MONDAY (1/11/21)

OK, to catch us back up, we are going to take today and tomorrow to get back into what actually happened in the first 11 chapters of Romans. Here is the first video from our friends at the BibleProject:

Overview: Romans Chapters 1-4

  • On a separate piece of paper, write out several “take homes” from these four chapters as you are watching.

WEEK 1 • MEMORY VERSE • ROMANS 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

SUNDAY (1/10/21)

We’ve walked through the season of Advent and the days of Christmastide. We find ourselves in the season of Epiphany: discovery.

Spend this sabbath morning resting with the Father. Ask Him to give you joyful discovery in these coming weeks as you journey on with Him.

SATURDAY (1/9/21)

Hi, my name is Shawn and I have been an elder at Riverside for a few years since City Chapel and Riverside merged. A fun fact about me is that I am restoring a ’52 Studebaker truck. I am on the 5 year plan, so don’t ask me if it is done until 2025.

The passage you are going to read today is Revelation 19:11-21.

We have been through the Christmas season, and I am sure you have seen many depictions of the baby Jesus. That can be how many people like to think of Jesus:

“Holy infant so tender and mild”

“But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes”

But here we have a very different picture. The King of kings returning at the head of an army and eating the flesh of his enemies. This is not some namby-pamby Jesus who just wants everyone to be happy.

Some things to consider:

  • Verse 15 says “He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” Jesus is the one working out the fury of the wrath of God. Does this offend your view of Jesus?
  • How do you reconcile these two depictions of Jesus? Jesus did come into this world as a baby in a stable. And He is coming back with a sword as depicted in Revelation. Both true.
  • Which side are you on in this final battle depicted in Revelation? There only appears to be two sides, no middle ground.

FRIDAY (1/8/21)

Hello, this is Shelley! I have been married to Keith for 19 years and spend most of my time keeping track of our 5 kids (Tommy, Hunter, Joseph, Ben and Anna). I have loved being a part of Riverside and am excited to share with you today.

Today we are looking at Luke 2: 21- 40.

The passage starts off with Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus at the temple to be circumcised.

We then quickly have two new characters show up-Simeon and Anna. I often think of the words that Luke uses to describe Simeon and Anna. Some words used to describe them are righteous and devout, worshipful and prayerful. The Message version described Simeon as “a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel.”

Wow. These are powerful words to describe someone. Simeon was waiting and trusting that the Lord would show up. Someone like Simeon is just at the tail end of the 400 years of silence in scripture. The gap between writing in the Old Testament and Jesus showing up on earth is over 400 years. But here was Simeon, living in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. You then read his prayer and read his continued words of prophecy of this little baby.

And then Anna-an older, widowed woman who was in the temple day and night, fasting and praying and worshiping the Lord. For year after year after year. Once she saw Jesus, she felt the need to share with everyone about his coming and how he was fulfilling the promise of a savior of their people.

I am challenged by both of their reactions to Jesus, and their consistency of character as they waited for the coming of Christ. They both immediately recognize him as the one who has been prophesied which means they had to KNOW the prophecy. They had to know their Hebrew Bible. They had to be communicating with God and listening to his voice. Also, their character is recognized by the author and their community. They were known as people who loved God, worshiped God and walked in his ways.

I know this is something I want in my life and I would hope that all of us would strive for. That we would hide God’s word in our hearts, that we would take the Lord at his word and that we would not be afraid to shout with joy that we too have experienced Jesus and all that he has done for us.

  • What are ways that you are daily pursuing the Lord? Do you have a plan for what this looks like?
  • Pick one verse to work on memorizing this week.
  • If you know someone who is a Simeon or an Anna in your life, take time to encourage them. Take time to ask them what their walk with Jesus looks like.

THURSDAY (1/7/21)

Hi, my name is Wade and I have been on the elder team for two years. I came to Riverside shortly after it began, when it was meeting at the Keller Park Missionary Church. I have been a home group leader/co-leader for about six years. I was married to a wonderful woman, Pat, who went home four years ago. We have three adult children and four grandchildren.

The passage you are reading today is Matthew 2:1-18.

