2023 January

A Reimagined Mission

A Reimagined Mission

This sermon concludes our series, "A Different Mission," and is based on Acts 16:6-15. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Biblically speaking, this is as sure as it gets: God is a missionary God. And this is not something new that happened with the dawning of the New Testament. No, God has always been a missionary God (That’s right, even in the Old Testament we see God at work to reach the world). In short, all of our theology starts with this truth: our God is a missionary God. Historically speaking, River’s Edge has always been a missionary church. Ask anyone who was here at the beginning; missions was the reason we started River's Edge. But times have changed and circumstances have changed and opportunities have changed; and as a result, things look very different today. These days, missions doesn’t appear to be

The Case of the Mysterious Households

The Case of the Mysterious Households

It’s a mystery. So, before we try to solve it, let’s get our head in the game which, you should know by now, is afoot). Here are a few quotes to ponder: “There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy.” (Ambrose Bierce) “I knew one thing: as soon as anyone said you didn’t need a gun, you’d better take one along.” (Raymond Chandler) “The problem with putting two and two together is that sometimes you get four, and sometimes you get twenty-two.” (Dashiell Hammett) “You have a grand gift for silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion.” (Sherlock Holmes via Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) And my favorite: “Except for cases that clearly involve a homicidal maniac, the police like to believe murders are committed by those we know and love, and most of the time they’re right—a chilling thought when you sit down to

Coincidentally and Purposefully

Coincidentally and Purposefully

Steven Wright tells the story of two babies who were born on the same day at the same hospital. They lie there and look at each other. Their families came and took them away. Eighty years later, by a bizarre coincidence, they lie in the same hospital, on their deathbeds, next to each other. One of them looked at the other and said, “So, what did you think?” Coincidentally, here are some quotes on coincidences. From Agatha Christie: “Any coincidence is worth noticing. You can throw it away later if it is only a coincidence.” From Albert Einstein: “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” From Ian Fleming: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.” From Yogi Berra: “That’s too coincidental to be a coincidence.” And from John Green: “It's hard to believe in coincidence, but it's even harder to believe in anything else.” There is

A Different Mission

A Different Mission

This sermon introduces our new series, "A Different Mission," and is based on Ephesians 2:13-18. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Biblically speaking, this is as sure as it gets: God is a missionary God. And this is not something new that happened with the dawning of the New Testament. No, God has always been a missionary God (That’s right, even in the Old Testament we see God at work to reach the world). In short, all of our theology starts with this truth: our God is a missionary God. Historically speaking, River’s Edge has always been a missionary church. Ask anyone who was here at the beginning; missions was the reason we started River's Edge. But times have changed and circumstances have changed and opportunities have changed; and as a result, things look very different today. These days, missions doesn’t appear to

Forever

Forever

How long is forever? I’m not 100% sure, but I believe it is a very long time, maybe even an unending amount of time. How long is forever? Maybe a few quotes will help us figure it out. “Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever.” -- Rumi “I know a way to stay friends forever–there's really nothing to it: I tell you what to do, and you do it.” – Shel Silverstein “What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.” – Leo Buscaglia “I intend to live forever. So far, so good.” – Steven Wright And my favorite Hamilton lyrics (from “You’ll Be Back”): “You say my love is draining and

God With US

God With US

This sermon is based on Revelation 21:1-7 and concludes our series, "God With Us." You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Pick a preposition, any preposition. Here’s the sentence: “God is ____ us.” Will you choose (A) “against” (that can’t be good); or (B) “over” (that’s true enough, but it is hardly good news); or (C) “beyond” (in my opinion, that’s even worse than being “over” us), or (D) “after” (I’m not sure -- is that good news or bad news?) or (E) “for” (I like that; I like “for” a lot); or last, (F) “with” (now we are talking!). Of all the prepositions we could choose, there is not one that outshines “with.” One simple preposition, but it brings peace, hope, and tons of comfort and joy in its wake. And that is why we all agree: “With” is the Christmas

After, Before and In

After, Before and In

In order to unlock this post, you must first name six songs (because anyone can name five!) that have the word “water” in the title. With that stipulation, the following songs, even though they are all about water, would not count. In other words, “NO” to songs like “Come Sail Away,” “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” And “YES” to our loophole song of the day, “Waterloo” (ABBA). Even though it is not about water, it still would count since it has “water” in the title. How many can you name in a minute? Go! (That’s right, don’t read on; name that song, and then five more). Here are my six: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Simon and Garfunkel), “Smoke on the Water” (Deep Purple), “Black Water” (Doobie Brothers), “Wade in the Water” (the spiritual), “Cool Water”