Dane Lewis – Page 3 – River's Edge Community Church

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So far Dane Lewis has created 767 blog entries.

An Incarnation of Hope

An Incarnation of Hope

This sermon is based on Isaiah 40:27-31. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: We always have Christmas to look forward to. No matter where we are in the calendar, Christmas is always just a few months away. But we are blessed. The people before Christmas came to earth didn’t have any such hope. Instead, their lives were filled with misery and pain, waiting and longing, anxiety and heaviness. But that first Christmas changed all of that. Not only because it inaugurated the Kingdom of God. Not only because it welcomed the king. Not only because it proclaimed that God was with us, but because it was an incarnation of hope. And hope changes everything.

Thanksgiving 2025

Thanksgiving 2025

Everyone loves beautiful things. We hang beautiful things on our walls. We go to art museums and let the art carry us away to beautiful and extraordinary places. We wear beautiful jewelry around our necks and fingers and wrists and hang it from our ears. We gravitate toward beautiful landscapes and scenic locations. Everyone loves beauty. We even love beautiful theology—truths that move us, words that grip us, concepts that free us and then carry us away. The Nicene Creed is beautiful theology. It is present from start to finish as it flows through the magnificence of our faith. But three lines, in particular, stand out as being composed with beauty and grace. Here, we see the composers of the Creed take a complex and once-contested doctrine—who is Jesus?—and make it absolutely beautiful. These eleven words have always captured my heart and my imagination. God from God, Light from Light,

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

This sermon is based on Luke 17:11-19. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A

“Be Like Jesus”

“Be Like Jesus”

“The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” (Luke 6:40) I’m sure you remember the old schoolyard scam. You tell someone they have discovered a magic lamp and the genie has offered to give them three wishes. “What do you wish for?” you ask innocently enough. They think for a minute and then respond with their best answers. “I would wish for 10 million dollars, a sexy new sportscar and the ability to get a date.” You smile. They have fallen into your trap. Now, it is your turn to show them just how much wiser and more astute you are than they could ever hope to be. You say, “What an idiot! I would ask for 20 million dollars, five sexy new sportscars and three more wishes!” Hilarity ensues as you walk away feeling so superior while they look

Stand Out and Stand Firm

Stand Out and Stand Firm

This sermon is based on Matthew 5:14-16. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“Mission”

“Mission”

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Even as a kid, it always struck me as odd. You have a super-spy organization, but they have a ridiculous name (the Impossible Mission Force). Worse, they are involved in top-, top-secret missions, but they don’t have a secure office. Instead, they meet in an apartment so that their neighbors can hear what they are up to. The agents are only part-time; and since their other careers are well-known (actors, athletes and models), you would think that someone might recognize them when they were on a job (but luckily, they never do!). And top-secret missions were delivered, not by a real person or even a secure FedEx envelope, but by audio-cassettes, phonograph

Standing Out with the Church

Standing Out with the Church

This sermon is based on Acts 2:42-47. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“Dogged Tenacity”

“Dogged Tenacity”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) It is one of Woody Allen’s most famous quotes. He said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Now, I guess you can dismiss that quote by questioning how wise Woody Allen is. After all, he is just a film maker. Worse, he hasn’t made a good movie in years. But be that as it may, there are many other people who have argued for a similar point, people like Stephen Hawking (“Half the battle is just showing up.”), business guru Harvey MacKay (“You can beat 80% of the competition just by showing up.”), American entrepreneur Paul Budnitz (“Success is an accident. Showing up, even if it is just for five minutes, makes us accident-prone.”) and the actor Peter Gallagher (“To stay on the map, you’ve

Standing Out with All Your Heart

Standing Out with All Your Heart

This sermon is based on Romans 10:9-13. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“Suffering”

“Suffering”

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) There are a lot of sayings about suffering; most of them, I’ve never heard of before. Sure, we have the ones everyone knows: “suffer a setback,” “suffer an attack (of something),” “suffer under someone,” “suffer the consequences,” and of course, Sylvester’s “Sufferin’ succotash.” But then, we have a whole host of expressions I’ve never heard of before: “Stir suffering into your soup,” “suffering by candle and quill,” “suffering in the shadows,” “suffering at the doorstep,” and “suffering counting the ceiling cracks.” That’s a lot of “new” suffering, but maybe we all need to learn something new about suffering. In Luke 9, Jesus prepares his disciples for what is ahead because what is ahead, is suffering. He says (Luke 9:23): “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and

