Capital Vineyard Community Church: Recent Episodes
Justin Kurtz
What does the message of grace and righteousness have to say about how we interact with the world around us?
Pastor Justin looks at a message from Dec. 30, 2018 about Bringing Your Best to God. This one takes an interesting turn.
Sometimes it feels like living the Christian life is like trying to catch a carrot on a stick. There's always one more issue to address, one more thing to do, one more sin to overcome- all in a pursuit of what God wants. But what if the reality is that the carrot is already in your hand and it's there because God has freely given it to you in Jesus? How would it change the way you live if you realized all that God has done for you is already true and in your grasp right now?
Acts chapter 9 contains the story of a man who when from supreme law keeper to the foremost freedom fighter.
- Receive the Lord joyfully.
- Don't listen to the grumblers.
- Sorry for the sound interference. We had issues with the mic.
New garments and new wine, don't fit in the old. In fact when we try to make the two work together, it ruins everything...
The good news is simple. Trusting Jesus to be enough when it goes against what you previously understood can be difficult. But choosing only Jesus is the only way to experience the freedom He promised.
Reading the first couple verses of Hebrews 12 makes many want to get on the treadmill and start running...but what if it actually points to the ability to rest?
In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul gives two realities for those who have been born again with a new nature: 1) As new creations, we now get to relate to ONE ANOTHER based on the nature of Christ within us (This is great news for the church!) 2) As new creations, we get to relate to THE WORLD based on the nature of Christ within us.
If we live in the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit. It's the most natural thing for people born of the Spirit to live consistently with their newness. It's like saying "Since you are a human why don't you walk on two feet?"
Parenting is difficult. Things change in our relationship with our children as they grow. Mary the Mother of Jesus found that she was no exception. May we find some comfort and encouragement in this.
Continuing the "Empowered" series, Pastor Justin addresses 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul writes about gifts of the Spirit.
Jesus told the disciples that when the Holy Spirit came on them they would receive power. We inherit this same power, but this power goes beyond the momentary big and flashy events. This power has everything to do with the work of the Holy Spirit within each of us as He indwells and works within us.
Phil Majcher brought a message Sunday that reminds us that not only are you God's masterpiece, together WE are God's Masterpiece.
The Resurrection of Jesus means there is more to relationship with God than choosing to try to follow a certain set of teachings.
On the Sunday before Easter we take time to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made before we celebrate the finished the work of defeating death in the resurrection (that's next week!).
As we go through life we often adopt spiritual practices and beliefs by the "if it works, it must be true" method. This played out in Jacob's life in Genesis 30 when he tried an interesting method to gain advantage over his father in law in a business deal. However, going through life like this means picking up unnecessary baggage in our relationship with God missing out on much of the freedom we are offered in Jesus' death and resurrection. What have you adopted as truth and a way of life, because one time it "worked?"
John 10 is a familiar passage of scripture to many, but in it Jesus uses several mixed metaphors. This often leads us to dividing the passage and interpreting it separately, which honestly can lead us to differing conclusions. Who's the shepherd, who's the door, and who/what is the thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy? Looking at the whole context of this statement from John 10 sheds new light on this familiar verse/passage.
When faced with decisions in life we often seek "the will of God", especially if we believe He has some great purpose or plan for us. Abram clearly understood that God had a great purpose for His life in His promised blessing...but when the time came for a decision He left it up to Lot. Many of us want to do the will of God so we don't step out of the blessing of God, but what if for the Born Again the will of God is that we are blessed in Christ regardless of where we go or what we do?
Lost sheep look and act like lost sheep but Jesus said that He came to find the lost ones in order to bring them home, even while they are acting like lost sheep.
John the Baptist had a ministry preaching "repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins"...in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. That means he was preaching the forgiveness of sins before Jesus ever did anything. Is the message of repent, be baptized, and try real hard to live a good life, really what we are given in Christ if it's the same message John was preaching before the Messiah? Maybe we're missing something...maybe we have something better than that.
Behold the Lamb of God who TAKES AWAY the sin of the world.
Yahweh is my Shepherd. He meets all my needs. He protects and guides me. He always has my best interest in mind. He loves me.
Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Of course Peter loved Him...Jesus knew that Peter loved Him. So why was Jesus asking? The larger context of the passage and Peter's experience with Jesus reveals that Jesus was telling Peter something very specific: "You are not who you used to be anymore."
Moses made two trips from Egypt to Mt Sinai. One of those trips was driven by fear in pursuit of safety that led him to meeting God in fear. The other trip was driven by trust and resulted in Freedom meeting God in relationship. The same two options lay in front of us today.
Joseph came from a family that was dysfunctional for generations but when the time came he decided that the cycle ended with him. We all come from some kind of dysfunction...but we can choose not to continue it. We can make a fresh start with our families and what we choose to pass on to the next generation.
The Magi were the definition of "outsiders" in this story. To the Jewish people made aware of the messiah, these men must have seemed like uninvited guests to the party. Yet God saw fit to include and invite them all the same...and the this was the plan all along. Everyone is invited to experience the life changing love and grace of this savior.
The shepherds were the first to know that the savior had been born. When the angel greets them and brings them the good news he also assures them that they are being given a sign. What was the sign, and why would they need one? God is communicating to you and me through this group of shepherds that He knows you and He sees you. You are important and valuable to Him.
We know from the life and ministry of Jesus that God reaches across religious and societal boundaries. Zechariah and Elizabeth might look like they belong and are insiders to the untrained eye, but they likely didn't experience life that way. In the middle of the biggest event in history, God remembers them and shows them that they have not been overlooked or forgotten.
In Acts 16 Paul and Silas have their backs literally against the prison walls. We are often impressed by their reaction to the situation, but are they even reacting at all, or are they simply doing what they would be anyway? For those made new in Christ, we no longer have to live our lives reacting to whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
What you believe about what Jesus accomplished dictates what you believe is possible for you life now.
Rahab The Prostitute: It was her label and her identity. But when the opportunity (or need) arose, she chose to stop living by the label and embrace a new identity. We have the same choice in front of us. We have been given labels throughout our life and whether we embrace and live according to those is our choice. As born again people we have an identity that doesn't come from those labels but from our Heavenly Father and what He has done in us.
In 2 Timothy 1 and 2 Paul describes a specific hardship that he and Timothy are facing. Then, he encourages Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It is only in grace and not self effort that we can find true strength.
Gideon heard some voices in his head that are likely familiar to us today: "You are on your own" and "You are not enough". But the Lord met Gideon in that place and spoke the truth to him. Maybe you need that truth today too.
