Much of what John Wimber taught seems now to have been way ahead of it’s time. However, his teachings are the basis of many of the accepted practices and principals within the church of today. Listen to the following clips from some of John’s lectures dating back to the 1980’s.

WAITING ON GOD and THE KINGDOM OF GOD

DEMONSTRATING WAITING FOR GOD’S LEADING & PRAYING FOR THE SICK  

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY

I’M A FOOL FOR JESUS, WHOSE FOOL ARE YOU?


THE FIRST STAGE OF BECOMING A DISCIPLE IS SEEING JESUS

The V is a part of The Association of Vineyard Churches. The Vineyard story is about ordinary people who worship and serve an extraordinary God. The Vineyard is simply one thread in the rich tapestry of the historic and global Church of Jesus Christ. But it is a thread of God’s weaving.

From the beginning, Vineyard pastors and leaders have sought to hold in tension the biblical doctrines of the Christian faith with an ardent pursuit of the present day work of the Spirit of God. Maintaining that balance is never easy in the midst of rapid growth and renewal.

John Wimber was a founding leader of the Vineyard. His influence profoundly shaped the theology and practice of Vineyard churches from their earliest days until his death in November 1997. When John was conscripted by God he was, in the words of Christianity Today, a “beer-guzzling, drug-abusing pop musician, who was converted at the age of 29 while chain-smoking his way through a Quaker-led Bible study” (Christianity Today, editorial, Feb. 9 1998).

In John’s first decade as a Christian he led hundreds of people to Christ. By 1970 he was leading 11 Bible studies that involved more than 500 people. Under God’s grace, John became so fruitful as an evangelical pastor he was asked to lead the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth. He also later became an adjunct instructor at Fuller Theological Seminary where his classes set attendance records. In 1977, John reentered pastoral ministry to plant Calvary Chapel of Yorba Linda.

Throughout this time, John’s conservative evangelical paradigm for understanding the ministry of the church began to grow. George Eldon Ladd’s theological writings on the kingdom of God convinced John intellectually that the all the biblical gifts of the Holy Spirit should be active in the church. Encounters with Fuller missiologists Donald McGavaran and C. Peter Wagner and seasoned missionaries and international students gave him credible evidence for combining evangelism with healing and prophecy. As he became more convinced of God’s desire to be active in the world through all the biblical gifts of the Spirit, John began to teach and train his church to imitate Jesus’ full-orbed kingdom ministry. He began to ‘do the stuff’ of the Bible that he had formerly only read about.

As John and his congregation sought God in intimate worship they experienced empowerment by the Holy Spirit, significant renewal in the gifts and conversion growth. It became clear that the church’s emphasis on the experience of the Holy Spirit was not shared by some leaders in the Calvary Chapel movement. In 1982, John’s church left Calvary Chapel and joined a small group of Vineyard churches. Vineyard was a name chosen by Kenn Gulliksen, a prolific church planter affiliated with Calvary Chapel, for a church he planted in Los Angeles in 1974. Pastors and leaders from the handful of Vineyard churches began looking to John for direction. And the Vineyard movement was born.

Twenty-five years later, there are more than 1,500 Vineyard churches worldwide, an international church planting movement, a publishing house and a music production company. Vineyard worship songs have helped thousands of churches experience intimacy with God. Many churches have been equipped to continue Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming the kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons and training disciples.

The Vineyard’s journey has not been a straight path. It winds through many trials and triumphs. If interested in more, we recommend Bill Jackson’s book, “The Quest for the Radical Middle.” This readable history explores the events, issues and people who shaped the Vineyard in its first two decades.   We have selected some of our favorite books, music, and videos to enrich your Christian life and made them available through our Amazon.com bookstore. A portion of all sales through this site support our ministry. Please visit our bookstore at http://astore.amazon.com/thvca-20. Thank you.

