Valley Life Church

On Sunday, November 2, 2025, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared an encouragement to make learning the voice of Jesus a priority for the Christian life, understanding that it is a Christian heritage that takes practice and the willingness to relearn as we walk with Jesus.

John 10:27-28a (NASB 2020)

My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life.

https://bit.ly/John10_27-28NASB

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV)

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

https://bit.ly/1Kings19_11-12NIV

On Sunday, October 26, 2025, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Gio Serrato shared an encouragement to look to Christ for help with building endurance by laying aside our sin and picking up our cross, and finding the strength to persevere in Christ until the end.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

https://bit.ly/Hebrews12_1-2ESV

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Giovanni Serrato shared a Christmas message about becoming children of God by receiving the good news of Jesus Christ, believing that God receives us and makes a way for us to receive the Lord, and being brought into Christ’s family, we receive one another.

John 1:12-13 (NIV)

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

https://bit.ly/John1_12-13NIV

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a Christmas message about when Mary received the promise from the Angel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus, and Mary’s response was, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” From this, Pastor Stuart encouraged us to live in spiritual preparation, welcoming what God says about us, never fearing what God assigns to our lives, and simply giving ourselves to God’s will.

Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

https://bit.ly/Luke1_26-38ESV

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about giving thanks, and he led us in a practice of gratitude, declaring that gratitude precedes everything spiritual. Below are the notes outlining this practice of gratitude.

Ephesians 5:20 (NLT)

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Pause

2. Reflect

3. Connect

Practice

1. The Lord: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)

- Actions

- Character

2. People: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 (NIV)

- Actions

- Character

3. Complaints: Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalms 55:22 (NIV)

- Actions

- Character

https://bit.ly/Ephesians5_20NLT

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem, and along the way, he turned and addressed the crowd that was following him. Jesus challenges them to count the cost of being his disciple. From this, Pastor Stuart encouraged us to return to Jesus, our first love, to restore our focus on Jesus, and to respond to Jesus’ voice calling us to a life of transformation through surrender.

Luke 14:25-35 (NIV)

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

https://bit.ly/Luke14_25-35NIV

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message from Philippians where the Apostle Paul declares that he is embracing God’s calling on his life by pursuing it with all his heart. From this, Brook encouraged us to align our perspective with God’s in regard to our calling, realizing that whatever situation we find ourselves in, we are found in Christ, we are reflections of God’s love in Christ, and we bring a glimpse of heaven to earth as we love God by loving one another.

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

https://bit.ly/Philippians3_12-14NIV

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem and was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house. During the meal, Jesus instructed the people at the table to be generous when they throw a banquet, inviting those who are unlikely to be invited instead of those in their inner circle. From this, Pastor Stuart encouraged us to keep an eye out for those who are considered “others,” to stop keeping score, expecting to be repaid, and to keep our focus on Jesus.

Luke 14:12-14 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

https://bit.ly/Luke14_12-14NIV

On Sunday, October 27, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Giovanni Serrato shared a message about when the Apostle Paul was on trial before King Agrippa in Caesarea. Paul shared his testimony of coming to Christ and the difficulties and persecutions he experienced for the gospel of Jesus Christ. King Agrippa replied to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Paul confesses his desire that all would come to Christ, except for his chains.

From this, Pastor Gio encourages us that even though we have a past, full of victories and mistakes, we don’t need to resist the leading of the Holy Spirit drawing us to Christ. As we walk with Christ, some will misunderstand us, but others will see God’s love through our lives. Some will come to Christ through our testimony, and others will not. But our hearts should embrace Paul’s desire for all to come to know the love of God through Christ.

Acts 26:28-29 (NKJV)

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

https://bit.ly/Acts26_28-29NKJV

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem and was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house. During the meal, Jesus shared a parable about how people chose where to sit at a banquet, reminding them to choose a seat of lesser honor. That way, you could be invited to sit in a place of greater honor. From this, Pastor Stuart explains how humility is necessary for growth and is something that can be cultivated in our lives.

Luke 14:7-11 (NIV)

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

https://bit.ly/Luke14_7-11NIV