Riverside Life
Thursday, June 10th, 2010One of the greatest things about being a pastor is that I get to witness God at work in the lives of various people every day. I realize that many of you never get to hear about the amazing things that happen within Riverside every week . . . so, I thought I would fill you in on a few. Through Riverside, you are a part of the movement of God!
Summer With Women's Ministry
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010I just sig
ned my kids up for the summer reading club at the library and now I have the pleasure of letting the women of Riverside – and their friends – know about their own summer reading opportunities. So, pick up your book(s) at the table by the sound booth, find a cozy place to read and curl up with a few good reads!
1) If you missed the first week of our summer Bible study, it’s not too late to join. Our summer session is a laid-back opportunity to study God’s word and read a good book while you’re at it. On Wednesday nights, we’ll meet to discuss Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace by Kristin Armstrong. The location rotates so contact Megan Mills or Gretchen Shook with any questions. June 9th Anne Custer is hosting the discussion at 6 p.m. but the rest of the summer, Bible study will begin at 7 p.m. This group will NOT meet June 23, 30 or July 28.
The "Design a Shirt" T-shirts Are In!
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
The t-shirts are here and ready to be picked up. Also, we have LOTS of extras for kids and smaller adult sizes. If you didn't pre-order, you are more than welcome to purchase one on Sunday. T-Shirts are $15 each and the proceeds support our Youth Group mission project this summer.
Please either contact Becky Wellner (bwellner@rcovenant.org) or talk to a member of the Youth Group for pickups or new purchases.
Stinking Accumulation of Mental & Emotional Garbage - Dan Teefey
Recorded on Sunday, June 6th, 201036:09 minutes (16.55 MB)
Sermon text: Ephesians 4:17-24
This week we arrive at a sin in Galatians 5 that is translated in several different ways. The original Greek word is “aselgeia.” The King James Version uses the word, “lasciviousness.” Then that gets defined as “filthy or wantonness.” We get other uses too. Our NIV translation uses “debauchery.” The same Greek word is then translated “sensuality” in the passage in Ephesians we are going to examine this morning. Then Eugene Peterson's Message takes the meaning of the word further by calling it a “stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage.” That is definitely a stretch from the literal meaning of the word, but it does get at the heart of it. I perhaps most prefer translating the term “outrageousness.”
Now just to be clear, there is clearly a sexual nature to this sin carried out in the outrageous nature of sexuality gone wrong. We talked about this last week when we discussed sexual immorality, but this outrageousness does not just take sexual forms in our hearts and minds. As Peterson's translation makes evident, it also includes a whole host of other mental and emotional garbage.
This morning then I want us to look at a passage from Ephesians 4 that I think illustrates the effect and pervasiveness of this sin. I want to call our problem foolish thinking and shallow emotions. Let's begin though by looking at God's word on this.
Internet Pornography Resources
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010This past week we had the opportunity to look at what the Bible says about sexual immorality. During the sermon I specifically spoke about the pervasive issue of pornography in our society and how it both dehumanizes people as sexual objects and separates sex and sexuality from its God-given place in committed relationships. I also mentioned that I would provide more resources to help you overcome and avoid pornography.
Riverside's First VBS is This Week!
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Our first ever Vacation Bible School is this week -- June 21-25 at 6:30 in the evening. We will embark on a SonQuest Rainforest adventure that will transport young minds into a vivid rainforest environment of jungle sounds, sights and smells, where they’ll dig into the Bible and meet Jesus in every day’s story. It's not too late to get the entire family involved either by attending or by volunteering to help in some way. Register today by contacting the office@rcovenant.org.
Civil War Water Balloons
Monday, May 31st, 2010
It was a cool 94 degrees on Sunday so we had the students over to the Wellner house for a water balloon fight and pizza party to celebrate the end of school:) It was the perfect weather for soaking each other!! In Discovery Hour we began a discussion on how to deal with internal conflict in the church. We talked about Matthew 18:15 and how different that picture of conflict resolution is from what the world shows us-retaliation, gossip, bitterness, etc. So at the water balloon party we had the kids line up Civil War style-each team in a line, double deep, with ammo ready. One team could "fire" at a time and the other side just had to stand there and take it. Then the second team could decide whether or not they wanted to fire back. We talked afterwards about what went through their heads when it came to firing back at someone who has tried to hurt you, and if it matters who it is, if you have history with them, if they're a stranger, all tho
