Valley Life Church Sermon | Audio: Recent Episodes
Valley Life Church
Sunday, May 20, 2018 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Dear Children, Something Has Happened To Us
Sunday, Apr 22, 2018 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Dear Children, Perfect Love Casts Out Fear! - 1 John 4:13-21, Romans 8:1-4
Sunday, Apr 15, 2018 Pastor Jason Ogden: Dear Children, If God So Loved Us - 1 John 4:12-17
Sunday, Mar 18, 2018 Pastor Jason Ogden: The Joyful Judge - An Overview of the Book of Zephaniah
Sunday, Mar 11, 2018 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Dear Children, God Is Greater Than Our Heart - 1 John 3:19-23, Hebrews 10:19-25
Sunday, Mar 04, 2018 Pastor Patrick Bowler: An Excurses: Dear Children, Show Me, Don’t Tell Me! - 1 John 3:16-18, James 2:14-26
Sunday, Feb 25, 2018 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Dear Children, Love One Another! - 1 John 3:11-18
Sunday, Jan 15, 2017 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The story of Noah and the Ark is about so much more than just preserving a single family, along with the animals, through a devastating global flood. In it we get the first glimpses of God's redemptive plan of re-creation. The implications for the Christian are beyond measure.
Sunday, Jan 01, 2017 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If The Lord Wills - James 4:13-15, Psalm 90
Sunday, Nov 27, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: The fall had ruined creation but even in the text of the curse God had revealed a future hope. Centuries after that garden scene God made covenant with his people through the giving of the Law which was meant to be yet another reminder of need and revelation of future hope: One who would perfectly fulfill the law, one who is the Life to which the Law points.
Sunday, Nov 20, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: God demonstrated a remarkable restraint just moments after Adam and Eve's plummet into sin. This rhythm would continue throughout Scripture... Man's persistent rebellion and God's consistent grace. Praise God for the proto-evangelium "first gospel" in Gen. 3:15. What mercy, what grace, what love He has shown us, and continues to show us. Amen.
Sunday, Nov 13, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Our story takes a drastic turn in Genesis 3 with the origin of sin and death. What have we done? Lord Jesus, be merciful.
Sunday, Nov 6, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Genesis 1 and 2, we discover God's design for man and woman. This directly addresses timeless questions related to marriage, sexuality and gender.
Sunday, Oct 30, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Genesis 1 and 2, God demonstrates a rhythm of both work and rest. As a culture, we may have both wrong. Jesus models for us a different way.
Sunday, Oct 23, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: When it comes to the origin of the cosmos, what can we know and how can we know it? Are science and faith enemies or allies? How are we to view the six days of creation as recorded in Genesis 1? These are some of the questions we will face as we seek to discover God's intended purpose through the book of Genesis.
Sunday, Oct 09, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The book of Genesis confronted the pagan polytheism of ancient Egypt with a resounding, "One God." Today the book of Genesis likewise confronts the pagan philosophical naturalism of the West with a resounding, "God created." What does the book of Genesis have to say concerning your story, not just with regards to your origin, but with regards to where you are going?
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: As Paul closes out his letter to the Colossian church, he sends greetings from his many fellow workers and servants of Christ. There is much to learn from these men and one particular warning: do not take your eyes of of Christ. We have a place and purpose in God's kingdom, purchased by the blood of Jesus, and it begins and ends with knowing Christ and gazing in wonder at all he is.
Sunday, Sep 25, 2016 Phil Prewette: Suffering in this world is inevitable, but we serve a God Who is active and present in our circumstances. The Gospel is not a defense against pain and suffering, but rather the message of God’s rescue through pain and suffering. God often demonstrates His sufficiency in the midst of our pain.
Sunday, Sep 18, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: In this final piece of instruction Paul gives some very practical marks of the Christian life. First, an upward orientation of persistent, thankful prayer that is alert to will of God and the needs of the world around us. Second, an outward orientation of grace-filled and winsome speech making the most of every opportunity. In short, our very manner of life should declare Christ.
Sunday, Sep 11, 2016 Pastor Patrick and his wife Sarah share about the time away on his Sabbatical.
Sunday, Sep 04, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: In this portion of Paul's letter to Colossae he now gives instruction regarding house order and household relationships of which marriage is the foundation. While there are similarities to other documents regarding house order, there is one important distinction: for Christians, house order is not simply fitting, it is fitting in Christ. Because we are new creations in Christ, we can understand Paul's instructions to husbands and wives to be the primary way redeemed people push back on the effects of the fall.
Sunday, Aug 28, 2016 Pastor Steve McGuyre: God asks the Jesus follower to put on a heart of compassion. The phrase "compassionate hearts" comes from two Greek words that picture us showing deep love and forgiveness for those who are difficult to love. It's like the parables of the Good Samaritan, and the attitude of the father in the Prodigal Son. So how do we do this in our day to day lives? Pastor Steve gives several ways to adopt this "tender mercy" attitude.
Sunday, Aug 21, 2016 Pastor Dan Jones: Paul gives us instruction on putting to death the old self so we can properly reflect Christ and our current standing with Him. We learn that for the Christian, not focusing on the things above, cause us to not reflect Christ. We learn that to not reflect Christ is to trample the gospel and what Christ did for us on the cross.
Sunday, Aug 14, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: Following several warnings in the previous passages, Paul now urges the Colossian Christians to affirm that they have indeed been raised with Christ and because that's true, he instructs, minds and hearts should be oriented towards Christ. This plays out in Christian lives today as an "eternal perspective" that shapes our work, our politics, and even our Facebook pages.
Sunday, Aug 07, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: Human religion is more dangerous than human philosophy when it puts a thin "Christian" veneer over religious effort and regulations. Religious pursuit is the pursuit of material things, much like prosperity theology today places transitory possessions as a measure of faith. When these material pursuits are elevated above Christ, they will squire you to your final disqualification.
Sunday, Jul 31, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: This passage marks the beginning of the instruction piece of Paul's letter to Colossae and focuses mainly on worldly thought and philosophy that is not according to Christ. The tone for this instruction can be compared to a vaccine; you are safe where you are, do not be drawn out by empty philosophical illusions, this is what Christian thought looks like, continue in Christ. Paul engaged in opposition to a gnostic influence in Colossae that sought to defile the purity of the Gospel with worldly thought. That engagement gives us a framework for engaging human thought in our own circles of influence today with the great Gospel of Jesus as the antidote.
Sunday, Jul 24, 2016 Pastor Jason Ogden: It is no secret that the human body is created and designed to walk. Standing up on our own two feet…one foot in front of the other…step by step…from one location to the next…we are created and designed to walk. And likewise the same is true in our spiritual lives. And it is this "walking" that Paul is reminding and encouraging the Christians in the Colossian Church to actually do.
Sunday, Jul 17, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: The climactic summary statement of all we've studied so far is that in Christ are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge. Paul moves through the themes of struggle in his ministry to make Christ known the Gentiles and to the Colossian church. He shows us that Jesus is the motivation and the energy to struggle with joy and the aim of ministry is that everyone be made mature in Christ. When we are captivated by the treasure of Christ, we are safe in him.
Sunday, Jul 10, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: Paul wrote this letter to the Colossian Church to establish them in the faith in the face of false teaching. This strong christological passage takes on the form of a hymn, declaring the eternal preeminence of Christ in all of creation, cosmic in proportion, and his supreme role in the new creation inaugurated by him through his death and resurrection and his headship of the Church. By this, we hostile rebels are no longer alienated but given new citizenship in his kingdom, reconciled to God, made holy and blameless by the blood of the preeminent Christ.
