Vineyard Altoona Podcast

It is a common thing for people to attribute things to God, whether it's teaching, prophecy, or other occurrences. But what happens when contradictory things get attributed to God? How do we react when two people claim to speak for God but say opposite things? John's call in 1 John is for the church to discern what spirit is speaking before adopting a teaching. Today, Derek talks about how we can...

God is love. This is one of the key values expressed in the book of 1 John as the author urges the readers to hold onto what is true. Hate is easily cultivated in our world, regardless of religious affiliation. But hate should have no place in Christ’s Church. To take it a step further, the author of 1 John reminds the readers that merely claiming to love is not enough. It’s easy to verbally commu...

Evan brings a special Youth Sunday message this week, join us as we explore 1 John 2:28-3:10. We'll talk about what it means to abide in Christ, practice his way, and the forces that would try to deceive us, all in a kid friendly way! If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here: vineyardaltoona.churchcenter.com/people/forms/288405 We're alw...

None of us likes to be tricked, and so we often live by the mantra, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." But this doesn't serve us well in relationship with Jesus. How can we become people who live by faith without getting tricked? Today, Derek continues our series in 1 John. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here: viney...

So many of us struggle with remembering who we are and what we have because of relationship with God. Because we forget, we find ourselves stumbling into things that make false promises about who we could be and what we could have. We trade what is real for a lie. But John's command is that we not make that exchange. Today, Derek continues our summer series through the book of 1 John called “Love...

A common thought when it comes to church is “I love Jesus, but not the church”. What is the necessity of the church? How should people relate to fellow believers in the church? Today, Derek continues our summer series through the book of 1 John called “Love & Truth”. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here: vineyardaltoona.churchcenter....

Why is it so difficult for us to own our faults, flaws, and sin? Whether Christian or not, this seems to be true. In the church, we often struggle with the added, unspoken pressure that we think we aren’t supposed to sin. Certainly, grace is not an invitation to sin more, but are we supposed to be sinless? Today, Derek continues our summer series through the book of 1 John called “Love & Truth”. I...

Today we begin our summer sermon series through the book of 1 John called "Love & Truth". If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here: vineyardaltoona.churchcenter.com/people/f…s/288405 We're always grateful for your continued financial support. To give securely online, you can visit this link: vineyardaltoona.churchcenter.com/giving Thanks...

Many of us have had the experience of feeling stuck in our relationship with God. One of the things that keeps us at a distance from God is sin that weighs us down. But God has given us a way to unburden ourselves from sin - confession. Today Evan finishes our “Hungry For God” series by talking about confession. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a co...

It would probably not be a surprise to know that praising God will result in deeper hunger for God. And when we feel like it, it's not hard to praise God. What's hard is to praise God when we don't want to. We may even think it impossible. Today Derek talks about how to praise God when we don't want to. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect car...

Many of us struggle to feel like our prayer life is adequate. We know prayer is important to the development of our life with God. If we are honest, though, many of us are not satisfied with our prayer life. Is there any way forward, or are we just condemned to this struggle? Today, Derek continues our "Hungry for God" series by talking about prayer. If you'd like to connect with us or share a pra...

Have you ever felt like the ways that have consistently fed your hunger for God have grown dry? It's easy to get in such a routine that we may forget God is alive and active. But one place we know we can always find God at work is among the powerless. When we join in the work God is already doing, it is a powerful way to stir our hunger for God. Today, Derek continues our "Hungry for God" series....

The communities that we are a part of shape us. While society has embraced the deeply biblical idea that humanity is designed for relationship, we in the church have at times made community optional. God comes where He is wanted. Hunger for God grows in the community of God's people. Today Jeri continues our "Hungry for God" series. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel...

Scripture constantly calls the people of God to an ever deepening hunger for God. Often we fill our lives with so many other things that our hunger for God is stifled and we become satisfied with what we have. There are clear ways to reawaken our hunger for God. Today Derek begins our “Hungry for God” series. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a conne...

One of the more stunning reversals in scripture is the fact that on Good Friday the disciples of Jesus hid away, afraid for their lives, but only a short period of time later, they were boldly proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. What accounts for that change? And is there something we can take away from the resurrection story that would do the same in our lives? Today, Derek talks about how the...

We all love the celebration of Resurrection Sunday. But without reflecting the cost paid for us on the cross, the celebration gets cheapened. Today, Derek talks about the significance of Jesus and his crucifixion. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here: vineyardaltoona.churchcenter.com/people/forms/288405 We're always grateful for your...

So much of the way power works in our world is through pride and self-promotion. This has negative side-effects though. It tends to highlight our own insecurities and make us fearful. But Jesus offers us a new way. The way of Jesus is humility. Today, Derek talks about how Jesus makes it possible to exchange pride for humility. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free...

So many of us become overwhelmed at the idea that we are to become more like Jesus. It feels like a daunting task, and as we set about trying to make it happen we become discouraged. And it's hard to praise God when we are discouraged with our own transformation. How does this change happen, and what are we supposed to do? This week Derek continues our "Exchange" series by taking a look at how we...

Often we look around at the injustice in the world and wonder if God sees it, or if He cares. The book of Isaiah shows us that though we at times experience judgement and suffering, God’s final word is always hope. God really is bringing His justice in His time because He is faithful. Today, Jeri continues our "Exchange" sermon series. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, fe...

We all have areas of our lives where we have regret, shame, and guilt. God's desire is to turn the areas of our lives where we experience these things to become places of strength and ministry. Today, Derek talks about how God takes the place in our lives of shame and turns them into places of influence and ministry. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out...

What seems to be in such short supply these days is joy. There are so many reasons that could be pointed to for this. People who follow Jesus are supposed to be marked by great joy. The reason for this is because the freedom of God creates joy within us. Today, Derek continues our Exchange series. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here...

So much healing and wholeness comes as we cooperate with God. The form this takes is exchange - our brokenness for God's wholeness, our sinfulness for Christ's righteousness, our desires for God's desires. Lent is a season where we are invited again to engage in intentional exchange with God as we pursue deeper relationship and a more transformed life. Today, Derek begins our series for Lent calle...

As a church, we believe that every generation has a unique role to play in the Kingdom of God. One way we live into this belief is through our partnership with the CCO to do campus ministry at Penn State Altoona. This week, Evan talks about the Jubilee Conference and how the story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration gives meaning and purpose to our lives. If you'd like to connect with u...

When God places calling on our lives, one thing we can be sure of is that the enemy will fight against it. But if we understand that it is God's responsibility to bring our calling to fruition, we have the greatest weapon to deal with opposition against our calling. Today, Derek talks about how the sovereignty of God is our defense against the enemy's schemes. If you'd like to connect with us or s...

How do I know God is calling me? Many times the way we know God is calling us is that we are aware of something that is not as it should be. Today Derek talks from the David and Goliath story about how we can discern God's calling. If you'd like to connect with us or share a prayer request, feel free to fill out a connect card here: vineyardaltoona.churchcenter.com/people/f…s/288405 We're always g...