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Ichabod

1/19/2020

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on September 11, 2001? I was in our church office in Alabama when I got a call from a member asking me if I had seen the news. She told me to get to a television and turn it on. When I turned it on, I watched with millions of other Americans as the Trade Centers burned and collapsed. In the days to come, shock waves of this earth shattering event would rock our nation. When our lives are turned upside down, we begin asking why. And it’s in those seasons that we are most susceptible to both truth and error. We see it either through the lens of God’s eternal sovereignty or the lens of human depravity. We are not the first to wrestle with these temptations. Many years ago, God’s people experienced a similar national tragedy and in 1 Samuel 4, we read about their response. Their story reminds us that we should not put a period where God puts a comma.

1 Samuel 4:10-22

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When God Doesn't Deliver

1/12/2020

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to visit a house of worship that displayed something I have never seen before. Towards the front of the worship center, near the pulpit, was a massive rock. It was a rock big enough on which a family of 4 could have a picnic! Clearly, the church wanted to send the message that Jesus was the rock of their congregation (Matthew 16:18)). I wondered, if in time, how easy it might be for members of this church to shift their focus from Jesus being their rock to the rock being their rock. How easy it might be for believers to say, “We are the church of the rock. What sets us apart is that we have this massive rock in our worship center.” Seeing that rock in the auditorium reminded me that every congregation, and Christian, struggles with the temptation to get their identity and life from religious symbols. Many years ago, God's people faced the same struggles as they sought to overcome their enemies by trying to manipulate God's power through a religious symbol - the Ark of the Covenant. The story is found for us in 1 Samuel 4.

1 Samuel 4

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A Prophet is Born

1/5/2020

In his book, The Parent Adventure, Rodney Wilson compares raising children to handing off a baton during a relay race. No matter how fast a relay team might be, if they drop the baton, they will have run in vain. The same applies to raising children in that it does not matter how much money parents make or what kind of car they drive. It doesn’t matter how much education we receive or how much money we have in our 401(k). If we fail to pass the baton of faith to our children, then we too are running in vain. So how do we do pass the baton? It starts by recognizing that God is just as interested in our children while they are children as He is us who are adults. One of the best illustrations of this truth can be found in 1 Samuel 3, where we read of God’s calling upon Samuel while yet a young boy.

1 Samuel 3

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Testimony Sunday

12/30/2019

Church was never meant to be about forms, rituals and traditions. It has always been about unconditional love, eternal life and rock solid truth. All of which are found in a Person; His name is Jesus Christ. Church is all about Jesus, which is why we take time to hear the stories of fellow believers at Mountain View as they talk about their personal encounters with Jesus. In today's worship gathering, 3 of our members give witness to the faithful, unconditional love of Jesus, including a 6 year old girl being baptized by her dad. All 3 individuals remind us that God is just as alive and active on earth today as He was 2000 years ago. We hope their stories will help give shape to your own.

Psalm 107; Romans 5:8

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What So Merry About Christmas? - Part 3

12/22/2019

One of my favorite school games as a kid was “Simon Says.” It is a simple game played when a leader is chosen from a group who stands in front of others giving commands for everyone to follow. The goal of the game is to do everything the leader says as long as these two words are put in front of the command, Simon Says. The commands could range from, “touch your toes,” to “touch your neighbor’s nose,” but only if… Simon says. To be the champion, one must pay careful attention to the leader, listening for the words, Simon says. Winning is all about focus. There is a much more important Christian version of this game called Jesus Says and it too is all about FOCUS. Tuning out everything but the speaking voice of God can be a challenge all year long; it's especially difficult at Christmas. To help us hear and enjoy the Christ of Christmas, we have turned to the Gospel of Luke, examining brief but important encounters 3 people had with the Incarnation Event. Today, we consider the role Simeon played from Luke 2.

