Valley Life Free Church
Community Bible House

Preaching, Teaching, and Reaching!



At Valley Life Free Church, you will be encouraged to practice your faith in a loving house church type of environment.

Valley Life Free Church is a Christ-centered and Bible believing non-denominational church. The centerpiece of Valley Life Free is our resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who became flesh, lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and that is why we preach (Rom 10:17). Growth comes by learning the Word of God and that is why we teach (2 Tim 2:15). Love comes by sharing the Word of God and that is why we reach out to others for Christ (John 21:15-17).

Overview

Preaching

Since faith comes by hearing God's Word, it is important to assemble together to hear God's Word preached every week. Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Teaching

Since we have been set aside by God to bring Him glory through a maturing faith, it is important to diligently learn and understand God's Word through consistent and productive Bible study habits.

Reaching

Since faith without works is dead, it is important to practice and demonstrate our faith by participating in outreach ministries to love and reach others for Christ.

VLF Leaders

At VLF, Jesus is our Senior Pastor (1 Peter 5:4).
We are simply His servants according to His will and word.

Introductory Bible Courses

We are blessed to have found "The Bible Project". These introductory videos are well made, fun to watch, and will provide you with a basic Biblical overview and understanding. We also provide coursework based on these videos that allow our members to earn Certificates of Completion on core Bible topics and studies (coming soon). Please note that these videos are introductory overviews only. For a more complete and detailed understanding of God's word, visit us every Sunday morning at 10 am.

program

Biblical Introductions

By "The Bible Project"

This fully animated series traces key biblical themes from their first appearance through the entire narrative of the Bible. This is an important introduction to main Biblical concepts and themes.

1: The Identity of God 2: The Messiah 3: The Holy Spirit
4: Image of God 5: The Law 6: Holiness
7: Heaven and Earth 8: The Covenants 9: The Temple
10: Sacrifice & Atonement 11: The Exile 12: The Way of the Exile
13: The Sabbath 14: Day of the Lord 15: Son of Man
16: Gospel of the Kingdom 17: Public Reading 18: Understanding Justice
19: Generosity
program

How to Read the Bible

By "The Bible Project"

This ongoing series explores the origins, content, and purpose of the Bible. Here you'll be introduced to some of the basic skills necessary for reading the bible effectively.

1: What is the Bible? 2: The Story of the Bible 3: Literary Style of the Bible
4: Ancient Jewish Literature 5: Plot in Narratives 6: Character in Narratives
7: Setting in Narratives 8: Design Patterns 9: Poetry
10: Metaphor in Poetry 11: The Law 12: The Psalms
13: The Prophets 14: Books of Solomon 15: The Gospel
program

Spiritual Beings

By "The Bible Project"

If you’ve ever been puzzled about angels, demons, and other spiritual beings in the Bible, you’re not alone! Our modern depictions of these creatures are mostly based on misunderstandings of who they are and how they fit into the overall storyline of the Bible.

1: Introduction 2: Elohim 3: The Divine Council
4: Angels and Cherubim 5: Angel of the Lord 6: Satan and Demons
7: The New Humanity
program

program

Statements of Belief and Responsibilities

  • We believe in the God of the Holy Bible.
  • We believe that God is One in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
  • We believe that the Holy Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in right living.
  • We believe that we are all sinners and that we cannot save ourselves from God's perfect law (e.g., the Ten Commandments).
  • We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, is the only truth you can trust, and is the only source of eternal life with the Father in heaven.
  • We believe that God has ordained two ordinances for believers: Believer's Baptism (baptism by submersion after one repents, believes, and receives Jesus as Lord and Savior) and Holy Communion (remembering the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins).
  • We believe that we are to worship God in Spirit and Truth. We must worship God in the balance of Spirit and Truth because Spirit without Truth is not of the Holy Spirit (disorderly emotionalism) and Truth without the Spirit is dead intellectualism ("frozen chosen" syndrome).
  • We believe that Jesus Christ is returning soon to separate the saved from the lost.
  • We believe that the saved in Jesus will be eternally glorified in His presence (heaven) and the lost without Jesus will be eternally separated in suffering from God because of their own sins and rejection of Jesus (hell).
  • We believe that we are mandated by God to "go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things" that [Jesus] has commanded us (Mat 28:16-20).

