Vintage Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Vintage Church
Welcome to the Vintage Church Podcast. Each week one of our pastors opens the word of God in hopes to build your faith with a relevant and biblical teaching. To learn more visit our website at https://vintagechurch.net or download the Vintage App. To financially support the ministry of Vintage Church, click here: http://vintagechurch.net/give
There is a moment in the story of the early church that seems drastic. Two people suffer serious consequences. This story has often been misrepresented and misused. Ananias and Sapphira were not lacking generosity, they lacked honesty. Their misrepresentation of an offering cost them their lives. They were insincere. Sincerity matters to God. Faith can’t be faked because God can’t be fooled.
On the other side of the resurrection, Jesus spent intentional time with his followers. Before ascending back to heaven, he gathered them on a mountain and gave them their mission. A mission that would be impossible without the help of the “advocate” he promised. Ten days later, the Spirit came down, and they went out. Peter preached the gospel and the church was born. How and when this all unfolded matters!
Between the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus, he spent weeks gathering back his disciples. They would have a significant assignment and Jesus very intentionally sought to prepare them for it. Peter was still sitting in the shame and guilt of his denial. On the other side of that failure, Jesus so beautifully calls him back and reminds him of his purpose.
So much of what Jesus said and did made little sense in real-time. His followers were often confused and unable to comprehend Jesus’s message. It wasn’t until the other side of the cross, after he rose, that things began to make sense. After he rose, Jesus spent time making sure they fully understood what they had just seen. They were to be his witnesses. To carry the gospel, his followers need to do more than just believe that it happened. They needed to understand why it had to happen.
Jesus frequently communicated what he had to do. Despite the many times, he told his disciples that he must be handed over to die and rise again on the third day, his followers still managed to misunderstand. Following his brutal death, it seems no one expected him to return. They thought it was over. But it wasn’t. A group of women, arriving at the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body, make a discovery that would change the world. He is risen! Just as he said!
When Luke opens his gospel, he makes his intentions very clear. His desire is to solidify the faith of a dear friend. Every story Luke shares points to the reality of who Jesus is, and what he has to offer. As you read about the miracles of Jesus you get a vision of him as teacher, protector, healer, and deliverer. But for him to be any and all of this, you must first accept him as savior.
We continue to look at the life of Jesus through the lens of Luke’s gospel. As we lean into the greatest story ever told we see Jesus say things that challenge and do things that confuse. The responses he got in real-time are not unlike the responses he gets today. We must decide for ourselves what we will do with what Jesus says and does. How we respond will always be shaped by who we believe he is. Our hope is that you become convinced he is the Messiah and respond with authentic worship. We see one woman do just that in Part 3 of “Out of Nazareth”.
As Luke tells the story of Jesus, he records very different reactions to his ministry. There are some who are constantly offended by what Jesus says and does. So much so that they seek to push him away and eventually plot to end his life. However, there are others that know they are in need of something different. They see Jesus for who he is and all he has to offer. They plead with him to stay.
As we move toward Easter, we open up Luke’s account of the life of Jesus. It is apparent in the first few pages of his narrative that he desires to make one thing very clear. Jesus came to rescue anyone and everyone would see him for who he is! Luke records a pivotal event in Jesus’ story. He writes of a crucial moment when Jesus sits in the synagogue of his hometown, opens the scroll of Isaiah, and declares his intentions.
Followers of Jesus will walk different paths on their journey of faith, but the same fruit should be present in the lives of each one. Each fruit is needed and beneficial for following, but perhaps the fruit of faithfulness is most vital in pleasing God. Jesus puts a high value on faith - more than believing, more than knowing, but completely trusting in Him. In this message we learn what faithfulness means and how we practice it.
The goodness of God is that we are God’s handiwork and are therefore capable and called to do good in the world. It’s difficult to let goodness grow in us and be shown through us when we are weighed down by sin and feelings of defeat. Thankfully, that goodness isn’t dependent on us doing better, but only by being closer to Jesus. God makes good possible - let’s change the world through the goodness of God!
You cannot be an unkind Christian - it is not a thing. Salvation is the starting point of a lifetime of being transformed in the likeness of Jesus. When we decide daily to be more like him, we begin to see evidence or fruit of this new life. One of the qualities of this fruit is kindness. Our flesh is naturally selfish and selfishness is the enemy of kindness. Let’s be a people who intentionally uproots selfishness so that we can unleash God’s kindness in the world.
