Vertical Life Church Podcasts

On Mount Sinai, Yahweh arrives in glory and power, and invites Moses up into the fiery cloud at the top of the mountain. This same glory was revealed to us in Jesus, and dwells inside us by the Holy Spirit. Are we aware of the presence around us and within us every day? IN THE FIRE //  The Scriptures are full of stories in which Yahweh meets his people in fire. At times, it's a place of trial and testing. Other times, it's a sign of His presence. When we feel the heat rise and the pressure build in our lives, we can trust that the power and presence of Jesus is with us, even there.

After freeing them from their slavery in Egypt, God leads the people of Israel through the sea in a pillar of fire, a physical manifestation of His presence. Today, we follow the flame of God by His Spirit living within us. We watch for and follow His every move as He leads us on. IN THE FIRE // The Scriptures are full of stories in which Yahweh meets his people in fire. At times, it's a place of trial and testing. Other times, it's a sign of His presence. When we feel the heat rise and the pressure build in our lives, we can trust that the power and presence of Jesus is with us, even there.

In the wilderness outside of Egypt, running from his past, Moses finds himself called into something greater than he could have imagined. Right now today, in your world, God is up to something, and He is sending YOU. What does it look like to encounter Jesus face-to-face and join him in what he's doing? IN THE FIRE : THE PLACE OF POWER // The Scriptures are full of stories in which Yahweh meets his people in fire. At times, it's a place of trial and testing. Other times, it's a sign of His presence. When we feel the heat rise and the pressure build in our lives, we can trust that the power and presence of Jesus is with us, even there.

Through a sign of F I R E, God speaks a promise to a man named Abram, a vow to bless him and his descendants. This promise is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, who has proposed to us through his shed blood and his resurrection from the grave. Right now, He promises abundant life to anyone who puts their faith in him. IN THE FIRE : THE PLACE OF POWER // The Scriptures are full of stories in which Yahweh meets his people in fire. At times, it's a place of trial and testing. Other times, it's a sign of His presence. When we feel the heat rise and the pressure build in our lives, we can trust that the power and presence of Jesus is with us, even there. The final series in the "Along the Road" trilogy...

Every part of the body has a role to play, and the Holy Spirit gives each person special gifts to encourage, help, sharpen, and equip each other for ministry. Our job is to lean into using these gifts, fan them into flame, and ask God for more! BELONG // Inside all of us is the deep desire to belong in a group of people. As children of God, we find true belonging in being fully known and fully loved by Jesus, and then bringing our real selves to the people God has placed in our lives.

In this time of history where Jesus is not physically here on Earth, the Church is to be his BODY, going and doing all the things that he did. In this body, EVERYONE has a role, and we all must be united if it is to function properly. BELONG // Inside all of us is the deep desire to belong in a group of people. As children of God, we find true belonging in being fully known and fully loved by Jesus, and then bringing our real selves to the people God has placed in our lives.

The Church of Jesus is meant to be a "called-out assembly", a group of people who pursue connection with Jesus and with each other in their day-to-day lives. We have a responsibility to link arms, to carry each other's burdens, and to spur each other on toward Jesus!

Inside all of us is the deep desire to belong in a group of people. As children of God, we find true belonging in being fully known and fully loved by Jesus, and then bringing our real selves to the people God has placed in our lives.

Keeping the heart with God is the great challenge of the believer on this side of eternity. It requires  keeping a close watch on one's thoughts and affections, constantly looking within for any sign of drifting. The work is ours to do, but we find the power in JESUS!

God wants to reveal Himself, and He speaks to us personally in many ways. To hear from God, we have to know His voice, which requires us to posture our hearts and tune our ears to His presence as we pursue revelation.

The fire of God's presence guides us, refines us, and sets our hearts ablaze. He is with us, even when we don't feel like it. Jesus lights the fire in our hearts, and it's our responsibility to fan the flames of the people around us.

Why is it that some people seem to have a special relationship with God? These completely normal, everyday people have discovered real intimacy with Jesus in the secret place, with no one else around. The devil is in the business of busyness because the reward of getting away with Jesus is immeasurable.

