RiverLife Church Sermons

During times of crisis, we need emotional support and practical help from one another. The body of Christ was designed to do just that. We’ll share relevant and timely things that you can do to give and receive care during these difficult days.

Self-care is so much more than just binge-watching a show or taking a hot bath. Pang Moua explains a highly misunderstood topic and shows some practical ways to practice it.

These days, we can go through a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions, and that's normal. Pang Foua Yang Rhodes shares how God has wired us to cope with danger and how we can grow through times of crisis.

Listen to highlights from our most popular sermon series ever.

Enjoy the Easter story with the help of a bag of mystery eggs.

What happens when the social disciplines of your faith, like church attendance and fellowship, are taken away from you? It's time to focus some attention on personal spiritual disciples. Join Kyle Magstadt for a Zoom discussion on practical ways you can use this stay-at-home period as a time of soul care and restoration.

Listen to the story of how God saved a former atheist through the love of family and church.

Listen to an amazing testimony from Esther, her daughter Victorine, and son-in-law Mike about her healing from a brain hemorrhage.

Special guest this week -- Kyle Magstadt! (Church member, District staff, and Pastor Greg's friend & boss.) Join us as he talks about an ancient spiritual practice that we're all living these days--solitude.

These days, there are plenty of reasons to be afraid—frightening statistics, risk of illness or death, job losses, store closings, and much more. But the secret to surviving any crisis is managing those fears.

Everybody needs an anchor—something to hold onto when life is chaotic or uncertain. Learn how to hold onto God as our anchor during these challenging times.

Jesus explains that unity within the church is one of the most powerful testimony Christians have to show the world.

What's the worst thing you can do in church? Complain. Discover the destructive power of something so simple, small, and common.

Nobody gets married thinking they’ll cheat on their spouse. But it happens… at lot. Learn how to protect yourself and your marriage. (Prov. 5)

The Bible has some surprising words for husbands and wives and their sex life. (1 Cor. 7:3-5)

If there’s one area in which personal guardrails are most needed but also most resisted, it’s sex.

Guardrails help prevent us from straying into areas of life that can harm us or the people we love.

If you don’t understand your identity in God, it’s really easy to use sex and sexual activity to build up your identity, self-esteem, and self-worth.

There are certain things that if you don’t have firmly located in God, you are almost guaranteed to misuse sexual activity. Here are the first four.

It’s easy to picture God as anti-sex. But the Creation Story in Genesis paints a very different picture.

Our world today has a wide view of sex. But everything in Scripture seems to point to the idea that God has a narrow view of sex.

We all walk through life with wounds. We'll try different things to heal us, numb the pain, or deny the problem. But God has designed us to find healing in a special way—in loving, trusted relationships with others. Learn how this can happen in Life Groups from Pang Foua Rhodes, our Spiritual Growth Director.

What do you do when a friend or family member tells you that they’re struggling with depression or has considered suicide? Pang Foua Rhodes shares some lessons from the Book of Job and provides practical advice on how to lovingly come alongside someone who’s reaching out for help.

This week, Pang Foua shares about the rise and impact of depression and suicide within the Hmong community, and Pastor Greg answers the question, “Is suicide an unforgivable sin?”

We all make resolutions. We all break resolutions. But if we're really honest, there is something in each of our lives—a habit, a relationship, a debt—that deserves our attention this year. In this message, Pastor Greg draws out a lesson that can be the key to finally accomplishing the one thing we each need to put our minds to this year.

We live in a world desperately in need of peace—among countries, across the political aisle, in neighborhoods, and within families. There is one true way there, and it’s through a baby in a manger.

We tend to project onto our heavenly father how we think of our earthly father. That’s why is so important that Jesus was called an “Everlasting Father”—because he is different than anything we’ve experienced here on earth.

The name “Mighty God” conjures up images of power and strength. But when it’s applied to Jesus, it might surprise you where and how that power is at work.

How is it that a holiday centered around giving thanks often leaves us feeling quite the opposite? We can end up stressed and tired, obsessed with shopping, and even resentful of our family. Take a breather with Pastor Greg and learn how to survive the holiday season--the secret to being thankful.

This Sunday, we celebrated God at work during our recent local mission trip to the Envision Chicago site. Hear stories from participants about what they learned serving God there. Be inspired by photos, testimonies, memories, and so much more.

“What if I can’t do it? What if I fail?” This is the fear at the heart of so many of our decisions NOT to do something. But imagine if we could escape the traps of feeling like our failures are not final. This week, Pastor Kong shares his own fear of failure and how God can redeem and redirect it for all of us.

Today was a celebration of decisions at RiverLife. Six families chose to dedicate a total​ of 8 children--to raise them up to love God and love others. Also, 10 adults, youth, and kids chose to publically declare their faith in Jesus through baptisms. (Sorry. this service won't make for a great podcast for listening. We encourage you to watch the video at https://vimeo.com/367863089.)

Fear of rejection can propel us into a life of people-pleasing or detachment. But in doing so, we are robbing ourselves of the life and relationships God desires for us. In this sermon, Pastor Greg shows from the Bible how you can learn to live for an audience of one.

For most of Church history, baptism has served as an initiation rite into the church and the family of God. But more recently, it's become seen as something for people who are "ready" or already mature in their faith. Nothing could be further from the truth!

As we close out our EHS series, Pastor Greg and Pang Foua answer some common questions, explain how EH will fit into the big picture of RiverLife, and share some of their favorite moments over the last three weeks. You’ll also hear from some people who have taken the class and the impact it’s had on their lives and faith.

Ever wonder why you keep repeating the same bad habits over and over again. In this sermon, Pastor Greg looks at false messages we learn in childhood and their effects on us in adulthood. Discover why the pain of moving out of the false self is preferable to the pain of staying in it.

Life is busy—work, family, friends, church, and more. Doing all of this often results is our work for God outpacing our relationship with God (often by a large margin). When this happens, we’re in trouble. This week, Pang Foua Rhodes shares the secret to having our activity for God flow out of our life with God.

Something is desperately wrong in the church. Find out what it is, and whether it’s inside you as well. Join Pastor Greg as he shares signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality by examining the life and rule of King Saul.

Over the last five years, RiverLife has been in 5 locations, held 252 services, and served a gazillion cups of coffee. Along the way, God has been faithful, loving, forgiving, and even surprising. Join us for a special service as we celebrate five years of God bringing hope, healing, and growth to second and third generation Hmong.

What’s is the greatest thing in your life? Simba realized when he got it wrong and changed the trajectory of his life. You can too.

The toys are at it again! This time, Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. This movie, perhaps more than the previous ones, masterfully addresses the question of our purpose in life. Forky discovers his; you can discover yours.

Carol Danvers became one of the universe's most powerful heroes, but her path to hair-glowing, spaceship-punching Captain Marvel wasn’t an easy one. Neither is our path to spiritual maturity. This week, join Pastor Kong as he explores the concept of spiritual grit and why it’s essential for the Christian life.

What do you do when half of all life in the universe is snapped out of existence? Assemble the greatest collection of superheroes ever seen on film. Along the way, you can explore themes of grief and loss, as well as self-worth and redemption.

Xau Moua shares a story of how a struggle with his identity and manhood allowed God to show him who he was in Christ alone.