Life in the Valley Podcast

Theology Talk: The Discipline of Serving

Episode 36. In this episode, we continue our Theology Talk series on spiritual disciplines with the discipline of serving.
What is the biblical basis for serving?
How is serving a spiritual discipline? How does the Lord use it to grow us in godliness?
What does this practice look like?
Scripture References:  John 13, Mark 10:43-45, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10-11
 
Article: “Make Love Your Aim” by Carolyn McCulley
 
Also, we talk about what our favorite podcasts right now:
 
Pastor Zach’s (a.k.a., “PZ”) Favorite Podcast:
The Crossway Podcast
Gospel in Life – Timothy Keller Sermons
 
Andrea’s Favorite Podcasts:
Mere Christians Podcast with Jordan Raynor
Tim Hawkins Podcast
 
Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor, MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications at MVBC.
 
 

Any advice on parenting through these challenging times, especially with LGBTQ, gender identity issues, etc.? How do we guide our kids as they start to notice these things?

Episode 35. In this episode, we answer a listener question: “Do you have any advice on parenting through these challenging times, especially with LGBTQ, gender identity issues, etc.? How do we guide our kids as they start to notice these things?”
Resources:
The New City Catechism for Kids
 
The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds
 
https://newcitycatechism.com/
 
Search for the app “New City Catechism”
 
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-things-to-pray-for-your-children
 
1 Peter 3:15
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor, MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications at MVBC.

Theology Talk: The Discipline of Giving

Episode 34. In this episode, we continue our Theology Talk series on spiritual disciplines with the discipline of giving. 
What is the biblical basis for giving?
How is giving a spiritual discipline? How does the Lord use it to grow us in godliness?
What does this practice look like?
Scripture References:
Deuteronomy 15:9-11
Deuteronomy 8
Proverbs 3:9-10
Luke 6:30
1 John 3:16-18
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
1 Corinthians 16
Malachi 3:10
 
Also, we talk about what songs we are loving these days.
On Zach’s playlist:  Yes Song by KB
On Andrea’s playlist:  All Sufficient Merit by Shane & Shane
 
Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
 
*We apologize for the quality of this audio as we had some technical difficulties recording.
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor, MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications at MVBC.
 
 
 
 

Sermon Follow Up: A Barren Temple & A Withered Tree

Episode 33. This is a sermon follow up from the sermon Pastor Zach preached on June 30, 2024 on Mark 11:11-21, "A Barren Temple and a Withered Tree."  We also talk about book recommendations for summer reading for your family.
 
Book Recommendations for Summer Reading
 
For the kids:
 
The Big Red Tractor and the Little Village by Francis Chan
 
The Red Rock Mysteries by Jerry Jenkins and Chris Fabry
 
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
 
The Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne
 
That’s Nat Series by Dandi Daley Mackall
 
 
For adults:
 
The Gospel by Ray Ortlund
 
Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke
 
Also check out our Recommended Reading on our website.
 
Graphic of the temple in the time of Jesus.
 
Do you have questions? You can submit them on our website at www.machiasvalley.org/questions.
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor, MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications at MVBC
 
 
 
 

Bible Translations with Guest Micah Perkins - Part 2

Episode 32.  This is part 2 of our discussion on Bible translations with guest Micah Perkins.  Micah is an elder at MVBC, and in this episode, we talk about the KJV (King James Version) only controversy.   
Recommended Reading:
https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/how-did-we-get-the-bible-in-english/ 
http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com
https://www.thetextofthegospels.com
https://youngtextlessreformed.com
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor of MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications of MVBC
Submit your questions at https://www.machiasvalley.org/questions.

Bible Translations with Guest Micah Perkins - Part 1

Episode 31.  We continue our discussion on Bible translations with guest Micah Perkins.  Micah is an elder at MVBC and we dive deeper into the history of how we got our Bible translations.
 
Recommended Reading:
https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/how-did-we-get-the-bible-in-english/ 
http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com
https://www.thetextofthegospels.com
https://youngtextlessreformed.com
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor of MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications of MVBC
Submit your questions at https://www.machiasvalley.org/questions.
 

Why are there so many Bible translations and how do I choose one?

Episode 30.  In this episode, we talk about Bible translations and discuss these questions:
Why are there so many Bible translations?
How do I choose a Bible translation?
Why do you use the ESV?
Lifeway Bible Translation Continuum Chart
 
Pastor Zach’s Bible translation recommendations for everyday use:
ESV
NASB
NLT
KJV
NKJV
NIV
CSB
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor of MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications of MVBC
Submit your questions at https://www.machiasvalley.org/questions.

Theology Talk: The Discipline of Fasting

Episode 29.  In this episode, we continue our Theology Talk series on spiritual disciplines and today we talk about fasting.
What is it?
What is the purpose of fasting?
How do we fast?
Why, in the Baptist denomination, do we not fast? Generally, it is not taught or practiced much. Why is that?
Can I change God’s mind by fasting?
How often should I fast?
 
Recommended Reading:
Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
A Hunger for God by John Piper
 
Sermon on Fasting:
Fasting According to Jesus – Pastor Zach Vaughn – August 27,2023.
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor of MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications of MVBC
Submit your questions at https://www.machiasvalley.org/questions.

Theology Talk: The Discipline of Prayer, Part 2

Episode 28.  In this episode, we continue our Theology Talk series on spiritual disciplines.  This is part 2 of the discipline of prayer where we answer several questions on prayer:
If God is sovereign and His will is supreme, why pray? What difference does it make?
Does God change His mind? Can my prayers change His mind?
Why do people always say “in Jesus’ name” at the end of their prayers?
Why do I struggle to stay focused while praying? I fall asleep or my mind wanders.
I get overwhelmed with all the things to pray for. When I see a prayer list, I feel defeated or it becomes rote to pray though. Any advice?
How do I know if it is God speaking to me….or just indigestion?
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor of MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications of MVBC.
Submit your questions at https://www.machiasvalley.org/questions.

Theology Talk: The Discipline of Prayer, Part 1

Episode 27.  In this episode, we continue our Theology Talk series on the spiritual disciplines.  This is part 1 of the discipline of prayer. We break it down like this:
What is prayer?
Practicing the discipline of prayer.
Practical helps for your prayer life.
Book Recommendations:
Prayer by Timothy Keller
The Valley of Vision 
A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller
Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey 
 
Hosts:  Zach Vaughn, Senior Pastor of MVBC and Andrea Lyford, Director of Education & Communications of MVBC.
Submit your questions at https://www.machiasvalley.org/questions.