the Vine with Chris Green

Guest preacher Scott Lambert shares the third of his four-part series considering Jesus' parables, particularly that of "the prodigal son", for a very mixed crowd of listeners, as recorded in Luke 15. This week's sermon focuses on the prodigal son himself, considering God's intense love for and interest in the individual and also the congregation's role in welcoming back the repentant sinner. It's...

Week 2 of Scott Lambert's sermon series on Jesus' arresting parable of "the prodigal son" (Luke 15: 11-32). This week's sermon opens with a press conference from the older son in the story; passionately stating his case and proposing his rebranding as "the Loyal Son". This is a vivid and potent examination of the apparent validity of the older son's perspective in the absence of a deeper understan...

Scott Lambert, our interim pastor from September through December 2025, is with us again this fall for four weeks. On September 13, he shared the first sermon of a four-week series, based on Luke 15, titled "Lost & Found & Mad". In today's sermon, Scott focuses on the crowd, as described in Luke 15:1-2, who heard Jesus speak these parables.

Doug Warren graciously joined us again this week, on short notice, to deliver a thoughtful and practical message on the nature of Christian love, abstracted from Philippians 1:9-11.

Pastor Jim Van Yperen visited us again to share a vivid sermon drawing from the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-10), but focused on the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus had much to say about the Kingdom of Heaven, but it remains a difficult concept to grasp. Jim explores why Jesus used simile in His parables describing the Kingdom in this compelling and thought-provoking message.

Doug Warren joined us again this week to continue his exploration of Philippians chapter 1. Total devotion of our hearts to God and true love for God frees us to love one another. Jesus has given us new hearts, enabling our transformed lives as followers of Christ.

Doug Warren visited us again on August 16th to share a crisp and vivid message based on the introduction of Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. Doug's message focuses on God's faithfulness, God's promise to redeem us as His own, and the coming completion of His promise as Jesus will return, as promised.

A rumination from Etna Church member Mark Hardy on a small piece of Paul's epochal epistle to the church at Rome, on the essential nature of hearing and understanding the Good News (i.e., accepting and believing in the redemptive work of the Jesus, the Messiah) as the path to "get right with God".

Dale Edwards visited us to deliver a powerful meditation based on the first two parables found in Luke 15. Dale's message focuses on God's resolute desire to seek and to save the lost.

Lindsay Whaley, professor of Classics and Linguistics at Dartmouth College and a founding member of Christ Redeemer Church, was our guest preacher on July 26, 2026. Lindsay's message focuses the third epistle written by the apostle John. 3 John, the shortest book in all of Scripture (in the original Greek) packs an essential and timeless Gospel message into its 15 verses. You'll want to watch this...

Our own Eric Wadsworth delivers a memorable message, built around 1 Kings 19:11-14, in which the prophet Elijah learns something about listening for (and to) God.

Guest preacher Malcolm Hamblett joined us with a thought-provoking message based on the stirring and challenging words of Jesus to the Pharisee Nicodemus, as recorded in John's Gospel (John 3:1-8). “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cann...

Guest preacher Craig Parker delivered a powerful sermon identifying the three aspects of God and of our Christian faith that are essential in helping people along the road to embracing the gift of the Gospel that God makes freely available to all who would receive it. Best of all, Craig shares practical advice for application of these ideas.

Our congregation's own Mike Clarke delivers a powerful, beautifully crafted exploration of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, using Jesus' own teaching on the topic from Luke 12.

“Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” (from John 9:2, NLT). Guest preacher Bob Wyand shares a Fathers Day-themed sermon based on Jesus' "impertinent" (from the Pharisees' perspective) healing, on the Sabbath, of a man born blind.

Guest preacher Thom Christian returns with a sermon using the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) to discuss the deftness and flexibility sometimes required by Christians to follow Christ's Great Commission to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20). There are important things!

As our guest preacher on June 7, Eric Wadsworth offered a brief message catalyzed by David Parsons' passionate testimony. Eric described the notion of "the call" and discussed the church's role in the call and commissioning of a congregational member as it befits God's intentions for the individual, the congregation, and the Kingdom. Our video this week also includes the commissioning of our broth...

The third in guest preacher Doug Warren's outstanding sermon series on the stirring "Hall of Faith", Hebrews 11.

Guest Preacher Doug Warren of Standing Stone Ministry joined us again this week to share part 2 of his message taken from Hebrews 11 (the great "Hall of Faith", also known as the "Faith Chapter"). Doug's sermon focuses on the examples of Abram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah), who, at God's calling, left their home and sojourned. God promised Abram both an inheritance (“the Promised Land”) and a legacy...

Charles Boucher shared an insightful, practical, and beautifully organized sermon based on the account of Jesus' Transfiguration as recorded in Mark 9:2-13.

Spencer Bogle of The Water Project visited us again on Mother's Day with a characteristically encouraging and uplifting message based on Jesus' words as recorded in John 14:15-21.

Guest preacher Thom Christian uses Paul's description of the church's "many members, one body" from Romans 12 to frame a discussion of the challenges and opportunities for a church congregation in the current era.

Guest preacher Doug Warren joined us to deliver a comprehensive sermon based on the vivid and inspiring message of Hebrews 11:1-7.

Guest preacher Tim Pillsbury offers a timely assessment of the essential nature of prayer, framed by Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane and His "inner circle" of disciples' struggle to "keep watch".

Guest preacher Mike O'Leary shares some thoughts about our understanding (and misunderstanding) of blessings and the best time to seek forgiveness using Psalm 32 as context and example.