Rio Vista Community Church

Our series on prayer concludes with the question "Who Do You Pray For?" That's one question with two answers, as Pastor Tom Hendrikse will explain.

In our third week of this series, Pastor Tom tackles the question of "What Do We Pray For?" The answer is we begin by praying for the Holy Spirit because he is the foundation for everything we do in our Christian walk. He gives mighty gifts for ministry!

How do you pray? We're not asking about whether or not you close your eyes or fold your hands; we're asking how you approach God. Because God wants us to have faith like a child and to come to him as any child would come to their father.

Our short series on prayer begins by asking the question, "Why to Pray?" From Mark chapter 9 and the story of the father of a demon-possessed child, Pastor Tom talks about the desperate need for believing, expectant prayer.

The message of Easter is one of a new life. Jesus came back from the dead, and he made a way for you to come back from the dead as well. This life is not all that exists. Pastor Tom Hendrikse brings a message of hope and resurrection.

Holy Week 2020 begins with Palm Sunday, a most unusual Sunday because the nation is mostly under quarantine against the coronavirus. Pastor Tom Hendrikse observes that "a crisis makes you more of what you already are." Powerful stuff!

In the grip of the current pandemic, with everyone having to shelter in their homes, the lack of control and an uncertain future can create a great deal of fear. Pastor Tom brings a message on facing these things by surrendering the outcome to Jesus.

This week we visit a passage from Ephesians that is controversial in our modern times. Husbands and wives, children and parents, employers and employees, submit to one another. At its core, however, it's speaking to the powerful and the vulnerable.

Paul calls on us to imitate our heavenly father, whose image we bear. We carry that image with us everywhere and should leave a favorable, lasting impression. To one another, Paul tells us to act and speak in a way that builds up.

Paul testifies for the Lord: We must not lead a life filled with futility—we must put off our old selves and put on new. With renewed minds and spiritual senses, we deny the devil any opportunity to corrupt us, speaking in a way that builds everyone up.

We are at the halfway point in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, where it pivots from explaining what we have in Christ to how we ought to live. Paul says he is a prisoner in Jesus Christ, so the question to us is: who or what holds us captive?

For the second time in just the first half of the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul turns his attention to prayer, which raises a question: how big of a deal is prayer in your life? Prayer is an open line to the creator of the universe. Will you use it?

This week we're studying what is essentially an interruption. Paul is concerned because he's heard the church is concerned about his imprisonment. He wants to reassure them that he's okay. This message asks the question, "How do you see your suffering?"

The first half of Ephesians chapter 2 reveals God has reconciled us vertically, to himself. This week the latter half adds he has reconciled us horizontally to each other. Do you believe there is anyone, anywhere with whom not even Jesus can make you one?

After describing God's beautiful plan for us and sharing his prayers for us, Paul moves to discuss our condition and how God rescued us. While we were (spiritually) dead and unable to do anything to earn favor with God, he still made us alive with Christ.

Our study of Ephesians continues with verses 15 through 23 of chapter one, asking the question, "who or what do you pray for?" In response, Paul offers a tutorial on prayer. He tells them to ask for spiritual sight so that they might see God.

Our study in the book of Ephesians opens with Paul laying out God's eternal plan for us. Before he scattered the galaxies and planets, God had you in his mind. He chose you for adoption as sons and daughters, and he has given you every blessing in Christ.

Pastor Tom Hendrikse kicks off the year by introducing our new message series, "One Body, One Mission." Discovering our identity in Christ is part of growing up spiritually. This year at Rio, the challenge is to do both. Come along on the journey!

When you become aware of who Jesus is (the Messiah), there are usually one of three reactions: Faith, Fear, or Familiarity. Pastor Winston Miller gives us examples of all three from among the characters in the Christmas story.

The Christmas story reveals the who and how of redemption, but it’s more than a manger scene. Each character brings the message that God intends. They all share a deep desire to be with the Lord; they stand in awe of Him and want to draw near.