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You are here: Home / Sermons / The Journey from Death to Life – April 7

The Journey from Death to Life – April 7

April 1, 2013 by Pastor David Rathel


“What is your greatest fear? It probably has something to do with loss. (Or Spiders!) For Abraham, it was the loss of his only child and miracle baby son Isaac who was given to him and his wife in their old age. The story unfolds in Genesis 18-22. If you know the story, then you know that God tested Abraham and spared Isaac! But Why? The Journey From Death To Life Is The Journey From To The “Brink of Fear” To The “Breaking Of Faith.”

GOD DOESN’T HAVE YOUR FAITH UNTIL HE HAS YOUR FEAR!

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:9 (NASB)

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” – C.S. Lewis

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV)

 

Genesis 22:1–19 

The Bible Episodes 1 & 2

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About Pastor David Rathel

My wife, Melanie, and I moved back to Columbus with our two week old little girl, Hannah, after finishing Graduate School in Fort Worth, Texas in 2001. RiverTown Church was born in a movie theater on September 9th that same year with a vision to be “a church for people who don’t go to church” here in our hometown. God has blessed us since then with a great location on Schomburg Rd. near my old neighborhood and High School. New people are coming to RiverTown all the time and discovering that God can “transform their lives into the likeness of Jesus Christ” through a church family where you can Believe, Belong, and Become!

From our first prayer meetings in a living room in nearby Phenix City, to our preview services and grand opening the Hollywood Connection movie theater, and finally to our current property and buildings on Schomburg Rd. God has led us all the way.

My wife and I both grew up here, so we know the people and love it here. Melanie keeps me going! We’ve been through all the good, the bad, and the ugly of life and have found that everything is sweeter together. You’ll never find us at a church event on a Friday night. We’ve had date night on Fridays since my first day as a Pastor. We met while working together in a Franklin Graham evangelistic crusade here in Columbus in 1996. Our second child is named Graham for that very reason! Our first child, Hannah, was born in Forth Worth just before we finished Seminary in 2001. Two weeks after she was born in Fort Worth, we were on the road back to Columbus to knock on doors and start RiverTown. She and the church will always be the same age!

On this blog, you'll be the first to know what God is teaching me and teaching through me to our church family. We'll laugh together and sometimes cry together. Most of all, you'll be challenged to take your next step in following Jesus Christ.

Recent Messages

  • He Died for Us
  • Oh Yes God Can!
  • Communicate or Disintegrate
  • Marriage Matters
  • All You Need is Love

Online Giving

You Want To Be Generous. At RiverTown Church,We Make It Easy! Click HERE for our secure online giving site. We are a 501(c)3 organization, and all contributions are … More

Pastor David Rathel

RiverTown Church was born in a movie theater on September 9th, 2001 with a vision to be "a church for people who don't go to church" here in our hometown. Read More…

Give Online

You Want To Be Generous. At RiverTown Church,We Make It Easy! Click HERE for our secure online giving site. We are a 501(c)3 organization, and all contributions are … Click to Give Online

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We would love for you to join us on Sunday mornings! We have ONE SERVICE Sunday mornings at 10 AM. We are located at 6953 Schomburg Road, Columbus GA 31909. Reach us at (706) 221-0777

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