Valley Life Church - Yakima

Confronting Every Heart with the Truth of Jesus. 10/17/25  Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. 4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. — Mark 6:1–6a NLT  The Gospel of Jesus Christ confronts something in everyone—will you let that offense harden your heart, or lead you to faith? They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. v. 3 The Gospel of Jesus Christ confronts something in everyone—will you let that offense harden your heart, or lead you to faith? A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth… — 2 Timothy 2:24–25 NLT  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. — 1 Peter 3:15 NLT  The Gospel of Jesus Christ confronts something in everyone—will you let that offense harden your heart, or lead you to faith?

Pastor Joe Hite Mark 6:7-13 New Living Translation 7 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast outevil spirits.  8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money.  9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes. 10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town.  11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” 12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.  13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. Hope comes from God’s Kingdom first Let go and give it all up. People may think your different

The Father’s Love Revealed in the Son 10/05/25 21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.  22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”  24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.  30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”  32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.  34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.  38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.  After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).  42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.  43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. — Mark 5:21–43 (NIV) The most perfect, personal gift in history is that Jesus sees us, calls us out of hiding, and welcomes us into His family. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”  24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. vv. 23-24 …a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. vv. 25-26 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. v. 29 “…Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” v. 34 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” vv. 35-36 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. vv. 41-43 The most perfect, personal gift in history is that Jesus sees us, calls us out of hiding, and welcomes us into His family.

Pastor Jon Verwey The crowd values its needs over mercy; disciples embrace God’s mercy and share it with others. 1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. — Mark 5:1 (NIV)  2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. — Mark 5:2 (NIV) 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. — Mark 5:3–5 (NIV)  6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. — Mark 5:6–13 (NIV)  29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” — Matthew 8:29 (NIV)  14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. — Mark 5:14–17 (NIV)  Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. v. 16 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. — Mark 5:18–20 (NIV)  The crowd values its needs over mercy; disciples embrace God’s mercy and share it with others. Am I living like the crowd—or like a disciple?

Trusting Jesus, who is willing and able to sustain us. 09/21/25 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” — Mark 4:35–41 (NIV)  Faith that can sleep through storms comes from trusting Jesus, who is willing and able to sustain us. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. — Psalm 121:4 (NLT)  Again, we read in the Psalms about the power of our God. You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves. — Psalm 89:9 (NLT)  Jesus is both fully God and fully man at the same time — not half-and-half, not switching back and forth, and not two different persons. He is one person with two natures, always together. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” vv. 40b Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!  Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”  But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.  I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.  — Psalm 3:1-6 (NIV)  Despite our human weakness… …He is willing to sustain us. …He is able to sustain us. … don’t you care if we drown? A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” — Mark 1:40-41 (NLT) Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” — Mark 9:21-23 (NIV) …“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24b (NLT)  Faith that can sleep through storms comes from trusting Jesus, who is willing and able to sustain us.