Luke 2:21-35

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What's So Merry About Christmas? - Part 2

12/8/2019

Webster’s Dictionary defines merry as… "full of cheer-joyous in disposition or spirit, festive." Merry Christmas in a sense means, be full of cheer and joy at Christmas-have a festive time at Christmas. Christmas and joy go hand in hand, usually. I say usually because Christmas might not be joyful for you. The troubles of life we experience January to November don’t take a break for the Christmas Holidays. With that in mind, we have begun a Christmas series asking the question, “What’s so MERRY…about Christmas? To help us answer that question, we began looking at the lives of several people associated with the birth of Christ. Last week, we considered the story of Zachariah and how his unbelief robbed him of speech for nine months until his son was born. Today we consider Mary's response to Gabriel when he announced that she would give birth to the Christ child.

Luke 1:26-38

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What's So Merry About Christmas?

12/1/2019

Webster's Dictionary defines merry as… "full of cheer-joyous in disposition or spirit, festive." When Merry is placed before Christmas, it usually means "Have a cheerful Christmas!" or "Enjoy Christmas and have a festive time!" Since the stresses and trials of life that weigh upon our souls every other month of the year don't take a break for December, we should ask, “What is it that inspires cheerfulness at Christmas?" or "What’s so merry about Christmas?" Today we begin a new Christmas series focusing on the lives of several characters who played a role in Christ's birth. Their part in God's plan helps us better understand where our joy comes from in December...as well as every other month of the year.

Luke 1

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Judgement Matters

11/24/2019

Several years ago, I read about a Christian who invited an unchurched friend to his church's morning worship service. That Sunday the pastor just so happened to be preaching from an OT text that focused on a very graphic expression of God’s judgment upon one of Israel’s enemies. Death and destruction saturated the story line. After reading the verses describing God’s judgment, the pastor then made this comment: “Every Christian here should be able to show why these verses are in the Bible.” How would you answer that question? Why is the Bible filled with so many references to God's judgement? In today's message from 1 Samuel 3, we consider some of the lessons learned from God's judgement of Eli's family.

1 Samuel 3

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The Sons of Eli

11/17/2019

More often than not, when we open our Bibles to study a passage, we are zoning in on characters we seek to emulate. Every so often however, Scripture gives us examples of individuals whose lives we should not emulate. Their lives are marked by selfishness, immorality and disregard for the things of God. They stand as a stark contrast to those whose lives show us a better way to live. By considering the lives of these individuals, we can better appreciate the warning signs of a heart growing cold toward God. In today's message, we consider the ungodly character of two men whose behavior was threatening to undermine the very foundation of Israelite worship. Their names are Hophni and Phineas and they are the sons of Eli.

1 Samuel 2:11-36

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The Pillars of the Earth - Part 2

11/10/2019

Do you have enemies? Who or what comes to mind when you think about your enemies? More importantly, how are you overcoming the obstacles they present to you? As we resume our study of 1 Samuel today, we read of Hannah rejoicing in the victory God has given her over her enemies. Samuel’s birth was more than an expression of God’s mercy, it was also an expression of His power. The story of Hannah reminds us that we can overcome our enemies through persistent prayer and supernatural sacrifice.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

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Jesus is Worthy!

11/3/2019

Revelation is a complicated book of Scripture, to put it simply. Seals and trumpets and bowls and horns and eyes and beasts and a whole bunch of unusual and distinct numbers, large and small. But as D.L. Moody, 19th century evangelist and preacher once said, “If God did not want us to understand the book of Revelation, He would not have given it to us at all.” It doesn’t take decades of study to discover one of the clearest themes of this book, one we can explore more in depth in Revelation chapter 5. Jesus Christ, the slain Lamb, is worthy: worthy of our praise and worship, yes, but also worthy of our very lives. His promises are the reason we do evangelism and missions, from right here in Layton all the way to Kobe, Japan. In today’s message, we draw our attention to Jesus, the only One who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll.

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Testimony Sunday

10/27/2019

On "Lord's Supper" Sundays, we invite members of our congregation to share their personal encounters with Jesus. Their testimonies may revolve around their conversion to Christ or a recent event when Jesus made Himself real to them. We do this for two reasons, first because the center of church life must always be our personal relationship with Christ. Without Christ, we are just another religious organization groping in the dark. Secondly, God's Word exhorts us to be a "telling" people. Psalm 22:22, among others, says it this way- I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise you. In today's service, two guys share how God brought them to saving faith in Christ and then changed their lives from the inside out.

