AFTERWORDS: A Riverview Church Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.