The Lifelong Lesson of Humility & True Heart of Submission - Allan D. & Chetan C. -- July 6, 2025

CFC Messages · Jul 12, 2025 · 16m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that true discipleship requires a lifelong commitment to humility, mirroring the lowliness of heart exemplified by Jesus. The speaker emphasizes that genuine desire to follow Christ means being willing to humble oneself, admit error, and submit, even when it is difficult or painful. This lesson is presented as a continuous process, contrasting the pride of the Pharisees with the necessary spirit of being 'poor in spirit' to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Who Can Build the Body of Christ: 5: One Who Values Fellowship with God - Zac Poonen - May 24, 2014

Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2019 · 1h 5m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

We Are His Disciples — RLCF Praise Live — April 23, 2023

CFC Messages · May 8, 2023 · 1m 35s · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The message emphasizes that Jesus has called believers to be his disciples. It references the calling of the original disciples, such as Peter, James, and John, to illustrate that the call to discipleship is directed to the modern audience as well.

1Tim3:16 Don't follow a false Christ who is incomplete: https://youtu.be/YyS8syZIHjI #santoshpoonen

Santosh Poonen · Dec 1, 2025 · 59s · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The speaker emphasizes the complete nature of Christ, contrasting it with any gospel that suggests mere forgiveness without transformation. True discipleship requires following a Christ who was fully revealed in the flesh and who calls believers to be conformed to His image. This complete Christ was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, and proclaimed globally.

We Must Decrease for Christ to Increase — Zac Poonen — August 2, 2025

Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 3m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that true discipleship requires believers to actively decrease in prominence so that Christ may increase. Drawing from Paul's experience and John 10, the speaker argues that any desire for personal recognition or being seen is a hindrance to Christ's glory. He emphasizes that a genuine man of God longs to be inconspicuous, allowing Christ to be the focus.

Dare to be a Daniel - Zac Poonen - March 18, 2011

Zac Poonen · Apr 20, 2012 · 1h 4m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The sermon uses Daniel's life, particularly the movement from Babylon to Jerusalem, to illustrate the difference between merely wanting to go to heaven and actively following Christ daily. The central message is that true discipleship requires being willing to stand as a witness for Christ in the present world, resisting the allure of worldly comforts and compromises. Believers must be careful to plug the 'leaks' that allow the world to infiltrate their lives, prioritizing eternal life over worldly preservation.

Pursuing Jesus in the Ordinary Things -- Jeremy Utley & Olu Talabi -- June 11, 2022

CFC Messages · Jun 17, 2022 · 33m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The sermon emphasizes that pursuing Christ is not reserved for extraordinary moments but must be lived out in the ordinary, daily routines of life. Drawing parallels to time-lapse photography, the speaker urges listeners to avoid viewing daily life as unexciting, instead adopting the proactive spirit of Bartimaeus—hearing Jesus' call and leaping up with eagerness. True discipleship involves greeting Jesus each day and holding fast to God's word with perseverance, like good soil.

Let Joy Be Your Testimony (Don’t Forget to LOL: Part 3) - Santosh Poonen - February 28, 2016

Santosh Poonen · Feb 29, 2016 · 58m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The Grace in Which We Stand and Overcome -- Zac Poonen -- July 31, 2022

Zac Poonen · Aug 1, 2022 · 57m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that maintaining unbroken fellowship with God requires absolute honesty, which is presented as more crucial than perfect holiness. The speaker warns against pretense and hypocrisy, urging listeners to confess faults directly to God rather than blaming others, citing the example of Adam. True discipleship involves living openly in the light of God's truth.

Satisfied in Christ but Thirsting for Him -- Santosh Poonen -- September 22, 2024

Santosh Poonen · Sep 23, 2024 · 1h 17m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The sermon emphasizes that true discipleship means being deeply connected to Christ, comparing the Church to the bride who follows Jesus everywhere. The speaker urges the congregation to prioritize hearing and singing to Jesus, noting that His excitement for our praise surpasses any musical performance. He concludes with a prayer asking for the Holy Spirit's fire, purity, and strength for daily living, especially in marriage.

Are you carrying your own cross daily? #santoshpoonen youtu.be/jeoTh-_A2x0

Santosh Poonen · May 17, 2024 · 1m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The sermon emphasizes that true discipleship requires actively carrying one's cross daily, which means dying to one's old self-centered way of life. It is not enough merely to know about Jesus carrying His cross; one must actively choose a life where Jesus' will is paramount. This daily surrender is the core requirement for following Christ.

4. Following Jesus On the Narrow Way — Zac Poonen — August 24, 2024

Zac Poonen · Aug 27, 2024 · 1h 7m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The sermon emphasizes that the Christian life requires following Jesus on the narrow way, drawing parallels between the journey to find a bride and the spiritual journey toward Christ. The speaker urges listeners to fix their eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith, recognizing that enduring the cross and daily self-denial is superior to any earthly miracle. True discipleship means having an unwavering focus on Christ's glory rather than the difficulties of the journey.

