Vineyard Church of Knox County: Podcasts

Our Responses

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:09:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 2, 2008 - Josh Colley speaks about our responses to the things God does in our lives.

Taught by Josh Colley, Leadership Council Member - Length: 36:13 - 10.40MB

Top Ten Encounters with God

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:01:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 26, 2008 - The Top Ten Encounters with God - according to Ed :o) NOTE: Technical difficulties were experienced during the recording of this file. There are varying degrees of background noise that could not be removed.

Taught by Ed Williams, Special Guest - Length: 29:18 - 8.40MB

Prayer for Ephesians

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:52:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 12, 2008 - John Bradley preaches from Ephesians.

Taught by John Bradley, Special Guest - Length: 44:27 - 12.70MB

Don’t Worry

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:27:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 19, 2008 - Rob Morgan speaks at Vineyard Church of Knox County about not worrying, despite the turmoil in the world around us.

Taught by Robb Morgan, Special Guest - Length: 44:10 - 18.19MB

Revisiting our Vineyard Values: Missions

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 19:09:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 9, 2007 - Today's message was delivered by Scott Joellenbeck. Scott and his wife Becky are missionaries in Castanhal, Brazil, working with Project Amazon and the Arms of Love ministries. Originally from the Grove City (OH) Vineyard, Scott and Becky have been in Brazil for more than two years now, and VCKC has sent a mission team to Castanhal to partner with the Joellenbecks on two occasions, with another trip scheduled for June, 2008.

Taught by Scott Joellenbeck, Special Guest - Length: 44:30 - 15.3MB

Revisiting our Vineyard Values: Unity

Sun, 2 Dec 2007 18:36:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 2, 2007 - Today's message on the value of unity is delivered by special guest Joe Boyd. Joe is the teaching pastor at the Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we are thankful for his efforts to travel to Mount Vernon and share God's word with us.

Taught by Joe Boyd, Special Guest - Length: 42:02 - 14.4MB

Revisiting our Vineyard Values: Kingdom Theology

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:36:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 11, 2007 - Today’s message is a precursor to what we will be talking about over the next couple of months. We’re going to be going through the Vineyard Values, starting today with “Kingdom Theology.” We realize that there are a lot of new faces in our fellowship over the last several weeks, and this is really exciting for us, but it also has caused us to want to share with newcomers and long-time attenders what our Vineyard Values are—those attributes that make our church a Vineyard.

Taught by Sharon Mutchler, Assistant Pastor - Length: 34:12 - 11.70MB

Discernment of Spirits

Mon, 28 May 2007 03:41:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, May 26, 2007 - Message from May 27, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 44:17 - 15.9MB - Outline (pdf)

Words of Wisdom and Knowledge

Mon, 21 May 2007 03:40:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, May 19, 2007 - Message from May 20, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 34:26 - 6.3MB - Outline (pdf)

Message from May 13, 2007

Mon, 14 May 2007 03:39:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, May 12, 2007 - Message from May 13, 2007

Taught by Kirtene Macky, Leadership Council Member - Length: 40:25 - 14.6MB

Gifts of the Spirit: What and Why

Mon, 7 May 2007 03:38:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, May 5, 2007 - Message from May 6, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 45:28 - 16.3MB - Outline (pdf)

Message from April 15, 2007

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:36:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, April 14, 2007 - Message from April 15, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 36:35 - 6.7MB

Message from April 8, 2007

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 03:35:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, April 7, 2007 - Message from April 8, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 29:08 - 8.7MB

Message from April 1, 2007

Mon, 2 Apr 2007 03:35:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, March 31, 2007 - Message from April 1, 2007

Taught by Sharon Mutchler, Assistant Pastor - Length: 40:34 - 12.1MB

Message from March 25, 2007

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:33:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, March 24, 2007 - Message from March 25, 2007

Taught by Sharon Mutchler, Assistant Pastor - Length: 49:38 - 8.9MB

Have You Been There?

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:27:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, March 18, 2007 - Chronic illness. Daily trials. Life as we know it. Is God listening? Chris Macky speaks from his experience with an ongoing illness, and shares from scripture about our true source of hope....Message begins with testimony from Holly Tetlow...

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 40:00 - 26.00mb - Outline (pdf)

Message from March 11, 2007

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:31:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Message from March 11, 2007

Taught by Josh Colley, Leadership Council Member - Length: 26:02 - 4.8MB

Message from February 25, 2007

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 03:29:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, February 24, 2007 - Message from February 25, 2007

Taught by Sharon Mutchler, Assistant Pastor - Length: 48:50 - 8.8MB

Mystery Revealed

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:35:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, February 18, 2007 - Gospel of John: Encountering the real Jesus.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 31:44 - 5.7MB - Outline (pdf)

The Greatest Invitation

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:27:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, February 10, 2007 - Message from February 11, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 29:27 - 5.3MB - Outline (pdf)

Message from February 4, 2007

Mon, 5 Feb 2007 03:25:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, February 3, 2007 - Message from February 4, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 32:42 - 5.9MB

Message from January 28, 2007

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:24:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, January 27, 2007 - Message from January 28, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 32:21 - 11.6MB - Outline (pdf)

Message from January 21, 2007

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 03:23:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, January 20, 2007 - Message from January 21, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 27:28 - 9.9MB - Outline (pdf)

Message from January 14, 2007

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 03:22:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, January 13, 2007 - Message from January 14, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 22:53 - 4.2MB - Outline (pdf)

Message from January 7, 2007

Mon, 8 Jan 2007 03:20:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, January 6, 2007 - Message from January 7, 2007

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 28:31 - 5.2MB

Message from December 31, 2006

Mon, 1 Jan 2007 03:18:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Saturday, December 30, 2006 - Message from December 31, 2006

Taught by Sharon Mutchler, Assistant Pastor - Length: 31:20 - 5.7MB

According to Plan

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:14:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 10, 2006 - This is the second sunday in Advent 2006

Taught by Kirtene Macky, Leadership Council Member - Length: 16:11 - 7.41MB

Deborah’s Descent

Sun, 3 Dec 2006 20:25:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 3, 2006 - The First Sunday of Advent

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 21:49 - 9.99MB

Deborah’s Descent

Sun, 3 Dec 2006 19:52:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 3, 2006 - The First Sunday of Advent

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 30:50 - 09.99MB

Feasting in the Kingdom

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 21:08:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 26, 2006 - We continue our Light of the World series.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 26:00 - 11.9MB

Focusing Outward

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:11:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 19, 2006 - Continuing with the Light of the World series Focusing Outward

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 30:00 - 9.3MB

“WE” in a world of “ME”

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:14:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 12, 2006 - We continue the Light of the World Series

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 36:00 - 10.6MB

Embracing Mystery

Sun, 5 Nov 2006 22:44:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 5, 2006 - We continue our Light of the World Series

