“Between Promise and Fulfillment” - The River Service

In this sermon, Rev. Billy Cerveny reflects on the story of John the Baptist to explore the reality of doubt within the life of faith. John—God’s chosen prophet and forerunner of Christ—finds himself imprisoned, confused, and wrestling with unmet expectations about who the Messiah would be. Rather than condemning doubt, the sermon shows how Scripture presents it as a deeply human and even faithful response when our expectations collide with God’s reality. Rev. Cerveny challenges the idea of a “homemade Jesus” shaped by comfort and control, inviting listeners instead to bring their doubt honestly before the real Christ. Through John’s humble question—“Are you the one?”—we see that doubt can become a doorway to deeper faith, dependence, and trust in Jesus, whose story ultimately leads not to despair, but to resurrection, hope, and glory.