AFTERWORDS: A Riverview Church Podcast

This week on AfterWords, Alex talks with Jon, Hezekiah, and Jordan about their messages from 1 Kings 8 and what happens when God’s presence fills Solomon’s temple. They discuss the difference between seeking God and trying to control him, why worship begins with his faithfulness, and how to recover a sense of wonder in everyday life. The conversation also gets practical about gratitude, stillness, and sharing the messy parts of our stories. Plus: moving hacks, emo Psalms, and the mystery of the missing manna.Listen to Hezekiah's messageListen to James' messageListen to Jon's messageListen to Jordan's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: [email protected] additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings—About Riverview ChurchRiverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

What does Solomon’s temple tell us about the character of God—and why does Scripture spend so much time describing every detail? This week, Jason and Noel talk about the surprising size of the temple, why beauty and craftsmanship matter, and how creation itself reveals something about God. They also wrestle with God’s conditional promise to Solomon when God already knows Solomon won’t keep his end of the deal, and how that fits inside God’s larger, unconditional promises. Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: [email protected] additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings—About Riverview ChurchRiverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

Alex talks with Noel about his message from 1 Kings 4 about Solomon’s wisdom, prosperity, and the subtle cracks already appearing in his kingdom. They explore how wisdom requires slowing down enough to pay attention, why Solomon’s use of forced labor complicates an otherwise glowing picture of Israel’s flourishing, and what our own culture might be failing to notice. They also wrestle with why Christians can feel suspicious or even guilty when life is good—and how Psalm 23 gives us permission to receive both green pastures and dark valleys from the same faithful Shepherd.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: [email protected] additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings—About Riverview ChurchRiverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

What does it actually mean to be wise—and how does the wisest man who ever lived still manage to make such disastrous choices? This week, Alex, James, Jordan, and Hezekiah dig deeper into 1 Kings 3, exploring Solomon’s request for wisdom, the tension already showing in his reign, and why biblical wisdom is less about knowing the right answer and more about recognizing our dependence on God. We also talk about discerning God’s will when Scripture doesn’t give a clear answer, the role of community in making wise decisions, and the danger of turning our personal preferences into universal convictions. Plus, we wrestle with high places, questionable marriages, 700 wives, and why Solomon may ultimately be a “do as I say, not as I do” kind of guy.Listen to Hezekiah's messageListen to James' messageListen to Jordan's messageListen to Tony's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: [email protected] additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings—About Riverview ChurchRiverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com

In this episode, Alex and Noel unpack Psalm 72 and its picture of what a good king should be: just, righteous, protective of the vulnerable, and ultimately dependent on God. They discuss how Christians should think about authority, opposition, abuse of power, and the responsibility to honor leaders without ignoring wrongdoing. The conversation also turns personal as they consider how much influence we each have on the people around us and what it might mean to be experienced “like a spring rain.” Plus, they dig into whether Solomon actually wrote Psalm 72—and entertain a surprisingly plausible Song of Solomon fan theory.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: [email protected] additional resources for the KINGS series, including the Study Journal, at rivchurch.com/kings—About Riverview ChurchRiverview Church is a multi-venue church based in Lansing, Michigan, where we invite everyone to know and enjoy Jesus as we stumble together in our pursuit to love like Him. Learn more at https://rivchurch.com