RVC Fall Launch Sunday

Rainier Valley Church celebrating the Fall Launch and the new season at our new location at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Announcements from Sunday, September 25th

RVC Men's Fit Pit Night on Friday, September 30th 7-9pm POSTPONED - RVC's Men's Fire Pit Night is being postponed since there is currently a fire-ban in effect in the city of Seattle.

Rainier Valley Church's Worship Collective's New Album - "We Gather Together" Volume #2 is RVC's new album which is out now on all major streaming platforms including Spotify. Apple Music, Sound Cloud and YouTube. Check it out and enjoy the incredible worship! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLA...

“RVC's Fall Launch Party & BBQ”

(Various Bible Passages)

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Discussion Questions for Community Groups, Family Devotionals and Personal Discipleship.

Ice Breaker Questions

For those of you who were able to make it to the Fall launch party & BBQ, how did it go? Did you meet some of the new visitors? What was your favorite parts of the party on Sunday? What are you most looking forward to as we begin this Fall?

“Because God loves us, Rainier Valley Church exists to glorify God, to love one another, and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we serve our neighbors and the nations.”

Because God loves us...(1 John 4:9-10)

Why is it essential that the Christian life starts with God's love for us and not our commitment to do better and try harder? How would you explain God's initiating love show in the Gospel to someone who thinks the Christianity is only about being religious? How do you experience the love of God in the Christian life? Why is it important for others to understand the love of God in Christ Jesus?

...Rainier Valley Church exists to glorify God...(1 Cor 10:31)

How would you explain to someone who isn't from a church background what it means to glorify God and why it's significant for someone to build their life around this goal?  If someone isn't glorifying God, what or who are they glorifying with their life? What ways of thinking, feeling, and acting might not be in alignment with your whole life glorifying God?

..to love one another...(John 10:34-35)

Meditate on a few of these "one another" passages in scripture and consider how your life aligns with these commands.

1. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10) Are you devoted to others with brotherly affection?

2. “…Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)Are you serving others? Are you motivated by love?

3. “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26) Is there envy in you?

4. “…Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2) Who do you need to be patient with?

5. “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32) How can you demonstrate compassion?

6. “…Forgiving each other…” (Ephesians 4:32) Who do you need to forgive and why?

7. “…In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) How can you grow in humility?

8. “Do not lie to each other…” (Colossians 3:9) What ways might you be tempted to lie to others?

9. “…Encourage each other…” I Thessalonians 5:11) How can you be encouraging those around you?

10. “…Pray for each other.” (James 5:16) Who do you need to be praying for regularly and why should you pray?

..and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ... (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

Think of two or three people in your life that don't know, love, and follow Jesus right now. How is the Gospel good news to each of them and how would you explain it as good news to them given their situation and personality? Why is it important to preach the Gospel and not just simply show it through our actions? How do you regularly preach the Gospel to yourself when you are wrestling with unbelief?

...As we serve our neighbors and the nations. (Acts 1:8)

How does Jesus call the disciples to local, regional, and global ministry and why does this matter to us as well? What ways are we personally helping to minister locally, regionally, and globally? Why is it essential that we minister in the power of the Spirit and not the flesh? How do you tell the difference between when you're ministering in the Spirit and in the flesh? What are some ways you've seen the power of the Spirit in your life lately?

RVC's Fall Launch Party & BBQ Worship Service video on YouTube.

We experienced some technical issues in the beginning of the video but the position of the camera is righted at 23:35. Thank you for your patience as we fine-tune the new our technical issues in the new location.

