Valley Creek Church Weekend Messages: Recent Episodes

Valley Creek Church

We are a movement of hope for the city and beyond!

Today we wanted to start Season Three of A Different way with a blackout experience by intentionally removing several service elements we love like lights, videos, and a full band to make Jesus the One thing we focus on. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl walks us through a teaching about gold shields and bronze shields from 1 Kings 10-14 and 2 Chronicles 9-12. We learned that bronze is a picture of man, but gold is made by God. Bronze is a form godliness without any power; it's trying to fight our battles on our own. Gold represents the glory of God; it represents us letting God fight our battles. So, what bronze shields are you carrying around that God wants to replace with His gold shields? Do you have the courage to lay down your bronze shields, lift up your head, fix your eyes on Jesus, and receive God’s gold shields for your life? It’s time to go from bronze living to a golden lifestyle in Jesus’ name! It's time for a different way.

Do we really want to change? If we want to live like Jesus, we first have to decide we want to be His disciples. If we want Jesus's health, we need to first build our life around Jesus's habits. In this message, Pastor John Stickl recaps Season One of our A Different Way series by reminding us that a disciple is a student of Jesus who is training to be like Him. The spiritual practices/disciplines – the lifestyle of Jesus – opens us up to be fully immersed into the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We can't change ourselves, only Jesus can change us. But before He will, we have to first answer His question, "Do you want to get well?"

Do you like the direction your life is going? If we want to do the things that Jesus did on-the-spot, we first have to do the things Jesus did behind-the-scenes. Before we jump into Seasons 3 and 4 of A Different Way this fall, we revisited the first message in our series to again ask ourselves, who am I becoming, and who do I want to become? We are all being molded and shaped into the image and likeness of someone. Is it Jesus? In order to do the things that Jesus did, we need to do the things that Jesus did. This doesn't happen on it's own or simply by "trying" – it happens through training and practicing. Jesus, help us be open to a different way!

In this upcoming season, are you going to choose your routine, or are you going to let your routine choose you? In this message, Pastor John Stickl invites us to prepare our hearts for the fall by asking us who we need to forgive, what we need to grieve, and where we need to obey. There is a race that God has marked out for each of us, and His grace gives us everything we need to run it. Let's look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, to help us identify where we need to forgive, grieve, and obey so we can be free to run our race this fall unhindered!

What is church? Why does it matter? And why are you here? It all comes back to Jesus because our view of Jesus will determine our view of the church. The more clearly we see Jesus, the more clearly we see everything else. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us re-focus on who Jesus is and what He's done for us, he gives us a couple definitions of the church, and he reminds us of who we are as Valley Creek Church. The church was, is, and always will be Jesus' idea, so, Jesus, have Your church!

Unbelief asks, "What if...?" But unwavering faith says, "Even if...!" In this message, Pastor Becca Reynolds reminds us that our feelings can never lead us into the future God's creating for us... only faith can! Both fear and faith require us to believe in something we can't see. Are you going to choose to let fear of the unknown keep you stuck in the past? Or are you willing to trust that, in God, there is always more? Don't let your belief in bad circumstances become stronger than your belief in a good God! Wherever God is taking us is better than where we've been. Can you believe that is true for your life, regardless of your circumstances?

Are you aware that God is with you wherever you go? In this message, Caleb Chapple, one of our Central Students Directors, teaches us how we can learn from how Joshua led the people of Israel to defeat giants and claim the Promised Land. God's presence is the greatest change agent in the universe, and it's what allowed Joshua and the Israelites to be victorious! But remember, if God didn't go with them, then the desert would have been no different than the Promised Land, and the same is true for us! That dream job, team, school, or relationship without God is still a desert, but when we acknowledge and cling to God's presence, even in the absence of those things, we find joy and freedom! The question isn't, "Is God with me?" The question is, "Am I aware that He already is?"

Who defines your needs? The world, the news, social media, your friends? When God and His Word defines our needs, we can trust that He will always give us what we need to be who He's called us to be and do what He's called us to do. In this message, Justin Lanham, one of our Student Directors, reminds us that God is a good Father, and we can trust Him to meet our needs! And the truth is, what we need from God is really what we want in life – freedom, joy, peace, strength, and breakthrough! So are you letting the world or God's Word define your needs?

Twice a year, we take intentional time to celebrate and then to rest. This helps us stay healthy, refreshed, and focused on the goodness of God! In this experience, leaders from all our campuses came together to worship, pray over each other, celebrate God's goodness, and declare God's promises over our lives. Church isn't a building, it's a family! Jesus has done so much for us, and through unity, we show Him our gratitude.

God didn't create us for worry! In this message, our Next Gen Pastor, Dave Scriven, teaches us that worry is a choice, and when we choose to worry about anything, it's robbing us of a kingdom life full of peace and joy. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus invites us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, promising us that, when we do, He will provide for us. The enemy wants us to live in a constant state of worry, fear, and control, because when we worry, we're paralyzed. But Jesus can – and wants to – carry what's worrying us! So, what are you worried about? Where is Jesus inviting you to seek Him first?

Trusting in God is a foundational part of being a disciple of Jesus. But, how often do we trust ourselves more than we trust God? In this message, Sebastian Mancillas, our Central Students Director, reminds us that trust and doubt can't coexist. If we try to control everything in our lives, then we're not able to surrender to Jesus. When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, they didn't understand everything He was asking of them, but they still trusted and believed that, as they walked forward in obedience, He would provide understanding. The same is true for us! We don't understand first, then follow. We follow, and trust God to give us understanding. Where is God inviting you to trust Him with all your heart?

In times of trouble, we may have heard someone tell us a promise from Romans 8:28, that God works all things for His good – and He does! – but do we believe that? In this message, Dawson Shields, one of our Student Directors, looks back at the life of Paul and Joseph to remind us that God never promised us a life of constant ease and enjoyment, but He does promise us that He will always be at work on our behalf. When we look at our lives through God's perspective, we can see how He can use every situation in our lives to mold and shape us more into the image and likeness of Jesus!

The Bible is full of God's promises for us! In fact, we may know many of them or have them hanging on the walls in our home, but have we claimed these promises in our heart? In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier kicks off our new summer series, 60 Days of Unfamiliar Promises, by reminding us that God's promises are not common or familiar; they're beautiful and sacred. Our beliefs drive our behaviors. So this summer, can we claim, declare, and walk in the truth of what God has promised us?

Throughout Season 2 of A Different Way, we have received a deeper understanding of what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus. In this message, Pastor John Stickl walked us through reviewing all we have heard from God in Season 2 of our A Different Way series. Reflecting on everything God has revealed to us helps us continue to renew our minds with His truth, and a renewed mind can see God's will! Jesus, make us more and more like You.

Jesus loved to celebrate! So as we continue to train ourselves in the ways of Jesus, we can't ignore the practice of celebration! Celebration is paying attention and calling attention to the goodness of God. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that there is always more goodness of God than there is brokenness of the world. Have we trained ourselves to see it? Or are we training ourselves to grumble? Celebration isn't looking at how good we are, or how good a certain situation or circumstance is, it's paying attention and calling attention to how good God is all the time! The goodness of God is everywhere. Are you looking for it?

People of God's kingdom are supposed to have totally different mindsets from the people of this world, because we were created to think like God! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that meditation is spiritual warfare. Whoever has a stronghold on our mindset has a stronghold on our life, which means we can't afford to think a thought that is not full of faith, hope, and love. The primary battlefield of spiritual warfare is in the mind. When we fill our minds with the thoughts of God by meditating on His Word, there will be no room left for anything else. How are you arranging or rearrange your life to fill your mind with God’s Word?

Jesus, have it all – our days, our life, our church – it's only for You. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl invited us to ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we need to confess, repent, surrender, and live differently. Acts 3:19 tells us, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Confession and repentance brings cleansing, renewal, and refreshment. Are you holding onto something that is weighing you down? What would it look like for you to release it to Jesus, and let Him carry you to new places of freedom and breakthrough? The old is gone, the new has come!

Whoever influences our thoughts determines what we see, and when God's Word influences our thoughts, all we see is His kingdom! In this message, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that only a mind that has been renewed by the Word of God can see God's will, and meditating on God's Word is how we renew our minds. When the Word of God defines truth in our lives, the world and it's lies can't get in. Through His Word, God wants to ignite a passion within you as He breaks down every hardened part of your heart. Do you have the courage to let Him?

Jesus spent His life arranging and rearranging His life to memorize and meditate on the Word of God. Meditating isn't just thinking; it's thinking with the Holy Spirit. It's having a vision for our thought life! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that our thoughts lead our life. Whatever we fill our mind with is what our lives will be full of. Remember, we are not a victim of our mindset; we are a product of it! God has given us the freedom to choose what we set our minds on. Are you fixing your thoughts on His Word, or on the world? When was the last time you stopped to think about what you're thinking about? May our hearts and minds hunger and thirst for God's Word!

The deepest question in the heart of every human – the deepest question in each of us – is, "Am I loved?" At Easter, we get to look to Jesus for the answer to that question. In this special Easter experience, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that, when we were lost in sin and shame, Jesus came to show us our worth and invite us to live a life of love. When we know we're loved, it changes everything.

God comes whenever we cry out to Him. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl walked us through specific ways we can pray for our cities to encounter God's presence at Easter! Jeremiah 29:7 says, "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you... Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Prayer is both intimacy and authority. When we spend time praying for God's people, it connects our hearts to what God is doing and reminds us that we're on mission with Him.

Jesus wants us to both rest in and remain in Him. In this special Selah Experience, Pastor Jason Hillier reminds us that the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) is produced in us through the work of the Holy Spirit when we remain in Jesus. Jesus is doing a deep work among us. What's He doing in you, and what's your training plan to live differently?

In Jesus, we find freedom, peace, mercy, joy, and rest. In this special Selah experience, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through a time of rest as we worship together, reflect on God's peace, and have Scripture read over us. In the Book of Psalms, "selah" was written as a break, pause, or rest. Selah allows us to slow down, take a breath, and reflect on the true rest we have in Jesus. Selah doesn't require anything of us except to be present and receive from the Father.