When cultures collide there is often conflict and offense. When we are born again, we enter a new "culture". From the moment of new birth we become the bride of Christ that is totally foreign to the world around us. This difference between the "culture" of the world and the culture of the church, leaves lots of room for conflict. This conflict though, is somewhat of a one sided affair, because we know that the only way for anyone to understand this new thing that we are a part of is for them to experience new birth. There is no amount of arguing, politicizing, or convincing that can make the world understand why we believe what we believe or do what we do. The world needs a church who is willing to not fight back and "take a stand", but rather love in the face of persecution, bless rather than curse, do good rather than return evil and invite people to experience the unfathomable love and grace of our heavenly Father. If you want to change the culture of the world, don't do it by moralizing, do it by inviting people to be made new in Jesus.
Rather than letting some religious beliefs about how God relates to people dictate our understanding of what Jesus did, what if we let what Jesus did on the cross and in the resurrection dictate how we understand how God relates to us and others?
When we are born again we are't just given "new life", we are given "A new life". We often focus on the fact that we have been given "new life" forgiven and free from sin, without realizing and living "the new life" beyond forgiveness. In our new life things that were previously impossible can now be a reality for us. Nothing is impossible for those who believe because we know the God of hope.
When we look at the Church in Acts it's pretty clear the purpose is for the community of believers to exist in relationship to one another. The kind of relationship we see in Acts don't happen from 9-12 on Sunday mornings. They happen in kitchens, living rooms, workshops and backyards. We are putting all our eggs in the basket of real relationship rather than just the "service" of the church.
What Jesus promised us in abundant life is a reality, but many in the church have yet to experience that reality. Instead, we settle for a life of wandering in the wilderness, eating bland manna and wondering if there ever was abundant life possible. At the very least we are hoping that when we die we'll see that promise.
You don't have to wait. The promised land is a reality now. But there is one key to being able to experience that life now.
Daniel Rogers delivers another message in the Milk and Honey series, this one from Exodus 3 and the very first mention of this term in scripture.
Miphibosheth lived most of his life in fear of a King who had a very different plan for him. What if the King (David) was really not who Miphibosheth thought he was, and what if Miphibosheth was not really who he saw himself as in relation to the king? JD Woods shares how this relationship between David and Miphibosheth illustrates how some of us might experience our relationship to The King Of Kings.
The problem wasn't the honey, the problem was the way Samson went about getting the honey.
Guest Speaker Ranjo Clements from GCF Vineyard in Wilmore, KY shares a word in the Milk and Honey series.
Jesus is the living cornerstone. What is a cornerstone? Why is it significant that Peter makes it clear that God has made Jesus the cornerstone of a new thing? What does it mean that we too are now called living stones?
"Who do you say that I am?" The full answer to this question is only revealed to you by God Himself, and when He reveals to you who He is, you also begin to see who you are because of Him.
Abraham take your son, your only son, the one you love, Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering...Pardon me, What?!?
What if the completed work of Christ in you is so radical (imagine the resurrection from the dead) that you could set aside all manner of “should” or “ought” and completely live from the new heart he placed within you? What could that mean for your life in Christ and your experience of this life with your Father?
The parable of the 10 minas (or in Matthew the parable of the talents) holds a special place for many in the church. The statement “Well done my good and faithful servant” is something many long to hear and so live their lives in an effort to accomplish that goal. We teach our kids the moral lesson of using our gifts and “talents” for the kingdom of God so they will earn praise from Him and hear “well done” at the end of their lives. We press into the idea that this parable is a parable of stewardship of our money.
But what if this parable is not about the christian life at all? When we look at the parable, we must ask, where is Christ in this parable? Where is His sacrifice and resurrection for our rebirth? Is He the demanding master who reaps where He does not sow and then throws his slaves out for their actions based on the fear of Him?
What if the parable of the minas or talents is actually about what life outside of Christ looks like? Why settle for living life as a servant hoping to earn a reward from the master, when the reality is, in Christ, God calls you a son who is heir to His entire kingdom?
SPOILER ALERT: If you are born again, this ones not about you.
When God created people, He created them male and female in the image of Himself. That means that there are characteristics that we generally associate with women, or in this case our mothers, that are characteristics of God Himself. Jeremy dives into a couple of these Mom characteristics that we see in God in this weeks message.
When we are born again we enter into a blessed life. Full stop. Period. End of discussion. However we often have trouble believing that we live a blessed life 100% of the time, because things don't always go our way. That's because we believe blessing involves some sort of exchange; blessing is good FROM God that I get when I am good FOR God. However, this idea means our behavior is dictating God's blessing on our lives. This would be true except it overlooks the fact that in Christ we have been made new. Being made new means we have been taken all the way back to the same kind of relationship that Adam and Eve knew with God before sin entered in. According to Genesis 1:28 God blessed them simply because they were His creation and they lived in relationship with Him. This is the life God designed for us to experience; blessing and favor every day of our lives, regardless of the circumstances that come our way. This is the good life and anything less is settling for less than God created for us to experience.
After Jesus was buried the Chief Priests and Pharisees got together to make sure that the disciples couldn't steal the body of Jesus and create an elaborate hoax of his resurrection. They believed this deception and people believing Jesus was alive would be worse than him never having been crucified. They had no idea, that an actual resurrection was possible...and they had no idea what an actual resurrection meant for those who believed. The resurrection of Jesus isn't just a detail to be convinced of, it is a reality for you and I to experience.
The Apostle John states that he wrote his account of Jesus' life and ministry in order that the readers would believe in Jesus and find life. Knowing this it is significant that John introduces the idea of grace so early on where none of the other gospel writers do. John wanted the reader to understand that grace was central to finding the abundant life that can only be found in Christ. For the believer, we need to properly understand what grace is, and how it is different than mercy. It can be a difficult pill to swallow because we struggle to believe how good this news actually is...We still get caught on the "undeserving" portion of the definition of grace, when God has permanently changed that part of our lives. For the born again person, the result is God 100% for you 100% of the time.
The story of Elisha at Dothan in 2 Kings 6 is an image of what it looks like for people to live self protection mode. We were created to be known and loved freely but when we create a "life on a hill" where we keep others at bay because of fear and shame, we only cut ourselves off from the very thing we were created to experience. Astonishingly we play this same game with God, living self defense, and the consequences are the same. We miss out on the freedom of being known and loved by our Creator and Abba.
