Keys for the Renewed Spiritual Life

On Sunday, July 21, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house and he chose to not wash his hands, which led to a teaching opportunity. After instructing them about religious practices, he began to declare a list of “woes” that the Pharisees had incurred upon themselves. Today we looked at three woes. The Woe of Misguided Tithing, the Woe of Seeking Attention, the Woe of Hidden Judgements, and the Woe of Unattainable Expectations. From Jesus’ pronouncements, we can take a moment to examine our spiritual life by reflecting on our practices, evaluating to see if they express God’s love as we love one another, and seeking the Holy Spirit to restore our practices in light of the kingdom of God.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Luke 11:42-46 (NIV)

Keys for the Renewed Spiritual Life

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Remember to Return

On Sunday, July 14, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about when Jesus encountered ten men with leprosy. Jesus chose to engage with them, and instead of healing them instantly, he told them to go to the priest and in their obedience they were healed. Though they were all healed only one took the time to return to Jesus giving thanks for his healing. This man was a Samaritan. From this we see that our encounters with Jesus are not mundane or predictable. Most often they will require something of us. Our obedience to Jesus is the gateway to wholeness and freedom, especially when we remember to return with gratitude, which imprints these interactions on our hearts.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)

Remember to Return

Giovanni Serrato

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Tuning Up Religious Practices

On Sunday, July 7, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house and he chose to not wash his hands, which led to a teaching opportunity. Just as Jesus surprised the people at the dinner, he also uses everyday situations to surprise us and lead us into teachable moments. He then got to the heart by using straightforward language with them. Likewise, Jesus desires that we grow in uprightness and lovingkindness and will speak directly to our hearts to bring the necessary changes to our lives. Lastly, religious practices are designed to draw our hearts back to God through faith, and as such, spiritual practices are a gateway to freedom not an obligation to be bound to.

When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
Luke 11:37-42 (NIV)

Tuning Up Religious Practices

Pastor Stuart Nice

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He Is Our Lord

On Sunday, June 30, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about how to discover Jesus as our Lord. The first step is to recognize the authority of Jesus, in our lives, families, and community and to recognize who we are in Christ, those who are loved and invited to receive God’s salvation in Christ. The authority of Jesus is only a benefit when we are able to submit our hearts and lives to Jesus, as our Lord. We will need to work through issues that would prevent us from bringing our lives under the Lord’s authority. As someone living under the authority of Christ, the benefits and calling are according to the desires of the Holy Spirit.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:7-8 (NIV)

He Is Our Lord

Giovanni Serrato

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He Is Our Light

On Sunday, June 23, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message about when Jesus replied to the people listening to his messages by sharing a metaphor with them. Their unwillingness to receive his message and miracles was like someone having unhealthy eyes. The inability to see what God is doing through Jesus is a darkness to their soul. From this, we see that we can change our perception of the world by having an open heart, responsive to God’s leading. An openhearted perception leads to an openhanded perspective where we can interact with the world with God’s heart, loving freely and fully, and reflecting the light of Christ. Developing and maintaining an openhearted perception and an openhanded perspective comes down to simple practices of devotion, like “Taking in the Good” and “The Miracle Morning,” among other things like nature walks, reading, meditation, and journaling.

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Luke 11:33-36 (NIV)

He Is Our Light

Brook Fonceca

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He Is Our Peace

On Sunday, June 16, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about when Jesus revealed the character of God as our peace and that Jesus is the gateway to experiencing God as our peace. Gio explores Jesus as our source of peace rather than what we can do to attain peace for ourselves. We acquire this peace when we intentionally get to the Lord relationally, from scripture, and through reflecting on our experiences with the Lord in our lives. The power of Christ’s peace reinforces us to remain faithful during challenging times and a source of peace to others in need.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 (NIV)

He Is Our Peace

Giovanni Serrato

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How to Battle Your Unbelief

On Sunday, June 9, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus was preaching to the crowds and challenged them regarding their faith. From this story, we see that we have the opportunity to embrace the tension that we believe and unbelieve at the same time. When we acknowledge this dichotomy, we can focus on God’s ability to meet our needs and return to the Lord in faith, walking boldly in God’s promises for us.

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:29-32 (NIV)

How to Battle Your Unbelief

Pastor Stuart Nice

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How to Handle Spiritual Opposition

On Sunday, June 2, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples about spiritual opposition by refuting the people who were listening to him speak, saying that one can only drive out a demon by the power of God. From this story, Pastor Stuart shared that when we experience spiritual opposition, we need to reestablish unity within our relationship with Jesus by choosing to simply trust Jesus, our Savior, re-securing our identity in Christ, and renewing our focus on kingdom purposes. Jesus said a house divided will fall. When we align ourselves with Jesus and God’s kingdom, we stand in the power of God and can be strong spiritual opposition.

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Luke 11:14-23 (NIV)

How to Handle Spiritual Opposition

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Make It Enough

On Sunday, May 26, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared a message about when Jesus fed the five thousand with a boy’s lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish. The boy became an example of faith, willing to give what he had and allowing the Lord to make something of it. In this story we see that Jesus can make it enough because he sees what we can’t. Jesus is our resource and can make our offerings enough.

