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Technology is both an opportunity and an obstacle. It just depends on how you use it.   We've spent three weeks asking how our screens influence us, but today, we will ask how are we influencing others through our screens, specifically through social media?   Paul tells one of his pastors, Titus, to encourage his church to be mindful of how they act for the sake of the gospel. Titus 2:10 NLT ...Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.   If Jesus has your attention, and Jesus has your affection, your action for Jesus should make Jesus attractive.   Christians should use social media differently than non-Christians. We're called to be different, and that not only includes what is on our screens, but what comes from our screens.   Social media is going to amplify what's already in your heart—whether good or bad. So we need to be careful and consider how we use it.   Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Carefully, not carelessly.   Three questions we should ask ourselves before we post something on social media:   1. IS IT           ? John 14:6 NLT I am the way, the truth, and the life.   The best lie detector isn't a fact-checker, but intimacy with Jesus, who is the Truth. Why would someone listen to you about your faith if you don't care about the truth in other areas of your life?   Social media is not all real. Your feed tempts you to sacrifice what's real for what's rehearsed; what's factual for what's fake.   Social media makes it easier to bear false witness against your neighbor. To "bear false witness" is to say something untrue about someone else. Proverbs 6:16;19 NLT There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests:... a false witness who pours out lies.   Satan is called the "accuser of the brethren" so if you're sharing false information—whether intentional or not—you're helping the devil do his dirty work.   Social media feeds confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is our tendency to want to hear whatever supports what we already believe. The more you want something to be true, the easier it is to believe it if it's a lie. So before you post or share, ask "Is this true, or do I just WANT it to be true?"   Social media gives unequal opinions an equal platform. While people have equal value, opinions do not have equal validity. Some people have something to say, and some people just have to say something. Know the difference.   2. IS IT           ? John 13:35 NLT Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. People shouldn't have to meet you in person to discover that you're nicer than your Facebook account.   Social media removes face-to-face empathy. "Online disinhibition" is when we type things through a screen we would never say to someone seated across the table from us.   Remember there is an image-bearer on the other side of the screen. You don't have to agree with them, but if you don't treat them well, God may need to defend them against you.   Social media often causes us to prioritize politics over people. John 6:15 NLT When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. Jesus isn't your political mascot; He is GOD. Have the opinion, but don't sacrifice a person you're called to love for an opinion you're allowed to have.   Social Media makes it easy to get sucked into pointless arguments. Titus 3:9 NLT Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees[a] or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. Don't win the argument and lose your influence. The goal for the Christian isn't just to make a point. Our goal is to make a difference.   3. IS IT           ? James 3:13 NKJV Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.   Social media is immediate communication. James 1:19 NLT You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Wisdom often waits.   Proverbs 29:20 NLT There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. The algorithm wants your first reaction; Wisdom wants your best one.   Social media makes venting too easy. Proverbs 29:11 NLT Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. Not every emotion needs an audience. Not everything you feel needs to become content for others to consume. Don't trade tomorrow's credibility for today's emotional release.   Social media makes it easy to brag. Galatians 6:4 NLT Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.   Christians are called to build bridges but bragging creates barriers.   Some things belong in a conversation, not a comment section. Some things belong with a friend, not your followers. Some things need to be prayed about instead of posted about.   So, what would Jesus post? He'd encourage people, He'd celebrate people, He'd build relationships, and He'd share the good news.   Ending Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. Here was the problem: Pete's words didn't represent only himself anymore, they reflected on the country that sent him.   You're an ambassador, too.  2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.   An ambassador doesn't only ask, "Do I have the right to say this?" An ambassador asks, "Does this accurately represent the one who sent me?" Ask is it true? Because you represent the Truth. Ask is it loving? Because you represent the God who is love. Ask is it wise? Because God is making His appeal to the world through you. Your name may be on the social media account, but His name is on you. Let's represent Him well.   Are you representing Jesus accurately online?

