Monday, December 30, 2019

Keep The Change

Title: “Keep the Change”
Date: Sunday, December 29th 
Big Idea: “Let Christmas define your life” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) 

Work Backwards - Is your life marked by being proactive or reactive, preparing or repairing. discipline or disordered? What are some of your goals for 2020? What do you hope your friends and family would say about you at your funeral? How does reverse engineering your life help you to achieve your goals?  

Live Consistently - Why is it important for Christians to know that grace isn't opposed to effort but to earning? Would you say that you're walking in a manner worthy of your calling and why? 

Make Resolutions - If you were going to create a summery word for your 2020, what would it be and why? What spirit-given and grace-driven resolutions will you make for 2020? 

Be Intentional - Where have you seen the disconnect between good intentions and good actions? What new "keystone habits" do you need to begin in 2020?

Stay Faithful - How does faithfulness lead to fruitfulness? What motivates long-term change in your life? How can your community group help you to grow in 2020? 

Plans for 2020 and Beyond!

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Mary: A Song of Joy (Luke 1:46-55)

Week #3 “Mary: A Song of Joy” (Luke 1:46-55)
  • What are some of your favorite joy-filled Christmas memories? 
  • What does it mean to magnify God and how can this increase your joy this Christmas season? 
  • Mary rejoices in being blessed by God, how have you been blessed by God this season and how does recognizing these blessings fill you with joy? 
  • What are some of the “joy-killers” in your life? If your group had to make a list of 5 to 10 joy-killers, what would they be and why? What common joy-killers do multiple people within your group struggle with? 
  • What does it mean to magnify God? How can we magnifying God in our daily life? What is the connection between magnifying God and experiencing joy? 
  • How can we find joy this season in God’s mercy, provision, strength, and faithfulness?



Sunday, December 8, 2019

Advent Week #2 "Peace" (Luke 2:8-20)

Discussion Questions for The Songs of Christmas #2 "Peace" Luke 2:8-20
What makes you anxious, nervous, and fearful? Most people deal with consistent, daily, low-grade anxiety. Wrestling with the "What Ifs" of life. At Christmas we remember that Jesus came as the prince of peace. Learn how the good news of Jesus' incarnation gives us a peace that transcends our circumstances, a peace that surpasses understanding. Watch, listen or download the latest message at https://rainiervalleychurch.com/latest-sermons
Big Idea: “In Jesus Christ we can have peace with God, with other people, and in our circumstances.” What sorts of things make you anxious in the world, in your relationships, and in your current circumstances? How does anxiety manifest in your life? (Short-tempered, stressed out, fearful, lonely, angry, etc?)How does the Hebrew word Shalom differ from the way our cultural understanding of peace?Read Mark 2:8-20. Shepherds were filled with anxieties and fears and they were not at peace with God since they couldn't go to the temple, they were not at peace with others since they were looked down on, and they were not at peace with their circumstances because they had no economic or social mobility to change their circumstances. What might be some modern equivalents to the shepherds? Are there ways that you feel like you can relate to the shepherds circumstances and lack of peace?The angel appears to the shepherds, what is God illustrating by sending the angels to a bunch of ordinary, no name, anxious shepherds? The angel announces good news for all people. What is the content of the good news and how does the good news impact those who are wrestling with anxiety? How do Jesus title of savior, Christ, and Lord minister to our current anxieties? What song do the angels sing together? What is the connection between God’s glory and peace?The song of the angels reminds us of three different kinds of peace that God establishes through the birth of Jesus.
  • Peace with God - What does Romans 5:1-2 tells us about the eternal peace that we can have with God? In Matt 11:28-30, Jesus calls all to come to him for peace because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. How have you experienced Jesus peace in this season?
  • Peace with Others - How does Christmas establish the truth of Ephesians 2:14-22. How have you personally experienced this peace that tears down ethnic, cultural, generational, gender and socioeconomic barriers between people?
  • Peace with Circumstances - How does Christmas reflect the truth of Romans 8:28? In Phil 4:6-8, Paul specifically encourages prayer and thanksgiving as a response to anxiety? As you reflect on 2019, what are some things you’re thankful to God for and how can we pray for one another to have our emotions and our thoughts protected by the peace of Jesus in this season?

