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Trinity Vineyard Sunday Morning
Hosted by Trinity Vineyard Church · EN
We're a church in South East London learning how to love God and love our neighbours. Here you can listen in to what we're talking about.
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Son of Man
Jan 3100:31:58Tap to summarize“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. - Acts 7:51-58In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ trial, the high priest demands that Jesus state plainly whether he is the Messiah. Jesus first gives an ambiguous response—“That’s what you say”—as if to hint, “If you’re asking the question, perhaps you already see something.” If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck… Then Jesus goes further: “From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” That statement pushes the high priest over the edge. He tears his robe in outrage. For him, this isn’t just a rebel speaking - it’s blasphemy. Case closed.At Stephen’s trial, it’s the same claim that lights the fuse: “I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” That vision seals his fate just as it did Jesus’.Across much of Scripture, “son of man” simply means “human.” But Daniel 7 uses the phrase in a unique way. Daniel dreams of the beast-like kingdoms of the world - violent, arrogant powers - being judged before God. Then a human figure, “one like a son of man,” is brought into God’s presence and given everlasting authority. The dream isn’t about an ordinary human king; it’s about The Human, entrusted with divine rule over all creation.Israel longed for a Messiah as an earthly king, someone who would lead Israel to political and military renewal. But Daniel’s vision points beyond that hope. Jesus’ claim isn’t merely, “I am the Messiah.” It is, “I am the Son of Man who shares the authority of the Ancient of Days.” Stephen’s vision confirms that Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension were not the end of his mission but his enthronement—not as a symbolic ruler or “king of our hearts” but as Lord over everything.Suffering comes to all of us. When it does, Stephen’s story reminds us what sustained him. He saw a reality more solid than the stones and curses around him: Jesus, the Son of Man, reigning. It's not politicians, populists, influencers, despots, bankers, generals, judges or tech-entrepreneurs that are in control. Jesus, the Son of Man, is on the throne.
Transcribe →Son of God
Jan 2400:21:34Tap to summarizeI will proclaim the Lord’s decree:He said to me, “You are my son;today I have become your father.Ask me,and I will make the nations your inheritance,the ends of the earth your possession.You will break them with a rod of iron;you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”Therefore, you kings, be wise;be warned, you rulers of the earth.Serve the Lord with fearand celebrate his rule with trembling.— Psalm 2:7–11You may have had the experience of tracking a parcel obsessively: “Out for delivery,” “Delayed,” “Arriving by 9pm”… You check the window, the drive, the door. When it finally arrives, you’re almost surprised the waiting is over. And sometimes the parcel is even better than expected — sturdier, more beautiful, more fitting than what you ordered.This Advent, we’re exploring Isaiah 9:6 (“to us a child is born, to us a son is given”) and the titles given to Jesus: Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David. These titles expand our vision beyond the sentimental Christmas image of a baby in a manger. This child is fully God, fully human, and the humble, merciful, and just King.They also speak to the longing that shapes this time of year. As children, we long for Christmas Day; as adults, we long for life to be better, fuller, more whole. Scripture shows we’re not alone. Abraham lived his life clinging to God’s promise of a land he never fully saw. His only piece was a burial plot — a tiny “first instalment” of a much bigger future. Yet he lived forward, trusting God’s word.Generations later, Israel’s kings were called “sons of God,” appointed to rule with justice. But reality fell short: weak kings, a fragile nation, hopes that never materialised. Still, the prophets urged the people to keep looking for the true King, the true Son of God.By Mary’s day, hope was low. Rome ruled, leaders were compromised, and God’s people longed for deliverance. Into this comes the angel’s announcement: a child will be born, the Son of God — fulfilling God’s ancient promise and the longing of generations. The “tracked parcel” finally arrives, and the reality surpasses the expectation.Jesus isn’t just another king. He inherits the nations, reigns forever, and fulfils every longing at its deepest level.So what does Advent call us to today?• Don’t be surprised by longing — it keeps our eyes lifted to God’s future.• Don’t despise small beginnings — God often works quietly and humbly.• Let Jesus reshape your expectations — the greatest gift God gives is Himself.• Look forward with hope — Christ has come, and Christ will come again.
Transcribe →Live Free of Jealousy
Jan 1700:31:30Tap to summarize“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” — Exodus 20:17Jealousy rarely makes our “top ten” sins. We say we’re tired, stressed, skint… but we don’t often say, “I’m jealous.” Yet the tenth commandment drags this quiet sin into the light: “You shall not covet…” because God cares not just about what we do, but about the inner weather of our hearts.On Sunday we looked at coveting through the story of Cain and Abel, a family drama that becomes the Bible’s first crime scene. Cain can’t cope when God looks with favour on Abel’s offering, and jealousy slowly grows: comparison, resentment, refusal to listen… until it spills over into violence. God warns him, “Sin is crouching at your door,” and that same warning comes to us whenever envy lurks in our scrolling, our workplaces, and even our churches.But the Bible doesn’t leave us with Cain. Hebrews speaks of “the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel”: the blood of Jesus. At the cross, Jesus is crushed under a world full of envy and rivalry, and yet his blood cries out not “guilty!” but “forgiven… new start… beloved.” In him our worth is no longer set by salary, status, relationship or success, but by the Father’s unshakeable love.So how do we live free of jealousy in an age of constant comparison? We learn to bring envy into the light in honest confession, to actively bless the people we’re tempted to see as rivals, to practise simple, contented lives, and to walk closely with one another in community. By the Spirit, God slowly reorders our loves until we can look at others’ good gifts without fear, because in Christ we have all we need.