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
John 6:1-14 (NIV)

Make It Enough

Giovanni Serrato

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The Father’s Gift

On Sunday, May 19, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to be bold in prayer, trusting that God, the Father, is good and will meet their needs, even giving them his presence, the Holy Spirit. From this story, we are encouraged to be audacious in prayer, knowing that God will welcome us anytime for any reason. We can also trust that God’s will is to give us good things, especially the Holy Spirit.

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:5-13 (NIV)

The Father’s Gift

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 8

On Sunday, May 12, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus invited them to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Pastor Stuart reminded us that this prayer is in the plural you. As such, this prayer that Jesus taught us is for the church as a community. We are not in our testing alone. We have the Holy Spirit and the people of God as help in times of trial and testing and we can find our victory through the power of God’s Spirit within the body of Christ.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation, *but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

*Some manuscripts include this last phrase, “but deliver us from the evil one.”

Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 8

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Exploring Resurrection: Loving During In-Between Times

On Sunday, May 5, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message about loving one another during the in-between times of Easter (Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost) and the transitional times we find ourselves in. We learn that love is compassion and comfort, which produces simplicity and wholeheartedness and is applied by being present in the moment and proactive on behalf of those closest to us.

“So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
John 13:34-35 (TPT)

We love because God first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (CEB)

Exploring Resurrection: Loving During In-Between Times

Brook Fonceca

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Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 7

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus invited them to pray, “Forgive us our sins.” We learned from this passage that we are invited to walk in harmony with the Lord and with one another. We can maintain this harmony by keeping our relationships open for communication and reconciliation, understanding that forgiveness with one another is to say, “You don’t owe me anything” based on receiving God’s forgiveness when we sin. Grace begets grace. When we receive God’s grace we can extend grace to others.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 7

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 6

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus invited them to pray, “Give us each day our daily bread.” We learned from this passage that we are to have a dependence on the Lord for not only our spiritual needs but our physical needs as well. This dependence is to be renewed each day and expressed by faith that God will provide precisely what we need as we need it.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 6

Pastor Stuart Nice

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How to Store Treasures in Heaven

On Sunday, April 14, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Baldemar Serrato shared a message about storing up treasures in heaven. He shared three simple points.

• Generosity Encouraged: Sowing Cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
  Giving special offerings with a joyful heart.

• How to Build Treasures in Heaven: Sowing for the Spirit (Galatians 6:7-10)
  Giving our lives as an offering to the Lord, following the Holy Spirit’s guidance

• Sowing in the Missionary Field (Philippians 4:10-20)
  Partnering with missionaries by giving generously so that they can serve others in need in places we can’t easily reach.

We have the opportunity to love God by loving one another through giving to meet others’ needs. This kind of service is honored by the Lord and remembered for us in heaven as a credit for the Lord’s blessings.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

No acumulen para sí tesoros en la tierra, donde la polilla y el óxido destruyen, y donde los ladrones se meten a robar. Más bien, acumulen para sí tesoros en el cielo, donde ni la polilla ni el óxido carcomen, ni los ladrones se meten a robar. Porque donde esté tu tesoro, allí estará también tu corazón.
Mateo 6:19-21 (NVI)

How to Store Treasures in Heaven

Pastor Baldemar Serrato

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The Proposal

On Sunday, April 7, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shared an encouraging message from the story of Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus. We learned that Jesus sees us with love and compassion and desires to be a part of our lives. Jesus invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house and was welcomed warmly and with a commitment from Zacchaeus to make restitution to those he had wronged. The invitation to us is to consider what we can offer Jesus as we allow him to come into our lives.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Luke 19:5-6 (NIV)

The Proposal

Giovanni Serrato

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Because He Lives

On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared an Easter message of freedom, love, and hope from John 20:11-16, when Mary Magdalene interacts with the risen Jesus. From this story we learn that because he lives we live in freedom from sin, shame, guilt, and fear. This freedom allows us to focus on our relationship with God and those closest to us. Finally, this freedom empowers us to live fully and freely in the present, not having to relive our past or be in fear of our future, but be present in God’s presence, knowing our future is in God’s hands.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
John 20:11-16 (NIV)

Because He Lives

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 5

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus instructed them to declare, “your will be done.” This declaration can be understood as saying three things. 1) Aligning ourselves to God’s will first, 2) Having an attitude of humility and surrender with joy and enthusiasm, 3) Understanding that we have a mission to usher in God’s kingdom that is coming. When we pray, “your will be done,” we are giving ourselves over to live a life of faith with passion for God’s purposes and vision for the work of the kingdom through the body of Christ.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

Let your kingdom come.
Let your will be done on earth
as it is done in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (GW)

Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 5

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 4

On Sunday, March 17, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus instructed them to declare, “your kingdom come.” This declaration can be understood as saying three things. 1) All of me, 2) For all of you, 3) For your purposes. When we pray, “your kingdom come,” we are surrendering ourselves to God’s way and will, aligning ourselves to God’s presence and purpose so that we can be God’s people in the world, reflecting the love of Jesus.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

Let your kingdom come.
Let your will be done on earth
as it is done in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (GW)

Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 4

Pastor Stuart Nice

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Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 3

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus revealed to them that out of our intimate relationship with God who is our Father, we can pray, “Hallowed be your name,” which is a request that we reflect God’s glory as a fully integrated child of God.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

Walking with Jesus: Unhurried Devotion, Part 3

Pastor Stuart Nice

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