A Word from our Pastor

Hello Riverlawn family and friends! As many of you know, we’ve been studying the Book of Revelation on Sunday mornings. For those who haven’t had the opportunity to take part in one or more of the earlier messages, or who want to know what’s coming up next, here is a past highlights and a future forecast!

Week 1: The Glory of Christ and the Charge of the Church (Rev. 1:1-11). This book was written to: Give UNSHAKABLE HOPE to suffering Christians; Encourage UNWAVERING HOLINESS in a seductive culture; and Fuel MISSION among the nations. This is accomplished through a glorious picture of God’s gospel – Look to the past: Jesus is the CONQUERING SAVIOR WHO REDEEMS; Look to the present: Jesus is the COSMIC LORD WHO RULES; Look to the future: Jesus is the COMING KING WHO REIGNS.

Week 2: “The Supreme Splendor of the Son of Man” (Rev. 1:9-20). The only way from affliction to glory is PATIENT ENDURANCE found in Christ Alone. Jesus stands in the MIDST of his people identifying with our Mission and Struggles. The glorious image of Christ reveals that He possesses incorruptible Wisdom and Worthiness as well as Clear Vision and True Judgement. He has Unending Authority stretching over all of Creation. He proclaims the word, for he is the Word. The same Lord who stands in the midst of his churches, who holds the angels in his hands, Comes to us, Touches us, and Calms our fears. Jesus deserves our Awe.

Week 3: “Forsaking Our First Love” (Rev. 2:1-7 – Letter to Ephesus) Jesus commends their Actions, Perseverance, and Integrity of Faith. But they were so busy with the WORK OF THE LORD that they forgot how to WALK WITH THE LORD. If they choose not to return to their FIRST LOVE FULLY, so that they can reflect his LIGHT FAITHFULLY, Jesus will remove their church. How does forsaking our First Love happen? RELIGION replaces RELATIONSHIP and COMPLACENCY replaces PASSION. When our LOVE disappears, our LIGHT disappears as well. What do we do? 1. REMEMBER, 2. REPENT, 3. RETURN. As those who BELONG and ABIDE in him, we will share in His VICTORY.

Week 4: “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” (Rev. 2:8-11 – Letter to Smyrna). City of Bitterness. How do we trust a Power we cannot see when the powers we can see are so enormous? 1. Our Lord hurts as we hurt. 2. Our Lord directs our present and our future.
3. Our Lord uses all He allows.

The journey ahead ...

Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: Part 8: Part 9: Part 10: Part 11: Part 12: Part 13:

Pergamum – Thermostat of the Soul (2:12-17) Thyatira – The Cure for Restless Hearts (2:18-28) Sardis – The Cure for Complacent Souls (3:1-6) Philadelphia – Trusting in God (3:7-13)

Laodicea – The Peril of Lukewarm Faith (3:14-22)
Why Would a Good God Let Bad Things Happen? (Rev. 6-9) How to Stand for God (Rev. 10-14)
Getting Ready for the Final (Rev. 15-20)
A Future Worth It All (Rev. 21-22)

We hope you will join us as we dive deeper into the revelation of Christ to His church.

May the Lord give us eyes to see and hearts that burn for His glory and gospel!

Pastor Chris

Sunday Morning Drive In Worship

Sunday, September 27th. at 10:30 am.

Chris' sermon is:  “The Peril of the Lukewarm” – Revelation Part 9

Revelation 3:14-22 (The Letter to Laodicea)

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This Sunday's  Worship Video

Riverlawn Relaunch Team

Riverlawn Relaunch Committee

The Riverlawn Relaunch Committee has been meeting on an as needed basis since before we began our drive-in worship services. Our initial meeting took quite a while because we discussed all of our options and evaluated the data from the health professionals and the protocols put forth by the state. As you know, we decided on drive-in worship as the best option. We also decided to suspend Sunday School and Family Night. We made the decision to postpone Family Night activities until we can better gauge the patterns related to the schools in our area.

Our initial plan was to move to the gym at some point for worship so that we could maintain social distancing. We set up the chairs in the gym and were ready to go in case the weather turned bad or we felt like it was safe to move inside. We have since scrapped the plan to move into the gym in favor of moving directly to the sanctuary. We determined that we actually had more room in the sanctuary to spread out. In addition, with the new heating and air conditioning system the air movement and filtration will be better in the sanctuary. Still not as good as being outside but better than the gym.

Our main concern is and always has been the safety of our people. We don’t want to become a Covid-19 hot spot. Please know that if you come to worship with us and forgot your mask, we have plenty and will gladly provide you with one.

At our most recent meeting we decided not to make any changes and to continue with drive-in worship. It’s working pretty well with a few minor technical problems. The addition of the FM transmitter was a big improvement and the work of Paul Mullins on the videos has been spectacular. Thanks Paul! The FM transmitter broadcasts on 98.1 and the range is about 1000 feet.

We will eventually move in to the sanctuary and that will be a great day. I know we all miss the way we use to worship. I, for one, miss being able to hug each other. You can expect some big “Beamer Hugs” when it’s appropriate.

Rest assured that we will not return to the sanctuary until we believe it is safe to do so. We will continue to monitor the advice of the health professionals and the protocols of the state but we will make our own decision. No one knows us better than we do. We think we can handle the weather and attendance at drive-in worship has been good.

Stand by for more information as it becomes available.

Bill Michael

Chairman – Riverlawn Relaunch Committee