Belfast City Vineyard

Welcome to BCV. Today we will be continuing on in our series in Luke’s Gospel, and will be dipping into Luke 13:18-35. In this passage Jesus begins to teach on the Kingdom of God, and, as always in Luke, invites us to live our lives there. Jesus warns us that we must choose Him and His kingdom, and asks us if we are ready to enter in. We also see the urgency and threat that is beginning to envelop Jesus’ ministry. He is on his way to Jerusalem, and to the cross. As we worship and consider the words of Jesus to us, it is an opportunity to let our hope expand as we remember his goodness, his mercy, and the potency of his Kingdom that we can live in now. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Luke 13:10-17 This sermon was given by Cathay Burnside.

In BCV we place a high importance on ministering to our children from as soon as they are born. Today we have the privilege of gathering as a church around four families who have come to dedicate their precious little ones. We have a community responsibility to make sure that this generation of children in our church grows up knowing God. Because of their relationship with their Heavenly Father, the truth is that our children are powerful people, each with a unique purpose that is with them from birth. They need to grow up understanding that when they stand with their Father God, they are royalty. As children of the King, they get to influence change wherever they are and see the kingdom come. We adults have a vital role in helping position our children to understand who they are and what their purpose is. Today we want to consider what God placed in these little ones and how can we as a community call out His plans and nurture them. This message was given by Katie Wilson.

Today we continue with our series on Luke’s gospel, and move into chapter 13. Jesus continues to warn and challenge us to live in repentance and watchfulness. He also tells a parable about watching for fruitfulness and mercy. As we begin 2018 let’s allow Jesus’ words focus us on intending to live lives of fruitfulness that overflow from time in his presence. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Welcome home….Today we continue with Luke’s Gospel, and find some strange warnings from Jesus. He tells his disciples and even us today that we must be prepared for the conflict that following him will bring. We see some strange language and stories where he warns those who want to follow him that we must interpret the times to see what he is doing. The same is true for us today, we must be ready and watchful, and prepared to see what the Father is doing, remain faithful to him, and do what he has placed in our hearts to do. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Happy New Year! It’s that time of year when we look ahead and dream about the life we long to have in the year ahead, and think about what God might have for us, and what he might be calling us to. To help us with that, we will be returning this morning to Luke’s Gospel, where we find Jesus speaking to us about watchfulness, and preparedness. It is a challenging passage, for those of us who what to take him seriously and follow him. It is a wonderful opportunity to set our priorities for the new year ahead, and plan to invest in our relationship with him, and the things he has asked us to do and given us responsibility for in this world. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Happy Christmas! This morning we will be exploring what Christmas and the life of Jesus teaches us about humility. Humility is all over the Christmas story, and is key to encountering and knowing, loving, and serving God for a lifetime. The Christmas story shows us that Jesus comes humbly, and if we are honest, it is easy to miss him or even dismiss him. Today, even as we celebrate Christmas and all its joys, let us receive his invitation to come to him this Christmas, and receive his peace and mercy, salvation and hope. This message was given by Andy Smith.

Anxiety and worry are huge issues in our culture today, and always seem to increase around Christmas. Today we continue with our sermon series from the Gospel of Luke, and hear Jesus speak to us about worry, what we treasure, and his kingdom. This Advent is a time for expectation, and examining our lives as we prepare for the coming of Jesus, and gives us an opportunity to learn to receive his peace and presence and begin to live in his kingdom. This message was given by Andy Smith.

