Sermons from weekend gatherings at Vine39 by Joel Hubbard.
Disruption to Difficulty to New Creation
Boundaries- The Wise and the Fool Proverbs 9: 7-9, Proverbs 12:15 and Proverbs 14:17 The wisdom literature of Proverbs often contrasts the wise and the fool. It's too easy to say that there are wise people and there are fools. In reality, even those of us who have grown to be as wise as possible have areas of life that need developed. However, the warning is there in scripture because we need to pay attention to what we are dealing with. Is the person in front of us teachable, curious, willing to learn, seeking wisdom, honest, discerning, and capable of good decision making? That's a wise person. Do I need to be more cautious and boundaried because the person is lacking judgement, reckless, reactive, easily duped, assumes they know, and has a history ignoring wisdom and good advise? That is the way of the fool. We welcome the wise but we need to have appropriate boundaries when dealing with foolish behavior or foolish relational interaction. This is complicated. Let's learn together and from each other. A theme in scripture is “pay attention to wisdom and more wisdom comes.” Where our attention goes our energy follows. If we tune into wisdom and connect to wise people we grow in wisdom. Who has been a source of wisdom for you and how have they helped you learn? We all grow and mature in our lives. Was there an area of your life that took you a long time to learn because you were too locked in and unteachable for a while? Have you ever had to put a boundary in place with someone that was hard but proved fruitful over time? (OR) Is there a boundary you need to create with anyone right now? Is there anything going on where you need wisdom right now? Could you bring that up and open yourself to the shared wisdom of the group?
What are we “praying” about? Meditation, Contemplation, Rumination.
Jim Zartmanno00:33:47Teach Us To Pray- 4 Responses from Jesus
Teach Us To Pray- Pray AND Ask Read Philippians 4:6-7 In this short verse Paul is teaching on prayer and makes the point that relationship and connection with God is the main goal of prayer. Any relationship that is primarily transactional and about getting our own needs met isn't a healthy relationship. That's not the kind of relationship we want with God. In prayer we seek a sense of connection, freely sharing ourselves, a sense of peace, a safe place to express all our emotions... and we make requests. What is one of the most powerful prayer experiences you've had? Paul distinguishes between prayer AND supplication or “asking” for things. What do you think is the difference? One thing emphasized here and other passages is that prayer is about connection to God first. Why is it so important that it's a prayer of connection first and foremost? Paul instructs us on how to make requests when he says, "with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Why is that important? VS 7 sounds like it's the result of praying how we are instructed to in VS 6. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The result of praying this way is peace. Why is that?
Joel Hubbardno00:28:51Biblical Genres- Apocalyptic
Read Luke 9:28-36 Luke 9 has several stories in it and in the middle of these stories about other people there is a pause for a story about Jesus himself. In the middle of a longer chapter there is an aside for this story of the transfiguration. It begins by making a note that it is eight days after the previous story. This is a new week. We have no idea what had been going on in the previous week but the author points that out so the story stands out. Jesus takes three disciples; Peter, James, and John with him up a mountain. Traditionally, Mount Tabor in lower Galilee was the site of the event, which doesn't look like a mountain to us but more like a hill with it's peak elevation of 1886 feet. They go there to pray. Something Jesus often did alone but this time he brings witnesses. As the disciples pray they get sleepy, just like they do in the Garden the night Jesus is arrested. Then they are awakened by a profound experience where they see the heroes of the Jewish faith and God speaks in a way that is reminiscent of when Jesus was baptized and with a similar theme. When the voice was done speaking there was no one there but Jesus. The experience was over as quickly as it began. This story follows an arch. They ascend, there is an experience, there is confusion, God breaks through and speaks, then they descend being told not to share about the experience. Often in the western church, when you ask someone what the “gospel” is, they quote the Apostle Paul and something about being saved. As N.T. Wright put it, we should be asking, “What is the gospel in the gospels.” This story is in the Gospel of Luke. What is “gospel” or “good news” about this story? Jesus takes three disciples with them but then tells them not to tell anyone about there experience. (which they did or we wouldn't have the story) Why do you think this story is told? Who was the experience for? Peter, as usual, is the first to speak. Jesus is there, Moses and Elijah are there... and Peter speaks first. It's kinda funny. He's so overwhelmed that he just starts talking. Where it says “He did not know what he was saying” may have been Peter's own commentary when he shared this story. Why does that moment get attention in an epic experience about the identity of Jesus? Jesus is baptized in Luke 3 and the Spirit of God says, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” This launches the ministry of Jesus. This time the voice of God says, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Jesus is about to go to Jerusalem where he is killed and his ministry is passed on. This is why Jesus is talking about his death after they go back down. How do you see the message God speaks about Jesus to be different in these two occasions? All these stories have something for us in them even when they are a story that is pretty far removed from our experience. When reading scripture notice what STANDS OUT for you because there is something FOR YOU in that feeling. What stands out to you and what do you need to take with you?