The fruit of the Spirit cannot be faked or forced. These qualities and characteristics come only from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. John 15 reminds us that if we remain in Jesus then we will bear much fruit. In this same passage, Jesus shares with us that remaining in him will also make our joy complete. It is refreshing and encouraging to know that not only is the Father is deeply concerned with our joy, but that he has made a way for us to experience it. Regardless of our circumstantial position, a Jesus-fixed perspective will bring true joy.
Join us as Pastor Matt Smith shares part 1 of a new series we are calling, “Fruitful”.
In this new series, we are attentively walking through each of the fruits of the Spirit that Paul outlines in Galatians 5. Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are not by-products of our circumstances, but the outpouring of one who loves God and is led by the Spirit.
The first of these fruits is love - a word we over-use & misuse to cover everything from Chick-Fil-A sauce to our spouse. More than just a shortcoming of the English language, our misunderstanding and misapplication of love is a result of not fully understanding and accepting God’s great love for us. The love that a follower of Jesus demonstrates to the world should and must look different than any other love encountered on earth.
Join us as Pastor Matt Smith shares part 5 of our series “Plain & Simple”.
During this series, and throughout the letter to the Galatians, we’ve learned that the way to God isn’t through a hoop, it’s only through Jesus. Paul essentially tells the believers that you are wasting your time and God’s grace if you spend your life trying to do the work that Jesus has already completed for you. When we accept the grace of the Gospel, we will find freedom. Paul emphasizes that the fruit of this freedom should be evident, not as a hoop to jump through, but as the result of a love-driven relationship with Jesus. So how do we cultivate Fruit of the Spirit and not be driven by the desires of the flesh? By being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)
Join us as Pastor Matt Smith shares part 4 of our series “Plain & Simple”.
In chapter five of Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, we see a challenge from Paul to live in freedom rather than to continue to be held in the yoke of slavery.
We are free to live in a relationship with Jesus and freedom comes with obeying His commands. Don’t misuse or abuse that freedom to uplift your own ego and desires. Just as Paul teaches, I have the right to do anything but not everything is beneficial. Simply having the freedom to do something doesn’t mean you should do it.
All things are made new by Christ - the God who raised Christ from the dead has the power to free you from whatever you are struggling to break free from. Freedom isn’t found living with independence, but it is found by living in dependence on God.
Join us as Pastor Matt Smith shares part 3 of our series “Plain & Simple”.
In chapter three of Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, he is trying to convey a very straightforward message: the plain and simple gospel. Sometimes we overcomplicate things, this especially applies to our faith today. It was also an issue for the early church, hence Paul’s need to address this issue here in Galatians 3. In this passage is a very clear message. We did nothing to earn salvation, it is a free gift. However, sometimes we live with fear and anxiety that we will risk our relationship with God if we don’t jump through the right hoops. The beauty of this passage is in Paul’s presentation of God’s gift as a desire for a relationship with His children motivated by love.
Join us as Pastor Matt Smith shares part 2 of our series “Plain & Simple”.
The apostle Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia to call attention to the areas that need correction and recalibration. These Gentile believers were being burdened by the practices of Jewish law - hoops that were unnecessary and hindering people from knowing Jesus. When Peter engaged with the Gentiles, he was warm, welcoming, and friendly, but when his Jewish counterparts were in town, Peter would separate himself from the Gentiles because he feared what these Jewish people might think of him. Paul is outraged by this hypocrisy and opposes Peter to his face. Hypocrisy is dangerous and contagious. We need to ruthlessly eliminate the spirit of hypocrisy from the Church, which means we need to be honest about what it looks like.
Join us for part 1 of a brand new series we are calling “Plain & Simple”.
Much like us, or people we know, the Apostle Paul was not always passionately focused on the Gospel. Before he had an encounter with Jesus, Paul valued the religious traditions and wanted to keep Jesus from affecting those traditions. But when Paul was confronted by the risen Jesus, his world was changed and his focus centered only on Jesus. He would later write to the church at Galatia and confront them for their departure from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This time, however, people were adding old religious traditions to Jesus. Paul wanted to make it plain & simple: Jesus plus anything is nothing and Jesus plus nothing is everything!
Join us for part 2 of Salt and Light. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus covered so much but he began by listing the attributes of those who are blessed. Then Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth” (those whom He was describing as blessed). By being the salt of the earth, we have the opportunity to have influence over others. We can leverage our influence to advance His kingdom (like Jesus did when He met with Zacchaeus). Your circle of influence may feel small but it is not insignificant. We can’t advance the kingdom if we avoid the lost. We must earn trust, then speak truth. The influence you earn opens the door for the truth you know.