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 42:51 - 13.5MB

Givers in a World of Consumers

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 02:38:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 29, 2006 - The light of Christ shines in us and through us when we do money and possessions well.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 30:00 - 12.00MB

Integrity in a Crooked World Part II

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:07:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 22, 2006 - “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify the Father.” We are in the middle of a series in which God is teaching us how to actually live lives that glorify him, that is, lives that shine in the darkness of our world. We’ve been considering the darkness of the culture in which we live and how we as Christ-followers can live counter-cultural lives for the sake of those in the darkness.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 35:00 - 12.00MB

Integrity in a Crooked World

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 02:21:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 15, 2006 - In 2005, a year filled with political wrangling, natural disasters, and pop culture curiosities, Americans turned to the online dictionary of Merriam-Webster to help define it all. "Filibuster." Refugee." "Tsunami." Each was among the dictionary publisher's 10 most frequently looked up words among some 7 million users of its online site. But topping the list is a word that some say gives insight into the country's collective concern about its values: "Integrity."The noun, formally defined as a "firm adherence to a code" and "incorruptibility," has always been popular on the Springfield-based company's website, said Merriam-Webster President John Morse. But in 2005, the true meaning of integrity seemed to be of extraordinary concern. About 200,000 people sought its definition. "I think the American people have isolated a very important issue for our society to be dealing with," Morse said. "The entire list gives us an interesting window that opens up into what people are thinking about in their lives."

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 34:09 - 11.07MB

Live and Serve

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:28:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 8, 2006 - In the movie First Knight, Lancelot (played by Richard Gere) is a wanderer and highly skilled swordsman who fights for whoever will pay him. In one particular scene, King Arthur and Camelot's values of serving others and something greater than yourself is contrasted with Lancelot's selfish and solitary lifestyle.Camelot was the fictional light of the world. The church of Jesus Christ is the actual light of the world and we allow our light to shine when we live differently than the rest of the world. We’re talking about being the light of the world in this series. We want to be a church, that is, a group of Christ-followers whose lives shine in the darkness so that those in the darkness can find their way to the Light of Life, Jesus Christ.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 39:10 - 12.07MB

You Are The Light of the World

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 20:44:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, September 24, 2006 - Chris Macky begins a new sermons series entitled Light of the World...

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 33:26 - 10.07MB

Just Do Something

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 02:01:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, September 10, 2006 - Conclusion of the "Seizing Our Divine Moment" series.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 32:00 - 09.07MB

What If You Couldn’t Fail

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:40:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, July 30, 2006 - What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Start a business? Change jobs? Move? Trying out for a play or a team? Share your faith with a friend? Go on the mission field? Get involved in a ministry? Start a ministry? So, why not try it? Answer: because I might fail. To which I respond, “So?”We’re continuing our series called “Seizing Our Divine Moment,” and today we’re again looking at something that could be a hindrance to many of us seizing the moments that God gives us in life to experience His work in our lives. God regularly presents us with opportunities that have eternal potential, potential to change lives and affect eternity. We want to become people who seize those moments and step into the fullness of life in Christ.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 36:18 - 09.07mb

What If You Couldn’t Fail

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:40:00 EST

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 36:18 - 09.07mb

Chris and Rebecca Barth Farewell

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 23:59:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, July 23, 2006 - At the Vineyard Church of Knox County we like the phrase "Everyone gets to play". Chris and Rebecca Barth played well...As members of the Vineyard in Knox county since it's inception they were totally immersed in many phases of ministry, from teaching to media to home bible study groups. They are leaving our church for new opportunities in Iowa, and they will be missed. This is their farewell message....

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 32:50 - 08.00mb

Missions Sharing

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 01:48:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, July 16, 2006 - Missions is the word again this weekend at VCKC. Elizabeth Jackson shares on her local mission at Joy of Living camp, Kathy Bomba and the Honduras team share about their recent trip.

Taught by Kathy Bomba, Childrens Ministry Coordinator - Length: 40:40 - 23.20mb

On Missions

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 02:20:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, July 9, 2006 - Guest speaker Dennis Hill speaks on missions.

Taught by Dennis Hill, Special Guest - Length: 40:21 - 11.8mb

A Revolutionary Moment in Time

Mon, 3 Jul 2006 03:09:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, July 2, 2006 - History is written one moment at a time. We are celebrating this weekend one revolutionary moment in time as we remember back to the year 1776 and the events that led to the Independence of America from Britain. I just finished reading David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book 1776 that tells the story of George Washington and the American Army in the year 1776. I wonder if you know just how amazing was the defeat of the British forces by the Americans and just how close they were to losing the war. In April of 1776, Washington and the Americans marched from Boston to New York believing that New York was critical to winning the war against the British. Over the next few months after arriving in Brooklyn, Washington and the Americans watched as over 300 ships of the British Navy sailed into New York Harbor and Staten Island carrying over 32,000 soldiers, more than the largest American City, Philadelphia. Not only were they the largest navy ever assembled, but they were the best trained and best equipped the world had ever seen. Sound familiar? Yes, this is how we describe the U.S. armed forces today. So, picture the U.S. invading some ill-equipped, outnumbered country. Can you do that? That’s what it was like. The fighting in New York soon began in early fall of 1776 with the British taking Brooklyn in a sound defeat of Washington’s forces, and later in November Washington watched as British troops overwhelmed and destroyed fort Washington. After these two sound defeats, Washington was leading an army of approximately 3000 hungry, tired, ill-equipped, sickly men against the dominant British forces. So, what did he do? Right, he high-tailed it out of there and headed Southwest toward the continental seat of Philadelphia. In the middle of the night on November 21, 1776, Washington led a retreat over the Hudson River and into New Jersey. McCullough tells the story of how 10,000 British soldiers followed Washington’s ragtag army down through New Jersey—Newark, then Brunswick, then Princeton, and finally Trenton—until, finally, the Americans crossed the Delaware River on December 7th and set up camp on the Pennsylvania shoreline. The Americans were worried that the British would cross the Delaware and take Philadelphia, but it turns out that the British decided to wait out the winter before attacking. So, the British left 1500 troops in Trenton and the rest went back to New York to winter in comfort. As he analyzed the bleak situation after the defeats in Brooklyn, George Washington wrote that nothing less than a last-ditch, “brilliant stroke” was needed to survive. That’s when he formulated the brilliant plan to cross the Delaware in the middle of the night and lead a surprise attack on Trenton. He would take 2,400 men on Christmas night 1776 across the rough, icy Delaware River right in the middle of a full-blown northeaster storm. Each man carried 60 pounds of ammunition and 3 days’ worth of food, which added to the feat of marching 5 miles to Trenton after being drenched in icy water in the middle of the night. This relatively small group of men attacked the British in Trenton, New Jersey, beginning around 8:00 a.m. on December 26th, 1776, and changed the course of history. The attack lasted only 45 minutes but it was the defining moment in the Revolutionary War, a moment that Washington seized, a moment that has resulted in the establishment of the United States of America. Commenting on the miraculous turn-around that resulted from Washington’s crossing the Delaware River and taking Trenton, McCullough wrote: "It was Trenton and the night crossing of the Delaware that were rightly seen as a great turning point [in the Revolutionary War]. Measured by the size of its importance to those fighting for the Cause of America, those everywhere in the country who saw Washington and his army as the one means of deliverance of American independence and all that was promised by the Declaration of Independence, Trenton was the first great cause of hope, a brave and truly “brilliant” stroke. From the last week of August to the last week of December, the year 1776 had been as dark a time as those devoted to the American cause had ever known—indeed, as dark a time as any in the history of the country. And suddenly, miraculously it seemed, that had changed because of a small band of determined men and their leader. That one morning in December 1776 in Trenton, New Jersey, changed the course of history. It didn’t last long but the consequences have shaped the future of this country and the world. We never know when a moment in time will shape the future, but if we are walking with the God of the universe, every moment and any moment has the potential to have an explosive impact.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 26:44 - 7.0MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

