Vertical Church Teaching

God’s Plans Are Wrecking Mine Text: Jonah 1:1–17 Big Idea: When you run from God, you don’t just delay your purpose—you invite a storm. But even then, His grace finds you. I. The Setup: A Clear Command, a Defiant Run God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah heads to Tarshish—the opposite direction. This is not confusion. It’s defiance. “If you want to run from God, the devil will always offer y...

Title: You Can’t Outrun God Text: Jonah 1:1–3 Big Idea: Jonah’s story isn’t just about a fish—it’s about a faithful God chasing a rebellious heart. I. The Book No One Expected — A Prophet Who Refuses to Prophesy Jonah is the only prophetic book centered on the prophet's disobedience , not his message. He receives a clear word from God… and immediately runs in the opposite direction. Jonah is raw,...

Guest: Noelle Stanley Feature: My Story Matters from Vertical Church Originally Shared: During worship on June 22, 2025 Key Topics: Growing up in a Southern Baptist family in Gluckstadt, MS Sudden loss of her mother in 2018 Becoming a parental figure to her younger siblings at 23 The struggle with control, pride, and surrender Finding refuge in friends, faith, and the local church Discovering Vert...

Title: Practicing the Way — Living Out Your Calling Main Texts: Ephesians 2:8–10; Matthew 3:16–17; Acts 9; Romans 1:1; Colossians 3:23–24 Big Idea: You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Your identity is rooted in Christ, your calling flows from that identity, and your assignments are how you live it out. Key Points: Identity: Who You Are Your identity is not based on your performance, people...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Simplicity & Generosity Main Texts: 1 Timothy 6:6–10; Luke 12:15; Mark 4:18–19; Matthew 19:23–24; Luke 11:39, 41 Big Idea: Greed is one of the most deceitful sins—it quietly damages our hearts and distorts our desires. The antidote is the practice of simplicity and generosity. Key Points: The Deceitfulness of Greed Greed is rarely confessed. It’s easy to...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Sabbath & Rest Main Texts: Genesis 1:1, 31; Genesis 2:1–3; Mark 2:23–28 Big Idea: True rest isn’t just about taking time off—it’s about transforming both how we work and how we rest by aligning with God’s rhythm for life. Key Points: God’s Rhythm of Creation Genesis 1:1 — God worked . Genesis 2:1–3 — And then God rested —not because He was tired, but bec...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Prayer Main Text: Luke 11:1–4 Big Idea: Prayer is the doorway to life with God—not just something we do, but a relationship we enter. Key Points: Prayer Misunderstood For many, prayer feels distant, boring, ineffective, or frustrating. It often becomes a last resort—like grabbing the steering wheel once we’re already in the ditch. But Jesus shows us that...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Community Main Texts: Matthew 18:21–35; Acts 2:42–47 Big Idea: In a culture fractured by tribalism and individualism, God calls us to unity, sacrifice, and forgiveness in a community centered on His Word. Key Points: We Were Not Created for Aloneness Solitude is healthy; isolation is not. From womb to adulthood, we were designed for connection, but our c...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Scripture Main Texts: Romans 12:2; Matthew 7:24–29 Big Idea: The practice of Scripture is our starting place. It’s how we build a foundation strong enough to withstand life’s storms. Key Points: Three Forces That Shape Us The stories we believe The habits we build The relationships we keep But the stories we believe shape us most—and the enemy uses lies...

Title: Practicing the Way Main Text: Luke 5:1-11 Key Points: The Discipleship Crisis Many profess faith but do not practice the way of Jesus. Salvation is not just being saved from something—it's being saved to something: life with Jesus. The Call to Follow In Jesus’ day, being a rabbi’s disciple was the highest honor—but Jesus didn’t choose the elite. He called the backups —the ordinary, the over...

Title: Jesus Is the Resurrection and the Life Main Text: John 11:1-44 Key Points: The Setup: Lazarus' Sickness and Death Jesus delays responding to Lazarus’ sickness not out of neglect but to reveal God’s glory (John 11:4, 15). Sometimes God's greatest miracles are hidden inside our waiting. Jesus Meets Us Where We Are Martha approaches Jesus intellectually (“I know he will rise at the last day”)—...

Title: Jesus Is the True Vine Main Text: John 15:1-11 Key Points: The Vine, the Vinedresser, and the Branches Jesus is the true vine , the Father is the gardener , and we are the branches . True believers bear fruit. Fruit doesn’t lead to salvation—it proves salvation. There are two types of branches: those that bear fruit and are pruned , and those that bear no fruit and are cut off . Dead Branch...

