Rainier Valley Church - Seattle

Bible Reading Plan This Week - Join us on #bible_reading_plan to discuss our daily Bible reading. This week we are reading Deuteronomy 1-16 and Psalm 40-44. The PDF is attached and can be printed out and put in your Bible as a daily reminder. Feel free to leave any thoughts, questions or insights in the #bible_reading_plan channel here on Slack.

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 Monday Morning Prayer on Mondays at 7am - Join us online on Mondays at 7am-8am for RVC's Monday morning prayer time. We read a psalm, share prayer requests and pray together each week. If you have a prayer request or would like to pray with us, grab your coffee and your Bible, and join us on Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/320725690?p... If you have questions, contact @Patti Lozano for more information on RVC's Monday morning prayer group.

Kids Ministry Sign-Up - Hi RVC Parents! We're so excited to start offering Sunday School for kids ages 3-12 this Sunday! If you'd like your child(ren) to participate, you can save time by pre-registering. Even if your child has been in our Kids Ministry in the past, please take a few minutes to fill out the registration for each child so we have up-to-date information on everyone. You can also fill out a registration form in person at church if you prefer. Here's the link: https://forms.gle/R32LdsPq5nnteonS6. If you aren't already included in the #parents channel, please join to keep up on all the latest.

RVC Women's Bible Study Kickoff - The Rainier Valley Church's Women's Ministry is hosting a Women's Bible Study Kickoff on this Wednesday, October 26 from 6:45pm-8:45pm. For more details please follow up with @Shelly Lischke and @Kristin Marais. All the ladies are invited! Hope Place Graduation - We have another opportunity to help UGM's Hope Place! Their quarterly graduation program is scheduled for Wednesday evening, Nov 9, and they could use some help with child care during the service. The timing is 6:00-8:00. If you can help you need to RSVP to the new Associate Director Julie Jenkins at [email protected] with your name and email address, and she'll need your RSVP no later than Nov 1 so that she has time to make sure that you either already are (or now get) registered in their system for background check. This has been a relatively simple but very much appreciated way that we can serve families who are guests at Hope Place. Please check your calendars and see if you can squeeze open that Wednesday evening to serve our sisters and their children!

Habakkuk - Next week we will begin a new series in the book of Habakkuk and think about how a good God could allow evil and suffering in this world. Please plan to join us and invite friends that struggle with this important question.

"The Compassion of God" Jonah Week #4

Text: Jonah 4:1–11

Topic: Grace, Anger, Sovereignty, Mission

Big Idea of the Message: God uses a vivid object lesson to teach Jonah about his sovereignty over creation and compassion towards sinners.

Application Point: God will lovingly put you in situations and places where your comfort and desires are pressed, so that they might conform to his plan for your life.

Discussion Questions: What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? Why is Jonah still angry, and who is he angry with? What do we learn through the contrast of creation’s obedience (the wind and the plant) versus Jonah’s disobedient heart? What do we learn about God’s character through his patience and persistence with Jonah? Why is God still concerned with one rebellious prophet when a whole city just repented? How can I pray for you?

