Rio Vista Church Sermons

Through the gospel, God gives us a new heart that enables a new kind of love: one that loves the needy and doesn't look for credit from man! If we fail to do that, the applause from our fellow humans is the only reward we will ever receive.

How are we to treat our enemies? Not from self-vindication or hatred, but with a readiness to serve and seek the good of those who deserve the opposite. Let go of bitterness and respond after setting our eyes on Jesus, who patterned his life the same way.

In the gospel, God gives a new heart to enable new obedience to his law. We must obey from the inside, not just the outside. And there is a positive attached to the negative. Thou shalt not lie, also means thou shalt pursue and promote truthfulness.

God’s law has various purposes. It reveals the holiness of God, reveals our sinfulness (to drive us to Jesus), holds before us a moral behavior and life that is pleasing to God, and more. Jesus rescued us by keeping the law perfectly in our place.

Jesus says we are Salt and Light to the world. These are not character awards; they are job descriptions. Jobs that are both powered by the gospel. Ruling Elder and Session member Mark Lautenschlager brings us God's word this week.

Matt Lomenick launches this series of messages based on the Sermon on the Mount. He gives us an overview of the series that encourages us to "have an encounter with Jesus and let him challenge your kingdom." Matt takes us through the beatitudes this week.

Sometimes it feels comfortable to compartmentalize our lives: work, family, friends, hobbies, church. The Bible, however, tells us to live EVERY aspect of our lives as ambassadors (in the name of) the Lord Jesus Christ. God calls us to go "all in!"

Bishop Clarence Glover from Mount Bethel Baptist Church brings us the message from Revelation about the church at Ephesus. Jesus praised them for their works but cautioned that they had "lost their first love." What is your "first" love?

God's Word does not call us to deny our differences to achieve uniformity, nor does it call us to deny our convictions in the name of unity. Instead, it commands the children of God to submit to God's work of creating one new humanity. (Ephesians 2:15)

God is the Author and Creator of the Great Feast. He made you for it, and your appetites are the part of you that makes this divine celebration come to life. It’s all about what you do with those appetites and what you let them do to you.

Real wealth is the riches that are ours in Christ. There is a path that leads to our souls being satisfied, and our work having meaning and honor. This week, we will see what Wisdom has to say about how we conduct our business and professional lives.

There is no place where wisdom is more important, and each of us feels less wise than parenting our children. Compassion, training, discipline, teaching God’s truth—the Bible says a lot about the role of parents and its outcome in the lives of children.

Justice and Mercy are necessary if we want to live as skillfully as Proverbs sets before us. Followers of Jesus must not ignore one for the other; both are integral parts of His nature and should be for us as God conforms us to the image of His Son.

Work is a more substantial part of our identity than we’d perhaps like to admit. Finding the balance between work and rest becomes all-important. This week, we find out what Wisdom has to say about it as Pastor Sam Kastensmidt preaches.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That phrase, from the Book of Proverbs, is as challenging to understand as anything we find in the entire book. What kind of fear is this? Pastor Matt Lomenick explains how fear and wisdom are connected.

As we launch our new series from the Book of Proverbs, Co-Director of Student Ministries Will Buschmann opens with a look at Solomon and his legendary wisdom. Will explores the contrast between wisdom and foolishness.

Our series on what Jesus gave us concludes with Pastor Matt explaining that Jesus gave us each other. Jesus built his Church on the rock of Peter’s confession that he (Jesus) is the Christ, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Our series examining the gifts God gave us after Jesus ascended continues with Pastor Sam Kastensmidt addressing the Word. God gave us his Word, and our Bibles contain this supernatural power for living.

Our look at prayer continues as Pastor Tom Hendrikse examines HOW to pray. Jesus gave us an example designed for precisely that. If you're uncomfortable with the thought of praying, not being sure what to say, this message is definitely for you!

Scott Carson, our Director of Renewal, considers the next element God gave us to accomplish his mission: prayer. More specifically, WHY do we pray? Prayer is communicating personally with God, showing that we are convinced of his wisdom and power.

God sent his Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us, but that's not all; the Spirit also empowers us. Pastor Tom Hendrikse says the gifts of the Spirit still operate today, and we shouldn't shy away from the miraculous and the supernatural. That's God!

Jesus told his disciples that after he ascended to heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit to live inside all who become his followers by faith, to comfort us and teach us. Pastor Tom Hendrikse examines what it means to have the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Winston Miller, our Pastor-in-residence of Community Formation, kicks off our new message series, What He Gave Us, with a look at the Great Commission. Go, and as you do so, make disciples of all nations! This command from Jesus gives us our purpose.

The 21 Questions series reaches its conclusion with this Resurrection Sunday message answering the question "Why is Jesus Unlike Other Religious Leaders?" Pastor Tom Hendrikse explains that Jesus defeated death and made it possible for us to do the same.

Last week, Pastor Sam Kastensmidt considered Job, who suffered because of extreme loss. Now he looks at Solomon, who suffers because of extreme gain and finding it meaningless. The rise in depression, anxiety, and suicides show how real this suffering is.