Sunday, Jul 03, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: This passage in the Colossian epistle could be called "Paul's Two-Part Prayer." First Paul and company give thanks to God because the gospel is bearing fruit in the church at Colossae and their faith is centered on Christ as the very substance of hope. Paul then prays God would fill them with the knowledge of his will which will shape their lives because the great news of the gospel can be truly known; God has delivered us from death and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Sunday, Jun 26, 2016 Pastor Tanner Sheahan: We live in a culture teeming with promises of fulfillment. Money, sexuality, possessions or even simplicity and obscurity or scientific advances promise to meet our deepest needs. But these are broken promises from the start and can never heal a broken world. This sermon introduces the overarching theme of Colossians, the infinite richness in the simplicity of knowing Jesus.
Sunday, Jun 12, 2016 Pastor Jason Ogden: John 3:16…you’ll see it at sporting events on signs people hold and painted on faces, and yet, we look at it and fail to be amazed at the massive love in that little verse.
Sunday, Jun 05, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There are so many things to abide in that promise to give us life, but there is only life when we abide in Jesus, the True Vine. We wither if we don’t abide there...there is no fruit apart from him.
Sunday, May 29, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Pastor Patrick Bowler teaches on the biblical qualifications for pastors/elders at the ordination service for Dan Jones and Tanner Sheahan.
Sunday, May 22, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The greatest hope of the Gospel is being where Jesus is forever. How do we get there? Jesus said, “I am the way.
Sunday, May 15, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep. The pastors and elders are under-shepherds, tasked by the Holy Spirit to “care for the church of God, which He obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). The sheep are so valuable to the chief shepherd that he lay down his life for them.
Sunday, May 08, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In this two-part message, Pastor Patrick first talks to parents about the stewardship of their children. Our greatest desire should be that they love the Lord with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind. After the baby dedication, the second part of the message is directed to mothers on this Mother’s Day. He encouraged mothers to pour themselves out for the right things, that’s their call.
Sunday, May 01, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: No one comes to the Father except through Christ..he is the door that we access by faith.
Sunday, Apr 24, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: After Adam and Eve sinned in Genesis 3, the world was plunged into darkness, a darkness that could be felt. Our only hope to be able to see is Jesus, the light of the world.
Sunday, Apr 17, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: All of the Bible, both the Old Testament as well as the new are about Jesus. The Old Testament had promises, and the New Testament had the fulfillment of those promises. The Passover, or feast of the unleavened bread, as well as the manna that the children of Israel ate in the desert, were fulfilled in Jesus who was the Bread of Life.
Sunday, Apr 10, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus did what you could not do and you cannot do, that’s why your little “i am” rests solely on Jesus’ BIG I AM.
Sunday, Apr 03, 2016 Pastor Steve McGuyre: The pursuit to know God, taken seriously, will last your entire life.
Sunday, Mar 27, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: At Easter, we’re not celebrating an event, we are celebrating a person, Jesus Christ. There is redemption only in him.
Sunday, Mar 20, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus suffered the wrath of God for our sin on the cross, and he did this alone…we have no contribution. He was forsaken so that we would never be forsaken. That’s why the cross is glorious.
Sunday, Mar 13, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If your security is not in Christ, than that other thing is an idol and you are worshiping it. When a good thing becomes an ultimate thing, it is no longer a good thing. There’s a better place to hide…in Christ.
Sunday, Mar 06, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Valley Life Church is 10 years old. What does a church celebrate after 10 years? We celebrate the thing we’ve been celebrating all along. JESUS.
Sunday, Feb 28, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: As a believer, Jesus did more than just pay the price for your sin and thereby satisfying the wrath of God, he also washed you clean. "...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" Is. 1:18
Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: When we become believers, the Holy Spirit indwells us and begins a life-long process of transforming us to be more like Christ. The marriage relationship is one of God’s main ways to work out this sanctification.
Sunday, Feb 07, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Family is powerful, appearing in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and the story of Jesus can not be told apart from family. God is our father, a title he has chosen for himself, and we have spiritual siblings, with Jesus being our older brother. We are members of God’s family.
Sunday, Jan 31, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: For believers, our time our on earth is not meant to just be a waiting time…we have a higher purpose, a business to be engaged in. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ in the ministry of reconciliation.
Sunday, Jan 24, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If I forget that the fourth part of the Gospel is "restoration" (creation, fall, redemption, restoration) and is yet to come, then I'll look for it in this world, and I won't find it. This is not my home... "I Am A Citizen of Heaven." The implications here are staggering: emotionally, physically, spiritually, relationally, and politically.
Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: For the believer, there is no possible condemnation. We cannot be separated from God because Jesus experienced separation from God in our place. If you are believer and you still live in condemnation, then what you have heard of the Gospel is incomplete.
Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 Pastor Steve McGuyre: God says to us, “You are more than a conqueror.” It is part of our identity that we conquer through Christ and we can experience this most practically when we pray.
Sunday, Jan 03, 2016 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Christian, your salvation is more secure than you realize. You know why? Because your salvation is not actually in your hands, it’s in God’s hands.
Sunday, Dec 13, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Our relationship with God is a true friendship. It is a mutual relationship that is initiated by Jesus, and is covenantal and everlasting, signed in Jesus’ blood. This friendship is a sacrificial relationship because Jesus laid down his life. Finally, it is also a relationship of trust, God considers us his partners and co-workers.
Sunday, Dec 06, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The Father watched in agony as his Son purchased many sons. Through Jesus' blood shed on the cross, he is bringing restoration to a broken family.
Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 Tanner Sheahan: In our American culture, being asked to be a servant can make us cringe, and being asked to be a slave is totally unacceptable. Yet many writers of New Testament books refer to themselves as slaves to Christ. Being a slave means not being your own. In Christ we are given a new name and a new identity, and there is absolute freedom in being owned by him.
Sunday, Nov 22, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The story of Jacob’s wives, Rachel and Leah, has many elements of acceptance and rejection. Leah was rejected, and yet God chose her to have a son named Judah, in the lineage of the Messiah. One day the answer for our struggle with acceptance would come from her offspring.
Sunday, Nov 15, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus spent 30 sinless years before he went into ministry. He achieved righteousness. However, because of the fall in Genesis 3, we cannot achieve it, we must receive it, and in doing so, we become new creations.
Sunday, Nov 08, 2015 Alex Early: As Christians, we are not our job or who we're married to and we're not defined by our kids, our success, our failure, our social statues or our income. We are defined by being found in Christ, rooted and grounded in God's reckless love.
Sunday, Nov 01, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Your identity is something that is received by faith not achieved by works or activity. You can’t achieve what God wants you to be, you have to receive it. That’s worth remembering.
Sunday, Oct 25, 2015 Pastor Jason Ogden: Jewish culture. Jesus places himself at the center of the meal and reveals to us that he is the true and better Passover Lamb. He is the Lamb of God who whose body broken and blood shed takes away the sins of the world. It is through this meal that Jesus reveals to us just how wonderful he is and how desperately we need to be reminded regularly of his grace.
Sunday, Oct 18, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In our culture, it’s easy for the meaningful to get lost in the drivel. On our Project Housewarming offering Sunday, Pastor Patrick reminded us that our our pledges for this effort should come from a place of thanksgiving as we remember that God, by his grace, has brought us from death to life. That’s meaningful. That’s worth remembering.
Sunday, Oct 11, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The Master wants to see a positive return on his investment (a missional R.O.I.). The bottom line for our church is not how much money is in the bank, but how many disciples we are making…that’s how our stewardship is measured.
Sunday, Oct 04, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: After stressing the necessity of remaining gospel focused, Pastor Patrick introduced “Project Housewarming,” a fund-raising campaign to repair and renovate the facilities that the Lord has provided. We have received an amazing gift that he now expects us to steward well.
