Riverbend Church

In this message, Nic teaches from Exodus 19–23, framing the giving of the law as part of a love story between God and His people, not a list of arbitrary rules. After Yahweh rescues Israel from slavery, He invites them into covenant partnership, preparing them—like in pre-marital counseling—for the vows to come. The law reveals God's character: compassionate, just, faithful, and deeply relational. Instructions about worship, sabbath, and even servitude are rooted in dignity and care, calling Israel to live differently than the world they came from. These commands are not about earning God's love but responding to it through relational obedience. God meets His people where they are and leads them toward a life that reflects His heart. This same invitation extends to us—not just to be rescued, but to be transformed, daily, into people who walk in faithfulness and rightly represent the One who calls us His own.

In this message, Katy explores Exodus 20 and the Ten Commandments as part of a larger love story between God and His people, not as a legalistic checklist. These commands are given to a people already rescued from slavery, invited into covenant as God's treasured possession and called to live out their identity as a priestly kingdom. The law is revealed as a gift of formation, not restriction—designed to protect love, reflect God's character, and enable human flourishing. From Sabbath rest to relational boundaries, each command teaches how to love God fully and love others faithfully. Rather than keeping a fearful distance, God invites His people into intimacy and mission, forming a community that embodies His rescue and radiates His presence. Reflection Questions: Do you know Him? Do you know His rescuing love? Are you ready to be His treasured possession?  Instead of keeping a safe distance, will you move in closer and say YES to the identity and mission He's inviting you into?

In this message, Andrew unpacks Exodus 19 as the pivotal moment when Yahweh proposes covenant union with His people, revealing that Exodus is not merely a rescue story—it's a love story. After delivering Israel from slavery, God invites them into a sacred relationship, offering not just rules, but identity and vocation: to be His treasured possession and a kingdom of priests. This covenant mirrors a wedding proposal, calling for wholehearted devotion rather than passive belief. Though God's holiness is overwhelming, the message of the New Covenant through Jesus is that we are no longer held at a distance. In Christ, we move from trembling at the base of the mountain to bold access in the presence of God. Worship becomes our response to divine love, not out of fear, but from joy and freedom, as we receive both our identity and purpose in Him.

Scripture is from Exodus 18:12-18 In this message, Andrew examines Exodus 18 and the transformation of Moses from an overburdened leader to someone learning to trust God's design for leadership and rest. The chapter centers on Jethro's timely counsel, which confronts Moses' exhausting attempt to do everything himself—a habit shaped by his past under Pharaoh's oppressive system. Andrew reveals how Moses, though delivered from Egypt, still carries the lies of slavery in his leadership approach. Through Jethro's wisdom, God invites Moses—and us—into a new rhythm rooted in trust, humility, delegation, and Sabbath rest. This passage isn't just about efficiency; it's about soul-deep reformation, where God peels away old beliefs of performance and worth to reshape His people into those who do the Lord's work the Lord's way. Reflection Questions: 1. In what ways have you been “deformed” by Pharaoh's system? Are there lies about your identity or worth that still shape your behavior? 2. Are you willing to listen to godly counsel, like Moses did with Jethro? Who in your life is helping you return to Yahweh's way? 3. Are you letting the wilderness transform you, or are you trying to survive it on your own? 4. Are you allowing God to renew your mind, or are you still trying to carry burdens He never asked you to carry? 5. Where is God inviting you to take up a new rhythm, a lighter yoke, and trust that He's the one leading the way?

In this message, Nic explores how the Israelites' journey through the wilderness in Exodus 16–17 reveals a pattern of grumbling met with divine grace. The provision of manna, quail, and water from the rock demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness, even when His people complain and doubt. These moments are not just about survival, but about formation—opportunities to learn trust, obedience, and dependence. The victory over Amalek underscores that while God provides, He also invites His people to participate in His work. The striking of the rock prefigures Christ, who was struck to bring living water to His people. In the face of uncertainty, this message calls us to remember God's past faithfulness as the foundation for present trust and future hope.

Andrew's message on Exodus 15 highlights Israel's response to God's miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea and the deep formation that happens when we worship. Standing at the beginning of a long, uncertain journey, Israel lifts their eyes from survival mode to trusting in Yahweh's steadfast love to guide them home. Andrew teaches that singing praise is not just reactionary but a prophetic act of trust, where God's past faithfulness becomes the foundation for future hope. Drawing from the heritage of spirituals born out of slavery, he reminds us that even in uncertainty, worship shapes us into people who believe that the same God who delivered once will do it again. We sing not because we feel strong or have all the answers, but because Yahweh is faithful, His love endures forever, and His promises are certain.

Andrew's Easter message, “Who Will Roll the Stone Away?” from Mark 16:1–7, centers on the human longing for meaning, resurrection, and rescue from death. Reflecting on our culture's obsession with delaying mortality through science and self-empowerment, he contrasts that pursuit with the Gospel's offer of true hope: the stone of sin and death has already been rolled away by Jesus. Andrew challenges the myth of self-sufficiency and secularism, suggesting that DIY spirituality and progress can't satisfy the soul's deeper ache for transcendence. Instead, resurrection is offered as the historical and spiritual turning point that brings purpose, identity, and eternal life to all who believe.

Katy's message on Exodus 13–14 tells the climactic story of Israel's escape from Egypt, emphasizing God's power not only to dismantle evil but to recreate something beautiful from it. She unpacks how God's instructions—such as consecrating the firstborn and observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread—were meant to shape Israel's identity as a new, holy nation. Even as God leads His people on an indirect and confusing path, His presence never leaves them. At the Red Sea, with Egypt behind and death ahead, fear and cynicism overwhelm the Israelites, but God uses the impossible moment to display His glory. The miraculous parting of the sea becomes a “eucatastrophe,” a sudden, grace-filled rescue that leads to salvation. Katy draws a powerful parallel between Israel's story and the believer's journey in Christ—freedom through blood, deliverance through water, and a call to remember, rejoice, and trust in God's mighty hand.

