http://vintagefc.com The podcast of the Vintage Faith Community in Spokane, WA. en The podcast of the Vintage Faith Community in Spokane, WA. Vintage Faith Community no Vintage Faith Community Sermons info@vintagefc.com ℗ & © 2009 Vintage Faith Community 720 This week we focus on our last identity, as Learners. The best example of the learner identity lived out is Jesus. Jesus invited his disciples into a process of learning how to live in his ways and to do his works. They learned to be like him in character (Family), in purpose (Missionaries), and in posture (Servants). As we are called into his Family and sent as his Missionaries, each one of us is in need of being developed as a disciple and at the same time needed as a developer of disciples. Come listen as Steve encourages us to actively be the body of Christ, being built up in love, both in maturity in Christ and in the mission of Christ to make disciples. In order for this to happen, each part of the body - you and I and all of us - must be “working properly.” As we mature and develop ourselves, we take responsibility to mature and develop others. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-partnership-all-in-together http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-partnership-all-in-together.mp3 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:48:46 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Partnership learner,maturity,leadership,jesus 51:42 This week we look at our identity of servant. Jesus demonstrates servanthood in John 13. Because serving is an identity issue Jesus can serve in any manner, even a job that was given to the lowliest of servants because he draws his significance from his Father. Where do you find your joy and significance and worth? Come listen as Steve challenges us to evaluate where and why we are serving. If our significance rests in what Christ has done then we will serve just as He did. Whose feet are you washing? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-partnership-do-you-serve-like-jesus http://vintagefc.com/media/sermon-audio-june-21-2009.mp3 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:02:32 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Partnership identity,love,gospel,servant 41:46 If the heart of Christianity is the Gospel then what does it mean to respond and follow Jesus with all that you are? What does it mean to live not just with a Gospel identity but with a Gospel purpose? Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:17-25 is one of proclaiming the Gospel, demonstrating the Gospel and gathering a community to himself. Come listen as Steve challenges us to examine our lives and see what our mission is by looking at our conversations, our day planner/check book and the people we are sharing life with. To live life in such a way that our purpose is the Gospel. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-partnership-how-are-you-living-the-gospel http://vintagefc.com/media/sermon-audio-june-14-2009.mp3 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:33:23 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Partnership gospel,jesus,community 45:17 This week we will look at where we find out identity. As a community we want the center of what we're about, more than anything else to be the gospel. We want everything thing we do and say to be surrounded by what God has done for us in the life death and resurrection of Jesus. In Religion, my identity and self-worth are based on what I can accomplish, on how hard I work, or on how moral I am. Therefore, I look down on others who aren’t as moral or obedient as me. But in the Gospel, my identity and self-worth are based on God’s love for me in Jesus, even while I was his enemy, unable to accomplish or earn his love by my actions. Therefore, I can’t look down on someone different than me because I am no better than they are – and probably worse! This week Steve encourages us to look at what we are building our identity on. To take a step back, look at the example of the rich man from Mark and instead of following his example turn and build our identity on God. In essence give up every other way of finding a self and find it now only in Jesus. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-partnership-where-do-you-find-your-identity http://vintagefc.com/media/sermon-audio-june-7-2009.mp3 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:26:07 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Partnership identity,god,jesus 43:19 As we begin a new series for the summer we will practice our learner identity and look at what is the gospel, what does it mean to live life according to Jesus and to live life in a community. Steve will define the Gospel as: Jesus Christ, God's promised rescuer and ruler lived our life, died our death, and rose again as the promise of the new creation to bring forgiven sinners together under his gracious reign. Come and listen as Steve encourages us to believe that we don’t ever move past the Gospel. That true Christianity always springs forth out of growing Gospel-centeredness in our lives. This means an ongoing awareness of our sinfulness that leads to deeper humility and also a growing awareness of how amazing grace really is – at the same time! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-partnership-what-is-the-gospel http://vintagefc.com/media/may-29-2009.mp3 Sun, 31 May 2009 19:20:43 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Partnership gospel,jesus,grace 46:30 In the conclusion to this powerful letter, Peter urges the scattered but chosen churches to remain faithful to Jesus and to stand firm in the grace he has given them. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/standing-firm-in-grace http://vintagefc.com/media/standing-firm-in-grace.mp3 Sun, 17 May 2009 22:56:05 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter grace,gospel,peter,stand_firm 65:27 This week in Peter’s letter he addresses the relationship between the leadership and the rest of the community. Though leaders often have different roles in the church community, the biblical model is that everyone is a sheep of Jesus, and everyone is responsible for Jesus’ disciple-making purposes in the world. The distinction between leaders and the community at large is simply that leaders take the initiative to lead by example as they care for, encourage, and challenge the community to faithful Christian living. As we come to the end of our study in Peter’s letter, our own missional communities will be covenanting around the ways that we will live out our Identity as a Family of Missionary Servants. In order to do this, we need to embrace our fourth Gospel Identity, that of Learner. To be a Learner is to recognize that each of us is a disciple of Jesus called to make disciples of Jesus. We are all - leaders and followers - responsible for the maturity and mission of the church as a whole. Peter addresses both leadership and the community at large with this very emphasis. Come listen as Steve encourages some of us to step up in leadership and the rest of us to submit to leadership. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-surprising-mutuality http://vintagefc.com/media/1-peter-51-5.mp3 Sun, 10 May 2009 15:19:31 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter submission,elder,younger 35:22 As we look at Peter’s letter this week, we’ll be focusing again on our Covenant to live out these themes - what we call Gospel Identities - together. Over the last 2 weeks we’ve looked at our Missionary Identity and our Family Identity. This week, in what is really a summary of everything Peter has been saying; we’ll focus specifically on the Servant Identity. To be a follower of Jesus means sacrifice, suffering, and servant hood. Are you arranging your life around the Gospel? Come and listen as Steve guides us through Peter’s letter to learn how we should respond in trial. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-surprising-sacrifice http://vintagefc.com/media/1-peter-4-12-19.mp3 Sun, 03 May 2009 14:22:07 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter trial,suffering,servant,process_sanctification 47:32 This week we explore what it means to be a part of a Christian community, to live together in the reality of our Identity as Family, chosen and beloved children of God. Peter begins in chapter 4 right where he left off, speaking of the suffering of Jesus on our behalf. How can we learn to serve other, to draw life from Jesus so that we can give it away? Peter says we ought to “arm ourselves with the same way of thinking,” fully aware that being united to Jesus implies suffering. As we remind each other of our Identity in the gospel, we are helping one another to more fully believe God’s forgiving, accepting, adopting love. We call this “gospeling” one another. Come and listen as Steve encourages us to pattern our lives after Christ. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-surprising-community http://vintagefc.com/media/1-peter-4-1-11.mp3 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:19:49 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter family 45:34 As we round the bend and begin to head toward the end of this amazing letter, we’ll be using our time to talk practically about how to live the Identities of Family, Missionaries, and Servants together. Peter has woven these three themes together throughout his letter, urging these chosen and scattered exiles to live as God’s Family, sent throughout the Roman Empire to faithfully witness to a suffering and resurrected Messiah, both in deed and in word. In this section Peter challenges Christians to be the Church and to live faithfully for Christ. Peter concludes this section with the same great words of hope and encouragement that he has woven throughout this letter! He recognizes that living for Jesus’ mission involves suffering and sacrifice, so he points us again to Jesus. Jesus died for us. He bled for us. He went all the way down for us, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, with all things subject to him. Because of Jesus’ great victory, we can embrace sacrifice today, knowing that we belong to Jesus and will one day be with him! Come listen and be encouraged by Steve to live our lives so that the world would question our actions. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-surprising-hope http://vintagefc.com/media/a-surprising-hope-1-peter-313-22.mp3 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:36:51 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter grace,faith,noah,question 42:41 This week Steve takes us back in 1 Peter to verses 1:20-21; 1:3-4 and 3:22 to encourage us that the resurrection makes faith possible, hope livable, and obedience delightful. Listen and be encouraged that Christ is Risen! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/easter-resurrection-hope http://vintagefc.com/media/easter-resurrection-hope.mp3 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:42:12 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter obedience,hope,faith,resurrection 17:47 Steve picks up from last week continuing with the last of Peter’s three different contexts in which verse 2:16 gets worked out in our lives. So far, we’ve seen how “living as Servants of God” works itself out in the workplace and in the home. Before Peter leaves this subject, he applies it directly to the Christian community and the relationships within the church. Sadly, Christians often forget their Servant Identity in the way they relate to one another, and it is often within the community where the most selfish, self-centered behavior comes out. Peter urges us to live the way of the cross together. Listen as Steve and Russ encourages us to live with “unity of mind”, sympathy for one another, familial love, tender heartedness and humble mindedness towards one another. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/praxis-gospel--church http://vintagefc.com/media/praxis-gospel--church.mp3 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:00:44 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter brotherly_love,unity,servant,humble,bless 53:20 Steve picks up from last week continuing with the second of Peter’s three different contexts in which verse 2:16 gets worked out in our lives. We’ve been given a glorious new Identity in Christ in order that we might give our lives up in humble service of those around us. In this section, Peter applies the same principle to the home, between husband and wife, and particularly applies it to wives living with unbelieving husbands. Peter wants us to see that the husband serves his wife by his leadership, and the wife serves her husband by her gracious submission. In both cases, the spouse’s service is first and foremost to God himself, as His Servant, and then to one another. Come and listen as Steve encourages husbands and wives to outdo each other in honor and service so that Christ can be glorified. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/praxis-gospel--home http://vintagefc.com/media/1-peter-31-7.mp3 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:10:58 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter husband,wife,marriage,submission 63:44 After laying out the basic framework of both abstaining from the passions of the world and engaging in humble service of the world, Peter proceeds to give 3 different contexts in which this gets worked out (praxis). This week we’ll look at how it works in the world, particularly at work. Please listen as Steve challenges us to realize that we don't simply need to live as Jesus lived, thus following a set of rule, but rather what we need is his substitution, we need our Savior. When this is worked into our hearts we can rejoice in all our circumstances, even an "unjust master" http://vintagefc.com/sermon/praxis-gospel--world http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel--world.mp3 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:56:38 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter servant,workplace,just,unjust 47:50 Our Identity as Servants flows directly from our Identity as Beloved Children of God, his special people. Our chosen status as God’s special people does not remove us from the world to await the return of Jesus. On the contrary, the freedom we have in Jesus allows us to be in the world for the good of the world and yet to remain unstained by the ways of the world. Listen as Steve explains the freedom we can have if we are only willing to accept it as he continues in 1 Peter 1 Peter 2:11-17 http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-deed-people http://vintagefc.com/media/1-peter-211-17.mp3 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:43:15 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter beloved,exile,abstain,enjgage,good_-deed 46:31 What does it really mean to be "born again"? Steve picks up in 1 Peter 2:4 as Peter continues to build off of what he has been saying about being "born again" through he gospel word, and lays out an incredible vision of the purpose of God in calling us to Himself. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-proclaiming-people http://vintagefc.com/media/sermon-audio-3-1-2009.mp3 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:28:39 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter 61:35 The degree to which we obey God is a direct reflection of the degree to which the grace of God in Jesus has truly taken root in our hears, filling us with "joy inexpressible and full of glory!". The commands of the New Testament are always proceeded by a "therefore". Listen as Steve explains what the "therefore" is there for. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-transformed-people http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-transformed-people.mp3 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:08:39 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter 51:37 Point number 1: it’s not about you. Point number 2: it’s totally about you. Point number 3: if you get the first 2 points, it totally transforms you. What the heck is Peter talking about and who's he writing to anyway? Listen as Steve breaks down and dialouges about 1 Peter 1:3-12. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-formed-community http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-formed-community.mp3 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:51:18 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter 1_peter,community,gospel,god,jesus,speak 47:11 What does it mean to be chosen and scattered by God? Listen as Steve breaks down 1 Peter 1:1-2 in the first of a new series in 1 Peter. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/chosen-and-scattered http://vintagefc.com/media/chosen-and-scattered.mp3 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:41:38 UTC Steve Hart Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter 49:50 The Scriptures teach that the heart is the motivational drive shaft of life. Whatever we treasure, whatever we most highly value, whatever we think most significant will give form to our lives. We'll spend our limited resources pursuing joy in that thing. Therefore, we must learn to ravish our hearts with the excellencies of God in order to come to deeper joy and obedience. Psalm 16 - and many other Psalms - is about how to bring our hearts to delight and rest in God alone. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/psalm-16-delighting-in-god http://vintagefc.com/media/psalm-16-delighting-in-god.mp3 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:16:38 UTC Steve Hart Psalms: Obedience and Desire psalms,worship,joy,delight,idolatry 61:02 Life with God has seasons of great joy and seasons of great sadness. Though our faith tells us God is always near, our experience and our emotions often tell us otherwise. How do we respond when God seems distant and life seems futile? Listen to the way the psalmist deals with himself in Psalm 42 for some simple and helpful practical ideas. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/psalm-42-despairing http://vintagefc.com/media/psalm-42.mp3 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:09:37 UTC Nick Dotson Psalms: Obedience and Desire psalms,doubt,discouragement,despair,hope,depression 36:23 Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession, restoration, and rejoicing following David's adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband. In this Psalm, David shows us a pathway for dealing with sin that leads to both great joy in God's salvation and real heart transformation http://vintagefc.com/sermon/psalm-51-repenting http://vintagefc.com/media/psalm-51.mp3 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:01:00 UTC Steve Hart Psalms: Obedience and Desire psalms,repentance,worship,confession,penance,sin,shame,guilt 52:16 The book of Psalms invites us to think and to feel. God has designed the Psalms both for our instruction in obedience and for the shaping of our emotions and affections. In this intro to our 4 week study on the Psalms, we'll look at 3 key characteristics of the Psalms in general as well as dig deeply into Psalm 100. How can we become the kind of people who not only serve the Lord but do so with joy and gladness? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/psalm-100-rejoicing http://vintagefc.com/media/psalm-100.mp3 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:57:38 UTC Nick Dotson Psalms: Obedience and Desire psalms,worship,prayer,obedience,desire 38:12 What has Advent been for you? What’s your experience been? Has it been refreshing, renewing? Are you reconnecting with Jesus or are you just going through the motions? As we continue in the 3rd week of Advent, Steve Hart talks about the very first Christmas song. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-first-christmas-song http://vintagefc.com/media/sermon-audio-12-14-2008.mp3 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:50:03 UTC Steve Hart Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus advent,christmas,gospel,mary,2008,song,birth,jesus 31:38 When do you know when you need to stop, turn around and go back to your relationship with Christ? How do you reconnect with your relationship? And what happens when you do? What happens around you? Scott Cooley shares some recent life experience and how he's come to reconnect with Christ. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/scott-cooleys-little-life http://vintagefc.com/media/sermon-audio-12-7-2008.mp3 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:47:08 UTC Scott Cooley Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus drift,relationship,god,christ,bible 31:18 What do you want Advent to be this year? Do you want it to be a time to reconnect with Jesus? When you hear the Gospel, are you shocked? You should be! God brings the transcendent and immanent together. He puts on flesh and comes into our world and lives among us. Come hear the story of Christmas with new ears and be shocked. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/god-with-us http://vintagefc.com/media/god-with-us.mp3 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:07:22 UTC Steve Hart Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus 40:18 What does it mean, practically to be in the Family of God, to be on Mission, to Serve and to Learn to be God’s people together? What does this really look like in our Missional Communities? We explore these questions in a dialogue with 3 Missional Community leaders. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-stories-missional-communities http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-stories-missional-communities.mp3 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:02:27 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity great_commission,discipleship,gospel_identity,learner,disciple 38:22 When Jesus chooses disciples, he calls them first to himself and to the process of being transformed: "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Jesus is committed to the process of bringing us along as his people. At the same time, he sends us to be disciple-makers, men and women who are helping others to find life in Jesus and to live themselves as his disciples. When we say one of our Gospel Identities is "Learner," we're confessing to be people in the process of being formed into the image of Christ even as we are being used by him to form others. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-stories-learners http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-stories-learners.mp3 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:38:20 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity disciple,learner,gospel_identity,discipleship,great_commission 47:43 What does it mean to live in the Way of Jesus, to be in the kingdom of God as a way of life? The upside-down dynamic of the kingdom - the first shall be last - is the way of life for all who come under the leadership of King Jesus. But how do we maintain a servant posture over the long haul? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-stories-servants http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-stories-servants.mp3 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:50:20 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity gospel_identity,servants,kingdom_dynamic 53:08 What does it mean to be a Family of Missionaries? In this next sermon in our series on Gospel Identities, we explore the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan to see what it means to be on mission with Jesus. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-stories-missionaries http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-stories-missionaries.mp3 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:45:47 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity gospel_identity,mission,samaritan 41:36 What does it mean to be in the Family of God? What might it look like to actually believe that we've been adopted by God through Christ, and form our lives around that reality? In this series on Gospel Identity, we're continuing to explore these questions. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/gospel-stories-family http://vintagefc.com/media/gospel-stories-family.mp3 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:42:38 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity gospel_identity,family,adoption 52:40 The idea of church attendance is not Biblical. Yes, we should meet together and encourage one another in love and good deeds, remind one another of the gospel, and seek the Lord together. But Biblically speaking, you are the church. Church isn't an event or a building but a people ransomed by Jesus' death and brought into fellowship with God and one another. This Family is then sent into the world to be the body of Jesus, his ambassadors doings his kingdom work. As we do this, the body grows up. To say that we are Learners is to acknowledge that each of us is a disciple of Jesus called to make disciples of Jesus. We need one another to become the body that Jesus wants us to be. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/identity-we-are-learners http://vintagefc.com/media/we-are-learners.mp3 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:29:15 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity identity,gospel,learner,core_values,vintage_faith 45:14 Our Gospel Identities describe who we are as a result of what God has done in Jesus. Rather than talk about the things we ought to be doing as Christians, this series is about what God has done in Jesus and how that changes our Identity. When we say we are servants, we are acknowledging that Jesus is our ransom, paying the price in his life and death to set us free from our slavery to self, sin, and satan. We have been bought with a price and so we are learning to serve Jesus as we serve one another. Because Jesus has served us, we are free to be his Servants. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/identity-we-are-servants http://vintagefc.com/media/we-are-servants.mp3 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:30:02 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity identity,gospel,servants,core_values,vintage_faith 50:45 When we say that one of our core gospel Identities is "We Are Missionaries," we're primarily saying something about God and his work in the world. The Scriptures recount how God has worked in history to bring everything back under his gracious rule in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In Jesus, he is making all things new. We then, as we place our trust in Jesus, are "new creations" in him - radically called into fellowship with him and with one another. At the very same time, we are "ambassadors" of his kingdom - radically sent into the world to join with God in restoring all things to Him. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/identity-we-are-missionaries http://vintagefc.com/media/we-are-missionaries.mp3 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:30:05 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity identity,gospel,missionaries,core_values,vintage_faith 58:31 The first of our Gospel Identities is Family. God has always desired a people for his fame and glory in the world. In the beginning, he made Adam and Eve in his image as his people living in his place, and he was their Father. In their desire for autonomy, they destroyed that relationship and sent all of humanity spiraling away from God. In Jesus, God has restored us to himself as his beloved children, and brought us together into a people - His Family. In tonight's message, we dialogue about the implications of being a Family together. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/identity-we-are-family http://vintagefc.com/media/we-are-family.mp3 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:30:08 UTC Steve Hart Gospel Identity identity,gospel,family,core_values,vintage_faith 65:50 Christianity without rules & regulations? Without hypocrisy? Without false spirituality? Is it too good to be true? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/supposta-free-christianity http://vintagefc.com/media/colossians-216-23.mp3 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:30:15 UTC Steve Hart Colossians: Christian Maturity 49:40 Guest preacher Rob Fairbanks of New Community Church leads us through a challenging passage on how Christians often move away from Jesus. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/colossians-26-15 http://vintagefc.com/media/colossians-26-15.mp3 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:40:10 UTC Rob Fairbanks Colossians: Christian Maturity 40:37 Paul's suffering for Christ and the maturity of the Colossian church gives us a new perspective on suffering. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/colossians-124-26 http://vintagefc.com/media/colossians-124-25.mp3 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:10:51 UTC Nick Dotson Colossians: Christian Maturity 54:31 The preeminence of Jesus in Creation and New Creation! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/colossians-115-23 http://vintagefc.com/media/colossians-115-23.mp3 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:30:17 UTC Steve Hart Colossians: Christian Maturity 61:50 Paul's letter to the Colossian church is all about Jesus. Paul is writing to a church that feels 2 specific pressures. On one hand, there is pressure to conform to a more culturally acceptable, less exclusive spirituality. On the other hand, there are religious legalists who are pressuring the church to follow Old Testament conventions like circumcision and dietary laws. Paul writes to remind this church that everything they need for spiritual maturity has already been given to them in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He encourages them to remember and celebrate God's grace to them. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/colossians-11-8 http://vintagefc.com/media/colossians-11-8.mp3 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:30:19 UTC Steve Hart Colossians: Christian Maturity jesus,supremacy,maturity,fullness,in_christ,grace,thankfulness 39:38 As we finish the story of Ruth, the question lingers: What about when our messy lives don't wrap up as beautifully as Naomi's? What about when the tragedy and hardship doesn't seem to come to an end, and it seems like God is not good? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/when-life-stays-messy http://vintagefc.com/media/trust-in-the-lord.mp3 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:51:24 UTC Matthew Green Ruth: Redeeming the Mess wisdom,sin,folly,trust,fear,doubt,hopelessness,hardship 38:20 As the story of Ruth comes to a close, the camera pulls back from the love story of Boaz and Ruth and revisits the plight of Naomi. When she left for Moab, she was full of family, future, and hope. When she returned from Moab she was bitter, broken, and empty - and childless. But God has not left her, and in his love for her has orchestrated the marriage of Boaz and Ruth so that they could give birth to a grandson who would refresh her soul. The camera then pulls back even further, and we see that this son, Obed, becomes the father of Jesse, who in turn becomes the father of the great King David! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-413-22 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-413-22.mp3 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:30:21 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess ruth,redemption,tragedy,death,providence,legacy,marriage,children 47:51 Every great love story has obstacles, and the blossoming love of Ruth and Boaz is no exception. Though Boaz is fully intent on marrying Ruth, he is also a man who loves God's law and wants to do things the right way. There is a redeemer who is nearer to Ruth and has the first right of redemption. Fortunately for Boaz and Ruth, this man is a total fool, and Boaz easily moves him out of the way in order to wed Ruth. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-41-12 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-41-12.mp3 Sun, 25 May 2008 18:30:27 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess ruth,redemption,tragedy,death,providence,love,dating,marriage 45:09 Ruth and Boaz live in the perverted and confused time of the Judges, a period of history where Israel was in rebellion against God on a regular basis. How can two people love each other and pursue marriage in a way that is pure and honorable? How do they protect themselves and each other in a day when the path of least resistance is hooking up, sleeping together, shacking up and seeing if it works out? Listen to how Ruth and Boaz navigate these treacherous waters! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-31-18 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-31-18.mp3 Sun, 18 May 2008 18:30:24 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess ruth,redemption,tragedy,death,providence,love,dating,courtship 47:45 As we reach the midpoint of the book of Ruth, we are privaleged to look in on one of the most beautiful love stories ever written. The story started with tragedy and sin and foolishness, but is now taking a turn for the better as the righteous Boaz steps on to the scene to be a conduit of grace and restoration to Ruth and Naomi. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-214-23 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-214-23.mp3 Sun, 11 May 2008 18:30:30 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess ruth,redemption,tragedy,death,providence,love,dating 42:28 At the bottom of the barrel, with nothing to eat and no hope for the future, Ruth sets out from Bethlehem to the fields to glean, sacrficially caring for her bitter mother-in-law and faithfully trusting that God has a plan. Once there, she "happens" to come to the field of a dude named Boaz - a strong, godly, masculine man of high standing in the community. He just happens to be single, and he just happens to come to the field on the day that Ruth is gleaning. Our story turns a corner this week from tragedy to the beginnings of a love story. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-21-13 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-21-13.mp3 Sun, 04 May 2008 18:30:33 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess ruth,redemption,tragedy,death,providence,luck,chance 47:50 God is at work in the story of Ruth and Naomi in primarily invisible ways. Naomi's life is in shambles and she is bitter with God about it. She believes that God is all powerful, but she is unconvinced about God's goodness, at least in her life at this point. The Providence of God is the main theme of the book of Ruth, a theological concept that brings together God's power and sovereign control over all things with his heart of grace, kindness, and faithful love for his people. As believers in God, we must learn to see our circumstances through the lens of Providence, trusting that even in affliction God has good and redemptive purposes that he is working out. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-16-22 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-16-22.mp3 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:30:39 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess providence,sovereignty,kindness,hesed 50:51 Our study in the book of Ruth begins with tragedy. A man named Elimelech who lives in the godless and turbulent days of the judges is moving his family out of God's promised land to the pagan country of Moab. In a few short verses, we see the tragic consequences of this decision: both he and his two sons die, leaving his wife, Naomi, without husband and children in a foreign land. It is tragic. Yet God is not as absent as he seems. He has a plan and a future for Naomi, and in his grace is visits his people in Israel and Naomi begins her journey home. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/ruth-11-6 http://vintagefc.com/media/ruth-11-6.mp3 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:30:42 UTC Steve Hart Ruth: Redeeming the Mess ruth,redemption,tragedy,death,providence 48:25 As we finish our discussion on the mission of the Vintage Faith Community, we must conclude with the humble confession that we cannot do this on our own. As we survey the book of Acts and read about how God sent his church on mission, spreading the joy of salvation in Jesus, we immediately recognize that it was a supernatural work. Tonight we talk about the kind of praying that energized the early church into this mission. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/prayer-and-the-gospel http://vintagefc.com/media/prayer-and-the-gospel.mp3 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:30:45 UTC Steve Hart Vintage Mission 2008 prayer,gospel,mission,kingdom 37:50 Over the next 3 Sundays, we'll be looking at our mission in this great city. Our goal is not simply to be a great church, but to help build a great city full of joy in Jesus. In tonight's message, we look at the Gospel itself and ask how the preaching of the gospel can result in great joy in Spokane. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/joy-in-the-gospel http://vintagefc.com/media/joy-in-the-gospel.mp3 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:30:49 UTC Steve Hart Vintage Mission 2008 joy,gospel,preaching,mission,sin,salvation 48:06 After an entire year in Mark's Gospel, we conclude with a discussion of the resurrection. Why does the story end this way? What would Mark have us learn about Jesus and about our role in the ongoing work of the Gospel? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/he-is-not-here http://vintagefc.com/media/he-is-not-here.mp3 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:31:42 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark resurrection,jesus,easter,evidence 54:48 Mark recounts Jesus' crucifixion, but his focus is not on the physical brutality (though it was excruciating). Rather, he focuses on the substitution that Jesus makes for us, both in bearing our sin and in removing our shame. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/mocked-and-reviled http://vintagefc.com/media/mocked-and-reviled.mp3 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:31:46 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark shame,sin,cross,crucifixion 48:30 http://vintagefc.com/sermon/crucify-him http://vintagefc.com/media/crucify-him.mp3 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:32:45 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark 44:51 Simon was Jesus' first disciple. Jesus renamed him Peter, which meant, "the rock." He was the ringleader amongst the disciples, the spokesman, and he functions in Mark's gospel as the source for most of the content. In tonight's passage, Peter fails Jesus, denying him three times and cursing the Master he so passionately confesses to love. So how did Peter go from failing Jesus to being the leader of God's church? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/i-will-not-deny-you http://vintagefc.com/media/i-will-not-deny-you.mp3 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:31:50 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark peter,failure,grace,mission,jesus 52:18 As we continue our look into the final hours of Jesus' life, we are asking the question, "Why is this bloody story of betrayal and murder called good news?" Tonight, Jesus is on trial before the religious leaders, and religion is doing its best to condemn, judges, and silence Jesus. This passage reveals why we are all so committed to our religion and our morality, and how Jesus puts an end to religion. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-death-of-religion http://vintagefc.com/media/the-death-of-religion.mp3 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:31:53 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark death_of_religion,death_of_jesus,gospel,religion 40:28 In one of the most moving passages in the Gospel, Mark recounts Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. As one commentary put it, "On the cross Jesus' body was crucified; in the Garden, his soul was crucified." We see Jesus stagger under the weight of "the cup," a Biblical image describing God's just punishment of sin. In the Garden, the Father gives Jesus a glimpse of the hell that awaits him if he chooses the cross. In a final act of surrender, Jesus settles the issue in prayer and rises from his knees to give his life. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/sorrowful-unto-death http://vintagefc.com/media/sorrowful-unto-death.mp3 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:31:57 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark gethsemane,suffering,cross,gospel 40:35 Over the next 9 weeks we'll be exploring the last hours of Jesus' life. Throughout the last 2000 years, Christianity has become the world's largest religion, and it is still the world's fastest growing religion. And yet, at the center of it, is the bloody and shameful death of its founder. Why has the cross always been so central, and why have countless millions had their lives radically changed by this story? Tonight we explore the difference between the Gospel of Jesus and religion as we look at how Jesus explains his death in the Last Supper. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-lamb-of-god http://vintagefc.com/media/the-lamb-of-god.mp3 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:32:00 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark communion,last_supper,religion_vs._gospel,christianity,cross 46:24 In one of the more dramatic passages in Mark's Gospel, the religious leaders make a plan to kill Jesus, Judas plots with them to betray Him, and an unnamed woman displays an extravagant act of worship. Are we more like Judas, seeing Jesus as a means to an end, and willing to betray him? Or, like the woman, have we been captured by the strength and humility of Jesus, transformed by his sacrificial life and death, and so taken with him that we, too, become radical worshipers of Jesus? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proximity-or-relationship http://vintagefc.com/media/proximity-or-relationship.mp3 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:32:52 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark worship,relationship,sacrice,love_of_jesus 49:00 In one of the most often misunderstood passages of Mark, Jesus predicts the coming fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Jesus warns his disciples about what they are getting into as his witnesses, attempting to help them see the challenge of faithful endurance to the end. In this long passage, Jesus uses the coming destruction of Jerusalem as a way to talk about the future world-wide tribulation and his immanent return. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-end-of-the-world http://vintagefc.com/media/the-end-of-the-world.mp3 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:32:07 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark second_coming,fall_of_jerusalem,endurance,perserverance 54:36 What does true religion consist of? What does it look like lived out? As we have studied Mark 12 during Advent, we've seen Jesus refute the religion of the Pharisees, Herodians, and scribes. In this final section of Mark 12, Jesus points to the sacrificial offering of a poor widow to paint a picture of the kind of religion that is pleasing to God. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/true-religion http://vintagefc.com/media/true-religion.mp3 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:23:57 UTC Scott Cooley The Gospel of Mark offering,scribes,religion 34:28 What is the greatest commandment, the one commandment that takes priority over all things and all people? Jesus answers this question with 3 separate and connected commands: Remember, Worship, and Serve. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-and-religion http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-and-religion.mp3 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:32:58 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark worship,serve,greatest_commandment,love_god,love_neighbor 40:08 One of the most important questions we all must answer is what happens to us when we die. In tonight's passage, Jesus is asked this perennially important question by the Sadducees, a group of religious leaders who think the idea of life after death is absurd. Jesus responds with insight and authority, proving the Sadducees wrong and pointing us all to the hope of the resurrection found only in Jesus himself. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-and-the-afterlife http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-and-the-afterlife.mp3 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:33:01 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark resurrection,life_after_death,heaven,eternity 38:04 What is a Christian response to politics, taxes, and the government? In tonight's passage, Jesus takes on the liberal left and the conservative right, reveals them both as inadequate political options, and describes a new trajectory and means for being a politically involved people. What might it look like for us to embrace his way in our city, nation, and world? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-politics-of-jesus http://vintagefc.com/media/the-politics-of-jesus.mp3 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:32:13 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark liberals,jesus,government,politics,conservatives 45:42 After Jesus' symbolic actions in the Temple, the religious leaders want to know why exactly he thinks he has the authority to put an end to the temple. But when they refuse to answer a question that he poses to them, he in turn refuses to disclose his source of authority. He goes on, however, to tell a parable that reveals his relationship to his Father as the source of his authority. In this parable, we see that the authority of Jesus is absolute, threatening, and marvelous. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-authority-of-jesus http://vintagefc.com/media/authority-of-jesus.mp3 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:32:16 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark authority,power,threat_of_jesus 39:05 As Jesus finally makes his way into Jerusalem, he intentionally orchestrates a procession that fulfills the messianic prophecy of Zecheriah 9.9. Jesus wants to be clear about his identity and his mission, and the incident in the Temple serves to illustrate that he has come to be the final sacrifice, the end of the Temple system. The challenge for us 2000 years later is to remain fruitfully connected to Jesus as our Temple, a living faith in God that dynamically impacts our world. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-and-the-temple http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-and-the-temple.mp3 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:32:19 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark temple,faith,fig_tree,cleansing,lion_and_the_lamb 49:41 What is the meaning of the death of Jesus? Why did it happen? What does it mean for us today? The center of Christianity has always been the cross - remove the cross, and you don't have Christianity. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-ransom-for-many http://vintagefc.com/media/a-ransom-for-many.mp3 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:32:24 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark cross,christianity,atonement,propitiation,death_of_jesus 55:21 As Jesus continues on his journey to Jerusalem, he once again predicts his coming death, and instructs his disciples in the Way of the Cross. In his interactions with the disciples, and in his healing of blind Bartimaeus, Jesus asks the question of a servant: "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus' servant life and sacrificial death are not only our hope and salvation, but also serve as the blueprint for the servant-life of a disciple. In tonight's sermon we tackle the question, the manner, and the power of a servant. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/what-do-you-want http://vintagefc.com/media/what-do-you-want.mp3 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 18:32:29 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark servant,slave,discipleship,cross,first_shall_be_last 50:29 As Jesus sets out on his downward journey to the cross, a rich young man on his way up in the world approaches Jesus with a question about eternal life. In the collision of the God-Man heading down and the young man heading up, the ruler gets his life dismantled. The cost of following Jesus is great, and he will lay claim to every inch of our lives. Will you let him wreck your life? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-and-your-stuff http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-and-your-stuff.mp3 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:32:39 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark wealth,identity,significance,rich_young_ruler 48:17 As we continue in Mark's Gospel, the demands of discipleship become more challenging. This week, Jesus lays claim to our marriages and our families. He points back to Genesis to teach us what God intended for marriage, and paints an inspiring picture of the beauty of married life. He loves, welcomes, and blesses the children, showing indignation at his disciples' lack of care for the needy and helpless ones. And he offers us entrance into this kind of life if we are willing to become like children and receive his reign and lordship in our families. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-and-your-family http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-and-your-family.mp3 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:32:33 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark marriage,divorce,adultery,family,children 57:15 What is our mental image of Jesus? Do we think of him as a poor Jewish peasant with long hair, soft features, and a wry smile? The image of Jesus in the book of Revelation is something entirely different, and in tonight's passage Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of the resurrected Jesus before his death and burial. What they see is hard to describe, but having the right view of Jesus is incredibly important for how we live, believe, and pray! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/listen-to-him http://vintagefc.com/media/listen-to-him.mp3 Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:32:37 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark faith,prayer,transfiguration,king_jesus 38:37 In the healing of the blind man, Jesus teaches his disciples about their spiritual blindness. Spiritual blindness is the pervasive human problem, and it is both deep and self-destructive. But Jesus also show how he intends to heal his disciples. Our healing requires the rebuke of the cross, which first humbles us and then affirms us. By believing and living the Gospel we become free to live the upside-down dynamic of the kingdom. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/do-you-see-anything http://vintagefc.com/media/do-you-seeanything.mp3 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:35:23 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark spiritual_blindness,gospel,offense_of_the_cross 43:27 As the first half of Mark's Gospel comes to a close, Mark gives us an opportunity to evaluate our relationship to Jesus. In this final scene, we see Jesus once again act with compassion on the crowd, once again battle with the Pharisees, and once again challenge his disciples. As we evaluate the reasons that Jesus deals differently with each group, we will get an honest glimpse into our own heart-level relationship with Jesus. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/do-you-not-yet-understand http://vintagefc.com/media/do-you-not-yet-understand.mp3 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:34:08 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark surrender,jesus,pharisees,disciples 34:12 For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus heads into Gentile territory. In these first 2 stories amongst the Gentiles, Mark teaches us how we are to relate to someone like Jesus, and why we can relate in that way. But Mark goes beyond that, too, and tells us more about the identity and purpose of Jesus. To relate to Jesus by faith is more than a ticket to heaven; rather, Mark wants us to see that in Jesus is wholeness and restoration, the complete and total healing of the world. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/all-things-well http://vintagefc.com/media/all-things-well.mp3 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:34:13 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark faith,courage,humility,gospel,story,redemption 55:11 As Vintage celebrates its 3rd year, it is a good time to remember God's work amongst us and look forward to what He is calling us to in the future. In tonights message we look at what it means to be a church on mission. At the heart of it all, we must be a church that is motivate by the gospel to be the people of God for the sake of the world. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/vintage-church-on-mission http://vintagefc.com/media/church-on-mission.mp3 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:35:27 UTC Steve Hart Vintage Vision 2007 mission,community,service,church,equipping,gospel 49:58 Though we may not understand the Old Testament obsession with ritual purity, our culture is equally obsessed with cleanliness. The problem, of course, is that no matter how much we shower, shave, and clean up the outside, our hearts are the true source of the filth in our lives. So what hope do we have for becoming clean? Listen to how Jesus deals with the issue of purity, and the gospel solution to our uncleanness. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/becoming-clean http://vintagefc.com/media/becoming-clean.mp3 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 13:32:28 UTC Ryan Keogh The Gospel of Mark purity,sin,heart,motivations,cleanliness 24:02 For the second time in the Gospel of Mark, the disciples find themselves in a boat on the sea of Galilee, struggling against the wind and waves, and feeling utterly alone. Though Jesus sees them struggling in the evening, he waits until almost morning to do anything about it, finally coming out to them walking on the sea. What do we make of this story? Besides being one of the clearest revelations of the true identity of Jesus, it is also the clearest revelation of just how little the disciples understand that identity. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-terrifying-love-of-jesus http://vintagefc.com/media/terrifying-love-of-jesus.mp3 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 18:34:17 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark hard_hearts,disciples,gospel,fear 42:55 More aptly titled, "The Revolution of Jesus", the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle story recored in all 4 Gospels. Why did this story have such a prominent place in the life of the early church? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-good-shepherd http://vintagefc.com/media/the-good-shepherd.mp3 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:34:23 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark word_and_deed,bread,revolution,shepherd 40:06 In Mark's recounting of the death of John the Baptist, he reminds us of the cost of being associated with Jesus and the message of the Kingdom. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/death-of-the-baptizer http://vintagefc.com/media/death-of-the-baptizer.mp3 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:35:26 UTC Matthew Green The Gospel of Mark john,herod,repentance,doubt 34:30 The power of Jesus continues to be displayed in situations beyond hope, this time a dying child and a chronically sick woman. Mark emphasizes the role of faith in these healings, giving clues to us about how the power of Jesus might connect to our lives. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/lessons-on-faith http://vintagefc.com/media/lessons-on-faith.mp3 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:34:27 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark healing,power,faith,discipleship 34:50 Demons, discipleship, and the death of pigs - this is the kind of stuff Mark loves. Mark is a master of taking the life of Jesus and inviting us into it so that we can experience what the eye witnesses experienced in Jesus. In this passage, Mark continues to highlight the power of Jesus - ultimate, sovereign, absolute power over all the forces of darkness. What is most striking, however, is that Jesus defeats the power of darkness not with a sword and shield but with a cross and and empty tomb. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/defeat-of-evil http://vintagefc.com/media/defeat-of-evil.mp3 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 18:34:29 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark demons,demonic,evil,power,jesus,mission 38:10 In this remarkable story, Jesus leads his disciples to the brink of death before powerfully rescuing them from the raging storm. Though the disciples question both his power and his care for them, Jesus wants to know why they refuse to believe that his power and his care are infinite. Maturity as a disciple of Jesus means coming to the place where Jesus is enough for us. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/lord-of-the-storm http://vintagefc.com/media/lord-of-the-storm.mp3 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:34:31 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark jesus,disciple,storms,trials,power,care 24:48 The mystery of the kingdom can only be unlocked through being with Jesus as a disciple. In these parables, Jesus invites us to understand the way of the kingdom, the promise of the kingdom, and the magnitude of the kingdom. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-open-kingdom http://vintagefc.com/media/the-open-kingdom.mp3 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:34:34 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark kingdom_of_god,parable,mustard_seed,promise 42:58 In our first glimpse of the content of Jesus' teaching, we get a feeling for why everyone was so confused about Jesus! He teaches about the kingdom in parables and stories, and this first parable sets the stage for what is to come. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-seed-of-the-kingdom http://vintagefc.com/media/the-seed-of-the-kingdomq.mp3 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:33:24 UTC Ryan Keogh The Gospel of Mark parable,kingdom,heart 26:30 As we continue to look at Jesus in Mark's gospel, we realize that his claims and his actions defy our categories and leave us with very few options in deciding who he is. His family accuses him of being crazy and tries to stop him. The religious leaders accuse him of being demon possessed and deceiving the people. But Jesus is very clear about his identity - he is the serpent crusher, the long-awaited Messiah, the one who has come to bind the strong man and plunder his goods. In his dying and rising, Jesus has ransomed a people, creating one new family, and setting free the captives. True freedom comes from sitting at the feet of Jesus and walking in obedience to him. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-family-of-jesus http://vintagefc.com/media/the-family-of-jesus.mp3 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:34:38 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark freedom,unforgivable_sin,ransom,satan,jesus 45:22 What is discipleship? The Gospel of Mark is a handbook for discipleship, written to encourage and empower the church to fulfill the task of making disciples of all nations. In this week's passage, Jesus calls his disciples to himself and gives us the framework and model for discipleship. (Note: first half of sermon did not get recorded.) http://vintagefc.com/sermon/with-jesus http://vintagefc.com/media/with-jesus.mp3 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:34:43 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark community,purpose,mission,identity,jesus,discipleship 23:07 As we continue our study in the Gospel of Mark, we will occasionally take a break from the verse by verse format in order to deal with questions and doubts about the Gospels, about Jesus, or about Christianity in general. This is a great chance to discuss some of the questions our culture is asking about Jesus. In tonight's Doubt Night, we tackle the reliability of the Gospels, the emergence of the Gnostic Gospels, and the work of the Jesus Seminar. We also tackle a great question about "tax collectors" in today's society. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/doubt-night-one http://vintagefc.com/media/doubt-night-one.mp3 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 18:34:45 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark jesus_seminar,gnosticisim,gnostic_gospels 45:39 The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders continues to escalate and comes to a head here in a controversy over the Sabbath. The religious leaders had added 39 separate categories of rules to the simple command to "keep the Sabbath holy," thereby making the Sabbath rest a burden! In the gospel, Jesus removes the burden of the Sabbath, restores the purpose of the Sabbath, and declares himself the lord of the Sabbath. True, deep, lasting rest is only found in Jesus. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/lord-of-the-sabbath http://vintagefc.com/media/lord-of-the-sabbath.mp3 Sun, 27 May 2007 18:34:51 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark sabbath,jesus,religion,gospel,freedom 42:00 Are we as Christians called to be the morality police for our culture? How do we interact and relate with those outside the faith? In this passage, Jesus scandalizes the religious leaders by eating with and befriending sinners. This is the gospel, that God has come to us as sinners, offered friendship, offered a great feast, and it is this grace which leads to repentance. Therefore, as we allow the new wine of the gospel to explode our old systems, we'll become more joyful and less judgmental of those outside the faith. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/friendship-and-feasting http://vintagefc.com/media/friendship-and-feasting.mp3 Sun, 20 May 2007 18:34:54 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark gospel,faith,evangelism,sin,sinner 38:03 Throughout the Gospel of Mark, three groups of people repeatedly get in the way of Jesus' ministry, particularly by crowding out those who most need to get to Jesus. In this passage, four men are trying to get their paralytic friend to Jesus to be healed, but can't because of the crowds, the disciples, and the religious leaders. But because of their faith, they find a way to Jesus - through the roof! But when the paralytic is finally before Jesus, he receives so much more than physical healing. Jesus looks deep into the man's heart and does something only God can do, and the very thing Jesus came to secure, forgiveness of sin. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/healing-and-forgiveness http://vintagefc.com/media/healing-and-forgiveness.mp3 Sun, 13 May 2007 18:34:57 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark forgiveness,healing,sin,faith 33:25 Ghandi once said, "I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." In this passage in Mark 1.35-45, we see 3 aspects of Jesus' ministry - his rich prayer life, his unsettling gospel message, and his passionate care for the marginalized. And in the story of the leper's cleansing, Mark presents to us how we ought to come to Jesus - confessing our sin-sick hearts and putting ourselves at his mercy. And if we come to Jesus like the leper, we can begin to be healed, so that our lives more accurately reflect the ministry of Jesus. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/prayer-word-deed http://vintagefc.com/media/prayer-word-deed.mp3 Sun, 06 May 2007 18:35:50 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark ministry,gospel,compassion,bag_2_bless 41:46 Mark's first picture of Jesus in ministry is a the story of a powerful ministry confrontation. Jesus comes into a synagogue to teach and the people are amazed at the authority in his words and character. A demon immediately cries out, and again the people marvel at Jesus' authority to silence the demon. What do we do with One with such authority? How are we to respond? Like the disciples, the only right response is to follow. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-new-authority http://vintagefc.com/media/a-new-authority.mp3 Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:49:54 UTC Ryan Keogh The Gospel of Mark jesus,authority,teaching,demons,synagogue,healing 22:49 The call of Jesus is the same today as it was 2000 years ago - a call to him as teacher and master, in which he takes the lead in making us become fishers of men. And he remains as competent, faithful, and trustworthy as he was to the early disciples http://vintagefc.com/sermon/called-to-be-disciples http://vintagefc.com/media/called-to-be-disciples.mp3 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 18:35:01 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark discipleship,follow,gospel,kingdom,disciples 39:02 Mark is a master of saying much with few words, and in this passage he emphasizes both the total humanity of Jesus and the total divinity of Jesus. Jesus, as a man, was a carpenter from Nazareth. As the second member of the Trinity, however, Jesus is the Son, the Beloved of his Father. God became man in Jesus in order to reverse the effects of the fall and to welcome us back into the community of the Trinity! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/father-son-holy-spirit http://vintagefc.com/media/father-son-holy-spirit.mp3 Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:35:42 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark trinity,father,son,holy_spirit,jesus,baptism,divine_dance 44:19 As we begin our study through the Gospel of Mark this Easter Sunday, Mark introduces us to Jesus, the Anointed King, the Son of God. John the Baptist comes "preparing the way" in the desert, baptizing and preaching repentance. We meet the Anointed King in the desert, and he baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-man-in-the-wilderness http://vintagefc.com/media/the-man-in-the-wilderness.mp3 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 18:35:06 UTC Steve Hart The Gospel of Mark baptism,son_of_god,messiah,gospel,mark 40:27 When God gives us good things in life, it is our responsibility and privilege to enjoy them. Living in wisdom results in a life often filled with joy. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/enjoy-life http://vintagefc.com/media/enjoy-life.mp3 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:23:23 UTC Matthew Green Proverbs wisdom,life,enjoy,joy 36:27 Life is a journey, and wisdom requires that we carefully choose our traveling companions. Proverbs offers wisdom for developing friendships, including those we might date or court, as well as offering wisdom for our best and longest friend, our spouse. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/friendship-dating-sex http://vintagefc.com/media/friendship-dating-sex.mp3 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:35:09 UTC Steve Hart Proverbs wisdom,friendship,dating,marriage,sex 44:08 Wine and beer have a long and rich heritage in the Church. While Scripture teaches that wine is a gift from God, it also speaks a great deal to the dangers of the abuse of drink and the ruin that can be caused in our lives by it. We must discern the path of wisdom in our day in such a way that we drink in righteousness, peace, and joy. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/drinking-in-joy http://vintagefc.com/media/drinking-in-joy.mp3 Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:35:11 UTC Steve Hart Proverbs wine,beer,drunkenness,alcohol,drinking 37:37 http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-tongue http://vintagefc.com/media/the-tongue.mp3 Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:35:13 UTC Steve Hart Proverbs tongue,words,speech,wisdom,proverbs 40:16 What is authentic worship? Is it a solemn, quiet reflection? Is it loud, exuberant dancing? Is it a certain kind of song, prayer, sound, etc? In this passage, we see Peter and John come to gather with the church for one reason: to seek God together. Authentic worship happens when the church is pursues Jesus together in all of life. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/authentic-worship http://vintagefc.com/media/authentic-worship.mp3 Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:39:16 UTC Nick Dotson What is authentic worship? Is it a solemn, quiet reflection? Is it loud, exuberant dancing? Is it a certain kind of song, prayer, sound, etc? In this passage, we see Peter and John come to gather with the church for one reason: to seek God ... worship,authentic,jesus,church,worship_service 52:36 Proverbs provides wisdom for the how we use money on a daily basis. Being a diligent and faithful steward of God's money requires that we plan and budget, give generously and joyfully, deal ruthlessly with debt, live simply and justly, and plan well for the future. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/giving-spending-saving http://vintagefc.com/media/giving-spending-saving.mp3 Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:02:36 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs wealth,giving,spending,saving,money,budgeting 43:25 Scriptures view of wealth and poverty simply cannot be squeezed into our contemporary economic options. We must recognize not only the dangers of wealth, but also the great potential that wealth brings for caring for the poor and needy. And while we realize that poverty can be the result of sloth, Proverbs reminds us that the rich have a responsibility to care for the poor. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/wealth--poverty http://vintagefc.com/media/wealth--poverty.mp3 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 00:02:51 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs money,poor,wealth,poverty,giving,tithe 44:32 At Creation, we see God at work, inviting humanity to join him by cultivating the raw materials of creation. Therefore, work is a good gift from God and an important part of being human. Proverbs offers practical wisdom about what work we should be doing and how we should go about doing it. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/wisdom-for-work http://vintagefc.com/media/wisdom-for-work.mp3 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 00:03:07 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs proverbs,wisdom,work,sluggard,diligent 45:45 As we re-enter our study on practical wisdom from the book of Proverbs, its imperative that we understand that life is a journey and that our destiny is sealed not so much by the big events as by the daily decisions. Therefore, wisdom encourages us toward a set of daily disciplines that move us along the path of life. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/the-path--process-of-wisdom http://vintagefc.com/media/the-path--process-of-wisdom.mp3 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 12:16:58 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs proverbs,wisdom,journey,life,disciplines 40:26 As the disciples were forced by persecution out of the city of Jerusalem, they took the joy of the gospel and spread the news. Philip's example teaches us that if we stay on mission, keep clear on the message, and be an empowered medium, our city will come alive with the joy of salvation in Jesus, too! http://vintagefc.com/sermon/joy-in-the-city http://vintagefc.com/media/joy-in-the-city.mp3 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:35:16 UTC Steve Hart Vintage Vision 2007 mission,acts,joy,city,mission 40:21 As we step into 2007, we must build the kingdom city through diligent work and battle-ready prayer. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/a-mission-of-prayer-and-work http://vintagefc.com/media/a-mission-of-prayer-and-work.mp3 Sun, 14 Jan 2007 18:35:19 UTC Steve Hart Vintage Vision 2007 nehemiah,prayer,kingdom_work,mission 41:54 As we lean into the future, we must do so firmly resting in Jesus, allowing his Word to penetrate our lives, and praying for the "greater works" that he wants to do through us. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/abiding-in-prayer http://vintagefc.com/media/abiding-in-prayer.mp3 Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:00:05 UTC Vintage Faith Community Vintage Vision 2007 prayer,kingdom,abiding,jesus,vision 31:24 Jesus teaches us to pray. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/prayer-in-the-kingdom http://vintagefc.com/media/prayer-in-the-kingdom.mp3 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:59:39 UTC Vintage Faith Community Vintage Vision 2007 26:12 We spend 11 months of the year thinking primarily about ourselves, and suddenly attempt to switch gears for Decemember. Why can't we sustain the "giving spirit" all year long? Is it possible? Can we become trully selfless people? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-meal-with-matthew http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-meal-with-matthew.mp3 Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:51:20 UTC Vintage Faith Community Advent 2006: Sustaining the Giving Spirit christmas,giving,selfishness,greed,jesus 35:51 A meal with Jesus transforms the life of a greedy extortionist tax collector... can it happen the same for us? http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jesus-meal-with-zacchaeus http://vintagefc.com/media/jesus-meal-with-zacchaeus.mp3 Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:46:38 UTC Vintage Faith Community Advent 2006: Sustaining the Giving Spirit jesus,barriers_to_faith,christmas 35:49 Motherhood is a high and noble calling, a mission, and a full-time ministry, and for these reasons a mother needs the wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures. Proverbs offers practical advice for mom as she teaches, models, corrects, and trains her children in righteousness. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-women-as-mothers http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs-women-as-mothers.mp3 Sun, 26 Nov 2006 14:22:37 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs women,motherhood,children,proverbs,wisdom 43:56 The role of a wife is one of influence and power based on character. A wife can quite literally make or break her husband as she can either be a crown to him or decay in his bones. Proverbs teaches a wife how to bring her husband good all the days of her life. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-women-as-wives http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-women-as-wives.mp3 Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:08:54 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs women,wives,proverbs,wisdom,femininity 37:42 Men have been given the great and high calling of fatherhood. Unfortunately, many men, including Christian men, have a low view of children, a disdain for the pregnant wife, and a lack of wisdom in their parenting. Beginning with the biblical picture of a strong and godly man who marries well and comes to see children as a blessing and reward for righteous living, we can then turn to Proverbs for practical advice on righteous fatherhood. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-men-as-fathers http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-men-as-fathers.mp3 Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:31:07 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs men,fathers,husbands,children,proverbs,wisdom 33:25 The foundation for all relationships is Covenant: the unconditional binding of one party to another. Within the covenant of marriage, the husband is the "head" or covenantal representative. He is the one who carries the greater responsibility for the state of the marriage. His call is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church, and the book of Proverbs offers practical help in how men can love their wives. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-men-as-husbands http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-men-as-husbands.mp3 Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:30:50 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs husbands,love,marriage,covenant,wisdom 47:24 In a culture that is deeply confused about gender and sexuality, we desperately need to hear the Scripture's teaching. Genesis 2 gives us the framework for masculinity in the picture of Adam, Genesis 3 shows us the failure of Adam, and the book of Proverbs helps us to identify the ways in which men tend to be like their first father Adam. Thankfully, Christ is the man we can never be, and he will make his men into Prophets, Warriors, and Kings. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-men-and-masculinity http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-men-masculinity.mp3 Sun, 22 Oct 2006 09:13:54 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs sexuality,masculinity,men,wisdom,proverbs 60:15 Proverbs takes Creation seriously. particularly the creation of man and woman. Before we can look at how Proverbs addresses men and women differently, we need a Biblical framework for the similarities and differences in men and women. Male chauvinism and radical feminism both demean the image of God in men and women. Scripture brings together the unity of the sexes as equal image bearers while affirming and celebrating the fact that God made them differently. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-the-image-of-god http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-the-imago-dei.mp3 Sun, 15 Oct 2006 04:45:26 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs men,women,gender,wisdom,creation,image_of_god 41:32 Proverbs - like the Scriptures in general - is very world affirming; unfortunately, many Christians are not. Though we are quick to dismiss "wordly wisdom" as foolish and sinful, we rely upon the collective wisdom of the our cultures on a daily basis. So how do we live in these two streams of wisdom, the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God? And what does it mean that "God has made foolish the wisdom of the world?" http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-the-wisdom-of-the-world http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-wisdom-of-the-world.mp3 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:47:19 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs proverbs,wisdom,worldly,foolishness,power 34:24 The repeated thesis of Proverbs is that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." The fear of the Lord is the key to understanding the book of Proverbs and the key to understanding the kind of life wisdom teaches us to live. The fear of God is a description of the right way of relating to the God who is absolutely holy and hates our sin but who sends his own Son to suffer our punishment in our place. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-the-fear-of-the-lord http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-the-fear-of-the-lord.mp3 Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:20:35 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs proverbs,wisdom,fear_of_the_lord,god 38:07 Proverbs is often misunderstood and construed to be all about health, wealth, and success. But rightly understood, Proverbs lays out the gospel. Rather than offering techniques for getting ahead in life, the book of wisdom reveals our deep brokenness and sin, our need for a Savior, and the hope we have in Christ. Once we realize that Proverbs deals with our heart condition and not just our outward actions we can get on the path of wisdom which "shines brighter and brighter untill full day." http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-the-wellspring-of-wisdom http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-the-wellspring-of-wisdom.mp3 Sun, 24 Sep 2006 07:40:15 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs jesus,sin,heart,gospel,proverbs,wisdom 33:35 Just as there is a chasm between playing a game and playing it with skill, there is a difference between living and living well. Wisdom is the art of living skillfully and beautifully in God's world. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/proverbs-plowing-a-kingdom-culture http://vintagefc.com/media/proverbs:-plowing-a-kingdom-culture.mp3 Sun, 17 Sep 2006 23:41:39 UTC Vintage Faith Community Proverbs creation,proverbs,culture,wisdom 36:53 Our radio ads. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/annekes-ad http://vintagefc.com/media/annekes-ad.mp3 Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:06:12 UTC Radio Ads 1:00 Our radio ads. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/jasons-ad http://vintagefc.com/media/jasons-ad.mp3 Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:18:25 UTC Radio Ads 1:00 Our Radio ads. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/steves-radio-ad http://vintagefc.com/media/steves-ad.mp3 Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:22:50 UTC Radio Ads 1:01 Our radio ads. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/emilio-and-saras-ad http://vintagefc.com/media/emilio-saras-ad.mp3 Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:23:04 UTC Radio Ads 1:00 Many people struggle with guilt and shame, carrying around the weight of failure and insecurity. Only when Jesus is ultimate in our lives can we experience confidence before God which results in holy living. http://vintagefc.com/sermon/feeling-guilty http://vintagefc.com/media/feeling-guilty.mp3 Sun, 10 Sep 2006 23:31:05 UTC Vintage Faith Community Many people struggle with guilt and shame, carrying around the weight of failure and insecurity. Only when Jesus is ultimate in our lives can we experience confidence before God which results in holy living. guilt,shame,fear,jesus,freedom 48:04