If my math is correct, there are 201 more shopping days until Christmas!!Did that statement surprise you? Are you wondering, “Why on earth is Pastor Joe bringing Christmas up in June?” I think most of us would agree, that for the world, Christmas is the most celebrated of the Christian Holy Days, with Easter coming in second. For many Christ-follow…

The Great Commission…most all of us are quite familiar with the final words our Lord Jesus shared with His disciples, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, instructing them to “go and make disciples.” Indeed, with this command, Jesus gave His followers a “life purpose” that would guide them wherever they would go and with whomever they would speak …

We continue this Sunday with our series on Essential Beliefs. This week we will be focusing on Eternal Security. I have a friend who retired from pastoring, and he often says that one of the enemy's biggest schemes is to steal the joy of Christians.Have you ever had thoughts like: Am I really saved? Did I follow the right steps to gain salvation? H…

The previous message in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE teaching series, we began with the essential beliefs Christians have about GOD. We continue that journey here in part two of that message!Pastor Joe Still looks at three characteristics that are absolutely unique about our GOD. We’ll see how those unique characteristics deeply impact everything we d…

Our culture seems to have a fascination with celebrities, people who are rich or powerful or popular. We want to know about what they do, how they live, and even what they wear. It’s the topic of many magazines, podcasts, and late night shows.What if one of these could actually interview GOD? He is, after all, the most powerful personality in the e…

Christian Confessions, Creeds, & Core Belief expressions, have been around a very long time, some since the 2nd century. I, along with others would argue that some of the New Testament statements found in the writings of the Apostle Paul, became the earliest Creeds of the Christian Church.Do these hold value for us today?I believe JESUS' half-broth…

When you were growing up, maybe like me, you were taught the prayer, “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food." Many of us learned at an early age, God's great and God's good!If you've been in church any length time, you’ve heard some pastor or worship leader say, “God is good," and the congregation shouts back, "All the time." The…

While Riverbluff’s “Weekly Update” arrives in your inbox every Friday, this one comes on what is the most sacred Friday of the year. It is often called Good Friday. It is “good” because it is the day, over 2,000 years ago, when GOD demonstrated how truly Good and unconditionally Loving HE is toward humanity. HE demonstrated this by sacrificing HIS …

Maundy Thursday Communion Service 2025Maundy Thursday service is a meaningful and sobering prelude to the Easter weekend. It simply means we will focus on the Lord’s Supper and what happened the night before Jesus was crucified. It is indeed a somber time but we need to be reminded regularly of what it cost God to save us.…

Fun fact: In a healthy human being over half of our body’s composition is water, 60% to be exact. That means that if you weigh 175 pounds you’re walking around with about 105 pounds of water!Even with all of that water, your body still must have an adequate daily supply, or bad things begin to happen in you. Most people don't realize how bad dehydr…

JESUS FORSAKENNESS means my FORGIVENESS FOR OUR FORGIVENESS, JESUS FORSAKENSUBSTITUTES?The label might read “plant-based meat substitute”, but I’m sorry, there’s just no such thing as a “Garden Burger”; I don’t care who puts one on their menu. “Hamburger” means meat!And please, don’t try to fool me into thinking “carob” is “chocolate.” It never has…

This Sunday, as we continue in our teaching series, “WHAT JESUS SAID IN RED”, we examine the third of the seven, recorded statements, Jesus made while dying on the Cross. This statement, found in John 19:25-27, is a very personal statement of love Jesus makes directly to his mother and one of his very best friends.Jesus endured incredible pain as h…

The older I’ve grown, the more aware I’ve become, I can learn something new from anyone, if I will listen carefully and truly “be in the moment” with them. My grandkids have been especially helpful in teaching me this lesson!This principle is particularly applicable when it comes to GOD’s Word. Every person who shows up in the scriptures had their …

While it may not surprise anyone, I have a number of hard copy Bibles in my personal library, (along with many digital editions)! My favorite Bibles, are the “Red-Letter” editions. They have the words the incarnated JESUS spoke printed in red, which make HIS spoken words really stand out.Yes! I am keenly aware that every word in the Bible was GOD-b…

Have you ever been peppered with the “Why” questions from a young child? Why are clouds white? Why does the car blinker make that sound? Why do birds fly or dogs bark?And during hardship, we can begin asking our own questions. Why did this happen? Will I ever get back to normal? How will this affect the people I love? Why do bad things happen to go…

This Sunday, as we open ourselves up to God’s Word together in worship, I’m excited to say that Dr. Curt Bradford will be leading us!For those of you who are newer to Riverbluff, Curt was Lead Pastor at Riverbluff from 1988-2014. He has also been personally mentoring me since 1981. The LORD has multiplied Curt’s mentoring ministry, as he now mentor…

