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What happens when religious certainty becomes a shield for injustice? In part five of our series, The Prophet, Pastor Trey Allen traces the rise and fall of ancient empires and takes us to the gates of Jerusalem, connecting Jeremiah's temple critique to Jesus driving out the money changers in Mark 11. Confronting the dangerous assumption of "static chosenness"- the belief that having the temple, the right label, or proximity to God provides a guaranteed immunity from accountability- Pastor Trey explores how Jesus stands firmly in the prophetic tradition. From modern nationalisms to our personal blind spots, discover why no one is above being challenged, how Jesus perpetually dismantles temple walls of exclusion, and why genuine repentance, not status, is the only path to the table.

Throughout scripture, the movement of God continually moves from narrow to wide- breaking open human categories and pouring out the Holy Spirit on both sons and daughters. Returning to the Vineyard pulpit, former lead pastor Reagan Waggoner dives into part four of The Prophet to address one of the most painful, contested conversations in church history: women, spiritual authority, and leadership. Examining Jesus' radical encounter with the bleeding woman in Mark 5, the faithful witnesses of the resurrection in Mark 15, and the historic outpouring at Pentecost, Pastor Reagan explores how the Kingdom of God does not erase our differences, but dismantles our human hierarchies. Addressing difficult passages in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy with contextual care, he speaks directly to the pain of women who have been told to shrink under arbitrary ceilings, and casts a compelling vision for a church where men and women lead together without fear, competition, or diminished callings.

Why did Jesus' very first sermon in his hometown of Nazareth end with the congregation trying to throw him off a cliff? In part three of our series, The Prophet, Pastor Kelly Edmiston looks at Luke 4 to unpack the disruptive nature of biblical miracles. When Jesus cited Elijah healing a foreign widow in Zarephath and Elisha cleansing Naaman the Syrian, he confronted our deepest religious temptation: trying to control God and demanding a "home-field advantage." Miracles aren't supernatural events breaking into a distant world; they are signs that heaven and earth have come together in Christ, pointing to a God whose power continually reaches to the margins. From ancient prophets to the modern global church, discover how Jesus passes his mantle of authority to us- and how we are called to take holy risks, expect miracles, and meet God where He is already moving.

Who gets to sit at your table? In part two of our series, The Prophet, Pastor Kelly Edmiston looks at Matthew 9:9–13 and Hosea 6:1–6 to challenge how religious systems build walls around belonging. From the first-century Pharisees loitering outside Matthew's dinner party to modern church policies that exclude struggling kids from youth group, Kelly exposes the "psychology of disgust" that leads believers to separate from those who need a healer most. Explore why Jesus never feared contamination from sin, how His holiness is radically contagious, and what it looks like to show covenant faithfulness (hesed) by pulling up a seat next to the people we are most tempted to avoid.

Why were the religious authorities and political powers constantly trying to stone, silence, and kill Jesus? Kicking off our new series, The Prophet, Pastor Trey Allen examines Jesus through the biblical lens of the ultimate Prophet promised since Moses; one sent not just to foretell the future, but to confront the status quo and challenge the systems that rule our world. Diving into the stories of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof and the woman caught in adultery, Pastor Trey unpacks how religious and social elites use conditional forgiveness and public shame as tools of social control. Discover why Jesus' radical, unearned forgiveness threatened the powerful, why the Gospel cannot be separated from disruptive truth, and how the Open Table invites every broken person into true freedom with zero prerequisites.

What happens when we don't know what to pray for? In this moving sermon, we dive into Romans 8:26-27 as part of our ongoing series on Walking in the Spirit. Discover how the Holy Spirit acts as our ultimate advocate, translating our deepest groans, tears, and unspoken pain into prayers that align perfectly with God's will. Featuring a heartwarming and inspiring story about childhood bullying, forgiveness, and intercession, this message reminds us that even in our most broken seasons, God is working all things for our redemption.

What happens when our walk in the Spirit gets interrupted by life's deepest pain? In part five of our Walking in the Spirit series, Pastor Kelly Edmiston tackles Romans 8:18–25 to explore the unexpected relationship between the Holy Spirit and human suffering. Moving from the grief of losing beloved family matriarchs to enduring long seasons of chronic illness, Pastor Kelly unpacks the progression Paul lays out: Suffering -> Groaning -> Hope -> Glory. Learn why your deep ache over a broken world isn't a lack of faith, but the living Spirit within you groaning for a Genesis 1–2 reality. Comparing our present hope to labor contractions and an engagement ring given on the Nile River, this message reveals how the Spirit guarantees that the renewal of all things is already on its way.