Transcribe →Truth is a Person
Jan 1000:43:41Tap to summarizePilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”“What is truth?” retorted Pilate.- John 18:33-38In the penultimate commandment of the Ten Words, Israel is told that they should not bear false witness against their neighbours. God is a God of truth, and his people should be people of truth. Everyone agrees - in theory. Truth is a good thing. We want to know the truth. We like to think of ourselves as searchers for truth. But we all live under the power of the first lie: did God really say? (Genesis 3:1). The problem seems particularly acute in this age of truth decay. How can we become truthful people?In John 18, Jesus stands before Pilate in one of the most striking scenes in Scripture. The Jewish leaders bring Jesus to the Roman governor because only Rome can authorize what they want - his execution. Pilate questions Jesus about their central charge: “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answer seems to be something like 'yes and no'. Yes, a king, but not in the way they think - a kingship of coercive power, violence and compromise. His kingdom is “not of this world” and he is a king that rules through speaking truth: “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”Pilate’s reply—“What is truth?”—is the final time the word truth appears in John’s gospel, which is full of talk about the truth and how the truth comes to us. From the opening chapter (“the Word… full of grace and truth”) to Jesus’ promise that “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free,”... the truth is not an idea or ideal. Jesus is the truth.When Pilate asks his question, it not clear whether it is cynical or genuinely searching. Perhaps he views truth as whatever is politically expedient. Perhaps he feels trapped between competing claims—Jesus’ truth, the leaders’ truth, Rome’s truth. His ambiguity mirrors the questions of our own age, in which truth can seem contested, subjective, or unreachable.The tragedy is not that Pilate cannot discover the truth, but that the Truth is standing in front of him and he cannot recognise it. Joy Davidman said, "Pilate chooses to doubt reality rather than accept his own sin".The irony is - the truth is! - that Jesus is not the one on trial. Pilate is on trial. Will he listen to the voice of the one who is Truth? And we all stand behind Pilate - we are on trial! Will we prove ourselves to be on the side of truth? Will we listen to voice of Jesus?
Transcribe →Generosity
Jan 300:28:12Tap to summarizeThe command not to steal is rooted in the positive vision of God’s goodness and provision. It’s (usually) easy enough not to steal, but the real call is to a life of generosity rooted in a trust in God’s generosity.God’s Spirit is given to us to transform us from. We are sometimes people who look good on the outside, but are trapped by our desire to take what seems good in our own eyes. The Spirit can make us into people that truly reflect the image of God. We can reflect His abundance and generosity. We can become more and more like Jesus.This is my prayer for you:Soften our hearts by your Holy Spirit.Expose where we would hold onto lies, that we can achieve security through seeking financial control; hoarding and accumulating.Help us have the freedom to accept your beautiful invitation, so generously and freely offered, to life - true life.Make us people who are not devoured by our desires, to do what seems right in our own eyes, but people who devour your word.Put us in community with one another so that the enemy, who prowls around like a hungry lion, won’t pick us off and devour us.Thank you that you have promised that you will never leave or forsake us.That you are preparing us, your Church, to be ready for your return.That you promise not even the gates of hell will prevail against your Church.
Transcribe →Life in Three Dimensions - Connection
Feb 22, 202500:29:59Tap to summarizeThen the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? - Genesis 3:8-11Human beings—even in seemingly secular environments—are profoundly shaped by the longings that religion addresses. The desire for meaning, transcendence, and a connection to something greater plays out in diverse ways. We are like characters in a living novel, yearning to know the author, the plot, and the nature of the story in which we find ourselves.We long to understand, yet we fear it may be unknowable. How can we discover what this "something greater" truly is? The unbeliever asks these questions, searching for clarity. The believer may think they hold an answer but still yearns for a deeper connection. At times, it feels as though God is hidden.Genesis 3 offers an explanation for this pervasive sense of separation from our Creator. When Eve and Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they gained precisely that—knowledge. They became aware of God's goodness and humanity's brokenness. Overwhelmed by shame, they hid.They hid from each other, covering themselves with garments of fig leaves. They hid from God's presence behind the trees. They even hid from themselves, offering excuses to deflect responsibility.This impulse to hide stems from the unsettling awareness of being finite creatures in the presence of the Infinite.Yet, the hope in this passage is profound: God was looking for them.We often think we are seeking while God is elusive, but the truth is the opposite. We are the ones hiding, and God is always searching, calling, and waiting for us to return to Him. The entire story of the Bible is one of God seeking those who are hiding.You don’t need to uncover a profound secret or achieve esoteric wisdom. The hidden thing is not a mystery to solve—it is you. And the searcher is God.