From the Brazilian Mission Field

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 03:07:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, June 25, 2006 - Missionaries from Brazil who are supported in part by the Vineyard Church of Knox County share of their experiences.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 21:47 - 5.2MB

The Lungbuster Special

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 03:04:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, June 18, 2006 - In the May 15th issue of Sports Illustrated, the personal stories of two world-class athletes were told. Hines Ward, the Super Bowl MVP wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the son of an African American father and a Korean mother. In the article, it is clear that Hines is still wrestling with his identity and his place in the world. Some quotes in the article from Hines come from a heart that is restless and even bitter, a heart that lacks peace.There was another article in that issue about Tiger Woods, rather about Tiger’s father, Earl. I’ll read part of it to you later, and you will hear why Tiger, also an Asian American, is secure in his identity and place in the world; he has peace. A few weeks after these articles were published, a man wrote a letter to SI noting the differences between these two athletes. He wrote: "I was moved both by the article on Hines Ward and by Rick Reilly’s column on Earl Woods. As a father and an Asian-American, I found it interesting to note the differences in the lives of these two outstanding athletes, both of whom have Asian mothers. Tiger seems to be at peace with himself, while Hines seems bitter and angry. One seems to be fine with being an Asian-American, while the other has only recently found peace with his dual identity. One had a father who was always there for him, but the other didn’t. Do fathers matter? – “Remember Earl” in SI Letters, June 5, 2006

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 24:14 - 6.7MB - Slides (pdf)

On Freedom

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 03:13:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, June 11, 2006 - We're halfway between Memorial Day and Independence Day, and alongside the Knox County Veteran's Association today in Riverside Park, we'll spend a little time understanding how important freedom is to us. Many have fought and died to give us the freedom we are enjoying today - the freedom to gather and worship. Yet political freedom is only the tip of the iceberg, for freedom of Christ should truly be our most prized possession and gift.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 26:44 - 7.7MB

The Divinity of Jesus

Mon, 5 Jun 2006 04:07:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, June 4, 2006 - What's the big deal, it's just a novel, some of you may be thinking about The Da Vinci Code. The big deal is that Dan Brown has so blurred the line between fact and fiction that many people are reading this book or watching the movie and wondering what to believe about Jesus, Mary Magdalen, and Christianity. One page in the book makes the claim that the art, architecture, and secret rituals are all historically accurate. In other words, the book is a fictional novel that reflects historical fact. It would be like an author writing a book about WWII, a fictional story he made up based on the historical fact of the war. No big deal, right?Many of us have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, which is just that, a fictional story based in historical fact. But imagine this WWII novel suggested that Germany won the war and Hitler was alive and well today. Well, this is exactly the scenario we have in TDC: Brown’s fictional novel claims historical fact but as we investigate it we see flaw after flaw in his interpretation of history. The difference is this: most people know the history of WWII. Not many people know the history of early Christianity, even many Christians, so they aren’t able to dismiss false claims because they don’t know the truth. So, the big deal is not the claims in TDC. No. The big deal is that Christians are not grounded in their faith enough to know these claims are false. We want to be people who know what we believe and why we believe it so that if we read or hear claims like those posed in TDC we can at least be confident that our faith is founded on the truth. That’s the big deal. In the book, Brown makes the claim that the Bible we have today is not the accurate history of Jesus of Nazareth who lived and died in the region of Galilee 2000 years ago. We learned two weeks ago that we can be confident that the Bible is the accurate history of Jesus and early Christianity. Secondly, Brown claims that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and fathered a child whose ancestors are alive today – Mary is the true Holy Grail. Last week Rebecca taught us, first why we believe that Jesus was not married, but also the fact that a married Jesus doesn’t throw a wrench into our faith. Jesus, we believe, was fully human and being married and having a child are not evil or immoral or somehow sinful. Jesus could have been married and remained sinless, though we believe very confidently that he was single. Finally, today we tackle the central issue in Christianity, which is, Who was Jesus?

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 34:33 - 10.9MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Jesus and Mary Magdalene

Mon, 29 May 2006 01:50:59 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, May 28, 2006 - It's fairly safe to make the statement, "Everybody loves a wedding." Perhaps if you're in the throes of planning one, and overwhelmed by the stresses the event can bring, that statement doesn't apply to you. But more often than not, though we may even be stressed out, we still love it. For many, it's the spectacle of the whole thing. A great example of this is a royal wedding. It's estimated that 750 million people watched Charles & Diana wed in 1981 - that's not counting the 600,000 who turned out in the streets to cheer on the couple. Like a moth to a light, we can't help but watch and enjoy on some level. We are in week two of this series, using the claims made in The Da Vinci Code as a launching point to investigate our Christian faith. The point of this series isn't to say "yea" or "nay" to the book or the movie. The point is to use the book's claims about Christianity that it purports are true - claims that if they were true, would challenge the way we understand the person of Jesus and therefore the most basic expressions of our faith - to investigate why we believe what we believe. This week we examine the claims that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. We'll look at what the evidence is, and ask the question, why does it matter?