The letters from Paul to Timothy (1st & 2nd Timothy) hint at the idea that Timothy may have felt in over his head at Ephesus. However Paul seems to be letting Timothy know that he was never in over his head because he was never alone in this assignment. Timothy's gifting fit his calling and God had already been there before him. The same goes for you...on your own you might be in over your head, but not with God. Maybe like Timothy, you just need that reminder today.
John Mark was invited on the Mission trip only to be the one who up the band... His actions led to Paul and Barnabas disagreeing so much that they went separate ways. As Daniel points out, that's not the end of the story for Mark and Paul. A failure or mistake is not the end. Don't let it stop you
When we realize that the resurrection means we are fused with God at our rebirth, we can walk in the knowledge that we are never without Him. We don't need to wait around till the next time we see Jesus, He is already with us.
In Acts 19 we find the account of 7 men who were in over their heads without knowing it. They saw God working through Paul in miraculous ways and attempted to mimic what they thought was a new successful technique, but were met with an opposition they were not prepared for. They ended up fleeing naked and battered because they didn't posses the identity which gave them the spiritual authority to have anything to do with this situation. Paul on the other hand, possessed such an authority that God was working miracles through him, when Paul wasn't even in the presence of the people who were healed.
In Romans 7:14-25 Paul seems to describe a battle that is happening within people as they live this life and relate to God. We might read that section of this letter and come to the conclusion that this describes what believers should expect to experience. However, in context, we can see that while many believers can identify with this kind of struggle Paul is not saying this should be our experience. In fact, Paul is saying that we should expect the exact opposite of this kind of battle. So what is that kind of battle all about? The question becomes a matter of were you set your mind.
The bad news is you died. The good news is God raised you from the dead. Something real has happened for those who are born again. Paul writes about this spiritual reality in Romans 6 and 7.
In the first two verses of Romans 5 Paul tells us what we get with justification. In other words, he answers the question "what's the big deal with being righteous anyway?" or "What do we really get out of this?" What we get is peace with God!
A short thought for your consideration.
"How's your walk?" It's a question that is loaded with expectation but how we measure the quality of our walk with God can tell us a lot about how we are experiencing Him.
Continuing through the book of Romans we hit on chapters 2, 3, & 4 to see in Paul's understanding of the Good News that faith has taken the place of any other mechanism to bring righteousness with Abraham as the example of choice. This is a key understanding of the gospel and yet likely a new idea for many in the church of Rome.
Paul continues writing to the church in Rome about his understanding of the good news of Jesus. In the last verses of chapter 1 he makes it clear that God has allowed humanity the choice of belief and the consequences of unbelief.
In Romans chapter one Paul writes to the church in Rome and states that he wants to come visit them and preach the gospel to them. Why does Paul want to preach the gospel to those who already believe? This detail sets up the rest of his letter to them as he explains very carefully what understands the good news of Jesus to be. This is the first message in our series on this letter to the church in Rome.
What does it mean for us that the perfectly righteous, and perfectly sinless Jesus "grew in grace with God and people?" For us, It speaks to the real substance of Christian maturity and growth.
When we read the Christmas story in Luke 2 we read of an angel bringing good news for all people. But this wasn't just a general statement made so that we could read about it 2000 years later. When this message came to the shepherds that night in the fields outside of Bethlehem, the Angel was speaking specifically to these shepherds. This was good news for them, and a sign would be given, specifically for them. How incredible it must have been for the outcast shepherds to arrive a the stable and find that this messiah wasn't just for the religious elite, but this was a savior for them.
A King like no other left His throne to live with the peasants and be killed by them so that they could live in the palace with His father. Even though He is deserving of all adoration and worship, He didn't come for any of that. He came for you. A King came as the gift rather than asking for our gifts.
Daniel Rogers brings a message from Philippians 4 where we find some familiar verses about thanksgiving but considering the context of the passage, Daniel approaches this with a little bit of a different perspective.
Who knew the story of Jacob and Esau was so similar to the parable of the lost son that Jesus would tell thousands of years later? We are Jacob and we often approach God like he approached Esau all those years after he ran for his life. All God wants is to wrap us in His arms, kiss us, walk arm and arm back home in a renewed relationship. It's no scheme that we come up with that convinces Him to welcome us back...God's already decided He wants us home.
After the promised land was conquered and it was time for each tribe to settle its own territory Joshua instructed Israel to decide what God they would serve. Israel chose the Lord because of all He had done in their lives. But one generation later a people grew up who abandoned God and served the gods of the people whose land they occupied. How is it possible for a generation of people whose parents dedicated themselves to serving the Lord, to not "know" the Lord or what He had done for their fathers? Each generation must experience God moving for themselves otherwise they see no reason to have a relationship with Him. Those of us who know God and have seen Him working in our lives have the opportunity to help our kids and the next generation see what God is doing in their lives. It is our opportunity and our responsibility.
From Hebrews 3 & 4 we understand that there is rest for the people of God, in fact we were created to live in this rest. When we dig into the OT references that the author uses we can find that this rest is only "accessible" by trusting God to provide everything that we need. It's a simple idea, but many of us miss the point.
Sometimes within the church we forget where the power comes from and we lift up and put our confidence in leaders or personalities. The trouble is, these people are just people and at some point they will do something to remind us they are human. When that happens the result is often disillusionment and disappointment.
Leaders, we cannot allow ourselves to be "worshipped" in a way that lets people see us as the ultimate power and authority. It's not healthy for us, and it hurts the church.
Fed up? Exhausted? Burnt out? Ready to walk away because of religion? Jesus got there too (not the walking away part). Jesus is the solution to religion, not the problem. If you are tired and ready to walk away because you think religion is all there is, I pray this message gives you hope.
Jesus tells a parable about the Kingdom of God comparing it to a mustard seed. The point of the parable, though, is not about the size of the seed it is about the way it grows. The kingdom of God is unstoppable and invasive both in the world around us and in your individual life. The kingdom is growing in you and around you..how? I don't know, but I see the evidence...
When we read scripture we do it from a particular frame of mind. At times the understanding we bring to the Word can lead us to perspectives that may not be reality. Jeremy West tackles this idea by looking at a scripture from James chapter two..."faith without works is dead."
When we put what we have in God's hands and allow Him to work, what we have is always more than enough. What do you have?
As born again believers our Frame of Mind should be an eternal perspective- that we are in an eternal relationship right now with our Heavenly Father. The book of Hebrews reminds us to "run with endurance". We are in it for the long haul, but it's not a race where we have to strain to find the finish line and earn our gold medal...it's a victory lap or a fun run that has already been decided by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Now we can relax in Him, bask in the goodness of His victory, and walk in our new identity.
