Rio Vista Church Sermons
672 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsFrom its base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Rio Vista Church serves to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. These are our weekly messages.
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Episodes
The Story of Exodus Part 5
January 07, 2018 16:00 - 31 minutes - 14.5 MBGod 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?
The Story of Exodus Part 4
December 31, 2017 16:00 - 30 minutes - 13.7 MBGod 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."
The Story of Exodus Part 3
December 17, 2017 16:00 - 25 minutes - 11.8 MBBefore 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 Story of Exodus Part 2
December 10, 2017 16:00 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBThe 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 Part 1
December 03, 2017 14:00 - 25 minutes - 13.3 MBThe 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.
The Psalms Part 24
November 26, 2017 14:00 - 25 minutes - 11.7 MBOur 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.
The Psalms Part 23
November 19, 2017 16:00 - 28 minutes - 12.9 MBGod 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.
The Psalms Part 22
November 12, 2017 14:00 - 32 minutes - 14.8 MBMartin 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 Psalms Part 21
November 05, 2017 16:00 - 54 minutes - 24.9 MBThe 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.
The Psalms Part 20
October 29, 2017 14:00 - 31 minutes - 14.2 MBWe 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.
The Psalms Part 19
October 22, 2017 16:00 - 25 minutes - 11.6 MBWhat is the meaning of life? Why do we exist? When we are gone, will anyone remember our name? This psalm finds David asking these sorts of existential questions. The answer from God is that any life can have significant meaning if it is given over to Him.
The Psalms Part 18
October 15, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 13.6 MBPsalm 38 finds David suffering; He knows why and never protests his innocence. He understands that he is experiencing the discipline and rebuke of the Lord. However, sometimes pain comes without that understanding. How can we bear up under either kind?
The Psalms Part 17
October 08, 2017 14:00 - 24 minutes - 11.4 MBDavid's distress drove him to God, and to publicly stake his fate on God before his family and a watching world. As a result, the peril was good, though he probably didn't call it such at the moment. Is it time to change a label on something in your life?
The Psalms Part 16
October 01, 2017 16:00 - 35 minutes - 16.2 MBWho are God's righteous ones? Those whom God has decided may live on his holy mountain, what is unique about them? This psalm describes many of the character elements that should mark the lives of these people. Pastor Matt Lomenick brings us the message.
The Psalms Part 15
September 24, 2017 16:00 - 32 minutes - 14.9 MBPraise is not optional; it's missional. We should not hide our praise from others because God has given it TO us, FOR them. It's good for them! Moreover, praise is good for our own soul. So why aren't we more open in our praise? The answer is right here.
The Psalms Part 14
September 17, 2017 16:00 - 27 minutes - 12.3 MBProbably the most famous of all the psalms, Psalm 23 is packed with metaphors that explain the care Jesus takes of his sheep. Who are these sheep? Those who recognize his voice and follow him when he calls. A message of comfort for those in the storm.
The Psalms Part 12
August 27, 2017 16:00 - 37 minutes - 17.2 MBAbout forgiveness, David writes that having your sins covered, and your iniquities remembered no more, makes one truly blessed. The opposite of which is the oppressive weight of unconfessed sin. But God is forever ready to surround us in steadfast love.
The Psalms Part 11
August 20, 2017 16:00 - 34 minutes - 15.5 MBPsalm 22 is the Psalm of the Cross. Jesus himself quotes verse one as he hung on the cross dying for our sins. The prophetic descriptions in this psalm are especially remarkable because they were made long before the invention of crucifixion.
The Psalms Part 10
August 13, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 14.2 MBThe psalms are Israel's book of worship. A collection of songs and poems with a central message that God alone can be trusted. They record the many ways in which we come under attack and how we cannot rely on ourselves or anyone but God for deliverance.
The Psalms Part 9
August 06, 2017 16:00 - 30 minutes - 14.2 MBPsalm 19 is a psalm of praise and perspective. Set against the backdrop of the universe, we are a speck living on a speck of a planet located in a speck of a galaxy. However, we are important enough to God that he sacrificed himself for us. How marvelous!
