What does it look like to trust God when life hurts—and you’re still waiting for things to change?

In “Shaped By Suffering,” Pastor Jason Powers continues through 1 Peter 2:11–4:19, exploring how we follow Jesus through suffering, injustice, disappointment, and pain. Peter doesn’t call suffering good or promise that faith makes difficult things disappear. He reminds us that what we experience now is not the end of the story.

Our faith is revealed in how we live while we wait. Instead of allowing pain to lead us toward retaliation, bitterness, or giving up, we’re invited to trust God and keep doing what is right. Jesus is our example, continuing in obedience while trusting what God was accomplishing beyond what could be seen.

In this message, we explore obedience when it hurts, freedom from bitterness, and the Body of Christ as God’s provision in suffering. As we love, encourage, comfort, and carry one another, the world gets a glimpse of the hope we have in Jesus.

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 2:11–4:19
Ephesians 5:21
John 16:33
John 9:1–3

REFLECTION

Where is God inviting you to trust Him in the middle of something difficult?

Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, follow the River City Church podcast, and continue with us through Peter’s Life & Letters.

River City Church exists to be a church for New Braunfels, authentically experiencing and expressing God’s love in our lives and in our community.

River City Church | New Braunfels, Texas

RCNB.org

What if holiness isn’t about trying harder, but about being reshaped by the love of God?

In “Shaped By Love,” Pastor Jason continues through 1 Peter 1:13–2:10, exploring how the hope of resurrection changes us from the inside out. Jesus reveals God’s sacrificial love, and holiness becomes our loving response—not merely better behavior added to an old life.

Through Jesus, we receive a new identity, a new source of life, and a growing capacity to love others even when love requires sacrifice. That transformation changes how we face fear, comparison, loneliness, temptation, relationships, and the desire to control our future.

In this message, you’ll hear what biblical holiness means, how repentance gives us a new origin story, and what sacrificial love looks like in everyday life.

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1:13–2:10
Philippians 2:12–13

REFLECTION

Where is God inviting you to let His love reshape the way you live?

Share this episode with someone who needs this reminder, follow the River City Church podcast, and continue with us through Peter’s Life & Letters.

River City Church exists to be a church for New Braunfels, authentically experiencing and expressing God’s love in our lives and in our community.

River City Church | New Braunfels, Texas

RCNB.org

What do you do when the pain of right now feels more real than the promises of God?

In “Born Into Hope,” Pastor Jason Powers begins exploring Peter’s own words in 1 Peter. Writing to believers facing real pressure, Peter reminds them that they are chosen, set apart, protected, and born into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus.

Our struggles are real, but they are not the whole story.

Because Jesus is risen, suffering and death do not get the final word. Faith allows us to borrow joy from the future and live today as people whose resurrection story has already begun.

In this message, discover what it means to live in the tension of the “now and not yet,” why our future resurrection changes the way we face suffering today, and how the hope we have in Jesus can produce a joy that circumstances cannot take away.

SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 1:1–12
1 Corinthians 15:19–22

REFLECTION
Where in your life do you need to remember that right now isn’t the whole story?

If this message encouraged you, share this episode with someone who needs hope today, follow the River City Church podcast, and continue with us through Peter’s Life & Letters.

River City Church exists to be a church for New Braunfels, authentically experiencing and expressing God’s love in our lives and in our community.

River City Church | New Braunfels, Texas
RCNB.org

In the beginning, humanity walked with God in a garden. Then the gate closed.

From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Scripture is the story of a God who refuses to stay distant. Through tabernacle, temple, sacrifice, blood, glory, and promise — God was making a way to dwell with His people again.

In this Lent 2026 series, How God Made a Way, we trace the thread from exile to access, from shadows to substance, from separation to presence. Every altar, every lampstand, every veil points forward to Jesus.

Each week we’ll see how what once stood between us and God is fulfilled in Christ — and how the risen Son now makes us His dwelling place.

This isn’t a series about temple facts.

It’s about the God who moved heaven and earth to bring us home.

