Light of the Valleys

On this Mother's Day weekend, we thank God for the care we receive from our mothers. But even more so, we praise and thank God for the limitless care from Jesus, our Good Shepherd who feeds, protects and comforts us. Message based on Revelation 7:16-17

A man named Saul thought that Jesus was a religious rebel who deserved his death, but Saul's life changed when he saw that Jesus really did rise from the dead. Today we see how our lives, too, have been eternally changed by our resurrected Lord.

Hear how the reality of the resurrection changes everything! The Easter message comes from Luke 24:1-12.

There are many things in this world that try to mute the praise we have for Jesus. And yet, by God's grace, Jesus is still praised as King and Savior. LIght of the Valleys Lutheran Church in Reno invites you to listen to this message by Pastor Joel Heckendorf that leads to still sing praises today. Message based on Luke 19:39-40.

In today's service, we see how God takes people whose lives have been trashed by sin and turns them into his priceless treasure. Sermon based on Luke 20:9-19.

The word prodigal means "recklessly extravagant". In today's worship, we meditate on a parable of Jesus from Luke 15 that displays the infinite depth of our Father's reckless love.

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the challenges and hardships we face in our lives. In the Bible, people like Moses actually felt the same way. But God is always faithful to his people. He keeps his promises, and loves them forever. Today's message is based on Exodus 3:1-15.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." We see that attitude on display in our lesson today as Jesus doesn't shy away from difficult things. Rather, he is determined to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal. And his goal, is to gather each and everyone of us under his care. Light of the Valleys Lutheran Church invites you to listen to this message by Pastor Joel Heckendorf. Message is based on Luke 13:31-35.

On the First Sunday in Lent, we hear how Christ fights against temptation for his people, and wins every time. A message on Luke 4:1-13.

"How could you do such a thing?" Ever have that said to you. Ever think that about something you regret doing. The season of Lent leads us to contemplate the seriousness of our sin. But even more so, it leads us to consider what Jesus has done for us so that we know, "The Lord has taken away our sin." Message based on 2 Samuel 12:1-13.

What makes a person blessed? Most people would probably list things like good health, financial stability, or a fulfilling career. But when Jesus preaches to his followers, he explains that true blessings come to us in a way that is completely different -- and totally unexpected. Today's mediation is based on Luke 6:17-26.

*Due to technical difficulties, the sermon was re-recorded after the service.*"That's Enough!" Sometimes we say those words as a complaint or out of desperation. Today, we are reminded that we are recipients of God's grace and "that is enough." His grace is sufficient for any challenge we're going through. Message based on 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10.

Nobody likes being rejected. Rejection can hurt, especially when it's from those close to you. When it comes to proclaiming the good news about Jesus, there will be rejection. Not everyone will listen, even those close to you. But God is greater than human rejection. Rejection is not proof of failure.

God's Word clearly teaches that only those who believe in Jesus will go to heaven. How do people hear about Jesus in the first place? It's obvious: through someone telling them! But God doesn't only use pastors to spread the good news: he uses you, too.

Who are you? Different contexts might yield different answers to that question, but your identity shapes your life. When you forget who you are, look to baptism. Through baptism, God made you his child. No matter the context, that's your identity: a child of God.

What happens when your expectations aren't met? Not all of our dreams come true. But that doesn't mean that's a bad thing. Rather, as we take a closer look at Ephesians 3, we cherish that the Lord does more than we can ever ask or imagine.

Popularity does not define success in the Kingdom of God. Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah were deeply unpopular because of the message the proclaimed. The Apostle Paul and his friend Timothy went through many hardships on account of the gospel. But no matter what response we get from the world around us, we can trust that God will still change hearts and be with his people as they proclaim the truth of his Word to the world.

Earthly adoption is special. More special, though, is the God adopted us! He rescued us from the slavery of sin and made us part of his family. As our Father, he blesses us now and makes us heirs of future blessings.

Christ goes with us into 2025! With Jesus at our side, we recognize that our hope is not in the things of this world that change and decay, but in Christ's forgiveness, and the joys of heaven that await us once Jesus returns again. What greater comfort could we have as Christians!

"And he will be our peace." The busy-ness of this season highlights the fact that we can never find peace in this world, no matter how hard we look for it. But Jesus gives us eternal peace which the world cannot give: peace between us and God. Today, we'll see how God's gift of eternal peace is ours today and every day.

