Riverwood Church - Waverly, IA: Sermons

Waiting can be difficult, awkward, painful, and slow. As humans, we tend to do anything we can to distract ourselves from waiting. Waiting can often bring rich rewards. God uses these moments of waiting to do deep work in His children. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/the-plan-building-lives-2/

Even though he had never been to Jerusalem, Nehemiah was Jewish and cared deeply about his people. He mourned and fasted for days when he heard that the gates had been burned down. Nehemiah needed God to move the king’s heart to allow him to begin rebuilding the walls and gate. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/the-call-building-lives-1/

In movies, happy endings can often feel cheesy. Life rarely works out with a “happy ending.” J.R.R. Tolkien says that he thinks Happy Endings give us a glimpse of something deeper that we long for. Happy endings can point us toward the Easter story, however.

The disciples must have felt pretty special that Jesus would ask them to follow Him so closely. But, just a while before this part of Mark, they learned that He would die soon and that one of them would be the betrayer. At this stage, Jesus started to show worry for the first time. Watch and Learn More: https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/pain-before-cross-mark-48

Since we are all betrayers, are we going to be blind, unrepentant, or repentant betrayers? While we were still enemies of God, Christ died for us. He is not hurt and wounded by our betrayal. When we sin/betrayal, where do we turn? To beating ourselves up or ignoring the shame and filling the void with substances, food, entertainment? Or, do we turn to Jesus and jump out of the boat and swim to Him...

Guest speaker, Patrick Ray, teaches about how Churches worldwide have different problems, but we all have the same hope. Through Jesus, we can be unified despite our differences. Democrat or Republican, Russian or Ukrainian, Racial differences, etc. Galatians 3:27 explains how those baptized into Christ are not different, but we are clothed with Christ. We are also Abraham's descendants and heirs...

Throughout the centuries, the Jewish people would celebrate Passover. It was also customary to go to Jerusalem to celebrate. In Mark 14:12-26, Jesus sends some of his disciples ahead to get a room for Jesus and his disciples. In this room, Jesus breaks bread and gives it to the disciples. He instructs them to eat it as it is His body. He then takes a cup of wine and He tells them that it is His bl...

Just as we want to give all of our time/attention/money/etc. to that special person in our life or the hobbies we love, we should feel even more the same way about God. In Mark 14, verse 3, a woman (probably Mary Magdalene) poured a jar of expensive oil on Jesus' head. This perfume was made with pure nard and was worth a year's wages. Imagine using a full year's wages in a quick moment to honor so...

What is the purpose of school? It’s not to make friends, to get good grades, or to be able to regurgitate facts. The purpose of school is to learn. It’s essential to know the purpose of what you’re involved in. This is also true of scripture. Many people seem not to understand the purpose of the Bible. Why did God give us the Scriptures? The Bible is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, a...

How do we know we can trust the Bible and what’s included and intentionally not included? Watch the sermon or learn more on our website at https://weareriverwood.org/ctc-sermons/recognized-bible-in-its-place-3

the Bible claims in and of itself to be the word of God. On its own, this can be a weak piece of evidence. Combined with the following points, however...

In 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17, Paul instructs Timothy on teaching sound doctrine. He explains how every detail in scripture is breathed out by God.

Today's sermon is a look at where Riverwood is, as a church, today. Pastor Erin helps us take a look at our past, discuss our areas of growth & areas to work on, and help us see the vision of where Riverwood is planning to focus in the future.

This human yearning for more has been around since sin entered the world but Jesus would have us understand that less IS more.

In Matthew, Jesus extols the spiritual benefits of fasting. He also shows that prayer and fasting are linked.

Jesus tells us that the way we connect with heaven is to pray. In other words, the way to get up to heaven is to get down on our knees in prayer.

What James wrote about 2000 years ago continues to apply to us today. Seek God while you Watch/Listen to the final part of our "Seek" series.

Many people don't believe they could be loved by God because of the mistakes they make in life. We find forgiveness by seeking Jesus.

In today's sermon, Pastor Erin explains how we should Choose Hope during the Holidays - even when hope isn't the obvious choice.

In this sermon from our Advent Series, Pastor Erin shows the difference between knowledge and wisdom through the story of the Wisemen that visit Christ's birth.

The shepherds were often social outcasts making the fact that the shepherds were the first to be told of Christ's birth even more interesting and meaningful.

We often try to fill our need for contentment with new things. Yet, while purchases can provide temporary contentment, it always fades.

We should give thanks to God because of His goodness, guidance, because He delivers & heals, and for His power & blessings.

At the beginning of Mark 13, Jesus and his disciples have “The Olivet Discourse.” One of the disciples remarks at the beautiful stonework on the new temple.

When a poor widow gives all she haves, Jesus marvels about her gift. The amount she gave was great due to the incredible sacrifice that accompanied that gift.