Church In The Valley - Ontario Ranch Campus

Jesus is the life. He is the One who made us and the ultimate source of life. He gives springs of living water to those who trust Him and those who stay connected to Him flourish.

Jesus is the truth. Jesus' life and teaching were based on reality - the way things are not the way we want them to be. He teaches the way to salvation and the best way to live in the real world. When we arrive at key intersections in life we have a choice to go with what Jesus says is real or not - for salvation and beyond.

Jesus is the way. He left us with a map to the best kind of life and promises to be our guide. Jesus' way is characterized by faith, sacrificial love and consideration, a focus on giving rather than receiving, and the belief that life is found when you lose it.

Jesus' statement, "No one comes to the Father except through me" leaves no room for neutrality - He claims to be the only way to God. How can we verify His claim an dnot conclude these are the words of a deranged egomaniac? We know He is the only way by looking at His character, power, the resurrection, and our own experience.

When you put your faith in Christ, God makes you a member of the Body of Christ. If you take your place in the Body of Christ then you experience God's blessing. If you don't take your place in the Body, you miss His blessing, and your own refreshment and growth is limited.

Peacemaking is a major issue for Christ-followers - it is the key to enjoying life. Peacemakers enter "The Zone" - God blesses them. God is pleased when we take the initiative to live at peace with others, if possible.

We are "in the zone" of God's blessing when we follow God's guidance for living and manage our resources for God's benefit. God's test for spiritual blessing is faithfulness. Money is our biggest management issue. God promises that He will bless faithful financial management and giving.

The heart of the zone is living life God's way. Trusting God to the point of obeying Him is the first boundary. Baptism is the first step of obedience that Jesus asks us to take. It is a visible test of our willingness to follow.

Wisdom is the key to handling our money. There are financial decisions that we must make: Live on less than you make, track your spending, get rid of dumb debt.

Heart issues that drive us off course financially are greed, comparison, and discontent. In this message, we will discover God's antidote to these. They are bridled when you turn your attention from what you want to what others need--you discover and appreciate the shelter God has provided.

When it comes to personal finances, it is easy to get lost. If we follow our heart without a good financial map, the day comes when we suddenly realize we are in trouble. In this message and the rest of the series, we will learn God's perspective on money and aim to adopt His values.

A key to our growth is love that pushes us outside of our comfort zone to serve others and share Christ with those who don't know Him.

God uses the experiences, frustrations, and trouble in our lives to grow us spiritually -- our role is to turn to Him and trust Him and His way as we learn to deal with life. God uses trouble to refine us like the fire with gold.

Staying connected to Christ and His Word is a key ingredient to spiritual growth. If we let God's truth sink into us we bear the fruit of a changed life that glorifies Him and gives us real joy.

Once we decide to follow Christ, God puts us in His body (the church) and brings growth as we stay connected and contribute to what He wants us to do through His people. The connection brings stability and helps us to identify and reject wrong thinking.

God is very interested in our spiritual growth and wants us to learn how to cooperate with His Spirit to grow more like Him. The growth that God brings has value for all things.

Denying yourself is the way to life. Real freedom follows a path of discipline. Spiritual discipline has a high reward and value in our lives both now and into eternity.

Doing the right thing is time-consuming and hard, while doing the wrong thing is quick, easy, and comes naturally. Righteousness is harder to begin with and makes things easier down the road, while sin is easier up front and makes things harder later on.

Mary's response is a great example for us. She shows us how to respond to do God's will and work with a humble heart which will bring God's blessing.

Joseph is a righteous man who obeys God's directions and leading in stressful times. He is a tremendous example of how to follow God and be used for His purpose in the flow of history.