River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

Growing Bigger Hearts – Being a Great Friend

River Church at the Mall of America

Recorded January 8, 2006

1Sa 18:1-4 KJV

(1) And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

(2) And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

(3) Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

(4) And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

After the victory over Goliath, Saul takes David under his wing, for a while at least. Then the crowds begin to sing David's praises. Saul gets jealous and Saul looks to get rid of him. While this is going on, Jonathan (Saul's son) and David become friends. We need to look at four characteristics of their friendship.

1. Take the initiative – Jonathan takes the initiative in their friendship. All good friendships happen that way. If we want to have a friendship like they had, then we need to take the initiative. Why did Jonathan take the initiative? Did he see the relationship with God that David had? David took on Goliath with God as his aide. Later Jonathan will act like this when he goes to battle. It must be the glue that holds the friendship together. We look for people who are like us.

2. Be generous – In verse 4, Jonathan gives many gifts to David. This was not a homosexual relationship, but more of a covenant relationship, a next in line to the King covenanting with a Shepard boy. He was giving signs of his kingship. The robe, protection for David. The tunic Represents the heart, to know David better. The sword, the most powerful weapon, like the Word, God's power. The Bow, the long range weapon, praying for David. Belt, the practical support David would need. Would we do the same for those that are our friends?

3. Be honest –
   1Sa 19:2 KJV
   (2) But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
   
   How do you handle things when problems are arising. Jonathan could have been loyal to his father. He was next in line to be king. He kept honest to friend. When correction is necessary, be honest in private.

4. Be loyal – He was loyal to David. Like God covenanted with Abraham, Jonathan made a blood covenant with each other. They were loyal to each other, a concept foreign to our society today.

These characteristics are God's as well. This defines who God is in the world. God did each one of these. God is a fantastic friend to each one of us.

Podcast Sermon Notes - River Church Mall of America - Growing Bigger Hearts

Growing Bigger Hearts 1
Giants in our lives

Jan 1, 2006 sermon recorded

River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

The God of the Bible is a communicating God. He wants to talk with us and relate to us.

We need to grow bigger hearts. We need to grow spiritually so we can hear him on a daily basis. We need to look at a man who was like this and see what he was like. To see how he got to be a man after God's heart.

David was told by his father to see how his brothers were doings during a war they were in. When he gets there he sees Israel and the Philistines were in a stalemate. No one wanted to go into the others person's area to fight. The Philistines did not want to fight in the hills of the Hebrews and the Hebrews in the open plains. They agree to send one champion from each side. Goliath who double major in assault and battery and minored in smack talk was chosen by the Philistines. He was so big that he scarred the Hebrews. Then he started to smack talk the God of the Hebrews. This gets David angry.

His brother tries to stop thin but David will not listen. He is taken to Saul who should have been fighting this battle but is too scared. Saul tries to give David his armor but David will not use it. As David faces Goliath, he taunts David. And David replies that God will get him through all of this and defeat Goliath.

And then David slings the stone and taker him out with one blow. So what does this have to do with us today? We face giants in our lives every day. Giants of relationships, jobs, medial reports. They smack talk us in our minds much like Goliath did to the Hebrews. How did David face his giants? Here are four sequential ways;

• We can prepare in private.
  
  1Sa 17:34-35 KJV
  (34) And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
  (35) And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
  
  David took care of preparations by his care of the sheep. He did it physically with the lion and the bear, but spiritually in times of worship to God.
  
  
• Fight the right foe.
  
  1Sa 17:28 KJV
  (28) And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
  
  Would we face the Eliabs or focus on the giant foe? David made sure that his focus on Goliath. We need to fight the devil not the people on our own team. We do not need to fight each other.
  
  
• Recognize the resources
  
  1Sa 17:40 KJV
  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
  
  David realized he needed spiritual help and God led him to the five smooth stones. When we face our giants look for the tools that will help us.
  
  
• Value your victories
  
  1Sa 17:54 KJV
• And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
  
  He took the head and weapons to display them. Write down when God puts a victory in your life. These events need to be celebrated.