When opposing groups try to trap Jesus with a political question, Jesus uses it as an opportunity to be clear about one thing; His kingdom and the work He accomplishes does not come in the form of a political kingdom. As His children we can participate in the earthly systems that we are a part of, but we can not lose sight of the fact that our primary citizenship lies with the Kingdom of God where greater things are accomplished than laws and political policies.
There are unlimited opportunities for us to be afraid in the world we live in...but one of them doesn't need to be a fear of sharing the good news of what Jesus has done for us. A great message from Daniel Rogers Sunday morning.
In addressing the question of a man who interrupts His teaching, Jesus tells a parable of a greedy landowner. However the parable is about more than the symptom of greed, it points to the source of this symptom. The only thing that can cure anything for good, is a growing relationship with our Heavenly Father. Everything else leaves us playing Whack-a-Mole. If you want to get rid of a headache for good you have to address the cause, not just stop the symptoms.
When Jesus tells the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard he is doing it as a further explanation for Peter when he asks "since we've given so much, what's in it for us?" Jesus replies by explain that the kingdom of heaven is not about what you get as a reward, but what He gives as a generous gift. The reward is not some far off heavenly place, the reward is eternal life in His presence right now. He is the reward. The sooner we realize this truth, the quicker we will actually enjoy our relationship with Him and our relationship with the church.
Jesus tells the story of a hijacked vineyard to the chief priests and pharisees in the temple after the triumphal entry. He is essentially calling out the leadership of the Jewish people for holding people captive in their religion when they were supposed to be freeing people for relationship with Him. As we listen to this parable we consider our response to this thinly veiled metaphor and what it reveals to us about our understanding of what Jesus actually accomplished.
Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard-keeper who steps in to take responsibility for a fig tree that is not producing figs. In fact, the fig tree was not capable of producing figs until he intervened. Jesus has stepped in and taken responsibility for us, nourishing and caring for our growth when we were incapable of being who we were supposed to be in relationship with God.
The enemy has planted a counterfeit seed that looks like what the sower desires but will only ever produce a counterfeit harvest. The work of The Sower is the only thing that can bring us life as we were meant to experience it in relationship with God.
Jesus chose 12. He had the opportunity to speak to thousands, yet he chose 12. Why? Because they were the good soil and He knew spending His time and energy with the good soil was worth more than throwing seed in places that it wouldn't grow and multiply. It's a long game, but it develops exponentially. Who is the good soil in your life that you can focus on that will pay off exponentially for the future?
As we reflect on the "State of the Union" on July 4th or even the state of our world, from 2 Peter 3, Pastor Justin encourages us to wake up and remember why it is that Jesus came. He came to seek and save the lost. He is still seeking and saving, and the fact that He has not returned yet, means there are still those among the "sinners" of the world who will turn to Him and be made new. Church in our slumber we have become like Jonah who didn't want the people of Nineveh to be saved, but asked for their destruction. Church wake up and remember that He came for the broken and the sick, not those who are well. He came to redeem and make clean those who are filthy, not throw them out because they haven't yet turned to Him.
Daniel Rogers shares about the story of Samson, and how we are believers have a power living in us that is greater than anything of ourselves.
Pastor Jeremy revisits a message from January 2019 with a little bit of a different perspective this time around. Check it out!
Jesus tells his disciples they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are trying to find the sweet spot of being salt that flavors the lives of people around us while not overpowering them with too much salt, and light that illuminate their lives with the truth that is only found in Jesus, while not blinding and turning them away.
It's a hot topic. Are we really always saved after conversion? We'll get into it in the message this week as we look at the last couple chapters of 1st John and wrap up the Dear John sermon series.
We are His children. As His children, Gods spiritual DNA runs in our veins. We can expect that what we produce is consistent with what is inside us.
May we never create a church environment where people can behave like they are Godly but not really know Him or experience the power of His resurrection through being born again-there is too much at stake!
ln a letter to the Church about fellowship, John makes it clear that those who are born again are eternal and not in the world anymore. He also makes it clear that there are those who sit in church but are not born again because, as he puts it "some went out from them" and were claiming that Jesus was not the Christ. Those who are born again know Jesus is the Christ because having experienced new birth, you can not deny this reality.
So then, it is possible for people to attended church and even be active in the ministry but not to have experienced the power of being born again. Jesus said this is a sad reality. People have converted their religious beliefs to christianity, and bought the behavior modification training program of religion, but never experienced being born again. What a tragedy!
Getting into chapter 2 of 1st John... We are reminded that all of 1st John is a letter written to a particular group of people and that John has a particular message he is writing this group of people. We must take all of what we read in the context of the whole letter, realizing that John is writing to people he knows are believers. He is encouraging them that they can expect to have the desire to want to be in fellowship with one another...Taking sections of a letter and not considering the context of the letter or what comes before and after it, can lead us into wrong assumptions about what John is writing.
As we launch a series into 1 John, we are reading and understanding that this is a "Dear John" letter. We are saying "So long, Shame. We have found someone else and we are moving on!" We can walk in the truth that everything in God is in the light and there is no hiding or covering up...and because of Christ there is not need for shame. This is the only way for us to fellowship or enjoy relationship with God and others.
The power of God is scary. But for those who understand that we have been set free rather than just saved, there is a different life experience available. We understand we have been set free for relationship with God and we now have the freedom to actually enjoy that relationship.
In order to believe that God will provide for us in our earthly needs we first have to be convinced that he has provided everything for us in spiritual lives, in relationship with Him. Once we are convinced of the foundation that He really has done it all for us spiritually, we can begin to believe He can be trusted to meet our physical, emotional, mental and social needs as well. You can not jump ahead to try to apply Christ's teaching without first understanding His accomplishment through the resurrection.
Pastor Justin breaks down why we interpret all scripture through what was accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Resurrection changed the terms of God's relationship with humanity. This is not the first time He has done this, but it is the last.
Peter thought the news of the resurrection was nonsense. Nevertheless, he got up and ran to the tomb to see if it might possibly be true. As ridiculous as the news of what God has done for us might seem, we are invited to nevertheless see what if it might be true.
Don't stop at the cross. He came for more than the forgiveness of sins. He came to bring his kids back to life!
Do you let your circumstances dictate your understanding of your relationship with God?
We see a pattern in the latter half of the book of Acts. People share the good news of Jesus, some believe, some don't and the one's who don't run them out of town. Once run out of town the apostles simply keep preaching the gospel. We see this pattern over and over again.
