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1 Peter was written to teach us how to remain faithful and content in the midst of the heavy trials of our mortal life on earth, this "time of your sojourn." We are taught the purpose and character of trials, seeing in them the sanctifying work of the Spirit revealing the genuineness of our God-given and, therefore, invincible, enduring faith. This series of messages was part of an exposition of the book of 1 Peter by Dave Rich, a pastor at Kootenai Community Church.
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Desert Rivers Community Church exists to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. As a result of this relationship, we endeavor to reach out to lost people, defeated believers and unaffiliated disciples in order to draw them into a vibrant spiritual environment where they can experience the saving, healing and restoring power of Jesus Christ. Our aim is to establish an atmosphere, based on God’s Word, of love, encouragement, enrichment and acceptance as we glorify and serve Christ at home and a ...
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Adam and Eve, a garden, a talking snake, flood waters, and an ancient tower to the skies—these stories are ancient, but they set the rhythm for the rest of the Bible. The book of Genesis grounds Christians in God's character and purposes, inviting us to join in God’s story. The first chapter of the Bible is full of intrigue and mystery. It answers …
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The mission of every church and every Christian is to make disciples of Jesus. But in a culture where we're told that the highest good is independence, we easily default to self-reliance and self-sufficiency. In this sermon, we consider the simple truth that discipleship to Jesus requires dependence - and only by being wholly dependent on Christ an…
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Dave Rich examines Peter's metaphor of the church as living stones in 1 Peter 2:5. This imagery portrays believers as components of a spiritual house, functioning as a holy priesthood. Rich explains how the church, as living stones, offers acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. He outlines seven types of spiritual sacrifices: self-dedic…
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How should we understand the difference between sin and immaturity? To put it simply: one is moral/ethical and the other is not. In this episode, we parse out how to identify spiritual, emotional, or relational immaturity. We also explore how the gospel helps us grow out of immaturity into deeper wisdom.…
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The mission of every church and every Christian is to make disciples of Jesus. But in a culture where we are told endless choices lead to more freedom, it is easier to be devoted to other things besides Jesus. In this sermon, we consider the simple truth that discipleship to Jesus requires devotion - and only by devoting our whole being to Christ c…
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Cathedrals have long captured the imagination of human beings. But why? What is it about these sacred spaces that evokes a sense of wonder and beauty? On his recent vacation, Chris visited several cathedrals in Spain; upon his return, we discuss the importance of developing a Christian aesthetic and how it can lead us to a deeper worship of God.…
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The mission of every church and every Christian is to make disciples of Jesus. But in a culture where self-expression is the highest good and building one's own identity is seen as the path to fulfillment, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? In this sermon, we consider the simple truth that discipleship to Jesus requires death - and only b…
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Christians are a pro-life people. In the past, the pro-life strategy was fairly straightforward: help pregnant moms and work toward the repeal of Roe v. Wade. But the Dobbs Decision in 2022 brought about a shift in legislative strategy and tactics. In this episode, Bob uses Rusty Reno's categories of principle and prudence to discuss political plat…
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It’s an election year, friends! And newsworthy events in American politics are taking place almost every day. Recently, Donald Trump decided to make JD Vance his running mate. That choice marks a new moment in American politics: it signifies that populism is here to stay. In this episode, Bob unpacks some insights from political scientist Damon Lin…
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What does gospel renewal look like as Christians mature in their walk with the Lord? Drawing from the work of Tim Keller and John Newton, we look at how even our strengths and virtues have a "shadow side" that leads to selfishness and sin. We talk about how we can humbly acknowledge these “small faults" and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit more fu…
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In an article for First Things, Brad Littlejohn uses traditional Christian moral theology to tackle the issues of immigration and national borders. In this episode, we summarize Littlejohn’s arguments, how the analogy of a house and home helps create distinctions, and how governments and Christians are called to act with wise judgment and prudence …
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One of the fundamental truths of the Christian faith is that God is triumphant over all. But when you look out at the world, it does not seem like God is triumphant. Psalm 59 invites God’s people to see how God’s triumph changes everything, from how we live to how we suffer.Di Travis Barrett
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Discipleship to Jesus requires grit and perseverance. But in our cultural moment, it can be easy to settle for what feels good or is convenient. Psalm 57 challenges God's people to live a life that intentionally chooses and says "I will" to God. Yet at the same time, the only reason we are able to say "I will" is because of God's steadfast love.…
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Wiley and Sons, the largest publisher of scientific journals in the world, announced that they had found over 8,000 junk papers—papers written by artificial intelligence but attached to the name of a researcher—and were pausing publications of several scientific journals. Bob takes some time to unpack the implications of this and what happens when …
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In a recent article, Mary Harrington uses the term “omnicause” to describe how progressivism opposes whatever is considered mainstream, institutional, or Western. In this episode, we discuss where Harrington’s analysis has validity, where we might disagree, and how Christians can practice good cultural apologetics in this moment.…