The Psalms Part 8
July 30, 2017 16:00 - 32 minutes - 15 MBSome psalms are praise psalms. They celebrate God's greatness and goodness, his lordship over the created order, and his commitment to saving his people in their mission to rule the earth. He does this so that his name would be majestic in all the earth.
The Psalms Part 7
July 23, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MBDavid passionately appeals to God regarding those who falsely accuse him. When we face injustice in our own lives, how do we react? Do we seek vengeance, or do we find refuge in God? Our Director of Student Ministries, Mason Brown, brings us the message.
The Psalms Part 6
July 16, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MBIn the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us plainly that there will be times of sorrow in our lives. Worship pastor Ryan Brasington brings us the message from Psalm 6 this week, exploring what role hope plays in sustaining us through stress and sorrow.
The Psalms Part 5
July 09, 2017 14:00 - 28 minutes - 13 MBA psalm of lament? What does that mean? Our Director of Renewal Scott Carson tells us it says that it's okay to be honest with your tears, your pain, and your fear. However, those things never replace calling out to God in prayer, forever praising him.
The Psalms Part 4
July 02, 2017 16:00 - 55 minutes - 25.5 MBAll of us face pressure, that's part of life. But, for each of us, there comes a time when pressure feels extreme. David found himself in that position, and he recognized that while God was his deliverance, that might not be from pressure, but through it.
The Psalms Part 3
June 25, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 14.2 MBDavid had lost control of his kingdom, and the usurper was his son, Absalom. A well-planned coup, executed over time, leaving David virtually alone. How David reacted, both spiritually and practically, give us a blueprint for our own stressful situations.
The Psalms Part 2
June 18, 2017 16:00 - 30 minutes - 13.9 MBPsalm 2 declares that the Lord will ultimately judge all, and there is no refuge from him. However, while we cannot find refuge FROM the king, we CAN find shelter IN him. The wise will kiss the son (submit to Christ) and find blessed refuge in the king.
The Psalms Part 1
June 11, 2017 16:00 - 45 minutes - 20.9 MBRyan Brasington introduces our new series of messages covering the Psalms. (About the audio quality: The recorder at our sound table did not correctly record the message. We extracted audio from another source, but it has some echo in it. We apologize.)
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 29
June 04, 2017 14:00 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBThe Day of Pentecost, where God poured out his Holy Spirit on the disciples and gave the church everything it needs to spread the gospel through the entire world. How does that happen and what does a Holy Spirit-filled life look like?
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 28
May 28, 2017 14:00 - 36 minutes - 16.4 MBJesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room, but the location wasn't important. What he said to them and what he prayed for them is what matters. Jesus wanted his disciples to have unity. The gospel changes our tendency toward petty divisions.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 27
May 21, 2017 14:00 - 31 minutes - 14.5 MBWhen we love someone, there is no limit to what we do to please them. Jesus gives his disciples a very simple list--if they love him, keep his commandments. Simple, yet nearly impossible without help. Jesus promises we will have a Helper, the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 26
May 14, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 13.6 MBMost who know anything at all about the life of Jesus like him. Even if they don't believe he is God they think he was a good man. Jesus clearly claimed to be God, however, and this week we hear his polarizing declaration to be the exclusive path to God.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 25
May 07, 2017 14:00 - 37 minutes - 17 MB"I am the good shepherd" is one of eight "I am" statements by Jesus. He explains the relationship between sheep and their shepherd to his disciples. Later Jesus tells Peter to shepherd his sheep, and so we also shepherd on his behalf until he comes again.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 24
April 30, 2017 14:00 - 42 minutes - 19.5 MBIn Luke 24, Jesus meets two of his disciples after the resurrection. Jesus conceals his identity and spends time teaching them before revealing who he was. Those disciples are then sent out to be witnesses to the risen Christ, just as he sends us today.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 23
April 22, 2017 23:00 - 46 minutes - 21.3 MBThe resurrection wasn't the end of Jesus' story; it began another chapter. He appeared to his disciples, and many others as well, overcoming all their skepticism about his return. Pastor Matt brings a great message about faith and the reasons for doubt.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 22
