What do you think of when you hear the words, “spiritual maturity”? Do you imagine someone who isolates themselves to pray for hours on end? Or maybe it’s someone who boldly speaks correction and can spout off Bible verses like a machine? Although those attributes may accompany spirituality they are not necessarily the signs of healthy spiritual life and certainly not indicators of maturity. Healthy and mature followers of Jesus develop and grow through relationships. They bloom in a garden called community. This Sunday Pastor Derek starts a new series called “Bloom” to help you cultivate the kind of relationships necessary for your spiritual growth.

Listen in as Scott Volk shares this powerful message on releasing bitterness.

Jesus came so that we could experience the abundant life, why is it that many of us don’t experience that? Sunday, we will look at what it means to live from a whole heart. It is time to move from a place of survival and fatigue to a place of freedom and thriving.

Remember the first time you skimmed across the water in a boat or broke through the clouds on an airplane? These moments wake us up to a new reality that we’ve never experienced before. They spark joy and give us a view from a unique perspective. It’s like something comes alive in you for the first time! The resurrection of Jesus has the same effect upon us when we awaken to the reality of His death-destroying power. Now we carry the same resurrection life to every person we meet in hopes of jolting them out of slumber and awakening them to a life-changing love! Join us Easter Sunday for Awaken!

Derek Turner - Palm Sunday - When Love Comes to Town by River Church Charlotte

Randall Worley by River Church Charlotte

Choosing to Love is choosing to bring God on the scene. Every time we decide to do what Love would do we demonstrate what Jesus is like and deliver Heaven to earth. But how do you engage with Love in your everyday life? When you are confident that Love Himself has taken residence inside of you it’s easier to love everyone the most!

What would it look like if we all took the initiative to start right where we are? How would our city change if we humble ourselves and serve the ones nearest to us?

Jesus showed us what it looked like to live a life of service. It is time for us to follow His example and display the power of God through serving. If we want to live a life of purpose, we must learn to serve.

You may think you live where you live not because you chose it but because your job chose it for you, or there was a family obligation, or you felt called to a church or ministry there. Well, here’s the truth: You don’t live there by accident. Just as the Father sent Jesus, Jesus has sent us (John 20:21). You don’t live or work where you do by chance. God has called you to be on mission there. Maybe you feel out of place. Maybe you feel like you should just “get out of dodge” and start over somewhere else but Jesus has sent you exactly where you find yourself today and He is quite comfortable demonstrating faith, hope, and love to this city through you! This Sunday, Pastor Derek continues our series called Learn the City : Love the City.

We are the light of the world. How are we sharing that light? How does our life speak to those around us? This Sunday, Pastor Sarah speaks on serving our neighbors well.