Valley Life Church - Yakima

The Rich and the Kingdom of God
 
Mark 10:17-31 New Living Translation
The Rich Man
17 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...

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 crip...

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 i...

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...

Glorious on the Mountain, Gracious in the Valley

02/15/26

His face shone like the sun … and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. — Matthew 17:2a; Luke 9:29b NIV 

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 

3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 

4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 

5 Peter said to Je...

Pastor Jon Verwey

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? — Mark 8:34-37 NIV

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”<...

Pastor David Pietsch

Luke 10:38-42 NIV

Practice 1: Come Sit

Practice 2: Follow

Practice 3: Delight

The Question That Defines Our Eternity

01/18/25 

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. — Mark 8:27-30 NIV

Who do you say I am? v. 29

But what about you?
Who do you say I am? v. 29a

Learning to Live Like It’s True

01/11/26  

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

We don’t need more signs, more stuff, or more control—we need to stay connected to Jesus and trust that He truly satisfies because He is more than enough.

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for t...

Pressing in to Jesus

Where Faith Meets Goodness and Freedom

The Gospel of Mark