Rio Vista Church Sermons

We continue with week two of three on the subject of suffering. How Can a Good God Allow Suffering? Our pastor of Spiritual Formation, Sam Kastensmidt, opens the Book of Job and gives us a fresh perspective on one of the Bible's most unusual stories.

If God is supposed to be good, why am I suffering? Starting this week and continuing over the next two weeks, 21 Questions addresses the hard question of suffering. Pastor Tom Hendrikse leads off with a powerful message: suffering is not always bad.

Christian hypocrisy is one of the most oft-cited reasons people don't believe in God. The church says one thing, but its members live another. Why? What is the root cause of hypocrisy? Dave Richardson answers this from the story of David and Bathsheba.

Each of us is familiar with temptation; it's a shared human experience. Shared also by our champion Jesus, who faced a series of them when he was at his most vulnerable. In his example, we can find the keys to unlocking our own defense against temptation.

Pastor Tom Hendrikse offers a thoughtful, compassionate response to the question of why God tells us who we can and can't love. Why is a person's sexual identity any business of the church? Find out where the church has been right (and wrong!) in this.

Marriage is an institution that's under siege today, from those who wish to redefine it, to those who want to ignore it altogether. What IS marriage, anyway? Why do we defend it and declare its importance? Pastor Tom has the answer in this week's message.

Not just our country, but the entire world is sharply divided over politics. Families have split up, lifelong friendships dissolved, all because two people identify with different political parties. So what's a Christian to do? Tom Hendrikse answers that.

How can we forgive those who have hurt us beyond all measure, especially those who continue to do so? Director of Renewal Scott Carson brings us the word from God this week that the power to forgive is one that no one can take from you.

Why is there so much hate in the world? With only the most narrow of exceptions, hate is evil. Pastor Tom Hendrikse walks us through why evil exists, where it came from, and what God offers us to deal with the evil inside of ourselves.

What happens to me when I die? That is a simple question with what most assume to be a complicated answer. Pastor Matt Lomenick, however, has a straightforward answer for us: we get what we want. Check out this week's message to find out the how and why.

We examine another of life's difficult questions as asked by our congregation. "Why am I here?" Tom Hendrikse says understanding why we are here begins with asking ourselves why anything exists at all. He has a practical answer to an existential question.

The third and final question to come out from our Student Ministries, "What do I do with my shame?" To answer this, Tom Hendrikse examines the connection between guilt and shame, working through the story of the woman caught in adultery.

This week's question once again comes from the students in our high school and middle school ministries, and it is "Where do I find my worth?" Matt Lomenick explains how finding our worth begins with understanding the infinite worth of Jesus Christ.

Our series answering life’s hardest questions continues with Will Buschmann, Director of Middle School Student ministries, covering “What’s the big deal about sex?” Will presents a balanced, considered view of Biblical sexuality.

Senior Pastor Tom Hendrikse brings us the message from God’s word on Christmas Eve.

If God exists, and if he speaks, how can we find what he wants us to do? Is that even possible? Our series on 21 Questions continues with a practical guide to understanding God’s direction for our lives, no matter what the situation.

Our series continues with Pastor Matt Lomenick answering the question "Why is Christianity so exclusive?" Which raises the question of whether it IS exclusive. What does it mean for those who choose not to worship the God of the Bible?

Is Christianity in conflict with science? Our 21 Questions series continues by examining the connection between faith and reason. It's more substantial than you might realize. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Any discussion of life's difficult questions from a Christian perspective will refer to the Bible as its source. Which in turn raises the question of "What does an ancient Bible offer today?" Tom Hendrikse answers that in this week's message.

When we are hanging out on the beach, God is all around us. The sun, the shore, the waves - they all remind us of Him. But when we are right in the middle of a storm, and we hear Him call us to come and move out in faith, where can we find Him then?

Prayer is a vital part of our lives as followers of Jesus. And while it isn't wrong to pray for our physical needs or those of others, we should realize that the best use of prayer lies somewhere else. This week we examine what Paul prayed for, and why?

In the series conclusion, Tom Hendrikse looks back over our ten-week exploration of the process of moving from spectator to fan, and from fan to player. In the end, we all must be moved to take the gospel to the whole world.

In the penultimate message from this series, Tom Hendrikse tackles the question of how Christians should love and serve the city where they live. We feature our connection with Fort Lauderdale High School as Priscilla Ribeiro joins Scott Carson on stage.

Between our families and the rest of the world, there exists another layer of people: our neighbors. How does Jesus define a neighbor, and what should our response to them be? Tom Hendrikse answers those questions this week as "What Moves You?" continues.

Our exploration of what moves us shifts from worship to people. This week we talk about moving toward your family, including those friends who are as close as family, which, biblically, looks like loving God and leading them to do likewise.