Here is the audio from Sunday's sermon entitled New Jerusalem Bride from Revelation 21:1-4 in our series Kingdom vs. Empire. Take a listen and then let us know your questions for our message on November 20.
Kingdom vs. Empire Week 4: Holy War
Here is the audio from this past Sunday's message from our series Kingdom vs. Empire entitled Holy War. Feel free to submit your own questions for our Q&A time on November 20.
Kingdom vs. Empire Week 3: The Lamb's Roar
Here is the audio from this past Sunday's sermon from our series Kingdom vs. Empire looking at the Lamb's Roar. I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, insights, and questions. And if you want to submit a question about Revelation for our November 20 Q&A send me a message and I'll add that question to our list.
Kingdom vs. Empire Week 2: Lion and the Lamb
Below is the audio from our second week of our Kingdom vs. Empire series looking at the book of Revelation. This week we tackle Revelation 5:1-10 in our message entitled Lion and the Lamb. Take a listen. Also send us your questions about the book of Revelation and during our last week of our series we'll spend time talking about your questions and seeking to answer them.
Kingdom vs. Empire Week 1: A Vision of Beauty
Here is the audio from this morning's message A Vision of Beauty during week 1 of our Kingdom vs. Empire series.
State of Veritas Week 1
Here is the audio from this past Sunday's gathering entitled State of Veritas Week 1 where I told the back story of how Veritas came to be as well as shared the dream of what I dream Veritas will become in the future. Take a listen and send me a message on how you would end the statement "I dream of a church......"
Surprise the World Week 4
This past Sunday we wrapped up our Surprise the World series looking at the last part of the BELLS rhythm of life, which is Sent.
Take a few minutes and listen to the audio from the message. If you have any questions, thoughts, etc.. that you'd like to add to the conversation, feel fee to get in touch with us.
Kingdom Vs. Empire
The book of Revelation is challenging to read and understand. Do you read it literally, symbolically, metaphorically, or some other way? Is it about the past, the present, the future, or all three? What do you do with the violent and alarming images found within the book? Do we ignore it and pretend the Bible ends with the book of Jude? Or do we spend so much time in the book trying to understand “the end of the world”?
The book of Revelation is actually a book about the Kingdom of God and Empires in conflict. It is a book about a world of beauty as we read about the self sacrificial love of Christ as he triumphs over evil, death, sin, the Satan, and hell.
Veritas will explore Revelation this Fall in the series Kingdom vs. Empire from September 25-November 20.
September 25: A Vision of Beauty Revelation 1:1-4
October 2: Lion and the Lamb: Revelation 5:1-10
October 9: The Table: Meditations, Simple Meal, Feetwashing, Communion
October 16: The Lamb’s Roar: Revelation 1:9-11
October 23: Holy War: Revelation 7:9, 14:18-20
October 30: 5th Sunday Day of Service
November 6: Jerusalem Bride: Revelation 21:1-2
November 13: End of the World as we know it. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
November 20: Kingdom vs. Empire Question and Answer
So invite some friends to join you as we explore the book of Revelation in our series Kingdom vs. Empire.
Surprise the World Week 3
This week at Veritas we explored the two L's in the BELLS Habits of Rhythm of Life. And so we did something totally different than a normal sermon. We do a group Lectio Divina. So I didn't record the message this week.
But here is the introduction of the message and then the way we did the Lecio Divina. Feel free to use this as a guide to engage in the practice of Lectio Divina yourself.
Today we continue our series inspired by the book by Michael Frost entitled Surprise the World. The book used to have the title “Five Habits of Highly Missional People” and lays out 5 habits or 5 rhythms of life that missional followers of Jesus (actually each and every follower of Jesus is missional and if they aren’t they aren’t truly a follower of Jesus) live their life by. 5 Rhythms that shape, form, guide and help us become more like Jesus in our everyday lives. These 5 Habits or Rhythm of Life that Frost lays out in Surprise the World is an acronym- BELLS.
The first habit or rhythm that Matt Wheeler helped us explore together 2 weeks ago was the habit of Blessing. The challenge in adding this rhythm of life to your life is to bless 3 peopleBlessing 3 people- 1 person from this community, 1 person who isn’t a Christian/follower of Jesus, and 1 of your choice.
