Episodes
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A Pastor & His People: Reflections of a Mutual Partnership
As a pastor concludes his ministry in a local church, in particular in a church he planted, What should his reflections be? What should he desire for his people? Paul articulates my sentiments.
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Things to Remember in a Crisis
Have you ever been a member of a church in crisis? If not, have you ever been in a personal crisis? Oftentimes when the alarm of the catastrophe becomes acute for us, our immediate thought is what do I need to do to get out of this – right now! In our passage today we find young Pastor Timothy in...
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Host a Matthew Party: An Evangelistic Mixer!
Here in the American West, we oftentimes see ourselves as individuals. We are a low-group culture. The culture in which Jesus was socialized was a high-group culture; they viewed themselves not as individuals, but a part of a larger social group. This social construct is evidenced in today’s…
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From Walking with Jesus to Proclaiming Jesus!
The Easter narrative is pregnant with examples of Jesus’ closest followers cascading into unbelief. How does God get us back on track? What methods does He employ? What role, if any, do we play in the process? Today’s teaching will answers to these questions.
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Go & Tell What Great Things the Lord Has Done For You!
When was the last time you shared your testimony with someone? Do you have one? Is it written down? It doesn’t have to be sensational, but is it compelling? In today’s narrative, Jesus delivers a man from demonic destruction and then sends him to evangelize his family & friend and then ten…
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Go & Tell John...
Today’s message will probably reveal that we’ve been on both sides of this particular equation. Ever been thrust into a circumstance where you found yourself doubting what you once believed to be true of God? On the flipside, have you ever had a believing friend seek consolation from you because...
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Take the Good News to the City!
The definition of contagious is the transmission or spread of something from one person or object to another. In the medical field they distinguish between contagious and infectious ailments. A contagious ailment is contracted through general contact: a hand shake. An infectious ailment can be…
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Living As Resident Aliens
This week Paul shares a key paradigm shift in our thinking as we set out on a New Year. What does it look like to live as resident aliens in this world? Let’s consider Paul’s idea together.
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You're Under Arrest!
Did you know that you are under arrest? The Fourth Amendment states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or...
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Write Your Plans in Pencil
What do you have planned for 2014? Are there any big moves on the horizon? How do you approach short-term or long range planning? Do you plan at all? Or, do you take life as it comes? Is it wrong to draft plans? What does the Bible say about planning? As we prepare for a New Year pregnant with…
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The Christ Child: Israel's Consolation & the Gentile's Revelation
As Luke’s nativity narrative unfolds, Mary & Joseph are met by another obscure person looking for the Christ child. Would the birth of Christ have implications for Israel only or for all men?
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The Worship & Witness of Christ the Lord
In Luke’s version of the nativity scene, there are three wonderful truths that grip the reader. The first idea is very subtle, the second idea is not so subtle – it’s actually rather profound and the last is exciting but challenging at the same time. Let’s review the greatest story ever told!
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The Irreducible Core!
Core values are the convictions that a person or organization clings to & will never relinquish no matter how people, circumstances and societies ebb & flow. Core values anchor you to who you are. What are the Church’s core values?
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Go & Make Disciples of All Nations!
The five short verses that comprise this Great Commission passage are among the most important to establish the ongoing agenda of the church throughout the ages.” (Michael J. Wilkins, NIVAC. 2004 p.947)
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Are You a Good Neighbor?
There are 613 commandments in the Torah (Genesis- Deuteronomy), but they can all be summed up by 2: The Great Commandment. Remember from last week, the Great Commandment is a two-sided coin. What does it look like when we love God and love our neighbor? And who is our neighbor? The story of the...
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Loving Our Neighbors
The Greatest Commandment in the Bible is a two- sided coin. Last week we looked at the vertical side of that coin as God commanded us to love Him with all of heart, soul, possessions & Jesus later adds our mind. This week, we consider the other side of the coin: the horizontal aspect of The Great...
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The Relentless Love of God
Mission #1 at VCF is to call young people to love God. Which is just what we find Moses doing in the great Hebrew Shema passage, let’s see how Moses did in his day, what we are called by God to do today.
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Radically Transformed Community
Jesus’ clear teaching on what radically transformed community looks like is the singular passage that informs VCF’s community initiative.
