Can a Christian truly rejoice while grieving?

In this exegetical sermon from 1 Peter 1:6–9, we explore the tension every believer feels but rarely knows how to explain—joy and sorrow existing at the same time. Peter writes to suffering saints and reminds them that present trials do not cancel salvation; they confirm it.

Building on the future hope of 1 Peter 1:3–5, this passage turns our attention to present-day adversity: grief that is real, trials that are necessary, and a faith that is being tested like gold in a refining fire. These trials are not random, nor cruel—they are purposeful, measured, and governed by a Refiner who knows exactly when to pull the silver from the flame.

This message walks verse by verse through how:

• Christians can rejoice and grieve without contradiction

• Trials test faith, not to destroy it, but to prove it genuine

• Faith is more precious than gold, because everything else perishes

• Trusting God in suffering brings Him pleasure and leads to future glory

• Believing without seeing produces an abiding, inexpressible joy

• Salvation is not only future—it is being received even now

From the forge of suffering to the revelation of Jesus Christ, this sermon reminds weary believers that their trials are temporary, their salvation is secure, and their joy—though sometimes tear-stained—is filled with glory.

If you are walking through hardship and wondering what God is doing, this message invites you to see your suffering through the lens of a living hope, a refining faith, and a salvation already at work.

What if wisdom isn’t a religious add-on—but the way life actually works?

In this exegetical sermon from Proverbs 3:13–35, we confront the defining question of the chapter—and of life itself: Who are the wise, and who are the foolish? The answer, Scripture says, determines how you truly fare in the world.

This passage reveals wisdom as the open secret of the universe—available to every human being by God’s common grace—yet only grasped by those willing to seek, find, and hold fast. From creation itself to everyday decisions, wisdom is shown not as money, power, or pleasure, but as the skill of living life well. Money may buy things, but wisdom creates peace, rest, security, and joy.

The sermon unfolds in two movements:

• Proverbs 3:13–26 shows wisdom as God’s tool in creation and His gift for personal protection, confidence, and rest.

• Proverbs 3:27–35 calls God’s people to live wisely in a culture of death—through generosity, trust, humility, and love of neighbor.

Along the way, we trace wisdom from the Tree of Life in Genesis to the tree of the cross, where Christ secures what wisdom promises but sin forfeited. The final verses press the unavoidable question home: What kind of life are you building—and what will it reveal about your wisdom?

This message is a roadmap for those longing to enter God’s “promised land” way of living—where sinners are saved, communities are shaped by wisdom, and lives are formed by the fear of the Lord.

Podcast Description – Mason Tucker | Ephesians 2 | RiverSide Church

In this powerful, verse-by-verse message from Ephesians 2, Mason Tucker walks us through one of the clearest pictures in all of Scripture of what it means to be saved by grace and built on a firm foundation in Jesus Christ. Preached at RiverSide Church, this sermon reminds us that we were once dead in our trespasses and sins, following the course of this world—but God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ.

You’ll be encouraged as we see that salvation is by grace alone, through faith, not by works, so that no one may boast. We are reminded that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared beforehand. The message also unpacks how Christ has broken down the wall of hostility, making Jew and Gentile one new people, and how believers are now members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.

This is a rich, gospel-centered teaching that calls the listener to rest in Christ’s finished work and to stand firm on the only sure foundation—Jesus Christ alone. Perfect for anyone seeking to grow deeper in their understanding of grace, salvation, unity in Christ, and the unshakable foundation of the gospel.

Podcast Description – Testing of Your Faith | Exegesis of James 1:1–18 by Dylan Jordan

What does it really mean when Scripture says your faith will be tested? In this powerful, verse-by-verse exegesis of James 1:1–18, Dylan Jordan walks us through the purpose of trials, the danger of double-minded faith, the source of true wisdom, and the goodness of God in the midst of suffering. This teaching goes beyond surface-level encouragement and dives deep into the theology of endurance, spiritual maturity, temptation, humility, and the life-giving Word of God.

Through careful biblical interpretation and practical application, you’ll discover how trials produce steadfastness, why joy is a deliberate spiritual response, how to ask God for wisdom in faith, and how God uses testing to shape genuine believers. This episode is ideal for anyone who loves in-depth Bible study, expositional preaching, New Testament theology, and practical Christian living.

If you’re searching for solid James Bible study, faith under pressure, Christian discipleship, suffering and perseverance, spiritual growth, and scripture-centered preaching, this episode will strengthen your walk and challenge your trust in God.

Keywords: James 1 Bible study, testing of your faith, exegesis preaching, expositional teaching, Christian discipleship, trials and perseverance, biblical theology, New Testament study, spiritual maturity, wisdom from God, temptation and faith, endurance in Christ, Bible-based preaching, Christian podcast, verse-by-verse teaching.

Podcast Description – The Wisdom That Helps Us (Proverbs 3:1–8 Exegesis)

What kind of wisdom actually leads to peace, strength, and real life? In this in-depth exegesis of Proverbs 3:1–8, we explore the wisdom that doesn’t just inform the mind—but transforms the heart. This passage reveals two powerful movements: the peace God gives (vv. 1–4) and the trust God demands (vv. 5–8).

