Christ was born in obscurity. Announced only to shepherds, the most despised class of society. Ever under suspicion, barred from temple worship and law courts, these men were unlikely converts. No one gave them anything, but God gave them everything! Join us as we examine the story of the shepherds in Luke 2 and consider God’s powerful plan to save the most unlikely of converts.
Tag Archives: River Valley Families
12/10/2023 | “The Great Mystery” | Luke 1:26-56
In Luke 1:26-38, we have one of the most remarkable stories in scripture. The angel Gabriel comes to Mary with a startling announcement. She will be the mother of her Savior. Unlike the skepticism of Zechariah, Mary asks “how will these things be?” A question we wrestle with as we ponder the nature of our Savior as fully God and fully man. But in the answer, scripture points us to one of the most precious truths of our faith. Because Mary asked this question, we, along with our forefathers can go to scripture and ask, “How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?” Join us as we examine Luke 1:26-38 and consider this question and why it is central to our faith.
12/03/2023 | “Breaking the Silence” | Luke 1:1-25
God’s silence is unsettling. In it we impute our worst fears and harshest assessments. So, Luke begins with a broken silence. Jesus, the Word in flesh, is born to speak God’s love into a 400-year silence. God is not deaf, dead, absent, unconcerned, or idle. Join us this Lord’s Day, as we begin a short series of lessons from Luke’s Gospel in Luke 1:5-25 and consider the power of the gospel to break the silence of God in our lives.
11/26/2023 | “Reflexing” | Exodus 35-40
The Christian life is a reflex to the grace of God. Grace and gratitude shape all of life. Colossians reminds us, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him… abounding in thanksgiving.” How are your reflexes? Join us as we examine the people’s response to God’s grace in Exodus 35-40 and how it unfolds in faithful giving, faithful serving, and faithful following.
11/19/2023 | “The God of Second Chances” | Exodus 34:1-35
We hear “God is a God of second chances.” So we think his mercy is a divine do-over. A hard reset from bad choices. But God’s mercy & forgiveness are not ‘do-overs.’ Or mere second chances. Redemption goes much deeper. It is costly. And transformational. Join us as we examine Exodus 34 and consider ‘the how, the what, and the why’ of redemption.
11/12/2023 | “Getting Right” | Exodus 33
Getting right with God is not easy. Our works, regrets, shame, and tears are insufficient. Only God’s grace is sufficient. Only his kindness leads to repentance. The sin of the Golden Calf seemed irrecoverable. But God’s grace was not finished. Join us as we examine the people’s response to God’s judgement in Exodus 33 and consider what it means to get right with God.
11/05/2023 | “Wait for It” | Exodus 32
Are you impatient with God? With his action or inaction? His timing? With his words or silence? Uncertain of God’s goodness? Have you moved on to others for direction, provision, or satisfaction? Have you stopped ‘waiting on the Lord?’ Join us as we examine the story of the golden calf and consider the dangers of failing to wait upon the Lord.
10/29/2023 | “Gifts and Graces” | Exodus 31:1-18
What are your spiritual gifts? Are you using them for God’s glory and the Church’s good? All believers have indispensable gifts. A church has no spare parts. Every gift is crucial. What is yours? Are you using it? Join us as we examine Exodus 31 and consider the gifts and graces God gives as he calls us to live life together in Christ.
10/22/2023 | “Pleasing Aroma” | Exodus 30
How does your prayer life smell to God? The Tabernacle’s altar of incense pictures prayer as a pleasing aroma to God. He delights in its smell. And we should delight in it too. Yet no privilege is more neglected than the saint’s fervent, effectual prayer. Join us as we examine Exodus 30 and consider what the altar of incense teaches us about prayer.
10/15/2023 | “Pattern Recognition” | Exodus 29:1-46
The Christian life is a priestly life. The pattern of the Old Testament priesthood is neither irrelevant nor obsolete. But provides a remarkable picture of our life of fellowship, worship, communion and faith as we follow Christ, our great High Priest. Join us as we examine Exodus 29 and consider how the priest’s ordination shows us how we are to live our lives as a kingdom of priests.
Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 