Vineyard Church - Chester Springs Podcast

In today's message, we explore Jesus' surprising invitation to trust God in the middle of suffering, not in spite of it. We consider the real strength of faith, the reality that following Jesus will include grief and hardship and how sometimes that cost is actually part of discipleship. Rather than avoiding pain, we consider what it means to lean into grief as a necessary and even meaningful part of being human. We also name the cultural pull toward comfort and how easily we opt out when things get difficult, even when Jesus is inviting us deeper. Ultimately, we look to Jesus as the one who meets us in our grief, offering not just teaching but his presence as we learn to trust him more.

In this message we continue our journey through the final week of Jesus' life, using a scene from The Chosen to help us step into the moment of the Last Supper. Just after Judas leaves the table, Jesus gives a simple but profound command: love one another just as I have loved you. Before we can live that kind of love, we first need to root ourselves in the love revealed in the cross, where God's glory is seen in sacrificial love. From that place we learn to love others through the words, works, wounds, and welcome of Jesus. This teaching invites us to experience God's love more deeply and to reflect that love in the way we live with the people around us.

In this message, we continue our journey through the final week of Jesus' life, using scenes from The Chosen to reflect on his words in Matthew 24. Jesus speaks about wars, suffering and the love of many growing cold, but he also invites his followers to live with hope and watchfulness as God's kingdom breaks into the world. Are things getting worse, or better? In the tension of the “now and the not yet,” we discover that both are true. Jesus' call is not to panic or withdraw, but to stay awake, to yearn for his kingdom and to participate in what God is doing even now.

What does really means to be a “living sacrifice” in Romans 12? We reflect together, ask honest questions and discover how God meets us in both our strengths and our struggles. Through a scene from The Chosen and the story of Joseph of Arimathea, we wrestle with the cost of following Jesus and what we're afraid to lose. We look at the things God invites us to lay down for healing and the parts of our lives he wants to use for his purposes. Ultimately, this conversation invites us to offer our ordinary, daily lives to God and trust that he transforms us from the inside out.

At the Vineyard-Chester Springs, partnership is based on honest intentions, grace, love and mutual respect. We don't want to micromanage each other's lives. We trust one another to keep our commitments consistently, not perfectly. We celebrate the mystery that despite our diversity and brokenness, it is by grace that we are all part of Jesus' body. We believe commitment to a local church is an important step in your spiritual journey: It's our way of saying “this is who we are” and your opportunity to say “yes, I'm in!”

This message explores what trust really is and why it's so much more than blind faith or “just believing harder.” Drawing from Scripture and Dr. Henry Cloud's five essentials of trust, we look at how trust is built, broken and formed over time. We talk about what happens when our trust muscle is injured through betrayal, overload or chronic disappointment, and how those experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves. Instead of pushing ourselves to trust more, we're invited to notice the inner narratives that keep us guarded or self-reliant. Ultimately, this conversation points us back to a God who is trustworthy and who gently heals us so we can receive love, connection and life more fully.

Trust is one of those words we use all the time, but rarely slow down to examine. In this episode, we explore Paul's words in Galatians 5, where faith is described not as a set of ideas, but as trust that takes shape in love. We talk about how trust grows in real relationships, why love is the clearest evidence that trust is alive, and how fear and self-protection often reveal the places trust has been wounded. This isn't about trying harder or believing better, but about learning to depend on a God who is good and trustworthy.

What does it look like to be a community shaped by the love of Jesus in this moment? In this Vision Sunday conversation, Amos and Alison Groenendyk share the heart, hopes and direction of our church as we seek to Love Like Jesus together. We are invited into a shared vision of being a people of Word and Spirit—formed by Scripture, attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit and committed to integrated discipleship that touches every part of life. This is a conversation about who we are becoming, how we listen to God together and how our lives can bear faithful witness in our neighborhoods, families and world. Whether you are new to the community or have been walking this journey for years, this episode offers a compelling invitation into the life and calling we share.

In our new Advent series, Humble King, we explore the ancient hymn of Philippians 2. Jesus' kingship is revealed not through power and prestige but through self-giving love. Humility is not weakness but the very shape of God's strength. We look honestly at the pain of waiting—the in-between tension of the “now and not yet”—and how Jesus' own descent and exaltation anchor us in hope.

In our new Advent series, Humble King, we explore the ancient hymn of Philippians 2. Jesus' kingship is revealed not through power and prestige but through self-giving love. Humility is not weakness but the very shape of God's strength. We look honestly at the pain of waiting—the in-between tension of the “now and not yet”—and how Jesus' own descent and exaltation anchor us in hope.

In our new Advent series, Humble King, we explore the ancient hymn of Philippians 2. Jesus' kingship is revealed not through power and prestige but through self-giving love. Humility is not weakness but the very shape of God's strength. We look honestly at the pain of waiting—the in-between tension of the “now and not yet”—and how Jesus' own descent and exaltation anchor us in hope.