Jonah is an old testament story about a prophet who missed what it was all about. He is told to prophesy to the people of Ninivah to repent or they will be destroyed. They do repent and his is angry because he wanted them to be destroyed. We see in him the truth that it isn’t just the gift that matters but the heart. His heart isn’t there for people so he misses the point through what could have been a powerful and beautiful experience. The book ends with God posing a question to Jonah about how he should care for people. That is at the heart of the prophetic.But for life groups this week:Biblical Genre’s- Prophesy Sunday we talked about what Prophesy is in the scriptures. Throughout the bible Prophesy is either a foretelling or a forth telling. About 10% of biblical prophesy if foretelling something that will happen later. About 90% of biblical prophesy is a “telling forth,” or explaining what is really going on right now in front of us. The prophetic in scripture is often showing its audience, “This is really what’s going on behind the scenes. This is what you’re doing wrong, this is what you should be doing, and this is what will happen if you don’t.” The ancients saw time as circular and cyclical and prophets would explain how, “What has happened before will happen again.” In the modern Christian sense we ask the question, “What is God saying now?” If we are asking the biblical questions we would ask, “How would God pull back the curtain on what is really going on right now? How would God speak truth to us right now and call forth right action in us?” It’s natural for a small percentage to look at the future and ask and pray, “Where is this all going? What is this leading to?” *NOTE- The prophetic has always been important the Vineyard movement. In the Vineyard movement we have been trained that prophesy to another person should be a calling forth of what God is doing in that person. The vast majority of the time it should be encouraging and should only call out the negative in someone if we have deep relationship with them and have earned the right to talk about it. Vineyard has often categorized the prophetic in three categories. True prophesy, false prophesy, and non-prophesy. True prophesy is someone speaking true things over you they could not have known where the result is you draw closer to God and his purpose for you. False prophesy is someone speaking something that completely misses the mark and doesn’t resonate with the moment or come true. (Often because they are making guesses about you based on their own experience or they are saying something about the future. ie- modern end times claims) Non-prophesy is saying vague things about the future that could be interpreted in many different ways and uses lots of words with little substance. If it can’t be tested or confirmed by the community it isn’t prophesy. ALSO- Vineyard has had rules about prophesy like, “Don’t prophesy specific dates, mates, or babies” because it can lead to pain and heartache. We also keep the prophetic to individuals and not to wide scale national or global events. Today the prophetic should call people to who God is making them to be. The prophetic is when someone calls out what they see God doing in you in an encouraging and uplifting way. The prophetic prayer asks, “What good thing is God doing in this person right now.” Jesus was often prophetic when speaking to an individual person. Can you think of the heart and approach to how Jesus used the prophetic with someone? Have you experienced someone speaking to you in a way that it felt like they saw straight through you and encouraged you in a profound way? Have you ever felt the inner compulsion to speak something you sensed or felt to someone to encourage and lift them up? Some of us feel emotions for others, or have thoughts that feel like they are from outside us, or hear words, or imagine pictures, or even feel physical sensations when we are praying for someone. All of these can be different ways God speaks to us based on how he’s made us. Have you ever experienced this? Take a moment to pause, breathe, and pray. This is just practice. Practice asking God if there is anything he would like to share to encourage someone here. We don’t always get it right but we are trying to learn to hear God’s hearts for others. Pray, ask, listen... and share with someone here.
