New River Valley Church
By New River Valley Church
For more information check out www.nrvchurch.org or visit our Campus Ministry IG: @alphaomega.rvc
New River Valley ChurchNov 21, 2023
Jesus, Are You Serious?// Luke 18-19// Responding to the Sermon on the Mount
Practicing the Way of Jesus// Matthew 7:24-28// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount
Broad Road Behavior// Matthew 7:13-14// In the NRV as it is Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
God Gives Good Gifts// Matthew 7:7-12 & Mark 16:1-7// Resurrection Sunday// Sermon on the Mount
A Confronting King// Matthew 21:1-22// PALM SUNDAY
Scarcity versus Abundance// Matthew 6:19-34// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
The Lord’s Prayer// Matthew 6:5-15// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
How to Be Perfect// Matthew 5:21-48// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
Legalist, Lawless, or Bible Lover?// Matthew 5:17-20// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
Salty and Lit// Matthew 5:13-16// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
Be Blessed// Matthew 5:1-12// In the NRV as it is in Heaven, Sermon on the Mount Series
Shepherding Our Souls// Mark 6:33-46
Jesus teaches us about the Good Shepherd, but in our text today he demonstrates to us that He is the Good Shepherd, who makes us lie down in green pastures.
The Shepherd and the Stray// Matthew 18:10-14// The Good Shepherd Series
Will Hutchins preaches from Matthew 18. Sometimes we stray from the right paths God has marked out for us, from his flock that is meant to surround us. What do we do when we stray?
Who is Lost?// Luke 15:1-10// The Good Shepherd Series
Sometimes we stray from the path or get lost in the shuffle... Jesus is willing to do whatever it takes to restore us. And when he does, in his joy he throws a party!
God is Enough// Psalm 23// The Good Shepherd Series
Today we begin our journey through the Good Shepherd parables and narratives. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," this famous line from the biblical narrative has the power to change everything - the way we see God, the world, and ourselves.
The Second Greatest Commandment// Luke 10:25-37// Love God, Love People
Today we examine Jesus' interpretation of the greatest commandments - particularly how he teaches to "love your neighbor." We are challenged to become neighbors, like Jesus, to all people. This type of love is indeed costly.
The Greatest Commandment// Deuteronomy 6// Love God, Love People
Today we look at "The Shema," the greatest commandment. This prayer was prayed morning and night by Jesus' contemporaries. How can these words become written on our hearts?
A Communal Communion// 1 Corinthians 11:17-34// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
In our cultural setting we tend to make the Lord's Supper, or communion, personal. That is, we make it all about ourselves. The Corinthians did this too, just without the hyper-individualism. It led to divisions and humiliation. The Lord's Supper that Jesus instituted was a necessarily communal practice and Paul teaches us that such a practice can be a "living sermon", one that proclaims the Lord's death until he returns. May we make communion communal.
Become Love// 1 Corinthians 13// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
Paul encourages his hearers to embark on the 'treacherous mountain trek' of becoming love. When Jesus took on flesh, he perfectly modeled love for us. By his love, we need not seek after self-love, but rather we are empowered to become love for God and for others.
Teammates in the Gospel// 1 Corinthians 9:19-17// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
Corinth was an epicenter of athletic completion, strict training, and competing for a crown. In such a culture, Paul uses these images from every day life to paint the picture for God's people. We are to be teammates in the gospel of Jesus - training ourselves to be like Jesus for the sake of others. And the crown that will given to us shall never perish, spoil or fade.
Live Your Calling// 1 Corinthians 7:17-24// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
How do we follow Jesus in this world despite our circumstances? Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians is to "live as a believer in whatever situation" you find yourselves... Live your calling. When we find our identity in the One who calls us, we are able to let go of shame from our circumstances, tell our story, and see God move.
