The Vine Austin

In this message, covenant community member, Gabe McKinney, shares from Luke 12: 13-21. We learn about how Jesus expands our understanding of the kingdom on earth through a parable about a rich man and his possessions. There is so much more to understanding this parable than we may realize, and Gabe shows us how to explore this parable and others with a holy curiosity.

In this sermon, Fabs shares from the parable of the persistent widow. thevineaustin.org

In this message, community member Ron Ragsdale share from Luke 16:19-31; the parable Jesus shared about a rich man, Lazarus, and a surprising judgement. Luke 16:19-31 www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Read Luke 16:19-31. What stands out to you in this reading? 2. What is the main objective Jesus has for this parable? 3. Parables are not meant to be taken literally. How do you think th...

In this message, community member Haley Patterson shares from Mark 4:26-29 and the picture of what God can do with the seeds of our life. Mark 4:26-29 Reflection Questions: 1. What's your record with caring for plants? Why does this come easy to you or why do you struggle? 2. Read Mark 4:26-29. What do you notice in this passage? 3. Why do you think Jesus chose the word picture of seeds for this t...

In this sermon, Mark kicks off a new sermon series- The Parables of Jesus. In this message, Mark shares about the purpose of parables and explores Jesus' parable on the hidden treasure and the pearl of great worth. www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Why do you think Jesus used parables? 2. How do parables reveal and conceal? 3. What has stayed with you from the sermon? 4. Read Matthew...

In this final sermon on the Names of God, Fabs shares from Genesis 16, Hagar's encounter with God, and The God Who Sees Me. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Read Genesis 16. What are the elements of this story that are disturbing and challenging? 2. What aspects of Genesis 16 are healing and redemptive. 3. Out of the potential names Hagar could have given God, why do you think she de...

In this week’s sermon from the Names of God series, church member Rachelle Shuttlesworth shares about the name Immanuel. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTION: 1. As you consider the larger story from Scripture, what are the different ways you see God’s presence with humanity? 2. Rachelle shared how love is proximate. What does God’s loving presence mean to you today? 3. Read Matthew 1:18-23....

Today we are looking at the “Good Shepherd” name of God that Jesus gives himself in John 10:11. Vine member Katie Fike shares four ways that Jesus is a good shepherd as well as what our response is to this Good Shepherd: listening to and knowing Jesus’ voice and following where he leads. 1. Read John 10:11-15. What do you think of when you hear the phrase “the good shepherd”? 2. Which of the four...

In this sermon, Mark shares from Judges 6. In this story, we explore the experience of a man name Gideon and the name he gave God- The Lord is Peace. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Review Judges 6 and 7. What do you notice? 2. What the different ways we see the thematic act of sifting in this story? 3. Why is this "God's signature move"? 4. Where are you feeling sifted today? 5. Wh...

NAMES OF GOD - Father This week Mary shares what it means that God is our good father. 1. How can thinking about God’s love for us as parental love affect our understanding of his relationship to us (and ours to him)? 2. If you’re a parent, how does that experience affect your view of God as a parent? 3. Have you ever felt as though you’ve experienced God’s discipline? 4. Matthew 6 talks about rel...

Welcome to week 3 in our Names of God series. This week, Mark shares from Exodus 17 where we find the character of God on trial, a unique battle scene, and a new name for God- God my Banner. Reflection Questions: 1. What is your favorite flag or banner? 2. Mark talked about a trauma-informed view of the Hebrew nation. How does that understanding shape your view of this community, their struggles a...

As we continue our series on the different names of God, Christy Rome shares on the name El Shaddai. thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. If you had to choose a new name, what would yours be? 2. How did Christy define the name El Shaddai? And what do you make of the dual nature of this name? 3. Read Genesis 17:1-8. What do you notice happening in this story? What would this name mean to Abra...

