2022 July

Are You Thirsty?

Are You Thirsty?

We welcome our guest speaker, Adam Feldman, to our pulpit this Sunday with a sermon based on John 4:7-15. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Let’s be honest: for most of us, the idea of sharing the good news of Jesus with our friends is really bad news. Talking about spiritual issues with those around us is a sure way to lose friends and annoy people. But again and again, we are called to be Jesus’ witnesses to those around us (I know, that’s more bad news). But what if we could develop a skill (what some may call a “knack”) that makes witnessing less of a chore and more of a relationship? What if evangelism wasn’t trying to get someone to sign on the dotted line, but rather, loving the people God puts in our path? And what if we

Knack One: Prayer

Knack One: Prayer

We begin our summer teaching series this week, "Developing a Knack to Share." This introductory sermon is based on Acts 4:23-31. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Let’s be honest: for most of us, the idea of sharing the good news of Jesus with our friends is really bad news. Talking about spiritual issues with those around us is a sure way to lose friends and annoy people. But again and again, we are called to be Jesus’ witnesses to those around us (I know, that’s more bad news). But what if we could develop a skill (what some may call a “knack”) that makes witnessing less of a chore and more of a relationship? What if evangelism wasn’t trying to get someone to sign on the dotted line, but rather, loving the people God puts in our path? And what

What Do We Do with the Pharisees?

What Do We Do with the Pharisees?

Let’s face it, everything we have seen in this series leads to this one conclusion: the Pharisees are an enigma. Matthew tells us they are the bad guys. Just read Matthew 3, 9, 12, 15, 16, 19, 22 and especially Matthew 23; and you will conclude exactly that. After all, they were hypocrites who were only in it for their own glory. And that sentiment is not only in Matthew; it’s in Mark, Luke and John, as well. But then we see other passages. The Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod is after him. They invite Jesus into their homes for a meal. They came to Jesus at night. A Pharisee was there at Jesus’ burial. Paul was/is a Pharisee. And history informs us that there were many other good things about the Pharisees. So, maybe the Pharisees weren’t so bad. But let’s be honest. It would take a whole lot

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

We were pleased to have our director of international ministries, Chris Zang, deliver this sermon, a companion to our series, Paul and the Revolution of Grace. This sermon is based on Ephesians 6:10-18. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: At River’s Edge, we talk a lot about grace. We talk about saving grace, amazing grace, irresistible grace, unconditional grace, common grace, pure grace, unmerited grace, enabling grace, sacrificial grace, sustaining grace, superabundant grace, and marvelous, infinite, matchless grace. And we warn about cheap grace, falls from grace and children who were not born on Tuesday (because only Tuesday’s child is full of grace). But talk, like some forms of grace, is cheap. And sometimes, we use the word without knowing exactly what it means or how it works itself out in our lives. And sometimes, we forget how revolutionary grace was

What’s Wrong with This Pharisee?

What’s Wrong with This Pharisee?

What’s wrong with this picture? Robert Shurtleff (1760-1827) was a former indentured servant who enlisted in the Continental Army to fight against the British in the Revolutionary War. As a member of the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, Robert served with distinction. He acted as a scout behind enemy lines in New York. He led an attack against a Tory force and captured 15 enemy soldiers. And at Yorktown, while enduring heavy cannon fire, he stormed a British redoubt. His heroism was not lost on his friends, even though they often made fun of him for his boyish good looks (they even called him “Molly” because he could not grow a beard). During his time of service, he was wounded twice. He received a deep gash on his forehead from a British sword and was shot in the thigh (he removed the pistol ball from his leg by himself). However, in 1783,

The Revolution of Grace Makes Us Gracious

The Revolution of Grace Makes Us Gracious

This sermon is based on Galatians 6:9-10. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: At River’s Edge, we talk a lot about grace. We talk about saving grace, amazing grace, irresistible grace, unconditional grace, common grace, pure grace, unmerited grace, enabling grace, sacrificial grace, sustaining grace, superabundant grace, and marvelous, infinite, matchless grace. And we warn about cheap grace, falls from grace and children who were not born on Tuesday (because only Tuesday’s child is full of grace). But talk, like some forms of grace, is cheap. And sometimes, we use the word without knowing exactly what it means or how it works itself out in our lives. And sometimes, we forget how revolutionary grace was back then and how revolutionary it is today! In this series, we want to look at how grace changes everything--our puny definitions, our misunderstandings, our limited

Another Good Pharisee, Part 2

Another Good Pharisee, Part 2

I would like to tell you that these are my favorite quotes about lying, but that would probably be a lie; but it sure sounds better than “here are ten quotes of limited appeal.” “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” – Winston Churchill “A truth that's told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent.” ― William Blake “I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.” ― S.E. Hinton “Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.” ― Khaled Hosseini “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” –Lucille Ball “We're all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding.” ― Rudyard Kipling “I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.” ― Al Pacino “We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.”

The Revolution of Grace Bears Fruit, Part 3

The Revolution of Grace Bears Fruit, Part 3

This sermon is based on Galatians 5:22-26. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: At River’s Edge, we talk a lot about grace. We talk about saving grace, amazing grace, irresistible grace, unconditional grace, common grace, pure grace, unmerited grace, enabling grace, sacrificial grace, sustaining grace, superabundant grace, and marvelous, infinite, matchless grace. And we warn about cheap grace, falls from grace and children who were not born on Tuesday (because only Tuesday’s child is full of grace). But talk, like some forms of grace, is cheap. And sometimes, we use the word without knowing exactly what it means or how it works itself out in our lives. And sometimes, we forget how revolutionary grace was back then and how revolutionary it is today! In this series, we want to look at how grace changes everything--our puny definitions, our misunderstandings, our limited