The River Church Sermons

Actions speak louder than words. Our faith in Jesus is on display when we live out the nitty gritty details of life at work, in school, and with friends and family. The call and choice to follow Jesus in an increasingly un-Christian society impacts every relationship, including those under the roof where we live. While not writing a Marriage Manual, Peter provides practical counsel to Christian wi...

Ethics is defined as a set of beliefs or moral principles that dictate behavior or at least in principle, should dictate behavior. What good are ethics without a corresponding behavior? Peter has laid the groundwork in I Peter 2-3 to describe the Christian ethic. Now in chapter 2:11 all the way to 3:7 Peter makes the case that when push comes to shove, it's how you live, not what you say that coun...

July 8, 2018 There are so many types of stones and gemstones: granite, marble, slate, limestone, sapphire, beryl, emerald, etc... Can you name a few more? Well, which one would you say is the most beautiful? For me it's probably Smoky Quartz or Black Onyx. Well, which one would you say carries the most value? I'm gonna say Blue Diamond... only because I googled it. Come this Sunday as we examine 1...

July 1, 2018 “Love may be simple. Life is complicated.” Lewis B. Smedes I wonder if it is getting more difficult to have intelligent, respectful, helpful conversations about the complexing issues of our lives. We’re tempted to move quickly into defensive, protective postures and corners. The impact is felt in our work, politics, driving, families, schools, dating, social media, and friendships. Th...

It is most unfashionable to speak of holiness today. Far more acceptable is to talk about love. The pejorative "Holy Rollers," or Dana Carvey as the SNL "Church Lady" comes to our cringing mind. The worst offense is to be judgmental. Or preachy. Or moralistic. We understandably run from a smug moral superiority that sometimes hides hypocrisy. But Peter says plainly: "just as he who called you is h...

Our passage this father's day describes from Peter's perspective the radical transformation from being aliens (which I believe could have a double meaning, once alienated from God, and now alienated from the social norms of this world) to full conversion to Christianity, to becoming a full fledged maturing believer whose faith has stood the test of time and trial (I Peter 1:1-12). I believe that t...

Last Sunday we zoomed all the way out and beheld the big-picture beauty of the entire letter of 1 Peter. This week, we are going to pull out the microscope and look exclusively at the letter's profound two-verse greeting. Join us as we discover that this ancient two-line introduction contains far more than thin social pleasantries or stock rhetorical filler. Instead, the short passage is absolutel...

I Peter is about living a victorious Christian life even in the midst of trials and suffering. Rather than being discouraged and sidelined by hardship, Peter encourages us to grow from our trials, long for the pure milk of God's word, live in a harmonious way with all fellow believers, honor our governing authorities, guard yourself from the fleshly lustful living, serve in our giftedness, and sta...

We are in commencement season. Colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, and home schools, are inviting speakers to give a commencement address to the graduating students. It is a fun and exciting time of year as it celebrates the end of one journey and the beginning of new adventures. I have always enjoyed commencement speeches, especially ones that leave me inspired to live the best...

I would not call myself a prayer warrior. In fact, I wish I prayed more. I really do. I feel like so many things crowd in and the day is over before I know it. I have certainly grown in this area and do make time to be with the Lord. In fact, some of my best times are walking alone. It's one long conversation with the Lord that I look forward to. It's just me and the Lord. It's some of my favorite...

I love big sermon points. Inspirational speeches. Swelling epic music scores! Anyone who has ever heard me preach knows that I work in hyperbole like so many painters work in oils. In conversation, I shift between the gears of "excited" and "really, really excited." Even as I write this blurb, my left leg is bouncing up and down with energy subconsciously escaping my body. Thus, it's no surprise t...

We have a beautiful orange tree in our backyard. It hasn't always been that way. For years it seemed to be not only dormant, but useless, producing no fruit. I thought of cutting it down, tearing it out, giving its space to something more "orangey." Then, several years ago, big, succulent, juicy, tasty, and very orange oranges blossomed and sprung forth from its branches. We pick them, eat them, a...

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? I have. We live in a hyper-connected space, and even have thousands of mini-notifications all day long. But do you long for deep, soul-nourishing, life-infusing connection? We want something, or someone, who can fill us with courage and direction along the trailhead that beckons us beyond ourselves [check out James' sermon from last week - so good!]. We have ju...

Early in the 2001 adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, the lovable hobbit Sam Gamgee sparks a memorable exchange. Sam: “This is it.” Frodo: “What?” Sam: “If I take one more step, I'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.” Frodo: “Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say: ‘It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if yo...

Imagine for a moment that only 2% of the population of the South Bay consisted of followers of Jesus. Imagine that almost all of your friends, coworkers, and neighbors didn't really know the story of Jesus, and for them "Christianity" was an outdated, cold, rigid, lifeless philosophy and institution. Now imagine that you wanted to bring the life-imparting, joy-saturating reality of Jesus to this h...

Our new series is entitled Belonging Co. We plan to look at what Jesus said about his own relationship with God as he spent some very personal time with his disciples before the cross and his departure from this earth. It is some of the most revealing and intimate thoughts and learnings we get from Jesus. It's all about belonging to God. Jesus pressed in on what it looks like to have an intimate r...

This weekend we are in the Old Testament again. Last week we looked at Job and his pain and suffering. We learned God's presence shatters pain. This week we'll be focusing on Isaiah the prophet's message in chapter 40, "Comfort, O Comfort my people, says your God." And oh how they needed comfort, and so do we. We could all use a little comfort. Isaiah, the prophet for Israel, was born into an infl...

Easter 2018 9am Service - Todd Wendorff by The River Church of the South Bay

Easter 2018 6am Sunrise Service - Bill MacPhee by The River Church of the South Bay

Pain, Presence, Comfort, and......JOY. We've come to the end, but notice it starts with pain. It will lead to joy if we give it permission. Servais Pinckaers wrote a book, The Pursuit of Happiness. I've been reading it these last few weeks. It's a commentary on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12, our text for this weekend. He says, "The voice of suffering is a strange voice. It silences all others,...

Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a poem about a trial that feels like being trapped in a massive rock, "like a vine of ore alone, encased." She can't see the path or any distance. "Everything is close and everything is closing in on me." Then she ends with, "Since I still don't know enough about pain, this terrible darkness makes me small. If it's you, though- Press down hard on me, break in that I may kn...

The storm that caused the waves to crash against the side of the disciple's boat that ominous night was not the thing to be feared most. It was the one in the boat with the disciples that was even more terrifying than the storm. The times I have encountered storms in my life, I have focused more on the storm than Jesus, the one in the boat with me. I am afraid I have it all wrong. CS lewis said so...

This weekend we conclude our rich and delightful journey through Paul's heartfelt letter to the Jesus followers in Ephesus. He keeps reminding them, and us, that we all are doing better than we think. His final words take us into a dark place, exposing a very real enemy, whose one intent is to destroy the beauty God has restored with His love. This evil is a defeated enemy, and we have been given...

"Who." That may be the most important pronoun in life. We can so quickly lose track of ourselves in the "what" of our lives, lifestyles, projects and play. Our text from Ephesians this week is filled to the brim with the "what" of the Jesus-following lifestyle, but right smack in the middle, Paul comes up for air and reminds the Ephesians (and us today) about the all-important "WHO's": Who we are,...

Happy Birthday to The River Church of the South Bay! A group of faithful, adventurous souls gathered at the home of Steve and Ceci Watts on February 7, 2007, and committed to one another that they would start something new and fresh, spurred on by Isaiah 43:19 ... “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,...