If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 29:9-14

9

Be stunned and amazed,

    blind yourselves and be sightless;

be drunk, but not from wine,

    stagger, but not from beer.

10 

The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep:

    He has sealed your eyes (the prophets);

    he has covered your heads (the seers).

11

 For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.” 

12

Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.”

13 

The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

    and honor me with their lips,

    but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

    is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

14 

Therefore once more I will astound these people

    with wonder upon wonder;

the wisdom of the wise will perish,

    the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 28:5-6

5

In that day the Lord Almighty

    will be a glorious crown,

a beautiful wreath

    for the remnant of his people.

6 

He will be a spirit of justice

    to the one who sits in judgment,

a source of strength

    to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 25:6-9

6 

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare

    a feast of rich food for all peoples,

a banquet of aged wine—

    the best of meats and the finest of wines.

7 

On this mountain he will destroy

    the shroud that enfolds all peoples,

the sheet that covers all nations;

8 

    he will swallow up death forever.

The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears

    from all faces;

he will remove his people’s disgrace

    from all the earth.

The Lord has spoken.

9 

In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God;

    we trusted in him, and he saved us.

This is the Lord, we trusted in him;

    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 24:3-6

3

The earth will be completely laid waste

    and totally plundered.

The Lord has spoken this word.

4 

The earth dries up and withers,

    the world languishes and withers,

    the heavens languish with the earth.

5 

The earth is defiled by its people;

    they have disobeyed the laws,

violated the statutes

    and broken the everlasting covenant.

6 

Therefore a curse consumes the earth;

    its people must bear their guilt.

Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,

    and very few are left.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Psalm 78:1-8

1

My people, hear my teaching;

    listen to the words of my mouth.

2 

I will open my mouth with a parable;

    I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

3 

things we have heard and known,

    things our ancestors have told us.

4 

We will not hide them from their descendants;

    we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

    his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 

He decreed statutes for Jacob

    and established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our ancestors

    to teach their children,

6 

so the next generation would know them,

    even the children yet to be born,

    and they in turn would tell their children.

7 

Then they would put their trust in God

    and would not forget his deeds

    but would keep his commands.

8 

They would not be like their ancestors—

    a stubborn and rebellious generation,

whose hearts were not loyal to God,

    whose spirits were not faithful to him.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Proverbs 3:11-12

11

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not resent his rebuke,

12 

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    as a father the son he delights in.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Psalm 78:1-11

Tell the Coming Generation

A Maskil of Asaph.

78 

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

2 

I will open my mouth in a parable;

    I will utter dark sayings from of old,

3 

things that we have heard and known,

    that our fathers have told us.

4 

We will not hide them from their children,

    but tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

    and the wonders that he has done.

5 

He established a testimony in Jacob

    and appointed a law in Israel,

which he commanded our fathers

    to teach to their children,

6 

that the next generation might know them,

    the children yet unborn,

and arise and tell them to their children,

7 

    so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God,

    but keep his commandments;

8 

and that they should not be like their fathers,

    a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,

    whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9 

The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,

    turned back on the day of battle.

10 

They did not keep God's covenant,

    but refused to walk according to his law.

11 

They forgot his works

    and the wonders that he had shown them.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

1

The oracle concerning the valley of vision.

What do you mean that you have gone up,

    all of you, to the housetops,

2 

you who are full of shoutings,

    tumultuous city, exultant town?

Your slain are not slain with the sword

    or dead in battle.

3 

All your leaders have fled together;

    without the bow they were captured.

All of you who were found were captured,

    though they had fled far away.

4 

Therefore I said:

“Look away from me;

    let me weep bitter tears;

do not labor to comfort me

    concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

5 

For the Lord God of hosts has a day

    of tumult and trampling and confusion

    in the valley of vision,

a battering down of walls

    and a shouting to the mountains.

6 

And Elam bore the quiver

    with chariots and horsemen,

    and Kir uncovered the shield.

7 

Your choicest valleys were full of chariots,

    and the horsemen took their stand at the gates.

8 

He has taken away the covering of Judah.

In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, 

9 

and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool, 

10 

and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall. 