Taught by Rebecca Barth, College Ministry Coordinator - Length: 37:48 - 10.8MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

The Reliability of the Bible

Sun, 21 May 2006 21:12:02 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, May 21, 2006 - Imagine you find yourself in a conversation with someone who has come to your door or with someone at work, or better yet maybe you read a book that makes the claim that the Bible you believe in and read, the Bible we feed on each week in church is actually a lie and he, the author, can prove it. He says that the Gospels were written not in the first century by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but was written centuries after Jesus died and the real Bible that told of the origins of Christianity were burned by Constantine in the 325 A.D. in a grand cover-up. What's more, these documents that tell of the real Jesus show that he was not divine, but was just a mortal prophet. Furthermore, some of these documents survived Constantine's efforts and have been found, documents that include the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Phillip, and the Gospel of Judas.You would then have to decide how to respond, right? We could do the fake faith response. You know that one, right? It goes like this, "Well, I just have faith that the Bible is God's Word and I don't need anything else than that." Of course, we need faith to approach the Bible properly, but that response is simply an excuse not to actually think through your beliefs. Another possible response is this, "Boy that's interesting, let me research my faith a bit and get back to you on that." Is the Bible reliable as we know it? How did it come to be, and why can we trust it and not other gospels? We'll look at these questions in the first part of a three-part look at questions arising from The Da Vinci Code.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 33:14 - 10.9MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

On Psalm 23

Mon, 15 May 2006 03:13:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, May 14, 2006 - Assistant Pastor Sharon Mutchler shares a message on Psalm 23 and Mother's Day.

Taught by Assistant Pastor Sharon Mutchler - Length: 49:02 - 12.5MB

What Are You Doing to Advance the Great Commission?

Mon, 8 May 2006 04:13:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, May 7, 2006 - The mission field is big enough for everyone, and this morning, we explore just a few of the ways anyone and everyone can participate. Our church is connected through a number of national and international mission opportunities, including Compassion, presented by Kirtene Macky, Mission to Brazil, presented by Chris Macky, Mission to India, presented by Skip Trask, Mission to Honduras, presented by Kathy Bomba, and YWAM (Youth With A Mission) outreach to Arkansas. Our Senior High Youth will travel to Arkansas this summer for a mission outreach. We all are called to the mission field ... where are you called to serve?

Taught by Senior Pastor Chris Macky - Length: 44:43 - 12.1MB

Breakthrough Testimonies

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 02:15:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, April 23, 2006 - We wrap up our nine week series on Breakthrough with testimonies from leaders Eric Hockenberry and Amy Hudson (assisted by Mo Helser and Kirtene Macky). Their testimonies show the breakthrough Christ offers us in our worthiness to Him, and in physical healing. When we truly turn over our lives to Him, He surprises us in ways we never could have imagined ... and breaks through to call us into deeper relationship with Him.

Taught by Senior Pastor Chris Macky - Length: 31:22 - 8.7MB

Breakthrough of Victory

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:44:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, April 16, 2006 - Oh, what a future we have to look forward to! Jesus has passed through death, so we don't have to die. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11: 25-26).Where, O Death, is your sting? Death has been swallowed up in victory! Our future is bright and secure! C.S. Lewis illustrates that wonderful resurrection day all those who are in Christ will experience when we trade our heartbeat for glory. In the final book of his Chronicles of Narnia, the book ends with this message from Aslan the Lion to the kids. "The term is over; the holidays have begun. The dream is ended; this is the morning..."

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 33:20 - 10.7MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Breakthrough of the Passion

Sun, 9 Apr 2006 19:49:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, April 9, 2006 - We have arrived on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter that is traditionally the Sunday on which we recognize Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the final week of his life. But in our BreakThrough series, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem two weeks ago and we've been learning about the kingdom in the last week of Jesus' life.Last week we learned about the Last Supper, that Jesus had foreseen his crucifixion and taught the disciples about his broken body and shed blood in the upper room during the Passover meal. After the evening meal, Jesus takes his disciples out the Mount of Olives, to a garden called Gethsemane. The Passion begins in the Garden of Gethsemane. If you've seen the movie The Passion of the Christ the first scene is in the Garden as Jesus is praying. Soon a band of thugs comes to arrest Jesus as Judas betrays his leader. The disciples scatter, while Peter hangs low in the shadows watching from a distance as Jesus is pulled to court. It seems that after three years of ministry in Galilee, the wheels of Jesus' life and ministry are falling off. Everything seems to be falling apart. He's in real trouble, it seems. Today we see the Breakthrough of the Passion, the suffering and death of Jesus, the Messiah. Three important nuggets of truth come from this last day in Jesus' life.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 30:14 - 10.1MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Breakthrough of the Future

Sun, 2 Apr 2006 19:23:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, April 2, 2006 - Peter, James and John sit with Jesus on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple in Jerusalem and ask, "What are the signs of fulfillment?" Jesus tells them the signs of the end of the age when the kingdom of God will come in its fullness. The signs are like the buds on the flowers and the trees, indications that something new is breaking through. These signs, which include wars, famines, and earthquakes, are the "birth pains." Ladies, what can you be sure of if you have birth pains? Don't overthink this. Right, birth pains mean birth is imminent.Jesus is telling his disciples that God has a plan that will be fully birthed in the future. This new birth will be pre-dated by signs of its imminent arrival. This new birth will include salvation to all who are in the kingdom of God. Jesus says it this way in verse 13, "He who stands firm to the end will be saved." Wait a minute! I thought salvation is available today. When we put our trust in Jesus Christ aren't we saved today? Well, yes. Salvation to Jesus is not a one time event, but it is a one and done event and it is a future reality. So, biblically speaking, kingdom-dwellers are saved and kingdom-dwellers will be saved. Your future destiny is simply an extension of your current condition. If you enter the kingdom in this life, then you will enter the kingdom come when it comes in full. Verse 26-27, "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." The elect are those who have cast their lot in life on the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Jesus says in verse 23, "I have told you everything ahead of time," so that we can be prepared to make a decision today. We know that the future kingdom will birth a new creation and all who live in the kingdom today will live in the kingdom come. The kingdom dwellers are all those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God. This is what Jesus taught his disciples at what we call the "Last Supper."

Taught by Senior Pastor Chris Macky - Length: 27:33 - 8.9MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Breakthrough of True Power

