Together #2 "Making Jesus' Final Command Our First Priority"

“Making Jesus' Final Command Our First Priority” Together - Genuine Community: Building Relationships in a Broken World Rainier Valley Church - Seattle, Washington - Sunday, March 26 The Mission Profess (Matt 28:18-20) Proclaim (Mark 16:15-16) Participate (Luke 24:46-48) Peace (John 20:21-22) Power (Acts 1:8) Jesus gives the great commission 5 different times in 5 different ways. What are some of the similarities and differences in these texts? How can we make Jesus’ last command our first priority? The Motivations Love (2 Corinthians 5:14) Compassion (Matthew 23:37) Sorrow (Romans 9:1-3) Power (Roman 1:16) Accountability (Acts 20:26-27) There are many biblical motivations for evangelism. What are some motives you have to share the Gospel with friends and family? The Methods S.A.L.T. Method Start a Conversation Ask Questions Listen Closely Tell The Story    • The SALT Method o...   Romans Road Method Stop #1 | Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Stop #2 | Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Stop #3 | Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Stop #4 | Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ…” Stop #5 | Romans 10:9 “…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…” https://www.forthegospel.org/read/the... 4 Spiritual Laws Method 1. God loves you and created you to know Him personally. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). 2. Man is sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23) 3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) 4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12) You Can Receive Christ Right Now by Faith Through Prayer "Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be." http://www.4laws.com/laws/englishkgp/... 2 Ways to Live Our Way God’s New Way Reject God as ruler Submit to Jesus as our Ruler Live our own way Rely on Jesus’ way Damaged by our Rebellion Forgiven by God’s grace Facing death and judgment Receive a new life that last forever https://twowaystolive.com/ The Way of the Master W.D.J.D. W for Would - Would you consider yourself to be a good person? D for Do - Do you think you have kept the Ten Commandments? J for Judgment - If God were to judge you by the Ten Commandments, do you think you would be innocent or guilty? D for Destiny - Do you think you would go to heaven or hell? https://livingwaters.com/ Christianity Explored Classes Christianity Explored is a way of sharing the best news ever heard, and gives people space and time to think about the big questions of life. Over 7 sessions in Mark's Gospel, find out more about the life of the person at the heart of the Christian faith - Jesus Christ. https://www.christianityexplored.org/

Weekly Announcements

Bible Reading Plan

We are transformed by the renewing of our minds and our minds can be renewed through daily Bible Reading.

This week's Bible Reading Plan has us reading Daniel, Amos, Ezra and Psalms.

Join us on the #bible_reading_plan channel to discuss the scriptures we are reading through each week.

RVC Ladies Bible Study

This Wednesday is the last Women's Bible Study since it will be going on a break for the month of April. If ladies are interested in joining, please contact 

@Kristin Marais

 for more information.

RVC Ladies Social & Craft Night - Join other ladies from RVC this coming Thursday, March 30th from 7-9pm at @Shelly Lischke's place for a night of crafts, Easter egg packing, fellowship and food.

RVC Women's Getaway - "STEADFAST: Firmly Anchored in a World of Drift"

April 28-30, 2023

$120 for the weekend, $60 for Saturday Only

Register by 4/23 - Check or Cash Only

Lake Retreat Camp (Near Ravensdale)

Register Now! https://forms.gle/M4Qd3AnqX1FZK4eT8

If you have questions or would like more details, please contact 

@Shelly Lischke

Philippines Mission Trip

Rainier Valley Church is sponsoring and sending a mission team to the Philippines this summer to serve alongside our overseas ministry partner Grace Community Empowerment.

If you are interested in going on the upcoming Mission Trip but you weren't able to make it to the Informational Meeting, please reach out to Mission Team Lead @Stormy Curtis ASAP to get on the list.

Easter Sunday at Rainier Valley Church - 3PM

Join us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter Sunday, April 9 at 3pm-4:30pm.

We have a big day planned with child dedications, joyful songs of celebration, Gospel preaching, baptisms and a kids Easter egg hunt. Please invite your family and friends to celebrate Easter with us this year and hear some amazing testimonies at the baptisms! We're so excited for what God is doing in our midst. Praise the Lord!

