Riverbluff Church Sermons

Most of us are familiar with the idea of giving someone the “Benefit Of The Doubt”. Like choosing to trust that someone’s intentions are good despite uncertainty or evidence suggesting otherwise. It is a choice to assume innocence rather than assuming guilt or malice when faced with mysterious circumstances. This week, as we continue our Easter Teaching Series: FOREVER CHANGED, I think we should apply that popular phrase, “Benefit Of The Doubt”, to one of the disciples in the Easter account who very often is not seen in a positive light. I’m referring to Thomas, “the twin”. Could it be that Thomas gets a bad rap? The powerful 20th century preacher, J. Vernon McGee referred to him as "the apostle from Missouri, the Show Me State". Inferring that Thomas’ mindset was, “yeah, you got to show me before I'll believe anything.” Others have called Thomas the patron saint of skeptics. I heard one pastor who asked, “If we made the apostles into Winnie the Pooh characters who would they be?” Then he suggested that Pet

In this message, Dr. Curt Bradford continues our series on lives that were forever changed by their encounter with Jesus. This week, we will look at the disciples who encountered the risen Savior on the road to Emmaus. This story beautifully illustrates the importance of biblical community and discipleship; just as those disciples walked and processed the scriptures together, we are called to grow in faith alongside one another. Join us as we explore how these shared encounters with Christ continue to transform our lives today.

The Bible tells us at 3PM, on the day of His Crucifixion, JESUS spoke His final words, "'Father into Thy hands I commit My Spirit!’ And having said this He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46). For JESUS that ended a day of torture that began in the early morning hours, first at the hands of the High Priest and Sanhedrin. Then mercilessly scourged by Roman Lictors. All of that before enduring the brutality of the Cross beginning at 9AM that same morning. I remind us of all of this, because it dynamically magnifies what I’m about to say next. That is not the end of the story! Yes! Jesus died on that Cross. Yes! Jesus was then buried in a borrowed tomb. But 3 days later HE got up out of that grave! Thank GOD for the greatest event in human history, the Resurrection of HIS Son, JESUS CHRIST! In this message, we'll CELEBRATE HIS RESURRECTION! I believe the LORD has given me a clear presentation of the Gospel to bring and by HIS Grace, that’s what I plan to do! I can’t wait to celebrate with you! Pastor Joe Stil

Maundy Thursday - This service is a meaningful and sobering prelude to the Easter weekend, commonly called Maundy Thursday. It is solemn and focuses on Jesus’ last supper with His disciples and His subsequent arrest, rejection, and death. It’s a truly different kind of worship experience that allows us to live out the teaching that Jesus gave His followers to “remember”. This service encourages us to celebrate the Resurrection with greater joy and deeper thankfulness!

Have you ever participated in, or seen “in-person”, a Donkey Basketball game? When I was in High School, I watched members from that year’s Senior Class compete against some specially selected teachers, in a game of Donkey Basketball.  It is a “real thing”! While the rules of regular Basketball get slightly altered, the biggest difference is, you ride on the back of a donkey, (that is if you can stay on) and you must be on your donkey to score a basket.  It was quite hilarious. While attending that game didn’t have a life changing impact on me, there was a day when a “Donkey Ride” FOREVER CHANGED the lives of all who witnessed it! Join me as we explore the lives of those FOREVER CHANGED by a “Donkey Ride”, and see how it just might FOREVER CHANGE you! Pastor Joe Still

Do you remember a popular fad from the 90’s called Magic Eye. (The technical term is autostereogram.) These are two-dimensional (2D) images that create the optical illusion of a three-dimensional (3D) scene. In the 90’s they were the world’s most famous—and infamously frustrating—optical illusion! Posters bearing the brightly colored pop-art hung everywhere. At first glance they appear to be a chaotic, colored pattern, but when a viewer relaxes their eyes and gazes through the image, the hidden 3D shape suddenly pops into view, at least for some people! The fact that it was so difficult to see the 3D shape hiding behind the hyper-colored patterns was a major part of their appeal. Finally being able to "see it”, would bring people great joy. First time viewers, would usually have others crowd around them, offering unhelpful, often contradictory tips like, “cross your eyes”, “squint”, “try relaxing”! But many people were just Magic Eye blind and could never see the 3D shapes! As frustrating as that might ha