Our series on Biblical Genres continues with Wisdom literature.
Biblical Genres- Law Code Read Exodus 20: 1-21 The ancient idea of Law wasn’t like our concept of law. Some “laws” carried public consequences for breaking them and some were internal issues that others couldn’t see. Law Code functioned more like a wisdom code. In modern times people have been talking about a “rule of life,” a set of personal values to direct where they are going. There is a context to these commands. They had strict and predictable order in Egypt and now they are in the desert learning how to be a people. This is chaos. Law code is wisdom literature to direct a new people in a way that brings order. Slavery was structured. Freedom is more complex and feels like chaos until you learn to live in wisdom. The point of law code is to give you the structure to build a wise life so you can learn to live as free people. Do you have a different understanding of law code after this weekend? How do you understand this chapter differently? To have a rule of life you have to think about your context. We live in the wealthiest and most powerful nation the world has ever known. “You shall have no other gods before me” could be hard to interpret in our modern times. We may not have other literal gods but there are “functional gods” that we put our hope in. What pulls your attention off of God most frequently? The fourth command is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. This is the one Jesus spoke to and said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Jesus showed us that the law is there to serve us but if we aren’t careful, we end up serving the law. Have you seen the law used against people as a power grab? The opposite of the function it’s there to serve? The first four commands are about how we relate to God. The next five are observable behaviors about how you relate to each other. But the last one is about coveting. That’s internal. It’s not observable unless you act on it. Why would God put a non-observable commandment in the top 10? Verse 20 “Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Why would Moses say to not be afraid and the fear of God will keep you from sinning? The story transitions after this detail in VS 21. “The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” What do you make of the author saying the people remained at a distance? Why do we “remain at a distance” from the challenge of God?
New series on the genres of literature in the bible. We start with "Story."
Joel Hubbardno00:38:27Gifts of the Den- Daniel 6
Joel Hubbardno00:37:55Patterns and Prophets- Daniel 5
Joel Hubbardno00:36:29The Resurrection of All Things- Easter Sunday
Joel Hubbardno00:31:54Daniel 4- Lessons From The Fire
Joel Hubbardno00:37:47Daniel 3- "Yes" to God through a "No"
Joel Hubbardno00:31:55Daniel 1- Thriving in the Darkness
Joel Hubbardno00:32:161 Thessalonians 4- No Drama
1 Thessalonians 3 - Vine and Pipeline Read 1 Thess 2:17- 3:13 “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” Paul asks. There is a celebration of the community of faith in this section of scripture. There is an emphasis of “let’s celebrate each other” in this passage. Adding to this he says, "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” Let’s do the same today. Share a story of someone who influenced you in the faith early on. Who were they and what did they do for you? This past weekend people shared encouragements about each other. We just typed them in the chat but there was still power in it. What was it like for you? It’s often even more powerful to encourage someone in person. Is there anyone in the group today you could share an encouragement with? Either something you see in them or a positive way they have affected you?
