AFTERWORDS: A Riverview Church Podcast

In this episode, Jason and the teaching team unpack the tension in Acts 21 around Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem despite repeated warnings of suffering. They explore whether anyone was “wrong,” how to interpret prophecy faithfully, and what it means to test our understanding of suffering rather than avoid it. The conversation moves into the difference between contextualizing the gospel and compromising it, and why faithfulness does not guarantee comfort or acceptance. Listen to Hezekiah's messageListen to James' messageListen to Jordan's messageListen to Justin's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com—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, Jason sits down with Tony, James, Jordan, and Hezekiah to unpack Acts 20, including Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders and the late-night gathering where Eutychus falls from a window. They reflect on what it reveals about the early church’s rhythms, Paul’s long obedience to his mission, and what it means to say, “my life is of no value to myself.” The conversation also explores leadership under pressure, cultural engagement without outrage, and why winning hearts matters more than winning arguments.Listen to James' messageListen to Hezekiah's messageListen to Tony's messageListen to Jordan's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this episode of the Afterwards Podcast, Jason and Noel unpack Acts 19, focusing on what it means to have an incomplete understanding of faith and why the Holy Spirit matters in the life of a believer. They explore baptism—where it came from, what it signifies, and why belief in Jesus comes before having everything figured out. The conversation widens to the idea of the gospel not just changing individuals, but destabilizing entire cities, as seen in Ephesus. The episode closes with reflections on discipleship, identity, and how lasting change takes shape over time.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this episode, Jason and Noel unpack the sermon from Acts 18, moving behind the scenes to talk about sermon prep, manuscripts, teleprompters, and why experienced pastors still feel panic before preaching. Noel reflects on imposter syndrome as a possible means of grace, how God works through weakness, and why humility and confidence often coexist in faithful leadership. The conversation also explores Priscilla and Aquila, bi-vocational ministry, and the powerful role ordinary faithfulness—like opening your home—plays in God’s mission. Throughout the episode, they emphasize that God’s purposes are not fragile and do not depend on perfect people.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

Jason and Noel dive into Acts 17, exploring how Paul masterfully adapted his message to different audiences without compromising the Gospel. They discuss the tension of maintaining a "cross-eyed" perspective—holding fast to Scripture while remaining culturally fluent—and address listener questions about idols and engaging with secular art. The conversation also highlights the importance of becoming a "digital Berean" by prioritizing the Bible over YouTube algorithms and online opinions.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

This week, Jason talks with all four teachers to unpack one of the most layered stretches in Acts, where a single passage could have turned into a dozen different sermons. The conversation explores how pastors decide what to emphasize, how audience and venue shape application, and why disagreement, blocked plans, and hardship can still be part of God’s direction. The group digs into Paul and Barnabas’s conflict, the Spirit’s surprising guidance, and the tension between freedom and faithfulness in the prison narrative.  It’s a candid look at how ministry stays faithful to the text while navigating real people, real limits, and real pressure.Listen to James' messageListen to Hezekiah's messageListen to Jordan's messageListen to Tony's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

Alex fills in for Jason again and dives deep with Noel into Acts 15 and why it represents a pivotal, make-or-break moment for the early church. Noel unpacks how the Jerusalem Council wrestled with grace, law, unity, and cultural difference, and why that tension still matters today. The conversation explores how good preferences can quietly turn into expectations and even requirements, often without us noticing. They also reflect on leadership, liberty, and what it really looks like to protect the gospel without flattening people’s cultures or consciences.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this episode, Noel and Alex dive into the challenges of living authentically in a culture that often tries to "neutralize" the edges of Jesus to fit a personal or social algorithm. They discuss the biblical account of Paul in Lystra, exploring what it means to truly deny oneself and prioritize Christ over the modern idols of politics, money, and comfort. The conversation also touches on the cost of vulnerability in leadership and practical ways to break free from the digital discipleship of social media.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the Exodus JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

Jason sits down with Hezekiah and James to debrief Christmas Eve at the venues and talk about what made the night feel like a full-family celebration. From there, the conversation moves into Acts 13, including the very real geography of Paul’s journey and why seeing “scripture in stone” changes how you read the text. They wrestle with how the early church balanced planning with Spirit-led pivots, and why resistance does not automatically mean you’re off track. Listen to James' messageListen to Hezekiah's messageListen to Tony's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this episode of the AfterWords Podcast, Jason sits down with Tony and James to talk through their Acts messages, starting with the church in Syrian Antioch as a strategic, multicultural “launching pad” for the gospel. They trace how persecution in Acts repeatedly backfires on the opponents of the church and becomes “rocket fuel” for the spread of Jesus’ message, often through unnamed believers. The conversation turns to Acts 12 and the question everyone asks: why James is executed while Peter is rescued, and how to hold grief and God’s sovereignty in the same hand. They finish with Herod’s downfall, “glory theft,” and what it looks like to redirect praise in a way that’s real, not performative.Listen to James' messageListen to Tony's messageListen to Justin's messageView our Christmas Eve service timesSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

