Vintage Grace's Podcast

JESUS: Jesus shows compassion toward groups of people that don't fit our preconceived notions.MATTHEW: Jesus's mission is not just for Jewish people but for Gentiles as well.US: Learning to love, look, and lead while we follow Jesus' ways and his words.

We are officially on the down hill slope of our camping trip with Jesus, and with that the temperature is rising not just of resistance to the King but also someacceptance too!Meta: FAITH is the common denominator and the need for ALL of humanity to see, receive and believe.Micro: The Canaanite women, much like the Roman centurion, is Matthew's way of helping us see the mission of Jesus was not just for all of Israel but also for her oldest enemies too!

Chase down your questions, receive His presence, and become a son or daughter of the King

Our enjoying Jesus' kingdom is not earned by merit, it is enjoyed by those who accept Jesus' gracious invitation knowing full well that none of us deserve it.

Jesus exposes that our deepest problem isn't what we do, but who we are-and our only hope is a transformed heart through Him.

Have I made my way of following Jesus the standard?Have I adjusted God's word to fit my spirituality?Has my pattern of spirituality replaced my devotion to God?

Jesus allows storms in our lives to reveal who He is and to deepen and strengthen our faith by drawing our attention to Himself.

Jesus is the compassionate messiah who satisfies the deepest needs of His people.

God's story from the beginning is about His Glory, His Kingdom come & will be done. His will for us to be personally in a relationship with Him, by grace, & corporately a reflection of Him to the world by grace. So today, on our 12th birthday, we receive grace not just as the gift it is, but so that we'd be a conduit of it as we send you & others. Today we get to praise Him for the past & be part of multiplying gospel partners into the future. God's faithfulness to us & through us!

1. What we learn from Herod - Don't ignore the truth of God's word.2. What we learn from Herod and Herodias - Evil begets more evil.3. What we learn from John The Baptist - Faithfulness combats compromise.

Jesus doesn't need to become more real- our eyes need to become more open. Jesus was not rejected because He was unknown. He was rejected because he was too known.

The Kingdom is worth joyfully giving EVERYTHING for. Those who find it will have present & eternal JOY.Those who don’t find it will be lost forever. Those who have found it get to invite others to come & see & receive an invitation into the Kingdom.

Jesus is taking small things that we think are insignificant in our empire-thinking; and using them to expand His Kingdom-Come!May we see, receive & reflect this Kingdom to all of those around us, recognizing that ordinary things in the hands of God lead to extraordinary results.

Everyone has asked this question: Why is evil allowed to exist alongside good, and what is God doing about it?Jesus tells a parable to help his disciples catch a glimpse of God's plan and to strengthen their faith.

In God's sovereignty He has called us to not only follow Him as sons, but also to go & sow as a 'Sent One'. Our mission is simple: faithfully follow, faithfully sow, everywhere we go. In God's Kingdom ordinary obedience yields extraordinary fruit - immeasurably more!

The Kingdom requires eyes to see & a heart full of desire. Only the people who want it will find it.

Acknowledge: our need for Peace; we are all desperate & dependentAccept: His gift of mercy, grace & peaceBe Aware: Peace is having His perspective of the final score & also part of His family

James wants more for his brothers… He doesn't want us to miss out on the person of Jesus: the greatest gift offered to us at Christmas. More than even FOMO, he wants us to have MORE JOY which happens when we humbly reorient our desires in the pathway to God’s Grace.

Faith is 1st & foremost a GIFT. Faith is useless without action, because it is dead.If faith has been received & experienced, then it is inevitably expressed & acted on.The question today is, have we received the gift of faith, & do our actions show this; so the world might see Jesus in us and through us!

God gives us the gift of wisdom which helps us see trials (& all of life) from His perspective.Trials can actually deepen our JOY in Jesus, give us a fuller experience with Abba & the family of God; & create a massive opportunity for others to see the JOYof Jesus offered to them!