Vintage Grace's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Vintage Grace
Vintage Grace is PASSIONATE about building joy-filled communities of faith whose very existence inspires individuals to live an abundant Christian life, made up of three key relationships: a deepening relationship with God, a life-changing relationship with other believers, and an engaging relationship with those yet to believe.
Jesus is better and worth far more than anything this world has to offer. For us to experience the riches of treasure in Christ, we must trade any temporary idol we are holding onto, in order to receive the greatness of life He offers us.
Jesus is better and worth it far more than anything this world has to offer. For us to experience the riches of treasure in Christ, we must trade any temporary idol we are holding onto, in order to receive the greatness of life He offers us.
Jesus calls us beyond the values of our day to God’s original design intended for His glory and our joy, while also making clear, His grace is available to all of us who live in this broken world.
The mercy we remember shapes the mercy we give. The grace we have been given should reflect the grace we give. The forgiveness we have received should shape the forgiveness we offer.
Because of everything God has done to make us right with Him, we fight to maintain the unity He created.
God gave us a gospel-informed way to deal with conflict in the kingdom. Following it mirrors God's heart and produces healthy relationships in the
church.
Jesus reveals the magnitude of God's heart to us as a good Shepherd who relentlessly pursues His children, because EVERY person deeply matters to Him and NO ONE is beyond His reach.
He then calls His disciples (us!) to relentlessly pursue others with the same passion and same love that He pursued us.
Temptation promises life but delivers death.
So, we pray, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
In the Kingdom of God, greatness is not defined by worldly metrics, but by the
humble, desperate dependence of God's children, whom he deeply cares for.
Jesus is the true Son of God who humbly submits and willingly provides for us what we could never provide for ourselves so that we might live in the freedom and joy of being children of God.
Jesus reveals His divine glory to His inner core-this is to strengthen their faith as their journey towards Jerusalem is about to get tough! May we see Jesus for who He really is (16:16) and trust what he says and does, knowing His heart even when the fog covers His hands - #GoodPlans For His Glory and our Good!
Jesus begins to tell the disciples about his death & resurrection & Peter doesn't take it well. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to turn their eyes from the things of man to the things of God, with a direct call to discipleship that requires a fundamental shift in affections.
The Most Important Question EverJesus clarifies his identity as the Messiah, assuring His disciples that His mission is unstoppable. He confronts them with the defining question- Who do you say I am? There is nothing Jesus, Matthew, Peter, and even Drew and Jen want more FOR us & for you, than to see and receive Jesus!
Matthew highlights another conflict between Jesus and Pharisees/Sadducees where Jesus puts them in their place and foreshadows His resurrection at the same time. Jesus cautions his disciples against the harmful teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
JESUS: Jesus shows compassion toward groups of people that don't fit our preconceived notions.
MATTHEW: Jesus's mission is not just for Jewish people but for Gentiles as well.
US: Learning to love, look, and lead while we follow Jesus' ways and his words.
We are officially on the down hill slope of our camping trip with Jesus, and with that the temperature is rising not just of resistance to the King but also some
acceptance too!
Meta: FAITH is the common denominator and the need for ALL of humanity to see, receive and believe.
Micro: The Canaanite women, much like the Roman centurion, is Matthew's way of helping us see the mission of Jesus was not just for all of Israel but also for her oldest enemies too!
Chase down your questions, receive His presence, and become a son or daughter of the King
Our enjoying Jesus' kingdom is not earned by merit, it is enjoyed by those who accept Jesus' gracious invitation knowing full well that none of us deserve it.
Jesus exposes that our deepest problem isn't what we do, but who we are-and our only hope is a transformed heart through Him.
Have I made my way of following Jesus the standard?
Have I adjusted God's word to fit my spirituality?
Has my pattern of spirituality replaced my devotion to God?
Jesus allows storms in our lives to reveal who He is and to deepen and strengthen our faith by drawing our attention to Himself.
God's story from the beginning is about His Glory, His Kingdom come & will be done. His will for us to be personally in a relationship with Him, by grace, & corporately a reflection of Him to the world by grace. So today, on our 12th birthday, we receive grace not just as the gift it is, but so that we'd be a conduit of it as we send you & others. Today we get to praise Him for the past & be part of multiplying gospel partners into the future. God's faithfulness to us & through us!
- What we learn from Herod - Don't ignore the truth of God's word.
- What we learn from Herod and Herodias - Evil begets more evil.
- What we learn from John The Baptist - Faithfulness combats compromise.
Jesus doesn't need to become more real- our eyes need to become more open. Jesus was not rejected because He was unknown. He was rejected because he was too known.
The Kingdom is worth joyfully giving EVERYTHING for.
Those who find it will have present & eternal JOY.
Those who don’t find it will be lost forever.
Those who have found it get to invite others to come & see & receive an invitation into the Kingdom.
Jesus is taking small things that we think are insignificant in our empire-thinking; and using them to expand His Kingdom-Come!
May we see, receive & reflect this Kingdom to all of those around us, recognizing that ordinary things in the hands of God lead to extraordinary results.
Everyone has asked this question: Why is evil allowed to exist alongside good, and what is God doing about it?
Jesus tells a parable to help his disciples catch a glimpse of God's plan and to strengthen their faith.
In God's sovereignty He has called us to not only follow Him as sons, but also to go & sow as a 'Sent One'. Our mission is simple: faithfully follow, faithfully sow, everywhere we go. In God's Kingdom ordinary obedience yields extraordinary fruit - immeasurably more!
The Kingdom requires eyes to see & a heart full of desire. Only the people who want it will find it.
Acknowledge: our need for Peace; we are all desperate & dependent
Accept: His gift of mercy, grace & peace
Be Aware: Peace is having His perspective of the final score & also part of His family
James wants more for his brothers… He doesn't want us to miss out on the person of Jesus: the greatest gift offered to us at Christmas. More than even FOMO, he wants us to have MORE JOY which happens when we humbly reorient our desires in the pathway to God’s Grace.
Faith is 1st & foremost a GIFT. Faith is useless without action, because it is dead.
If faith has been received & experienced, then it is inevitably expressed & acted on.
The question today is, have we received the gift of faith, & do our actions show this; so the world might see Jesus in us and through us!
God gives us the gift of wisdom which helps us see trials (& all of life) from His perspective.
Trials can actually deepen our JOY in Jesus, give us a fuller experience with Abba & the family of God; & create a massive opportunity for others to see the JOY
of Jesus offered to them!
Communitas: Marked by the Blood
Jesus declares that the family of God is all those who do the will of His Father in heaven.
Common Master = Family
Common Mission = Will
The resurrection is the ultimate sign of Jesus's identity, and it's sufficient to lead to saving faith. But missing the Savior right in front of you will leave you worse off than before.
The most important question in the world is: Who is Jesus? Our answer to that question determines the trajectory of our lives. There are only 2 answers.
Matthew reveals some important aspects of Jesus's character that are not random. They fulfill Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and teach us what Jesus is like.
Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, reveals God's heart for the Sabbath & invites us into a life of REST, reflection, & reward in Him.
People saw Jesus's mighty works firsthand & they still missed it-but His invitation remains.
