River Of Life - Cold Spring

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” - Ephesians 6:10 (ESV) “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.” - Deuteronomy 31:7 (NIV) “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:6 - 7 (ESV) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9 (NIV) What do we need to do to get strong? 1.) Leave the past behind! “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lor

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV) “Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!” - Ephesians 5:14-16 (MSG) In this week's message, we are reading from Luke 18. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector don’t have an action problem, they have an identity problem. The Pharisee represents legalism, while the Tax Collector represents Lawlessness. 1.) You need to know Jesus. “Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else th

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." - 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV) “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1 (NIV) 1.) Praise until the prison doors open. Worship until the chains fall off. “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you t

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” -Galatians 5:1 (NIV) Something powerful happens when we identify exactly what it is we want God to do in our life. As we begin to identify those things and take to God there is 3 things I want you to remember: 1.) Stand on the Promise! “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” - Psalm 119:9 -11 (NIV) 2.) Rely on His Power. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," -Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” - Matthew 22:37 (NLT) “A second is equally as important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:29 (NLT) “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.” - Matthew 28:19 - 20 (NLT) 1.) Missions starts with a heart for God. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” - Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) 2.) Missions starts with a new heart. “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!” - Deuteronomy 30:6 (NLT) “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” - Psalm 51:10 (NLT) 3.) Missions starts when we love others.

"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." -Matthew 5:45 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 (NIV) The ultimate purpose in life is to make a difference. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt- seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand

Why should we care about the poor? Key Questions - 1. How many of you would like to have a relatively happy life? 2. How many of you would like your life to be an act of worship? 3. How many of you would like to keep a reasonably solid financial portfolio? 4. How many of you would be thankful if God listened to your cries for help? “If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.” -Proverbs 14:21 (GNT) “If you oppress (or mistreat) poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.” -Proverbs 14:31 (GNT) “Giving to the poor will keep you from poverty, but if you close your eyes to their needs, everyone will curse you.” -Proverbs 28:27 (CEV) "Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." -Psalm 82:4 (ESV) “Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.” -Proverbs 11:25 (GNT) **God is basically saying, if you take care of my children, I’ll take care of your chi

Thanks for joining us online for our Mid-Summer Celebration! This weekend, we had the privilege in seeing many people baptized and making a public declaration of their faith in Jesus.

Mark 5:21-42 (NIV) "When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who

"One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." - Mark 10:27 Definition of Miracles: Definition: - “An extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.” - “It is a supernatural event that would be impossible for us to experience with our natural abilities or resources.” "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." -Mark 16:17-18 A miracle is a sign that God uses to point to Himself! If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be gi

“Please speak to the LORD for us and ask him to help us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking Judah. Perhaps the LORD will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as he has done in the past. Perhaps he will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies.” - Jeremiah 21:2 (NLT) "What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?" - Deuteronomy 4:6-7 (NIV) This week, we are beginning a new series about miracles. What is a miracle? Who are miracles for? Why do we have miracles? Do you believe that God still does miracles? "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all." -Psalm 34:19 (NIV) 1.) What is a miracle? 1st definition: -a wonder; a marvel -a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality. “A miracle of modern science” -a miracle is often the willingness to see the common in an uncommon way. 2nd definition: “

Did you know 76% of men feel A LOT of pressure to provide for their family financially, and that has only been compounded by the global pandemic of this past year? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.3 million children, 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. Without a father, children are: 2x's more likely to drop out of high school, 4x's more likely to live in poverty, 7x's more likely to become pregnant as a teen, more likely to face abuse and neglect, develop behavioral problems, commit crimes, abuse drugs and alcohol and go to prison (280% more likely to carry guns and deal drugs).(fatherhood.org) Many of us are carrying deep wounds from our earthly father that we have transferred to our heavenly father. We might not say it this way, but we act as if God is going to behave with the same character or lack of character that we experienced from our own dad. "Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estat

Welcome to a River Kids Sunday! This week, Pastor Mark and his Kids Team are talking about confidence and learning to see yourself the way God sees you! In Joshua 6, we hear about a man named Joshua. Joshua was faced with a difficult situation and had to put his trust in God. Would he be confident in the goodness of the Lord? "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13 "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart." - Psalm 27:14 Joshua had confidence in serving the Lord and knowing that God loved him and saw him for who he was.

We were Live on the Lake this Sunday! Enjoy a message on hope from Pastor Denny preaching from Riverside Resort in Richmond, MN.

"Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. "Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed

This lesson talks about how we can connect with God. It shares how we can pray at any time and that Jesus loved to pray. The story teaches that Jesus would slip away from the crowds to be alone and talk to Hs Father, God. There was one day that one of Jesus' disciples asked Him, "Lord...teach us to pray". Jesus answered His friend with a simple example. The example God showed them is the prayer found in Luke 11:2-4. It is good to memorize this prayer, but we don't have to stick with those exact words to pray right. We can take the same ideas from Jesus' prayer and make them our own, as we pray to Him. Jesus called God "Father"; we can, too. He is our perfect Father who loved us, no matter what. God deserves to be honored. God made heaven and Earth, made us in His image. We ca take time to honor God and thank Him for all He's done for us. God is our King. He is our King. He is in control; He has a good plan for our lives. God's "kingdom" means that things happen the way God planned for them to happen. We're as

Life. There is a beginning and and ending. In the middle - we face many unknowns. In the middle, there is beauty between. Throughout the Bible, we read many stories of characters that were stuck in the middle of their story for a very, very, long time. Noah spent years building the ark, before even one rain drop had fallen. Finally, God made a covenant with Noah in Genesis 9, after the rain subsided - God made a promise to Noah, that he would never destroy the earth with a flood again, and as a sign of the covenant, he gave Noah a rainbow. God promised promised Abraham that He would lead him to a new land, that he will give Abraham this land as an inheritance, that he will give Abraham a son to call his heir, and that Abraham’s descendants will be a numerous as the stars in the sky. "This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me a