Pleasant Valley Church Sermons

Pastor Darren draws from 1 Corinthians 11-12 in challenging individuals who are part of the body of Christ: to be willing to acknowledge the fact that they are gifted by God, to take time to self-reflect and identify their giftedness, and then to unselfishly use those gifts for the benefit of the WHOLE – the [...]

There is no enemy more powerful or feared among humanity then the universal enemy of DEATH!  Even though our world spends 6.5 trillion dollars annually on health care - fighting the enemy of Death, we still have no solution!  Pastor Darren’s uses 1 Corinthians 15 to explain the reality of this enemy in our world [...]

What does it look like when followers of Jesus – called to put everything on the line for Christ - desire to live up to that calling?  Pastor Darren walks through Paul’s unique teaching in 1 Corinthians 4 & 7-8, exploring how Paul challenges his audience to ‘be willing to be Normal Christians’ while pursuing [...]

We believe God has equipped and commissioned our church family to be active in spreading His Message around the world.  Listen to members of our church family; Bert & Elma Kornelson share of their time serving in the Dominican; Kerry & Barb Brandt speak about their involvement with Live Different, most recently in Haiti; and [...]

In a week where we remember the life and ministry of evangelist Billy Graham, we specifically take note of one of his well-known quotes.  'It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, it is God's job to judge, and it is my job to love."  As we continue our series of messages in the book [...]

Pastor Mike continues the series on 1st Corinthians with a look at Paul's urge to the church in Corinth to pursue Godly wisdom. Time and time again, throughout the Bible, we see God's amazing power revealed through the lowly and the weak. The mystery of His grace demonstrated in unexpected ways. Ways that don't make [...]

Pastor Jesse starts off an 8 week series on 1st Corinthians.  The church in Corinth was a bit of a mess.  Corinth was a city whose name had become synonymous with partying and promiscuity, and the church there was struggling with infighting, disagreements, immorality, and confusion.  Paul's letter to the Corinthian church starts off with [...]

After growing up right here in our PV Church, Carl Loewen, his wife Lisa and their family have spent many years doing discipleship and teaching ministry with young men off the streets in the Philippines.  He is now the Missions Prof at Steinbach Bible College.  He comes home this Sunday and shares with us his [...]

Pastor Darren challenges the notion that being alive spiritually translates into continuous joyful praise and thanksgiving.  Does our North American Church culture still allow for ‘Lamenting’ as a valid form of worship? Is there room in our Christian culture and in the church, for someone who is at a place where right now, they simply [...]

Pastor Jesse concludes the advent series with a look at the Shepherds.  The nativity story is a constant reminder that God's kingdom looks very different from our earthly priorities - brokenness, imperfection, and weakness are not scary or overwhelming to God, but something that He embraces with grace!  Having recently experienced loss and grief on [...]

Pastor Darren speaks on how angels - God's Messengers - make 4 unexpected visits in the original Christmas story!  Each time the angels begin their visit with similar words, 'Do not be afraid ...'.  Could it be that each angel message speaks clearly to a basic need of humanity?  Could it be that these angel [...]

Anna and Simeon in the temple ... Pastor Darren shares a short devotional exploring what these 2 participants in the original Christmas story may have to teach us about worship.  They WAITED.  And IN THEIR WAITING, they worshiped!  Pastor Darren asks the question, are you waiting?  And if so could it be that WAITING is [...]

Pastor Mike preaches on Worship as seen in the account of the Magi in the Christmas story. "The truth is, we don’t have record of exactly who these men were or even exactly where they came from...and maybe it's not that important, perhaps what is important is that they went out of their way, just to [...]

"In our Christian world, some firmly believe that a traditional style of worship is most meaningful; while at the same time others strongly suggest that the only way for worship to be truly sincere is for it to flow freely and spontaneously!  While we tend to think it must be EITHER OR, a good look [...]

What can we learn about WORSHIP from the first Christmas story? Take a good look at the different participants in the story and you will find that they simply RESPOND.  Actually worship is: our RESPONSE to who God is, his creation, his voice, his invitation, and his love & mercy & blessing!  So, how did [...]

So what is our responsibility to the marginalized and underprivileged? Jesus says the answer is very simple,"Just be 'a neighbor' to everyone you meet".  Sounds simple but what does 'being a neighbor' actually include?  The answer to that question, says Jesus, is captured in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

We live in a world that is obsessed with social media.  Is it possible that this need to be heard and seen and acknowledged on the internet comes from something deeper than convenience or fun?  What if this obsession was actually driven by fear that is much older than social media...the fear of being [...]

Moses was not a good speaker, David was too young, Bethlehem was too small, Gideon was too weak, the disciples were too ordinary, children not important enough, and Paul had to endure an ongoing 'messenger of Satan'.  A significant 'weakness' thread seems to weave it's way through the Bible. Why? That is precisely what Paul [...]

Our world places a high value on 'certainty'.  Most of us feel safer in a world of certainty; physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. interesting however, that Jesus consistently appears to challenge 'certainty' and encourage 'curiosity'.  Is it possible then that 'certainty' can be an obstacle to faith?  And 'Curiosity' essential to a living faith journey?  [...]

Why are you Thankful?  Is much of my Thankfulness motivated by comparison?  Do others have to have negative circumstances in order for me to be thankful for my positive circumstances?  Is it not much healthier to be Thankful simply because, 'I am a Thankful person' and ultimately because, 'God deserves my Thanks?'

Each of us has been given gifts by God, what we do with them is up to us. The parable of the Talent’s found in Matthew 25:14-30 has something to teach us when it comes to making this decision. Pastor Mike interviews missionary Alexander Perez on his ministry in Belize (Belize Camping Experience). Through Alex’s [...]

Who has God called us to be?  Isaiah 61:1-3 spells out what Jesus is going to be sent to earth to do.  In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus accepts this responsibility.  Now I believe this same 'redeeming and reconciling' responsibility has been handed to the church, Christ's body!  And that includes our little church here at PV!

Pastor Darren speaks on positive thinking: is it simply character or is it actually a godly pursuit? Although much of the world’s positive thinking propaganda is very self-focused, Philippians 4:8 does appear to give us a godly call to be ‘positive thinking’ kind of people. The surrounding thoughts in vs 6-13 give us a good [...]

Pastor Jesse asks: how do we respond when we see evil around us?  It can be difficult to grapple with evil in our society.  Where does it come from?  How can we deal with it?  What is God doing about it?  Christ's death on the cross secured absolute victory over evil, and yet that victory [...]

Pastor Darren continues to speak about our focus.  Hebrews 12:2 says, ‘Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.’ Jesus is the perfecter of your FAITH. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, ‘the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’ Is it also possible that we could be distracted [...]