Saying yes to following Jesus means rest for your soul-eternal & temporal shalom.
- Mighty Works Missed (11:20-24)
- God's Gracious Revelation (11:25-27)
- Rest for Your Soul (11:28-30)
When you have doubt remember you are in good company.
Decide where you will go to get answers and clarity.
Look to what God has done and is doing around you.
Look to Scripture
Don't miss Jesus!
It's ALL about JESUS.
Following Jesus is a simple & costly endeavor, but the joy far outweighs the cost.
May we not miss, that when we feel like we are losing, He is actually taking ground!
May we see, even redeem, the simplest moments, like giving a simple cup of water, knowing that small things in the hands of a BIG GOD will have ripple effects through all of eternity - for His glory & others' good!
Confidence in Jesus's identity, as the good and sovereign Shepherd, is the key to our boldness as we walk with Christ. This puts every fear in check, reminding us who is on the throne of the cosmos and who daily deserves the throne of our hearts.
May we see Him clearly and say it boldly- Christ is King! #KingdomInAction
Jesus knowingly sends the disciples into a battle zone, where persecution is imminent, but He does not send them alone.
The SPIRIT goes with them and supplies what they need. Enduring suffering to the end is part of what makes us like our Rabbi.
Everything is for His Glory, our good, & the joy of those who will come to faith through our pain.
Matthew gives us an invaluable glimpse of Jesus' pregame huddle with His disciples before #GameTime.
He prepares them to face every blindside blitz, to recognize the attacks & the responses, & all the while to trust fully: "He's got us!"
Jesus is clear-this IS going to be hard. On our own, we are NOT ready. #ButGod reminds us this isn't really about us at all-it's about Him going before us, being with us, & living in us. His presence is the power we need to faithfully GO.
Jesus is instilling compassion for the yet-to-believe in the hearts of his disciples before he sends them. He teaches them to see and asks them to pray. May we have the heart to pray, watch, and step as God sends us.
The Messiah loosens tongues & open eyes, just as was promised & prophesied.
Matthew is building from & towards a Kingdom Choice (Ch. 7:15-27 & Ch. 11-12) for each of us.
The Son of David is still opening the eyes of the blind.
May we truly SEE Him today!
Matthew is writing this so that we would not just see, but believe and receive Jesus as Messiah - fully capable and fully compassionate. Jesus is God, and God is good all the time. May our faith increase in every gap as we trust Him because of who He is, and may His glory spread through the telling of His Story.
Jesus' response to an accusation inserted in a question reveals that everything changes because He is here. Everything! Jesus' entrance into the world ushered in the kingdom of heaven, and that means it is time to celebrate.
Jesus's mission is to show mercy and call sinners into God's kingdom. You can't enter the Kingdom if you don't recognize you need Jesus, THE physician & King!
He was there then, is there now, and is here before you, simply calling you "Follow Me"!
Jesus has authority over sickness AND sin. Each physical healing, Matthew shares, offers a glimpse into the MORE He wants FOR you—forgiveness of sins.
You can trust Him and follow Him —
Others need you to, because the fruit of your faith will flow directly to them and glorify Him!
Jesus, the Son of God, has authority over evil spirits.
We can’t let fear get in the way of what God wants to do in our lives.
Jesus is powerful, compassionate, and desires to transform us.
We are spiritually weak, needy, and have hearts plagued by sin.
Your soul can have hope because the promises of God are guaranteed by the character of God.
Jesus physically heals MANY, but His ultimate desire is that we would experience eternal healing, and today that we'd increase our faith as we follow Him.
Jesus is not arbitrarily healing and casting out demons, His earthly ministry is a deliberate fulfillment of messianic prophecy. Jesus is the promised messiah.
Faith = Invitation to Intimacy
Matthew highlights an outsider recognizing Jesus’s authority over sickness & demonstrating greater faith than anyone in Israel to introduce the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s redemptive work.
God wants this for YOU too… to see, receive & respond in faith to all things— Gap things, Time/ Talent/Treasure things — anything as something to surrender & see that Jesus is Astounding!
Sin left us banished from God’s presence. Jesus leads us home, back into relationship with God.
The 2 houses serve as a warning & as a way to live: hearing & doing (CultivatingKingdomLiving). The wise build their lives on Jesus's teachings & endure. The foolish ignore Jesus's words & tragically fall because of it. In all of the Sermon On the Mount it's evident that Jesus's teaching is not like the religious establishment; He has authority that comes from above.
In the conclusion of Matthew's take on the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes authentic faith.
2 Roads & 2 Trees + 2 Claims, & 2 Houses.
The Kingdom Choice: In this text the focus is on recognizing & possessing authentic faith.
Authentic faith has a real, fruit producing, relationship with God. (Kingdom Choice: receive & reflect this)
"The (Kingdom) choice is set out in the imagery of two roads, contrasted in their character (broad & narrow), in their popularity (followed by many & few) and in their destination (destruction & good life)."
-France, NICNT
Jesus invites us to pursue God, knowing God is a good father who is delighted to give us HIS good, which empowers us to live His way.
Jesus is inviting His crew — and you — not only to surrender the throne of your heart, but also to follow Him, being cultivated in Kingdom living.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us, we are becoming part of a community marked by humility, self-examination, and Spirit-led discernment — emptied of judgmentalism — all for His glory and the good of others.
The Gospel frames reality for us.
The most important event in the history of the world, the resurrection, has the power to change your life today & for an eternity of tomorrows.
Jesus is giving us a description of kingdom life— the joy of having Him on the throne of our hearts.
We’ve given our hearts to what we care about the most! In the Kingdom, God wants us to desire Him above everything else—not just for Him, but also FOR our own sake, because divided loyalties are literally impossible.
The master of money will consume you; the true Master, YHWH, invites you into His glory.
Fasting to impress others is dangerous and leaves us empty.
Fasting to connect with God helps us encounter His loving presence.
Jesus taught us not to pray to be seen but to pray to see God. We pray for His glory, acknowledge our need for Him, and rely on his grace. The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just something to say—it’s a way to see.
Prayer is not a performance, it's a relationship with our Father in Heaven, and is also here.
We are passionate about building joy filled communities of faith, who is very existence inspires individuals to live in abundant Christian life, made up of three key relationships: a deepening relationship with God (R1), a life changing relationship with others (R2), and an engaging relationship with those to believe (R3).
Jesus instructs his core about the Kingdoms upside-down approach to conflict resolution.
Love your enemies. Loving your enemies is how God plans to Glorify Himself & perfect you. May we look, love, & lead like our Father!
Jesus gives us the appropriate understanding of the law relating to adultery, divorce, and oaths.
Jesus teaches forgiveness and reconciliation are remedies to the anger cycle.
In the kingdom, anger is a signal to tell us something wrong that needs to be made right.
When we choose to not take out our rage on others, pursue forgiveness, and make amends, we take part in God’s Kingdom on earth.
The Law of God is a good gift that protects us from our flesh & provides for us an intimate invitation into Kingdom Living & ‘right relationship’ with Him.
When we reject this offer of relationship, the law reveals to us our deep need for reconciliation. It is horrifying & humbling to sit & stare in the mirror;
ButGod in Christ makes a way as he fulfills the law & returns us to relationship in His Kingdom.