Sunday, Sept 27, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: A sermon is a particular message heralding something very specific… the gospel of Jesus Christ. When it comes to the gospel, there are things we cannot add, alter, or omit. We talk about who God is. We talk about who we are. We talk about sin and a fallen world. And then we talk about Jesus, the hero of the story.
Sunday, Sept 20, 2015 Pastor Steve McGuyre: We have a simple yet profound message that changes lives.
Sunday, Sept 13, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: How are you doing...Really doing? Are you going to make it or will you break? When Jesus saw his disciples making headway painfully in the storm, he went out to meet them…walking on water. He is there for you as well, helping you run in such a way that you can finish this race.
Sunday, Sept 06, 2015 Neal McKinney of the Shift Church in Albany, Oregon: Blessed are those who realize that they are spiritually bankrupt, who are broken by life’s circumstances and in despair without hope…Jesus came “to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim liberty to the captives.”
Sunday, Aug 30, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: We live in a time where people are increasingly isolated, and thanks to social media, we have the illusion of being connected. God’s family is meant to meet in an actual place. Besides the Sunday gathering, it’s critical that we meet in Christ-centered loving small groups…that’s where discipleship happens.
Sunday, Aug 16, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: A disciple is… a Spirit-filled student of the Christ-centered life; one whose identity is in Christ and who lives day by day by the light of that Gospel. A disciple is one who reflects the image of the Creator in worship to Him; in relationship with other disciples and to a world, on mission.
Sunday, Aug 09, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The water this world offers is a massive deception. It is supposed to satisfy, but it doesn’t. When you drink the living water that Jesus offers, you’ll not only be satisfied, you’ll want seconds.
Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If the church tries to be like a multi-tool and attempts to do everything, it ends up not doing anything well. In this message, Pastor Patrick talks about the 7 essential attributes of the church.
Sunday, Jul 26, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: On this first Sunday in our new church, Pastor Patrick reminded us that we are like the vassals of ancient times: a weak, helpless people who are in need a Great King. Now we are thankful for the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. Historically, as a people, we’ve never been good at keeping covenants, but praise Jesus that he keeps both his end of the covenant and ours. That’s the gospel.
Sunday, Jul 19, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: At our outdoor worship service in Ralston Park, Pastor Patrick gave us a history of Lebanon and how our new building was connected to the founder of the town. Times have changed, but the gospel has not. Our challenge is to remain true to our calling to proclaim that gospel.
Sunday, Jul 12, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This was Valley Life’s last service in Lebanon High. God has very graciously provided us with a building that we hope to meet in starting July 26. We are thankful for God’s provision of the High School for the last 9 years and look forward to what our next chapter will bring. We know there will be many changes, but we need not be afraid of change because our God is faithful and unchanging.
Sunday, Jul 05, 2015 Tanner Sheahan: Eucatastrophe: The Sudden Joyous Turn - God is the creative author of the primary world, and we create a secondary world. The highest function of any story is a happy ending. God’s story leads to a joyful wedding feast beyond the walls of this world.
Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 Tanner Sheahan: Community Groups are foundational to life at Valley Life Church and its commitment to making disciples for Jesus. Tanner Sheahan, a Community Group Coach, gave a short message on the purpose of Community groups at Valley Life.
Sunday, Jun 07, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The church is to be the pillar and buttress of the truth, not the one that surrenders the truth. If we as a church, or as individuals, move away from the gospel, things begin to unravel and we lose our way. Godliness with contentment, however, is a great means of gain because it has Jesus and not us at the center, and Jesus is the Truth.
Sunday, May 31, 2015 Pastor Steve McGuyre: Ezra was a man who strengthened the spiritual fiber of a people who had been in exile for 70 years. Sometimes it feels like we are in spiritual exile and in need of restoration. Ezra 7:10 gives us the spiritual medicine we need to restore our lives in God.
Sunday, May 24, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Whatever situation you are in, how you conduct yourself matters. Does your conduct promote the Gospel? Does it make Jesus look good? Does it really love people?
Sunday, May 17, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In a season of struggle, we can either give in to desperation or we can pray. When Paul prayed for people in troubling situations, he prayed, not for changed circumstances, but that they would get to know God better.
Sunday, May 10, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Pastor Patrick talks about the significance of motherhood and how Timothy’s “sincere faith” was influenced by his mother and grandmother.
Sunday, May 03, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: We don’t respect elders merely for the office they hold, we respect them for the work that they do. “Because of their work.” Doctrine matters and because of that, leadership matters.
Sunday, Apr 26, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Paul’s concern for the widows in Ephesus was not primarily economic, though that was certainly a piece of it, but was primarily a concern with their relationships…first with God, then with themselves and finally with others. Paul’s motivation for reform was ultimately about the gospel, about restored relationships.
Sunday, Apr 19, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: God disciplines his children because he loves them. His discipline is not meant to crush us because Jesus has already been crushed on our behalf. His discipline is meant to reflect the gospel, as should the discipline in our homes and our churches.
Sunday, April 12, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: So, what do we do the week after Easter? We continue to pursue holiness and godliness, becoming fully-formed disciples, while waiting for and hastening the coming day of God. The work hasn’t changed.
Sunday, April 05, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There will come a day when all the gods of this world will be exposed and what has been true all along will be quite clear...there is only ONE GOD. Don’t settle for lesser things.
Sunday, Mar 29, 2015 Pastor Jason Ogden: In John 12 we have a collision of two kingdoms. The crowds expected their king to come and bring with him things such as freedom, comfort, power, and security, including the overthrow of the Roman government. Jesus brings a different kind of peace…a peace agreement between God and man that is eternally signed, and sealed with his own blood.
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Paul’s day as well as ours, false teachers in the church threaten both gospel and mission. If the church sets the Bible aside, it most certainly will begin to drift. Hebrews 2:1 tells us, Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Pastor Patrick Bowler talks to some of the Valley Life Church men who attended Man Camp 2015 in Antelope, Oregon, on March 6-8, 2015. The weekend clearly had quite an impact on the men and their relationships: with God, their spouses and kids, as well as others.
Sunday, Mar 08, 2015 Pastor Steve McGuyre: Pastor Steve spoke from 2 Corinthians 5, the climax of which says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Knowing our life will soon be past, that truth is truly the hope for believers.
Sunday, Mar 01, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: They say that 2 percent change goes unnoticed, but repeated enough times, there is a dramatic difference. Churches change over time, moving between a liberal gospel-less mission and a fundamentalist mission-less gospel. The drift is from one distortion of the gospel to the other…a little at a time. The true gospel is the restoring force we need…it does not make any 2 percent adjustments.
Sunday, Feb 15, 2015 Debbie Tracy, Director of the Pregnancy Alternatives Center in Lebanon, Oregon, spoke about the state of the Pro-Life movement in general and Linn County specifically. There is much to be praying about, but also much to celebrate. Pastor Patrick followed up with a message from Luke 15 on the prodigal son.
Sunday, Jan 25, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: To God, the church is the most precious thing on earth, and he wants it stewarded well by a group of qualified men. 1 Timothy tells us that the qualification for elders are primarily about character. Most importantly, this group of men still remain under the chief shepherd, Jesus.
Sunday, Jan 18, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: God is serious about the ordering of his household. He created the home to be ordered a certain way, with distinct roles for husband and wife. And, like the home, the church is to be ordered similarly, with distinct roles for men and women. It is important for the health of the home to be ordered rightly, and it is important for the health of the church to be ordered rightly.
Sunday, Jan 11, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This message is a 1st Timothy series refresher after a little break. It is a reminder that 1st Timothy is an important study for Valley Life Church because the elders want to see this church not only survive, but thrive.