Living Only to Please God - Zac Poonen - April 3, 2013

Zac Poonen · Apr 15, 2013 · 1h 6m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that true discipleship means living to please God, not to impress people. Jesus demonstrated this by accepting the lowest birth and shameful death, showing that human opinion is irrelevant to God's plan. Furthermore, the speaker warns against prioritizing worldly things like money or tradition over fulfilling core commandments, such as caring for one's family.

Reverence for God is the A-B-C of Wisdom - Zac Poonen - September 18, 2011

Zac Poonen · Apr 20, 2012 · 57m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship requires a profound understanding of grace, which does not mean lowering God's standards. He draws heavily from Matthew 11 to teach that possessing the Kingdom of Heaven (the Church) requires an internal 'violence' against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Believers must be outwardly peaceful while inwardly fighting for spiritual things, remembering that Jesus stated His kingdom is not of this world.

Brokenness and Compassion - Zac Poonen - May 24, 2015

Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 30m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that the Christian life must accurately reflect the true nature of Jesus, focusing on internal transformation rather than merely external works or social programs. The speaker warns against equating Christian activity with worldly compassion or visible charity, arguing that the true focus must be on building the 'True Church'—a quality-based community—as opposed to the 'great Babylon' of mere quantity. True discipleship requires internal holiness, as exemplified by Jesus' teachings on anger, which addressed the root of sin.

7. A Helpmeet for Christ -- Zac Poonen -- March 1, 2009

Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2023 · 1h 2m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

Important Principles in the Body of Christ — Zac Poonen — August 1, 2025

Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 57m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message emphasizes that true discipleship requires living consistently with one's professed faith, mirroring the manner of Christ. This requires constant self-examination regarding attitudes toward women, money, and circumstances. Furthermore, believers must pursue total cleansing from sin—addressing both external actions (flesh) and internal thoughts/motives (spirit)—with the same urgency as treating a deadly illness.

Elders: Endure to the End as Godly Examples -- Zac Poonen -- December 12, 2020

Zac Poonen · Dec 14, 2020 · 55m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is the necessity of continuous, daily surrender to Christ, which is the antidote to spiritual backsliding. The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship requires loving Jesus above all else and constantly taking up the cross by dying to one's own preferences and self. This daily process allows the life of Jesus to be manifested in our actions, relationships, and attitudes.

Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God - Ajay Chakravarthy - July 30, 2018

Ajay Chakravarthy · Aug 3, 2018 · 46m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that pleasing God does not require spectacular or extraordinary acts of service; rather, it is found in living an ordinary life that is pleasing to Him. The speaker draws parallels from Jesus's life, noting that God commended Him after thirty years of ordinary living, not just during His ministry years. True discipleship involves letting people see the ordinary, faithful life being lived out, not just hearing about it.

Following and Abiding in Jesus - Olu Talabi - July 7, 2019

Olu Talabi · Jul 15, 2019 · 42m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The sermon emphasizes the critical importance of both following and abiding in Jesus, drawing from Luke 9:23 and John 15:5. The speaker warns against the danger of becoming a 'mixed multitude'—those who join the faith without genuine commitment to follow God's specific laws and will. True discipleship requires a complete denial of one's own will and a constant, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, rather than merely professing belief.

Session 2: Fulfilling God's Specific Plan - Zac Poonen - September 13, 2014

Zac Poonen · Sep 13, 2014 · 1h 8m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The central message is that believers must imitate Jesus Christ's example rather than merely offering exhortations. The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship involves following Christ's pattern, which is exemplified by His life of helplessness and dependence on the Father. Furthermore, salvation is established by grace through faith, which forms the foundation upon which a life of good works is built.

How The Lord Planted His Churches Through CFC -- Zac Poonen -- August 14, 2022

Zac Poonen · Aug 16, 2022 · 1h 8m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The speaker recounts the history of the CFC church, emphasizing that God builds His church not through human cleverness, education, or wealth, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. True discipleship requires radical repentance—a 180-degree turn away from self-will toward God's way. He warns against merely having the 'form' of godliness without genuine inner transformation.

The Ordinary Christian Life and Church -- Ajay Chakravarthy -- January 30, 2022

Ajay Chakravarthy · Jan 31, 2022 · 46m · River of Life Christian Fellowship

The speaker encourages listeners not to worry about the future because the promise of God, as seen in Isaiah 42:6, is that He will guide them through unknown paths and make darkness into light. He then discusses the 'ordinary Christian life' by referencing the disciples who followed Jesus after seeing Him live an unremarkable, everyday life, contrasting this with expectations of grand miracles. The central message is that true discipleship requires recognizing Christ not by outward appearance or dramatic events, but by seeing the life manifested in ordinary faithfulness.

The Followers of Jesus Who Crucified Him - Santosh Poonen - October 6, 2013

Santosh Poonen · Oct 9, 2013 · 50m · River of Life Christian Fellowship