Join us for part one of a new series called “Salt and Light”. In Part 1, Pastor Matt Smith, unpacks the importance of our influence, challenging us to protect it and leverage it to build God’s kingdom.
Join us for part 7 of our series, “Win Within”. This week Pastor Matt Smith leans back into part of King David’s story. We watch as on the other side of sin David chooses concealment over confession. This is a dangerous pattern than many of us choose. But there is a better way. No matter how great the failure there is a way forward. And it starts with confession.
As we extend our series, “Win Within”, Pastor Matt Smith moves us into a look at one of the most epic failures in all of scripture. King David is known as “a man after God’s own heart”, yet somehow found himself in a series of sinful decisions. How? How did someone so faithful do something so foolish?
Throughout our lives we experience things that inflict wounds. Those wounds create a gap that only God’s grace can close. If we don’t find healing, in those gaps, bitterness will grow. When bitterness takes root it turns us into people we never thought we could be. Join us for part 4 of “Win Within” as Pastor Matt Smith walks us through more of Saul’s story, helping us to unroot any measure of bitterness in our lives.
Throughout our lives we experience things that inflict wounds. Those wounds create a gap that only God’s grace can close. If we don’t find healing, in those gaps, bitterness will grow. When bitterness takes root it turns us into people we never thought we could be. Join us for part 4 of “Win Within” as Pastor Matt Smith walks us through more of Saul’s story, helping us to unroot any measure of bitterness in our lives.
We have decided 2021 will be the year we finally get out of our own way. Slaying the enemy within is not easy, but with God’s help, it’s possible. In part 3 of our series, “Win Within”, we continue to identify and overcome the weapons of self-destruction. Looking at the life of Saul, Israel’s first king, we learn valuable lessons and the danger of envy. Join us as we seek to break the cycle of self sabotage.
In Part 2 of our series, “Win Within”, we continue to learn how to avoid the traps of self-sabotage. Identifying the weapons of self-destruction is key to getting out of our way and moving toward the life God desires for us. In a message entitled, “The Intention Deficit”, we dive once again into 1 Samuel and learn from the life of Saul. Join us as we learn some vital principles to overcoming our mistakes and finding a way to end the cycle of disobedience.
Success in life is often most determined by winning the battle within. It’s the internal war not the external battles that most shape our lives. We are far too often victims of our own negative emotions. How the year ahead will shape out is much more about us than them. It’s much more about what’s happening in us than around us.
King Saul is the perfect example of self-destruction. He had been chosen by God to be king over Israel, yet early on in his reign he developed attitudes and made decisions that would eventually cut his reign as king short. Like, Saul, we are often our own worst enemy. We just can’t get out of our own way. We miss out on the fullness of God because of our own unwillingness to recognize our shortcomings. In this series, we will look at 5 attitudes/actions that ended Saul and learn how we can avoid those in our own lives.
Impatience will often cause us to do the right things at the wrong times. We let circumstances drive our decisions instead of obedience to God. We act by what we see instead of what God has said. How do we avoid that? Through clarity and courage. We have to learn to wait. Join us for Part 1 of “Win Within” where we learn how to stay patient through the pressure.
In Part 7 of our annual Live.Love. series, Pastor Matt Smith continues to unpack the four pieces of the vision of Vintage Church. The church is more than just a place to sit in, it is a people to serve with. Vintage deeply believes the ministry of God’s church is the responsibility of all of God’s people. That is why we create an opportunity for everyone to discover and deploy their God-given gifts, serving the church, and advancing His mission.
The church can’t just know it’s mission, it has to find a vision that accomplishes it. At Vintage Church we accomplish our mission by creating four things that we believe have the potential to inspire people to live and love like Jesus. In Part 6 of Live Love 2020, Pastor Matt Smith unpacks the second piece of that vision. He challenges us to move beyond the weekend worship gathering and moving to a group. Join us as we unpack the value of getting out of rows and into circles.
In Part 5 of our annual Live Love series, Pastor Matt Smith begins to unpack the vision that accomplishes the mission. At Vintage Church there are four things we hope to create in order to inspire people to live and love like Jesus. We deeply believe if people will engage in all of these things, the result will be people consistently living out their faith. Join us as we dive into the vision behind the gathering.
