This week we reach the pinnacle of The Story, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This miraculous moment in history is the foundation of our Christian faith.

This week in The Story, we encounter “The Hour of Darkness” in which Jesus is betrayed, beaten and crucified. Miraculously, this time of suffering and despair gives us the greatest hope.

This week, The Story looks at the incredible miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and how it reveals that Jesus is the Son of God.

More information can be found about Dr. McDowell on his website: https://seanmcdowell.org/

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions

We make a major turn in our journey through The Story this week as we leave the Old Testament and enter the New Testament and focus on what Jesus expects of His followers.

As we continue through our series The Story, we now look at the story of the Israelites’ return from exile as told in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The Story is a chronological study of the Bible designed to help us discover God’s amazing plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. This week we take a look at the remarkable story of Esther.

As we travel through The Story we focus this week on God’s people returning home to the Promised Land after a period of judgment and exile.

As we move through The Story, we skip ahead to Chapter 22: The Birth of a King, and what that means for us.

As we move through The Story, we come to a low point in the history of God’s people. This chapter reveals the result of their unfaithfulness: a removal of God’s blessing on their kingdoms.

The Story is designed to help us gain a better understanding of the predominant themes of scripture. This week we look intently into the powerful idea of the Suffering Servant as described in Isaiah 53.

Our message series The Story now turns to the prophets of God. This week our focus is Elijah and how he dealt with the highs and lows of life.

As we work our way through The Story we come to a difficult period of history for the Hebrew people. Because of hearts that were not fully devoted to the Lord, the kingdom was torn in two. From this section of scripture, we are reminded of the importance of seeking first His kingdom above everything else in this world.

The Story is an overview of the entire Bible and helps us understand how all of Scripture points to Jesus. This week we learn about the importance of giving thanks through the example of Solomon’s life.

The Story is a chronological study of the Bible designed to help us discover God’s amazing plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. This week we consider a story about David from 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles and the Psalms.

As we continue our series The Story, we are looking at how the Bible all fits together and points to Jesus. This week we are looking at 1 Samuel 16-17 and the heart of David, an underdog who became a giant slayer.

As we continue to work through The Story we see how all of scripture has lessons to teach us about how to grow in our relationship with Jesus. This week we consider the importance of obedience to the Lord.

As we read The Story, we are constantly reminded how messy our lives can be, but how merciful and forgiving God is with those who repent and turn to Him. This week we are looking at the book of Ruth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWF6pKBbGis&feature=youtu.be

As we read The Story, we are constantly reminded how messy our lives can be, but how merciful and forgiving God is with those who repent and turn to Him. This week we are looking at the book of Judges.

As we continue through our series, The Story, we are looking at how the Bible all fits together as one seamless story that points us to Jesus. This week we are looking at the book of Joshua and how life can bring down strongholds.

The Story is an overview of the whole Bible, with an emphasis on understanding how all of scripture works together to point us to the Savior Jesus Christ. Our focus this week is on the holiness of God.

The Story is a series designed to help us discover how the Bible all fits together and points to Jesus. This week we see how God works through Moses to deliver the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.

As we continue our new series, The Story, we are looking at how the Bible all fits together and points to Jesus. This week we focus on how God called made a covenant with Abraham to be the father of the Israelite nation.

We are beginning a new series The Story which is an overview of the entire Bible. Through our study together we will learn more about how the Bible all fits together and how it points us to Jesus.

Our summer series will take a look at some of the parables of Jesus. Each parable explains a spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives.

Our summer series will take a look at some of the parables of Jesus. Each parable explains a spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives.

Our summer series will take a look at some of the parables of Jesus. Each parable explains a spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives.

Our summer series will take a look at some of the parables of Jesus. Each parable explains a spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives.

Our summer series will take a look at some of the parables of Jesus. Each parable explains a spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives.

Our summer series will take a look at some of the parables of Jesus. Each parable explains a spiritual truth that we can apply to our lives.

Our series “Splendor of Suffering” is a study of 1 Peter. In this week’s passage, Peter gives us practical ways to live with the realization that life is short.

Mark Shetler | 1 Peter 3:18 – 4:6 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

Our series “Splendor of Suffering” is a study of 1 Peter. In this week’s passage, we are reminded again to consider how the suffering of Jesus on the cross changed everything forever.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 3:13-17

“Splendor of Suffering” is a study of 1 Peter. This week’s passage teaches us that through our suffering, we can be a light to an unbelieving world around us.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 3:8-12

“Splendor of Suffering” is a study of 1 Peter. This week’s passage teaches that living the “good life” means reflecting the character of God.