Now what does it look like to bless someone each week. There can be 3 different forms of blessing. 1. Words of Affirmation. 2. Acts of Kindness. 3. Gifts. Who might God be calling you to bless this week in one of these 3 ways both within this community and outside this community?
The second habit of rhythm that we explored last week was the habit or rhythm of Eating. The challenge in this rhythm of life is to eat with 3 people this week. One from our community, one not from our community, and 1 of your choice. This can take many forms including coffee, dinner, breakfastAt home, at a restaurant, at a coffeehouse, etc..
Today we are covering the next two habits or rhythm of life, both staring with the letter L. The first one being listening. The challenge of adding this habit or rhythm of life to your life is that you would spend one period of time each week listening to and for the Spirit’s voice. Here are 4 pieces of advice as you seek to add this habit to your weekly life and schedule. 1. Set a designated time. 2. Eliminate distractions. 3. Let God in. 4. Follow God’s promptings.
The second L habit or rhythm is learning Christ and the challenge is to spend one period of time each week learning Christ. Here are 3 suggestions of ways of living out the habit or rhythm of learning Christ to your life. 1. Study the Gospels. 2. Read books about Jesus. 3. further viewing…watch some film version of the life of Jesus. (See me for a list of books and films that you can read or watch)
So today’s “sermon” is a SURPRISE…and is not a traditional message/discussion that we normally have but a corporate way of seeking to live out these two habits or rhythms of life. We will be spending this time together listening to the Spirit and learning Christ. To seek to live out these two habits of listening and learning we will use an ancient spiritual discipline entitled Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina which is latin for divine reading, is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word.
So let me run down how we will do Lectio Divina today using our text for the morning- Romans 1:1-6.
1. Lectio Divina Shared in Community
(A) Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word
(The Literal Sense)
1. One person reads aloud (twice) the passage of scripture, as others are attentive to some segment that is especially meaningful to them.
2. Silence for 1-2 minutes. Each hears and silently repeats a word or phrase that attracts.
3. Sharing aloud: [A word or phrase that has attracted each person]. A simple statement of one or a few words. No elaboration.
(B) How Christ the Word speaks to ME
(The Allegorical Sense)
4. Second reading of same passage by another person.
5. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on “Where does the content of this reading touch my life today?”
6. Sharing aloud: Briefly: “I hear, I see...”
(C) What Christ the Word Invites me to DO
(The Moral Sense)
7. Third reading by still another person.
8. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on “I believe that God wants me to . . . . . . today/this week.”
9. Sharing aloud: at somewhat greater length the results of each one's reflection. [Be especially aware of what is shared by the person to your right.]
10. After full sharing, pray for the person to your right.
Note: Anyone may “pass” at any time. If instead of sharing with the group you prefer to pray silently , simply state this aloud and conclude your silent prayer with Amen.
Surprise the World Week 2: Changing the World one meal at a time
Here is the audio from the second week of our series Surprise the World talking about the importance of the table and eating in the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Surprise the World Week 1
Here is the audio from Week 1 (August 7) of our series Surprise the World with Matt Wheeler preaching.
Art of Neighboring Week 3: Fear
This week we finished our 3 week series entitled the Art of Neighboring looking at what of the most common hinderances to loving our neighbors, that of fear. Take some time and listen to our last sermon in this series and then send us a message about how God spoke to you and what he is calling you to do in response.
Art of Neighboring Week 2: The Art of Elimination
Here is the audio from week 2 of our series The Art of Neighboring looking at the Art of Elimination. Take some time and give it a listen. I'd love to hear your thoughts, feedback, etc..
Art of Neighboring Week 1: Taking the Great Commandment Literally
So today I tried something for the first time in a long time, I recorded the message using the wonders of modern technology, my iPhone. So from now on, instead of posting the text of the message, we'll be again posting the audio of the sermons, and we will probably have a page on our website devoted to the sermon audio as well.
So take some time and listen to our first message in our Art of Neighboring Series, and leave some feedback. Thanks.
Dunker Punk Podcast
About a month and a half ago I attended the Church of the Brethren Church Planting Conference in Richmond, IN. I got to share two workshops, shared about Veritas, and spent time building relationships. I also got to sit down and record a podcast called The Dunker Punk Podcast. I have attached the audio below of the entire podcast. My part of the podcast starts around 8:30.
Hope you enjoy the podcast.