Joel Hubbardno00:34:24Message and Motivation 1 Thessalonians 2
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 “Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sistersloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
Danielle Fernekeesno00:28:22Danielle's Testimony- Suit Up and Show Up
WITHNESS. Love is with. Not against, not away, and not forced toward. Love is with.(Notes from Zoom Chat)God with us: receptivity. Receive God as God. Easier to accept God’s holiness than his love. God finds a way to come to us in Jesus. We believe more in getting rid of the bad than nurturing the good in us. It’s about nurturing the garden not getting rid of weeds. The focus is on growing trees, not destroying weeds. We are gardeners, not guards.Us with God. Us leaning forward toward God. Be with God without try. Meditate on the beauty of God. Silent with God. Be still and know God is with you. Absorbing the present moment of the presence of God.Us with one another. The old lines between people of who is holy (set apart) and created divisions. Separate from each other. My holiness is better than your holiness and so we must separate. Can we be with each other? Can you be there for someone and not where you want them to be? The line that divide. Peace that you don’t have to have someone else cross over to your side. Move from definitions of God that separates to an experience of God that unites.
Joel Hubbardno00:17:00Advent- The Light In The Darkness
Joel Hubbardno00:24:57Ecclesiastes- A Time To Keep and A Time To Throw Away
Ecclesiastes- A Time for Everything Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 As the Byrds sang, “To everything turn, turn, turn” based on this passage of Ecclesiastes. There are seasons, there are moments, there is a time for everything. This time right now is the time for this to happen. We want to be “there” but we can only be “here.” When we get “there” it will be the new “here” but for now... we are here. This is the way the teacher of Ecclesiastes talks. It doesn’t settle or answer questions but invites us into the deeper wisdom of mystery. Our brains like certainty but that isn’t the higher wisdom. The teacher starts chapter 3 bookending the life of anyone with “a time to be born, a time to die.” Everything that follows is what takes place between those two “times.” Discern the season. Be present to it. And know that the current reality isn’t a permanent reality. Is there any part of these verses that you find encouraging? Anything that settles your spirit? What part of this passage do you find frustrating or unsettling? Apparently right now is a time for what’s happening. What do you wish was happening right now? What do you wish it was a time for? Take a moment to dream about it and share it. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” How do you understand this given our current reality? Our current reality is hard on many folks. A global pandemic, greater isolation, political uncertainty, contentious social media, kid’s home from school, economic downturn, winter approaching with shorter days, upcoming holidays... And that doesn’t even include the personal stuff you were already dealing with. Is there anything in this passage that you find comforting in light of all that? Again and again the teacher comes back to a phrase something like this throughout the book, “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” What does it feel like for you to return to that phrase?
Ecclesiastes - Vapor Ecclesiastes 1, 2 38 times in the book of Ecclesiastes the author uses a Hebrew word that means “Vapor” or “Breath.” Some versions translate the word to “meaningless” or “futile” but the word doesn’t carry that negative connotation in Hebrew. The author certainly goes back and forth from negative to positive as he looks at the whole of life... like we do. See if you an notice your own experience in this ancient wisdom as we struggle with deeply human questions. In Ecclesiastes 1:3 the author asks, “What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?”He is explaining the ups and downs of life in these two chapters and all the things he thought would give him what he wanted. But it was all “Vapor.” The author is looking for “benefit?” This is the struggle we deal with around, “If I live a certain way I should get certain things or feel a certain way.” Have you struggled with this feeling of feeling like the payoff doesn’t match the effort? Have you experienced the chasing of things you though would fulfill and realized they were just smoke? Can you name things that you’ve looked to for fulfillment only to realize you couldn’t hold on to the feeling? The author talks about pursuits (accomplishments), pleasures, and escapes (a natural desire to sooth the pain). To a certain extent we all do these things but can you name your go to coping mechanism to deal with disappointment? Read Chapter 2:24-26 The author hints at something he’s going to go deeper on by the end of the book. The ability to find enjoyment is a gift from God. Where are moments of real enjoyment for you? Talk about moments that gave you great joy, comfort, or peace. These are the meaningful gifts from God. Take a moment to thank God because you were able to enjoy them. Do this out loud together so others can witness it.
