Valley Life Church - Yakima

Pastor Nancy Verwey Psalm 8:2 NIV 2 Chronicles 20:1-29 NIV

Austin Hutton 8/2/2026 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12 v3-8 (NIV) Offering all that we are to God in worship changes us.

Learning to Praise from the Psalms. 07/19/26 Psalm 86 NIV A prayer of David.  Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.  Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.  You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.  Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.  You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.  Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.  When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.  All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.  For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.  I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.  For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.  Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you.  But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.  Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.  Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Psalm 150 NIV Praise the Lord.  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.  Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,  praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,  praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord. Psalm 23 NIV A psalm of David.  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Trevor Hutton

Cross …and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. — Colossians 1:20 NLT  Dove …as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. — Matthew 3:16 NLT  Cup Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. — James 5:14 NLT  Crown For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout… — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 NLT  Communion Matthew/Luke/1 Corinthians Combined Reading “Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me.” “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Have I surrendered my life to Him, and do I believe all that we are “remembering” and “proclaiming” in communion?

When Money Becomes Your Master Pastor Jon Verwey What you treasure will shape your heart, so let Jesus be your master and money your servant. Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. — Matthew 6:19-20 NLT Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. — Matthew 6:21 NLT Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! — Matthew 6:22-23 NLT The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry… — Proverbs 30:15a NIV  No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. — Matthew 6:24 NLT  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. v. 21 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. — Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT  The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. — Proverbs 21:20 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. — Proverbs 13:11 ESV  Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.  The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. — Proverbs 11:24–25 NLT  What you treasure will shape your heart, so let Jesus be your master and money your servant.

The Widow’s Offering and the Heart of the Gospel Pastor Jon Verwey Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” — Mark 12:41–44 NLT  Jesus called his disciples to him… v. 43a “I tell you the truth…” v. 43b This poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions… v. 43c …she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on v. 44b Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. — 2 Corinthians 8:9 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. — Ephesians 5:1–2 NLT  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? — Romans 8:32 NLT  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT The cross of Jesus calls us to trust God completely and live with open hands and generous hearts.

A Story of Rebellion, Judgement, and Grace Pastor Jon Verwey Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. —Mark 12:1-5 NIV …The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. — Exodus 34:6-7a NIV  God patiently calls people to repentance and forms them into a people who love, follow, and live for His Son. He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. —Mark 12:6-8 NIV What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. — Mark 12:9 NIV The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. — Nahum 1:3a NIV  Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” — Mark 12:10-11 NIV The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. — Psalm 118:22–23 NIV  But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did. — Psalm 86:15–16 NIV

Why Matthew Threw a Party—and Why We Will Too Pastor Jon Verwey Combined reading Matthew 9:9-13/Mark 2:13-17/Luke 5:27-32 NIVOnce again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw a man named Matthew, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Matthew got up, left everything and followed him.Then Matthew held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. But when the Pharisees and the teachers of the law saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they complained to his disciples, “Why does your teachers eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Then Matthew held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  But when the Pharisees and the teachers of the law saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they complained to his disciples, “Why does your teachers eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” — Revelation 3:20 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” “…I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” — Mark 2:17b NLT “You do not delight in sacrifice… My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” — Psalm 51:16–17 (NIV)  When Jesus calls us to follow Him and we respond, it should move us to create space for others to encounter Him and hear His call to them. Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend… Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. – Henri Nouwen

Faith, Forgiveness, and the Prayer of God’s People 04/26/26 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” — Mark 11:20-25 NIV  Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. v 23  ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ Mark 11:17 b NIV  In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. vv 20-22  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. v 24  …I will do whatever you ask in my name… — John 14:13 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. — John 15:7 NIV  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. v 25 “…anything against anyone…” v 25  “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive” C.S. Lewis  “…forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” v 25 Unforgiveness happens when someone else’s sin becomes bigger than the cross. The debt others owe us seems bigger than the debt we owed God. — Jason Meyer. As God’s living temple, we are a praying people who trust Him and choose to forgive. 

What the Temple Was Meant to Be 04/19/26 12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. 15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”  18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching. 19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. 20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” — Mark 11:12–21 NLT  …All the families on earth will be blessed through you. — Genesis 12:3b NLT 12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. — Deuteronomy 10:12 NLT  8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 NIV  “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” v. 17  20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up.v. 20  16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? — 1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT  19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God… — 1 Corinthians 6:19a NLT  ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ v. 17 Hear, O people of God: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. He has shown you, O [people of God], what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 NIV Jesus replaces the temple with His people—so we can love Him, walk with Him, and be a blessing to the nations.

Pastor Jon Verwey 46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.  47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”  50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.  51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”  52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. — Mark 10:46–52 NLT  Faith is seeing and believing who Jesus is, trusting that He can and will act, and humbly coming to Him—pushing through to reach Him and following wherever He leads. …Jesus, Son of David… v. 47b …threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus v. 50 …Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! v. 47b “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him… v. 48 …he only shouted louder… v. 48 …he followed Jesus down the road v. 52b (NLT) …followed him on the way. v. 52b (ESV) …If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. — Mark 8:34 NLT  Faith is seeing and believing who Jesus is, trusting that He can and will act, and humbly coming to Him—pushing through to reach Him and following wherever He leads. [NOTE: when you put these questions on the screen reveal them one at a time, but keep the previous question on the screen.] Where are you having a hard time believing who Jesus really is? Where are you not trusting Him? Where are you pulling back in fear when you know you need to press in toward Jesus? Where is life getting loud—where other voices, pressures, or circumstances are trying to silence you—and instead of crying out, you’ve grown quiet? Where are you choosing to sit by the road— instead of getting up and following Him where He is leading you?

