Hear great messages from Pastor Denny Curran from River of Life Church in Cold Spring, MN. To learn more about the church please visit riveroflifeag.org.
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Living our life can be on of legacy...or disappointment. We don't consider these things when we are young and have much potential, but as the years slip by, we are faced by the question, "what has my life accomplished?" The truth is, we cannot truly accomplish anything worthwhile, because what is relevant today, may change tomorrow. But if our legacy is who we are in Christ, then our PURPOSE…
Our salvation as those in Jesus is a wonderful gift; it's not for the sake of going to heaven, but to live life right NOW. With this said, to live on this earth doesn't feel like heaven, considering all of the hardships and toil we find ourselves in. This is where community is so critical. But what makes community that much more effective isn't a community based on the smaller details like race,…
Our identity in Christ is confirmed. When we are in Him, we are no longer the sinful person we once were. But to live in this way can be difficult; to live life outside of what we know can be very difficult. Our usual gets in the way of the unusual God calls us to, a life of not living according to culture's standards. It's especially difficult when culture has what we "should" be doing plastered…
Our great hope is in Christ. There is no other way to life or to the truth. He is the only one who is worthy of our whole being. When we consider Christ in this way, we see that we are left with only one response: to worship Him exclusively, forever. To know Christ as our savior leads us to contentment that our sins are no more, and our life is eternal. What should we do with this life, though?…
We live in a world where connecting and talking is a natural part of our everyday. Regardless of where we find ourselves, there is typically a community either we are working with or alongside. However, loneliness plagues our society at an ever growing level; ironic, considering how connected we are with the advancements in technology. Being connected and staying connected are very difficult…
Our greatest needs can become the spectacle that we view life from. For some of us, it is an all encompassing and all consuming struggle we have to walk through in this life. For the man who hadn't been able to walk for 38 years, not only was it his circumstance, but it effectively became his identity. So why did Jesus ask him if he wanted to be healed? Isn't his need apparent? Or perhaps, was he…
Every year we take a day to celebrate the men in our life; the impact, the influence, the example. We are certainly the result of our environment, and the environment we were raised in can affect us to this day, both the the good and the bad. It is important to recognize that every we do, as a parent, as a guardian, as a mentor, and so on, it being watched very closely by learning eyes. The…
Faith is defined in scripture as "the confidence" of what is hoped for, and the "assurance" of what we do not see. Faith is never defined as something that comes as a consequence after an experience, but often times, before or despite not having the experience. This was the case for the disciples many times over. However, even after witnessing the great miracles done by Jesus, they still did not…
When it comes to know what to do in this life and how to live in this life, information is prevalent. In our age, there are perhaps 5-10 different views on any given subject, topic, or lifestyle. And with that comes the question, "what is right." But sometimes when we know what is true, it doesn't sit well with us... because it isn't an issue of what we do, but what we SHOULD do. Jesus made this…
We are shaped by the events in our lives. Whether or not this is who we want to be, it is undoubtedly the greatest mould that we are often formed into. However, there is an exception to the rule; those who are born again into the family of God are no longer bound to the old ways of living. This is easier said than done, because the greatest battle we face while on this side of Heaven is dealing…
We are a species who has learned to adapt and thrive; not because it has been given to us, but because we have had to strive to survive and then thrive. The unfortunate consequence of this is the recognition that if we don't stay sharp and stay alert, it will all come crumbling down. This is perhaps one of the greatest deceptions that we have come to believe... that it all depends on us. But we…
Mother's Day is the day set aside to appreciate and love the women in our lives who have had a meaningful impact in our lives. Mothers come in various ways throughout our lives: mentors, nurturers, boundary makers, and the list goes on. But to fight for their kids, and to love to the point of giving their own life, this role isn't just for moms, it's for all who have made Jesus their Lord and…
When Jesus asks a question in the Bible, it is easy to assume those around would make every effort to listen. He asked more questions then He answered, and often these questions caused many to be silent. A question He would often ask is what the person wanted, but He wasn't concerned about wants... He was concerned about needs. What is it that we need is what should drive us... and when we realize…
We are in part two of our series, talking about the beauty, and pain, of sacrifice. Sacrifice comes in many forms, and it is often easy for us to assume sacrifice can only be associated with pain or sorrow. Scripture talks of a "sacrifice of praise," something we assume means through music or singing. In this way, a sacrifice doesn't seem to heavy, but again, sacrifice requires us to remove the…
If you're familiar with the story of Zacchaeus, then you remember he was a little man who climbed a tree to see Jesus. What's missed in this song is the heart behind WHY he wanted to see Jesus: a repentant heart who was desperately seeking to right the wrongs of his past. So many of us can relate to this feeling; the guilt of our past needs to be dealt with. Zacchaeus was willing to give 50% of…
The week after our Easter celebration is full of heightened feelings of freedom, redemption... and things back to normal as we remember them. The disciples were so used to ministering with Jesus with them... but time came where they had to learn to live this life He has called us to through the Holy Spirit. It's much easier to follow the teaching of someone when they are tangibly their, but we are…
We are living in some very trying times! When it comes to multitasking, we can find ourselves prioritizing out the things that matter, and making the thing that do not paramount. However, are we preparing the church for when Christ comes to receive His bride? This message is a hard look at where we are, and what we consider to be important. We hope this gives perspective on how to reframe our…