We should take note that there is nothing that will ever stop the message of grace and righteousness in Jesus Christ for those who believe. This is God's message of God's grace and there is nothing that can stop that message. When we are met with resistance, we simply move on and continue sharing the truth we have come to know in Jesus Christ.
Saul had a radical revelation of God, that forced him to reconsider all that he knew about God and relationship with Him. Have you had that moment?
Philip was Philip the Evangelist. Even before he was recognized as that by other people, it is who he was. How did he become known this way? He Listened, Trusted, and Acted. We can do the same thing as we discover who we are. Listening and hearing God speak, trusting what he says about us, and living in that reality.
Many of us identify with Peter throughout much of the ministry of Jesus. And many of us can probably still relate to Peter as he finds himself in a position of leadership within this brand new thing called "The Church."
While Peter had this new revelation from God that He was doing something brand new and Peter was excited about the thing that God was doing, he still was trying to work through his old framework of understanding God's relationship to humanity.
Many of us find ourselves in this very same type of situation. We have heard that God has done something new in Jesus through grace, but we are still stuck in our old ways of understanding...even when we want to embrace the new.
Simon believed and was baptized under Phillips ministry, but quickly went back to old ways. Does that mean he wasn't saved or his belief was not genuine? What do we do when we find ourselves walking in old ways that are not consistent with who we already are in Christ?
Today we take a look a Stephen, who was not one of the 12, but was a leader within the early church. His message is powerful for us as we lean into grace and power!
As the church grows in the book of Acts a "complaint develops". What action do the apostles take, and what can we learn as a church from how they handle this situation?
Daniel Rogers shares a word with us about having confidence in the Holy Spirit to be at work in us during the midst of trials.
As we start a new series this week we will be looking at the actions of the apostles within the early church. The first order of business was to appoint a new apostle to replace Judas Iscariot. Let's talk about why they needed to replace him and what the office of apostle was all about. We might learn something about the message they were bringing to people that is still a message for us today.
We had. a little microphone trouble at the beginning so bear with us.
As a follow up to last week, we continue to explore the idea of living genuinely. We ask why, how, and who to flesh out this idea of what it means to live genuinely in relationship with God and others. Also we start out with a quick word of reflection after this past weeks events in Washington DC.
Jesus warns against the "leaven" hypocrisy. What is this? Why does he warn his followers against it? What does living in a world hypocritically mean for us? What is the only answer and escape that breaks the cycle of hypocrisy?
As we reflect on this inbreaking of the kingdom of God we look ahead to 2021 and ask what affect does the inbreaking of the kingdom have on the upcoming year.
The entire story of the coming of our Savior is illogical. It does not make good sense for the breakthrough of Messiah to come in the way that He chose to come. This is the way God continues to move in our world and in our lives. It doesn't have to be logical or make sense for it to be true.
The angels declared at the birth of Jesus, "Peace on Earth". With wars raging and fights around ever corner there is clearly not peace on earth. So what did the angels mean? What kind of peace did the inbreaking of the kingdom of God into this world bring. Peace with God and peace with ourselves in Christ.
When we experience God breaking through our world we go from hoping for a breakthrough to having hope because of the breakthrough. This hope is New Covenant Hope where trusting God because of His faithfulness in the work He has done in us gives assurance that He will continue to be faithful in the future.
Inbreaking: the act of breaking in; an incursion; an invasion; an inroad.
Christmas was the invasion of the kingdom of light into the kingdom of darkness. The birth of Jesus is about more than pretty lights and the nice warm feeling we get when we see the nativity scene. Christmas was an act of war. It is the beginning of the end of the war for the human heart.
The already and not yet of the Kingdom of God...it's a mystery and yet a reality. What we know to be true: if our focus is on the "not yet" we will miss the reality of the "already". Enjoy what God has done in you and will do through you as you wait for those things not yet seen.
Trust is relational, not transactional. Relationships require trust. Without trust a real relationship is not a reality. It works the same with God. From the beginning He has wanted relationship with us, and it has always required trust. The depth of a relationship is directly tied to the amount of trust involved. Where is God inviting you into deeper relationship with Him and so into deeper trust of Him. He is trustworthy.
The promised land was given to Abraham and his descendants. It was a land for them to live in, explore, flourish, and grow in but they left it often and headed back to Egypt when famine and hard times hit. Egypt was the safe place where at least they knew they had food to survive and make it through.
We entered the promised land of grace when we began a relationship with God through Jesus. Many of us though, have a tendency to head back to the Egypt of religion and law when tough times hit. Abraham and his descendants weren't meant for Egypt. They were meant for the Promised Land.
We were not meant for religious law and obligation. We were meant to live in grace.
Daniel Rogers talks about the story of Joseph and his interaction with his brothers, specifically Rueben.
Jacob made a deal with Laban but what Laban intended was not what Jacob thought he had agreed to. It was a bait and switch.
Some of us feel like we have experienced that bait and switch in our relationship with God. But that's not God-that's man made religion. What God has offered you is a deal that never changes and absolutely has you at the center of his priorities. You can trust Him.
Favoritism breeds competition. Jacob and Esau clearly experienced favoritism in their family and it cause lots of trouble including the birthright and blessing fiascos.
God has no favorites therefore there is no need for competition among the church family. Many of us would do well to remember this. The birthright is for everyone who believes, not just a select few who are the favorite.
We start this new series "Broken Branches" by taking a look at Hagar and her role in Abram's family tree. Hagar was an outsider and used by her family. Maybe you can identify with some of her life experiences. I hope you also have the opportunity to come to the understanding that Hagar did when she had a conversation with God. He sees you. He hears you. He knows you. He understands you.
This is a message for Capital Vineyard Community Church both near and far. God is doing something in us and through us. Will you buy the threshing floor with us?
What do we do with sin in our lives even after we are born again? This week we look at a very low point in the life of David to process sin and how we handle it.
As people who are born again we are fashioned after God's heart. Knowing David was a man who God called a "man after His heart" we can expect to be drawn or led into things that David was led towards as well. Worship is one of those things we are led towards.
David shows us that mercy is in the heart of God but while David stopped at mercy, Jesus went beyond mercy with grace.
David and Jonathan were best friends. What can we learn from this relationship about God's character and how he wants to relate to us?
David and Goliath is often a story where we put ourselves in the place of David and say there is some kind of giant in our life that needs slaying. That might be too small of an understanding of what God was accomplishing with this story.
Want to be a man or a woman after God's heart? What if the truth was that you already are?
We often hear about images of an angry God...but what actually made Jesus (God with skin on) angry? There are only a couple instances in the scripture that recorded Jesus' anger. What can the church learn today?
