Vergennes Church Podcast

There's No Such Thing as a Good Samaritan

Series: Jesus' Greatest Hits

Majoring on the Minors: Micah

Majoring on the Minors: Malachi

In the very last book of the Old Testament, God brings a case against the people...not because he wants to tear them down, but because he wants to bring the best out of them. The question the prophet Malachi asks the people is the question we're considering in this message: Are we giving God our best?

Majoring on the Minors: Hosea

They're called the "Minor" prophets, but God gave them some pretty Major messages to share with the people! The last 12 books of the Old Testament, the Minor Prophets are only called minor because they are smaller books than the "Major" prophets (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel). We don't hear about the minor prophets all too often, which is really a shame, because there are some really good things in them...including some are-you-sure-this-is-the-bible parts! God comes to the prophet...

When It's Tough to Love: When the Love Goes One Way

TOUGH LOVE...but perhaps not how you're thinking. The love we are called to give to others, even when it's tough on us. How do we continue to give love to the people in the relationships where the other person seems to take more than they give? How do we continue to give love when we're tired of giving? 

Jesus Ascends, and Sends

Scripture references:  John 20:19, 21 Luke 24:50-53 Acts 1:4-11 Matthew 28:19-20

Peace Be With You - Easter Sunday

Happy Easter! Have you ever found that you can't find the things that are right in front of your nose? Hear a story about how two followers of Jesus walked down the road with the resurrected Jesus, and didn't even realize it. We often miss what Jesus is up to, right in front of us. When we do finally notice him, we often hear him saying the same words he shared with the disciples as he appeared to them in the upper room: "Peace be with you." For the pictures/videos used in the message: Pi...

It Is Finished / Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit // Final Words from the Cross

John and Luke have two different accounts of Jesus' final words before he died. And yet, we hold onto both of them in our bibles, because they both have something to teach us. In John, Jesus proclaims, "It is finished", reminding us that the work from the cross is enough to remove any separation between God and us. In Luke, we see Jesus' prayer of surrender, "Into your hands I commit my spirit," where Jesus shows us what full and complete surrender looks like. When his life was required of h...

My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? // Final Words from the Cross

Some of the most hauntingly beautiful (or perhaps beautifully haunting) words that Jesus said from the cross were the words he quoted from Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Many of us have felt abandoned by God at different times of our lives. Even while hanging from the cross, Jesus was still a teacher, showing us how to pray in the midst of our darkest moments of doubt. And yet, the deeper we look at these words, the more we find a deep, rich, abiding faith that sustain...

Final Words from the Cross: Behold, your son...Behold, your mother.

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, he saw his mother, Mary, and his disciple, John, and he said to them, "Behold, your son...Behold, your mother." This was truly a touching moment between these three; however, these words challenge us today in how we think about what it means to be a church family, what it means to stand for Jesus, and how we are to care for our own families. These three verses in John 19 are rich with meaning for us today!

Final Words from the Cross: Behold, your son...Behold, your mother.

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, he saw his mother, Mary, and his disciple, John, and he said to them, "Behold, your son...Behold, your mother." This was truly a touching moment between these three; however, these words challenge us today in how we think about what it means to be a church family, what it means to stand for Jesus, and how we are to care for our own families. These three verses in John 19 are rich with meaning for us today!

Final Words from the Cross: Today, You Will Be With Me in Paradise

While hanging from the cross, Jesus turns to one of the men also being crucified with him and tells him, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." What a powerful statement! But what did he mean when he said it? What does it mean for us, for our understanding of eternal life? Perhaps more importantly...what do we make of the fact that Jesus said this statement to a common criminal?  Jesus, the friend of sinners...even to the end. 

Final Words from the Cross: Father, Forgive Them

Among Jesus' last words from the cross was the perplexing yet powerful prayer, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." When Jesus prayed this, whom did he have in mind? What can we learn from this prayer of Jesus? How might we learn to forgive like Jesus forgives? If we're honest with ourselves...do we want to? 

That They May All Be One: How We Stay United

If Jesus prayed for us to be one even with all of our diversity, how do we stay together when we're all so different in so many ways? Could we learn how to disagree in a way that doesn't dance around tough issues, but doesn't lead to separation?

That They May All Be One: What Unity Is (and Isn't)

Jesus calls us to be one. But what does that mean? What does unity mean for Christians? More importantly...what does it not mean? 

That They May All Be One: Why Unity Matters

Before Jesus was handed over to be crucified he, prayed for his disciples, "that they may all be one." Why is unity important for Christians today?

Training for the Kingdom: Training Plan (Part 1)

Training for the Kingdom: Between Feigning and Straining

"The gospel is less about how to get into the Kingdom of Heaven after you die, and more about how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven before you die." - Dallas Willard This message began with a conversation among the gathered members of the 11:00 service about this very quote. The podcast begins right as the message truly begins, coming out of that conversation. 

Full Service: Find Your Role

We are all called by God to serve others, as Jesus served. How we serve will look different for each of us, because each of us is unique. Our gifts, passions, experiences, skills, and personality all affect how God will use us. When all of these come together in one opportunity to serve others, it is a beautiful thing.  This message includes an excerpt from The Liturgists Podcast, on their episode titled "Suffering (Part 1)", which came out on November 1st, 2016. You can learn more about th...

Full Service: Think Like A Servant

Scripture tells us that God will transform us by changing the way we think. Jesus came not to be served but to serve others, and we are called to be like Jesus by serving others. In this message, we explore the mindset shifts that help us to be transformed to be more like Jesus, to serve others in radically loving ways. 

