2Rivers Church Messages 2Rivers Church

Have you ever wondered about God’s will for your life? Have you questioned whether you are truly following His path? If you have, you're not alone.

Sometimes God’s will can feel confusing, abstract, or mysterious, but Pastor Nick breaks down understanding God’s will into two parts: The sovereign will of God and the revealed will of God. 

What is God’s Sovereign Will?

The word Sovereign = Having supreme power or authority. 

We believe God created the entire universe and set plans and laws of the universe into motion from the very beginning. The fact that our universe has laws and order are dictated by the one who created and is large and in charge of all things. 

Sovereign Will = God’s secret plan which controls the outcome of all matters in the universe. 

What is God’s Revealed will?  

God also reveals Himself personally throughout history and has made known His will for humankind and for each of us known in specific, knowable ways. 
   
Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
 
Ephesians 5:17 – “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
 
How do we figure out God’s Will?
 
Through the Word of God
 
Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
 
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
 
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.”
 
Through the Spirit of God
 
Psalm 143:10 – “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
 
John 16:13a – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
 
Through the People of God
 
Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
 
Proverbs 19:20 – “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
 
The Will of God will never contradict the Word of God!
 
What do we do once we know God’s Will? 
 
James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
 
Acts 20:22-24 – “ And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
 
Acts 21:12-14 – “When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
 
Timothy 2:4 – “[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”


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Why is there so much evil and suffering in the world if God is both all powerful and good?

Evil is defined as that which is morally wrong or sinful; something that brings sorrow, distress or calamity. It can also be seen and known as the opposite of good.

In the beginning of the world’s creation, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good! So why does an all-powerful, good God let evil and suffering happen? Afterall, if God wanted to stop it He could. 

The question of the evil and suffering we experience and a supposedly all powerful and all good & loving God is a real one we all face. 

Join Pastor Ron Cathcart as he unpacks some of the tensions around this question & how the Bible talks about pain and suffering. 

See Genesis 1:3, James 1:13, 1 John 1:5, Isaiah 46: 9-10

EVIL AND SUFFERING ARE PART OF THE BROKEN WORLD WE LIVE IN

In the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve a choice and people have been making wrong choices ever since. Evil exists in our world because God’s creatures rebelled and continue to do so. Evil will persist until the return of Jesus. 

See Romans 5:12 

THE PRESENCE OF EVIL AND SUFFERING DOES NOT MEAN GOD IS NOT ALL POWERFUL

Atheists would say, “God is not taking care of it, He must not be all powerful.” In the story of Job, God never answers the question of why but establishes His ever present power. 

See Job 1: 10-19, Job 38: 4-5, Job 38:22, Job 39: 1-2 

THE PRESENCE OF EVIL AND SUFFERING DOES NOT MEAN GOD IS NOT GOOD AND LOVING 

When bad things happen, it does not change the fact that God loves us. God’s own son endured pain and suffering on our behalf.  Jesus was a suffering servant and by His wounds we are healed. He who knew no sin was laid out on the cross. 

See Isaiah 53: 3-6, John 3:16 

GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PAIN AND SUFFERING 

We don’t always have the answers but this helps us understand the concept.  There may be many things happening, but God is our strength and portion forever. 

See Job 42:1-5, Psalm 73: 13-17, Romans 8:28

WHEN WE HAVE SUFFERED, WE CAN HELP OTHERS WHO ARE SUFFERING 

Sometimes our suffering can lead to a great calling to comfort for others who find themselves on the same difficult path. Our suffering can help others who are suffering. 

See 2 Corinthians 1:3-6

SUFFERING MATURES US

Deeper intimacy is gained with God during the hard times.  Our level of maturity and faith will increase during the hard times. 

See Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4

WE MUST VIEW PAIN AND SUFFERING IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY 

We measure life on a human timeline. This life is short on the map of eternity. Some day, Jesus will return and if he never did another thing, He’s done enough! 

See 1 Peter 4:13, Revelation 21:4

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 

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#2RiversChurch #evilandsuffering #askingforafriend #brokenworld

What did Jesus do through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension? Jesus conquered death. He did what we could never do—lived a perfect, sinless life and became a sacrifice that satisfied the justice of God. He was punished for every wrong we committed and brought us peace, reconciliation, and healing (see Isaiah 53:6).

