River City Vineyard - Sunday Teachings

Does death have a sting?

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Passion Week.  What a great opportunity to focus on the humility and self-sacrificing love of Jesus which triumphs over all principalities, powers, and empires.

We live in the Between Times. We still experience the suffering of this present age, "an aeon of suffering," and at the same time "taste the powers of the age to come." We refuse to ignore the reality of human suffering or dismiss that suffering by heartless theologies. We are "those who mourn."

We practice a center-set approach to ministry. We are discerning the values toward which our community is drawn in this season. 

Are we lawyers or prophets? Will we retreat into religious legalism or serve as the prophetic conscience of our culture? Which way does Jesus lead us?

What is the meaning of Lent? What are we to do?

In a center set approach to ministry, the authority is found in the values at the center toward which all in the community are encouraged to move toward. Along with prioritizing relationship over rules, the values at the center hold things together in a center-set community.

How do we live in the moment united with God?

Merry Christmas. Our world is in desperate need of change. What can we who follow Jesus do to help?

Part of the salt and the light we are to share with the world is Peacemaking. In light of the outbreak of hostility in the Middle East, we want to encourage others to come along with our community in the pursuit of reconciliation and a just peace between Palestine and Israel.

Our Journey through A More Christlike God by Bradley Jersak

Journey through A More Christlike God by Bradley Jersak

Our community has been on an adventure of reading A More Christlike God  by Bradley Jersak. We have been covering one chapter a week. Each week’s conversation is directed by one of our teaching leaders followed by comments and questions by our in-person and on-line community.Our purpose for this journey with Bradley has been to make sure we are telling the best story of the Good News of Jesus. We have noticed that too often we leave the basic story line of the Bible and begin to add particular theological explanations which at times twists the story of Good News into Bad News, from a beautiful story to something much less than beautiful.We want to do our best to pass along the Good and  the Beautiful news of Jesus to our families, friends, and neighbors.

Love God. Love others in the same ways you love yourself. Even love your enemies. Since God is love. Love is the main word and action of the faith of those who follow Jesus. Better to spend time loving rather than judging!

As a community we have an opportunity to serve an asylum seeker. The truth is we have the heart to help, but we do not know how to do this. Pastor Dianne is further ahead of us on this journey and has wonderful encouragement for us and for anyone else who has the heart for a compassionate response to those seeking asylum.

Self-denial in the Gospel is not meant to be an end in itself.  What does self-denial for the sake of following Jesus look like?

We are preparing for Lent. This morning we are suggesting a Community Rhythm of Prayer for the Lenten Season. All are welcome to join in prayer with us. Let us know if you do by writing inquire@rcvineyard.org.