Hey Family, It was great to see so many of you last week and talk about the topic of peace in our lives. No Jesus, no peace, a lot of us already knew. But KNOW Jesus, KNOW peace is what we learned! This week our sermon series THE WAR continues by talking about the concept of faith. What do we mean when we say the word faith? Is it confidence that things will go our way? Or is it that God's word guarantees that what we hope for will actually happen? Many times we use the word faith as though it m...
Oct 10, 2017•47 min
Hey Family, All of us struggle with this concept of being a good person. We tell ourselves that we're not that bad, we compare ourselves to people who are worse, we try to persuade ourselves with whatever evidence we have that we are good people... but this is a losing battle. Our goodness is not found in our actions, in our station in life, even with how many people we help. It's not found in anything we do but in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. So am I good? No. But there was one who ...
Sep 24, 2017•43 min
Hey Family, Truth is not something in our culture that is elevated or celebrated. Far too many people play loose and easy with the meaning of "truth." But God in His word calls us to speak the truth, to walk in the truth, and to worship the truth, for He is the truth. Last week we started a series called THE WAR, in which we're learning about the defenses we've been given to fight the unseen forces that can ruin our lives. This week, come and hear how the truth really can set you free. I look fo...
Sep 18, 2017•48 min
"I feel like I'll never get past this issue . . . It's got me down . . . I'll never get victory over this area of my life". These are some of the common phrases people use when they feel that they just can't win against some hangup, addiction, or weakness in their lives. The fact is, we all deal with issues that we think will get the best of us and will just beat us every time. And we have proof, because we look at our past and see how we've done against these habits and hangups, and we feel lik...
Sep 10, 2017•49 min
Hey Family, A sword is used to defend one person from the attack of another. Join us this Sunday at 10 a.m. as Pastor Gus Rodriguez talks about sharpening our swords for the battle before us. We look forward to seeing you!
Sep 10, 2017•44 min
Hey Family, What have you lost in your life? A job, a friend, your reputation? When I think of what I have lost it encourages me to know that Jesus Christ came to seek that which was lost. Join us this week as Pastor Gus leads us in learning about finding our way. See you at 10 a.m. Sunday, and bring someone you love! --Edwin
Jul 23, 2017•47 min
Hey Family, This week we continue with our series titled Gods at War, which is bound to open your eyes. When we struggle with certain problems in life, we tend to focus on getting rid of the visible symptoms of trouble--cracks in our relationships, a lack of stability in our work life, feeling out of control in various situations. But what we're going to be learning over the next few weeks is that nothing will truly change until we look at the ROOT of the problem, not the FRUIT of the problem....
Jul 17, 2017•46 min
Hey Family, There are moments in my life when I ask myself a reflective question: What’s wrong with me? Many of us-- after falling into the same sin pattern, or terrible decision-making process, or mess up again-- ask ourselves this same question. We at The Recovery House of Worship are going to be addressing this very issue for the next few weeks. We will be getting to the root of why we do what we do. We will be looking at not only our actions but the underlying motivations of those actions. T...
Jul 10, 2017•42 min
Hey Family, These days we look out into the world and see so many things that seem just plain wrong. Political scandals, pain and suffering, and natural disasters seem to be everywhere, and we have to wonder: Why is the world the way it is? This week we're going to take a look at that topic. Not only why the world is the way it is, but also the remedy that can be a hope for us in all circumstances and stages of life.
Jun 19, 2017•53 min
Hey Family, I hope you were blessed by our series called God's Through Way. It was meant to help you face your doubts, guilt, anger and pain--not by stuffing your feelings or venting them and thinking that's enough, but by praying through the scriptures. If there's one thing you should remember from the series, it's Don't Forget in the Dark What God Taught You in the Light! And if you missed any of the series, you can hear the podcast by going to www.rhowbk.org and clicking on SERMONS.
Jun 12, 2017•3 min
Hey Family, I wonder if you've ever been in a situation where your anger is so white hot that you said things and felt things that later you regretted deeply. Anger is an emotion that rarely comes invited. And so we have to learn how to deal with this powerful feeling that generally catches us by surprise.
Jun 04, 2017•40 min
Hey Family, There are moments, events, and dates in our lives that we remember forever. Something happens to us in those moments that marks us, changes us, moves us to become better. Our opportunity to grow is to remember WHEN it happened, so that we'll know WHY it happened. Join us this Sunday as we commemorate Memorial Day as well. We look forward to seeing you at 10 a.m.
May 29, 2017•34 min
s there something you did in your past that is such a dark secret, so painful to remember, that it continues to weigh you down a long time after the fact? Is there any way to break away from such guilty feelings? That's what we'll be talking about this week in the next part of our series, God's Through Way. We've learned about praying through our fears, our tears, and our doubts. Let's take it to the next step. I hope to see you Sunday at 10 a.m.--and bring a friend or a loved one who might need...
May 22, 2017•47 min
Hey Family, When we first come to Christ, there's a temptation to live according to our old nature and not according to the gospel. This is true whether we're good little Christians, obeying everything that God has said in an effort to win his approval by our behavior--or if we're NOT so good little Christians, still living according to the sinful habits of yesterday and not enjoying the forgiveness and freedom that can be found in Christ. So every one of us needs to be reminded of the gospel an...
May 15, 2017•46 min
Hey Family, We are in the middle of a series called God’s through way. So far, we have talked about how Jesus is our constant companion as we grapple with our tears and our fears. This week we will learn about praying through our doubts.