Sunday, Jan 4, 2015 Pastor Patrick Bowler: As we look at 2015, may we as a people and we as a church, like Jesus, say, Your will, not mine. We belong to God and need to let him establish the work of our hands.
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: For God so loved that he sent his Son to surely die in our place in order that we might surely live. Romans 8 tells us that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from this love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sunday, Dec 21, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Joy is not happiness, it is a deep, deep, gladness. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2). He did not look at the cross, he looked through it and saw on the other side all those who would be reconciled to God because of it.
Sunday, Dec 14, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Our sin, our desire to be our own god, was a massive affront to God, and we became enemies. Jesus came into the world to mediate this conflict and the hostility between God, His Father, and us. Being the “Prince of Peace,” he succeeded. Now, as it says in Romans 5:1, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: We live in a culture that is full of false hopes, but Biblical hope rests on the very nature of God! He does not deceive or disappoint us. As believers we have a confident expectation that Jesus will return…the Bible states it, and we expect God to follow through.
Sunday, Nov 23, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Paul urges believers to pray and make intercession for those in authority over them. The reason he gives is so that we may live quiet, godly, and dignified lives. However, this is not about our comfort, but about being on God’s mission: His desire to have all people be saved.
Sunday, Nov 16, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Pastor Matt Chandler recently told a group of Acts 29 pastors and ministry leaders, “We will not all make it to the end serving Jesus.” Pastor Patrick said that is why the Bible is full of warnings to hold fast, stay awake and keep on guard. It’s critical that we abide in Jesus to show that we are his disciples, because apart from abiding in Jesus we can’t bear godly fruit.
Sunday, Nov 2, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Every single one of us needs the mercy Paul talks about. Without it, there is zero chance for us. You can’t fix it. Your only hope is Jesus. That’s it.
Sunday, Oct 26, 2014 Pastor Jason Ogden's message at the Affirmation service for Pastor Patrick Bowler.
Sunday, Oct 19, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Moral failure is hard to live with because our conscience haunts us. If we want to keep doing whatever we are doing that is setting our conscience off, we can rationalize and justify our behavior. The problem with that is that it isn’t good enough to just rationalize something for ourselves, we need society around us to agree as well. That helps explain some of our present cultural wars.
Sunday, Oct 12, 2014 Sasha Rasmussen, Pastor Patrick's college band friend, is now a missionary to Argentina. Pastor Patrick interviewed Shasha about the influences that led him to follow God's call into youth ministry in a country so far away.
Sunday, Oct 5, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Paul mentions doctrine seven times in 1st Timothy because he has a heavy message about the false teachings by some of the elders in the church at Ephesus. He wants Timothy to deal with this issue. With the prominence of pluralism in our culture today, it’s a message that applies to our times. Remember, the best way to spot counterfeit doctrine is to dive into the Scriptures.
Sunday, Sept 28, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In 1st Timothy, Paul begins his final instruction to his protege Timothy. In this personal letter, Paul tells this young pastor how God wants his church ordered... after all, it is the household of God, and Paul wants the church to finish strong.
Sunday, Sept 21, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In this message about the importance of community groups, Pastor Patrick points out that Jesus made disciples in community…he modeled relational discipleship. In a culture of isolation and independence with the illusion of intimacy, we, as Jesus followers, can send a message to the world of what Jesus' love looks like in genuine community.
Sunday, Sept 14, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Pastor Patrick spoke about how the term "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" applies to the type of so-called christianity that is quite mainstream in America. It plays well with our increasingly individualistic and narcissistic culture. Moralistic because it's about being a good person, therapeutic because it's about feeling good, and deism because it's about a God who created the world, a moral structure, and us, and then removed himself. The problem is that there is no gospel without talking about sin and God’s wrath because of it, there is no gospel without talking about Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross to take care of our sin, and there is no gospel without talking about Jesus’ victory over death at resurrection.
Sunday, Sept 07, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Every generation needs to read the Bible and re-discover the Gospel. By our very nature, we have nothing with which to please God, and yet, because the Father was pleased with Jesus, we who are in Jesus are pleasing to the Father. That's the Gospel... the good news.
Sunday, August 31, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Genesis 1 there is no context for fear and anxiety, but then in chapter 3, Satan introduces the lie. Anxiety and fear have been with us ever since. Jesus plainly tells us not to be anxious, and then using the example of birds and flowers, explains that we need not worry and fear because God takes care of all of his creation but adds that we are his favorites. He values us above all creation.
Sunday, August 24, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This was the Sunday morning message Pastor Patrick gave at the Valley Life Church 2014 Family Camp held at Camp Attitude near Sweet Home Oregon.
Sunday, Aug 17, 2014 Guest Speaker Keifer Moskaluk: A church planting intern at Soma Church in Tacoma, Washington, shares some of the struggles he has recently faced and how God has shown him that we, as believers, have an imperishable hope in our suffering…that our suffering is not in vain and we are not alone.
Sunday, Aug 10, 2014 Guest Speaker Pastor Ed Skipper: Do you have a need to forgive? Pastor Ed Skipper talks about three reasons to forgive. First, we forgive others because Christ forgave us. We have received mercy and we must give mercy. Secondly, it is God's job to carry out justice, and God clearly states that vengeance belongs to him. Finally, we need to remember that God is sovereign and is actively at work for our good in every situation.
Sunday, Aug 03, 2014 Guest Speaker Pastor Matt Porter: Pastor Matt Porter of Outward Church in Salem, Oregon, takes us through the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19. He highlighted 3 things that Zacchaeus did as he sought Jesus: he ran, he received, and he repented. Even as believers we always need to be seeking Jesus, but we will also always run into barriers…from past church experiences to the busyness of life to personal problems… but Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts, not asking us to take care of all our own problems but to invite him in to dine with us. Don't put off seeking Jesus
Sunday, July 27, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Luke 15: 20 says, "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." That means that the father had been watching the road every day and when they finally reached each other, the father didn’t even acknowledge his son’s prepared speech, it didn’t matter, he had his son back and they were no longer distant.
Sunday, July 20, 2014 Pastor Steve McGuyre: The gospel shoes mentioned in Ephesians 6 are meant to be put on every day so that we can experience the gospel on an ongoing basis. Is the gospel part of your daily life?
Sunday, July 13, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There is no passive position when it comes to Jesus, you accept him or reject him. Mark wants his audience to see Jesus as he really is and then face the decision…What's it going to be?
Sunday, July 06, 2014 Pastor Jason Ogden: There are two gospels waging war at the foot of the cross. The false gospel says, "Save yourself and come down from the cross." In the true gospel, Jesus became sin on our behalf, took God's wrath and became a substitute for the punishment we deserved. The greatest thing Jesus did was to stay on the cross.
Sunday, Jun 29, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: How many of us are “packed” for the trip…for the right trip? We’re often so ready to stand up and claim allegiance to Christ as a disciple, but often totally unprepared for the actually trip. We've got all the wrong things packed, and it’s not going to work…that’s not what it means to be a disciple.
Sunday, Jun 15, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In a place called Gethsemane, Jesus, in his humanity, was shaken, troubled and sorrowful…he knew he was going to drink the cup of God's wrath. The disciples once again completely missed what was going on and slept. Jesus, however, was resolute and set on his path to the cross.
Sunday, Jun 08, 2014 Pastor Jason Ogden: What would you want your last meal to be? Fried Chicken, ice cream, pizza, hash-browns? Jesus took the traditional passover meal and made it about himself.
Sunday, Jun 01, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There are two possible responses to the Gospel, you either believe it or you don't. You accept it or you don't. The woman who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment appears to get what other miss…she sees Jesus as priceless.
Sunday, May 25, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There are many interpretations of Mark 13, but the implication of it all is that we don't know when judgment will happen, so we need to follow Jesus and "Stay Awake!" Our hope does not rest in the proper understanding of the particulars of this passage of Scripture, our hope is in the author and perfecter of our faith.
Sunday, May 18, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: What did the first disciple think when Jesus said, “Follow me”? Initially, the disciples thought following Jesus was going to be the way to power and glory, but Jesus responded by talking about suffering and the cross. The road Jesus was walking was rough and narrow. If we follow him, that will be our road as well.
Sunday, May 11, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: When Jesus was asked by the Scribe what the most important commandment was, his answer included this… "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."Jesus' statement does not reduce the law, because he says ALL your heart, ALL your soul, All your mind and ALL your strength. Jesus was the only one who practiced that for his whole life.
Sunday, May 04, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus' face is fixed towards Jerusalem, and he will not be deterred. At this point, the Sadducees come and take there best shot at Jesus, but again, he cannot be cornered. The issue is Heaven, and Jesus tells them that their trick question exposes that they are wrong, knowing neither the Bible or the power of God. They are on the wide path that leads to destruction.
Sunday, Apr 27, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The Pharisees and Herodians approached Jesus with a question meant to trap him…but you just can't back Jesus into a corner. In response to the issue of paying taxes to the Romans, Jesus pointed out that the denarius coin had Ceaser's image and belonged to Ceasar. In contrast, those who bear God's image need to give themselves to God.
Sunday, Apr 20, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: All non-believers and easy-believers need to contend with the reality of the resurrection. You have to do something, there is no passive position. So, what are you going to do? Don't settle for cynicism. Instead, wrestle with your doubts. If there was a resurrection, then it’s a game-changer…it changes everything.
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 Pastor Jason Ogden: When the religious leaders came to Jesus, he told them the parable of the tenants. In this story, Jesus pointed to himself as the beloved son who was rejected and killed. He was the final messenger, after that…judgment. The next time he comes, he will gather his people and judge those who have rejected him. He will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Sunday, Apr 06, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: When Jesus cleansed the temple, some were offended and scandalized, but his actions were consistent with what he had done throughout the Gospel of Mark. Nothing had changed. The chief priests and the scribes and the elders approached him and challenged his authority, not realizing that they were questioning the ultimate judge. If Jesus has the authority that he says he has, it has real implications for our lives.
Sunday, Mar 30, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus' cursing of the fig tree was a prophetic action, it was a picture of judgment to come. He was deeply moved by that fact that the temple, instead of being a place of access to God, had become a place of exclusion for the gentiles. Jesus' actions weren't to cleanse the temple, but to shut it down.
Sunday, Mar 23, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus doesn’t walk the road everyone expects him to walk...he takes an altogether different path. He pushes back on our perspective on who he is, what the gospel is, and what it means to follow him.
Sunday, Mar 16, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In this passage in Mark, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and he explains to his disciples that he will suffer and die and then rise from the dead. To follow Jesus means following the same road, and the road “up” is hard. Like the disciples, we want position and glory without the work, but in God’s economy, things are flipped. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34.
Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 Pastor Steve McGuyre: Pastor Steve McGuyre encourages us to pray without ceasing by recounting a number of moving and, at times, very personal stories of God answering prayers in miraculous ways. There is also a short perspective on prayer by B.C. Bose.
Sunday, Mar 02, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There are two extreme views of money that are taught in churches. One is the prosperity gospel which sells well but destroys people. The other is the poverty gospel that makes God look like a killjoy. Truth is, money can never mediate our position with God, only Jesus can. We need to surrender all things to God and steward them well because He owns it all.
Sunday, Feb 23, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus pushes past the externals of the rich young ruler to the one place Jesus is not wanted…the heart. Jesus finds the sensitive spot and presses on it. Until we understand that the heart is desperately wicked, we will have no need of the Gospel.
Sunday, Feb 16, 2014 Pastor Steve McGuyre: In the first part of Mark 10, Jesus elevates the status of marriage, women, and children. Pastor Steve reminded us that marriage is a monumental commitment and divorce is the enemy of God's plan. He also pointed out that in this passage, children had an affection for Jesus…they wanted to experience Him. Jesus said that we are to be like children.
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus did not set aside glory and put on flesh in order to play games. Sin is a real problem! Hell is a real place! Jesus came to save us from divine wrath but at this point in Mark, his disciples seem more concerned with their own glory. Jesus says, “Cut it off! Tear it out!" If you’re going to follow Jesus, it is going to cost you everything…there is no halfway when it comes to discipleship.
Sunday, Jan 26, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Mark 9, the disciples are arguing aloud about who was the greatest. While Jesus was going to Jerusalem to serve humanity, the disciples were going to Jerusalem to serve themselves. As Jesus explained to them, in God's economy greatness is flipped... If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.
Sunday, Jan 19, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Seeing Jesus matters! Your view of the Messiahship affects your view of discipleship and how you “peg” Him is how you’ll follow Him. Many will discover that they are not really following Him at all. How’s your sight? Who is Jesus? Who is the Messiah? What does it mean to truly follow Him?
Sunday, Jan 12, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Mark wants his readers to see Jesus…the real Jesus. He knows that it’s going to offend people and be a scandal, but he also knows that once people see the real Jesus, they will be brought to a place of decision. Here at the midway point of the gospel of Mark, the veil is being pulled back on who Jesus truly is.
Sunday, Jan 05, 2014 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus loves you. This is what we need to hear at the top of this new year. You cannot do anything to diminish his love or cause it to grow. Our value is rooted in what Jesus has done, and he has done all things well.
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus came and died for us while we were still “naughty.” Why? Because He loved us. This is completely missing in the song "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." For the naughty, there is no hope whatsoever. Santa would not come and reward anyone who was still “naughty,” but Jesus, on the other hand, would. And he did. Jesus is way better than Santa!
Sunday, Dec 22, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The Jews were expecting a warrior king who would conquer Rome and set up a great nation. When their Messiah came, they were disappointed and rejected him. Jesus was in fact a warrior and conqueror, but it wasn't to bring freedom from the oppression of Rome, but the greater need of freedom from the oppression of sin. Jesus is the perfect solution to our greatest need and he does not disappoint.
Sunday, Dec 15, 2013 Pastor Jason Ogden: Jesus called out the Pharisees and scribes as hypocrites, play actors who looked good on the outside but whose hearts were wicked. All of our hearts are deeply and completely defiled and we desperately need to be cleansed. The scale of the problem is so huge that we need someone outside of ourselves to clean us and save us from God's wrath…we need Jesus.
Sunday, Dec 01, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The disciples in the boat were making “headway painfully.” The answer for their distress as well as ours is Jesus. He is not just any prophet…he is THE Prophet; he’s not just any shepherd…he is THE Shepherd. Jesus is God…Yahweh in the flesh.
Sunday, Nov 24, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Christendom is dead in America. That world is over. We are a post-christian nation and our mission is not to take back America but to bring the Gospel to a culture that does not share our values. However, you can't talk about discipleship and mission without paying a price in persecution and suffering. We need to count the cost and pray for boldness.
Sunday, Nov 17, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Whether it is ordering a great storm to become a great calm, or calming the storm inside a demon-possessed man, or healing a women whose doctors hadn't been able to help for twelve years, or raising a child back to life, we are left asking…Who then is this?
Sunday, Nov 10, 2013 Pastor Steve McGuyre: In the parable of the sower, the seeds are sown, and it is a gift from God when he reveals these truths to our hearts and minds. You are assured that if you accept the Word of God, you will bear fruit. If you give it away, you will bear much fruit.