Other than being a bit cooler this morning than most mornings this week, it is obvious that Spring has sprung!  One way I know this for certain is that each morning when I walk outside, what was formerly my black truck, is now my yellow truck!  (Thanks pollen…) All of this also means that the greatest celebration of our faith is only weeks away.  Resurrection Sunday is just around the corner! Spring’s arrival also means a flurry of other activities that easily distract us from receiving all the Grace that GOD wants to give us as we lead up to and walk through “Holy Week”.  For example, this year in our area, “Spring Break” for public schools coincides with “Holy Week” and many families will take this opportunity for a vacation. Yes, that can be a good thing, but don’t let it cause you to miss something better.  Don’t let it cause you to miss a work of GOD in you!  If you do take a quick family vacation, be sure to find a church nearby that can still help you walk with JESUS through “Holy Week”! Leading up

One of the many things I love about GOD’s Word, is that it doesn’t attempt to cleanup or cover up the sin and brokenness of the heroes of our faith. In fact, most often it showcases their human frailty as they made their way through the brokenness of this world. One of the greatest chapters on faith in the Bible is Hebrews chapter 11. Many refer to it as the “Hall of Fame of Our Faith.”  As I read through that chapter this week, I was struck by how many of the heroes of our faith had to face war in their lifetime. Most had to be active participants, taking up arms themselves. If most of the heroes of our faith had to face war, we can be sure we will as well. And with GOD’s Word as our foundation and guide, we too can walk through times of war as people of great faith. I pray you’ll join me as we look to GOD for HIS guidance on how to live for HIM in the face of war. Pastor Joe Still

The Heart of the Matter: Generosity Generosity is about so much more than what we give; it’s about the heart we cultivate and the promise of a life "running over." In this message, Pastor Dean Infinger explores the beautiful cycle of grace found in Luke 6:38, where we learn that when we open our hands to others, we open our lives to a "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together." Discover how living generously transforms our perspective, our community, and our relationship with the ultimate Giver.

Boston Consulting Group, (BCG), renowned for innovative strategic solutions and growth strategies in business, advises that, “revisiting your mission is essential to ensure that an organization's core purpose, strategy, and daily actions remain aligned as it evolves, preventing it from becoming outdated or losing focus. Regularly reviewing the mission keeps stakeholders engaged, ensures relevance in a changing market, and guides strategic decisions.” As with any healthy business or organizations, from time-to-time local churches must revisit the core of their mission and vision. Not just because prestigious business consulting firms commend it, but because GOD’S Word does! Proverbs 29:18 states: “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” While I am deeply aware that a local church is so much more than a “business endeavor", we as GOD’s people, need to keep the unique vision and mission HE has given us at Riverbluff continually before us. We need to challenge one another with it, and we need to use it as

Many of you reading this will know that I consider myself a decent “DIY-er”.  When I’m at the end of a project and think I’m done, I’ll take a step back to check-out my work.  Then I’ll invite Kathy to share her thoughts.  From time-to-time Kathy helps me see how I could add one more thing that would really finish off the project well, making it even better! Sometimes walking verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible, like we’ve been doing in Jonah, can be just a little bit like that.  The difference is, in this, GOD calls me back to something I thought I had completed.  HE shows me something I missed that would truly complete the immersion in that part of HIS Holy Word. HE did that this past week! So, there is one more message from the book of Jonah that I believe the LORD is calling me to bring.  Consider this a personal invitation from me to explore one of the greatest culture-healing lessons we can learn from the book of Jonah! Pastor Joe Still

Have you ever watched a movie or been devoted to watching a TV series, and it ended with no resolve? Or the ending just made absolutely no sense? You get to the end of it, and you're like, wait, wait, wait, I paid attention all the way through. I watched the entire season. And we get to the end, and it ends like that? You get to the end and still have so many questions. “Did they get back together?” “Did the good guy live?” “Did the bad guy die?” (Because if you haven't noticed, sometimes they look dead, but they're not really dead!) Are you like me, and you just hate it when something ends like that and there is no “real” resolution? If that’s you, I’ve got some bad news for you. You’re probably not going to be real happy with Jonah chapter 4, because this has the weirdest cliffhanger ending you've ever seen! In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to lament together the abrupt ending of Jonah’s story, but learn something rich and “life-giving” about our GOD.

