Church in the Valley - Ontario Ranch Campus

Most of the time when quarrels and conflict arise we look for someone to blame, but James makes it clear that conflict with others is often rooted in our own blocked goals and desires.

All of us struggle with controlling our speech. Every time we open our mouth we are revealing to others something about us. What we say gives us away!

The genuine nature of true faith is evidenced by our real life not just our claims.

One of the major pressure points we face is learning to be people of action. Often we hear from God on something specific in our life, but we simply put it into our “interesting information” box. Over time without application, change doesn’t come.

We often don’t realize the deadly process that is taking place when we are being tempted. Temptation (enticing our desires) often wears a mask, so we often mistake it as harmless.

Key lessons learned over the years of walking with Jesus.

People will last forever but the trouble they’re experiencing right now will not, and it is accomplishing a purpose with an eternal dimension.

Christ followers are commanded not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God.

Since people live forever, our accomplishments on earth find their place of importance compared to the privilege of knowing Christ and doing His work on earth.

It’s important to realize the way we choose to build our lives will be judged by the Lord. Since we are made to live forever, how should that weigh into our decision-making matrix, and how does it impact my life’s direction and the investment of my time, treasure and talent?

As we relate to our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and acquaintances…we must keep in mind that people are not “throw-aways”, they last forever.

The most important decision we make in this life is whether we will accept Christ and follow Him as Lord. Everything else we do is shaped by this choice. The Bible shows us that we will spend forever with God in heaven or separated from Him in hell – this is the backdrop of our lives.

Nehemiah gives us a vision of how we could change, grow and rebuild the walls that have fallen apart in our lives.

The Christmas story presents many aspects of uncertainty as Jesus’ birth was predicted and as He was born.

Comparison is a trap that can limit our contentment and at Christmastime it’s easy to get caught in the undertow of wishing you were in someone else’s shoes or compare where you are to where you wish you were.

Demands tend to increase exponentially during the Holidays. We can become overwhelmed by the demands of expectations, pressures, and people. If we’re not careful, the demands can take away from the joy of the moment.

Small towns take on identifying characteristics – some are friendly and hospitable to one another and outsiders and some are not. Love and hospitality are key marks of a Kingdom community.

Relationships are easily fragmented in communities. Feuds develop that last for decades in small towns. When there is conflict in the church, we must respond in the right way so we can experience and show the world how to handle it God’s way.

The heroes of the town shape the ideals of the community and help to form a community mindset of what’s most important. In the church, the leaders are to be held to a strict standard of character, followers are to focus on making it a joy for their leaders, and godly cooperation helps the community fulfill its purpose.

God intends for Christ followers to get connected, to stay connected and use their energy and abilities for the common good. There are many churches to choose from in a given area so we must take initiative to connect to a local church, stay connected and then work for the common good of the church’s people and mission.

A community is made up of people who live within its borders and a common identity develops from growing up in it and being a part of the life of the small town. In the church community, we’re born into the family/community when we are “born again” in Jesus. We have a common identity in Him and live within the boundaries He sets for life.

The need and desire community is connected to the way God made us. He made us in His image. He is a relational God, He experiences community within His own being (in the trinity), and he made us to live in community.

It would seem that if we just had a little more money, our problems in life would be solved. Our current financial situation rarely seems to be enough, so we are often tempted to scan for more.

Mundane responsibilities year after year seem to threaten the sweet life. Joy comes as a gift when we set our hearts to please God as we faithfully pursue our responsibilitie

We all would love to experience a life of peace and harmony, but nothing destroys our happiness as quickly as relational conflict. When conflict erupts, we have two choices. We can either be robbed of our joy or do the hard work of making peace.