May 31, 2026
Everyone has a story. But what makes a Christian testimony different from any other story? In this final message of the Love Made Known series from Big Valley Grace Community Church, Pastor Joel opens 1 John 5:1–13 to show us that a Christian testimony isn’t just a personal experience — it’s a witness of facts concerning Jesus Christ.From the baptism and crucifixion of Jesus, to the witness of the Holy Spirit, the Father, and our own spiritual rebirth, this message walks through six powerful, verifiable facts that form the foundation of every Christian testimony. And it doesn’t just stay in the pages of scripture — it comes alive in the story of two middle school students whose faith at Prescott Middle School sparked a prayer movement that’s still growing.Whether you’re eight years old or eighty, whether you’re brand new to faith or have been following Jesus for decades, this message will equip and inspire you to share your testimony with someone in your life this week.Every van is going somewhere. The best stories are about the best facts. And the best facts are in the word of God.📖 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. — 1 John 5:11#ChristianTestimony #FirstJohn #LoveMadeKnown #EternalLife #BigValleyGrace
May 26, 2026
What does it look like when the love of God radically transforms a person — even an enemy? In this powerful message from Big Valley Grace Community Church, guest speaker Pastor Tim Ginosa of Valley Grace Church opens 1 John 4:7–21 to show us the outrageous, confronting, sacrifice-driven love of God that doesn’t just change us — it compels us to go and love others the same way.From a former skinhead transformed by Jesus, to Brandt Jean forgiving the officer who killed his brother in one of the most unforgettable courtroom moments in recent memory, to an NFL player’s encounter with a linebacker who loved him enough to ask the hard question — this message is full of real stories of what God’s love actually does when it takes root in a human life.If you’ve been loved by God, you’ve been sent to love others. Even your enemies. Even at great cost. That’s not a suggestion — it’s the mark of everyone who has truly encountered the love of Christ.📖 We’ve been loved so that we would go love.#OutrageousLove #FirstJohn #GodIsLove #LoveMadeKnown #BigValleyGrace
May 17, 2026
What kind of fruit is your life producing — and what root system is it coming from? In this rich and practical message from Big Valley Grace Community Church, Pastor Joel walks through 1 John 3:11–24 to show us what authentic, organic Christianity actually looks like. And it comes down to three simple words: love one another.From the story of Cain and Abel to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this message traces two root systems — one rooted in the evil one, one rooted in righteousness — and shows how the fruit of your life reveals which one you belong to. Real love isn’t just words. It’s action. It’s sacrifice. It’s obedience. And it’s possible only because the Holy Spirit of God lives in every true believer.Whether you’re overwhelmed by what it means to follow Jesus, struggling with a guilty conscience, or simply wondering how to take your next step of faith, this message will help you break it down into something you can actually do: love one another.If people came to your farmers market today, what would they find?📖 Love is not a feeling. It’s a root system producing real fruit.#LoveMadeKnown #FirstJohn #LoveOneAnother #HolySpirit #BigValleyGrace
May 10, 2026
What does it mean to be called a child of God — and how does that identity actually change the way you live? In this warm and powerful Mother’s Day message from Big Valley Grace Community Church, Pastor Joel opens 1 John chapter 3 to show us the most important person we could ever look up to and become like: Jesus.Just as children naturally begin to reflect the parents they spend time with, followers of Jesus are being transformed — day by day, mirror by mirror — into his likeness. Through three clear truths from Scripture, you’ll discover what it looks like to grow as God’s child: knowing Jesus leads to becoming like Jesus, practicing sin less, and practicing righteousness more.Whether you’re brand new to faith or have been walking with Jesus for years, this message will challenge and encourage you to live like what you are — a child of God. Not through striving or performance, but through the daily, transforming relationship of knowing him.If you believe God is your Father, behave like you are his child.📖 You represent a name. Make sure it’s his.#ChildrenOfGod #FirstJohn #BecominLikeJesus #MothersDaySermon #BigValleyGrace
May 3, 2026