Your reputation does not just belong to you. Our reputation is inherited and cultivated.
Jesus makes it clear that our Kingdom reputation is about our identity as sons and daughters- we ARE salt, we ARE the light of the world.
This is not about striving harder, but living out who Jesus already says we are. All for His Glory and the good of humanity.
The fruit of Kingdom living is expressing peace and experiencing persecution with Jesus. By living this way, you walk a well-worn path of those who have gone before, and sought the Lord.
When I present myself empty, desperate & dependent before the Lord, He is ready and willing to cultivate Kingdom Living within me.
When connected to the vine, the beatitudes display the shoots of a life lived for Him.
The Sermon on the mount is a call to KingdomLiving, & an invitation to journey with Jesus. The beatitudes is the foundational expression of this life.
The Spirit saves & cultivates our Kingdom Living starting with the soil of each of us seeing that we are desperate & dependent on Him!
But God calls us in our spiritual bankruptcy to experience the abundance of riches in His garden of Grace!
The sermon on the mount is Jesus’s authoritative teaching on kingdom living.
What did he say and why does it matter?
Flowing directly from Paul’s call to be a living sacrifice and make sure our LOVE is genuine in our relationships with one another, even extending to our enemies, he now tells us to submit to civil authorities.
Since the beginning of time the enemy & the world has tried to distract & drown out the voice of the Good Shepherd.
We need to have hearts that hear & trust His voice if we want to experience the abundant life.
His voice is not just for our salvation but also for His future flock. #HarvestIsPlentiful
How do we, those whose lives are founded in our experience of God’s mercy, whose minds are being renewed, how do we think?
In view of God's mercy, with the grace He has given us, we steward the gifts God has given you.
Why? To build a community unified by Jesus & His gospel. Thats the ‘win’!
Our experience of God’s mercy is the foundation of our expression!
Paul knows the secret to joyfully living sacrificially is tied to being transformed in the mind. Our thoughts can be our greatest enemies or our greatest allies when it comes to walking in the way of Jesus.
The Gospel calls people to God, and unifies all of humanity—every Jew & Gentile, past & present, in Rome & California.
The Gospel informs, directs, and defines our lives.
The Gospel sends us to our towns, to point people to the power of God to save!
The Gospel is the completed work of God’s Plan!
We want Jesus to be King of our lives. We also want him to reign in the lives of our friends, neighbors, loved ones, and everyone far from him. #LivingProof
Rehoboam is leading his people into rebellion against God. It is not just a problem from him and his people, but it's a problem with us and all of Humanity. Rehoboam is a failed king of a people who needed a greater king.
King Jesus, is ready to do a redemptive work in our lives. He is not phased by our failure, but reveals a need for a new work in our life.
Today, we wrap up the first eleven chapters of Romans, it’s been the theological foundation of the letter, and like all good theological journeys Paul leads us to the inevitable destination - WORSHIP.
Head to Heart to Hands
In order to encourage our growing trust in God, Paul describes more specifically God’s eternal plan. Comprehending God’s plan will move us to celebrate, dedicate and anticipate.
The mystery of God’s plan of salvation includes both the rejection and inclusion of his first covenant people. If their sin led to our saving how much more will their salvation mean for us and the world?
Today, Paul shows us that we have not been abandoned. God has and is continuing to rescue us from sin and separation from God. Even when we cannot see it, understand it, or feel it, God is still at work in our lives. Since He is always at work, Paul urges us to trust deeply in God’s grace and His sovereign work– the only thing that will ever bring us ultimate joy and hope.
In our text Paul lays out 5 essential steps in the process of conversion, emphasizing the absolute necessity of someone verbalizing the good news.
Call - Believe - Hear - Preach - Send
Paul can see the redemptive potential in his people but their passions are in the wrong place. If only they knew Jesus already solved their biggest problem–how to get right with God.
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who is merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic-on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.
Jesus identifies & invites us to follow Him, imitating him as disciples who live in Communitas together and break bread in table fellowship, which results in us being SENT on mission to invite all to come and repent and receive His grace and forgiveness.
God choosing to show MERCY to his children is not a new idea, and has massive implications for how we invest our time, talent, and treasure in and for things that are eternal.
Paul wants to give us a richer, fuller picture of God’s LOVE. God has not failed the Jews and He will not fail those who trust Christ. Without negating what he has written in the first 8 chapters about human responsibility, Paul opens for us a window into the activity of God. He shows from three Old Testament examples -
God has always been choosing people.
- May we deepen our trust in God
- May we activate a life full of Praying & Watching; which will lead to faithful Steps for Kingdom Movement
- May we Worship in any & every moment #ButGod
God’s sovereign LOVE can and must be trusted.
At the end of Joseph’s life, he is able to see his life from God’s perspective. What man meant for evil, God meant for good. This is universally true of God’s character, He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Looking back (Rearview Mirror) gives us clarity & empowers our ability to look up & SEE GOD in each & every situation throughout our lives. In Joseph we are now starting to see how God was not only with him, & for him, but also providing through him for ALL His people. #Promises #Intentions
Moses’ intention in sharing the life of Joseph is, on some level, to show us how trials are always clearer through the rearview mirror of life. When we look back at a complete story, we can clearly see how God is not only WITH us but FOR us. The present gap is not only for our good, but also for His glory. As HisStory unfolds we begin to see, receive, & more fully believe that
“His better TRULY IS better”!
The Steadfast love of God on display in the story of Joseph in prison is a source of encouragement for us when we feel forgotten.
When you feel forgotten,
remember God is faithful.
In Joseph’s life, God is working through EVERY Gift & Gap to unfold and bring about His plan. Looking at Joseph's life, we can find strength, joy & hope knowing that God is always working all things for His glory & our good.
In light of this, EVERY moment of life becomes full of meaning & purpose because God is at work. He invites us to join His divine narrative becoming a part of His story with our lives.
All throughout humanity we see the brokenness of God's children on full display. Our lack of faith, our dark hearts and our evil intentions continue to play on repeat, but what man intends for evil, God transforms for good, and one of the best stories depicting this truth is the story of Joseph. This summer we will see the sovereignty of God, trumping the evil of man. Jesus is the true hero, working all things together for our good and His Glory (8:28), no amount of sin, brokenness and intentions of evil can separate us from His Love #HisBetterIsBetter.
Paul calls us to consider the depth & magnitude of God’s love expressed to us. He sacrificed his greatest treasure so that we might become his children. What would He withhold if He has already given us His Son? The Love of Christ means we have nothing to fear, the Kingdom and the King’s victory are here! #GoodNews
Vintage: a Church that lives in the certainty of the promise & love of God → There’s “No Bad News” in the Kingdom, we are “More than Conquerors”
Paul wants us to know that ALL circumstances work for our good. What a promise. The challenge is to believe this in the middle of the ‘Grap’. Paul tells us: suffering is God’s plan for now, there are better days (eternity) ahead, the Holy Spirit helps us in our suffering, giving us a firm foundation of faith.
Perhaps the most accurate appraisal of our faith is when we are suffering. Do we actually trust that each and every circumstance will be used for our good?
