242

In this conversation, Steve sits down with Brant Copen who shares some great stories from his time in India. These stories illuminate both the importance of, and lessons learned from good leadership, and move toward defining what the church is actually all about. Enjoy!

In this episode, Steve sits down with Nathan Forschler to talk about a plethora of topics, all of which center around the idea that confronting suffering, and taking risks are an essential part of a meaningful and joyful life. Hope you enjoy!

In this conversation, Steve sits down with his daughter Zoe Schenk. They talk about her time in the JROTC program in Buffalo Public Schools, and what she has learned about leadership and faith. Hope you enjoy!

In this episode Steve sits down with Jake Hannon, the Metro Area Director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Western New York. They talk about sports, passion, and vocation, and ask what it means to be wired by God for a specific purpose in the world. They also talk about freedom, discernment, and balancing God's will for our lives with the fullness of life that following him promises.

In this episode, Steve and Tamy Schenk sit down to talk about marriage. They talk about the lessons they've learned and experiences they've had managing sex, money, and children together, and share some of the communication lessons learned along the way. They also talk about why healthy marriages are important, not only to ourselves, but to the communities we find ourselves in. This is a great window into Steve and Tamy's beautiful adventure together with some valuable insight available for all of us. Enjoy!

In this final episode of our Who Are We? series Steve Schenk discusses our value for Ministry Networks. In this conversation Steve shares stories about how this value was formed in him and in the larger Christian community in Buffalo in the last fifteen years, and also talks about what makes him so excited about it.

In this conversation with Pastor Gail Schlosser we talk about our value for discipleship. What does discipleship actually look like? Rather than adding another ask on to our to-do lists, Gail encourages us that discipleship can simply be an ordinary obedience to God on a daily basis.

This week Steve sits down with Matt Kauffman, one of Buffalo Vineyard Church's pastors, as well as the director of 5 Loaves Farm, a ministry of the church that comprises nearly an acre of formerly vacant lots in our neighborhood that have been transformed into market gardens. In this conversation they talk about our value for incarnation. What does it mean to be the flesh and bone of the gospel? How do we actually live that out? Matt shares some meaningful stories from living on the West Side for the last decade, which help illustrate ways we might actually push in to the difficult work of being a good neighbor.

What do we mean by “mysticism”? In this conversation with Zach Lopez and Steve Schenk we tell stories about some of the weird and wonderful ways the Holy Spirit can move through individuals and a community. We also ask how we know a word, a feeling, or experience is from the Holy Spirit, and how do we know our community is engaging with the Holy Spirit regularly?

In this conversation with Mark Harley and Steve Schenk, we define what deliverance ministry is at the Buffalo Vineyard Church. We share personal stories and experiences, talk about some of the baggage that the term carries, and share a more holistic perspective on the role of deliverance, healing, and restoration in the Kingdom of God.

This is the second conversation in our series “Who Are We?”, where we define and discuss the core values of Buffalo Vineyard Church. In this conversation Steve Schenk and Mark Harley discuss justice and its role in our individual lives as followers of King Jesus, as well as in our communal lives as a congregation.

Welcome back to 242! In our second season we will be focusing on who we are at Buffalo Vineyard Church. In this brief introductory episode Steve Schenk and Mark Harley talk about what to expect from these conversations, and why they matter to our community in Buffalo and across Western New York.

Our inaugural podcast season has come to an end. In this quick conversation with Mark Harley, Steve briefly recaps the first season and discusses some of our ideas for a second season in 2022.We would love to hear your feedback on this first season. What did you love and what did you hate? What was meaningful to you and what could you have done without? Please send your feedback to Mark at: mark@buffalovineyard.orgThank you for journeying through this first season with us. See you in 2022.

In this conversation Steve sits down with Chuck Douglas to talk about personality and relationships. They talk about gaining tools to understand ourselves and others better, character development, and basic rules for relating to other humans. They also talk about Chuck's own pastoral formation, people's fundamental desire to be understood, and the formative power of the family of God.

