Central Vineyard Church

What if true freedom isn't something you chase—but something the Spirit gives? This week in The Familiar Stranger series, we explore The Spirit who brings freedom—not always by changing our circumstances, but by transforming us from the inside out. In a world obsessed with personal freedom yet plagued by anxiety and isolation, the Spirit invites us into a deeper kind of liberation—one rooted in the presence of Jesus. Teaching out of 2 Corinthians 3, Alisha looks at the Spirit that unveils Jesus and helps us to walk with Him daily.

Life has become so loud—notifications, headlines, conversations, distractions—that tuning in to God's voice can feel impossible. In this message, Dan gets personal about his own hearing loss, the noise that surrounds us, and the quiet whisper of the Spirit that we're so often missing. Drawing from Elijah's encounter on Mount Horeb and Jesus' words as the Good Shepherd, we explore what it means to move beyond just hearing—to truly listening, recognising, and knowing the voice of God. This sermon is a gentle invitation to step away from the noise and into stillness, where the Spirit speaks in the whisper.

Have we settled for knowing about God instead of truly knowing Him? In this Pentecost series opener, we explore how the Holy Spirit—often the most ignored member of the Trinity—isn't a force to harness, but a Person to know. Drawing from John 14 and Tyler Staton's The Familiar Stranger, we ask why the Spirit feels like a stranger to so many, and how we can begin to walk with Him as a friend. If you've ever felt distant from the Holy Spirit or unsure how to relate to Him, this first talk of the series is a gentle but powerful invitation to start again.

This Stories Sunday, we're taking a moment between series to name something beautiful God is doing in our midst: forming us more and more into an intergenerational whānau. Drawing from Joseph Hellerman's When the Church Was a Family and Jesus' redefinition of family in Mark 3, we explore the vision of church as a spiritual household — where we belong to one another across every age and stage. Alongside this reflection, we hear a collection of stories from within our community that show this vision coming to life in real and inspiring ways.

What does worship really cost us—and what does it say about who we love most? In this sermon Alisha dives into the unforgettable story of Mary and the alabaster jar, where a year's wages are poured out in a single act of extravagant devotion. She takes us through the tension between image and surrender, we explore how real worship isn't polished—it's costly. This isn't about emotional hype. It's about devotion that dares to let go of control, reputation, and safety for the sake of love.

1 Peter 2:5 offers two powerful images: we are called to be living stones and holy priests. In this message, Dan unpacks the confronting challenge in this passage—the difference between simply attending worship and actively tending to it, like a priest caring for the presence of God. In a culture steeped in consumerism, we're invited out of passive Christianity and into a participatory life of worship, where we minister, create, serve, and handle. Worship isn't something we watch—it's something we do.

Worship is both structured and spontaneous—like a classical quartet following a set score and a jazz trio freely improvising together. In this episode, we explore what it means to worship with Kingdom expectation, embracing both the known and the unknown, the planned and the Spirit-led. Through scripture, including Colossians 3:16 and the Lord's Prayer, we uncover the deep connection between worship, prayer, and expectancy. What happens when we make space for the Spirit to lead? How do we prepare for the spontaneous? Join us as we lean into a posture of faith-filled anticipation, longing for God's Kingdom to break in among us.

Worship holds a hidden power: what we behold, we become. This week, we explore the transformative nature of worship—not as a call to conformity, but to true transformation. Worship reveals the direction of our hearts and offers a space for reorientation. Join us as Donald Goodhall unpacks this theme through Psalm 115 and the lives of three men—St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and Amos—exploring what it means to behold and become.

Worship is more than just thoughts in our heads—it's love expressed through our whole selves. This week, we explore embodied worship and how our physical actions—singing, kneeling, clapping, lifting hands—are vital expressions of our love for God. Just like we naturally respond with our bodies at a concert or when holding a newborn, true worship invites us to respond fully to God's love. Join us as Rob Wiseman unpacks Psalm 95 and what it means to offer our whole selves in worship.

Worship isn't something we manufacture—it's our response to God's love. Love, Returned explores how true worship flows like 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.” We don't initiate worship; we step into what God has already begun. It's about intimacy, not performance—opening our hearts, not striving. Join us as we rediscover worship as a love story, not a task.