Your screen doesn't have to be the enemy. What if one of the most powerful Kingdom tools you have is already in your hand?   In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally continues our series called Influencer. In Part 1, we talked about the war for our attention, how attention leads to affection, and how affection eventually leads to action. In Part 2, We asked ourselves what intentional boundaries we've set around technology.    The answer to unhealthy technology isn't simply less technology, it's redeemed technology. Our screens are terrible masters, but they can be powerful servants.   1. RECEIVE the gift. In the beginning, a creative God created creative people in His own image: God created creators.  One of the earliest people Scripture explicitly describes as "filled with the Spirit" was filled with the Spirit to make stuff. Exodus 31:1–5 NLT Creativity isn't secular; it's part of bearing The Creator's image. Technology is a tool, and how a tool is used determines whether or not it's good.   2. RECLAIM the tool. The Christian life isn't only avoiding bad things, but embracing good things and redirecting all things toward Jesus.   1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT  Holiness isn't avoiding everything the world touches; it's submitting everything you touch to Jesus.   Luke 16:10 NLT The goal isn't only to use these tools less, but to reclaim them for something better.   3. RELEASE the gospel. Acts 1:8 NLT  Romans 10:13–15 NLT  The Great Commission hasn't changed in 2000 years, but our ability to fulfill it has. Technology gives ordinary Christians extraordinary access to people.    The same technology that can distract people from God is also being used to introduce people to God.    We've seen this ourselves at VFC. Sermons, clips, podcasts and livestreams travel farther than any of us do.    Matthew 5:14–16 NLT   What if Christians have spent too much time asking, "How do I protect myself from this dark digital world?" but we haven't spent enough time asking, "Where does this world need some light?" Jesus didn't tell us to curse the darkness, but to turn on the light. Right now, billions of people around the world are staring at illuminated screens. Maybe we should put some light on them.    We don't always throw something away because it has been used badly. Redemption means taking something that has been used for one purpose and surrendering it to a better one. That's exactly what God did for us, that's what some of us need to do with the screen in our hands.   Romans 6:13 NIV   It's not only about what a device can do, but what can it do in your hands. Don't let the screen disciple you, but don't merely disconnect from it. Don't just resist the screen, don't just restrict the screen. Redeem the screen.   Are you redeeming the screens in your life?

When we don't have boundaries, the things we were meant to control will eventually control us. In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson shares how we can draw close to God and develop our own digital rule of life.  Technology has provided many benefits to the world, but have those benefits reached the point of diminishing returns? Do you feel more anxious than you ever have? Do you feel overexposed? Like too many people you don't really know, know more about you than those who live in your own home? What we are missing is a plan. Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world/age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Boundaries and order are important in the Bible. Not because God is trying to make life less fun or enjoyable, but because its the boundaries that protect the enjoyment. When we fail to have boundaries, the things we were meant to rule over, will ultimately rule over us. A rule of life is an intentional pattern of practices and boundaries that structure how you spend your attention, affections, and actions. A digital rule of life is a plan for your technology. Your system is perfectly designed to get the results you are getting. How to Create a Digital Rule of Life 1. Start with a Digital Detox (Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport) Put aside a 30-day Period during which you will take a break from optional technologies in your life. 2. Be Specific Ask yourself what technologies will I use, when will I use them, for how long will I use them, what kind of person will I become if I continue to use them? 3. Be Realistic We can convince ourselves of many things, but we should never convince ourself that something that is actively harming our relationship with God and with others is too convenient to give up. Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport pg. 65 4. Be Flexible Our seasons of life change and so should our rule. There may be digital media or technology that serves us for a season but no longer does, so purge it. Ask God to help create new boundaries or adjust old ones. When we have godly boundaries around our digital media, we can allow God to use it as a tool to make our lives more fulfilling and vibrant, instead of comparing our lives to others on a screen. Screens are here to stay. If that is true, Christians must live differently and provide the world a model for self control. 1 Corinthians 6: 12 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but I will not be mastered by anything. Is your digital media use forming you into the image of Jesus?

