Last week we finished our sermon series, “Rebuild” from the book of Nehemiah, and in last week’s sermon Pastor Joe mentioned that Nehemiah was not the end of God’s story. In this message Pastor Dave Hardin will take a look at how the book of Nehemiah reveals God’s overarching plan of redemption, and how that plan continues to unfold in the New Testament through the promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In the book of Nehemiah we can see the continuing pattern of Israel’s disobedience toward God, and ...
Feb 22, 2022•1 hr 4 min
In this message, Pastor Joe Still brings us to the end of our journey through the book of Nehemiah. We’ll see that the old saying “all’s well that ends well”, sadly, does not apply to this story. This story closes on a pretty sad note. So what should we take away from this kind of ending. What do we do as God’s people, when in our own story things take a turn for the worse? Where do we go? As we conclude our study in Nehemiah and learn how to press on after “hitting the wall” that you built!
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Acts of great personal sacrifice that provide for the needs of others, not only captures our attention, they usually capture our hearts. We are drawn to acts of great selflessness because they stand in such stark contrast to our common experience of human selfishness. These acts call to us that we can be more! As Pastor Joe Still leads us to continue in our study in Nehemiah, we come to chapters 11 and 12. Here we’ll see an incredible act of selflessness that leads to great glory and honor being...
Feb 08, 2022•53 min
In his book COVENANT & KINGDOM, Mike Breen describes these two themes as the “genetic code—the ‘double helix’ of DNA running through the Bible”. I believe he is right. These two themes can be found woven in the whole of GOD’s Word. While some may describe “Covenant” and “Kingdom” as “theological words”, their more common counterparts are “Relationship” and “Responsibility. “Covenant” A.K.A. “Relationship” is our guide on how to abide in GOD; while “Kingdom” A.K.A. “Responsibility” is all abo...
Jan 31, 2022•56 min
Life is a gift from GOD! In John 10:10 we read the recorded words of JESUS, “…but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 (NCV). “Life” is central to the message of JESUS’ Gospel. Now look at the context of those words from JESUS. “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness”. John 10:10 (NCV) The destruction of “Life” as GOD intended, has always been the aim of the Evil One. We can see that work of destruction in the beginnin...
Jan 24, 2022•1 hr 3 min
When Martin Luther launched what has become known as “The Reformation” he began his famous “95 Thesis” with these words: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent, He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance”. Repentance is not a “one & done” event in the life of a Christ-follower. It should be an everyday, all of life experience. In this message Pastor Joe Still provides us with a “tool” that unlocks repentance, leading to a life of Continuous Breakthrough!...
Jan 19, 2022•53 min
In this message from Pastor Joe Still, we return to our study of the book of Nehemiah, picking up where we left off, Nehemiah chapter 9. Nehemiah 9 is the longest recorded prayer in the bible. It is a prayer of Repentance. Repentance is the beginning point of any lasting life-transformation. Nehemiah 9 provides us with some of the greatest insight into what Biblical repentance looks like. Listen now as we explore the beauty of true Biblical Repentance and look for how we can apply it in our live...
Jan 10, 2022•50 min
There is another global celebration happening just a few days into the New Year. This year it falls on January 6. While it is not as well known and the number of revelers will be significantly smaller, it holds rich meaning for those who participate. It is called the celebration of EPIPHANY, some call it 3 KINGS DAY! While not as widely celebrated by Christ-followers here in the U.S., it is celebrated by millions of Christians around the world. It memorializes the day when GOD revealed HIS SON, ...
Jan 06, 2022•52 min
This Sunday is the day after we have celebrated Jesus’ birth; but what do we do next? After all the Christmas gifts are exchanged, opened up, put together, and the clothes tried on—what’s next? After all the Christmas gatherings, the parties, the get togethers and festivities are over—what’s next? After Jesus was born, the shepherds came rejoicing, the Magi came with their gifts for Jesus—what’s next? After all the anticipation of His birth, what do we do today, tomorrow, next week, next month, ...
