Valley Life Church - Yakima

Trevor Hutton

July 20, 2025 Ezekiel 21:27 Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him. Romans 12:4-5 NLT 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Proverbs 14:4 NLT Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

When Obedience Matters More Than Biology 07/06/25 You don’t need the right name or background to belong in God’s Family—just a life surrendered in obedience to Jesus. 20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.  21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”  22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” — Mark 3:20–22 (NIV)  23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?  24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.  27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.  24 Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives be rescued from the fierce?  25 But this is what the Lord says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.  26 …Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” — Isaiah 49:24–26b (NIV)  28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”   30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” — Mark 3:23–30 (NIV) 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.  32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”  33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!  35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” — Mark 3:31–35 (NIV)  30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ — Mark 12:30 (NIV)  You don’t need the right name or background to belong in God’s Family—just a life surrendered in obedience to Jesus. Have I truly surrendered to His Lordship? Am I obeying His will in the way I live, love, speak, and serve? Are you truly connected to God’s family—or just attending a weekly gathering?

Pastor Jon Verwey Called to Jesus, Sent for the Kingdom It started with twelve—it continues with us 06/29/25 7 Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him. 9 Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. 10 He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. 11 And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” 12 But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was. 13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. 14 Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, 15 giving them authority to cast out demons. 16 These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter), 17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), 19 Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). — Mark 3:7–19 (NLT)  Jesus calls us to be with Him, then sends us out with His authority to proclaim and live out His Kingdom. …The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him. (v. 8b) Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.  …They were to accompany him… (vv. 13-14b) “I’m not a believer, but there is a distinction between being a believing Christian and a cultural Christian. I love hymns and Christmas carols and I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos…” ~ Richard Dawkins …he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. (v. 14c,15) …Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” — Mark 1:14–15 (NLT)  Jesus calls us to be with Him, then sends us out with His authority to proclaim and live out His Kingdom. We are called to be with Him. Do you following Jesus to get something from Him or to be with Him? We are sent out from Him. Do you live your life like you are sent out and authorized by Jesus to “preach” His message wherever you go?

June 22, 2025 Mark 3:1-6 New Living Translation Jesus Heals on the Sabbath 3 Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him. 5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus. Sabbath  Ezekiel 20:11-12 New Living Translation 11 There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. 12 And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who had set them apart to be holy. The “Me God” Christian The Freedom of Being God’s Slave