David Platt | Come Together For the Sake of Those Without the Gospel

#9 Mark 6:7-44 "Jesus in Tragedy and Triumph"

The Gospel of Mark: Servanthood, Discipleship, and Following Jesus
#9 Mark 6:7-44 "Jesus in Tragedy and Triumph"
Sunday, October 31st - Reformation Day/Halloween!Mission - Empowered and Sent (Mark 6:7-13)

1. Have you served in any sort of apprenticeship? What do you remember about the first time you did the work on your own? 
2. What are the advantages of working as a team in mission work? What are the dangers of going alone? 
3. When people know that you are Jesus' ambassador, what do they see? 
4. How should Jesus' restrictions on what the apostles should take with them be applied today? 
5. What are the advantages to having few possessions? What are the advantages to having abundant possessions? What are the dangers of either situation? 
6. What are the advantages to staying in someone's home on the mission field, as compared to staying in paid lodging or on a missionary compound? 
7. What might we do or say as an equivalent to the custom of shaking the dust off one's feet when leaving an unreceptive town?  
8. How would you define repentance to someone who had never been in a church? 
9. What are the thematic connections between the story of Jesus' sending the Twelve on their mission and the beheading of John the Baptist? 
10. What is the true definition of success with regard to missions? What, then, is the nature of failure? 

Tragedy - Unbelief and Death (Mark 6:14-29)

1. Which is harder, dying for Jesus once or living radically sold out to Jesus day after day, year after year? 
2. What is the most recent example you have heard of a martyr for Christ? What is the most recent example of persecution you heard of in your own country? 
3. What reactions have you seen in today's world that could be characterized as fear of Christianity? 
4. Why did Herod fear John, and what was he (Herod) tormented after his (John's) death? If you live radically for Christ, who might fear you, and why? 
5. What are the right reasons non-Christians should fear Christians? What are some bad ways some Christians cause fear and loathing in society? 
6. What unbiblical practices in your own country are popular, so that if you spoke out against them, you would be persecuted? Should you speak out anyway? 
7. What other cases do you know of where someone has used sex and lust to manipulate a leader? How can a leader prepare his or her mind and heart to resist such manipulation? 
8. Is there any person or leader you fear more than God? Are you tempted to protect your own reputation rather than honoring God? 
9. How would you explain to a non-Christian why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people? How would you explain it in a Sunday school class? 
10. Who do you think of that, "Even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith"?

Triumph - Miracles and Provision (Mark 6:30-44)

1. What do you think was Jesus' purpose in having the apostles report about their mission? What benefit is there in sharing failures with a group? What benefit in sharing successes? 
2. Do you have a tendency to work too much or too little? When Jesus invited the disciples to come away to a remote place, what does that say about the balance of work and rest? 
3. What would be your ideal timing for periods of rest? What kind of activity in what kind of place restores your spiritual energy and equips you to resume ministry with renewed vigor? 
4. How is a spiritual sabbatical different from a vacation? Can the two be combined? 
5. Have there ever been times that you were so tired you seemed to have no compassion? What is the remedy for this deficiency? 
6. Are peoples' "felt needs" sometimes different from what they really need? How can you determine what are the real needs of the people to whom you minister? 
7. How can we meet the physical needs of people without turning our ministry into a "social gospel"? How can we advance the gospel of salvation without neglecting the physical needs of people? How is the response of the crowd a warning for us (John 6:15, 26-27)? 
8.  How did Jesus keep the feeding of the five thousand from being a mere social gospel? Was the miracle for the benefit of the crowd or for the disciples (see Mark 8:16-21)? 
9. Have you ever known of a situation where the resources and manpower were clearly inadequate to complete the ministry task that God had unquestionably assigned? What happened? 
10. What are some events that have brought you the most spiritual encouragement and prompted the most praise to God? Do these often arise out of impossible challenges?  

