The Great Shift

Living Differently In A Constantly Changing World

September 5, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The first part of this teaching series explains how to build your character, pursue wisdom, enhance your skills and use your abilities and gifts for the greater good.

Daniel, a teenage boy, was uprooted from his hometown and taken to a foreign land to serve a foreign King. He was given a new name and offered a luxurious life in a strange land. He had every excuse to abandon ties to his family, his people, and his God, but he did not.

Daniel took the opportunity to live differently than to live complicitly. He chose to stand out rather than to blend in.

"Now at the end of the days,...the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus." –Daniel 1:1-2.

Living Without Losing Your Mind Even When Life Seems Unfair

September 12, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The second part of the teaching focuses on how to consistently model what is right and choose to love consistently. You will learn why you need to show mercy to others. Loving others can bring a decisive win in your life.

Hosea was asked to marry a prostitute, Gomer, who pursued many lovers even after their marriage. He endured much hurt and humiliation. Hosea could have chosen to complain and rebel against God, but he chose to love and not to react.

Whenever there are seismic shifts in behavior and cultural trends, it can cause huge stress in all of us. Unpredictability brings stress, anxiety, and a sense of powerlessness. So whenever there is an emotional shift, connect your spirit with the Spirit of God.

"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." –Hosea 6:6

Unprecedented Time Gives Unprecedented Opportunity To Change The Rule

September 19, 2021 - Matt Stephens

The third part of the series deals with pivoting. Crisis doesn't play by the rules and in a crisis, old rules don't apply. You will learn how to look for a new thing and permanently change the old rules that oppress the weak and the marginalized.

Joel described the dreadful devastation of the land of Israel. He uses powerful imagery of swarming locusts and powerful battles, destruction of the harvest, a severe drought, and famine the Israelites had never seen before. A drastic change was coming to the land of Israel.

Change is not the only thing that is constant in life. God's promises are constant. What have we learned from the pandemic?

"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants. I will pour out My Spirit in those days… And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved." —Joel 2:28-32

Live Justly And Show Compassion To Those Who Need It Most

September 26, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The fourth part of this series teaches justice and compassion based on the life of Amos. Justice and compassion are not mutually exclusive. You will learn action plans on how to show compassion to the weak and marginalized.

"Go back to where you come from," Amaziah the northern priest told Amos. He was treated as an outsider and the authorities in the Northern kingdom did not take his ministry kindly.

Amos saw the seismic change in the history of Israel. The Israelites were divided into two kingdoms: The northern kingdom consisting of ten tribes and the southern kingdom consisting of two tribes.

Amos pointed out that when people flagrantly flaunt the most basic standard of human decency, there are consequences. When the powerful oppress the powerless, there can be a radical expression of divine anger and divine justice.

"I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream." –Amos 2:21-24

Living And Working Within A Fallen And Corrupt System

October 3, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The first part of the teaching is on crisis and response based on the life of Obadiah. Whenever there is a crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, it highlights the need for integrity. We need to understand the importance of fighting corruption and evil with a pandemic-like response. A corrupt workplace needs upright people.

Queen Jezebel ordered all the prophets of the Lord to be killed. Obadiah hid a hundred prophets in two caves and saved their lives.

Many of you may not be working in a corrupt or evil organization. But no organization or government is purely good, and you will likely face ethical-moral dilemmas in your workplace. You will be faced with making decisions when such an organization or government becomes unethical.

Is our responsibility to do what we can to help others more important to God than our desire to think of ourselves as morally pure?

"Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the Lord's." –Obadiah 1:21

Act Justly, Love Mercy, And Walk Humbly

October 10, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The third part of the teaching is about living fearlessly. Unmute your voice and learn how to speak out against the oppression of the people by both spiritual and secular leaders.

Micah spoke fearlessly with great authority to confront the prophets and officials in Jerusalem for perverting justice and oppressing the people.

Be an advocate for the poor, defender of the weak, and speak up for those who are abused and oppressed. Do not take advantage of the people entrusted in your care.

You cannot pivot to an inspiring life by simply looking out for yourself.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" –Micah 6:8

Embracing your Identity, Nationality, And Faith To Fulfill Your Unique Calling

October 17, 2021 - Pastor Jonathan Fung

The second part of the teaching is on pursuing the path of compassion. Learn to live a life that is safe, good, useful, and moral for society.

Jonah said to the captain of the sailors, "I am a Hebrew." Confirming his identity led to the transformation of the captain. Jonah was a successful prophet who, despite his proven success, fled from God. He did not want to go to Nineveh. Jonah demanded God's complete justice without mercy. He spent three days and three nights in the belly of a fish.