Full Service: Serve Like Jesus

We begin 2019 with a new series titled "Full Service". As many of us are setting New Year's Resolutions to better ourselves, we remember that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and we are invited to follow him in a life of servanthood that is about lessening ourselves, rather than making ourselves greater.  **A note to the listener: Throughout the message, Tom refers to the incurvatus in se term that he describes early in the message by curving his spine to look at his naval (hence,...

Empowered To Believe

Our worship leader Keith Bean shares a fitting word to end 2018. 

The Grace of the Silent Night: Christmas Eve 2018

Unexpected Gifts: Shepherds

God wanted to get the word out that Jesus was born, so he sent his angels to call upon...the shepherds? Yes, the Shepherds. God called the ones the world often overlooked to be his messengers of the good news. When he was older, Jesus did the same thing; he showed love to the ones the world found unlovable.  The final, Unexpected Gift that the angels brought, this time to the Shepherds: Love. 

Unexpected Gifts: Joseph

Can you imagine being told that you had to be the earthly father of the Son of God?? Talk about pressure! Yet, when the angel visited Joseph with the news of Mary's pregnancy, we received the Unexpected Gift of Peace. 

Unexpected Gifts: Mary

Mary, God's Favor, and Joy

Age to Age

On Christ the King Sunday, we explore what it means to call Jesus our King, how Jesus is different from any other ruler our world has ever known, and how that leads us to true worship. He is the Alpha and Omega, and from Age to Age he is worthy of our praise! 

If I'm Honest...I'm Depressed

Can we be honest about depression in church? God is the source of our joy. However, If we're honest, there are times where we don't feel very joyful. Whether it is because of a recent life circumstance, or because of a more chronic mental health struggle, many of us will struggle with depression at some point. When that happens, we can't just say to ourselves or to others, "Be Happy!", or "Rejoice in the Lord!" Cheap and easy solutions just don't work. When we are depressed, how do we pra...

If I'm Honest...I Blew It

Sometimes we get it right; sometimes we do dumb, foolish, and sinful things. If we think we are defined by these things, we can begin to wonder if there is any hope for us after we've blown it big time. And so we hide. But...what if the mask we wear to hide our sin is only hiding us from the God who wants to restore us and heal us? 

Partners in God's Mission

In the message from our Pledge Sunday, we reflected on our "why"; Why we give, Why we serve, Why we do what we do. The answer is connected with the simple invitation from Jesus: "Come, Follow Me. Check out what I'm up to. Do you want to join me?"

A Generous Life

What would make you truly happy? More money? A bigger house? A better car?  While advertisers want you to believe otherwise, there are countless stories and multiple research studies, not to mention the witness of scripture and the pattern established by God himself, that tell us we are happier when we choose to use our money to benefit other people, not just ourselves. In this message, we learn what it means to find happiness by living a generous life by looking at the story of a Macedonia...

If I'm Honest...I'm Afraid

We all experience fear; it's part of being a human. The question is not "Will be afraid?" Rather, the question is, "Will I live from a place of fear? Or, is there another way?  This message covers how to tell the difference between a bear and a deadline, how the ancient Israelites managed their fear of being conquered, and how Psalm 46 shows us how we can bring our fears to God.

175th Anniversary: We Remember, and We Press On

In 1843, a small group of people in Vergennes Township starting meeting together to worship God and love their neighbors. 175 years, we're still meeting together more focused than ever on our mission of Making Disciples who grow in Knowing, Loving, and Serving Jesus Christ. On October 14th, we paused to remember 175 years and the many people who came before us, and we looked ahead to where God continued to call us today. Because of the great Cloud of Witnesses that surround us, we will run t...

If I'm Honest...I'm Ashamed

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Someone who is not enough? Someone who has wasted their life? Someone who doesn't have the right kind of body? Someone unlovable or undesirable? Shame is an incredible barrier that holds us back and keeps us feeling small. It's also a liar. When we feel like we are a nobody or that we are worthless, we can turn to Psalm 139 to hear God's truth. God knows us intimately, God is always with us, God pursues us, God desires us, God made us, God declar...

If I'm Honest... I'm Angry

If I'm Honest... I'm Angry

Better Together: Part II

Better Together Part I

Better Together Part I Acts 2:42-47, Acts 20:20

Better Together Part I

Better Together Part I Acts 2:42-47, Acts 20:20

Prayer & Action Part II

Prayer & Action Part II 

Prayer & Action Part II

Prayer & Action Part II 

Prayer & Action: Part I

1 Thess. 5:16-18, Psalm 37:7, James 2:14-17

Prayer & Action: Part I

1 Thess. 5:16-18, Psalm 37:7, James 2:14-17

Divine Invitations: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Divine Invitations: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Divine Invitations: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Divine Invitations: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Divine Invitations: Slow Down With Me

1 Kings 19:9-13, Psalm 46:10

Divine Invitations: Be With Me

Divine Invitations: Come to Me and I Will Give You Rest

Divine Invitations: Come to Me and I Will Give You Rest

Divine Invitations: Come to Me and I Will Give You Rest

Divine Invitations: Come to Me and I Will Give You Rest

Back to Basics: Week 4 - Dream Again

Back to Basics: Week 4 - Dream Again

Back to Basics: Week 3 - Finding Our Calling

Back to Basics: Week 3 - Finding Our Calling