You are being discipled by what has your attention. God wants our attention; the world wants our attention; and the enemy wants our attention. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shines light on the battlefield that is the screen in our hand. Whatever has your attention can eventually have your allegiance.   Romans 1:25 NLT They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself.   Worship is three things happening in succession: attention, which leads to affection, which leads to action.   Screens compete for your attention.   Attention is the first step toward worship, so we should probably pay attention to what we're paying attention to.   Psalm 46:10 NLT Be still, and know that I am God...   When we fill every quiet moment with someone else's voice, we can't complain when we never hear God's voice.   Almost every important spiritual discipline requires sustained attention.  We're making it harder on ourselves to draw near to God.   2. Screens compete for our affection.   Matthew 6:21 NLT Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. And one of the most valuable things you have to invest is your attention. What repeatedly catches your eye can eventually capture your heart.    3. Screens compete for our action. Eventually what gets my attention and captures my affection begins changing how I live.    If you are not being transformed by the Lord, you will be conformed to the world. What you feed on eventually determines your formation.    Watching church online is like watching a campfire on TV. You can see the light, but you can't feel the warmth.    Christianity is a "one another" faith. Love one another, encourage one another, serve one another, forgive one another, pray for one another. You can't "one another" yourself.     Researchers in Milan Italy put a woman who appeared pregnant on a crowded subway to see who would offer her their seat. Normally, about one-third of passengers would give up their seat for her.  Then they added Batman.  Another researcher simply walked into the train dressed as Batman, and suddenly over two-thirds of passengers offered the woman their seat. That's double the amount. Why?  Researchers believe the unexpected event of Batman showing up interrupted people's routines and made them more present and aware of what was going on around them. They looked up. Their attention stirred their affection, and their affection changed their action.   What are you missing because you're distracted? Maybe one of the most spiritual things you can do this week is simple: Look up. The war for your attention is ultimately a war for your worship.   Who or what has your attention?

What does the Bible actually say about divorce? When is divorce permissible? What does life look like after a marriage ends? In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally continues the "Elephants in the Room" series as He shares about divorce & remarriage. Divorce rates in America have been declining for years. The most recent numbers are that 35-40% of first time marriages end in divorce. The latest research shows that Christians who regularly attend church services have up to a 50% lower divorce rate than the general population.   The Messy Middle TRUTH #1: Marriage is sacred, and God hates divorce. And... TRUTH #2: Divorce is not an unforgivable sin, and a past divorce does not define a person.   .......................   If you're married, fight for your marriage. Protect your covenant, get counseling before things are falling apart, repent when you're wrong and forgive when they're wrong.    If you're single, become the kind of person your future spouse is praying for. Get so close to Jesus that somebody has to go through Him to find you.   If you're divorced, take an honest look at what happened. Don't carry the same habits and old wounds into another relationship and expect a different result. If you eventually remarry, become the kind of person your future spouse will be grateful they married.   And if you're remarried, hold tightly to the covenant you have now. Don't spend your life looking backward; invite God into your marriage and honor Him with it. Learn from what happened before, don't repeat the same mistakes, and be grateful for another opportunity to love someone well.    Culture tells us, "If you're unhappy, leave," while religion tells us, "If you're divorced, you're damaged." Neither one is true.  Marriage is sacred and grace is real. Those truths aren't enemies; together they give us a fullest picture of the heart of God. He takes covenant seriously, and He is incredibly gracious with people whose lives haven't gone according to plan.   Fight for your marriage while there's a marriage to fight for. If you're in physical danger, get somewhere safe; if you're the one destroying the covenant, repent. Pursue reconciliation when reconciliation is wise and possible, and when something truly cannot be restored, trust the God who makes all things new.   Are you trusting God with your singleness and your marriage—past, present, and future?

