HAPPY NEW YEAR! I pray that your 2026 has gotten off to a great start and that throughout this New Year, we will all grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our LORD JESUS! When we know JESUS and His grace,  we know HE is gracious to always give us a “do-over”, a “Fresh-Start”.  But what if our reluctance is what hinders our own “Fresh-Start” in this New Year? The book of JONAH answers that question! I’m praying you’ll make plans right now to join us every Sunday in the first month of this New Year and learn from JONAH that even in our greatest reluctance, GOD is relentless to give us a “Fresh-Start” in the most unexpected ways! Pastor Joe Still

In this message, Pastor Joe Still continues our Christmas teaching series titled CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and we'll hear from several “Riverbluffians” how they are seeing the LIGHT of CHRIST burning bright around them. It will be a great time together closing out 2025 and readying our hearts to step into all that GOD has for us in the new year!

Christmas Eve at The River: A Savior was Born for You.

In this message, Pastor Dean Infinger unravels the incredible journey of the Magi—the mysterious wise men who traveled great distances, navigated a treacherous political landscape under King Herod, and followed a single star to worship the newborn King. Discover the courage, faith, and transformative sacrifice of these seekers, and learn how their quest for truth holds powerful lessons for your own journey today.

During this message, Pastor Joe Still lights the “Pink Candle” of Advent representing JOY as we also peer deeply into the lives of those whom GOD chose to be the first to personally meet His Son. Advent invites us to wait with expectation, but it also invites us to rejoice! Few scenes capture this joyful wonder better than the shepherds in Luke 2:8–18. These ordinary, overlooked workers on a hillside become the first to hear heaven’s announcement of Christ’s birth. Their response reveals what true Advent joy looks like. Luke tells us the shepherds were “living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night”—doing their routine work, in the quiet darkness. Into that darkness bursts the glory of the Lord and the voice of an angel proclaiming “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Advent joy begins not with our effort but with God’s initiative. Joy breaks in as God reveals Himself, even in the ordinary places of life. The angel’s message is specific and personal: “Unto you is born this day… a Savior.” Advent joy is rooted in the reality that God’s salvation is not distant or theoretical. It is for you. The shepherds didn’t have to climb up to heaven; heaven came to them in the form of a baby, JESUS!

Every Christmas we celebrate the coming of” the Light” into the world—candles glow, streets shine, and hearts lift with hope. Yet long before shepherds stood under Bethlehem’s dark sky, the promise of that “Light”  was already spoken. Isaiah 9:2 declares, “The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death.”  This ancient prophecy forms one of the clearest bridges between the Old Testament and the Christmas story. Isaiah first spoke these words into a world marked by political fear, military threat, and spiritual confusion. Israel was surrounded by powerful enemies, its future uncertain, and its faith often fragile. Darkness, in every sense, defined their experience. Yet into that bleak reality God promised “Light” —not merely survival, but renewal; not just relief, but redemption. The people walking in despair would not be left there. God Himself would act! Centuries later, Matthew’s Gospel explicitly connects this prophecy to the birth and early ministry of Jesus.  Matthew writes that this happened “to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah” (Matthew 4:14–16). In other words, Christmas is not an isolated miracle; it is the long-anticipated fulfillment of God’s promise to bring “Light” to a darkened world. Christmas celebrates the moment when that promised “Light” took on flesh. The baby in the manger was not simply a symbol of hope; He was hope embodied. The “Light” Isaiah foretold was not an idea or a political reform, but a Person. Jesus steps into human darkness—sin, fear, suffering, and death—and illuminates a new way forward. His birth declares that darkness does not have the final word. I’m praying that you’re making plans now to join us every Sunday in the month of December for our Christmas Teaching Series: CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. I’m also praying that the “Light” of our LORD JESUS will bring brightness and healing into your life this Christmas, and I’m hopeful you’ll be inviting folks to join you as we gather every Sunday this month and celebrate the Birth of KING JESUS, the “Light” of the World! Pastor Joe Still

In this message, Pastor Joe Still wraps-up our UNEXPECTED teaching on the Parables of JESUS. He'll close out this study by exploring two brief parables found in Mark chapter 4. In both parables JESUS compares the Kingdom of GOD to “seeds”. Both parables also point us to much HOPE! This Sunday is also the first Sunday of ADVENT. On that day we join with churches all around the world lighting the Candle of HOPE! Additionally, this Sunday begins our annual WEEK OF PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS. It is a week rooted in the HOPE that we will fulfill the Great Commission JESUS gave us to take His Gospel to every man, woman, and child on the planet. We'll also begin collecting our annual Christmas offering to support that work being done by our International Missionaries serving around the world. It's going to be a great, HOPE-filled day here at "the River"!