May 09, 2017•47 min
Hey Family, We've just started a new series called "God's Through Way." When life throws something at us that we just don't know how to handle, God is there to walk us through it. Last week we looked at how we can get through our fears by praying for God's help, and we looked at Psalm 3. This week we'll be talking about how Christ is there with us when we are in emotional pain. When loss or grief threatens to overwhelm us, we can cry out to God by praying through our tears. Join us as we learn m...
May 02, 2017•48 min
Hey Family, There are times when life hits us with a knock-out punch. Maybe the boss tells us our job is being eliminated. Or the doctor says, "I'm sorry, there's very little I can do." Or a relationship shatters, or a loved one dies. How do we get through such painful and frightening times? Our new series, "God's Through Way," starts this Sunday and will address that very question. This week our sermon message is "Praying Through Our Fears." Whatever is weighing you down right now, whatever is ...
Apr 24, 2017•37 min
Hey Family, This week is the most holy in the Christian calendar. Good Friday commemorates when Jesus went to the cross to die on our behalf, and Easter Sunday is that most glorious day when he rose from the grave! These two events are the centerpiece of all our lives. There can be no more important time to hear to invite your friends to hear the message of the gospel--the good news. Bring your family, your friends, anyone who needs to hear the life transforming message of the gospel
Apr 17, 2017•49 min
Hey Family, The Easter season is the best possible time to invite a friend, loved one, family member or co-worker to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the greatest gift you can give. Please bring someone to our upcoming Palm Sunday service this Sunday at 10 a.m. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Passion Week, which is when we reflect on the incredible journey Jesus made to the cross. But that's not where the story started. His journey started in the heart of God and His desire to pursue and...
Apr 12, 2017•36 min
Hey Family, We all go through times when we wonder whether God is even present, or if he truly cares. Times of life when relationships are broken, health is compromised, and aspirations and hopes are dashed. During these times we can wonder where God is, and how we will make it through. Come this Sunday as we learn to navigate this season of life that will most certainly come to all of us. Invite a friend, family member or co-worker who will benefit from this message. We will also celebrate Comm...
Apr 05, 2017•40 min
Join us this week as we travel down to Bethany, where Christ encounters a fruitless fig tree in a time when he is hungry. His reaction may surprise you! As believers, we learn that there is an expectation of what we produce as we abide in Christ and trust in God's word.
Mar 26, 2017•42 min
I hope you've grown from our current sermon series, The Lord's Prayer. As we look forward to Easter Sunday, we finish up our series by talking about one final blessing that Jesus requested for his disciples. He prayed for unity. Jesus was sent to draw others to God, and he thanked God that the same love God bestowed on him was meant for all of us. We are all one in that love. Please come this Sunday at 10 a.m.--and bring someone who needs to know they are loved. --Edwin
Mar 21, 2017•37 min
Hey Family, I hope you are being blessed by our current series, The Lord's Prayer. Last week we learned what Jesus had in mind when he prayed for his followers to experience holiness. This Sunday we will hear how he prayed another prayer for all of us. He prayed that we all undertake his same mission: to spread the gospel--the good news. --Edwin
Mar 13, 2017•43 min
Hey Family, There is a subject we often avoid talking about. It is holiness. We think this word is archaic or lofty and has no relevance to our daily lives. We think of ourselves as "authentic" or "transparent" but holiness rarely if ever comes into our heads. This Sunday we will discuss this rare and yet necessary truth of the Christian life. You will come away with a different picture of yourself. I look forward to seeing you at 10 am. --Edwin
Mar 06, 2017•46 min
Hey Family, This week we begin a new series titled THE LORD'S PRAYER. Jesus prayed many times for his disciples, and over the next few weeks we will be looking at how he spoke His desires for His church. He prayed that his followers would act in holiness, experience unity, and reach out in evangelism. There is no better way to approach Easter than to meditate on how Christ would have us behave in his name.
Feb 27, 2017•45 min
Hey Family, Last week Pastor Gus preached on an Old Testament king who honored God in the midst of chaos and idolatry. Join us this week as Pastor Ray preaches on "How to profit from your problems", the three purposes of problems in your life and how to handle your problems. -Edwin
Feb 22, 2017•40 min
Hey Family, Last week the apostle Paul explained how we can make a difference in the world without becoming part of the world. Our approach should be to become like others by entering into the culture fully empowered and fully knowing the condition of those we are trying to win for Christ. We are to be a source of light in the midst of darkness. This week join us as we visit an Old Testament king who honored God in the midst of chaos and idolatry. --Edwin
Feb 06, 2017•42 min
We've been talking about the attitudes that will help us in changing our lives both personally and as part of a church community. This week we're going to look how can we move from being a church IN the community to being a church WITH and FOR the community. There are so many people living around RHOW who need the word of God--and I'm not just talking about the homeless and others who lack the basic necessities of life. All kinds of new residents are moving in near 360 Schermerhorn who need God ...
Jan 30, 2017•51 min
Last week we talked about how we can experience a healthier way of life as a congregation and in all our relationships by adding one secret ingredient to our lives. HUMILITY is the foundation to all relationship success and joy. Yet this is an often ignored and overlooked principle, not only in the scriptures but in life. Come this week as we look at this most neglected but necessary grace that God gives the believer to experience the kind of relational intimacy we have only dreamed of. I look f...
Jan 16, 2017•36 min
Hey Family, This Sunday we're going to speak about the key ingredient of every healthy relationship. Every year about this time I do two things: I reflect and I project. Reflect on how last year went and project on what I can change in the future. I think a lot of us go through that in one form or another. One thing that's held true throughout the years is my regular gathering with my brothers and sisters at Recovery House of Worship. I hope this is part of your regular diet of spirituality....
Jan 08, 2017•36 min