Evanston Vineyard

The parable of the workers and their wages teaches us that Grace is both beautiful and offensive, depending on your perspective. Whether you are among the First or the Last the invitation is to receive God’s invitation to Love and Joy. The post PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM: Workers in the Vineyard first appeared on Vineyard.

The King of love has extravagant forgiveness for us. But we are also called to do the same. How can we? What help do we have? The post PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM: “THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT” first appeared on Vineyard.

How precious is the Kingdom of Heaven to you? Is it valuable enough that you’d be willing to walk away from everything you know in pursuit of a life with the Risen King? The post PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM: TREASURE + PEARL first appeared on Vineyard.

What is the Kingdom of God? It turns out, it’s such a big, expansive reality that Jesus used a lot of stories to help us understand it. These stories are called parables and we’re spending the next five weeks looking at them. First up: the mustard seed and leaven. The post PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM: The Seed + Leaven first appeared on Vineyard.

This third sermon in our Saved series deal with the last part of our Gospel summary: Jesus, the crucified king of love is making all things new. When Jesus was raised from death he ascended as King! That means he reigns, and that the reign of death won’t last. Jesus is making a new world […] The post SAVED PT. 3- All Things New first appeared on Vineyard.

Last Sunday we introduced a one sentence Gospel that we believe makes better sense of the entire story of Jesus and what it means to be saved. This week, we talk about the present reality of the that salvation. The post SAVED, PT. 2: “Work Out Your Salvation” first appeared on Vineyard.

This Easter Sunday we are digging into the magnificent, dense chapter on resurrection by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. There is hope in here for every single person. We also interrogate the one sentence Gospel of “Jesus died for our sins.” The post SAVED, Pt. 1: The Resurrection of the Son of God first appeared on Vineyard.

Many of us are probably familiar with the most common reasons for baptism: 1) It’s commanded; 2) Jesus himself was baptized; 3) It’s a public profession; 4) It’s entrance into the community of believers. But the Apostle Peter in his first letter gives us another, massively important reason that we need to hear. The post Remember Your Baptism first appeared on Vineyard.

Some God encounters are sweet, while others are confrontational and arresting. We’ll explore how Jesus uses a series of important events to turn the light on for Saul and how he even uses others to play a role in Saul’s purpose discovery, healing and salvation.  The post A HOLY CONFRONTATION first appeared on Vineyard.

We end our journey in James, a book that has been lanced through with brutal honesty, on a high note. Three hopes, all located in healing: our bodies matter, the Lord will raise us up, and pray for each other that we may be healed. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES, PT. 10 – HEALING first appeared on Vineyard.

James tells us that the reality of the kingdom transforms the way we think about money and allows us to live patiently. The gospel makes us generous as we patiently wait Jesus’ good kingdom. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES, PT 9 -THE KINGDOM, MONEY + PATIENCE first appeared on Vineyard.

Renée Cunningham brings today’s message The post THE BOOK OF JAMES, PT 8- A REBUKE OF ARROGANCE first appeared on Vineyard.

The first ten verses of chapter 4 are a master class on desire. How do we direct our desire? How do we heal our desires? James shows us how. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT.7- DESIRE first appeared on Vineyard.

Some people say James is the New Testament version of the book of Proverbs. If James has some wisdom to share with us, what does he mean when he talks about two kinds of wisdom, and how does that apply to life? Let’s find out. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT.6- TWO KINDS OF WISDOM first appeared on Vineyard.

As one preacher puts it, “if we can master the tongue, we can master our lives.” Yet James tells us, “no one can tame the tongue.” So how does the healing of our tongues actually happen? The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT.5- THE TONGUE first appeared on Vineyard.

Exploring some of James’ most direct and unabashed exhortations to followers of Christ to put their faith into action.  The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT. 4- FAITH IN ACTION first appeared on Vineyard.

What does it mean to love your neighbor? In James 2:1-13, we learn that the early Christians struggled with favoritism and silos within the church, just like our society today. James helped the church to break down walls by changing their glasses and loving others in action. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT. 3- NO FAVORITISM first appeared on Vineyard.

The second half of James 1 includes 3 distinct instructions that act as “life rings”. These were intended to help the people of James’ day as they faced trials. In the same way, they help us now cling to who God is and what He calls us to do. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT. 2- EXTENDING LIFE IN HARD TIMES first appeared on Vineyard.

In our world, friendship has become disposlable. But Jesus tells us that friendships might be THE most important relationships we can have; in fact, he seems to elevate friendships above all other relationships in John 15. How do we practice spiritual friendship at the Vineyard? Listen to find out. The post THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF MEMBERSHIP first appeared on Vineyard.

Today we start a new series through the book of James. James dives right in and teaches us that in the Kingdom where Jesus is Lord, even trials bring good and perfect gifts. The post THE BOOK OF JAMES PT. 1 – “TROUBLE’S GONNA COME…’ first appeared on Vineyard.