Vintage: a church where everyone was growing in their ability to believe this extraordinary promise of God.
We do not groan alone in the gap- Creation groans comparing its current curse to the glory of its future freedom
Our hope in the gap- We groan comparing our present selves to the glory of our future sonship
Our Help in the Gap- The Holy Spirit groans for us & His compassion has no comparison
As those who treasure Jesus, the Holy Spirit plays an essential, life-transforming role in our lives. The Holy Spirit moves to convert us into children of God, then as children of God the Holy Spirit continues to provide us with spectacular ongoing power and benefits.
Paul states that ALL believers IN CHRIST experience no condemnation for eternity (future) & the present reality! We no longer struggle with trying to abide by the law, living under sin & death—law has been fulfilled in Christ; but rather we walk in a newness of life: freedom in the Spirit. This is good, good news for our present reality & our future in eternity!
- What are you holding onto as confidence & certainty of your salvation (power to save)?
- Prayer life changes & includes active repentance because of a growing awareness of sin.
- Holy Spirit activates & empowers garden (Imago Dei) living living = new humanity & new affections.
- Communion “Thanks be to GOD!”
Paul wants to make clear that the law is NOT evil rather it is a gift from God that makes us aware of the evil in our hearts. Not only that, but the law actually activates the rebellion in our spirit to resist God as a good Father. The law was a gift from Him to protect and provide true and eternal intimacy for his children.
Paul tells his audience that they are not just dead to sin and the old self, they are also dead to the law.
We need to know that God wants something for us more than he wants something from us.
Paul wants you to experience being set free. He doesn’t want you to be set free for just a moment, but wants you to be set free forever. Forever freedom comes from receiving the free gift of grace offered to you in Christ.
In God's great wisdom, He always knew what his children were worth & was always willing to pay the price. This Easter may we remember that God willingly sent & crushed His Son to redeem us, but death could not hold Him–He has overcome the grave to heal the sick & give us all Living Hope!
Paul wants it to be clear: Just because we are justified by grace doesn’t mean our behavior doesn’t matter.
He writes in order to continue to clarify our understanding of who we are through faith in Jesus & to empower us in our battle with sin.
Our attitudes & actions matter in terms of our eternal destiny. If we exhibit a lifestyle that doesn’t reflect God as master of our daily lives, we should NOT be confident that we belong to him. BUT if we have genuine faith in Christ, we will joyfully obey Him.
For the first time in Romans, Paul gives us commands & marching orders for our “new life” as followers of Christ. Flowing out of 6:1-11, Paul moves from right thinking to right action. He states that “in Christ” the war with sin has been won (Justification) and yet our battle has just begun (Sanctification).
Paul tells his audience that newness of life starts with death. Newness of life is only experienced when you change how you see who you really are.
Paul starts out this section by asking a rhetorical question. He hears the people saying, “Well, should I sin more that grace may abound?” To which Paul as loud as possible says BY NO MEANS. Why? Because we have died to the old life and now live in JOY. Jesus influences us into a change that transforms us. God promises us NEWNESS of life; which is a life of more JOY than we could ever imagine.
Paul sets Jesus alongside Adam; & by comparing & contrasting the two, he tunnels us into the utter depths of our sin; which enhances our experience of the infinite beauty, power, glory & gift of Christ.
The GIFT is greater than the sin.
As much destruction as sin has done in this world, the grace of God is greater still–more powerful than the prince of darkness, breaking the chains of the generational sin I inherited, & greater than the self destruction of my heart–God WINS.
Small things in the hands of a BIG God bring about eternal glory for all who trust Him. Just like we see in Ezra, God is GOD and He is working in every detail of your personal life AND our corporate life here at Vintage for His glory, our good and our friends' eternal joy!
Sin didn’t start with us but it certainly hasn’t ended with us. From Adam to Moses, everyone in between, and everyone since, sin has led to death. The first sin set humanity on a course for destruction but the first perfect man has set us on an even more powerful course of redemption.
In Paul’s ongoing effort to deepen our faith and increase our joy, he continues to unpack the depth & significance of what it means that we are “justified through faith in Jesus”. May we today, pause and process the depth of God’s love for us!
Throughout Romans Paul has been clear that no one is righteous and all are without excuse before God's judgment (1:18-3:20). The only way to stand righteous before God is by Faith and the Grace of God (3:21-4:25).
Today Paul reveals the “benefits of belief” which start with having peace with God—As believers we’re now marked by confidence (5:1-8:39). We have the Prosperity of Peace with God.
Paul takes the origin story of the people of God and proves that the way to experience a thriving relationship with God has always been through faith. THEY had faith in God’s promise then, WE have faith in God’s promise now.
The joy of Jesus is for everyone because it occurs by grace through faith alone. Joy comes from trusting in and fully relying on what Christ has done through his life, death and resurrection every moment of every day as we live in community on mission together.
Paul teaches that faith in Jesus alone is the only basis of our being justified and declared righteous. He shows us that this has been God’s plan from the beginning by pointing to two of the biggest witnesses of the Old Testament.
New Year, Same Vision:
Faithfully follow y(our) Rabbi (our Father). Invite others into the journey, start with prayer for His Glory & our Unity, & be ready for action! The Spirit is moving & lives are eternally being changed!
Why behind the what of Prayer
If you lose your WHY then you lose your WAY
The depth of your WHY determines the length of your WHAT
WHO > How
Worldly Hope: desire for something- wishing on a star, crossing fingers, sending up empty prayers
Biblical Hope: trusting & waiting expectantly and with certainty
We experience hope by looking for God in our gaps, giving God the entirety of our gaps, and trusting Jesus as the solution to our gaps.
The message of hope in Zechariah is not just for the people of God in antiquity, it means hope for us today. We have hope in the Messiah, God helps us make sense of our past and see him in it, and God gives us a picture of the future that helps us hold onto hope, even in the darkest times.
When we lose our why, we will faithfully lose our way; this is true of Israel and true of me and you. God's grace does not give up on Israel then, or us now and it is His mercy that gives us HOPE. We are all in the middle of the greatest redemption story of ALL time, and we get the privilege of being used by Him to bring the Kingdom to Sacramento as it is in Heaven.
Israelites regathered and rebuilt after a season of exile. Though we weren’t exiled, we have regathered the past couple years and can learn from the lessons of the Israelites. May we, like them, remember God’s past faithfulness, and may it motivate us to press on in overwhelming seasons. Hold fast to the the truth that He is going to rebuild. The final product is not only worth it, but the process of journeying with Him is for His glory, our good, and a watching world!
God’s justice and His love collide in the cross. God’s righteous demand that sin be punished runs straight into His love for us.
The inevitable result of this collision is the death of Jesus, and unity with God for us!
Paul gives us 3 implications of what this great love does for us: humility, unification and righteous living.
The righteousness of God, that we heard about in the Old Testament, is now on full display in the person and work of Jesus. None of us are better than any of us and all of us fail to measure up to God's perfect standard. The good news is that God has made us right with Him through Jesus, so that everyone would know that our standing with God depends on faith alone.