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Radical Transformation
At the heart of the Christian experience is a radical transformation from what we were by nature into what God intends us to become by grace.
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What is Impossible with Men, Is Possible with God!
Jesus’ famous encounter with the rich young ruler is insightful for a host of reasons. First, this young man would fit perfectly into VCF’s target demographic. The young man inquires about how to obtain eternal life. How does Jesus respond to his inquiry? What might we learn about how to respond…
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Getting Rid of the Grasshopper Complex
God’s mission for VCF, should we choose to accept it, is to win our generation for Christ! Many would argue that this mission is ministry suicide, mission impossible, a waste of time & resources. What do you say? Can we reach our generation for Christ? If this mission impossible is to become...
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The Case for Life pt.4
As the abortion debate rages on in every sector of our country, the question that stifles our nation's ability to arrive at a morally justifiable position is ethical. How do we, as the people of God, make an ethically persuasive arguement for the pro-life cause? Today we are going to discover a...
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The Case for Life pt. 2
Today we are going to see the inconsistency in the way in which the United States Courts make judicial decisions & US Congresspersons formulate laws that pertain to the unborn. Therefore, because these two branches of government are all over the map on this issue, we as the salt of the earth &...
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The Case for Life pt.1
54 million abortions have been performed since abortion on demand became legal in 1973. On the 40yr anniversary of that landmark decision we consider the complexity of this dilemma. And what does the Bible say about life? What should our position be as Christians?
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Is Homosexuality Compatible With the Gospel?
What does the New Testament say about homosexuality? We discovered last time that God abhors homosexuality... period! What is God's disposition towards this sexual orientation & those who practice it in the Church Age? Does God take a softer postion on it as a result of Christ's sacrafice at...
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God's Extreme Abhorrence For Sexual Perversion
Our task this week is to take a look at a couple of the most prominent passages in the in the Old Testament that highlights God's disdain for sexual vice, in particular: homosexuality. A helpful distinction is in order, we want to differentiate between being: homoerotic and homosexual....
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God's Divine Design for Human Sexuality pt.2
For The Christiian, as we think about human sexuality we have to answer this very basic question, "Has God designed us to express ourselves sexually in very specific ways or has He left that to individual preogative? Genesis 1-2 speak volumes on this issue, we would wise to hear Gos's heart…
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God's Divine Design for Human Sexuality pt. 1
Before we begin our discussion of sexual ethics, it's important that we reboot our Christian thinking regarding who we are as human beings. Human sexuality is not subject to the prerogative of any given person, but is rooted in the essence of humanity itself. Join me has we trek back to the...
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Put Your Bifocals On!
Our passage focuses on the second theme, obeying God in the midst fierce opposition. How are we as God’s sons & daughters to live in the midst of hostility? When we encounter hostility, where should our focus be directed? The here & now? The hereafter? Or, both? Preview: In today’s passage we…
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Teaching with Authority
As we come to the end of our five month trek through the Sermon on the Mount, we discover two verses that function as response by the adoring crowds to the teaching of Jesus. There are a few insights that we can glean from these short verses that can enhance our commitment to follow Jesus. Let's...
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Entering the Kingdom Requires an Allegiance to Christ Alone!
The concluding paragraphs of the Sermon on the Mount serve as an ominous warning to those who believe they will one day enter the Kingdom of God. Today we'll examine one of the most cryptic passages in the entire Bible. What does it mean to be self-deceived about whether or not you will enter the...
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Entering the Kingdom Requires a Decision & Discernment
Thoughout this teaching the Lord Jesus has eloquently articulated what kingdom living looks like. Now like any good preacher He ends His spectacular with an invitation to enter the kingdom of heaven. Next He warns His disciples about the dangers of false prophets. As we share our faith with…
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Discovering God's Goodness
We all want a good spouse, kids, health, career, home, car, community, church, country & world. Though we want these things, how can we be certain God wants them for us as well? In today's teaching Jesus outlines two ways in which we as the children of God the Father might discover the goodness…
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Don't Judge!
Tupac said, "Only God can Judge me." Was he right? We've all heard someone say in response to some criticism of them by another person, "The Bible says don't judge. Sure Jesus said that, but is that really what He meant? And why doesn't anyone ever define what they mean by "judge" We're going to...
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Don't Worry!
