Vista Community Church

Believers understanding their identity in Christ and living out of that identity is foundational to our purpose in this world. Many of our problems may be rooted in the fact that we don't fully grasp who God made us to be and therefore we don't fully understand life's purpose. If we're going to be who God made us to be and do what God has called us to do, we must operate out of a strong sense of i...

How did the world lose its story? How do we define our identity? We start our series exploring these questions and discussing why the most important thing about us must be Christ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Message from Vista Elders on January 2, 2022 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to be faithful then you're not feeling it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although he neither agrees with God's plan nor apologizes for failing to agree, Habakkuk does come to a place of acceptance. How? And how can we find a faith rooted in acceptance instead of phoniness or grumbling? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Habakkuk is frustrated and angry that God is going to use the Chaldeans of all people to judge Israel. So he brings his frustration and anger to God and God gives him a response. God's response is to tell Habakkuk that the Chaldeans will be judged as well. God also reminds Habakkuk to patiently wait on the Lord to act and have faith in his promises. This text reminds us that frustration and anger...

Questioning the wisdom of God's plans, Habakkuk the prophet shows us how to navigate the tension between protest and trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul reminds the "weak" and the "strong" that because of Christ, they are free from the flesh and are now one collective family, brought together and held secure in the all-encompassing love of Jesus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Chapter 7 of Romans the Apostle Paul is very honest about the inner conflict that he faces as a believer. On the one hand, he loves God and wants to obey his word and do right. However, like all of us, Paul struggles with the flesh (sinful nature) that is a part of his fallen humanity. This same struggle is real for all believers and we must learn how to be honest about our struggle and grow/fe...

We've got two options according to Paul: we're slaves to sin or slaves to Christ. Because freedom is submission to Christ, not doing whatever we want. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After unpacking how we are justified (declared righteous) before God by faith alone, Paul unpacks some of the benefits that we receive based on our justification. He reminds us that God's peace, grace, and hope are available to us and that he has given us his Holy Spirit to help us in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you better than them? In Romans 2-3, Paul poses this difficult and irritating question and reminds us that while we may sin differently than them, we are not better than them, and our judgment of others puts us under the judgment of God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul was a unique person who God used to accomplish amazing things. The rapid spread of the gospel and the early church can largely be traced back to Paul and his ministry. Although he endured a lot, he never seemed to tire of serving Jesus and the church. Paul preached and wrote with authority and confidence, but where does this come from? What allowed the Apostle Paul to keep pushing forward wit...

Dabbling in issues of free will and sovereignty, in Romans 9-11 Paul offers a tour-de-force explanation of why Israel's rejection of Jesus does not mean God has been unfaithful to Israel. Yet despite all the complications involved, Paul's final diagnosis is simple: God has shut up all in sin in order to show mercy to all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Apostle Paul discusses how believers should respond to the government... specifically instructing those in the church to not pursue political zealotry, but rather seek to live as good citizens who respect authority and obey the laws. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is forming you? Christ or culture? If you are being molded more everyday into the image of Christ, it is going to change the way you see and engage the world; it is going to change the way you view the Church, the Body of Christ, and participate in Christian community; and it will change the way you respond to those who oppose and mistreat you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

The Roman churches are divided between two groups: the weak and the strong. Who are they and why are they in conflict? Should our morality be more cautious and conservative, or more lenient and laissez faire? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting in chapter 16, we learn that all the complicated theological stuff Paul says in the first half of Romans builds to a simple goal that's revealed at the end of the book. Paul wants these 5 small Roman house churches to be the united and scandalously diverse family of God they've been called to be by learning to embrace one another in Christ, despite their differences. Hosted on Acast. See...

Christians throughout history have believed that Jesus will return one day. Jesus himself said that he would return and it is spoken of by many New Testament writers. The second coming of Christ is an essential doctrine that the church continues to hold today. But what will Jesus do upon his return and what does that mean for us here and now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Paul says that the gospel is of "first importance." The fact that Christ died for our sin, was buried and rose from the grave is the most important thing we can know because it's by his work that we are saved. Most Christians know, if even on a surface level, that Christ died for them. However, a greater understanding of exactly what Christ accomplished for us at the cross will lead to a greater a...

Discussing Ephesians 1:18-23, we learn that besides Jesus, the Church is the greatest thing that's ever happened to the world, and despite all of her flaws, the Church makes God believable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans are created in the image of God, and yet fallen and in need of redemption. Balancing our dignity and depravity is tricky, and the ancient practice of confession keeps us grounded in our belovedness yet humble and honest about our sinfulness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a church believes about scripture is extremely important. We desire to be a church that "rightly handles the word of truth" as the apostle Paul encourages Timothy (II Tim. 2:15). But what does it mean to "rightly handle the word of truth" and how do we do that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start off our series by exploring the essential beliefs and practices of Christianity so that our faith stays both faithful and fresh. Because we don't get to make Christianity up! So what do Christians believe about God, and what does prayer have to do with that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite all that Joseph has done for his brothers, they still have a hard time accepting that he is good and genuinely loves them. They continue to doubt his mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Often this is the way we are with God. Joseph's life parallels that of Jesus in many ways. His story reminds us of the gospel where a good God demonstrated his love and forgiveness for sinners. When we learn to...