Vienna Assembly Of God Sermons

Lent is especially meant as a time for re-energizing this practice of self-examination. The purpose of the fasts and contemplation are to draw us into a better posture for opening ourselves up before God, allowing the Holy Spirit to show us what is true about ourselves.

Our spiritual formation, the transformation that is afforded us through the Gospel, includes dealing with racism.

Prophetic resistance is still necessary - we must choose to be a people distinct from the world. We are called to live differently, and when we choose to shape our lives according to the rhythm of Sabbath, we are allowing God to form us, and serving as a signpost of his rule and reign in our lives.

Rather than embracing nationalism and triumphalism, we are called to a higher vocation, and given the power to triumph over sin and death.

One of the hopes and dreams for our church is that this be a place where you can experience peace. We want to have open hearts that welcome the weary traveler looking for a spiritual home. We want to have a resolute spirit that rises up against oppression, harassment and exploitation. Becoming a peaceful presence is not about turning a blind eye to the injustice in our world, or becoming apathetic toward the marginalized and oppressed. It is about an intentional focus on God, a determined trust in God, and a willingness to do good even when it doesn't seem to be the way to get results.

Practical in prayer, and practical in practice.

God is a revealing God. He makes himself known to us. And we receive that revelation in many ways. Through creation, through his Word, in times of transition, in the middle of everyday life. God is on the throne. It is through his revelation that we are able to grow in relationship with him - and learn to truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. And that love is the foundation for loving our neighbors as we also love ourselves.

Pastor Craig shares today from Psalm 145:13 - "For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does." How do we experience the rule and reign of Christ in our lives?

We are light-bearers in the shadows we inhabit. And our role is not to control the effects of the light, but to allow the light to shine and for that light to do its good work wherever it is shown.

Today we are providing space to process the losses and griefs we each have experienced. Chaplain Liz Danielsen, a grief counselor and Founder/Director of Spiritual Care Support Ministries in Warrenton, Virginia, will lead us and inspire us.

Following Jesus is a life-commitment to walk in the light that we receive, and to shine our light so that others may also find their way.

God is encouraging us to keep the lights on, keep our hearts expectant and waiting for Christ's return, and be faithful witnesses for Jesus while we are waiting.

As a believer in Jesus, we can accept that there truly is a 'happily ever after' promised to us. The Church is described as a beautiful bride, the Bride of Christ. This reference to the church as the Bride is also embedded in the Apostle Paul's household code in the letter to the church at Ephesus. It's like inserting the 'happily ever after' naivety into the very stark reality of every-day life.

The church of Jesus Christ is not a momentary entertainment or fly-by-night show. All of us together are the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit lives within us.  We must be diligent not to build a facade of spirituality, but to allow the master builder to help us renovate spaces in our lives, take the old wood out to the trash pile, and build back better with gold, silver and jewels.

God is our creator; you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are beautiful, you are designed by God, and he does not want you imprisoned by a false lie about body image, but instead to be free to love and be loved. And in the church, each person is important and matters in God's design.

Jesus is building his church upon the rock.  That rock is the revelation of Jesus.  But the 'road' part is coming to understand how that revelation has been received and carried forward by the Apostles and the early church, and grounding our identity as a church in that foundation.

How do we flourish in this life according to God's vision for us? It happens in community - both here within our church family and then moving out from here into our larger community.

This is not the end! Death does not have the final say! Our struggles and trials, pains and sorrows, doubts and fears, persecutions and rejections, loneliness and awkwardness, disappointments and discouragements - none of these things are the end. We have a future hope and it is dazzling, it is joyful, it is powerful, it is eternal.

The message of the Book of Revelation is not to make us afraid of secret numbers or accidental tattoos.  It is giving us the invitation and the opportunity to see beyond the outer layer of things, to understand there is a cosmic battle and to encourage us to take our stand with Jesus.

Viewed through the Exodus narrative, the reader asks: Where am I? What choices do I have here? What is God going to do about my situation? God is not absent or asleep at the wheel - he is in control of this age and the age to come, and we can wholeheartedly put our confidence in God.