April 20 "I Am the Resurrection and the Life" Matthew 28:1-10 & John 11:21-44 When Jesus rose from the grave, He conquered sin and death, showing himself to be Lord over all, the one in whom we hope and who calms our fears. When Jesus called Himself "the resurrection and the life," He was responding to the death of Lazarus but also to the pain, dis…

This Sunday we had a potential Assistant / Youth Pastor candidate visiting with his fiancée. Pastor Dave took this opportunity to preach a sermon on the mission statement of Orchard Community Church which is "to make and become fully devoted followers of Christ through the renewing and transforming power of the gospel for the glory of God."…

April 13 "I Am the Vine" John 12:12-16, 15:1-8 On Palm Sunday, the crowds finally seemed to understand and embrace Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, within a week, the same crowds called for him to be crucified, revealing our fickle human nature. When Jesus calls himself "the true vine" and says that we are the branches, He also calls us to remain connect…

Have you ever had someone say to you, "now, listen carefully"? You know that what will follow is going to be important. It will be something you need to remember. It might be something that changes your life. In Luke 8:1-21, there is a repeated idea of listening carefully to the Word of God. God's Word is powerful and changes lives. But we must tak…

April 6 "I Am the Way, The Truth, And The Life" John 14:1-14 We live in a world that tells us there are many ways, truths, and kinds of life and that they're all the same and equal. When Jesus calls himself "the way, the truth, and the life," He is saying that there are absolutes and that they are grounded in Him, the only one through whom salvatio…

Many times I hear people say that God could never forgive them. They think that they are too much of a sinner to be forgiven. That somehow their sins are greater than Jesus' ability to save. This sermon looks at a very poignant picture of forgiveness in Luke 7:36-50. In this gripping passage we see a woman who has a bad reputation for being a sinne…

March 30 "I Am the Good Shepherd" John 10:11-18 Sheep are vulnerable to predators and their own devices, such as getting lost. For these reasons, sheep thrive under the guidance and protection of their shepherd. The shepherd knows his sheep, and they know their shepherd. When Jesus calls himself "the good shepherd," He means that He knows us and wi…

When I was a Youth Pastor, I had a mom say to me that her teenage son was doubting his faith. I think my answer might have surprised her because I said "good"! It is good to know the truth about Jesus. It is good to learn bible stories and theological truths. But at some point each person has to answer the question of whether or not that person bel…

March 23 "I Am the Gate" John 10:1-10 We tend to think of gates and doors as things that keep people out, but they're also things that can let people in. When Jesus calls himself "the gate," He means not only is He the door to salvation, but also the door to being filled with new life here and now. "I Am" Lent is the season of preparation for Easte…

I once worked as a laborer for a construction company. One day someone gave me instructions to nail some boards together in a certain way. I followed the instructions as I understood them. A while later the same person came and saw what I had done and said "this is all wrong!" I had done it the way that made sense to me, but I didn't understand the…

March 16 "I Am the Light of the World" John 8: 12-19 Without light, we have trouble knowing where we are and what is around us. By calling himself the "light of the world," Jesus reveals that He illuminates this world like no other. His light reveals where we are and leads us to where we need to be. "I Am" Lent is the season of preparation for East…

What if you found a treasure? What an amazing experience that would be. To know that you were set for life and that all your greatest financial needs would be taken care of. In Luke 6:12-26, Jesus chooses the twelve apostles and then begins teaching his followers about the cost of following him. This sermon, titled "The Treasure of Discipleship," l…

There were people during Jesus' earthly ministry that were always looking to trap him. They watched every little thing he did to try to find a mistake or something that they could judge. They were so busy looking for ways that Jesus wasn't doing what they wanted, that they were completely missing the point of who Jesus is and what he came to do. Th…

March 9 "I Am the Bread of Life" John 6:25-59 Food is one of our basic needs; if we don't have it, we can experience discomfort, sickness, and even death. By calling himself the "bread of life," Jesus invites us to believe in and rely on Him. Like literal food that nourishes the body, Jesus is the spiritual food and the only thing that will truly s…

March 5 "I Am" Exodus 3:14, Mark 6:50 & John 8:48-58 "I Am" is God's name that He gave Moses on Mt. Sinai, but it's also a name that Jesus claimed for himself in the Gospels to help us more fully understand who He is. Ash Wednesday "I Am" Lent is the season of preparation for Easter, a time to reflect deeply on Jesus- his identity, teachings, and d…

March 2 “The Meantime: Healthy Community” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 With these closing words, Paul instructs us on how to live together until Jesus returns. He calls us to live together well in healthy community. Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in uncertain times. Wars rage, our nation is deeply divided, and as Christians, we find ou…