Two Kingdoms (with David VanDrunen) | Theocast

On today's episode, we have a special guest, David VanDrunen. We talk about the doctrine of Two Kingdoms and its implications. In short, we talk about Christianity and culture. What are Christians to be doing? What is the mission of the church? Are we to be ushering in the kingdom of God? We answer these questions and more. Semper Reformanda: The guys talk with David VanDrunen about common objections to Two Kingdoms doctrine. We cover objections from advocates of Neo Calvinism and theonomy. Does Two Kingdoms doctrine promote apathy toward cultural involvement? Giveaway: Living in God's Two Kingdoms by David VanDrunen SUPPORT Theocast: https://theocast.org/give/ FACEBOOK: Theocast: https://www.facebook.com/Theocast.org TWITTER: Theocast: https://twitter.com/theocast_org INSTAGRAM: Theocast: https://www.instagram.com/theocast_org/ RELATED VIDEOS & RESOURCES #twokingdoms #theonomy #reformedtheology

Life Groups - Nations and Neighbors - Week #1

Coaching Video for Sunday, November 5th

Nations and Neighbors #1: "The Necessity of the Gospel"

Engage

Sunday, November 5^th 2017 is the international day of prayer for the persecuted church around the world. 

As Christians, why is important to pray for and reflect on the persecution of our brothers and sisters around the world?  This series is called nations and neighbors, why are both of these places important and which one do you think tends to take up most of your attention?

Explore

Read Romans 15:18-25. What is Paul’s purpose in writing the entire book of Romans?

Read Romans 1:1-17. How does Paul describe the Gospel in these verses? What is Paul’s motivation for his ministry efforts? In Romans 1:18-25 what unrighteous actions warrant God’s just response of wrath? According to verse 20, what can every single human being on the planet know about God? Why is getting the Gospel out so important?

Apply

What does it look like for us to see respond to Jesus’s Great Commission (Matt 28) with Paul’s sense of obligation (Rom 1:14) to those who are lost around the world?

There are three ways we can respond to the global need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

- Prayer (Heb 13:3) in a global perspective, what missionaries, churches, nations and situations should we be pray for?   

- Partnering (Rom 15:24) What opportunities exist for us to partner with other believers around the world in helping to see the Gospel proclaimed, churches planted, disciples raised up, people served, and justice done?  

- Going (Matt 28:19-20) Have you ever served in a short or long-term mission trip? If so, what was your experience like? If not, why not? How we as individuals, couples, families, and Life Groups be a part of the global mission of God?  

Life Together at Summit View Church

Podcast on "Why does the Reformation Matters Today to Us Today?"

“Why does the Reformation Matter to Us today?” This is a questions I've been asked over the last week and I wanted to take some  time to responsd to it. The world of the reformers was 500 years ago, in age of Kings, Princes, and Emperors. This was before cars, telephones, airplanes and the internet. We don’t listen to 16^th century ideas about medicine or technology, why should we care about seemingly irrelevantly minutia of medieval theologians? 

We live in a world of IPhones, Fake News and Twitter…We’re consumed with the present, the trendy and trending, breaking-news, latest headlines, right now, right now right now… What seems to give someone importance and value in 2017 is if it’s happening right now so why does the Reformation matter?    

Life Together-#14 "Why The Reformation Matters to Us Today?"

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 Resources for Nations and Neighbors

A new sermon series at Summit View Church

November 5th - November 26th  

Sermons

“Let the Nations Be Glad” – Seminar on World Missions with Dr. John Piper

“Sent: Missions” – Sermon series by J.D. Greear and various speakers at the Summit Church

REACHING THE NATIONS – sermons by Southern Baptist Mission Board President David Platt

Missions – Sermons at The Village Church by Pastor Matt Chandler and other speakers

Various sermons on Missions from the Gospel Coalition

Articles

25 Simple Ways to Be Missional in Your Neighborhood

10 Ideas to Reach out to Your Neighbors

5 Essentials for Effective Mission

You Can’t Love Missions without Loving the Local Church

The Village Church Articles on Missions

Books

The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door

Saturate: Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life

A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission around the Table

The Simplest Way to Change the World: Biblical Hospitality as a Way of Life

Life on Mission: Joining the Everyday Mission of God

Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions

Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation

Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global

Additional Resources

Saturate The World – Leading Disciples of Jesus towards Gospel Saturation

9Marks Journal – Missions and A Conversation about Missions with Andy Johnson

Resources from the David Platt, the President of the Southern Baptist Mission Board

The Verge Network – Equipping Leaders for Mission

Multiply Movement – Equipping disciples who make disciples

"LOVE WHERE YOU ARE" sermon series starting April 3rd!