• Bible Reading Plan This Week - Join us on #bible_reading_plan to discuss our daily Bible reading. This week we are reading Numbers 13-36 and Psalm 34-39. The PDF is attached and can be printed out and put in your Bible as a daily reminder. Feel free to leave any thoughts, questions or insights in the #bible_reading_plan channel here on Slack.
• 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=OLAK5uy_nR9p0abao7f3-xF6rfSU3ROVF1PKxVl0I
• RVC Monday Morning Prayer on Mondays at 7am - Join us online on Mondays at 7am-8am for RVC's Monday morning prayer time. We read a psalm, share prayer requests and pray together each week. If you have a prayer request or would like to pray with us, grab your coffee and your Bible, and join us on Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/320725690?pwd=eGdNMmpWNXFnVWk0aGZxV1hEV1hXUT09 If you have questions, contact @Patti Lozano for more information on RVC's Monday morning prayer group.
• Kids Ministry Sign-Up - Hi RVC Parents! We're so excited to start offering Sunday School for kids ages 3-12 this Sunday! If you'd like your child(ren) to participate, you can save time by pre-registering. Even if your child has been in our Kids Ministry in the past, please take a few minutes to fill out the registration for each child so we have up-to-date information on everyone. You can also fill out a registration form in person at church if you prefer. Here's the link: https://forms.gle/R32LdsPq5nnteonS6. If you aren't already included in the #parents channel, please join to keep up on all the latest.
• Guest Musician: Nate Porter - Join us next Sunday, October 23rd as we welcome former RVC leader Nate Porter back. This will be Nate Porter's first time joining us in our new location on Beacon Hill. We're looking forward to having Nate uses his gifts and talents to lead us in cooperate worship next Sunday. Come join us in person and meet Nate Porter as he leads us in songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. If you can, plan to be there in person, it's going to be a great worship service!

"Grace Beneath the Waves" Jonah Week #2
Text: Jonah 1:17–2:10

Topic: Prayer, Salvation, Listening, Obeying

Big Idea of the Message: When Jonah literally hits rock bottom, God rescues him and redirects his thoughts and actions.

Application Point: God can hear your prayer, save you, and create space for you to listen to and obey him, even when you are at your lowest point.

Discussion Questions:
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?
Tell us about the worst day of your life. How was God present with you when you were at your lowest point?
What purpose does prayer serve in difficult times?
Salvation Belongs to the Lord. What things has God done to redirect your life toward his purpose?
How can we pray for you this week?

Text: Jonah 1:1–17

Topic(s): Calling, Disobedience, Providence, Salvation

Big Idea of the Message: Jonah rejects God’s call to preach to the city of Nineveh and finds himself floating in a sea of regret.

Application Point: Don’t try to outrun God’s purpose for your life; it is futile and often costly for you and for those around you.

Discussion Questions: What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? How have you run from God’s purpose and plan for your life? What were the consequences of your running from God? How do our actions impact the people around us? What would keep you from running toward God rather than running from him? How can I pray for you?

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?

1 Timothy: The Blueprints for Life Together as God's Family

Sunday, September 11 2022

"My Relationship with My Pastor, My Boss and Myself " (1 Tim 5:17-6:10)

Announcements for Monday, September 12th

Bible Reading Plan This Week - Join us on #bible_reading_plan to discuss our daily Bible reading. This week we're reading Genesis 25-48 and Psalm 7-12. The PDF is attached and can be printed out and put in your Bible as a daily reminder. Feel free to leave any thoughts, questions or insights in the #bible_reading_plan channel here on Slack.

Fall Kick-off BBQ on Sunday, September 25th - Put on a note on your calendar that we’re planning our official Fall Kick-Off on Sunday, September 25th. We’re planning to have a BBQ, renting a Bounce House and inviting the surrounding community. If you’re interested in helping out with set-up, welcoming, cooking or kids games, please talk with Pastor @Kyle Van Tine or @Ben Johnson.

RVC Men's Fit Pit Night on Friday, September 30th 7-9pm - The men of RVC are invited to @Jason Lischke's house on the last Friday of the month for this special fire pit night to reconnect with other guys after a busy Summer and follow-up/check-in after the RVC Man Camp in August. This will be great time of food and fellowship and all guys are welcome.

RVC Monday Morning Prayer on Mondays at 7am - Join us online on Mondays at 7am-8am for RVC's Monday morning prayer time. We read a psalm, share prayer requests and pray together each week. If you have a prayer request or would like to pray with us, grab your coffee and your Bible, and join us on Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/320725690?p... If you have questions, contact @Patti Lozano for more information on RVC's Monday morning prayer group.

Ice Breaker Questions This Sunday's message was on our relationships with our Pastors, our Bosses and Ourselves. What is one way you've been deeply changed by a relationship with someone else? What do you think of the statement, "We Are Our Relationships" as a summery of the importance of the relationships in our lives?