No one is able to earn God’s love on their own. No one is able to find salvation and joy in the Kingdom of God through their own effort. Rather, our sin and mistakes are a mirror that reveal the depth of our desperate dependence, our brokenness, & our never-ending need for Christ every single moment of every single day.
Paul is telling the Jewish listeners that though they have been “chosen”, they are still in need of Christ. Even when the chosen people of God are faithless, God remains faithful. God’s righteousness and holiness are based upon who God is, not based upon anything His creation does. We will only find joy when we recognize our desperate and dependent need for Christ.
Being chosen seems to inevitably breed a sense of entitlement, of being better than. This sense of being “good” or “better than” versus others is extremely spiritually dangerous, because the standard is Christ. Paul continues to build his case that ALL of us are guilty of sinning against God, no matter our background and no matter what we think the external signs show. In today’s text, Paul goes on to argue that though many of us have symbols unmistakably connected to faith in God, the symbols in and of themselves are actually worthless to save us.
In Romans 2 Paul has laid a trap for anyone who thinks that the list of sins in chapter 1 isn't about them–reality is we are ALL on the hook for our choices & sin against God. Paul is attempting to deepen our understanding & experience of God’s Gospel which is what unites all of us out of our sin and into Him! In 2:12-16 he continues to develop the essential truth that God is not lenient, but He is undeniably fair & unmistakably firm in His judgment of everyone.
God’s Rubric for Life
1) God cares about what we actually do
2) God cares about our motives
3) God will evaluate everyone by the same standard
4) The Gospel
Our society has trained us to think that being a “good person” is pleasing to God. That our “good” actions like attending church or serving the poor gain us favor and forgiveness. However, the hypocrisy that leaks from our life is actually causing a righteous anger in our patient God. We are storing up the WRONG treasure (God’s wrath), and this has massive implications.
Paul is writing to a multi-faceted Church to prove that at the foot of the cross they’re all equal: sinners who have rejected Christ, exchanged absolute truths for a lie, and settled for lesser joys. Sin is the “fruit” of His truth being exchanged for what we feel is right. It starts in the head, penetrates the heart and flows through the hands in a myriad of actions (hands) that show who really sits on the throne of our hearts. If it’s anyone other than Jesus, we are ALL in big trouble.
3 TRUTHS ABOUT THE GOSPEL
1) We don’t need to be ashamed of the Gospel.
2) The Gospel is the only viable solution to life’s greatest problems.
3) We need to know the Gospel to live the Gospel.
Paul calls the Church of Rome to be united by the Gospel. The benefit of this will literally change their neighborhoods, Rome, Spain & the Ends of the Earth. It is no wonder Paul desired to GO to Rome and one day be SENT by them too. May we faithfully and collectively be united by the Gospel to do and be the same—here and to the ends of the earth.
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We are SENT (UnitedToGod +ToGether)
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Paul got the Gospel, but really it’s the GOSPEL that GOT a hold of HIM.
RighteousnessRevealed #UnitedBYtheGospel #Communitas #SendingStation #Sent
"We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission"
The Church is God’s Plan A for glorifying His name and spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Each person who is a part of the body has a unique and important role in order for the Church to carry out its mission. Through the body we experience Communitas as we share in a special community together on mission. This Communitas sharpens, transforms, and helps us grow deeper in our relationship with God. Further, the Communitas we experience fuels us to live on mission as together we are the living proof of a loving God.
Jesus died so we would experience life in His kingdom. We must surrender our lives not only to the King, but also to the SPIRIT, as He guides us in exploring and experiencing (#JoyInJesus) Kingdom/Garden living.
The cross deals with our sin and reconciles us to God, which means we are new creations in Christ. Now with a new perspective, we live out of the overflow of His Spirit on a mission to reach the world with the Gospel.
Jesus Christ came incarnate as the perfect image of God, both fully God and fully man. His invitation to us is to get off the throne of our hearts, surrender, and follow Him. Jesus offers us the good life that is found only in Him. When we surrender to Christ, we experience His life-giving power and our new mission and purpose to live SENT for His Kingdom.
Sin is ALWAYS destructive and ultimately results in death and separation from God. We live in a world that tells us to trust, believe and rely on ourselves. However, God’s Word tells us we are inherently Desperate & Dependent at our deepest core. Recognition of our weakness and the sickness of sin inside of us leads us to joyfully get off the throne of our hearts.
The way we think about God determines everything about the way we live. How we understand God's character and nature will shape how we spend our time, talent, and treasure. What we believe God does or does not value will shape what we value in our lives as well. The story of creation and of our lives is ultimately about God and His glory.
Michael Dacy walks through Vintage Grace's 5 Core Values in preparation for our summer series.
We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds it! And now, thanks to John’s letter we also know the final destination as we read about the marriage of a new Heaven & Earth in our eternal city called the New Jerusalem! This final image inspires the church to endure any & every thlipsis as they see the promises of God come to fruition, leading them & us to maintain our allegiance to God as King, forever & ever amen! #Maranatha, we wait and anticipate this great eternity that is coming sooner than we think!
Remember, things are not as they seem & yes, things have been, are & will be really bad at times. #ButGod has already won! The bloodshed of Armageddon is seen on the robe of the Victor-it is the blood of the Lamb himself who came to take away the sins of the world. Those of us who follow Him now get to live from the Victory He has already won. We are free to enjoy His Kingdom & our place in it, while missing out on the wrath that we all deserve & the Beast & his people will receive in their eternal quarantine.
BABYLON FALLS: This is NOT new news, it has been a story on repeat throughout all of history. Rome is the Babylon for John and there were many before and many after; but the truth of the matter is that NONE of them will stand. This is bad news for those who have devoted their lives to & find joy in the things/places/powers of this world as they will all be destroyed. But for those of us who have accepted the offer of Christ to become a part of His Bride, this is a day of celebration as He is our Salvation!
As an act of grace, the wrath of God is being poured out so that all may repent & follow Jesus while there is still time. God’s wrath is expelling evil from the world and restoring the goodness, beauty & perfection of the Kingdom of God where we are invited to live today and forever in full joy in Jesus.
Drew Sodestrom interprets the messages from the angels and the harvests that are reaped from the earth and gives implications about how they affect our lives today.
Drew Sodestrom describes the power of the beasts, and howthey ultimately cannot compromise the eternal promises of God.
Michael Dacy breaks down the fantastical imagery of the dragon and the woman that ultimately shows us that Satan is powerless in the face of God's plan.
Drew Sodestrom walks through the tribulations that are described in these three chapters and challenges us to point the world to Jesus even when the woes of this earth are plentiful.
Drew Sodestrom unpacks the description of the four horsemen in Revelation and flips the script from fear of death to following Jesus in victorious life.
Drew Sodestrom does his darndest to explain the unimaginable, inexplainable glory of Jesus seated on His throne and how John's description can help us grow in our worship of God.
Drew Sodestrom offers a Biblical perspective on the victory that Jesus won for us on the cross, and how we can live in that victory daily and eternally.
Todd Chapman walks through the last letter to the churches from Jesus, imploring us to be on fire for Jesus, not lukewarm as the church in Laodicea was.
Drew Sodestrom exposits the letter from Jesus to the church in Philadelphia and challenges us to be faithful as they were.
