Valley Life Church

On New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message to encourage us to allow scripture to guide our hearts and minds as we follow Jesus into the new year.

Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB) https://bit.ly/Philippians4_6-7TLB

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

We are encouraged to place our trust in the Lord through gratitude and prayer.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) https://bit.ly/2Timothy3_16-17NLT

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

We are encouraged to allow scripture to speak into our lives.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT) https://bit.ly/Philippians3_13-14NLT

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

We are encouraged to invite God’s presence to keep us present with a view to the Lord’s calling in our lives.

Ephesians 5:15-19 (NLT) https://bit.ly/Ephesians5_15-19NLT

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

We are encouraged to live wisely and as an act of worship.

Acts 4:10-12 (NLT) https://bit.ly/Acts4_10-12NLT

Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected

has now become the cornerstone.’

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

We are encouraged to remember that Jesus is all we need and to live as a reflection of Jesus in our world, so that others may know the Lord.

On Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a Christmas message about the visit from the Magi with an encouragement to follow their example by seeking Jesus to worship him and present him with the treasures of our hearts.

Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

https://bit.ly/Matthew2_1-12NIV

On Sunday, December 17, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a Christmas message about the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Joseph. He chose to honor God by doing what the angel had said, even though it was not socially beneficial for him. From this story, we’re encouraged to pursue the character God can use, build trust through every season, and to be aware of the reality of God’s unfolding plans.

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

https://bit.ly/Matthew1_18-25NIV

On Sunday, December 10, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a Christmas message about the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary by the angel Gabriel. Mary was invited to glimpse the invisible, experience God’s favor, and profess her commitment to a life of surprises. We can take our cue from Mary as we open our hearts to God’s favor, allowing the Lord to work in our lives in surprising ways.

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, December 3, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus appointed and sent out seventy-two disciples in pairs to the surrounding areas to prepare for Jesus’ arrival. He instructed them to pray for the Lord’s favor and to extend the Lord’s peace to the houses that promoted peace. Lastly sent them to preach about the nearness of God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. From this story, we see the value of partnership, prayer, and extending peace as we seek to be the body of Christ in our world.

Luke 10:1-9 (NIV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

https://bit.ly/Luke10_1-9NIV

On Sunday, November 26, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus interacted with three different people who pledged their allegiance but were disillusioned with the requirements that Jesus presented them. From this passage, we are encouraged to follow Jesus outside our comfort zone, according to his terms, and without a rearview mirror.

Luke 9:56-62 (NIV)

Then he and his disciples went to another village.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

https://bit.ly/Luke9_56-62NIV

On Sunday, November 12, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus was rejected by a Samaritan village while he was on his way to Jerusalem. Two of the disciples wanted to punish the village, but Jesus extended them mercy. From this story, we can rediscover Jesus’ mercy, realizing that judgment doesn’t bring salvation, but mercy, grace, and love. We are invited to develop a merciful spirit towards those we encounter on a daily basis.

Luke 9:51-56 (NIV)

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them and said, * “You do not know of what kind of spirit you are; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.”

https://bit.ly/Luke9_51-55NIV_NASB

* Luke 9:55b (NASB)

On Sunday, November 12, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus predicted his death a second time. Then his disciples began to argue and posture about who was the greatest. From this event, we see that pride must know more than God, must bring division, and must seek to oppose the reality of God’s kingdom. 

Luke 9:43-50 (NIV) 

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

https://bit.ly/Luke9_43-50NIV

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus returned from the mountain with Peter, James, and John and discovered the disciples trying to heal a boy who was tormented by an impure spirit. This interaction with Jesus teaches us that between moments of glory are challenges of faith. We can choose to walk through the challenges with our own strength or through prayer and fasting, receive the Lord’s breakthrough for us.

Luke 9:37-43 (NIV)

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Matthew 17:19-21 (ESV)

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.

https://bit.ly/Luke9_37-43NIV

https://bit.ly/Matthew17_19-21ESV

On Sunday, October 29, 2023, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain and transfigured before them and met with Moses and Elijah. From this passage, we are invited to become fully awake to God’s presence, to be willing to enter the unknown with Jesus, and listen to God’s voice.

Luke 9:32-36 (NIV)

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

https://bit.ly/Luke9_32-36NIV