Standing Out by Being Like Jesus

Standing Out by Being Like Jesus

This sermon is based on 1 John 2:1-6. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“Forgiven to Forgive”

“Forgiven to Forgive”

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) I know, it is hard to understand. And that is why we have so many replicas that try to make sense out of it. For instance, Percy Colson said: “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so intensely.” I guess that makes some kind of twisted sense, but if we are going in that direction, we need more. We need Isaac Friedmann who said: “Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge.” If only I knew my granting forgiveness enacted a measure of revenge upon my enemies, then I would forgive far more freely. After all, I am way more in favor of getting revenge than in forgiving and forgetting. But does it? I am not so sure. That’s why this quote from John F. Kennedy makes even

Standing Out as a Kingdom of Priests

Standing Out as a Kingdom of Priests

This sermon is based on 1 Peter 2:4-10. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“Pray This Way”

“Pray This Way”

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. . . .’” (Luke 11:1-2) Back in the day, there was a TV police drama named, “Dragnet.” It set the stage for every good cop show after it with its great staccato musical sting, its gripping storylines, its real-to-life actors (Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday) and its great quotes. “The story you are about to see is true. . . .” “This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I carry a badge.” “The names have been changed to protect the innocent.” “We were working the night watch. . . .” But today, we want to focus on Sergeant Friday’s most famous line: “Just

Standing in New Life

Standing in New Life

This sermon is based on Ephesians 4:20-24. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“The Greatest”

“The Greatest”

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39) Sometimes, when we walk our dog Ragna, he decides he wants to eat grass. And then he gags, and it just gets ugly. And so, we made a law: No eating grass. But then one day, we were walking and he took a bite out of a small plant that was growing by the side of the trail. Now, he felt that he was justified in eating this. After all, the rule was no grass. It never said anything about plants. And when we pressed him on it by saying, “You know what we meant,” he totally disregarded us and threatened to call his lawyer. And so, before we went walking

Standing with the Spirit

Standing with the Spirit

This sermon is based on Romans 12:1-2. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“Bearing Fruit”

“Bearing Fruit”

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8) One summer, I worked at an apple orchard. I loved it, but after a month, I was offered a job that paid three times more money and required three times less exertion. And so I moved on, even though, at my new job, I couldn’t eat any of my work. For years, that’s all I knew about bearing fruit. But if we want to be disciples of Jesus, bearing fruit must become our priority and our passion. Right in the middle of the Farewell Discourse in John 15, Jesus begins to talk about fruit. Specifically, he talks about bearing fruit. And he hits it hard. He says that if we don’t bear fruit, we will be “cut off” (verse 2a). And even if we are bearing fruit, but not nearly enough, we

Standing with Jesus

Standing with Jesus

This sermon is based on Philippians 2:5-12. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: What in the world convinced people back in the Roman world to abandon their beliefs and gods and come to Christ? After all, there were no immediate incentives—no promises of instant and lasting health; no promises of a life of exorbitant happiness; no promises of immediate and continued wealth and no promises of adoring popularity. There were, however, plenty of deterrents. In fact, anyone who became a Christ follower back then could expect a largely negative response from others. So, what in the world convinced them to make such a commitment? Surprisingly, it was the people in the church. And unsurprisingly, it is the same thing today. That’s what we want to explore in our new series which we are calling, “Stand Out.”

“So That”

“So That”

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Sometimes, reading the Bible is an adventure in missing the point. 2 Timothy 3 has been a favorite passage of mine for years, but my focus has always been on those first four words; “All Scripture is God-breathed.” Now, I can make a good argument for why the focus ought to be on those words. After all, the inspiration of Scripture is of critical importance, and scholars wrestle with the meaning of almost every word in this clause. But if that remains our sole focus, we will miss the whole point of the verse. See, the point of the verse is not found in the first four words, but rather on those two small words that appear almost in