This is Matthew’s account of the Magi’s journey to visit the new born King of the Jews. More commonly known as the Three Wise Men, their story goes much deeper than a group of men bringing gifts to a new born baby. There is not much documented history about the Magi. Matthew does not tell us how many men were part of the Magi band that traveled to see the King.

Our customs assume there were three based on the three gifts they brought. We know they came from the East but we do not know their actual home country. We know they saw the star which told them the King of the Jews was born and they came to worship him. We know they first went to Jerusalem seeking direction to the location of the new King. It was here they encountered King Herod and he first learned about the new King. The rest, as is said, is history.

The birth of Jesus was revealed to two different groups of people. The first being the shepherds who were awake at night watching their sheep. Shepherds were part of the lowest social group in their society. They spent all their time with their animals ensuring they were safe and caring for their every need. On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angels lit up the sky and announced HIS birth to the shepherds. The second group were the Magi. They saw his star and knew the King had been born. They set out to find this new King so they could worship him.

Unlike the shepherds, we don’t know when they arrived in Bethlehem. Given Herod’s decree to kill all the male babies under two years of age (Mt. 2:16), it must have been some time after the shepherds had been there. Jesus’ birth was announced to the lowest of Jewish society and to a group of non-Jewish men whose religion apparently involved studying the sky for celestial signs of significant events.

  • Why is the announcement of Jesus’ birth to these two groups of men unique and what do we learn about it during Jesus’s ministry?
  • As we approach the season when we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus, how do you respond to God’s revelation in your life?

WEDNESDAY (1/6/21)

I’m Marcie and I’m new to South Bend and Riverside. We moved here from Michigan in early October when my husband Andrew joined the staff at Riverside. Andrew and I have spent the last few months settling into our neighborhood just a few blocks West of downtown, with our five children.

The passage you are going to read today is: Luke 2:8-20

A few years ago our family camped just outside the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. It was a warm, clear July night and sky was spectacular. There were so many stars and planets and such quiet, it was hard to determine where the earth stopped, and the heavens began. Our typically noisy crew stood breathless in awe and wonder. I often think of our mountainside experience when I think of these shepherds on a hillside in the quiet of night. Perhaps, they were also stargazing when they were thrust into a front row seat in the world’s most historic Hallelujah chorus. A seemingly routine night at work, becomes a concert of angels and then a treasure hunt for the greatest gift of all time!

What really stood out to me in this passage is the shepherds’ willingness to break from their plans (a routine night of work) and seek out this tiny Messiah. I have so many questions! Did they leave their sheep behind? How far was Bethlehem from where they were and did they know the way there? Were they nervous about barging in on first time parents and their family? This passage is not about the logistics, but it tells a story of a group of shepherds that immediately responded when they were presented with an opportunity to seek out their Savior.

  • You’ve heard the good news! There is great joy for all the people! How are you responding to the Messiah’s birth?
  • Like the shepherds, how can you be more willing to break from your plans and seek out God’s calling and promptings from the Holy Spirit in your life today?

TUESDAY (1/5/21)

Hi, my name is Tamara and I have been on staff doing kids’ ministry for a little over a year now. I moved to South Bend from Vincennes, IN last August through connections at Camp Ray Bird. I began attending Riverside during the summer I first started working at Camp Ray Bird. I live with my roommate, Azia, and our two kittens.

The passage you are going to read today is Matthew 1:17-25, the story of how Joseph accepts Jesus as his son. Mary was to marry Joseph, but she had found out she was pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph was going to discreetly divorce her, but the Lord sent an Angel to him in his dream. The Angel told Joseph not to fear taking Mary as his wife, for she will give birth to a son, who was from the Holy Spirit. Joseph was to call him Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins. Joseph woke up and did as the Lord commanded him by taking Mary home as his wife. She gave birth to a son and he was given the name Jesus.

Joseph was ready to give up on Mary. He was ready to give up his marriage. He had felt betrayed and probably confused. But the Lord sought him out and spoke truth to him. God had shown Joseph that he was in control of a seemingly helpless situation.

Read Matthew 1:17-25 and do the Know, Be, Do method of study for through the chapter.

  • KNOW – What does the text say about God?
  • BE – What does the text say about us?
  • DO – What is the text calling me to do?