OUR VALUES

1. We value THE PURSUIT OF GOD. We are hungry to know God’s presence, hear His voice and follow hard after Him.¹⁶⁷
2. We value CHRISTLIKENESS. We desire that through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus’ love, mercy, grace, truth, purity, power, and integrity would shine through all that we are and do.sup>168
3. We value BEING SPIRIT-LED. We honor Jesus as our Head and the Holy Spirit as our Counselor and the Administrator of our churches. We seek to be actively responsive to the Holy Spirit’s daily leading of our personal lives and ministries and of the local church.¹⁶⁹
4. We value PRAYER. We believe that prayer is essential, because it is our primary means of communion with God, and because of our personal lives and ministries and of the local church.¹⁷⁰
5. We value DISCIPLESHIP. Our intent is to teach all believers to believe Jesus’ words, obey His commands and do His works. We aim first to grow as disciples of Christ ourselves and then to make disciples of others.¹⁷¹
6. We value THE KINGDOM OF GOD. We aim to move in the signs of the present fulfillment of the kingdom, invoking the Spirit’s powerful presence, ministering through the Spirit’s gifts, and seeing God heal and work wonders.¹⁷²
7. We value the MERCY OF GOD. We believe that mercy is fundamental to all that God does in salvation. We, therefore, aim to extend mercy to one another and to all to whom we minister.¹⁷³
8. We value INTEGRITY. It is important for us to speak the truth, deal honestly, and live uprightly.¹⁷⁴
9. We value SERVANT LEADERSHIP. We believe that Christ has put significant leadership authority in the hands of the pastor and associates. We aim to exercise that authority with humility, selflessness, grace, care for the sheep, and a sincere desire to build up the Body of Christ.¹⁷⁵
10. We value THE INDIVIDUAL, single or married, and we want to enable and support mature relationships and family growth.¹⁷⁶
11. We value UNITY. We are convinced that all who belong to Christ are one in His Body, the Church. We aim to maintain unity by honoring all who call on Jesus’ name and by seeking reconciliation with all parts of the Church.¹⁷⁷
12. We value COLLEGIATE RELATIONSHIPS. We are honored by every person whom God adds to the Vineyard. We aim to work together to build the Church through maintaining mutual respect, open communication, determined cooperation, and believing and speaking the best about each other.¹⁷⁸
13. We value REALITY. We aim to walk in the Spirit and see real supernatural works of God. We aim also to function on the natural plan based on God’s leading in conjunction with excellent, relational thinking.¹⁷⁹
14. We value SIMPLICITY. We wish to do nothing for “religious effect” but rather to operate in natural low-key, non-hype patterns. We desire to do the ministry of Christ with joy.¹⁸⁰
15. We value being CULTURE CURRENT. We aim to develop an atmosphere of ease, and to speak, act, and dress in ways in which our culture can respond positively. For example, we reflect this value through worship music that is of a popular style.¹⁸¹

References

¹⁶⁷ Psalm 63:1-3: O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

¹⁶⁸ Ephesians 5:2: and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

¹⁶⁹ Galatians 5:5: But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. Romans 8:14: because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

¹⁷⁰ 1 Thessolonians 5:16-18: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

¹⁷¹ Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

¹⁷² Mark 1:14, 15: After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

¹⁷³ Colossians 3:12, 13: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

¹⁷⁴ Ephesians 4:15: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

¹⁷⁵ Mark 10:37, 44-45: They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

¹⁷⁶ Romans 12:9, 10: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

¹⁷⁷ John 17:21-23: that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

¹⁷⁸ I Corinthians 13:4-7: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

¹⁷⁹ James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

¹⁸⁰ Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

¹⁸¹ I Corinthians 9:19-23: Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

OUR BELIEFS

1. God the King and the Holy Trinity
   

   WE BELIEVE that God is the Eternal¹ King². He is an infinite,³ unchangeable⁴ Spirit,⁵ perfect⁶ in holiness,⁷ wisdom,⁸ goodness,⁹ justice,¹⁰ power¹¹ and love.¹² From all eternity¹³ He exists as the One¹⁴ Living¹⁵ and True¹⁶ God in three persons¹⁷ of one substance,¹⁸ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,¹⁹ equal in power and glory.²⁰

