Life Church - RVA

Life Church - RVA

5.0 (2)
CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

Weekly sermons shared at Life Church in Mechanicsville, VA

FEB 15

The Attitude of a Good Steward

What if everything we think we own actually belongs to someone else? This powerful exploration of the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10 reveals three radically different attitudes toward stewardship that shape our entire lives. We encounter the thief who says 'what's yours is mine and I'm going to take it,' driven by greed and selfishness. We see the priest and Levite who declare 'what's mine is mine and I'm going to keep it,' maintaining their comfortable isolation while ignoring human need. And finally, we meet the Samaritan whose heart proclaims 'what's mine is yours and I'm going to share it.' The transformative truth here is that biblical stewardship isn't primarily about money—it's about recognizing that God owns everything, and we're simply managers. Our time, talents, and treasure are all on loan from the Creator. When we grasp this reality, the tension around giving evaporates, replaced by joy and freedom. The question becomes not 'how much do I have?' but 'what am I doing with what I have right now?' This message challenges us to examine whether we're robbing God, our families, or our employers through misplaced priorities and wrong attitudes. The call is clear: develop the mindset of a good steward today, because God will give us tomorrow according to what we do with what we have today.

45 min
FEB 8

We > Me

At the heart of this message lies a powerful counter-cultural truth: we are greater than me. In a world obsessed with individual success, personal rights, and self-promotion, the kingdom of God operates on an entirely different principle. Drawing from Matthew 16:24, we're reminded that following Jesus means giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and surrendering the me-first mentality that pervades our culture. The sermon beautifully illustrates this through Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, showing us that two are better than one, and three are even better—a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. This isn't just poetic language; it's a fundamental truth about how God designed His church to function. Like a championship football team that wins not through one superstar but through every player doing their part, the body of Christ thrives when we move from individual performance to collective purpose. The message challenges us to see that our individual gifts and callings are amplified when we join them with others in unified service. Whether it's serving in the nursery, greeting at the door, or supporting behind the scenes, every role matters because we're not building our own kingdoms—we're advancing His. This shift from me to we isn't about losing our identity; it's about finding our true purpose in something far greater than ourselves.

53 min
FEB 1

Unexpected Storms

We often assume that following God faithfully will shield us from life's difficulties, but this powerful exploration of Mark chapter 4 reveals a profound truth: sometimes obedience places us directly in the path of unexpected storms. The disciples found themselves terrified in a fierce storm not because they had sinned or made poor choices, but precisely because they were doing exactly what Jesus asked them to do. This message challenges our assumptions about the relationship between faithfulness and hardship, reminding us that not every storm is punitive—some are formative. While Jesus slept peacefully on a cushion, the experienced fishermen panicked, their fear causing them to question whether He even cared about their survival. Yet this contrast reveals something beautiful: fear is a normal human response to crisis, and we shouldn't let anyone question our spirituality because we feel afraid. The key is not eliminating fear but keeping our eyes on Jesus even while the waves crash around us. When Christ finally spoke those three words—'Peace, be still'—the disciples moved from terror to amazement, discovering a deeper truth about who He really was. Our unexpected storms create opportunities to witness God's power in ways calm waters never could, teaching us that His silence doesn't mean absence and that His greatest work often happens in our weakest moments.

41 min
JAN 25

God's Family

This powerful message challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the church and its role in our spiritual foundation. Drawing from Ephesians 1:4-5, we're reminded that God adopted us into His family—the body of Christ—and this adoption wasn't accidental but intentional. The sermon navigates a crucial question many believers wrestle with: Is church attendance necessary for the Christian life? Rather than offering a simple yes or no, we're invited to reframe the question entirely. It's not about whether we 'have to' go to church, but whether we can truly thrive spiritually in isolation. The early church in Acts 2 provides a beautiful picture of believers who devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer—meeting together daily with joy and generosity. This wasn't obligation; it was the natural overflow of their faith. We see that Jesus Himself, though He could have lived spiritually alone, consistently gathered at the temple and built community around Him. The message reveals three profound realizations: the church is where we understand we're part of God's people, not just individuals; it's where diversity and unity glorify God together; and it's what Christ gave His life for. When we distance ourselves from the church, we risk distancing ourselves from Christ Himself. This isn't about checking boxes or earning favor—it's about recognizing that we need each other, especially in a world that constantly divides us along every conceivable line.

