Join us each week as we carefully walk through God’s word.
This glorious interruption involves divine intervention and the power of the Holy Spirit, communicated by an angel, directed by God. All for the sake of ushering in our King, Savior, Jesus. This first interruption begins with a small spark in an intimate setting…the temple…
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 Always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Growth in Gospel Centrality is most effecting when we are a Gathered, Grounded, Giving, church that Go’s into a sick world with a message of Hope in Christ.
Those who live in Christ will live for all eternity in bodies that will last for all eternity.
If Christ has not been resurrected, then we should live as though everything in this life matters, BUT if the resurrection of Christ IS true, we get to live as though everything about eternity matters most.
As Christians, our whole lives must be lived out from the foundation of Gospel Centrality, therefore we must fully understand the whole Gospel. Some might say “the hardest thing to do is forgive someone.” It’s possible that “the hardest thing to do is keep the Gospel the center of life.”
The environment of a Healthy church should be one where the Gospel is clearly communicated in an orderly fashion; as God has clearly communicated his love for us in Christ and in the order of creation.
God is the giver of spiritual gifts to the members of his church body. While the gifts are different, they all have equal value and are equally necessary to build up the body into One Holy, Healthy body in Christ!
Why do we gather as a church family? Why do we take communion? How we answer these two questions should give us a good indication of the overall health of our own church body.
God is the God of order. Men & women are called to live and worship according to God’s order. We are to seek lives that honor and glorify God through how we honor one another.
Through Christ God has set us free from sin, therefore we must resist a life of duplicitous worship and live in sincerity to God in Christ alone.
Paul denies his rights so he can have a clear path to their hearts with the Gospel. When we consider the magnitude of our own personal salvation in Christ, we will give up everything so our loved ones can hear the hope of salvation in Christ.
A consistent committed relationship with God through Christ will create a consistent attitude of love towards one another; resulting in a healthy, growing body in order to stay alive.
Listen as Pastor Casey Getz from River Shores Church teaches through Exodus 3 on 6 reasons for us to daily pursue living in the presence of God. You WILL be blessed!
“Relationships can bring the most anxiety to a person’s life”
Relationship anxieties will distract us from our relationship with God.
Paul provides great wisdom regarding the married and unmarried. When we apply these truths appropriately to our I believe we will be free of relational anxiety and fully devoted to our relationship with God.
Paul gives us 3 ways to describe how he seeks to live & be known. Faithful TO Christ, Foolish FOR Christ and a Father IN Christ so that the name of Christ is renown everywhere!
Paul’s faithfulness to the pure Gospel has become unpopular with the Corinthians & they have condemned him for it. In this short paragraph Paul is declaring who he will remain ultimately faithful to and what he will remain faithfully to do.
God’s church is so important to him that he goes to great lengths to see that it is well built. We are to consider the high cost of the foundation and carefully build it with the best materials possible; for our work will certainly be tested.
A steady diet of focusing on Christ rather than “man” will give us all we need to be faithful servants in building God’s kingdom.
Paul is attacking this division by getting to the root of their belief system. There is only One real wisdom and One source for this wisdom which comes from God through the His Spirit.
When we surrender our minds to the awesomeness of man, the church falls apart. When we surrender our hearts to God, we know the True meaning of Awesome and this Awesomeness has the power to make all things new and hold all things together!
CLICK HERE for video illustration from sermon.
As Christians, we need to remember everything comes from God and He is faithful to provide everything we need for salvation and everything we need to live out our calling to be a Healthy Church for a Sick World.
People in God’s church are to work together to advance the Gospel message through protection, providence and partnership.
Protection: Purifying the church by purging evil.
Providence: Caring for one another.
Partnership: Using our gifts to build up the church and Live in the world, set apart for God’s glory.
Listen as Wally walks through scripture to reveal the blessings of the opportunities to use our money, time and talents to bring glory to God and bless people!
Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Genesis 14:18-20, Leviticus 27:30-34, Numbers 18:21; 25-34, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
This is the final message on membership. Village Community Church’s vision statement: “Village Community Church exists to be a Gospel centered, bible teaching, community focused church. Through this we strive to love God and know our identity in Christ and love others and help them to do the same.” Listen here as we discuss the vision for Village Community Church moving forward with membership!
The honorable life of the man qualified to be an elder will begin at home and transfer to the life in the church. The answer to “who is in charge” isn’t just a name, it’s the character of the men called to shepherd the local church.
If someone interested in a church were to peek into the walls of Village, who would they see and what are they doing?
This is the first of our series on local church membership. Membership in a local church is lived out as a partnership in the body of Christ. God’s story reveals His providence and protection of His people throughout human existence. We are therefore called as the local church family to live out the same providence and protection within the biblical framework in partnership with one another.
Click to hear today’s Easter message of hope!
The announcement of Jesus as the long awaited King brings a threat to the proud, curiosity to the uncertain and praise to the seers! When the eyes of the blind are opened, the mouths will joyfully shout Hosanna in the Highest!
Listen as Wally Palmer, gives an overview of the book of Galatians with six important takeaways!
When we fully surrender everything to God in the Gospel, we will freely walk by the Spirit in the newness of life through full submission of all that we are!
The marks of a true Christian are shown through the fruit of the Spirit. When the weight of the world is felt, the true Christ follower will naturally bear this fruit as they bear the burdens of the world with their brothers and sisters in the family of God.
In view of the fact that we all still wrestle with sin, Paul gives proverbial instructions to the local church family on how we are to walk with one another as we keep in step with the Spirit. As Christ followers, our focus should be on equipping our brothers and sisters to live as Christ calls us to live. If we live this way, I believe we will be the church in the community God is calling us to be.
True repentance and obedient living only happens when we are led by the Spirit. Therefore we must stay alert and tuned into the Holy Spirit for the ability to truly love our neighbor.
Paul is giving a clear “all in all out” statement here inviting them to choose which path of salvation they will choose. Vertical or horizontal. With each path Paul gives the traveling conditions and the ultimate destination. If freedom is what we long for, we must consider which path we choose.
When God opens our eyes to show his passionate pursuit for us we see a love that transforms our sinful hearts. The same love that motivated God to pursue after us is the same love that will 1) drive us into deeper intimacy with God, 2) with our brothers and sisters in the church and 3) motivate us to share the greatest news we’ve ever heard with others!
Paul uses an OT illustration to invite the Galatians to consider the question “Who’s your mama?” The message invites us all to consider whether we too live by faith or in the strength of our own flesh.
Paul seeks to reach the hearts of the Galatians by taking a trip down memory lane. This text challenges us to consider taking our own trip down “Memory Lane” to be reminded that it is the love of God and the passion of Jesus Christ that gives us freedom by guiding us to the “Street of Truth”.
Being adopted by God into His family makes us an heir to an inheritance that is out of this world! As sons and daughters of this gracious God, we are now able live in deep intimacy with our heavenly Father!
Guest preacher Wally Palmer brings a solid message from Galatians 3!
When we believe that it’s possible for us to please God by our actions we will be wooed to the idea that our “religious” life will save us. When we understand that pleasing God on our own is IMPOSSIBLE, we are wooed by faith in Christ alone for salvation and will joyfully live obediently to God’s law in response to the free gift of salvation!
The truth of what we believe about our identity is revealed by how we respond to our circumstances and surroundings. We tend to base our identity on acceptance and rejection. “We all long to be accepted, valued, wanted, needed.
Questions…Where do we seek acceptance from & how is it secured?
Paul shows that faith in Christ alone is the only way for us to have a true and secure identity!
The fact that we’re saved by grace alone is enough motivation for us to live without yielding to the pressures of religion or the world. We’re blessed this week to have Wally Palmer, a member of Village Community Church, walk us through Galatians 2:1-10 to give further insight to what it means not to yield to religion but to truly yield our whole life to Jesus Christ.
Jesus, not just the light of the world, but the light FOR the world and the light IN the world.
