Media Library

God wants to recalculate our view of Him as we face disappointment: He cares. God wants to recalculate our active influence over those in our lives

Introduction to the series of Recalculating within the book of 1 Samuel.

What Riverwood's story looks like for the year 2013.

What God has done at Riverwood during this past year.

Mary's visit to Elizabeth to announce her good news.

First Sunday of Advent. Mary discovers she will be the mother of the Savior.

Joy in the secret of contentment.

Joy in our “thinking” part 2 (are our thoughts lovely, pure, honorable…)

Joy in our “thinking” (when we pray). Part 1 of 2

Straining and pressing towards the joyous prize in Christ.

Rejoicing in “knowing” Christ and the power of his resurrection.

Rejoicing while we are working on our salvation.

We grow/nurture unity by practicing… Love (v.2) Harmony (v.2) Humility (v.3) Selflessness (v.4)

Joy in the midst of suffering for the gospel.

Rejoicing in the “advancement” of the gospel.

The joyous “partnership” of the gospel among believers.

Introduction to the study of the book of Philippians.

How do you see your work; is it a necessary evil, only a context for evangelistic opportunities, or is your work a means of glorifying God through participating in his purposes for creation?

As we try to interpret life and reality "under the sun" many try to apply wisdom, which in the end is limiting and frustrating and will never get you to what will satisfy, but there is a wisdom through Christ that can satisfy.

Introduction to the series, Life Under the Sun, from the book of Ecclesiastes.

Principles from Deuteronomy - Pass on what you possess, create times to talk about your faith and connect to other spiritual leaders and mentors

As Christ followers we all have a "Seat at the Table," but which table is it, the dining room or the folding card table?

What does God desire, and as followers of Him, do our own personal desires align with His desires, how can you tell?

Warning of getting "shipwrecked" in your faith by listening to false teachings.

Introduction to the Transferring Truths sermon series.

God is the same now as He was then, whether in Waukegan, Jerusalem, or Kent.

2000 years ago while dying on a cross in Jerusalem, these words from Psalm 22 were declared - “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” These words signaled death and are some of the most depressing words ever spoken, Unless they were spoken by Jesus.

We don’t know the exact time of the writing. But we can say David is beyond childhood, he has enemies and is intimately aware of danger. So David writes this Psalm to express his confidence in the Lord’s care for him. David is asking God to do something for him, rather he is confessing his confidence. And as he reflects on God and what he does he draws two analogies, one of a shepherd and one of a host taking care of his guests.

Do you remember ever having a soul stiring moment? The psalmist in Psalm 104 talks about this idea of being stirred or moved in your soul.

Do I live in a manner that is Holy and Upright and that follows the instruction of God? Or do I have knowledge of God that is not acted upon either due to stubbornness, forgetfulness or even sin.

In Psalm 135 we see the faithfulness and Greatness of God revealed. We are going to be reminded of the aspects that make him worthy or our praise, no matter the situation.

As illustrated by a Ford Fairlane rear view mirrow, do we look back and see what God has done in our lives?

The idea that God is our refuge and strength, is again the idea being put forth that he is our stronghold.

David models courageous trust in God.

The beginning of a 12 week study together looking at different Psalms. And as we do that we will see the Confessions of man poured out to God and take comfort in the things that we find.

A story of God's providence within the book of Esther.

God and sinners reconciled.

Mission of God is the RESTORATION of relationship between himself and mankind. And God has chosen us to communicate this reality. Helping people understand that they can connect with God like he intended it to be!

God is Jealous and WRATH and at the same time he is Holy!

And what John is saying is that God is not one who simply loves, but he is the definition of love. And when we think back to scripture we know that God is revealed as the Trinity, the father, son, and spirit.

God is Jealous for our affection, he will draw us back to him, the best place we can be anyway! It is because he is Jealous for his name, he will draw us back to him, the best place we can be! It is because God LOVES us! He is JEALOUS for us.

God’s Righteousness - rendering to everyone that which is his due in consistently, perfectly, justly, and faithfully. This is both true in the negative aspect (punishment) and the positive (reward).

So James is saying that Prayer is powerful not because it is words. But rather it is powerful because of what those words do! Those words give us accesses. But not to some manager. It gives us access to the ALMIGHTY GOD. The God that is Able, He is Transcendent, he is SOVEREIGN & Immanent. HE IS NOT LIKE YOU OR ME! He is not a bigger, stronger, faster human. Rather he is unique and prayer gives us access to him and God answers prayer

How near are you to God?

How near is your God?

What Scripture reveals will help you with your trust issues in good times in bad. For at the conclusion of the matter we should recognize this…God is Sovereign.

We must realize that God can be completely trusted even when he cannot be completely understood and he cannot be fully understood because God is Transcendent.

Many of us say we believe in God. Yet, we don’t understand or know him.

God is Revealed through Jesus Christ. And we are going to be challenged to consider our ACTIONS and how we respond to what JESUS exemplified and said.

Sometimes on purpose and many times on accident we think about God as if he is just a bigger, stronger, faster version of us! But God is not made in OUR image – We are made in HIS!

Celebrating God in the City - Riverwood Community Chapel's 20th Anniversary celebration service.

C. Tawney

"Under the sun" or "above the sun" which perspective are you living?

Too many Christians think that redemption is the end and that nothing follows. And as a result of this misnomer, over time they fall to the attacks of the Enemy and fail to STAND in the power and strength of the HOLY SPIRIT in order to live the life that they were SUMMONED to live and as a result they lose their first love!

Submission is still necessary when we don’t like the position God has placed us, or the task that he has called us to do.

The key phrase we’re going to look at is found in Eph 5:18, “Be filled with the Spirit.” This is God’s command to each of us.

If we are to walk worthy of our Summons we are expected to be people who imitate our Father. In fact, A Worthy Life is a life that Imitates God.

But in reality, what is called for is not a uniformity but each person using his diversity to promote UNITY that leads to MATURITY! In Ephesians 4 we are going to see Paul, deals with diversity, and maturity which facilitates UNITY.

Ephesians 4 marks the transition for Paul in this book. Because fortunately for us Ephesians not only calls us to live a worthy life it also instructs us on how to do it!

If there was anyone who understood the necessity of God’s empowerment and the possibility that FEAR has to cripple us and make us into people who say “I know, I know” but really don’t have the ACTIONS to back it up, it would be Paul.

As we look into Ephesians over the next couple of weeks, there is going to be a Revelation and it that has much to do with the Church, how God uses it and what he desires for it.

Paul in the book of Ephesians is praying. For when you care about someone else, one of the greatest things you can do is pray for them! In many ways he is praying for his spiritual children.

It is a life that gives praise, no matter the circumstances and no matter what is going on. It realizes that what has been done FOR us by GOD is greater than anything that can be done TO us by the world.

Each of us who confess to be followers of Christ, have as Summons, and it has not been given by the county court but it has been given by the one who made us! It has been given by the one who sacrificed his life for us! – Jesus Christ