48 min
JAN 18

Go and Do the Same

This powerful message takes us deep into the heart of what it truly means to love our neighbor. Through the timeless parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10, we're confronted with three distinct responses to human suffering: avoidance, consideration without action, and compassionate intervention. The priest crosses to the other side of the road, the Levite stops to look but walks away, and the Samaritan—the despised outsider—becomes the hero by actually doing something. What makes this teaching so convicting is how it exposes our own tendencies. We can be religious, attend church faithfully, and still fail to love people in their pain. The challenge isn't just about joining a small group for what we can get out of it, but asking what we can give to others who are hurting, lonely, or lost. This is about opening our eyes to see the wounded people all around us—in our families, workplaces, and communities—and responding with more than sympathy. It's about investing our time, resources, and hearts into the lives of others, even when it's inconvenient. The golden rule isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a call to action that transforms how we live every single day.

43 min
JAN 11

The Value of Something Lost

This message challenges us to rediscover the urgency of reaching the lost by examining three powerful parables from Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each story reveals a profound truth about God's heart for those who have wandered away or never knew Him in the first place. The lost sheep knew it was lost but didn't know how it got there. The lost coin had no idea it was even missing. The lost son knew exactly how he'd messed up his life and just needed to know he could come home. What makes these stories so compelling is the relentless search that characterizes each one—the shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep to find one, the woman turning her house upside down for a single coin, the father watching the horizon for his wayward child. We're reminded that the value we place on something determines the intensity of our search when it's lost. The challenge for us today is whether we see lost people the way Jesus does. When we truly understand their value in God's eyes, no sacrifice becomes too great, no commitment too costly. The lost aren't an imposition on our comfortable church experience—they are our purpose. This Kingdom Builder Sunday reminds us that missions isn't just about programs or budgets; it's about sharing the desperate love of a God who celebrates more over one repentant sinner than ninety-nine who never strayed.

51 min
JAN 4

Reset

As we step into a new year, we're invited to embrace the powerful concept of a spiritual reset—a chance to throw off old patterns and put on new life in Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 4:22-24, this message challenges us to move beyond vague hopes for improvement and get specific about what needs to change. Just as our phones and computers sometimes need a hard reset to function properly, our lives require intentional recalibration. The beauty of the gospel is that God's mercies are new every morning, and we're never too far gone for His grace. We're encouraged to take four practical steps: ask God for help, be specific about what needs changing, surround ourselves with supportive people, and cut the clutter from our lives. The scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reminds us that we're not meant to journey alone—a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Whether we're struggling with finances, relationships, health, or hidden sins, this is our moment to stop living in denial and honestly evaluate ourselves as Romans 12 instructs. The call isn't just about making resolutions; it's about allowing the Spirit to renew our thoughts and attitudes, creating lasting transformation that glorifies God throughout the year ahead.

41 min
12/28/2025

Renamed at the Well

At the heart of this powerful message lies the transformative encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in John chapter 4. This isn't just an ancient story—it's a mirror reflecting our own struggles with identity, shame, and the labels we carry. We discover that the woman came to draw water at noon, the hottest part of the day, not by accident but to avoid the judgmental stares and whispered names her community had assigned her. She had been labeled by her past, by her five failed marriages, by her current living situation. Yet Jesus intentionally went through Samaria—a place Jews typically avoided—because He had a divine appointment with someone the world had written off. The profound truth emerges: before Jesus ever confronts our sin, He connects with our humanity. He doesn't shame us; He renames us. The woman's act of leaving her water pot behind becomes a powerful symbol of releasing our old identities, our survival mechanisms, and the burdens we've been carrying. When we encounter the Messiah, we're faced with a choice: will we cling to the familiar containers of our past, or will we lay them down to embrace the new life He offers? This message challenges us to identify what 'water pot' we're still carrying—what label, what lie, what name the enemy or our circumstances have placed on us—and invites us to experience the freedom that comes when Jesus speaks louder than our shame.

45 min

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Highly recommended!

07/21/2021

313transplant

This podcast is such a blessing! I’m able to listen again and REALLY absorb the whole message. Thank you for this labor of love. 💌🙏🏻

Weekly sermons shared at Life Church in Mechanicsville, VA

Creator

Life Church - RVA
Years Active

2019 - 2026
Episodes

85
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Life Church - VA
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Life Church - RVA