Viva Vineyard Church

What does it mean that God is holy and that we are to be holy too? (It might not be the bad news you suspect it is!) In fact, it might just be the opposite.

Mark 5:31 - 43. We read a tale of two daughters and how Jesus heals the wound and obliterates the lie.

Leviticus is often misunderstood. We take a fresh look. The Tent of Meeting is the focus of the book. Last week we looked at the architecture of the tent. This week we look at the activity. We discover, incredibly, that much of it resembles the beloved Aussie ritual - the BBQ.

God is re-Edening. The Tabernacle of Exodus 25-40 is a symbolic garden of Eden. “God moves into sin. God stakes out a claim in the region of sin and dedicates it and redeems it by his holy presence.” The Bible Project

Jesus wasn't a used car salesman, neither should we be. So what's the alternative?

Cities. Towers. Self-protection and self-exultation. The gospel according to Disney meeting the God of Abram.

The fall. The fallout. Our propensities. God's way back.

Eden. Mountain. Relationship and responsibility. We dive into Genesis 2

How did we get here? Why are we here? (Small questions like that!) And a conversation about what God wants.

The marvel of God's renewing ways displayed through lives of Hannah and Samuel. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

What the Bible teaches us about contentment.

My prayer used to be, “I trust you God I know you’re good, show me how you’re going to do it and when I understand it I will be at peace.” And that’s not what this passage is saying… Peace or understanding, which are you after? 

Paul was very sure he knew what carried true value. That changed when he met Jesus.

Isaiah 49 is breathtaking. What if it's actually not just about Israel or Jesus but us as well? And how might that be possible?

Philippians 2 is majesterial. The cruciform life of Christ and others are on display. And yet... as Paul bemoaned, "everyone is looking out for their own interests, not the interests of Christ." Why the mismatch? What needs to change?

Imprisoned Paul would insist no. Joy isn’t found in our inward turn but in an upward turn to God and an outward turn to each. 

The New Testament is jammed with prayers for God's people. As we continue to ask the Lord to teach us to pray, we're turning to the prayers of Philippians...

Jesus is welcomed as King when he enters Jerusalem. Then he goes to the Temple, turns tables and makes a statement that upends far more than the dodgy temple economy...

The Red Sea parts. Praise erupts. 3 days later, grumbling and accusation. It takes time to unlearn how we've seen God... the good news is God has his ways.

Exodus 5. Things go from bad to worse. Where is God? Can he be trusted to do what only he can do?

Culture says you define you. Moses' encounter with God suggests otherwise...

Exodus 1. Exodus is the birth story the people of Israel. Imperial oppression through economic exploitation leading to attempted genocide. The market society prison. All God's people could manage was a groan. And the groan, our groan is enough. With this God of grace, exodus always starts with a groan.

What's the aperture of your heart?

There's an ancient blessing that God gave his people. At the centre of this blessing is the smile of God.

John asserts that there is a throne in heaven and one who sits upon it and that that person is not me. How then are we to live?