Riverbend Podcast

Fear of being lied to

Does culture bully us with constant messaging about sex? Is there pressure put on women to conform to sexual norms - to find their identity in their sexual affirmation?

Family systems - we all are products of the homes we are raised in.

What does our faith look like if we are counter-culture in our method – not just our message?

Mother's Day

Jesus is magnificent in his ability to read situations and people and act/influence perfectly.

What was Jesus writing in the dirt? Was it the names of the Pharisee's - as though He knew them well? Was it their mistresses? Was this all a setup? Maybe there was a Pharisee who slept w/ the prostitute, dragged her out just to set a theological trap for Jesus.

In a politically, morally, ethically, and culturally diverse and polarized climate, how do we reconcile and come together the Jesus way? By recognizing our spot in this story and Jesus words to us.

What does this look like in terms of how we private our faith - if it is not about us, but about others?

LUKE 24:28-32 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

What do you think Jesus talked about when he said he was going to explain the scriptures? What happens when you choose to sacrifice?

What do you think Jesus talked about when he said he was going to explain the scriptures? Inverse paradigm explanation. Recalibrating our unrealistic or unmet expectations – from power, ego, success, to serving others – first will be last; where we think a loss is a victory;

Why it is important to do so. Specifically, students.

Be a learning church- be a loving church by practicing the dance moves of pursuing one another and giving to one another. Remember Christ when we gather and pray for one another.

We CREATE – We Create Experiences EPHESIANS 2 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We CONNECT – We Build Community GALATIANS 3 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

SCRIPTURE – PSALM 96:11-13 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

ALL CREATION SHOUTS: THE PRAISE OF GOD SCRIPTURE – PSALM 96:7-10 7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.