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The Pillars of the Earth

10/20/2019

If you had to define character, how would you put it? Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sandburg confessed the struggles associated with character when he said, “There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.” Political activist and journalist, Thomas Paine once said “Reputation is what men and women think of us. Character is what God and the angels know of us.” Folk humorist, Will Rogers, helped shed a humorous light on character when he said, “Live so that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” A well-worn definition many of us may be familiar with is simply, Character is who you are when nobody's looking. As we return to the book of 1 Samuel today, we consider the character of a woman whose relationship with God helped trigger events that brought great reform to the nation of Israel.

1 Samuel 1:21-2:11

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Lost People Matter to God

10/13/2019

In today's service, we recognize the beginnings of a new church in West Haven, Utah. In order to fully appreciate this ministry, several questions need to be asked- Why are we giving up a gifted pastor and many of our best ministry leaders to West Haven? Why are we devoting a significant portion of our financial resources to support a ministry beyond our own church family? For one simple reason- because lost people matter to God. And if lost people matter to God then they must matter to us. One of the best places in the NT to understand God’s heart for the lost is Luke 15. It’s the story of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In today's message, Pastors Darrell and Jeff unpack several truths related to the work of evangelism and church planting.

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Divine Desperation

10/6/2019

We began a new series last week focusing on the book of 1 Samuel. On one level, 1 Samuel answer the question; “How did a loose federation of tribes, steeped in idolatry and broken by anarchy, become a unified nation under one King?” Yet on a deeper level, 1 Samuel gives valuable insight about the attributes of God and how He advances His kingdom through ordinary people like us. In today's message from chapter 1, we consider how God used the desperation of a barren wife to birth a unified nation under one king.

First Samuel 1

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A Royal Mess

9/29/2019

I read recently that during the filming of the 1959 blockbuster film, Ben Hur, Charlton Heston, playing the lead role in the movie, expressed concerns about the 9 minute chariot race scene. When Heston reportedly told his director, William Wyler, “I think I can drive the chariot, but I’m not sure I can win the race.” Wyler replied: “You just stay in the race…I’ll make sure you win.” In a different setting, those words might well describe the Christian life. Often we become so discouraged in the race of life, surrendering to a survival mentality, until God whispers "You just stay in the race- I will make sure you win." God's sovereignty is a theme emphasized throughout Scripture; one such place is the Old Testament Book of 1 Samuel. In today's introduction to 1 Samuel, pastor Darrell provides a brief overview, highlighting 4 major themes found throughout the Book.

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Unshakable

9/22/2019

Several years ago, community leaders invited our neighborhood to an earthquake preparedness seminar. While there, I learned that northern Utah is due one of those 1000 year quakes. Somehow, seismologists can (roughly) determine not only when the last major quake took place in northern Utah but also when to expect another. And whether the big one hits 50 years from now or 10, we all want to be ready.

Preparing for a future cataclysmic earthquake is an important reminder for Christians to prepare for an even greater shaking at Christ's 2nd Coming. According to Scripture, God is going to shake both the earth and the heavens in one final event at Christ's return. It will be a shaking unlike any other. To help us prepare for this ultimate quake, we turn our attention to Hebrews 12 where God has told us to invest in a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Hebrews 12:25-29

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The Fundamentals

9/15/2019

What does the future of Mountain View look like in terms of evangelism and missions? In this message, we look more at the fundamentals that are foundational as we move forward as a church.

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This is a Football . . .

9/8/2019

As Pastor Charles begins a new role here at Mountain View Baptist Church, he starts his new ministry by answering the questions, what is the gospel? And how does it bring us great joy?

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Discipleship Matters - Part 2

9/1/2019

Have you ever thought about the legacy you will leave after death? Ever thought about how your life will have made an impact on those you leave behind? All of us leave a legacy at death- either for good or for bad. No one has left his mark on this planet as Jesus Christ did and in Matthew 28 we read how our lives can impact others for good- long after our death. Its called discipleship-sharing a truth from God's Word with another, praying He will cause it to bear fruit in the power of Holy Spirit. After worship, it's what we were made for!