God's Word is His voice preparing us for the things He's created us to do. God is speaking to those who are listening, and we will hear from Him if our hearts truly desire what He has to say. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us to engage God's Word from a Jesus-focused perspective, as a disciple, with God, and with a plan. The point of reading the Bible isn't reading the Bible. The point is meeting with God. How different would our experience with God's Word be if we engaged first with a heart that intends to listen and obey. "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Jesus, may we have a heart to engage Your Word, and ears to hear Your voice.

Jesus is the living Word of God, the Scriptures are the written Word of God, and God's Word is God speaking. Which means the Bible is not a book; it's a voice. In this message, Pastor John Stickl sets the foundation for the spiritual practice of Scripture as he teaches us that the Bible is not contained by leather and pages; it is Spirit and it is life. If we want to see God's kingdom come, we have to surrender our lives to His will, and His will is communicated to us by His Word. No matter what Jesus was experiencing, He dwelt in the kingdom of God, because He loved God's Word and valued God's voice. He knew what God was saying, so He knew how to live in alignment with God's plan for His life. God's Word shows us that living a different way is not only possible, it's normal. If we want to dwell deeply in God's kingdom, God's Word has to dwell deeply in us.

We can't be disciples if we're always in a hurry. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl helped us slow down and reflect on what we've been hearing from the Holy Spirit so far through the A Different Way series. God created us to think deeply about deep things, but the world wants to train us to be shallow. When we take time to pause, listen to God's voice, and open our hearts to Him, we're choosing to live a different way. What has God been speaking to you in this season?

Once we believe that we can actually change, the next question becomes, "How do I change?" In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that we don't actually change ourselves; the Holy Spirit changes us. Through God's Word, godly relationships, trials, spiritual practices, and time, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in our lives, forming us into the image and likeness of Christ to become a person of love. This is spiritual formation! The grace of Jesus both saves us and empowers us to do what we could never do on our own – change. Jesus, help us be open to your changing grace!

Is it even possible to live a different way, and do the things that Jesus did? Can I really change? Our bodies have been trained in the ways of the world. When we spend our lives doing what the world does behind-the-scenes, we naturally and effortlessly do what the world does on-the-spot. But in Jesus, we can be trained to live a different way! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that change is not only possible, it's normative as a follower of Jesus! Our will is not stronger than our training. In order to train ourselves to be godly, we have to first decide that we want to be godly, and that we want to be disciples of Jesus. In other words, if we actually want to change, we have to first decide that we actually want to change! Do you have a vision to become the kind of person God created you to be? Do you believe that you can change? Jesus, help us have the intent to change.

Are you trusting Jesus for eternal life, but not for daily life? Jesus invites to live a different way in every area of our lives – not just for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation. He invites us to be His disciples! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. A disciple is a learner, a student, a follower; one who becomes like the one they're following. Disciples of Jesus arrange their entire life around Him, no matter the cost. We're all a disciple of something or someone, and that thing or person defines what is good, true, and right in our lives. So are you a disciple of Jesus or of something else? Jesus, give us a desire to be Your disciples!

If we want to do the things that Jesus did on-the-spot, we first have to do the things Jesus did behind-the-scenes. In this message, Pastor John starts a new series by asking us this question – who are you becoming, and who do you want to become? We are all being molded and shaped into the image and likeness of someone. Is it Jesus? In order to do the things that Jesus did, we need to do the things that Jesus did. This doesn't happen on it's own or simply by "trying" – it happens through training and practicing. Jesus, help us be open to a different way!

We believe that 2024 is a year that God is going to crown with His goodness! In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier kicked off the new year by asking, how can we have the best life here at Valley Creek in 2024? Through resources like Circles and Join the Movement, we can continue to learn more about God while growing as a spiritual family. Through our 2024 Reading Plan, truth from God's Word can take root in our hearts and reveal more of Him to us. When we are planted in the house of the Lord, we flourish in life! Where is God inviting you to take a next step? Obedience is always celebrated in the kingdom of God!

How different would your life be this year if you really believed you were right with God? On the first day of RE 2024, Pastor John Stickl walked us through an interlude or "selah" – an intentional pause to stop, breathe, and remind ourselves that we are right with God. God's kingdom is not religious activities, duties, or obligations. God's kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy – in that order! When we know we've been made right with God through the finished work of Jesus, we will have peace. And when we have peace, we will be full of joy. Because of Jesus, God is good with you, and you are good with God! Zephaniah 3:17 says that He rejoices over you with singing. Can you hear the song of your interlude?

Christmas is often full of tradition, routine, expected plans, activities, and things we do year after year. The same can be said of many of the people who were part of the first Christmas. They were each doing their own thing and going their own way. But then Jesus came, and He interrupted everything. In this special Christmas experience, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that Jesus doesn't always come the way we expect or want Him to, but He comes the way we need Him to. Christmas is the story of an interruption, and divine interruptions are divine invitations. When we least expected it and least deserved it, Jesus came to interrupt our lives. How will we respond?

Why are kids so good at inviting others to play or hang out with them? Because they know whatever they're inviting people to... is awesome! In this message, Pastor Justin Nall invited us to bring that same childlike joy and excitement to our Someone Else Challenge for this week - inviting someone to a Christmas service! The greatest invitation we could ever give someone is the invitation to come to Jesus. As we invite others to come and see, they can decide to come and follow. Never forget that a simple invitation could change everything for someone else this Christmas!

Celebrating is paying attention and calling attention to the good in someone else, and it's evidence of the goodness of God in our lives! In this message, Justin Lanham taught us that, when our hearts are full of the goodness of God, we're able to see and celebrate where God is at work. Celebrating is a tool that God gives us to release His kingdom to the world around us!

When was the last time someone asked you a meaningful question? Jesus was great at asking questions, because He knew that one question can change everything. Jesus asked questions to help people discover something about themselves, and about Himself, and when they answered... He listened! In this message, Pastor Becca Reynolds teaches us that asking meaningful questions is a way we can live like Jesus, and make a difference in the lives of others. It's how we can get – and stay – outside of ourselves. Never underestimate the power of a simple question!

We live with a spirit of gratitude! Gratitude is the normal response to God's grace and goodness in our lives, and it's about more than just one day; it's a lifestyle. In this special Live Thanks Experience, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through expressing gratitude and surrendering our gratitude to God.

Gratitude is more than saying, "thank you." Gratitude is the response to the goodness of God in our lives! In this message, three of our staff leaders teach us what it looks like to live with gratitude in all circumstances. When we live with gratitude, we're thankful for what we want, but also for what we need. Gratitude helps keep us focused on what we have, not on what we don't. And true gratitude is expressed, genuine, and specific. As we focus on the goodness of God, may our lives overflow with gratitude to Him and to those around us.

One of the biggest keys of getting outside of ourselves is generosity. To love is to be generous, and to be generous is to love! In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier teaches us that, because Jesus is the owner and provider of our finances, we can be generous to those around us. Generosity is good will on display. It's how we combat selfishness, and it's the mark of a follower of Jesus! When the presence of God is our security, the presence of money won't have to be.

If someone asked you, "Who's your neighbor?" how would you respond? Your friends? Your coworkers? Your actual next-door neighbor? In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier teaches us what it looks like to release grace and love to the people God brings to us everyday. And remember, we can't release grace at high speeds. Where is God inviting you to slow down, receive His grace, and release it to those around you? Because no matter what's going on in our lives, we always have time to love the people God brings to us.

We were created to work... and that's a very good thing! Ever since the beginning, God has called and commissioned us to do good work. Work is in the fabric and fiber of who we were created to be! When Adam fell, it changed the way we saw work. But what we lost in the Garden, Jesus restored for us. We're not supposed to work to become anyone or achieve anything; we work because we are God's good work, and we have been empowered by Him to bring His rule and reign — His kingdom come — to all the areas of life. In this message, Pastor John Stickl takes us back to week two of our Hope Carrier Initiative to revisit the message, "Garden City." Work is worship, work will be rewarded, work participates in the creation of the Garden City, and work is practice for eternity.

What does it look like for us to live on mission with God in the midst of our everyday lives? You were created for more than just going through the motions of life. You were created to change your world! In this message, Pastor John Stickl takes us back to our Hope Carrier Initiative, launched in January 2023, to revisit the message from week one, "Created for More." The world is longing for hope; it's longing for Jesus. And because of Jesus, you are a hope carrier – a disciple of Jesus living on mission to change your world!

Be still and know that He is God! There is some knowing of God that can't be pursued; it can only be found in the stillness. In this message, Pastor John Stickl wrapped up our YHWH series by inviting us to still our hearts, minds, and lives to reflect on what we have learned about who God is and what He is like. Throughout this series, have you found yourself thinking about God differently? Is that changing anything about you? Don't go through life without repenting – changing your mind – about who God is! He wants to know you, and He wants you to know Him.

How does God define His goodness? In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks us through Exodus 34, where God declares who He is by proclaiming His compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice. This is God revealing Himself and His goodness to us. And when we focus on that goodness, His glory radiates from our countenance to those around us. As the goodness of the Lord is passing in front of you, how will you choose to respond to who He says He is?

God is good. It's His nature, His character, and His identity. Do you believe that? God is good at being good, and a good God can only do and say good things! Every temptation in our life comes from a place where we're questioning God's goodness. People who really know God know there is always more of Him to discover, and we will never get to the end of discovering the goodness of God.

God is calling us back to the heart of worship, and He's inviting us to put Him back into the center of our lives. In this experience, worship leaders from all our campuses came together at our Flower Mound campus to present songs of sacrifice to God. This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us. He gave the ultimate sacrifice – everything – for us. Our newest worship album, "Songs of Sacrifice" is available now. The heart of this album is to submit a sacrifice to God that actually costs us something. Remember, He's bigger and better than we think! We are a worshipping church, and we are passionate about the presence of God.

What is God's name? When we hear that question, a lot of words may come to mind. He's our rescuer, our redeemer, our Father, and our healer. But what would He say His name is? And what does God's name really mean? Contained within the name of God is the identity, character, nature, glory, destiny, personhood, and reality of who God is. In this message, Pastor John Stickl answers the question, "What is God's name?" by showing us what God says about Himself. God isn't always what we want Him to be, but He's exactly what we need Him to be.