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 23:11:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, March 26, 2006 - We're all here today because we have faith. Some of us have a great deal of faith and some of us have little faith. We're all here because we've had some kind of encounter with God or with Jesus and we're trying to work out that faith in our everyday lives. All of us have prayed, asking God for something that has not come to pass. We deal with the tension of trying to live a Christian life that is impossible to live in our own power.Our Breakthrough series continues today in the Gospel of Mark as Jesus enters Jerusalem, his final stop while on earth. He had been serving and healing and preaching for three years around the sea of Galilee and around the Jordan River, and now in this section of Mark, Jesus finally arrives in the city that will crucify him in just a few days time. And it is during this final week of his life on earth that he teaches his disciples about true kingdom power. Jesus showed them what a life of true power looked like over the previous three years. He demonstrated authority over sickness by healing diseases. He demonstrated authority over demons by casting them out. He demonstrated authority over creation by calming storms and walking on water and cursing fig trees. Cursing fig trees? Jesus had finally entered Jerusalem during Passover Week then goes out of town to Bethany for the night. The next day as he was walking with his disciples into Jerusalem Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves but no fruit and says to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it" (Mk. 11:14). He demonstrated power and authority over the whole religious system by cleansing the temple. After passing the fig tree, Jesus enters the temple, which has a large open air porch area where men are selling things to sacrifice - animals and grains, etc. Jesus freaks out, turns over all the tables and proclaims judgment on that whole system. Then he goes out of the city for the night again. The next morning he again walks into Jerusalem with his disciples and when they come to the fig tree that Jesus cursed the day before they see that it has died. And they are amazed! Look at that, boys, it actually withered! To this amazement Jesus responds with words that have huge implications for us in the Christian life. We're tackling a passage that has huge implications to it, a passage that has been used to the detriment of millions of people, a passage that is very easily misinterpreted. It's a tough passage, but it's a vital passage if we are truly going to live the kingdom life. The title of this lesson is "Breakthrough of True Power."

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 35:52 - 11.4MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Breakthrough of True Life

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 22:42:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, March 19, 2006 - "What is true life and how do I find it?" This question is a fundamentally human question, a question that crosses cultures and languages, continents and centuries. Every human who stops to think about his/her life asks this question, What does it mean to truly live? And, How do I find that true life?

Inherent in that question is the belief that, as William Wallace said in the movie Braveheart, “All men die, but not all men truly live.” Not everyone enters the true life; not everyone truly lives. Some die long before their body gives up. Life is lived day-to-day, without truly living. Others seem to have a depth, a quality of the eternal, about them.

What is this eternal kind of life and how do I live it? That’s the question.

People search for this true life in books and celebrities, in other people and within themselves. It may surprise you to know that Jesus of Nazareth had a few good things to say about living the eternal kind of life. Now, I say that tongue-in-cheek, but I also believe that many Christians today hold a view of Jesus as someone who doesn’t have a lot of good advice in how to live on earth. Jesus, many understand, is mainly the unique Son of God who died on the cross for my sins in order for me to be forgiven and to open the door for me to go to heaven when I die. That is, the crux of Jesus’ life and death is for when I die, not for life now. Jesus’ role is as a sacrifice for my sins, not as wise teacher whose life I can enter now. Eternal life is seen as a life that begins when we die, not as a life that can and should be entered right now.
The problem is that we have been obsessed with this idea that the real issue is “making the cut” to get to heaven. We have taken the present life of discipleship out of the conversation. Once you have been forgiven, you still have to live. Jesus is about the redemption of actual life from actual sin.

Jesus matters because of what he brought and what he still brings to ordinary human beings, living their ordinary lives and coping daily with their surroundings. He promises wholeness to their lives. He comes where we are, and he brings us the (true) life we hunger for. An early report reads, “Life was in him, life that made sense of human existence” (John 1:4).

We’ve been studying the Gospel of Mark and learning how the Kingdom of God is the center of the Christian life and message. Today’s passage is a collection of lessons from Jesus that reveal the Kingdom life that is available to each person, a life that has of it the scent of the eternal. Those who enter it truly live.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 29:47 - 9.8MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Breakthrough of the Miraculous

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 20:46:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, March 12, 2006 - Do you believe in miracles? This is relevant both in culture at large as well as within the church. I did a Google search on "Do you believe in miracles?" The 1980 men's hockey olympic team was at the top of the results list (about seven screens worth). Two teams stepped on the ice that day, one was going to win, and the other was going to lose, so there was a 50% chance that the U.S. team was going to win from a straight statistical point of view. That's like me flipping a quarter and every time it landed on heads shouting "Do you believe in miracles? It's heads!"We have come to a time in our culture where the West has really abandoned the thought of a sovereign God interacting in his creation -- of the creator actually having an impact on His creation. We've forfeited that to the power of our minds and science, and what we're left with is a post-modern era where people aren't opposed to experience, but if you attach the phrase God or Jesus to it, no way is that relevant for most people. Those are ancient thoughts, not forces that can interact with us today.

Taught by Special Guest Robb Morgan - Length: 43:04 - 12.0MB

Breakthrough of Freedom

Sun, 5 Mar 2006 20:07:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, March 5, 2006 - The Kingdom is central to the life and ministry of Jesus - he proclaimed it, explained it, passed it on to his followers - so it is central to the life and ministry of the Vineyard. The Kingdom of God is the foundation for everything we do in the Vineyard. Recently the National Director of the Vineyard said, "We are not a healing movement; we are not a worship movement; we are not a seeker movement; rather, we are a Kingdom of God movement." In other words, all that we do and say, all that we teach and how we minister in the Vineyard is built on the foundational truth of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. So, what we believe about healing is founded on our understanding of the Kingdom of God. And it is the foundation of all of the Christian life. So, a proper understanding of the Kingdom of God is necessary if we want to fully experience the eternal kind of life the God offers to everyone here. The series will bring us to an accurate understanding of the significance of the Kingdom. We learned last week that the Kingdom of God broke through in the person of Jesus. At his baptism the heavens were torn open to pour out the future onto the present. The future destiny of the earth is a destiny of healing, and wholeness, a destiny devoid of sickness and death. That future overlapped our age in the person of Jesus. It's as if the earth was under a cloud of darkness and the smell of mold when the shutters on the windows were thrown open to welcome in the light of God and the fresh air of the kingdom of God. The rest of the Gospel of Mark is the portrait of the consequences of the arrival of the Kingdom. In other words, what Jesus does and what he says paints the picture of the in-breaking Kingdom. As N.T. Wright explains, "Jesus soon became better known for healing than for baptizing. And it was his remarkable healings, almost certainly, that won him a hearing. He was not a teacher who also healed; he was a prophet of the kingdom, first enacting and then explaining that kingdom." We'll consider three scenes in the ministry of Jesus in which he demonstrates the kingdom brings freedom from oppression, sickness, and death.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 31:19 - 9.7MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Breakthrough of The Kingdom