Mark Shetler | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 2:13-3:7

“Splendor of Suffering” is a study in 1 Peter. This week’s passage helps us develop a proper attitude towards authority in this world.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 2:4-12

“Splendor of Suffering” is a study in the book of 1 Peter. This week’s passage describes Jesus as the living cornerstone who some accept and others reject.

Pastor Mark Shetler | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 1:22- 2:3

In the series, “Splendor of Suffering,” we are studying the book of 1 Peter. This week’s message reminds us that the very heart of being a Christ-follower is choosing to love others, even when it isn’t easy.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 1:18-21

In the series, “Splendor of Suffering,” we are studying the book of 1 Peter. In this week’s section, we see that it is the precious blood of Jesus that redeems, motivates and empowers us to stand firm.

Jesse Smith | 1 Peter 1:13-17 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

In the series, “Splendor of Suffering,” we are looking into the inspiring book of 1 Peter. In this section, we see that through suffering we can better live holy and obedient lives to God.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 1:3-9

In the new series, “Splendor of Suffering,” we are working through the book of 1 Peter. In this section, we see how we can have joy in the midst of suffering because of what God is working out in us.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions | 1 Peter 1:1-3

In the new series, “Splendor of Suffering,” we will be traveling through the book of 1 Peter. This study will help us better understand how God uses suffering and difficulties to bring us to spiritual maturity.

Dan Palmer

Jesse Smith

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:17 | Message Notes

“The Ten: Commandments for Today” is a series designed to help us consider the relevance of these ancient instructions from the Lord. This week we look at the command not to covet.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:13

“The Ten: Commandments for Today” is a series designed to help us consider the relevance of these ancient instructions from the Lord. This week we look at the command not to murder.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:16 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

“The Ten: Commandments for Today” is a series designed to help us consider the relevance of these ancient instructions from the Lord. This week we look at the command not to lie.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:15 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:14 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

“The Ten: Commandments for Today” is a series designed to encourage us to apply the truths of these ancient instructions to our lives today. This week we learn what adultery is and why it is wrong.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:12 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

“The Ten: Commandments for Today” is a series designed to encourage us to apply the truths of these ancient instructions to our lives today. This week we learn what it means to honor our father and mother.

This week we welcome former atheist and author of “The Case for Christ,” Lee Strobel.

Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel is the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and best-selling author of more than twenty books. His classic, The Case for Christ, is a perennial favorite which details his conversion to Christianity. His recent release, The Case for Grace, just won the 2016 Nonfiction Book of the Year from the EPCA. For the last twenty-five years, his life’s work has been to share the evidence that supports the truth and claims of Christianity and to equip believers to share their faith with the people they know and love.

More information about Lee Strobel can be found at his website: https://leestrobel.com/

Saturday Session 3 of 3 – Reasonable Faith 2018

Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel is the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and best-selling author of more than twenty books. His classic, The Case for Christ, is a perennial favorite which details his conversion to Christianity. His recent release, The Case for Grace, just won the 2016 Nonfiction Book of the Year from the EPCA. For the last twenty-five years, his life’s work has been to share the evidence that supports the truth and claims of Christianity and to equip believers to share their faith with the people they know and love.

More information about Lee Strobel can be found at his website: https://leestrobel.com/

Saturday Session 2 of 3 – Reasonable Faith 2018

J. Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Biola, and Author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith.

More information about J. Warner Wallace can be found here: http://coldcasechristianity.com/

Saturday Session 1 of 3 – Reasonable Faith 2018

Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University. And he is the Resident Scholar for Summit California.

More information about Sean can be found on his website: http://seanmcdowell.org/

Friday Evening Main Session – Reasonable Faith 2018

J. Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Biola, and Author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith.

More information about J. Warner Wallace can be found here: http://coldcasechristianity.com/

Mini Lecture from Friday Evening’s session of Reasonable Faith 2018

Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University. And he is the Resident Scholar for Summit California.

More information about Sean McDowell can be found on his website: http://seanmcdowell.org/

Mini Lecture from Friday Evening’s session of Reasonable Faith 2018

Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel is the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and best-selling author of more than twenty books. His classic, The Case for Christ, is a perennial favorite which details his conversion to Christianity. His recent release, The Case for Grace, just won the 2016 Nonfiction Book of the Year from the EPCA. For the last twenty-five years, his life’s work has been to share the evidence that supports the truth and claims of Christianity and to equip believers to share their faith with the people they know and love.

More information about Lee Strobel can be found at his website: https://leestrobel.com/

Mini Lecture from Friday Evening’s session of Reasonable Faith 2018

Founder and Director of M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics and Director of M.A. Program in Science and Religion at Biola University.

