Valley Life Church - Yakima

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

Why Sabbath isn’t about doing less but trusting more. 05/15/25 Sabbath became a gift to His people— a weekly rhythm of rest, renewal and the unhurried enjoyment of God. 23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:23–28 (NIV) The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (v. 24) …“Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” (vv. 25-26) …“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (vv. 27-28) …“Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” — Mark 2:8–11 (NIV)  The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (v. 27) The Sabbath is “a gift of God to His people—a weekly rhythm of rest, renewal and the unhurried enjoyment of God.” From “a weekly rhythm of rest, renewal, and the unhurried enjoyment of God” to “a way of living marked by rest, renewal, and the unhurried enjoyment of God” “Time off won’t heal you when the problem is how you spend your time on.” ~ Carey Nieuwhof Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… — Psalm 37:7a (NIV)  Choosing Sabbath is choosing to rest in the truth that God—not our works—gives us our identity and sustains our lives. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (v. 27) What would it look like for you to truly receive the Sabbath as a gift this week? “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. (v. 28) If Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath—and Lord of your life—what does it look like to let Him shape how you live, work, and rest?

Jesus came to make us new, not patch us up. 06/08/25 18 Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”  19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them.  20 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 21 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.  22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” — Mark 2:18–22 (NLT)  You can’t live a new life in Christ by trying to pour Him into your old way of living. Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?” (v. 18) 19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. (v. 19) “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11 NIV) The time will come when the groom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. (v. 20) We don’t fast to earn His acceptance—we fast because we already have it. 21 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.  22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” (vv. 21-22) …the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. — John 14:26 (NIV)  Acceptance Religion: I obey to earn acceptance.        The Gospel: I’m accepted, so I obey. Motivation Religion: I’m driven by fear and insecurity.        The Gospel: I’m motivated by joy and gratitude. Obedience Religion: I obey to get things from God.   The Gospel: I obey God to get God – to enjoy Him and be like Him. Circumstances Religion: Hardship feels like punishment for failing. The Gospel: Hardship is refining love, not rejection. Criticism Religion: Criticism threatens my self-worth. The Gospel: Criticism doesn’t define me—God’s love does. Prayer Religion: I pray mainly when I need something. The Gospel: I pray to be with God and enjoy Him. Confidence Religion: My confidence rises and falls with my performance. The Gospel: My confidence comes from being loved and forgiven in Christ. Identity Religion: My identity is based on my performance and morality. The Gospel: My identity is based on grace through Christ alone. You can’t live a new life in Christ by trying to pour Him into your old way of living. Will you join the celebration of the Groom? Will you let the Holy Spirit continually transform you into a new container—one that overflows with the presence of Jesus?