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 23:10:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, February 26, 2006 - "Much that once was, is lost, for none lived who could remember it. Some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth." These words are from the opening scene of the film The Fellowship of the Ring, based on the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord of the Ring.Much that once was, is lost. This applies to Christianity in this country, I believe. Author and pastor Erwin MacManus writes, "Jesus is being lost in a religion bearing his name." Much that once was about Jesus and the faith he birthed has been lost and we are seeing the consequences of that lost-ness in the profound demise of our oldest and largest denominations. Churches that have lost the life-changing, culture-transforming message of Jesus are dying and churches that are willing to get back to what Jesus dreamed of in the 1st Century are growing. A New kind of Christianity and a new kind of Christian is emerging in our country, new not to God but to our culture. In fact the changes seem to be a sweeping renewal back to the original message and ministry of Jesus. So, books with titles like, A New Kind of Christian, and The Lost Message of Jesus, are being devoured by those hungry for the reality of Jesus. Because, let's face it, Christianity in this country historically is anemic, and churches who espouse this modern message and ministry are producing Christians whose lives don't seem to be any different than non-Christians. Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian, writes, "Either Christianity itself is flawed, failing and untrue, or our modern, Western, commercialized, industrial-strength version of it is in need of a fresh look, a serious revision." We are beginning a series called Breakthrough this week, which is based on Mark's story in the Bible of Jesus' life and ministry 2000 years ago. My desire is to present this message of Jesus in its true clarity and accuracy to lay the foundation for true faith.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 33:41 - 9.8MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Works in Progress: Testimonies

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 02:58:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, February 19, 2006 - The journeys of our lives are full of highlights and lowlights, but the fundamental fact remains: we are all works of progress as we develop and grow. We have the choice to develop and grow with God and to continually pursue Him, or to turn away seeking strength and comfort from ourselves, or from the world. Two members of our congregation, Skip Trask and Deena Hogue share their own lives as "works in progress" for God, recognizing that while life may not always be what we ourselves would design, He never leaves us, and is continually building us to be more and more like Him.

Taught by Assistant Pastor Sharon Mutchler - Length: 42:31 - 11.9MB

How to Love

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 21:02:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, February 12, 2006 - I don't know about you, but Valentine's Day always brings to me a variety of emotional responses. I used to think Valentine's Day was created by Hallmark as a random way to make money. I was wrong. We don't really know the origin of Valentine's Day, but there are theories. Here's a brief synopsis of the various theories:St. Valentine was actually two people (that weren't romantically involved) who were martyred on the same day (c. 270). Feasts commemorating them were celebrated on February 14. One was a priest and physician who died in Rome during the persecution of Christians by Claudius II Grothicus. The other was the bishop at Terni, Italy who was also martyred in Rome. Both have been buried at different places along the Flaminian Way. Another theory has something to do with mating rituals of birds. The origin of that tradition is not thought to have any connection with the saint's day. Rather it comes from an early European belief that the second week of February was when birds began to mate. The idea suggests that lovers should probably exchange notes and gifts on February 14 in conjunction with what nature practiced. Another theory goes like this: The lover's holiday has its beginnings in the 4th century B.C. in Rome. The Romans held an annual lottery wherein young men would draw a young woman's name from a box. The couple would be assigned to each other the entire year for entertainment and pleasure. This celebration, traditionally held on February 15, also included banquets, dancing and foot races run in the nude. Around A.D. 496, early church fathers sought an end to the pagan practice, but knew better than to upset the citizens by removing the lottery completely. Instead, they had teenagers pull the names of saints from the box. The teen was supposed to spend the year emulating that saint's life as much as possible, which was probably not as much fun as naked marathons. St. Valentine was chosen as the patron saint of the new event, and young Roman men resorted to courting females by sending handwritten notes delivered on February 14.

Taught by Senior Pastor Chris Macky - Length: 29:03 - 8.4MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

God’s Worldwide Drama

Sun, 5 Feb 2006 22:26:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, February 5, 2006 - The Creator of the world has a plan for the world, a story whose current chapter began 2000 years ago when Jesus announced, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near," a chapter whose ending will come when Jesus returns to usher in the fullness of God's Kingdom. God has a plan for this world. Jesus' disciples were asking him about the end times, when and how they would occur. Jesus told them he didn't know exactly when, but he did know when it would not occur. He said, "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). "Ethne" is the Greek word translated here as "nations." It means peoples or tribes rather than countries.) The end will not come until every ethnic group has been reached. John's revelation of the future bares this truth out, "I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9). From Jesus' time until today, men and women have been invited to take part in this cosmic drama of spreading the gospel of the kingdom to every corner of the globe. Jesus' invitation in the form of a command is this: "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). And, so we are invited to join Jesus in his mission to spread his good news of the gospel to every kind of person on the planet in hopes that when every ethnic group is reached, he will return soon.

Taught by Senior Pastor Chris Macky - Length: 41:38 - 11.7MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

What and Who is a Minister?

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 04:48:02 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, January 29, 2006 - Growing up I never wanted to be a minister. I didn't think church was all that exciting and I didn't want to stick out in society. The ministers always wore weird clothes—collars or robes—that set them apart from others. I never wanted to be set apart; I just wanted to be one of the guys. No, ministry was never a dream of mine. Yet, here I am, a minister.It would be interesting to hear some of your images of ministers. I wonder if you know that part of the Christian package is being a minister? Yep, that's right. Did you know that a follower of Jesus is a minister? We have different names for followers of Jesus: Christians, believers, born-agains, and ministers. One tragedy of the Christian church over the centuries is the lost truth that every follower of Jesus is a minister, a person who is gifted and called by God to participate in ministry. I believe this has been one of the reasons our churches are so anemic, powerless, and immature in kingdom ministry. I believe this has been one of the main reasons why Christians, everyday, normal followers of Jesus, are so anemic, immature in the kingdom. The church is only now, I believe, coming into harmony with God's vision for the life of the church and the lives of individual Christians. Be honest, when you think of those people in ministry, you automatically think of pastors and missionaries. When you think of yourself as a follower of Jesus, you don't naturally think of yourself as a minister. You just wouldn't use that term. Believing that ministry is a unique calling on a select few people has stunted the growth of churches and Christians for too long. It's time to break out of that mindset and live the kind of eternal life that Jesus died to give us. We want to be all that God wants us to be in this church and as individuals; that's our New Year's resolution for 2006. So, we are resolving to fulfill God's mission and vision for us. Today we learn from the scriptures God's original intent for ministry, that every person is anointed and set apart for ministry in the church.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 30:13 - 9.0MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Apprenticeship of a Lifetime

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 21:53:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, January 22, 2006 - "This is your life; are you who you want to be?" This is a line from a popular Contemporary Christian song by Switchfoot. It's a question we ask of ourselves at this time of year, don't we? We take a look at our lives, what we are doing and who we are, and we evaluate in order to try to improve. So, are you who you want to be? Probably not. Are you living a life that is fully alive, life abundant, life at its highest potential? When I ask those questions we all have a picture or an idea in mind of what abundant life really means. It certainly varies somewhat from person to person, but I think each of us can agree that full, abundant life is a life of deep joy, purpose, love. It is a life that has the taste of the eternal, a life that really matters, a life that really satisfies our deepest longings.So, with that longing in our hearts for that kind of life, and our desire to change who we are, the question is, What is your strategy for change? As you look forward to a new year, a year with great possibility and potential, a new start, what is your strategy for change? How do you plan to take a step toward the eternal kind of life? What are your resolutions? The truth is, God wants to give you that kind of life and he wants to make you into who you want to be - fully alive, fully human, fully yourself. And he has given us the way and the power to see that come to pass. It isn't a strategy that you will find in any religion or in any business manual. It is the only way for us to experience the life we long for and the only way for us to change into the fully alive, fully human person we long to be. It is the way of discipleship to Jesus. Today we take a look at what discipleship is and how it is the key to living the rich life and becoming fully human.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 28:18 - 8.8MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

