Living Vertizontal

The Church at Riverstone
  • 5.0 (14)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Living Vertizontal is a weekly podcast from The Church at Riverstone, A Fellowship of the Church of the Nazarene in Madera, CA. Living Vertizontal explores Scripture and celebrates the work of the Holy Spirit in our world.

  1. He’s Got Our Back (Luke 12:1-12)

    2D AGO

    He’s Got Our Back (Luke 12:1-12)

    In this episode we move into Luke 12:1-12 where we see Jesus warn against the Leaven of the Pharisees, speak on fearing God alone, and the encouragement to confess Christ. From this passage we discuss the pervasiveness of hypocrisy in our own lives and the lives of those around us, and the importance of removing our masks so that we may live in authentic relationship with Jesus even now. Too often hypocrisy is rooted in fear of what others may do to us or think about us, and Jesus’ invitation in this passage is to keep our focus on Him and trust that He has our back through it all.

    36 min
  2. Warnings and Invitations to Abide (Luke 11:37-54)

    JAN 28

    Warnings and Invitations to Abide (Luke 11:37-54)

    In this episode we continue on with Luke 11:37-54 where Jesus goes to a Pharisees house for dinner and subsequently speaks woes to both the Pharisees and the scribes. From this passage we discuss how each of the woes sheds light on the misconceptions and misrepresentations of the Pharisees and scribes while also simultaneously extending an invitation for each of them to abide with God. In the same way, these woes can expose our own misconceptions and misrepresentations and invite us to abide with Him as we seek to live in His kingdom.

    43 min
  3. A Good Eye and the Humble Heart (Luke 11:29-36)

    JAN 21

    A Good Eye and the Humble Heart (Luke 11:29-36)

    In this episode we move on into Luke 11:29-36 where Jesus talks to the growing crowds about the sign of Jonah as well as the lamp of the body. From this passage, we talk about the humility of both the Ninevites and the Queen of the South. As we allow this passage to speak to us today, we addressed the importance of always coming humbly to Jesus for the next step, rather than operating on our own assumptions and expectations.

    29 min
  4. Just Keep Swimming (Luke 11:14-28)

    JAN 14

    Just Keep Swimming (Luke 11:14-28)

    In this episode we look at Luke 11:14-28. Within this passage, Jesus addresses the idea of a house divided, the returning of unclean spirits, and true blessedness. From this passage, we discussed how Jesus was cementing His identity in the minds of His disciples and those listening; as God, He has all power and all authority. He is the “stronger man” and through Him, the Kingdom of God is at hand. This conversation is so important because just as Jesus identifies the two choices for those listening, we also have two choices as a result of knowing who He is; we are either for Him, or against Him. There is no middle or neutral ground. In God’s Kingdom, we are invited into an active participation and if we are not actively pursuing Him, then we are getting further and further from Him. The invitation is His, and the choice is ours.

    35 min
  5. The Good Father (Luke 11:1-13)

    JAN 7

    The Good Father (Luke 11:1-13)

    In this episode we jump back into our journey through Luke together, picking up in Luke 11:1-13. In this passage, Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for His departure by teaching his disciples how to pray. Together we discuss how this passage helps shape a proper orientation in prayer (who God is, and who we are), a proper orientation in persistence (keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking), and a proper orientation in God’s response to our persistence (God is a good Father who gives good gifts). As His children, we must remember that we don't know it all and cannot see it all, but He can, and, through the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity to follow after Him in everything.

    37 min
  6. Advent 2025: To the Heart of God (Advent Week 5: Christ - Jonah 4:1-11)

    12/31/2025

    Advent 2025: To the Heart of God (Advent Week 5: Christ - Jonah 4:1-11)

    In this episode, we finish our Advent journey in Jonah 4:1-11. In this chapter, we have an opportunity to see Jonah’s response to God’s mercy on Nineveh. Together we discuss Jonah’s feelings of resentment towards both Nineveh and God, and how God uses the circumstances around Jonah to hold up a mirror to Jonah, functioning to expose Jonah’s heart and working towards transformation into God’s likeness. From this we identified that when we direct our focus and attention to Jesus, in the midst of our pain and hurt, He can help us move beyond that pain as we open up the space for Jesus to fill us with His hope, peace, joy, and love, regardless of what has happened to us.

    39 min
  7. Advent 2025: To the Heart of the Enemy (Advent Week 4: Love - Jonah 3:1-10)

    12/24/2025

    Advent 2025: To the Heart of the Enemy (Advent Week 4: Love - Jonah 3:1-10)

    In this episode we carry on into Jonah 3:1-10 (again the entire chapter). Finally, here in Jonah 3, we see both Jonah’s obedience as he arrives in Nineveh and shares the message from God and the response of the Ninevites. Together we talk about the miracles of obedience, belief, repentance, humility, and salvation found throughout this chapter. We reflect on God’s loving nature as the God of second chances and examine the depth and completeness of Nineveh’s repentance. Ultimately, we recognize that as people sent by God, our calling is not to condemn, but to offer salvation to those around us through Christ.

    35 min
  8. Advent 2025: In the Depths of the Sea (Advent Week 3: Joy - Jonah 1:9-17)

    12/17/2025

    Advent 2025: In the Depths of the Sea (Advent Week 3: Joy - Jonah 1:9-17)

    In this episode we pick up in Jonah 2, and work through the whole chapter. In this passage we explore Jonah’s prayer as he finally breaks the silence and takes the time to talk to God. Together we discuss the joy that Jonah finds as we see his focus shift from his own circumstances, to the unchanging character of God. In the same way, when we choose to focus on God’s unchanging character over our circumstances, we can find unshakable joy, this is the joy of Advent.

    39 min
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About

Living Vertizontal is a weekly podcast from The Church at Riverstone, A Fellowship of the Church of the Nazarene in Madera, CA. Living Vertizontal explores Scripture and celebrates the work of the Holy Spirit in our world.

Information

  • Creator
    The Church at Riverstone
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Church at Riverstone 2022
  • Show Website
    Living Vertizontal