Jan 06, 2022•28 min
In this Christmas Eve message, Pastor Joe Still shares the Christmas story - the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Jan 06, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Most of us love to hear someone tell a great story. Those of us who do have discovered a great truth: “all ‘story-tellers’ are not created equally”! Great “tellers” of stories begin with a great opening line that immediately hooks the listener. I believe the Christmas Story is the beginning of the greatest story ever told. While I love how the Gospel writers Matthew and Luke communicate the accounts of Christmas, JESUS’s telling of the Christmas story is by far the greatest and most memorable ve...
Dec 20, 2021•51 min
One of the wonderful recurring themes in the first two chapters of both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke is JOY! Over and over again in those four chapters of the Bible, people are not only finding joy, but GREAT JOY! So why in our day, is rich, life-changing joy so elusive? In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to look to those who were finding GREAT JOY to see what they can teach us about how JOY can come to us!
Dec 13, 2021•55 min
Though much of our world loves the “celebration of Christmas”, many seek to remove the only reason for Christmas, while other less militant hearts simply ignore the CHRIST of Christmas! Every year efforts to remove “religious references” of Christmas are undertaken, while simultaneously attempting to keep or co-op specific assets and aspects of Christmas that only come through JESUS! “Christmas Peace” is one such asset! Everywhere you look, you can find the world attempting to capture “Christmas...
Dec 06, 2021•56 min
I’ve heard it said that if Christ-Followers are to thrive in this life we must know we are simultaneously living in the “already and not yet”. Sounds confusing I know, but that’s why we at Riverbluff celebrate ADVENT! ADVENT is simultaneously a journey into the past and into the future of our Christian Hope. Through it we celebrate two great truths of our faith. First: “GOD was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself…” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Second: Jesus said: “Look, I am coming soon, bringin...
Nov 29, 2021•55 min
In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads this special LORD’S DAY at the River. It is the first day of the week our nation has designated to stop and “Give Thanks”. Which we will do when we gather! It is going to be a day to thank FATHER-GOD for all HE has done for us in Christ Jesus! We’ll thank GOD with joyful song! We’ll thank GOD for HIS Word to us as we meditate on it together! We’ll thank GOD for our calling to Make Disciples as we Commission our OCC shoeboxes! We’ll thank GOD for our Salvat...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min
In this message by Pastor Joe Still, we’ll also see how the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST “woos” us out of our “keeping” and into Gospel Giving!
Nov 16, 2021•51 min
REBUILD part 12 - November 7, 2021 by Riverbluff Church
Nov 16, 2021•49 min
In this message, Dean Infinger continues our study in the book of Nehemiah and look specifically at the subject of identity. Nehemiah’s trust was in God and his identity was unshakeable in the face of opposition. Our identity is in Christ, but we will discover some of the strategies the enemy utilizes to try and undermine that identity.
Nov 02, 2021•39 min
The last words Jesus delivered to His followers, as recorded by the Gospel writer Matthew, were a great command followed by an even greater promise. That great promise was, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NLT2). Jesus’ Presence with us is what give us power to carry out Jesus’ great command to “Make Disciples”. For the past 79 years, Jesus has faithfully blessed Riverbluff Church with His Presence, leading us into opportunity after opportun...
Oct 26, 2021•46 min
As we continue in our series through the book of Nehemiah, it is always good to be reminded that this book falls within the greater context of the “Big Story” of Scripture. In this big story we find that God, following mankind’s rebellion against Him, promises to set things right again through the seed of the woman. That promised seed is Jesus Christ, and all of the Bible is about God’s work through Jesus to redeem the world back to Himself. Thus, when we take a look at the person of Nehemiah we...
Oct 18, 2021•46 min
For a 2nd career my dad launched a construction company called “Still & Still Construction”. Growing up in that home I was privileged to see and even be a part of many “Rebuilding Projects”. I learned that one of the realities of any “Rebuild” is: “there will be opposition”! Sometimes that opposition comes from neighbors, sometimes from inspectors, sometimes from supply chains; but opposition always comes. This actually became a great “Life-Lesson. I learned that every opportunity comes with...