Mark- The Power of a Question Read Mark 15:1-15 We often want God to give us answers to whatever we are struggling with. They wanted that from Jesus too. We have to remember that when God took on flesh in Jesus he didn’t give many answers. When asked hard questions he usually responded with non-answers that confused his audience, stories, or another question. Jesus isn’t trying to solve the mystery but draw us further in. In this story his silence provokes so many questions. To leave a question unanswered is hard because it allows others to fill up the space with their own assumptions about us. Jesus continues to amaze in this story with his silence as he does in others with his questions. And here we are left asking the questions so we are drawn into the mystery of Christ. Pilate asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?” What is behind this question? Is it a serious inquiry? Mockery to “king in chains?” What do you think Pilates intent is in this situation? Where is he coming from? When Pilate asks Jesus if he is the king of the Jews Jesus simply responds, “σὺ λέγεις” which means “you say” or “say you.” How did Pilate “Say so?” What could Jesus mean? There is no “one thing” they can accuse Jesus of so they accuse him of many things. They figure if they pile on the accusations something will stand out and get him in trouble with the Roman authority who has the job of keeping the “Peace of Rome.” Pilate then expects Jesus to defend himself... to prove himself. Jesus refuses to participate. He won’t play their game. We just finished several stories in a row where Jesus gave answers that amazed those listening. Now he shocks them with his silence as Pilate asks, “Aren’t you going to answer?” Why has Jesus decided the silence will have more impact than words here? It’s hard for us to not respond when people accuse us or make assumptions about us. We don’t want others to fill in the story with their own narratives and interpretations about us. We want to make our point, make ourselves look better, make others like us, make others understand where we are coming from. We feel we have to play the game when it’s our name, reputation, image, or worthiness that’s on the line. What is the invitation and challenge of Jesus to us in this passage?
Mark- The Most Useless Passage Read Mark 14:1-11 Joel called this the “most useless passage” because it isn’t really a passage you can “use.” It isn’t a story about right and wrong. It’s a story that steps out of the logic of function, use, right, and wrong... it’s categorically different. It’s Beautiful. Logically it’s wasteful. The woman’s actions are even called that. Often scriptural stories are taught to make a truth or a statement and the only response is to accept or reject. This is story is about beauty which is an invitation to relationship, to an exchange, to a dance. This woman is action when everyone else is talk. She is the instigator and everyone else merely the commentator. All we can be as we observe this story is an interpreter and commentator but maybe we can accept the invitation to beauty in this space. The woman in the story never says a word. She is all action. She is resolved in what she is doing and does what she feels is right. Why do you think she does this? What is motivating her? Why take THIS action of all the things she could have done? This didn’t happen quickly. It would have taken some time with all these people watching. Everyone smelling the smell. It would have stopped whatever was going on. Where do you see yourself in this story? As the woman? As Jesus? As someone watching? How do you respond internally to this story? Read the beginning and end of this story again. Verse 1,2,10,11. Look at how Mark frames the beginning and end of the story. This woman’s actions push Judas over the edge to betray Jesus. Why is that? Why did Mark frame this story in this way? This story reminds me of the Theodore Roosevelt quote, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Maybe this is why we are still talking about her today. Does her action invite you to more boldness? If so, in what way?