What if Jesus is better than we think? God wants to reveal Himself to us, and the humanity and divinity of Jesus is a pathway to knowing more about the character of God. The main reason Jesus came was to show us what the Father is really like. In Him, we see everything we would ever want to know about God. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that, by looking to Jesus, we can see what it's like to be fully human.

Do you have room in your thoughts for God? Whatever we think about God will directly impact every area of our lives. Our thoughts about God don't change who He is; it changes how we live. The more we focus on God and His faithfulness, the more we are filled with faith! When we have a broken view of God, it creates a broken view of everything else. Spiritual warfare is breaking down arguments and opinions that are contrary to God, and bringing them into submission and surrender to Jesus. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that the most important thing about us is what we think about God.

As a family, we've been praying, fasting, and crying out to God for an awakening. We've been asking Him to turn our hearts toward Him, because we know there is so much more of Jesus and His kingdom to experience. Fasting is how we practice denying our flesh and walking in the Spirit. Today, Pastor John Stickl walked us through praying for God to continue to awaken our hearts to Him, His love, His grace, His Word, His holiness, and the Body of Christ, then we broke our fast with communion. When we fill ourselves with Jesus, it brings peace to our minds, satisfaction to our souls, a firm foundation for us to stand on, and a supernatural strength to sustain us.

We will become that which we turn our hearts toward. Whenever God goes first and awakens our hearts to Him, it creates a choice. Are we going to chose to turn away from the world and continue to lean into Him, or are we going to choose to go back to sleep? Remember, the grace at work within us is so much stronger than the flesh at work against us! As we prepare for a week of prayer and fasting, Pastor John Stickl teaches us six ways that God awakens us – through His creation, His people, signs & wonders, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. God, turn our hearts to You!

Who turns your heart? Whatever our heart is turned to, that's what we're awakened to. Often times, we're awakened to the wrong things (the world) and dead to the right things (the kingdom of God). And no matter how hard we try, we can't awaken our own hearts. So, it's time for an awakening! God, turn our hearts to You! In this message, Pastor John shares how Jesus came to turn our hearts to God, and the evidence of an awakening is worship, holiness, and love.

Ephesians 4:32 tells us, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Forgiveness is key to living a healthy family, and the road to forgiveness is traveled through kindness and compassion. In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier wraps up our 60 Days of Family series by teaching us that, when we remember who we are and what Jesus has done for us, we can choose to walk in the freedom of forgiveness!

What does it look like to be the greatest in the kingdom of God? It might look a little different than we think. The greatest are actually the servants, and God's heart for our families is servanthood. Serving isn't about what we do; it's about who we are. We learn what servanthood looks like by looking to Jesus because Jesus served us best when we deserved it the least. In this message, Sebastian Mancillas shares about the nature of a servant.

Discipline in the world looks a lot different than discipline in the kingdom of God. In the world, discipline looks like punishment. But when we've put our trust in Jesus, we can look at discipline the way God intended us to – as love! In this message, Pastor Dave Scriven teaches us that, since discipline comes from God, we can trust Him to show us how it should look in our families. Healthy discipline is discipleship, and discipline is part of what healthy family looks like.

One of the most foundational ways to have a healthy family is by practicing healthy communication! In this message, some of our teaching team walk us through James 1:19 as we learn how to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. This verse is a framework for how we can live like Jesus in the ways we communicate to everyone in our lives – but it's especially important to follow His example in the ways we communicate to our families. Let's follow the example of Jesus in the ways we listen, speak, and act!

This summer we've been learning all about what it looks like to have healthy families, and today we were reminded that one aspect of a healthy family is having FUN with each other! Across all our campuses, we celebrated God's goodness as we worshipped, gave thanks, meditated on God's Word, took communion, and had tons of fun as one family on mission together. As we prepare for a week of rest, it's good to remember that rest comes from the internal realities of our hearts, not the external circumstances of our lives. Rest comes from knowing who we are in Jesus!

God designed us to live in the presence of the family He has given us! His heart and design is to be present with us, as our good Father, and to put us in a family to be present with one another. To be present means we are wherever we are with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, fully available to do whatever God wants to do. In this message, Eric Sommerhauser teaches us that we can be present with our families by practicing gratitude, saying "no" to what divides us, and investing our wealth (time, energy, finances) in our families. We're all present to something. And when we are present to something, it requires us to be absent to something else. So, are we present with the right things? Joshua 24:15 says, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Remember, it starts with "as for me." Let's decide today that we will be people who choose to carry the ministry of presence.

What's your vision for your family? A better question may be, what's God's vision for your family? A vision is the ability to see a preferred future. It tells you who you're becoming as a family! Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people will perish.” So, where there is vision, the people will flourish! In this message, Pastor Becca Reynolds teaches us what would it look like for our families to flourish – to have a future where we can grow into the full potential of what God designed our lives to be!

So much of what we think about family is often defined by our own experiences and expectations, but unsurrendered expectations lead to ongoing frustrations. When we live surrendered to Jesus, it leads to victories for our family! In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier kicks off our 60 Days of Family series, where we're learning to live as a healthy family together. When we look to God's Word to see His design for family, it can help us dream differently for what our family can look like. Family shouldn't be defined by us or by the world around us; family should be defined by what God says!

In this experience, we wrapped up our Hope Carrier Initiative series. The kingdom of God is a movement of hope, and God wants His kingdom to flow into every area of life, not just in the church. God has empowered us, as His children, to be the ones to carry His kingdom into the places we go every single day! Pastor John Stickl commissioned us to do just that – to be hope carriers, disciples of Jesus living on mission to change their world. We may be in the world, but as followers of Jesus, we are of the kingdom. God has given us the power, ability, authority, and right to change the atmosphere. We are hope carriers! While this is the end of our Hope Carrier Initiative series, it's just the beginning of a lifestyle of living each day as a hope carrier in Jesus' name.

What does hope carrier mean to you? The Hope Carrier Initiative is more than a series; it's a way of life. Being a hope carrier is far more about what God is doing inside of us than what He does through us, and learning to live as a hope carrier is simply learning to live like Jesus. The Kingdom of God isn't complicated or overwhelming; following Jesus is meant to be easy and light. In this experience, some of our leaders have a conversation about what God has been speaking to us throughout the Hope Carrier Initiative, and they share what the heart of being a hope carrier looks like. This is not the end but just the beginning of hope carriers!

How do you define success? In the kingdom of God, success is obedience not results, and obedience is proof of discipleship. So, as hope carriers, success looks different to us than it does to the world. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that hope carriers define success as doing what God asks us to do, when God asks us to do it, how God asks us to do it. We know that it doesn't matter if God's kingdom is coming in the world if it hasn't come first in our hearts. God is a good Father, and He cares that our hearts are soft, tender, and responsive to Him, because He has a hope and future for us. Do you have a vision for a life of obedience to God or a life of results in this world?

Are you present in your life? Or are you just waiting for "it" (school, the semester, the commitment, the season you're in) to be over? Are you present? Or are you focused more on your feelings, circumstances, or your past than on where God's placed you today? In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that being present means wherever we are, we're there with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, fully available, and ready to do whatever God wants to do. As people of God, we have the ministry of presence – the kingdom of God – inside of us, and when we're present in our lives, God's presence can flow through us and change the world around us. Jesus was present in His life, and He wants to be our teacher. Jesus says following Him is easy and light when we allow Him to shape and form the internal realities of our lives. That's when we begin to see God's presence at work in our present.

The evidence of a Spirit-filled life is the ability to dream with God. In other words, a heart that is captivated by God will always be full of dreams! In this message, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that we are God's dream! And the greatest way to steward the garden He has given us is by dreaming with Him about what could happen within it. Do you spend more time pursuing a dream or pursuing God? When we dream without God, our dreams become idols. But when we dream with God, His dreams will become our dreams! Sometimes, those dreams may not even happen in our lifetime. So, are you willing to tend a garden you may never eat fruit from? Dreaming is not about accomplishing a goal; it's about enjoying relationship with our Father. The most important dream of all is becoming more like Jesus!

As followers of Jesus, we are ambassadors of heaven. We have been empowered and created to change our world, and the evidence of a Spirit-filled life is the ability to dream with God! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that dreaming with God is when we partner with Him to create a future that doesn't exist. It's working with God to see His kingdom come in the area of life we have been given to steward! Remember, we are made in the image and likeness of the ultimate Dreamer. So what are you dreaming about?

This is the story of Easter according to Scripture. When we begin to grasp how much Jesus did for us, it changes everything! The story of Easter is good news; the good news of who Jesus is and what Jesus did. He came to show us who the Father is and what life in the kingdom is all about. He came to show us what it looks like to be fully alive, and how to live in complete freedom. All these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31) Share "The Story of Easter" with everyone you know!

Identity determines behavior; who you are determines what you do, and a changed identity changes how we live. Religion is focused on changing how people behave, but God cares about changing what people believe. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that to believe something is to act as if it were so. Our behaviors will always reveal what we truly believe. Do you just say you believe you are free, or do you act as if it's so? Once we actually believe that we have a restored identity, a reconciled relationship, and a redeemed purpose, we act as if it's so by living like a beloved son or daughter, and by rebuilding, restoring, and renewing the areas of life we have been entrusted to. Once we've been touched by the grace of Jesus, we become part of the mission of Jesus. Once we have the life of God in us, we become lighthouses for anyone who is lost in the darkness. What a privilege! So today, Jesus is inviting us to believe. Because once we believe, we act as if it's so, and that's how we carry the life and the light of Jesus to the world around us. It's how we carry hope and change our world!

Hope can't be contained, and hope is on the move! In this message, we hear stories of hope! Stories about kids, students, young adults, business leaders, parents, firefighters, and more — people of the kingdom that are carrying the hope of Jesus into every area of life. Life-change is happening, and God is working through hope carriers. We know that the church doesn't have a mission; the mission has a church! So, what about you? What story is God writing in your life, and who are you going to share it with? Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame [the enemy] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." Your story has an impact! In Jesus' name, you are an overcomer! You are a hope carrier!

When was the last time you felt at rest? When was the last time you felt at peace? In this experience, we take time to mediate on God's word, worship God, experience peace, and take communion together. Scripture is one of the ways the Father shows us who He is, how much He loves us, and how good He is to us. The "Peace (Spoken Scriptures)" track is designed to help remind you of God's truth. What would it look like to create space to stop and rest in the goodness of God wherever you are? Thank You, God, for Your Word.