Jesus made it very clear why we do church but left a lot of room for us to figure out how. He knew that how we would accomplish his mission would need to be different from generation to generation. It’s up to us to find a vision that makes the mission happen. It’s this reality that has created tension in the church. Everyone has a vision for how the church should accomplish its mission. Often that vision is driven by personal preferences instead of a set of priorities rooted in biblical principles. At Vintage, we have a set of core values that serves to funnel our fluid vision to be sure it constantly flows in the right direction. Join us as Pastor Matt Smith unpacks those values in part 4 of Live Love 2020.
“Rigid and Fluid“ (10.18.20) In Acts 15 the church faces one of the most pivotal moments in its history. They have to determine where the church must be rigid and where it can be fluid. The tension between what’s essential and what’s non-essential has been one that has divided the church ever since. There are things that are essential, and on those things we must be rigid. There are things that are non-essential, and on those things we can be fluid. However, we have to make sure that we put the right things in the right bucket. Join us for part 3 of LiveLove as Pastor Matt Smith walks us through the essentials of Vintage Church known as our core values.
“Identity through Adversity“ (10.11.20) As you walk through the book of Acts you get a glimpse into the early days of the church. There you quickly find that the church had to endure adversity from the onset. There have always been obstacles to overcome if the church was to survive. In part 2 of LiveLove 2020, Pastor Matt Smith reminds of what must matter most for the church to endure for decades to come.
“This One Thing“ (10.04.20) Inspiring people to live and live like Jesus is not the moto of an organization, it is the mission of everyone who calls Vintage Church home. Every year we carve out time to remember our “why”. Live.Love. is not just a series, it is the essence of who we are as a church. In part one, Pastor Matt Smith, shares his story, and how Vintage was birthed in his heart. As he shares, we are reminded of the beauty of God’s church and where mission is really measured.
We have spent the summer on a journey through the Gospel of John. In this final installment we dive into John’s reflection on Jesus’ death and resurrection. With his own eyes John saw Jesus willingly die and triumphantly rise again. These events are the cornerstone of our faith. God gave up his son that we may have life. Our debt has been paid, death has been defeated, and now we have the opportunity to live in relationship with our creator. Lean in as Pastor Matt Smith walks us through John’s account of these powerful moments.
Jesus knew difficult days were ahead. His first follower would have their faith in him pushed to the edge. So he leverages these final moments to preach to them and pray for them. Jesus prayed for his disciples and the ones who would believe in him through their testimony. In other words, Jesus prayed for US! Because he knew it would be just as challenging for us to remain faithful as it was for them.
This prayer revealed Jesus's heart and hope for his church so that all people would come to believe and trust in him. The message from Vintage Church this week unpacks what Jesus prayed for you and me.
We are in a season of disruption. We all feel out of rhythm. Most of our routines have been wrecked. We can no longer depend on “normal” things to keep us connected to Jesus and strong in our faith. But Jesus made it very clear: apart from him, without intimacy with him, we could do nothing of any significance.
This message from Matt Smith is packed with challenging and actionable ways to remain in constant, intentional relationship with Jesus so that we can experience the fruit of living and loving like Him even when life is full of the unexpected.
Judas hoped for a messiah, a king, a revolution, and restoration for Israel. His hope was in an outcome and when Jesus didn't fit the mould of his idea of what a king should be, Judas sold him out for the price of a slave. We are quick to criticize and condemn Judas for this betrayal, but we are guilty of doubting or turning our back on Jesus when he doesn't meet our self-created expectations of what a Savior should do. It is vital that we understand who Jesus through the lens of scripture so that we do not misunderstand what he is doing in our circumstances.
In the span of two days, Jesus is worshipped by Mary at His feet and adoring crowds lining the streets. The crowds would soon demand for his crucifixion, but the one who served at his feet would be honored forever. Jesus tells his disciples that following him requires sacrifice: a loss of one’s status, position, possessions, even one’s very life. Many will believe, but love their own life too much to confess his name. Some will believe and worship, but only alongside a crowd. Few will give everything they have to serve at his feet.
The tension of our faith lies in the space between what we know God can do and what we experience him not do. We know Jesus raised people from the dead but also allowed John the Baptist to be beheaded. We doubt God when we see him doing for everyone else what we wish he would do for us.
As believers, we must continually address this tension so that instead of being prisoners of our momentary struggles, our hearts are open to the greater story that God is writing in our lives.
