The River Worship - Sermons

Pastor Ryan McVety
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The River is a weekly, mid-week worship night. The purpose of The River is to provide an opportunity for people of all denominations, backgrounds, and age groups to have an all-out, powerful worship experience in the presence of the Holy Spirit and fellow believers. What should you expect on a Tuesday night? The second you step into our venue, you'll be greeted by our Experience team. They'll help you find a seat or help you find anyone you're meeting. We typically do 8 to 9 modern worship songs with a full production. We have a Spotify playlist too in case you want to familiarize yourself with some of the songs! We also spend about 30 minutes in the Word of God. The River is not meant to replace church. We believe you should get rooted in a strong Sunday community. If you don't have a home church, let us know! We'll get you connected. Join us any Tuesday night at 7:30pm. There's a seat for you. And of course, things will get loud!

  1. 6d ago

    Forget Not

    Forget Not | Pastor Ryan McVety When a new challenge appears, it can be easy to forget every season God has already carried us through. In this message celebrating The River’s 5-year anniversary, Pastor Ryan McVety turns to Psalm 103:1–2 and David’s instruction to his own soul: bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits. Remembering God’s past faithfulness gives us confidence to trust Him today. Through this invitation to gratitude and praise, we’re reminded that an unanswered prayer does not erase an answered one, and the God we trust with eternity can also be trusted with tomorrow. Scripture: Psalm 103:1–2 Season 16, Episode 4 | The River Subscribe to get the latest videos and songs: https://www.youtube.com/@theriver.worship For More Information About The River, Visit: LinkTree: http://www.linktr.ee/theriver.worship Website: http://www.theriverworship.ca Giving: http://www.theriverworship.ca/give Merch: http://www.therivershop.ca Connect with us on Socials: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theriver.worship Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theriver.worship TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theriverworship Threads | https://www.threads.net/@theriver.worship Youtube: youtube.com/@theriver.worship Listen to our music, podcast, and sermons: Amazon Music | https://shorturl.at/jovwK Apple Music | https://shorturl.at/dLWZ4 Spotify Music | https://shorturl.at/fuCT8 YouTube Music | https://shorturl.at/hisJL Spotify Setlists | https://shorturl.at/aqrJQ Spotify Podcast | https://shorturl.at/jnzLW Learn more about Canada Christian College: www.canadachristiancollege.com Want to join us at The River for a worship experience? You can find us every Tuesday at 7:30PM at 300 Water Street Whitby, Ontario L1N 9B6.

    Forget Not

  2. Sep 23

    I Thought It Would Break Me

    I Thought It Would Break Me | Pastor Ryan McVety Some seasons leave us wondering how much more we can take. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a furnace because they would not bow. Their answer to the king was bold: God was able to deliver them, but even if He did not, they would remain faithful. Pastor Ryan McVety traces their journey from bold, to bound, to what was burnt in the fire. As the king watched, a fourth figure appeared with them, and the men who had been tied were walking unbound. This message is an invitation to trust God’s presence in the middle of what you’re facing and to pray for freedom there, too. Scripture: Daniel 3 The River Worship | Season 16, Episode 3 Subscribe to get the latest videos and songs: https://www.youtube.com/@theriver.worship For More Information About The River, Visit: LinkTree: http://www.linktr.ee/theriver.worship Website: http://www.theriverworship.ca Giving: http://www.theriverworship.ca/give Merch: http://www.therivershop.ca Connect with us on Socials: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theriver.worship Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theriver.worship TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theriverworship Threads | https://www.threads.net/@theriver.worship Youtube: youtube.com/@theriver.worship Listen to our music, podcast, and sermons: Amazon Music | https://shorturl.at/jovwK Apple Music | https://shorturl.at/dLWZ4 Spotify Music | https://shorturl.at/fuCT8 YouTube Music | https://shorturl.at/hisJL Spotify Setlists | https://shorturl.at/aqrJQ Spotify Podcast | https://shorturl.at/jnzLW Learn more about Canada Christian College: www.canadachristiancollege.com Want to join us at The River for a worship experience? You can find us every Tuesday at 7:30PM at 300 Water Street Whitby, Ontario L1N 9B6.

