On September 13, Pastor Jeff looked at “I Am the Good Shepherd” from John 10:11–18 at River Corner Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Continuing our SEVEN series through the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John, we explored what Jesus means when he declares, “I am the good shepherd.” This is more than a comforting image. Jesus identifies himself as the Shepherd promised throughout Scripture—the Shepherd who knows his sheep, leads them, protects them, and gives his life for them.

In John 10, Jesus contrasts the Good Shepherd with thieves, bad shepherds, and hired hands who abandon the sheep when trouble comes. The Good Shepherd is different. He knows his sheep, and his sheep know him. He knows their needs, knows their names, and calls them to follow his voice. In a chaotic world filled with competing voices, uncertainty, fear, and people who cannot always be trusted, Jesus offers a different way: we can trust the Shepherd because he knows where he is leading us.

The message also connects Jesus’ words in John 10 with the familiar imagery of Psalm 23: “The LORD is my shepherd.” In Jesus, we see the fulfillment of that shepherd imagery throughout the Old Testament. The Good Shepherd leads us toward green pastures and quiet waters, refreshes our souls, guides us along the right paths, and remains with us even when we walk through dark valleys. When we do not know what we need, we can rest because the Shepherd knows. When we do not know what is next, we can trust because the Shepherd leads. When we feel alone or afraid, we can remember that the Shepherd knows us.

Most importantly, Jesus says that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11–18 points toward the cross, but it also points beyond the cross to the resurrection. Jesus willingly gives his life; no one simply takes it from him. He has authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. Because the Shepherd gives his life and takes it up again, death does not have the final word. In a chaotic and uncertain world, followers of Jesus can have hope because the Good Shepherd remains with his sheep.

This sermon is part of the SEVEN series at River Corner Church, a simple community of Jesus followers rooted in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Throughout this series, we are exploring the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in John and asking what these declarations reveal about who Jesus is and how we are invited to live in response. As we consider Jesus as the Good Shepherd, we are reminded that we were never meant to navigate life alone. We have a Shepherd who knows us, leads us, protects us, calls us by name, and ultimately gives his life for his sheep.

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In the third message of the SEVEN series, Jeff McLain explores Jesus’ declaration, “I am the gate,” from John 10:1–10. Using the picture of sheep, shepherds, gates, and competing voices, Jesus reminds us that not every voice that sounds spiritual is trustworthy. We need to become familiar with Jesus—his voice, his ways, his words, and his works—so that we can recognize and follow him.

Jesus is not simply one path among many. He is the Gate through whom we find salvation, security, freedom, belonging, and abundant life. In a world filled with competing voices and promises of fulfillment, this passage calls us back to Jesus alone and invites us to trust him with our lives.

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On August 23, Pastor Jeff McLain preached on John 6:25–40 at River Corner Church, beginning our new series, SEVEN, exploring the seven metaphorical “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

We began with Jesus’ declaration, “I am the bread of life.” After feeding the five thousand, Jesus confronted a crowd that had come looking for more bread, more miracles, and perhaps more from Jesus himself. But Jesus offered them something greater than what he could give them: he offered them himself.

In a world constantly telling us what we need to be satisfied, Jesus invites us to a different table. The world offers success, approval, comfort, possessions, pleasure, and significance, but these things ultimately spoil. Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

In this message, we explore what it means to recognize Jesus as the Bread of Life, to depend on him as our daily bread, and to remain anchored in a world coming apart. We consider four ways we can live this confession: choose to sit at Jesus’ table each day, realize what we have received, refuse to work for food that spoils, believe in the One the Father has sent, and extend our tables to others.

As we begin SEVEN, we are reminded that Jesus is not merely the one who gives us what we need. He is the Bread of Life. He is the source of life with God, now and forever.

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On August 9, 2026, Pastor Jeff McLain of River Corner Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, continued our journey through the book of James with a practical message from James 3:1–12 called “The Way We Talk.”

Our words matter. James reminds us that the tongue has tremendous power—to encourage, to build up, to tear down, and even to set the course of our lives. The way we talk can reveal what is happening in our hearts and whether we are being formed by Jesus.

In this sermon, we consider four practical ways to follow Jesus with our words:

• We remember that we all make mistakes.
• We choose words that point to Jesus.
• We speak only that which gives life.
• We ask God to change our hearts, and we build habits that practice the way of Jesus.

What does following Jesus sound like at home, at work, at church, with our friends, and in our everyday conversations?

The way we talk matters.

River Corner Church is a simple community of Jesus followers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Learn more: rivercornerchurch.com


Join us Sundays at 10:00 AM.

📍 524 River Corner Road, Conestoga, PA 17516
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ABOUT RIVER CORNER CHURCH

We are Jesus people.

Worshiping God.
Following Jesus.
Life together.

Our gatherings are simple, relational, intergenerational, and centered on Jesus Christ. Whether you are exploring faith, returning to church, or looking for a church home, there is room at the table.

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On Sunday, August 2, Pastor Jeff McLain preached at River Corner Church from Psalm 24, with a special focus on verses 1–2. Together we explored how these opening words serve as a liturgy of reorientation. As we confess, "The earth is the Lord's," God reshapes the way we see, believe, and live, reorienting us to lives of worship, gratitude, stewardship, and faithful witness.

Psalm 24 reminds us that nothing falls outside God's ownership or our responsibility to steward what He has entrusted to us. God is not only interested in our spiritual lives. He entrusts us with different kinds of capital, yet He remains the owner of every one of them. 

