People of God's kingdom are supposed to have totally different mindsets from the people of this world, because we were created to think like God! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that meditation is spiritual warfare. Whoever has a stronghold on our mindset has a stronghold on our life, which means we can't afford to think a thought that is not full of faith, hope, and love. The primary battlefield of spiritual warfare is in the mind. When we fill our minds with the thoughts of God ...
May 05, 2024•52 min
Jesus, have it all – our days, our life, our church – it's only for You. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl invited us to ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we need to confess, repent, surrender, and live differently. Acts 3:19 tells us, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Confession and repentance brings cleansing, renewal, and refreshment. Are you holding onto something that is weighing you down? What would...
Apr 28, 2024•52 min
Whoever influences our thoughts determines what we see, and when God's Word influences our thoughts, all we see is His kingdom! In this message, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that only a mind that has been renewed by the Word of God can see God's will, and meditating on God's Word is how we renew our minds. When the Word of God defines truth in our lives, the world and it's lies can't get in. Through His Word, God wants to ignite a passion within you as He breaks down every hardened part of your...
Apr 21, 2024•49 min
Jesus spent His life arranging and rearranging His life to memorize and meditate on the Word of God. Meditating isn't just thinking; it's thinking with the Holy Spirit. It's having a vision for our thought life! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that our thoughts lead our life. Whatever we fill our mind with is what our lives will be full of. Remember, we are not a victim of our mindset; we are a product of it! God has given us the freedom to choose what we set our minds on. Are you...
Apr 14, 2024•52 min
The deepest question in the heart of every human – the deepest question in each of us – is, "Am I loved?" At Easter, we get to look to Jesus for the answer to that question. In this special Easter experience, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that, when we were lost in sin and shame, Jesus came to show us our worth and invite us to live a life of love. When we know we're loved, it changes everything.
Mar 31, 2024•52 min
God comes whenever we cry out to Him. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl walked us through specific ways we can pray for our cities to encounter God's presence at Easter! Jeremiah 29:7 says, "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you... Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Prayer is both intimacy and authority. When we spend time praying for God's people, it connects our hearts to what God is doing and reminds us that we're on mi...
Mar 24, 2024•38 min
Jesus wants us to both rest in and remain in Him. In this special Selah Experience, Pastor Jason Hillier reminds us that the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) is produced in us through the work of the Holy Spirit when we remain in Jesus. Jesus is doing a deep work among us. What's He doing in you, and what's your training plan to live differently?
Mar 17, 2024•51 min
In Jesus, we find freedom, peace, mercy, joy, and rest. In this special Selah experience, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through a time of rest as we worship together, reflect on God's peace, and have Scripture read over us. In the Book of Psalms, "selah" was written as a break, pause, or rest. Selah allows us to slow down, take a breath, and reflect on the true rest we have in Jesus. Selah doesn't require anything of us except to be present and receive from the Father.
Mar 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min
God's Word is His voice preparing us for the things He's created us to do. God is speaking to those who are listening, and we will hear from Him if our hearts truly desire what He has to say. In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us to engage God's Word from a Jesus-focused perspective, as a disciple, with God, and with a plan. The point of reading the Bible isn't reading the Bible. The point is meeting with God. How different would our experience with God's Word be if we engaged first wit...
Mar 03, 2024•52 min
Jesus is the living Word of God, the Scriptures are the written Word of God, and God's Word is God speaking. Which means the Bible is not a book; it's a voice. In this message, Pastor John Stickl sets the foundation for the spiritual practice of Scripture as he teaches us that the Bible is not contained by leather and pages; it is Spirit and it is life. If we want to see God's kingdom come, we have to surrender our lives to His will, and His will is communicated to us by His Word. No matter what...
Feb 25, 2024•50 min
We can't be disciples if we're always in a hurry. In this experience, Pastor John Stickl helped us slow down and reflect on what we've been hearing from the Holy Spirit so far through the A Different Way series. God created us to think deeply about deep things, but the world wants to train us to be shallow. When we take time to pause, listen to God's voice, and open our hearts to Him, we're choosing to live a different way. What has God been speaking to you in this season?
Feb 18, 2024•34 min
Once we believe that we can actually change, the next question becomes, "How do I change?" In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that we don't actually change ourselves; the Holy Spirit changes us. Through God's Word, godly relationships, trials, spiritual practices, and time, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in our lives, forming us into the image and likeness of Christ to become a person of love. This is spiritual formation! The grace of Jesus both saves us and empowers us to do ...
Feb 11, 2024•48 min
Is it even possible to live a different way, and do the things that Jesus did? Can I really change? Our bodies have been trained in the ways of the world. When we spend our lives doing what the world does behind-the-scenes, we naturally and effortlessly do what the world does on-the-spot. But in Jesus, we can be trained to live a different way! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us that change is not only possible, it's normative as a follower of Jesus! Our will is not stronger than our...
Feb 04, 2024•51 min
Are you trusting Jesus for eternal life, but not for daily life? Jesus invites to live a different way in every area of our lives – not just for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation. He invites us to be His disciples! In this message, Pastor John Stickl teaches us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. A disciple is a learner, a student, a follower; one who becomes like the one they're following. Disciples of Jesus arrange their entire life around Him, no matter the cost. We're al...
Jan 28, 2024•51 min
If we want to do the things that Jesus did on-the-spot, we first have to do the things Jesus did behind-the-scenes. In this message, Pastor John starts a new series by asking us this question – who are you becoming, and who do you want to become? We are all being molded and shaped into the image and likeness of someone. Is it Jesus? In order to do the things that Jesus did, we need to do the things that Jesus did. This doesn't happen on it's own or simply by "trying" – it happens through trainin...
