Riverbluff Church Sermons

"I Must See the Murder in Me" As we continue in our series “ETERNITY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS”, in this message from Pastor Joe Still we’ll see the incredible value JESUS assigns to relationships and their critical role in the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN! Additionally, JESUS will confront us with the seed of murder we all have in our hearts. HE then shows us how Kingdom living can keep that seed from germinating and rooting itself in our lives

" How to Follow Jesus into the Bible" In this message on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” (A.K.A.-The Greatest Sermon ever delivered).  We will turn our attention to Matthew 5:17-20. In these verses, we will see Jesus addressing a divisive issue among those following Him in His day that, remarkably, is still a divisive issue in our day.  Believe it or not, the source of this controversy is the BIBLE! Pastor Joe Still shares how Jesus shows us how impossible it is to live fully in The Kingdom of Heaven, apart from the Bible.

Storms like Hurricane Ian have a way of increasing our anxiety and fear. For those of us who are “In Christ”, GOD our FATHER has given us many promises for our lives as we face storms. HE has also given us a very relevant demonstration through a “storm event” the first disciples faced. There is much we can learn from their “storm encounter”. We can clearly identify the sources of our own anxiety. We can see what JESUS is doing when we are in a storm. We can also learn what we can do when the storms of life assail us. In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to look to JESUS when the “Wind Rages & the Water Rises”!

Handling Hostility to Your Faith There is no one kinder or more loving or more compassionate or more filled with grace, than JESUS.  I love that about HIM!  I also love that HE always speaks the truth, even when that truth may be hard to hear. Last week as we took our first steps into the GREATEST SERMON ever, we saw on full display HIS infinite, marvelous grace, made available to anyone and everyone.  It was just such a beautiful picture of JESUS’ Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven! As soon as HE put that “out there”, HE then tells a hard truth about anyone and everyone who would join HIM in HIS Kingdom as it is coming upon the earth. It is a message about facing opposition and persecution. In this message from pastor Joe Still, we''ll hear from JESUS how to “HANDLE HOSTILITY” directed toward all who choose life in HIS Kingdom.

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 understanding of these teachings from JESUS, and in so doing, has made His entire Sermon more accessible and life-giving! Consider this your personal invitation from me to watch or listen to this message as we explore these truly LIFE-GIVING WORDS OF JESUS! Pastor Joe Still

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.

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 chapters of Matthew to see how Matthew shows that Jesus is the king that was promised to come from the ancestry of David, while we also take a look at how Jesus begins to teach and to demonstrate what life looks like within His kingdom. Jesus chooses a community of disciples who He teaches about His kingship and His kingdom so that they would one day be His kingdom representatives commissioned to spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven and demonstrate what life looks like lived under God’s rule and reign. To

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 relationship and declares us HIS Friends. HE invites us into HIS inner court, adopts us as HIS own family, and reveals the deepest longings of HIS Heart. HE even shares HIS deepest prayer request with us! In this message, Pastor Joe Still shares how we can not only join JESUS in HIS most heart-felt prayer, but how we can also be part of the answer to HIS prayer!

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 truth, can be known and Jesus shows us how to know it. Better yet, how to know HIM! In this message, Pastor Joe Still points us to look to Jesus to know how to know ultimate truth!

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, Pastor Joe Still shares from scripture, where we see JESUS answer life’s toughest questions!

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 loved. After having all she could stand, she cried out to Jesus, “LORD don’t you care...?” And as Jesus did for Martha, He will do for you and for me. He will show us that He sees us and knows us and truly loves and cares for us. Join Pastor Joe Still in this teaching from Luke 10, as we see how much JESUS truly cares for us!

“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 and then blossoms is the soil of unforgiveness. The warning that JESUS gives on this matter, should stop everyone who follows Him, in our tracks. JESUS teaches that growing a life in the toxic soil of unforgiveness, not only has temporal implications, but also eternal consequences. JESUS also demonstrates and declares a power far greater than “Cancel-Culture” it is the power of FORGIVENESS! In this series, Pastor Joe Still shares from scripture, where we see JESUS answer life’s toughest

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 accessed? While we all long for Mercy to be shown us when we need it, how readily do we give it away to others? In Matthew chapter 15, we find Jesus giving his disciples a great test about GOD’S Mercy! In this message, Pastor Joe Still asks how you would do taking Jesus’ Mercy Test.

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 toughest questions!

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 4, the Apostles Peter and John stood before the leaders of their nation and declared that, “THERE IS NO OTHER”! “There is no other” through which healing can come. “There is no other” through which salvation can come. “There is no other” to build upon but JESUS! Join Pastor Joe Still as we look to GOD’s Word for the way to bring healing in the Church of our LORD JESUS and healing to our land.

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 LORD has deployed. It sets out to deface and deform GOD’s great work in us. When we succumb to that scheme, much devastation eventually follow; but JESUS has given HIS followers specific ways to overcome this evil scheme! In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to look to JESUS for best ways to experience life as the “Masterpieces” HE created us to be!

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 a National Day. The idea, would be rejected by congress on two different occasions, and it would not gain the status of a nationally recognized day until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers. It would take six more years before it would become an official National Holiday, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. While the official holiday to honor dads may have an ambiguous history, GOD’s plan for a man has been firmly defined since creation! I

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.

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 Restorative Question!

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 and faces of the children and the teachers who lost their lives in the horrific tragedy in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. As I looked at their faces and prayed for their families, their parents and their grandparents, my eyes continued to be drawn to those swings outside hanging there in the storm. I thought about similar swings that most likely reside in Uvalde. Swings that now hang in the midst of a different kind of storm, so I prayed! God’s Word tell us that in this life, storms will come; and these stor