A big challenge we have in this life is knowing who or what to follow. Next, HOW should we follow? Christ had many followers... until his teachings were either too hard or too offensive. The message of Christ isn't easy, especially in a world that demands comforts and rights. Can you follow Jesus if it means taking up your cross and dying to yourself? Find out how to live your life in Christ…
Home is where we lay our head, and our full attention to keep safe. Often we are putting up barriers and ways to maintain our security, and rightly so considering the world we live in. It is easy to assume we are safe, but what little leaks and broken windows still remain as we live in what the world wants us to believe is security, and slowly becomes a false sense of security? it's time to…
It's not a matter of "if" we will have difficult seasons, but "when." And it's not a matter of when we will be ready, but how we will be ready. We live in a very broken world, and it is important to us as humans to find a place that, not only can we survive in, but thrive. Our time is so valuable, and how we spend it is just as important how we steward everything else. But when loss comes, it's…
We are finishing up a quick sermon series called "Lies of a Love Song." We all enjoy the anthems of love, and often we see and hear them used in some of the biggest moments of life. But there often can be a negative attachment to the songs we hear, and this is caused not by the song, but the hurts that we experience in this life. One of the hardest actions we can do for others isn't to love…
Love is in the air! Or...at least that is what we are told during the month of February. Valentine's Day is a time when we show just how much we love others, but it can also be a routine of actions we've done for many years without much intention. With divorce rates higher than they've ever been, how can culture maintain a day specifically meant to celebrate love. Perhaps it's time to consider…
We love being the body of Christ. It is led by the Creator of the universe, the One who knows our innermost being. However, it can be easy to assume that we only have a single role, rather than to accept that perhaps we can operate in roles that either we never imagined...or even ever wanted to. But serving the church is such a selfless act, and the more you do it, the more you see how God is…
We were very honored to have Willie Robertson, one of the stars of the show Duck Dynasty, speak to our community this past weekend! He shared some amazing stories of family, business, and ultimately what has changed his life, Jesus Christ. Listen to his story, as well as his challenge!
Praying is the greatest thing we can do to come against darkness, empty fear, and release control. Prayer is a two-way conversation, even if words aren't involved. intimacy with the Lord is a beautiful reality that we often choose to live outside of; when we choose to live in our reality, we will always fall short. How is your intimacy with the Lord?
We are launching a new series on the need for prayer... but not the ways we expect to. Needing to pray isn't going through a list of needs and grievances before God, it's asking Him to come into your every day life and to change the way you are by the work of the Holy Spirit. If we only ever talk to God with needs, we miss the whole point of a beautiful relationship with our Creator, one that He…
We are joined by Kendall Alfaro this weekend as we kick off the first Sunday of 2026! Aside from being a gifted and relatable speaker, he also is the National Speed The Light Director, and organization that exists to spread the name of Jesus to unreached areas. This Sunday, Kendall spoke on how we can often live life distracted. Whether it is through our phones, work, or even family, it's…
As 2025 comes to an end, we give thanks to God for all of the amazing ways we have been a vessel for His glory... but this is also just the beginning of something incredible. We look ahead not because we want to rid ourselves of what has been, but out of obedience to a God who has proven Himself to be faithful. Thanks for joining us for 2025, and join us again as we look to the great things in…
As we land on the last name for the Messiah that was prophesied to come, Prince of Peace is something many of us may have heard at some point in this season. But can many say they LIVE in peace? If He is the prince of peace, what does that mean for us who are trying to find peace. Can it be found if it is a person? We hope this message encourages you to put your trust in the one who IS peace, and…
We are continuing our series on the names given to the coming Messiah as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6. We landed on Everlasting Father... and a message that is an interesting study on what this means. Jesus is the son of God, so how could he also be named the Everlasting Father? The supposed dichotomy is looked into specifically, but also, what does it mean for God to be a father? A Father eternally…
We have a special treat this past weekend! As we continue our series on Isaiah 9:6, we had some special guests join us for an amazing presentation. Our kids ministry works tirelessly every year to deliver the Gospel in unique and creative ways though the Kids Christmas Musical, and this year did not disappoint. At the end, Pastor Kirby gave a teaching on how God is our Mighty God, and how we can…
As we begin the Christmas season, it's important for us to recognize the LORD of this season. Christ Jesus' birth is the turning point in history where man began to understand what hope and joy to its fullness could look like in this life. But we often make the same mistake Martha made when Jesus asked her who he was... She was waiting for the promise, not realizing the promise was right in front…
Give thanks... in all things. Give thanks... even when it is tough. Give thanks... when you are in want. Giving thanks in this way becomes less about a reaction and more of a response; it is a choice we make, not a circumstance of the season. Our hope is that this message increases your reason to give thanks, not because of what you have, but because of how God has been so present in your life. We…
This past Sunday we had the honor of hosting Project Rescue, and organization that focuses on empowering survivors of sexual slavery and restoring hope. We heard the heart of these amazing people, how their amazing story led them to this point, and what they are doing to help those in need. We hope you are encouraged and challenged on how we can, together, make a greater impact in our world!
