Podcast of Grace Christian Church of Tinton Falls, NJ
Think about some of the best gifts you've ever received. But imagine how different your life would be if you never took the time to unwrap, open, and enjoy them? Come join us as we put a bow on our summer series - The Gift of a Sacred Summer as we review all of the gifts that were offered and the value that each has in our lives if only we took the time to engage and enjoy them. - Vincent Rife
We suffer today, not so much from our inability to agree as much as our inability to, peacefully and respectfully, disagree. Unfortunately, opposing opinions seem to threaten us. We feel judged & disrespected when others do not align with us, and instead of considering other's views with an open mind, we often set out to prove just how wrong they are. If you are tired of living in such a charged culture and would like to find some common ground with those who think differently than you, come join us as we learn how to separate people's ideas from their identities & become open to unwrapping the gift of respectful disagreement.
What do you typically do when you are faced with a significant loss and you are overwhelmed with sadness? How do you grieve your losses and those things that cause you extreme pain? Honestly, most of us are not great students in the art of grieving. But what if we became so? Come join us as we look at how to unwrap and engage the gift of grieving in ways that are healing and redemptive to our souls.
Pablo Picasso once said that all children are born artists. But our problem is that somewhere along the way we forget who we are. We don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Come join us as we rediscover the joy of remembering who we are and what we were made to do. - Vincent Rife
If you find yourself focused on things that are stealing your joy, robbing your sleep, and shrinking your soul, this message will provide you with a new lens through which to look and rediscover the gift of today and the blessings all around you for which the only appropriate response is gratitude.
The Psalmist tells us that God's creation proclaims his glory. That when we look at nature, somehow in some profound way it speaks to us about who God is without ever even saying a word. The trees, the fields, the mountains, the heavens, the seas, the sun, the moon, the stars, and so much more. How is it that this happens? Come join us as we invite you to connect in a more personal and meaningful way with God through the practice of both enjoying and caring for the natural world around you. - Vincent Rife
This week we will be looking at the Gift of Rest and how it is written into the DNA of creation. We will examine our lives and intentionally turn aside to remember who we are, what we know, and to taste the gifts of God and all eternity. - Vincent Rife
Your life is more than random, disconnected events. It's a story being written. Whether it's a thoughtful response or an emotionally fueled reaction, we write the stories of our lives one decision at a time. Discover what question you can ask before making important decisions that will help you to write the best story. - Vincent Rife
Sometimes an option we're considering creates tension inside of us. When that happens, it can be tempting to ignore the discomfort or brush by it. But instead of doing that, we need to pay close attention to it and ask ourselves a very important question. Discover what that question is as we seek to make better decisions and live with fewer regrets. - Vincent Rife
On a daily basis, each of us are tasked with making so many decisions. Some of them are simple and others quite complex. But all of them become a permanent part of the story we are writing about our lives. In carefully considering the story we want to tell, we will be looking each week at a series of questions that will serve as a safeguard for helping us to make better decisions and have fewer regrets. Come join us as we look at the first question which deals with being honest with ourselves. - Vincent Rife
The conclusion of our series: Strong in the Broken Places. Learn how God sometimes takes the things we least want in our lives and uses them in order to change us into the best versions of ourselves.
Come join us as we look at what happens the moment our hearts stop beating. Where do we go? What is it like? What comes next? And how does having clarity on these questions help us to live better lives with greater resiliency in the face of adversity on this side of eternity? - Vincent Rife
Come join us as we find comfort in the places of our deepest pain and learn how to share it with others in ways that help them when they are most in need of comfort and strength themselves. - Vincent Rife
How do some people take the raw material of a deck stacked against them & make a winning hand out of it? How do people forge meaning from their failures, disabilities, diseases, and deepest losses and actually grow stronger in those broken places? How do some people turn tragedy into triumph when those very same realities also undo, devastate, and destroy the lives of so many others? Come join us as we begin a new series called: Strong in the Broken Places and seek answers to those very questions.
Come join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the restoration of hope and the promise of new life in the face of our deepest losses.
Come join us as we join Jesus at the cross in his final, dying moments and discover that things are not always as they appear. - Vincent Rife
The lens through which we look at the world will always determine what we see. When you consider what you have, do you believe that there is more than enough or do you often tend to think that you need more? Come join us as we look through the lens of abundance and discover that when we place what we have in God's hands, He is able and willing to multiply it beyond our wildest imaginations.
The lens through which we look at the world will always determine what we see. When you consider what you have, do you believe that there is more than enough or do you often tend to think that you need more? Come join us as we look through the lens of abundance and discover that when we place what we have in God's hands, He is able and willing to multiply it beyond our wildest imaginations.
The wilderness is not a place that many of us gravitate to. It is not a hot spot or a destination where we make our Airbnb reservations in advance. Rather, it is a profoundly disorienting space. A space where we feel alone, afraid, and even lost. And yet, for anyone who has logged any time in the wilderness, they know that it can also be the very place where lasting growth and transformation can occur. Come join us over the next 6 weeks during this Lenten season as we travel “Into the Wilderness” together, for the purpose of intentionally looking at and listening to our lives, clearing away the clutter and distractions, and making room for the Holy One to surprise us and lead us out into a new and living way.
