04 Preparing God's People for Service
River Church Sermons
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03 Grasping God's Greatness
River Church Sermons
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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. ...
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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...
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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_outlineWise Up!
Part 2: The Blessings of Wisdom
by Louie Marsh, 10-12-2025
Intro. Donald Duck last slide - Anyone remember Mr. T, a guy who made an entire career based on this phrase - “I pity the fool!” Only in America!! But he was right - foolishness is to be pitied and avoided! Which is why we’re talking about wisdom. The Bible teaches us that wisdom is the key to happiness. So why should we be wise??
1) What Wisdom Will Do For You.
· Wisdom Makes Us BLESSED (FULFILLED).
“13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,” (Proverbs 3:13, ESV)
· Wisdom Makes Us PROFITABLE .
“14for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:14–15, ESV)
Hebrew word means a good return on a trade. Wisdom will help us to get a good return on the work we do in our life. Wisdom makes our life worthwhile - not wasted. Therefore wisdom gives us a profitable life.
· Wisdom Makes Us HONORABLE .
“16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” (Proverbs 3:16, ESV)
The world could use more honorable people.
· Wisdom Makes Us COMPLETE/WHOLE.
“17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17, ESV)
The word here is Shalom - the Hebrew word for peace. But it means far more than just the absence of conflict. Instead it refers to the peace that comes from being whole - from having every part of your life in harmony with God, you and others.
· Wisdom Makes Us SPIRITUALLY ALIVE.
“18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” (Proverbs 3:18, ESV)
The Tree of Life is a symbol of spiritual life - wisdom shows us how to take our Bible knowledge and turn it into reality - thus bring us spiritually alive.
2) How To Become Wise…
· ASK For It.
“5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5, ESV)
Two important things to understand about this verse:
1, It doesn’t say HOW God will give wisdom
2, It doesn’t say WHEN He’ll do it!
· SEARCH for It.
“3yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,” (Proverbs 2:3–4, ESV)
“7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, ESV)
o Seek - like we said a LIFELONG process.
o Knock - BOLDLY requesting what you need.
· IDENTIFY It (Prov. 2:5)
“5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:5, ESV)
Biblical Wisdom is different from all others - because it is always linked to and flowing from God! We’ve got to understand that and never sever wisdom from God.
· LIVE It.
“28And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ”” (Job 28:28, ESV)
Notice that wisdom is something that show in what you do not just in what you say. Notice also that wisdom is avoiding sin. A wise person is someone who avoids sin.
3) Where Wisdom Begins…
· CHRIST is Our Wisdom.
“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.”… “24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, 24, ESV)
· RESULTS Prove Him True.
“19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”” (Matthew 11:19, ESV)
· ACCEPTING Him Is the Wise Choice.
“5Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.” (Ecclesiastes 8:5, ESV)
“2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV)