River of Life Church - St Joseph

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. 

Gospel of John - Week 6

This week we are back to the Gospel of John and looking at what to do when we experience spiritual frustration. All of us have moments where we are frustrated with God and our spiritual growth. How do we respond in that? We look at the story of Jesus healing the invalid man in John 5:1-9 for some great answers on how to respond in those moments.

Guest Speaker - Bobby Loukinen

This week features a guest speaker: Bobby Loukinen. Bobby served as a youth pastor for 18 years before transitioning to being a US home missionary. He serves by helping organize missions trips for MN churches and by helping with Youth Alive that reaches teen students on middle school, jr. high, and high school campuses throughout our state. He gives a great message from Acts 8 about Philip and the Ethiopian. 

Gospel of John - Week 5

This week we venture into John 4 where Jesus has his famous conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well where he chooses to defy cultural expectations so that he can offer this woman the soul-quenching help she desperately needed. Just like in this story, wherever we find ourselves Jesus is already there waiting for us!