Inside Valley Life Church: Recent Episodes
Brian Bowman
Valley Life Church exists to make disciples and plant churches. Inside Valley Life Church is a series of interviews with pastors, deacons, and volunteers to give listeners a fuller picture of all that is happening in our disciple making, church planting family.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from 1 John 2:1-2
If you missed the sermon you can listen here: https://subsplash.com/valleylifechurch-az/sermons/mi/+h3c4gps
1 John 2:1–2
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from 1 John 1:1-4
If you missed the sermon you can listen here: https://subsplash.com/valleylifechurch-az/sermons/mi/+ftcz9t6
1 John 1:1–4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from 1 John 1:5-10
If you missed the sermon you can listen here: https://subsplash.com/valleylifechurch-az/sermons/mi/+y9t98k8
1 John 1:5–10
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Matt Walker and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Luke 15
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 And he 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.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Matt Walker and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 5 of Just a Little Foolishness
- Beauty
- Brokenness
- Truth
- Compassion
- Community
2 Corinthians 13:11-14
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Brian Bowman and Matt Walker discuss the sermon from 2 Corinthians 13:1-10.
2 Corinthians 13:1–10
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—
3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10, Strength From Weakness.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Kids Takeover
One Thing for Anxiety
Luke 10:38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Mike Lee is a Send Network church planter in Phoenix, AZ.
He is the pastor of Mission Valley Church.
https://www.missionvalleyaz.church
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 1 of the Just a Little Foolishness series.
Giving Special Offerings:
- Factor in Satan
- What about our music?
- The work of the false apostles will work
- Do not let it work on you
2 Corinthians 11:1-15
1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Mathew Mueller discusses the change from Valley Life Church North Peoria to Community Life Church.
CommunityLifePeoria.church
Ashley Evans is a church planter and pastor in Tucson, AZ.
He is the pastor of 22nd Street Baptist Church.
https://22church.com/
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 6 of the First Things First series.
Giving Special Offerings:
- Your giving will prompt others
- Your giving will bless you
- Your giving will meet needs
- Your giving will glorify God
Ephesians 9:1-15
1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 5 of the First Things First series.
Why Join the Church:
- Comprise some church
- The church you comprise is the mystery of Christ
- The Church displays the mystery of Christ
Ephesians 3:1-13
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 3 of the First Things First series.
Telling Your Friends About Jesus:
- Go
- Disciple
- Baptize
- Teach Them to Obey
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 2 of the First Things First series.
Prayer. Bible. Church:
- This isn't "The Rules"
- But there is such a thing as Christian effort
- What do Christians do?
Colossians 2:16-3:4
Colossians 2
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 3
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 1 of the First Things First series.
Some Believe in Vain:
- There is a way to believe that is in vain
- The gospel is never in vain
- Paul is saying that "it worked" in his life
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-- unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 The he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Week 3 of the 2022 Christmas series.
The Work We Do For God:
- You are in Paul's war
- Winning the War Builds Up
- It's Good to Build Up
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!
2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.
9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.
10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."
11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.
12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.
15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,
16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.
17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from week 6 of the Lights On series.
The Work We Do For God:
- Paul is working with God
- Paul is appealing for God
- Paul is warning about vain grace
2 Corinthians 6:1–13
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from week 3 of the Lights On series.
How to Become a Miracle:
- God’s people know
- God’s people groan
- God’s people are courageous
- God’s people walk by faith
- God’s people are ambitious
- God’s people please him
- God’s people will be judged
2 Corinthians 5:1–10
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from week 2 of the Lights On series.
Suffering gives and takes.
- Suffering takes power
- Suffering gives a voice
- Suffering gives weight
2 Corinthians 4:7–18
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,
14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from week 1 of the Lights On series.
-
Some churches are gross. Don't be gross.
-
Not everyone will like the church. That's okay.
-
Jesus Is The Light. Talk About Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:1–6
1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Beyond Obedience Wk 4.
- Correction is not rejection
- Correction is painful not pleasant
- Correction is doing what seems best
- Correction is bringing peaceful fruit of righteousness
Hebrews 12:5–11
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
A conversation between Brian Bowman, Sterling Edwards, and special guest Mike Lee about food and fitness in the life of a Christian.