11 

You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.

12 

In that day the Lord God of hosts

    called for weeping and mourning,

    for baldness and wearing sackcloth;

13 

and behold, joy and gladness,

    killing oxen and slaughtering sheep,

    eating flesh and drinking wine.

“Let us eat and drink,

    for tomorrow we die.”

14 

The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears:

“Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,”

    says the Lord God of hosts.

15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 

16 

What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock? 

17 

Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you 

18 

and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be your glorious chariots, you shame of your master's house. 

19 

I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station. 

20 

In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 

21 

and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 

22 

And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 

23 

And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. 

24 

And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. 

25 

In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 16:3-7

3 

“Give counsel;

    grant justice;

make your shade like night

    at the height of noon;

shelter the outcasts;

    do not reveal the fugitive;

4 

let the outcasts of Moab

    sojourn among you;

be a shelter to them

    from the destroyer.

When the oppressor is no more,

    and destruction has ceased,

and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,

5 

then a throne will be established in steadfast love,

    and on it will sit in faithfulness

    in the tent of David

one who judges and seeks justice

    and is swift to do righteousness.”

6 

We have heard of the pride of Moab—

    how proud he is!—

of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence;

    in his idle boasting he is not right.

7 

Therefore let Moab wail for Moab,

    let everyone wail.

Mourn, utterly stricken,

    for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 14:28-32

28 In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle:

29 

Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you,

    that the rod that struck you is broken,

for from the serpent's root will come forth an adder,

    and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

30 

And the firstborn of the poor will graze,

    and the needy lie down in safety;

but I will kill your root with famine,

    and your remnant it will slay.

31 

Wail, O gate; cry out, O city;

    melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!

For smoke comes out of the north,

    and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 

What will one answer the messengers of the nation?

“The Lord has founded Zion,

    and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 13: 1-3

1

The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

2 

On a bare hill raise a signal;

    cry aloud to them;

wave the hand for them to enter

    the gates of the nobles.

3 

I myself have commanded my consecrated ones,

    and have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger,

    my proudly exulting ones.

Isaiah 14:1

1

For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 12

1

You will say in that day:

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,

    for though you were angry with me,

your anger turned away,

    that you might comfort me.

2 

“Behold, God is my salvation;

    I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

    and he has become my salvation.”

3 

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

4 

And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

    call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

    proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;

    let this be made known in all the earth.

6 

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,

    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

Isaiah 10:1-3

1 Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,

    and the writers who keep writing oppression,

2 to turn aside the needy from justice

    and to rob the poor of my people of their right,

that widows may be their spoil,

    and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

3 What will you do on the day of punishment,

    in the ruin that will come from afar?

To whom will you flee for help,

    and where will you leave your wealth?

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here.

The Coming Assyrian Invasion

1 Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’ 

2 And I will get reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me.”

3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 

4 for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

5 The Lord spoke to me again: 

6 “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 

7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 

8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/np46nq7

Isaiah 7:10-14

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 

11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 

13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/jjkd5xf

Isaiah 6:1-3

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 

2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 

3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/ptcgrvc

Isaiah 5:1-7

The Vineyard of the Lord Destroyed

5

1

Let me sing for my beloved

    my love song concerning his vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard

    on a very fertile hill.

2 

He dug it and cleared it of stones,

    and planted it with choice vines;

he built a watchtower in the midst of it,

    and hewed out a wine vat in it;

and he looked for it to yield grapes,

    but it yielded wild grapes.

3 

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem

    and men of Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard.

4 

What more was there to do for my vineyard,

    that I have not done in it?

When I looked for it to yield grapes,

    why did it yield wild grapes?

5 

And now I will tell you

    what I will do to my vineyard.

I will remove its hedge,

    and it shall be devoured;

I will break down its wall,

    and it shall be trampled down.

6 

I will make it a waste;

    it shall not be pruned or hoed,

    and briers and thorns shall grow up;

I will also command the clouds

    that they rain no rain upon it.

7 

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts

    is the house of Israel,

and the men of Judah

    are his pleasant planting;

and he looked for justice,

    but behold, bloodshed;

for righteousness,

    but behold, an outcry!