“In the past, God spoke through many things… but these days — through His Son.”

Join us as we rediscover the story of atonement, glory, and grace.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

In the beginning, humanity walked with God in a garden. Then the gate closed.

From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Scripture is the story of a God who refuses to stay distant. Through tabernacle, temple, sacrifice, blood, glory, and promise — God was making a way to dwell with His people again.

In this Lent 2026 series, How God Made a Way, we trace the thread from exile to access, from shadows to substance, from separation to presence. Every altar, every lampstand, every veil points forward to Jesus.

Each week we’ll see how what once stood between us and God is fulfilled in Christ — and how the risen Son now makes us His dwelling place.

This isn’t a series about temple facts.

It’s about the God who moved heaven and earth to bring us home.

“In the past, God spoke through many things… but these days — through His Son.”

Join us as we rediscover the story of atonement, glory, and grace.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

In the beginning, humanity walked with God in a garden. Then the gate closed.

From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Scripture is the story of a God who refuses to stay distant. Through tabernacle, temple, sacrifice, blood, glory, and promise — God was making a way to dwell with His people again.

In this Lent 2026 series, How God Made a Way, we trace the thread from exile to access, from shadows to substance, from separation to presence. Every altar, every lampstand, every veil points forward to Jesus.

Each week we’ll see how what once stood between us and God is fulfilled in Christ — and how the risen Son now makes us His dwelling place.

This isn’t a series about temple facts.

It’s about the God who moved heaven and earth to bring us home.

“In the past, God spoke through many things… but these days — through His Son.”

Join us as we rediscover the story of atonement, glory, and grace.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

In the beginning, humanity walked with God in a garden. Then the gate closed.

From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Scripture is the story of a God who refuses to stay distant. Through tabernacle, temple, sacrifice, blood, glory, and promise — God was making a way to dwell with His people again.

In this Lent 2026 series, How God Made a Way, we trace the thread from exile to access, from shadows to substance, from separation to presence. Every altar, every lampstand, every veil points forward to Jesus.

Each week we’ll see how what once stood between us and God is fulfilled in Christ — and how the risen Son now makes us His dwelling place.

This isn’t a series about temple facts.

It’s about the God who moved heaven and earth to bring us home.

“In the past, God spoke through many things… but these days — through His Son.”

Join us as we rediscover the story of atonement, glory, and grace.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

What if wisdom isn’t something you know, but a way of life that forms you over time?

In this series, we explore the wisdom of Scripture—especially Proverbs—to examine how our choices, words, relationships, and trust in God are shaping who we are becoming. Rather than offering quick fixes, Formed invites us into the slow, faithful work of building our lives on a durable foundation.

This series calls us to repentance—not as shame, but as building differently—and reminds us that wisdom is one of the primary ways God saves human lives from collapse.

If you’re asking What am I becoming? or How do I rebuild wisely? this series is an invitation to keep walking the way of wisdom.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

What if wisdom isn’t something you know, but a way of life that forms you over time?

In this series, we explore the wisdom of Scripture—especially Proverbs—to examine how our choices, words, relationships, and trust in God are shaping who we are becoming. Rather than offering quick fixes, Formed invites us into the slow, faithful work of building our lives on a durable foundation.

This series calls us to repentance—not as shame, but as building differently—and reminds us that wisdom is one of the primary ways God saves human lives from collapse.

If you’re asking What am I becoming? or How do I rebuild wisely? this series is an invitation to keep walking the way of wisdom.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

What if wisdom isn’t something you know, but a way of life that forms you over time?

In this series, we explore the wisdom of Scripture—especially Proverbs—to examine how our choices, words, relationships, and trust in God are shaping who we are becoming. Rather than offering quick fixes, Formed invites us into the slow, faithful work of building our lives on a durable foundation.

This series calls us to repentance—not as shame, but as building differently—and reminds us that wisdom is one of the primary ways God saves human lives from collapse.

If you’re asking What am I becoming? or How do I rebuild wisely? this series is an invitation to keep walking the way of wisdom.

For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org