Listen to one of our weekly sermons here!
As believers, we have some degree of spiritual responsibility for other believers. Our faith or lack thereof affects other disciples. Pastor Josh unpacks this idea of being our brother’s keeper and announces an upcoming mission trip to support Vineyard churches in Russia.
Jesus was a person of hospitality. As a sojourner to this earth, born in an inn, a refugee from Israel and immigrant to Egypt, and a homeless adult who “had no place to lay his head”, he understood what it feels like to be on the outside. And yet he offers us the most sacrificial, radical welcome. The scriptures tell us to “welcome other as Christ has welcomed us”, which means we must consider the hospitality of Jesus and work to ensure that our actions mirror his and embrace this Kingdom value as we love those on the outside into our homes, our social circles, and our church.
As God’s people, we actually have a call to die. Galatians tells us that because we’ve been crucified with Christ, it’s no longer us living but Jesus living through us. The life of a disciple is marked by death - by laying down one’s life for the sake of following Christ.
There is this amazing aspect of the Kingdom of God that, for some reason, God chose to use people to reach people. It certainly seems that there were better, more effective ways of doing things but God involves us in His plans. And as we put our hands to these tasks, it’s not His intention for us to go it alone. His design is for us to do it together, and our church gatherings are no exception. Worship is one of the core ways we engage together.
Having unity is one of the key qualities intended for God’s people. Jesus prayed for it, Paul preached and wrote about it, and the early church strived for it. But in our modern culture, having the kind of unity in our churches that truly puts others before self and reflects the nature and character of God is hard to come by. In this sermon, Leah Pavel talks about the things necessary for modern local churches to experience this kind of supernatural unity and the incredible effects when we do.
Introducing a new sermon series, Ecclesia, Josh Pavel talks about how as the gathering of Jesus’ disciples, we are called and expected to be a peculiar people, not following the ways and patterns of the world, but that of the Kingdom of God.
Paul greeted Phoebe as a deaconess of the church. Paul recognized her not to make a point about women in leadership or anything political but because she was a faithful servant in the Body of Christ who had an impact in her community. Paul’s letters were written to real people that filled the local church. These people were the application of the Gospel, the intended recipients of the epistles. These words were not intended for only the heroes or celebrities or household names, but people serving and loving their local communities.
Continuing in our No Small Parts series, the story of Abigail shows that God’s Kingdom is revealed, propelled, and instrumented by the variety of God’s people, not the isolated, random, heroic or famous individual. Her story takes place during the time when David is on the run from King Saul. The Lord uses Abigail’s intelligence, cunning, and boldness to redirect the future King David’s actions, remind him of God’s promise and calling. The result is that her own household is spared from ruin and David is spared from having unnecessary bloodshed on his hands.
Through looking at Korah and The Sons of Korah as mentioned in Numbers, the Psalms, and Jude, we see the long story of God’s redemption, correcting pride, and teaching us to “be still and know that I am God”. Knowing their story, the Psalms written by the Sons of Korah speak in new ways.
Eutychus is mentioned in only a few verses of one story in the book of Acts but was the subject of a substantial miracle of resurrection. Pastor Josh discusses this passage of scripture along with a debrief of the Vineyard National Conference to encourage repentance for our unbelief in the healing miracles of the Holy Spirit and to encourage waiting on God and blessing His work in ministry.
VCHS elder Brant Cannon looks at the role of Simeon and Anna in recognizing and announcing the arrival of the Messiah when Jesus was presented at the temple and the lessons we can learn about hearing God from these two devout servants who patiently awaited God’s promise.
Elishama was a secretary in the temple. He heard the words of God given to Jeremiah, and read out loud in the temple by Baruk, and recognized them as from the Lord so he honored and preserved it even though the king wanted to destroy the scroll. God’s word will be revealed and it will accomplish its purpose. Elishama shows us an example of faithfulness in our charge and a diligence in following God.
Jeremy Geelen discusses Hannah’s passion in pursuing the Lord for a son and offers encouragement to us to be as free in our love and pursuit of God as she was.
Jael is a woman found in the book of Judges in the time of Deborah. She was chosen by God to play a very important part in a battle the Israelites were facing and she is a perfect example of God equipping the called instead of calling the equipped.
The Demoniac was a man possessed with many demons and he lived among the tombs alone. Once Jesus delivers him, instead of allowing the man to travel with him, Jesus sent him back to his own family and community to share the gospel. And the effects of this man’s obedience is seen in later parts of scripture where the gospel is advancing. As N.T. Wright put it, this man was the first apostle to the Gentiles!
Several of Jesus’ own disciples were mentioned just a few times in scripture, yet they were dearly loved by the Lord and the impact they had for the gospel was widespread. These three men were faithful, patient and consistent and were certainly no less important or effective.
Today we begin a new sermon series: No Small Parts. This series is about lesser known Bible characters that you may not be familiar with. It’s not a celebration of mediocrity but instead a look at how there are no minor characters in the Kingdom of God. We must be faithful in our sphere of influence to bring the love of Jesus to the people and situations that God has placed in our paths. The midwives of Israel feared God and not Pharaoh so they didn’t follow the Egyptian King’s instruction to kill any baby boys that were born.
The Vineyard Association as a whole will be engaging in 40 days of prayer and fasting from Memorial Day through 4th of July leading up to the National Conference this summer. In this sermon, Administrative Pastor Leah Pavel shares the heart and motive for this corporate fast and discusses what true fasting that pleases the Lord looks like.
Revival isn’t about recreating the past or trying to be like the early church, but about being the people of God that humble ourselves to pray and seek the Lord for his intervention in our community. A heavenly minded church brings about actual, real earthly good in their walking out of their mission. God has a plan for this world and His people have a central role to play in seeing it come about.
Guest speaker and VCHS member, William Simkiss, takes us through a detailed and fresh look at the story of the woman (or women!) that anointed Jesus’ before his crucifixion and all the rich meaning that can be seen in this story.
SERVICE TIME & LOCATION:
10:30am Sunday @
190 Rosewood Centre Drive
Suite 101
Holly Springs, NC 27540
E: office@hollyspringsvineyard.org
P: 919-391-8247