This Sunday is the first day of the week that contains the national day designated by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President of these United States, as the day of THANKSGIVING.  At Riverbluff, on the Sunday before THANKSGIVING, we traditionally take the day to align our hearts and calibrate our minds on all that we have for which we can be thankful. This Sunday, we will do that, but with a bit of a twist! This Sunday, we will continue in our Teaching Series, “UNEXPECTED”, as we explore another of JESUS’ Parables.  The title of this week’s message is “THE WORST THANKS-GIVING…EVER!” In this message, Pastor Joe Still teaches how JESUS shows us how to break the grip of false gratitude and step into Kingdom Thankfulness.

All of us, at one time or another have missed an opportunity that could have altered our lives, maybe for the better. There are also many famous moments in history that were squandered. Here are just a few: • A Kodak engineer invented the first digital camera, but the company suppressed the technology, fearing it would hurt its “film business”. • The telegraph company Western Union famously rejected Alexander Graham Bell's offer to buy the telephone patent for $100,000, calling the device "idiotic". • A committee of the British Government rejected Thomas Edison’s light bulb, stating that it might be “okay for our transatlantic friends…but unworthy of the attention of practical or scientific men.” • Decca Records famously turned down the Beatles after an audition, because one of their executives stated "guitar groups are on the way out". In JESUS’ great “End Times” teaching found in Matthew 24 and 25, He employs a Parable to warn His disciples of the eternal tragedy of squandering our lives. This Parable is most often called the “Parable of the Servants & Talents”, and we’ll explore its poignant message this Sunday. In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to discover together how to “Maximize our Lives” the JESUS Way!

In this message, Pastor Joe Still continues to teach from the Parables of JESUS - something UNEXPECTED about the Kingdom of GOD. This week JESUS reveals something to us about Kingdom Prayer in Luke 18:1-8!

In this message, Dr. Curt Bradford will continue teaching in our series, UNEXPECTED The Parables of Jesus. Curt was Lead Pastor at Riverbluff from 1988-2014.  The LORD has multiplied Curt’s mentoring ministry, as he now mentors pastors all around our state. He is currently serving as Point Leader for the Steward Team of the Charleston Baptist Association. Joyfully welcome Curt back to his teaching role with us! Curt will explore the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price and the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, found in Matthew 13:44-45.

This week we have been witnesses to what feels like the miraculous return of 20 living Israeli hostages, along with the bodies of several who died in captivity, and additionally, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees returned to Gaza and the West Bank. I’m not sure many of us thought we’d see this day of freedom come to so many in this war-torn part of our world. The peace and freedom that we are witnessing are both very fragile in these moments, so please continue to follow the Biblical imperative to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It will only be in peace that all involved might experience freedom. Ultimate freedom is only found in this life, through our Lord Jesus and in His teachings found in the Gospels. This Sunday we continue our journey through the Parables of Jesus as Garrett Walker leads us to explore the Parable of Two Sons found in Luke 15. Both sons have their struggles in life, but only one will walk in freedom, which one may surprise you. I’m sure it shocked those who originally heard Jesus speak those famous words! I can’t wait to hear Garrett open the Word of GOD that can lead us to full and eternal freedom! Pastor Joe Still

Parable of the Wheat & the Weeds Like much of the world, this morning I am prayerful that we are witnessing the ending of Israel’s war with Hamas.  Last week marked the two-year anniversary of the barbaric attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians that sparked this war.  That act, brought the reality of the existence of “pure evil”, back to the forefront of news headlines and coffee shop conversations.  The evil released on that day has not only decimated life in that small strip of land known as “Gaza”, but it has spread tension and terror around the globe. The ”problem of evil”, as it is has been labeled by philosophers and theologians, is not just a “modern” question, but an ancient one.  Every generation of humans must wrestle with it.  JESUS addresses this question in the Parable of the Wheat & the Weeds, recorded in Matthew 13.  He points us to GOD’s Sovereignty as HE reveals something of how to live now, in the Kingdom of GOD! In this message, Pastor Joe Still looks to JESUS and His teaching, on how we can face our greatest enemy of evil, with the Sovereignty of our GOD