In Romans 12:9 Paul writes that our love within the church should be without hypocrisy. What does this mean? Hypocrisy is saying something but not doing it...but with love hypocrisy can also be saying something, doing it, but doing it out of obligation or duty, rather than love. How then can we function as a church in love without hypocrisy?
What is the Baptism of the Spirit? Do I have the Holy Spirit? How can I know? Is speaking in tongues proof that I have the Holy Spirit and I'm saved?
Is keeping the law and the old covenant necessary today?
In our christian journey many of us try to fit the new wine of the new covenant of grace into the old wineskins of old covenant law. It doesn't work. The new wine bursts the old wineskins and spills the grace of the new covenant onto the ground.
Daniel Rogers brings a great message reminding us that God does in fact have a sense of humor.
This week we wrestle with some very difficult and personal questions. What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Can I be gay and a christian? This is not an exhaustive message by any means but it is the start of a conversation.
Also we had trouble with our recording today so you get the house mic.
There are many places in scripture that address "The Elect" and the fact that God has specifically "chosen" some. What does this mean, and what difference does it make?
This week we look at the questions: Are these the last days? Will Christians face persecution before the rapture like Jesus said? Justin breaks down Matthew 24 and 25 to see what Jesus tells us about the end of days. In the end, we can find peace in knowing that, as Christians, our life on earth is nothing compared to eternity in the kingdom of heaven.
Does God get tired of me asking for a do over? No. This week we looked at the familiar story of the prodigal son. Through this story we see at how God himself explained our Father/Child relationship with Him, showing us that He will never get tired of His children.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow those who love Him to experience pain and suffering?
The short answer is "I don't know". But let's talk about how we respond in times of hardship and trouble.
As born again believers with a new identity in Christ, we no longer have our own mission in this world. Our mission becomes God's mission.
We Get To Give. It is our privilege to give to the Kingdom of God participating in the ministry and spread of His truth. We don't give because we have to according to the old Covenant Law. We give generously because we have been given a new generous heart and we want to participate in the Kingdom.
It's our first week back in the building!
One distinctive that has flavored the Vineyard movement for a very long time is the idea that we are a people that are "naturally supernatural". Jesus was the epitome of what it meant to be naturally supernatural. Like He did we have the privillige of taking part doing what the Father is doing in the lives of people around us. We do this as an extension of who we are in Christ and not out of a struggle to impress God or others.
From the Junk Drawer- Pastor Jeremy gives us a word on the Vineyard Distinctive: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God.
Jesus invited himself over and Zaccheus was ready to receive him. As believers and those who have already received Jesus our role is to remind one another of our identity in Christ as new creations rather than be a source of shame for our brothers and sisters in Christ- no matter how mature they have become.
This week, another story from Jesus that proves everybody is invited to the party, but there is also a clear instruction that you must be dressed for the party or you can not enjoy it!
Join us Sunday May 3, for another "You Are Invited" message. This one is important!
Jesus attended lots of parties and celebrations. He was the life of the party because He came to the party to give you life!
When we look at Matthew the disciple and his tax collector friends we see a man who was rejected and despised by society and religious people everywhere and yet Jesus invited Matthew. When Matthew left everything and followed Jesus he threw Him a party and droves of tax collectors and sinners showed up. These men (and women) who were rejected by every other rabbi and religious person, wanted to be with this unorthodox rabbi named Jesus. While these "sinners" are rejected by and in turn reject religious people they are attracted to Jesus. And Jesus had the audacity to sit, eat, and befriend these rejected people- not because he has a goal of checking another one off the list, but because He loves them. At Capital Vineyard we are trying to create an environment full of grace and Jesus where rejected outsiders want to be, and feel comfortable while Jesus is calling them.
Easter is the biggest party of the year, and You Are Invited! Jesus is inviting you to a new understanding of who He is and why He came. Often we are blinded to Him and His work because of our own expectations of who God is. The day of His resurrection was the day that two of his followers saw Him for who He truly was. This Easter can be that day for you too!
From the Junk Drawer- Daniel Rogers brings us a word about the significance of scripture in our lives and how memorizing it can be helpful in our daily walk.
Jonah ran from the opportunity that God gave him to participate in the work of His kingdom. If God knows all things, He knew Jonah would run. Why then did God still choose Jonah?
This week as we wrap up the Next Steps series, let's look at what it means to miss a step and ask the question, "where do we go from here?"
1 John 1:5-10
Often light and dark are ways we refer to good and evil or purity and sin. In 1 John however, a better understanding of what John is writing is that walking in the light is does not mean walking in good behaviors, it means walking in the knowledge that we are completely illuminated, exposed and known, by God and yet we are fully accepted and loved in Christ.
Jesus healed a paralyzed man in two different ways...and the first way didn't meet the need that brought the man into the house...Do you sometimes feel like Jesus has said "your sins are forgiven" but still find yourself lying on the floor wondering if He's forgotten your other needs? Our God has the power and authority to forgive our sins and make us new. He also has the power and authority to heal our bodies, minds, and families. After all, which is easier...Let's take the next step of asking for healing in your life, and expecting Him to meet that need.
Galatians 5:16-25- "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." What does it mean to live and walk by the Spirit, and what is the alternative? Paul's statement in v. 25 would suggest that it is possible to live by the Spirit but walk by, or according, to the flesh. Does this mean we have a duel and split personality within us? Do we have the Spirit of God in us, while also battling a flesh nature? Scripture would say no. When we are born again, and born by the Spirit we live by the Spirit. "The flesh", then is no longer in us...but even when we live by the Spirit, the temptation still exists to walk by the flesh...
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called... That sounds like an instruction to live up the standard we have attained in Christ... Looking at Ephesians 4:1 more closely we find that's not at all what Paul is instructing the church in Ephesus. We discover that what he is asking is that the church relate to one another on the basis of the grace (the calling or invitation) shown to each one which has already been given a new name and identity ("you have been called"). Treating one another based on our individual identities in Christ rather than based on performance, is a next step to recognizing the truth of your own identity in Christ.
Being honest and vulnerable about how life is going at the moment is scary, but it is the only way to have real relationships with other people. If we are going to be a family within the church then we are going to have to invite one another into our lives.
This week we look at Matthew 12 and a scripture that often gets broken up into several different parts. But when we do that, we risk taking scripture out of context and coming to wrong conclusions. Looking at the entirety of Matthew 12:22-37 we get an accurate picture of what Jesus is describing when he mentions the strong man and plundering his house, blaspheming the Spirit, good and bad trees with good and bad fruit, and being justified or condemned by the words that we speak...