Sometimes a moment of silence to listen to what God's saying can tell us more than 100 hours of speaking. Anyone who wants to be great at something – whether it's music, sports, or following Jesus – must first learn how to practice. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that hope carriers practice what they've been taught. Hope carriers hear and obey; they listen and respond. If we don't put what we hear from God into practice, we are choosing foolishness. What's the Holy Spirit been saying to you? What's one next step He's inviting you to take?

In Jesus, we receive God's grace, experience His presence, and release His kingdom. Jesus restores our identity, reconciles our relationship, and redeems our purpose. This is the gospel of the kingdom of God, and it all starts with grace. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we are now dead to sin and alive to grace. Sin no longer has the highest influence over our lives! So, how do you know if you're growing in grace? Identity determines behavior. When we believe we are beloved sons and daughters, we will live free in the Father's kingdom. When God tells you who you are, no one (not even yourself) can tell you who you're not. God has given us the ability and the right to destroy the works of the devil, and we need His grace for supernatural empowerment to live differently. We are as close to God as we want to be! This is the Gospel of the Kingdom!

What is the normal Christian life? In Acts 3, people were astonished by the power and godliness of Peter and John as they performed miracles and carried hope in the name of Jesus. But why were the people surprised? In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that when we surrender our will to Jesus, power and godliness are the result. That is the normal Christian life! When we obey God, we get to experience more of Him. When Peter and John healed in Jesus' name, they obeyed and surrendered their wills to allow God to move in and through them, and as a result, they gained access to what was beyond them. They were willing to surrender because they trusted that God is good! What if the kingdom coming to earth is more dependent on our obedience than on God's willingness?

In John 17, Jesus tells the disciples His prayer for us: that we would be in the world, but not of the world. In other words, He prays that we would be hope carriers! We carry hope by bringing the kingdom of God into the world around us. But what is the kingdom? In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that God's kingdom is His rule and reign; it's wherever His will is done. God's will is discovered through what He says and what He does. When we submit and surrender our own will, and align with God's will, His kingdom comes into the world around us!

To become a hope carrier, we need a vision, a foundation, to practice, and a life-giving community. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us build a deeper foundation by sharing further commentary on Week's 2 message, "Garden City." A hope carrier is a disciple of Jesus living on mission to change their world. Which means, if we're ever going to be a hope carrier, we have to first know what the mission is. We're not in a rush, and we don't want to move too quickly past what God is telling us. So grab your Bible, your Hope Carrier Field Journal, and a pen as we revisit "Garden City" together!

We were created to work... and that's a very good thing! Ever since the beginning, God has called and commissioned us to do good work. Work is in the fabric and fiber of who we were created to be! When Adam fell, it changed the way we saw work. But what we lost in the garden, Jesus restored for us! We're not supposed to work to become anyone or achieve anything; we work because we are God's good work, and we have been empowered by Him to bring His rule and reign — His kingdom come — to all the areas of life. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that work is worship, work will be rewarded, work participates in the creation of the Garden City, and work is practice for eternity.

What does it look like for us to live on mission with God in the midst of our everyday lives? You were created for more than just going through the motions of life. You were created to change your world, and the key to doing that is the kingdom of God that lives within you. Colossians 1:27 says when Christ is within us, we become a heavenly treasure chest of hope. We literally become living, walking, and breathing hope! The world is longing for hope; it's longing for Jesus! And because of Jesus, you are a hope carrier - a disciple of Jesus living on mission to change your world. You were created for more! In this message, Pastor John Stickl launches our Hope Carrier Initiative, invites us to discover more of God's kingdom, and learn how we can carry the hope of Jesus everywhere we go.

How are you going to follow and become like Jesus this year? Do you realize that the God of the universe wants to speak to you? The people of God and the Word of God can bring our hearts back to life. We can't cultivate the soil of our own hearts; we need other followers of Jesus to help us stoke the fire of our hearts. It's through Circles that we follow Jesus together! Circles change our life, and God's Word leads our life. God's Word wants to teach and train us how to live like Jesus. When Scripture is in our hearts it leads to success in our lives. Is your heart burning? It's time to engage the people of God and the Word of God this year.

Jesus can RE anything, and in Jesus, there is always more! During Day 3 of RE. 2023, we gathered together to give God our year. We declared Scriptures together, we prayed for our next generation, our Circles, our church, our city, and each other, and we desire to begin this new year by surrendering our families, our finances, our bodies, and our daily lives to God. May His kingdom come in 2023 because in Jesus, there is always more!

Happy New Year! What's your vision for 2023? Reminder, we won't have services at our physical campuses, so grab your friends and family on Sunday, January 1 for a quick message from Pastor John Stickl as we start the new year. In this message, Pastor John shares a preview of what's coming in 2023 here at Valley Creek. Set a reminder & make a plan to watch this experience on New Year's Day!

Merry Christmas! Without Jesus, all we have is darkness, but Christmas is when Jesus came to bring His light into our darkness. May the simplicity of our candlelight experience fill you, your family, and your friends with peace, joy, and hope in Jesus' name! This is a great experience to share with all of those you know.

Are you ready to usher in the awe and wonder of Christmas, or is this season hard for you? No matter how you feel about Christmas, we all face the real danger of missing the true and simple meaning of the season. Pastor Cordel Robinson takes us back to the simplicity of Christmas with five Christmas truths about Jesus. Simply put, Christmas is when the Son of God became a man so that men and women could become beloved sons and daughters of God. May we treasure this treasure throughout the whole Christmas season!

What do we do with what God has shared with us? What do we do with the revelation He's given us? We have a responsibility to give what we have received. The best way we can steward God's kingdom is to give it away to the world around us. In this message, Pastor Becca Reynolds teaches us that, through this kingdom value, we have a responsibility to people, not a responsibility for people. Their response is not our responsibility; our responsibility is to give what we have received from Jesus. So, what have you received from Jesus, and how can you give that away to those around you?

We will do whatever it takes to reach the lost and develop leaders. These aren't just some words we declare; this is the cry of our hearts! It cost Jesus everything to go on mission for us, so it'll cost us something to go on mission for others. In this message, Pastor Dave Scriven shares that this value can only come to pass when we truly believe in the redemptive potential of humanity, and he reminds us that we are on mission with God because He first went on mission for us. So, what are we waiting for? The kingdom within us isn't meant to stay within us - let's go reach the lost and develop leaders!

We are passionate about the presence of God, and we live with a spirit of gratitude. In this experience, we respond to these two values by practicing God's presence and expressing our gratitude together. God's presence holds us together, His presence surrounds us, His presence is within us, His presence is in our godly relationships, His presence is tangible in our worship, and His presence is in our humility, hunger, and holiness. And because of His presence in our lives, we have so much to be grateful for. So, what are you grateful for today?

Gratitude is the normal response to receiving God's grace, and it's the language of God's kingdom. So, how's your gratitude? We live with a spirit of gratitude. In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier shares practical ways to cultivate the garden of gratitude in our lives: stop and reflect, make a list, say it out loud, and say it to others.

What would other people say you are passionate about? Passion is, by definition, that which we suffer for, or that which costs us something. So, what has cost you something in this season? We are passionate about the presence of God; we are a worshipping church. In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks us through that we were created to live in the presence of God, he talks through six dimensions of God's presence, and, ultimately, he shares how God is passionate about and for us. So, let's meet with God together!

Jesus says in Luke 11:28, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” There is a blessing that comes when we slow down and spend time responding to God's invitations! In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through a time of worship and reflection as we put into practice what God has been saying to us about living as a family on mission and doing everything with all our hearts.

How's your heart? Is it healthy, whole, and free, or is it divided, apathetic, or worn out? Do you ever work on your heart? We were created by God to do everything with all our heart because what happens in our heart flows into every area of our life. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us learn that being present, being passionate, and a sense of purity before the Lord is how we do everything with all our heart.

Are you a beloved son or daughter of God living in a family on mission? While we all start as spiritual orphans in this world, because of Jesus, God has adopted us into His family as beloved sons or daughters. The Church is not meant to be a religious institution; the Church is meant to be a family on mission. In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks through what a healthy family on mission looks like: submitted to the Lordship of Jesus, engaged in loving relationships, sacrificially serving one another, costly committed to each other, and living with a sense of purpose.

What would it look like to practice pursuing unity with everything you have in your life today? Unity is when we choose to come into agreement and alignment with God for the good of others and the glory of God. In this experience, all our Campus Pastors and Worship Leaders came together as one to help us practice unity together. Where in your life is Jesus inviting you to pursue unity with everything you have?

One of the best ways to bring God's kingdom to earth is by pursuing unity with everything we have, because the world sees God through our unity. So, what is unity? It's not uniformity, blind allegiance, or tolerance. Unity is when we choose to come into agreement and alignment with God for the good of others and the glory of God. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us see how unity is the heartbeat of the mission of God because God and His kingdom exist in unity.

What if we need to repent on being quick to repent? What if we need to change our thinking on the word repentance? What if repentance is actually how we invite hope into our lives? The main message of Jesus is, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) So, our main response is repentance. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us think about our thinking, align our hearts and minds with God's Kingdom, and move the line on being quick to repent because at the end of the day, repentance is how we get to know God better (Ephesians 1:17).

What if repentance is different than we think? What if, instead of hellfire and brimstone, repentance is a hope-filled encounter with the grace of God? What if we need to actually repent on the word repentance? One of the values of God's Kingdom is being quick to repent. In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks us through how repentance is going back and getting God's perspective. Maturity is not being perfect; it's simply being quick to repent. Repentance is not a one-time event, it's a lifestyle, so, where can you repent (go back and get God's perspective) today?

Are you Jesus-focused, Spirit-filled, and Life-giving? Being Jesus-focused means we focus more on what Jesus has done for us than on what we have to do for Him. Being Spirit-filled means we walk in the character and power of Jesus. Being Life-giving means we're on mission to receive and release the life of Jesus wherever we go. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us see how this kingdom value is the starting point for experiencing kingdom culture in every area of our life.

For the last message in the It's Time series, we reflect back on what the Holy Spirit has been saying to us as we've asked, "What is it time for in my life that glorifies God?" Pastor Jason Hillier helps us look back on what we've learned about aligning our lives with the divine season that God is inviting us into. It's time to move, be planted, make it right, and seek God in Jesus' name!

What is it time for in your life that glorifies God? What does your calendar show about what you believe it's time for? You'll find what you're looking for – so what are you looking for today? In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares that it's time to seek God because it's always time to seek God. Pastor John shares three practical ways to position ourselves to seek God: engage the Scriptures, get around God's people, and practice stillness. How are you going to seek God today?

Where has your heart gotten hurt or experienced pain this last season? What offenses or bitterness have you picked up recently? Who do you need to forgive, apologize to, or thank? One of the highest forms of worship is reconciliation, yet it's often one of the last things we want to do. The heart work is the hard work, and as hard as it is, it's always worth it! In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks us through some heart work in the areas of forgiveness, apologizing, and gratitude because, as far as it depends on us, it's time to make it right in Jesus' name.

What if the Church is actually the most relevant thing for your life in this world? What if it's time to get planted, rooted, established, and committed to the people of God? What if church is actually not about us? A tree is planted and its roots go down deep so it can bear fruit for others to enjoy. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares that the entire point of church is not what we can get, but who we become in the process of following Jesus and giving our lives away to the people around us. It's time to get planted in Jesus' name!

When was the last time you considered your future or destiny? When was the last time you moved forward with Jesus and took a next step? Don't miss the opportunity God has for you in this season. It's time to move in Jesus' name! In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares that maturity is moving toward and with Jesus no matter what. So, instead of asking, "What time is it?" and focusing on our clocks and calendars, let's start asking, "What is this time for?" and focus on aligning our lives with what God is doing in this divine season.

How's this for the description: From our first breath to our last, we're meant to praise God with everything that we are. So, what is praise, why do we praise, and how do we praise? In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through the what, why, and how of praise as we read through Psalm 150 together. Praising God isn't just something we do; praise is life itself!

What is the song your heart is singing today? Is it a song you want others to sing? Psalms 145:4 says, "One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts." If we want to raise up generations of hope carriers, we must look in the mirror and ask what song our heart is singing. In this message, Pastor Dave Scriven helps us see how we can create a new legacy of generational alignment in the midst of our insecurities, our culture, and our time through humility and hunger for Jesus. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 4)

Have you ever forgotten something important? Maybe it was a birthday or anniversary or that person's name on the tip of your tongue. At the same time, we can't get those song lyrics or movie quotes out of our heads. Sometimes we remember the most random things yet forget some of the most important. And sometimes we do this with God. We can't remember the verse we just read, yet we can't seem to forget that sin or brokenness in our past. The Bible reminds us that God forgets our sin, but He doesn't forget us. In this message, Pastor Becca Reynolds helps us see why we forget God's benefits and gives us some ways to practice remembering His benefits. While the moments won't last a lifetime, the memories will. So, don't forget to remember all God has done for you.

What is the desire of your heart? What is the cry of your heart? What is it that your heart wants more than anything? In this message, Leslie Zavala reminds us of the truth from Psalm 73 that in Jesus nothing is wasted and God is ours and we are His forever. God's strength was never meant to be a theory; it was meant to be experienced. So, whatever you're going through today, may God remain the strength of our hearts no matter what.

Happy Fourth of July weekend! We won't have weekend experiences at our physical campuses, so join us for our online-only experience! How's this year of kingdom momentum going for you? We're moving forward with Jesus little by little this year.

Where have you seen God's faithfulness in your life? Maybe at this moment, you find it hard to celebrate because of the pains of life. Maybe there's a prayer you don't want to or even know how to pray. Maybe at this moment, you can't stop praising Jesus for who He is and what He's done. No matter where you're at, because of Jesus, there is so much worth celebrating! In this experience, we talk through the pain, praise, and prayer of the songs of life. So, what song are you singing over your life today?

Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like your wheels keep spinning but you're going nowhere? Are you looking for a way out? Only Jesus can help you get unstuck and satisfy you while you are stuck. In this message, we talk about how God is good even when we're stuck, and when we stop looking for a way out, God shows us a way through.

What songs are you singing? Are the songs of disappointment filling your mind? Do you feel disappointed with circumstances, people, or life? In this message from our teaching team, we talk through what Psalms 11, 12, and 13 have to say about dealing with and overcoming the disappointment in our lives. We're encouraged to remember that God is our foundation, God is our help, and God is good to us. It's time to lift up our heads!

In order to sing a song from your heart, you have to have a song in your heart. So, what is the song of your heart? Is it a song of this world or a song from the Holy Spirit? Is it a song of joy or despair? Is it a song of hope or fear? In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier walks through Psalms 1 and shows us how to meditate on the songs of life. So, as you watch this, may the songs of life bring you peace, joy, and hope over the next 60 days!

The Kingdom of God is divinely designed and has a divine intentionality and plan to it, and as a church, we want to align with that divine design and intentionality. In this message, we walk through three things that are important to us and are by design.

Who runs your life, and what are you hungry for? Those are two important questions we ask in this message because the answer to those questions reveals whether we're walking in the flesh or in the Spirit. Jesus wants us to have all of God, not just some of God. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares that you can have as much of God as you want – so, how much of God do you want?

We don't want the Holy Spirit to just be the most important Person in the room; we want Him to be the most honored Person in the room. In this message, Pastor John Stickl talks about how the gifts of the Spirit function best within the fruit of the Spirit. He shares how the Holy Spirit gives us the character of Jesus by going back and sharing further commentary on Week 3's message, "The Character of Jesus". Grab your Bible, journal, and a pen as we do some character training together!

The Holy Spirit doesn't come to just visit with us, He comes to move in and give us the character of Jesus, the character of the Kingdom of God. Before we can talk about the power of Jesus, we must first understand and receive the character of Jesus. The gifts of the Holy Spirit function best within the fruits of the Holy Spirit. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares that when we submit to the Holy Spirit in the little, He will set us free in every area of our life.

Ever feel like you don't understand who the Holy Spirit is? Is the Holy Spirit a person? Is the Holy Spirit God? How can I talk with Him? Where does He live? Who is the Holy Spirit? In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks through 10 truths the Bible tells us about the Holy Spirit. So, grab a journal as we walk through Holy Spirit 101!

When was the last time you were cut to the heart by the presence of God? While the Holy Spirit is the most important Person in the room, He's often the most ignored. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares that we were created to walk with the Holy Spirit every day, and we learn to pray this simple prayer: Holy Spirit, we invite You in.

Is Easter relevant in your seat? Is what happened 2000 years ago on a cross relevant to our lives today? In our Easter experience, we put Easter back in its context and help answer three of the fundamental questions of humanity: "Where did I come from?", "Why am I here?", and "Where am I going?". Our prayer for you is that you'd have an experience and encounter with the resurrected Jesus in your seat.

How is your life? Not just how are you doing, but truly, how is your life? One of the prayers we're praying is that we would live our one life with life. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) In this message, we talk through what keeps us from living our one life and how we can truly live our one life with life.

What if love is different than we think? What if loving others looks different than we think? One of the prayers we're praying is that we would love each other as Jesus loved each of us. In this message, we're reminded of the new command Jesus gives us to love as He has loved us (John 13:34).

Who or what is guiding you? Who or what do you follow? One of the prayers we're praying is that we would embrace spiritual leadership in our lives. A spiritual leader is someone who leads, feeds, and lays down their life just like Jesus did for us, and spiritual leadership guides, protects, and blesses us. So, as we make decisions, process next steps, and move forward with Jesus, may we embrace spiritual leadership in our lives.

What is peace, and how do we get it? In the midst of the business of life, the chaos of this world, or the constant to-dos and reminders, sometimes peace can feel far away. But what if peace is already here? In Jesus, there is peace, no matter what's going on around us. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In this video, we take some time to experience the peace Jesus offers by allowing "Peace (Spoken Scriptures)" to remind us of who we are, who God is, and what we're created to do.

There's a big difference between being set free and living free. Following the Cloud isn't just a cool title or a message series; it's a way of life. It's the simplicity of receiving the grace of God, experiencing His presence, and releasing His kingdom everywhere we go. In this video, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through an experience with the 3 circles as we follow the Cloud one next step at a time.

What were you created to do? What is your purpose? Why are you here? Those are the deep questions of our soul, and our soul will never truly find rest until we realize we've been created to release God's kingdom to the world. In this message, Pastor John Stickl helps us realize work is good, and the good work God has created us to do is bring His kingdom to our sphere of influence.

Do you realize that you can be as close to God as anyone who has ever lived? As we start to receive His grace, we are naturally drawn to experience His presence. We aren't meant to just know about God, we're meant to experience God; in His presence is where we actually change. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares how the Cloud (God's presence) is always leading us to Him and His people one next step at a time.

While grace is a familiar word, its meaning is much deeper than what we think. Grace forgives our sins, changes our identity, and empowers us to live differently. In this message, Pastor John Stickl talks about Circle One of the Father's Heart, Receive His Grace, and how we never graduate from the school of identity.

What if we have nothing to achieve, prove, or earn, but rather everything to receive, discover, and explore? The Three Circles is a simple yet profound way to walk through the Gospel in our everyday lives. We are drawn by grace not driven by expectations. Jesus came to restore our identity, reconcile our relationship with God, and redeem our purpose so we could live free. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares all about the three circles and asks the question, "Why do we do what we do?"

The real question isn’t, “Is God speaking?” It’s, “Are we listening?” And even further, "Do we value His voice?" God is speaking, and He wants to talk with you. In this message, Pastor John Stick reminds us of the value of God's voice and how we can practically hear His voice in our everyday lives.

How do you follow someone? One next step at a time. No matter who or where you are, we all have a next step with Jesus. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares what a next step is and how God leads us in sentences, not paragraphs.

God doesn't want to just set you free, He wants to help you live free in Jesus' name. In this message, Pastor John Stickl shares all about what follow the Cloud is and how it applies to our daily lives. As you watch this message, take some time to ask Jesus: how can I follow the Cloud today?