My Relationship with My Pastor (1 Tim 5:17-24) - Paul encourages Timothy and the church in Ephesus to honor their elders, especially the teaching elders. Specifically this honor is shown in giving towards the church to support the pastors and obeying the preaching of the word of God. How are we doing in showing honor to our pastors? Paul outlines instructions for disciplining pastors with two important ideas. When a Pastor is criticized, give them the benefit of the doubt and when the pastor messes up, don't cover it up. How can we practice encouragement and contentment with the pastors that God has given us instead of consumeristic criticism and discontentedness. Paul's final instruction and warning to Timothy is to not be hasty in ordaining new pastors but to test them over time first. How does time ultimately reveal our true character? Why is it important for leaders to be tested first?

My Relationship with My Boss (1 Tim 6:1-2) - Paul didn’t call for the slaves to revolt but to show honor to their masters. It's interesting historical fact that Paul didn’t denounce but did end up destroying the wicked system of slavery by elevating the dignity of all people (human rights came from Christianity). How does the Christian worldview lead towards the ending of slavery in the Western world? The principles in the this passage can be applied to our current workplace as well. What work has God called you to do? What attitude do you have to that work? What attitude do you have towards your boss? How can we practice Christian excellence in the workplace? What "Testimony" are you giving to your co-workers who might not be Christians? How can you approach your work, not as the source of your significance but as an opportunity to serve others?

My Relationship with Myself (1 Tim 6:3-10) - Your Pastor teaches you and your Boss pays you. What will do you with the DOCTRINE you been taught and the POSSESSION that you’ve bought? Are we living in the doctrine that we have been taught so that we're able to discern truth from error, right from wrong, righteousness from wickedness? Paul reminds and warns Christians that living to get rich can ruin our lives. Do you tend to hoard your money? Are you trying to appear wealthy? Is your desire to accumulate harming others? Is your hope in "your" money? Are you basing your security on money? Are you able to give generously? How can we pray for each other this week?

Announcements 9.4.2022

2022-2023 Bible Reading Challenge Join us Monday, September 5, as we kick off reading through the entire Old Testament together this academic year! (Thanks to Pastor @Steve Pratt for putting this together for us!) We will have copies of the Bible Reading Challenge on the welcome table, and we’ve also posted the PDF online so you can print it yourself at home. We need God's Word daily, and we need the entirety of Scripture to shape our hearts and minds. No designated reading on Sundays—come to RVC to gather together & receive the Word. Catch-Up Days are included! If you are all caught up, choose your own Scripture to read. Fall behind? No problem! Start at any time and you’re “caught up." You don't have to check every box. Just read today's chapters.

Fall Kick-off BBQ on Sunday, September 25th Put on a note on your calendar that we’re planning our official Fall Kick-Off on Sunday, September 25th We’re planning to have a BBQ, rent a Bounce House and invite the surrounding community. If you’re interested in helping out, please Pastor Kyle or Ben Johnson know.

Sing! Conference 2022 Prayer Request A group of worship leaders from Rainier Valley Church currently at the Sing Conference 2022 in Nashville this week. Please pray that they would be equipped, encouraged, refreshed, and renewed. You can sign-up to stream the conference live at Sing Global to enjoy all the sessions, worship and praise.

Ice Breaker Questions What were some of the highlights of your Summer? What are you most looking forward to this Fall? How can we encourage one another to get into the Word this Fall with the Bible Reading Challenge?

Aspire to Serve Others (1 Tim 5:9-10) - Paul gives qualifications for widows to be supported by the church. What characteristics does Paul highlight for godly women? Why are these characteristics so important for the health and growth of individuals, families and local churches? Which of the characteristics do you personally need to grow in? How can we help one another group in these godly traits?

