River of Life Church Sauk Centre (Audio)

We try to balance our Christian lives by doing the good stuff and not doing the bad stuff through sheer will power. Then, WHEN we fall, we feel like junk and throw in the towel.

Instead, what if we realized that it's more about having a relationship with the Holy Spirit and letting him guide you and help you stayed balance?

With the Olympics happening over the next few weeks, we have found some inspiration as to what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. In First Corinthians chapter 9, the apostle Paul talks about how athletes discipline themselves in an extreme way to win a prize that is temporary. The question becomes: "How much more should we be COMMITTED, as Christians, when our reward is eternal.

Peter was one of the most faithful disciples Jesus...most of the time. There was an important moment where he failed to be faithful and it almost caused him to miss out on what Jesus had for him. But an encounter in John 21 with Jesus put him back on track. Maybe we need an encounter like this...

Our country and it's leadership doesn't always go the same direction that we as Christians would like to see it go. So, how do we respond when our leadership doesn't do things in a way that is honoring to God?

Jesus tells a story about planting seeds that is supposed to get his audience thinking about the condition of their hearts. What kind of soil is the message of God landing on when it is shared with you?

There are three stories that Jesus tells to a group of people to help them understand a little bit more about who He is. Let's see if we can learn something as well.

Jesus has multiple encounters with children during his ministry, and both times he tells adults that we should be more like them. Their faith, innocence, and sense of adventure are things that Jesus want us all to have. Let's look a bit deeper at these encounters and what we can learn.

Have you ever thought, "God is the all-powerful creator of the universe. He doesn't need me to do anything for Him." You're right! He doesn't need you...but He wants you to be a part of what He's doing. Let's learn more about this by looking one of the first encounters Peter ever has with Jesus.

In Luke chapter 9, Jesus tells the crowd of people that they have to take up their cross to truly follow Him.Do we follow him with everything and all the time, or do we flex & choose what areas we want to follow Him in?

John chapter 8 has an intense encounter between Jesus, the religious leaders, and a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. We see two very different responses to this woman's sin. Let's see what we can learn from them.