Why are we able to rejoice in Christ? That's the question the prophet Zephaniah answered for God's people thousands of years ago. In Zephaniah's time, Judah had plenty of enemies on the outside, and plenty of spiritual dangers on the inside as well. But despite all the things that were going wrong, the Lord promised to send a Savior who would deal with their sin, and give joy to his people forever. In today's service, we will see that we can rejoice because the Lord has already won salvation for us!

It's that time of year... gifts to buy, parties to plan, etc. You may be overwhelmed. Are you prepared? What about a bigger question: instead of wondering if you are prepared to celebrate Jesus' first coming, are you prepared for his second? Today, Pastor Joel Heckendorf of Light of the Valleys Lutheran in Reno guides us through a message from Malachi 3, assuring us how we are prepared.

At this time of year, we look back to how God sent his Son into the world at Christmas. But we also look forward to when God's Son will come back a second time and take all believers to be with him in heaven. Join us in worship as we look to God's mountain-top promises to which we can look forward.

"Who's in control?" So often, we look to other people, products, or policies to help us navigate through life. Today's message assures us that Jesus is King. As he sits on his heavenly throne, we can be certain that Jesus is in control. Message based on Daniel 7:13-14, by Pastor Joel Heckendorf of Light of the Valleys Lutheran Church in Reno, NV.

How are we able to stand in the presence of God? Is it because of anything we do? Is it because of the choices that we make? In our Scripture lessons today, we will see that as sinners, there is no way we could stand before the Almighty on our own -- and we don't need to. Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins that we need, and he covers us with his grace every single day. We can stand in God's presence not because of who we are but because of who Jesus is for us. Today's sermon is based on Hebrews 9:24-28.

We know God is present in our lives, but why do we need to be reminded of that? In the midst of challenges, find comfort that the Lord Almighty is with us and that he is our fortress. Sermon based on Psalm 46.

God's people have needed to stand up for the truth many times throughout history. In our service, we will see that the Lord stands with his people and gives them all the strength that they need whenever they need to defend the gospel. Sermon on Daniel 3.

"Be strong." This is God's command so that we're ready for spiritual battle. But he doesn't just say, "Be strong." He himself strengthens us with his mighty power and gives us armor to protect us. Today's message is based on Ephesians 6:10-17.

"What must I do to be saved?" That's the question a rich young man asks Jesus in Mark 10:17-27. Tragically, the man wasn't really looking for a Savior -- he thought his works made him right with God. In today's service, we will see the power of God's Word to cut through our own human ideas of how to enter heaven, so that we rely on Jesus, who has already done everything for us.

Are you tired? What burdens are you carrying? What has you worn down? Today, Jesus invites, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Light of the Valleys prays you enjoy the rest that only Jesus can give as Pastor Heckendorf shares a message based on Matthew 11:28-30.

Chariots and Horsemen of fire! Elisha's servant couldn't see them; do you? Join us today as we open our eyes and give thanks to God for the mighty angels he uses to guard to keep us.

"I don't know how to... I don't want to... I don't know if I can." When it comes to living our life of faith, all three of those phrases may apply. Today, Light of the Valleys Lutheran Church in Reno invites you to see God's answer for all those things as we take a closer at Psalm 27:1. #livebrightly

You can't accomplish much with your eyes closed. That's why, in Ephesians 5, Paul tells us that the gospel has opened our eyes so we see what is truly going on. We face spiritual dangers as the devil constantly throws temptations our way. But more importantly, we clearly see the Savior, and all the opportunities we have to serve him every single day.

"Don't wait 'til tomorrow to do what can be done today." Today, Jesus invites us to put that proverb into practice as he reminds us to "Work while it is day." May the words of Jesus is John 9:1-6 give each of us a sense of urgency as we serve the Lord.

Today, Light of the Valleys invites you to ask yourself: "Am I a hypocrite?" It's easy for us to go through the motions of worshiping God and living an outwardly good life, but where are our hearts? We'll see how unclean our hearts are and, more importantly, hear how they've been made clean for good. Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23.

What are the bare necessities of life? We usually list things like food, water, and shelter. But Jesus tells us there is something we need more than anything else, something we could not possibly live without -- saving faith. Pastor Dan Waterstradt leads us through Jesus' challenging and comforting words in a sermon on John 6:51-69, "Offensive Gospel".