As we conclude our “Upside Down Kingdom” series, Pastor Nick Tallo explains how Jesus conquered death by going to the cross and rising three days later. (See links below for the rest of the series.)

THE BAD NEWS & THE GOOD NEWS

Pastor Nick takes us through key verses that explain the bad news about the human condition and the good news: how Jesus conquered death! 

The BAD NEWS is... 

We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23).
Our sin deserves death (Romans 6:23a).
We were born spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).

The GOOD NEWS is...

God’s great love—His grace and mercy—made us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5).
God forgave our sins and canceled our debt and punishment through His death on the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).
We are made right with God when we believe Jesus sacrificed His life for us (Romans 3:23).

🔑 Key Takeaways:
Join Pastor Nick Tallo from 2Rivers Church as he shows how Jesus conquered death. Jesus, who was fully alive, had to die and be raised to life so that those who are dead could be brought back to life. 

If you want clarity about who Jesus is and what He did for you, you won’t want to miss this powerful message! 

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 

Don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button to stay updated with our content ⏩.

LIKE ✔️, SHARE 📢, and FOLLOW for more videos like this one to help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus!  

Resources mentioned during the sermon:  
Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709
Have more questions about Jesus? We invite you to dig deeper and get your questions answered. https://www.2riverschurch.com/jesus.html

Watch the “Upside Down Kingdom” series here!
How to Love Your Enemies Part 1: https://youtu.be/O0oPNR5r7vQ
5 Reasons God’s Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness Part 2: https://youtu.be/IFji_0T4zGc
What Does Humility Look Like Part 3: https://youtu.be/iZuMfsFR9as


Include social media handles, website, other ways to connect:
👉 Explore our message series here:  https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 
 ===================================
 Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 
👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/

#2RiversChurch #JesusConqueredDeath #UpsideDownKingdom

Humility is not by accident but a conscious effort on our part. It’s not present in our resume or a checkbox on our list of accomplishments, but only happens because of who Jesus is. 

In Matthew 23: 11-12, Jesus was speaking among those who looked and acted like they had it all together: The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 

Today it’s not much different but what does this look like every day? 

Incorporating humility into your daily life might feel like a challenging task in a world that teaches self-promotion, but getting to the heart of it looks like loving and investing in other people.
In a world that rewards self-promotion, learning to be humble in your daily life can seem difficult. At its heart, though, humility is about loving and investing in other people.

See Isaiah 2:12, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 16:18 Luke 18:9-14

 So is the way up in this world really to stepcome back down? 

Join Pastor Ron Cathcart as he walks you through the principles and teachings of humility so you can walk in it every single day of your life! 

CHECK YOURSELF 

Examining yourself means a heart check.  The way you walk in your life will come out in the way you live your life!  Ask yourself is it all about me or is it about Jesus? 

Proverbs 4:23, 1 John 2: 15-17, 1 Peter 5: 5-6, James 4: 6-10, Proverbs 13:10 

MEET WITH GOD DAILY 

It’s not just about listening to the sermon on Sunday, but getting into God’s Word everyday. When you make this a daily practice, you will find God will speak into your life and that you in turn, are not the hero of the story. By making this a daily practice, you'll discover that God speaks into your life more often, and, in turn, you'll realize you're not the hero of the story. 

Isaiah 40:25-26 

BE LIKE JESUS 

Jesus humbled himself to the point of death on a cross.  He was the most humble man to ever walk the earth. Today that might look like putting aside your to do list to take care of a person in need.

Philippians 2:3, Philippians 2:5-9

SERVE OTHERS 

Jesus washed the feet of others. In His greatest time of need before going to the cross, Jesus put others before Himself. Getting in the middle of someone else’s mess or circumstances is putting their needs before your own! 

Matthew 23:11-12, Mark 9:33-35, Luke 9:43-48, John 13:12-15

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus so you can experience the life God intended for you and go out and encourage others to do the same! 

If you have questions about Jesus, we would love to have that conversation! Reach out to us!
https://www.2riverschurch.com/contactus.html

LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE so you can get more content to help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus! 