Chris Martin challenges us to have authentic faith, and uses the church in Sardis as a warning for what can happen when we lose sight of our identity.
David Krall challenges us to identify the "Jezebels" that are in our lives that keep us from fulling trusting that God's better is better.
Drew Sodestrom draws parallels between the church in Pergamum and our society today, and urges us to not be deceived by the enemy as they were.
Drew Sodestrom explains the concept of Thlipsis and how we can be faithful despite the pain and pressure that we feel from the world today.
Drew Sodestrom leads the celebration of God's faithfulness to Vintage Grace over the last eight years, and reminds us to stay focused on what matters most; persevering Kingdom movement.
Drew Sodestrom walks through Jesus's letter to the church in Ephesus, drawing parallels to our culture today and challenging us to remember our first love.
Michael Dacy challenges us to see Jesus in the same way that John describes Him in Revelation; almighty, victorious, and enthroned in heaven for eternity.
Drew Sodestrom kicks off the Revelation series with the reminder that we have nothing to fear in the book about the end times because we know that God has won, is winning, and will win.
Michael Dacy uses the example of the apostles in the early church to show us what spreading the gospel can look like when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Drew Sodestrom preaches on how to most effectively imitate Christ and encourage others to do the same with humility.
Drew Sodestrom continues to use Jesus' example of working the Discipleship Diamond, this week sharing ways that Jesus invited the ones that He identified to follow and walk with Him.
Drew Sodestrom encourages us to be Kingdom laborers in God's harvest that He has prepared for us (Matthew 9:38), and shares ways that we can identify the people in our lives that God has placed there for us to disciple.
Michael Dacy shares the meaning of discipleship and examples of it from the life of Jesus throughout scripture.
Dacy walks through the remainder of Philemon, challenging us to remember that every difference and hurt and separation that we experience was paid for on the cross, and that nothing else matters if we don't accept the forgiveness of Jesus.
Drew implores us as Christians to be forgiving no matter the circumstances and to treat all people as our brothers and sisters
Drew gives a background of the book of Philemon and uses some of Paul's other teachings to reframe how and why we love others.
Drew closes the John series by walking through the breakfast that Jesus made for the disciples the day after he rose from the grave, encouraging us in all of our relationships to stay focused on the thing that matters most- belief in Jesus that leads to The Good Life™.
Drew unpacks the story of the resurrection and first appearances of Jesus on "Easter Sunday". John chapter 20.
Michael Dacy walks through what is arguably the most important text in the Bible, the account of Jesus' death and burial. John chapter 19.
David Krall describes the peace of Jesus during an unjust trial, and how we can look to Jesus' example to trust God even when we face tidal waves of hardship. From John 18.
Drew share the story of Peter's denial of Jesus, the difference between being child-like and childish, and how we can all relate to the desperate dependence that Little Petey displayed. From John 18.
Tim Cockrell shares the story of his stage four cancer diagnosis and reminds us that in the midst of trials, the ultimate goal of our life should still be to bring God glory, just as Jesus asks for in the High Priestly Prayer. From John 17.
Drew teaches on the transformative power that Jesus has to turn our temporary grief i nto permanent joy. From John 16.
Michael shares the ways that we can discern when the Holy Spirit is leading us from when we had a bad burrito. From John 16.
Drew continues walking through the Upper Room discourse, describing the spiritual battle going on in the world that we face every day and the "War Time Tactics" that we can use to prepare ourselves. From John 15 and 16.
Drew challenges us to seek friendship and fellowship as deep as Jesus describes in his final teachings; love that is willing to die for the sake of others. From John 15.
Drew breaks down what abiding can mean for us; no striving, just surrender and obedience. From John 15.
David uses the Church in Acts to remind us that we're not meant to live life alone and how important it is to be growing together in Communitas.
Drew encourages us to believe that obedience to God will bring us peace with Him and with the world, regardless of our circumstances. From John 14.
Drew unpacks what Jesus means when he says that those who believe in Him will do greater works than He did, and the role of the Holy Spirit in leading us to those works. From John 14.
Drew preaches on the words of Jesus comforting the disciples about their eternal home and his Godhood, and explains the dichotomy of the inclusive/exclusive nature of salvation through Jesus. From John 14.
Guest speaker Todd Chapman describes the grace and love that Jesus shows to Judas, and how God has called and chosen us to show that same love to the world. From John 13.
Michael shares the worldly view of what saving the world looks like, and how any approach that doesn't include Christ-centered service is sure to fail. From John 13.
David unveils the secret that Paul refers to in Philippians 4 to persevering in hardship and in abundance: trust and surrender control of your life to God.
Drew encourages the Vintage Grace body that their generosity and determined work in fighting for their joy is paying off for Kingdom movement in El Dorado Hills and around the world. From Philippians 4.
Michael encourages us to continue to strive for sanctification and to stand firm in the promise that God's work in us and through us is not yet done. From Philippians 3 and 4.
Drew preaches on valuing things correctly, and how much joy we can miss if we value anything higher than righteousness in Jesus. From Philippians 3.
Drew teaches that trusting God for our joy requires us to humble ourselves before Him, and how much freedom there is in knowing that God's plan is for our good and ultimately His glory. From Philippians 2.
Drew explains how death is perceived in the Empire and the hope and freedom that there is in having a Kingdom mentality about death. From Philippians 1.
Drew summarizes the context of Paul's imprisonment and encourages us to find joy regardless of our circumstances. From Philippians 1.
Drew shares about the journey of pursuing our joy and pursuing God, and about how those pursuits can't be mutually exclusive. From Philippians 1.
Jasen delivers a message outlining Jesus' teaching about the importance of what we believe and relying on God to help us surrender control and guide us in the Light. From John 12.
David, Lee, and Karl walk us through the text.
- How can we as followers of Christ pour our "perfume" on Jesus's feet today?
- Are we more worried about our financial stability or being faithful to what Jesus has called us to?
- Are our desires lining up with Jesus's desires for our lives or are we trying to make Jesus's desires line up with our plan?
- Do we truly trust in His will for every aspect of our lives? (Finances, Relationships, Health, etc.)
David, Hunter and Jake talk through John 11.
- Jesus brings division among the Jews
- Jewish leaders were full of pride and jealousy because they were losing their power
Topics to discuss
- Embracing the inevitable tension: God's sovereignty and human responsibility
- Do we trust God enough to lead our lives?
- Where in the car of my life is God? Back seat, passenger seat, or drivers seat?
Questions to ponder and discuss.
- What keeps us from believing something, even if we've heard it a 100 times?
- Do we continually refuse to accept, see, and believe in what Jesus is saying?
- What does it look like to listen to the shepherds voice today?
Application:
Every morning ask: Jesus, how do I hear your voice and follow your voice today?
- How valuable are sheep to the shepherd, if he is willing to give up his life for his sheep?
- How valuable are we in the eyes of God, for him to be willing to give up his life for us?
- Highlight each thing Jesus does as a good shepherd.
- How would we have heard this, if we were a Jewish leader at the time?
- What would it take to truly be in their context?
Daily application questions:
- Which voice do you hear, and choose to listen to?
- What do you need to tune out, to better hear God's voice?