Mark- You Are Not Far From The Kingdom Read Mark 12:28-34 Jesus has had several prickly encounters in a row. He’s been challenged, questioned, and they’ve even tried to trap him. In this passage someone approaches him with genuine curiosity. This one teacher of the law stands out and is different. He listens to Jesus and sees that he has answered wisely. Then he has a question... but it comes from a different place. It’s an honest interaction. And after it, no one asks any more questions. Let’s think about why. What makes this teacher of the law so different that all the others previously encountered in Mark? Why does he act so differently than the other teachers of the law? This one man does what none of the others do. Much attention is given to his answer and the response of Jesus but why is he different? Why was he able to see that “Jesus had given them a good answer” when everyone else is still against Jesus. In the middle of these discussions he is the only one who has an honest exchange. What can we learn from him in that moment? The teacher of the Law asks Jesus about one of the most foundational thing in the Jewish faith. Everyone else is asking questions about current politics and modern interpretation of laws... but this man is going deeper. This man isn’t concerned by all the buzz of the day but wants to know if Jesus is deeply rooted. Deep roots hold us when there is noise all around. How does being rooted in Jesus’s answer hold us when there is noise all around? ThemanrespondstoJesuswellandsumsupwhathasbeenmostimportanttothe Jewish and Christian faith for all of time. It’s this. To love God and neighbor with heart, mind, and strength (body). Everything is summed up in that. Everything that was missing from the previous interactions is in that statement. Some of the previous questions engaged the mind but lacked the heart. Some of the teachers of the law had the right thinking but wouldn’t apply themselves (strength) to help others. Some of us are very connected with our heart, our mind, or our actions but bringing all three together can be difficult. Is it harder for you to engage your vulnerable emotions, your critical thinking, or taking right action? Where do you need the most growth in this area?
Mark- Club Jesus Read Mark 9:1-13, 30-41 Let’s look at the beginning of this chapter before we move on to the passage from Sunday morning. Before we get to this passage about being the last, the disciples just witnessed the transfiguration and Jesus healing a boy who is sick with a evil spirit. Let’s take a look at the Transfiguration and then tie it into the passage from this past weekend. This chapter starts with Jesus saying, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” How does this set up the rest of the chapter? Why does Mark start with this statement as an introduction to the transfiguration, the healing of the boy, and the prophesy about his death and being the last? In verse 10 they were discussing what “risen from the dead” could mean. It seems obvious to us now, maybe too obvious. What do you imaging that discussion being about? In verse 12, who is the Elijah Jesus is referring to? In verse 31 Jesus says, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” Why would they be afraid to ask Jesus what he meant? Doing something “In the name of” is a way of saying in association with. Jesus did everything in association with the Spirit of God. Imagine what your life would look like if everything you did was “In the name of Jesus.” Imagine if every action was in association with him. What would today be like?
Mark - Your Faith Has Made You Well Read Mark 5:21-43 Jesus is always flipping the script. He always surprises the people he is interacting with. That’s how it is in this story with two people who have resources and means but can’t solve the problem in front of them. Jesus is always stepping into unsolvable situations and surprising us with both his solution and they way he explains it. The woman with the issue of blood sees Jesus as the object of her healing and herself as the subject. But then he tells her, “Your faith has healed you.” Then Jesus tells a man who’s daughter has just died, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” And then Jesus goes and heals the girl even though people laugh when he says, “The child is not dead but asleep.” But then he ONLY takes the parents and disciples in to heal the girl. What goes off in you when you hear the Jesus say, “Your faith has made you well.” Do you think he means it? Do you find yourself saying, “Yeah but, really it was Jesus who healed her”? What does it mean that Jesus often told people it was their faith that healed them? Is it hard to believe Jesus on that? Scripture explains this same truth in other ways as well like when Jesus say’s, “Thing Kingdom of God is within you” or when Paul says, “Christ in me the hope of glory.” The Jews saw God as “somewhere out there” and wanted Him to come and fix something down here. They saw God as an interventionist and Jesus changes it to incarnational. Jesus starts to show his followers that the Spirit of God is within us. Do you tend to see God as an interventionist or incarnate within you? Why did Jesus only let the parents and disciples in to see the healing of the little girl? Joel posed a question Sunday that is worth exploring together. “Where are you seeing your faith wake up?” Even in the light of everything going on... Where is your faith waking up?
Joel Hubbardno00:23:07Mark- Getting Back on the Path
Joel Hubbardno00:29:51Mark- Identity and Purpose
Joel Hubbardno00:34:04Leviticus- Blessings and Curses
Joel Hubbardno00:34:36Leviticus- The Day of Atonement
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