Good Morning! Today we continue with Luke’s Gospel, and find ourselves in chapter 12:13-21. In this passage Jesus is interrupted by a man who is in dispute about his inheritance, and who is also in bondage to greed. Jesus responds with a warning and parable about what happens when we live in a posture of lack and feel we have to fend for ourselves and turn to greed. He invites us to lean into a worldview of abundance, where we steward the life and possessions we have been given by God. As we are approaching the season of Advent approaches, Jesus is inviting us to expect his coming, and to evaluate our lives in light of that. This week is a wonderful opportunity to consider our lives, and what we are looking to for hope, and where we are putting our faith and trust. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Good Morning! Today we are continuing with our series on Luke’s Gospel. In Luke 12:1-12 we find Jesus warning his disciples about hypocrisy, persecution, and the seriousness of following him in faithfulness and fidelity. He also reminds them of the Father’s tender care for them, and that they may passionately live for Jesus without fear. It is a passage that we as his present day friends and disciples need to hear and embrace. Let’s let the words of Jesus challenge and renew our faith and life in him. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Today we continue to journey through Luke’s Gospel. We will be in 11:37-54, where we find Jesus at a meal at the home of a religious leader. The meal quickly becomes awkward when Jesus is criticized and questioned. He responds by pronouncing six “woes” upon the religious leaders. They all centre around the prioritization outward appearance and performance above the practice of receiving and abiding and sharing the love of God. Jesus really cuts to the heart of why we do things: Are they a response to his love and mercy for us, or are we trying to perform for God and others, so that we are accepted and loved? Jesus is inviting us all to live in his love and presence, and then as a response radiate that around us. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Luke 11:29-36 This sermon was given by Cathay Burnside.

Seán is the lead pastor at Dublin Vineyard church together with his wife Debbie. In 1993, they set out, together with a small group, with a vision to partner with God to build a vibrant church that would make a difference in people’s lives and in Dublin. Together, with the leadership team, they provide direction and oversight to the church. Seán and Debbie are energised by seeing more and more people experience a life-changing friendship with Jesus and seeing more vibrant church communities started across Ireland. They have been married 23 years and are the proud parents of three great young people.

Welcome home….today we are continuing with our sermon series on the Gospel of Luke. In chapter 11:14-28 we see Jesus confronting the works of the enemy, and teaching his disciples authority in the Kingdom of God. It’s also a passage that confronts those of us who are trying to live in the kingdom and follow Jesus. We can learn from him how to carry authority and resist the enemy’s influence in our lives and world. This sermon was given by Harmony Smith.

Today we are back in Luke’s Gospel, continuing to focus in on Jesus words to us specifically about prayer. Jesus has given his followers a prayer to pray, and now he explains the posture of prayer he wants us to have. He invites them to come to God as a loving Father, who will give good things to his children. He tells them to come boldly, expecting good things, and he teaches them about persistence in prayer. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

David and his wife Anita are the National Directors for the Vineyard in Canada.

Welcome to the Vineyard, we are so glad you are here. Today we are continuing with our sermon series on the Gospel of Luke, looking at the life of Jesus and what he might have to say to us. We are at the start of chapter 11, where Jesus teaches his friends how to pray. Over the next few Sundays we will be focusing in on prayer, learning from Jesus how to pray. Last week we worked through the first half of the Lord’s Prayer, and began to see how this prayer unites us as a community, roots us firmly in the Kingdom of God, and helps us grow our prayer life as we use it as a framework for regular prayer. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Welcome to the Vineyard, we are so glad you are here. Today we are continuing with our sermon series on the Gospel of Luke, looking at the life of Jesus and what he might have to say to us. We are at the start of chapter 11, where Jesus teaches his friends how to pray. Over the next few Sundays we will be focusing in on prayer, learning from Jesus how to pray. Many of us wrestle with prayer; not sure if we are doing it right or enough, or where to even begin. Let’s use this opportunity to grow as a community in our prayer lives and learn together from Jesus. This sermon was given by Andy Smith.

Welcome to the Vineyard. We are continuing with our sermon series on the Gospel of Luke. Today we are in Luke 10:38-42. It is a famous passage involving a row between two sisters. Jesus intervenes, and shows those who want to follow him what our first priority is. However, he blesses both sisters to be who they were created to be. Neither is rejected. He does the same for each of us, he invites us to know and love him first, while blessing and affirming our personalities gifts, and loves.

When Jesus wanted to communicate the values of the new way of living in his kingdom, he often told stories, or parables. These stories don’t just illustrate what living under the rule and reign of his kingdom is like, they were also invitations to begin to do it, now. Last week we looked at the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, and we saw that Jesus invites us to show mercy to anyone in need. Today we will continue to look at this story and wrestle with who our neighbour is, and how we as a church community can be a neighbour to our entire city. This message was given by Andy Smith and Alan Carson.