- What does it take to daily tune into the Good Shepherd's voice?
Questions to ponder and talk about in your groups.
- When has Christ walked gently along side you in your life?
- Who are you a disciple of if you're honest with yourself?
- What has influence over your life other than Jesus?
- Are there moments in your day/week when you say yes to Jesus and create space to listen to him?
- How could you create more space to walk with Jesus this next week?
Questions to ponder:
- How does the context of scripture change the meaning of the text?
- What is John trying to tell us through all the imagery?
- What are we willing to risk to follow Jesus?
- What is blinding me from seeing Jesus?
- What "normal" am I willing to let go of to be closer to Jesus and be more like Him?
- How do we become more aware of what God is doing around us as we go through our day?
As you go through today and this week, look for the light of the world working all around you.
Questions for individual and group reflection:
- What does it mean to actually believe in jesus?
- Do we forget the power of the truth setting us free as we journey through the faith?
- What does it look like to live and walk everyday in the freedom Jesus offers?
Application questions for study and groups
- What are all the times in scripture where light is mentioned?
- Look for repetition in the scripture
- Where do we make space for Jesus to show up as the light?
- What have been the dark moments of this last year?
- With the light of life dwelling in us, how does that change how we walk through this week?
Questions To ponder:
- How do you know that the Biblical text is accurate and reliable?
- How does Jesus respond when the religious leaders attempt to trap him?
- What does this passage tell us about how God treats us in our sin?
- and how God treats us in our shame?
- What does this passage tell us about the divinity of God?
- What does the passage tell us about the Character and nature of God?
We would love you to join us on this adventure of discovering that there's more joy in Jesus than anyone or anything else. You can join us online or in person at 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am or anytime online after that!
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Michael and David Walk us through this weeks test.
Narrative Q's to ask:
What happened?
Why here?
What's John's point?
Application:
- When have you doubted God's goodness?
- How can we as a group remind each other of God's goodness?
- Take some time to journal ways you have seen Jesus's goodness in the last year. Share as a group.
David & Andrea walk through John 5:31-47 to help lead meaningful discussions about the text.
Exegetical Tool: Characters In Narrative Genre
Main Characters-Multidimensional characters who play a key role in revealing the Big Idea of the text.
Secondary Characters-Often flat or static characters who remain the same throughout the narrative.
Identifying the characters and their role in the narrative helps us understand the authors intended meaning.
Witnesses Who Testify To Christ’s Identity & Mission:
John The Baptist: Preparing the way.
God the Father: Pointing to the Son
The Word of God itself: Pointing to Christ
The life and work (signs) of Jesus: Self-Testifying
Moses: Wrote Ultimately About Jesus
David & Andrea walk through John 5:16-30 to help lead meaningful discussions about the text.
Exegetical Tool: Noticing Historical & Background Context
- As you read, be alert to the New Testament use of the Old Testament text & themes.
- The primary story that gives meaning to the world of the New Testament is Old Testament narrative--a story of God calling out a people has his own, delivering them from slavery, and God bound Himself to them through a covenant of law and the promised land. (Gordon Fee-Introduction to New Testament Exegesis)
Sabbath: Jewish identity was built upon setting themselves apart from surrounding nations and keeping themselves holy. When Jesus heals on the sabbath, its not just that he is breaking the sabbath law, but it is that he is challenging the very core of Jewish identity
Jesus is God: If Jesus is God, then He demands a response from us. And the only response is belief, worship, surrendering our entire lives to Him.
Questions for reflection and application:
- How is Jesus different then every other religious figure through human history?
- If Jesus is God, why is it not an option for someone to simply consider him a “good moral teacher?”
- How does seeing the relationship between God the Father and Jesus tell you something about God?
- Why is it important to notice the trinity when we read the text?
- How does the divinity of Christ change every moment of our day to day life?
David & Andrea walk through John 4:43-5:15 to help lead meaningful discussions about the text.
Exegetical Tools:
- Our goal is to ask the right questions about the text
- Good exegetical questions fall into two categories:
1) Questions of Content (What is said)
2) Questions of Context (Why it is said)
- Geography reveals clues about the meaning of the text--why is Jesus going to certain towns/places to carry out his divine mission
- Signs-The Why Behind The What--what are the signs revealing to us about God? About the hearts of those who ask for a sign?
- Questions For Application:
- What do the 2nd & 3rd signs of Christ in the book fo John reveal to us about His identity and mission?
- What is John revealing to us through the narrative of opposite responses of either accepting Christ (like the royal official) or rejecting Him (the religious leaders).
- What does Christ’s question to the paraylzed man reveal about his heart? (Do you want to get well?)
- Personal reflection: Do I know that I am sick? (i.e. am I continually living in a place of desperate dependence on Christ?)
John records these next miracles and we start to see the pattern unfold as people move from Miracle to Controversy to Decision: do they receive or reject? As Jesus decides when and who and where to heal, it is clear that his decision is to follow the will of the Father—John then asks us to consider: what will be our decision?
David and Jesse walk through John 4:1-42 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text
Guiding Questions:
What is God inviting me into?
Where is God calling me to be faithful, despite discomfort?
Standard Narrative Questions:What happened?
Why here?
What does John want us to know/feel/do?
Summary Statement: This week we look at John 4 and the woman at the well. Though this woman had a messy life and looked for the good life in all the wrong places, Jesus brings her hope of restoration and soul-satisfaction.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
- What happened, Why Here, What does John want us to know feel do?
(Go to 31-36 for the know feel do part in particular because that the the takeaway John has for us from the brief exchange between JB, his disciples, and the Jews.)
- How were John’s disciples measuring success? How was John measuring success?
- Why is John happy that Jesus is gaining a greater following?
- In John the Baptist's analogy there are three characters, the bride, the groom and the friend of the groom who stands with him. Which one is John? Which one is Jesus? Whose is the bride?
- Trace the logic and flow of 31-36. What is the author saying about Jesus? How is this similar to 3:16-21? What does John want us to know about Jesus in 31-36? How does this contribute to your understanding of belief so far in John?
BIG IDEA:Jesus is better than any human system of success especially in the context of eternal (the “good”) life.
APPLICATION:
- At the end of your life, what would need to have happened for you to be able to say, "I lived the 'good' life"?
- Humans struggle to get off the throne of their heart in part due to their own inflated Ego, how do you think you might be better than you actually are? What strengths of your own may actually get in the way of putting Jesus on the throne and distort your view of “the good life?
Summary Statement: The paradox ‘less is more’ is clearly seen in John the Baptist. He understood and experienced the reality that we find MORE joy in thinking LESS of ourselves and seeing Jesus. Like John the Baptist we must:
- Resist the temptation to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. (#Humility)
- Understand our position. (#Humility)
- Celebrate our role. (#JOY!)
Michael and Ryan walk through John 3:16-21 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text
References to God's Plan for the World:Gen 12:2 Gen 17:4-6; Gen 22:18; Gen 26:4; 1Chron 16:31; Psalm 2:8; Psalm 22:27
Standard Narrative Questions:What happened?
Why here?
What does John want us to know/feel/do?
Guiding Questions:What's surprising about the idea that God loves the whole world?
Would Nicodemus agree or disagree with Jesus's statement?