  • Pastors (also known as elders) are considered shepherds after God's own heart and are primarily responsible to feed and tend to the sheep (believers) (Jeremiah 3:15). Pastors feed the sheep with God's knowledge and understanding and watch over and guard the sheep from wolves in sheep's clothing (false prophets and false doctrines) (1 Peter 5:1-3; John 21:15-17; Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:28).
  • It is very important to understand that Jesus is our Senior Pastor (1 Peter 5:4). Our church pastor is simply a sub-shepherd under the leadership and direction of Christ (Psa 34:18; 51:17, Isa 57:15; 66:2, Mat 11:28).
  • Pastors are to preach and teach God's word "to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). Pastors are not here to tell you what you want to hear. Pastors are here to tell us what God wants us to hear.
  • Pastors are to edify and equip the saints for the work of ministry and for building up the body of Christ. The goal of this edification is Christian maturity for all church members (Ephesians 4:11-16).

  • Because "it is not right that [elders/pastors] should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables”, Church leaders (also known as deacons) have the responsibility to assist the pastor in serving the flock so that the core responsibility of the pastor (to preach the word of God) is not compromised (Acts 6:2).
  • The responsibilities of a deacon are based on the gift(s) of the deacon and may include anything that does not involve the duties of the pastor, which is to preach, teach, and exhort (2 Timothy 4:2).
  • The responsibilities of a deacon are voluntarily accepted by the deacon and may involve administrative or organizational tasks, ushering, outreach ministries, being responsible for building maintenance, or volunteering to be the church treasurer. It all depends on the needs and the gifts of the church and the availability and participation of the church body.

  • It is your responsibility to grow up and become more like Jesus (mature Christians) by listening, learning, and applying what you learn so that you "will no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 4:14-15; Heb 6:1; 5:12-14; Luke 8:14-15; 1 Cor 13:10-12).
  • It is your responsibility to show up on time every Sunday morning to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, hear His word, and encourage one another in corporate worship and fellowship (Heb 10:25; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 20:7; Eph 5:15-16; John 4:24; 1 Cor 14:40).
  • If you are very sick (spiritually, emotionally, or physically), it is your responsibility to let the pastor know as soon as possible (James 5:14-15). Do not wait for your situation to worsen. If you are in a spiritual, emotional, or physical emergency, it is important that you let your pastor know as soon as possible.
  • It is your responsibility to share your spiritual gift(s) to bring glory to God, help edify the church, and help bring and equip others in Christ. If you need assistance discerning what your spiritual gifts are, ask your pastor for help (Eph 4:11-16; Romans 12:4-8).
  • It is your responsibility to help support the church ministry as you have decided in your heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:6-15). Remember, before the law, Abraham gave by faith under grace and not under law (Gen 14:20; Hebrews 7:2). Give according to God’s idea of giving (Gen 14:20; Heb 7:2; Acts 3:6). At our church we keep it simple: give cheerfully by faith or not at all (Gen 14:20; Heb 7:2; Luke 1:1-4, 1 Co 16:1-2, 2 Co 9:7, 1 Tim 9:17-18, Mal 9:10).

    • Services

    Valley Life Free Church is located in the heart of Fresno on Shields Ave between Blackstone and Maroa. At VLF, you will find a welcoming church family that will encourage, edify, and strengthen you in the power and love of Jesus Christ.

    Valley Life Free Church

    Community Bible House

    1155 E. Shields Ave.

    Fresno, CA 93704

    Tel: (559) 412-2001

    Sunday Worship Service 10 am

    Bible Certification Courses Coming Soon!

    Open Google Map

    Most Recent Sermons

    Click here to view sermons on our YouTube Channel.

    Need Prayer? Have a question?

    Just fill out our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

    "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

    Valley Life Free Church
    Community Bible House
    1155 E. Shields Ave.
    Fresno, CA 93704
    Tel: (559) 412-2001

    Contact Us