Valley View Baptist Church

Tonight we had the privilege to have Dr. P.D. Cherian, Missionary to South India and the founder of the South India Baptist Bible College (sibbc.org). Valley View has supported Dr. Cherian for over 20 years, where he has been "training Asians to reach Asians."

Did you know that the country of India is about a third the size of the US, with four times the number of people (over 1.3 billion, vs 300 million in the US)? Dr. Cherian estimates that only about 1/2 of 1% of those 1.3 billion people are Christian. Sadly, in many areas of India, Christians are persecuted for being a Christian.

Tonight he shared with us his testimony and his mission work. But, he also challenged us by asking, what kind of people does God want us to be?

Do you have a heart for the lost? Are you laboring the way you should be? Are you being the kind of person God wants you to be?

Sunday Morning, November 4th, 2018 - Don't Miss It! - Pastor Jared Shumate

Three days after the death of Jesus, the Disciples gathered together in the upper room to discuss His resurrection. It was Easter Sunday, later in the evening. There was excitement, and confusion among them. And then, suddenly, Jesus appeared right in front of their eyes!

He visited with them, showing them His hands and His side. He breathed on them, bestowing His Holy Spirit on them. No doubt they wept and rejoiced and worshiped that evening. They got to experience Jesus's peace, purpose, power, and presence.

Well, not all of them got to experience it. Of the eleven remaining Disciples, only ten of them were present. Thomas was absent from the room that evening. He missed out on those things because he wasn't in his place.

Are you missing out on the peace, purpose, power, and presence because you are absent from your place? We're not necessarily talking about the church house here. Are you where you should be in your life?

Fortunately for Thomas, he got a second chance only a few days later. But that second chance isn't a promised one. Maybe this is your second chance to make it right, get in your place with Him, and experience all there is that comes with salvation!

Quick, what's the first thing you think of when you think about Zacchaeus? Most likely your first thought was that he was a wee little man, just as the children's song says. But think more about this man's story, or go read it in Luke 19. You'll find a sinner who Jesus called out by name and dined with. You'll find a man who repented of his sins and made amends to the people he had wronged.

A lot can change when Jesus stops by.

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." -Luke 19:10

In the book of John we see the story of a thirsty Samaritan woman who encounters Jesus at a well. This lonely woman is a picture of all of humanity. She's lonely, she's thirsty, and she's looking for something to quench that thirst.

But, she encountered a Jew named Jesus, who offers her living water to meet a need that she didn't even realize she had. He knew all about her past. He knew everything about her. Including her need for living water.

Are you standing at the well today, empty and looking for something to fill the void? Jesus is the well of living water; drink from His well and you will never thirst again! The water is deep, and there's plenty to go around!

The Bible talks about seals in several different places. But the seal referred to in 2 Timothy is a personal seal, applied to the saved by God, intended to mark us, and protect us.

Listen as Pastor Jared details this seal, and how it applies to our lives. Are you under the seal tonight?