Come join us as we continue our lenten journey through the wilderness and get clarity on how to respond to and overcome those temptations that threaten our vitality and well being. - Vincent Rife
What is it that sets the Christian faith apart from all others? What makes it special? What makes it unique? Once upon a time Jesus invited his followers to demonstrate their devotion to God by putting the person next to them in front of them. He called them to love each other in the exact same way that he loved them. Somehow, the simplicity of this invitation has become diluted and in many cases forgotten and lost. Come join us as we seek to make a compelling case for reviving a faith that is rooted and grounded in love. - Vincent Rife
When you hear the word Muslim or Islam, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is Islam a religion of peace or one of violence? Do the acts of the extremists groups represent the majority of all Muslims or a very small minority? Come join us as we seek to better understand our Muslim neighbors in an attempt to move from a place of ignorance and fear to a place of love and compassion and in doing so bring healing and peace to our world.
In an age of increasing tension, conflict, and violence against a vast array of minority groups in our world, we have a collective responsibility to counter every form of intolerance and violence where it occurs. Come join us this week as we seek to understand and better love our Jewish neighbors and in doing so bring healing and peace to our world. - Vincent Rife
This week we will look at the life and central teachings of both Jesus and the Buddha. We will consider both the differences as well as the similarities with issues like karma and grace, suffering and sin, reincarnation and resurrection, as well as nirvana and heaven. - Vincent Rife
If there is one God, then why are there so many different religions? And among all of the various different world religions, how do the members of each group know that what they believe is right? Different groups see God differently. Who is right? And how does God see each of us? Come join us as we explore the different world religions and seek to understand the differences and similarities between us, while looking for ways to extend love and build bridges of understanding between us.
When does the Christmas season officially come to an end and why does our collective mood need to change when it does? Come join us as we look at how to develop rhythms in our lives that enable us to sustain deep seated joy no matter what season of life we may find ourselves in. - Vincent Rife
We celebrate the birth of Christ and discover the things that make for peace and usher in great joy for us all! - Vincent Rife
Some of our greatest joys come on the back side of some of our deepest sorrows, but you have to have eyes to see it. Come join us this Sunday as we learn from Joseph how to prepare for the arrival of joy that we cannot yet see. - Vincent Rife
Life can be difficult and sometimes even painful. In response, we search for things to bring us comfort, to help us feel better, to ensure success. But sometimes our choices are not well thought out and thus not very integrated with our highest values. Our choices leave us at odds with living into the best versions of ourselves. This is a dilemma we all share at some or maybe many points along the way. Take a listen, as we look at the importance of making thoughtful choices and counting the cost of those choices when living a life of faith and seeking to be our best. - Vincent Rife
More often than not, its not one thing that happens to us, but rather one thing after another that brings us to a breaking point. COVID is enough to strike fear in our hearts. But it's not just COVID. It's the isolation that comes with it, the depressed economy, the lost jobs, the rising debt, the social injustice, the political strife, the hateful rhetoric, and the extensive divide that only seems to be getting worse by the day. If you put enough pressure in just the right place everyone has a breaking point. We all know this to be true. But what we don't know is what to do about it? If you could use some help or hope in the places of your greatest fears and deepest pain, we hope you will tune in as we look at and learn the secret of being able to run with endurance until a breakthrough occurs. - Vincent Rife
Listen as we consider the value of a compassionate, thoughtful, redemptive response to people and culture who see things differently but still deeply matter to God. - Vincent Rife
We so often value the destination more than we do the journey itself. We like fast and easy because we are intent on getting to where we want to go yesterday. But unfortunately, when it comes to spiritual maturity, there are no short cuts. Developing growth and character takes time, attention, focus, and discipline. But if we give ourselves to the day in and day out pursuit of such we will not only live into the best versions of ourselves, but we will also enjoy the journey along the way. This week we look at what it takes to build a life worth living.
Every day we are inundated with a variety of messages from a multitude of different sources. And many of those messages are quite often in direct conflict with one another. With such a multitude and complexity of voices to contend with, how do we determine which ones to believe or trust, which ones to follow, and which ones to disregard? If you could use a little help sorting out all of the competing voices in your life, listen as we will seek to help you find clarity for your journey and also some joy along the way. - Vincent Rife
If we are really serious about following Jesus & becoming like him, we are going to have to be people of open hearts, open hands, and open homes even & especially with The Other. - Vincent Rife
Making Sense of...Sexuality looks at one of the most divisive issues in the church today: Homosexuality. How often does the Bible speak to the issue and when it does, what do the Scriptures actually say? - Vincent Rife
Vincent Rife
One of the most important questions that anyone considering the Christian faith seriously must ask is: Why did Jesus Christ come and die, especially the cruel and violent way that he did? Listen as we answer this most important question and make sense of what this sacrifice was really all about. - Vincent Rife
Gabrielle Rife talks about racism, reverse racism, prejudice and discrimination.
Young adults from Grace Christian Church in Tinton Falls, NJ, Mia and Mackenzie explain the definition of prejudice and give some examples from the new and their experiences. Find us at gracechristianchurch.com
In June of 2020, in response to recent events, the youth of Grace Christian Church, Tinton Falls, NJ were asked if they could send a message to the country, what would they say. These are their statements.
Pastor Vincent Rife speaks about the concept of Black Lives Matter from a Christian perspective.
Acts 9:36-42 - Vincent Rife