Riverbluff Church Sermons

We are blessed to celebrate the 249th anniversary of our nation’s independence. It began at the signing of that great document known as our Declaration of Independence, signed in Philadelphia, PA, on July 4, 1776. A short 12 years later, on June 21, 1788, another great document was ratified by the 13 original colonies (now states) and the “Constitution” became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. The U.S. Constitution makes the United States a constitutional federal republic. It is a very special form of government, with ultimate authority resting in a written document. It is considered to be the ultimate authority for all laws governing our nation. We as GOD’s people, are also fortunate to have another written document, given to us by GOD Himself, that is to serve as the ultimate source of authority in all aspects of our lives. We know this written document as the BIBLE, GOD’s HOLY WORD! I am grateful, that on the weekend when our nation celebrates the signing of one of

In this message from Pastor Joe Still, we'll examine the teachings from God’s Word about the Humanity of our Lord Jesus. This will also help us remember Him and know Him as He really is; stirring an even greater affection for Him.  2 Peter 1:3 from God’s Word gives us this great promise: “For as you know Him better, He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and His own goodness with us! (2 Peter 1:3 TLB)

I am so very grateful to GOD for the privilege I’ve had this week to observe our incredible team of Kingdom servants, a.k.a. our VBS Team. The Holy Spirit has worked powerfully through each and every one of them to joyfully magnify JESUS in the hearts and minds of children and students. It has filled me with joy. As we continue in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE series, with our time in GOD’s Word this week, focused on JESUS! We’ll explore the mystery that JESUS is 100% GOD and 100% man and what a difference that can make in our daily lives if we embrace that great truth and share it with others. Pastor Joe Still

Dads, it is not too late to tell your family that what you want for FATHER’S DAY is for them to come to church with you! This Sunday we get to celebrate dads at Riverbluff. We’ll have several from our church family sharing some of their heart-felt thoughts about their dads and husbands. We will also continue in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE teaching series. This Sunday, we turn our attention to what we believe about JESUS. I am so grateful, that on FATHER’S DAY we’ve landed here in our study, because no one was ever more lovingly devoted to His FATHER, than JESUS! Join us as we celebrate dads and turn our attention to JESUS, who revealed to us the truth about our FATHER in Heaven! Pastor Joe Still

If my math is correct, there are 201 more shopping days until Christmas!! Did that statement surprise you?  Are you wondering, “Why on earth is Pastor Joe bringing Christmas up in June?”   I think most of us would agree, that for the world, Christmas is the most celebrated of the Christian Holy Days, with Easter coming in second. For many Christ-followers in the “Western World”, those are often the only two Christian Holy Days we celebrate. In the last 5 or so years, through my study of God’s Word, I’ve had a growing a conviction that JESUS would have His disciples add a third Holy Day Celebration to our annual calendars that would on par with Christmas and Easter. That Holy Day is PENTECOST! Through His life and teachings, JESUS showed incredibly great honor for the HOLY SPIRIT and urged His disciples to do the same.  JESUS went as far as to say that the HOLY SPIRIT in us, is better than JESUS beside us! While at Christmas, we celebrate the “Incarnation” of GOD on the earth, on Pentecost we celebrate the

The Great Commission…most all of us are quite familiar with the final words our Lord Jesus shared with His disciples, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, instructing them to “go and make disciples.” Indeed, with this command, Jesus gave His followers a “life purpose” that would guide them wherever they would go and with whomever they would speak from that day forward. Certainly, in the years that followed, each of them would boldly proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus to their friends, families, neighbors, and other communities far and wide. But each of them was led to do so by the Holy Spirit in unique ways. Today, we find ourselves as the eternally grateful benefactors of their decision to adhere to Jesus’ command to make other disciples. Indeed, we are those “disciples of all nations” many generations later. And as His disciples, the Great Commission applies to us as well. Like them, it should give us “life purpose” as well. However, the manner in which we walk out the Great Commission may look, fee

We continue this Sunday with our series on Essential Beliefs. This week we will be focusing on Eternal Security. I have a friend who retired from pastoring, and he often says that one of the enemy's biggest schemes is to steal the joy of Christians. Have you ever had thoughts like: Am I really saved? Did I follow the right steps to gain salvation? How can I go to heaven after what I've done? If you have been robbed of your joy and peace of mind, then this week's message is for you! I’m praying that you’ll make plans now to join us this Sunday at our service at 9:30 or 11AM, or in our livestream service at 11AM on riverbluff.live, as we study the Truth of God's word on Eternal Security. Pastor Dean Infinger

The previous message in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE teaching series, we began with the essential beliefs Christians have about GOD. We continue that journey here in part two of that message! Pastor Joe Still looks at three characteristics that are absolutely unique about our GOD.  We’ll see how those unique characteristics deeply impact everything we do!