The Necessity of Fellowship

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:50:59 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, January 15, 2006 - I love the camaraderie that results from fighting side-by-side, the bonds that develop from a well-fought battle. Bonds that are forged in the heat of battle are oftentimes life-long. The members of the Texas Western basketball team, the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win the NCAA tournament whose story is told in the movie "Glory Road", continue to share that bond today that they forged 40 years ago fighting side-by-side through a difficult mission. They experienced true fellowship. Fellowship is not just making friends, as enjoyable as that is. Fellowship is building bonds between Christians in order to fight with one another and fight for one another. It is vital that we take this journey side-by-side and back-to-back for we will fail if we try to go it alone. Together is better.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 23:22 - 6.2MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Worship As It Is In Heaven

Mon, 9 Jan 2006 05:16:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, January 8, 2006 - Well, it's that time of year again, the beginning of a new calendar, at which time we take stock of our lives and resolve to make changes. We examine what's really important in our lives and what's not so important and try to do life better. Many people try to shed a few pounds, a worthy goal if you are unhealthy and overweight but a not-so-worthy goal if you are not overweight. Wouldn't you agree? Some people, usually women, look at very unrealistic, air-brushed pictures of other women on magazine covers and walk away thinking, "I'm fat," when in reality, they are healthy. It's the models who are unhealthy.My point is this, in order to make good and right resolutions, we have to use the right standards; we have to go to the right sources. Our standard as Christians is Jesus Christ and our source for truth is the Bible. We resolve to be more like Jesus this year as individuals and as a church. Our standard as a church is our mission statement. This is how we determine what needs to change and how we can improve. Are we being obedient to the vision and mission God has given us. That's what we want to ask each January. We have decided that during the first few weeks of each year, we, too, would take stock of the church and of our lives as Christians, for the purpose of resolving to be more like Jesus, to better follow God. Well our mission is stated clearly on the front of the bulletin each week. We have been called to develop a worshiping community of empowered disciples of Jesus that transforms the world with the powerful love of God, one person at a time for the glory of God. Today we begin by considering what it means to develop a worshiping community. Worship is most central to God and to us as Christians and us in the Vineyard because worship is central to the Bible and is central in heaven. Among other things, heaven is a place where things work the way they are supposed to work, where people are doing only that which they are supposed to be doing, where God is actually ruler and it looks like it. Heaven is what God intends for us and is what God is restoring our world to. That's why Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." John was given a revelation of the scene in heaven at present and in the future. The curtain was peeled back for a moment and John saw God's heavenly kingdom: God on the throne and Jesus right with him. And do you know what else he saw? Kingdom worship. I'm so grateful he wrote this down so you and I could see, too, what Kingdom worship looks like. We, at the Vineyard, long to become a Kingdom worshiping community. That's one of our New Year's resolutions every year. And it is God's resolution for us as a church and as individuals. Let's peer into heaven with John to see what Kingdom worship looks like.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 26:59 - 8.3MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Walk In The Light

Sun, 1 Jan 2006 20:07:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 2006 is time for a fix. Assistant Pastor Sharon Mutchler shares with us her vision for the coming year.

Taught by Assistant Pastor Sharon Mutchler - Length: 36:42 - 9.8MB

Peace With God, Peace In God

Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:04:01 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 18, 2005 - As Christmas approaches, the child's request as she sits on Santa's lap still can be asked today, "I want world peace." Our world needs peace, doesn't it? It doesn't take long for us to realize this as we read of the riots among whites and Arabs on the beaches of Australia. One Australian newspaper quoted a public official saying, "What we have seen yesterday is something I thought I would never see in Australia and perhaps we have not seen in Australia in any of our lifetimes and that is a mass call to violence based on race." A November 2nd newspaper report in France read, "Gangs of youths set fire to more than 300 vehicles, fire on police and pelt a commuter train with rocks in the seventh straight night of violence in poor Paris suburbs. Nine people are injured." We were reminded of the lack of peace in Iraq as the Iraqi people went to the polls to vote for a national government. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said to the Iraqi people, "This is your chance to let your voice be heard as a force for peace and national reconciliation." There is a need for peace in every nation including ours. We were reminded that gangs are alive and active in this country this week as Stanley Williams, the founder of one of the largest gangs, the Crips, was executed by lethal injection for crimes he committed years ago.We know that there is unrest between people, that is we lack public peace, because there is unrest within people, that is, we lack personal peace in our hearts. We Americans are an anxious people. Do you know how many websites are dedicated to anxiety sickness? Guess. 46 million. Listen to some facts about anxiety disorders in our country: * Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. with 19.1 million (13.3%) of the adult U.S. population (ages 18-54) affected. * According to "The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders," a study commissioned by the ADAA, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost one third of the $148 billion total mental health bill for the U.S We need public peace, peace between people, and we need personal peace, peace within our hearts. Some of you are familiar with the peace process in the Middle East between Palestinians and Israelis, a process that includes what has been described as a "roadmap to peace." Well, God has a roadmap to peace, too, a plan for peace in the world and peace in our hearts. This plan has a central figure, Jesus Christ, whose birth, life, death, and resurrection pave the way for God's peace to penetrate our hearts and transform our world. This is what we celebrate this Advent season, the coming of the Prince of Peace.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 41:08 - 13.1MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Making History

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 20:55:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 11, 2005 - I went to see the movie "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" yesterday and found it to be very emotional as I remembered the story that I had been introduced to by my father so many years ago. It was meaningful to me not only because I had a history with this story but because the story itself is so significant. That story is God's story.We've been using this Advent season leading up to Christmas to be reminded that there is more going on in life than just the details of Christmas. We're reminded by the birth of Jesus that God is making history, he's writing a story that he began at the beginning of time and will conclude with the return of Jesus, a story that includes all people who step into it by faith. One of the reasons that "Narnia" and other movies like it - The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter - are so popular and attractive to people of all faiths is because we are wired for stories. We love stories. We have been created by God to participate in his story as he writes history and so humans can't help but gravitate to good stories. Let's take a look at another chapter of not just a good story but the greatest story.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 38:49 - 11.6MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

The Intimacy of an Indwelling God

Sun, 4 Dec 2005 21:51:02 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, December 4, 2005 - I believe it is telling that God chose this means to come to us, to fulfill his promise in redeeming His creation. Jesus didn't descend from the clouds or rise from the sea clothed in human flesh. Connecting Himself intimately with Mary in her womb sets up the intimacy He established for all of us through His death and resurrection. Because of Christ's saving gift, each one of us is able to have the Holy Spirit - God Himself - reside in us permanently. In O.T. times the Holy Spirit came upon some people, but it was very selective and usually only for a season. Now the Holy Spirit is available for all, anyone who believes in who Jesus is and what He did. What's more, the Holy Spirit longs to redeem and reside in every person. It is a level of intimacy with the God of the universe that is miraculous and unmatched in any other religion.

