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What if lostness is the criterion for grace? What if being lost isn’t the thing that disqualifies us from grace, but the very place where grace begins to do its work? In this message from our Parables series, Dan explores Jesus’ story of the lost sheep in Luke 15 and the picture it gives us of a God who is the searching God; He comes looking for us, carries us home, and is glad to find us. The invitation is to become people who can be honest about where we are, happy to receive help, and delighted when grace is given to others.

In this opening message of the continuation of our series, Parables, Dan invites us to slow down and listen again to the stories Jesus told — stories that helps us get inside “the ticking of Jesus’ mind” — and to let them reshape the way we see God, ourselves and the world with joy. Over the next few weeks, we’ll spend time with three parables of grace, asking what they reveal about the heart of God and the kind of people grace is forming us to become. The invitation is simple: get close to the source, and become people with ears that don’t just hear, but also perceive.

In this stand-alone message, Ella invites us to see community not simply as something that supports discipleship, but one of the primary ways Jesus forms us into His likeness. Drawing on Jesus' vision of a new family in Mark 3, the community of Acts 2, and the Bridgetown Church Cycle of Community, Ella explores what happens when we stay through the heat of real relationships. What if the very people and relationships we're tempted to pull away from are part of how Jesus disciples us and forms His alterative family?

Three-quarters of the way through the year, with the end now coming into sight, Dan offers a simple encouragement as we consider our lives apprenticing to Jesus: keep going. Drawing on Paul’s encouragement to “train yourself to be godly”, and his own newfound love of running, Dan explores what it means to intentionally train towards a life that looks more like Jesus. Whether you’re enjoying the journey, feeling the grind, or needing to begin again, keep making yourself available to the Spirit, keep practising the things that form you — and keep going.

For some years, Central Vineyard has hoped and prayed for a home of our own. In this special co-leaders message, Dan, Gab, Alisha and Rob share why we sense it is time for a change of posture: from simply hoping for a home, to preparing for one. Together, they explore why places matter, what a permanent home could make possible for our church and our city, the journey we have been on so far, and some of the practical steps we are beginning to take. This isn’t an announcement of a building we’ve found, or a project we need to rush. It’s an invitation for us as a church to begin preparing together — praying, imagining, stewarding and making room for what God might have for Central Vineyard in the years ahead.

Finishing our series, A Body of Many Graces, Dan explores the teaching gift as one of the ways Jesus continues to form and mature His body. Teachers help the Church understand what is true, make sense of complexity, connect Scripture with everyday life, and move from information into faithful practice. Looking at Jesus, the shape of a mature teacher, and examples from across Church history, this message shows how teaching can clarify truth, shape wisdom, deepen discipleship and help the Church stay grounded and discerning. It also considers why the teaching gift needs the rest of the body around it, so that truth remains loving, accessible, Spirit-attentive and connected to mission.

What does it mean to carry the heart of the Good Shepherd? Continuing our series, A Body of Many Graces, Alisha explores the shepherding gift as participation with Jesus in helping people belong, become whole and grow into maturity. Looking to Jesus as the Good Shepherd, this message explores the grace to notice people, move towards the vulnerable and hurting, cultivate healthy community, protect what matters and patiently help others flourish. Alisha also considers the shadow side of shepherding—when care becomes rescuing, comfort replaces growth, or we carry burdens that belong to Jesus—and invites us to become shepherds who love deeply while always pointing people towards the true Good Shepherd.

We are all evangelists for the things we love—but what does it mean to carry the good news of Jesus? Continuing our series, A Body of Many Graces, Dan explores the evangelistic gifting as the grace to communicate good news, build bridges and invite people towards Jesus. Looking to Jesus as our model, this message explores an evangelistic life that moves towards outsiders, makes the Kingdom understandable, proclaims and demonstrates the good news, and invites a response. It also considers the maturity needed to hold clarity, hospitality and boldness together, so that evangelism never becomes pressure or persuasion, but remains a Spirit-led invitation to encounter Jesus. NOTE — THIS IS A RE-RECORDED PODCAST EPISODE DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ON SUNDAY

In this third part of A Body of Many Graces, we do something a little different and Dan sits down with Strahan Coleman to explore the fivefold gift of the prophet as a Zoom interview. Together they unpack what prophetic gifting actually is, how we see it embodied in Jesus, and what a prophetically gifted person tends to notice, ask and bring to the Church. They also explore the shadow side of the prophetic gift, why prophets need the balance of the other fivefold graces, and what healthy prophetic ministry can look like in community. Strahan finishes by offering a prophetic word of encouragement and strengthening for Central Vineyard in this season. Interested in more of Strahan’s ministry? See https://commonerscommunion.substack.com/p/introducing-the-community-of-burning

The Church is not only gathered around Jesus; it is sent with Jesus. Continuing our series, A Body of Many Graces, Dan explores the apostolic gifting as participation in the sentness of Christ—the grace to cross boundaries, pioneer what does not yet exist, establish faithful foundations and form others who can carry the mission forward. Looking to Jesus as the definitive Sent One, this message traces the apostolic movement from the Father sending the Son to the Son sending the Church. It also considers both the strength and shadow of apostolic ministry, calling us to become courageous, visionary and innovative without losing humility, accountability, care or Christlike maturity. NOTE — This is a re-recorded podcast episode due to technical difficulties on Sunday

The Church is one body, led by Jesus and filled with many different graces. Beginning our new series, A Body of Many Graces, Dan explores Paul’s vision in Ephesians 4 of a community united around Christ, yet made alive through many distinct contributions. Introducing the fivefold ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, this message asks how each expression of Jesus’ ministry helps equip the whole Church. The goal is not simply to identify our gifting, but to recognise Christ’s grace in one another, grow together in maturity and participate more fully in his mission in the world.

Dan is joined by worship leaders Donald and Julia to share the story behind a recent season of collaborative songwriting at Central Vineyard. Together, they explore what it means to be a community of the Spirit who sings new songs of the Spirit—listening to God, putting fresh words of worship on our lips, and growing as a community that worships in Spirit and truth.

This week concludes our series The Gift and the gifts with Dan lightly exploring the idea of witnesses. Jesus said this is what those who receive the Gift would be, and it mimics a wider pattern found around Jesus, where those who have an encounter of the Kingdom then can’t help but tell about it. After a light teaching on this idea, Dan then led space for reflections and stories in Central Vineyard from over the last 10 weeks.

This week at Central Vineyard, Dan continues our series The Gift and the gifts by exploring mercy, the gift that moves us toward pain. Mercy is not just for the naturally empathetic. As it is a gracelet of the Spirit, it is given and grown in us so that the Church may be a body who cares, and that we individually might become more like Jesus: noticing the hurting, moving toward the overlooked, and responding with compassion, kindness, and action. The talk closes with a simple prayer practice: “Spirit, break my heart with what breaks Yours” — inviting us to receive God’s mercy afresh and take one small step toward someone in need.

This week at Central Vineyard, Alisha Wiseman continues our series The Gift and the gifts by exploring encouragement — the gift that puts courage into another. Biblical encouragement is more than positivity or saying something nice. It is the Spirit-empowered gift of coming alongside someone, seeing where God is at work, naming what is true, and inviting them further into the life of Jesus. We apologise for the low audio quality at the end of the talk, we had a technical difficulty.