¹ Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 1:20; ² Psalm 95:3; Isaiah 43:15; ³ Psalm 147:5; Job 11:7-9; ⁴ James 1:17; ⁵ John 4:24; ⁶ Matthew 5:48; ⁷ Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 115-16; ⁸ Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 28:29;⁹ Exodus 33:19; Psalm 63:2; Psalm 31:19; ¹⁰ Psalm 33:5; Psalm 89:14; Isaiah 30:18; ¹¹ Exodus 15:6; ¹² 1 John 4:8; ¹³ Isaiah 43:13; ¹⁴ Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4; ¹⁵ Psalm 42:2; Psalm 84:2; ¹⁶ Jerimiah 10:10; ¹⁷ John 1:18; John 10:30; John 14:9; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; ¹⁸ John 1:1; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:17; ¹⁹ Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4; ²⁰Revelation 5:13; Ephesians 3:14-21

2. God the King: The Creator and Ruler of All Things
   

   WE BELIEVE that God’s kingdom is everlasting.²¹ From His throne,²² through His Son, His eternal Word,²³ God created,²⁴ upholds²⁵ and governs²⁶ all that exists:²⁷ the heavenly places,²⁸ the angelic hosts,²⁹ the universe,³⁰ the earth,³¹ every living thing³² and mankind.³³ God created all things very good.³⁴

²¹ Psalm 45:6; Psalm 145:13; Daniel 4:3; ²²Psalm 93:1-2; ²³John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:1-2; ²⁴Genesis 1:1; Psalm 95:3-5; ²⁵Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; ²⁶Psalm 103:19; Psalm 104:24-29; ²⁷Psalm 96:4-6; ²⁸Psalm 89:11; ²⁹Psalm 103:20-21; ³⁰Colossians 1:16-17; ³¹Psalm 104:5; ³²Psalm 103:22; ³³Psalm 22:28; Psalm 47:8; ³⁴Genesis 1:31

3. Counterfeit Kingdom: Satan and Demonic Hosts

   WE BELIEVE that Satan, originally a great, good angel, rebelled against God, taking a host of angels with him.³⁵ He was cast out of God’s presence and, as a usurper of God’s rule, established a counter-kingdom of darkness³⁶ and evil on the earth.³⁷

³⁵Revelation 12:7-9; ³⁶ 2 Corinthians 11:14; Colossians 1:13-14; Ephesians 6:12; ³⁷ Mark 3:22-26; Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 John 5:19

4. The Kingdom in the Creation of Man, the Fall and The Doctrine of Original Sin
   

   WE BELIEVE that God created mankind in His own image, male and female,38 for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth.39 Under the temptation of Satan,40 our original parents fell from grace,41 bringing sin,42 sickness43 and God’s judgment of death to the earth.44 Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God’s good creation.45 Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam’s original sin.46 Human beings are born in sin,47 subject to God’s judgment of death48 and captive to Satan’s kingdom of darkness.49

38Genesis 1:26-27; 39Genesis 1:26; 40Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9; 41Genesis 3:8; Romans 1:21; Romans 5:16; 42Romans 5:12; 43John 5:14; 441 Corinthians 15:22; 45John 8:44; 1 John 5:19; 46Romans 8:20-23; 47Psalm 51:5; 48Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 2:5; Romans 2:12; Hebrews 9:27; 49Galatians 1:3-5; Galatians 4:8-9; Colossians 1:13

5. God’s Providence, Kingdom Law and Covenants
   

   WE BELIEVE that God did not abandon His rule over the earth50 which He continues to uphold by His providence.51 In order to bring redemption, God established covenants52 which revealed His grace to sinful people.53 In the covenant with Abraham, God bound Himself to His people Israel, promising to deliver them from bondage to sin and Satan and to bless all the nations through them.54

   50Psalm 24:1; Psalm 96:10; 51Isaiah 40:22; Hebrews 1:3; 52Romans 9:4; 53Ephesians 2:12; 54Genesis 17:3-8; Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:4-6; Romans 4:3-5; Romans 4:16; Romans 4:20- 25; Galatians 3:6-9; Galatians 3:13-14

   WE BELIEVE that as King, God later redeemed His people by His mighty acts from bondage in Egypt55 and established His covenant through Moses, revealing His perfect will and our obligation to fulfill it.56 The law’s purpose is to order our fallen race57 and to make us conscious of our moral responsibility.58 By the work of God’s Spirit,59 it convicts us of our sin60 and God’s righteous judgment against us61 and brings us to Christ alone for salvation.62