Is there a difference between responsible concern and worry that leads to stress and anxiety? If there is a difference between the two options which one best characterizes our outlook on life? If you consider yourself a "worrier" what does Jesus say about worring about one's needs in this life?
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A Call to Missions
Guest speaker, Pastor Dr. Stephen Mbogo.
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The Danger of Serving Two Masters
It is axiomatic that Jesus talked more about wealth than He did about heaven or hell. What is it about money that poses such a threat to one's devotion to God? Living lives worthy of the kingdom requires that we make a paradigm shift in our attitudes regarding material possessions, money and / or...
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Fasting 101
Most of us are probably "all over the map" when it comes to the spiritual disicpline of fasting. Today, we're going to answer the following questions: What is fasting? Why did people fast in biblical times? Who were some of the most notable people who fasted? Jesus is set to teach His disciples…
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The Model Prayer
Once and for all can we agree that "The Lord's Prayer" is simply a model for how disciples are to pray and not a prayer to be recited verbatim? How do we know? Because Jesus says, "In this way you are to pray..." He does not say, "Pray these words..." How do our prayers compare with the model…
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Pure & Simple Prayers from Your Closet
It May strike some as strange that Jesus would challenge His new disciples to pay close attention to their motives as they practice the "spiritual disciplines". Again, to perform the right action with all the wrong intentions profits you absolutely nothing in the eternal scheme of things. We…
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Christ's Curse Leads to Our Blessing
Aaron's priestly blessings / benediction has been pronounced over at some point in our church experience by a pastor or clergyman of some sort. We have often received these gracious words, but have never thought deeply about them. Today, in light of Easter, let's consider what would be necessary...
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When the Cheering Stopped
Traditionally, we hear Palm Sunday sermons highlighting the festive exuberance of the people as they usher Jesus into Jerusalem for the last time during His earthly ministry. However, Luke's account of the occasion highlights the fact that Jesus' disposition does not mirror that of the adoring...
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Secret Sacrifices
There appears to be a logical contradiction between verse one of this current passage and verse 5:16. In 5:16 Jesus says, "let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." But in 6:1 He says, "Be careful not to practice your...
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The Racial Reorientation of the Love Ethic
In the six and final antithesis, Jesus concludes this portion of His teaching with an equally provocative message: Love your enemies! Who are our enemies? Why is it so difficult to love them? What is love according to Jesus? What are some tangible ways in which we might do good to them who only...
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Going the Second Mile
In the fifth of six antitheses, Jesus hands own one of His most provocative teachings: Non-relailiation in the face of someone determind to humiliate you & see to it that you get the short end of the stick. Is retailiation ever permitted? Are there limits to a Christian's non-retailiation ethic?...
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Liar, Liar Pants on Fire
In the fourth of six antitheses, we are confronted with the reality that swearing oaths is unnecessary when you are a truthful Christian person. Are you a truthful person? Can your word be trusted? Are your handshake & your word reliable? Lets hear from Jesus on the matter!
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Is Divorce Okay?
In the third of six antitheses, Jesus continues to challenge the disciples realationally, particulary in the context of marriage. As a disciple of Christ & citizens of heaven, is divorce okay? If it is permitted, then on what grounds? What happens if I've blown it in marriage? Can I remarry?…
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Adultery Is in the Heart before it Occurs in the Bed
In the second of six antithesis, Jesus continues to challenge the disciples relationally, though in this antithesis and in the third He deals specifically with marriage. How do we avoid the scandal of adultery? What drastic, yet practical steps can we take to preserve our marriages? Let us hear...
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Murder is in the Heart before it is in the Hand
The passage that we will consider tonight is the first of what is known as "the six antithesis" paragraphs of Jesus. Have you ever committed murder? Have you ever been in a violent rage towards a fellow Christian? Have you ever insulted a brother or sister of Christ? Jesus has a provocative...
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Kingdom Righteousness From Inside -Out!
Today's passage is interesting in the sense that Jesus no doubt shocked His audience by His statement in verse twenty of our text. How is it possible for the righteousness of an everyday believer to transend that of the holiest men of Jesus' day? Jesus says that is not only possible, but a...
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Radical transformation makes Victorious Christian Living possible, it is to this end that we offer these podcasts
Hosted by
Rev. Daryl Mckillian
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