Ready to be done with apathy? Ready to be done with feeling like you're always losing? It's time to raise the sails of our hearts. It's time to win the moment, the hour, the day, and the year. It's time to follow Jesus little by little, one next step at a time. It's time for Kingdom momentum in Jesus' name!

What does it look like to reLove? Have you forgotten or maybe you've never heard: God loves you? In this experience we spend time diving into God's love.

Happy New Year, Valley Creek! Every year we take a week to let all of our leaders, serve teams, and campuses rest. So, we won’t have services at our physical campuses. Check out this quick message from Pastor John as we head into 2022 together!

Here are 3 encouragements for 2022:

Engage in our Reading Plan each day: https://valleycreek.org/readingplan
Join A Circle: https://valleycreek.org/circles
Don't miss RE: A Three Day Encounter with God! Learn more at https://valleycreek.org/re.

What does a baby in a manger have to do with us in 2021? What is the good news, and why does it bring great joy? Experience the whole story of Christmas from Genesis to Revelation and have an encounter with the living Word of God.

In this message, we're encouraged to honor, listen, and invite as we wrap up the year with healthy relationships.

In this message, we learn that gratitude, encouragement, and being present are essential for healthy relationships.

In this message, we learn how forgiving and apologizing are essential for healthy relationships.

A spirit of gratitude is humility expressed, honors God, and keeps our hearts soft. What if we declared: "God, would you create within me a spirit of gratitude"?

This is one of the most important years of your spiritual journey. What has it been like for you? In this message, we reflect and respond to all that Jesus has shared with our church family in 2021.

For the last message in The Ancient Future series, we reflect on what God has been saying to us and put our faith into action by asking, "What is Jesus saying to me?"

How do we practice the way of Jesus when life gets hard? In this message, we learn about what Jesus has given us to help us walk on the ancient path.

Are you passionate about your purpose? In this message, we learned that serving, building, and inviting are the ancient path.

Radical grace brings radical generosity. In today's message, we learned that whoever has authority over our money has authority over our hearts.

What would it look like if we slowed things down and just enjoyed God's presence? In this message, we practice the way of Jesus by learning to pray together.

In today's message, we learned that prayer is about enjoying God and taking the authority He's given us to release His kingdom.

In this message, we learn that Jesus is our living hope, and we're empowered to share that hope.

What does it mean to live by faith? In this message, we learn the difference between living by sight and living by faith on the ancient path.

In this message, Pastor Alan Platt visits us from Doxa Deo Church and encourages us to remember who we are in Jesus and share Him with our world.

God has something to say to every generation. In this message, we learn that Jesus followed the Father and His voice and that's the way we are called to practice.

What God has said in the past is what He is saying in the present, and what He will say in the future. In this message, we learn that the ancient path is the way forward in the midst of our modern world.

Do you know why we do Circles? In this message, we learn that Circles are where we steward God's word in our lives.

In this message, we learn that if we want more of God, we can find Him in relationships.

In this message, we learn that we're created not only to be built up, but to build others up as we become a dwelling place for God.

Who are you attracting into your life to build a dwelling place to God? In this message, we learn what it means to be living stones and the importance of relationships.

In this message, some of our NextGen teaching team share with us how Jesus models building godly relationships and the importance of them in our lives.

No matter where you’re at on your journey with Jesus, we’re coming out of a season where the toxins of life have had more opportunities than ever to build up. In this message, we learn how to let the Lord remove those toxins from our souls.

In this special online-only experience, we lean into what Jesus has for us by resting, receiving His joy, and enjoying the relationships that He has put in our lives.

Where have you seen God's goodness in your life? Join us for this special experience where we worship to celebrate and show gratitude for all that God has done.

God created men with intention and purpose. In this message, we celebrate and declare what God says about men.

How is your joy today? In this message, we learn where true joy is found and what it means to let the joy of the Lord be our strength.

How is your soul? Do you feel at rest? In this message, we learn how to find true rest in the midst of life.

In 12 minutes, this video recaps the entire Becoming message series.

What has God given you, and what will you do with it? In this message, we learn that discipleship is all about giving what we've received.

How do we know if we're living like a disciple? In this message, we learn that the way to measure discipleship is through love.

God created women with intention and purpose. In this experience, we celebrate and declare what God says about women.

What does it look like to make Jesus the Lord of your life? In this message, we learn that disciples aren't perfect, but they are quick to repent.

Are you more focused on what you have to do for Jesus, or what Jesus has done for you? In this message, we talk about the importance of focusing on the absolutes of the kingdom.

Discipleship isn't about information; it's about relationship! In this message, we focus on the importance of building a relationship with Jesus.

A disciple is a learner or follower that becomes like those they are following. Who are you becoming, and who are you following?

Experience the story. Before you watch this video, take a moment, and prepare your environment. Turn off your lights, close your blinds or curtains, and remove all distractions because we believe God has something great for you. We don't just want you to hear about the Gospel; we want you to have an experience with the Gospel! It's time for The Story.

If you want to start a relationship with Jesus or if there's anything going on in your life, we'd love to pray with you: https://valleycreek.org/prayer

Where do you live unashamed? One of our values is we are a family on mission. The mission doesn't exist for the church; the church exists for the mission. So, how can you live as a family on mission?

Everybody likes a good story. In this message, we hear a unique word from four of our communicators.

It's time to breathe again, believe again, and begin again in Jesus' name. For the last message in the Again series, we reflect on what God has been saying to us and put our faith into action by saying, "I need to ______ again."

Trust is the firm belief in something or someone. So what happens when trust is broken? In this message, we're invited to trust again.

During our two-year checkpoint for Missional Move: Hope For The City, we reflect on what God has been doing in and through the people of Valley Creek.

In this message we remember to stay Jesus-focused, that we're hope carriers, and that we're a harbor of hope.

Are you enjoying God in this season? Because He's enjoying you. In this video, Pastor John lays out three simple ways we can enjoy God today. It's time to choose your own adventure, and enjoy God again!

In the kingdom, success is defined as obedience, not results. How do you define it? In this message, we learn the significance of obeying what God's asked us to do.

When you hold onto offenses, they keep you trapped in the past. So, don't take the bait! In this message, we focus on the significance of forgiveness and letting go of offenses.

Connecting isn't about feelings, it's about faith! In this message, we take a look at the importance of relationships and the cultivation of our hearts.

In this message we re-engage with what Jesus is doing and ask ourselves, "What would it look like for me to engage again?"

Where do you need to invite Jesus to renovate in your heart? Let's take some time to ask, listen, and respond to what Jesus has to say to us as we wrap up RE.

Where do you need a “RE” in your life? Re-start? Re-store? Re-connect? In this message, we start our 3-day encounter with God and REfocus on Him.

Happy New Year from Valley Creek! As we prepare for 2021, let's remember what Jesus spoke to us in 2020.

Merry Christmas from Valley Creek! Because of Jesus, PEACE.

In this message we walk through what Christmas at Valley Creek will look like in 2020, while also looking ahead to the amazing things in store for 2021.

What have you been expecting? The hope of Jesus or the brokenness of the world? In this message we take a look at the life of Simeon and Anna from the Christmas story and learn how to expect and hold on to hope.

People with the heart of a king seek the presence of God, so let's take some time to have a moment in His presence right where we are! In this experience, we worship, show gratitude, and pray together as we reflect on the goodness of God in our lives.

Grace gives us the heart of a king, but gratitude, worship, and generosity help us maintain it. In the final message of this series, we're reminded of the ways we can live a kingdom life in the midst of our circumstances. Let's receive the heart of a king together!

As people with the heart of a king, we are called to focus on God's mission not our own comfort. Kings are on mission to see every person experience a kingdom life. In this message, we learn the cause for which we were born.

When David felt like quitting, he strengthened himself in the Lord and persevered. As people with the heart of a king, we are called to do the same! In this message we learn practical steps to strengthen ourselves in the Lord based on the life of King David.

As people with the heart of a king, we are created to honor and submit to our authority. Submission leads to breakthrough, so let's find some freedom together as we learn what kingdom submission looks like by looking at the life of King David!

As someone with the heart of a king, you were created to live a life of honor! In this message we learn the importance of honor and what it looks like to walk it out. Because a king doesn't demand honor, they release it!

Apathy has no place in the heart of a king! In this message, we reflect on the life of David to see how we can replace any apathy in our hearts with the passion of Jesus.

The life of David is a great example of what it looks like to live with the heart of a king! In this message, we talk about the importance and value of our hearts and the characteristics of someone with the heart of a king.

We are a movement of hope for the city and beyond, and we are called to love and honor the people around us. In this message, we take a look back at what it means to be a culture of hope carriers as we step into a new season.

In this message, we focus on Numbers 6:24-26 and pray a blessing over Valley Creek, our serve teams, our church families, and our spheres of influence.

Jesus lived a life full of moments, and moments full of life. In this message, we take a step back and ask ourselves, "Are we aware that the Father is with us in every moment?"

The "Who" is more important than the "What." Let's look back on the story of Moses to remember a lesson we've learned along the way: if Jesus isn't in it, I don't want it.

When Jesus is doing a miracle in our lives, the method may be something we don't expect. Let's look at Scripture and be encouraged by what it really means to live by faith and not by sight.

Throughout Scripture, God shows us what's really essential to our lives: His grace, Spirit, Word, people, and mission. Let's be encouraged by these things and lean into what He wants to do through them!

When you lose your "why," you lose your "way." As the people of God, our "why" is to be a part of God's mission! How are you helping with the mission?

Who is there to pick you up when you fall? If you're following Jesus, you will never be alone because he is always drawing you to others! The people of God are essential!

In the midst of all the experiences, circumstances, people, and media in our lives, what have you allowed to shape your perspective? While all those things are real, it doesn't mean they define truth. The word of God is living, active, and essential to our lives!

The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave comes upon you, and the reason God gave us the Holy Spirit is so that we could enjoy life no matter the circumstances. Take a moment, wherever you are, and say: “Holy Spirit, I invite you in today.”

What is essential in your life right now? Grace (Jesus) is the door through which all of life is found. Grace isn’t just a concept, He’s a person, and His name is Jesus. When was the last time you just said, “God, I need your grace today”?