    I Thought It Would Break Me

  3. Sep 16

    Distracted

    What if the greatest threat to your faith is not something obviously sinful, but something quietly stealing your attention? In Season 16, Episode 2 of The River Worship Podcast, Pastor Ryan McVety shares “Distracted,” a timely message from Hebrews 12:1–2 about throwing off everything that hinders us and fixing our eyes on Jesus. Distraction does not always look dangerous. It can arrive through responsibilities, opportunities, relationships, entertainment, ambition, or even ministry. But when something consistently pulls our focus away from Jesus, it can become a weight that keeps us from running the race God has marked out for us. Through the stories of Mary and Martha and Peter walking on the water, Pastor Ryan reminds us that we move in the direction of our attention. Martha became distracted while doing something for Jesus, and Peter began to sink when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the storm. This message also confronts distraction’s favourite word: “later.” Later, we will pray. Later, we will forgive. Later, we will obey. Later, we will return. But God is calling us to stop delaying and turn our eyes toward Him today. THREE KEY POINTS: The devil doesn’t need to drag you to hell, he just needs to distract you from heaven.You move in the direction of your attention.Distraction’s favourite word is “later.” What is hindering your race? This message is an invitation to release the weight, refocus your attention, and make Jesus the one thing at the centre of your life. Listen, share this episode, and follow The River Worship Podcast wherever you stream.

    Distracted

  4. Sep 9

    It Doesn't Have To Make Sense

    Title: It Does Not Have to Make Sense: Obedience Over Understanding Summary: What happens when God's instructions make absolutely no sense to us? In this message, we dive into one of the most dramatic and counterintuitive stories in all of Scripture, the fall of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6. Joshua stood before an impenetrable city with over 600,000 soldiers at his back, and God's battle plan was not weapons, siege towers, or military strategy. It was walking, worship, and the sound of trumpets. The central lesson is both simple and profound: obedience does not require our understanding. God's ways, as described in Isaiah 55, are immeasurably higher than our own, and the gap between His knowledge and ours is not a reason for frustration but an invitation to trust. We are challenged to ask ourselves an honest question: when did something making sense to us become a requirement before we would follow God? Faith, by its very nature, moves before the evidence arrives. The walls of Jericho did not crack on day one, two, or even six. Yet Joshua kept marching. This message reminds us that the things in our lives that feel most stuck, most immovable, most impossible, may be only one day of obedience away from crumbling. Subscribe to get the latest videos and songs: https://www.youtube.com/@theriver.worship For More Information About The River, Visit: LinkTree: http://www.linktr.ee/theriver.worship Website: http://www.theriverworship.ca Giving: http://www.theriverworship.ca/give Merch: http://www.therivershop.ca Connect with us on Socials: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theriver.worship Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theriver.worship TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theriverworship Threads | https://www.threads.net/@theriver.worship Youtube: youtube.com/@theriver.worship Listen to our music, podcast, and sermons: Amazon Music | https://shorturl.at/jovwK Apple Music | https://shorturl.at/dLWZ4 Spotify Music | https://shorturl.at/fuCT8 YouTube Music | https://shorturl.at/hisJL Spotify Setlists | https://shorturl.at/aqrJQ Spotify Podcast | https://shorturl.at/jnzLW