We conclude our Acts series with Paul's words: “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

In Acts 19 and Ephesians 6, we consider spiritual warfare and what it means to stand strong in the Lord, not against people but against the real enemy. Ephesus is a city full of spiritual power, occult practices, and a dramatic clash between the kingdom of God and the powers of darkness. We talk consider why many of us struggle to take the supernatural seriously because our worldview has been shaped more by secular stories than by Scripture. We unpack how the Spirit still speaks, leads, and empowers us today and why cultivating a biblical imagination matters for everyday discipleship. And finally, we consider what it looks like to stand firm with the armor of God—rooted in Jesus, filled with the Spirit, and grounded in a worldview where God is present and His kingdom is advancing.

In this week's teaching, we follow Paul into the city of Athens, where beauty, intellect, and idols all collide. As he walks among temples and statues, Paul feels deeply stirred—not with judgment, but with compassion for a people searching for meaning. Instead of retreating, he steps toward them, entering their marketplace and their conversations with curiosity and courage. From there, he points them to the God who made the world and to Jesus, the risen King who is closer than they imagine. This episode invites us to see our own culture through Paul's eyes and to carry the hope of Jesus into every corner of the world around us.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 16. 

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 13. 

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 12. Technical difficulties during recording means that some portions of this message were not captured.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 10 - 11. Technical difficulties during recording means that some portions of this message were not captured.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 10.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 9.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 7.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series "The Spirit of God in Acts", today with passages from Acts 7.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk ends our Summer Reading Series through the book "The Familiar Stranger" by Tyler Staton, today with anchoring verses from Acts 2, exploring the theme of the Holy Spirit as the one who comes alongside us.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our Summer Reading Series through the book "The Familiar Stranger" by Tyler Staton, today with anchoring verses from Acts 1, exploring the theme of witness.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our Summer Reading Series through the book "The Familiar Stranger" by Tyler Staton, today with anchoring verses from Acts 1 and 3, exploring the theme of healing.

Join us as co-lead pastor Alison Groenendyk continues our Summer Reading Series through the book "The Familiar Stranger" by Tyler Staton, today with the anchoring passage of 1. Corinthians 14:1-4, exploring the theme of prophecy.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk begins our Summer Reading Series through the book "The Familiar Stranger" by Tyler Staton, today with the anchoring passage of Romans 12:1-2, exploring the theme of discernment.

TED Talks are one of our favorite summer rhythms here at the Vineyard. For a few weeks, we get to hear from several people in our church each Sunday about a particular season, experience, or passion in their lives and how it intersects with their journey of faith as followers of Jesus. Listen in this week as we hear from Tracy, hosted by Amos Groenendyk.

TED Talks are one of our favorite summer rhythms here at the Vineyard. For a few weeks, we get to hear from several people in our church each Sunday about a particular season, experience, or passion in their lives and how it intersects with their journey of faith as followers of Jesus. Listen in this week as we hear from Chris and Sara, hosted by Alison Groenendyk.

Join us as long-time Vineyard member and former staff pastor Emily Nefos preaches from Hebrews 13 in her talk on "Practicing the Presence of God".

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk closes out our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with passages from John 15.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with passages from John 13.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with sections from John 10.

Join us as co-lead pastor Alison Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring passage of John 8:1-18.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring passage of John 6:35-71.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring passage of John 6:16-24.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today looking at passages from John 5.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today looking at passages from John 4.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 20:1-16, as we celebrate Easter at the Vineyard.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 19:28-42.

Join us as former staff pastor and current Vineyard partner Emily Nefos continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 16:23-17:26.

Join us as co-lead pastor Alison Groenendyk continues our series through the book of John, today on Grief Sunday with the anchoring scripture passage of John 14:1-9.

Join us as former staff pastor and current Vineyard partner Emily Nefos continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 2:23-3:22.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 2:13-22.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our new teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 2:1-12.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our new teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 1:19-51.

Join us as co-lead pastor Alison Groenendyk begins our new teaching series through the book of John, Grit & Glory, today with the anchoring scripture passage of John 1:1-18.

It's Partnership Sunday at the Vineyard! Join us as pastors Amos and Alison Groenendyk explore what it means to love God, love people and love yourself as a partner at the Vineyard for the upcoming year, by exploring our partnership commitment and the anchoring scriptures of 1. John 3:1, 16-19 and 1. Timothy 1:5 & 3:14-15.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series, We're Kid People, today with anchoring scripture passages from 1. Samuel.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk continues our current teaching series, We're Kid People, today with the anchoring scripture passage of 1. Samuel 3:1-17.

Join us as co-lead pastor Amos Groenendyk begins our new teaching series, We're Kid People, today with the anchoring scripture passage of Matthew 19:13-15.