   55Exodus 15:3-18; 56Exodus 19:3-6; Exodus 24:3-4; Exodus 24:7; Romans 8:3-4; Romans 8:12- 14; 57Deuteronomy 5:1-3; Deuteronomy 30:15-18; Galatians 3:23-25; 58Psalm 25:8-10; Romans 7:7; 59John 15:26; John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:14-17; 60Romans 7:13; Galatians 3:19; Galatians 3:21-22; 61Romans 2:1-11; 62Galatians 3:24; Philippians 3:8-9

   WE BELIEVE that when Israel rejected God’s rule over her as King,63 God established the monarchy in Israel64 and made an unconditional covenant with David,65 promising that his heir would restore God’s kingdom reign over His people as Messiah forever.66

   631 Samuel 8:6-8; 641 Samuel 8:21-22; 1 Samuel 9:15-16; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 10:24; 652 Samuel 7:11b-16; Psalm 89:34-37; 66Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 34:23

6. Christ the Mediator and Eternal King
   

   WE BELIEVE that in the fullness of time,67 God honored His covenants with Israel and His prophetic promises of salvation68 by sending His Son,69 Jesus, into the world.70 Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary,71 as fully God and fully man in one person,72 He is humanity as God intended us to be.73 Jesus was anointed as God’s Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit,74 inaugurating God’s kingdom reign on earth,75 overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation,76 preaching the good news of salvation,77 healing the sick,78 casting out demons79 and raising the dead.80 Gathering His disciples,81 He reconstituted God’s people82 as His Church83 to be the instrument of His kingdom.84 After dying for the sins of the world,85 Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day,86 fulfilling the covenant of blessing given to Abraham.87 In His sinless, perfect life88 Jesus met the demands of the law89 and in His atoning death on the cross90 He took God’s judgment for sin91 which we deserve as law-breakers.92 By His death on the cross He also disarmed the demonic powers.93 The covenant with David was fulfilled in Jesus’ birth from David’s house,94 His Messianic ministry,95 His glorious resurrection from the dead,96 His ascent into heaven and His present rule at the right hand of the Father.97 As God’s Son and David’s heir,98 He is the eternal Messiah- King,99 advancing God’s reign throughout every generation and throughout the whole earth today.100

67Mark 1:15; Galatians 4:4; 68Romans 1:2-4; 69John 1:14; 70John 1:17-18; 71Luke 1:30-35, 72John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-7; 73Romans 5:19; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:29; 74Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:16-21; 75Mark 1:14-15; Luke 11:20; Luke 17:20-21; 76Luke 4:1-13; 77Luke 4:43; 78Luke 4:40; 79Luke 4:41; 80Luke 7:14-17; 81Mark 1:16-17; 82Mark 3:13-15; 83Matthew 16:18; 84Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:1-17; 85John 1:29; John 6:51; John 4:9-10; 86Mark 8:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 87Galatians 3:13-14; 88Acts 3:14-15; Hebrews 4:15; 89Romans 5:18-19; 901 Peter 2:24; 91Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 92Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32; Romans 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 93Colossians 2:13-15; 94Matthew 1:1; 95Luke 1:68-72; Luke 2:10-11; Matthew 9:27; 96Acts 2:24-28; 97Acts 2:29-36; 98Romans 1:1-4; 99Hebrews 1:1-3; 1001 Corinthians 15:24-26; Ephesians 1:19-23; Revelation 5:5

7. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
   

   WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church at Pentecost in power,101 baptizing believers into the Body of Christ102 and releasing the gifts of the Spirit to them.103 The Spirit brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us104 for spiritual worship,105 personal sanctification,106 building up the Church,107 gifting us for ministry,108 and driving back the kingdom of Satan by the evangelization of the world109 through proclaiming the word of Jesus110 and doing the works of Jesus.111

   101Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; 1021 Corinthians 12:13; 1031 Corinthians 12:4-7; 104John 14:16-17; 105Romans 12:1; Ephesians 5:18-20; 106Romans 8:3-4; 1071 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 108Romans 12:4-6; 109Luke 11:20; 1 John 3:8b; 110Ephesians 6:10-20; 111John 14:12-13; Romans 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:20

   WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ112 and that He is our abiding Helper,113 Teacher,114 and Guide.115 We believe in the filling or the empowering of the Holy Spirit,116 often a conscious experience,117 for ministry today.118 We believe in the present ministry of the Spirit119 and in the exercise of all of the biblical gifts of the Spirit.120 We practice the laying on of hands for the empowering of the Spirit,121 for healing,122 and for recognition and empowering of those whom God has ordained to lead and serve the Church.123

112Romans 8:9-10; 113John 16:7; 114John 14:26; 115John 16:13-15; Romans 8:14; 116Luke 24:49; Acts 4:31; 117Acts 8:18-19; Acts 19:1-2; 1181Corinthians 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 6:4-7; 119Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:15-17; 1201 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1Thessalonians 5:19-21; 121Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:6; 122Mark 1:41; Luke 6:18b-19; Mark 16:18; 123Acts 13:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6

8. The Sufficiency of Scripture
   

   WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of Holy Scripture124 so that the Bible is without error125 in the original manuscripts. We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments126 as our final, absolute authority, the only infallible rule of faith127 and practice.128

1242 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; John 14:26; 125Psalm 19:7-9; Psalm 119:30; Psalm 119:43; Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:17-18; John 3:34; John 10:35; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 22:6; 126Luke 24:44; 2 Peter 3:15-16; Revelation 22:18-19; 127Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; 128Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24; Luke 1:38; James 1:22-25

9. The Power of the Gospel Over the Kingdom of Darkness
   

   WE BELIEVE that the whole world is under the domination of Satan129 and that all people are sinners by nature130 and choice.131 All people therefore are under God’s just judgment.132 Through the preaching of the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of God133 and the work of the Holy Spirit,134 God regenerates,135 justifies,136 adopts137 and sanctifies138 through Jesus by the Spirit139 all who repent of their sins140 and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord141 and Saviour.142 By this they are released from Satan’s domain and enter into God’s kingdom reign.143

129Luke 4:5-7; 1 John 5:19; 1301 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:1-3; 131Romans 1:21-23; Romans 1:32; 132Romans 1:18; Romans 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 5:6; 133Mark 1:14-15; Acts 8:12; Acts 28:31; Ephesians 5:5; 134John 16:7-11; 135John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:23; 136Romans 5:1-2; Romans 5:9; 137Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; 138Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 13:12; 1391 Peter 1:1-2; 140Acts 2:38; 141Romans 10:9; 1421 John 4:13-15; 143Colossians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:20

10. The Church: Instrument of the Kingdom
    

    WE BELIEVE in the one,144 holy,145 universal Church.146 All who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit147 and form the living Body of Christ,148 of which He is the head149 and of which we are all members.150

144John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:3-6; 1451 Corinthians 3:16-17; 146Matthew 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 2:18-19; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 147Titus 3:4-7; 148Romans 12:4-5; 149Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; 1501 Corinthians 12:27

11. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
    

    WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism151 and the Lord’s Supper.152 Both are available to all believers.

151Matthew 28:19-20; 1521 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:23-26

12. The Kingdom of God and the Final Judgment
    

    WE BELIEVE that God’s kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ,153 that it continues to come in the ministry of the Spirit through the Church,154 and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible and triumphant appearing of Christ155 - His return to the earth as King.156 After Christ returns to reign,157 He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his minions and works,158 the resurrection of the dead,159 the final judgment160 and the eternal blessing of the righteous and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.161 Finally, God will be all in all162 and His kingdom, His rule and reign,163 will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth,164 recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells165 and in which He will forever be worshipped.166

153Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 12:28; 154Matthew 6:10; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:11; John 15:26-27; Romans 14:17-18; 155Mark13:26; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 156Revelation 19:11-16; 157Matthew 25:31-32; 1 Corinthians 15:23-25; 158Revelation 20:10; 1591 Corinthians 15:51-52; 160John 5:28-30; Revelation 20:11-15; 161Matthew 25:31-46; 1621 Corinthians 15:24-28; 1631 Timothy 6:13-16; 1642 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:5; 165Revelation 21:27; 1661 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 7:9-12

OUR VISION is to see the Church return to its roots expressed through the first century Christians. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47) We want to be authentic Christians who, although we may not be perfect, are striving to become more like Christ with each passing day. We want to be followers of Christ who love Him with all our heart, mind and strength and who have an authentic love for one another. It is our vision to see the Kingdom of God come to earth. Our constant prayer is ‘Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ We believe that this is the message that Jesus desires for the entire world to hear and respond to.

