Riverwood Church - Waverly, IA: Sermons

Our view of self as humans vacillates wildly. We shift from thinking we are one of the most awesome persons on earth to one of the worst people to have ever lived. (And sometimes we even think all of that on the same day!) But the Incarnation of Jesus actually addresses our view of self, helping us see who we really are in the eyes of God. And that view will simultaneously humble us and embolden u...

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines "incarnation" as "a person who embodies in the flesh a deity." In Christianity, the incarnation of Jesus, God the Son, into human flesh is a foundational doctrine to the faith. But this doctrinal truth does more than just separate Christianity from other religions, it impacts the meaning of Christmas and our view of God.

As part of our annual Thanksgiving Family Worship Gathering, Riverwood's very own Jacob Tews shared some thoughts about why Jesus-followers can give thanks in all circumstances - even the hard ones.

In this final message in the His Story sermon series, we wrap things up in a different way. Rather than see how the Bible points to Jesus, we ask "How does your story point to Jesus?" To answer that question, we look at the story of a woman in John 4 and then hear from five Jesus-followers who reveal how their story really does point to Jesus.

Ever seen a Magic Eye picture? It looks like a mess on the surface, but if you peer through it, you see something entirely different - a 3D image inside the picture. The Book of Revelation is somewhat similar. On the surface, it appears to first be apocalyptic literature all about the end of the world. But as you peer deeper, you discover that it first points to Jesus. Listen in to discover at lea...

The Epistles in the New Testament are letters written to individuals and churches to help them follow Jesus. Listen in as we look at 1 John 2:1-14 to learn the four things the Epistles can do for those whose faith is in Jesus.

Sometimes in life, we see, hear, or experience an event, and yet somehow we misunderstand the truth. For instance, you might meet an incredibly tall athletic-looking man and assume he plays basketball. Yet the reality might be that he hates sports and actually has an affinity for the fine arts. Well, something similar has happened to Americans' view of church. Because of our experiences, we have c...

Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead after his brutal crucifixion, he ascended to heaven in front of his followers. Right before he lifted off the ground, he gave one last instruction. This final command of Christ has been feared by Christians throughout history. Many find this command too difficult to obey, or they want to obey it in their own way in their own timing. But as we hear in this...

Christians all around the world throughout history have remembered the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for sin. But did you know the gospel message doesn't stop with the crucifixion of Jesus? There's more to the story. Listen in to discover why the resurrection of Jesus is crucial to the gospel story. Because if there's no resurrection, there's no Christianity.

The crucifixion of Jesus is the central aspect of the Christian faith. Churches around the world every Sunday sing about it, talk about it, and take communion elements to remember it. But have you really looked at the crucifixion? Do you know what Jesus truly went through? In this next part of the His Story series, we take a deep look at the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering of Jesus fr...

Christian churches all around the world celebrate the sacrament of communion (also called the Lord's Supper). But where did this practice come from? Listen in to discover the roots to this ancient ceremony. And as you do, you will discover how the Lord's Supper, like the Bible, points to Jesus.

Have you ever experienced a "wow" moment? You know, a moment that takes your breath away, and all you can say is "wow"? Jesus gave his disciples and the people around him some "wow" moments. We call them miracles. And as we study the reaction of the disciples in Mark 4:35-41 to one of the biggest miracles Jesus, we see how the miracles of Jesus should affect us. So listen in to this next message i...

Some people become famous in life for having one consistent message. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. is known for his speeches on civil rights. Jesus also had one consistent message. In this next part to the His Story series, we look at His one repeated message, and discover how it should affect the one message of your life.

The first-century disciples (followers) of Jesus were ordinary men and women like you and me. But some of them did extraordinary things because they allowed their lives to not be about themselves, but to be all about the message and life of Jesus. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, if you want to follow Jesus (or are simply curious about following Him) listen in as Riverwood's Wors...

Everyone one of us has experienced a disruption in life. Some disruptions are good, like finding out you got the job. But some disruptions seem to wreck our personal stories, like hearing the doctor say "It's cancer." The arrival of Jesus into the pages of history was a disruption. But in this message, we learn how the arrival of Jesus should be a good disruption to our story. So listen in to hear...

In this stand-alone message, guest teacher Steve Erickson shows from the life of Jesus how a Jesus-follower can use the everyday spaces he or she finds themselves in to grow spiritually  and be a blessing to others.

We live in a day and age where "fake news" is a regular part of the cultural conversation. But did you know that there has been quite a bit of "fake news" shared about the sacrament of baptism? This week, we look at the baptism of Jesus and the context surrounding it in Matthew chapter 3. Through this passage, we discover 5 "fake news" headlines about baptism that get debunked, helping us see what...

This week, we look at the biblical story of an incredibly hypocritical Jewish prophet, and see how his hypocritical life points to the non-hypocritical life of Jesus.

Oftentimes when people read the Bible, they engage in a case of "mistaken identity." When they read a story, they unintentionally read it as if they were the main character. And one story we often engage in "mistaken identity" is the story of Daniel and the Lions Den. In this week's message, Pastor Erin Bird helps us see that Daniel's story in the sixth chapter of the book that bears his name isn'...

In the book of Ezekiel is a famous story about dry bones becoming skeletons which become bodies which become living human beings. But did you know this famous story from Ezekiel 37 can also help you in the moments you are struggling to trust God in your darkest moments? Listen in to be encouraged that your current condition is not your forever condition.

In America, we are addicted to new. New movies, new music, new clothes, new cars, new relationships, new everything. Let's face it: We like new. But oftentimes, we make the mistake of believing that "new" makes us better. Now, don't make the mistake of thinking "new" then is bad. God actually wants you to experience "new" life. But rather than give us external things like clothes or cars, He wants...

In this unique Worship Gathering, we weaved together passages from the Old Testament book of Isaiah with contemporary songs that point to the birth, life, death, & resurrection of Jesus. As you listen, may you worship God and be blown away at the revealing of Jesus over 700 years before He ever was set in a manger in swaddling cloths.

If you've ever been ridiculed, or betrayed, or lost a dear loved one, or battled depression, you have felt alone.  You have felt unloved, unwanted, disconnected, and isolated. Some people, when they feel this way, try to medicate the pain through sleep or drink or thrills. But some people try to medicate the pain spiritually. And for thousands of years, many people have used the Book of Psalms to...

Have you ever considered what it is that makes people like Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr. so inspiring? It's humility. Humility is the ability to put the needs of others before your own. It's hard, but it can be powerful. Listen in to the story of Naaman and the power of humility, even when shown reluctantly.

Most people know a temple as a sacred building that some religion believes contains the presence of their deity. They gather at the temple to engage in various religious practices to worship their god and fulfill spiritual requirements. The ancient Jews weren't much different. In the book of 1 Kings, the wise King Solomon had the first Jewish temple built to house the Ark of the Covenant so that t...