Jason and Noel unpack a pivotal passage in Acts where baptism, obedience, and the gospel’s expansion collide in real time. They talk through Riverview’s decision to offer spontaneous baptisms whenever they appear in Acts and share stories of lives changed on the spot. The conversation widens to Peter, Cornelius, and the uncomfortable work of letting go of deeply held beliefs when God does something new. Along the way, they reflect on why this moment may be one of the most important turning points in the entire book of Acts.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this conversation, Jason talks with Tony, Jordan, and Hezekiah, and unpacks Acts 9:32–10:8. They start by exploring how each wrestled with finding the “thread” that ties together a set of seemingly disconnected stories. They discuss the purpose of miracles, why they often weren’t for the person healed, and how that shapes the way we think about suffering and unanswered prayer today. The group dives into the parallels between Peter’s actions and Jesus’ ministry, the communal nature of intercession, and the challenge of teaching passages that act as narrative “pivot points.” Along the way, they debate Christmas movies, getting canceled, and whether Peter knew what was about to happen when he cleared the room.Listen to Jordan's messageListen to Tony's messageListen to Hezekiah's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this episode, Jason and Noel unpack Saul’s surprising transformation in Acts 9, exploring how a man who seemed spiritually flawless—and deeply dangerous—could be so radically redirected by Jesus. They discuss Saul’s early influence, his role in the persecution of the church, and why his conversion required such extraordinary trust from the first believers. Noel explains how Scripture frames misguided zeal, suffering, and transformation, offering a lens for understanding both ancient and modern examples of dramatic faith change. The conversation closes with reflections on skepticism, influencer culture, and how genuine encounters with Jesus still overturn expectations.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

This episode of the Afterwards Podcast starts with a lighthearted debate about Christmas decorations—real vs. fake trees, timing, and “country living”—before pivoting into a deeper conversation about two consecutive weeks of baptisms across Riverview’s venues. Jason, Tony, Justin, and Jordan share stories of planned and spontaneous baptisms, including students at MSU, families driving in from out of state, and people who responded in the moment. From there, they unpack Acts 8 and Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian man, exploring how quickly the gospel begins to reach “the ends of the earth” in ways that don’t always look obvious or spectacular. They also talk about how to discern when God is prompting you to do something, how to “test” those promptings with Scripture, community, and wisdom, and what it means to be faithful in seemingly small moments that God can turn into deep transformation. They close with a behind-the-scenes look at how they handled the more complex parts of the passage (like the eunuch) and how they think about sermon titles, tone, and what does—or doesn’t—make it into a Sunday message.Listen to Justin's messageListen to Hezekiah's messageListen to Jordan's messageListen to Tony's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

This week, Noel recaps a whirlwind weekend that included church planters, Harley rides, and the unexpected guest star of the morning: a spider swimming in his water cup. Jason and Noel unpack the message from Acts 8, exploring why Philip went to a place everyone assumed was irredeemable—and how God upended those assumptions. They dive into persecution, joy, baptism, Simon the Sorcerer, and why early Christians scattered and preached instead of hiding. Along the way, they touch on wacky preaching moments, revival, and why no one is beyond redemption.

In this episode of the Afterwards Podcast, Alex and Noel talk about the message from Acts 7 and how Stephen’s boldness, forgiveness, and faith in the face of death challenge believers today. Noel explains how Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin exposed Israel’s history of resisting God’s work, connecting it to how the church today must fight comfort and remain open to being sent out. They discuss Riverview’s history of church planting, the tension between nostalgia and next-generation ministry, and how forgiveness—like Stephen’s final prayer—is about releasing others even when they don’t repent. The episode ends with a call to consider participating in church planting and a reminder that humility and forgiveness keep us from getting in God’s way.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this episode of the AfterWords Podcast, Jason and Noel unpack Acts 6, where rapid growth in the early church led to tension, complaints, and the creation of a new leadership structure. They discuss how the apostles handled the challenge of unmet needs without losing focus on prayer and preaching, and how that model still shapes church life today. The conversation ranges from coffee cleanups to deacon roles, trust, leadership, and the humanity that inevitably comes with growth. It’s a practical, down-to-earth look at how systems and people work together in the body of Christ.Listen to Noel's messageSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

This week on the AfterWords Podcast, Jason sits down with Jordan, Tony, and James to talk about Acts 5 and what it means to obey God rather than people. They unpack what faithful obedience looks like when authority and conviction collide, how the apostles found joy in suffering, and why Gamaliel’s words still echo in the church today. Along the way, they imagine the Book of Acts as an action movie, debate who would direct it, and wrestle with what real persecution and faithfulness look like in 2025.Listen to James' messageListen to Jordan's messageListen to Tony's messageListen to Hezekiah's message

Jason and Noel open with a conversation about Riv’s decision to stop passing the red buckets. They unpack why the shift lowers guilt, improves service flow, and still calls people to conviction-driven generosity even if the budget dips. From Acts 4–5 they contrast Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit with Jesus’ generosity, argue that every sin is foremost against God, and urge us to more loosely hold our possessions. They finish by talking about the “Peter’s shadow” verses and why that section didn’t make the sermon.Listen to Noel's messageJason and Noel talk about techSubscribe to our Messages podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify)Download a copy of the One More Series JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

Jason and Noel talk about Acts 4, beginning with a running pineapple-pizza joke that frames a larger point about unity and “buckets of belief” (orthodoxy vs. preferences) and why many church fights are trivial. The episode contrasts American discomfort with real persecution abroad and argues that bold witness grows from re-scaling our “pittance” of suffering against the “weight of glory.” Practical boldness starts small: tell someone the name of your “One More,” invite them, and let that accountability fuel your courage. They also spotlight Riverview’s local strategic partners, and Noel's "one thing that didn't make the message" takes an unexpected turn.Listen to Noel's messageWhat does Noel mean by "buckets of belief?"Positions and Postures (more about buckets)Riverview's Local Strategic Partners