Church is More Than a Building | Jeff Vanderstelt

Sunday, July 12th "Compelled by Christ's Love" (2 Cor:5:11-6:2)

"Compelled by Christ's Love" 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2

Pastor Kyle Van Tine at Summit View Church: Heritage Park Campus

Listen to this Sunday's sermon by following this link.

CG Coaching for Week #6 - 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2

Sunday, July 12th  -  Pastor Kyle Van Tine  -  "Compelled by Christ's Love" 

Many times, we are blind to the motivations of our own heart - fame, money, power, acceptance, love, shame, guilt… the list could go on for a while. God knows. God sees our heart, piercing its depths and seeing the very attitudes and motives that drive our outward actions. Paul knows what motivates him. He is motivated by fearful awe and love for God because he has been stripped of being motivated by the things this world offers. Paul understands that he is deeply known by an infinite God. Paul knows that his sin separates him from his Creator and that his sin destines him for God’s just wrath. God is not impressed by the things people are impressed with - gifts, accomplishments, knowledge, eloquence. We cannot reconcile and make peace with God ourselves through anything we do, no matter how impressive we think they are. Instead, God did it all Himself. God fixed it. He created a way for us, sinners destined for justice from a just God, to be reconciled to Him. By our repentance and faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we are made free from shame and guilt. Free from alienation from God. Free from eternal condemnation. We are people who are motivated by the good news that Christ paid the cost for us so we can live in peace with God. We are freed from bondage to the worldly idols that used to motivate us and can, instead, live a deeply revolutionary life, a reconciled life, fueled by a missionary heart. We are a new creation filled with wondrous new desires. The controlling force in our lives is now Christ, who compels us to see beyond the shallow self-filled life, and who gives us rest in the joy of a God-centered life. Out of the desires of our new life, we can use our spiritual eyes to look past the external image people around us strive to maintain, to look deeply at them as souls known by God and in need of a Savior. 

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Romans 5:10-11 and Romans 12:1-2.

The gospel is transforming; our thoughts and deeds are changing. We have been given Christ’s perfect righteousness, counted by God as belonging to us. 

What kinds of motivations have you seen that cause people to get involved in church?

How does the knowing that we will be accountable to Jesus as our Judge motivate us to live sincere and holy lives?  

Because Jesus loved us and died for us, He has given us the Holy Spirit and the ability to begin to die to our sinful self.  How have you died to yourself so that you can live for Jesus? What areas of your sinful life need to die this week and what will it look like to live for Jesus in those areas?

How does knowing you don’t need to impress God or earn His approval and affection liberate you to live for Him?

How does recognizing others as souls change how you see  people in your life, both the easy and difficult?

How will you live as an Ambassador of Jesus and His Kingdom this week? (Practically – Who will you serve? Who will you pray for? Who will you meet with?)

Recommended Reading: Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller

Summit View Church - CG Coach Week #6 - 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2

CG Coaching for Week #6 - 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2

Sunday, July 12th  -  Pastor Kyle Van Tine  -  "Compelled by Christ's Love" 