Craig Hazen is the editor of the philosophy journal, Philosophia Christi. He is also the author of the monograph The Village Enlightenment in America, the acclaimed apologetics novel Five Sacred Crossings, and dozens of articles and chapters in various books and journals. He is a recipient of the Fischer Award, the highest faculty honor at Biola and has lectured across North America and Europe on key apologetics topics — including lectures on Capitol Hill and in the White House. He is a popular church and conference speaker and former co-host of a national radio talk program.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:8-11 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

In the series, “The Ten: Commandments for Today,” we are considering how each of these commands are relevant for us as believers. This week we are challenged to keep the Sabbath.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:7 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

In the series, “The Ten: Commandments for Today”, we are looking at each of these commands given by the Lord to His people. This week we learn not to misuse His name.

Jesse Smith | Exodus 20:4-5 | Notes and Growth Group Questions

In our series “The Ten: Commandments for Today” we are considering each of these instructions given by the Lord to His people. This week we learn that anything that replaces God as our first priority is an idol.

Jesse Smith | Notes and Growth Group Questions

In the new series, “The Ten: Commandments for Today”, we will be considering each of these instructions given by God. This series will focus on how these moral absolutes apply to us today. As we learn to put God first in our lives, we will grasp what it means to live life well.

“Christmas Answers,” our holiday series, focuses on how the coming of Christ addresses the biggest issues of human history and present day dilemmas.

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. In preparation, we will focus on living our life with an attitude of gratitude, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every single day.

This week we are finishing up the Old Testament book of Haggai and our focus is on how the Bible beautifully and miraculously works together from beginning to end. Ultimately, the Bible always points to the King of Kings, Jesus.

This week we examine the third challenge God gives to His people through the prophet Haggai. He wants to bless them, but won’t until they learn grace. He wants our hearts not our work. When we learn His grace, we serve out of gratitude rather than obligation, and are blessed.

The Old Testament book of Haggai contains a number of relevant lessons for the Christian life today. This week we focus on developing a consistent kingdom perspective.

In this new series, we will be walking through the Old Testament book of Haggai. This book is all about priorities and wholeheartedly pursuing the Kingdom of God by putting Him first in all we say and do.

This week as we conclude our current series, “The Abundant Life,” we focus on the importance of living a life of risk for the kingdom of God.

“The Abundant Life” that Jesus promises His followers includes forgiveness of sin. This week we focus on how confession and repentance bring true freedom into our lives.

If you want to experience “The Abundant Life” that Jesus promised, you need to be committed to
sharing your faith with others. Participating in evangelism is a privilege because we get to point
other people to Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Jesus promises us “The Abundant Life” if we intentionally follow Him. This week we consider how important it is for every believer to be committed to some form of group life.

River City Christian often talks about every attender of our church striving to be a disciple who makes disciples. Today we examine a case study of Jesus making a disciple of the most unlikely person, a Samaritan woman.

As we continue the series, “Abundant Life,” we are considering how to live a life of significance. This week we look at the concept of having a “holy discontent” that drives our actions to glorify God.

As we continue our series, “The Abundant Life,” we are seeking to live lives of significance. This week we discuss the value of having a life mission statement, which will help keep our life centered on what really matters.

Today we begin a new message series “The Abundant Life” exploring the promises of Jesus to His followers.  But before we dive into specifics, we must consider a foundational message “It Starts with Grace.”

Our current series, “The Chosen,” is exploring the lives of some of the most famous characters in the Old Testament. While Moses was reluctant to follow the Lord at first, his example eventually offers some significant spiritual principles that we can apply to our own lives.

This week we continue to look at Foundational Heroes of the Old Testament focusing on the character of Joseph.  We will consider how this righteous man serves as an example to those of us who are trying to follow Jesus in the world today.

The heroes of the Old Testament are exciting, intriguing and accomplished but are they so much different than you or I?  Are their successes a result of their own righteousness and faithfulness or a result of the faithfulness of God?  This week we learn lessons from the Patriarch Abraham who was chosen by God.

This week we conclude our series “Life on the Edge” which has sought to give us a godly perspective when life seems out of control. This week we consider the topic of finances.

In our current series, “Life on the Edge,” we are looking at how to maintain a godly perspective when life seems to be out of control.  This week we will focus on ways to deal with worry.

“Life on the Edge” is our current message series giving us insight on ways to keep a godly perspective when life seems out of control. This week we focus on dealing with pain.

This week we wrap up our series “You Asked for It” in which we have sought to answer some of our questions about living the Christian life in our current culture. Today’s message focuses on “How Can I Know God’s Will for My Life?”

In the new series, “You Asked for It,” we are tackling some of the big questions people submitted through the app to the pastors on Easter weekend. This week we will discuss “Questions about Salvation.”