In His explanation of the Good Shepherd, Jesus lays out what He has succeeded in doing that which we could not accomplish on our own. Being the “under shepherds,” we have frequently failed in pointing people to a full relationship with the Father. Becoming a living example to us, Jesus shows us how to live and love, and enter into relationship with the Father. The Good Shepherd is dedicated to His sheep; we must become dependent on Him.
The disciples witnessed Jesus walking on water, mere hours after he multiplied meager provisions to feed bread and fish to thousands, and, not recognizing or expecting him, the disciples were full of fear. This is the work every disciple must do: learn to recognize, expect, and trust Jesus, so that in the face of hard times, we don't let the uncomfortable and uncertain overshadow what we know to be undeniable.
The story of the woman at the well is one we often read through the lens of our own experience, culture, and judgement. In this message, we take a step back and consider this story through the lens of what we know to be true about Jesus. A Samaritan woman, wrecked by rejection and shame, meets Jesus: the One who knows us best and loves us most. God redeems the rejected and we watch their stories spark revival.
What are you consuming? Whether we realize it or not, what we consume impacts the way we live our lives. When life squeezes us like a sponge, what we have been taking in will inevitably pour out. Filling ourselves up with more of Jesus will pour out more blessing and servitude into the lives of others. Pastor Matt preaches from the account of Nicodemus, told in the Gospel of John. In essence, we learn three things: Believe, Receive, Become. We believe we need something we don’t have, receive something we cannot buy, and become children of God. All freely given to us by Jesus Christ.
In the aftermath of uncertainty, there is a heightened sense of anxiety. Yet, Paul outlines a way to overcome these anxious thoughts: prayer. Powerful prayer is productive and serves as an act of humility, bringing our needs to God knowing He can handle things we cannot. The peace Jesus has to offer orients our minds to be set on Him, rather than our troubles. When our aim is contentment rather than control, Jesus shows up in astounding ways.
In the aftermath of uncertainty, there is a loss of security. Uncertainty can breed insecurity. Insecurity spreads like wildfire into every corner of your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions. Insecurity is a symptom of a misplaced identity. At every turn, the world gives us a label, but even the best labels are unreliable as a means of living and loving like Jesus. Why settle for a label when God is offering an identity?
The greatest threat to the movement of God is division within the people of God. The key to unity within the body is an abundance of sincere humility.
Paul, after his experience on the road to Damascus becomes a dedicated Christ follower and proclaimer. Obedient to the point of being thrown in prison, we see the importance of being aware of the Spirit: helping us to discern living in obedience versus living in defiance. Having an ear opened to Jesus can totally transform one’s life. Listening for guidance presents opportunities we may have missed otherwise. Regarding the needs of others more than our own desires will help us lead people toward Him.
In the first days of the early church, Peter and John encounter a man who was lame from birth and asking for money. They could not give the man what he was asking for, but because they were paying attention, they gave the man exactly what he needed. The movement of Jesus advances when we are willing to pay attention and respond in love to those around us. The way we respond to people and their pain should always point people to Jesus.
There is the potential for beautiful miracles in the aftermath, but it is hard to see that beauty when you're living with pain. Unhealed wounds and unaddressed trauma, big or small, recent or years ago, impedes our ability to experience abundant life in Christ. How does healing happen? Well, it begins with a person and his name is Jesus.
Shelter in place. Lockdown. Quarantine. Isolate. Distance.
The terms of the times send a continual message that we are alone, separated from people and places we need and love. Today's message reminds us that although we may feel lonely, because of God's love for us, we will never be alone.
So many become ruled by emotion. We experience things that wound us deeply... we get stuck in the emotions of the moment things begin to unravel. When we are emotionally unhealthy we make bad decisions, damage relationships, and disconnect from God. What is keeping you emotionally sick? Do you have an issue with anger? Bitterness? Depression? There is only one place to find healing. Staying connected to your Source of Peace. Let’s get honest about what’s broken, and who alone can fix it.
We rarely value our physical health until it’s threatened. We put priority on our spiritual health but often give little attention to our physical well being. Our bodies matter to God. He created them. And we should realize the connection between the physical, emotional, and spiritual. The Bible has a lot to say about our bodies and their value to God. We can turn fitness into and idol, going overboard. We can also abuse our bodies and become really unhealthy. Let’s make a commitment to improve our physical health. From the call to rest, to paying attention to what we eat, let’s answer the call to get physically healthy.
As we begin a new year, we pray first. When are you praying? What are you praying? How are you praying? Why are you praying?