FOR MORE ON OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACHES VISIT www.jesustothestreets.org

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Every year 15 million children die of hunger
In 2004, almost 1 billion people lived below the international poverty line, earning less than $1 per day|
3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on US$2/day or less. 
One out of every eight children under the age of twelve in the U.S. goes to bed hungry every night.
Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger          
Approx 39.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the world. 63 percent live in Sub-Saharan Africa
In 2006, 4.3 million people become infected with HIV and 2.9 million people died of AIDS

“At last count, more than 1,300 people were homeless in Knoxville. While many of those people spend their nights in shelters, others choose public spaces like under bridges and overpasses… There are several bridges known as hot spots for homeless camps. The new Summit Hill bridge, the overpasses created by I-40 and a bridge along Broadway by Jackson Avenue are just a few.” (Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 17, 2007)

WE ARE TO BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS TO THE POOR, THE OUTCAST AND THE OVERLOOKED ONES. We try to accomplish this through various means. Not as another social program, but as a caring, loving community for all, regardless of race, religion, economic status or any other condition.

FOR MORE ON OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACHES VISIT www.jesustothestreets.org

The V Cafe

A place of community for the community. You can join us on any given Friday night at The V Cafe and you will see us having a great time of fellowship, food, and sometimes just plain fun. Every Friday night there are concerts and performances by local groups and artists. There are all styles of music, so check our calendar for more details. Or take part in one of our monthly Open Mic Night.s. You can gather in our .living room. and join with others in one of the many board games or just sit on the couches and enjoy some good conversation. And the cafe bar will be open with refreshments. Our other plans include nights of family movies, special worship events, television sports nights and more. We also have free wireless internet access throughout the cafe area.

Check our calendar for times and events!

For More Information About The V Cafe’, Visit http://thevcafe.org/ or One Of The Following

For Groups and Artist: Join our artist MySpace group at www.myspace.com/thevonline

For Friends of The V Café: Join our MySpace group at www.myspace.com/thevcafe

For A Schedule of Events at The V Café visit www.upcoming.org/venue/38382

ABOUT OUR SERVICES

Our gatherings are a reflection of our uniqueness. Although we seek to be relevant, we are unwilling to pattern the ministry after tradition or contemporary trends. We simply want to be among those of whom Jesus spoke as He encountered the woman at the well. He said to her, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:22-25

Our worship must be in the Holy Spirit rather than originating from the preferences and patterns of man. This is possible as we each come to the house of God personally and spiritually prepared. We then allow Him to lead by the Holy Spirit.

Our worship must always be consistent with the Truth of God’s Word. He always leads consistent with His written and inspired Word. Here are some things that may be part of our worship as the Holy Spirit has His way.

• Lifting hands
  • Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Ps 63:3-4
  • Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. Ps 134:2
• Audible praise
  • Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Ps 103:1
  • I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Ps 34:1-3
• Clapping hands
  • Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Ps 47:1
• Singing scripture, spiritual songs, as well as hymns
  • …be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Eph 5:18-19
  • Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16
• Anointing with oil…
  • …call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Ja 5:14-15
• Dancing before the Lord
  • Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. Ps. 149:3
  • …praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, Ps. 150:4
• Agreement in prayer
  • So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord Acts 4:23-24
  • Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matt 18:19
• Giving of tithes and offerings
  • “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ”In what way have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. Mal 3:8
  • Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Mal 3:10
• The operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (especially prophecy)
  • Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Cor 14:1-5
• Order and reverence
  • Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Cor 14:40

Why we say please obey the Holy Spirit

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 1 Cor 14:26-27

We believe the Holy Spirit has a plan and design for every gathering. Jesus is the Head of the Body and when we come together we must get our direction from Him. As the scripture above indicates, we need to come together prepared to contribute and do so as the Holy Spirit leads. It is essential that we make no requirements or have no expectations other than to desire only Gods will.

