Vineyard Covington

Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God, AND to love our neighbor as ourselves. If it's a priority for the amazing life Jesus has for us, then it's worth examining and practicing together. We can easily become numb to this idea and metaphorically try to "love" everyone. But what if we took this commandment literally and started being intentional to love the people who live right next to us? It's a lot easier to love someone when you know their name. THIS WEEK: Start learning the names of the people who live right next to you. Figure out a simple way to introduce yourself, and then write them down so you don't forget.

God runs things differently. He chooses the weak and the vulnerable to advance His Kingdom here on earth. He uses praise to silence enemies. We are all God's children, we're all invited into the awe and wonder of this adventurous life, and we can all be empowered to share this good news with others!

Jesus invites us all to a life of transformation. Everyone is welcome at the table, but coming to the table changes us. Spending time with Jesus, being part of his family, and putting his way of life into practice produces the fruit of love in our lives. The point of the story is character transformation. Come as you are, but don’t stay as you are. There's so much more. How are you responding to the invitation of Jesus in your life?

Everything I have is yours. How would our lives look different if we fully aware of all the Father has placed at our disposal in order to bring the Kingdom of God to others? Shoutout to Dana Cochran, a Vineyard Cincinnati original for sharing with us!

We believe the church should be a force of racial reconciliation in the world. Not seeking to justify our rights, freedoms, and privilege, but giving those things up to achieve peace. Because we can easily slip into a place where we let the world and our culture set the agenda rather than letting the Kingdom be its own distinct witness, one way to live this out is to listen culturally and respond spiritually and biblically. What does that look like?

The Kingdom of God is another realm with different values and priorities than this world. So how do we enter that kingdom? Shoutout to @wilson_cochrane_ for sharing with us!

Jesus invites the ones who don't normally get invited, the ones on the margins who can't reciprocate because there is a place for everyone at the table. And there's still more room! How can you say yes to Jesus' invitation and partner with him to invite others around you?  So great to have @mellywinder share with us from Chattanooga, TN!

It’s like a treasure hidden in a field… A merchant in search of fine pearls… The Kingdom of God could take us by surprise or it could be found through careful searching, but the good news is that the treasure is available to everyone for the same price: everything you have. What do these stories spark in your mind and heart right now? Get with a friend or two and engage your imagination as you read these quick parables in Matthew 13:44-46. Big thanks to Ray Hollenbach @rayhbach for sharing with us from Campbellsville!

The kingdom of restoring love that Jesus came to bring is at war with the kingdom of darkness. Now, everyone who follows Jesus gets to play in continuing that expansive mission of healing and freedom that Jesus started until he returns again. Conditions right now are perfect for lightning to strike which keeps us aggressive, because at any moment the Kingdom could break in with power, healing and deliverance.

Jesus taught his followers to pray for his kingdom to come, to seek his kingdom first, and as we go doing the stuff he did to proclaim his kingdom has come near. Seems like a pretty important thing we should learn about... The kingdom is God's saving rule and reign on earth as it is in heaven. It's what life is like when all things are set right and restored to the perfect way they should be. What if you could partner with the Spirit of God to experience the future breaking into our present reality with power, healing, and justice? You can because the king is at work making all things made new!