On Sunday, September 10, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus when he interacted with the demon-possessed man from whom he cast out the demons into a herd of pigs. In this story we see Jesus’ authority over the devil, understanding that the Christian life is a life of warfare, and that we need to be responsive to Jesus our deliverer.

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Luke 8:34-39 (NIV)