Saved! It's one of the most comforting words ever. Today, Light of the Valleys Lutheran Church in Reno, NV invites you to listen in to see how being saved is God's greatest gift to us. Today's message is by Josiah Loersch, our pastoral intern. Message is based on Ephesians 2:1-10.

What are you looking at? That's a question that gets asked whenever we come into contact with someone or something new or different. Today, Light of the Valleys invites you to review a lesson given by the apostle Paul to the Corinthian congregation, teaching them to keep their eyes open and focused on God when faced with the temptations of this world. Message based on 1 Corinthians 10:1-5; 11-13.

What are you afraid of? When kids turn into adults, they still have fears, but instead of a monster underneath the bed, they can be very real problems. "What if I can't make that payment this month? What if I will be alone forever?" Today, Light of the Valleys invites you to see Jesus' great power over wind, wave, and the laws of physics, and why all of these show us that we have no reason to be afraid. Message based on Mark 6:45-56.

Today, Light of the Valleys invites you to marvel at the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 people, a reminder that he still provides for us today. Message based on Mark 6:35-44.

It's a rich word... compassion. When you're punched in the gut over the trying times of another person that you have no option but to act on their behalf, that is what we call compassion. Today, we see our Savior have compassion on us -- as he not only sees our needs, he meets our needs. Join us today, as Pastor Joel Heckendorf delivers a message about Jesus' compassion, based on Mark 6:30-34.

Last week we considered how serving the Lord is not always easy. And yet, we can move forward in ministry in our personal ministries, trusting that the Lord will provide. Join us this week as we take a closer look at Mark 6:7-13, as we consider two ways that Jesus provides.

"Live your faith." Easier said than done. When we talking our personal ministry to others, it's not always easy. When the message we try to share is met with rejection, it becomes even more difficult. And yet, today we see how the good news of Jesus motivates us to carry our meaningful ministry, even when it's not easy. Message based on Mark 6:1-6.

Spoiler Alert! No one likes to know the ending of something they are reading or watching. You want to find out for yourself how the story resolves! However, Peter today spoils the ending. He talks about what we should expect when Judgement Day comes. Light of the Valleys invites you to hear about what happens at the end of time and how you can be ready for it. Message based on 2 Peter 3:8-18.

Who was the best teacher you ever had? What about the worst teacher? Today, the apostle Peter warns us about bad teachers, but it's not because they are boring, it's because they teach things that are contrary to God's Word! However, God will rescue us from these false teachers. Light of the Valleys invites you to hear about God's rescue plan for you this morning. Message based on 2 Peter 2:1-10

What's your favorite book? A novel you've read dozens of times? A biography of an important person from history? How about the Bible? In our world, it's nearly impossible to find a book as completely reliable as the Bible, because it is God's own Words, written down by human authors... but how did that all happen? The Apostle Peter assures us of this fact and encourages us to devote ourselves to this wonderful gift: The Holy Scriptures. Message based on 2 Peter 1:12-21.

They call it, "The Fall into Sin." But Genesis 3 could better be known as, "The Rise of Grace." As we see Adam and Eve sin and note the consequences of their actions are the same consequences we face, today we cherish God's solution as he promised to send a Savior so that we can know that we are "Saved from Sin." Message based on Genesis 3:1-15.

Are you tired? Maybe not at the moment, but most would say that our culture makes us crave rest and relaxation since there always seems like there is something "to do." Today, Jesus reminds us that true rest can be found in him because he has done everything for us. Message based on Mark 2:23-28.

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? What's the square root of 48,003,177? These questions that are pretty tough to answer, but people have been pondering for centuries: Who is God? Light of the Valleys invites you to ponder the complexity of our Triune God where we see his holiness and mercy working together to bring us salvation. Message based on Isaiah 6:1-8.

"Can dry bones live?" That's the question that God asks the prophet Ezekiel. We might think, "Of course not! They're bones! They're dead!" But as God shows Ezekiel, God makes even the driest bones alive again through the Holy Spirit. Light of the Valleys invites you to consider on this special day of Pentecost how the Holy Spirit makes you alive in faith and empowers you to go! Message based on Ezekiel 37:1-14

Christmas. Easter. Those are the "big two" Christian holidays. Sometimes we can relegate the other holidays to parentheses. Today, we invite you to see that Ascension is anything but an afterthought. Light of the Valleys invites you to consider how Jesus' ascent into heaven forty days after Easter is an important event that brings comfort to our lives today. Message by Joel Heckendorf, based on Ephesians 4:7-10.