What we discover when we look at all of this in context is that Jesus is addressing the entire reason he came- to rid us of our sin nature and restore us to a nature filled with the Spirit of God. In other, words, He makes those who would gather to Him willingly right again, and free from the kingdom of the enemy.
Our mission statement at CVCC is summed up in three words. Grace. Family. Mission. These three ideas also happen to be concentric circles of how we see grace permeating our church culture. As I begin to understand grace and righteousness for me, I can begin to see that the same grace and righteousness applies to those in my church family, and when we as a family begin to make that our identity, we can begin to operate with that mission in our community. The "mission" part of our church identity within our community will flow naturally out of our "grace" and "family" identity, when we truly being to operate as a place of grace and safety.
In Me. Then In You. As we relate to other people in the church (our neighbors), we will view and treat them in the way we think God views us and treats us. If we view God as treating us with condemnation, we will treat those in the church with condemnation. If however, we can see that God has justified and made us right through the work of Jesus alone and not based on our performance, we can begin to see those around us in the church with a similar view. If I can grasp grace for me, I can begin to grasp grace for you.
Our faith comes in a not so logical progression: Heart, then mind. We believe what God says about us is true even when it doesn't make sense in our minds.
The Vertical and the Horizontal. Relationship with God and then everything else. It's important that we get this order right. Under the old covenant the law was all about the horizontal and getting the horizontal right in order to establish and maintain right relationship with God...Jesus flipped that process on its head and said that the vertical and relationship with God comes first, and that through that our lives on the horizontal would begin to be changed. Most people (even believers) still live in the old way, trying to do enough in the horizontal to get and stay right with God in the vertical. But doing the horizontal never adds anything to the vertical. Any vertical relationship to God is only established by the work of Jesus on the cross, and because it is established by Jesus and only Jesus our vertical relationship is kept by Jesus as his work has never changed.
If we see our relationship to God as depending on anything we do in the horizontal, it will determine how we THINK God feels about us and sees us. And that will all depend on our performance.
Capital Vineyard is moving on! This Sunday was the last service we will ever meet in our current building. Next week we will be meeting at our new location on Twilight Trail. Our old building has a lot of history in it, both good and bad. But from here we are moving on and moving forward into what the calling that God has placed on our church. The physical move is just the first step for the new day at Capital Vineyard.
Mary's story is pretty much the Christmas story. We don't have any other background information about her, and yet when the angel greets her she is called "Favored One". What does it mean to be favored? What has Mary done to be favored? What does this tell us about our savior about to be born?
We've all heard a sermon on David and Bathsheba, just usually not at Christmas. So what is there to learn from Bathsheba being included in the genealogy of Jesus? Bathsheba's experience with her King is not exactly a story we want to remember when we talk about Jesus as our coming king. But Jesus is a king, and is unlike any other king on earth. Other kings take, Jesus gives. Other kings are proud, Jesus came humbly. Other kings are focused on themselves and their needs, but Jesus came only thinking of you. He is King and He is inviting you to join him in his kingdom.
When we look at the book of Ruth we often focus on the faithfulness of Ruth to her mother in law, or the Boaz' generous response to the young widow, as models for our behavior. But what if this story reveals to us more than just some moral characteristics that we should try and imitate? What if Holy Spirit included the story of Ruth and Boaz in the genealogy of Jesus because in it we can see different levels of relationship with our God and we can see that in this coming savior Jesus Christ about to be born, God is revealing that he wants us to be more than His servants, that he is actually offering us sonship? This week we follow the journey of Ruth to discover that God is offering us more!
Rahab was an unmarried woman, with no family of her own, a gentile citizen of Jericho, and a prostitute. As an enemy of God her future only included death along with all of Jericho. Rahab's only hope was to recognize the Lord God was her salvation, and when she made that decision she was no longer the same anymore. Every single person on the planet has that same decision in front of us. What's your decision?
Entering into Christmas the focus is rightly on the birth of our Savior, but in our hurry to get to that event or even the story of the birth of Jesus we skip over some significant scripture. It might not be very interesting to read on the surface, but the genealogy recorded in Matthew chapter 1 holds some pretty unexpected names. Where Matthew notes that so and so was the son of so and so "by _______" we must pay attention. There are some very significant stories packed into those two words. This season we unpack the stories of these 5 women that are included in the family tree of Jesus starting off with a doozie! What's the deal with Tamar?
In the last message of our Uncluttered series we explore the idea that our lives become cluttered when we carry emotional baggage from old wounds into our relationships with people and with God. In order to walk in the healing that God has accomplished for us in Christ, we need to set down the baggage that is not ours and walk in freedom.
An uncluttered life is a life that is lived in the present moment, trusting God's future. This week we look at Luke 10 and John 12 to find accounts of Mary living the "good part". What's the good part? Actually living our lives and being present in the moment and being present with the people we share these moments with.
In this series we are exploring some of the reasons we clutter our lives with so many things. One of the primary reasons we clutter is because we tend to seek out approval, both from people and from God. But the reality of your righteousness in Christ means you have his approval. The need to add more and do more hoping to one day make him proud, doesn't exist anymore in the New Covenant and when we realize we already have the approval of the Almighty King of the Universe- our need for approval from other people dies out pretty quickly. Unclutter your life of the "doing" for righteousness, and enjoy already "being" made right in Him.
In Joshua 316 Israel finally crossed the Jordan into the land that God had promised them-The Promised Land. We often find Israel as a symbol or metaphor for those of us who walk with Christ. So what is our promised land, what is the wilderness, and what is the Jordan river; that final barrier that stands between us and living in what God has promised us?
Jeremy West brings us a little gem from Jeremiah 316, reminding us that the Old Covenant and that way of relating to God is gone...we won't miss it, and it won't ever be that way again.
Paul writes to Timothy that all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable. What scripture is inspired? What does inspired mean? And What does he mean that scripture is profitable for the believer? It might not mean what you've always thought it means!
1 John 316 tells us that we know love because Jesus laid down his life for us...but what does that actually tell us, and what does it mean that we should love and care for one another in that same way?
1 Corinthians tells us that as believers we not only have the Holy Spirit in us individually, but also that the Holy Spirit dwells in us corporately! What a beautiful image to have not only be filled with the Spirit, but also surrounded by the Spirit who dwells in our brothers and sister in Christ.
When we read a verse like Philippians 3:16 we often contorted in our minds into a "you better live up the standard, or else" kind of a scripture. But when we read all of Phil. 3 through the understanding of grace, we can realize that this verse is really about living out of who God has already made us to be in Christ.