Our culture seems to have a fascination with celebrities, people who are rich or powerful or popular. We want to know about what they do, how they live, and even what they wear. It’s the topic of many magazines, podcasts, and late night shows. What if one of these could actually interview GOD? He is, after all, the most powerful personality in the entire universe. No one is richer than GOD! It is from His person that everything began, and it is before Him that we will all eventually stand. GOD is a personal GOD, and His story is the greatest story of all. If such an interview could be done, what would it cover? Obviously not details such as His clothes and house. But wouldn’t you like to know what interests GOD most? Wouldn’t a question like, “GOD, what has caused you the deepest hurt, the greatest joy?” spark your interest? Wouldn’t you like to know what GOD is really like? Just because this interview couldn’t actually happen, we shouldn’t ignore the truth that GOD IS A PERSON, who has passions and interes

Christian Confessions, Creeds, & Core Belief expressions, have been around a very long time, some since the 2nd century. I, along with others would argue that some of the New Testament statements found in the writings of the Apostle Paul, became the earliest Creeds of the Christian Church. Do these hold value for us today? I believe JESUS' half-brother, Jude, would answer, “yes” to that question, because they can help us “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 1:3) I’m praying that you’ll engage in this 8-10 week series, as we take a deep dive into the ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE! Pastor Joe Still

When you were growing up, maybe like me, you were taught the prayer, “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food." Many of us learned at an early age, God's great and God's good! If you've been in church any length time, you’ve heard some pastor or worship leader say, “God is good," and the congregation shouts back, "All the time." Then he'll say, "All the time," and they say, "God is good." But for many who regularly gather in worship of GOD, there is a unspoken question about this matter that plagues their souls.  The soul-plaguing question regarding this: “IS GOD REALLY GOOD ALL THE TIME?” Why don’t you join me as we explore this soul-plaguing question? Pastor Joe Still

While Riverbluff’s “Weekly Update” arrives in your inbox every Friday, this one comes on what is the most sacred Friday of the year. It is often called Good Friday. It is “good” because it is the day, over 2,000 years ago, when GOD demonstrated how truly Good and unconditionally Loving HE is toward humanity. HE demonstrated this by sacrificing HIS one and only begotten SON on the Cross of Calvary. Though you and I were not there physically, the Bible says that our sin was. The Apostle Peter writes that Jesus personally carried our sin in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and be made alive to a right relationship with GOD. {1 Peter 2:24} Though there was much sorrow and fear for the Disciples of Jesus on that day, their greatest joy was but three days away. And so it is with us! I’m praying you’ll make plans right now to join us this RESURRECTION SUNDAY , as we celebrate our great joy “BECAUSE HE LIVES”! Pastor Joe Still

Maundy Thursday Communion Service 2025 Maundy Thursday 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.

Fun fact: In a healthy human being over half of our body’s composition is water, 60% to be exact.  That means that if you weigh 175 pounds you’re walking around with about 105 pounds of water! Even with all of that water, your body still must have an adequate daily supply, or bad things begin to happen in you. Most people don't realize how bad dehydration is for you. When you get dehydrated, you get headaches, you get muscle cramps, your brain even begins to shut down. Your brain has to have water in order for you to think! When JESUS spoke His fifth words from the Cross, “I thirst”, Physicians who have studied and written about His Crucifixion, tell us that JESUS was suffering from severe dehydration.  It is amazing that He had the clarity of mind to accomplish all He did, through what He said from the Cross.  He did it all for you! Thirst is a shared human experience, but it is not only a need for fluid intake. Every human soul also thirsts. We all thirst for GOD!  Unfortunately far too many of us try to