"Avoid Becoming an Unintentional Pharisee" JESUS was genius in His teaching! Matthew 7:28-29 describes how his hearers experienced His teaching: “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority…” As JESUS’ teaching ministry expanded, He made the decision to frequently use parables as a primary teaching method as Mark 4:1-2 tells us: “AGAIN JESUS began to teach beside the lake. And a very great crowd gathered about Him…And He taught them many things in parables…” His parables focused on the Kingdom of GOD and often employed a very UNEXPECTED twist to awaken the hearts and minds of His hearers so they would draw nearer to Him and His kingdom work. This series of messages is entitled UNEXPECTED. We’ll explore many of the parables JESUS taught. Why don’t you plan now to join us on Sundays at one of our services at 9:30 or 11AM, or in our livestream service at 11AM on riverbluff.live for each message in this series? I am praying that something UNEXPECTED will happen in our lives and in our church that will bring much glory to GOD and release even more of His kingdom goodness on us, and through us, into our city. Pastor Joe Still

Along with many others in our nation and around the world, I continue to believe that GOD is pouring out HIS Spirit in a powerful way, in our day! Many of you have prayed for such a movement of GOD.  Now I am convinced our prayer should be “LORD DON’T PASS US BY”.  Two weeks ago, we explored that topic and looked at steps we could take to not be passed by.  Last Sunday we looked at a clear pathway to walk out individually so that we are not passed by as the LORD moves powerfully around us. In this message, Pastor Joe Still explores the great prayer of JESUS in John 17.  In our LORD’s Prayer, He reveals what could exist in a church that could cause it to completely miss out on a great movement of GOD that might be happening all around it.

While much has been said this week about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk and its potential to catalyze a movement of young Christian conservatives, JESUS tells us no true, lasting change will come to us or to our nation, until Biblical REPENTANCE and FAITH comes! Last Sunday, we focused on a warning, that if we are not mindful and responsive, GOD’s Kingdom, that is all around us, could just pass us by. This Sunday, we explore a proven pathway that can lead us to experience CONTINUOUS KINGDOM BREAKTHROUGH. In this message, Pastor Joe Still lead us to walk that pathway together.

What can we do when so much in our culture is rapidly disintegrating around us? The writer of Psalm 46 faced such times, stating: “earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea… nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble” But then the Psalmist reminds us: “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come, see the glorious works of the Lord…” As did the Psalmist we can turn to GOD! When JESUS walked among us, He called all who would be His disciples to, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…” Matthew 6:33 (NLT) In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to explore together how to follow this great challenge from our Lord. Don’t let GOD’s Kingdom pass you by!

On the opening pages of the Bible, GOD unfolds HIS Blueprint for the best way Human Beings, the crown of HIS creation, can flourish. We call that Blueprint, “The Family”! This Sunday we close out our Summer Teaching Series ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE, examining our FATHER’s meticulously detailed plans for “The Family”. In this message, Pastor Joe Still leads us to celebrate and recommit ourselves to GOD’S good plan for the foundation on which every other human institution can be strengthened.

I love what J. I. Packer, author of that great book KNOWING GOD once said of theology: "Theology is for doxology and devotion—that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness... Theology is at its healthiest when it is consciously under the eye of God of whom it speaks, and when it is singing to his glory." Dr. Packer taught that theology that didn’t lead us to passionate worship of GOD and deeper devotion to GOD, was ultimately a worthless endeavor. As we continue our study of the ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE, my prayer continues to be that it will lead us to passionate worship of our good, good, GOD, and an ever-growing devotion to HIM.  This week we will conclude our study of the ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE ABOUT SALVATION and connect it to our ESSENTIAL BELIEFS ABOUT BAPTISM.  We will also get to celebrate with one of our students who is following JESUS into baptism. Pastor Joe Still

As of August 14, the death toll stands at 141 from the tragic flooding that took place a month ago in Texas, as the Guadalupe River overflowed its banks. Additionally, 165 people are still reported missing. Once caught in the rapid moving flood waters, victims could not save themselves.  They couldn't even call out for help as they struggled to breathe. Their only hope was for someone else on the outside to see their plight and send for help.  Any that were saved from the swift water, were saved by the heroic efforts of others. The massive devastation caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River is a picture of the spiritual need of all mankind.  Without GOD, we are all headed for certain disaster.  We cannot save ourselves, no matter how great our desire or effort; but the good news is, GOD sees our need and HE has sent a Rescuer, One who saves! In this message, Pastor Joe Still continues our Summer Series: ESSENTIAL WE BELIEVE and we turn our attention to GOD’s Great Salvation.