Rethinking Resurrection// 1 Corinthians 15:1-8// Easter Sunday
Today we look at the early Christian teaching that Jesus was the Christ, that he died for our sins, and that he was raised on the third day. Today we ask, is this all true? Was Jesus who he said he was? Was he a liar? A lunatic? A legend? Or was he really the Lord, did he really raised to new life? And if so, is he really Lord to us, or do we treat his teachings more like lies or lunacy?
What Do You Want Me to Do for You?// Mark 10:46-11:10// Palm Sunday
Every year on Palm Sunday we celebrate and remember Jesus' triumphal entry. Today we look at one man's reception of Jesus as King contrasted with the crowd's desire for a kingdom... The question for us is, "What do you want Jesus to do for you?" Do you want his kingdom without him as King?
Let's Talk About Sex// 1 Corinthians 6:12-20// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
The topic of sexuality is generally looked at as taboo for public church settings. But doesn't the Bible have lots to say about our sexuality and our bodies? Our cultural narrative tells us we have the right to do anything. Such freedom tends to lead to the slavery and degrading of our bodies though. Yet we discover our bodies are invaluable to God.
A Little Yeast// 1 Corinthians 5// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
"A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." Paul confronts our attitudes towards sin. In his view, sin is not just a personal matter but a communal one. As challenging as it is, we are responsible for one another. Yet even more so, Jesus is responsible for us.
What Are You Building?// 1 Corinthians 3:1-17// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
Are you not still worldly? In 1 Corinthians 3 this is the question the apostle Paul asks of his audience. He challenges them for the ways they look at others and they look at themselves, losing sight of God himself. When we turn our eyes back to God we are able to shift from "self-made" people, to servants of God and coworkers with Christ.
But We Have the Mind of Christ// 1 Corinthians 2:3-16// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
God communicates his thoughts - his mind - to us through the person of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we can share in these thoughts and share them with a world hungering for God.
What Makes You Wise?// 1 Corinthians 1:18- 2:2// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
As humans we are drawn to power. Yet the cross was a sign of humiliation. Why would God become flesh and be crowned with humiliation?
Whose Voice Will You Hear?// 1 Corinthians 1:10-17// 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross
In a diverse city like Corinth, people were largely divided along ethnic and nationalistic lines. The Romans, the Greeks, the Jews... all carrying their cultural experiences, customs and biases into the Church. Maybe we can relate to that today? The question for us is this, is the voice of Jesus louder than our biases?
Hope: May your word to me be fulfilled// Luke 1:26-38 // Advent
"Biblical hope is not about desiring a certain outcome, but about waiting for a certain God." When things seem to be falling apart around us, or when our prayers are continually met with silence, how are we to respond? How do we find hope in those times? Mary's story, and the coming of Jesus, show us that hope is found in unexpected places.
The Vulnerable Farmer //Luke 20:9-19// Parables in Luke - finding our stories in His story
Why does the farmer risk his greatest treasure in this story?
Increase our faith// Luke 17:1-10// Parables in Luke - finding our story in His story
Kameron did a great job of preaching to us about how we are to be ready for the day when Jesus comes. To be the servant that has done their duty. Like the disciples, our response to this call should be "Lord increase our faith!".
Repent or Perish// Luke 13:1-9// Parables of Luke: finding our stories in His story
For a tree that normally produces fruit 10 months out of each year, it almost seems like a waste to keep this tree around, yet the vinedresser fights on its behalf to the owner. Why does the vinedresser fight for this fig tree? How much time does this fig tree really have? Kameron Body helps us understand this passage and what it might mean for us.
Costly Compassion// Luke 10:25-37// Parables in Luke: finding our stories in His story
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Who is my neighbor?" These questions seek to define limits and parameters regarding the the way we love and who we love. Jesus challenges our expectations and our parameters and calls us into costly compassion, even for our enemy. At the same time he challenges our view of God, depicting a loving Savior who gladly offers his children an inheritance, no matter the cost to Himself.
Follow Me?// Luke 9:57-64// Parables in Luke: finding our stories in His story
Taking a look at Luke 9 more closely, we learn that the three responses Jesus received are more common than we may realize. In fact we ourselves may have said these things to Jesus on more than one occasion when he asks us to follow him.