Monday, November 25, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving

Message for Pastor Kyle
Happy Thanksgiving Church Family. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, every year me and my girls watch the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade, we do a family name-exchange for Christmas presents with family all over the world and take some time to reflect back on what we are thankful for from this past year.
As I consider our church family this past year, I'm incredible thankful for the gift of getting to be your pastor and having a front row seat to seeing God's power at work in and through us. Rainier Valley Church is a little church making a big difference in the lives of many different people. From hearing testimonies from our Hope Place and Riverton Place brothers and sister during their graduations as they talk about the impact this church has had on their recovery to getting to talk with GCE Scholars in the Philippines who lead weekly Bible Studies in some of the poorest neighborhoods on earth, our little church is making a big impact in the neighborhoods and in the nations. This year I am thankful for the people I've seen understanding the Gospel for the first time, receiving the love, forgiveness, and new life of Jesus, get baptized, become members of RVC, and grow in their faith. It's been a joy to see our church rally around those who are suffering, help those who are in need, and grieve with those who are hurting.
My heart is full with gratitude to God for what he is doing in our midst. Thank you for the role you are playing in serving, giving, praying, and using your spiritual gifts to glorify God and love others well. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Col 3:15)6 Good Questions for Thanksgiving Dinner.
1. What’s the one experience for which you are most thankful this year?
2. What’s the one book, article, or blog post for which you are most thankful this year?
3. What’s the one thing you’ve learned this year for which you are most thankful?
4. If you could thank one person today—near or far, living or dead—for their influence on your life, who would that person be?
5. Who’s one person you’ve never thanked for their contribution to your life, but would like to?
6. For what do you feel most grateful to God today?Special Thanksgiving Message
I'd encourage your family to listen to this important Thanksgiving sermon as you prepare for Thanksgiving Dinner. I have some dear friends that have made it a tradition to listen to this message with their kids before Thanksgiving every year. I'm hope you are blessed and encouraged by this special Thanksgiving message.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9orBuzcRNM---------------------------------------------Giving Opportunities The Christmas Giving Tree
This year Rainier Valley Church has partnered with Cleveland High School to bless families in need in our local community. The Christmas Giving Tree has been set-up right inside the entrance of the church and features giving tags with the names, ages, and gift ideas of kiddos from the Hagins and Saucedo families. If you haven't had a chance, please pick one of the tags and purchase a couple of Christmas gifts to be dropped off back at the Church by Sunday, December 15th. We will also be sending two teams to drop off presents at the Hagins and Saucedo families houses on Sunday, December 15th. If you'd like to be part of one of the teams to deliver presents to the families, please contact @Steve Pratt or Yee Feng.#GivingTuesday
The Tuesday after thanksgiving as become #GivingTuesday which was created as an antidote to the rabid consumption and consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
There are many worthy ministries and organization to give to on #GivingTuesday but I want to encourage to give toward the work of your local church. Your generosity allows us to offering hot breakfasts every Sunday, host receptions for families at Hope Place, and provide food and medical care through the efforts of our partner ministry, Grace Community Empowerment, in the Philippines. Please consider giving a special gift this holiday season to help advance the work of Rainier Valley Church and thank you for your generosity and support!
https://secure.squarespace.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5494ecb4e4b0a909df736619&ss_cid=832a472d-f620-4907-b6db-d7ed454b7ddb&ss_cvisit=1574706438972&ss_cvr=391d360a-93c7-4cf4-a843-b0288b54dd0b%7C1532477275653%7C1574106768376%7C1574706438323%7C346

God, The First Evangelist