Podcast
Northwest Vineyard
Hosted by Northwest Vineyard Neighborhood Church · EN
The Northwest Vineyard is a Vineyard neighborhood church in the northwest part Denver, CO with the vision of transforming lives, transforming everything. We exist as a part of the Mile High Vineyard family of neighborhood churches.
18episodes
Episodes
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Flourishing: Power, Posture, and the Meek
4d ago00:35:47Tap to summarizeGuest speaker Emily Crider steps into the "Flourishing" series to examine the third beatitude: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Drawing from her extensive ministry work with university graduate students, Emily breaks down our modern discomfort with the word "meekness," which is often misconstrued as weakness, powerlessness, or passivity. By contrasting the oppressive, self-exalting power structures of the ancient Roman Empire with the humble stance of Jesus, she redefines meekness as power under control. Emily challenges the community—whether they feel voiceless and exhausted or hold positions of cultural influence—to surrender their control to the Lord, trust in His timing, and use their strength for the flourishing of others. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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Flourishing: The Comfort Found in Mourning
2w ago00:34:20Tap to summarizeIn this installment of the "Flourishing" series, Pastor Scott Engebretson addresses our cultural aversion to grief and the rising phenomenon of emotional "dryness." Looking at the second beatitude in Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted," Scott challenges the American standard of rushed bereavement. Sharing a deeply personal reflection on the legacy and loss of his own father, he explores the sacred space that exists between laughter and tears. Scott invites the church to be a community that unmasks its pain, reminding us that true kingdom flourishing doesn't promise superficial happiness, but rather a rugged hope and divine comfort that can only be met when we are honest about what we are mourning. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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Flourishing: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
3w ago00:39:18Tap to summarizeContinuing the summer series on the Beatitudes, Pastor Scott Engebretson tackles our tendency to make false assumptions about life, work, and faith. Zooming in on Matthew 5:3, Scott unpacks the countercultural definition of what it means to be "poor in spirit." He explains that kingdom flourishing doesn't come from getting louder, bigger, or more self-reliant, but from a posture of spiritual bankruptcy—admitting our emptiness and decreasing so that Christ can increase. Even in the midst of a dry spiritual drought, Scott invites the community to step out of self-sufficiency, embrace a posture of humility, and receive the refreshing overflow that Jesus promises to those who know their need for Him. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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Flourishing: The Way of the Kingdom
4w ago00:40:16Tap to summarizeKicking off a new summer series on the Beatitudes, Pastor Scott Engebretson introduces what it truly means to live a life that flourishes. Transitioning into Trinity Sunday, Scott contrasts cultural and academic definitions of human flourishing—like Harvard University's Human Flourishing Project—with the countercultural vision cast by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Drawing a linguistic link from Psalm 1, he notes that the biblical concept of being "blessed" is deeply tied to an internal, rooted state of flourishing. Scott explains that just as Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the law, Jesus went up on a mountainside in Matthew 5to reframe, fulfill, and deepen our understanding of God's instructions. Ultimately, Scott challenges the community to move beyond the drudgery of legalism or human willpower, reminding us that we cannot live out the Beatitudes in our own strength. Instead, we must actively pursue Jesus through a posture of daily repentance, allowing Him to refresh our souls and empower us to flourish right where life is lived—not on the mountaintops, but in the valleys. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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The B-Side Life: Unguarded and Fruit-Filled
May 2400:27:55Tap to summarizePreaching on Pentecost—the birthday of the church—Pastor Scott Engebretson concludes the journey through the book of Galatians with a powerful look at Galatians 5 and 6. Scott challenges the common misconception that the Holy Spirit's power is only meant for spectacular, headline-grabbing moments. Instead, he reveals that the "B-Side" of Pentecost is the internal power of God working daily to reshape our character into the likeness of Christ. Moving from theology to practice, Scott breaks down how the fruit of the Spirit is a singular, package deal—like an orange rather than individual grapes—and warns against trying to manage our spiritual growth through performance or willpower alone. Ultimately, he unpacks what it means that "against such things there is no law," inviting the community to step past the old protective fences of legalism. He challenges everyone to live vibrant, "unguarded" lives in their neighborhoods, families, and workplaces, fully empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring real change to the world. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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The B-Side Life: The Battle of Flesh and Spirit
May 1700:30:34Tap to summarizeContinuing through the book of Galatians, Pastor Hannah Engebretson dives into one of the most powerful and challenging passages in Scripture: Galatians 5. On a joyful Sunday marked by celebratory water baptisms, Hannah addresses the internal tug-of-war we all experience between the "flesh" and the "Spirit." She explains that while the flesh naturally produces destructive results—such as anger, broken relationships, anxiety, and addiction—the Holy Spirit wants to cultivate something entirely different within us. Hannah reminds the community that true transformation isn't about legalistically trying to control our behavior in our own strength. Instead, it's about a daily surrender to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to fill us with His peace and organically produce lasting fruit like love, self-control, and kindness from the inside out. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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The B-Side Life: The Pains of Formation
May 1000:31:49Tap to summarizePreaching on Mother's Day, Pastor Scott Engebretson highlights a moment of "providential convergence" as the journey through Galatians brings us to a passage where the Apostle Paul describes his heart as being in the pains of childbirth for the church. Drawing from Galatians 4, Scott explores what it truly means to look at our desires and evaluate what we are passionately striving for. He explains that the legalistic "A-Side" life focuses on outward performance, rules, and the wrong types of striving, whereas the "B-Side" life requires a deep, inward spiritual labor. Ultimately, Scott challenges the community to shift their focus away from cultural credentials or promotions and instead yearn for the ultimate goal: to be set free by the Holy Spirit so that Christ can be fully formed within us. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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The B-Side Life: The End of DIY Religion
May 300:36:00Tap to summarizeIn this message, Pastor Scott Engebretson tackles the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) mentality that often creeps into our spiritual lives. While DIY skills are great for home repairs, Scott argues that they are spiritual "kryptonite" when it comes to our relationship with God. Drawing from Galatians 3, he explores the story of Abraham to show that righteousness has never been something we can manufacture through our own effort or rule-following. Instead, the "B-Side Life" is about coming to the end of our own resources and surrendering to the strength of God. Scott challenges us to stop trying to white-knuckle our way into holiness and instead receive the gift of salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the only true source of spiritual fruit. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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The B-Side Life: The Environment of Fruitfulness
Apr 2600:37:22Tap to summarizeContinuing through the book of Galatians, Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the vital role our environment plays in our spiritual growth. Using the devastating impact of recent freezes on Florida's citrus crops as a metaphor, Scott explains that just as a physical freeze can destroy fruit, our "spiritual climate" can either nurture or stifle the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Focusing on Galatians 2, he examines how we are justified by faith in Christ rather than by observing the law. Scott challenges the community to consider if they are living in a "freeze" of legalism or self-reliance, and instead invites everyone to cultivate a life of partnership with God—sharing their stories and engaging in ministry—so that the fruits of love, peace, and faithfulness can truly flourish. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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The B-Side Life: The Pure Gospel
Apr 1900:28:14Tap to summarizeContinuing the series through Galatians (alternatively titled "Fruit and Flame"), Sam Stephens explores the danger of "gatekeeping" the Kingdom of God. Drawing from Galatians 1, Sam warns against the trap of legalism—likening it to someone trying to sell bottled water while standing right next to a flowing river. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit's power at Pentecost wasn't just for a one-time encounter, but to form lasting fruit in our lives. Sam challenges the "man's gospel" of trying harder and white-knuckling through life, pointing instead to the "pure gospel" from above that invites us to abide closer, trust deeper, and allow God to produce fruit in us. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.
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