Andrew delivers a message on Exodus 11–12, focusing on the final plague and the institution of the Passover. He unpacks the weight of God's judgment on Egypt through the death of the firstborn, revealing both the seriousness of sin and the unshakable justice of God. At the same time, the message highlights God's mercy and love through the Passover lamb—a clear foreshadowing of Christ—whose blood marked the homes of those who trusted Him. God Himself stands guard in love over those homes, ensuring no harm comes to them. Obedience becomes an act of faith, and the talk calls listeners to remember God's faithfulness, respond to His grace, and trust in the redemption He provides.

Andrew's sermon on Exodus 8:10 explores Pharaoh's reluctance to submit to God's authority, even when faced with overwhelming evidence. By choosing to delay the removal of the frogs until "tomorrow," Pharaoh reveals a common human tendency to put off obedience, even when immediate action would bring relief. The passage demonstrates God's complete sovereignty, as Moses allows Pharaoh to choose the timing, only for God to fulfill it exactly as stated. This serves as a reminder that procrastination in spiritual matters can have real consequences, and true deliverance comes from trusting and responding to God without hesitation.

In this sermon, Nic teaches that the story of Exodus is not just ancient history, but the ultimate salvation story from which all great stories draw meaning. The narrative highlights the tension between Pharaoh, who refuses to recognize God's authority, and YHWH, who reveals Himself as the God who hears, sees, and rescues His people. The central question of Exodus—"Who is the Lord?"—is explored not just as a theological inquiry but as an invitation into relationship with a God who powerfully stands up to oppression and keeps His promises. The text emphasizes that God reveals who He is through action and story, not just through names or facts, and that this God—the God who saves—desires to be personally known and trusted by His people.

In this message, Katy teaches us about Exodus 3, where Moses encounters God in the burning bush—a moment of divine revelation and transformation. God, fully aware of His people's suffering in Egypt, calls Moses to lead them to freedom. Despite Moses' doubts and objections, God reassures him with His presence and reveals His name, "I AM WHO I AM," emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This passage not only highlights God's holiness and power but also His deep compassion and commitment to His covenant. Just as God heard the cries of Israel and came down to rescue them, He continues to see, hear, and respond to His people today.

In his sermon on Exodus, Andrew highlights Israel's journey from slavery to freedom, emphasizing God's faithfulness, justice, and presence. He outlines key moments such as Israel's deliverance, the covenant at Sinai, and the Tabernacle's construction. Andrew underscores Moses' reliance on God amid challenges and reflects on the Israelites' struggles with doubt and disobedience. Through these themes, he draws lessons on redemption, community, and trusting God's guidance in difficult times.

This is the fourth message in the mini-series called Praying for Awakening, titled "Asking, Seeking, Knocking"

This is the third message in the mini-series called Praying for Awakening, titled "Seeking God Together"

This is the first message in the mini-series called Praying for Awakening, titled "The Five Moves of the Faithful"

This is the first message in the mini-series called Praying for Awakening, titled "Discerning the Moment"

This is the fourth and final message in the series called We Are the Body of Christ, titled "Using Your Gifts in Love" by Nic Othart

This is the third in the series called We Are the Body of Christ, titled "Creating a Culture of Honor"

This is the second in the series called We Are the Body of Christ, titled "For the Common Good"

This is the first in the series called We Are the Body of Christ, titled "One Body, Many Parts"

In today's episode, Andrew takes us through what God has done in the Riverbend community in 2024, and what the Riverbend community is hopeful for in 2025.

This is the fourth in the Advent series, titled "Love Demonstrated by Joseph" by Katy Watson

This is the third in the Advent series, titled "Abiding Joy"

This is the second in the Advent series, titled "Peace Through the Eyes of Mary" by Katy Watson

This is the first in the Advent series, titled "The Hope of Simeon & Anna"

This is the final teaching in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Binding and Loosing"

This is the ninth in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Keys to the Kingdom"

This is the eighth in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Raised to Life"

This is the seventh in the series called Christ the Victor, taught by Nic Othart

This is the sixth in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "The Good Shepherd"

This is the fifth in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Overcoming Psychological Warfare"

This is the fourth in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "The Kingdom of God Has Come Upon You"

This is the third in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Even the Demons Obey Him", featuring Andrew Rothrock & Tammy Comer

This is the second in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Destroying the Works of the Enemy"

Filling in for this week for Andrew, Michael Watson brings us a bonus message from the sermon series "Life Stories"

Andrew is back from sabbatical! This is the first in the series called Christ the Victor, titled "Exulted Far Above All Gods"

This is the final message in the series called Life Stories

This is the tenth in the series called Life Stories

This is the ninth in the series called Life Stories

This is the eighth in the series called Life Stories

This is the seventh in the series called Life Stories

This is the sixth in the series called Life Stories

This is the fifth in the series called Life Stories

This is the fourth in the series called Life Stories

This is the third in the series called Life Stories

This is the first in the series called Life Stories - "Removing the Veil"

This is the first in the series called Life Stories - "Consider the Lilies"

This is Part 2 of the Intentional Parenting Series featuring Phil Comer - "Fatherhood"

This is Part 1 of the Intentional Parenting Series featuring Phil & Diane Comer - "Happily Even After"

This is the final sermon of the sermon series Entrusted with Glory - "Godliness with Contentment"