Ephesians

5:15 (NIV)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

A

lot of people think that love is just something that happens. They think that

finding the right person to marry just happens. Scripture, however, seeks to

give us guidance in seeking the right kind of person and make wise choices

leading up to a possible marriage. This sermon will do two things. It will help

to prepare those who have not yet found that “right person” to share

life with. It will also help those who are in healthy or unhealthy marriages to

find ways to allow God to change the marriage into a new creation… beginning

with our own walk-with-God.

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This Sunday we’ll explore a terrific story that most of you

heard as a child. It is the story of the paralyzed man whose friends bring him

to Jesus in Luke 5, beginning at verse 17. One of the truths we will explore is

that before Jesus heals the man, he forgives him of his sins. We’ll discover

that the greatest need we have is the need for our spirit and God’s spirit to

be aligned. Most of those things that we think would make us happy and

fulfilled, even being healed physically, are not as important as being in a

right relationship with God that not only brings joy and fulfillment now, but

brings eternal life with Jesus in a brand new body.

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Sometimes what we call a “small church” isn’t

because of the numbers, but of the perspective of the church in our minds.

Anytime we consider the church to be simply a group of Christian people, that

is too small. The Church is God’s creation, with Christ as it’s cornerstone. If

churches remembered that, then God’s church would win more souls and have fewer

problems. So, in this message, we’ll look at the church from God’s perspective

and possibly get a bigger view of the power and love of God’s Church.

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Romans 1:18-23, Romans 10

In our message this Sunday, we will look at both the call Jesus gives us to go to the world and the world He sends us to go to. Both “go’s” are important as we are called to be assertive and not just responsive. We are to actively seek opportunity, while realizing that the world is not always receptive to what we have to share.

Pastor Rick Watt

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Sometimes I reminisce about where God brought me from and where He has brought me to.  I like what He’s done in and with my life thus far.  But sometimes I may reminisce too much about the wonderful things of the past and forget that God is still moving forward.  As long as I live on this earth, I want to be a part of where He is going…and not just where He has been.  I awakened too early, the other morning with a thought that I got up and entered into my computer.  I didn’t want to fall back asleep and loseit.  Here’s what He gave me… I said to the Lord, “Look what we’ve done.” He said to me, “Look what I’m doing.” I said to the Lord, “Look where we’ve gone.”  He said to me, “Look where I’m going.”   History is both what we already made and what we are now making. It is about what HE is making and doing. Will you follow Him as He leads forward?

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To introduce this message, the congregation will be singing part of the “Centerfield” song by John Fogerty (Put Me In, Coach) while wearing their baseball uniforms and carrying their gloves. The message for this special morning, from the series “GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE” will feature Jesus call to His disciples to “get out into the field” and simply do what Jesus had been doing. This is a great service to bring friends who have children with baseball uniforms. I encourage you to help the children know the song, because they will be on stage with me to lead the congregation in the song. Afterwards, the children will be going to Children’s Church and nursery while we continue with the message. 

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What

do you do when company unexpectedly comes at supper time? Well, in this week’s

message Jesus has a crowd show up to witness His healing and hear what He has

to say. Evening comes and they’re all hungry and they’re out in the country. As

they check to see what people have to share, they discover one boy who has two

small fish and five loaves of bread. Let’s remember that this boy isn’t forced

to share, but he does. From this generous offering (all the boy had, yet only 2

fish and 5 loaves of bread), Jesus sets out to feed 5000 men, plus women and

children. 

In

this message we will explore the 4 gospel accounts of this miracle and

re-discover the way that Jesus meets the needs of His people. At the same time,

we will re-discover that He wants to do His provision and His miracles through

His people… and we are His people.

The post Our Little, his much appeared first on Riverside Church.

Our new series is entitled: GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE.

If He only used superstars, most of us would be left out in the cold. The

amazing thing is that He uses people just like you and me when we’re willing to

do as He commands. No matter how small our “all” is, God can do

awesome things through us. That’s the wonder of the power of God. And the

experience of being used by God will always remind us that His is the power and

that ours is the willingness to be used by His power. 

This first message is SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT, and will

especially note the role of a gentle and encouaging man by the name of Barnabus

in building the early church, including the Gentile Church. It doesn’t take a

muscle-man, a gorgeous woman, or an ultra-talented musician to be used-by-God

to change the world. It simply takes a person who has faith in God and the

faithfulness to trust God to fulfill what He has called us to do.

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I Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. The Father is the priest of the home, the shepherd of his flock. Those Dads who don’t follow the Lord have a tougher job than the man whom God prepares to Model, Mentor, and Motivate his wife and children. Personally, I want to have all the equipment, training and inspiration that God can give me, because I mess up sometimes. This message will be helpful, practical, and encouraging to you Dads who are always wanting to get better at providing, leading, and preparing your children for the time when you will not be there… but God will.

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Matthew 22:35 One of them, an

expert in the law, tested him (Jesus) with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is

the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your

God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This

is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your

neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two

commandments.”

In this scripture, Jesus gives

both a priority of life and the first steps to a fulfilling, successful, Godly

life. In this message we’ll explore several things, including loving God in

first place. We’ll also look at our ability to love others in light of whether

or not we truly love and value ourselves in the way God wants us to. As we see

our value as a child of God, we’ll better understand His instruction to love

others. Putting Him first allows us to be filled with His love and to overflow

with His love.

When is the last time you

overflowed with His love?

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