Are you living like an heir or like a slave? In week four of our Walking in the Spirit series, Pastor Kelly Edmiston dives into Romans 8:14–17 to explore the radical truth of our adoption into the family of God. Through relatable stories of missed airline upgrades, career pivots, and lessons from Maya Angelou, Pastor Kelly shows why so many Christians live with spiritual imposter syndrome- and how the Holy Spirit works daily to remind us of our true identity. Learn how hearing God's voice is your legal, irrevocable inheritance as a co-heir with Christ.

How do we overcome habits, vices, and gravitational pulls toward sin? In week three of our Walking in the Spirit series, Pastor Trey Allen dives into Romans 8:9–13 and Galatians 5 to explore what it means to put the deeds of the flesh to death through the power of the Holy Spirit. Learn why Christian spirituality is not an escape from the physical body, why your struggle against the flesh is not a unique deficiency, and how true transformation happens when we shift our energy toward actively chasing after the fruit of the Spirit.

What is your mind aimed at every single day? In week two of our Walking in the Spirit series, Pastor Kelly Edmiston unpacks Romans 8:5–8 and explains why going through the Christian motions without the right orientation leads to a lack of genuine transformation. Learn about the Greek concept of phronema- the settled mindset that governs our desires and actions- and why living in the realm of the Spirit requires direct, sustained exposure to God rather than a quick, 90-minute weekly habit.

What comes to mind when you hear the word spiritual? While culture often views spirituality as an ambiguous, internal journey or a strict list of religious rules, biblical Christian spirituality is fundamentally different: it is an active, moment-by-moment connection with the living Holy Spirit. Kicking off our new series, Walking in the Spirit, Pastor Trey Allen breaks down the overarching story of scripture-  from God dwelling with humanity in Genesis, to the external law given at Mount Sinai, to the promise fulfilled through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Grounded in Romans 8:1–4 and insights from Dr. Kenneth Berding's Walking in the Spirit, this message explores why living in the Spirit isn't about rigid dos and don'ts, but about learning to "keep in step" with God one daily walk at a time.

One of the greatest dangers to any flourishing relationship is what Pastor Trey calls "arrested development"- getting stuck in a past version of someone and refusing to recognize who they are today. Because people and relationships are constantly changing, we cannot love someone well if we only relate to who they used to be. Drawing from Genesis 12, Luke 2, cultural traditions like quinceañeras and family reunions, and reflections from Wendell Berry, Pastor Trey unpacks two crucial tools God gives us to help relationships flourish: Rituals (marking time) and Altars (marking change). Learn why building fresh spiritual altars is essential not only for our marriages, parenting, and friendships, but also for our walking with an ever-present God.

Every person in this life experiences wounds; from small misunderstandings to deep betrayals. In this practical and deeply personal message, Rev. Dr. Jonita Fair-Payton walks us through the 5 essential stages of relational healing: The Wound, The Debt, The Forgiveness, The Repair, and The Peace. Diving into Jesus's parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 and Paul's instructions to the church in Colossians 3, Dr. Fair-Payton dismantles common myths about forgiveness- explaining why releasing a debt isn't the same as pretending a wound never happened, why "forgive and forget" can be dangerous, and how true relational repair requires honesty, humility, and time.

What causes fights, quarrels, and division in our closest relationships? In week two of our Flourishing Relationships series, Pastor Devon unpacks the hard-hitting truths of James 4:1–10. Through powerful personal illustrations, from an incredible story about his father's historic heart transplant to a funny, eye-opening moment on a Houston freeway, Pastor Devon shows why our hearts so easily reject the "new thing" God is trying to do horizontally in our human relationships. Discover how a scarcity mindset fuels conflict, why isolated emotions trick us into imaginary arguments, and how tuning into the Holy Spirit allows us to see people through the lens of their future grace rather than their unfinished present.

We are all looking for the secret to a happy life and flourishing relationships. But whether we are single, married, old, or young, many of us struggle because our love has become disordered. In the kickoff message of our new series, Flourishing Relationships, Pastor Kelly Edmiston unpacks Jesus' summary of the law in Matthew 22: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Drawing from a funny reflection on a 64-year marriage, a look at the ancient Shema, and a gentle check on codependency, Pastor Kelly shows why placing a spouse, partner, or friend in the place of God sets everyone up to fail. Learn why flourishing relationships aren't simply found; they are formed when God becomes the organizing center of our lives.