Transcribe →Hymms of Hope: Simeon's Song
Feb 8, 202500:20:36Tap to summarizeNow there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.For my eyes have seen your salvation,which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”- Luke 2:25-32Simeon, a devout and faithful man, had been waiting for the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led him to recognize Jesus as the Saviour. Simeon’s prophecy described Jesus as a light for the world, someone who would lift some people up and bring others down, revealing the true thoughts of their hearts. He also warned Mary about the deep sorrow she would face.We’re encouraged to think about Simeon’s faith and how he actively waited for God’s promise to come true. God’s plans often don’t match what we expect. like sending a helpless baby instead of a mighty warrior as the Messiah. It’s a reminder that God works through the unexpected, using the humble and the weak to carry out His plans.As we go through Advent, we’re reminded it’s a time of waiting. It’s a chance for us to stay open to how God might surprise us, instead of boxing Him into what we think He should do. Like Simeon, we’re invited to listen for the Holy Spirit’s nudges and to follow them, trusting that God knows what He’s doing.We wait with hope, not based on what’s happening around us but on God’s love and faithfulness. We let go of our expectations, open our hearts, and let God work however He chooses. As we wait for Christmas and beyond, we’re reminded that Jesus came to bring light and hope to the whole world. Let’s keep our hearts and minds ready for whatever He has planned.
Transcribe →Hymms of Hope: Mary's Song
Feb 1, 202500:44:46Tap to summarizeAnd Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”Luke 1:46-55
Transcribe →Hymms of Hope: Zechariah's Song
Jan 25, 202500:45:29Tap to summarizeWhen it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.- Luke 1:57-64Christmas songs are essential to creating that perfect festive vibe. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... deck the halls... All I want for Christmas... A whole genre which sets the seasonal mood.This Advent, we’re leaning in with our own playlist—three Christmas songs from the Gospel of Luke: Zechariah’s song, Mary’s song, and Simeon’s song.Let’s start with Zechariah. He’s a priest in the temple of Jerusalem, performing his sacred duties by offering incense on the altar. The rising smoke symbolizes the prayers of the people ascending to heaven. An angel appears, announcing that his prayers have been answered. What prayers? We aren’t told. Perhaps Zechariah had been praying for a child for himself and his wife Elizabeth, despite their old age. Or maybe his prayers were for the nation, for Israel’s healing and salvation.The angel’s message reveals that God’s plan for salvation is unfolding through Zechariah’s family. His future son, John, will play a pivotal role in this divine story. Zechariah’s personal hopes have intersected with God’s grand narrative of redemption. Overwhelmed, he struggles to believe and asks for a sign. The angel responds by sealing Zechariah’s voice—and possibly his hearing—until the promise is fulfilled.Why this response? Isn’t it natural for Zechariah to doubt that a couple beyond childbearing age could conceive? The angel’s action seems less like punishment and more like a sign of mystery. It strikes me that the promises given the Zechariah are sealed up in him in the same way that the prophetic promises of Israel are sealed up for hundreds of years. As the baby forms in Elizabeth's womb, so the promises of God come together in Zechariah's mind, and form his song of hope. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,the oath he swore to our father Abraham:to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days."Hope deferred makes the heart sick," the proverb says. This is wrong. Waiting can form us. Through it, we learn to wait for God and his marvellous designs, rather than the mere fulfilment of our often misguided desires. This doesn't always feel great at the time.As Paul writes in his letter to the Romans: "Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Transcribe →Tables
Jan 18, 202500:35:44Tap to summarizeOn reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.- Mark 11:16-17On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus did more than just flip a few tables over, he turned the temple inside out. He saw the injustice, the financial corruption and the racism and acted so that excluded are the included and the valueless are the invaluable. Here what Jesus is showing us is that prayer apart from justice is incomplete and that his justice was fuelled by a compassion that was forged in prayer. To follow Jesus. To embody our prayers. To work for justice, is to walk that knife edge between the world and religion. How do we do that? It is the default setting of humans to be drawn to sameness. But if not held in check this default drives tribalism and polarisation and even tells us that difference is a threat, something to be afraid of. We can get comfortable in church. How do we go into the world and to a people who think “how things are” is life without God and present a better vision of meaning and purpose? How do we persuade them to put their lot in with the most beautiful man in history? This is what I am grappling with for my community and my friends as I embody my grief, hold on to my prayers and then step into fun and hosting, inviting them around my table. In our communities and friendships and workplaces there are going to be areas of hurt, brokenness, suffering, maybe even death.These are places where, as followers of Jesus, we might find ourselves being called to go and suffer alongside the grieving rather than remaining comfortable rather than staying only where the fun is at. These are places where we might be called to go and pray. And then look at how we can embody our prayers and partner with Jesus to bring healing and bring justice.
Transcribe →