The Red Letter Prayers (part 4)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Luke Fletcher closes our sermon series “The Red Letter Prayers”. The series which also coincides with our three weeks of corporate prayer & fasting leading into Easter.

Ps Luke asks us: “when you have a bad day, what do you do?”

He recommends that we: (1) Guard our heart (Matt 23:33-35); (2) Choose to forgive (Matt 6:14-15); (3) Pray the Scriptures (Mark 15:33-34); and (4) Ultimately…. Trust God (Luke 22:44-46).

Overall, on a bad day, pray through and be in community.

The Red Letter Prayers (part 3)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Peter Hallett continues our sermon series “The Red Letter Prayers”. The series which also coincides with our three weeks of corporate prayer & fasting leading into Easter.

Ps Peter looked at Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, in all Gospel accounts, but with special focus on Mark 14:31-42.

1. How to pray: “abba father” – pray in and out of intimate relationship. “everything is possible for you” – pray based on faith, on who God is, not your circumstances. “take this cup from me” – ask specifically for what you need. “yet not what I will” – surrender the outcome to God and trust.

2. Why to pray: “my soul is overwhelmed” – to overcome problems, challenges and distress. “what you will” – to align yourself with God’s will. “not fall into temptation” – to establish moral and spiritual courage to make right choices.  “the hour has come” – to be ready for God’s appointed hour.

Peter’s Summary of the Gethsemane prayer: As a child to a parent, pray with urgent faith about specific needs, while trusting God whatever the outcome, so that you will be strong amidst challenges, aligned with God’s will, overcoming temptation and ready to stand firm in the hour of opportunity that God will surely bring.

The Red Letter Prayers (part 2)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Luke Fletcher continues our sermon series “The Red Letter Prayers”. The series which also coincides with our three weeks of corporate prayer & fasting leading into Easter.

Ps Luke looked at Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 11:25-28, where Jesus prayed no matter what the circumstances. Specifically, encouraging us to also pray, no matter how we are feeling or what our circumstances are.

How? (1) Start with praise, sometimes this will need to be a sacrifice of praise, (2) approach like a child, (3) come with humility, (4) focus on what pleases the Father, and (5) remember that God desires relationship with him more than we realise.

“Pray continually…” (1 Thess 5:17)

The Red Letter Prayers (part 1)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Luke Fletcher commences our new sermon series “The Red Letter Prayers”. This series also coincides with the three weeks of corporate prayer & fasting leading into Easter.

Ps Luke looked at Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-26, where Jesus prays for the church. The key focus is on unity. As Jesus and the Father are one, likewise Jesus wants us to be united.  The power of unity is profound, as then the world will know that we are his disciples.

Ps Luke also provides practical insights of how to cope with the reality of disagreements and remain united: focus on the majors, speak to the person not about them if you have an issue, have an attitude of forgiveness and have an open heart.

Unexpected Strength: A Look at the Life of Moses (part 3)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Luke Fletcher closes the sermon series “Unexpected Strength: A Look at the Life of Moses”.

Ps Luke looks at how God led Moses and Israel out of Egypt, on what was the harder yet safer road, in Exodus 13:17-14-18. His key points for our journey with God is to remember to: (1) Take one day at a time and one step at a time, (2) Trust that He is guiding, (3) Remember that the journey for God’s glory, not our comfort, (4) Don’t loose perspective, instead keep trusting, and (5) Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”  (Eph 6:10).

Unexpected Strength: A Look at the Life of Moses (part 2)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Katherine Fletcher continues the sermon series “Unexpected Strength: A Look at the Life of Moses”.

Walking us through Exodus chapter 4, Ps Katherine looks at the theme of how Moses found strength through surrender. Her key points encourage us to: (1) Surrender our self-sufficiency, (2) Surrender our reputation, (3) Surrender to Sovereignty and (4) Surrender our insecurities.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”  (Eph 6:10).

Unexpected Strength: A Look at the Life of Moses (part 1)

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Pastor Peter Hallett commences a new sermon series “Unexpected Strength: A Look at the Life of Moses” showing how God is the God of the second chance.

Walking us through Exodus chapters 1-3, Ps Peter shows how (1) Moses finds himself at the Far Side of the Wilderness; likewise sometimes we just need to get to the other side to discover God is not finished with us.  (2) What’s With the Burning Bush? God wants our attention! (3)  Careiosity is Part of the Call; be curious and care, let this draw you near to God. (4) This is More Than Power, This is Personal; allow yourself to be present and personal with God. (5) God is Holy and God is Relational; we hunger for both characteristics of God. (6) God’s Compassion is Not Our Own; don’t ask God to use you today, ask God to show you his heart, and (7) Come Now and I Will Send You; God is enough and will be with you.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”  (Eph 6:10).

Strengthening Structures & Sundays

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Senior Pastor Katherine Fletcher closes our sermon series on “strength”.

The heart of River’s Edge Church is (1) To make it easy for all to come to faith – Acts 15:9, (2) To allow all to pitch in with the strength of the Holy Spirit – Eph 2:9; Zech 4:1-14, and (3) Continue to move forward with momentum.

Momentum requires structures, systems as well as the spiritual. Ps Katherine challenges us to consider all of these requirements. But especially how do we treat the sacred. Do we have respect, awe and honour for the presence of God?

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”  (Eph 6:10).

Strengthening & Reaching Families

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Senior Pastor Luke Fletcher reminds us that God wants to Build and Strengthen the Church as Family.

Luke emphasised (1) Remember the importance of your family, (2) Are we inward or outward looking? (3) Your family is different, (4) Everyone is watching and (5) Lead your family well.

But ultimately, focus on changing the only thing you can…Yourself.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”  (Eph 6:10).

You: The Leader

Sunday’s message from River’s Edge Church.

Senior Pastor Luke Fletcher celebrates the 10th anniversary of River’s Edge Church, with a sermon focused on leadership.

Jesus is our Great Leader. Because of Jesus we have been chosen, we are part of the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet 2:9) & God’s handiwork, created to do good works (Eph 2:10). Yet some of us have disqualified ourselves.

Luke emphasised that godly leaders (1) Bring the vision & direction around the mission, (2) Help carry the vision & mission, (3) Help others find their place in the mission, and (4) A leader’s greatest asset is their character.

Let’s stop disqualifying ourselves, we can all do this, as God has “anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit” (2 Cor 1:21-22).