- Scripture Exodus 3:1-14 & Matthew 25:14-30
- Date Sunday, 25 March 2018
Rev. Mike Brost steps into the PVC pulpit to proclaim God's Word.
- Scripture Various
- Date Sunday, 18 March 2018
This Sunday, we are taking a novel approach for the sermon. How about a non-monologue message? Yeah, we're taking some time on Sunday morning to finish up the series on fasting. This is your opportunity to 'talk' about fasting. I believe this is a critical element in advancing God's Kingdom and Pleasant Valley. What good is fasting? What will I accomplish if I fast? Should we fast individually or as a congregation? How fast should I fast?
These are some of the questions we tackle on Sunday. (Except that last one, just seeing if you're awake!) What questions do you have about fasting? Ever tried it? Then, share your story. What good or bad would you share with someone about fasting?
Then, next Sunday, I have a classis appointement to be in Sheffield, so Rev. Mike Brost will be at Pleasant Valley - you do not want to miss that!
- Scripture Matthew 6:1-21
- Date Sunday, 11 March 2018
For the last 3 weeks we have been studying various scripture texts concerning fasting. A formula for petitioning God became evident in Nehemiah and Daniel. It has been an interesting study so far. I also discovered that very few folks here at PVC were familar with fasting.
We continue this Sunday, March 11, studying fasting. We'll spend a brief time in Matthew 6 considering some instructions God gives us about fasting. But, I really have been trying to get to practical, usable, common aspects of fasting - so we'll get to some of those. We'll talk about the connection between fasting and prayer more than we have so far.
Then, next week, we get radical! I want to discuss fasting in a highly uncommon way - interactively! I want to converse on the subject. I'll answer questions and I hope to hear some share their experiences. We'll talk about ways to fast and problems many encounter. Want to try something totally radical on a Sunday morning worship time? Try this out. 9:30am is our worship start time. We'll be glad to see you and you'll be glad you came.
- Scripture Various
- Date Sunday, 04 March 2018
This is the third in a series on fasting & prayer.
Last Sunday, we studied Nehemiah, looking at this prayer & fasting.
Nehemiah was saddened by the condition of the old city of Jerusalem. He was so disturbed by the condition of the city and the people there, that he began to fast and pray. More than just that, he lays out a formula for coming to God when we are in times of severe distress and need to petition God. Rather than just leading off with the request, we need to consider Nehemiah's process.
We'll study another example today. Daniel is also an example of this same process of fasting & prayer leading up to the petition. Is this process unnecessary in our lives? I suppose if it were only in Nehemiah, one might make such an argument. But, the same model exists in various locations of Scripture -- including in Daniel. So, there must be something to this -- to following this process. Fasting & prayer is step one.
But, we live in a quick culture - get it done quickly and get it done now. This carries over to how we approach God. Got a request? Just shoot it out to God and move on. Why doesn't God answer our quickie prayers, we wonder. Maybe God wants us to put a little more into it. Maybe God doesn't want a casual, quick, cheap relationship with His creation.
Maybe. 