That means God cares about our physical capital—our health and well-being; our relational capital—the relationships we cultivate within our families and in the places where we live, work, worship, and play; our intellectual capital—the way we think, learn, and grow in wisdom; our financial capital—the resources entrusted to us and the way we manage them; and our material capital—even the ordinary possessions we own and use each day. Everything we have is held in trust and is meant to be stewarded faithfully for the glory of God.

Psalm 24 becomes a liturgy of reorientation. As we confess that "the earth is the Lord's," we are reoriented to lives of worship, gratitude, stewardship, and faithful witness.

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On July 26, at River Corner Church, Pastor Jeff McLain looked at James 2:1-13 and James' warning on favoritism. This passage can still speak to us today.

Why do we instinctively size people up?

In James 2:1–13, James confronts one of the most subtle sins in the church: favoritism. The gospel calls us to a different way of living—one where people are not valued by wealth, appearance, influence, or status, but by the image of God and the mercy of Christ.

In this message, we'll explore four kingdom ethics that shape the life of every follower of Jesus:

• We See People Impartially
• We Love People Sacrificially
• We Examine Our Hearts Honestly
• We Measure Worth Differently

The church isn't meant to mirror the world's pecking order. It is meant to give the world a taste of God's kingdom—a community where mercy triumphs over judgment and everyone finds a place at the table.

Scripture: James 2:1–13

Learn more about River Corner Church at https://rivercornerchurch.com

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In this shared message, Duane Stoner and Rhoda Denlinger reflect on how God speaks through the rhythms of daily life, work, and service.

Duane shares candid stories from his life on the farm, exploring how raising cattle, tending crops, and observing nature teach spiritual patience, flexibility, and attentiveness to detail. Unpacking passages from Ephesians, Colossians, and Hebrews, he reminds us that growth takes time and that God meets us in ordinary moments.

Rhoda follows by unpacking three core pillars of the Christian walk: Praise, Love, and Serve. Grounded in 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and Matthew, she shares personal reflections from her career in bedside nursing and family life, illustrating how a heart of gratitude, non-judgmental love, and humble service reflect the character of Christ.

Speaker Bios

• Duane Stoner is a lifelong farmer who brings practical, down-to-earth wisdom to the Christian walk. Grounded in years of working with livestock, tending land, and navigating the daily rhythms of farm life, Duane speaks on spiritual discipline, patience, and recognizing God’s presence in everyday creation.
• Rhoda Denlinger is a retired bedside nurse with a deep passion for practical, heart-centered ministry. Drawing from decades of patient care, family life, and dedicated study of Scripture, Rhoda shares encouragement on cultivating a life of active praise, Christlike love, and humble service to others.

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Nobody escapes life without facing pain, grief, or unanswered questions. In this message, Rip Wahlberg walks us through Psalm 42, exploring how we navigate seasons of deep sorrow and spiritual drought. By examining the psalm's raw imagery—from the deer panting for water to tears serving as daily food—Rip reminds us that God is not offended by our honest questions or brokenness. Even when life feels chaotic and overwhelmed by waves of hardship, God’s steadfast love (hesed) remains higher, deeper, and bigger than our trials.

Rip Wahlberg is an author, pastor, speaker, and host of the Discovering God Podcast. Formerly the pastor of Sanctuary Vineyard Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Rip has dedicated years to leading worship, teaching Scripture, and walking alongside others through grief and spiritual formation. He holds a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Regent University, where he also pursued graduate theological studies. Author of Shattered, Rip speaks with vulnerability, deep biblical insight, and raw honesty about finding God in seasons of loss and lament. He lives in Lancaster with his wife of over 28 years.

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What does it mean to walk worthy of your calling? In this sermon from Ephesians 4:20–32, we explore Paul's challenge to put off the old self, put on the new self, and become people who increasingly look like Jesus.

Christian faith is more than believing the right things—it's learning Christ and living the way of life He has handed down to us. Together we'll discover what it means to speak truth, deal with anger, use our words to build others up, work with generosity, keep in step with the Holy Spirit, and faithfully live the calling God has given us.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:20–32 (NIV)

River Corner Church is a simple community of Jesus followers committed to worshiping God, following Jesus, and doing life together.

Learn more: https://rivercornerchurch.com

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On June 14, 2026, Pastor Jeff McLain explored Psalm 23 as "A Poem for the Pilgrimage," inviting listeners to rediscover one of Scripture's most familiar passages as a practical roadmap for everyday life rather than simply a reading for funerals. 

Psalm 23 is more than a comforting poem—it is a portable theology for the journey of faith. In this message, Pastor Jeff examines how David's imagery of the Shepherd reveals God's character as the One who provides, restores, guides, protects, blesses, and remains present with His people through every season of life. From green pastures and quiet waters to dark valleys and overflowing cups, each verse serves as a reminder of who God is when life feels uncertain, exhausting, or overwhelming. 

Drawing connections to the teachings of Jesus, this sermon shows how Psalm 23 calls believers to trust God's provision, embrace His guidance, rest in His presence, and live with eternity in view. Whether you are walking through a season of peace or a season of struggle, this message offers encouragement to remember what is already true: the Lord is your Shepherd, and that changes everything. 

River Corner Church is a simple community of Jesus followers gathering in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We seek to follow Jesus together through worship, prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and mission. Our desire is to cultivate a way of life rooted in the teachings of Christ, attentive to the Holy Spirit, and shaped by the love of God for the sake of our neighbors and communities.

For more information about River Corner Church, visit: rivercornerchurch.com

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