Mike Lee is the pastor of Mission Valley Church.
Mission Valley Church is located in Phoenix, Arizona in the North Mountain neighborhood. Currently meeting at Thunderbird High School.
Learn more at: missionvalleyaz.church
Listen to The Good Life sermon on Food and Fitness here:
https://subspla.sh/r84y3t8
Notes:
- A “good enough life” is about meeting a standard of appearance.
- “The Good Life” is being (physically, emotionally, spiritually) free to honor God with your body.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Beyond Obedience Wk 2.
1. What are the Proverbs for?
Acquiring wisdom.
2. What are the 5 categories of Wisdom?
Insight, Instruction, Wise Dealing, Prudence, Learning (Bonus: figuring out how to figure out difficult things.)
3. How does the Proverbs describe the heart?
Always crowing kings. Always aiming. Never neutral.
4. How does a parent get wisdom to the child's heart?
Authority, Heart, Communication, Correction
5. What do you do when no one is doing what they are supposed to be doing?
Live before your children as though you truly believe the good news of Christ. They will witness you taking your deepest, most personal grief over sins (even parenting sins) to the cross and not living in regret.
2 Corinthians 7:10For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
**Brian Bowman and Mathew Mueller talk about preparing to preach:
Proverbs 6:20–24**
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Beyond Obedience Wk 1.
1. Commandments are commanded
- God told Moses, but that’s not good enough
- We think that he wrote them down and that’s it
- But the commandments are commanded
1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you,
- God has removed doubt as to how he wants parents to raise their children
- God doesn’t give us the choice to give our kids a choice
2. Commandments are for teaching fear of God
- Maybe you will relate to your parental authority differently once you realize what these commands are for
Boldly I approach my Father
Clothed in Jesus' righteousness
There is no more guilt to carry
It was finished upon that cross
Brian Bowman and Mathew Mueller talk about preparing to preach Deuteronomy 6:1–2
Deuteronomy 6:1–2
1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,
2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
Matt asks Brian about this Facebook post:The local church, your local church, is absolutely irreplaceable.
Hebrews 10:23–25
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 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.
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Well Pastored Church wk 5.
2 Corinthians 3:1-6
How does a Christian defend their reputation?
- Don’t have to talk about it (v.1)
- People can see it (v.2-4)
- Because God did it (v.5-6)
A conversation from 2021 between Brian Bowman and his daughter, Bailey Bartolucci about what is required to lead a community group to focus on evangelism.
Bailey and her husband Coby lead a community group at their home for Mission Valley Church.
Mission Valley Church is located in Phoenix, Arizona in the North Mountain neighborhood. Currently meeting at Thunderbird High School.
Learn more at: missionvalleyaz.church
**Brian Bowman and Mathew Mueller talk about preparing to preach 2 Corinthians 3:1-6.
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?**
2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.
3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Matt asks Brian about 2 social media posts:
Hear me out, hear me out…
I think we should just try this:
If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
This afternoon I got the perfect email from a member of Valley Life Church.
It basically said,
in light of the Scripture we covered in the sermon on Sunday:
-
How do I conform my difficult relationships to God's will?
-
How do I walk closely with Christ while dealing with this trouble?
Scriptures
Matthew 18:15
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Romans 12:18–19
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Matthew 18:21–22
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Proverbs 22:24–25
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Proverbs 26:18–19
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
Brian Bowman sits down for a talk with Matt Walker about Next Generation Ministry.
- Kids
- Youth
- Family
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Well Pastored Church wk 4.
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
- The problem is not the problem
- The problem is not the pastor
- The problem is not the sinner
- The problem is Satan's attack on the church
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss the sermon from Well Pastored Church wk 3.
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
- Such a thing as a relationally open door
- Such a thing as relationally anxious pastor
- Such a thing as relational division in the body
- Such a thing as human responsibility in relationships
- Such a thing as divine sovereignty over relationships
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss sermon from Well Pastored Church wk 1.
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
- The nature of the comfort
- The purpose of the comfort
- The cause of the suffering
- The response to suffering
Sterling Edwards and Brian Bowman discuss Dangerous Stories wk 6: Kids
-
Satan hates kids
-
Jesus loves kids
-
God adopts kids