Valley Life Church

On Sunday, October 22, 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 know Jesus more intimately, to see more clearly from his perspective, and to trust him more deeply.

Luke 9:26-31 (NIV)

Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

https://bit.ly/Luke9_26-31NIV

On Sunday, October 15, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about when Jesus challenged his disciples to daily commit to following Jesus above all, examining the things we value, and trading our shame so that we can be counted as one who belongs to Jesus.

Luke 9:23-26 (ESV)

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

https://bit.ly/Luke9_23-26ESV

On Sunday, October 8, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus asked his disciples who the people said he was and then predicted his death. From this passage, Pastor Stuart encouraged us to check our influences and come to the conclusion that Jesus is Lord. We must also remember that even though the circumstances may be different than we expect, it doesn’t change the fact of Jesus’ role in our lives.

Luke 9:18-22 (NIV)

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

https://bit.ly/Luke9_18-22NIV

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he fed the five thousand in a remote place. We are encouraged to flip our perspective from the natural to the supernatural, focusing on the way Jesus sees things, and then to follow his plans.

Luke 9:10-17 (NASB)

When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. And taking them with Him, He withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing.

Now the day was ending, and the twelve came up and said to Him, “Dismiss the crowd, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; because here, we are in a secluded place.” But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” But they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” (For there were about five thousand men.) But He said to His disciples, “Have them recline to eat in groups of about fifty each.” They did so, and had them all recline. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them and broke them, and gave them to the disciples again and again, to serve the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

https://bit.ly/Luke9_10-17NASB

On Sunday, September 24, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he called the twelve disciples together and sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom. We also see that Herod was confused by Jesus’ ministry and wanted to see him. From this, we look at the fact that we are in a conflict between allegiances and our dependence upon Jesus testifies to the unstoppable nature of the Gospel. 

Luke 9:1-9 (NASB)

Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. And as for all who do not receive you, when you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” And as they were leaving, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.

https://bit.ly/Luke9_1-9NASB

On Sunday, September 17, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he healed a 12 year old girl, the daughter of a synagogue leader. While Jesus was on his way to heal the girl, a woman who was very sick grabbed the edge of his robe and was subsequently healed. From this story, we are encouraged to focus on Jesus first, placing our faith in Jesus by making him first in our lives, and realizing that there is more than just what we can see and Jesus has the authority to effect change that we cannot.

Luke 8:40-48 (NIV)

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

https://bit.ly/Luke8_40-48NIV

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he interacted with the demon-possessed man from whom he cast out the demons into a herd of pigs. In this story we see Jesus’ authority over the devil, understanding that the Christian life is a life of warfare, and that we need to be responsive to Jesus our deliverer.

Luke 8:34-39 (NIV)

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

https://bit.ly/Luke8_34-39NIV

On Sunday, September 3, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus calming the storm as he and his disciples traveled across the lake. The faith that Jesus is building in us is one that goes beyond our boundaries, trusts within the storms, and understands his authority.

Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

https://bit.ly/Luke8_22-25NIV

On Sunday, August 27, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Lamp and his exchange regarding his mother and brothers. From these passages we are encouraged to develop our hearing to respond to God’s word, to repent by aligning our hearts to the Lord’s will, and to relate in love to those around us.

Luke 8:15-21 (NIV)

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

https://bit.ly/Luke8_15-21NIV

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Soils. Each of the four soils represents our hearts and how we engage with the devil, testing and temptations, the world, and with God. Jesus’ heart for us is, through God’s grace, to develop a heart that is supple and fertile for God’s work in our lives.

Luke 8:11-15 (NIV)

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

https://bit.ly/Luke8_11-15NIV