Jesus longs for intimacy with you. He's crazy about you! God longs for the stuff that nobody else sees, just you and him. Truly living as the bride of Christ will transform every part of your life. Jesus is proposing to you today, and offering you real life and eternal pleasures.

So many "Jesus-followers" spend their lives stuck in a never-ending cycle of religious striving and checking boxes, when God is calling us all into deep, intimate relationship with Him. In Scripture, David stood out as someone who really, REALLY knew God. What made him "a man after God's own heart"?

Today we celebrate all that God has done over the last 10 years as we look ahead to our bright future!

No spiritual battle is won without our most powerful weapon: prayer. What a gift it is to be able to talk to God at any moment of the day! When we pray, miracles happen, we receive strength and power, and we get to know God's heart as we are transformed to be more and more like Him.

Sometimes the best offense is a good defense, especially in this war with the flesh, the world, and the devil. It's time to take advantage of the armor that Jesus has given us! This is life or death.

The enemy gains a huge advantage in this fight when they can trap us in habitual patterns of thought that go unnoticed. These strongholds come in all varieties, but they always end up keeping us from the freedom and fullness of life with Jesus. It's time for these chains to break.

We live in a populated universe. There are many more characters in this story besides you and God, but angels and demons are probably not what you've thought them to be... What are these spiritual beings like, and how do they operate in our day to day lives?

In this war for your soul, you have a very real enemy who does everything he can to keep you from meeting Jesus. Once he loses that fight, he and his forces put their efforts into keeping you from experiencing the abundance of life that Jesus offers you. If you want to win this fight, you have to know your enemy.

You were born into a world at war. It's happening whether you acknowledge it or not. There is a real enemy who has made it his aim to steal, kill, and destroy everything God calls good. It's time to wake up and start breaking the agreements that have given the devil a foothold in our lives.

The grave is EMPTY! Death is defeated forever.  What happened in the unseen on this history-changing weekend?

Seasons of affliction come for us all. When we face difficulty in our lives, there's a lot at stake. Worry and discontent are a bitter poison to our souls, and the enemy can easily gain a foothold in our minds if we lose trust in the truth that God is GOOD. How do we stay close to Jesus and care for our hearts during these seasons?

There is nobody like Jesus! He rules over everything, and holds the whole universe together. It's through Jesus that we can truly know God and experience abundant life forever with Him.

People always end up worshiping what they love, and there is no one we love more than JESUS. We exist to make much of Jesus in the world through our day-to-day. Our lives are the magnifying glass that puts him on full display, for everyone to see! THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

For everything that we've seen God do, we choose to believe that this is just the beginning. He still heals, still saves, and still does miracles. We trust Jesus when he tells us he's able and willing to do more than we could ever ask for or think possible, so we pray big prayers and walk boldly into tomorrow. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

Jesus held nothing back in His pursuit of us, giving everything to bring us from death to life. Our giving is a response to what God has already done for us! When we give, we are trusting that God is going to take care of us, and we are recognizing that everything we have came from Him in the first place. God doesn't need our money. He's after our hearts. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

God has entrusted us with time, talents (skills/strengths), treasure (money/possessions), and a temple (our bodies) to use for His Kingdom. Our lives are not our own. If Jesus is worthy of our best, what does it look like to steward what we've been entrusted with? THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

We choose to walk together, sharpening each other to become more like Jesus. This is non-negotiable; we don't want any of us to end up comfortable and stay where we are when God is calling us all into maturity and deeper intimacy with Him. We set our eyes on becoming Fully-Connected Disciples and leading others to do the same, together. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

Scripture is clear: God desires for ALL people to hear, receive, and rejoice in the good news of His great love for them in Jesus! Our church is not just a gathering place, it's a sending ground. We're so in love with Jesus that we want everyone in our local + global communities to have the opportunity to meet him. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

For everything we've seen, we believe the best is yet to come! Hear from our incredible staff team as they share stories of what Jesus is doing in our church family, and talk about why the future is bright at VLC. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

