The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,000 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 17 trips to carry that many people.
David Farnham on Philippians 1:12-18 ‘Spreading and sharing the good news”
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/david-farnham-15th-sept-2013.mp3]Tim Carter on Philippians 1:3-11 “Thanksgiving and joy in Prayer”
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tim-carter-8th-sept-2013.mp3]On 14th July we held a special “Farewell” service for Steve & Maggie.
We wish them both well and praise God for the time they spent at River Community Church.
You can listen to the service below
On Sunday 7th July, we were hugely blessed to have a Baptism Service at River Church. Steve spoke to the baptism candidates and the whole church about remaining In Jesus so that our lives are fruitful, productive and successful.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4
When a rose has been cut off from the rose bush, it can only survive for a short term. It will fade and die because it has lost its source of nourishment. In the same way, says Jesus, we must stay close to him, connected to him, rooted in him.
Plants such as roses need 3 things to be healthy :-
Listen in for yourself to Steve’s message below.
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/7th-july-2013-steve.mp3]
On Saturday 29th June, a number of local speakers helped us to think about the challenge of making (and keeping) Christian disciples here in Telford, in our 21st century consumer culture. The conference focussed on 5 different facets and you can catch up on the presentations below by clicking on the ‘play’ button for each talk.
Mark Ireland: Committing to Discipleship – laying the foundations
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/29th-june-2013-mark-discipleship.mp3]Leslie Burke: Community Discipleship – Collective service of the local community
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/29th-june-2013-leslie-discipleship.mp3]Andy Smith: Keeping Disciples – avoiding losing the sheep
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/29th-june-2013-andy-discipleship.mp3]Keith Osmund-Smith: Incarnational Discipleship – getting disciples involved beyond church
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/29th-june-2013-keith-discipleship.mp3]Steve Kelly: Discipleship today – mixing old and new models [handout available here Workshop Handout – TCC conference – Making Disciples]
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/29th-june-2013-steve-discipleship.mp3]Further downloads available :-
Find out why Steve was encouraging River Church to close the door to Delia but let Eirene come in and take up residence in your home!!! Based on John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Here’s a great song of dedication and trust in God.
Into your hands
I commit again
With all I am for You, Lord.
You hold my world
in the palm of Your hand,
And I am Yours for ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKLyqo8Uwew
Download the PEACE bookmark as a reminder of this talk here > > Bookmark – My peace I give to you
Steve began his talk on Sunday by considering how the disciples felt about the news that Jesus was leaving them. They felt lost! Uncertain about the future, maybe a sense of panic, With typical frankness, Thomas says to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” John 14:5
The words of Jesus to his disciples 200 years ago are just as relevant to us today. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1 You can listen to Steve’s talk by clicking on the play button below.
Steve also went on to talk about two great promises which Jesus made for the journey.
Nicky Gumbel comments, The way in which Jesus passes on his legacy is through the Holy Spirit. He will send the Holy Spirit to live in your heart. Jesus had thought it through very carefully and had made a great succession plan!
Listen to part 2 of the talk below and read the passage for yourself here.
Steve speaks about the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost with the intriguing sub-title of…
IFs, BUTs and MAYBEs !
Too often, we lets our IFs and BUTs get in the way of what God wants to do. But we mustn’t limit our vision of the future to what we think is possible or achievable. The disciples had lots of IFS and BUTS of their own. But that all changed on the day of Pentecost as Jesus had promised.
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, BUT wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, BUT in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 BUT you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts chapter 1
If you have doubts and questions about what God can do, then listen in to Steve’s talk. The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, who empowered the disciples, who enabled Peter to stand up and preach courageously and boldly is available to his followers today. If we’re willing to lay aside our IFS, BUTs and MAYBEs and simply ask…we can have our own personal Pentecost.
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/19th-may-2013-steve-pentecost-sunday.mp3]Powerpoint available here > > > https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ifs-buts-and-maybes.ppt
PDF available here > > > https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ifs-buts-and-maybes.pdf
And here’s a great song to use as a prayer…
More Love, More Power,
More of You in my life.
More Love, More Power,
More of You in my life.
I will worship You
with all of my heart.
I will worship You
with all of my mind.
I will worship You
with all of my strength.
For You are my Lord,
you are my Lord.
Below, you will find Maggie’s talk from last Sunday based on Acts 1:1-8.
[audio https://riverchurchtalks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/12th-may-2013-maggie-waiting-for-the-spirit.mp3]“On one occasion, while Jesus was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
River Community Church Talks 