This week we take our first big step into the Greatest Sermon ever preached. (And no, I’m not talking about the one I’m going to preach this week!) I’m talking about a single message that JESUS taught, often called THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! We’ll look at the part of His Sermon that many consider to be “the introduction”. This part is often called “THE BEATITUDES”. Looking back over the course of my life and study of the BEATITUDES, I see how the LORD has brought me to a richer place of understand...
Sep 21, 2022•58 min
THE KINGDOM OF GOD'S GRACE In this message Pastor Dave Hardin continues teaching in our series focused on the Sermon on the Mount. He’ll compare the “old covenant” God had with the Jews of Jesus’ day and the “new covenant” relationship we have now, based upon God’s grace. Listen now to discover the new identity we have been given in Christ, as disciples of Jesus.
Sep 14, 2022•56 min
The King and His Kingdom are at Hand The beginning chapters of the book of Matthew help set the context for the Sermon on the Mount that we will be looking at through this sermon series. Last week pastor Joe talked about the gospel of the kingdom, and a close look at Matthew chapters 1-4 shows Matthew begins to establish the truth that Jesus is the promised King who has come to redeem and renew His kingdom. In this sermon from Pastor Dave Hardin, we will look at the Scriptures from the beginning...
Sep 08, 2022•58 min
As citizens of these Unites States it is difficult, if not impossible, for us to fully grasp the relationship between a King and his subjects. True Kings ruled and reigned with absolute authority. An invitation into a King’s presence, and his inner court, to have a glimpse into his personal life, was a rare and deeply treasured gift. To have a personal relationship with JESUS means to know HIM and love HIM as our KING. JESUS is a KING like no other. HE invites all of HIS subjects into a personal...
Aug 25, 2022•53 min
In our day, many will say that “Truth” is a relative term, stating, “you have your truth and I have mine”. They instruct us to find “truth within ourselves”. Statements like these actually defy the very definition of truth, demonstrating that there is a vast difference between truth, and the perception of truth. This “truth confusion” is not something that has just arisen in our day. Jesus faced it when He walked this earth. The written Word of GOD declares that “truth”, real truth, absolute tru...
Aug 16, 2022•1 hr
I grew up in the era when Muhammad Ali became the world heavy weight boxing champion. If you were around at that time, you might recall that he nicknamed himself "The Greatest". This desire to be known as “The Greatest”, is not limited to professional athletes. It impacts people from every walk of life and every culture in the world, even those who closely followed Jesus. And Jesus, had some very counter-cultural teachings about who would be considered great in His Kingdom. In this series, Pasto...
Aug 16, 2022•53 min
To be truly seen, and truly known, and truly loved and cared for is a great longing in every human heart. That is GOD’s design for us. Yet, the world in which we live, seeks to withhold from us that which we so deeply need. It trains us to falsely believe this could never be true for us. So, we stuff that need and we medicate those feelings until our lives one day erupt and spew our fear, frustration, and emptiness on those closest to us. This happened in the life of Martha, a woman that Jesus l...
Aug 09, 2022•56 min
“Cancel-Culture” is a destructive movement that has actually been around for a very long time, but recently rebranded with this new title. It is the act of publicly shaming someone so they’re cut-off from community and ostracized by the mass of people who do not even really know them. In our day, it has been weaponized using social media platforms! JESUS gives His followers a stern warning about the “toxic soil” from which “Cancel-Culture” grows. The toxic soil where “Cancel-Culture” takes root ...
Aug 04, 2022•55 min
In Shakespeare’s work, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, we find that famous quote: “The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” The context of that quote is a main character Portia, urging another character Shylock, to have mercy on Antonio’s life. Portia appeals to Shylock based on mercy that comes from Heaven! When it comes to GOD’s Mercy, who exactly is it for and how is it a...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr
Anyone who begins to seek after GOD will eventually face difficult questions on that journey. In JESUS’ earthly ministry, He never avoided those. In fact, JESUS masterfully addresses the most difficult questions in life in His everyday encounters with the people he met. Even those who set themselves against Him! One of those tough questions is: “Is there an unforgivable sin; and if so, what is it? In this message, Pastor Joe Still shares from Mark 3, where we see JESUS answer one of life’s tough...
