River of Life Church - St Joseph

First Response

This week's sermon is a standalone sermon asking this question: what is your first response when you are faced with adversity or opposition in your life? The answer according to scripture is that our first response should always be prayer. When we want to take ground, we pray first. Where do you need to take ground in your life? Your first step should be to pray about that area. 

Vision - Week 4 (Big Three)

This week we cover the outward-facing goals that God has given our church. These goals all stem out of our mission to have one more person growing in Christ. We want that happen locally, globally, and in the next generation. This sermon discusses these goals while also laying out scripturally why they are important. 
**The file for our Vision week 3 sermon got corrupted and we were unable to salvage it. We apologize. 

Vision - Week 2 (Discipleship)

This week we move forward with our vision series talking about what we consider the "lifeblood" of our church: discipleship. Every body needs blood to function and exist. In the church, we discipleship has to be the core of who we are. We discuss what discipleship looks like and how the church helps with the discipleship process of its members. 

Vision Sunday

This week we spent some time talking over the vision that we believe God has for our church. This sermon covers where we are, where we could be, and what needs to happen for us to get there--including the mindsets that we need to adopt as a church for us to grow to where God wants us to be. 

Gospel of John - Week 12

This week we close out our series on the Gospel of John by talking about Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. While the story may be familiar to you, John emphasizes certain portrayals of Jesus during the final days of his earthly life that bring out some beautiful truths for us today. Jesus is the Saving King and because of him, we have eternal life with God that starts now and lasts forever. 

Gospel of John - Week 11

This week we turn our attention to the Holy Spirit, who Jesus repeatedly brings up in his final words with his disciples before his death (John 14-17). Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our comforter, advocate, and guide who will lead us more clearly to him. Too often the Holy Spirit's name is misused in the name of weirdness or worse, but that is not how Jesus presented him. If it was important to Jesus, then we should lean into the Holy Spirit's role in our lives as well. We cover in this sermon who the Holy Spirit is and what he does in our lives (fruits and gifts). We end by quickly covering the Baptism in the Spirit which is a special moment where the Holy Spirit empowers us. 

Gospel of John - Week 10

This week we shift to the second half of John. From John 12 on, the book switches to covering the final week of Jesus's life including four chapters covering Jesus's final discourse to his disciples at that Last Supper. This week we look at what Jesus felt he needed to communicate in these vital final moments, including him starting off this final meal with a shocking twist: washing the disciples feet. This story has a wonderful application for our lives. 

Gospel of John - Week 9

This week we go to John 11 where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Throughout the story, even though people in the crowd believe in Jesus, they put artificial limits on him and his power. They did not believe that Jesus could fully fix the situation once Lazarus died. In our lives, we have to be careful that we do not put artificial limits on Jesus that cause us to resist him when he tries to move. That's what this sermon is about: letting Jesus move in full power in our lives. 

Gospel of John - Week 8

This week we continue our Gospel of John by covering John 8 where Jesus tries to correct some of his followers, but they reject his leadings. We talk about the fact that our lives have to directionally be moving towards Jesus rather than trying to check off some religious benchmarks. The word for this is repentance, and it's a lifestyle of moving towards God and his ways. This sermon is about how to do that practically and why we need it. 

Gospel of John - Week 7

This week we venture into John 6 and talk about Jesus being the bread of life. This story highlights the miracle-working power of Jesus, the power of a small sacrifice, and the importance of responding to Jesus positively. This sermon highlights all three point as we work through the entire chapter of John 6.