Rio Vista Church Sermons

We begin our look at the Ten Commandments with Director of Student Ministries Mason Brown preaching on "You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me." You might be surprised at just how many we find. Serious self-examination is dead ahead!

Israel comes to the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God will give them his law. God's law reveals his nature, leads us to his forgiveness, and shows us how to live for him. It is not there to make us feel guilty or like failures. Quite the opposite, in fact!

Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, comes to bring his daughter and grandchildren back to their husband and father. He observes life among the Israelites and, after seeing a problem, offers Moses some wise advice. God wants us to have mentors and friends.

God led the people of Israel to a place in the wilderness where there was no water to drink, and the people quarreled with Moses, accusing him of deliberately trying to kill them. God gave them water to show that He is the only way to quench our thirst.

The best-known story about miraculous bread is in this week's passage, where God provided manna (a word meaning "what is it?"). It was delicious and nutritious, but wouldn't last. Hunger can only be satisfied forever when we find the bread of life: Jesus.

What makes you bitter? For almost all of us, that's quite a long list. In our story from Exodus this week, Israel had to confront their bitterness, literally and figuratively. The Lord shows us the way out is forgiveness, through a tree (i.e., the cross).

Worship pastor Ryan Brasington teaches about the Song of Moses and the unique power that music has to influence our minds, and our relationship with God.

God told the people to camp in a location that would trap them between Pharoah's army and the Red Sea. Then he fought for them and delivered them. God knows us and our battles, for they are his battles also. In this life or the next, he will deliver us.

The Passover was the moment of deliverance for Israel that brought freedom to its people; freedom from slavery to the Egyptians. Our Passover Lamb was Jesus, who brings us freedom from slavery to sin. What will we do with that freedom?

What does it mean to be safe? Is it even possible? The story of the final plague, when the Destroyer came and killed all the firstborn, is an uncomfortable one. God brings judgment, BUT he also brings deliverance through the Lamb’s blood.

In our story from Exodus this week, Pharaoh refuses to acknowledge God’s message, despite a series of plagues that afflict Egypt. God demonstrated that he was greater by far than little gods made by human hands, and the only one to whom we should listen.

There are a seemingly endless number of voices competing for our attention. The world has no end of gods (with a little g) to tell us what to do. But there is only one God worth listening to, and this week in our study of Exodus, we see that made clear.

This week, we find Moses caught in a moment of considerable doubt. God's response to Moses was to tell Moses who He was, and then make promises to him. When we're caught up in doubt, we must focus on who God is and what He has promised.

The people of Israel were slaves in Egypt and conditions became worse after Moses demanded that Pharaoh let them go. Instead of being angry at their taskmasters, the people turned on Moses. We don't want freedom when the price is too high.

At the burning bush, God answered every one of the objections Moses raised with basically the same answer: "I will do this." When Moses finally just asks God to send someone else, he is admitting his lack of faith and trust. How often do we do the same?

God tells Moses to go to Egypt and free Israel. Moses offers excuses for why he shouldn't. God asked Moses what he had in his hand (a shepherd's rod), and showed him how it would authenticate his message. What's holding you back? What's in your hand?

God reveals himself to Moses in a burning bush that doesn't get consumed by the fire. He gives Moses a mission and even more importantly, his previously undisclosed name: I Am. In this week's message, Will Buschmann explores what it means to say "God Is."

Before Moses could deliver Israel, he had to be delivered himself. Pharaoh's daughter rescues an infant Moses from the river. Later, he chose to suffer affliction with the people of God over the passing pleasures of sin as a member of Pharaoh's household.

The birth of Moses came after Israel spent 400 years in captivity. During Advent, we remember Jesus coming into the world after 400 years of silence after the last of the prophets. Jesus leads us out of slavery to sin like Moses led Israel out from Egypt.

The story of Exodus is a journey from bondage to freedom, and we begin by looking back to Genesis. The way out is by finding the way into a relationship with God, and both of these are the same man: Jesus. This season of Advent, we remember his coming.

Our series from the psalms concludes with the first of five consecutive psalms of praise. The psalmist praises God who dispenses both mercy and justice. If we honestly have faith in that same God, we will lead lives characterized by the same traits.

God knows everything about you: everything you do, say and think. Despite knowing you better than anyone else ever could, he loves you and has declared you righteous. From before you existed, God has seen and ordained every day of your life.

Martin Luther said this psalm was one of his favorites because the gospel was evident in it. He even wrote a hymn, "From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee" based on Psalm 130. Pastor Sam Kastensmidt unveils God's tender love for us, expressed in this psalm.

The psalmist praises God because he is an abundantly available help in time of trouble--both trouble from within and from without. Pastor Matt Lomenick addresses the tricky subject of mental health, with a panel discussion at the end.

We don't ask questions when evil or careless people suffer. We see it as the consequence of their choices. But what about when GOOD people suffer? That's the setting for Psalm 44, and while the answer might not be what we want, it's likely what we need.