Stay Focused on God's Purposes (1 Tim 5:11-13) - Paul warns Timothy to not recruit younger widows but to encourage them to get remarried and raise a family. Paul warns that sponsoring younger widows will potentially enable laziness and gossip. This section highlights the need for us to stay focused on God's purposes for our lives and to turn a profit on our days. How are we tempted towards idleness and gossip in our own life? Pro 29:8 warns that Gossip spreads like fire and Paul is concerned that the young widows in the church not start fires of gossip within the local church. How can we be careful to stomp out gossip in our church, workplace, family, etc?

Prioritize Your Family (1 Tim 5:14-16) - Paul encourages Godly women to care for their relatives and their extended family as a way of practically displaying everyday godliness. How are we doing at caring for our parents, grandparents and extended family? What does practical godliness need to look like in our relationship with other family members? Why does God give specific instructions about the family caring for older family members? How can we be praying for one another and for our families this week?

Announcements

New Time and New Location - Rainier Valley Church is now located at 6020 Beacon Ave S and gathers on Sundays at 4pm for worship and 5:30 for dinner together.

Fall-Kick Off - Sunday, September 25th. Mark your Calendars for our Fall BBQ kick-off event.

Ice Breaker Questions What were your thoughts and impressions on the new time and location for Rainier Valley Church? Now that our church is gathering at 4pm on Sundays, how will we create new patterns of rest, worship and fellowship on the Lord's Day? How does the move to Beacon Hill give us new opportunities? (carpools, CG brunch, bringing food for dinner, hanging out afterwards at a local restaurant?)

Loving One Another (1 Tim 5:1-2) - What are practical ways that we can honor older men and women and fulfill the command of Romans 13:7 to “show honor to whom honor is owed” within our church family? How can we live-out the Biblical call to treat young men and women as our own brothers and sisters? Why does Paul go out of his way to command Timothy to practice both brotherly love towards younger women as well as purity within those relationships? How can we maintain the balance of closeness and care yet appropriate boundaries and purity within our spiritual family?

Practical Ways of Loving One Another Bring something to share for dinner on Sunday afternoons at Church. Get connected with a Community Group or Start a new CG. Build new rhythms around people (Movie nights, hangouts, BBQs, coffee dates, etc)

Serving Our Neighbors (1 Tim 5:3-6) - Paul calls Timothy and the church in Ephesus to honor widows who are truly widows and it's declared in Psalm 68:5 that God himself is a “Father of the fatherless and protector of Widows” so how can we as a church family serve our neighbors? Who are the widows and orphans in your life? What would it look like for you to honor them? Paul encourages families to take responsibility for the elderly in their own families. How should the Christian faith impact our family? In 1 Timothy 5:5-6, Paul contrasts two different types of widows. Why is it important for the church to assess the character of those we help and how can certain types of helping actually hurt people by enabling more destructive lifestyle choices?

Practical Ways of Serving our Neighbors Identifying the Widows and Orphans in your social circles (Those in need) Volunteers to serve, tutoring kids or help with child care at UGM's Hope Place Volunteering to go out with the UGM's Search & Rescue Teams to serve our homeless neighbors

Strengthening Our Families (1 Tim 5:7-8) - Why is the family so important to God? How does strengthening our families enable us to serve those outside of our families? Why would not providing for the needs of our family be like denying the Christian faith and functioning like an unbeliever? How is our family living in light of the call to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:18) and in what ways are we nourishing and cherishing one another (Eph 5:28-30)? How have you seen God uses healthy families to love others, preach the gospel and serve their neighbors and the nations?

Practical Ways of Strengthening Our Families Identifying the best ways we can practically support and encourage one another. Creating times of family worship, bible reading/discussion, prayer together. Serving together as a family within the church and out in the community.

This message is from Rainier Valley Church's final Sunday service at the Union Gospel Mission Administrative Building in South Seattle. If you would like to hear the testimonies shared by various members of the church, please check out the full video on the Rainier Valley Church YouTube page.