Ears That Hear// Luke 8:4-15// Parables in Luke: finding our stories in His story
Jesus invites us to take a look at the soils of our hearts in this parable. 1st century Palestinian farming practices allow us to better understand what Jesus is talking about, as well as the far-reaching love of God. Wherever we find ourselves, God still whispers to us, urging us to have "ears that hear"and walk with Him.
A Toxic Person// Luke 7:36-50// Parables in Luke: finding our stories in His story
A religious leader, a prostitute and Jesus find themselves in a room together... The scene that unfolds exposes the toxicity in each of us and challenges us to judge correctly - to see our own sin without justifying ourselves by comparison. When we do, like the woman of this story, we discover amazing grace freely poured out on us.
Built Different// Luke 6:46-49// Parables in Luke: finding our stories in His story
Earthly kingdoms, sacred places & "perfect" people are what so many can build their foundation upon when it comes to following Christ. Jesus challenges his listeners to re-examine their foundations and build on his words instead.
Mission// John 15:16-27// Life Together
After studying the first half of John 15 and Jesus' teachings about abiding in him and obeying his commands, we look at Jesus' commissioning of his disciples to go and bear fruit as those 'set apart' by him to testify about him. We are invited to go alongside the Holy Spirit and participate in his mission to the world.
Without Hindrance// Acts 28:17-31// Life Together - Acts Series
Persecuted, imprisoned & chained up... and yet unhindered? What does it really mean for us to be unhindered when we face daily obstacles? We take a look at the final chapter of Luke-Acts and Paul's example to answer this question.
Treasuring the Church// Treasuring Series - Roanoke Congregational
Seeing the church as "radiant" and "holy" can be difficult when so many of us have been hurt by "the church". Understanding the distinction between God's Kingdom and the Church is necessary to understand the expectations God has for us.
Not A Single Hair From Your Head// Acts 27:13-38// Life Together - Acts Series
How do you react to the storms in your life? There are times where we need to experience a physical saving in the here and now, yet also hold on to an eternal understanding of the process of being saved. God is present in the storms and assures us that not even a single hair from our heads will perish.
Light and Darkness// Acts 26:9-23// Life Together - Acts Series
In Paul's evangelistic presentation to King Herod, he uses his audience with the King to bring light where there is darkness. Aware of King Agrippa's lifestyle and background, we can take notes on how Paul approached this difficult conversation with someone who lived and believed differently from himself.
Telling Our Stories// Acts 22:1-21// Life Together - Acts Series
For millennia humankind have been telling their stories - personal, communal and historical. There is power in our stories and like Paul, we need to tell our stories not only for our benefit but for the benefit of others. We each have stories that our communities need - what is stopping us from telling those stories?
Preparation & Faith//Acts 21:1-16// Life Together - Acts Series
Will Hutchins highlights how faith and preparation can go hand in hand. We need to have a planned and intentional life in order to take take those leaps of faith and vice-versa, have faith to be able to live in that way.
Transformational Transitions// Acts 20:17-38// Life Together - Acts Series
At our special graduate honoring Sunday worship service we are reminded that although transitions can bring out the worst in us, they can also be catalysts for transformational growth.
Scared Money Don't Make No Money// Acts 19:23-41// Life Together - Acts Series
God is inviting us our of a life of scarcity, and into a life of abundance. This kind of life begins with a relationship with God that overflows.
The Undoing of All Evil// Luke 24:13 - 35// Easter Sunday
The undoing of all evil since the very first human fall. We take a journey back to the beginning of the story of God and his people to compare and contrast parallel stories which give us a new look into the resurrection story.
Lord or Savior?// John 12:12-29// Palm Sunday
In preparation for Easter we remember our Lord and/or Savior? How do we see King Jesus in our lives and how does that affect how we live?
Have You Heard// Acts 19:1-6// Life Together - Acts Series
Kameron preaches out of Acts 19:1-6.