Everyone's family experience is different. Whether yours has been life-giving or painful, Jesus wants to use his Church to encourage you and meet your needs as we love, grow, and go together. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

When the enemy has you in the dark, it's easy to believe that you're alone, things are hopeless, and nobody would understand. Bringing our struggles to God and to other people can be uncomfortable, but Jesus promises us that freedom and healing are always waiting for us on the other side. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

Young people are NOT "the Church of tomorrow", they are the Church of today! Jesus has called us to raise up the next generation, teaching them to know, trust, and obey God, and inspiring them to live a life that counts for Jesus. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

In this church family, we see serving as a privilege. To be used by Jesus as his hands and feet is a beautiful responsibility. Serving proves our faith, cultivates humility, and leads us to fulfill the Great Commission. THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT // Though we live in a dark world, the future is always bright in the Kingdom of God, and in this church! We're spending this season talking about where we are, where we're going, and how we're going to get there, in Jesus' name.

We want to thrive in 2022 and stand firm in the face of the devil's tactics. Jesus' hope is that we would return to our first love, build each other up in unity, and be courageous to take the good news to the world.

"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." We know Jesus to be the one true light sent into the world to redeem all of humanity. There is no situation too far from his touch, and no person outside of his loving pursuit. The Everlasting Light // It's easy to find ourselves thinking of Jesus as separate or different than the God of the Old Testament. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it's important we remember who this child really is, and what his future holds.

There is a God who is FOR. YOU. The God we read about in Psalm 145 is pursuing you right now with His whole heart. He wants to be your provider, your defender, and your rescuer. This same God IS the baby that we find in the manger, born to die for the sins of the world. The Everlasting Light // It's easy to find ourselves thinking of Jesus as separate or different than the God of the Old Testament. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it's important we remember who this child really is, and what his future holds.

Coming face to face with Jesus is coming face to face with Almighty God. All the facets of the Father's heart are revealed in Jesus. The Everlasting Light // It's easy to find ourselves thinking of Jesus as separate or different than the God of the Old Testament. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it's important we remember who this child really is, and what his future holds.

Jesus left nothing unclear about who he was. Convinced that eternal life would be given to anyone who believes, John took the time to write down a Trinity of 7's that paint a full portrait of Jesus as the Almighty God. The Everlasting Light // It's easy to find ourselves thinking of Jesus as separate or different than the God of the Old Testament. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it's important we remember who this child really is, and what his future holds.

In the final chapter of Scripture, Jesus extends one final invitation to anyone willing to listen: “Come! Anyone who's thirsty, come drink from the water of life and never thirst again!” // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

When we encounter Jesus and respond in faith, our eyes are opened to see what we couldn't before. Everyone is blind before Jesus touches them, restores their vision, and brings them to life. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

When the storms of life rage, our problems can sometimes look bigger than the promises of God. Peace becomes ours when we look to Jesus, the Storm-Settler. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

Through an unlikely interaction, Jesus reveals himself as the source of LIVING water, the saving one that the world has been waiting for. Even today, we find that only Jesus can satisfy our thirst - fully and permanently. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

As Jesus proves once again that he is above all creation, Peter's passion and zeal are tested by fear and doubt. What can we learn from this transformative moment? // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

"Anyone who wants to enter the Kingdom of God must be born of both water and Spirit." Those who choose to follow Jesus through the waters of baptism are transformed and find newness of life on the other side. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

Everyone runs from God at some point, whether to sin and distractions or away from something they've been asked to do. A "runner" himself, the prophet Jonah had to be brought through the waters of the sea before he chose to align himself with the grace of God. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

You don't get to pick your circumstances, but you do get to choose what you do with them. What we expect is not always what we get, but when we obey the God who loves us, we find that there is no situation too far from His healing touch. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.

When Moses' mother released him into the Nile River, she was fully entrusting him to God. In the same way, there are things in our lives that God is wanting to draw out of our hands to take us into deeper faith. // THROUGH THE WATER In the sequel to "Along the Road", we dig into the Biblical narrative and explore the theme of God bringing people through the chaotic waters and into newness of life.