Valley Life Church

On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shares about a prophetic view of our current season and the season to come. This week’s message encourages us to focus on Jesus, seek to become a different type of disciple, and a new way of thinking.

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”

Luke 5:33-39 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Luke5_33-39NIV

On Sunday, October 10, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart concluded our series on the Spirit-empowered life. This week’s message encourages us to not depend on outward credentials or affiliations and to rather lean on Jesus by resting in the Holy Spirit, returning to the cross, and remembering that it is the Spirit at work within us to make us more like Christ.

See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

Galatians 6:11-16 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Galatians6_11-16NIV

On Sunday, October 3, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart continued our series on the Spirit empowered life. This week’s message encourages us to be aware of our tendency toward self-deception, which leads us to invest in things that do not promote a Spirit empowered life. We also discussed becoming weary in doing good. God promises a reward for those who don’t give up.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Galatians6_7-10NIV

On Sunday, September 26, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart continued our series on the fruits of the Spirit. This week’s message reminds us that those that are spiritual are:

* Restorers (helping others heal),

* Rebuilders (re-establishing kingdom ways), and

* Reflectors (evaluate their own actions)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Galatians 6:1-5 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Galatians6_1-5NIV

On Sunday, September 19, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart continued our series on the fruits of the Spirit. This week’s message encourages us to embrace the reality of our flesh, draw from God’s power, and harness the power of We.

The acts of the flesh are obvious… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19, 22-25 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Galatians5_19-25NIV

On Sunday, September 12, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart continued our series on the fruits of the Spirit. This week’s message encourages us to identify and avoid Satan’s influence toward division, focus on the oneness we have in Christ, and practice gentleness.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:2-6 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Ephesians4_2-6NIV

On Sunday, September 5, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart continued our series on the fruits of the Spirit. This week’s message encourages us to draw near to the Lord with a sincere heart, hold fast to the hope we have in Christ, and encourage one another to be faithful in love and good deeds.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:22-24 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Hebrews10_22-24NIV

On Sunday, August 29, 2021, guest speaker Pastor Abraham Philip of the North India Christian Ministries, shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Abraham’s message encourages us to pray, love, and serve as acts of worship because the end of all things is near.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its 
various forms.
1 Peter 4:7-10 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/1Peter4_7-10NIV

On Sunday, August 22, 2021, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. In our discussion this week, Pastor Stuart discusses the meaning of goodness and encourages us to develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in the pursuit of doing good.

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT)

http://bit.ly/2Thessalonians1_11-12NLT

The Spirit Empowered Life, Part 7: How the Holy Spirit Develops Kindness in Us

On Sunday, August 15, 2021, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. In our discussion this week, Pastor Stuart shares with us how the Holy Spirit convicts us of our brokenness, reveals God’s character in kindness, and washes us and renews us so that we might live in kindness toward others.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)

http://bit.ly/Titus3_3-7NIV