Gvf // Grace Valley Fellowship

If you live, dress, eat, talk, shop, work, and consume media just like everyone else, at what point do you become just like everyone else? In Daniel chapter 1, we watch as Daniel and his friends are sent off to the University of Babylon. There the Babylonians attempt to erase their identity as children of God and give them a new Babylonian identity. They reprogram them in the language, values, and gods of Babylon. But, when it comes to eating the king's food, Daniel refuses to participate. This week, we explore how Daniel's courageous act is model of godly wisdom for how we might make critical decisions about where to draw the line in our day and our Babylon.

The Book of Daniel is the story of a few 6th century Hebrew exiles, who are assimilated into the city and culture of Babylon, serve in the Babylonian government, and live among the Babylonians. And yet, they manage to keep their identity as the People of God. They live in the world but are not of the world. In this message, we begin to unravel how Daniel's life and visions help us make sense of what is happening in our lives and our world.

With Omicron & freezing rain changing up our plans this weekend, I thought it might me a good time to reflect on a phrase that has come up again and again in this past year: "redeem the time" (Eph 5:16).

Brainless, heartless, slow jellyfish thrive in our oceans by simply going with the flow. All of their needs are provided for by the Oceanic Conveyor Belt. Similarly, in Luke chapter 12, Jesus reminds his disciples that their heavenly father will provide all they need if they put their trust in, and get their identity from God alone. What about you? Where do you get your security and find your identity?

Matthew chapter 1 is a go-to text for people who want to prove that the Bible is full of errors. If you take this text literally, you can quickly see that there is literally something wrong with it. But is this a problem with what Matthew wrote or with the way we are reading it?

This is one of the great stories about how people are transformed by a personal encounter with God. It's night. Jacob is all alone. He has come to a crossroads. God wrestles with him all night, but Jacob refuses to surrender. So, in order to bless Jacob, God breaks Jacob. He walks away limping... and blessed. If you listen carefully, perhaps you will find yourself in this story. 

This week we come to a love story. In fact, this one might just qualify as the world's first rom-com. It's a crassly humorous story about all the hurtful, messed up, stupid, and ridiculous things people do when they feel unloved. It's the story of how God will form these unloved people into His Beloved People. It's our story.

Your life has just come crashing down. You’re completely alone in the world. Your relationships are all ruined. You're running from your past. You're not quite sure who you are any more. But, what happens next is about to change everything. This is Jacob's story, but maybe this is your story too. Or, maybe it will be. Either way, Jacob's ladder is a story worth hearing.

At first, it reads like a comedy. Jacob pretends to be someone he is not in order to receive a blessing he doesn't deserve. Then, it turns into a tragedy when we realize that this isn't just a story about Jacob. It's about us too. This text forces us to wrestle with the ways we seek to be blessed, the ways we have (or have not) experienced God’s blessing, and the ways we do (or do not) bless others. It speaks to that deep human longing to be blessed and the deeply flawed ways we seek this blessing.

Jacob's story doesn’t comfortably fit into a modern American sermon or a modern American life. And maybe that’s the point. In this passage, we meet Jacob, the man named "Struggle," who invites us to struggle with him and with his God. Genesis 25:19-34

As it turns out, the transformation of sour lemons into sweet lemonade can be a long and harrowing process.  The Apostle Paul discovered this while in a dire situation in a Roman prison;  he squeezed his circumstances into a letter of encouragement and hope to those he loved. The result was something beautiful. Paul's undying belief in God's providence would not only encourage the Philippians, but all Christ followers for the next couple of millennia to follow.

When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!" The apostle Paul took this well known modern-day maxim to a whole new level when he wrote a letter of encouragement and joy to the people of Philippi from a dark, damp Roman prison. Are there any areas of your life that could use this kind of perspective? Join us as we investigate Philippians 1 to find out exactly how he did it, and how you can too!www.gvf.church/makelemonade

In a world of 7.9 billion people, nearly 2 billion  have never heard of Jesus in a way to which they could respond in saving faith; what does God want? In a world where the vast majority of people are deeply desired by God yet desperately distant from God; what does God want? In my community, my family and my inner life; what does God want? In this message we explore 1 John 2:1-3 and see God’s heart, God‘s actions, and God’s invitation to partner with him to change the world.Get Jack Nelson's book, Reachable for free HERE. Ebook, PDF or order the book available. https://www.worldlinkonline.org/resou...

Has technology become too precious in your home? In this timely message, we discuss the glowing blue elephant in our homes: technology, and ask a very simple yet critical question: "does it consume more of your time, money and thoughts than God does?" If so, don't despair or start pouring water over your devices. We'll see that what we really need is perspective, wisdom and discernment, not fear or judgement.

We are living in the midst of a digital revolution. Technology is rapidly changing the way we think and behave and relate to one another. In this message, we introduce six questions that we need to ask of every technology we use. The questions revolve around how technologies affect: Attention, Limits, Engagement, Relationships, Time, and Space, which just happen to spell the word, ALERTS.

In exploring a story Jesus told about a father and his two sons, we'll discover some truths about what we want in our relationship with God, and what we really need.

In our post-Christian world, doubt is an unavoidable part of the journey of faith. If we hope to become a church where life transformation is normal, then we have to get really, really comfortable admitting, discussing, processing, and working through our doubts. In this message, we'll look at the deconstruction and reconstruction of faith in an ancient worship leader named Asaph.

We want to become a church where life transformation is normal. When we ask Jesus how this is supposed to work in our post-Christian world, He gives us a different kind of answer. The kind of answer we might not suspect. In this message, we look at two simple, but profound, images Jesus has given us to navigate the complex realities of our modern, post-Christian world. Then, we talk about how we envision living this out at GVF over the next 3-5 years.

Over the past few years, it has become increasingly obvious that something's wrong here. Our world has changed. The old assumptions about how to be your true self, find meaning, and live a good life are no longer reliable. The old way of doing church isn't working. We need a new vision. In this message, we begin a conversation about what it might look like to become a church where life transformation is normal.

Without love and grace, division in the body of Christ is inevitable. Today we hear about many non-Biblical issues tearing the church apart, and we know that a house divided cannot stand. Yet there is hope! Scripture offers several guideposts which can help us get back on track if we're willing to be obedient.