Rio Vista Church Sermons

What do most of the people in your world have in common? They need God! There's a big difference between the gods of this world, that leave you empty, and Jesus, who came to us because he loved us and now will fill an empty life full with his love.

We have a habit of focusing on the small, singular events in our lives while missing the bigger principle of which they are a part. A life in mission calls us to look at the big picture and to embrace what God is doing.

When God tells us to let go of something, we know what the RIGHT answer is. We also know what our REAL answer will be. Pastor Tom Hendrikse tells us how we can realign ourselves with God’s will, so that these two answers become one and the same.

The children we are raising today are the future of the church and the future of the kingdom. Not JUST mothers, but every Christian can influence children and thus help build the kingdom of God!

A life in mission reproduces the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The first part of Acts 12 tells us the story of the murder of James and the arrest of Peter. It is packed with imagery that identifies with Jesus.

One of the things life in mission requires is the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Some comes directly as God’s Spirit interacts with our own, some comes through the influence of mature Christians like Barnabas. Have you found your "Barnabas?"

God is not the author of discrimination. Despite that, ancient Israel had rules preventing them from even entering the home of a Gentile. When God told Peter to go preach the gospel to Cornelius, the walls of discrimination were about to come down.

What is the purpose God has for this mission? It’s to bring life! But what about healing? Does God bring healing? What does it mean when God does not heal? Tough questions, but Pastor Tom Hendrikse takes them on in this moving message from Acts chapter 9.

Before he was Paul the Apostle, Saul was a persecutor of the church. The church feared him, yet God chose Saul to be a part of his mission. Are there people who we think do not deserve to hear the gospel? And how does American culture play into this?

Philip was an apostle and evangelist God used to send the gospel to Ethiopia. He meets an Ethiopian court official who was also a eunuch and had suffered much discrimination to worship in Jerusalem. God brings life out of death in this Easter message!

The mission is to be witnesses to the risen Christ. God allowed persecution to bring suffering on the church in Jerusalem, which scattered them to where Jesus had said they should go. God sometimes uses suffering in our lives, how can we not waste it?

Stephen, the first martyr after the ascension of Christ, was stoned to death. Why? Because the message he preached challenged their way of life. Christ always does that. What is he challenging in you, and what are you having to kill to avoid changing?

Almost as soon as it began, the first church ran into a serious problem: discrimination. The apostles appointed the first deacons to manage these matters. But the underlying problem was that many in the church did not grasp how much God values PEOPLE.

How would your life change if you saw with your own eyes Jesus return from the grave? It changed His followers from timid bunglers to fearless agents who refused to back down even when thrown in jail. THAT is resurrection power in someone’s life!

Life is Mission, and that includes your money. Be generous with God, and with each other. And whatever you refuse to let go of, that is what you treasure more than Jesus. When you treasure anything more than Jesus — watch out!

The authorities warn Peter and John not to teach in the name of Jesus. They refused and made it plain that the name of Jesus was the only name given to people by which they can be saved. Pastor Tom explores the unique and important name of Jesus Christ.

Peter heals a man unable to walk since birth, well known to the crowds that would pass by him at the temple gate. What changed this day? Peter stopped, and noticed this man. Who do you need to stop and notice in your world?

After Pentecost, the church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, gathered together daily in the temple, and shared meals and met the needs of anyone who had want. Why can’t the church be more like that today?

Peter preaches his first sermon to the crowd at Pentecost. He explained the gospel to them, this gospel they were to carry throughout the world on their lips and in their lives. We have that same mission and shouldn’t delay, for time is speeding past.

The followers of Jesus returned to Jerusalem after his ascension to wait for the Holy Spirit, which came upon them and filled them. What does being filled with the Spirit look like? What does it cause you to do? Find out in this week’s message.

After his resurrection, Jesus had a message for his followers, "Life is Mission." Whose life? What mission? Pastor Tom Hendrikse will answer those questions for us in this week's message.

Eve and Adam decided they could run things on their own and wouldn’t need God. As a result both were placed under a curse. Jesus had to reverse every aspect of the curse we were under. He did just that, and restored the tree of life for us.

The battle between God and Satan has run for all of creation. But, throughout history, each time it has seemed as though Satan was about to deliver the blow that would derail God’s plan for His people, the King had another move.

Everybody makes a Christmas list. But with God, what you get is far better than what you asked for, because your heavenly father knows what you need, and he knows what will thrill and satisfy your heart.

In this week's message, we meet some people desperately seeking Jesus. On the one hand, the wise men, seeking him that they might worship him. On the other, Herod, seeking Jesus to kill him. Who are we most like? Don't answer too quickly!