Valley Life Church

On Sunday, March 12, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. Pastor Stuart likens leprosy to sin and shame and through Jesus’ touch we have been forgiven and released from sin and shame. Even so, we have a choice to listen to our adversary (the presence of evil in the world), who wants to keep us bound to shame, or to the Holy Spirit, who reminds us of Christ’s reconciling work that makes us new and free. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

Luke 5:12-16 (NIV)

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

https://bit.ly/Luke5_12-16NIV

https://bit.ly/2Corinthians5_17-19NIV

On Sunday, March 5, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the story of Jesus calling Peter, James, and John. Pastor Stuart explains that we all have different comfort levels with Jesus. We may like to be close, or even closer to him. There are times though when we feel Jesus is too close. As we continue to walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit will lead us in resolving our closeness issues with the Lord and guide us to a more fully surrendered life with Jesus.

Luke 5:1-11 (ESV)

1. Close


On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

2. Closer


Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

3. Too Close


They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

https://bit.ly/Luke5_1-11ESV

On Sunday, February 26, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we learn about Jesus’ subsequent miracles of healing and delivering people from demonic oppression. In this passage, Jesus is revealed as God’s son and by faith, people came to him to have their needs met. Those who saw Jesus for who he was were healed, delivered, and empowered to share the good news of Jesus.

Luke 4:38-41 (NASB)

Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and served them.

Now while the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He was laying His hands on each one of them and healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” And yet He was rebuking them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ.

https://bit.ly/Luke4_38-41NASB

On Sunday, February 19, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we learn about Jesus’ first miracle in Luke’s gospel. This miracle introduces Jesus’ power through his message, his person, and his purpose. We are encouraged to rely on and receive Jesus’ power to bring freedom from the devil’s influence and align us with Jesus’ purpose to bring salvation, healing, and renewal.

Luke 4:31-37 (NIV)

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are —the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.


https://bit.ly/Luke4_31-37NIV

On Sunday, February 12, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we are encouraged to see Jesus, the Savior, in our midst, laying aside our spiritual pride, and instead exercising our faith to go where Jesus is leading.

Pastor Stuart ended his message with a song – Jesus Have It All, by Jeremy Riddle

Song: https://youtu.be/anz_4BZ1-2s

Songs with lyrics: https://youtu.be/uOEFhAjfX4o

Luke 4:22-24, 28-30 (NIV)

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

https://bit.ly/Luke4_22-24_28-30NIV

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series about walking with Jesus by following Jesus’ example of transitioning after being tempted and using it as a springboard for ministry by relying on the Holy Spirit’s power to guide him into ministry situations and understanding the needs of others after having his own needs exposed in the wilderness.

Luke 4:13-19 (NIV)

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

https://bit.ly/Luke4_13-19NIV

On Sunday, January 29, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series about walking with Jesus by exploring the temptations of Jesus who is our example of how to stand strong in the face of temptation by flipping the script that the evil one uses, learning dependence on the Holy Spirit, and trusting that God’s resources are available to us.

Luke 4:1-4 (NIV)

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

https://bit.ly/Luke4_1-4NIV

On Sunday, January 22, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series, “A Deeper Walk with Jesus,” exploring the temptations of Jesus and inviting us to examine our environment. Is it conducive to faith in the midst of temptation? We are also reminded that the devil strives to undermine our faith and lead us to a place of idolatry where our focus drifts away from the Lord. Lastly, the devil likes to use questions to challenge our faith. The fact that we experience questioning is not an indication of our faith but an invitation to engage with Jesus concerning our situation.

Luke 4:1-4 (NIV)

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

https://bit.ly/Luke4_1-4NIV

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series, “Preparing the Way for a Deeper Walk with Jesus,” reminding us that our identity is in Christ and God is pleased that we are his children. As God’s children, we are filled with the Holy Spirit who leads us to walk in dependence on God’s presence and provision.

1. Stay secure in your identity in Christ:

2. Practice developing awareness of the Holy Spirit:

3. Keep learning dependence:

Luke 3:21-22, 4:1-3 (NIV)

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

https://bit.ly/Luke3_21-22_4_1-3NIV

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message encouraging us to develop a holy expectation by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us and make our hearts more sensitive toward repentance as a way to prepare us for a deeper walk with the Lord.

Luke 3:15-18 (NIV)

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

https://bit.ly/Luke3_15-18NIV