Wake Up Call

Founding Pastor Rick Duncan shares his own baseball story to connect with Malachi’s message that the arrogant may seem to prosper while the faithful struggle, leading people to question if serving God matters. He reminds the church that the Lord hears, remembers, treasures, defends, and heals his people, and urges them to live in community, serve faithfully, heed God’s warnings, and trust that joy is coming when Christ returns.

Elder Kyle Gustafson teaches from Malachi 3:6–12 that God’s unchanging faithfulness invites us to “return” to Him, and that withholding tithes is not a budget issue but a spiritual betrayal revealing where our trust and worship actually lie—because money both shapes and reflects the heart. He urges proportional, joyful giving as an act of trust (not prosperity math), “testing” God’s faithfulness so blessing can overflow to mission and mercy, and calls CVC to lean into Generous Life, support the new budget, and take next steps—pray, assess, commit, and engage.

Lead Pastor Joe Valenti kicks off with a wry “kiss cam” illustration—what if all our secret sins were broadcast for everyone to see?—then turns to Malachi 2:10–16 to expose how Israel’s culture‑driven compromises and hypocritical tears profaned God’s sanctuary, calling us instead to fiercely guard our hearts, erect practical boundaries, and walk in transparent, grace‑filled community so our lives truly reflect His faithful, covenant‑keeping love.

Rick Duncan exhorts new lead pastor Joe to never forget his simple identity as God’s beloved child amid the weight and busyness of ministry, drawing on Malachi 2’s portrait of the ideal priest to outline five pastoral essentials: heed your call, stand in awe of God, teach the unvarnished truth, walk closely with Him, and courageously call out sin. He reminds Joe—and all pastors—that though we will inevitably stumble, Christ’s perfect priesthood covers our failures and empowers us to flourish in life and peace as we shepherd God’s people.

Lead Pastor Joe Valenti warns that casual, half‑hearted worship—treating God’s sanctuary like a drop‑off for leftovers—profanes Yahweh’s glory and fosters indifference that offends the Lord of hosts. He calls us to tremble with reverent love, to give our very best in corporate worship, and to represent God faithfully to a watching world.

Lead Pastor Joe Valenti calls the church to recognize how easily life’s wrenches derail our spiritual rhythms—just as post-exilic Israel drifts into apathetic neutrality—and to heed Malachi’s wake-up call to remember and rejoice in God’s sovereign, covenant-keeping love that chose Jacob over Esau before the foundation of the world. He challenges us to respond in humble wonder—“Who am I?”—so that, overwhelmed by His electing grace, we’ll embrace forthcoming corrections and live with renewed zeal and obedience.