Each Sunday through Lent, we are going to observe our predictable
routine of slowness.

In the introduction, I observed, “the shared rhythms of Advent,
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost root us in the
redeeming story of Christ, and live into the Biblical wisdom of the
teacher that ‘there is a time for everything’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1).” Built
into these annual rhythms are the wide spectrum of our life with Christ:
anticipation and fulfillment, proclamation and response, lament and
joy.

Since we are celebrating Easter in a couple weeks, we are going to
reflect today on Pentecost. Pentecost is celebrated to remember the
giving of the Holy Spirit to the believers as seen in Acts chapter 2.

• Spend some time thanking the Father for His gift of the Spirit and how He is at work in your life.

Hello, we are David and Nikki Stillson. We are in the Potato Creek Home
Group. We have two wonderful girls and have been married for 13 years.

• Take a moment to stop and read Matthew 20:1-16.

In our discussion of this parable, we pondered over many different
facets. It hits on how we need to not be envious of others who we feel
get something they don’t deserve or that we feel they haven’t earned.
It speaks about how God is generous with His love no matter how much
time or action has been given.

Consider and ponder the following question:

• Have you ever felt jealous over someone’s faith?

Hey, my name is Ben Colvin. I hang out and play games with the kids at
the Potato Creek Home Group led by my parents, Greg & Meg, and our
family friends, Mr. Benji & Ms. Ila. I’ve enjoyed spending time with all the
kids in Junior High and having conversations about Jesus with them.
It’s been really cool getting to know all of them and what they think!

• Let’s read Matthew 19:16-30

When Jesus is teaching the disciples, He clearly states that it is
impossible for a wealthy man to enter the kingdom of heaven, but it is
not impossible with God. Now, I don’t think God’s telling me to go sell
all my belongings, but what I do feel Him telling me is to follow Him.
What I’ve really learned from this passage is: no matter what I have on
this earth, whether it be a big house, an awesome sports car, or money,
if those things are something that draws me away from Christ or distracts
me from Him, then I need to get rid of them. I want to walk alongside
Jesus the way His disciples did, and I want to keep His commandments.

God has promised us something so much better than anything on this
earth. In fact, it’s way better. He has promised us eternity with Him in
heaven when we choose to accept Him in our hearts.

• What distracts you the most from God?

Hey Riverside Family! Benji and Ila are joining you today from the
Potato Creek Home Group—if you don’t know, we are a group with lots
of married couples and lots of children! Benji and I went to Navarre
Middle and Washington High School just a year apart. We became close
friends toward the last years of high school and got married smack-dab
in the middle of college. By the grace of God, we now have 4 daughters
and over 17 years of doing this life as best friends. By now in this little
story, some of you may be feeling warm and fuzzy while others may feel
uncomfortable, sad, or be rolling their eyes. Yep, I know marriage and
“love stories” are complex, emotional topics to talk about.

Oh, marriage. It’s difficult to say or think about this word without
emotions attached. People can romanticize or demonize marriage, try
to save or escape from marriage, shun it purposefully or celebrate it
joyfully, and grieve losing it or never attaining it. Today’s passage just
so happens to give us one of Jesus’ most direct recorded conversations
on marriage. Let’s dive in to how Jesus responds when the Pharisees
come to test him about the complicated realms of marriage, divorce,
and sexuality.

• Read Matthew 19:1-12

Consider the following questions:

• What was Jesus doing when the Pharisees came to test him? (v. 2)
• The Pharisees ask Jesus if divorce is okay in what situations under the law? (v.3)
• How does Jesus respond about the nature of marriage and divorce? (v. 6 & 8)
• The disciples recognize that committing to marriage is hard and even comment that it’s better not to marry if divorce is so against God’s will. How does Jesus respond to choosing singleness? (v. 10-12)

Hi, we are Denny and Jen Shay. We have been attending Riverside for
the past two years since we moved here from Pennsylvania. We have 3
teenage boys and we belong to the Potato Creek Home Group.

• Please read Matthew 18:15-35.

In verses 15-20, we see that as sinners, we will offend one another, and
Jesus acknowledges that it will be hard and it will be a process to work
through. In verses 21-23, Peter (so like us) thinks that we are good and
merciful to forgive a repeat offense. Jesus takes it so much further. He
points to the forgiveness we’ve received—an immeasurable grace. We
are tempted to nurse an offense and we want to be paid back in some
way for the offenses we’ve received. In verse 35 Jesus makes it clear
that, as His followers, we are commanded to forgive and to be merciful.
As difficult as it is when we are sinned against, we are called to forgive as
Christ forgave us. As we work through these things, we can take comfort
in the mercy He’s shown to us.

• Take the time to pray and search your heart. Is there anyone from whom you have been withholding forgiveness?

Hello, we’re David and Jenna Beebe. We’re part of the Potato Creek
Home Group, led by Greg & Megan Colvin. We’ve been married for 17
years and have four kids, ages 16-9 yrs. David is an electrician with KW
Services and Jenna is a stay-at-home mom and homeschools one of our
kids.

• Take a moment to stop and read Matthew 18:1-14.

I love how Jesus compares us to children in this passage, and how
you can really see his love for children. Jesus calls us to “change and
become like little children” (His child), and he tells us right here how to
do it. Lowering ourselves to the “position” of a child. He wants to guide
us on the safe path to live with Him eternally. He sees this world we live
in for what it is and knows it’s not always easy. We face many trials and
temptations. I feel like he’s so clear in this passage on how we need to
turn from sin and temptation, and how violently we need to cut it from
our lives.

Sometimes our sins seem small and sometimes they seem so huge that
it’s hard to believe God would still want us. The devil would sure like us
to believe that lie. And it is a lie, straight from the devil—don’t believe
it! God’s word tells us that he will always leave the 99 following him to
chase down the 1 that has fallen away from him. That is how important
each person on this earth is to him, that is how important YOU are to
him. Every single one of us, no matter our faults or sins. If we will be
humble and turn from sin, God will welcome us with joyful, loving arms.

Reflect on the following question as you go about your day today:

• Do you feel like it’s easy or challenging to humble yourself before God?

Hey all, Greg and Meg Colvin here. We lead the Potato Creek Home
Group with Benji and Ila Woolet. Our group loves to laugh, eat, go down
endless rabbit trails, engage in great discussion, read scripture, cry
together, drink coffee & tea, and just hang out with one another! We
truly love this small community within our Riverside family body and
are so grateful for fellow believers to walk with through this life.

• Take a few minutes and read Matthew 17:1-13 (and then read it again because it’s THAT good!)

This passage is about Jesus’ transfiguration. When Jesus asks Peter,
James and John to go with him on a walk, I wonder if they knew
something special was going to happen? The scripture says that Jesus’
appearance changed and his face shown like the sun and his clothes
became white like light. Jesus was radiating from within. What was
showing on His outside is the Glory that was within Him. They were
witness to their friend, teacher, mentor, transform or metamorphose
into a glorious being and then at the same time got to watch Him talk to
Elijah and Moses! Incredible.

I, (Greg) am a lot like Peter. Peter wanted to do something to mark this
moment as special. In that instant it wasn’t time to get distracted from
the significance of what was going on. Sometimes we need to keep quiet,
take it all in and learn from it. God spoke letting them know that Jesus
was the focus here. His son who brings Him great joy. Listen to Him.

We are both moved every time we read this momentous occasion in
history. Although Peter, James and John in this part of the story didn’t
know the full significance of the moment and what was to come, Christ’s
work on the cross, we do. When we fully surrender to God, and yield to
the Holy Spirit, we will be transformed and be made more like Him.