Vista Community Church

We're in the midst of a fussy cultural conversation about social justice and human rights, but what does Scripture say about these things? A lot! Imploring us to care for the vulnerable because that's what God did for us, Scripture also specifies that the most important political question for Christians is not "How do we vote?" but "Are we practicing the politics of Jesus as a church?" Hosted on A...

Is it OK to be angry? Yes! But Scripture also tells us to be very careful with our anger, and quick to let go of it instead of pouring gas on it in the name of an allegedly greater good. Because while we like to tell ourselves we're good at being angry for a good cause, Scripture disagrees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If we're single, we tend to spend a lot of our time looking for the "right" person to spend our lives with. If we're married and having trouble, we tend to spend a lot of time trying to fix the "right" person (our spouse). However, the writers of Proverbs seem far more concerned with us becoming the "right" person that God wants us to be. What does it look like to be the right kind of woman or the...

Proverbs has a lot to say about how we use our words. Wise people are careful with their words and use them to speak life. Various New Testament writers say the same thing. For example Col. 4:6 says that "our speech should always be gracious and seasoned with salt." So, what does it mean that our speech should be "seasoned...?" What are some practical ways we can season our speech in order to be p...

Scripture makes it clear that good and wise company is a necessary component to cultivating wisdom in our lives. But how do I know if the company I keep is wise or foolish? Do they fear God? Do they speak the truth in love? Are they able to hear and receive Godly truth in their own life? Do they help carry the burdens of others? Proverbs gives us incredible insight into the characteristics of good...

How do we best steward our resources? By gaining them righteously, using them wisely, and giving them generously. Threading the needle between prosperity and poverty gospel readings of Scripture, Proverbs offers a blunt but generous set of teachings on the intersection of wealth and possessions in God's economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We should spend more time understanding what will not change than trying to anticipate what will change. This is a fundamental lesson of Proverbs, and in Proverbs 8 we learn it is not prudent people who are naive and sheltered, but foolish people. Because prudence makes holy play possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Proverbs is a book about wise living. God wants his people to walk in wisdom rather than live lives of foolishness and folly. So, how do we become wise people? Where does wisdom come from and how do we practically learn to walk in it in all areas of our lives? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of the Tower of Babel reminds there are things we can do that we nevertheless should not do. Using this story as a source of wisdom, we discuss how Christians might use or not use modern technology. Technology is good when it produces connection, attention, and creation, but bad when it produces isolation, distraction, and endless consumption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

Hype is the rise and fall of nothing, and we live in a hype culture wherein big, exaggerated promises of the next thing that is going to change everything fill our lives. But Jesus was, if anything, an anti-hype man who lived a mostly obscure life. Because life's basic-ness is beautiful, and we don't need to live high on hype. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politics is such a "hot button" topic. Some Christians feel that the church should be very engaged in the political process. Some feel the church should stay out of politics altogether. Should Christians care about politics? If so, how do we do so in a God-honoring way? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the only things almost everyone agrees on is that we're living in the midst of a mental health crisis. And far from belittling our anxiety or outsourcing treatment of it solely to "the professionals", God understands our anxiety and wants to help. A less anxious life is the byproduct of having a mission in life greater than the self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

There's no question that safety and protection are at the forefront of people's minds these days. The world is sometimes dangerous and hostile, so it's easy to get consumed with staying safe. The question we must ask as Christians is, "How does God want us to live?" Or, to put it another way, "How can we live with courage in a dangerous world?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Why do we feel like everything is getting worse when most things are actually getting better? In short, entitlement, and entitlement is a huge psychological, sociological, and spiritual problem because it makes us forget everything is a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A sacrament is defined as a Christian rite that is believed to have been ordained by God and that is held to be a means of divine grace or to be a sign or symbol of a spiritual reality. In the catholic church there are believed to be 7 sacraments. In most evangelical protestant churches we primarily emphasize two (Baptism and Communion). What is the purpose of the sacraments and how shou...

Faith is personal. Much like any other relationship in our life, our relationship with God grows and deepens when we spend intentional time alone paying attention to Him. Don't settle for a seat in a church on Sunday mornings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tabernacle is a vital element in the overall narrative of scripture. The Tabernacle is where God "lived" amongst Israel. Why did Israel need the Tabernacle? What does it ultimately point to? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is message about the meaning of discipleship in the Churchology series. The goal is to show that Jesus himself was a disciple who made disciples and to show what he has done for us and what he desires to do in and through us as we follow him as disciples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to be saved? What does salvation look like and how do I attain it? Is it something I receive once or is it an ongoing work in my life? These are very important questions. When it comes to salvation, it's important for believers to have a full understanding of what it means to be "saved." A right understanding of salvation has past, present, and future implications that change the...

What was the Law? What was it for? What is it for? Contrary to what many have heard, the Law was a gift intended to help us live in sync with creation's moral design, and while it's not our master or savior, it can still be our friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Covenant" is a word we don't use a lot when it comes to relationships these days. Most people think of a covenant as nothing more than a legally binding contract. However, in scripture, the idea of covenant is everywhere and it carries a lot deeper meaning than what most people think. Scripture reminds us that covenant isn't just an old word found in the Old Testament. It's a way of thinking abou...

Everything happens for a reason. People say it a lot when something terrible or miraculous happens. But what do Christians mean when they say it, and is it a biblical thing to say? Examining what Scripture has to say about God's relationship to the evil and unexpected in our lives, we discover that it's more helpful to say that things happen, but God is and will always be good to us. Hosted on Aca...

Christians often use words and phrases that may sound confusing to people who are new to faith or don't have much of a church background. For example, what does it mean when a Christian says that we are "redeemed by the blood of the lamb?" Where does the biblical doctrine of redemption come from and how does it apply to us? We explore this statement in week one of our Churchology series. Hosted on...

The Apostle Paul knew his life was coming to an end, but he could confidently say that he was proud of the life he lived serving God and others. What can we learn from some of Paul's last words in his letter, 2 Timothy? We should listen to Paul and follow his example on what it looks like to fulfill your ministry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you better than them? We all have a THEM, a person or group we despise. And yes, we think we're better than THEM. But no, according to Scripture, we're not. Following Jesus and Paul's lead, we seek to be people who are for THEM, even when they are against us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.