Valley Life Church

On Sunday, August 4, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus, after leaving a meal with the Pharisees, begins to be surrounded by thousands of followers. As Jesus interacted with the crowd, he shared the parable of the rich fool where a man’s greed cost him his life. From this, Jesus encouraged his followers not to worry about their daily needs, for God will care for them. Pastor Stuart encouraged us to reflect on what we allow to influence our hearts, to protect our hearts by aligning with God’s will, and to strive to reconnect with Jesus through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:13-22 (NIV)

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

https://bit.ly/Luke12_13-22NIV

Note: Please forgive the auto-focus box moving on the screen around Pastor Stuart’s face. We hope it doesn’t detract from the message. Thank you.

On Sunday, July 28, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus, after leaving a meal with the Pharisees, begins to be surrounded by thousands of followers. In that moment, Jesus teaches his disciples about hypocrisy and the perils of living a double life. From this story, Pastor Stuart encourages us to live our lives in the light, to make honoring God our focus, and to know our value in God’s eyes.

Luke 12:1-7 (NIV)

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

https://bit.ly/Luke12_1-7NIV

On Sunday, July 21, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house and he chose to not wash his hands, which led to a teaching opportunity. After instructing them about religious practices, he began to declare a list of “woes” that the Pharisees had incurred upon themselves. Today we looked at three woes. The Woe of Misguided Tithing, the Woe of Seeking Attention, the Woe of Hidden Judgements, and the Woe of Unattainable Expectations. From Jesus’ pronouncements, we can take a moment to examine our spiritual life by reflecting on our practices, evaluating to see if they express God’s love as we love one another, and seeking the Holy Spirit to restore our practices in light of the kingdom of God.

Luke 11:42-46 (NIV)

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

https://bit.ly/Luke11_42-46

On Sunday, July 14, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about when Jesus encountered ten men with leprosy. Jesus chose to engage with them, and instead of healing them instantly, he told them to go to the priest and in their obedience they were healed. Though they were all healed only one took the time to return to Jesus giving thanks for his healing. This man was a Samaritan. From this we see that our encounters with Jesus are not mundane or predictable. Most often they will require something of us. Our obedience to Jesus is the gateway to wholeness and freedom, especially when we remember to return with gratitude, which imprints these interactions on our hearts.

Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

https://bit.ly/Luke17_11-19NIV

On Sunday, July 7, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house and he chose to not wash his hands, which led to a teaching opportunity. Just as Jesus surprised the people at the dinner, he also uses everyday situations to surprise us and lead us into teachable moments. He then got to the heart by using straightforward language with them. Likewise, Jesus desires that we grow in uprightness and lovingkindness and will speak directly to our hearts to bring the necessary changes to our lives. Lastly, religious practices are designed to draw our hearts back to God through faith, and as such, spiritual practices are a gateway to freedom not an obligation to be bound to.

Luke 11:37-42 (NIV)

When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

https://bit.ly/Luke11_37-42NIV

On Sunday, June 30, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about how to discover Jesus as our Lord. The first step is to recognize the authority of Jesus, in our lives, families, and community and to recognize who we are in Christ, those who are loved and invited to receive God’s salvation in Christ. The authority of Jesus is only a benefit when we are able to submit our hearts and lives to Jesus, as our Lord. We will need to work through issues that would prevent us from bring our lives under the Lord’s authority. As someone living under the authority of Christ, the benefits and calling are according to the desires of the Holy Spirit.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

James 4:7-8 (NIV)

https://bit.ly/James4_7-8NIV

On Sunday, June 23, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message about when Jesus replied to the people listening to his messages by sharing a metaphor with them. Their unwillingness to receive his message and miracles was like someone having unhealthy eyes. The inability to see what God is doing through Jesus is a darkness to their soul. From this, we see that we can change our perception of the world by having an open heart, responsive to God’s leading. An openhearted perception leads to an openhanded perspective where we can interact with the world with God’s heart, loving freely and fully, and reflecting the light of Christ. Developing and maintaining an openhearted perception and an openhanded perspective comes down to simple practices of devotion, like “Taking in the Good” and “The Miracle Morning,” among other things like nature walks, reading, meditation, and journaling.

Luke 11:33-36 (NIV)

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

https://bit.ly/Luke11_33-36NIV

On Sunday, June 16, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about when Jesus revealed the character of God as our peace and that Jesus is the gateway to experiencing God as our peace. Gio explores Jesus as our source of peace rather than what we can do to attain peace for ourselves. We acquire this peace when we intentionally get to the Lord relationally, from scripture, and through reflecting on our experiences with the Lord in our lives. The power of Christ’s peace reinforces us to remain faithful during challenging times and a source of peace to others in need.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 (NIV)

https://bit.ly/John14_27NIV

On Sunday, June 9, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was preaching to the crowds and challenged them regarding their faith. From this story, we see that we have the opportunity to embrace the tension that we believe and unbelieve at the same time. When we acknowledge this dichotomy, we can focus on God’s ability to meet our needs and return to the Lord in faith, walking boldly in God’s promises for us.

Luke 11:29-32 (NIV)

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

https://bit.ly/Luke11_29-32NIV

On Sunday, June 2, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples about spiritual opposition by refuting the people who were listening to him speak, saying that one can only drive out a demon by the power of God. From this story, Pastor Stuart shared that when we experience spiritual opposition, we need to reestablish unity within our relationship with Jesus by choosing to simply trust Jesus, our Savior, re-securing our identity in Christ, and renewing our focus on kingdom purposes. Jesus said a house divided will fall. When we align ourselves with Jesus and God’s kingdom, we stand in the power of God and can be strong spiritual opposition.

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Luke 11:14-23 (NIV)

https://bit.ly/Luke11_14-23NIV