Many times, we are blind to the motivations of our own heart - fame, money, power, acceptance, love, shame, guilt… the list could go on for a while. God knows. God sees our heart, piercing its depths and seeing the very attitudes and motives that drive our outward actions. Paul knows what motivates him. He is motivated by fearful awe and love for God because he has been stripped of being motivated by the things this world offers. Paul understands that he is deeply known by an infinite God. Paul knows that his sin separates him from his Creator and that his sin destines him for God’s just wrath. God is not impressed by the things people are impressed with - gifts, accomplishments, knowledge, eloquence. We cannot reconcile and make peace with God ourselves through anything we do, no matter how impressive we think they are. Instead, God did it all Himself. God fixed it. He created a way for us, sinners destined for justice from a just God, to be reconciled to Him. By our repentance and faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we are made free from shame and guilt. Free from alienation from God. Free from eternal condemnation. We are people who are motivated by the good news that Christ paid the cost for us so we can live in peace with God. We are freed from bondage to the worldly idols that used to motivate us and can, instead, live a deeply revolutionary life, a reconciled life, fueled by a missionary heart. We are a new creation filled with wondrous new desires. The controlling force in our lives is now Christ, who compels us to see beyond the shallow self-filled life, and who gives us rest in the joy of a God-centered life. Out of the desires of our new life, we can use our spiritual eyes to look past the external image people around us strive to maintain, to look deeply at them as souls known by God and in need of a Savior. 

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Romans 5:10-11 and Romans 12:1-2.

The gospel is transforming; our thoughts and deeds are changing. We have been given Christ’s perfect righteousness, counted by God as belonging to us. 

What kinds of motivations have you seen that cause people to get involved in church?

How does the knowing that we will be accountable to Jesus as our Judge motivate us to live sincere and holy lives?  

Because Jesus loved us and died for us, He has given us the Holy Spirit and the ability to begin to die to our sinful self.  How have you died to yourself so that you can live for Jesus? What areas of your sinful life need to die this week and what will it look like to live for Jesus in those areas?

How does knowing you don’t need to impress God or earn His approval and affection liberate you to live for Him?

How does recognizing others as souls change how you see  people in your life, both the easy and difficult?

How will you live as an Ambassador of Jesus and His Kingdom this week? (Practically – Who will you serve? Who will you pray for? Who will you meet with?)

Recommended Reading: Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller

Summer Preaching Series 2015 - Brian McCormack

Enjoyed listening to my old classmate Brian McCormack's sermon at the Austin Stone this Sunday. Brian is the Lead Pastor of Reach Church in Seattle Washington which is one of the fastest growing churches in the city. Hope you are blessed by his message. 

Compelled to Serve 2 Corinthians 4:1-15 Summit View Church

CG Coaching for Week #4 - 2 Corinthians 4:1-15

Sunday, June 28th  -  Pastor Kyle Van Tine  -  2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled
"Compelled to Serve" (2 Corinthians 4:1-15)

Listen to "Compelled to Serve" here

GROWING DEEPER

Being exposed to God has a compelling transformative power. As Moses’, face was physically transformed to shine when exposed to God’s glory, likewise, our hearts are transformed. For us, though, it is a permanent glory that does not fade. When we accept Christ as Lord our lives are forever changed. Daily, as we think on the gospel, God is doing a heart-work in us, sculpting us and unveiling to us His truth so that we do not lose heart when we see the word of God being distorted and watered down. We must be bold in our faithfulness to the gospel and in our prayers for those whose hearts are veiled to the truth. We must not be tempted to change our message for the hearers. John Calvin clarifies that “the blindness of unbelievers in no way detracts from the clearness of the gospel, for the sun is no less resplendent because the blind do not perceive it.” We must continually point the blind to Christ as the light they need in their lives to rid themselves of their blindness. We are fragile clay vessels that show, from our joy in the face of suffering, the everlasting power of the Creator God who does not abandon us but sustains us with his Word. God’s light grows as our weakness does. It is a strange and magnificent paradox that our weakness invites the strength of God. In our weakness we can reveal God’s light of grace into a dark and perishing world.

Read Revelation 7:9-10

• Paul’s boldness and joy in suffering for the gospel comes from his focus on the future hope of eternity with God. Do you live today with a future hope that sees eternity as our ultimate destination?
• How have the Scriptures come alive and been life changing to you? What might need to change in your life to allow this to happen?
• How have you personally experienced the unique challenges of the Christian life that Paul highlights in verses 8-9?
• How are you being daily transformed by Christ?
• How has your weakness glorified God and displayed his power? (John 12:24-26)
• How have you seen or experienced the spiritual blindness that Paul mentions in verse 4 either in yourself, your family or in the world?