Sunday, Nov 03, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus isn’t here to set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow an earthly enemy. He is here to establish a heavenly, eternal kingdom and overthrow a spiritual enemy...to bind him up and "plunder his house." What is the “plunder” he is after? The sick and sinners. Jesus is a stronger strong man and you can’t stop him!
Sunday, Oct 27, 2013 Pastor Jason Ogden: Some of the people who rejected Jesus were the religious people, the Scribes and Pharisees. The scandal was that those who knew the Old Testament best and who were waiting for the Messiah, completely missed him. Hardness of heart is a danger to all of us and we need Jesus to expose it in us.
Sunday, Oct 13, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If Jesus is the expected Messiah and the Son of God, you can expect there to be tangible evidence. The evidence seen in Mark 1 is Jesus' demonstrated authority in the calling of his disciples, in his teaching, in his casting out of demons and in his healing the sick.
Sunday, Oct 06, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: …Christ is much more powerful to save than Adam was to destroy. - John Calvin
Sunday, Sep 29, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If the story of Jesus is true, can it be anything but a scandal?
Sunday, Sep 22, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This week we got an overview of the Book of Mark by reading all 16 chapters. Various people participated, both at Valley Life Church and on video.
Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Those whom God has chosen are guarded by Him and their inheritance is imperishable, kept in heaven for them. God doesn't lose His kids. We are saved by grace and kept by grace.
Sunday, Sep 08, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Matthew 28:19 tells us that our mission is to make disciples. We believe that this is done in the context of Christ-centered relationships. What happens on Sunday morning from the platform is the Air War. What happens in our groups throughout the week is the Ground War. A Pastor Mark Driscoll concept. This is frontline stuff…life on life…soldier to soldier. It can get messy and bloody, but we have got to get troops on the ground if we are going to actually accomplish the mission.
Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: A disciple is… a Spirit-filled student of the Christ-centered life; one whose identity is in Christ and who lives day by day by the light of that Gospel. A disciple is one who reflects the image of the Creator in worship to Him; in relationship with other disciples and to a world, on mission.
Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The mission of the church is not complicated… it is a lot of work BUT it is not complicated… Make disciples and plant churches. Acts; 2 Timothy
Sunday, Aug 18, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Throughout the Gospel accounts, they thought Jesus was a madman. They were wrong. They thought he was a heretic. They were wrong. They thought he was a blasphemer. They were wrong. They thought his power came from demons. They were wrong. They thought he was a political figure on some campaign. They were wrong. Everything they thought about Jesus was wrong. And they killed him for it. And they were wrong. At the end of all things, many who did not think that they were wrong are going to find out that they were quite wrong. There is a will to obey outside of our own. A holy God that will not be mocked.
Sunday, Aug 11, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: We must not lose focus. The mission hasn't changed in 2000 years and we must get on it and stay on it, not just because we've been told to (and obedience is a big deal), but because it is life giving. It feeds us. It sustains us. It's better "food." We want to see people meet Jesus. We want to see people saved and transformed. We want to see disciples made. We want to see leaders equipped. We want to see churches planted. It's better "food."
Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The awe of God ruins us for ordinary living, and ordinary living ruins us for the awe of God. How do you get your awe back? Paul Tripp (Dangerous Calling) says, "My counsel is to run now, run quickly, to your Father of awesome glory. Confess the offense of your boredom. Plead for eyes that are open to the 360-degree, 24/7 display of glory to which you have been blind.
Sunday, Jul 28, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Have you ever felt accused? “You’ll never be good enough." “You’re damaged goods.” “You’ve made a huge mess of things.” If that’s the accusation, I’m guilty. The “Accuser” peppers his accusation with some things that aren’t true… “God doesn’t want you.” “You’ve gone too far, you're beyond saving.” NOT TRUE! How are you going to respond to those accusations? Believe them? Try harder? Make excuses? Or…stand before the Lord like Joshua did in humble repentance, waiting for Him to speak on your behalf and remove your guilty and re-dress you in white.
Sunday, Jul 07, 2013 Pastor Jason Ogden: The misunderstanding that many people have with church membership is that they are thinking about it in terms of joining a club such as Costco or BiMart. However, church membership is actually about joining a family, and we are called to relate to one another as members of our own family. Formal church membership is not about control, it's about love and protection, and it’s not just about protecting the name of Jesus but also about protecting you and I. It is meant to show you whether or not you are a true Christian or a fake one and allows us to repent of sin and turn to Jesus now before it too late.
Sunday, Jun 30, 2013 Pastor Steve McGuyre: The 66 books of the Bible show a unity and continuity from Genesis through Revelation, from Moses through John. For those who say the Old Testament reveals a wrathful God and the New Testament show a loving and kind God, one need not look far in the Old Testament to see where God is merciful and forgiving and the New Testament is clear on the wrath of God. God is consistent in both Testaments. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Sunday, Jun 23, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus' week began with the crowd shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" and ended with the same crowd shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!." Jesus may have looked at the triumphal entry as the low point of the week because he knew people's hearts and he may have seen the crucifixion as the high point because on the cross God was seriously glorified.
Sunday, Jun 16, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Using the 23rd Psalm as a backdrop, Pastor Patrick explores what it means to be a shepherd daddy. There are 4 things a shepherd daddy does for his sheep. One, the shepherd knows his sheep, and a good dad knows his kids. Secondly, a shepherd daddy feeds his sheep. Biblically, feeding the sheep means both physical and spiritual nourishment. Thirdly, a shepherd daddy leads his sheep. There is a huge need for direction and discernment and without a shepherd the sheep would be in a world of hurt. Finally, a shepherd daddy protects his sheep. Sheep are completely powerless to protect themselves. They need a shepherd. Dads...your role is a vital one. Do not let our culture tell you otherwise.
Sunday, Jun 9, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: At a glance and on the surface, the beliefs and doctrines of the Jehovah Witnesses don't appear to be all that different from our own. However, as you dig deeper and look at primary doctrines, there are vast differences on issues like the deity of Christ, and we have no room to negotiate. Jehovah Witnesses are not another denomination, they are another faith. Turns out, this heresy goes far back to Arianism and the Nicene Council.
Sunday, Jun 2, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The origin of sex and sexual desire is the heart and mind of God. He is the designer. What does that tell us about the nature of sex? That it is by nature (according to its original design) a good thing. However, as great a gift as sex is, it is still not an ultimate thing. There is a transcendent nature to sex, a glory that is meant to turn our gaze upward, to put on display Christ's self-giving devotion to His church.
Sunday, May 26, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Philippians 2:3-8 gives us the way to take destructive rivalries out of a marriage (or any other relationship) and points to the example that Jesus set for us. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (ESV).
Sunday, May 12, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Moms… what is it that you want most for your children? Isn't it that they are ultimately transformed “from weeds to trees,” and trees that make a name for the Lord? That’s the goal. And, don’t look to Facebook or Pinterest to find your significance or your worth as a mother. Go to the Gospel... first for yourself, and then take the Gospel to your kids. That’s a big job, but one worth pouring yourself out for.
Sunday, May 05, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Pastor Patrick Bowler presented a message for singles in the marriage series. Timothy Keller says, "If [singles] do not have [a balanced, informed view of marriage], they will either over-desire or under-desire marriage, and either of those ways of thinking will distort their lives."
Sunday, April 28, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Divorce and remarriage is always a bad thing. Why? Because it was never a part of God's original plan. Where there is divorce and remarriage, there is always sin. God's design for marriage in Genesis 1 and 2 left no room for either divorce or remarriage...there was absolutely no context for it. Divorce was only allowed (and with narrow exception) because of our hardness of heart. Because of sin. Divorce should never be the 1st option, or the 2nd, or the 3rd, or the 4th...it should be the last thing, even when permissible. The Gospel compels us to aim for reconciliation even when there is sexual immorality.