We unpack what it means to trust the Lord with all your heart, why being “wise in your own eyes” is spiritually dangerous, and how the fear of the Lord leads to true freedom, healing, and stability. Drawing from the full witness of Scripture—from Psalms to the Gospels—this study confronts shallow faith, exposes counterfeit peace, and calls believers to wholehearted obedience instead of mere agreement.

If you’re hungry for serious Bible study, rich theology, and practical Christian living rooted in Proverbs, this episode will challenge you to examine what you’re paying attention to, where you place your trust, and how wisdom is shaping your life.
True wisdom still leads to life. Peace. Strength. And a deeper walk with God.

“Proverbs 2 — The Wisdom That Guards Your Life”

In today’s episode, we walk verse-by-verse through Proverbs 2, discovering the kind of wisdom that not only informs your life—but protects it. Scripture shows us that the first reward of pursuing wisdom isn’t earthly success… it’s learning to fear the Lord, the very beginning of understanding.

As we explore Proverbs 2:5–22, we see how God Himself becomes our shield, our guide, and our delight. We unpack what it really means when the Bible says the Lord “stores up” wisdom for the upright, how His Word takes root in our hearts, and why true discernment keeps us from the traps of corrupt men and seductive temptations.

You’ll hear how foolish paths promise thrills but lead only to destruction—while God’s way leads to joy, safety, clarity, and life. From Genesis to Psalms to the teachings of Jesus, we trace how Scripture consistently reveals a God who watches over His people, teaches them, protects them, and calls them to walk in His light.

This message is both a warning and a comfort:
• Wisdom helps you recognize twisted words, false promises, and deceptive influences.
• It keeps your feet off crooked paths.
• It shapes your heart to hunger for righteousness.
• And ultimately, it draws you into a deeper, abiding life in Christ.

If you’re hungry for biblical truth, if you love verse-by-verse teaching, or if you simply want to grow in discernment and wisdom—this episode will encourage you, challenge you, and point you back to Jesus, the One who keeps us from stumbling and teaches us the way to life.

Pull up a seat, open your Bible, and let’s walk through Proverbs 2 together—discovering a wisdom that truly changes everything.

Are you hungry for a fresh move of God—not the kind that’s printed on a flyer, scheduled on a calendar, or manufactured by hype—but the kind that changes you from the inside out? In this message from Proverbs 1, we discover that God Himself shows us the path into real renewal, deeper intimacy with Him, and a life protected by His wisdom in a broken world.

This sermon explores the one deal-breaker that stops spiritual growth in its tracks: complacency—being “okay with who we are” when God is calling us deeper. You’ll learn how God invites us into newness of life, how He responds when we seek Him with our whole heart, and how His wisdom shields us from the dangers and deception all around us.

Along the way, you’ll hear a powerful gospel illustration that reminds us of our guilt before a holy God and the stunning mercy found in Jesus Christ—the One who took our place, bore our punishment, and offers us new hearts, new desires, and a new beginning.

If you’re longing to grow, to break out of spiritual stagnation, and to experience God more closely than ever before… this episode will speak straight to you.

https://linktr.ee/attheriver

Preached at RiverSide Church, Princeton, NC

What if the very thing you're ignoring could be the difference between life and death? In this powerful sermon from Proverbs 1:20-33, we encounter Lady Wisdom standing at the crossroads of culture—in the streets, the marketplace, the gates of our cities—crying out with an urgent message that demands our attention.

This isn't a gentle whisper or polite suggestion. Wisdom is screaming in the most unlady-like fashion, refusing to be relegated to the sidelines of our lives. Too many people treat Jesus like a garnish on their plate, a bumper sticker on their dumpster fire, or a bandaid on a gaping wound. But nobody cries out, "Give me parsley or else I die!"

WISDOM IS DEMANDING - She doesn't ask for your leftover attention; she demands to be heard above everything else. Standing where people actually are—not in seclusion but in the noisy streets of business, government, education, and the arts—Wisdom refuses to be ignored.

WISDOM IS DANGEROUS - But dangerous in two ways. Like fire that refines gold, burning away everything impure while leaving what's precious untouched. Our God is a consuming fire, and His Word is like a hammer that breaks rock in pieces. Yet our own folly is dangerous like poison—the deceitful heart, the careless words, the complacent attitude that destroys from within.

WISDOM IS OUR ONLY DELIVERANCE - For the simple ones (the uncommitted), the scoffers (the arrogant mockers), and the fools (the stubborn and excuse-filled)—there's a haunting question: "How long?" How many sermons? How many years? How much must you lose before you turn? But here's the hope: there's a triple grip on God's people—sealed by the Spirit, gripped by the Son, held by the Father. No one can snatch you away.

This message confronts our tendency toward spiritual complacency with the sobering reality that one day, when calamity strikes, those who refused Wisdom will call out—but it will be too late. Yet for those who listen now, who turn at her reproof, there is safety, security, and rest.

The choice is stark: Will you say to God, "Thy will be done," or will God say to you, "Thy will be done"?

Listen as we explore what it means to stop treating Jesus as an accessory and start embracing Him as the Holy fire who refines, the living Word who transforms, and the only true safety in a world rushing toward disaster.

Based on Proverbs 1:20-33 | RiverSide Church, Princeton, NC