Child Dedications - If you are interested in being a part of the child dedications on Easter Sunday. Please reach out to Pastor @Steve Pratt

Baptism Sunday - Baptism is going public with your faith by identify with the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in the waters of baptism. If you are interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, please reach out to Pastor @Kyle Van Tine

Kids Easter Egg Hunt - We are excited to host a Kids Easter Egg Hunt for the community. Everything will be provided. Please invite families with kids to join us in this classic Easter activity. If you're interested in helping out, please contact @Crystal Van Tine

 We're looking forward to all the Easter fun coming up soon!

"Christmas Worship Fulfilled in Revelation" (Rev 4-5)

Announcements from Sunday, December 4th 2022 Bible Reading Plan - Join us on #bible_reading_plan channel on RVC's Slack to discuss our daily Bible reading. We will be finishing up 1 Samuel and starting 2 Samuel. If you haven't joined us yet, jump into the same page Bible reading challenge and read the scriptures with us each day. The PDF is attached and can be printed out and put in your Bible as a daily reminder. Feel free to leave any thoughts, questions or insights in the #bible_reading_plan channel on Slack. Nursery Help Needed - Thank you to all those who have done such a great job helping to serve our church family, visiting families, and our kids by caring for babies in the nursery and teaching children in the kids ministry. By God's grace and your willingness to serve, we have teams for each week. There is one spot currently needing coverage and that's help in the nursery on the third week of the month. If you're able to help out, please contact @Steve Pratt. Thanks so much! Ladies Craft Night - Shelly Lischke and Lauren Soini are hosting a ladies craft night this coming Thursday, December 8th at 6:45pm at the Soinis house near the church. You can bring a Christmas craft you are working on, Shelly will bring materials for a craft if you don't have anything and you're more than welcome to come and enjoy fellowship even if you don't like crafts. Kids are welcome but please RSVP in advance so Lauren Soini knows how many kids to expect. We're excited for the ladies to get together for fellowship and fun this Thursday night at the Soinis. Joy’s Birthday Party - Join us at Rainier Valley Church after our worship service on Sunday, December 11 for a very special birthday party for Joy Mipalar. The Birthday party will have an English Tea Party theme and ladies are encourage to bring a fancy hat if they would like. Joy will be provided some incredible food. Please plan to celebrate Joy's birthday with us on Sunday, December 11th. Christmas Eve Saturday - Please plan to invite friends and family to join us for a beautiful Christmas Eve Candlelight service on Saturday, December 24th at 4pm. Christmas Day Service - Pastor Ken Sabalza is planning a special Christmas Day worship service for Sunday, November 25th at 4pm. If you're in town, please plan to join us to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the first and greatest of all Christmas gifts ever given. Christmas in the Revelation #2 "Christmas Worship Fulfilled in the Revelation" (Revelation 4-5) Topic(s): Christmas, Advent, Hope, Nativity, Revelation, Worship, Praise, Holiness, Sacrifice, Worthiness, Promise. Big Idea of the Message: We Worship God as the Holy Creator and Gracious Redeemer of the World Application Point: Beholding his wonder in creation, praising his grace in redemption and trusting his hand in providence. Discussion Questions: Worshiping God as the Holy Creator - Beholding His Wonder in Creation (Revelation 4:1-11) What sorts of things does the Apostle John see in his Heavenly vision around God's throne (Rev 4:1-8)? How does seeing God in his exulted state impact our understanding of the Christmas story? God throne is surrounded by thunder and lighting, signifying his power, reflecting the story of mount Sinai in Exodus. What are times in your life when you have experienced the raw power of nature and how did that experience change you? The Angelic throne guardians cry out that God is Holy (Rev 4:8) What is God's holiness, why does it matter and how does it contrast with us? The 24 elders cast their crowns before God as an act of worship (Rev 4:10) What things in our own lives do we need to lay before the throne of God as an act of worship? The Elders worship God as the Holy Creator of the universe. What do the elders say in their song in Revelation 4:11? How can we cultivate a heart of worship as we consider God as the creator? What aspect of God's creation amazes you right now? Worshiping God as the Gracious Redeemer - Raising His Grace in Redemption (Revelation 5:1-14) The scroll (God's ultimate purposes of judgement, mercy and the renewal of the world) is unable to be opened by anyone (Rev 5:1-4). What would it mean for the world if Jesus never came as our redeemer and savior? John weeps because no one is worthy to open the scroll (Rev 4:4) According to the elders, angels, and all creation, what makes Jesus worthy in Revelation Rev 5:5,9b-10,12,13? According to the elders song in Rev 5:9-10, what does Jesus' redemption save us FROM and what does Jesus' redemption save us FOR? In the final song of Revelation 5:13 all of creation joins in the worship of Jesus as the redeemer of the world. How will Jesus redeem not just individual souls but the whole cosmos? How can we be praying for and encouraging one another this week?