While it’s easy for passing storms to significantly interrupt and even radically change our lives, it is comforting and encouraging to know that JESUS, who the bible calls “the Author of life” (Acts 3:15) and the “Giver of life” (Acts 17:25) loves life! The whole of scripture tells us that our GOD is “Pro-Life” and celebrates every life! This characteristic of our GOD shows up in a powerful way in the very last verse of the last chapter of the book of Jonah that we have been studying. In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to celebrate life and our “Life-Giving GOD”! It’s gonna be a great day to “be in the River”! Pastor Joe Still

From 2007-2014 the FOX Network ran a reality television series entitled KITCHEN NIGHTMARES.  It starred Chef Gordon Ramsay, who is invited by the owners of a failing restaurant to come and spend a week with them, in an attempt to revive the business. Typically, the owner thinks the problem is something like, “their sign isn't bright enough” or “the people in the community just don't know good food when they see it”, or “the servers aren't quite up to snuff”.  Typically, the owner believes it’s always someone else who is at fault. But as Chef Ramsay comes in and sees what's really going on, its usually two issues.  Number one, it's the owner. And number two, it's the food! Often there are gross moments as Chef Ramsay looks in the freezer and in the refrigerator and discovers maggots or some other off-putting things such as that. Other times they're using a microwave to warm up frozen food, and it's just an absolute disaster. But the shocking point in almost every single episode, there's this moment where the

Have you ever felt a little panicked during a crisis you created? I know I have, and I imagine most of us have. If you have, it means you have something in common with the Prophet Jonah! Last week, while reflecting on Jonah chapter one together, we followed Jonah into a crisis he created when he said “no” to GOD, and in a moment of rebellion did the exact opposite of what the LORD had called him to do. We left Jonah sinking into the depths of the sea just before he was swallowed alive and found himself in the “belly” of a “GOD appointed great fish”! (see Jonah 1:17) It is in that moment that we see the “Panicked Prayer of a Prophet”! Though I am not panicking, I am praying that you will watch or listen, as we continue to follow Jonah, learning how a RELENTLESS GOD relates to Reluctant People! Pastor Joe Still

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I pray that your 2026 has gotten off to a great start and that throughout this New Year, we will all grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our LORD JESUS! When we know JESUS and His grace,  we know HE is gracious to always give us a “do-over”, a “Fresh-Start”.  But what if our reluctance is what hinders our own “Fresh-Start” in this New Year? The book of JONAH answers that question! I’m praying you’ll make plans right now to join us every Sunday in the first month of this New Year and learn from JONAH that even in our greatest reluctance, GOD is relentless to give us a “Fresh-Start” in the most unexpected ways! Pastor Joe Still

In this message, Pastor Joe Still continues our Christmas teaching series titled CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and we'll hear from several “Riverbluffians” how they are seeing the LIGHT of CHRIST burning bright around them. It will be a great time together closing out 2025 and readying our hearts to step into all that GOD has for us in the new year!

Christmas Eve at The River: A Savior was Born for You.

In this message, Pastor Dean Infinger unravels the incredible journey of the Magi—the mysterious wise men who traveled great distances, navigated a treacherous political landscape under King Herod, and followed a single star to worship the newborn King. Discover the courage, faith, and transformative sacrifice of these seekers, and learn how their quest for truth holds powerful lessons for your own journey today.

During this message, Pastor Joe Still lights the “Pink Candle” of Advent representing JOY as we also peer deeply into the lives of those whom GOD chose to be the first to personally meet His Son. Advent invites us to wait with expectation, but it also invites us to rejoice! Few scenes capture this joyful wonder better than the shepherds in Luke 2:8–18. These ordinary, overlooked workers on a hillside become the first to hear heaven’s announcement of Christ’s birth. Their response reveals what true Advent joy looks like. Luke tells us the shepherds were “living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night”—doing their routine work, in the quiet darkness. Into that darkness bursts the glory of the Lord and the voice of an angel proclaiming “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Advent joy begins not with our effort but with God’s initiative. Joy breaks in as God reveals Himself, even in the ordinary places of life. The angel’s message is specific and personal: “Unto you is bor