Posts from 2017

Resources for December 31, 2017 Singing Service

Hi friends, We’ll be learning some new songs for this service and we wanted to share with you some videos of the songs being sung to help you prepare and become familiar with the melodies before the Sunday service. You’ll find some videos below, and we encourage you to watch so you’ll be more comfortable participating in our final service of the year! Highly Exalted Oceans Let It Rise Here I Am to Worship A Shield About Me 10,000 Reasons…

Resources for Discussion Class Hour on December 27, 2017

Sermon Title: Immanuel: God With Us Text: Matthew 1:18-25 Click here to review the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide. Brief summary (what’s the point of this text/sermon?) The birth of Jesus gets a lot of attention this time of year, and that’s good: Scripture strongly emphasizes it, including a lengthy account in Luke, a shorter one with different details in Matthew, and a deeply theological one in John. When cultures appropriate biblical stories, though—especially with something as commercialized as…

Jesus Christ Was Born

The article below has been edited to fit in our bulletin; the complete original can be found here: http://www.pvcc.org/blog/2016/12/16/christmas/ We are again at that time on the calendar when much of the world pauses to acknowledge that Jesus Christ was born in the world. The date makes little difference. And we heartily agree that some other time of year suits the occasion best, but that makes little actual difference. We also agree that the celebration of a special religious holiday has…

You are Mindful of Us

Our world is unfathomably huge. The sun’s light that bathes the earth today left the sun 8 minutes and 20 seconds ago traveling at about 186,000 miles per second. The distance it traveled—93 million miles—isn’t really that far, though, at least not when talking about the universe. Our little galaxy is just one of millions. I doubt David knew too much about astronomy, but he had looked up into the sky at night enough to know how incredible it is…

Resources for Discussion Class Hour on December 20, 2017

Sermon Title: The Glory of God Text: 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 3:18 Click here to review the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide. Class Discussion Questions Based on the sermon and the texts used in it, what does it mean to bring glory to God? Think back on the last seven days. How did you bring glory to God in the different spheres of your life? Work? School? In your marriage? With the person you’re dating? With your children?…

When You Can’t Sleep

Some of you couldn’t sleep last night because of worry. You had an argument with a co-worker, perhaps, or with your spouse or child. Maybe you’re worried about your health, your debt, or your job. David had those nights, like we all do. During one of them he wrote this: “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God” (Psalm 3:1-2). Satan loves…

Resources for Discussion Class Hour on December 6, 2017

Sermon Title: Please, Lord. When, Lord? Text: Isaiah 64:1-12 Click here to review the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide. Tonight’s Discussion Questions In what areas of life do you find it most difficult to wait on God to act? Below are a few possibilities: In the life of your child (faith struggles, rebellion, etc.) With health problems in your life or in someone you love In response to evil in the world (terrorism, violence, etc.; Why doesn’t God punish…

Mud pies in a slum

I remember taking the kids to the store back when they were young. I’m pretty sure that by the time we left, one of them had asked for everything the store sold, and probably a few things it didn’t. At some point, I would say something like, “Look, please don’t ask for anything else today. You’ve got everything you could possibly need, and you don’t need everything you see.” If you’re a parent, you’ve probably had similar experiences. I wonder…

The Sword

The sword is often used as a symbol of death or destruction in God’s word. Paul wrote, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). Then we see a sword listed as part of our spiritual “equipment” in (Ephesians 6:17), and maybe we feel a sense of power. But, what is the purpose of the “sword of the Spirit” (Word of God)? “Therefore…