Uncategorized Archives - Valley Community Church

“The Civility Of Jesus”, Part 4, “The Civility Of An Invitation”, 11/15/2020

Posted on Nov 13, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

“The Civility Of Jesus”
Part 4, “The Civility Of An Invitation”
Luke 19:1-10

Luke 18:31-34, “Gathering the twelve disciples around him, Jesus told them, ‘As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans to be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will whip him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.’ 34 But they didn’t understand a thing he said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.” NLT

I. The Most Hated Man In Town

Luke 19:1-2, “Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich.”

II. The Day That Changed Everything

Luke 19:3, “He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there.”

Luke 19:5-6, “When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today. 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.”

Luke 19:8, “Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

III. Lessons From A Tree Climber

A. Crowds Do Not Rule

Luke 19:7, “But the crowds were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled.”

B. Jesus Came Looking For Zacchaeus

C. Jesus’ Invitation Changed Zacchaeus’ Life

Luke 19:8, “Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ 9 Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham.’”

D. Jesus Came To Seek And Save The Lost

Luke 19:10, “And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.”

“What Did We Sign Up For?”, 9/6/2020

Posted on Sep 4, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

“What Did We Sign Up For?”
Romans 9:19-21

Introduction

Ephesians 1:4-6, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” NLT

Romans 9:20-21, “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, Why did you make me like this?’ 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?” NIV

I. Predestined To A Purpose

II. Having The Mind Of Christ

Philippians 2:5-8,
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with
God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” NLT

III. The Spiritual Nourishment Of Life

John 4:32, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

John 4:34, “My nourishment (that which sustains my life) comes from doing the will of God who sent me, and from finishing his work.” TLB

IV. The Holy Spirit As Coach

Nehemiah 9:7-8, “You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him…”

Conclusion

Jeremiah 18:4, “But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.”

“Hey Everyone! Peace!”, 8/30/2020

Posted on Aug 28, 2020 in Uncategorized |

“Hey Everyone! Peace!”

John 20:19-23, That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! 21 He spoke to them again and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.” NLT

I. The Offer Of Peace

A. Peace

B. Proof

C. Power

II. The Missing Disciple – Thomas

John 20:24-25, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” NASU

A. Doubting Thomas

(Thomas: Jn 11)

(Thomas: Jn 14)

B. Where Was Thomas?

C. Missing The Savior

III. Thomas’ Turn

John 20:26-27, “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

A. Peace Be With You

B. See For Yourself

IV. The Response

John 20:28, “Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

V. The Promise

John 20:29, “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Conclusion

John 20:30-31, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

“The Providence Of God” , 8/23/2020

Posted on Aug 21, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

The Providence Of God

I. What Is Providence?

Definition: Providence is the knowledge that God actively guides, controls, regulates, manages, and directs everything that happens in His creation.

Example: Jacob and Joseph

Gen. 45:8

Gen. 42:36

Gen. 50:20

Matt. 10:29-30

Proverbs 16:1; 21:1; 19:21; 21:30

Job 42:2

II. Who Then Is Responsible For Actions?

A. Who Took Job’s Flocks?

1. Intent

2. The Act Itself

Acts 4:27-28

III. What Then Shall We Do?

A. Our Duty Is Clear In Wisdom

B. Our Duty Is Clear In Obedience

C. Our Duty Is Clear In Prayer

Conclusion

Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord…”

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”, Part 3, “What If The Present Moment…Is Terrible?”, 8/2/2020

Posted on Jul 31, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”
Part 3, “What If The Present Moment…Is Terrible?”
I Kings 19

I. The Hammer And Chisel Of The Lord

A. Finding God’s Presence In All Things

(Quote) Caussade, “How foolish to refuse to breathe the open air! To search for a spot on which to place the foot when there is the whole countryside before you; to be unable to find water when there is a whole deluge at your service, nor to possess and enjoy God, nor to recognize his action when it is present in all things.”