Israel, who was called God's son, is being contrasted with Jesus, God's only son. Why did God send his son Jesus?
How is this message to John's readers?
Big Idea:Jesus is the only son of God sent for all people.
Belief in him means life.
Application Questions:What does this text demand of us this week? (God loved the dumpster fire...)
Michael and Ryan walk through John 3:1-15 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text
Guiding Questions:
- What barriers does Nicodemus have to belief?
- Jews like Nicodemus believed they were saved by their heritage, how is what Jesus said about being born again different from that?
- What is John trying to say about Jesus by recording him referencing Daniel 7:13-14?
- Read Numbers 21:4-9 as a group. John records Jesus allegorizing this narrative in 3:1-15, what do the following elements represent; snakes, stick, bronze serpent? What was Jesus trying to get Nicodemus to understand about his mission?
- What is essential to belief in Jesus?
Big Idea:
- Believe in Jesus and have life.
Application Questions:
- What barriers are in the way of you seeing Jesus as the “good” life?
- Where do you look for the “good” life?
- What’s something you used to look to for the “good” life but now you look to Jesus?
- What’s something right now that you’re willing to admit you’ve been looking to for the good life that is not Jesus?
David and Michael walk through John 2:12-25 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text.
Questions from the Conversation:
- Why was Jesus mad about the individuals selling goods and exchanging money in the Temple?
- How does John connect Jesus’s actions to Old Testament Prophecy? Why is that an important aspect of Jesus’s character?
- How does Jesus’s cleansing of the temple foreshadow the way he will cleanse us?
- What’s the significance of Jesus’s comment about tearing down the temple and raising it back up?
Big Idea:
Jesus purifies our access to God. → both the things we put between us and God AND the things innately within us between us and God.
Application:
What is something in your life that has been getting in the way of time with Jesus? How can we help keep each other accountable as a group to seek the unhindered presence of God in our lives?
David and Michael walk through John 2:1-11 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text.
Questions from the Conversation
Narrative Questions:
In narrative, we’re always asking these 3 simple questions to get to the big idea.
- What happened? (summary & key points)
- Why here? (how it fits in John’s Gospel)
- What does the author want us to know/feel/do?
Supplemental Questions:
- What did Jesus mean when he said, “My hour has not yet come”?
- What is significant about the wedding metaphor?
- In what way does this sign glorify Jesus? What are we supposed to know about Jesus as a result of this sign?
Big Idea:
Jesus is all we need → Links to messianic provision of wine and implication of the sign.
Application:
- How do we know if we’re living in a way that we really believe Jesus is all we need? (Desperate/Dependent)
- When was a time in the last month that you were desperate and dependent on Jesus?
- What would it look like to be desperate and dependent on Jesus every day? What rhythms do you need in your life to consistently return to a posture of desperate dependence?
David and Michael walk through John 1:35-51 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text.
Questions from the Conversation:
- Summarize the narrative in your own words. (Try breaking it up into Day 1 and Day 2 v35-42 & v 43-51)
- What words, phrases, or ideas are repeated? How do they point to a main idea?
- What titles are used for Jesus in this text? What do they tell us about the identity of Jesus?
- How did Jesus invite people to follow him? How does he do that today?
- How does this story reinforce the point John is trying to make in this gospel?
- Invite your group to reflect, when were you first invited to come and see Jesus?
- How can you invite others to come & see Jesus?
- Who is one person this week you can invite to come and see? Pray together for the named individuals.
John 1:19-34(ESV)
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[b] of God.”
Questions For Discussion & Reflection:
· How does the background help you understand John 1:19-34?
· Where else in the Gospels are we told about John the Baptist? What does it tell us about him?
· How does John the Baptist continually point to Christ as the main focus of the narrative?
· Application:
o How do we find our identity when Christ is the center and focus of our lives?
o What does it look like to actually live and walk by the Spirit throughout your week?
Key Themes:
· Pay attention to the background! The background often reveals to us why certain things are said, and often why certain things are not said.
· There is curiosity and also confusion about John the Baptist. This has primarily to do with the way God revealed Himself in the Old Testament. Throughout all the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets.
Prophet, Priest & King:
· John answers this question by explaining that he is not the Messiah—not the promised deliverer & King.
· He is not Elijah, which is a reference to Malachi 4:5, where there was an expectation that Elijah would come as a priest before the day of the Lord.
· John the Baptist is not these things (interesting he reveals his identity by what he is not). Rather he is “preparing the way of the Lord.” Which is a reference to Isaiah 40:1-5.
John’s Baptism:
· Baptism wasn’t a new thing. There were other baptisms that occurred, all around special cleansing ceremonies.
Behold The Lamb of God:
· Jesus comes into the narrative for the first time and we get another picture of John and Christ’s relationship. “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.”
· John the Evangelist, is showing us how John the Baptist is pointing to Christ. Again John the Baptist is pointing to Christ. Its not about him, its about Jesus!
John 1:19-34(ESV)
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[b] of God.”
David and Michael walk through John 1:6-18 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text.
John 1:6-18 (ESV)
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Questions from the Conversation:
- Who was John the Baptist based on this text? What do you notice about John the Baptist’s job description in this text?
- What words are repeated in 9-13, what do they tell us about the main idea of the passage?
- What are the two ways the light was received?
- What are the attributes of Jesus in verse 14? How can verse 14 serve as a summary of the whole passage (6-18)?
- How do grace and truth work together in this text?
- How did Jesus make the father known?
- BIG IDEA QUESTION: What does John want us to know about Jesus in this text?
- How does recognizing Jesus is full of grace and truth demand a reorientation of our lives?
- What does it look like to live a life characterized by grace and truth?
- How do we speak the truth without shaming, and show grace without pleasing?
Chiastic Structure Example:
Here’s a great example of chiastic structure and a fun look at a modern take on it...
https://medium.com/@eabiusi/kanye-west-and-the-adaptation-of-ancient-hebrew-poetic-form-d8319b661ef
Book References:
How to Read the Bible for All its Worth - Fee & Stuart
How People Grow - Cloud & Townsend
David and Michael walk through John 1:1-5 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text.
John 1:1-5 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Questions from the Conversation:
- What do you think John is referencing in verse 1? How does that contribute to what John is trying to prove in his gospel? (See John 20:31 for author’s intent)
- What is John saying about Jesus when he refers to Him as light and life?
- Overall, what is John saying to his audience about who Jesus is? keep in mind John 20:31
- What does it mean to you that Jesus is the creator, the Word, life, light?
- If Jesus came to give us life to the full, (John 10:10) what is the “good” life Jesus wants us to live?
- How is the “good” life Jesus came to give us different than the “good” life the world says we should have?
- In what ways have you missed out on the “good” life Jesus wants for you?
- Who is one person on your pray watch list you are praying will get the “good” life in Jesus? Pray for them as a group.
View Trinity Chart here:
vintagegrace.org/textlabblog/s01e01
Acts 14 : 1 - 28
By sending Paul and Barnabas, Antioch became a sending station which led to their fruit hanging on trees in multiple different cities. We've been entrusted with the good news of the gospel for God's glory multiplied to and through others... let's #gobananas