Jan 21, 2024•48 min
We believe that 2024 is a year that God is going to crown with His goodness! In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier kicked off the new year by asking, how can we have the best life here at Valley Creek in 2024? Through resources like Circles and Join the Movement, we can continue to learn more about God while growing as a spiritual family. Through our 2024 Reading Plan, truth from God's Word can take root in our hearts and reveal more of Him to us. When we are planted in the house of the Lord, we...
Jan 14, 2024•33 min
How different would your life be this year if you really believed you were right with God? On the first day of RE 2024, Pastor John Stickl walked us through an interlude or "selah" – an intentional pause to stop, breathe, and remind ourselves that we are right with God. God's kingdom is not religious activities, duties, or obligations. God's kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy – in that order! When we know we've been made right with God through the finished work of Jesus, we will have peace...
Jan 07, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Christmas is often full of tradition, routine, expected plans, activities, and things we do year after year. The same can be said of many of the people who were part of the first Christmas. They were each doing their own thing and going their own way. But then Jesus came, and He interrupted everything. In this special Christmas experience, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that Jesus doesn't always come the way we expect or want Him to, but He comes the way we need Him to. Christmas is the story of ...
Dec 24, 2023•44 min
Why are kids so good at inviting others to play or hang out with them? Because they know whatever they're inviting people to... is awesome! In this message, Pastor Justin Nall invited us to bring that same childlike joy and excitement to our Someone Else Challenge for this week - inviting someone to a Christmas service! The greatest invitation we could ever give someone is the invitation to come to Jesus. As we invite others to come and see, they can decide to come and follow. Never forget that ...
Dec 17, 2023•28 min
Celebrating is paying attention and calling attention to the good in someone else, and it's evidence of the goodness of God in our lives! In this message, Justin Lanham taught us that, when our hearts are full of the goodness of God, we're able to see and celebrate where God is at work. Celebrating is a tool that God gives us to release His kingdom to the world around us!
Dec 10, 2023•33 min
When was the last time someone asked you a meaningful question? Jesus was great at asking questions, because He knew that one question can change everything. Jesus asked questions to help people discover something about themselves, and about Himself, and when they answered... He listened! In this message, Pastor Becca Reynolds teaches us that asking meaningful questions is a way we can live like Jesus, and make a difference in the lives of others. It's how we can get – and stay – outside of ours...
Dec 03, 2023•33 min
We live with a spirit of gratitude! Gratitude is the normal response to God's grace and goodness in our lives, and it's about more than just one day; it's a lifestyle. In this special Live Thanks Experience, Pastor Jason Hillier walks us through expressing gratitude and surrendering our gratitude to God.
Nov 26, 2023•49 min
Gratitude is more than saying, "thank you." Gratitude is the response to the goodness of God in our lives! In this message, three of our staff leaders teach us what it looks like to live with gratitude in all circumstances. When we live with gratitude, we're thankful for what we want, but also for what we need. Gratitude helps keep us focused on what we have, not on what we don't. And true gratitude is expressed, genuine, and specific. As we focus on the goodness of God, may our lives overflow w...
Nov 19, 2023•36 min
One of the biggest keys of getting outside of ourselves is generosity. To love is to be generous, and to be generous is to love! In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier teaches us that, because Jesus is the owner and provider of our finances, we can be generous to those around us. Generosity is good will on display. It's how we combat selfishness, and it's the mark of a follower of Jesus! When the presence of God is our security, the presence of money won't have to be.
Nov 12, 2023•34 min
If someone asked you, "Who's your neighbor?" how would you respond? Your friends? Your coworkers? Your actual next-door neighbor? In this message, Pastor Jason Hillier teaches us what it looks like to release grace and love to the people God brings to us everyday. And remember, we can't release grace at high speeds. Where is God inviting you to slow down, receive His grace, and release it to those around you? Because no matter what's going on in our lives, we always have time to love the people ...
Nov 05, 2023•32 min
We were created to work... and that's a very good thing! Ever since the beginning, God has called and commissioned us to do good work. Work is in the fabric and fiber of who we were created to be! When Adam fell, it changed the way we saw work. But what we lost in the Garden, Jesus restored for us. We're not supposed to work to become anyone or achieve anything; we work because we are God's good work, and we have been empowered by Him to bring His rule and reign — His kingdom come — to all the a...
Oct 29, 2023•47 min
What does it look like for us to live on mission with God in the midst of our everyday lives? You were created for more than just going through the motions of life. You were created to change your world! In this message, Pastor John Stickl takes us back to our Hope Carrier Initiative, launched in January 2023, to revisit the message from week one, "Created for More." The world is longing for hope; it's longing for Jesus. And because of Jesus, you are a hope carrier – a disciple of Jesus living o...
Oct 22, 2023•41 min
Be still and know that He is God! There is some knowing of God that can't be pursued; it can only be found in the stillness. In this message, Pastor John Stickl wrapped up our YHWH series by inviting us to still our hearts, minds, and lives to reflect on what we have learned about who God is and what He is like. Throughout this series, have you found yourself thinking about God differently? Is that changing anything about you? Don't go through life without repenting – changing your mind – about ...
Oct 08, 2023•34 min
How does God define His goodness? In this message, Pastor John Stickl walks us through Exodus 34, where God declares who He is by proclaiming His compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice. This is God revealing Himself and His goodness to us. And when we focus on that goodness, His glory radiates from our countenance to those around us. As the goodness of the Lord is passing in front of you, how will you choose to respond to who He says He is?
Oct 02, 2023•51 min
God is good. It's His nature, His character, and His identity. Do you believe that? God is good at being good, and a good God can only do and say good things! Every temptation in our life comes from a place where we're questioning God's goodness. People who really know God know there is always more of Him to discover, and we will never get to the end of discovering the goodness of God.
Sep 24, 2023•45 min
