Vineyard Richmond Weekly Message

Sometimes we get caught up in the definition of surrender that gets wrongfully associated with weakness or loss. We shout “never surrender!” and continually spend our days looking to prove our strength, worth, and value to those around us. However, just like in the hymn, our full surrender leads to a greater presence of the Holy Spirit.

Why do we sing blood songs? What did the blood represent?

I can tell you all that God has done in my life, but I would much rather tell you what he is doing. The Lord saved me, but he is also saving me.

Peter, the disciple of Jesus, lived a rollercoaster of a life. This man that stood up and rebuked Jesus for saying he would go to Jerusalem and die. This same Peter cut off Malchus' ear in the garden the night Jesus was arrested. The same man said he would never, ever, deny Jesus— and failed. Why? He didn't understand the vision.

Grace is the totally unmerited, unearned, unwarranted favor of God. Simply put, it is the forgiveness based upon the love of God to us. We cannot earn it.

Even King David had moments when he couldn't hear from God even though he was asking, begging God to speak! If you are seeking God and not hearing God, you are in good company. All is not lost.

Have you ever been so sure of God's plan and yet got it wrong?

When we hear the Lord and then act on it, we tend to get more comfortable; we recognize it a little faster, easier, and more confidently.

How do you know when it's God talking? How do you hear God speak? Does God still speak to people today?

Have you ever made a little decision that ended up changing everything? Sometimes these moments may not seem big but have a huge impact.

The cross holds back the flood of God's wrath upon our lives, it won't reach us. But when that stone was rolled away, the promise of the Holy Spirit flooded the world!

Jesus knew his time was short and spends what's left trying to build up confidence, character, and understanding in his followers. He is aware that he has a limited amount of time to dispense an immense amount of teaching.

You are not going to experience the resurrection Jesus spoke of if you are dressed in the clothing of the world.

We are quick to shy away from God's word, the one that brings about redemptive love, because we're afraid that he'll change his mind! When we have a view of God as the bully with a magnifying glass and we're the ants in the anthill then we think the only thing he could be is angry at us, but that's not what scripture tells us!

If scripture tells us to put to death what is earthly in us, then at the very least we should be wrangling and wrestling with it.

Don't give up that which the Lord has died to provide for you.

Being a Christian is about living and dying in obedience to the teachings of Jesus.

Paul is telling us that our relationship to God is something that we must continually care for.

Things changed during the 11:15a service this week as the Holy Spirit led Pastor Joe into a different message for the service than the one he had prepared.

I have heard very well-meaning people ask: “Have you been praying the scriptures?” It usually gets said in a manner that suggests that if you pray the scripture, God is more inclined to hear what you are saying, or give you what you ask for. Is that true?

A lot of things that get attributed to God that “sound” right… but does the Bible actually back that up?

Is all sin really the same in God's eyes?

How on earth do you get through the day without making judgments on someone?

Even in the simplest of ways, scripture is being twisted in our world today. What did Jesus actually say, and how do we live it out?

A plant can look good. A plant can make leaves and be green, but if you are actually seeking fruit and it doesn't bear fruit, it is worthless.

Today is a day for us to consider the fact that we get to start a new year— to start over so to speak. Our God is the God of second chances, of third, and fourth, and fifth, chances.

I see a God who sees you, hears you, knows you, wants you, calls to you, convicts you, and wants to put his arms around you.

Welcome to the end of a year. Does it feel like you are left with a lot of trash? Does it feel like you have been blessed in a lot of ways? You wake up, Christmas is over. Then what?

The Magi had no idea of the significance of their story. They were the first true strangers to acknowledge Jesus' holy heritage. They were gentiles. This is a major hint that the Messiah will be for all people.

What was God thinking? He chose to save the world in such a strange way.

What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Or maybe more important— who is Jesus to you?

Mary held baby Jesus, and 33 years later she stood before the cross. Would Mary do it all again if she knew? As you stand in anticipation of the second advent of Jesus, the Lord's Messiah, would you do it all again for the chance to be here?

Listen in on the word Pastor Joe shared at our Pulse Worship Experience. This was a night filled with Worship, Baptisms, and Ministry to one another.

What are the winds and waves that are threatening you right now?

A part of our mission is to become a community. As a community, we reach in to protect the wellbeing of each other and reach out to bring others in.

We yearn for the kingdom. We want so see people get healed, we want to see people get changed-- but to get there, we have to go through many hardships.

Are we even hungry? Do we want change? REALLY?

We can so easily buy into the idea that the world is crumbling, the sky is falling, and all is lost… UNLESS…

We are called to compassion, to care for the least of these: the outcast, the unwanted, and the rejected.

We can see from the beginning that it was the nature of God that he loves his children. Even when we don't love his children, God loves his children.

There is a battle going on between heaven and hell and you and I find ourselves in the middle. God is seeking and saving his children, his lost sheep. The devil is seeking whom he may devour.

As we come together we know we have the right, individually and corporately, to come before God in prayer.

Both Abraham and Moses we considered to be friends of God. Do you think God likes you?

We are supposed to be teaching people to obey what Jesus said, commanded, taught, and prescribed for us to do.

While the 11:15a service had the chance to cheer our friends on in baptism, this is the full message that PJoe had prepared for the morning. This season, along with our small groups, we are digging through John Mark Comer's “God Has a Name”. Knowing God begins with knowing his name.

Every single morning when I wake up, I feel like I ought to do holy things. I ought to pray. I ought to read scripture. I ought to journal and write about my spiritual life. But I don't always want to.

Have you ever been interrupted by God? God will interrupt your life when He is ready to do something powerful, something great, but here's the thing, it's up to you to make room for God.

In this special anniversary message from Vineyard USA Area Leader, Jason Duncan, We look at the world around us and see all the need, all the hurt, all the chaos. What is Jesus doing in the midst of it all?

Why was Jesus eating with sinners?

We can get along even if there's not much in common. In fact, we can get along if there's only one thing in common.