There are some encounters that change your life. Some experiences teach us meaningful things about our lives or the world around us. Tragedy or near-death experiences can shape our perspectives. Sometimes we are changed by our encounters with other people. This sermon looks at Luke 5:1-32. In this passage we see four people who had a powerful encou…

Feb. 23 “The Moment: Hope in this Life” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Throughout the difficulties and challenges of this life, by faith, we live with hope, knowing that one day Jesus will return to set the world right and bring us into eternity, that he died so that we can live. Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in uncertain times. Wars rag…

Feb. 16 “The Miracle: Hope in Death” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 As people of faith, we have hope in death because of the amazing miracle of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in uncertain times. Wars rage, our nation is deeply divided, and as Christians, we find ourselves in a culture that is increasingly r…

Have you ever looked at a very bright light and then only seen spots for a while? Even looking at oncoming headlights of cars at night can have this effect. It can be scary to feel like you can't see what is going on for a little while. Yet sometimes we have ideas or expectations that can blind us to truth. This sermon looks at a time in Jesus' lif…

Speaker Chris Vincent - Sunday, February 9, 2025 From Chris: In the neighborhood I grew up in, there was a house that backed up to mine that was very ominous. It was fenced off, had signs that said "No Trespassing" and a dog that would bark at any and everything that approached the property. It was not inviting and in the mind of us kids, it was al…

“The Method: Sanctification” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 The method God uses to bring about our spiritual transformation is called sanctification. In the process of our sanctification, we are to seek to work with God in the work He is seeking to do in us. ___________________________________________ Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in unc…

Some people don't believe that Jesus ever existed. Some people say he existed but was just a man, maybe even a good man, but still just human. But what does Scripture say? This sermon looks at Luke 3:21 - 4:13. In this passage we have three scenes - Jesus' baptism, his genealogy, and then his testing in the wilderness. In each of these three scenes…

Our Hero of the Day: Aristarchus Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:23-24; 1 Corinthians 4:2 A little-known character like Aristarchus can sometimes teach us very big lessons, especially if we look closely. Guest Preacher: Wes Haystead Orchard Community Church 8180 Telephone Rd Ventura CA 93004 www.OrchardVentura.org Contact us at …

Are you someone who prepares in advance for things or who just shows up and sees what happens? We see in Scripture that God carefully prepares. Throughout the Old Testament he was preparing the world for the coming of Jesus. After Jesus is born, but right before Jesus starts his public ministry, God has one more step of preparation to do. He gives …

“The Mission: Transformation” 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 The mission of our faith is spiritual transformation. What God desires for us is that we grow and change and become more and more like Jesus. ______________________________________________________________ Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in uncertain times. Wars rage, our natio…

There's language thrown around in the church that describes sin in financial terms. Sin is something that puts us in debt and it is a debt we can never pay off. Redemption by our own efforts is impossible. But then, in comes Christ and our debt is paid, our ledger is wiped clean, and we can live out our lives with that burden removed. But now that …

The Manner: Life and Ministry 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 In this passage, Paul advises us on how to go about life and ministry to others, seek to please God alone, encourage others in faith, and rely on God’s word. _______________________________ Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in uncertain times. Wars rage, our nation is deeply divide…

Who should Jesus be and what should Jesus do? We have expectations all the time of what God should do in our lives or in our world. At the end Luke chapter 2 we read of a situation where a 12-year-old Jesus did not do what his parents expected. In the middle of this account we learn something important about Jesus. This sermon is called "A Higher C…

The Model: Imitating Jesus 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Jesus is the model for our life and faith; we are to imitate him and other models of mature believers as they follow Him. In time, we should desire to become models for others. _____________________________________________ Faith in Uncertain Times 1 Thessalonians We live in uncertain times. Wars rag…

“Living into Everyday Glory” (Magi) Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 19:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 3:18 The star the Magi saw was a reflection of Jesus’ birth, of the glory of God touching the earth. The Magi could have stayed home; instead, they went seeking after God’s Glory, and they weren’t disappointed. Will we seek after God’s glory too? ____…

This sermon is an annual tradition of using the first Sunday of the new year to look at an overview of the entire bible. In Scripture, God gives us one big picture of who He is, who we are, the relationship God has created us for, and His plan and work to make that relationship possible. Join us as we look at the big picture of the bible from Genes…

Experiencing God’s Glory (Us) On this Sunday, a few members of our Orchard family will share stories of how they have experienced God’s glory through His work in their lives, and together, we'll lift up prayers for the New Year. Faith Stories Sunday ____________________________________ Christmas Glory This Advent and Christmas season, we’ll focus o…

We continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke as we look at Luke 2:22-41 in a sermon called "Waiting." Here we meet two people, Simeon and Anna, who were eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come. While they waited, they faithfully lived in such a way that they relied on God and pointed to His sovereign glory in their lives. They are great examp…