#15 Mark 9:1-29 "Seeing Jesus in 2022"

Gospel of Mark: Discipleship, Servanthood, and Following After Jesus
Mark 9:1-29 “Seeing Jesus in 2022”
Sunday, January 2ndDiscussion Questions
What is one thing you are thankful to God for as we look back on 2021? 
What are some things you are looking forward to in 2022? Seeing, Savoring, and Worshiping Jesus (9:1-6)
Jesus gets alone with his disciples. How will you regularly get alone with Jesus this coming year? Is your spiritual life mostly private, public or a healthy balance of both? How does your schedule need to be open to time with God?  
God meets with his people on the mountain top from Moses and Israel to Jesus and the Disciples. Where do you meet with God? Do you have a special place set aside for communion with God? (e.g. a special room, a local park, nearby trail, traveling in your car, etc)  Trusting, Obeying, and Following Jesus (9:7-8)
God the Father calls us to listen to Jesus. If there is one theme, keystone habit, word of the year or new year’s resolution that would be most beneficial to us, it would be to listen to Jesus. How are we growing in listening and obeying Jesus? Humbly Receiving Correction and Coaching by Jesus (9:9-13)
Jesus corrects the disciples' understanding of the scriptures as they come down the mountain.  How can 2022 be different from last year? The way to be sure that this year will be different than last year is to be open to correction and coaching. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. How are you cultivating humility and allowing yourself to be correctable this year?  Learning from Past Failures with Jesus (9:14-19) 
Jesus rebukes the disciples for trying to cast out a demon in their own self-sufficiency by calling them a faithless generation, a term used for pagans. There is a tendency in us to become self-reliant, especially in things we’ve done for years. Are there areas in your life you function as though you’re self-sufficient and don’t need God? (e.g. Marriage? Parenting? Ministry? Evangelism?) God often gives us struggles so that we recognize we aren’t sufficient within ourselves. How has God used problems, difficulties, and hardships in your life as a gift to drag you out of yourself to rely on Him? Broken and Burdened Like Jesus (9:20-27)
Jesus is burdened for the suffering of the young boy who was brought to him because he was tormented and tortured by a demon. Over the last two years, we’ve developed some bad habits, become spiritually lazy, self-focused, and comfort-driven. What habits have developed in your life that are unhelpful, selfish, and or lazy? How can we cultivate a broken and burdened heart like Jesus for our family, friends, community, city, and world?  Praying with Passion and Dependence to Jesus (9:28-29) 
Jesus explains the importance of prayer. It’s been said that prayer is faith TURNED to God. Use the following prompts to seek after the Lord in prayer. 

• Seeing, Savoring, and Worshiping Jesus (9:1-6)

Lord, open my eyes to see Jesus for who he truly is, help me to savor and treasure Him for he is worthy!

• Trusting, Obeying, and Following Jesus (9:7-8)

Lord, help me to follow you closely in 2022. Help me to obey you with a joyful heart. 

• Humbly Receiving Correction and Coaching by Jesus (9:9-13)

Lord, help me to receive your correction and to put to death my pride.

• Learning from Past Failures with Jesus (9:14-19) 

Lord, forgive me for my sins and help me to learn from my past mistakes. Use my past failures for your glory!

• Broken and Burdened Like Jesus (9:20-27)

Lord, give me your heart for this broken world. Forgive my laziness and spiritual indifference. Help me to feel what you feel.

• Praying with Passion and Dependence to Jesus (9:28-29) Lord, forgiven my self-sufficiency and reignite my prayer life. Give me a renewed passion and help me to humbly come before you in prayer.