A Closer Walk with Jesus: Redefining the Role of Jesus in Your Life

On Sunday, October 8, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about when Jesus asked his disciples who the people said he was and then predicted his death. From this passage, Pastor Stuart encouraged us to check our influences and come to the conclusion that Jesus is Lord. We must also remember that even though the circumstances may be different than we expect, it doesn’t change the fact of Jesus’ role in our lives.

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Luke 9:18-22 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Our Role in Miracles

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he fed the five thousand in a remote place. We are encouraged to flip our perspective from the natural to the supernatural, focusing on the way Jesus sees things, and then to follow his plans.

When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. And taking them with Him, He withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing.

Now the day was ending, and the twelve came up and said to Him, “Dismiss the crowd, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; because here, we are in a secluded place.” But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” But they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” (For there were about five thousand men.) But He said to His disciples, “Have them recline to eat in groups of about fifty each.” They did so, and had them all recline. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them and broke them, and gave them to the disciples again and again, to serve the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.
Luke 9:10-17 (NASB)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: The First Sending

On Sunday, September 24, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he called the twelve disciples together and sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom. We also see that Herod was confused by Jesus’ ministry and wanted to see him. From this, we look at the fact that we are in a conflict between allegiances and our dependence upon Jesus testifies to the unstoppable nature of the Gospel.

Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. And as for all who do not receive you, when you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” And as they were leaving, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
Luke 9:1-9 (NASB)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Jesus Our Healer

On Sunday, September 17, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he healed a 12 year old girl, the daughter of a synagogue leader. While Jesus was on his way to heal the girl, a woman who was very sick grabbed the edge of his robe and was subsequently healed. From this story, we are encouraged to focus on Jesus first, placing our faith in Jesus by making him first in our lives, and realizing that there is more than just what we can see and Jesus has the authority to effect change that we cannot.

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:40-48 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Jesus Our Deliverer

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he interacted with the demon-possessed man from whom he cast out the demons into a herd of pigs. In this story we see Jesus’ authority over the devil, understanding that the Christian life is a life of warfare, and that we need to be responsive to Jesus our deliverer.

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Luke 8:34-39 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: The Faith Jesus Is Building

On Sunday, September 3, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus calming the storm as he and his disciples traveled across the lake. The faith that Jesus is building in us is one that goes beyond our boundaries, trusts within the storms, and understands his authority.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Developing a Heart to Hear

On Sunday, August 27, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Lamp and his exchange regarding his mother and brothers. From these passages we are encouraged to develop our hearing to respond to God’s word, to repent by aligning our hearts to the Lord’s will, and to relate in love to those around us.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Luke 8:15-21 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Checking the Soil of Your Heart

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Soils. Each of the four soils represents our hearts and how we engage with the devil, testing and temptations, the world, and with God. Jesus’ heart for us is, through God’s grace, to develop a heart that is supple and fertile for God’s work in our lives.

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Luke 8:11-15 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: What Makes Jesus so Effective?

On Sunday, August 13, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ effectiveness in ministry. Luke’s Gospel takes a moment to step back and reflect on the lives that Jesus had touched, reconnecting them to the mission of the kingdom with a sense of renewal as they worked and walked alongside Jesus. This is an invitation for us to pause, reflect, and recalibrate our lives to God’s calling for us. This is also an opportunity to reconnect with those in your community, which is a means of personal renewal.

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Luke 8:1-3 (NIV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Leading with Mercy

On Sunday, August 6, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ experience while having dinner at a Pharisee’s house, when a woman honored him by anointing and washing his feet, which was seen as an act of worship. In this message, we explored what it means to worship, the issues of misjudging, and the price of peace.

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-38, 50 (ESV)

A Closer Walk with Jesus: Choosing the Purposes of God

On Sunday, July 30, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ teaching about the purposes of God. The ones who knew they were at cross-purposes to God’s ways, end up repenting. Those who think they are doing everything right, don’t feel they need to repent. We all have places where we reject God’s purposes for us and we play games with God, thinking that we are clever. Embracing God’s purposes for us requires that we change our mind, focus our perspective, and believe that God’s ways are best for us.

All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Luke 7:29-35 (NIV)

The Unexpected Way of the Gospel

On Sunday, July 23, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message about Jesus’ interaction with John the Baptist regarding him being the Messiah. Through this story we examine our expectations of Jesus, reminding ourselves of what God can do, and allowing God to surprise us as we look to the Lord for healing, restoration, and peace.

John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Luke 7:18-23 (NIV)

Carrying Hope

On Sunday, July 16, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Giovanni Serrato shared a message about Jesus’ bringing a widow’s son back to life. Jesus steps into a situation where things have gone from bad to worse. Jesus’ heart is for restoration, which brings us to a place of hope as we return to the Lord.

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Luke 7:11-13 (ESV)

Where Do I Stand?

On Sunday, July 2, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Giovanni Serrato shared a message about Jesus’ instruction to establish our lives wisely, building them on a firm foundation on Christ who is our Rock.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:46-49 (ESV)

Learning a New Way to See

On Sunday, June 18, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message about Jesus’ instruction to not judge one another. We look at why we judge, what judging does to us, and following Jesus’ example in response to judging.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Luke 6:37-42 (NIV)

Jesus Speaks: How Your Enemies Are Your Friends

On Sunday, June 11, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about loving your enemies and regarding them as friends because our enemies reveal our hearts, God’s heart, and they set you free to become like Jesus.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:27-36 (NIV)

Standing in the Gap

On Sunday, June 4, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Brook Fonceca shared a message from Jesus’ command, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31) When we choose to take a stance of non-violence, we have the opportunity to discern the situation, recognize the need, and employ our resources to stand in the gap for someone, honoring them and loving them as Jesus does.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:27-31 (NIV)

Jesus Speaks: What to Do with Your Enemies

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ first public teaching, continuing with the passage after the Beatitudes about loving your enemies. Jesus teaches that we have the opportunity to break the cycle of violence by loving, serving, blessing, and praying for those who hate and mistreat us. This is the Gospel way of God’s kingdom.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

The Blessing of Rejection for Jesus

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ first public teaching, continuing with the final passages of the Beatitudes about enduring rejection for Jesus’ sake. Jesus teaches that rejection will come to those whose lives are dedicated to the Lord. We are part of a long line of those who know rejection, but who have also turned that rejection into an opportunity to rejoice. Jesus reminds us that our rejection in this world will result in a blessing in God’s kingdom and in heaven to come.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:22-23, 26 (NIV)

Close to Jesus: How to Know if You Are Blessed

On Sunday, May 14, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ first public teaching, which is the Beatitudes, and explains how to know we are blessed.

1. The blessed know their need for God.

2. The blessed long for connection with God.

3. The blessed trust God with the now and the future.

Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.”
Luke 6:20-21 (NIV)