Riverbend Church

Christmas Eve | God is in the Manger

ADVENT | A Love Stronger Than Us

Katy reflects on Zechariah’s song in Luke 1 to reveal the nature of God’s love as it is unveiled in the Advent story. The passage shows a movement from silence to praise as Zechariah, disciplined through waiting and unbelief, emerges with renewed faith that treats God’s promises as already fulfilled; his song places personal blessing within a much larger redemptive story centered on God’s covenant faithfulness, the coming Messiah, and the role of John as a preparer rather than the focus. The love described is portrayed as stronger than human weakness, pictured through the “horn of salvation” that signals God’s power to rescue, defeat evil, and free people from fear so they can live in holiness. This love is also attentive and enduring, marked by God’s decision to “visit” His people after generations of silence, not merely arriving to rescue but remaining present. The progression of the Holy Spirit’s work—from coming upon individuals, to being with God’s people in Jesus, and ultimately dwelling within them—underscores that divine love is active, personal, and lasting, guiding people out of darkness into peace and anchoring hope in a future secured by God rather than by self-sufficiency.

ADVENT | Good News of Great Joy

Benjamin Joyce, Riverbend's newest Elder, teaches on the unconditional Joy that Jesus brings.

ADVENT | The Peace Jesus Gives

In this message, Andrew teaches that true peace is not the fragile calm created by controlling circumstances but the deep, resilient shalom that comes from attachment to Jesus. The contrast between “the peace the world gives” and the peace Jesus gives runs throughout the message: worldly peace depends on control, escape, or improved circumstances, while biblical peace flows from salvation, God’s presence, and trust in His faithfulness. Mary’s song in Luke 1 becomes the model of whole-person shalom—her body, mind, and spirit rejoicing in God despite poverty, vulnerability, and uncertainty. Mary's peace is grounded in identity (“the Lord’s servant”), God’s mercy across generations, and confidence that God is restoring the world. Attempts to manufacture peace through optimization, avoidance, or lifestyle upgrades ultimately heighten anxiety, whereas Scripture and attachment theory agree that human beings require a safe, faithful presence—someone bigger, stronger, wiser, and consistently kind. Jesus fulfills that need as Immanuel and the Prince of Peace, making peace not a feeling but a person we attach to. The call is to relinquish self-secured peace, identify where control, escape, or circumstances still dominate, abstain from those strategies, and practice simple rhythms of connection with Jesus so that His peace—rather than the world’s—guards the heart.

ADVENT | Hope that Doesn't Disappoint

In this message, Andrew teaches that Christian hope is a confident expectation grounded in God’s character and promises, not a curated emotional “vibe,” and he uses the story of Zechariah in Luke 1 to show how true hope is formed, tested, and fulfilled. People naturally live within layered and competing stories—God’s story of redemption alongside cultural narratives of self-rescue, consumption, image, and control—and that these rival hopes subtly shape where we place our trust. Zechariah becomes a model of faithful endurance in disappointment, holding to God’s promises even when his own long-held longing for a child remained unmet, yet his reaction to Gabriel reveals how deferred hope can make the heart resistant to receiving concrete answers. Advent announces God’s interruption of every blended story by stepping into the world through the incarnation, replacing self-help stories with the saving presence of a real Savior whose coming brings a hope that does not disappoint. The way forward is to identify rival hopes, detach from the daily habits that reinforce them, and re-aim your trust toward Jesus through practices that retrain the heart to live in one story, under one King.

WORSHIP ≠ MUSIC

Michael explains that worship in Scripture is not centered on music but on a life shaped by fearing God, bowing in surrender, and serving with faithful obedience. The modern church culture has reduced worship to personal musical preference, creating a consumer mindset that obscures the biblical call to reverence, humility, justice, and allegiance to God. By examining the meaning of key worship terms and the witness of the prophets, the teaching presents worship as an embodied, whole-life response that reflects God's character, with music functioning as only one expression of devotion rather than the definition of worship itself. The call is to recenter worship on God’s desires instead of emotional experience or production value, recovering a holistic, Scripture-formed life of fidelity to Him.

Sowing a Hidden Seed

In this message, Brook teaches about creating a culture of prayer in the home begins with recognizing the formative power of words and embracing prayer as the slow, hidden work that shapes generations. Using Luke 5:16 as a framework, the message emphasizes that prayer is an ongoing, relational exchange with God that re-centers the soul, builds over time, and invites His will into everyday life. Cultivating this culture happens through embodying prayer personally, speaking consistent words of blessing, and practicing faithful, steady habits rather than relying on intensity or emotion. Using examples from Scripture, church history, and family life, we see how prayer becomes a quiet but transformative force—forming identity, easing anxiety, healing wounds, and shaping the spiritual lives of children and communities. Ultimately, the call is to sow small, faithful “hidden seeds” of prayer through daily presence, intentional language, and steady love, trusting God to grow spiritual fruit over time in the ordinary rhythms of life.

Parenting as Formation

In this message, Elizabeth Mosser teaches us about walking in God's strength as we choose to embrace our limitations as parents.

Practice Love & Respect

Phil and Dianne Comer from Intentional Parenting teaches how to practice love and respect in marriage - referencing Ephesians 5.

Orthopraxy - Generosity as a Way of Life

In this message, Andrew teaches from Matthew 6:2–4 and 19–21 on generosity as a way of life, showing that giving is not about obligation or public recognition but about cultivating a heart of gratitude, trust, and worship toward God. Everything belongs to the Lord and believers are stewards, not owners, of their resources. True generosity flows from an awareness of God’s abundant grace and a desire to participate in His blessing of others, rather than seeking personal status or material gain. By giving quietly and faithfully, believers align their hearts with God’s purposes, invest in what lasts eternally, and experience freedom from the grip of materialism. Practicing generosity, he taught, forms the heart—reorienting worship toward God and producing joy, simplicity, and lasting impact for His kingdom.