Christ Church Vienna

Stephen proclaimed Christ with power and boldness in Jerusalem and was arrested. His defense was a history of God working in Israel from Abraham to Jesus. The religious authorities were so enraged they dragged him out of the city and executed him by stoning. But Stephen was fall of peace, even praying for the forgiveness […]

Peter and John return from a night in prison and threats at the hands of the Religious Authorities in Jerusalem and together with the disciples they pray for boldness to continue to speak the word of God and for God’s power to heal and perform signs in Jesus name. At the threat of persecution, they […]

On the day of Pentecost, just days after the risen Jesus ascended into Heaven, the disciples were gathered in the upper room and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. They joyfully and boldly went out into Jerusalem declaring the mighty works of God in unlearned languages, and Peter, who just weeks earlier denied Jesus preached […]

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples for 40 days teaching them about the kingdom of God. He called them to spread his kingdom as his witnesses, living out sacrificial love, to the ends of the earth.

Lily Thompson & Caren Appel-Slingbaum share what God has done in their life and why they are ready to be Baptized

If Jesus came to reveal God to us, what does the first Christmas tell us about who God is? God’s visit in the person of Jesus shows us that He willingly enters the Mess of humanity and lovingly lifts the Lowly.

God’s redemptive plan, as recounted through the Lessons & Carols service, reveals that the Christian story is Universal and Historic, but also Local and Personal–and it will cause Trouble for any, who like Mary, are willing to respond.

Into the Darkness, God’s light comes. Zechariah the Father of John the Baptist, after 9 months of silence, opens his mouth to declare the praises of God. He recounts Who God Is, Because of What God has done–retelling The Story of Redemption  and anticipating what God is about to do. Through it all, God is […]

What is the nature of the salvation story–seeds of promise planted, waiting for the promise to come, and trusting in the outcome. It is the Advent story that is played out in the hopes of Israel and the promises made to faithful, barren and aged Zechariah and Elizabeth–that their prayers for salvation were being answered […]

How has the Church marginalized singles? How has the Church welcomed them well? And how can we as individuals, married and single learn to step across the aisle and invite others into our lives. Listen to Johnny Kurcina’s interview of Gina Dalfonzo, author of One by One: Welcoming the Singles in Your Church as she shares […]

What is true community? Behind the Psalmists evocative imagery of the anointing of Aaron and the dew of Mount Hermon is the three generational relational matrix of an Ancient Israel village and family. Today, in the West, no one lives in villages filled with extended family. How do we experience community? And what challenges oppose […]

For the Israelites and David–the Ark of the Covenant–the physical embodiment of God’s presence was a source of blessing and joy. In Psalm 132, the Psalmist recounts the desire of David and Israel to have the Ark (and the LORD) with them. Do we desire the Presence of God? What difference does God’s presence make? […]

In an anxious, stressed-out, performance driven culture–how do we experience the peace that God offers? David, the Psalmist, points to intimacy with the Lord: like a mother with a child, we can know the loving nurture of God, when we look to Him as our hope.

{The recording of this sermon is defective and includes ambient noise. The recording was begun late and did not run through the microphone/sound-system.} What is the Christian hope, how do we attain it and how can we know if we have this hope? The Psalmist has hope because he openly cries out–appealing to God’s mercy–and […]

The Psalmist has been greatly afflicted by the wicked–but the Lord in his righteous loyalty has delivered him. The Psalmist recalls his past suffering, God’s deliverance and prays for justice to be brought on the afflicted. When we have endured evil at the hands of others, how do we find healing and hope? The Psalmist […]

The Psalmist describes the blessings of life that accompany the fear of the Lord. What does the Fear of the Lord mean? How do we allow the rightful fear and reverence of God to change who we are and how we live?

Israel placed all their hopes in the City and the Temple. In Psalm 127, Solomon reminds them that it is the Lord who protects the city and builds the house. And the greater gift of God is in children–that people matter more than buildings. In this Wisdom Psalm, Solomon reminds  all of us that true […]

Restore our Fortunes, the Psalmist cries, that we may shout for Joy once again. What keeps us from joy, how do we seek joy in ways that will not fulfill and how do we tap into the joy that God offers us through the restoration that is in Jesus Christ?

In a dangerous and insecure world, where can we turn for certainty? The Psalmist assures us that the Lord surrounds and protects his people–that their allotment and portion are secure. We wrestle with worry, guilt, doubt and even self-sufficiency, but if our trust and hope is in the Lord, He guarantees for us what matters […]

In Psalm 124, the Psalmist invites Israel to join with him in giving thanks to the Lord for his deliverance of them. How to we live a life of thanksgiving to God and how to we confront the pride, control and fear that keep us from thanking and trusting God?

The Psalmist complains to the Lord of dealing with the contempt and scorn of the proud. But he does not just turn against his enemies, nor does he turn inward, but he looks to the Lord. He desires the Face of the Lord and seeks the Mercy of the Lord, knowing that if he has […]

Listen to Sasha & Peder Swanson share about following God’s call to become foster parents and what God has been teaching their family as they take care of and love their first foster baby.

In Psalm 122, the Psalmist rejoices to go to Jerusalem–he has a childlike earnestness and delight in going to worship the Lord. How do we worship God with such authenticity and how does God come to us and offer us peace and his presence, so we don’t have to go in search of Him?

Matt Hemsley looks at the difficulty and calling of Psalm 121–the Psalmist looks to the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth–the one who in the Psalm promises to provide for us and keep us from all harm. And yet harm comes to us, how can this be? The Psalms hold in tension the goodness […]

Johnny Kurcina kicks off Summer in the Psalms II: Songs of Ascent by looking at Psalm 120–the first of the Pilgrim songs. The Psalmist is in distress and despair but he brings his complaint to God, entrusting himself to the Lord.