A Heavenly Ad

River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

A Heavenly Ad

Chris Rankin

Dec 18, 2005

Ever see an ad for a movie that you really wanted to see. And then when you see it the movie was horrible. 2000 years ago there was a spectacular ad for an event. Shepherds were out relaxing after dinner enjoying the night. Then an angel shows up with a brilliant light. They became scarred, and the angel tells them to not have fear and about Jesus beings born. Why were they told not to have fear? They could not learn if they were in fear. Then as this is happenings a heavenly choir breaks out in song. That was an advertisement of what was to come. What was the ad from heaven trying to say?

Luke 2

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

What are the key elements that the angels were trying to say?

• Christmas is about releasing our fears. The angels said to sheppherds not to have fears. One of the greatest things that seperates us from God and the life he wants us to live is fear.
  1 Peter 5
  7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

• Christmas is about Good news. We have bad news all around us all the time. The angel said he came to bring good new.
  Gal 4
  5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons
  6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
  7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

• The good news is that God cares for each and every one of us enough to want to adopt us.

• It is about connecting And reconnecting with God. We need to have more than head knowledge of Jesus. It is about forgiving of sins. When our sins are removed we can have peace. And that is what the Angels were speaking of. Peace on Earth. Who do you need to forgive so you can have peace?

For Those Who Do Not Beleve In ... God

River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

For Those Who Do Not Believe in... God (1st of 5 part series)
Chris Reinertson
March 12, 2006

God cannot be proved. He can not be put in a test tube and given a litmus test. There are evidences beyond a shadow of a doubt that He does exist. We will be like a jury and decide the evidence.

1. Who created the big bang? This is called the cosmological argument. What is the reason for the world? Any thing that has a beginning has to be caused by something. Something caused the world to be made, what was it? Many scientist believed that the universe was eternal. That is not the theory now. They believe now that there was a shower of photons causing and explosion. Photons are light.
   Gen 1:3
   (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
   
2. BF engine evidence. BF = bacterial flagella. Bacteria have a motor, flagella, that can produce huge speeds at such an incredibly small size. Look at that, it seems that something intelligent created. This is tealogical evidence. If there is a design, there is something that created that design. Another example is the DNA that creates us. Such complicated design had to be created by an intelligent designer. This is not the way that nature produces things. Statistically this is a near impossibility.
   Psa 19:1-4
   (1) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
   (2) Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
   (3) There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
   (4) Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
   
3. That is not fair argument. We all have a moral compass in us that tells us right from wrong. If God does not exist we have social Darwinism. The rules get thrown out and anyone does what he or she wants. Survival of the ones that have the greater power. Why do we have that moral compass in us? This goes back through many civilizations.
   Gen 1:27 (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
   
4. Humaness of Humans. Where does your personality come from? What makes us unique?
   Psa 139:13-14 (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
   We human beings have a deep down need to know there is a spiritual being out there. We seek God like hunger drives us to seek food. Who put that there?
   Ecc 3:11 (11) He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
5. True human forgiveness. Have you ever watched a person be hurt and be angry and then lovingly forgive them. This is the testimonial argument. When they seek God, they find Him in the person of Jesus Christ. There is a loving God who exist that forgives us. He changes peoples lives in a real way.

Your destiny depends on how you decide as a juror.
Psa 34:8 (8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

River Church Podcast - For those who do not believe in... the Bible

River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

For Those Who Do Not Believe in... The Bible (2ND of 5 part series)
March 19, 2006

What do you think about the Bible? Ask that of people sometimes.

Do you believe in literal interpretation of the Bible. Well, we are not going to mount up with Eagle Wings and soar away. But otherwise, yes, it is true.

Objections to the Bible that People have.

1. Bible is historically inaccurate. A lot of things are not historically correct they say. The archaeological evidence shows that it is good history. In many cases, archaeologist are finding things to back them up now. No discovery has ever contradicted what the Bible says.

2. It is not the same as the original. This is true to some degree. We translate. But the original documents can be calculated based on the amount of originals that exist from that era. Bible transcripts are in a larger set of originals of Plato, Aristotle, etc.Them we have 40 or so at best. We have 24,000 copies of Bible originals. Of those that are compared, 99.9% are duplicates.

3. It is full of crazy stories, myths and fairy tales. This is questioning God, not the Bible. God being who He is can do miraculous things. There were eye witnesses of these things.

