Summary
Pastor Ben Orchard addresses the congregation at Valley Bible Church, emphasizing the spiritual battle over political issues and the importance of prayer, righteousness, and the Gospel. He introduced a new series on the church’s distinctives, 2 Timothy, and highlighted the church’s mission-focused, multi-generational, and next-generational nature. Pastor Ben discussed recent changes, including leadership transitions and the church’s growth strategy, which involved engaging all age groups and maintaining a focus on biblical truth. He encouraged the congregation to embrace change, support the next generation, and continue to fulfill the church’s mission.
Action Items
- Encouraged families to attend both services and have children participate in the entire worship service, not just Sunday School, to expose them to the multi-generational nature of the church.
- Encouraged older members to get involved in the lives of younger families, such as by providing childcare during life group meetings, to foster intergenerational relationships.
Outline
Spiritual Battle and Prayer
- Ben begins by acknowledging the tough week and the reality of evil, emphasizing that it is a spiritual battle, not a political one.
- He references Apostle Paul’s words about the struggle being against spiritual forces, not flesh and blood.
- Ben highlights the importance of prayer, righteousness, truth, godliness, and the Gospel in the spiritual battle.
- He expresses disappointment in those who call good evil and evil good, referencing the shooting of Charlie Kirk and its aftermath.
Introduction to Valley Bible Church (VBCs)
- Ben introduces a new series called “The VBCs” to discuss the distinctives of Valley Bible Church.
- He mentions the transition the church is going through, including the construction of a new auditorium.
- Ben emphasizes that the church is people, not a building, and that the focus should be on the purpose of the church.
- He outlines the upcoming discussions about the church’s mission, purpose, and the transition period.
Church Transition and Leadership Changes
- Ben discusses the changes in leadership, including the return of Caleb Klontz as an elder and the potential addition of Ken Ainsworth and Toby Erickson to the elder team.
- He reflects on his own transition to part-time status in 2026 and the impact it will have on him, Tara, and the church.
- Ben encourages the congregation to see these changes as opportunities for growth and new beginnings.
- He highlights the importance of living things changing and growing, using his 20 years at VBC as an example.
Mission Focus and Great Commission
- Ben explains that VBC is a mission-focused church, emphasizing the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20.
- He outlines the steps of discipleship: bringing people to Christ, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded.
- Ben stresses the importance of fulfilling the mission to bring glory to God by obeying His commands and making disciples.
- He references Acts 1:8, where Jesus calls His disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Multi-Generational Church and Family of Families
- Ben emphasizes that VBC is a multi-generational church, designed to survive and thrive by including all age groups.
- He references 2 Timothy 1:1-2, where Paul addresses Timothy as his beloved son, highlighting the multi-generational nature of faith.
- Ben discusses the importance of the church family, where older and younger generations learn and grow together.
- He encourages the congregation to see the church as a family, with older saints mentoring younger ones and everyone serving together.
Challenges and Changes in Church Leadership
- Ben recounts the challenges VBC faced in the early 2000s, including the loss of leadership and families.
- Ben acknowledges the difficulty of the early days and the support of the interim pastor in keeping the church afloat.
- He shares a pivotal moment when he realized the lack of children in the church and the need for change.
Strategies for Church Renewal and Growth
- Ben explains the strategies used to renew and grow the church, including prayer, changes in music, and sermon length.
- He emphasizes the importance of not compromising the church’s core values and maintaining a focus on the Bible.
- Ben discusses the challenges of changing a church without destroying it and the importance of maintaining a multi-generational approach.
- He encourages the congregation to see the building as a place for ministry and to involve all age groups in the life of the church.
Intergenerational Ministry and Community Engagement
- Ben highlights the importance of intergenerational ministry, where older saints mentor younger ones and everyone serves together.
- He encourages the congregation to invite young families with children to their life groups and to provide childcare.
- Ben discusses the need for the church to look like its community, including racially and socio-economically diverse groups.
- He emphasizes the importance of teaching the younger generation about living for Jesus Christ and the role of older saints in this process.
Next Generational Church and Passing the Baton
- Ben introduces the concept of a next generational church, where the focus is on passing the baton to the next generation.
- He references 2 Timothy 2:2, where Paul encourages Timothy to entrust the things he has heard to faithful men who can teach others.
- Ben emphasizes the importance of having a long-term plan for the church, focusing on people and their spiritual growth.
- He encourages the congregation to see their role in passing on the truth of God’s Word to the next generation.
Conclusion and Call to Action
- Ben concludes by encouraging the congregation to see the changes and transitions as opportunities for growth and renewal.
- He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a mission-focused, multi-generational, and next-generational church.
- Ben calls the congregation to pray, serve, and be involved in the life of the church, both in the building and in the community.
- He encourages the congregation to think about becoming a two-service family and the benefits of exposing their children to the Word of God.
Sept. 14 bulletin, song lyrics, sermon notes, and Life Group questions