Catholics and Protestants agree on a good bit, but the areas where we disagree really matter. Why did the church split? What about Mary, the Pope, purgatory, saints, and confession? In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie continues the Elephants in the Room series with a message on Catholics and Protestants.   Our goal is to understand what the Catholic Church actually teaches, compare it to Scripture, and talk honestly about where we agree and disagree.    If someone repents and genuinely trusts in Jesus for salvation, they can be saved whether the sign outside their church says Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, or Victory Fellowship Church.  John 3:16 NLT " ...whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Jesus saves people. Churches don't.   You can also recognize what's right in someone's theology without accepting everything in their theology.     ...  Ultimately, this is what connects all the issues: Is Jesus enough? You don't need Mary or a saint to help Jesus hear your prayers. You don't need purgatory to finish what Jesus started. You don't need a priest to give you access to God's forgiveness. You don't need a Pope to give you an infallible interpretation of God's Word. And baptism matters, but it doesn't save. Jesus is your Savior, your mediator, your High Priest, and the One who will complete the work He began in you.   The issue isn't whether Catholics love Jesus, many absolutely do. The issue is whether our theology adds something to our faith that God never asked us to add. I believe Catholic doctrine does just that.   I will gladly call a Catholic who has genuinely trusted in Jesus my brother or sister in Christ. We can disagree about Mary, saints, purgatory, baptism, communion and church government, and still love one another. Christian unity does not require doctrinal uniformity. The goal today wasn't to leave here thinking less of Catholics. It's to leave here thinking more of Jesus. Let's hold tightly to Jesus, hold tightly to Scripture, and hold graciously to one another.   Are you trusting in Jesus alone, and letting Scripture have the final word?

Prophecy is real, but so are false prophets. In this message Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how to embrace the important spiritual gift of prophecy without abandoning discernment. Welcome to Elephants in the Room where we tackle tough topics and discuss sensitive subjects. Reminder of our 4 rules: 1) I am not targeting anyone and I never will. 2) Please give me time to formulate points and cover the subject fully.  3) You have, not only the right, but the responsibility to check up on what I say and verify that it's the truth. 4) If you disagree or get offended, please reach out to me personally.   Today we are talking about prophecy and false prophets.     The Messy Middle Take two truths and hold them together, at the same time, in order to find the most accurate version of truth available.    Two "messy middle" statements about prophecy and false prophets: 1. God still speaks through the gift of prophecy. ...and 2. Not everyone who claims to speak for God actually does.     Are you willing to pursue prophecy and test prophecy?

Are Islam and Christianity different ways to worship the same God? How should Christians interact with Muslims? In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how Christians can stay rooted in the truth of scripture and love the Muslim people.  "I'm Disagreeing with Islam" is not the same things as disparaging Muslims. I love Muslims. We're not talking about whether Muslims are good people. We're asking "Is Islam compatible with Christianity?"     The Messy Middle Truth is often found by embracing two seemingly opposing truths at the same time. Imagine a see-saw with differing truths on each end. The goal is for each truth to have the same weight, so the see-saw will be balanced. No matter the topic, if you tip the see-saw too far to either side, and you don't feel the tension between the two truths, you've chosen a side and you're out of balance.   Two true statements about Islam: Islam is a false religion that promotes dangerous ideology.Muslims are made in the image of God, loved by Jesus, and need to hear the Gospel shared with courage and love.  From the very beginning, God intended to redeem people from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation—including the nations that would come through Ishmael. Salvation is through Jesus alone, but everyone is invited.   Something incredible is happening in our generation. Across the Muslim world, there are thousands of documented testimonies of Muslims encountering Jesus through dreams and visions called Christophanies.  Will you preach, pray and protect so the Gospel of Jesus reaches Muslims?

Your story is powerful. As you yield your story to God. He can use it for your good and for His glory. In this message, Allison Randall shares her story of redemption, transformation and God's faithfulness.  "Over time, God opened my eyes to see that many of my struggles weren't just physical or emotional, they were spiritual." "I learned that victory doesn't come from striving harder, but from surrendering fully." "The stronger my relationship with the Lord becomes, the more obedient I am, the louder the enemy tries to become – But God's voice is still greater." "God's grace restored what I thought sin had destroyed. My life." "I have learned that sometimes God doesn't change the situation. He changes you, so the situation no longer has power over you." "While Jesus meets us where we are, He will never leave us there." "Truth without love pushes people away. Love without truth leaves people lost."

