• What’s Really Important

When Jesus was asked what the most  important  command  in  the  entire  Bible  was  His answer was that we must love God & love each other.  For this reason everything we do at Riverside is governed by love.  It is of utmost importance to us that we treat others in a way that reflects how God has treated us.  Does that mean we always make the right choices?  No.  Because we don’t have the perspective that Jesus did we can’t always make the right decisions- so we have committed ourselves to the principle that if we make a mistake (which, believe it or not, we do from time to time), we will make it on the side of love.

• Our Philosophy:

In matters of faith we have unity, in matters of opinion we have liberty, and in all things we demonstrate love.

• What Are "Matters Of Faith"?

As far as we can tell there is only one thing that you can’t be wrong about and still be a Christian– and that’s Jesus.  So our “Matters Of Faith” in which we have unity at Riverside revolve around Him.

~Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6 (NLT)

~Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.  We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father.  Ephesians 4:3-6 (NLT)

~I passed on to you what was most important- that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT)

• What Are "Matters Of Opinion"?

The Church at Rome had some pretty big disagreements!  Paul’s solution was to get over it and stop fighting about stuff that wasn’t central!  Focus on Jesus, he said, and the rest will take care of itself.  If we love, accept and forgive (as Jesus did) we can create a church that God will be proud of. 

~Accept into your group someone who is weak in faith, and do not argue about opinions… Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong... each of us will have to answer to God... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.  Romans 14  (NCV)

~We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.  2 Corinthians 1:24 (MES)

• What About "Demonstrating Love"?

There were some guys in Jesus’ day who always had to be right, and always thought they were.  They were called Pharisees.  They were also about the only people Jesus ever got truly fed up with because they were more concerned with the right answers than they were with people.  We remind ourselves constantly not to make the same mistake by loving others like Jesus did.

~If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? …Let love be your highest goal.  1 Corinthians 13:2 & 14:1

~I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.  And here is how to measure it- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.  John 15:12-13

• Questions?

We love questions.  If you have any please talk to Ed or anyone else that looks like they might know what’s going on around here. And if you’d like to make an appointment to talk to Ed or Judy (or both of them) just give them a call at home- Ed doesn’t really keep regular office hours but he’d love to sit down with you and talk about whatever’s on your mind.