Oct 11, 2021•55 min
Personal battles in this life often leave us cut off from resources we need thrive. We may see what we need, but because of the rubble that exists, we can’t access what we need. In Nehemiah’s day, God’s people had to clear the rubble and REBUILD THE GATES to have access to what they needed to experience life as the people of God! In this message from Pastor Joe Still, we’ll reflect on the gates that Nehemiah led God’s people to repair and through God’s Holy Word we’ll see how we can REBUILD THE ...
Oct 05, 2021•58 min
Most everyone I know loves an epic where an average person is swept up into a larger than life story that requires a hero or heroine. There is longing in us for a grand adventure of epic proportions. We’d like to know that we are playing a part in something bigger than ourselves! All who walk in devotion to GOD have the opportunity to be part of the greatest epic of human history. Nehemiah shows us how to step into that great story! In this message, we’ll see how anyone and everyone can be part ...
Sep 27, 2021•56 min
An “ideal” marriage, an “ideal” education, an “ideal” job, an “ideal” vacation, even an “ideal” church; these are all elusive goals in this life. While pursuing the “ideal” in any area of life is not necessarily evil in itself, it is easy for an “ideal” to become an “idol”! So how do we properly place our pursuits of “an ideal”? We pursue those in the context of the “call of GOD” on our lives. While we’ll always face “real” challenges in that pursuit; GOD’S Word gives us clear paths to deal with...
Sep 20, 2021•53 min
I love the promise from GOD to HIS people found in Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” It reminds me that life in this broken world will bring a great weariness, but there is a great blessing from the LORD coming at just the perfect time! In this message, we'll see how on his personal journey, Nehemiah discovers how to walk with GOD toward that ideal blessing. To reach that ideal, Nehemiah ha...
Sep 13, 2021•52 min
Waiting is not easy. We are an instant society; we want what we want and we want it now, but that is not always how God works. Charles Stanley says, “I believe that God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” In this message from Pastor Guy Smith, we continue through the book of Nehemiah. We see Nehemiah praying and waiting on God’s timing to speak to the king about what the Lord has laid on his heart to accomplish. The Lord has given Nehemiah a heart for his people back in Jerusalem, but he ...
Sep 07, 2021•42 min
Until recently, whenever I’d hear the word “BREAKTHROUGH”, I would almost always celebrate. The context for that word being used seemed to always mean something good was happening for someone I cared about! This week we continue our journey with Nehemiah. If you’ve read through his story in the book that bears his name, you know that he ultimately has a “breakthrough experience” after receiving some very bad news. From Nehemiah’s life we can learn and follow a pattern that leads to breakthrough ...
Aug 30, 2021•47 min
REBUILD! RESTORE! REVITALIZE! REPAIR! RECOVER! REVIVE! REFRESH! Those great words excite my heart and capture my mind. They are Gospel Words! In these days of tension, turmoil, and tragedy, I think most of us have some place in our life where we’d like to see one of those words find traction. That’s why we’re beginning a new series in the book of NEHEMIAH that we’re entitling REBUILD! The book of Nehemiah is a testament to God’s faithfulness to His people regardless of their circumstances. It ha...
Aug 23, 2021•50 min
Well it is that time of year once again…BACK TO SCHOOL! I remember the start of school as a kid. Looking back there seemed to be an annual rhythm. Math class is a good example of that rhythm. Seems like we’d always take the first several weeks of school and review the last few mathematic skills we learned the year before and then we’d begin adding new challenges and learning new skills. This Sunday we are going back to school to review a most important skill for Disciples of Jesus. It is called ...
Aug 16, 2021•50 min
In this era of pandemics and pandemonium, I’ve heard many people speak of how hard it is to find something good happening around us. Could it be that the good we’re looking for is waiting to be done by us? James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote these words, “ to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) I love the cadence of the KJV in that verse! Since we are all in need of seeing something good, we are going to look at the GOODNESS OF JESUS in this message. ...
Aug 10, 2021•52 min
