Worship is more than songs in a church service.  Worship includes the songs the church sings on Sunday mornings. However, worship is more than these songs and more than what the church does on Sundays. Worship recognizes the value of God in all of life. Worship is expressed in a many ways. May we all learn to worship in Spirit and in truth.

River City Vineyard - Teachings

A Worship Community- Marianne Smith

We believe the church in general has become too involved in partisan politics. We do not believe the church should be considered as a voting block for any particular political party. With increased partisan politics, the church in general has also begun to over emphasize Christian Nationalism. Being patriotic is one thing. Adhering to Christian Nationalism is quite different. We hope to explain the difference in our teaching and our loyalty to our King, Jesus, and his kingdom.

A Perspective on Christian Nationalism- Nathanael Smith

We want everyone to know who we are not and who we are. Our identity as a community of ordinary people following Jesus has been tested for several years.  Here is a summary of what we have shared so far. Hope each listener enjoys getting to know us.

Our Community Identity-Scott Tjernagel

How much are we willing to give as a community? As much as Jesus was willing to give to us.

A Giving Community_Molly Smith

The Body of Christ must exercise if it is to remain healthy. It will grow and mature through exercise. But what exercise?Liturgy is the “work of the people.” What work do the people do to build up the Body of Christ in love?

A Healthy Community-Scott Tjernagel

Can evangelism be something different than saving people from an impending future disaster?Yes, it can!

A Community of Sharing- Otto Gallaher

What does it mean to care? How willing are we to enter into the pain of others? Caring goes much deeper than an occasional prayer or two.

A Caring Community- Steve Smith

The Father delivers his promise. The first followers are baptized with the Holy Spirit. That initial indwelling comes with noise and supernatural phenomena. A bigger crows assemblies and the Spirit-empowered followers of Jesus give their first witness to their peers in Jerusalem. Is it possible that their witness was two-fold? The first is the supernatural phenomena which gathers the crowd and allows the multilingual crowd to hear a witness about God’s deeds of power in their own native language spoken by others who are not speakers of their language. That first witness climaxes in a question, “what does all this mean?”The second witness is Peter standing up and speaking to the crowd helped by the Holy Spirit to answer their question.  We can imagine Peter starting his witness with words like these: “This does not mean this, but it does mean this...”May the Holy Spirit empower the witness of the Church in 2021. In particular may the Holy Spirit help the Church answer the many questions coming from 2020 and summarized in the question asked in Acts 2. “What does all this mean?”

What Does All this Mean?- Scott Tjernagel

Jesus’ last exchange of instructions with his remaining followers is charged with emotion. From terror to great joy and all in between. There is even a range in faith expressed from belief to some belief to no belief. Into this cauldron of swirling emotions and variegated belief Jesus pours the seasoning of his last words. “Wait.” I don’t know anyone that likes to wait during amped up times. “Receive Power.” What I am asking you to do you cannot do without help. “Be my Witnesses.” I am checking out but I am sending you to every nation so that all humanity hears about me. See you later. “I will be with you all.”

Our Witness of Jesus- Scott Tjernagel

Women were essential to the mission of Jesus. Among the women traveling from Galilee to Judea were at least two Moms. The sons of these Moms include the sons of Zebedee. The Mom of James and John, plus the Mom of two followers of Jesus are recorded by Matthew in his Gospel Story. These Moms and other women were present at the cross, the burial, and some were the fist witnesses of the resurrection. They were tasked by an Angel and Jesus himself to compel the Eleven out of hiding after the death of Jesus so that they could see him. These women who saw Jesus first helped the disciples including their sons to see Jesus.

Moms See Jesus- Scott Tjernagel

Are you looking for Jesus? You are not alone. We read about people  looking for Jesus this morning in Matthew’s story. They found him. He wants to be found. Keep looking and I am sure you will find him.

Looking for Jesus- Scott Tjernagel

Exploring the theological necessity, historical reliability, and transformative power of the Resurrection. 

The Power of the Empty Tomb- Otto Gallaher

It takes time and repetition of the story year after year to believe the resurrection. It is so unfamiliar to us that a body that died and was put in a tomb would be raised to life again. And yet that is our faith. We believe Jesus died and rose again. Coming to fully embrace that faith is a process not a singular “ah ha” moment.

The Way We Believe- Scott Tjernagel

Paul in writing the Corinthians determined to keep his message plain and simple. “First Jesus__who he is, and second Jesus__what he did, Jesus crucified.” These two questions are foundational for following Jesus. We must know who he is and what he has done for us. What did Jesus do for us on the cross?

What Did Jesus Do?- Scott Tjernagel

The crowds welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem with shouts of praise. In the praise there are several titles attributed to Jesus. What do these titles mean? How does the meaning of these titles help us answer the question of Jesus’ identity? Who is Jesus?

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River City Vineyard - Teachings

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