In this episode, Jason and the teaching team unpack the tension in Acts 21 around Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem despite repeated warnings of suffering. They explore whether anyone was “wrong,” how to interpret prophecy faithfully, and what it means to test our understanding of suffering rather than avoid it. The conversation moves into the difference between contextualizing the gospel and compromising it, and why faithfulness does not guarantee comfort or acceptance.

Listen to Hezekiah's message
Listen to James' message
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Listen to Justin'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

In this episode, Jason sits down with Tony, James, Jordan, and Hezekiah to unpack Acts 20, including Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders and the late-night gathering where Eutychus falls from a window. They reflect on what it reveals about the early church’s rhythms, Paul’s long obedience to his mission, and what it means to say, “my life is of no value to myself.” The conversation also explores leadership under pressure, cultural engagement without outrage, and why winning hearts matters more than winning arguments.

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Listen to Jordan's message

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In this episode of the Afterwards Podcast, Jason and Noel unpack Acts 19, focusing on what it means to have an incomplete understanding of faith and why the Holy Spirit matters in the life of a believer. They explore baptism—where it came from, what it signifies, and why belief in Jesus comes before having everything figured out. The conversation widens to the idea of the gospel not just changing individuals, but destabilizing entire cities, as seen in Ephesus. The episode closes with reflections on discipleship, identity, and how lasting change takes shape over time.

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In this episode, Jason and Noel unpack the sermon from Acts 18, moving behind the scenes to talk about sermon prep, manuscripts, teleprompters, and why experienced pastors still feel panic before preaching. Noel reflects on imposter syndrome as a possible means of grace, how God works through weakness, and why humility and confidence often coexist in faithful leadership. The conversation also explores Priscilla and Aquila, bi-vocational ministry, and the powerful role ordinary faithfulness—like opening your home—plays in God’s mission. Throughout the episode, they emphasize that God’s purposes are not fragile and do not depend on perfect people.

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Jason and Noel dive into Acts 17, exploring how Paul masterfully adapted his message to different audiences without compromising the Gospel. They discuss the tension of maintaining a "cross-eyed" perspective—holding fast to Scripture while remaining culturally fluent—and address listener questions about idols and engaging with secular art. The conversation also highlights the importance of becoming a "digital Berean" by prioritizing the Bible over YouTube algorithms and online opinions.

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This week, Jason talks with all four teachers to unpack one of the most layered stretches in Acts, where a single passage could have turned into a dozen different sermons. The conversation explores how pastors decide what to emphasize, how audience and venue shape application, and why disagreement, blocked plans, and hardship can still be part of God’s direction. The group digs into Paul and Barnabas’s conflict, the Spirit’s surprising guidance, and the tension between freedom and faithfulness in the prison narrative.  It’s a candid look at how ministry stays faithful to the text while navigating real people, real limits, and real pressure.

Listen to James' message
Listen to Hezekiah's message
Listen to Jordan's message
Listen to Tony's message

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Alex fills in for Jason again and dives deep with Noel into Acts 15 and why it represents a pivotal, make-or-break moment for the early church. Noel unpacks how the Jerusalem Council wrestled with grace, law, unity, and cultural difference, and why that tension still matters today. The conversation explores how good preferences can quietly turn into expectations and even requirements, often without us noticing. They also reflect on leadership, liberty, and what it really looks like to protect the gospel without flattening people’s cultures or consciences.

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In this episode, Noel and Alex dive into the challenges of living authentically in a culture that often tries to "neutralize" the edges of Jesus to fit a personal or social algorithm. They discuss the biblical account of Paul in Lystra, exploring what it means to truly deny oneself and prioritize Christ over the modern idols of politics, money, and comfort. The conversation also touches on the cost of vulnerability in leadership and practical ways to break free from the digital discipleship of social media.

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Jason sits down with Hezekiah and James to debrief Christmas Eve at the venues and talk about what made the night feel like a full-family celebration. From there, the conversation moves into Acts 13, including the very real geography of Paul’s journey and why seeing “scripture in stone” changes how you read the text. They wrestle with how the early church balanced planning with Spirit-led pivots, and why resistance does not automatically mean you’re off track.

Listen to James' message
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Listen to Tony's message

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In this episode of the AfterWords Podcast, Jason sits down with Tony and James to talk through their Acts messages, starting with the church in Syrian Antioch as a strategic, multicultural “launching pad” for the gospel. They trace how persecution in Acts repeatedly backfires on the opponents of the church and becomes “rocket fuel” for the spread of Jesus’ message, often through unnamed believers. The conversation turns to Acts 12 and the question everyone asks: why James is executed while Peter is rescued, and how to hold grief and God’s sovereignty in the same hand. They finish with Herod’s downfall, “glory theft,” and what it looks like to redirect praise in a way that’s real, not performative.

Listen to James' message
Listen to Tony's message
Listen to Justin's message

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Subscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)
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Visit us online: rivchurch.com
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