Sunday, April 21, 2013 Pastor Steve McGuyre: Marriages that are the happiest and most God honoring are marriages where people are nice to each other. When true kindness is exercised in marriage and in life, we see Christ. Pastor Steve gives us a number of practical ways to apply that out in our marriages and other relationships.
Sunday, April 14, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: "When you really believe the gospel, you see that you are first a sinner and only secondarily sinned against." J.D. Greear
Sunday, March 31, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to be sweet to the taste. If you have a nasty, bitter taste in your mouth in regards to Christianity or the message of the Gospel, then you haven't truly heard it, you haven't truly tasted it. According to the Bible, it isn't bitter, it's sweet.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In your marriage, you should serve the future glory of your spouse. If God is transforming your spouse, "from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18), and if He is working to bring him/her to "completion" (Philippians. 1:6), then you have to take responsibility for the role God has called you to in that process.
Sunday, March 03, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: What would greater sexual purity look like for you? The gospel does not allow for any addiction that is too overpowering...the gospel is bigger."If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 ESV)
Sunday, February 10, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: "The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us… Through the gospel, we get both the power and the pattern for the journey of marriage." Tim Keller in "The Meaning of Marriage."
Sunday, February 03, 2013 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Scripture, both Moses and Jesus are referred to as shepherds of the flock of God, the only difference is that one is the picture and the other is the reality. One is the shadow or copy and the other is the true form of these realities. Moses was a shepherd, but Jesus was the great shepherd.
Sunday, January 13, 2013 Pastor Brian Hope of Mission Church in Walla Walla, Washington gave the morning message. | We are locked into small story glory in order to make a name for ourselves, but our hunger is never satisfied. A greater glory is offered to us through Jesus and we live out that bigger story through sacrifice and service. We are called to serve and sacrifice not to gain our identity, but because of our identity in Christ."
Sunday, January 06, 2013 Pastor Jason Ogden: In 2 Chronicles 34 we read about the rediscovery of The Word of God and with that we have a ray of light that pierces through the gloom. We have hope! The question for us is, "Do you believe that this book , the Bible, is the most valuable thing that the world affords, and does your life actually reflect it."
Sunday, December 23, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This Christmas (and every Christmas) we have a "confident expectation" that Jesus will, in fact, return as he said he would. When He came the first time, it was the fulfillment of promises, just like His second coming will be. Are you living in confident anticipation that Jesus will come again? Whatever the day, we are closer to it every day, and Scripture says we need to stay awake.
Sunday, December 16, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This week Pastor Patrick talked about Friday morning's tragedy in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. What do we do when things around us seem to be falling apart and shaking to pieces? Hebrews reminds us that as Christians we are citizens of another Kingdom, one that cannot be shaken. That is a remarkable truth. There are two things worth noting. One is that in the new Kingdom, sin has no place. It is done away with and therefore it can no longer shake us and destroy us. Secondly, clearly God is able to shake things, but God the Father will never have reason to shake things again.
Sunday, December 09, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The author, like any preacher, wants his audience to do whatever it takes to finish the race; to “endure…” That’s a BIG part of the message here in Hebrews.
Sunday, December 02, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In a sense, there are two "Holinesses" in Scripture and biblically, both need to be preached. The first holiness is the one that we receive. This is the gospel where Jesus' righteousness and holiness are credited to our account by faith. The second holiness is the one that we, as those who have been saved, "strive for" (Heb. 12:14). This holiness is the fruit, where the first holiness is the root. Both are necessary. The message of the Gospel is deficient if one is missing.
Sunday, November 18, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: On November 18, Jason Ogden was ordained as a pastor/elder at Valley Life Church. Lead Pastor Patrick Bowler explained from Scripture the role of the pastor/elder, starting with the fact that Jesus is our Senior Pastor. Jason then gave his testimony of how God put a burden in his heart to pursue becoming a pastor.
Sunday, November 11, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: On this "Baby Dedication" Sunday, we were reminded that children are a blessing, and they are a gift from God that requires something of us. If we want our children to love Jesus with all their heart, soul, and mind, we need to be intentional. God gave us the responsibility of being good stewards of our kids but it's something we cannot do on our own...we need Him.
Sunday, November 04, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If we are to endure, and if we are to "hold our original confidence firm to the end" (Heb. 3:14), then we have to fix our eyes on Jesus. We can't let our eyes shift to other things and place our hopes in them. This is especially difficult for us here in the U.S. where we are so accustomed to a certain level of comfort. We are used to our confidence being in the seen things rather than the unseen things. Our eyes are fixed in the wrong place and that's why the landscape is littered with discouragement. But things are changing for us as a country and the seen things are beginning to disappoint. Things are getting more and more difficult for us and the list of "Heroes of the Faith" in Hebrews 11 reminds us that we must fix our eyes on Jesus.
Sunday, October 28, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In Genesis we read how Esau despised his birthright and traded it for some soup. In Hebrews, Esau is the example of the apostate, someone who has proximity to the gospel and ultimately rejects it, taking something of infinite worth and making it common. If you trade away your only hope for dealing with sin…for soup…there is no longer an effective sacrifice for sin. All that is left is judgment.
Sunday, October 21, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: John Wesley once said, "The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion." Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Ask yourself two questions: (1) Are you currently giving encouragement to someone in the church through your presence, your actions or your words? (2) Are you receiving encouragement from someone in the church through their presence, actions and/or words?
Sunday, October 14, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The old covenant can't "perfect those who draw near" (10:1), it can't "perfect the conscience of the worshipper" (9:9), and it can't "purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (9:14). The Old Covenant can't do any of those things, but the New Covenant can. Therefore, we can be sure of our salvation.
Sunday, October 07, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Under the Old Covenant, there was no access to the Holy of Holies for you and I. But, the Old Covenant is obsolete. "When Christ appeared,” there was a New Covenant and his blood secured access to God for us. In the New Covenant, Jesus' blood needed to be offered only once. Yes, Jesus is the better way to God.
Sunday, August 26, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Baptism isn't about bathing, cleaning-up and becoming presentable… it's about dying. It's about a NEW life and a NEW birth. Symbolically, baptism in not a bath, it's a burial. You're too dirty for a bath. What you need is to die, be buried and to rise again as a NEW creation.
Sunday, August 19, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In this message, Pastor Patrick addresses the issue of the perseverance of the Saints. Hebrews 6 has a warning to those who have tasted of the good things of God but are really nonbelievers who just look like believers. To those who are children of God, we know that God does the saving, and God does a keeping and there is great assurance in that. Patrick's message ends with three ways of knowing whether you are really saved. (From Wayne Grudem.) Remember, God wants us to have a sense of security that is certain and cannot be shaken. If you are his, you remain his.
Sunday, August 12, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The Jews that the writer of Hebrews is addressing were living in fear, and fear shifts our hopes to new hopes and away from God. He issues a stiff warning. He says that they are still in need of milk (the law) when they should be teaching the gospel to others, adding that they should leave behind the shadows and images found in the Old Testament and embrace Jesus, the Messiah who is greater than any expectations found in the Old Testament. They need to leave their ethnic, traditional, ceremonial faith in God for a real faith in Jesus.
Sunday, August 05, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Even as we need a lawyer or advocate at times in our everyday life, we absolutely need an advocate in our spiritual life. The Jews to whom Hebrews was written understood the role of the high priest, and to them the author says that Jesus is a greater high priest. We see that Jesus met the criteria for being a high priest. First, he had to be chosen from among men so that he could relate to men…Jesus was fully man. Secondly, he needed to be appointed by God, and that certainly applied to Jesus. Thirdly, was a need for reverence for God, and we have no one better than Jesus in reverence for God. Jesus is our Great High Priest.