Freedom to obey the Holy Spirit is not the same as a freedom to express self. There are many good and creative thoughts and possibilities but only that which is prompted by the Holy Spirit should become part of the public worship experience. The Bible tells us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered in her heart the many things that she could have shared. (Luke 2:19) Most things need to be treasured in our hearts but there are specific prayers, testimonies, songs, exhortations, and praise that the Holy Spirit ordains for everyones edification. A key to remaining in the Holy Spirit is submission. God has appointed a spiritual overseer along with other elders and pastors to help the congregation know how God is leading.

COME AND JOIN US NEXT SATURDAY EVENING!

Home Churches

This is a bit like asking, What is a family? There are no two that are exactly alike. House churches come in all sizes and shapes. A house church can be six people, or it can be forty. It can be made up of young families, grandparents, college students or a collection of everybody.

The essence of what makes a gathering of people a house church is about their vision and commitment to doing life together. A house church is a place for people to know and be known, to love and be loved. It is not a collection of perfect people who have life all figured out. A house church is for those of us who still need to grow, who need a place to ask questions and who need others to help us when we mess things up.

A house church is a place to learn together what it means to follow Christ. It.s a place to study the Scriptures together, to figure out together what it means to love our neighbors and care for the poor. A house church is a group of people that work together on figuring out what it means to carry each other’s burdens, confess sins to one another, and perhaps even share possessions. It’s a place to eat, play and rest.

A lot of people ask How often should house churches meet? Again, there is no formula for this. A house church meeting could just be a set time to study, pray and fellowship, it could be at a cafe or on a college campus. It could be painting someone’s house or watching a movie together. The healthiest communities find a rhythm that incorporates the realities of our complicated lives with the commitment to being true followers of Jesus together. A house church is not utopia, in fact, they tend to be a bit messy. No one has yet figured out how to do it all perfectly. The beauty of a house church is that as we do the journey together, we find the community that we long for, even when it’s not perfect.

So, what is a house church? You tell us. We can’t wait to hear the stories.

About Our Home Churches

Close fellowship with like-minded believers is an important part of Christian life. For this reason, we emphasize the importance of our Home Churches. Our home churches are each different and meet the needs of different people, but are all modeled after the churches illustrated in the New Testament. Home churches provide many opportunities that are not necessarily available in a corporate settings. Members are able to share their lives, interact, worship and pray together. A house church is a place for people to know and be known, to love and be loved. It is not a collection of perfect people who have life all figured out. A house church is for those of us who still need to grow, who need a place to ask questions and who need others to help us when we mess things up. Everyone is welcome in our home churches, even if you’ve never been to one of our gatherings. Currently our home churches have taken off for the summer. We are doing outreach events together until September, at which time we will begin meeting again. Please see our calendar to find our next home church.

About Our Saturday Gatherings

Our Saturday Gatherings give our home churches an opportunity to worship and learn together. By having our gatherings on Saturday nights, we are able to welcome members of other churches to worship and fellowship with us. The gatherings usually consist of a time of worship, a message from one of our pastors or guests, and a time to fellowship together. Our gatherings take place every Saturday at 6pm.

The V Cafe

The V Cafe is our open-door policy at the church building. We open our doors to musical groups, book and discussion groups, drama teams, and anyone else who wishes to gather in fellowship. We have a stage, a snack area, couches, tables, and a game room. We are still forming our schedule of upcoming events. If you’d like more information about scheduling an event at The V Cafe, please contact thevcafe@thevonline.org.

Don’t Go To Church…Be The Church!

The V is a community of Christian believers. We believe church is more than a building, it’s a community. Worship is more than music, it’s a way of life. Service is not a gathering of people, it’s people helping others. Are you tired of church as usual? We are! We are a group of believers whose mission in life is to 1) Love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, mind, and strength, 2) Love our neighbors as ourselves, and 3) Go into all the world and make disciples. We seek to truly know Christ through His Word, worship, prayer, and meditation, desiring to be like Him in all ways. We desire to show the world who Christ is. We strive for unity within the entire body of Christ. Members of other churches and denominations are always welcome in our gatherings. We want to be known for our likeness to Christ, not for our programs, plans, or size. We have seen too many others abandon the Church because of politics and legalism and wish to help them reconnect with a group of believers. If you’re tired of just attending religious meetings, we hope you will join us for one of our gatherings.

See what the Knoxville News Sentinel has to say about the V in their recent news article.