Sermons – Vineland Road

Sermon by William Burrows The message of the cross has always seemed foolish to the world. Yet what appears to be weakness to them is, in reality, the very power and wisdom of God. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to behold Christ as our wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. The message of the cross exposes the emptiness of human wisdom and offers what we could never provide f...

Sermon by William Burrows What can divide a church that is otherwise healthy and growing? In 1 Corinthians 1:10–18, Paul confronts a congregation fractured by rivalries, personalities, and competing loyalties. Paul holds out the message of the cross as God's answer to a divided church. The Corinthians had begun to identify themselves with different leaders, but Paul calls them back to the one...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries What does true faith look like? The unlikely answer in Joshua 9–10 comes from a people marked for destruction who risk everything to find refuge under the wings of the God of Israel. Pastor John DeVries explores the story of the Gibeonites and the holy fear that led them to seek a covenant relationship with the Lord. Though their actions raise difficult questions, the...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries The conquest of Canaan raises difficult questions about sin, judgment, and the character of God. Joshua 8 helps us understand these events by placing them within the broader story of redemption. In this sermon, John DeVries explores Israel's covenant renewal ceremony and the choice set before God's people: blessing or curse, life or death. The same pattern con...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries “You can’t win ’em all” may be true in many areas of life—but is it true for the people of God? Joshua 7 forces us to consider the difference between faithful suffering and defeat brought about by sin within the covenant community. In this sermon, John DeVries explores Israel’s defeat at Ai and the hidden sin of Achan. Some losses refine and strengthen the church, but...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries When does caution become unbelief—and when does zeal become presumption? Numbers 13–14 presents both dangers as Israel stands on the edge of the Promised Land. In this sermon, John DeVries examines the difference between faithful prudence and faithless discretion, as well as the danger of a reckless zeal that runs ahead of God’s call. The central question is not wheth...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries Exodus 4:24–26 is one of the most difficult and mysterious passages in the Old Testament. Why does God seem to suddenly move against Moses, and why does Zipporah’s action cause God’s anger to relent? On today’s episode, Pastor John DeVries explains how this passage exposes Moses’ hesitation to fully identify with God’s covenant people as he returns to Egypt. God will...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries Why do we so often compare ourselves to others—and what does that reveal about our hearts? In John 21:15–25, Jesus confronts Peter with a simple but searching call: follow me, without worrying about anyone else. In this sermon, Pastor John DeVries shows how comparison and envy distort our understanding of God’s purposes. Each calling is given by God, shaped by his wil...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries The last chapter of John begins with what seems to be a quiet and unfinished account of Jesus’ third appearance to his disciples following his resurrection. What message does this moment hold for the church? As we’ll hear in today’s sermon, this passage reveals that the growth and success of the Christian faith cannot be explained by human effort. The disciples, left...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries On today’s episode, Pastor John DeVries reexamines the familiar label “Doubting Thomas.” Rather than a man caught in uncertainty, Thomas is shown to be in settled disbelief—highlighting the Bible’s sharp distinction between doubt and faith. This message clarifies that true doubt is not honest struggle or lack of understanding, but a resistance to surrendering to Chris...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries Following his resurrection, Jesus gave to his disciples a surprising authority. How should we understand the giving of the Spirit here, and what does it mean that they are entrusted with the ministry of forgiveness? In this sermon, Pastor John DeVries shows that Christ’s authority in the church is delegated, spiritual, and bound to his Word. As the gospel is faithfull...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries When Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene had no family to return to, no home to go back to, which is why she stayed at the tomb weeping while everyone else left. In this Easter Sunday sermon, we look at the resurrection through Mary’s eyes and discover that, in more ways than we’d like to admit, they are very much our own—and the risen Christ has something to say to a...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries As Jesus prepared to enter Jerusalem, and his disciples believed that he was about to usher in the kingdom of God, he told them a parable, the parable of Ten Minas. Listen in as Pastor John DeVries examines what this parable meant for Jesus’ disciples on that day—and what it means for us. — Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the Christian Reformed Church of St. J...

Sermon by Aaron Mead We know that God disciplines us for our good, but we often fail to recognize God's loving correction for what it is—or we shrink from it. In this sermon, Aaron Mead points us to Hebrews chapter 12 to show how we can avoid these temptations and embrace our heavenly Father’s purpose of drawing us closer to himself through hardship. — Vineland Road is a resource ministry of the C...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries What did Jesus mean when he declared the words, “It is finished”? Far more than the end of suffering, these words announced the completion of the work the Father gave him to do. In his passive obedience, Christ endured the full weight of suffering and the wrath of God for our sin. In his active obedience, he perfectly fulfilled the law and accomplished the mission of...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries We are all familiar with Jesus’ teaching that we should “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”  But what does it mean ? And, what role does it play in Jesus being handed over to be crucified by the religious leaders? Join us as we examine the age-old question of the relationship between the church and the state, and the way a failure to follow Jes...

Sermon by William Burrows In James 1:19–27, God calls his people to a faith that is whole: a faith that not only hears the Word but does what it says. True religion receives the implanted Word with humility, puts away sin, bridles the tongue, cares for the needy, and seeks holiness in a world that presses us to conform. But James does not call us to manufacture righteousness on our own. He points...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” he voiced a question that continues to define our age. Is truth something we construct, or something that stands over us? In this sermon, Pastor John DeVries examines Pilate’s question and the Bible’s answer. Scripture teaches that truth is eternal, unchanging, and objective because it is grounded in the self-existent...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries In his sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” What does it really mean to “turn the other cheek”? Join us as we watch Jesus give us a perfect example following his arrest...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries Even before Jesus is arrested, he confesses.  He confesses to everything with the simple words, “I am he.”  Join us as we look deeper into this powerful statement and how it can change our lives forever.

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries Through the years, many have wondered, “Why isn’t the church more effective in its evangelistic outreach to the unbelieving world?” Maybe you’ve wondered about that question yourself. Well, in our passage today, Jesus gives us the answer—and it may surprise you. Listen along as we learn just what Jesus means in the final words of his High Priestly Prayer, and learn wh...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries Many years have passed since the days of Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” in John chapter 17. But as he explains in that prayer, the process of making disciples is still the same for us now as it was for him then, namely the ministry of the Word and prayer. In today’s sermon, we are reminded of the power of these two disciple-making activities, and we are called to reded...

“The ‘I’ in TULIP” Sermon by Pastor John DeVries With the close of John chapter 16, the formal part of Jesus’ earthly ministry has come to a close.  Now, with the opening of chapter 17, Jesus sets his sights firmly on his approaching passion and death.  But, rather than demonstrating a hesitation or a reluctance to face that challenge, Jesus eagerly asks that the Father might join him in those eve...

Sermon by Pastor John DeVries While delayed gratification is an important concept for us to employ in many things in life, it is critical for the life of faith. Join us as we look at how Jesus seeks to strengthen his disciples for the period of difficulty that they are about to experience as he makes his way to the cross in the simple truth that he has overcome the world.

Sermon by William E. Burrows II We often long for extraordinary growth—in our faith, our families, our church—but Scripture reminds us that in his divine wisdom, God has chosen to work those extraordinary things through ordinary means. In Acts 2:36–42, we see the newborn church devoted not to innovation or performance, but to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. T...