"Living with Hope-Built Resolve"

For most who read this, 25 years ago today was not a day filled with hope.  Instead, fear, confusion, and anger gripped us, and our nation, as we repeatedly watched those twin towers explode and fall, the Pentagon in our nation’s capital in flames, and saw the debris field of Flight 93 strewn across the Pennsylvania countryside.  Hope was somewhat allusive that day and we again realized how truly hostile our world could be!

Reading the newsfeeds on my phone this morning, I am again reminded of how hostile our world is!

The 27th book in the Bible bears the name of a young man who faced a day far worse than our, “9-11”.  His name was Daniel.  On his day of great hostility, his entire nation was destroyed.  The great Temple in Jerusalem where he and his people worshipped was ransacked and burned. Many in his nation were either killed, or taken captive and relocated to a foreign land.  And that was just the first of many hostile days in the life of Daniel!

And yet, he lived with HOPE!

This is the first message in a new sermon series on the Book of Daniel.  Why don’t you make plans now to join us each Sunday for the next several months as we learn from Daniel, how to live with HOPE IN A HOSTILE WORLD?

Pastor Joe Still

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

Did you know that the first meal ever eaten on the moon was Holy Communion? Like me, some of you may remember living through this, while others have only read about it in history books.

The year is 1969 and the date is July 20th. Americans across the country gathered around their TVs waiting to see what 10 years earlier President John F. Kennedy said the United States would be the first to do. Put a man on the moon. And on that July day, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in their spider-like Lunar Module.

It would still be some time before Neil Armstrong would utter those now famous words, “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Before those words were spoken, there was a period of time when Aldrin and Armstrong would have to wait. Buzz Aldrin came prepared to do something worshipful in the waiting. Blessed and commissioned by his church, he had brought the elements of Holy Communion with him. And in those moments before Neil stepped out of that shuttle onto the moon, Buzz sat in the quietness of space and poured that juice into a little chalice. And there on the moon, on July 20th, 1969, he took the bread and he ate it, and he drank the cup!

This Sunday we will do the same together!

Pastor Joe Still

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

Like some of you, I grew up in a day when there were only 3 major television networks to watch on public airwaves.  They were ABC, CBS, & NBC.  In those “early days”, there was also a popular TV Game Show, that eventually aired on all three networks.  It was called “TO TELL THE TRUTH”.  It first aired from 1956-1968 and most recently ran from 2016-2022 with a few other revamps and restarts in between.

The premise of the show is there are three contestants claiming to be a person with an unusual distinction or occupation. One is telling the truth, and the other two are counterfeit. Four celebrity panelists ask them questions trying to discern the truth.

Living in our day, filled with fake news and AI generated images, much feels counterfeit.  Discerning what is real and what is truth can be challenging.  Though we may feel we’re the first generation to face this challenge, we are not.  In fact, for thousands of years, Christ followers have faced this great challenge of separating satanic counterfeits from GOD’s Truth!

That is the primary reason the Apostle John wrote, what we call, his 2nd Epistle (letter).  And John’s HOLY SPIRIT inspired words still provide clear directions for discerning GOD’s Truth in our day.  This week we let the Apostle John guide us into discerning real Truth!

Pastor Joe Still

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

If you’re a movie go-er you may recall a film released in 2015, simply entitled, “The Walk”. It dramatically depicted the 1974 high-wire walk, taken by that French daredevil Philippe Petit, between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. It had some incredible cinematography. But, that walk was anything but simple!

In 2nd John, the apostle challenges all followers of JESUS to a different kind of “tightrope walk.” Starting this Sunday and running for 2-3 weeks, we will study this one chapter book of the Bible.

Make plans to join me as we take our first step on the tightrope of following JESUS that the Apostle John invites us on!

Pastor Joe Still

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

Several months ago, I had the incredible privilege of interviewing on our stage, three of our very own college students who have sensed some call from GOD into vocational ministry.  It was a great joy for me!

Recently two of those young men, Noah Walker and Jacob Blaton, returned home from several months of mission service through our North American Mission Board.  I’ve loved hearing what GOD was doing as they served, one in Boston, MA and the other in Salt Lake City, UT.

This Sunday Jacob will be opening GOD’s Word for us and bringing a message the LORD has put on his heart for his church family, where he grew up and personally came to know JESUS!

This all brings back wonderful “ancient” memories for me, of the first time I was given the opportunity as a young college student, to preach here in what was my home church.  It meant so much to me for this church to show me the incredible support you did as I was starting out in ministry.  I know our love and support will mean so much to Jacob! I can’t wait to sit under his preaching!