The Glory of a Savior (Jesus) Luke 2:1-7, John 1:1-14, Hebrews 1:3 On the first Christmas, the ultimate expression of God's glory entered our world. God himself came to us as a baby in a manger who would grow up to be our Lord and Savior. Christmas Eve Service _______________________________________________ Christmas Glory This Advent and Christmas…

Sometimes Christmas morning doesn't quite go to plan. Maybe as a kid you expected that one perfect gift that you asked for and anticipated and it just didn't happen. Maybe as an adult you had plans for a perfect celebration that were altered at the last minute. For generations God's people had ideas about how their glorious savior and king would co…

The Glory of Love (Joseph) Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 3:23, John 3:16, Hebrews 2:10 When an angel appeared to Joseph, it was the glory of God touching the earth! The angel proclaimed that he would have a son, Jesus the Messiah, who would bring with Him the gift of love. ________________________________________________________________ Christmas Glory T…

We are looking at Luke 1:26-56 where Mary learns that she is to have a baby who will be the Son of God and the savior of the world. The sermon is called "Rejoice in God our Savior" because God tells Mary that the baby she will bear will be "the Son of the Most High" and that she is to name him Jesus (which means "He Saves"). Mary puts all of this t…

The Glory of Peace (Shepherds) Luke 2:8-15, Romans 5:1-4 Pastor Matt Hoyt When an angel appeared to Shepherds, it was the glory of God touching the earth! The angel proclaimed the news that Jesus the Messiah had been born and would bring with Him the gift of peace. ____________________________________________________________ Christmas Glory This Ad…

Preparations are underway for Christmas! Christmas trees are being set up and decorated, lights are decorating yards, even some gifts are being purchased. There is a lot that goes into getting ready for Christmas. But are we truly prepared in the right way? God knew that people needed to be prepared for the birth of Jesus. This earth-changing, hist…

The Glory of Hope (Mary) Luke 1:26-38, Titus 2:11-13 When an angel appeared to Mary, it was the glory of God touching the earth! The angel proclaimed that she would bear a child, Jesus, the Messiah, who would bring with Him the gift of hope. __________________________________________________________ This Advent and Christmas season, we’ll focus on …

How can we know that what we believe is true? Is Christianity just some made up religion? Is the birth of Jesus just another story we tell to children along with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? We are starting a new sermon series on the Gospel of Luke. Right at the beginning of his book, Luke tells us why he is writing by saying, "so that you may…

2 Corinthians 8:1, 9:6-14 I Timothy 6:18 God’s word calls us to the destination of becoming people who are generous with all that we’ve given in ways that glorify God. ________________________________________________ Orchard Community Church 8180 Telephone Rd Ventura CA 93004 www.OrchardVentura.org Contact us at [email protected] Orchard's St…

We conclude our sermon series on "Fear and Hope" by looking back at what we have learned from Scripture about living in the fear of the Lord and how this ties into having hope in the Lord. I pray that we will take away from this series a greater understanding of the majesty, power, and awesomeness of our God as well as a deeper appreciation of the …

John 6:1-15 God’s word calls us to move toward trusting in God’s provision for our lives and our ability to give. Orchard Community Church 8180 Telephone Rd Ventura CA 93004 www.OrchardVentura.org Contact us at [email protected] Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190Orchard Community Church

So many things clamor for our attention. We jump from one fear to another and from one hope to another. For about 10 weeks we have looked at the relationship between the Fear of the Lord and having Hope in the Lord. This does not happen by accident nor can we be passive about it. This sermon is called "Growing in Fear and Hope in the Lord" and look…

The Wrong Direction (Greed & Selfish Motives) Luke 12:13-21 God’s word calls us to steer clear of greed and other selfish motives that cause us to place too much value on money and possessions. We are to trust God, resist temptation, and be willing to give. ________________________________________ Navigating Generosity God is incredibly generous. H…

This sermon is called "Fear, Hope, and Faithfulness" and looks at how our fear of the Lord and our hope in the Lord are seen in our obedience to God.Pastor Dave Daye

Guest Preacher Josh Matthews Numbers 13:26-33, Proverbs 29:18, John 16:33 _____________________________ Orchard Community Church 8180 Telephone Rd Ventura CA 93004 www.OrchardVentura.org Contact us at [email protected] Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190Orchard Community Church

In a world filled with conflict, the desire of every person is to live a life filled with peace. In John 14, Jesus declares that he wants to give us peace in this world. But the Peace of God is a kind of peace that is unique and only given by Jesus. What is this Peace that God gives and how can we experience it? In a sermon titled "Peace Beyond All…