The River Church Sermons

Do All Things Work Together for Good? That is the Question.

Let's discuss one of the most, maybe the most misunderstood and misused verse in all the Bible. The other one is God helps those who help themselves which isn’t even the Bible. But, here it is, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good...” Oh, there’s more, “...to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Please don’t use this verse with anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. What I mean by that is if you get a chance to sit with someone suffering, maybe know it, pray over it, keep it in your mind, believe it, but maybe start a little softer. They often need comfort. They need to be seen and heard. They need to be free to process, to feel what they are going through with its full impact, to talk about it, to grieve. Good? Now back to the verse. This verse is smack dab in our scriptures for a reason. We cannot deny that. It’s God’s word to us. This verse is Paul’s conclusion to a long conversation about how the Holy Spirit helps us in our struggles, our suffering, and our hardships. So what does it mean? I suggest we have the wrong perspective and that’s why we struggle with what Paul is saying. Reflect on this quote for a bit and then let’s discuss. ‘None of the good things of this present life can be relied on. They are shortlived. The things we see, though made by the creative Logos and the wisdom that transcends all wisdom, are always changing, now one way and now another, born upward and then downward. That is why it seems we are being played with. Before something can be laid hold of it flees and escapes our grasp. Yet there is purpose in all this, for when we reflect on the instability and fickleness of such things, we are led to seek refuge in the enduring things that are to come. For if life always went well, would we not become so attached to our present state, even though we know it will not last, and by deception become enslaved to pleasure? In the end we would think that our present life is the best and noblest, and forget that, being made in the image of God, we are destined for higher things.’ — Maximus the Confessor ‘the Cosmic Mystery of Christ’

Our Helper

Anyone who has tried to communicate across a language or cultural barrier knows the frustration of being lost in translation. A misunderstood word, an accidental cultural faux pas—it can be funny after the fact if all ends well, but it’s painfully awkward in the moment. Romans 8:26-27 takes us to a beautiful promise of God for us in the midst of life’s suffering and heartache: the Holy Spirit both identifies with the mess, fragility, and vulnerability of our cries of heartache and transforms them into prayers before our Father. Nothing is lost in translation with God. Join us as we look at Romans 8:26-27 and learn about our helper in a fallen world.

The Women Who Carry the Story

Scripture tells one unified story that ultimately leads to Jesus—but along the way, it’s filled with ordinary people whose quiet faithfulness moves that story forward. Many of them appear only briefly, their acts recorded in just a line or two, yet their obedience plays a vital role in God’s plan. As we look at the opening chapters of Exodus, we’ll see how God works through the courageous faith of women whose small “yes” made a lasting impact. On this Mother’s Day, we want to honor the women in our church who continue that legacy—those whose everyday faithfulness is helping move God’s Kingdom forward right here in the South Bay. We will hear from a couple women who exemplify this faithfulness in their own lives!

Facing the Hard Stuff

In a fallen world, the question is not whether or not we will face heartbreak and suffering. Though life is also full of joy and beauty, the hard stuff in life is inevitable. Even now in our community many are facing profound heartbreak and suffering. Again, the question is not whether we will face the storm of heartbreak and suffering; the question is how we can navigate it. We’ve seen so far from Romans 8 that the invitation to life with Jesus in the Holy Spirit is an invitation to a secure, unshakable identity free of condemnation, set on the hope of eternal life, and beloved by God as His children. Join us as we see from our text in Romans 8:18-25 that this identity is not merely a nice piece of sentiment, but a new and profound way of facing the hard stuff of life.

Homecoming, Celebration, Family, Warmth, and Belonging… and the Choice is Ours, or Not

Remember the story of the prodigal son? He felt so ashamed. He walked away with far less of an inheritance than what his father really wanted to give him. He went at it his own way. And then, in a move of total desperation and as an outlaw and a coward and a pig slime eater, he squirms his way back, hoping to now be a servant rather than a son. And the father’s response? Son, get off your knees. Come here. I welcome you home. I wept every night for you. You are my son. Paul makes the same argument in Romans chapter 8. We are not given into slavery and fear, but we are adopted children of God. Loved and fully vested with an inheritance beyond our imagination. So why in the world don’t we walk in it?