The moment the cross revealed Jesus—and how it still changes lives today 04/05/26 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).  35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”  36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.  37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” — Mark 15:33–39 NIV  …they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. — Mark 16:4-5 NIV  “Don’t be alarmed,” … “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here…” — Mark 16:6 NIV If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. —Romans 10:9 Communion-  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony… — Revelation 12:11a NKJV  As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it.  Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. …you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. — 1 Corinthians 11:28 NLT  Have I surrendered my life to Him—given Him my “everything”? Do I believe all that we are remembering and proclaiming in communion?

Walking with Jesus but missing His way  03/29/26 Pastor Jon Verwey Jesus leads the way in humility, opens the way through the cross, and is the only Way to real transformation. …Jesus [was] leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. — Mark 10:32a NIV …Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. — Luke 9:51 NIV Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. — Isaiah 50:7 NLT  Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.  “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”  vv. 32b-34 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. — Philippians 2:6–8 NLT  “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” v. 38b “…but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”v. 40 …You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. vv. 42b-44 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve… v. 45a  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. v. 45  …he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. — Philippians 2:7 NLT His spilled blood, broken body and death became the ransom price that set us free from slavery to sin. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. — Philippians 2:9–11 NLT  Jesus leads the way in humility, opens the way through the cross, and is the only Way to real transformation. He has opened the way for you to step out of the exhausting cycle of trying harder but never changing — and into the life you were created to live.

God’s Design for Relationships and the Way to the Kingdom Pastor Jon Verwey “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law…” “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. —Mark 10:1–16 (NIV)  “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” v. 2b What did Moses command you?… v. 3 It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law… v. 5  “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” — Mark 10:6–9 NIV  God’s design cannot be rewritten by what we think is right or what we want to happen. When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” — Mark 10:10–12 NIV  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant… Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.  — Mark 10:14–15 NIV  God’s design cannot be rewritten by what we think is right or what we want — it must be received in humble faith. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts… See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. — Hebrews 3:7–8, 12 NIV  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.— Proverbs 3:5–7 NLT 

The Rich and the Kingdom of God Mark 10:17-31 New Living TranslationThe Rich Man17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”  What It This Scripture Really Saying? ✅ Simple Summary:This passage teaches that following Jesus requires wholehearted trust in God rather than in wealth, possessions, or status. True life in God’s Kingdom comes through surrender, generosity, and faith.   Here is How I Have Lived With The Themes In This Scripture 1. It’s About TrustWho do you trust for:Your futureYour identityYour security 2. Selflessness vs Self-CenterednessKingdom living means:GivingForgivingServing others  3. How We Handle Money Reveals Our HeartMoney tests:TrustControlFaith Healthy actions that I use to remind/help me to trust and release control:Bless others (tip generously, help people)GiveAvoid debtPlan and budgetSave wisely (no get rich quick schemes)  4. Kingdom Living Expands Your LifeLiving for God moves us from:Self-focused life vs Kingdom-sized life  5. Gratitude and StewardshipAppreciate what you’ve been given and use it to bless others.  

Pastor Jon Verwey 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.  43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.  [44]  45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.  [46]  47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,  48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’  49 Everyone will be salted with fire.  50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” — Mark 9:42–50 NIV  Does what I am doing move me toward Jesus or away from Him? Does what I am doing make me more like Jesus or less? Everyone will be salted with fire. v. 49 Being “salted with fire” happens when we offer ourselves to Jesus by submitting to Him and His ways. Then the trials of life become a fire that strengthens, purifies, and preserves us instead of destroying us. …let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. — Galatians 5:16 NLT  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. — Galatians 5:22–23 NLT  Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other. v. 50b And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…— Hebrews 10:25 NLT  “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? v. 50a Don’t manage sin—fight it, so that we can be a purified people who bring the life-giving presence of Jesus to the world.

A War Against Sin through the Call to Be Salty 03/01/26 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.  43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.  [44]  45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.  [46]  47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,  48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’  49 Everyone will be salted with fire.  50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” — Mark 9:42–50 NIV If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble…  v. 42 …encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. — Hebrews 3:13 NIV theft, hatred, jealousy, envy, sexual immorality, witchcraft, greed, murder, rage, selfish ambition, causing division, lying, drunkenness, orgies, slander, gossip, arrogance and boastfulness, lack of mercy, obscenity and filthy speech… Does what I am doing move me toward Jesus or away from Him? Does what I am doing make me more like Jesus or less? “All sin leads to spiritual ruin and death — and that drastic measures are necessary to fight it.” We can’t just do sin management; we need to fight it aggressively. Everyone will be salted with fire. v. 49 …let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. — Galatians 5:16 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. — Galatians 5:22–23 NLT Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other. v. 50b And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…— Hebrews 10:25 NLT “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? v. 50a Don’t manage sin—fight it, so we can be a purified people who bring the life-giving presence of Jesus to the world. How do we fight sin instead of managing it? We start with questions Does what I am doing move me toward Jesus or away from Him? Does what I am doing make me more like Jesus or less? We offer ourselves to Jesus every day. We submit to His authority. We walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Why do we fight sin instead of managing it? So we become “salty” So our lives make people thirsty for Jesus. So our homes, our tables, and our relationships reflect His love and peace.

Pastor Jon Verwey Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. — Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV  The way of the Kingdom is not striving for greatness through power and control but choosing last place through humility and service. 30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. — Mark 9:30–34 NIV 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” — Mark 9:35–37 NIV  “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last… and servant of all.” 38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.  41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. — Mark 9:38–41 NIV  “…those who face the mess they’ve made of their lives, repent of it, and trust [Jesus] as Lord and Savior [will] receive eternal life — something far beyond anything humanity can manufacture.” — Professor John Lennox The way of the Kingdom is not striving for greatness through power and control but choosing last place through humility and service.