April 16, 2017 16:00 - 36 minutes - 16.8 MBEaster Sunday message: The resurrection of Jesus is both a reasonable and highly controversial explanation for the empty tomb. Without the resurrection, there is no gospel, but you don't have to give up your brain to believe that it happened.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 21
April 09, 2017 16:00 - 38 minutes - 17.7 MBPalm Sunday celebrates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Jesus, however, wasn't there to conquer, he had come to die. He was, therefore, the unexpected king. Holy Week is an opportunity to introduce others to your King and tell them his story.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 20
April 02, 2017 16:00 - 34 minutes - 15.8 MBA close friend of Jesus called Lazarus fell ill and, when Jesus didn't heal him, died. Jesus raised him from the dead, so those observing might believe. The Gospel changes how we think about death, while Jesus receives us even though we carry its stench.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 19
March 26, 2017 16:00 - 35 minutes - 16.4 MBJesus encounters a man who was born blind. First Jesus restores the man's physical sight, then later gives him spiritual sight so he could see Jesus was the Messiah. God can use dark and difficult things to bring spiritual light to us and those around us.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 18
March 19, 2017 16:00 - 36 minutes - 16.8 MBLiving water is another phrase commonly heard around churches, but what does it mean? Is it really water? Tom Hendrikse relates the story of Jesus and the woman at the well to answer those questions, and we learn that the Gospel changes what satisfies us.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 17
March 12, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MBYou must be born again. That is a popular phrase among evangelicals, but what exactly does it mean? Sam Lamerson, President of Knox Seminary, examines a conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus to provide us with the answer.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 16
March 05, 2017 16:00 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBAll of us have faced temptation, and we will face it again in the future. How we prepare ourselves in advance for this happening will largely determine how successful we are in dealing with it. The gospel changes how we face temptation.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 15
February 26, 2017 16:00 - 33 minutes - 15.3 MBEveryone suffers at some point, it is inevitable. Jesus promises us that it will happen, but he tells us that's okay because he has overcome the world by suffering himself. The gospel changes how we suffer by guaranteeing our suffering will end in glory.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 14
February 19, 2017 14:00 - 36 minutes - 16.9 MBOur series on gospel living continues. Who is your neighbor? For most people, neighbors are others who look like them, think like them, and act like them. But God has a different definition for you. When you see someone in need, THAT is your neighbor.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 13
February 12, 2017 16:00 - 40 minutes - 18.6 MBWhen it comes to living as the renewing agents of God, obedience matters. Why? Because the law of God reflects the nature and character of God. When we, in love, obey God's law, the character and worth of our invisible God is made visible to the world.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 12
February 05, 2017 16:00 - 41 minutes - 18.9 MBWe continue in the Sermon on the Mount and come to the part of Matthew chapter 5 where Jesus tells us we are "salt" and "light." What does he mean by those words? Answering that question is part of understanding how the Gospel changes everything.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 11
January 29, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 13.7 MBIn the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells his disciples that the change to come in the Kingdom begins today with a change in their hearts. The Beatitudes declare that the path to true and unending happiness starts when the Gospel changes everything.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 10
January 22, 2017 14:00 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MBLiving as the renewing agents of God requires us to surrender absolutely everything to God (in whom we gain absolutely everything). It's scary; something we have to do every day. But why is it scary for you? And what would it take for you to give it away?
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 9
January 15, 2017 14:00 - 30 minutes - 14.1 MBThe Bible calls Jesus the Lamb of God. Where does that come from and what does it mean? In the same way, as we have to know who we are not, for the Gospel to change everything, we must know who Jesus is.
The Gospel Changes Everything Part 8
January 08, 2017 16:00 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBWhen we live for God's mission, we are his renewing agents in this world, bringing the Gospel to individuals for their personal renewal and renewing the world itself. One required attribute is humility: Knowing who we are and who we are NOT.