So, I’m praying that you’re making plans to watch or listen; I know it is going to be a great day in the LORD!

Pastor Joe Still

_______________________________

Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

Our GOD is so very good to us at Riverbluff Church.  HE continues to pour HIS SPIRIT out on us and give us blessing after blessing.  Often those blessings come in the form of opportunities to join HIM in what HE is doing, across the street and around the world.

This Sunday, our recently returned, Medellín, Colombia Missions Team, will be sharing with us from their personal experiences with GOD while in Medellín.  I’ve had a chance for some advance previews and I can tell you that you’ll want to hear the work the LORD is doing through some of your support in that part of the world.

If you missed last Sunday, you may want to go back and watch that service on our Youtube channel.  Our DRIVEN Student Ministry, under the leadership of Garrett Walker did an extraordinary job in both services, equipping us with a great resource to help us share JESUS, and the great challenge of will we?

Because I attended both services, the LORD used them to stir my heart twice, especially with that closing question Garrett left us with, “when it comes to sharing JESUS, will we?”  And that prompted the question in my mind of why are their so many who follow JESUS that won’t ever share HIM with others.   And while there are many reasons given, this Sunday I want to briefly point out what I believe is the primary reason more JESUS followers don’t share Him with others. Join us as we seek to overcome this great obstacle to one of the most important responsibilities in our faith!

Pastor Joe Still

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

The Gospel is the greatest news the world has ever known—but for many Christians, sharing that message with others can feel intimidating or overwhelming. We certainly have found this to be the case within DRIVEN.

In this message, I want to share with you a journey that the Lord has taken the DRIVEN family on over the past 7 months or so and highlight a number of ways that He has been moving in and through our Students. Some of our students will be sharing about their most recent experiences at FUGE!

We will explore what Scripture teaches about why every believer is called to share the Good News of Jesus and discover practical, everyday ways to live out that calling with confidence and compassion. Whether you’ve shared your faith many times or aren’t sure where to begin, this message will encourage and equip you to let your faith speak.

I hope you’ll make plans to join me as we learn how God can use ordinary people to share His extraordinary message of hope.

Garrett Walker

Director of DRIVEN Student Ministry

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

For many years, I have loved the Chris Tomlin song, GOD OF THIS CITY. There have been many video backgrounds attached to this song and posted on Youtube. Click HERE to see one of my favorites!

In the song, there is a line that goes: “Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city.” I believe that about our city and I hold with conviction that GOD wants to do greater things here!

In both the Old & New Testaments, GOD’s Word calls GOD’s people to bless the place where HE has planted us. This Sunday, we’ll think deeply and practically about what it could look like if we’d focus one month on serving our city.

Pastor Joe Still

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Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

Throughout the history of “the Church”, there have been many great moves of GOD. And as followers of Jesus, we should be praying frequently and fervently to see a great move of GOD in our homes, and cities, in our churches, and our nation. But while praying for that, we must not lose sight of how GOD is always moving in HIS Church.

Jesus said in John 5:17, "My Father is always at His work…”. This reminds me that GOD is always moving in HIS Church, and what I need, are the “spiritual eyes” and the biblical foundation to see it happening!

Join me as we look to GOD’s Word and allow HIM to point us to how and where HE is moving in HIS Church known as Riverbluff!

Pastor Joe Still

_______________________________

Connect with us:

Website: http://www.riverbluff.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverbluffChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbluffchs/

How can we pray for you? http://www.riverbluff.org/help/prayer-request

Give to the Kingdom work of Riverbluff Church: http://www.riverbluff.org/give

I imagine many of you have already begun your INDEPENDENCE DAY celebration. Over on our side of town, folks began shooting fireworks at the beginning of this week!

Over these last 250 years, GOD has richly blessed these United States of America. When it comes to this nation, “GOD shed His grace on thee,” as boldly proclaimed in the song AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, is an understatement!

One of the ways GOD has blessed this nation is by giving us many great leaders at just the right time when they were most needed. The year I was born, John F. Kennedy stepped into the office of President. One of the most important and often quoted statements he made was from his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961. Near the conclusion of that speech he said: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.” Rather than acting as passive recipients of government benefits, or harsh critics, he challenged ordinary Americans to commit themselves to the success and progress of the nation. It was not a completely original concept.

Thousands of years earlier GOD gave that command to HIS people. It is recorded in Jeremiah chapter 29. I’m praying you’ll join us as we give thanks to GOD for HIS blessing on our nation and humbly ask HIM for more. We’ll also look to HIS word to discover the role HE has assigned if we truly want to see HIS future blessings come on our nation!

Pastor Joe Still