Radiant Church Visalia

This sermon addresses the deep ache for "home" we feel during the holidays—a longing for the permanent and perfect that the world cannot satisfy. This desire points to the central theme of Scripture: Emmanuel, God with us. This is not just a Christmas slogan; it is the entire storyline of the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem. Scripture References Genesis 1-3: Eden, the first temple where God walked with humanity.Exodus 25:8 & 29:45: God commands a sanctuary be built so ...

This sermon explores the origins and significance of baptism and communion, tracing them back to their roots in the Exodus story. It explains that these sacraments are not random rituals but divine institutions commanded by Jesus, prefigured in the Old Testament, and practiced by the church for thousands of years. Scripture References Matthew 28:18-20: The Great Commission to baptize.Luke 22:7-20: The Last Supper, instituting communion.1 Corinthians 11:23-26: Paul's instructions on the Lord's...

This sermon addresses the "why" behind the Ten Plagues, asking "What's up with that?" regarding God's harsh judgment. The plagues are a revelation (Who is God?), a rescue (fulfilling His promises), and a recompense (judging oppression). They show God rules over humanity, nature, and all other gods. These were supernatural acts, and this message tackles the "why" of their severity. Scripture References Acts 17:25Psalm 50:12Galatians 6:7-8Matthew 7:2Proverbs 1:24-33Exodus 34:6-72 Peter 3:9Ezeki...

This sermon continues the study of the Ten Plagues, examining plagues six through ten (Exodus 9-11). It moves from the boils and hail to the climactic 10th plague, the death of the firstborn. The message connects the plagues to God's judgment on the gods of Egypt, their prophetic fulfillment in the book of Revelation, and the urgency it creates for our own lives. Scripture References Exodus 9:8-9: The plague of boils.Exodus 9:18-21: The plague of hail, where some Egyptians "feared the word of...

This sermon explores the Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-10), one of the most iconic and disturbing parts of Exodus. The plagues are not random acts of anger but a deliberate act of revelation, raising questions about God's justice, His purpose, and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Scripture References Exodus 7:4-5: God's stated purpose: "The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord."Exodus 9:15-16: God tells Pharaoh He could have struck him down at once, but "raised you up to show you my power, so that...

This sermon begins with reports from a global gathering in Cyprus, highlighting the perseverance of the persecuted church (e.g., in Ukraine) and a "quiet revival" in the West, especially among Gen Z (Bible sales, app downloads, and Christian music streams are all up significantly). The theme, drawn from this, is "But God," as we dive into Exodus 5 and 6. Scripture References Exodus 5:1-23: Moses confronts Pharaoh; Pharaoh makes the work harder.Exodus 6:1-13: God reveals His "I WILL" promises;...

Welcome to the sermon. Last week, we explored Moses's question, "Who am I?" Today, we tackle the other great question from the burning bush: "Who are you, God?" We're diving into Exodus 3 to explore the profound meaning behind the name God reveals for Himself—a name full of mystery and power, which is ultimately and most clearly revealed in the person of Jesus. Scripture References Exodus 3:13-15: Moses asks for God's name, and God reveals Himself as "I AM WHO I AM."John 8:56-59: Jesus declar...

Welcome to the sermon. Today we're in Exodus 3 & 4, exploring one of life's most foundational questions: "Who am I?" Through Moses's encounter at the burning bush, we'll confront the shame and insecurity that so often writes our life's story. We'll see how God's answer to our feelings of inadequacy is profoundly different from the world's, shifting our focus from our weakness to His powerful presence. Scripture References Exodus 3:1-14: The Burning Bush, God's call, and Moses's first ques...

Welcome to the sermon. Today we're in Exodus chapter two. We often think of the Exodus as a "movement of the people," but it's not an uprising. The people are stuck. This is a move of God. He is the one who steps in to rescue the oppressed. As we study the life of Moses, remember this: God will do something in you before He does something through you. Moses's life is a mini-exodus that sets the pattern for the entire nation. Scripture References Exodus 2: The birth, rescue, failure, and fligh...

Welcome to our first sermon diving deep into the text of Exodus! Today, we're in chapter one, asking the right questions to unlock its meaning. We'll explore why Israel is in Egypt, why the mighty Pharaoh is unnamed, and how two overlooked midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, become the unlikely heroes of the story. Scripture References Exodus 1: The enslavement of Israel in Egypt.Genesis 12:1-3: God’s promise to make a great nation from Abraham.Genesis 46:3-4: God’s command for Jacob (Israel) to go ...