"Compelled to Reflect God to Others" 2 Corinthians 2:13-3:18

2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled 

"Compelled to Reflect God to Others" 2 Corinthians 2:13-3:18

Sunday, June 21st 2015

Listen to "Compelled to Reflect God to Others" here 

Sunday, June 21st Care Group Coaching with Pastor Kyle   

"Compelled to reflect God to others" 2 Corinthians 2:13-3:18

Growing deeper

We are all ministers. True ministry starts when we accept Christ as our Lord. As receivers of the New Covenant, which has been inscribed on our hearts, all believers are equipped to be ministers because God has given us the Holy Spirit who brings us inward joy and guides us to a deeper life in Christ. A new heart, along with a new relationship, a new knowledge and true forgiveness is the promise of the New Covenant (Read Jeremiah 31:31-34). God is not looking for strength, but instead is looking for those weak enough to let him lead. True ministry comes when we die to our self, trust God in all circumstances, remember God is the source of all power and ability and then faithfully carry our message of hope to the people in our lives. Paul’s beautiful visual of aroma is hope-filled for those who carry God’s message of grace into a hostile world. Odors are pervasive. They can travel for miles and cling for days. The “sweet aroma” of our message of hope and the delight we take in Christ should give us boldness and confidence to proclaim our message to the world even if some reject it.

Read Philippians 1:19-21 and Matthew 16:24 -26.

• Think about dying to self. There is a tension between being God’s joyful captive slave being led to our deaths in God’s triumphal procession (2:14) and being alive in Christ (Colossians 2: 13). 
• What does fullness of life in Christ look like as we die to self in our ministry to others, both inside the church and out?
• Do a heart check. What are your motives for ministry (2:17)?
• Paul says that we are the “aroma of Christ to God” (2:15), meaning God delights in us and in our lives. What does knowing that our lives as Christians are a delight to God mean to you?
• What is the aroma of Christ to you? How do you delight in Christ?
• What weaknesses are you hiding behind that you need to release to Christ’s sufficiency to help you minister (3:4-6)?

CG Coaching "Compelled to Reflect God to Others" 2 Cor 2:12-3:18

"New" Series - Week #2 - "A New Purpose" - Titus 2:11-15

What's the purpose of life? That's one of the most important questions imaginable. The purpose of life isn't a religious question but a human question. Some say the purpose of life is to self-actualize, or to be remembered. Others will say we're alive to do good, to enjoy the act of living or that there is no objective purpose or meaning in life at all. This Sunday we opened the scriptures to to look at the New Purpose we have in Jesus. 

Big Idea: "In Jesus, we have new purpose in salvation, life, hope and mission." 

- New Purpose in Salvation (Titus 2:11)

- New Purpose in Life (Titus 2:12)

- New Purpose in Hope (Titus 2:13)

- New Purpose in Mission (Titus 2:14-15)

You can listen to "A NEW PURPOSE" here

Finish the Mission!

Tears of the Saints from AsiaLink HistoryMaker on Vimeo.

Are You Loving the City or Just Using It?

Here are some helpful questions to think about forming are church in your region.

• What do you think is broken in our neighborhood or city?
• What gets you excited about life?
• What do you think should be done about economic decline in our city?
• Anything you would like to change about our neighborhood or our city?
• Are you fulfilled in what you are doing in life?
• Why do you live in this city?
• Why do you drive across town to do ?
• How did this city evolve - geographically, architecturally, politically, commercially?
• What political and cultural and economic issues have shaped the ethos of this city?
• What are the local art, music, food and business attractions in our city?
• What opportunities do you see for the church to better participate in and love our city?
• How could we best demonstrate the gospel with mercy in our neighborhood or city?
• What do the critics of Christianity say about the church in our city?
• Why do you dislike traditional Christianity?
• Why are you interested in Church?
• What do you think it means to be the church instead of just attending a church?