What does it actually mean to be wise—and how does the wisest man who ever lived still manage to make such disastrous choices? This week, Alex, James, Jordan, and Hezekiah dig deeper into 1 Kings 3, exploring Solomon’s request for wisdom, the tension already showing in his reign, and why biblical wisdom is less about knowing the right answer and more about recognizing our dependence on God. We also talk about discerning God’s will when Scripture doesn’t give a clear answer, the role of community in making wise decisions, and the danger of turning our personal preferences into universal convictions. Plus, we wrestle with high places, questionable marriages, 700 wives, and why Solomon may ultimately be a “do as I say, not as I do” kind of guy.

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Get additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

In this episode, Alex and Noel unpack Psalm 72 and its picture of what a good king should be: just, righteous, protective of the vulnerable, and ultimately dependent on God. They discuss how Christians should think about authority, opposition, abuse of power, and the responsibility to honor leaders without ignoring wrongdoing. The conversation also turns personal as they consider how much influence we each have on the people around us and what it might mean to be experienced “like a spring rain.” Plus, they dig into whether Solomon actually wrote Psalm 72—and entertain a surprisingly plausible Song of Solomon fan theory.

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Subscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)
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Send us feedback: [email protected]
Get additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

This week, Alex and Noel kick off the journey through First and Second Kings by digging into the strange, complicated final days of David and the beginning of Solomon’s reign. They talk about self-exaltation, mixed motives, justice and vengeance, and what to do with some of the Old Testament’s more violent and uncomfortable stories. Noel also explains how Israel’s kings point toward Jesus as the true King and why the failures of even the “good” kings matter. Plus, they chase a few biblical footnotes involving curses, thrown rocks, deathbed hit lists, and some surprisingly funny moments in Kings.

Listen to Noel's message

Subscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)
Visit us online: rivchurch.com
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Send us feedback: [email protected]
Get additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

In this episode, Alex and Noel reflect on the final passage of James and an unusually powerful weekend marked by prayer, confession, and people responding together in community. They talk about why physical expression in worship can be meaningful without becoming performative, how Riv approaches anointing with oil, and how to think about miraculous experiences through the framework of Scripture. Noel also explains how confession can break the cycle of sin, shame, and isolation, and why every follower of Jesus can pray as someone made righteous in Christ. They close by looking back at James as a book filled not just with commands, but with grace, joy, and a call to pursue people who are drifting.

Listen to Noel's message

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

This episode looks back at the book of James and explores what the series revealed about its surprising depth and practical wisdom. Jason talks with Andrew, Jordan, and James about patience, waiting, and the tension between faithfully doing what we can while trusting God with what we cannot control. They also unpack why Job can be an example of endurance despite all his complaining, what it means to wait well instead of becoming an “obnoxious waiter,” and how hope in Jesus’ return changes the way Christians experience uncertainty and suffering. The conversation closes with material that didn’t make the sermons, including the Testament of Job and why making vows can be another attempt to take control away from God.

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

This week, Alex sits down with Justin and Andrew to unpack James 5:1–6 and one of the strongest rebukes in the New Testament. They explore what James is really saying about wealth, oppression, justice, and God’s heart for the vulnerable, while wrestling with difficult questions about how Christians should respond to injustice today. The conversation ranges from modern economic systems and moral responsibility to the prophets, church history, and why Scripture so consistently tells its story from the perspective of the oppressed. Finally, they reflect on what it means to trust God’s justice without surrendering our responsibility to love our neighbors well.

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Subscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)
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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

In this episode, Jason talks with Hezekiah, Jon, and Tony about James 4:11–17 and the pride that can shape how we speak about others and make plans for ourselves. They distinguish loving correction from judgment and discuss practical tools for understanding passages that seem confusing or contradictory. The conversation also explores what it means to plan wisely while remaining dependent on God rather than treating him as an afterthought. They close by reflecting on control, the brevity of life, and why getting exactly what we want may not always be good for us.

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Due to a technical issue, audio of Hezekiah's message is not available

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

In this episode, Alex sits down with Tony to unpack James 4:8–10 and explore why repentance is ultimately an invitation back to the presence of God, not just a response to guilt. They discuss how repentance changes as we mature in our faith, why authentic Christian community is essential for growth, and how the story of the prodigal son reframes God’s heart toward those who return to Him. Along the way, they talk about Bible reading rhythms, the courage it takes to be known by others, and the tension between the prodigal son and the older brother that often shows up in our own lives.

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

This week, Alex and Noel unpack James 4:1-7 and explain why the passage is aimed at conflicts within the church, not the culture outside it. The conversation explores how pride, selfish ambition, and misplaced priorities can undermine the church’s witness, why God’s grace sometimes feels like resistance, and how prayer reveals what kingdom we’re really pursuing. They also discuss repentance as a realignment of allegiance, the surprising encouragement that comes from years of faithful community, and why the Holy Spirit often works in ways the preacher never expects.

Listen to Noel's message

Subscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)
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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

In this episode, Alex talks with Noel to unpack James 3’s contrast between earthly wisdom and wisdom from above, exploring how envy, selfish ambition, gentleness, and peace reveal what’s really happening in our hearts. They discuss why James was writing to believers—not outsiders—and how God’s grace meets people in the middle of their ongoing struggle with sin. They also dive into questions that didn’t make the sermon, including demonization, the tension between grace and transformation, what it means to cultivate peace, and why Christians should think of themselves as citizens of heaven first.

Listen to Noel's message

Subscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)
Visit us online: rivchurch.com
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Send us feedback: [email protected]

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About Riverview Church
Riverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com