What is the relationship between science and faith? In this conversation with Liane Miedema-Brown we discuss climate science and climate policy, as well as science as a tool for learning the truth. We also ask are there questions that science doesn't answer? Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how we think about science? Enjoy!

In this conversation with Elijah Shamenda we ask Is the church fundamentally tribalistic? What should be at the center of our Christian community? What should be the markers of Christian identity? What are the boundary markers of Christian community? And how important is sexual morality to Christian identity?

Why is education important? In this conversation with Kim Harley, we discuss the problems with our education system, and ask where God might be at work in them. We also talk about the role of education in the church, and how to handle students who hate school.

In this episode Steve interviews Micaela Barker, an architectural designer here in Buffalo. They discuss the joy of making things, as well as the occasional drudgery of making things. They talk about growing up in the church, and whether or not that prepares us for the intellectual challenges and spiritual formation required of adult life. Enjoy!

What is the relationship between comedy and truth? In this conversation with Drew Ludwig, a chaplain and comedian, we talk about whether comedy has to be true to be funny, the parallels with preaching and pastoring, and what comedy might teach us about grace and judgement.

Is Christian activism right or wrong? In this episode we talk about evangelicalisms relationship with faith and works, protest movements and political theatre, and how the church should be involved in the conversation.

In this episode, Mark interviews Steve about our Christian worldview. What is the world, what is God's relationship to it, and to us? How does this impact the way we live, and how does this intersect with culture?

Is it wrong to criticize the church? In this conversation with Elijah Shamenda, we talk about the ongoing Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast from Christianity Today. How do we critique out of love and a with a desire to build up? What about the real problems in the church? Are institutions important or should we deconstruct them in order to build something new? What about our commitment to the creeds? Enjoy! The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill | Christianity Today https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/

Should we encourage people to get married? In this conversation with Pastor Gail, we talk about ways the church treats singleness and marriage differently, and attempt to define both biblical manhood and womanhood. We also provide some advice to both church leaders and singles in church communities.

Should non-parents care about parenting? In this conversation with Christy Ledebur, we talk about the beautifully complex task of forming children into adults that thrive in our world. Raising good people requires risk, responsibility, and strength, and sometimes the church can both help and hurt this process.

How do we define masculinity? In this conversation with Elijah Shamenda, the Lead Pastor of Resurgence City, we talk about the Rise & Fall of Mars Hill, shifting gender norms, misogyny in biblical interpretation, raising children in an intentionally gendered way, and more.

Should the church care about ecology? In this conversation with Liane Miedema-Brown, we discuss the intersection of human flourishing with ecological care, loving our neighbors well, including plants and animals, and how the church talks about our natural world.

In this episode, Steve asks how Rebekah became involved in criminal justice reform work. Rebekah explains our criminal justice system and reveals some inherent injustices. Together they ask the questions: how do we balance mercy and justice, and how can we change things?

What are the lenses we wear when we read scripture? This week Aaron & Steve talk about the relationship between scripture and truth, and the importance of paying attention to genre when reading scripture.

What happens when our deepest held truths turn out to be wrong? In this episode Steve & Aaron talk about how to approach certainty and doubt both individually and in community.

In this episode we ask why is it so hard to have hard conversations? Why are conversations about race and politics so difficult? Is the church a force for reconciliation or division? And what does scripture have to say about reconciliation?

In this episode we continue the conversation on art and faith by digging into the ways that art is liturgical and related to worship, talking about the ways that art and film have a strong grip on our cultural imagination, and focusing on curiosity as it pertains to Christian artists.

In this inaugural episode we discuss the definition of art, Steve's "ignorance" of art and Mark's "expertise", the relationship between art and truth, the role of art in the church, and the role of the church in art.

Why is Buffalo Vineyard Church starting a podcast? Who is it for? Why is it called 242? In this quick introduction, Mark & Steve answer these questions, and welcome you to 242!