River Lake Church

Time on Trial

In this message from Ecclesiastes, Pastor Nic challenges us to rethink the way we view time. While many of us live like we have unlimited days ahead, Scripture reminds us that time is a gift to be stewarded, not wasted. Through the tensions of mentality, morality, and mortality, we are invited to walk open-handed with God, embrace both joy and wisdom, and live with purpose in every season of life. Whether young, middle-aged, or older, this message is a call to stop drifting and start investing the life God has given us.

Certainty on Trial

In Week 8 of Life on Trial, Nic walks through Ecclesiastes and exposes one of the deeper struggles underneath so many of our frustrations: our need for certainty. Whether it shows up in our desire for control, progress, understanding, order, or specific outcomes, certainty can quietly become the thing we chase more than God Himself. This message challenges us to ask a hard but necessary question: Is Jesus enough? If the path is unclear, the outcome is unknown, and life doesn’t go the way we planned, can we still trust that God is good? Instead of waiting for God to make every step feel safe and certain, we are invited to move forward in faith, obey what He has already made clear, and trust Him with everything we cannot control.

Perspective on Trial

In this message from our Life on Trial series, Pastor Nic walks through the limits of human perspective and the peace that comes from trusting God’s providence. When we only see life from an “under the sun” point of view, hardship, injustice, authority, and uncertainty can feel frustrating and meaningless. But Ecclesiastes reminds us that while we may not always understand what God is doing, we can still trust that He is in control. This message unpacks how to respond when life feels unfair, how to navigate imperfect authority, why Sabbath and simple enjoyment are acts of faith, and why people are not machines to be fixed but souls in need of healing. Even when life does not make sense, Jesus invites us to trust Him, follow Him, and believe that He can work through our pain over time.

Wisdom on Trial

In this message from our Life on Trial series, Pastor Nic unpacks what Ecclesiastes teaches us about wisdom. Wisdom is a gift from God, but it was never meant to be the “silver bullet” that fixes every problem in life. Many of us keep searching for the right advice, book, sermon, or strategy, but the deeper issue is not an information problem—it is a heart problem. Wisdom can help steer our lives, but it cannot script them. Even when we do the right things, life can still bring pain, loss, and disappointment because we live in a broken world. Ecclesiastes reminds us to avoid the extremes of becoming overly righteous, thinking God owes us certain outcomes, or becoming overly wicked when life does not go the way we hoped. Instead, we are called to fear God and trust Him. Ultimately, wisdom makes a terrible savior. Our hope is not found in knowing enough, doing enough, or trying harder. Our hope is found in Jesus—the one mediator who offers forgiveness, strength, and life beyond our own efforts. This message concludes with a call to communion and a reminder to rely on Christ, not just our search for answers.

Money on Trial

In this message from the Life on Trial series, Pastor Nick looks at Ecclesiastes and the tension between money, purpose, and peace. Money is not evil, but when it becomes the thing we trust for security, identity, or happiness, it becomes a functional savior that can never truly satisfy. Through Solomon’s wisdom, we’re reminded to be intentional with generosity, careful with materialism, and honest about what we’re really chasing. Wealth can be enjoyed as a gift from God, but it was never meant to carry the weight of our hope. True peace is not found in having more, protecting more, or achieving more. It is found in trusting God through every season—the good, the hard, and the uncertain.