B. A Work We Cannot Produce

(Quote) Caussade, “It is obvious that a work such as this cannot be affected by cleverness,
intelligence, nor subtlety of mind, but only by the way of abandonment to, its reception, and by yielding to it like metal in a mold, or canvas under the pencil, or stone in the hands of the sculptor.”

C. Yielding To The Work Of The Sculptor

(Quote) Caussade, “…a stone that is destined to become a crucifix or a statue without knowing it, if it were asked, ‘What is happening to you?’ would reply if it could speak, ‘Do not ask me, I only know one thing, and that is, to remain immovable in the hands of my master and to endure all that comes my way.’”

D. God’s Business Is God’s Best

(Quote) Caussade, “As for the end for which I am destined, it is God’s business to understand how it is to be accomplished; I am as ignorant of what God is doing as of what I am destined to become; all I know is that God’s work is the best, and the most perfect that could be, and I receive each blow of the chisel as the most excellent thing that could happen to me…”

(Quote) Caussade, “…although, truth to tell, each blow, in my opinion, causes the idea of ruin, destruction, and disfigurement. But that is not my affair; content with the present moment I think of nothing but my duty, and I endure the work of this clever master without knowing, or occupying myself about it.”

(Quote) Caussade, “Allow God to act, and abandon yourself to God’s will and work in your life. Let the chisel perform its office, the needle do its work. Let the brush of the artist cover the canvas with many tints which only have the appearance of daubs.”

II. “I have had enough, Lord…take my life…”

1 Kings 19:1-2, “When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: ‘May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.’” NLT

1 Kings 19:3-4

1 Kings 19:5-6

1 Kings 19:7-9

1 Kings 19:9-10

1 Kings 19:11-13, “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:14

1 Kings 19:15-18

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”, Part 2, “Contentment In The Present Moment”, 7/26/2020

Posted on Jul 24, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”
Part 2, “Contentment In The Present Moment”
Philippians 4:4-13

Introduction

(Quote) Caussade, “To be satisfied with the present moment is to delight in, and to adore the divine will in all that has to be done or suffered in all that succession of events that fill, as they pass, each present moment.”

I. Pursuing Contentment In Every Moment

(Quote) Caussade, “If that which God…chooses for you does not content you, from whom do you expect to obtain what you desire?”

1 Thessalonians 4:3, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…” NIV

Romans 8:29-30, “God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son… 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.” NLT

(Quote) Caussade, “…I should die of thirst rushing … from one fountain to another, from one stream to another when there is a sea at hand, the waters of which encompass me on every side.”

(Quote) Caussade, “All that happens to me therefore will be food for my nourishment, water for my cleansing, fire for my purification, and a channel of grace for all my needs. That which I might endeavor to find in other ways seeks me incessantly and gives itself to me through all creatures.”

II. Contentment In The Present Moment

Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” NIV

A. Four Contentment Producing Decisions

(Number 1) Rejoice In The Lord Always – v. 4

(Number 2) Let your gentleness be evident to all – v. 5

(Word Study) Gentleness, “Epieikes”, (ep-ee-i-kace) This is one of the most untranslatable of all Greek words. Some of the best English attempts are gentle, yielding, kind, forbearing, and lenient.

(Number 3) Don’t be anxious – pray about everything – vv.6-7

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:7, “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Number 4) Think On These Things – vv. 8-9

Philippians 4:8, “Finally…whatever is true, …noble, …right, …pure, …lovely, …admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Conclusion

(Quote) Caussade, “I have run through all Your workshops and have admired all Your works, but have not as yet, by abandonment, received even the bare outlines of Your pencil.”

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”, Part 1, “Breath From God”, 7/19/2020

Posted on Jul 17, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”
Part 1, “Breath From God”
Job 27:3

Introduction

1 Peter 2:12-17

Romans 13:1-2

“The Sacrament Of The Present Moment”, Jean-Pierre de Caussade – 1675-1751

I. Breath From God

Job 27:3, “But for as long as I draw breath, and for as long as God breathes life into me,” (MSG)

Job 27:3, “As long as I live, while I have breath from God,” (NLT)

Job 27:3, “For as long as life is in me, And the breath of God is in my nostrils,” (NASB)

Caussade, “To be satisfied with the present moment is to delight in, and to adore the divine will in all that has to be done or suffered in all that succession of events that fill, as they pass, each present moment.”