Jesus is our only source of Comfort and Joy. Following in obedience to the Father’s will leads to an intimate relationship with God which provides all the comfort and joy we will ever need.
Remembering the events leading up to the greatest Birthday ever! As we recall the message from heaven through the angel Gabriel we recall the joy in the anticipation of the arrival of our King Jesus!
As we await the return of Christ or our final breath, we live life to glorify God and enjoy him through a life of repentance, worship and obedience. John chapter 17 gives insight into Jesus’s prayer as he asked God to keep His people safe and continue to purify them in order to bring glory to God!
As we enter into this Christmas season our eyes are invited to focus on the glorious hope of the future return of our Savior Jesus Christ; who will make all things glorious and new!
Man’s gospel, leads to man’s plans. God’s plan, was to redirect man’s plan to live out God’s plan for man to bring glory to God through God’s gospel!
Paul reminds us firmly that we are fired from a job that we were not hired for. His invitation is to remember the message of salvation through faith alone…through grace alone..in Christ alone!
Paul hasn’t been gone too long before the Galatian Christians are pressured to conform to living under the Law instead of resting in salvation through grace alone. Listen here as we overview the book and look forward to a journey of freedom through Galatians .
As we conclude our series in 1 Timothy, Paul encourages Timothy to “guard the deposit” that was entrusted to him. Listen here as we recap the “deposit” in this letter. We encourage you to read the book of 1 Timothy before listening and pray for God to reveal himself to you through it! 🙂 May God bless you richly through His word!
“Money equals happiness”. One ticket with matching numbers can make one REALY happy. Does the happiness last? Or does this love of money lead to ruin? In this scripture passage Paul is encouraging those who are rich to fix their gaze NOT on the false hope of wealth, but on the One True God who provided the greatest ticket of all…the One that leads to eternal life; where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more crying and death shall be no more!
Pastor Jeff Coggins continues to bring encouragement from 1 Timothy to Fight the Good Fight of our faith in Christ Jesus “because as a Christian, you get God!”
In this passage, Paul gives proper diagnosis and prognosis of those who are struggling with contentment. The gospel is our ONLY hope for a life of contentment. What are your symptoms? Listen here to find out!
In the 3rd part of the mini series on “honor” Paul gives instructions straight from the heart of Christ regarding the Christian bondservant’s behavior towards his master. While we may not love our current work environment, our Christ-like behavior is what pleases God most.
This is part 2 of a 3 part miniseries within our study of 1 Timothy. Paul teaches young Timothy the high importance for the church to protect the position of the elder through proper providential care, and exercising proper discipline. This will support and protect the elder as well as the church’s purity, care and service.
This is part 1 of a 3 part miniseries within the “Shepherd’s Guide to a Great Church” series. What is the church family’s position on how to properly care for widows and why should the church honor them? Answers to this question and more in this week’s message!
Today we celebrate our 1 year anniversary of public worship! Listen here for a recap of what God has been teaching us and challenging us in the sphere of Western Culture Consumeristic Christianity from Acts, Ephesians and 1 Timothy.
Paul encourages young Timothy with a fitness plan that includes a regular diet of God’s truth, along with exercising love, faith and purity; which will have an effect not only in EVERY ASPECT of this life but for all ETERNITY. https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/vcckpodcast/1+TImothy+4%2C7-16%2C+9%3A9%3A18%2C+.mp3
One of Satan’s biggest goals is to destroy God’s church (God’s people). What better way than to divide and conquer through lies and deception from within. Paul continues his charge to Timothy to fight the good fight by following the good doctrine which leads to something to believe in.
Do you ever wonder what the motivating factor is as to why people go to church or even call themselves Christians? This short halftime message from the Apostle Paul takes us deep into the love of God to show us our true Identity as the “Pillars” of the household of God! Listen here for a message that every Christ follower needs to understand as the foundation of a “Great” church.
In this message, we dive deeper into who God calls men to be first in their household. What is a man to be after attending the “University of Household Headship?” Listen here for a deeper understanding! See description under part 1.
