The tongue can create a reality in which the worst of our human choices become true.
Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
God has designed it that in order for humans totruly flourish we must operate out of a place of rest and not into a place of rest.
For the last few weeks we have been unpacking what Justice is. We previously mentioned four key relationships: Us with God, Us with Ourselves, Us with Others, and Us with Creation. Today we will focus primarily on Us with Others and in particular with Branches of Hope.
You cannot call yourself a Christian and remain distant to the injustice in society around you. We must join Jesus in the work of restoring shalom and flourishing to the society in which we are planted in.
If you want to be more like Jesus, you are invited to be more just.
"If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25)
The gifts and fruit are given to us so that the entire body of Christ can come together and say, "Praise the Lord!"
Both the external manifestations of the Spirit and the internal transformation by the Spirit are essential for each one of us here at the Vine.
Our panel members explored key themes they feel are important for us as a church, especially the idea of worshipping in Spirit and in Truth, based on John 4:19-24
Our discipleship journey with Christ is enriched and matured as we accept and invest our lives into both realities: God constantly and faithfully transforms us in our private lives as much as He guides and forms us into His Church.
Every single human being has a native heart language that is hardwired into their soul through being made in the image of God. It is the heart language of the Spirit of God. The Spirit changes us by communicating with us.
The Holy Spirit in a sense does from the inside what Christ would do from the outside- teach, convict, remind, comfort and guide.
I remember the very first time I ever encountered the spirit. On one Sunday my father responded to the altar call at the end of the service and as a four year, old I distinctly remember the pastor laying his hands on my Dad and then seeing my Dad fall over on, to the floor and then lie there really still as if he were dead