River City Church

08/28/2026

Welcome to “I Thirst” Thursdays, a devotional to help get you through the week! Do we sometimes question why things happen? Do we sometimes wonder why we struggle? What I find is that we often want things for our good and according to our purpose. I find that we want to micromanage things that we have no control over and do not control the things that we do have control over! So, here’s the question; where do we find our peace in what we are going through?

Thus, that brings us to our verse of the week found in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Friends, here’s what we need to remember about this verse: our good, His purpose. We sometimes struggle with grasping God’s sovereignty and frequently question it. Here, Paul is telling us to take another option. Embrace it. For example, most children will never know the complexities that a parent goes through for their child. They will never know the cost of the electricity, the mortgage, the extra shifts that need to be picked up, and more. Here’s the thing; the child doesn’t need to know these things or cares to know these things. The child knows that the parent loves them and that’s good enough. Like a child trust their parent, we need to trust God.

We need to understand that all the events that we go through in life, whether they be blessings, trials, or challenges, are all used for the ultimate good for God’s people. That means God will use the tears of trials, tribulation, and suffering to blossom victory in the life of “those who love God.” Even in hardships, the Holy Spirit and His work in the believer produces perseverance, character, and hope, further making the believer more Christ-like and aligning the believer with God’s eternal plan. Why does God do all of this? Because He loved us even before we loved Him. God’s definitive proof of His love for His children is solidified in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Christ’s death and resurrection is the seal of God’s ending love for us.

So today, let’s put our trust in God and His purpose. Find comfort that everything that we go through isn’t a meaningless exercise but is woven into God’s perfect plan for our ultimate good. Remain steadfast and obedient each and everyday that God has blessed us with. Why? Because as we grow more Christ-like, we can look back and praise God for what He has done for our good and His purpose.

At River City Church, we are simply a group of people who have been radically changed by God’s grace, and we desperately want others to hear the Gospel as well. Beloved, how can we pray for you today?
📍2037 Noble St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
⏰10:30am Sunday Service

, , , , ,

08/21/2026

We have been set free from sin to love and serve the LORD.

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

Adam's sin brought death, but Christ's death brings life to all who believe!

08/10/2026

He Giveth More Grace by: Annie Johnson Flint

08/07/2026

Welcome to “I Thirst” Thursdays, a devotional to help get you through the week! Maybe I’m the only one but has anyone ever been thirsty in the middle of the night? Of course, nobody wants to be the person that wakes up everyone in the household in the middle of the night so we all sometimes do this little maneuver; navigate in the dark. At first, it seems like a good idea, right. We know the layout of our house so this should be a breeze! Then out of the blue, a stealthy toy on the floor or a misjudged step into the bed post rears its ugly head! Even though we think we know the path, sometimes we can’t and don’t account for the unseen and unpredictable. Do we sometimes think we know the path and stumble? Do we sometimes find life difficult to navigate?

That brings us to this week’s scripture Proverbs 6:23 - “For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” Here, scripture is telling us that the Word of God helps us navigate the moral and spiritual challenges of life. Let’s go back to the above example. If we had some sort of light, we could avoid things that we could not see. My friend, that is the illustration that Proverbs 6:23 is giving us today. Though we can’t know everything, God does. With his Word, we can avoid the pitfalls and dangers of life. As well, we can be better prepared to deal with the day to day of living when we rest in what God has to saw. You see, the correction and provision that scripture provides is not a hinderance but guidance!

Today, I pray that each of us put our trust in the Word of God. Just like turning on a light in a previous dark room, the wisdom of God leads to a more abundant life. Through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we no longer stumble blindly in the dark, but we walk boldly in righteousness in His glorious light. Praise God for another day where we can see His glory

At River City Church, we are simply a group of people who have been radically changed by God’s grace, and we desperately want others to hear the Gospel as well. Beloved, how can we pray for you today?

📍2037 Noble St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
⏰10:30am Sunday Service

, ,

07/28/2026

Ground your hope in the divine works of God.

07/24/2026

Welcome to “I Thirst” Thursdays, a devotional to help get you through the week! Outside of my house there are a couple of apple trees. I don’t know about you, but my family really enjoys apples. Because of this, we count it a blessing to have delicious apples right outside our door. However, there is a problem. The apples aren’t always there. The tree only produces apples at a certain time! So realistically, my family and I can’t grab apples whenever we want. Also, these trees need maintained and pruned so that the apples are healthy. It is not like as soon as I maintenance the tree, apples immediately appear. No, I must put in work then wait for the apples! Though I tended to the tree, the tree’s production of apples is outside of my control. I guess good things come to those that wait.

Let’s go to the verse of the week James 5:7, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains." There is a reason why James uses the analog of a farmer. Like a farmer, our walk with Christ requires steadfast endurance. The farmer does not just go outside, plant the seeds, then just wait. No, the farmer invests time, labor, and care into his crop and must wait for the harvest. Family, our spiritual harvest is achieved through our patience. Our patience is not a passive resignation but is active and hopeful. Therefore our faith expressed through patience is not simply saying “God’s gonna do it” and doing nothing. No! Believers are called to continue sowing good works, prayer, and acts of mercy, trusting that God will mature these efforts in His timing. That, my friend, is steadfast endurance!

Though our ultimate justice and reward occur during Chrit’s return, God is faithful and blesses his children now. This is a then and now application. The fruit of our patience reveals itself through the daily provision of God’s promises. Patience is one of the virtues that can be difficult to deal with. God is outside of time while we are bound to it. Thus, trusting in His timing can be easier said than done. However, God’s timelessness plays works for our good and His glory. Through the Holy Spirit, God prunes us, strengthens us, and blesses us when we need it most and not necessarily when we want it.

So today, let’s learn to wait for the Lord. Though our blessings and spiritual growth take time, hold fast that God’s promises are certain. Let’s be ok with knowing that somethings our outside of our control, but everything is under God’s sovereignty.

At River City Church, we are simply a group of people who have been radically changed by God’s grace, and we desperately want others to hear the Gospel as well. Beloved, how can we pray for you today?

📍2037 Noble St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
⏰10:30am Sunday Service

, , , , ,

07/21/2026

"It is finished!"

07/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVXNx1iLE/

Some songs remind us who God is. Some remind us what Christ has done. And some help us say what our hearts have been struggling to remember.

Join us Sunday, July 26 at 4:00 PM for one full hour of congregational singing. We’ll sing hymns, gospel favorites, and songs of faith that point us back to the truth.

This is not a concert. The congregation is the choir.

Bring your family. Invite a friend. Come sing with us until your soul catches up with the truth.

Sunday, July 26, 2026
4:00 PM
River City Church