03 The Five Facets of the Gospel - The Gospel Affirmations
Release Date: 09/14/2025
04 Preparing God's People for Service
River Church Sermons
info_outline
03 Grasping God's Greatness
River Church Sermons
info_outline
02 The Incomparable Christ - From Death to Life
River Church Sermons
The Incomparable Christ Pt. 2: From Death to Life By Louie Marsh, 1-18-2026 Top 10 Preaching Rules 10: Any illustration can be massaged to fit any sermon. 9: If a story is funny enough, it doesn't have to fit the sermon. 8: A sermon that is "too short" is rarer than Bigfoot at a photographer's convention. 7: The kid who screams and throws a fit every week will wait until the quietest, most focused and serious moment of your sermon to let 'er rip. 6: The member who always gripes that you don't preach enough on (pick one) baptism/faith/giving/witnessing will be out of town the week...
info_outline
01 The Incomparable Christ - My Standing in Christ
River Church Sermons
The Incomparable Christ Pt. 1: Our Standing In Christ By Louie Marsh, 1-11-2026 1) Who & what I AM. “1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are IN EPHESUS, and are faithful IN CHRIST JESUS: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1 1-2, ESV) Intro. Verses 3 - 14 have been called a Hymn of Grace. They are a statement of our spiritual blessings in Christ. These verses are one long, complex sentence in the Greek. According to Purdue University: Run-ons, comma splices, and fused...
info_outline
01 Coming Into Focus
River Church Sermons
New Year’s Sermon Coming Into Focus By Louie Marsh, 1-4-2026 Intro. 5 Cartoons, last one about being perfect just as I am. 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after...
info_outline
01 The past, Present & Future
River Church Sermons
Past, Present & Future Louie Marsh, 12-28-2025 Verse: 17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Psalm 71:17-18 (ESV) THE PAST – A Great Place to Visit but don’t LIVE THERE! 16 Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We...
info_outline
03 Christmas Songs - Simeons Song
River Church Sermons
Christmas Songs Pt. 3: Simeon’s Song By Louie Marsh, 12/21-2025 Intro – last cartoon, lights out together 1) Worth WAITING for. “25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:25–26, ESV) “12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now...
info_outline
02 Christmas Songs - Zachariah's Song
River Church Sermons
Christmas Songs Pt. 2: Zechariah‘s Song By Louie Marsh, 12-14-2025 67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Luke 1:67 (ESV) Zachariah praises God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist, and the Messiah to come. 1) God VISITING us. “68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited…” (Luke 1:68a, ESV) “14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, ESV) 2) God REDEEMING us. ...
info_outline
01 Christmas Songs - Mary's Song
River Church Sermons
Christmas Songs Pt. 1: Mary’s Song By Louie Marsh, 12-7-2025 In response to the situation at hand Mary recited a song which praised God’s favor on her and her people. “The Magnificat,” as the song is called, consists almost entirely of Old Testament allusions and quotations. The same is true of the songs of Zechariah and Simeon. Mary’s song has similarities to Hannah’s song. 1 Sam. 2:1-10 – First four verses on the PPT 1) Gratitude – for a PERSONAL relationship with God. “46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my...
info_outline
07 Wise Up - The Foolishness of God
River Church Sermons
Wise Up! Pt. 7: The Foolishness of God by Louie Marsh, 11-30-2025 Today we want to talk about a kind of foolishness everyone needs to have in their life - the foolishness of God!! 1. Christianity appears to be FOOLISH “18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV) 2. God DESIGNED it that way. “27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world,...
info_outline
The Five Facets of The Gospel
Part Three: The Gospel Affirmations
By Louie Marsh, 9-14-2025
Preached Parker, October 25, 1992
Intro. We continue with this series, defining what the Gospel was in the preaching of the Apostles, and what it should be to us! This may seem like old hat to some of you, but I believe that we all need to learn this, or be reminded of this - and to seriously consider whether this is how we present Christ to those around us.
Where We’ve Been:
· The Gospel Events – Death, Burial & Resurrection of Jesus,
· The Gospel Witnesses: Scripture & Apostle’s witness
3rd Facet - The Gospel Affirmations
1) Jesus is Lord is the PRIMARY affirmation of the New Testament.
“8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:8–13, ESV)
· Becoming Lord of all is WHY Jesus died and rose again.
“9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” (Romans 14:9, ESV)
· The Father Himself EXALTED Jesus through his resurrection.
“8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8–11, ESV)
“36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”” (Acts 2:36, ESV)
· You can only say & mean Jesus is Lord - through the Holy Spirit.
“3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3, ESV)
· Why is it Primary?
Savior is used 24 times in the NIV New Testament
Lord is used of Jesus 615 time in the NIV New Testament
| κύριος | 717 | lord, Lord |
2) Some practical results of AFFIRMING that Jesus is Lord.
· You START obeying Jesus in everything.
“46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV)
“21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, ESV)
· You can then evangelize without HYPOCRISY,
“15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)
B) The Secondary Affirmation
1, Jesus is Savior
a, This is also a result of His death and Resurrection - Acts 5:31
“31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31, ESV)
“23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” (Ephesians 5:23, ESV)
b, It's a fulfillment of prophecy Acts 13:23
“23Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.” (Acts 13:23, ESV)
3, Being Lord includes and over shadows being Savior Eph. 5:23
“23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” (Ephesians 5:23, ESV)