    It Doesn't Have To Make Sense

  5. Jul 30

    Love Works

    Drawing from the final chapter of the Gospel of John, this sermon challenges the cultural lie that real love should always feel easy. Using the restoration of Peter as its central narrative, the sermon argues that genuine love is not passive sentiment but active, sacrificial work. Three core movements frame the message: love works for (you labor on behalf of what you love), love works through (Christ's love empowers believers from within), and love works better (love outperforms guilt, shame, and religious rule-keeping as a motivator). The sermon calls believers away from merely liking God toward truly loving Him, and warns against reducing faith to a checklist of religious obligations. Ultimately, the message is a call to return to first love, echoing Christ's warning to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2, and his repeated question to Peter: "Do you love me?" Key Points: - Love works for: you willingly labor on behalf of what you love, just as Christ labored for humanity on the cross before humanity ever earned it - Love works through: the same love that saved believers now empowers and compels them to live for Christ, as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Religion gives rules; relationship gives a reason, and a lifetime of following Jesus requires more than rules - Love works better: Jesus responded to Peter's three denials not with condemnation but with restoration, demonstrating that love is more powerful than guilt or shame Subscribe to get the latest videos and songs: https://www.youtube.com/@theriver.worship For More Information About The River, Visit: LinkTree: http://www.linktr.ee/theriver.worship Website: http://www.theriverworship.ca Giving: http://www.theriverworship.ca/give Merch: http://www.therivershop.ca Connect with us on Socials: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theriver.worship Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theriver.worship TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theriverworship Threads | https://www.threads.net/@theriver.worship Youtube: youtube.com/@theriver.worship Listen to our music, podcast, and sermons: Amazon Music | https://shorturl.at/jovwK Apple Music | https://shorturl.at/dLWZ4 Spotify Music | https://shorturl.at/fuCT8 YouTube Music | https://shorturl.at/hisJL Spotify Setlists | https://shorturl.at/aqrJQ Spotify Podcast | https://shorturl.at/jnzLW

    Love Works

  6. Jul 23

    Give That to God

    Drawing from Psalm 139, Pastor Jonathan Josephs delivers an encouraging message about the importance of bringing every part of our lives into the presence of God. Using the theological framework of God's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, he challenges believers to stop hiding, running, and pretending before God. The central argument is that full intimacy with God requires full access, meaning that withholding painful, shameful, or difficult parts of our lives from God actually limits the healing and transformation he can bring. Just as David moved from declaring who God is to vulnerably expressing his raw emotions, believers are invited to bring their authentic selves before a God who already knows everything, is present everywhere, and is powerful enough to meet them exactly where they are. Key Points: Full intimacy with God requires full access; being guarded limits the depth of relationship we can have with him Psalm 139 presents a three-part theology: God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere present), and omnipotent (all-powerful), and each attribute dismantles a reason we hide from him Our three primary tendencies that keep us from authentic relationship with God are hiding, running, and pretending God cannot heal what we keep hidden; what remains in the dark grows in the dark When God asks a question, he is not seeking information but inviting intimacy Honesty before God is an invitation he cannot refuse; he hears our cry from wherever we actually are, not where we think we should be David's raw emotional expression in Psalm 139, including his anger toward his enemies, was not random but a response rooted in his secure understanding of who God is David being called a man after God's own heart was likely connected to his willingness to bring even the darkest parts of himself before God The psalm ends with David turning a fact into an invitation, shifting from "you have searched me" to "search me, God," which is a model for how believers should approach God Subscribe to get the latest videos and songs: https://www.youtube.com/@theriver.worship For More Information About The River, Visit: LinkTree: http://www.linktr.ee/theriver.worship Website: http://www.theriverworship.ca Giving: http://www.theriverworship.ca/give Merch: http://www.therivershop.ca Connect with us on Socials: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theriver.worship Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theriver.worship TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theriverworship Threads | https://www.threads.net/@theriver.worship Youtube: youtube.com/@theriver.worship

