River City Vineyard - Sunday Teachings

"In his name the Gentiles will hope."Matthew paints a beautiful portrait of God's chosen One, Jesus. caring for the "outsiders" resulting in both their well-being and the hope they all discover in relationship with Jesus.

Can we trust God?    with all that we cannot see?    with all that we do see?    with all that is needed for living a worthwhile life?    with the one-of-a-kind God-expression?

How did Andrew find Jesus, the Messiah? John tells the story in the first chapter of the gospel story. How about us and those we love? How do we find Jesus, the Messiah?

God has much to say to us to encourage us in expanding our Messianic expectation.

When John the Baptist drew attention to Jesus, the Lamb of God, what did his disciples hear and understand? If we understand that meaning, we can enter into their Messianic Expectation.

The Season of Advent is approaching. It is almost here. We want to prepare for the season by renewing and expanding our Messianic Expectations. We start with the Samaritan woman who visited with Jesus at a water well. In that conversation she expresses a Messianic expectation. What was that expression? Where did it come from? What the surprise for her?

"Happy are the peacemakers" is more than a platitude. These are words we must put into practice. Our world in strife is in great need of peacemakers.

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was a disciple of John the Apostle. Both he and Polycarp learned to follow Jesus by appenticing with John. So, when Ignatius provides us with a definition of Christianity, it is good for us to listen and learn. 

"If God wills" can be an excuse for inactivity. We are considering another option practiced by Jesus. God invites us to partner with him.

We are still in John 4 where Jesus met the Samaritans. So much to learn about how Jesus shared his life with others. 

Tapping into our Vineyard history in hopes of refining our service toward our neighbors.

What Jesus' approach in life and ministry with the woman at the well (John 4)? What values were at the center of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan women? How did Jesus create a safe place for the Samaritan women?Do we as a community follow Jesus in our approach to ministry?

We are a diverse community of ordinary people...What is Jesus guiding us into?

What does it mean to be persecuted for the sake of Christ Jesus?

How can we apply our theology of peacemaking in our current political divides?

We are identifying the core values of our community from the Beatitudes. The first part is a Theology of Peacemaking. 

Becoming Pure in Heart comes through relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We are identifying the values of our community. We have found them in the Beatitudes. 

All of us are in need of mercy. May we who follow Christ Jesus learn to receive mercy and to give mercy away with no strings attached.