The Vine Austin

Merry Christmas. On this Christmas Eve, Mark concludes our Questions of Christmas series with a message from Luke 2. In this sermon, we hear how we respond to the fulfillment of Christ's birth. We treasure and ponder. www.thevineaustin.org

Pastor Ben shares our next question in the Christmas narrative. It is a question that humanity has asked again and again. Where is he? www.thevineaustin.org Matthew 2:1-12

Mark continues our Questions of Christmas with the unspoken but important question- What shall we call him? This message explores the power of a name, Jesus-centered salvation and how God becomes visible. www.thevineaustin.org Matthew 1:18-25 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is the lineage of your last name? 2. What do you make of how Matthew starts his Gospel- through the line of descendants from Ab...

In this second sermon of this Advent series, Questions of Christmas, we consider Mary and her question, "How will this be?" www.thevineaustin.org Luke 1:26-38 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What (if anything) has Advent meant to you? How would you describe Advent to other people? 2. From the sermon, Mark talked how living in the age of the internet combats our embrace of not knowing. What is lost when w...

In the first week of our Advent series, we explore Zechariah's question in response to God's promise: how can I be sure? Luke 1:5-20 www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Consider the view that faith is not about how 'sure' you are of God, but about how willing you are to trust in God even when you aren't sure. How does that view challenge or comfort you? 2. When you think about your own...

In our final "Third Way in Practice" conversation, Pastor Ben is joined by Andrew and Haley as they discuss the ways in which our Third Way compels us to work towards justice in a posture fashioned by Jesus.

In this final sermon of our THIRD WAY series, Mark explores a conversation that is central to our Third Way. "What about the Bible?" In this message, we consider the beautiful, complex gift we have in our shared Word, and how our posture compels us to read and wrestle with Scripture in community. www.thevineaustin.org 2 Timothy 3:14-17 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How did you first get acquainted with...

This week's "Third Way in Practice" features a conversation between Fabs, Johnny and Ashley. They explore best practices of self-care, boundaries and emotional intelligence that help us maintain a third way posture as we navigate challenging relationships.

In this sermon, Mark addresses how the Third Way creates an alternative vocabulary in a time of tribalism. Ephesians 4:1-6, 25-32 www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Interact with the quote from Abraham Heschel- “words create worlds.” How have you seen that concept at work in your own life or our world? 2. What stayed with you from the sermon- either as confusing, curious or encouraging?...

This is the third installment of our midweek conversations- Third Way in Practice. Our world does not equip us to have hard conversations; in fact it does the opposite. This week, Fabs hosts Abby and Dana as they discuss how the third way can provide alternative approaches to more productive conversations. www.thevineaustin.org

Fabs continues our series on the Third Way by clarifying what it means that we prioritize posture over position at The Vine. Romans 14:1-5, 19-20 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What stayed with you from the sermon, either as confusing, curious or encouraging? 2. How would you describe the ‘work of God’? Why do you think Paul says that arguing over their positions on food has the potential to destroy the...

This is the second installment of our midweek conversations called Third Way in Practice. These dialogues explore the complexities and opportunities in practicing the Third Way. Today, Mark is joined by Ben Law as they discuss how the Third Way creates a path to reclaim a courageous faith. www.thevineaustin.org

Mark continues in our Third Way series by exploring the difference between wells and fences, the power of a shared center, and why Jesus is enough to hold us together. Colossians 1:15-20 www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How would you describe the difference between center-set (wells) groups and bounded-set (fences) groups? What are their key characteristics? 2. In your recounting of t...

Welcome to the first episode of "Third Way in Practice." Today, Mark is joined by Stefani and Fabs as they explore the common misconceptions people have of the third way.

Mark kicks off our Third Way series by telling the story of where this conviction came from and what it means to our community. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Most families have stories they tell again and again. What is a story your family repeatedly told? 2. How would you define or describe the Third Way to someone who didn’t know our church? 3. What stayed with you from the serm...

This last week of our Take Heart series, Fabs leads us through John 16 and Jesus' encouragement to take heart because he has overcome the world.   www.thevineaustin.org Discussion Questions: 1. What stayed with you from the sermon? 2. What reaction do you have when you hear that Jesus has "overcome the world."  What do you like/dislike about that idea? 3. Read John 17:13-18.  What stands out to yo...

The Vine continues in our series TAKE HEART by considering a story from Mark 10:46-52. In this passage, we discover how our Savior can heal us from our blindness. www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Share a moment where you felt like you were aware of the presence of God. It could be through an interaction with a friend, a beautiful moment in nature, or a simple morning walk. What did it...

The Vine continues in our series TAKE HEART by considering a story from Matthew 14:22-33. In this passage, we discover how our Savior invites us to walk upon the chaos of life while we take heart. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTION: 1. If you were to survey your thoughts, feelings or emotions, what are you bringing with you as you enter this gathering? 2. Recount what took place before Jesu...

As we continue in our series where we consider the occurrences of the phrase TAKE HEART, we look to a story in Matthew 9. This passage and the example from a woman's courageous act of faith can teach us how to take heart in the midst of suffering. www.thevineaustin.org Matthew 9:18-26 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Have you seen a celebrity in the wild? Did you talk to them? 2. Recount this woman’s life...

Mark continues our series TAKE HEART by exploring how Psalm 27. This psalm shares surprising instructions on how to take heart in a time of great conflict. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is one of your favorite kids’ books? Why do you like it? 2. Mark shared three surprising responses in conflict that we find in Psalm 27. The first was to honor your emotions. Read Psalm 27. Wh...

In this second week of our series TAKE HEART, Fabs shares from 1 Chronicles 28. In this moment, Solomon calls the people together so that they can live out their dreams and gifting to build something great with one another. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTION 1. What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid? Do you hear anything in your response that gives you clues about who you are at...

Mark begins our new series TAKE HEART with a story from Joshua 1. This message explores how transitions are sacred moments where we can learn to take heart. Joshua 1:1-9 www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “take heart?” What does that phrase call one to do? 2. Before we read Joshua 1, consider the context. Replay what people have experienced to...

This final sermon in this series RECLAIMING comes from Vince Lozada. Vince shares on the call to reclaim worship- from the commercialization of the American worship system, to the fullness of what worship was meant to be. www.thevineaustin.org 2 Samuel 6:12-22, Psalm 13

In this sermon, Pastor Mark shares his journey to reclaim the calling of evangelism. www.thevineaustin.org 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Community Member, Amber Gray, shares a message on reclaiming her authentic self in this personal and special message. www.thevineaustin.org John 10:1-4 and Ephesians 2:10