    Give That to God

  7. Jul 8

    Heaven Is Here

    Heaven Is Here | The River Worship | Pastor Ryan McVety What if the greatest battle you're fighting isn't your circumstances—but your perspective? In this powerful message, Heaven Is Here, Pastor Ryan McVety teaches from 2 Kings 6:15–17, where Elisha's servant is overwhelmed after seeing an enemy army surrounding them. While the servant saw defeat, Elisha saw the armies of heaven already surrounding the enemy. The battle was real—but it wasn't the whole reality. This sermon reminds us that God's presence is not based on our feelings. Even when fear, anxiety, uncertainty, or pressure surround us, God is already at work. Prayer doesn't always change what's around us first—it often changes what we see. Worship doesn't invite an absent God into the room; it awakens our hearts to the God who has been with us all along. In this message you'll discover: - Why the battle is real, but not the whole reality - How God's presence remains constant even when you can't feel Him - Why prayer changes perspective before circumstances - How fear distorts your view and faith restores it - Three practical ways to live every day with the awareness that Heaven is here If you're battling fear, anxiety, discouragement, or uncertainty, this message will encourage you to lift your eyes and remember that you are never fighting alone. 📍 The River Worship — Whitby, Ontario 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you stream podcasts. 📺 Subscribe for weekly sermons, worship, and life-changing biblical teaching. #HeavenIsHere #TheRiverWorship #ChristianSermon #FaithOverFear #GodIsWithUs #BibleTeaching #Elisha #PresenceOfGod #Hope #Jesus #Worship #ChristianPodcast Subscribe to get the latest videos and songs: https://www.youtube.com/@theriver.worship For More Information About The River, Visit: LinkTree: http://www.linktr.ee/theriver.worship Website: http://www.theriverworship.ca Giving: http://www.theriverworship.ca/give Merch: http://www.therivershop.ca Connect with us on Socials: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theriver.worship Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theriver.worship TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theriverworship Threads | https://www.threads.net/@theriver.worship Youtube: youtube.com/@theriver.worship Want to join us at The River for a worship experience? You can find us every Tuesday at 7:30PM at 300 Water Street Whitby, Ontario L1N 9B6.

    Heaven Is Here

  8. Jul 3

    Take It Back

    Take It Back: Returning to Your Maker This sermon powerfully addresses the human tendency toward comparison and spiritual wandering in the digital age, while emphasizing God's unwavering love and readiness to restore His children. Using the modern analogy of AppleCare warranty and the timeless parable of the Prodigal Son, the message reveals that just as broken devices must return to their manufacturer for restoration, broken lives must return to their Creator for healing. The sermon challenges the lie that we are accidents or that our past disqualifies us from God's love, affirming instead that our identity as sons and daughters of God is not contingent on performance but secured by the blood of Jesus Christ. The central call is for believers to turn back to the Father, who has been watching and waiting, ready to restore identity, authority, and dignity—not through repair, but through complete transformation into a new creation. Key Points: - Cultivate an "attitude of gratitude" rather than falling into constant comparison through social media - When life breaks, we must return to the One who made us—God is our manufacturer - The world offers fake remedies and quick fixes, but only God can truly restore and make us new - Our identity as God's children is not based on our performance or worthiness but on His grace - God doesn't just repair what's broken; He makes us completely new creations - The warranty over our lives was paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ - No sin is too deep to be covered by the blood of Christ; no mess is beyond redemption - We are not accidents—we were made by God, for God, with purpose and destiny - God never stopped watching us, even when we turned away from Him - We don't need to clean ourselves up before coming back to God; we can return right now Scripture Reference: - Luke 15:11-24 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son) - Primary focus - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (New creation in Christ) - Ezekiel 36:26 (New heart and new spirit) - Revelation 21 (God making all things new) - Jeremiah 29:11 (Referenced: plans to prosper with hope and future)

    Take It Back
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About

The River is a weekly, mid-week worship night. The purpose of The River is to provide an opportunity for people of all denominations, backgrounds, and age groups to have an all-out, powerful worship experience in the presence of the Holy Spirit and fellow believers. What should you expect on a Tuesday night? The second you step into our venue, you'll be greeted by our Experience team. They'll help you find a seat or help you find anyone you're meeting. We typically do 8 to 9 modern worship songs with a full production. We have a Spotify playlist too in case you want to familiarize yourself with some of the songs! We also spend about 30 minutes in the Word of God. The River is not meant to replace church. We believe you should get rooted in a strong Sunday community. If you don't have a home church, let us know! We'll get you connected. Join us any Tuesday night at 7:30pm. There's a seat for you. And of course, things will get loud!

Information

  • Creator
    Pastor Ryan McVety
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 The River Worship. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    The River Worship - Sermons

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