Jul 12, 2022•57 min
This July 4th, we celebrate our nation’s 246th birthday. Throughout these years GOD has truly blessed these United States. We have so much for which to give HIM thanks, and we should! Even though HIS great blessing has been poured out on our nation, we live in a time of great division and chaos. Our land is in need of healing. While GOD’s plan is for HIS people, the Church, to be HIS instruments of healing in our land. We have allowed that national division to distract us and divide us. In Acts ...
Jul 06, 2022•53 min
It’s been an incredible week at Riverbluff’s 2022 VBS! GOD has done some amazing things in the lives of many children, teens, and even the ministry partners! This week’s theme verse for VBS is Ephesians 2:10. The entire week was all about how GOD, the Master Artist, is working to redeem, reclaim, and transform us, His creation, to the original design He planned for us. We are HIS “Masterpiece” in Christ Jesus! Disastrously, there is a great soul destroying scheme that the ancient enemy of the LO...
Jun 27, 2022•52 min
The history of Father’s Day is interesting. The first known celebration was proposed by Sonora Dodd who had the idea come to her while sitting in a Sunday service on Mother’s Day in 1909. She desired to honor her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, who as a single parent, raised six children. The first celebration took place in the YMCA in Spokane, Washington, in 1910 with her father present! In 1916, Ms. Dodd would meet President Woodrow Wilson and try to convince him to declare it...
Jun 21, 2022•54 min
In this life, everyone experiences some discouragement and disappointment. But what do you do when those bring you to the brink of despair? In this message, Pastor Joe Still follows Elijah through his greatest discouragement and disappointment and discovers how he found the Kindness of GOD on the other side.
Jun 15, 2022•56 min
One of the great lessons that life teaches us is that failure is certain if you attempt anything, but failure doesn’t have to be fatal! Failure never has to be fatal if you find the pathway to restoration. In one of the last encounters the Risen Jesus has with his disciples, Jesus reveals the path for restoration in the Kingdom of GOD. He does this in an intimate encounter with the ever-zealous, but now dejected apostle Peter. In this message, Pastor Joe Still explores how to answer Life’s Great...
Jun 08, 2022•48 min
I write this on Friday morning seated in our sunroom as a thunderstorm is rolling through. Our sunroom faces into our backyard, and there, stands a large wooden swing set that I built. Our grandchildren love to play on that swing set. As I look outside at those swings, that just yesterday held the joyful bodies of my grandchildren, they are now empty, hanging in a torrential downpour, in the midst of a storm. Before beginning to write this, I read my newsfeed this morning. In it were the names a...
Jun 01, 2022•52 min
Have you had doubts? Have you ever struggled with unbelief? Have you ever thought, if God really loves me then why? Why am I facing this circumstance? Is God really good? If we are honest, there have been moments when we doubted. I know the Sunday School answer “I’m too Blessed to be Depressed” “I’m too Anointed to be Disappointed”. But on the inside I have some doubts, I have some questions. And we are not alone. The beauty of the Bible is that it addresses these doubts! In this message, Dean I...
May 23, 2022•44 min
With great detail, God’s Word provides us multiple accounts of the “First Encounters” Jesus’ followers had with Him after His Resurrection. These accounts are filled with paths of blessings for our lives today that are rich and incredibly relevant! Though we continue our First Encounters teaching series, this Sunday we have a special treat. Pastor Curt Bradford will be here leading us to explore one of those unique First Encounters and guiding us to see the full measure of Hope we can have as we...
May 18, 2022•51 min
In 1987 the song “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rules The World” was released. It was tribute to mothers, and the powerfully influential role they play in our lives. Thousands of extensive studies from all branches of the social and behavioral sciences acknowledge this impact for good or for harm. The scriptures definitively point out the significant role that mothers and other women played in the Gospel ministry of Jesus and the early church. Their role was so significant that they were the fi...
May 09, 2022•59 min
In our day, global peace is highly sought after and yet a most rare commodity. What the Bible calls “Peace”, also known as “Shalom”, is rarer still. It is not just about the absence of war or strife, but about holistic human flourishing. The Bible names Jesus the Prince of Peace. Jesus is the one GOD sent to bring peace on the earth, that holistic, shalom, kind of peace. As a group, the disciples’ first encounter with the risen Jesus was all about how His resurrection would bring biblical peace ...
