2024

Destroy this Temple

September 21, 2024 • Albert Handal • John 2:18–19

Jesus confronts an unruly mob with a provocative possibility: What if he destroyed their precious temple and rebuilt it in three days. Could he do it? Should he do it? Why suggest something so provocative and sensitive? I believe Jesus was wanting to teach them something profound, and frankly, something scary — and I believe he's still trying to teach us the same lesson thousands of years later.

Led by the Spirit

April 6, 2024 • Greg Phillips

From the first time I read it, I have loved Psalm 32:8-9, where God tells us that he will guide us along the best pathway for our lives, and cautions us not to be like a "senseless" horse or mule, which must be led by a bit and bridle. God's plan for you and me is so much better! He wants us to be led by the Spirit. In fact, the Bible teaches that all of God's children are led by the Spirit--it's one of their identifying marks. If you want to hear more on that, come worship at PVC this Sabbath.

Weak / Strong

April 13, 2024 • Kessia Reyne Bennett • 2 Corinthians 4:7–18, 2 Corinthians 12:1–10

What would you like to change about your life? What pain point do you wish you could eliminate today? God knows those tender points, your weaknesses, and the locations of your suffering. And he has good news: Your pain is the open tray for God’s treasure; your weakness is the site of his glorious strength.

Be of Good Courage

April 27, 2024 • Daniel Ortega • Psalm 27:14

How Do You Spell Father?

May 4, 2024 • Kessia Reyne Bennett • Ephesians 1:3–10, Luke 11:1–13

Jesus taught us to call God “our Father”---but what kind of Father is he? 

Extraordinary Encounters with Our Savior: A Woman at a Well

May 11, 2024 • Steve Madsen • John 4:1–26

Here we see the Friend of Sinners crossing the boundaries of race and gender. We are reminded that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the World. What can each of us learn today about Jesus our Lord through this extraordinary encounter? Will we adopt the same focus as Jesus had?

The Only Work God Wants

May 18, 2024 • Greg Phillips • John 6:22–33

John 6 contains some of Jesus' most challenging words. If Jesus had a PR person, they would have had their head in their hands--"Unbelievable!" And yet, belief is exactly what Jesus is asking for. Nothing else. Just belief.

Live Free

May 25, 2024 • Kessia Reyne Bennett • 1 Peter 2:16, Titus 2:11–14, Luke 1:68–75, John 8:31–36

Many versions of “the good life” are clamoring for the top spot, the true definition. Wellness and wealth and beauty and entertainment all have entire industries behind them, urging us to believe that they hold the key to the truly good life. The truth, though, is way more unlikely.

The Work of Perseverance

September 28, 2024 • Greg Phillips • James 1:2–4, James 1:12

I recently accomplished a goal that required a fair bit of perseverance, and even some suffering; I walked a minimum of 10,000 steps outside every day for a year. Now, it isn't really that hard to walk 10,000 steps, but doing it every day, in all of Oregon's splendid and not-so-splendid weather conditions (yes, I walked during the ice storm), tested my commitment and developed my character. I've been reflecting on James' call for us to "let perseverance finish its work" so that we will be "mature and complete." This Sabbath, as we celebrate communion, I invite you to share bread and cup at The Table of His Enduring Faithfulness. Let's embrace together the reality that Jesus persevered through the most intense suffering, enduring the cross and emerging victorious over death. Jesus is the ONE who is able to present us to God, mature and complete, holy and blameless--in Him!