Close to Jesus: Introduction to Ministry

On Sunday, May 7, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about how Jesus healed many people on one occasion. From this story, we see that Jesus wanted to teach his disciples how to see the people as he does, to see their needs, and to acknowledge Jesus as the source of their healing.

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
Luke 6:17-19 (NIV)

Close to Jesus: Three Themes to Explore

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice led us through an exploration of three themes found in this passage. 1) The key to Jesus’ life and ministry was prayer, submitting himself to God his Father. 2) When Jesus had important decisions, he would spend the night in prayer. Jesus’ example is saying to God, “Not my will, but yours be done.” 3) The decision in this passage was for the Twelve Disciples, but we discover that we are chosen by God in Christ when people have prayed for us to know Jesus. Prayer is the key to bringing our loved ones into God’s family.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Luke 6:12-16 (NIV)

Close to Jesus: Full of Grace and Truth

On Sunday, April 23, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message reminding us that Jesus came to set us free from the Law. As we let Jesus set us free, we’re invited to allow him to silence our inner critic. Finally, Jesus wants to lead us with love, grace, compassion, and truth so that we might be his representatives in our world.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:1-11 (NIV)

Fear: Seeing Ghosts but Hearing His Voice

On Sunday, April 16, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Gio Serrato shares a post-Easter message of encouragement to not live in fear, but to place our focus on the Lord, to listen to God’s voice, follow the direction we hear, and in the moment of distress remember to cry out to the Lord for help.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV)

The Reorientation Principle

On Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared an Easter message encouraging us to expect a sense of disorientation when we experience life-changing events. Jesus promises us, though, that he will be with us and visits us in our hour of need by declaring, “Peace be with you!” Jesus desires for us to place our trust in him and shows us the path to follow that will lead us to deepen our trust in the Lord.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:24-29 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Embracing the New

On Sunday, April 2, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the passage where Jesus talks about new wine skins. Jesus invites us to experience the new thing the Lord is doing in our lives and the renewal of broken parts of our lives. When we embrace the new thing, it establishes a new and living way as we walk in the new covenant provided by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”
Luke 5:33-39 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Jesus Sees You

On Sunday, March 26, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the story of the calling of Matthew (AKA: Levi) and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus looks for mismatched callings and has a place for us on his team if we just follow him and realign our calling in Christ. Jesus sets aside the religious pressure to be judgmental and reminds us that we all need to come to him and change our lives by receiving his grace that empowers us to be like him.

After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Luke 5:27-32 (NKJV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Your Sins Are Forgiven

On Sunday, March 19, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the story of Jesus forgiving and healing a paralyzed man who was let down through the roof by his friends to get to Jesus. Pastor Stuart encourages us to examine our faith by asking, are we judging Jesus, are we making a way to get to Jesus, are we embracing God’s grace through faith?

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Luke 5:17-26 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Breaking with Shame

On Sunday, March 12, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. Pastor Stuart likens leprosy to sin and shame and through Jesus’ touch we have been forgiven and released from sin and shame. Even so, we have a choice to listen to our adversary (the presence of evil in the world), who wants to keep us bound to shame, or to the Holy Spirit, who reminds us of Christ’s reconciling work that makes us new and free. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:12-16 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Seeing Jesus for the First Time

On Sunday, March 5, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we look at the story of Jesus calling Peter, James, and John. Pastor Stuart explains that we all have different comfort levels with Jesus. We may like to be close, or even closer to him. There are times though when we feel Jesus is too close. As we continue to walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit will lead us in resolving our closeness issues with the Lord and guide us to a more fully surrendered life with Jesus.

1. Close
   
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

2. Closer
   
Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

3. Too Close

   They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
   Luke 5:1-11 (ESV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Introducing Jesus’ Power, Part 2

On Sunday, February 26, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we learn about Jesus’ subsequent miracles of healing and delivering people from demonic oppression. In this passage, Jesus is revealed as God’s son and by faith, people came to him to have their needs met. Those who saw Jesus for who he was were healed, delivered, and empowered to share the good news of Jesus.

Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and served them.

Now while the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He was laying His hands on each one of them and healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” And yet He was rebuking them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ.
Luke 4:38-41 (NASB)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Introducing Jesus’ Power

On Sunday, February 19, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we learn about Jesus’ first miracle in Luke’s gospel. This miracle introduces Jesus’ power through his message, his person, and his purpose. We are encouraged to rely on and receive Jesus’ power to bring freedom from the devil’s influence and align us with Jesus’ purpose to bring salvation, healing, and renewal.

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are —the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Luke 4:31-37 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Rejecting Jesus

On Sunday, February 12, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” Today, we are encouraged to see Jesus, the Savior, in our midst, laying aside our spiritual pride, and instead exercising our faith to go where Jesus is leading.

Pastor Stuart ended his message with a song – Jesus Have It All, by Jeremy Riddle

• Song: https://youtu.be/anz_4BZ1-2s

• Songs with lyrics: https://youtu.be/uOEFhAjfX4o

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 4:22-24, 28-30 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Acceptance and Dependance, Part 2

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series about walking with Jesus by following Jesus’ example of transitioning after being tempted and using it as a springboard for ministry by relying on the Holy Spirit’s power to guide him into ministry situations and understanding the needs of others after having his own needs exposed in the wilderness.

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:13-19 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Acceptance and Dependance

On Sunday, January 29, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series about walking with Jesus by exploring the temptations of Jesus who is our example of how to stand strong in the face of temptation by flipping the script that the evil one uses, learning dependence on the Holy Spirit, and trusting that God’s resources are available to us.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Luke 4:1-4 (NIV)

A Deeper Walk with Jesus: The Testing

On Sunday, January 22, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series, “A Deeper Walk with Jesus,” exploring the temptations of Jesus and inviting us to examine our environment. Is it conducive to faith in the midst of temptation? We are also reminded that the devil strives to undermine our faith and lead us to a place of idolatry where our focus drifts away from the Lord. Lastly, the devil likes to use questions to challenge our faith. The fact that we experience questioning is not an indication of our faith but an invitation to engage with Jesus concerning our situation.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Luke 4:1-4 (NIV)

Preparing the Way for a Deeper Walk with Jesus: The Pattern

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice continued our series, “Preparing the Way for a Deeper Walk with Jesus,” reminding us that our identity is in Christ and God is pleased that we are his children. As God’s children, we are filled with the Holy Spirit who leads us to walk in dependence on God’s presence and provision.

1. Stay secure in your identity in Christ:

2. Practice developing awareness of the Holy Spirit:

3. Keep learning dependence:

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Luke 3:21-22, 4:1-3 (NIV)

Preparing the Way for a Deeper Walk with Jesus

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message encouraging us to develop a holy expectation by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us and make our hearts more sensitive toward repentance as a way to prepare us for a deeper walk with the Lord.

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
Luke 3:15-18 (NIV)

Making the Most of 2023

On Sunday, January 1, 2023, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message encouraging us to make the most of the new year by focusing on our relationship with Christ, asking for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and renewing our faith commitments. Pastor Stuart shared with us these journal prompts to help us with our faith commitments in the new year.

1. What's one thing you can do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's an impossible prayer you can pray?

3. What's the most important thing you could do to improve your family life?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year?

5. What's the single biggest time-waster in your life, and how can you redeem the time?

6. What's the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way, by God's grace, you will try to make this year different from last?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing can you plan to do this year that will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT)

The Give and Take

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, VLC gathered in person which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Today, Gio Serrato shared a message about the cost of discipleship, explaining that there is a give and take in every relationship, including with the Lord. When we embrace this reality within our relationships, we can experience peace.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (NIV)