II. The Power Of The Present

“Peace of mind” and an “untroubled soul” are the consequences of recognizing the sacrament of the present moment.

III. How To Live In The Present

Luke 10:38-42

A. Mary’s Way

1. Do Things Consciously

2. Savor The Moment

3. Develop Gratitude For The Right Now

4. Focus On What Matters

5. Enjoy The Present For What It Is

Conclusion

(Quote) Caussade, “The one thing necessary can always be found for it is in the present moment. It is no longer a choice between prayer and silence, seclusion and society, reading and writing, meditation and cessation of thought, flight from and seeking after spiritual consolations, abundance and dearth, feebleness and health, life and death, but it is all that each moment presents by the will of God…making it our soul satisfaction to sustain the present moment as though there were nothing else to hope for in the world.”

Announcements, July 12, 2020

Posted on Jul 8, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

Church Schedule Reminders
∙ Wednesday Bible Study is cancelled until further notice

∙ Light Source will be meeting on Sunday mornings after worship, in The Loft (206)

∙ Precept Bible Study is cancelled until further notice

∙ Men’s and Ladies’ Prayer Breakfasts are cancelled until further notice

∙ Sunday School classes will hopefully resume on Sunday, September 13th

VCC Church App
Stay Connected with our church app! It gives you quick access to sermon podcasts, announcements, church calendar, online giving and more. Search your device’s app store for Valley Community – Sacramento.

2020 Altar Flower Calendar
The 2020 Altar Flower Calendar is available at the Information Counter. If you would like to remember an anniversary, wish someone a happy birthday, or donate as a memorial to a loved one, please sign up for a date with the name of the person ordering first, followed by the name of the person and occasion being remembered. The total cost at this time is $43.40, for which you receive giving credit. The flowers are yours to take home after service.

VCC now offers Online Giving
How people give to support their community of faith is changing in our day and age. VCC is now able to facilitate online giving through our church website and through the mobile app “easytithe”. After creating an account, you will be able to give directly to VCC by using your debit or credit card. To create an online account, visit our website, www.vccweb.org and click on My Online Donation. You can also download the free app, “easytithe”, for your Smart Phone. You can also continue to send eChecks through your bank’s eChecks option.

Announcements, July 5, 2020

Posted on Jul 3, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

Church Schedule Reminders
∙ Wednesday Bible Study is cancelled until further notice

∙ Light Source will be meeting on Sunday mornings after worship, in The Loft (206)

∙ Precept Bible Study is cancelled until further notice

∙ Men’s and Ladies’ Prayer Breakfasts are cancelled until further notice

∙ Sunday School classes will hopefully resume on Sunday, September 13th

Happy 4th of July!

Please and enjoy and take advantage of our 4th of July Photo Op on the church patio this Sunday

Announcements, June 28, 2020

Posted on Jun 26, 2020 in Homeline Blog, Uncategorized |

Current Church Schedule

∙ Wednesday Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, July 8th at 7 pm in the sanctuary

∙ Light Source will resume on Wednesday, July 8th at 7 pm in The Loft

∙ Precept Bible Study will resume on Friday, July 10th at 2 pm in the Burchett Hall

∙ Sunday School classes will resume on Sunday, September 13th

VCC Online Giving

How people give to support their community of faith is changing in our day and age. VCC is now able to facilitate online giving through our church website and through the mobile app “easytithe”. After creating an account, you will be able to give directly to VCC by using your debit or credit card. To create an online account, visit our website, www.vccweb.org and click on My Online Donation. You can also download the free app, “easytithe”, for your Smart Phone. You can also continue to send eChecks through your bank’s eChecks option.