JESUS FORSAKENNESS means my FORGIVENESS  FOR OUR FORGIVENESS, JESUS FORSAKEN SUBSTITUTES? The label might read “plant-based meat substitute”, but I’m sorry, there’s just no such thing as a “Garden Burger”; I don’t care who puts one on their menu. “Hamburger” means meat! And please, don’t try to fool me into thinking “carob” is “chocolate.” It never has been nor will it ever be, in any universe! Seems like we have substitutes for everything in our day. Though I am no fan of substitutes in my food, unfortunately I’ve had to turn to them more since my little cardiac event of July ’23! There is one substitute, for which I will be forever thankful, and I pray you will be too. Theologians call it “Sacrificial Substitutionary Atonement”. This is what Jesus did on the Cross for the world, where HE was FORSAKEN by everyone, including His FATHER! In this message, we explore why Jesus cried out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Pastor Joe Still

This Sunday, as we continue in our teaching series, “WHAT JESUS SAID IN RED”, we examine the third of the seven, recorded statements, Jesus made while dying on the Cross.  This statement, found in John 19:25-27, is a very personal statement of love Jesus makes directly to his mother and one of his very best friends. Jesus endured incredible pain as his organs began shutting down. Even in the midst of that great suffering, Jesus lovingly provides for the long-term care of his mother.  Only by using the stake driven through his feet as a cruel step, could Jesus gain every breath needed to speak a word.  Pushing Himself up Jesus would utter these loving words of provision and protection for his mom, demonstrating his deep devotion as her eldest son.  His words here, though brief, teach us much of what it means for us to love the Jesus way. Early in his teaching ministry, Jesus began teaching His followers that, “TO LOVE”, was the greatest commandment of all.  The way He died boldly demonstrated what He had dec

The older I’ve grown, the more aware I’ve become, I can learn something new from anyone, if I will listen carefully and truly “be in the moment” with them. My grandkids have been especially helpful in teaching me this lesson! This principle is particularly applicable when it comes to GOD’s Word. Every person who shows up in the scriptures had their story handpicked by GOD to be included in His Holy Word. Each of their story’s deserves our undivided attention, because each can help us see a different facet of our “Good and Beautiful GOD”! I pray you’ll join me as we learn from a dying thief how to have a “Sure Salvation”! Pastor Joe Still

While it may not surprise anyone, I have a number of hard copy Bibles in my personal library, (along with many digital editions)! My favorite Bibles, are the “Red-Letter” editions. They have the words the incarnated JESUS spoke printed in red, which make HIS spoken words really stand out. Yes! I am keenly aware that every word in the Bible was GOD-breathed. But, I also know that every word in our Bibles exists to point us to JESUS; HE said so! “Here you are scouring through the Scriptures, hoping that you will find eternal life among a pile of scrolls. What you don’t seem to understand is that the Scriptures point to Me.” (John 5:39) . Those “red-lettered words” just point me to HIM a little quicker! While there are many red words in my Red-Letter edition Bibles; there are seven red-lettered words JESUS spoke, that carry an even greater weight for me. They were the seven word-phrases that HE spoke while shedding HIS precious blood on the Cross. Those seven words were truly “written in RED”! I pray you’ll m

Have you ever been peppered with the “Why” questions from a young child? Why are clouds white? Why does the car blinker make that sound? Why do birds fly or dogs bark? And during hardship, we can begin asking our own questions. Why did this happen? Will I ever get back to normal? How will this affect the people I love? Why do bad things happen to good people? If you have ever asked these questions, then you will want to watch this message from Pastor Dean Infinger.  We will explore the questions that surface “When God’s People Suffer Hardship”.

This Sunday, as we open ourselves up to God’s Word together in worship, I’m excited to say that Dr. Curt Bradford will be leading us! For those of you who are newer to Riverbluff, Curt was Lead Pastor at Riverbluff from 1988-2014. He has also been personally mentoring me since 1981. The LORD has multiplied Curt’s mentoring ministry, as he now mentors pastors all around our state. He is currently serving as Point Leader for the Steward Team of the Charleston Baptist Association. I hope you’ll join me in joyfully welcoming Curt back to his teaching role with us! Curt will continue in our current teaching series. This Sunday we explore what happens “WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE…DO LIFE TOGETHER”, and how it helps us live in the authority JESUS gave us to “overcome every power Satan possesses” (Luke 10:19)! You’ll not want to miss the message, as we continue to grow and live from all the authority our LORD JESUS has given us! Pastor Joe Still