Humility is appealing to God. Jonah's reluctance to take the job precisely made God continue to seek him out. You will learn that when you assume a job out of the sense of superiority, you will ultimately fail.

We are going through a phase of change, development, and hopefully maturing. The crisis is exposing human nature and we are becoming more aware of God's justice and compassion. Understanding justice and compassion will help you to succeed in influencing people to return from evil and save their lives.

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!' Then the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?'" –Jonah 4:1-4

Learn from the past and pivot to a better future

October 24, 2021 - Pastor Dan Griffith

In the fourth part of the teaching, we will see that the path to survival is learning from the past in order to change what we are doing and prevent bad things from happening in a new age that is coming.

Nahum was a social change advocate. He wanted to foster change in his own time. He did so by reminding the people that if things don't change now, more bad things will happen in the future. He denounced the tyranny, the bloody city of Nineveh which was full of lies and robbery.

We need to create new resources for a community to recover from communal trauma. We need to empower the community with a common vision to pivot from communal survival to communal thriving.

"The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him." –Nahum 1:7

Live Joyfully And Wait Patiently With Unwavering Hope

October 31, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The final part of the teaching deals with living with unwavering hope in hard times. Stop waiting for good things to happen to live a joyful life. Learn how to start living joyfully no matter what your circumstances are.

Habakkuk is the lead character wrestling with God. Habakkuk watched the Chaldeans tear his city apart and he accused God of doing nothing to protect His people. There is no mention of his hometown, tribe, or occupation. He is a mystery and yet big ideas can come from small people.

When you take small steps to live joyfully every day, it adds up to something bigger. The choices you make set into motion the kind of life you lead.

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills." –Habakkuk 3:17-19

Live Your Life One Day At A Time

November 7, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

"One Day" Your Time Will Come

The sermon is about how is to live your life one day at a time. Learn to live your life in preparation for the future, for one day your time will come.

Zephaniah, a descendant of King Hezekiah denounced idolatry during the reign of King Manasseh. He denounced the false prophets who had profaned the Temple of God. He described the coming exile of his people and God's redemption, bringing universal faith in the one true God.

When we fail to lead at home and at work with integrity, then our family, our culture, and our nation will fail. The decay in leadership is followed by the decay of culture. When spiritual leadership is corrupt and is about benefiting themselves, people trust spiritual leadership less and less. Corrupt leadership and moral decay will contribute to the decay of the culture. Use your role as a platform for safety, well-being, justice, and for the benefit of others.

"Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; For the day of the Lord is at hand, For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has ]invited His guests."– Zephaniah 1:7

Live Wisely And Put First Thing First

November 14, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

This teaching deals with focusing on the most important things in your life. Learn to do what really matters in your life.

Haggai painted a picture of the challenges of work after the exile. His people were putting their own prosperity over God. Haggai confronted the people who neglected to put resources into the rebuilding of the temple, the center of Jewish people. He confronted them to put God first.

One of the challenges we face in hard times, and even in good times, is putting our interests over the interest of others. We are tempted to put "self" ahead of others. Our task is to get our priorities in line and pivot to selflessness.

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,' says the Lord. ‘You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?' says the Lord of hosts. ‘Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.'" –Haggai 1: 7-11

Live Your Vision, Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

November 21, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

This teaching is about living your vision. Learn to pivot to fulfill the vision you set for your life. If you are unsure, it will help you start by asking "What is my vision?"

Zechariah had a messianic vision. In time, his messianic vision became the property of his people. He tied the future of Israel closely to all humanity. The future of Israel is also the future of all nations.

Live your vision by faith. Start by trusting and believing and taking small steps. Do not despise the small beginnings. "For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel." –Zechariah 4:10

"‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,' says the Lord. ‘Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.'"–Zechariah 2:10-11

Living In A Pivotal Moment

November 21, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

The final part of the series focuses on living in a pivotal moment in history. There is a shift in direction. Learn to pivot with a new perspective and embrace the opportunity that could change your life.

Malachi lived in a pivotal moment of history. After Malachi, the glorious era of prophecy ended. This was a turning point in the history of the Jewish people. The end of prophecy does not redefine God. He is enduring and unchanging; faith is built on this fundamental principle. The Jewish teachers pivoted and taught that God's love for the Jewish people is unconditional and eternal. The end of prophecy does not mean the end of God's love.

"For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."– Malachi 3:6

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers." –Malachi 4:5-6