4. It contains bad psychology. What is taught in the Bible, does it teach us to live healthy or unhealthy lifestyles. Reading the Bible helps you understand more of who you are. It teaches healthy ways of living. Many people say that.

2Ti 3:16-17
(16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Podcast Sermon Notes

Snapshots of the Savior - The Miracle Worker
River Church of the Mall of America
Podcast from April 30, 2006

This series is a series of snapshots of Jesus like from a photo album so that we can get to know Him better.
First Snapshot of Jesus the Miracle Worker
The spiritual high that the Apostles must have been on when they served all those people they fed on the mountain when Jesus told them to feed the people with 3 loves of bread and 2 fishes. Can you imagine it? Then Jesus tells them to go across to the other side of the lake. He wants them to stop the high-five type of worship. And Jesus goes back and dismisses the people. He goes and prays to God, doing a debriefing of what went on. Most likely going over the day that started with John the Baptist being beheaded. Asking God why? So he tries to get away and the crowd follows Him and He ministers to them and then feeds them all. While spiritual talk with God is going on, Jesus does not see the weather. The apostles trying to survive for 9 hours on the water while Jesus gets his strength back from God and they have to ask themselves, "where is God?" Do we ask ourselves the same questions, where is God in the problems that we are going through? Are we in the boat with them?

And they look and see a ghostly figure but with a familiar voice. And the fear leaves them. When God is in the midst of things with us we seem to be OK. Jesus said to them I AM, the personal name of God. He puts Himself on an equal status with God. Peter tries to focus in on this and walks over to Him, even in the problem he is facing. He focuses on the miracle worker but then he focuses on the problem. And Jesus walks with Peter through the problem.

So what can we learn from this portrait. Burn this portrait of Jesus into ourselves. The God of the Bible wants to walk with us through the problems we are going through. It will change our depression and relational loneliness.

2nd Snapshot of Jesus the Miracle Worker
Big shot in the church comes to Jesus and asks Jesus to come heal his daughter. Jesus is like a rock star in the crowds that he draws. And He says let's go, and the disciples act as His body guards to get Him through the crowds. And there is this woman, poor, hungry, and sick. She hears the stories about this Jesus going though her town. She says if I can just touch his garments I can be healed. She was risking making that crowd unclean and unholy. She was desperate for God. Have you even been desperate for God? Needing a miracle. Asking God for a miracle. She wants to touch something so He will not notice. She reaches for and touches just a piece of the fringe of a tassel. And she experiences power and knows she is healed. Jesus puts the breaks on this entourage and asked who touched me? She says she was. He goes to her and she tells Him her whole story. She delays the big shot in the churches with his daughter's problems. She not only got a physical healing but an emotional healing as well. God was there and listening to her.

Thanksgiving

Sermon notes from River Church Pod Cast.

Unless otherwise noted, all verses are King James version.

River Church (Mall of America) Nov. 27, 2005

Pastor Chris Reinertson

Matt 11

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus is wrapped up with things going on row (in Context) yet He opens His heart in prayer to the Father. He calls others to the father as well.

In chapters 10 and 11 we see he has a traveling ministry of speaking and also training the disciples as well. While this is goings on, John the Baptists is in jail, and questions his faith and sends his disciples to Jesus with questions. After all this he goes to 3 towns to teach some more. But they were indifferent to Him. Those who know him the best are rejecting Him.

Do we want to be like Jesus here? With all of these problem going on He breaks out in prayer to the Father. How was Jesus this way? He did spiritual exercises each day.

Five commands that we are to do each day.

Psalms 100:1-5

1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands

Shout- make an earth shattering joyous sound.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Worship - King James says serve- to do all out for a Sovereign ruler. What is your attitude of the work that you do for God? Do you do it in gladness?

Number 3 is to sing to God. Do it in public but also do it privately.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

God is God, we are not. He made us and we belong to Him. He will take Care of us. We can not do it our selves. Acknowledge God as source of our thanksgiving.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Because we are Christians and we have the spirit in us, we have the temple. We must enter into Thanksgiving.

These are commands for us to do. They are not suggestions. Do we do these daily?