Betrayal, struggle, wrestling, and redemption. These are the components of a great story. Many of us have been through these seasons. Maybe you are in one of these seasons now. In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson shares the story of Jacob.  Providence is the tension between my ability to choose my next step and God's ability to choose it for me. God working behind the scenes to bring about His will and our good, both with and without our participation. Jacob's story is a story of God's providence, bringing about His will and Jacob's good in the life of someone who lived almost entirely for himself. ·      Jacob's choices tell us something about ourselves: We sometimes would rather take from God what He already wanted to give us. ·      God was with Jacob, but Jacob's decisions had real consequences. God may guide our destinies, but our decisions determine the difficulty/detours. ·      Even when think we have what we want, a fugitive never rests easy. You may be running from God, but in His house is where you belong and Jacob feels this, so this he flees back home...   ·      Jacob walks away from a God-encounter with a limp, but also with a new name. Your past is going to leave scars, but your scars don't determine your identity, God does. ·      His whole life, Jacob took blessing he wasn't given. That night he finally asked for one, and he waited, wrestling until morning, to receive it. Peace requires patience. Blessing requires submission. Destiny requires a new name with a new limp.   ·      Jacob spent his life taking, but everything he went through led him to this moment of receiving. Every misstep, every poor decision redeemed by God, almost like it was the plan the whole time. ·      God can redeem your pain, your tragedy, and your mistakes. No matter how far of a detour you've taken, God can fix it. ·      Providence doesn't answer the question as to whether something was going to happen along. It does make us more comfortable with saying "I don't know, but I trust Him."   Are you trusting God with your future?

Your story is powerful. As you yield your story to God.  He can use it for your good and for His glory. In this message, Tom Wallace shares his story of God's redemption and faithfulness. "Like my favorite baseball players, I knew all of Jesus' statistics, but I didn't know Him." "Lies never keep the peace; they only postpone the pain." "God has an individual healing plan for everyone. He know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it to draw us closer to Him." "We aren't just saved FROM sin and selfishness, we are saved TO worship and serve." "Before Christ I stayed busy to avoid pain. After Christ, I stayed busy because I love God and love people." "God rarely calls you to do whats comfortable, he calls you to be obedient."

You will face temptation. How will you respond? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how we can recover from temptation and sin. David and Bathsheeba’s story illustrates God’s path for restoration after moral failure. The story of David and Bathsheba is the account of the biggest moral failure by Israel’s greatest king. 2 Samuel 11:1-12:10 When we stop walking with purpose, we start getting in trouble.m Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” When you’re not where you’re supposed to be, it’s easy to do what you’re not supposed to do.   Sin grows when it’s covered instead of confessed. Proverbs 28:13 NLT “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” James 1:15 NLT “These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” Just like a seed, burying sin makes it grow into something much bigger.   God’s forgiveness doesn’t always erase sin’s consequences. Inside each sin is a built-in consequence. Not all are immediate or obvious, but they are inevitable. Galatians 6:7 NLT “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” God’s forgiveness restores your relationship with Him, but it doesn’t always reset every outcome of your choices. Grace cancels the debt, but it doesn’t always cancel the damage.   Psalm 51 is a song of repentance David wrote after Nathan confronted him. Psalm 51:10-13 ESV “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Sin doesn’t just break laws, it breaks fellowship with God, and it damages our joy. Psalm 32:1-2   The same God who received David again is still responding to repentance today. His mercy meets you right where you are and His grace begins to rebuild what sin tried to break. So the question isn’t whether you’ve failed. How do you respond when God confronts you with truth? The same God who sent Nathan to David is still sending His Holy Spirit to you.

When your story is history, and you allow it to become His story, your story becomes ministry.  You need to know that unforgiveness will write your story. Forgiveness will write your story. Which one is writing yours? In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally uses the life of Joseph to teach us how to walk in the freedom of forgiveness.