Riverside Academy
What is Riverside Academy?
One of our Riverside Family Values is ‘Everyone Grows’; We believe that one of the ways we grow is by studying and learning together. Regularly we gather together to study what God has to teach us from the Bible and from our own experiences and situations. Through a mixture of direct teaching and interactive discussion and activity, we can explore topics in depth, asking questions of one another as well as the biblical text. We want to apply what we learn to enjoy our role within the family of God, to help us become followers of Jesus - joining in with his mission to the world, and to encounter the presence of God in a powerful way. After each Academy session suggestions for further study are provided to aid individual reflection.
Riverside Academy Series
Live @ 5: Hot Topics
How do we answer those tricky questions when we are sharing our faith? This series explores the more challenging topics affecting our daily lives, and how to approach these when sharing the love of Jesus. Our approach is guided by 1 Peter 3: 15-17 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander”.
Live @ 5: Great Prayers of the Bible
Prayer is the cry of the soul. In these sessions we delve into 3 prayers that teach us principles in powerful prayers, what God’s heart is in prayer, and what our prayers should focus on. We are challenged to pray big prayers to change our lives and the lives of others.
Praying the Psalms
The Psalms are ‘songs for all seasons’. Within the Psalms we find songs covering every emotion. This series looks at Psalms of thanksgiving, lament and hope. We provide tools for reading the Psalms and encouragement to write our own Psalms.
Live @ 5: Colossians
This letter written by Paul encapsulates what our faith is all about. It re-affirms God’s supremacy, encourages us to encounter his presence, and affirms Jesus as our suffering but victorious king. These sessions examine the challenges faced by the Colossians, and how they could overcome these.
Wisdom for Life: Proverbs
How do we live skilful lives in today’s world? What are the principles that help us make good choices in our families, schools, workplaces and communities? How does the Creator God of the universe weave His wisdom into every part of life? These sessions look at the book of Proverbs and seek to apply these ancient yet vibrant words in different areas of life.
The Book of Revelation
A fascinating book of the Bible that encourages us to dig deep into God’s purposes for the world. Far from being a set of bizarre and fanciful images, Revelation underlines the simple truth that the whole of history is under his control and that every power will ultimately surrender to his lordship. These studies encourage us to reflect on the nature of power, to consider what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a world that does not always want to accept His authority and to worship the God who is the true King.
Rhythms for Growth
How do we intentionally develop a lifestyle (rule of life) that is Spirit-led and not burdensome? This series encourages us to reflect on our identity (who we are in relation to God and how we understand ourselves), the foundational practices of worship, sacred reading and prayer and how we reach out to the world around us.