Paul charges Timothy not to be hasty in the laying on of hands (1 Tim 5:22). After a careful study through the first 13 verses in 1 Timothy 3, it is apparent how crucial it is to consider qualifications for such a “Noble task”. Pastor Jason seeks to patiently and diligently examine the qualifications for both elders and deacons as God raises up men to oversee the church. We should seek nothing less than to properly care for and shepherd the people that God adopted for the high price of His Son’s blood. (Acts 20:28)
Listen as Forest Lakes District Pastor and Church Multiplication Catalyst Scott Sterner teaches on the proper heart posture and understanding we are to know as we offer prayers to our heavenly Father. Your outlook on prayer may be forever changed by this message!
In the context of the local church body, God has clearly orchestrated the model for how we are to conduct our behavior in the setting of public worship. Our conduct is what sets us apart from the World. The Apostle Paul instructs Timothy on how to teach proper conduct to men and women in the local church. This challenging message has a very encouraging message and hopeful ending. https://soundcloud.com/user-5715949/conduct-that-sets-apart-1-tim-28-15
Three Truths Everyone Must Know:
If Christ brought peace to the people in the family of God, how do we strive to live in peace among a climate of chaos, confusion, division and persecution? Pray for those who have influence over the climate. Pray for the leaders of our governments. Why? It is pleasing to God. This is an encouraging message for the reasons why we should pray for the leaders in our government and community.
This message dives into the important message for pastors to remain focused on establishing a culture of love from a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere heart. May God use this to spread his Love and Glory! Sermon audio from June 9th, 2018
This is a stand-alone gospel message from the EFCA-Forest Lakes District Superintendent from John 16:4-5. We’re blessed to have Jon bring a message of comfort on the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
If we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Gospel) to be set apart, we must wage the good war to protect the purity of the church family by guarding the Truth and protecting the family. The result has to be a great church family. Not a “great church” in the eyes of man…a church that is made holy and pure only by the blood of Jesus. We’re made great through Christ and are called to live great! Join us as we walk through 1 Timothy!
As believer’s we are those who tell God’s story of salvation. Paul’s benediction in Ephesians 6:21-24 is an invitation to live in an environment of peace, love, faith and Grace. If God uses people to live out His story, then our lives will reflect the character and nature of the Almighty author.
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Numbers 5:1-4: Cleansing the Unclean Sermon Outline
God’s law offers protection from the curse – Leprosy, Discharge, Death God’s law offers protection from a Holy God – Uncleanliness and Defilement God’s son does what the law could not. (Mth. 8:2-3, 9:20-25)
The armor we have access to is provided by the most powerful, undefeated Almighty God! We are called to use it and use it properly. It gives us the ability to be victorious in the battles of life.
God Almighty gives us the strength we need to be victorious rather than vulnerable as we battle the true enemy, Satan and his evil army. Listen here for part 1 of the Spiritual warfare message from Ephesians 6:10-13
There is great potential for a family to be filled with joy when parents and children keep God at the center of their relationship. As fathers example Christ to the household, children are moved to be obedient, honoring their parents.
Paul’s encouragement to husbands and wives here provides two key ingredients to a great marriage. If you or someone you know is planning on getting married, is already married or struggling in your marriage, this message is for you. God has a structure and a plan for the roles of husbands and wives. His plans are good! You can have a great marriage; with God’s “good” plan!
Pauls message to the new believers in Ephesus is timely as they are now seeking to live holy lives in an unholy environment. His call to not even “speak” nor “listen” to idolatrous talk hits home in our hearts as our living conditions are similar. The hope of salvation is evident for those who’s evil ways are exposed by the light of holy living. Heart transformation leads to an environment of life!
“Knowing God’s will leads us to flee the environment of death and create an environment of Life. We therefore are moved to speak of holiness and righteousness, bringing light into a dark world.”
“God is not after our behavior modification, he wants heart transformation! His business is salvation!”
It’s one thing to be invited to imitate (or mimic) a parent, teacher, employer, athlete, or sports figure. But to be invited to imitate the Almighty God? Those are some big shoes to walk in but Paul encourages us with all confidence that we are able!