Verve City Church: Weekly Messages

“In this world,” Jesus tells us, “you will have trouble.” We will all walk through pain, suffering and loss. It will make us bitter, or it will make us better. How is it that our character can be forged in the crucible of conflict? The Hebrew Scriptures contain the story of Daniel: a man who was stolen away from his home country at an early age and who continued to develop the strength of character to defy a king and point a nation to God. This week at IHC: “Old Faithful” 

You want to make a difference in the world, but it feels like the ever-consuming hustle of life just keeps getting in the way. The Hebrew scriptures contain the story of a man named Nehemiah, who became laser focused on a single task: rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem. To accomplish his task, he overcame obstacles familiar to all of us: fear, distractions, and criticism. How do we develop a vision for our lives that is so clear and so compelling that it helps us overcome the challenges we are certain to face as we seek to accomplish our purpose and influence those around us?

We looked at the Apostle Peter this week as one of the Bible characters who exemplifies the importance of “The Leader Within You.” If you’re looking to influence others, it’s pretty helpful to start with an understanding of “self leadership.” How are you leading your life in a way that models honesty, determination, and a sense of your unique purpose?

There’s a massive conversation in our culture around masculinity: what does it mean to be manly? How are we raising boys to become “good” men? What role(s) should men play in our society? Are some forms of masculinity as we’ve traditionally defined them actually harmful? And if I define myself as a follower of Jesus, what does my allegiance to Christ have to say about manhood?

What’s your role in God’s plan? It’s one thing to consume a religious product... But it’s life changing to contribute to a team that’s making a difference. To be part of the Church is to be part of the team of people Jesus has assembled to impact the world!

We all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves; to make a difference in the world around us. If you’re a follower of Jesus, YOU hold the answers to the biggest questions the world is asking. And as part of a church, we can be on mission together to share the Gospel with the Chino valley in ways that none of us can do on our own.⁠

Scriptures remind us that anger is not inherently a problem, and it can even be helpful in some cases. As followers of Jesus, how can we respond to our anger in a way that demonstrates our desire to be more like Jesus in what we say, and do, and think?

There has been a dramatic uptick in feelings of anxiety over the past decade, especially amongst young adults. While some anxiety levels can be extreme and are best resolved through professional therapy, Jesus modeled a way of living that can help break the cycle of worry and fear that drives much of our anxiety.

Many of us have experienced a sense of tiredness - of “languishing” - this past year. Maybe you’ve found yourself saying, “I can’t even…” when you think about facing one more challenge, one more disappointment, or one more monotonous day. Take heart! You’re not alone, and this week’s message encouraged us to consider how we can model our response based on how Jesus himself lived.

We all face expectations, and we may even feel like we’re managing the needs of our families, workplaces, and friends pretty well. But what does it look like to find a renewed purpose and vulnerability as we respond to Jesus’ invitation to live differently?