Dan River Church Podcast

The labels others put on you were never meant to stick to you. To remove the labels, remember that God notices what others overlook, everyone will be led by fear or by courage, be faithful in the silent and in the sacred, use the strengths God has given you, and you are a champion, not just a contestant.

Our current reality is not our final destiny. God’s plan cannot be stopped. Four realities that keep us from experiencing God's plan for us: Not everyone will understand or rejoice with us. Not everyone will be prepared to face temptation. Not everyone will wait on God’s timing. And not everyone will see God’s purpose.

God will never call you to do something that you can do on your own. What are the excuses Moses gave? I don't know who I am. I don't know who you are. I don't know how to lead. I don't know what to say. I do know someone else is better. Will you give excuses, or will you trust and obey God?

The resurrection proves that Jesus isn’t the same as anyone else. Only Jesus shows real love. Only Jesus gives eternal life. Only Jesus is a personal Savior. 

Why is Good Friday so good? Jesus is there in our failure, in our discouragement, and in our suffering.

How can we forgive like Jesus calls us to forgive? Forgiven people forgive people. To forgive, we must realize what forgiveness isn't, keep the cross before us, make prayer a priority, and never forget the poison of unforgiveness.

The condition of our hearts determines the direction of our lives. Is your heart deceived, superficial, or distracted? Or is it devoted? A heart that is devoted hears the Word of God, holds onto the Word of God, and produces the Word of God.

Building your life on Jesus means learning what Jesus says, doing what Jesus says, being changed by Jesus, and living on mission with Jesus.

If you don't want to waste your life, run the race God has set before you with what you've been given, remember there will be a day but refuse to be paralyzed by fear, and recognize what your fruit reveals.

We will never reach people if we can’t see people. How can we see (and treat) people the way Jesus does? We stop looking for the minimum requirements, stop looking to make excuses, and stop looking at what’s on the surface.

Next-level relationships always come with a cost. There are three questions we must ask ourselves for every next-level relationship. Will I quit, or will I persevere? Will I stay silent, or will I have honest conversations? Will I consume, or will I sacrifice?

Next-level relationships honor God in every season of life. Singleness is a season to develop character, community, and contentment. Dating is a season to prioritize character over chemistry, community over isolation, and clarity over intimacy. Marriage is a season to unite—to love unconditionally, serve selflessly, and respect completely.

To have next-level relationships, we must choose our words carefully. We must be aware of when we speak (not when it's out of anger, not when it's gossip, and not when it's all about us). We must be concerned with how we speak, always being truthful and loving. And we must be wise in what we speak (words that build up, repair, and save).

People who are desperate for God never stop praying to God. To persist in prayer, we must get the right perspective of God and make a commitment to God.

People who are desperate for God do the unexpected for God. Are you in need of a miracle? The miracle is not as complicated as we think, requires a humble heart, relies on God for healing, and lives with contentment in every circumstance.

People who are desperate for God display great faith in God. They see themselves the way Jesus does, remain focused on the mission, surrender their comforts, and follow Jesus even when it's difficult.

When the battles of life are all around us, people who are desperate for God seek the presence of God. To win the battle, we pray and fast before the battle, praise and worship through the battle, and proclaim His greatness after the battle.

In 2026, Dan River Church will be desperate for God, kingdom minded, and disciple making.

Let's look back on all God has done this year.

Hope is here this Christmas Eve because the shame of the past can be forgiven, the suffering of the present can be temporary, and the stress of the future can be avoided.