We experienced a very exciting and moving day this past Sunday afternoon. Our fellowship held a baptism at the home of one of the families in our church. The water was cool but hearts were warmed by the love of the Lord and appreciation for the support of everyone present to witness this important day.
In all, eleven people confirmed a public confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by being baptized. Many shared their stories of how the Spirit of God brought them to the point of trust and faith in the saving work of Christ and the truth of the gospel. The theme of the power of God’s amazing grace came through again and again.
Those being baptized ranged in age from a youth of eight up to a “young-at-heart” seventy year old veteran. Especially touching was the baptism of both a mother and her adult daughter. They both came to saving faith in the Lord recently, and the daughter in a very dramatic way upon waking from a coma from which she was not expected to recover!
Bumpersticker: “Love is grand; divorce is a hundred grand.”
The issue of divorce and remarriage is a “hot button” issue among Christians and has been a source of struggle and contention over the centuries. In our preaching series through the gospel of Mark we’re pausing in chapter ten to broaden and deepen our study as Jesus responds to a pointed and probing question by the Pharisees.Over the next few sessions we’ll be looking at the Biblical and historical data and presenting an informative, helpful and gracious approach to a touchy but very relevant subject. Tune in to the audio page starting May 4th, 2008.компютри
Many have asked and wondered why the pastors of Valley Bible Fellowship do not regularly issue an “altar call” or ask people to “come forward.” This article helps not only to explain some of our reasons for not doing so, but it is very helpful in explaining our motivation for doing some things and not doing others.
I admit that as a shepherd I’ve always struggled with the “vision thingy”. The impulse from the culture is to market one’s church toward a particular identity. At times I’ve felt a measure of failure or guilt that the leaders of VBF have not had a well defined “vision statement”.
While a clear definition of vision is obviously necessary with regards to secular endeavors, I’ve come to a place of skeptical rest about this apparent blank spot at VBF. I came across a couple of thought provoking statements by Dr. John MacArthur in Light along the Journey:
Planning for church growth? I have no long-range planning, no short-range planning. No planning. When I started at the church, I wanted them to see Christ in all His glory, that’s what I started out with, the Gospel of John, in one hundred sermons.
and another..
I don’t spend a lot of time studying the culture, I think I know enough from living in it. I don’t want to be a student of the culture, I want to be a student of the Bible. Just be an expert on the Word of God, and you will know what to say to the culture. You can be the cultural expert of all experts if you just read Al Mohler’s blogs.
Sunday Services
10am - Join us for worship and fellowship in song, prayer and sermon in the Scriptures. We're currently in the Book of James - Practical Living. Children's Sunday school during sermon time.
Wednesday Evening
6:30pm - Pastor Eric Peterman is leading us through the Bible Book by Book. Join us!