We conclude our "Pursuing Jesus" series, focusing on discipleship as apprenticeship. Like Peter, we are invited to come, follow, and then be shown by Jesus how to live in His Kingdom. Apprenticeship is about living towards a future-orientation of who we are becoming, requires scaffolding and curiosity. It is ultimately for joining Jesus in His work of restoring all things, becoming fruitful for others and the world.

Jesus' invitation—“Follow me”—sounds simple, but like Peter, we often don't realise what we're signing up for. In this episode, we explore what it truly means to abide in Jesus, trust Him as Saviour, and walk in friendship with Him. What are you attached to? What's shaping you? And is it producing the life you long for? Join us as we dive into John 15 and the call to a life well connected to Christ.

Jesus invites us into His Kingdom like a host inviting guests to a great feast—abundant, joyful, and open to all. But the choice to accept is ours; excuses can keep us from the table. God won't force us in, but His invitation remains: Come, I want you here. How will you respond?

Twelve years ago, Jesus invited us into something new, leading to the birth of Central Vineyard. For ten years, we've pursued Him together, learning to apprentice our lives to Him. Today, we reaffirm that calling with a fresh vision—still saying yes to His invitation. Will you come, follow Him, and let Him show you how?

Walking in the way of Jesus isn't just about belief—it's about living it out with integrity and courage. Perpetua and Felicitas embodied this, stepping into the arena with joy, unity, and unwavering faith, leaving a lasting impact on those who witnessed their sacrifice. The early church prepared for moments like these through mentors, daily habits, and deep formation. Today, we face our own arenas, and the question remains: will we walk the way of Jesus? Note: Our apologies, but the final several minutes of this sermon did not record.

This Advent season, we'll reflect on the lives of the characters from the first Christmas and examine how their encounters with God's presence can inspire and challenge our approach to Him today. This Sunday, Dan took us into the story of the Magi—the unexpected guests who arrive in the story in more ways than just their unexpected arrival with some gifts for Jesus. What can looking at these outside-the-box characters show us?

This Advent season, we'll be reflecting on the lives of the characters from the first Christmas, looking at how their encounters with God's presence can inspire and challenge how we approach Him today. This Sunday, Alisha took us into the story of Herod—a man whose encounter with God felt more like a threat than an invitation. It's a question we all have to face: when God disrupts our lives, will we resist, or will we recognize the invitation hidden in the interruption?

This Advent season, we'll be reflecting on the lives of the characters from the first Christmas, looking at how their encounters with God's presence can inspire and challenge how we approach Him today. This Sunday, Alisha spoke on one of the lesser-known characters of the first Christmas: Anna. She'll asked the question—are we recognising God's presence right in front of us, just like Anna did?

Fear and anxiety touch all of us in some way. This Sunday, guest speaker Sam Bloore opened up Psalm 27, helping us discover its wisdom and strength for our everyday lives.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This week, Alisha wrapped up the series by reminding us that God longs for us to invite Him into every part of our everyday life—more than just our big decisions or moments of crisis. He wants to be present in the ordinary, in the mundane. He wants to be with us! How might we respond?

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This week, Matt Lilly from Coast Vineyard joined us to share what James has to say about prayer. Complementing James' practical nature, Matt taught us the Vineyard Prayer Model, demonstrated how to use it and encouraged us to go and try it ourselves.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This week, Alisha looked at favouritism and how this goes against the grain of Jesus.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This Sunday Rob looked at the wisdom of James, talking on the importance of the words we speak and the power of our tongue.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This Sunday we welcomed Don Barry from Gateway Church as our guest speaker. Don highlighted a main theme from the book of James, the poor, and James' plea to us to be generous like our Father is generous.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This Sunday we explored James' question “What causes quarrels and fights among you?”, with Alisha unpacking an answer that revealed the heart of our conflicts often springs from inner chaos and distance from God.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This Sunday Donald looked at James 3:13-18 asking what is the true nature of wisdom. How can we attend to the invitation to grow in wisdom and what are the markers to living it out?