Daniel Rogers shares from Daniel 3:16 encouraging us not to bow to the idols of public opinion and approval. Listen in for an encouraging word!
Through the Apostle John Jesus lets the church at Laodicea know that there's something going on that is not pleasing to him. Often times, this scripture gets twisted and abused, guilting genuine believers into working harder to please God becoming more spiritually self made for fear that He might spit them out. Ironically, thats exactly what Jesus finds displeasing...
So many important scriptures come in chapter 3 verse 16. In this series we will look at several of those scriptures and discover why they are so critical to our relationship with Jesus.
We tackle the most well known verse in the New Testament to start off this series. We find that God loves the world and He made a way for anyone who would trust him to do the work of salvation on the cross to experience new life in Him.
When the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 it is the first glimpse we get of what it is to have relationship with God.
In Galatians 5 Paul implores us not to go back. We have been set free from our sin nature and from law, so then remain free! Don't be set free only to pick up another bondage. When we are born again with Christ as our righteousness, we are set free from performing and hoping we do enough to please God. Rest in that truth, and be free to truly live in relationship and communion with our God who is crazy in love with us!
Building off last week's message, we expand on the idea that the real problem of a sin nature is that it destroys our relationship with God. A new framework for understanding what Jesus actually accomplished in his death and resurrection is necessary to realize we may not be living the real life that is available to us. Learning something new may mean unlearning things we've previously believed- this one may be challenging.
We are going back to school for the next couple of weeks! This series is foundational for us as a church and for you as an individual as you realize what it means to be reborn and made new in Christ (Here's a hint: it's freedom!)
Do you need a miracle right now? Daniel Rogers shares a great message about God providing for us in miraculous ways.
"Marvin K. Mooney will you please go now!" Sometimes like Marvin K. it takes us a little while to understand what God is asking us to do. But if we are going to hear the voice of God we first need to be available to Him and when He says go, we step out in obedience, regardless of whether it makes sense. And when we do follow His leading in obedience, we often find ourselves in places and doing things that we never thought possible. Its the journey that started for Simon Peter in Luke 5 with a "Because you said so" moment.
Yertle the Turtle wanted to build his kingdom bigger and bigger so that he could rule more. You could say that he was trying to increase his territory. Every single one of us who is a believer has been given a territory. The question is, Are we using that territory for the ministry that has also been given to us or are we simply seeking more territory for our own gain? In 2 Corinthians Paul is writing to some people in his "territory" addressing the ministry we've all been given. We are challenged to do the same corporately as a church and individually.
Pastor Jeremy talks this morning about Dr. Seuss' "The Sneetches". The Sneetches try to change who they are to fit in, but they can only change the outer appearance by putting a star on their bellies. Even then they are still Sneetches. It takes more than outer change to become something new...it takes a change that only God can make.
Hebrews 12 describes the New Covenant by contrasting Mt. Sinai with Mt. Zion. We have not come to a mountain of fear and separation. We have come to a mountain of joy and freedom!
Gertrude McFuzz was a bird who wasn't happy with who she was. She thought she needed to be more. She thought she needed to be different, but realized that she was happiest as she was created to be. Sometimes God calls us to things that we think don't fit us and we think we need to become someone we are not in order to accomplish what God wants to do. But God always knows who He is calling and what He has in mind to accomplish. The story of Gideon illustrates perfectly God's call on someone who thought they weren't qualified for the job.
Horton the elephant was faithful 100%. There are a lot of stories in scripture of faithful men and women of God but none is 100%. Fortunately God is not depending on us in order for him to be faithful. Our God always 100% faithful to what he says. Check out week 1 in Summer of Seuss.
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20
In Ephesians 6 Paul gives some instructions for parents and children to have a successful relationship. This is not a guarantee or a fool proof formula, but it does give some direction an indication of how to fulfill the primary purpose of the family unit.
Remembering who we once were- reminds us that we are no long what we once were. And knowing that the only thing that made that change was Jesus should give us new eyes for the world around us.
Slavery in Rome in the time that Paul writes his letter to the Ephesians was a given- and something that everyone understood and even some within the church had first hand experience. Paul gives instructions to slaves and masters on how they should relate to one another. We may not be slaves or slave owners, but we do have relationships at work where we are under the authority or in positions of authority over other people. Work relationships can difficult, but work can also be a mission field ripe with the opportunity to take ground for the Kingdom of God.
Daniel Rogers shares this week on marriage relationships. Serving and submitting to one another as we do to Christ. Marriage can be difficult but it doesn't have to be!
Relationships are a war zone. As we look at the book of Ephesians we understand that Paul is writing about all kinds of relationships. In light of that, he lists the Armor of God for us to put on as we enter into the battle. Dressed with the armor of God we at least stand a chance in this spiritual battle that is taking place as we relate to the people around us. The war is happening whether we want to be involved in it or not. We need to be dressed for W.A.R.
This week we take a bit of a side road to talk about Mother's Day, but we do it through the lens of RE(al) Life. Motherhood doesn't always look like that ideal image we see in our minds, but we can know that there is a family we belong to because of the choices God has made about us.
Our journey with Christ starts at Rebirth, but then what? God wants to continue to work in our lives in order to continue shaping us into his image. We are born as spiritual infants and God wants to work in us to grow us into maturity.
Week 2 of "RE(al) LIFE" has us looking into the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus from John chapter 3.
Do you want REAL Life? It's only found through Jesus and because of the resurrection.
In the desperation of the days after Jesus was crucified Mary Magdalene was searching for something. Only, she was looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. What she was looking for was a resurrected and living Jesus even if she didn't know that's what she really needed. But that all changed when he called her name.
Is He calling yours?
On the week before Easter, Pastor Jeremy brings a word about finding our identity in Jesus.
This week we dive into Luke chapter 7 to see how two different individuals approach and interact with Jesus on the same occasion.
When the group of individual "me's" decides to be a "we" within the church the impact for the Kingdom of God grows exponentially.
We were made for something greater than living for ourselves- we were made for relationship with God. When we begin to understand what a relationship with Jesus means, we can begin to "Live out of something greater than me."
Some subjects may be more taboo in specific churches. Church hurt is one that applies to us. Listen in as we talk about why church hurt happens and how we should handle it when things go sour.
Episode note: Recording for this message started about 5 mins into the sermon. The main scripture source was from Matthew 22
This week our Youth Pastor Jeremy West brings the message on the Vineyard Distinctive "Faith is spelled R-I-S-K".