Don’t lose sight of the grace of God in the midst of the chaos of this world. Just like Noah and his family were kept safe, lifted high above the storm, and gently floated along in the wooden ark - we and our families can be kept safe, lifted high above the storm, and gently float along by holding on to the wooden cross of Jesus. Yes, it feels like the flood keeps coming, but remember you are on the ark...in Jesus' name!

Our theme for 2020 is #SetApart - we are set apart by grace for the good of others and the glory of God! We're halfway through 2020, so what would it look like for you to live set apart in your life right now?

At Valley Creek, we take God's revelation pretty seriously. We want to steward what God has spoken to us, and we want to apply it to our lives. So - before we move on to something new, what revelation is God asking you to steward today in your own life?

Your words reveal your heart. Your behavior reveals your identity. Your time reveals your values. So the question is: how active is your faith?

Today we talked about activating our faith in work and school. It’s not what we do; it’s how we do it because God invites us to work with Him and bring His Kingdom into our work and school.

It is impossible to follow Jesus without inviting Him home because the most important place we activate our faith is in our home.

Racism is evil and is rooted in darkness. As God's beloved sons and daughters, we are called to listen, learn, and love our family of believers.

The world needs you to activate your faith! We are the ones who have been empowered by God to help a hurting world. This is the time to reactivate the 167 of our lives.

The world has had a lot to say in these last 11 weeks but so does God. Today was a great reminder to stop fixing our eyes on the things we can see and fix our eyes on Jesus instead.

You can spend your time thinking about the past or looking forward to the future instead of discerning what’s happening right now in your life. God is inviting you to see that He is doing a new thing now!

Life is a series of seasons, some of which are fun and exciting and others that are just downright hard. No matter what the season, you are never forgotten. Sometimes you just need to hit the reset button in order to rediscover what God has for you.

This is a great reminder that who you’re talking to is so much more important than how you pray!

Did this week knock you down? Don’t miss online services today where we talk about getting back up again. You don’t have to be a victim of this season. You can be victorious in this season!

In this message, our Denton, Flower Mound, and Lewisville campus Pastors share the revelation they've received.

For it is by grace that we have been saved. Where do you need to receive his grace in your life? Jesus is the resurrection and the life!

The things we value are limited, but what God values is unlimited. God is unlimited and so is your relationship with him.

What facts of this world do you need to replace with God's truth?⁠

Jesus quiets the storms of life. Get a fresh revelation of who he is and what he is doing iin your life today!

This season is an incredible opportunity to be a movement of hope for a world stuck in a spirit of fear. No matter where you are, no matter how you feel, no matter what’s going on around you, remember: God is good; Jesus has forgiven you; you are loved; everything is possible. Let’s carry the hope of Jesus wherever we go this week.

We come to the harbor (church) to be filled up, refreshed, and refueled, but we're not meant to stay in the harbor. We're created and empowered to go out into the world to carry the hope of Jesus everywhere we go! ⁠

The world needs you to be set apart. Just start wherever you are and he'll meet you there!

You are holy! Not because of what you do, but because of your relationship with God. He wants relationship, not rules!

We are set apart by grace for the good of others and the glory of God. You don't have to think, talk, act, live, or believe like the world!

Jesus is more than enough for your forgiveness, freedom, healing, peace, provision, and everything in your life! Are you honest, humble, and hungry enough to receive it?

When you catch that you are Jesus' vision, He'll start to become your vision!

Are you looking for peace, hope, and freedom today? Jesus has a constant cleanse of grace for you!

Jesus is more than enough for every area of your life. Do you need to receive that today?

In ten minutes, this video recaps the entire Face Your Giants series.

Learning to live a lifestyle of going to new places with God can help us conquer the giants of this world. Our future is on the other side of the giants we don't want to face. It's time to take hold of these lessons to experience victory over our giants in Jesus' name.

Our giants are anything that stand between us and God, so we must face them. If we don’t face our giants, God will cause our giants to come and face us. (Deuteronomy 2:24, 26-28,30) The good news is that we don’t face our giants alone. God is with us and His presence gives us everything we need to overcome them. Though giants must be acknowledged, we keep our focus on God through our worship of Him. Our worship of God may not seem like the most powerful weapon in our spiritual battle with giants, however, He is the one who is able to turn giants into grasshoppers.

The promises of God are found in His Word, the Bible. His promises are everything we can have through the finished work of Jesus. God’s Word exposes truth and truth is designed to set us free. We seek answers in the world for our giants; answers for the reality of life that we are seeking freedom and victory over. But, we can’t solve spiritual problems with worldly answers. We need Jesus to be at the center. If Jesus is not at the center of our plan to face our giant, we will never find victory.

A giant is anything that stands in between you and the promises of God that feels impossible to overcome. Our giants are real, but they aren’t our friends. If Jesus came to be a conqueror, we should never be okay allowing giants in our lives. We come from a long line of conquerors (Romans 8:37). Jesus calls us to face the giants in our world so we can find freedom from the giants in our minds.

A giant is anything that stands in between you and the promises of God that feels impossible to overcome. Our giants are real, but they aren’t our friends. If Jesus came to be a conqueror, we should never be okay allowing giants in our lives. We come from a long line of conquerors (Romans 8:37). Jesus calls us to face the giants in our world so we can find freedom from the giants in our minds.

In five minutes, we recap The Ascent series.

There is always more, and it’s time to go to a new place with Him in Jesus’ name. When we discover Jesus and find friendship with God, we make a difference and change our world. This is the Gospel. Jesus has restored our identity, reconciled our relationship with God, and redeemed our purpose in this world.

As we discover Jesus and the difference He has made in our lives, we begin to want to make a difference in the lives of other people. God is reaching the lost, building the Church, and making disciples. He does not need us, but He wants us to come be part of His work.

As we discover Jesus and the difference He has made in our lives, we begin to want to make a difference in the lives of other people. God is reaching the lost, building the Church, and making disciples. He does not need us, but He wants us to come be part of His work.

As we discover Jesus and the difference He has made in our lives, we begin to want to make a difference in the lives of other people. God is reaching the lost, building the Church, and making disciples. He does not need us, but He wants us to come be part of His work.

As we walk through life, the areas we once had freedom in seem to get lost. During this series, we have said it’s time to take those things back in Jesus’ name. We have reclaimed our relationship with God, our hearts, our passion, and our freedom. Now it’s time for us to stop and honor what God has asked us to do by responding in obedience.

When God says follow, we want to go where He’s leading. We are anointed as reclaimers and we have been taking things back in Jesus’ name. This week we are reclaiming our freedom. Freedom is knowing who you are, who God is, and what you were created to do. There’s a difference between being set free and living free.

Passion is attractive, inspiring, and contagious, and it points people to Jesus. The active ingredient in a movement of Hope is passion. We dream about our passions, we’re excited to talk about our passions, and we’re willing to sacrifice, invest, and suffer for our passions. Passion creates discipline in our lives. We reclaim lost passion in our lives when we remember, repent, and return to the things we did when we had it.

As we journey through life, we let things into our hearts that were never meant to be there. We’re often not even aware of these things and the impact they have on keeping us from living a healthy life. Just as a little sprinkle of yeast changes an entire bowl of dough, a little sprinkle of yeast will change our hearts. When we give Jesus permission and access to our hearts, He will reclaim the unhealthy parts and restore our hearts to new levels of depth, richness, character, and beauty. In Jesus’ name, it is time to take things back!

In order to pioneer, we must reclaim ground that has been lost. The hardest ground to take is the ground we once had victory over and somewhere along the way lost it. When we have the courage to reclaim what we lost it becomes even better than before. In the end, it doesn't matter why we lost ground, it matters what we are going to do about it and how we are going to move forward. Following Jesus is how we pioneer new ground, steward the ground we already have, and take back the ground we lost. Stop running, start reclaiming. In Jesus’ name, it is time to take things back!

We have blind spots and so do those in our life. We have been called to remove the speck out of our friend’s eye. This is what it means to be a disciple. A disciple is someone who is on a journey to bring all the areas of their life into submission and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. They are being conformed into the image and likeness of Jesus, as are all followers of Jesus.

When we stop focusing on the brokenness in others and start taking responsibility for our own brokenness, we enable Jesus to change our lives. There is no blind spot beyond the grace of Jesus. He exposes them with grace and love. If we can’t see what is, we can’t see what can be. We get rid of the blind spots in our life by listening to healthy, godly people, confessing and repenting, choosing to grow, and looking to Jesus. As we do this, we allow light to overcome darkness.

This is a season of pioneering. We are on a journey of taking ground out there, but God is also inviting us to take ground in our hearts. Sometimes that is the hardest ground to take because we don’t even know we need to take it. God wants to set us free from the blind spots that are keeping us from the fullness of life that He has in store for us.

Our response to God’s grace is generosity. Grace leads us to missional generosity. Missional generosity is using what you have for the good of others and the glory of God. Grace draws us, changes us, and empowers us to live a life bigger than ourselves. When we discover the grace given to us, our natural response should be to give.

Church is the place where you come as you are and become who you were created to be. We gather around the Word of God, encounter the presence of God, and minister to each other as the people of God. Then, we are sent out to be hope carriers in every area of life. Jesus came to be our hope; He came to us, we didn’t have to go to Him.

The church belongs to Jesus. He calls the church “my” church. Valley Creek is one church that meets in multiple campuses and carries hope into thousands of locations. The purpose of planting campuses is to serve cities. Each campus is a safe harbor where we can dump our garbage and be built up to be carriers of hope in our cities. Every follower of Jesus needs a harbor where they can receive and contribute. The church connects us to the presence of God.

We believe God is giving us a new vision for the next season: we are a movement of hope for the city and beyond. We are all at base camp right now, whether you have been with us for one day or since we began this journey. And, we can’t wait to write the next chapter together.

Pioneers are bold and courageous! They go beyond the horizon, they push the limits, they see what’s beyond the bend, they go further and farther than those before them, they blaze new trails, they create the future. A pioneer is someone who moves into the unknown for the good of others and the glory of God. When we ask, listen, and respond by obediently taking next steps, we not only bless those who come behind us, but our lives are blessed as well. If we are going to have the courage to move forward, we need to look back at where God has been faithful in the past.