Matthew 28:16-20

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Discipleship Matters

8/18/2019

When Jesus talked about making disciples of all nations as recorded in Matthew 28, He did not have in mind one kind of disciple in Africa and another kind of disciple in Europe and another kind of disciple in North America. Though our cultures may be very different, there is really only one kind of disciple - that man, woman, boy or girl who sincerely desires to reflect the character of Jesus in their everyday lives. The lifelong process of character transformation is reflected in the second core value of MV's vision statement and the focus of today's message. We exist to encourage Christ-like character through discipleship.

Matthew 28:16-20

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Worship Matters

8/11/2019

A.W. Tozer once wrote, "Thomas Boston (18th Century Scottish preacher) said the difference between man and beast is that a beast looks down and a man is made to look up. Only man can engage the God above. God is infinitely more concerned that He has worshipers than that He has workers. A worker who does not worship is only piling up wood, hay and stubble for the time when God sets the world on fire. God wants worshipers before He wants workers. In an effort to better understand and apply God's purpose for Mountain View, we must see the priority worship plays in our corporate and private settings. We can never inspire others to fellowship with God if we are not first worshiping Him.

1 John 1, Revelation 4-5

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Fellowship With God

8/4/2019

The most important truth about any object is its purpose. The shoes you’re wearing could be used as a pillow or shovel but their greatest and highest use is something to cover and protect your feet. If you are sitting in a chair, that chair could be used as a desk but its best and highest use is in being sat upon. We might say that the glory of these objects is found in their purpose. Why was it created? The same can be said about the church. Why did God create the church? Why is it that when we become Christians we are not immediately snatched from this planet and taken into the presence of Christ We begin a new series today focusing on the purpose of MVBC's existence. And to begin this series, we begin where all churches must begin- focusing on our fellowship with God.

1 John 1:1-4

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Responding To Persecution

7/28/2019

Jesus dropped a bombshell on His disciples one day when He told them they should rejoice and be glad when people persecute and say hurtful things to them for living a godly life. If you are a follower of Jesus, the same word applies to you. Because we don’t have the natural ability to rejoice and be glad in suffering, we need help from above to fulfill Christ's words. In today's final teaching from the Beatitudes, we see how a new nature and a new mind are the keys to rejoicing during seasons of hardship and rejection.

Matthew 5:10-12 (We're aware of the camera issues. Working on it. :)

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The Root of Persecution

7/24/2019

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” If you are old enough to remember Apollo 11 landing on the moon 50 years ago yesterday (July 20th), you will remember Neil Armstrong's now famous words as he stepped onto the moon. The historic moon landing capped off a decade of planning on the part of tens of thousands of people working for NASA. No doubt, those chosen to go to the moon, the astronauts, were given the thrill of a lifetime. What NASA could not predict however was all of the hardships, injuries and even deaths, that would accompany putting a man on the moon. But great missions don’t happen without great risks, great pain and great loss. The good news of the gospel is that you don’t have to be an astronaut or work for NASA to be a part of a world changing mission. Followers of Jesus Christ can experience the joy of participating in the greatest mission on earth-making disciples of all nations. But like with any great mission, it will not come without a price. In today's message, Pastor Darrell continues his series from the Beatitudes by explaining where the source of much persecution in the believer's life comes from- religious people.

Matthew 5:10-12 (sorry about the quality - we had network issues)

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<<Previous

Ichabod

When God Doesn't Deliver

A Prophet is Born

Testimony Sunday

What So Merry About Christmas? - Part 3

What's So Merry About Christmas? - Part 2

What's So Merry About Christmas?

Judgement Matters

The Sons of Eli

The Pillars of the Earth - Part 2

Jesus is Worthy!

Testimony Sunday

The Pillars of the Earth

Lost People Matter to God

Divine Desperation

A Royal Mess

Unshakable

The Fundamentals

This is a Football . . .

Discipleship Matters - Part 2

Discipleship Matters

Worship Matters

Fellowship With God

Responding To Persecution

The Root of Persecution

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