Today Pastor Kevin is returning to "The Gospel Project".  In today's message, we will trace Paul's experience in Jerusalem, when he was judged for his resurrection hope, strengthened by Christ's presence in prison, and preserved through a surprising plot twist.  We will see that even in prison, God was faithful to provide for Paul and to lead His servant to be used where and how He desired.  We will be encouraged to imitate the apostle's boldness, courage, and conviction as we ask God to give us the same faith and fortitude to surrender our lives to the Christ who surrendered His life for us.  Like Paul, we will see that resurrection hope gives God's people confidence to share the Gospel no matter the consequences.

Today we begin a 3-week series on HABITS.  In today's message Pastor Kevin talks about how change isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible, either.  Your future self is a result of the decisions you make each day.  Starting a few small good Habits can change how you see yourself today and transform you into the person you want to be tomorrow.

Today we are welcoming back someone who has spoken before here at Valley, Dave Metzger.  Pastor Dave is our guest speaker today.  He will be teaching in Nehemiah Chapter 3.  The book of Nehemiah is a gift dropped from heaven so that we could gain a glimpse of how God graciously worked among His people in the post-exilic era.  The situation was desperate.  The former nation of Israel was shattered into shambles ready to join a host of other nations in the archives of ancient history.  Since the time of Nehemiah, decades had passed since their capital was captured, burnt down and people deported.  The Promised Land was resettled with the poorest Israelites and a mix of immigrants.  Hope for the nation only remained in the copy of the old ancient scriptures.  The Book of Nehemiah speaks about one solitary spark through which the Lord relit a flame of hope for the future of Israel which otherwise would have been snuffed out.  One has to understand when we talk about Nehemiah’s rebuilding a wall, that the wall was least critical in the rebuilding of a nation dedicated to God’s purposes.

Lighting a candle is a simple yet profound act.  It is a testimony to the power of light over darkness.  As we light this fourth candle of Advent, we continue our journey to Christmas.  The fourth candle of Advent is called the Peace candle; as we anticipate Christmas, let us remember the birth of the Prince of Peace.  Let us remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins, and give us peace with God.

Last Sunday we lit the candle of Hope, remembering the hope which comes in Christ. Today we light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Love.  Scripture tells us “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7 (ESV)  If you want to know how to love one another, look at the love that sent Jesus to earth to live a life of love and pay the price for all of our sins.  It's all about love. This isn't a love of fancy words and impossible tasks.  This is a love that says, "I am willing to love you no matter what."

In today's message, Pastor Kevin will be teaching from Psalm 111.  He will be reading from the NIV translation.  In this hymn, the psalmist exhorts others and resolves himself to praise the Lord, because of His mighty works.   We have much to be thankful for as Pastor Kevin will point out in today's lesson.

In today's message in the Gospel Project, Letters to God's People, guest speaker Ollis Mozon will cover Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 20.  In this session, we will learn how God has exchanged our weakness with His strength in preparing us to stand firm in battle against our true enemy, Satan and his forces of evil.  We have been given spiritual armor from God that enables us not only to stand firm against his attacks but also to advance the Gospel no matter the opposition we face.  We wage war against the enemy and against his designs and his minions as the church's final victory march, celebrating the win Christ has achieved for us.

In today's message, we will see how God changes us and bring us into fellowship with Himself and with others and how we are to carry out our mission to extend this fellowship to the world.

In today's session, we will look at significant themes regarding pastors found in key excerpts from Paul's Pastoral Epistles, his letters to Timothy and Titus.  We will see how God gives pastors to His church to lead His people in obedience to His Word.  Allow this study to help you obey God's call to pray for and support the pastors He has given to lead us in our mission of making disciples.

In today's message in the Gospel Project, letters to God's people, Pastor Kevin will cover 1 Peter chapter 2.  In this session, we will see that we are each a part of the body of Christ.  Chosen by God, receivers of great mercy, we have been given a new identity that we are to work out in our lives.  With Christ as our foundation and example, we've also been given a new purpose and calling to be set apart for the work and glory of God.