In 2019, our theme is Pioneer. A pioneer is someone who goes into the unknown with God for the good of others and to bring glory to God. We will take new ground in our relationships, our finances, our spirits, our minds, our cities, our region, and our hearts. God created us to pioneer (Genesis 1:28). If we are not pioneering, we are not living out our purpose. God is inviting us to take ground to expose the giants in our heads and set us free. We can’t allow the giants’ roar to defeat God’s whisper.

In this message we celebrate Christmas together as a church family.

When the grace of Jesus flows through our lives, we can't help but be generous and grateful. In this message, we learn that generosity and gratitude are responses to the goodness of God.

We were created to overflow – to live the adventure of a generous life. In this message, we learn it's grace that teaches us about a lifestyle of kingdom generosity.

We were created to overflow kingdom realities into the world around us through gratitude and generosity. In this message, we discuss the kingdom realities and the importance of tithing.

We all experience unexpected hardtimes, but no matter what's going on, don't give up! IN this message, we focus on kingdom encouragement based in the book of James.

Jesus never worried, hurried, stressed, or lived with regret. He always lived in the present, one moment at a time. Jesus invites us to be present in the moment!

As followers of Jesus, the way we speak should be different than the world around us because we've had an encounter with the life of Christ. In Jesus, our tongues turn from fires of evil to fountains of hope!

How we treat people should be different than the world around us. The more we walk with Jesus the more we love what Jesus loves, and Jesus loves people!

What's normal living for a follower of Jesus is abnormal for those in the world. It's time to stop trying to fit in with the world around us because God has called us to stand out!

What you do with what Jesus says determines your experience in life. What will you do with what Jesus is saying to you?

We are taking this year to go back to the basics and become rooted in Jesus, so we can flourish in life. (Colossians 2:6-7, Ephesians 3:17-20) A tree’s roots draw the nourishment it needs from being rooted in the soil. Our roots draw the truth of God into our lives. The soils represent the ways of God and the roots represent the paths with which we draw God’s ways into our lives.

The love of the Father allows us to flourish and it's not until we choose to receive His love that we fully flourish in life. Love is not meant to be known, it is meant to be experienced.

Jesus came to release the unending favor of God in our lives. Favor is when God supernaturally works on our behalf. He gives us favor so we can be empowered to live like Jesus and release the kingdom everywhere we go. Favor is not the possessions we hold in our hands, it’s the perspective we hold in our hearts.

To live a flourishing life, we must believe we are forgiven and righteous in Jesus. Righteousness means in right standing. We can experience that life when we get rooted in Jesus.

The beginning of a flourishing life is to receive the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Although we have all fallen short and missed the mark, we were made to live in the glory of God. Forgiveness is a choice that God has already made, receiving his forgiveness is a choice that we have to make.

Valley Creek is a movement of Jesus-focused, Spirit-filled, life-giving people. We live a life of restful movement; we rest in Jesus and yet we never stop moving forward with Him. Where God is leading us is better than where we’ve been, and we follow His leading one next step at a time. We follow the cloud; we hear God’s voice and follow Him, by faith, into a life of freedom. The Old Testament cloud is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. Today, the cloud of God’s presence doesn’t just surround us but is within us.

The Old Testament hero, Joseph, experienced wave after wave of disappointment but he never became hopeless. In this message, we focus on not allowing the disappointments of today to become disappointment in God or tomorrow's expectations.

Hope is the confident expectation of the goodness of God today, even though we feel forgotten. Sometimes, we feel like we are doing everything right but our circumstances don’t change. If we are going to get from where we are to where God is leading us, we need to learn how to deal with the disappointment of feeling forgotten. Disappointment is normal, but because of what Jesus has done, we don’t have to live with a spirit of disappointment. We can live with a spirit of hope!

Having hope in the midst of disappointment is believing in the goodness of God despite unmet expectations. Unresolved disappointments will lead to a defeated life. If we are going to hold on to hope in the disappointment of life, we must learn how to deal with the disappointment with waiting.

Hope isn't anchored in the things of this world, but in the character of God. That's why hope never fails! Disappointment is meant to be a temporary emotion, not a permanent perspective. In this message we learn how to deal with the disappointments of circumstances by looking at the story of Joseph.

Hope is the belief in the goodness of God despite disappointments. How we handle disappointment will determine the quality of our life, health of our heart, and can lead us to the abundant life that God has for us.

Easter is a celebration of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. God has put the hope for life in our hearts and Easter is a time when we are drawn back to the hope found in Jesus. With the busyness of the season sometimes we miss what Easter is about; it’s about Jesus, who is more than enough. Jesus is inviting us to come back to Him, and become rooted in His love. To live in the awe and wonder of the life we have in Christ.

A kingdom leader is someone that influenes people to move toward Jesus. Shared leadership is when individual leaders sumbit their unique giftings to a common vision and to each other for an exponential return.

In this message we are going back to the basics and building a relationship with Jesus. As the world continues to move faster and be more complex, w ehave an invitation to slow down and simplify. It takes time to focus on being rooted in Jesus.

Serving is one of the most basic aspects of living a rooted life. We are called to show the world the love and compassion of Jesus. When we serve, it reveals God to a broken world while connecting us to his heart.

One of the defining features of the early church was godly relationships. Godly relationships are intentional, face-to-face relationships, where we talk about, learn about, and become like Jesus together. Without godly relationships, we aren't fully alive or fully experiencing the life that God has for us.

Prayer is an important part of our lives, but we often see it as mysterious, confusing, or we feel unqualified and ill prepared to pray. Instead of talking with God we often lean away from it all together. The disciples also wanted to learn how to pray! In the Lord's prayer, Jesus gives us both the principlesand the secret to an effective prayer life. Let's look at what we learn from Jesus about talking with God.

Engaging the Scriptures is the anchor of a rooted life. When we engage the scriptures, we will be rooted and flourish in life. The Word of God is the owner’s manual to being human, it teaches us how He intended us to live, and Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus came to show us what it means to be fully human and fully alive. The Bible is not a book of do’s and don’ts, it is a book of scriptures that live and move in our lives today, not to make us religious or full of fear and striving. Repenting, or changing the way we think, about how we engage the Bible will lead us to a rooted life; strengthened and overflowing with thankfulness.

This year is going to be a good and abundant year because of Jesus. As a church family, we are going to kick off the year with prayer and fasting. Fasting is disconnecting from the world and prayer is connecting with God; giving something up we depend on and replacing it with God. Our theme for 2018 is Rooted In Jesus – flourish in life. This theme is an invitation to go back to the basics of a relationship with Jesus and build our lives in Him.

Wherever Jesus goes, there's a party! We are God's living invitation. In this message we earn to enjoy the party and invite people to it!

Life isn't about dong something or going somewhere, it's about being with someone; and that someone is Jesus. Whether life is comfortable or difficult, He is with us and that is sufficient.

Peace isn't based on externa circumstances, but on the internal reality of Jesus and His fulfillment of the law. It's because of Him that we can rest instead of strive!

One of Valley Creek's values is that we are a family on mission together. In this message we learn what it looks like to be a part of a healthy church family.

How we handle difficulties reveals what we believe about God and what's in our hearts. When we believe that God is bigger than our circumstances, we strengthen ourslelves in the Lord.

In this message we take a look at the life of King David to learn how to overcome temptation. We were created to fight from victory, not for victory!

When we are aligned with God, with one another, and have a clear vision, we move forward in unity. Let's learn how to be in alignment, because there is power and protection in unity!

Following the cloud is about hearing God’s voice and following Him, by faith, into a life of freedom. Following the cloud is a lifestyle of taking next steps with God. When we receive revelation, the temptation is to ask “what’s next?”, however, God is asking us to take time to reflect and take a spiritual assessment. Doing so allows the revelation to “soak” and settle in our hearts.

Following the cloud is living our lives with a willingness to change our plans to respond to what God is asking. Often we hear God, then stop listening instead of being in tune to what God is speaking in the moment. In this message we shift our focus back onto what God is speaking to us right now.

God leads us in small steps, not giant leaps. Each step is designed to help you discover who you are, who he is and what you were created to do. We are drawn by grace, not driven by expectations. The grace of God is more than the forgiveness of sin, it is the complete transformation of identity. Understanding your identity is the foundation of a life of freedom.

Following the cloud is about hearing God’s voice and following Him, by faith, into a life of freedom. Our example of Following the Cloud comes from the Israelites freedom from Egyptian slavery and their journey to the Promised Land. God’s heart is always drawn to the cries of man. God gave the Israelites a cloud to follow; a personal and ever present cloud to show the Israelites that God is intimately personal and ever present. The Old Testament cloud is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. Today, the cloud of God’s presence isn’t above us but rather within us. We may not always understand where the cloud is leading us but we can be confident that with each step God is leading us out of our bondage and into a life of freedom.

If you don't tell your money where to go, it will take you where you don't want to go. In this message, we learn the importance of setting guardrails in the area of finances.

In this message, we discover that sexuality is not an opinion or desire; it's about truth and lordship.

The quality of your life is determined by the condition of your heart, which is why we need guardrails for our hearts.

Guardrails are healthy boundaries established by heavenly wisdom. In this message, we learn how wisdom helps us to stay out of the ditch.

In this message, we learn that the presence of God empowers us for the impossible.

In this message, we learn to stop focusing on what is in front of us and start focusing on who (Jesus) is with us, because with Jesus there is always more to come!

The question isn't, "Is God with me?". It's "Am I aware of his presence?". In this message, we learn how to overcome by becoming aware of what matters most - God's presence.

The story of Daniel's life shows us five things that we need to remember in order to live a godly life in an ungodly world.

In this message we look to the story of Daniel as an example of what it looks like to love and honor the people in your life without having to think, believe, or act like the world.

The world will try to define who you are, but because of Jesus we can live a godly life in an ungodly world. In this message we look at the story of Daniel and how he stood firm in his identity and beliefs.

In this message we learn why unity is powerful.

In this message we learn that we are empowered to answer Jesus’ prayer.

In this message we learn that there's an incredible supernatural protection and power when we are unified or aligned together.

In this message we learn that feeding ourselves the Scriptures will strengthen our hearts.

In this message we learn that changing the way we think can drastically change the way we live.

In this message we learn that one word from God changes everything.

In this message we learn that God wants to speak with you through His Spirit.

In this message we learn that we can choose to strengthen ourselves in the Lord or weaken ourselves in our circumstances.