Don’t Be Deceived — How to Recognize Spiritual Deception and Stand Firm | 1 John 2:18–27The word “antichrist” can feel unsettling — even scary. But what if understanding it is actually one of the most practical things you can do for your faith? In this message from Big Valley Grace Community Church, Pastor Ben walks through 1 John 2:18–27 and brings clarity to a topic many Christians avoid, showing why you can’t afford to keep your eyes closed to spiritual deception.John warns believers that while a singular Antichrist is coming, many antichrists are already here — people and influences that deny who Jesus is and work to pull believers away from the truth. They abandon the church, deny the faith, and assault the people of God through subtle lies and outright deception. And if you’re living for Jesus, you will experience these attacks.So what do you do? You abide. This message unpacks what it practically looks like to abide in Christ — to stay anchored in the truth of the gospel so that when deception comes, and it will, you’re not caught off guard. From whispers that tell you to avoid hard conversations, to teaching that puts the focus on you instead of Jesus, Pastor Ben gets specific about the forms deception takes in everyday life.The turbulence is coming. But you already know the destination.#AbideInChrist #Antichrist #BigValleyGrace #TruthOverDeception #1John
April 26, 2026
What if the things you’re chasing for satisfaction were never meant to fully satisfy you — and what if that’s actually good news?In this message from 1 John 2:12–17, Pastor Ben Kelly unpacks one of the most honest and hopeful truths in Scripture: that everlasting satisfaction can only be found in Jesus Christ. Not because the good things of life are bad, but because they were never designed to be the final destination.Drawing from John’s letter to early believers — and from real-life moments like snowboarding gloves bought on a credit card and a mother’s words at the graveside of her husband — Pastor Ben shows three reasons we can find lasting contentment in Jesus: we are forgiven, we know the Father, and we are victors in the faith.He then turns to the world’s counterfeit offers — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — and shows why they always leave us wanting more. But the message doesn’t end in defeat. The good things of life, held with the right posture of heart, become foretastes of heaven.Watch, be encouraged, and take your next step.#1John #SatisfactionInJesus #BigValleyGrace #EverlastingSatisfaction #ChristianLiving
April 19, 2026
Do you have doubts about your faith? Doubts about God’s forgiveness, about whether you’re truly saved, about whether love and acceptance are really available to you?You’re not alone — and you’re not disqualified. In this honest and encouraging message from Big Valley Grace Community Church, Pastor Joel opens 1 John 2:1–11 to show us exactly what to do with our doubts about faith in Jesus Christ.Through two powerful faith tests from the Apostle John, you’ll discover that assurance of salvation isn’t found by having all the answers — it’s found by knowing, loving, and obeying Jesus. When you obey his commands, you’ll know that you know him. When you love one another, you’ll walk in the light.Whether you’re brand new to faith, quietly struggling in the middle of your walk with God, or carrying the weight of broken relationships and unresolved sin, this message will meet you right where you are — with truth, compassion, and a clear path forward.Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. It’s an invitation to put your faith to the test.📖 True followers of Jesus have assurance — because they know, love, and obey him.#OvercomingDoubt #FirstJohn #AssuranceOfSalvation #LoveMadeKnown #BigValleyGrace
April 12, 2026
A Life Like No Other — Why Jesus Is the Most Important Person in History | 1 John 1:1–4Why does Jesus of Nazareth matter more than any other person who has ever lived? In a culture full of confusion, distortion, and apathy toward Jesus, this question has never been more important to answer correctly. In this opening message of the Love Made Known series from Big Valley Grace Community Church, Pastor Joel digs into 1 John 1:1–4 and unpacks why Jesus Christ — the God man — is the one and only basis for true Christian fellowship and eternal life.This message is for anyone who’s been curious about Jesus but never fully explored who he really is, for longtime believers who want to go deeper, and for anyone who knows something is missing but can’t quite identify what.Discover what it means that Jesus is both fully divine and fully human, why the early disciples couldn’t stop talking about him, and how knowing this life changes everything. Pastor Joel also walks through four keys from the letter of 1 John — promoting full joy, pressing on in holiness, pursuing correct doctrine, and having assurance of salvation — that are the foundation for a complete and flourishing life in Christ.Don’t be apathetic toward Jesus. Have a passion to know him, share him, and enjoy the life he offers.#LoveMadeKnown #1John #BigValleyGrace #WhoIsJesus #EternalLife