The Vine is beginning a new series exploring the meaning and power in the different names of God. Today, Mark begins by discussing the name YHWH. thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Consider the quote from AW Tozer- "We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God." How do you see this pull in your life? 2. Read the conversation between Moses and God in Exodus 3:1...

In our last sermon on the book of Hebrews, we explore the truths that help us continue to follow Jesus together. REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. What is something from the sermon that is staying with you- either as encouraging, confusing, or curious-making? 2. Discuss Hebrews 13:8-16. What do you notice? How does this inform what it might look like to follow Jesus? 3. What stands out to you from Hebrews 1...

This week, Fabs unpacks Hebrews 11, digging into the concept of faith, and how it enables us to keep going on the path God has set for us. REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. What is something from the sermon that is staying with you- either as encouraging, confusing, or curious-making? 2. Discuss Hebrews 11:8-16. What do you notice? In v. 9-10, what do you notice about how Abraham's faith played out? 3. In t...

In this fourth sermon in the Hebrews series, Mark shares from Hebrews 10, discusses how Jesus fulfills the sacrificial system and invites us into a new covenant and hope. This sermon also explores what atonement theories are and why they are important. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. Recall the sacrificial system that was in place before Jesus. If that was your religious practice, ho...

Welcome to week three in this Hebrews study! In this message, Mark shares from chapter six, about a connection between Abraham and Jesus, the power of patience, and how we can have an anchor for the soul. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Read Hebrews 6:11-12. How do faith and patience interact? 2. We heard a difficult question in this sermon- "what do you do when God is late?" What i...

In this second sermon of this series, Mark talks about Hebrews chapters 3-4. In this message, we explore the comparison between the Exodus story and the deliverance we find in Jesus. Scripture Reading: Hebrews 3:12-18 thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What sequel is better than the original? 2. Respond to this concept- the journey to the Promise Land wasn’t as important as the journey tow...

In this introductory message to the book of Hebrews, Mark begins with opening remarks about this writing and the importance of placing Jesus at the center. To see the resources for this series, including a daily reading, go to thevineaustin.org/hebrews RELFECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Share your experience with the daily devotional reading plan on Hebrews. 2. Read Hebrews 1:1-3. What do you see the author...

Happy Easter. This message not only marks the end of the Lenten season, but also marks the end of our series on peacemaking. This sermon explores John 20, the gift of the Spirit, and the call for us to make peace. John 20:19-23 www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What was Easter like for you growing up? 2. As you consider the disciples' reality, what do you imagine the disciples were ex...

On this Palm Sunday, Mark shares a sermon about how we can make peace with death as we consider John 12:12-16 and 23-28. Credit: Song "No Hard Feelings" by the Avett Brothers thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. As we near the end of Lent, how was your experience with the Lenten Audio Devotional or the Peacemaking notebook? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either as an encouragem...

In this message, Mark turns the conversation about peacemaking to creation. Exploring scriptures and quotes from theologians, this sermon seeks to move us into a restorative relationship with Creation. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is your favorite landscape? 2. Why is a consumeristic relationship with nature problematic and opposite the way of Jesus? 3. What is something fro...

As we continue our Peacemaking series, we're looking at what it means to make peace in the world. This week we talked through what it means to make peace among the marginalized. What have you taken from the journal this week? Who would you consider marginalized in our country? Our city? What about in your specific communities? Read Matthew 25: 31-45. What do you notice in this passage? What challe...

Considering the life and legacy of Dr. King and Romans 12, Mark explores the role of peacemaking in the presence of oppression and racial injustice. We do so by first seeing racism for what it is, and secondly, enacting peace through love and justice. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What have you taken from the journal this week? 2. What is the difference between peacemaking and pea...

In this message, Mark is joined by guest presenter Greg Kwedar as they explore the potential power art has in making peace. thevineaustin.org Luke 13:18-21 and Psalm 33:1-9 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What has been your experience with the journal or with the Lenten Audio podcast this week? 2. What is a work of art that has been formative to you? 3. In your experience, how would describe the Church’s...