Taught by Rebecca Barth, College Ministry Coordinator - Length: 33:24 - 10.1MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

The Day Is Coming

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 21:17:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 27, 2005 - "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into?" It's been quite a journey for Frodo and Sam when the little gardener wonders this. Ever since they left home they've encountered more wonders and more dangers than they could have possibly imagined. The battle on Weathertop. The flight to the ford. The beauty of Rivendell. The dark mines of Moria, where they lost their beloved Gandalf. Their fellowship has fallen apart; their friends are now far away on another part of the journey. Into the shadow of Mordor they've come, two little hobbits and their cooking gear on a journey to save the world.It's at this point Sam says, "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into?" Sam could not have asked a better question. He assumes that there is a story; there is something larger going on. He also assumes that they have somehow tumbled into it, been swept up into it. What sort of tale have I fallen into? is the question that would help us all a great deal if we wondered it for ourselves. It may just be the most important question we ever ask. "There's something bigger going on." Don't we forget that at Christmas because of all the details and materialism, because of the mechanics of following traditions that sometimes cloud out the larger story of God in history? Well for the next four weeks of the Advent season, we want to be sure to appreciate the larger story of God that we've fallen into, a story that began before time, a story that has a beginning and an end, a story that we would do well to know if we are to find meaning in this Christmas season, and indeed, if we are to find meaning in life. "What sort of tale have I fallen into" may just be the most important question we ever ask. It is this question, I believe, that was on the mind of Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, when he encountered the Angel Gabriel during his priestly duties in the Temple 2000 years ago. Let's look at Zechariah's story this first Sunday of Advent in order for us to appreciate the larger story of God and find meaning in the birth story of Jesus this Christmas season.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 35:34 - 11.8MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Putting Our Mouth (and Hands and Feet) Where Our Money Is

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 22:33:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 20, 2005 - If you are unfamiliar with our church, I want you to know that this is a generous church. This church has a generous heart, a generous spirit about it. In our two years of existence we have conducted free car washes; we've held free parking lot giveaways; we gave out free frozen turkeys in the community yesterday for the third time; we've organized along with other area ministries free backpack giveaways for the community each of the last three Augusts. We've donated thousands upon thousands of dollars to various ministries in town as well as international missions. When there has been a unique need, like the tsunami and the hurricanes, we've always responded with an outpouring of financial help.That's so satisfying to me because as the church was beginning we laid down 10 core values that we wanted to see manifested in our church. One of the 10 core values is generosity, and so it's very satisfying to see that we are indeed a generous church. But I also am not satisfied in some ways. Maybe it's my personality or maybe it's God's message for us as a church. But I have to be honest I'm not satisfied, and I believe that God is not satisfied with our financial sacrifice. Oh, he's so pleased with our generosity, and believe me I'm overwhelmed by the amount that we've given, but I believe he wants us to know that financial sacrifice is incomplete and, yes, unsatisfying to Him unless it is followed by merciful action. Unless we follow up with merciful ministry to people in this community, our financial commitments becomes worthless, I believe.

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 37:02 - 11.6MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Walk Down The Mountain

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 22:34:58 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 13, 2005 - "When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.""O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. (Matthew 17:14-23) If we are to understand and appreciate this scene, that is, exactly what Jesus was doing and what we as Christians are to do and to become, we have to rewind the tape to the previous scene. If we rewind the tape, we see that Jesus led Peter, James and John, his inner circle, up on to Mount Hermon, which rises about 9400 feet and is 14 miles from Caesarea Philippi, and gave them an experience that would change their lives forever. Just a few verses earlier, Jesus tells the disciples that some in their midst would see his glory before they died and that's exactly what Peter, James, and John saw. They walked up the mountain and came to a place where it says Jesus was transfigured before them, his face radiating like the sun, his clothes bursting with white light. The three disciples squinted to see that the glorious Jesus was accompanied by the great Law-giver, Moses, and the great prophet, Elijah, both dazzling light. Then suddenly a light-radiant cloud enveloped them and great voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him." When the disciples heard that, that was it, they were on their faces, trembling. Then, a familiar touch on the shoulder brought them back to see that it was all over and Jesus, the normal Jesus, was the only one in front of them. Talk about a mountaintop experience! That was a spiritual high like they'd never known. The disciples experienced the glory of Jesus, saw and felt awe-inspiring, life-transforming things. What a gift!

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 33:20 - 10.5MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)

Looking Back … Choosing Forward

Sun, 6 Nov 2005 22:37:00 EST

Sermon Audio from Sunday, November 6, 2005 - We've had a very powerful fall in this church as we saw God work in incredible ways, touching people, changing people, pouring out His Spirit and His blessings on us during our Giving Campaign. People are different, this church is different, God blessed us and we responded in a mind-blowing generosity, far greater than we could have predicted. What an incredible fall this was. God is good.As we move forward and transition to the next leg of our journey together with God, it is vitally important for us to reflect back and ask the question, what happened? I think it would be a tragic mistake for us to simply move forward without building on the foundational changes that God has performed in us. God was teaching us something of how He works and what it means to be His people, I think we need to pause and reflect on that. More than just reflecting so that we can learn what we did right, we need to reflect back so that we can walk in the new truth and knowledge of what God did. I believe this transition to the next leg of our journey is a vital transition for every person here as a follower of Christ. This transition time, I believe, will in many ways determine the kind of Christian life we live from this day forward. Each person must choose how you will move forward in your walk with Jesus. You see, we can choose to reflect back and put the memories into the photo album of our mind, choosing to open it when we need a boost. Or we can choose to take what we experienced and learned and put it, not on a shelf for an occasionally glance, but at the core of our lives. You've seen the makeover shows, some of them extreme including plastic surgery, while others are just a change of wardrobe or a new kitchen. Those people, after their renewal had to choose to continue to live in that newness or to go back to their old ways of life. Well God made over this church and many people here in varying degrees and various ways, and now we have to decide to continue to live in that newness. We must choose how we transition into the next leg of our journey, both as a church and as individuals. What will we choose?

Taught by Chris Macky, Senior Pastor - Length: 25:18 - 7.6MB - Outline (pdf) - Slides (pdf)