifice, Jesus lays down His life. He bears the weight of sin and wrath on Himself in His death, tears the curtain in two, and breathes His last. There are witnesses to these events that marvel at Jesus' divinity and show respect and love towards Him. Christians today are to model Christ's example and lay down their liv...

Jesus journeys from where He's tried to the hill to be crucified. Along the way He is met by apathetic people, angry religious leaders, amused soldiers, and an accepting criminal. It's this repentance and faith that demonstrates for us the simple gospel, as he has never lived a day for the Lord until now and he's met with the promised words from Christ, "Today you'll be wi...

With the depravity of humanity on full display, Jesus remains perfect as our substitute. In the face of trial, accusations, and berating He stays quiet and obedient in our place. Replacing Barabbas, the people have chosen wickedness over innocence, but in Christ the wicked are made innocent by His taking of our sin and in giving us His righteousness.

Jesus is arrested, betrayed, and denied, yet He prays pleas, promotes peace, and practices presence. In unwavering love He remains faithful to His Father and to His people. In taking the cup of wrath, Jesus endures the complete sting of death and weight of sin on Himself, in our place. It's not about our strength and ability, but about His.

In some of His last moments with His disciples, Jesus expresses both the status of a humble servant and the posture of prayer. Through His promises, providence, and prayers we have the assurance of Jesus both now and forever. Our Savior is in heaven right now advocating for us before the Father, a powerful and profound thought in our day to day lives.

When we come to the table of the Lord, we're reminded that just as certain as Jesus was about all the details in that upper room, He's just as certain of the details of our salvation.

As Jesus observes people giving in the temple, there are those who give out of their abundance. This isn't true giving, as it required no faith or trust. Yet, Jesus seems encouraged as He observes a widow put in two copper coins. This was all she had, and although the world would claim this to be unwise, Jesus commends her for her remarkable act of generosity and faith. Believers today are to...

Jesus treats those who are actively against Him with love, boldness, and truth. We follow Christ knowing that He defeats both His and our enemies, allowing us to not fear man's authority, arguments, or approval. The freedom we have is in the fear of God, the one who took our sin and shame on the cross and gives us newness of life.

Jesus is approached by chief priests and scribes who are trying to trap him, yet Jesus profoundly evades their verbal attempts with a question and parable. Everything the Christian life is built upon is Jesus himself, the Cornerstone, who is rejected, despised, and killed. The vineyard parable shows the terrible lengths to which sin has corrupted the world, but also shows the incredible lengths to...

The temple, a place of worship to the Lord, had become a hope for profit instead of a promise of hope. Jesus righteously drives out those who were there for selfish reasons, while taught those who held onto His words. Today, our awe and wonder of God leads us to true and better worship of the One who gave us resurrection life.

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt; a public display of His lineage to David and of His divine kingship. Jesus comes with peace and sorrow as He weeps for the people He would die for who reject Him. As Christ-followers, we are the exemplify the traits of our Savior, concerned for those who have yet to repent of their sin and turn towards the Prince of Peace.

Jesus teaches about stewardship in a parable of servants entrusted with minas. It's important for Christ followers to invest what God has given them - the good news of the gospel. And Christians are to be faithful in witnessing the gospel because God commands it, He empowers us to do it by His Spirit, and because He promises to come again.

Zaccheus was rich and a chief tax collector; thus he was very unliked by others. Yet Jesus looks up at him, calls him by name, comes to his house, and ultimately transforms Zaccheus the greedy and dishonest man into a new creation. Jesus does this for all who believe in Him, and He always acts first. It's not that Zaccheus or anyone wanted a relationship with Jesus first, but Jesus who initia...

Jesus, looking towards the cross, tells His disciples what is to come, yet they don't understand. A blind beggar hears of Jesus passing by and cries out in desperate faith to recover his sight. The bling beggar couldn't see with his eyes but recognized his need for a Savior, recognized how important it was for him to see Jesus. A followers of Christ, we too are to recognize our need for...

As a rich young ruler approaches Jesus, he asks one of the most important questions anyone can ask, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Instead of rebuke, Jesus tells the man to follow him, just as His disciples have. We're called to treasure Christ, not the fleeting treasures of the world because Jesus exchanged the richness of heaven and became poor so that we may be rich in...

Jesus teaches us through the parable of the persistent widow, that while we should pray without ceasing, we cannot forget Who hears our prayers and acts upon them in His good will. God is the only good and just being, therefore when we pray to Him we have assurance of His receiving them. So we pray in faith to the God who sits on the throne, knowing we need Him and He is listening and answering.

As Jesus heads towards Jerusalem, He is met by ten lepers. Leprosy is a struggle as it removed people from society, made them outcasts and unclean, and separated them from their families. Their hope was in Jesus alone, so they ask Him for healing. Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests, a bold act, and they are cleansed as they go. One of the ten turns back, kneels before Jesus, and...

The spiritual entitlement of the rich man in the parable comes from pride, produces indifference, and leads to torment. Yet Jesus teaches this parable with the rich man in contrast to a man named Lazarus, someone polar opposite to the rich man. The entitlement and prideful life has no place in the kingdom of God, and by His grace He reverses our sinful heart to one of humility and gratitude.

In a parable often misunderstood, Jesus teaches about eternal perspective, priority, and purpose. Christians are to be clever stewards of worldly possessions for the glory and kingdom of God, serving Him only. 

To describe God's nature, character, and essence Jesus teaches in parables of lost things. The care of God is so great and so complete towards wandering and lost people, for He will seek them, find them, and rejoice over bringing them back to Himself. God will do this for all of His elect, not letting any fall away. And this is all by grace, therefore, we are to be a rejoicing church in His r...