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Fear, anxiety, worry. These seem to be the norm. But is there a better way to live? Every human being has fears they struggle with. The question becomes how do God's people respond in times of fear. Psalm 56 invites God’s people toward a deeper trust in the Lord that is rooted in the character and purposes of God.…
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Harrison Butker, the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, has received a lot of ire from media outlets following a speech he made at the commencement of Benedictine College. In this episode, Bob breaks down the context in which his speech was given, what Butker said and didn’t say, and what it looks like for Christians to live with courageous co…
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Betrayal. It’s a loaded word with many expressions. Psalm 55 portrays betrayal with vivid and honest language, inviting the reader to cast the burden of betrayal on the Lord. As readers of Psalm 55 come to the Lord, they are invited to see and experience the good news more clearly: the One who has experienced ultimate betrayal has pursued those who…
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Dave Rich explores the significance of Jesus Christ as the living stone in 1 Peter 2:4-10. Highlighting how one’s valuation of Christ impacts their eternal destiny, Rich emphasizes that esteeming Jesus as precious and chosen by God leads to salvation and spiritual blessings. Conversely, rejecting the living stone results in spiritual peril. This se…
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What does discipleship to Jesus look like over the course of your life? And how does that change as you move into different seasons of life? In 2018, we used Ronald Rolheiser’s book “Sacred Fire” to discuss the three phases of discipleship and how that helps us to frame discipleship in the local church.…
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Psalm 53 is a psalm that both challenges and comforts. Clearly we inhabit a fractured world; but our current cultural moment often fixates on external faults as the primary issue. This perspective tends to blame 'those people,' 'that group,' or 'their ideas' for the corruption we see and experience. Psalm 53 challenges this mindset, highlighting th…
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How can we have meaningful evangelistic conversations with our non-Christian friends and family? In his book “Making Faith Magnetic,” Dr. Dan Strange develops the work of J.H. Bavinck, proposing 5 "magnetic points" that are present within every human and every culture. In this episode, we analyze these magnetic points, explore their "subversive ful…
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This week, Isaiah Lewis from Sojourn Chattanooga preached from Isaiah 25-26. After a one-year residency at Coram Deo, Isaiah took over as Lead Pastor of Sojourn Chattanooga in January 2022. Listen as Isaiah (the preacher) preaches on the Death Swallowing-Feast Giving God from the prophet Isaiah.Di Isaiah Lewis
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After gathering in NYC with the other fellows of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, Bob shares some insights he gained and lessons he learned. He also discusses some of the ways the fellows are seeking to apply the intellectual work of the Keller Center to the practices of the local church.Di The Wednesday Conversation
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What does it mean to be a Christian? What are the marks of genuine faith in Christ? While many might profess a form of cultural Christianity, Jesus has something more than simply a religious label or identification. In this last sermon in the book of Ephesians, we look at the marks of what a true Christian looks like.…
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Human beings have an inherent desire to be good at something. But becoming competent requires self-awareness and humility. In this episode, we lay the groundwork for how the gospel frees us to admit our strengths & weaknesses, discover our aptitudes, and grow in competence.Di The Wednesday Conversation
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The Christian life is described in various ways throughout Scripture; one of them being a battle. The Scriptures assume a reality of evil that we can not always see, yet is real and powerful. Yet as Christians, we don't fight for victory but we fight from a place of victory because of the finished work of Jesus and the power of the Spirit. In this …
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"Honor your father and mother." Raise your kids "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." While these verses are in many ways clear to understand, they are also complex and challenging to live out in everyday life. We need the truths of the gospel and the empowering of the Spirit to live into God's design for parents and children. In this te…
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It’s easy for the sacrament of communion to become commonplace, and it can be tempting for Christians to participate mindlessly. Many Christians may not know the answers to questions like, “What is communion?” and “Why do we observe it regularly?” In 2019, we decided to spend some time discussing the sacrament of communion - the four main views sur…
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Formation in the way of Jesus must be stronger than the formation of the world. This is what Ephesians 5:11-21 is all about. Each one of us are either being formed into the way of Jesus or we are being deformed into the way of the world. There is no middle ground. In this teaching we explore what it looks like to be formed in the way of Jesus.…
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In a recent article for New York Magazine, Andrea Long Chu asserts the belief that kids should have the freedom to change their bodies and sexual identity at any time for any reason. In this episode, we discuss what that means for the direction of culture and society, and how Christians can courageously and faithfully uphold the traditional sexual …
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For much of the 20th century, the resurrection of Jesus was believed by Christians as a matter of faith, but doubted by scholars as a matter of history. NT Wright’s book “The Resurrection of the Son of God” changed all that. In this episode, we survey Wright’s major argument for the historicity of the resurrection, and explore how his work can help…
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In Christ there is a whole new way to be human but living as a new human is not automatic. Discipleship to Jesus means we must learn what it means to put off the old way and put on the new. In this teaching we explore what the new way to be human requires, what the new way to be human often misses, and what the new way to be human looks like.…
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