May 05, 2022•51 min
On that first Easter Sunday, and over the course of the next 40 days, followers of JESUS would have their FIRST ENCOUNTERS with HIM as their Risen SAVIOR and LORD. Those first encounters radically altered the lives of those early followers. They would never be the same! GOD purposefully captured these first encounters in HIS Word, so that our lives could be transformed by these eyewitness accounts of the Risen JESUS. GOD has much hope, and grace, and joy to bring to us from these first encounter...
Apr 26, 2022•57 min
This service is a meaningful and sobering prelude to the Easter weekend. It simply means we will focus on the Lord’s Supper and what happened the night before Jesus was crucified. It is indeed a somber time but we need to be reminded regularly of what it cost God to save us.
Apr 20, 2022•53 min
Over the course of human history there have been many great sentences heard by human ears. I know of none greater than the single sentence recorded in Matthew 28:6; “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.” It is the best news ever! I pray you will join us and celebrate the great news that “HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID.” Pastor Joe Still
Apr 19, 2022•57 min
This Sunday as we gather, we join with hundreds of millions of Christ followers all around the world to celebrate Palm Sunday. It was that day over 2,000 years ago when JESUS first publicly declared to everyone that He was the long awaited Messiah of GOD. The day is also the first day of the Holiest week on the Christian calendar, culminating in the celebration of our risen Savior and King. JESUS! (I sure hope you’re making plans to be here for that!) I’m praying you’ll engage in this message as...
Apr 11, 2022•54 min
There was a line from a song in the 70’s that went “feelings whoa whoa whoa feelings, whoa whoa whoa feelings, again in my life”. The song was all about feeling our feelings. (They just don’t write songs like that anymore.) Dr. Dallas Willard who has written at length on the subject of how our feelings shape our souls, points out that; “Feelings are a primary blessing and a primary problem for human life. We cannot live without them and we can hardly live with them.” Dr. Willard goes on to say, ...
Apr 05, 2022•49 min
Every renovation project that I ever worked on with my dad in his construction business always had some great challenge to present itself. It’s just the nature of renovation work. The same is true with the work of Soul Renovation that JESUS desires to do in us. One of those great challenges involves our minds! I pray you'll engage in this message as we look deeply at one aspect of GOD’s Plan to Renovate our Ruined Souls by transforming our minds. Pastor Joe Still
Mar 28, 2022•54 min
I have been deeply impacted by the writings of Dr. Dallas Willard. Thus far, in the 21st century, I believe him to be the greatest writer and thinker on the topic of “what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus”! In his book, THE GREAT OMMISION, Dr. Willard writes, “Jesus brings us reliable information about who we are, why we are here, and what the humanly appropriate motives are for doing whatever we do. First, He informs us that we are by nature unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny ...
Mar 23, 2022•55 min
In “The Heart of the Matter part 2”, Pastor Joe Still explored Jesus’ first recorded miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, where He transformed water into wine. We said that as miraculous as that is, it pales in comparison to the miracle that Jesus continues to perform every day, the transformation of a human heart! In this message, we continue to see HOW JESUS PERFORMS A MIRACULOUS WORK OF HEART, and how He can do that in you!
Mar 14, 2022•54 min
I don’t think anyone has ever accused me, to my face, of being an “art snob”. Most would probably never describe me as “artsy”. In general, I’d not use those descriptors in a “bio” of myself, but that doesn’t mean I’m never moved or captured by a great work of art. There is a print of a great painting that hangs in my office, it is Rembrandt’s THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON. While it has hung there for years, at times, I still find myself deeply moved by it, and once again caught up in that grea...
Mar 08, 2022•52 min
The greatest opportunity, the greatest invitation, ever given to human beings, is to do life together with GOD. It would be a life, where the LORD is my shepherd and I can live without want. A life Jesus said, that would never thirst again. In His own words, Jesus says that those who would give themselves to Him would receive a “living water”, the Spirit of GOD Himself, that will keep them from ever being thirsty—being driven and ruled by unsatisfied desires—and this “water” will become a spring...
Mar 01, 2022•58 min