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/3ypwbq2

The Mountain of the Lord

1 

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 

It shall come to pass in the latter days

    that the mountain of the house of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3 

    and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 

He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war anymore.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/bwnnnr7

Isaiah 1:1-3

1

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

The Wickedness of Judah

2 

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;

    for the Lord has spoken:

“Children have I reared and brought up,

    but they have rebelled against me.

3 

The ox knows its owner,

    and the donkey its master's crib,

but Israel does not know,

    my people do not understand.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/5wpjkqz

2 John 1:1-13

1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 

2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 

5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 

6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 

8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 

9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 

11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/5w4xvkt

Mark 1:1-15

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

    who will prepare your way,

3  the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

    make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 

7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 

8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 

10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 

11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Temptation of Jesus

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 

13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/cxrvnb3

Ephesians 5:22-6:9

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 

23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 

27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 

30 for we are members of his body. 

31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 

32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 

2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 

3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 

8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/2dy2bcg

1 John 5:6-12

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 

7 For there are three that testify: 

8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 

9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/4f7cshd

1 John 5:1-5

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 

2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 

3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 

4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 

5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/562qk3y

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 

18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 

19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 

20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 

21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 

22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 

28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 

29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 

30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 

31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 

32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 

34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/t3ccgq9

1 John 3:10

10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

Asante.church

CommunityLifePeoria.church

He is the pastor of Mission Valley Church.

www.missionvalleyaz.church

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Acts 10: 34-43

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 

37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 

40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 

41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/7yrj4tm

1 John 3:1-3

1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/2mx6q5r

1 John 4:1-3

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 

3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

If you missed the sermon, you can listen to it here: https://valleylifechurch-az.subspla.sh/9nkr5q2

Haggai 2:18-19

18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought:

19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.

“‘From this day on I will bless you.’”

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Haggai 1:1-15

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 

2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 

3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 

4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 

5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 

6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 

8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 

9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 

10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 

11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 

13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” 

14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

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1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 

17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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1 John 2:12-14

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

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1 John 2:7-11

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

10 Whoever love his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

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1 John 2:3–6

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

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1 John 2:1–2

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Name "Jesus"

1. What's "that"

2. Whose "life"

3. What's "fellowship"

1 John 1:1-4

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

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The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 

13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 

14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 

15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 

16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But  when he  came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 

18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 

22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 

23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 

26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 

27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 

29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 

30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 

32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

1. Beauty

2. Brokenness

3. Truth

4. Compassion

5. Community

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 

13 All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:1–10

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—

3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.

4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.

7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.

8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.

17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?

18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

One Thing for Anxiety

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Giving Special Offerings:

1. Factor in Satan

2. What about our music?

3. The work of the false apostles will work

4. Do not let it work on you

2 Corinthians 11:1-15

1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 

2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 

3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 

4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 

5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 

6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 

8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 

9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 

11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 

15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Giving Special Offerings:

1. Your giving will prompt others

2. Your giving will bless you

3. Your giving will meet needs

4. Your giving will glorify God

Ephesians 9:1-15

1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 

2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 

3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 

4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 

11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 

13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 

14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Why Join the Church:

1. Comprise some church

2. The church you comprise is the mystery of Christ

3. The Church displays the mystery of Christ

Ephesians 3:1-13

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 

2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 

3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 

5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 

9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 

12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Telling Your Friends About Jesus:

1. Go

2. Disciple

3. Baptize

4. Teach Them to Obey

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 

17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Prayer. Bible. Church:

1. This isn't "The Rules"

2. But there is such a thing as Christian effort

3. What do Christians do?

Colossians 2:16-3:4

Colossians 2

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 

19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 

21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 

22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 

23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 3

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Some Believe in Vain:

1. There is a way to believe that is in vain

2. The gospel is never in vain

3. Paul is saying that "it worked" in his life

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand

2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-- unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

7 The he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Work We Do For God:

1. You are in Paul's war

2. Winning the War Builds Up

3. It's Good to Build Up

2 Corinthians 10:1-18

1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!

2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.

8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.

9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.

10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."

11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.