It only takes a few moments with any news source to realize that evil is active in our world today. But, as bad as things are, the Bible says that there is “restraining power” at work, holding back the full measure of evil that could be released on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote to his friends in the church at Thessalonica about this:“I expect you r…

This morning as I write this, it’s Valentine’s Day. Kathy and I have already exchanged gifts and cards. We’re looking forward to spending the day together, and hopeful we’ll get a nice lunch at a great little Lowcountry restaurant!The Greeting Card Industry is also “hopeful” today. They’re hopeful they’ll make a ton of money off of card sales. I gu…

This week, I’ve had conversations with several people who expressed the same concern. I actually don’t recall a week, when this particular topic came up unsolicited, as frequently as it did this week. The topic and concern was over seeing an increased activity of Satan, in our world, but specifically right around them personally, and how it brought…

This week has been a week of extremes!Tuesday was filled with such great joy as our 4th grandchild, Easton Everett Housand was born. He got here with a few minor struggles, but by the grace of God is progressing very well and will be going home very soon!Then came the news of the Wednesday night mid-air collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 an…

On Monday, January 21, 2025, our nation, and the world, witnessed the peaceful transfer of power as President Trump took the oath of office. This week we’ve witnessed a flurry of political and governmental “shake-ups” that once again reveal the great rift of brokenness in our country.Throughout His Holy Word, GOD makes many “If/Then” declarations, …

Our culture assigns the title “Religion” to groups of people that adhere to the same beliefs, most often derived from written “sacred scriptures”. The Holy Scriptures of two of the world’s “great religions” begin with the same declaration: “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.” (Genesis 1:1)In both Judaism and Christianity, human…

Last year one of the many blessings GOD brought into my life was the introduction to a new scripture translation. It is entitled THE PASSION TRANSLATION. I have enjoyed both reading and listening to it.For the last two weeks, I have been meditating on Luke 10:17-20. Here is how the PASSION TRANSLATION reads:17 When the seventy missionaries returned…

At the ripe age of 62 there are a lot of things that I remember. I remember playing outside until it was dark. My mom would call us in for dinner and we would beg to play another “kick-the-can” game until we had to come in for the night. I remember our only TV was a console TV with 3 channels and an antenna that was attached to our house. My job wa…

Christmas Eve 2024 - full length serviceעל ידי Riverbluff Church

In this message, we continue our Advent journey together and light the fourth Advent candle, the candle representing Love. Fortunately, this coincides with our study of Isaiah 9:6, as we turn our attention this Sunday to another name for JESUS, “EVERLASTING FATHER”! These two biblical truths intersect at JESUS!At first glance, it may seem a bit con…

A baby changes everything...I am quite certain many parents would attest to this fact! I can recall many things that changed during the early days after having my own children. They certainly rocked my world in many wonderful ways and continue to do so each day! But the birth of Jesus, well, that was a baby that would change the world for all time!…

I pray that like me, your 2024 Advent celebration is increasing your joy in our LORD, and raising your anticipation of HIS certain 2nd Coming. Just thinking about that washes the heaviness in my heart away and resets my mind to a place of great peace. I hope you’re having similar experiences.This Sunday, in our Christmas Teaching series entitled NO…

Names matter! Based on information gathered from the Social Security Administration, the “Top Baby Names for 2023” were:For Boys For Girls1. Liam Olivia2. Noah Emma3. Oliver CharlotteBecause names matter, I actually work hard at trying to remember names. I wish I were better at it. It is something for which I regularly ask GOD’s help.While names in…

I love that our country devoted a “national holiday” to give thanks to GOD for HIS blessings on us. I pray that on the day of “Giving Thanks”, you were able to take a few moments to reflect on the goodness of GOD in your life and thank HIM for all that HE has done!If for nothing else, I pray you thanked HIM for sending HIS One and only SON, through…

I don’t know about you, but when I look at the culture around me, here in the country that I love, I don’t see very many people talking, or tweeting, or posting thankful thoughts. In fact, just the opposite seems to be true. About all I see and hear, is griping and grumbling.When JESUS walked among us, He called those who would follow Him to join H…

We are in a difficult season for many in our nation, and in our church. We’re still coming through an extremely contentious election season and entering a transition of leadership at the highest levels of government. We’re also entering the holiday season, which for many becomes a time of heavy-heartedness due to loss.All of this brings unique trig…

Like many, I am grateful that this election season is almost in our rearview mirrors. While I would never diminish the importance of any election, and hold with conviction that participation is a high privilege and the significant responsibility of every citizen, not every election can be the “most consequential election of our lifetime”!All too of…