Resources for you:

Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709

Questions about Jesus?  Reach out to us here:
https://www.2riverschurch.com/contactus.html

Looking for a place to worship this Easter? We’d invite you to join us for one of five services! Check out times here: https://www.2riverschurch.com/easter 


Other ways to connect:

👉 Explore our message series here:  https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 

 ===================================
 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 
👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/

#2Riverschurch #humility #kingdomliving #upsidedownkingdom 

God’s strength is made perfect in weakness according to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. Can it be true? Or does God only value our self-reliance? Let’s find out. 

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Our culture doesn’t celebrate weakness, but strength. But in 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul flips this idea on its head when he responds to challenges around his ministry.

People were holding Paul’s many weaknesses against him. In his response, Paul says he’d gladly boast about his weaknesses instead of his strengths:

2 Corinthians 12:6–10 (NIV):
6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Here are 5 reasons God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

1. BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, AND GOD WILL GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.

Though God protects us, He allows us to experience difficulty. God may give you more than you can handle, but He’ll never give you more than HE can handle!

See 2 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) 

2. IT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL TO PRAY FOR THORNS TO BE REMOVED.

Even though Paul pleaded with God to remove hardship, God didn’t. If you experience hardship, it’s OK to pray about it. But in this case, even though Paul pleaded with God to remove hardship from His life, the Lord chose not to take it away. It will strengthen your prayer life!

See 2 Corinthians 12:8 (NIV)

3. THORNS ARE USED TO RESIZE US.

God’s in control. But when God allows difficulty into our lives, He often uses it to remind us we’re not as big as we think.

See 2 Corinthians 12:7 and Job 42:5

4. THORNS ARE USED TO REMIND US.

In our weakness, God can shine through. His strength, sufficiency, and power can show up. When it does, we remember how great He is. 

See 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Timothy 1:7–8, and Ephesians 3:20–21

5. WHEN EXPERIENCING THORNS, WE CAN BECOME BITTER, GIVE UP, OR TRUST GOD.

It’s easy to think that if something good happens, we accomplish something alone. But difficulty reminds us that if any good thing happens to us or through us, God did it.

See 2 Corinthians 12:10 and 1 Corinthians 1:27–29

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 

LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE so you can get more content to help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus! 

RESOURCES FOR YOU:

Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709

Questions about Jesus?  Reach out to us here:
https://www.2riverschurch.com/contactus.html

Looking for a place to worship this Easter? We’d invite you to join us for one of five services! Check out times here: https://www.2riverschurch.com/easter 


Other ways to connect:

👉 Explore our message series here:  https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 

 ===================================
 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 

👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/

#2Riverschurch #sermon #strengthinweakness

Is it possible to love your enemies? Yes! But it takes supernatural power from God. You can’t do this in your own strength. So then, to love your enemies the way Jesus instructed in Matthew 5:43-48, ask...

Do you really have to love your enemies? (see Matthew 5:43)
What does loving your enemies look like? (see Matthew 5:38-42, 44, and Luke 6:27-36)
Why should you love your enemies? (see Matthew 5:44-47, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

🔑 Key Takeaways:
Join Pastor Ron Cathcart from 2Rivers Church as he answers these critical questions that will help you face the challenge of how to love your enemies when...
You don’t feel like it
You struggle to forgive
Your situation is complex
You simply don’t have the strength

As a passionate follower of Jesus, Pastor Ron draws attention to the most significant facets of Jesus’ Kingdom in the sermon series “Upside Down Kingdom.” Jesus’ Kingdom turns this world on its head and brings peace, freedom, and strength in what seems to be the most unlikely ways.  

2Rivers Church in O’Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus. 

Don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button to stay updated with our content ⏩.

LIKE ✔️, SHARE 📢, and FOLLOW for more videos like this one to help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus!  

Resources mentioned during the sermon:  
Struggling and need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709
Looking for a place to worship this Easter? We’d invite you to join us for 1 of 5 services! Check out times here: https://www.2riverschurch.com/easter.html

Include social media handles, website, other ways to connect:
👉 Explore our message series here:  https://www.youtube.com/@2RiversChurch/playlists 
 ===================================
 Instagram: https://instagram.com/2riverschurch/ 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/2rivers_church/ 
👋Visit us online at https://www.2riverschurch.com/

#2RiversChurch #LoveYourEnemies #UpsideDownKingdom