This life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, lefts and rights. We can be the cause of these changes, and we can be along for the ride, either intentionally or otherwise. Whether or not we are the reason for our circumstance, there is a response we all will have eventually, and that is our attitude. An attitude that is positive continues to view life from a stand point that circumstances…
This message may be a little difficult to listen to... because we are talking about letting go of control. Control is often the antithesis to the ministry that God wants to do. A massive, all knowing, all encompassing God should be able to handle this world and universe, and yet we place the weight of all of this upon our shoulders. This isn't what we were meant to do! We hope this message gives…
We are getting close to the end of the Battle Within series, and each theme represents real but often misunderstood emotions we face in this life. Perhaps the most misunderstood of all is disappointment; often times, we are disappointed without quite understanding why ourselves. The reality of this life is we often go into dreams and goal with a heartfelt conviction, hoping for the best, but what…
Sunday was a big day in history for River of Life Church! Find out more why: https://riveroflifeag.org/albany-campus This week we are addressing a great battle than many aren't quire sure how to prepare for: fear. Fear is the greatest enemy of our faith, because fear's success is dependent on the lack of our abilities. As we face the biggest challenges in life, perhaps the first thought we have…
Knowing who you are is a greatly affected by your ethics and convictions. Our morals are often what keep us centered and established, but what happens when we go against these very things? What happens when we keep going against what we believe to be true? Shame is a prison than can be a life sentence; however, what if there was an option to receive an appeal? Tune in to this week's message to…
One of the hardest battles we can ever face are the internal consequences of actions; whether of our own doing, or done to us. The reality is that letting go of past pain is one of the toughest battles we can face, and to try and forget is never formulaic. Perhaps we may never forget, but can we heal from the past? Are we ever able to truly walk in a new way with our past hanging on our back? We…
Let's talk about anger... a phrase you rarely ever hear spoken gently on. Anger is one of the greatest emotions we have: it can lead us to act, but it can also lead us to hurt. Scripture says to not sin in your anger... but it doesn't say not to be angry. So how do we be angry and yet be gentle? This can be a struggle, but it starts with the example of Jesus. We hope this helps you to know how to…
Change in our world is often prompted by response to the forces around us. We change because we have to, not because we want to. And sometimes this change is great, but often it is uncomfortable, uncertain, and can induce fear. But what if we could anticipate change, ready ourselves, and grow into it? By the Spirit of God... this is possible. We hope this message prepares you to appreciate change,…
This weekends podcast is a short reflection on how we should be prepared in all ways to share the Gospel. The one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy is after us, but we can give him the tools and the advances to use against us. If we aren't careful of our play calls and remaining patient, we can allow things into our lives that will cause us to live scrambled lives instead of prepared and…
The irony of trying to find happiness in this life is that it is never fulfilling. It's something we invest for, work for, and sacrifice for, but it is ultimately a feeling, as much as sorrow and fear is. These reactionary emotions often become leaders of our lives, whereas Jesus calls us to a greater lifestyle: that of sacrifice. While sacrifice can emit emotions, it isn't dependent on it. And…
It is easy to live our life in the world WITH the world, verses life in the world IN the world. The difference is this: Who is your lord? Is it Jesus? Is it work? Is it a relationship? To build our kingdom here on earth may last for a while, but it will inevitably fail and fade. How can we work to build alongside God for the Kingdom here ON earth?
What does it looks like to achieve greatness in life? Is it about acclaim? Is it about wealth? Is it about security? Often we find that to achieve greatness requires sacrifice... but what are we sacrificing? Are we sacrificing the wrong things to achieve the wrong goals? Where is your vision leading you, and what are you sacrificing in the process to achieve it? Want to know how to achieve it…
We are continuing our series on James, venturing into what it looks like to not just talk the talk, but truly walk the walk. Our lives in Christ are NOT made possible by our works, however, our works flow from the life we live in Christ. We can tell if someone has been so deeply affected by Christ by the way they mirror Christ. Our challenge for you: how are you mirroring Christ?
The book of James in the Bible is from the heart of one of Jesus' disciples; His very own half-brother, James. His words are from a perspective of Christian living that is relevant even to this day. How we act, our conduct, and approach is so critical as followers of Jesus. Let's be encouraged to live out our call in a way that brings others to Christ, and not away!
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is one of the most impactful and controversial events in history. The implications of such an act make Jesus and the disciples liars, or Jesus is truly God. It cannot be anything in-between. The power of the resurrection testimony has established the modern world as we know it, and to deny its credibility is a presumptuous task; we have more history…
When others talk about hearing God, we are quick to assume there is a character trait that can simply be described as... crazy. This must be how those around Noah, the man who built the ark, must have felt. But the greatest miracle of this whole story lies not in the extreme weather events... but how this man obeyed God and did what he was told. Despite the pressure from those around, and extended…