Every person has some desire to see their life, and the lives of people they love, flourish!GOD’s Word tells us that our lives will flourish as we are “planted in the House of the LORD” (see Psalm 92:12-13).In this message, Pastor Joe Still explores how to best be “planted in the HOUSE OF THE LORD”!על ידי Riverbluff Church

I remember having a conversation with a farmer about ripe fruit. The farmer told me that when you pick fruit that is not ripe, that it can be very difficult. He mentioned that you could hit the fruit with a baseball bat and not dislodge it from the tree. However, when the fruit is ripe you can just brush it with your fingertips and it will fall int…

I believe it was Theologian Dale Bruner who first called the HOLY SPIRIT, the “shy member of the Trinity,” because He doesn't like to draw attention on Himself and He is always gentle. While I have personally found those attributes to be true, the scriptures also point out that the HOLY SPIRIT desires to be very active in our lives, especially help…

GOD’ Word is replete with accounts of GOD’s people marking HIS goodness with great celebrations and construction of memorial markers! This message will be such a celebration and it will become part of our “Memorial Wall to GOD’s Goodness” in our main hallway. We have so much to celebrate - our 82nd anniversary of GOD planting our church, the provis…

One of the realities of storms is they churn up insecurity when they blow into town. Our hearts and minds can be flooded and blown about with all kinds of concerning thoughts.One of the insecurities that Satan repeatedly tries to churn up in us relates to our “Eternal Security”. But, GOD has given us an assurance of our Salvation’s Security in the …

Many of us were taught to avoid conversational topics like Politics and Religion. I fear that teaching has played a significant role in bringing us to where we are in our culture today; the boiling point!Maybe instead of being taught to “avoid”, we should have been taught “how to”; how to have conversations about such topics, granting respect and h…

Pentecost - Let the HOLY SPIRIT be Your WORSHIP LEADER - September 15, 2024 by Riverbluff Churchעל ידי Riverbluff Church

In Matthew Chapter 24, the Gospel writer records JESUS teaching His disciples about the global conditions before His 2nd Coming. There, JESUS tells them (and us), that before His Great Return, “There will be more and more evil in the world…” v12 (NCV). This week’s school shooting in Winder, Georgia, is but one example of the growth of “more and mor…

If you have ever seen a fish out of water, you know that it just flops around, wiggling and jumping all over the place. If it's out of water, it's out of its intended environment. The fish is trying to move but it can't go anywhere because it's not in the environment it was made to be in. So it flops and twists and flips, absolutely going nowhere. …

After my message two weeks ago (August 11, 2024) on the armor of God, the question came, “can we pray the armor onto someone else?” While the answer is, “not exactly”, the heart of that question is “can our prayers help others against the spiritual attacks of our great enemy and his minions?” The answer to that question is absolutely yes!While each…

I’ve talked often about growing up in the home of a Residential Home Builder. It gave me the skills to actually build the house Kathy and I have lived in since we married in 1983. One of the skills my dad taught me was how to spot good quality building materials, which is quite important, because all construction products are not created equally. P…

In this message, Pastor Joe Still continues our journey through the Bible, growing to know the Person and Power of the Holy Spirit! Join us as we celebrate the Goodness of our GOD!על ידי Riverbluff Church

Believed to be written in the 5th century BC, Sun Tzu’s, THE ART OF WAR is a military classic. I’ve read that it is still required reading for certain Marine programs, for Navy SEALs, and for Officer Training. It may seem “non-pastoral” to reference this, or to even admit that I’ve read it and it’s in my Kindle library; but it has actually become a…

THE PARABLE OF THE NEW CARA man who had never driven or even ridden in a car, was given the gift of a brand new car. He was so very happy with his new car. He invites his friend over to show them his new car. He shows them the beautiful paint job. He shows them the soft upholstery. He has them sit in it. He points out all the amenities like the ste…

While every week I look forward to the time we gather together to celebrate JESUS and fellowship with one another, I am especially eager for this week’s gathering. This Sunday we have the special blessing of Students leading us in worship and sharing what the LORD has done in them, around them, and through them, at FUGE Camp this Summer!I am also l…

Staying Calm When a Crisis ComesA message from Acts 27:9-29 by Pastor Joe Stillעל ידי Riverbluff Church

I pray your celebration of being blessed to live in a nation filled with so many freedoms was filled with joy this Fourth of July. Our national freedom is a remarkable thing to be deeply treasured!So too, is our “Freedom in Christ”!Luke 22 records several discussions Jesus had with His disciples. In verse 35, we read Jesus asking them an interestin…