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. This Sunday Alisha looked at James 1:2-5 where James encourages us to look at trials through a different perspective—one which can reveal and produce something in us, turning them into opportunities for joy. Note: Our primary audio recording failed, so we apologise for the audio quality this week.

A series exploring the book of James and his exhortation to a lived-out faith. Today Alisha framed up the series with the reminder we see clearly in James, that we're called not just to be believers or admirers, but doers of the Word.

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. Today we finished the series by looking at the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, where Jesus' interactions collide with her presuppositions

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. We continue the series with Dan taking us to Matthew 13:33 where Jesus teaches a parable about the Kingdom being like yeast: active. subversive, slow and transformative.

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. We continue the series with Dan taking us to Matthew 7:7-8 where Jesus calls us to a prayer life that is always asking, always seeking and always knocking. So how do we do that?

Join us for a different Sunday where we hear from Scott Pollok about his trip to Ukraine, Dan and Gabrielle Sheed share about their Sabbatical and we pass on some important and exciting updates for all the Central Vineyard whānau.

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. We continue the series with Dan taking us to Romans 8:18-30 which speaks of the groaning we will all endure, and how it is tied to prayer, tears and contending for the new.

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. We continue the series with Dan taking us to the Scriptures which tell of our future glorious destiny, we explore why hope is important and what to do with the gap between the now and not-yet.

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. We begin the series with Dan taking us to the teaching of Jesus about prayer and how we are to pray for God's future.

Join us for "Contend” a series exploring how to practice life in the not-yet. We begin the series with Dan taking us to the teaching of Jesus about prayer and how we are to pray for God's future.

Join us for a special occasion where on Matariki Weekend the AKL Vineyard combined together at Central Vineyard to hear from guest speaker Ted Kim.

Join us for a special occasion where on Matariki Weekend the AKL Vineyard combined together at Central Vineyard to hear from guest speaker Ted Kim.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We conclude the series with David Christoffersen sharing a talk on how Michah 6:8 has been a core lens to his career, and how we can all partner with God to extend the Kingdom of God right where we are on Monday.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We conclude the series with David Christoffersen sharing a talk on how Michah 6:8 has been a core lens to his career, and how we can all partner with God to extend the Kingdom of God right where we are on Monday.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We continue the series with Rob Wiseman sharing about his everyday life as a teacher and how this is his space - like so many of us - to be Jesus to the world in his everyday life.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We continue the series with Rob Wiseman sharing about his everyday life as a teacher and how this is his space - like so many of us - to be Jesus to the world in his everyday life.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We continue the series with guest Alanna Chapman telling us the story of 27seconds Wine, sharing her journey of what it has looked like to turn a deeply compassionate encounter into entrepreneurship and create a wine brand that supports the work of ending sex trafficking.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We continue the series with guest Alanna Chapman telling us the story of 27seconds Wine, sharing her journey of what it has looked like to turn a deeply compassionate encounter into entrepreneurship and create a wine brand that supports the work of ending sex trafficking.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We continue the series with Dan interviewing Scott Pollok about his upcoming trip to Ukraine; we hear the whole story from the early formation of compassion, to the beginning of partnership.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. We continue the series with Dan interviewing Scott Pollok about his upcoming trip to Ukraine; we hear the whole story from the early formation of compassion, to the beginning of partnership.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. Alisha continues the series by telling her own roller-coaster story of proximity and sharing on the example of Jesus.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. Alisha continues the series by telling her own roller-coaster story of proximity and sharing on the example of Jesus.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. Dan continues the series by looking at how secular activism is trying to solve the world in secular ways, but how Pentecost reminds us we have a crucial distinction: we are people empowered by the Spirit and have been anointed in the power of love to serve the world in love.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. Dan continues the series by looking at how secular activism is trying to solve the world in secular ways, but how Pentecost reminds us we have a crucial distinction: we are people empowered by the Spirit and have been anointed in the power of love to serve the world in love.

Join us for "Living Outward” a series exploring mission. Dan continues the series by looking at the mission of ministry, what ministry is, and how we are all called to be compassionate ministers.