Valley Sermons

In the kick-off to our series on the Beatitudes called "Living Upside Down", this sermon looks at the blessedness from being poor in spirit. Recognizing your poverty before God and realizing that He owes you nothing and you can give Him nothing brings you to the very place that God can do His best work in you and through you.

Mark Tobey continues our look at I-Impact as he talks about overcoming your fear of investing in people's lives.

For phase 3 of I-Impact, we look at the power of a simple invite. Relationships build through interaction, and interaction is only possible through an invite. Take the time to invite people into your hobbies, your homes, and your lives.

The second phase of our I-Impact initiative is covered by Pastor Mark as he begins to describe the process of initiate. In looking to John 4, we try and follow the example of Christ when it comes to initiating relationships and conversations that ultimately point people to Him.

Control is something we all want, and often wrongly believe we have. What is laid forth in Scripture is the wise call to stop pursuing the false ideal of control, and surrendering your life to the omniscient, omnipresent, soveriegn, all-loving God our Creator. A life that is lived within His will and following His leading is the best, most fulfilling, most adventurous, and least regret-filled life there is.

A new years brings a chance to take a critical look at our decisions and lives and ask a simple question: What was our focus in 2011? Using Hebrews as a guide we ask an even more important question: What will your focus be in 2012?

Why did God arrive as a child on earth, and not in some other more impressive way? He was becoming little because that's what He asks of us. Do you feel the need to be in control? Are you concerned with how you appear to others? Are you just too logical? Heed the call and follow the example of Christ: you need to become like a child.

For all the trials, challenges, wonder, and amazement of the first Christmas, nothing trumps The Child. The Child who left perfection to immerse Himself in imperfection. The Child whose very birth, very life, and very death and resurrection has created a firestorm of reaction from the moment He came on the scene until today. The Child, who simply came to be your everything. Do you know Him?

In Part 2 we take a close look at Mary's story and allow her example of faith and trust in the most dire of circumstances to cause us to take a look at our own faith. How much do we really trust God? Are we capable of praising Him in all situations?

In this December series (called The Road To Bethlehem) we will take a look at the lives of Joseph, Mary. and Jesus and how God used each in His narrative to change the world. Joseph's story may be lesser known than the other two, but his example of doing the right thing instead of the easy thing leaves us with a very powerful question: What influence in your life is greater than God's?