The Vine Austin

In this third week of SOUL CARE, Mark shared on the concept of embodied spirituality. For us to be soul-filled people, we must learn to integrate the soul and the body. www.thevineaustin.org/soulcare REFECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either as encouraging, challenging or confusing. 2. What messages (if any) do you remember being taught by the church about the body?...

Here comes another installment of our Midweek Soul Care convos!!! This week, Heather Moga shares about a slowed-down spirituality and the practice of Sabbath. www.thevineaustin.org/soulcare

In this second week in our SOUL CARE series, Mark shares about the importance of a Slowed-Down Spirituality for a Frantic World. www.thevineaustin.org/soulcare REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What has been meaningful for you in the last week's readings and devotionals? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon - either something encouraging, confusing, or difficult? 3. Read Luke 10:38-42. Lean in on Ma...

For our lenten series, Soul Care, we are having midweek conversations with people in our church about how they are exploring the teachings and more importantly the practices each week. In this first podcast, we discuss an introduction to the soul and the practice of prayer with Melaina Hagerup and Katie Fike. www.thevineaustin.org/soulcare

The Vine is beginning our 2023 Lenten Series called SOUL CARE. In this series, we seek to care for our soul through practices, teachings and daily meditations. In this sermon, Mark shares an introduction to this series and perhaps an introduction to the soul. To get the most of this series, go to thevineaustin.org/soulcare. REFLECTION QUESTION: 1. What (if any) is your history with the season of L...

In this final message of this series, Overlooked, we have a conversation between Sandy and Mark about Rebecca. www.thevineaustin.org Genesis 27:1-13 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is story from the headlines this week that has captivated your attention? 2. What if anything has been meaningful for you with the daily readings? What questions emerged? 3. What has stayed with you from the sermon- eithe...

As we continue in our series called "Overlooked: Women in the Old Testament," we come to Miriam. In this message, Mark shares from three moments of Miriam's life that all connect with the power and symbolism of water. www.thevineaustin.org/overlooked Exodus 2:1-10 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is your favorite particular body of water? 2. What if anything has been meaningful for you with the daily...

We continue in our survey of women in the Old Testament called OVERLOOKED. This week, we consider Naomi and the demonstration of God's lovingkindness. Ruth 1:1-7, 4:13-17 www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What if anything has been meaningful for you with the daily readings? What questions emerged? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either something encouraging, confusing, or...

As we continue our sermon series on women in the Old Testament which we call Overlooked, we hear from guest preacher, Emily Wright and consider the Daughters Of Zelophehad. Numbers 27:1-11 www.thevineaustin.org/overlooked REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What if anything has been meaningful for you with the daily readings? What questions emerged? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either somethi...

The Vine is beginning a series on women of the Old Testament which we will call "Overlooked." In this week, we consider Hagar's story. We have daily readings for this series at thevineaustin.org/overlooked . Genesis 16 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What if anything has been meaningful for you with the daily readings? What questions emerged? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either something...

The second Sunday of the year traditionally is The Vine's annual gathering. In this special message, Pastor Mark reflects on 2022, shares some plans for the upcoming year and talks about the state of the church. www.thevineaustin.org

On this Christmas Eve, Mark concludes the series, God With Us, with this homily on the power of a name. www.thevineaustin.org

The Vine is in an advent series called GOD WITH US. In this sermon, Mark considers the experience of being misunderstood. This message also looks at the solidarity we have in the example of Jesus and Mary, and how they show us how to navigate these experiences. thevineaustin.org/advent Luke 1: 26-38 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Do you have a memory that repeats in your mind? 2. In what ways do you fee...

As we continue in our Advent sermon series, GOD WITH US, Mark shares about Jesus' joy and the invitation we have from him. John 15:9-11 www.thevineaustin.org/advent REFLECTION QUESTION: 1. What is something simple that is bringing you joy? 2. Mark talked shared that Jesus was the most joy-filled person ever to live. How does that concept sit with you? Is that your mental construct of Jesus? 3. Wha...

This Sunday, Fabs continued our Advent series "GOD WITH US" by exploring being needy. www.thevineaustin.org Luke 2:1-7 REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either an encouragement or something you are wrestling with? 2. What comes up for you when you consider "being" needy vs. "feeling" needy? 3. What kinds of things make you feel needy? 4. What comes up for you when...

Welcome to Advent! In this sermon, Mark shares about the meaning of Advent and the concept of Emmanuel. This sermon also reflects on Hebrews 4:14-16. To get the most out of the Advent series, please sign up for daily devotionals at thevineaustin.org/advent REFLECTION QUESTIONS: - What (if any) is your experience with the season of Advent? - How does Advent seem different than Christmas season? - A...

In this stand-alone sermon, Mark talks about the unique relationship between anxiety and gratitude. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is your favorite dish at the Thanksgiving meal? 2. How was anxiety understood or discussed in your family or religious community growing up? 3. What stayed with you from the sermon- either an encouragement or something you wrestle with? 4. Process...

In this special message, Mark shares from Luke 15 and Jesus' parable about the lost sheep. www.thevineaustin.org REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What is an item that you commonly lose or misplace? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either an encouragement, a question or an insight? 3. Read Luke 15:1-7. What do you notice about the story? Questions, thoughts, insights? 4. Consider the parable fr...

We conclude this series on the Holy Spirit by doing something we never have done before. Instead of a sermon, we used this time to create a space for our community to bear witness to what has taken place over these fifty days. With a mixture of real-time polling, written testimonies done in the room and a open-mic moment, people were able to share their stories with the Spirit. www.thevineaustin.o...

As we close out or 50-days with the Holy Spirit, Vine staff member Fabs Harford shares about the Holy Spirit's power within us. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - How was your experience last week with experiencing the with-ness of God? Did anything meaningful take place? How was it challenging? - What stayed with you from the sermon - either an encouragement or something you continue to wrestle with? - What...

As we continue in our 50 day series on the Holy Spirit called LEARNING TO BREATHE, we consider God's passion to be with God's people. In many ways, the Holy Spirit is the culmination of God's faithful presence with us. Acts 1:1-9 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. How was your experience last week with the journal and the concept of “Holy Spirit as an Instrument of Justice?” Did anything meaningful take pla...

This week we are continuing our 50 days with the Holy Spirit by considering the Holy Spirit as an instrument of justice. Vine member Andrew Fike walks us through the history of God's people and God's heart for justice as well as what it means for us today. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. How was your experience last week with discerning the Holy Spirit? Did anything meaningful take place? How was it chal...

We are continuing in our series Learning to Breathe: 50 Days with the Holy Spirit. This week, we consider how followers of Jesus are to discern the Spirit's guidance in our lives. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. How was your experience with the Prayer of Examen last week? What was difficult about it? What was helpful? 2. This week, we consider our call to discern the Holy Spirit. How have you seen discer...

We are continuing in our series "LEARNING TO BREATHE: 50 Days in the Holy Spirit" by considering what it means to walk in the Spirit. In this message, Mark shares about two common trappings in the spiritual life, and how we can know if we are walking in the Spirit. GALATIANS 5:13-25 www.thevineaustin.org/holyspirit DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Discuss last week's experience with breath prayers. What w...

In this second message in the Learning to Breathe series, Mark shares about the Spirit as the Breath of God. Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 20:19-22 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Share about your experience with the journal last week. What have you taken with you? What took place? 2. What has stayed with you from the sermon on Sunday? What questions have lingered? 3. Out of all the different imagery that cou...