Sunday, July 29, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: In the story of the prodigal son, Luke 15:20 says, "And he [the prodigal son] arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." What does this say about the father's activity since the younger son has been gone? It says that he has been watching the road every day because you don't see him coming "while he is still a long way off" if you are not intently watching for him. Amazing.
Sunday, July 22, 2012 Pastor Steve McGuyre: Because we know that God knows us intimately, we are not always sure if he is really for us. However, we can know that God is for us because Jesus did not go to the cross for himself but for his sheep. He purchased us at a great price and now we are adopted and part of God's family. Why did Jesus go to the cross for me? He loves me. He's for me.
Sunday, July 15, 2012 Jason Ogden: The way we live our lives every day either serves to advance the Gospel or not. The book of Titus has many commands on how to conduct ourselves, but they all rest on the foundation of the Gospel.
Sunday, July 08, 2012 Mike Reardon: Although both the Arabs and the Jews are sons of Abraham, the people who adhere to Islam are not worshiping the God of the Christians and Jews, the God of the Bible. Islam and Christianity are dramatically different, with Islam being a religion of what you do in order to earn God's favor, and Christianity being about what God has done for us in Christ, without any merit on our part.
Sunday, July 01, 2012 Pastor Steve McGuyre: What does it mean to delight ourselves in God? First, we need to think about and understand who God is. We do this by meditating on Him and His Word. Secondly, we treasure God and the Gospel. We hold with intense value what is most valuable… the gospel. Finally, we should respond to God. We need to spend time alone with God and worship Him in our own words, telling Him how we appreciate Him and love Him. It's also helpful to make friends with those who delight in the Lord.
Sunday, June 17, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Dad is the primary ministry leader in the home. That's a big job, and we may not always be the best dads, but the good news is that we have a perfect dad in God who models what a perfect dad should look like. In the second half of this message, four students from Valley Life's Antioch School talk about how studying the Bible at the school has affected them and their family life.
Sunday, June 10, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Israel chose fear over faith when they heard the report from the ten spies who had gone in to survey the promised land. They did not enter the promised land, and in this is a warning that we need to hear. Do we live our lives with the last day in mind, or do we live for the moment? We need Jesus, the better Joshua who will lead us into a better Promised Land and a better rest. God is inviting us to spend His day off with him.
Sunday, June 03, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Moses' life tells the story of Jesus. How does your life tell Jesus' story? How have you experienced slavery to sin, and had Jesus bring deliverance? As a believer, your story is a walking sermon, and you've got to share your story. A Christian's story points to Jesus and redemption, deliverance and freedom, and a life beyond anything we have ever expected.
Sunday, May 27, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: When some of the angels in heaven sinned, God chose not to rescue them. When we sinned, God sent a deliverer. Jesus came as flesh and blood, without that there is no gospel.
Sunday, May 20, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus didn't think of something for us to go through...he led us through it. He is the captain in the trenches with us, the captain of our salvation. And he is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters.
Sunday, May 13, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The story of Ruth isn't ultimately about the self-sacrifice of Naomi and Ruth. Boaz, as the redeemer for Naomi and Ruth is ultimately a picture of Christ as our redeemer.
Sunday, May 06, 2012 Mike Reardon: The Bible is clear that there are rewards for believers when we get to Heaven. Rewards are a measure of our faithfulness in our earthly battles and we are to desire them.
Sunday, April 29, 2012 Jason Ogden: In the church there are true believers (wheat) and there are those who have had a false "conversion" (weeds). You can tell a true believer because they treasure Christ. Don't be surprised if there are weeds in your life...it is part of God's plan.
Sunday, April 22, 2012 Pastor Steve McGuyre: If you've gotten to the place where your life is in neutral, things are on hold, and you don't care, listen to this very practical message by Pastor Steve as he reminds us of 5 things that matter: God, work, health, home and the gospel.
Sunday, April 15, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If Jesus has the authority we see demonstrated in the Bible, then, when He declares you free in Christ… you are free in Christ. When He declares you acceptable by God, in Christ… you are acceptable. He was forsaken so that we need never be forsaken.
Sunday, April 08, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Jesus will not be domesticated. (John Piper) The unsafe, undomestic-ated, untamed, wild Jesus is capable and he is dangerous. But he is good and he has the authority to do what he says.
Sunday, April 01, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: This is Palm Sunday. Jesus' week started with a jubilant and very public entry into Jerusalem and ended with his death. We may see his week as starting on a high and ending on a low…what disturbs this view is that in Scripture the cross is seen as glorious. How did Jesus see this week?
Sunday, March 25, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: If, as Deuteronomy says, we should play close attention to the message of the Old Testament (which was veiled), then, as Hebrews 2 says, we ought to pay all the more attention to the greater message by a greater messenger in the New Testament.
Sunday, March 18, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Hebrews 1 makes a strong point of the fact that Jesus is greater than angels. In Hebrews 1:8, God says of His Son, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever." Clearly, Jesus is God.
Sunday, March 11, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Our culture, including many professing Christians, is confused on the subject of angels. First of all, we are not all that sure what they are and even if we had an idea of what they are, we are unsure what it is they actually do. Where do they fit in the whole scheme of things? The author of Hebrews says that Jesus is greater than the angels, and so, in this message Pastor Patrick spent some time on the subject of angels so that we could get the point of angels made in Hebrews 1:4-5a.
Sunday, February 26, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The book of Hebrews points to the person and work of Jesus. In the first few verses of the book we are reminded that 1–Jesus is he appointed heir of all things. 2–Jesus is the one by whom the world was created. 3–Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God. 4–Jesus is the exact imprint of the nature of God. 5–Jesus is the one who upholds the universe by the word of his power. 6–Jesus is the one who made purification for sins.
Sunday, February 19, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The biggest communication gap this world has ever seen was between God and man… but God chose to speak. Long ago he spoke by the prophets, but today he speaks by the Son. Jesus is the final word.
Sunday, February 12, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: There are places in Hebrews that are difficult to understand, but the tone of the author is authoritative, earnest, consistent, and passionate. It is of utmost importance for us to understand that Jesus is greater than the prophets, the angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron… in fact, Jesus is greater than anything and everything we could possibly look at.
Sunday, February 05, 2012 Pastor Steve McGuyre: Prayer produces peace, power, and perseverance. When we experience that kind of prayer, it becomes the life breath of our Christian walk. We need to make an appointed for prayer with God every day, but we also need to pray on the fly… praying small prayers throughout the day. We need to pray with others and sometimes to pray for people who may never know that we prayed for them.
Sunday, January 29, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: It's not about the prosperity gospel or the poverty gospel, it's about advancing God's kingdom (and not my kingdom). Giving is a heart and worship issue and the standard for giving is Jesus.
Sunday, January 22, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: When looking at stewardship, we need to begin with the fact that God owns everything. 100%. If God has entrusted it to us, we should be asking Him, "This is all yours God, how would you have me use it wisely?"
Sunday, January 15, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: Outside of Christ we have nothing. That should be a relief to us. If not, we need to hear the gospel.
Sunday, January 08, 2012 You can hear Sunday's message with Gary Myers speaking as well as Pastor Patrick. There were some slides involved, so you will have to imagine what was on the screen.
Sunday, January 01, 2012 Pastor Patrick Bowler: The church often measures success and gets its identity the way the world does, and it's a charade. We try to earn it. The law was never intended to save us, but to identify our need for a Savior. That's good news. The good news is that God provided a Savior who fulfilled the law and because of that, there is now no condemnation to those who are his.