Title: Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life Main Text: John 14:1-7, 16-19, 25-27; Romans 8:15-16 Key Points: Jesus Brings Comfort in the Face of Fear On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus comforts His disciples rather than seeking comfort Himself. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1) The remedy for a troubled heart? Faith. The Deep Longing for...

Jesus Is The Good Shepherd Main Text: John 10:11-16, 19-21 Key Points: Jesus Is the Good Shepherd He lays down His life for the sheep, unlike a hired hand who abandons them (John 10:11-12). He knows His sheep personally, and they know His voice (John 10:14). His role was foretold in Ezekiel 34—God Himself promised to shepherd His people. Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice To hear and follow Jesus, w...

Title: Jesus Is the Gate of the Sheep Main Text: John 10:1-10 Key Points: Jesus as the Gate Jesus declares, “I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7-9) Through Him, we find salvation, security, and provision —rest for our souls. He is the only way to God, emphasizing the exclusivity of the gospel. The Sheep Pen & Its Meaning A place of safety and rest at night before going back out in the morning...

Title: Jesus Is The Light of the World Main Text: John 8:12 Key Points: Jesus Declares Himself as the Light of the World During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus claims, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) This claim references God's presence as light, guiding His people. The Symbolism of Light vs. Darkness Light...

Title: Jesus Is The Bread of Life Main Text: John 6:1-69 Key Points: Desperate People Are After Jesus Crowds followed Jesus not for who He was, but for what He could do (John 6:1-2). The Miracle of the Loaves and Fish Jesus fed 5,000 people with a small meal, revealing His divine provision (John 6:14). Why Do We Follow Jesus? The crowd’s pursuit was transactional, not relational (John 6:25-26). Je...

Sermon Outline: Title: Transformation – Training for Lasting Change Big Idea: Transformation requires shifting from trying to training. The focus should be on what we are sowing, not just the desired outcome. Key Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Running the race with purpose and discipline) 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (Training in godliness) Galatians 6:7-9 (Reaping what we sow) Hosea 10:12-13 (Sowing right...

Sermon Outline: Title: Transformation – Breaking Free from Sin’s Snare Big Idea: Even after salvation, sin remains a snare. Recognizing and avoiding sin's traps is crucial to becoming who God intends us to be. Key Scriptures: Judges 13:24-25 (Samson’s early blessings) Judges 15:20 (Samson’s leadership) Judges 16:1 (Samson’s downfall) James 1:21 (Accepting God's word to break free from sin) Hebrews...

Summary of Brad & Emily’s Story Brad and Emily shared their journey of marriage, struggles, faith, and transformation. Brad grew up with a semi-Catholic background, while Emily was raised in a Baptist church. They met in Nashville, married within a year, and moved to Maryland, where they faced significant challenges. Early in their marriage, Brad struggled with alcoholism, which caused tension. Em...

Transformation Week 3 Description: In Week 3 of our TRANSFORMATION series, we tackle a foundational truth: Our behavior flows from our identity. What we believe about ourselves determines how we live. Are we living out of a distorted identity shaped by lies, or are we rooted in Christ? Through scriptures like John 8:44-45 and Ephesians 4:21-24, we uncover how to break destructive cycles and embrac...

Series: TRANSFORMATION Week: 2 Big Idea: To experience true transformation, we must identify and address the root causes of our behaviors. Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 3:18: Highlights the continuous process of being transformed into Christ's image as we reflect His glory. John 8:34-36: Emphasizes freedom from the slavery of sin through the Son. Mark 1:35 & Luke 5:15-16: Demonstrate Jesus’ practi...

Podcast Episode Notes: Desperate for Change | 2 Corinthians 3:18 | Nathan Hughes Transformation Series – Week 1 Big Idea: God doesn’t call us to behavior modification; He calls us to spiritual transformation. True change happens not through our efforts alone but by the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV): "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemp...

Introduction: Our Need for Connection Humans are wired for connection—it’s how we thrive. Illustration: Harlow monkey study – Demonstrates that emotional comfort is more crucial than physical needs. We naturally transition through stages of dependence: Completely dependent → Somewhat dependent → Highly independent → Interdependent → Dependent Connecting with others is often the hardest, especially...

Episode Notes: The Hardest Person to Forgive Overview In Week 2 of the "Purpose" series, we dive into the challenge of self-forgiveness and the transformative power of embracing your story. Every individual is uniquely crafted by God, and your experiences—no matter how difficult—can reveal His glory. This episode invites listeners to do the deep work of connecting with their personal journey, unde...