12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.

14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,

16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.

17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

The Work We Do For God:

1 .Paul is working with God

2. Paul is appealing for God

3. Paul is warning about vain grace

2 Corinthians 6:1–13

1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,

5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;

7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;

9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.

12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.

13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

How to Become a Miracle:

1. God’s people know

2. God’s people groan

3. God’s people are courageous

4. God’s people walk by faith

5. God’s people are ambitious

6. God’s people please him

7. God’s people will be judged

2 Corinthians 5:1–10

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,

3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.

4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Suffering gives and takes.

1. Suffering takes power

2. Suffering gives a voice

3. Suffering gives weight

2 Corinthians 4:7–18

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1. Some churches are gross. Don't be gross.

2. Not everyone will like the church. That's okay.

3. Jesus Is The Light. Talk About Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:1–6

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1. Correction is not rejection

2. Correction is painful not pleasant

3. Correction is doing what seems best

4. Correction is bringing peaceful fruit of righteousness

Hebrews 12:5–11

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Mike Lee is the pastor of Mission Valley Church.

Mission Valley Church is located in Phoenix, Arizona in the North Mountain neighborhood. Currently meeting at Thunderbird High School. Learn more at: missionvalleyaz.church

Listen to The Good Life sermon on Food and Fitness here:

https://subspla.sh/r84y3t8

1. What are the Proverbs for?  

Acquiring wisdom.

2. What are the 5 categories of Wisdom? 

Insight, Instruction, Wise Dealing, Prudence, Learning (Bonus: figuring out how to figure out difficult things.)

3. How does the Proverbs describe the heart? 

Always crowing kings. Always aiming. Never neutral.

4. How does a parent get wisdom to the child's heart? 

Authority, Heart, Communication, Correction

5. What do you do when no one is doing what they are supposed to be doing? 

Live before your children as though you truly believe the good news of Christ. They will witness you taking your deepest, most personal grief over sins (even parenting sins) to the cross and not living in regret. 

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Proverbs 6:20–24

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

1. Commandments are commanded

- God told Moses, but that’s not good enough

- We think that he wrote them down and that’s it

- But the commandments are commanded

1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you,

- God has removed doubt as to how he wants parents to raise their children

- God doesn’t give us the choice to give our kids a choice

2. Commandments are for teaching fear of God

- Maybe you will relate to your parental authority differently once you realize what these commands are for

Boldly I approach my Father

Clothed in Jesus' righteousness

There is no more guilt to carry

It was finished upon that cross

Deuteronomy 6:1–2

1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,

2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

How does a Christian defend their reputation?

1. Don’t have to talk about it (v.1)

2. People can see it (v.2-4)

3. Because God did it (v.5-6)

The local church, your local church, is absolutely irreplaceable.

Hebrews 10:23–25

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Bailey and her husband Coby lead a community group at their home for Mission Valley Church. 

Mission Valley Church is located in Phoenix, Arizona in the North Mountain neighborhood. Currently meeting at Thunderbird High School.

Learn more at: missionvalleyaz.church

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?

2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.

3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Hear me out, hear me out…

I think we should just try this:

If your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.

If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

This afternoon I got the perfect email from a member of Valley Life Church.

It basically said,

in light of the Scripture we covered in the sermon on Sunday:

1. How do I conform my difficult relationships to God's will?

2. How do I walk closely with Christ while dealing with this trouble?

Scriptures

Matthew 18:15

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Romans 12:18–19

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Matthew 18:21–22

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Proverbs 22:24–25

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 26:18–19

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”

1. Kids

2. Youth

3. Family

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

1. The problem is not the problem

2. The problem is not the pastor

3. The problem is not the sinner

4. The problem is Satan's attack on the church

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

1. Such a thing as a relationally open door

2. Such a thing as relationally anxious pastor

3. Such a thing as relational division in the body

4. Such a thing as human responsibility in relationships

5. Such a thing as divine sovereignty over relationships

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

1. The nature of the comfort

2. The purpose of the comfort

1. The cause of the suffering

2. The response to suffering

1. Satan hates kids

2. Jesus loves kids

3. God adopts kids