Welcome to the sermon! We're continuing our study of Exodus, seeing it as the key pattern for our lives and all of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Renewal. Today’s point is simple: you can't truly understand Jesus without understanding Exodus. It's the backdrop for His entire life and ministry. Scripture References 1 Corinthians 10:1-11: The Exodus story was written as an example and warning for us.Luke 24:27: Jesus explained how all Scriptures, starting with Moses, pointed to Him.John...

Intro Good morning! Today we want to introduce our new series: a deep dive into the Book of Exodus. Just as songs like Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" or Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" borrow from earlier melodies, the Bible has a recurring melody line: the Exodus story. It’s a deliverance archetype that influences the entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation, making it essential to understand. Scripture References Exodus (all of it), Deuteronomy 31:9, Numbers 12:3, Luke 24:25-27,...

AI, Technology, and The Church Text your questions to: (559) 754-0182 Watch the video of this entire conversation here Welcome to a thought-provoking conversation on the Radiant Church Podcast, where we explore the intersection of faith and technology. In this episode, host Eric Riley and his guests — David Janssen (Data Analytics Coordinator), Matt Flummer (Philosophy Professor), Tim Harms (Pastor & Business Owner), and Glenn Power (Teacher & Bible Scholar) — tackle the profound que...

Intro Good morning! My name is Ken, and I serve as one of the elders here. I haven’t delivered a sermon in nine years, but I’ve been serving in ministry the whole time—from pastoring to managing a condo complex. I’ve wondered if my work was spiritually significant, a feeling many of us share. Today, we'll explore the big idea that God desires to be glorified in our work, no matter where we are. Scripture References Proverbs 8:22, Proverbs 3:19-20, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15, Genesis 3:17-1...

Intro My name is Travis Aicklen, and we're concluding our "Summer of Wisdom" series on Proverbs next week. Today, I'm delivering our annual "State of the Union" address. This is not a typical sermon, but an important one as we set the course for the new year. I want to talk about three things: the realities of being a sending church, our Sunday rhythms, and our readiness and responsiveness as a community. Scripture References John 2:1-11, John 20:21, Acts 1:8 Key Points Realities of a Sending...

Introduction Good morning. We’ve been journeying through Proverbs this summer, exploring themes like justice, the poor, listening, trust, and wealth. As an executive and non-staff elder, I was asked to speak on priorities, a topic I'm deeply familiar with. I expected to find a lot about time management, but what Proverbs really emphasizes is a different kind of priority: who we are becoming over what we are doing. Tim Keller says it best: the book doesn't talk as much about how God guides as ...

Intro: Good morning. My name is David Jansson, and we're continuing our Summer of Wisdom series on Proverbs. Today, we're tackling the topic of money and wealth. The Bible has over 2,350 verses on this, and God cares how we get money, what we think about it, and what we do with it. This sermon, "10 Lessons on Wealth from Proverbs," will distill God's perspective and challenge us. Scripture References: Proverbs 10:4, 10:15, 11:4, 11:16, 11:24-26, 13:11, 14:20, 15:16, 15:27, 18:11, 19:17, 21:20...

Intro: Good morning! In our Proverbs "Summer of Wisdom," guest speaker Tiffany Aicklen challenges us: we trust God, but God also desires to trust us. He longs for people of integrity and honesty for partnership. Scripture References: Proverbs 3:5-6, 10:9, 19:1, 28:27, 11:3, 19:5, 24:26, 25:18, 26:28, 12:22, Matthew 23:16-22, Exodus 22:9 Key Points: God's Desire to Trust Us: God longs for His people to have integrity and honesty, wanting to partner and trust us with His Kingdom.Integrity: Whol...

Intro: Good morning! We’re navigating a tough week, having just hosted a funeral for Drew Hall, deeply loved in our community, who passed away in a climbing accident. Our hearts are with his wife and daughters. Next week, our Exeter church family, who we just prayed off, joins us for baptisms – this is the life of the church: joy and sorrow, but Jesus is always with us. Today, we delve into listening, a profound theme from Proverbs. Scripture References: Proverbs 2:1-5, Proverbs 5:1-2, Prover...

Intro: This morning, we're diving into Proverbs to explore God's heart for the poor. This builds on last week's sermon on justice. We'll hear from community members dedicated to this work. Who are the poor? It's complex, encompassing food insecurity, homelessness, and material lack, as Michael Simmon from the Rescue Mission shared. While our nation has safety nets, biblical understanding goes deeper. Scripture References: Proverbs 5:1-14, Proverbs 29:7, Proverbs 31:20, Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs...