How do we have a right relationship with God? Paul tells us that it does not come from being perfect or from coming from the right circumstances, but instead because of a changed heart. In this sermon, we look at why we need our hearts to be changed, how God does it, and what he gives us through his process of changing us. Key Verses: Romans 2:25-2…

9/29/2024 - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - A Faith That Will Last by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

As Paul builds the case for the Good News of Jesus being available to everyone, he points his readers towards the righteous judgement of God. God will come to bring justice and none can excuse themselves from his judgement; neither the morally corrupt or the self-righteous rule followers. Our only hope for repentance comes when we are drawn towards…

9/22/2024 - Acts 17:1-9 - Resistance to the Gospel by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

As Paul begins his argument for our need of God’s salvation, he tells us an uncomfortable truth: that we have no excuses for not being aware of who God is. In this sermon, we look at how God sends each of us a message of his presence, why we often ignore it, and how he responds. Key Verses: Romans 1:18-23…

Guest Speaker, Rev. Britton Wood, RUF Area CoordinatorBy Richard Schwartz

Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, written thousands of years ago, still stands as the fullest exploration of what it means to be saved by God’s grace. In this sermon, we begin our series in this letter by looking at what Paul teaches about grace and the power it can bring into our lives today. Key Verses: Romans 1:1-5, 16-17…

Rev. James Jardin, RUF - W. KentuckyBy Richard Schwartz

Paul calls us to imitate Christ in all we do. This is a lifelong call that all Christians should regularly be living for, but one of the places we miss in how to accomplish this is in righteous play. Living for Christ and reflecting Him in our lives should involve the regular work of righteous play. In this sermon, we look at why God values play in…

9/1/2024 - Ephesians 4:11-16 - Community: The Means of Growth by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

In the final chapter of Nehemiah, we see that God’s people have again forgotten about God and returned to their selfish ways of living. In this sermon, we look at why we have so much trouble being good, what God does about it, and how we can respond to him today. Key Verses: Nehemiah 13:23-27

Guest Speaker Rev. Carter Crenshaw, Founding Pastor, West End Community Church NashvilleBy Richard Schwartz

In Nehemiah, the rebuilding of the wall is complete, the people have listened to the Law, and made oaths to stay faithful. At this stage they experience hearts that are overwhelmed with the goodness of God and they come together to celebrate and make a joyful noise. Celebration is essential to our lives as Christians as well, giving us opporutnity …

8/18/2024 - Matthew 5:13-16 - Community: The Means of Outreach by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

Throughout history, one things is repeatedly proven: our hearts are a mess. It was the same for God’s people in Nehemiah, too. In this sermon, we look at what is wrong with the human heart, how God gives us his mercy, and why he calls us to obedience. Key Verses: Nehemiah 10:28-29

After God’s people rebuild the wall, they spend a month listening to God’s commands. In this sermon, we look at what the law is, why it matters to his people, and how he wants us to use it today. Key Verses: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 8-12

Rev. Will Cote, RUF APSUBy Richard Schwartz

8/4/2024 - Luke 10:38-42 - Following the Lord by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

After all that Nehemiah and the Jewish people have overcome the work on rebuilding the wall comes to a halt. Why? Because money and greed have led to division amongst the Jewish people. The work can only be continued through Nehemiah’s actions of generous sacrificial living. Today we look at how we can begin to live a life fully invested in God thr…

7/28/2024 - John 20:1-18 - Loved by the Lord by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

This week, we will continue our study in the book of Nehemiah by taking a closer look at the opposition that Nehemiah faced in chapter 4. God’s people were continuing to accomplish the task that He had given them to do, yet they were in growing danger and battling doubt. As a result, they wrestled with a potent question we still face today- what ca…

Guest Speaker Rev. Kevin Teasley, Chief Advancement Officer, RUFBy Richard Schwartz

Guest Speaker Rev. Will Cote, RUF APSUBy Richard Schwartz

As Nehemiah begins to carry out God's vision for rebuilding the wall, and more importantly the people's hearts, he must first inspect the walls that need repair. It is in taking these important steps of obedience that we begin to see the hidden plans of God revealed to Nehemiah and the people of Israel, and the ways God wants to reveal his plans fo…

In Nehemiah, the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem serves as the main way God introduces redemption and renewal to his people. When things don’t turn out as we had hoped, we are called towards God through adoration and confession. We can appeal to God with the confidence that he will intercede and use our willingness to act for his purposes. Key…

7/7/2024 - John 4:1-30, 39-42 - Proclaiming the Lord by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

In one of Jesus’ most powerful teachings, he tells us that everyday life can create in us a persistent sense of worry. But then he offers us a surprising command — to look at beautiful things like birds and flowers as a way to fight against the demands of everyday life. In this sermon, we look at the importance of beauty, why we need it in our live…

6/30/2024 - Luke 1:26-45 - Mary and Her Response to the Lord by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

In the Incarnation, Jesus comes to be both fully human and fully God simultaneously. Looking closer at this central doctrine of our faith, we can discover that Jesus was coming to become like us so that he could better help us; believing this essential truth is to see his kingdom come to permeate every facet of our lives. Key Verses: Phillipians 2:…

6/23/2024 - Genesis 1-2 - The Foundations by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

As children, we are willing to believe and be ready for the impossible. As we grow older though we lose our dependence and faith that God can and will do the impossible. In this sermon, we look at one of the impossible works of God through the true account of God rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea. As you look at this…

Guest Speaker Rev. Will Cote, RUF APSUBy Richard Schwartz

We have never seen a lonelier society than we have today. What does Christianity say to loneliness, and what can it offer to lonely people? In this sermon, we look at the important of holy friendships and how we can pursue them in our lives today. Key Verses: Romans 16:3-16

Guest Speaker Rev. James Jardin, RUF Western KYBy Richard Schwartz

When are our hearts become anxious, worried, afraid, or even numb, Jesus tells us to put in our trust in God, and in him. But how? In this sermon, we look at some of Jesus’ final teachings about the reality of our future, the way to walk towards it, and the help we have along the journey. Key Verses: John 14:1-7…

6/2/2024 - Lamentations 3:22-24 - Facing Change by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

Over the last couple of months, we have gone through Biblical stories of people who encountered God in life-changing ways. This week, we close out our series by looking at John, whose knowledge of Jesus’ love for him informed his view of himself, of God, and of the world around him. We can learn a lot from John’s teachings if we are willing to reco…

Paul is one of the most accomplished people in the history of the world, and yet he never boasts of his successes. Instead, he boasts of his weaknesses and, more importantly, how he experienced God within them. In this sermon, we look at the importance of weaknesses, how God uses them in our lives, and how he uses them — for us and for the world. K…

Guest Speaker Rev. Tom Darnell, Pastor of Spiritual Formation, Nashville PresbyteryBy Richard Schwartz

How do you continue to experience God even when you have failed him? In this sermon, we look at Peter and his betrayal of Jesus, and then how Jesus heals him, restores him, and calls him from a place of love. Key Verses: John 21:15-19

5/12/2024 - Mark 3:20-35 - Our Highest Priority by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

During a time of transition and upheaval, God comes to Isaiah in a vision, and calls him to be a prophet. But first Isaiah must pass through several revelations about God and himself. In this sermon, we look at what Isaiah saw and how it can show us what an experience with God can mean for us today. Key Verses: Isaiah 6:1-8…

5/5/2024 - Acts 2:42-47 - The Marks of the Spirit's Work by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

Where do you go when you are at the edge of exhaustion and facing an impossible situation? Elijah goes to God and finds an unexpected experience of silence and stillness — which was exactly what he needed. In this sermon, we look at the importance of stillness and how it can shape our hearts in the midst of our daily lives. Key Verses: 1 Kings 19:8…

Guest Speaker Rev. Weston Duke, RUF Middle TN StateBy Richard Schwartz

One of the most frustrating things we can experience in our lives is an unanswered prayer. In this sermon, we look at how Hannah faced her unanswered prayers, and how she ultimately experienced God through them in powerful ways. Key Verses: 1 Samuel 1:9-18

Guest Speaker Chase Daws, RUF VanderbiltBy Richard Schwartz

Throughout this series, we are going through Biblical stories of people who experienced God in profound ways. This week, we look at Jacob, who wrestled with God and came away with a limp and a blessing. This unusual experience with God contains lessons for our lives today. Key Verses: Genesis 32:22-32…

4/14/2024 - Philippians 2:5-11 - Walking the Path by Richard SchwartzBy Richard Schwartz

Jesus made the astounding promise that we can be friends with God. One of the ways by which we come into friendship with God is to experience him — not only as someone in ancient stories, but also as someone who is alive, in our hearts, today. But how? In this sermon, we look at the one of the most famous experiences of God, Moses and the Burning B…