Who are we?
VINEYARD CHURCH OF CEDAR RAPIDS. We are a vibrant community of faith connected to a network of over 600
churches nationwide and over 1,500 around the world, making up the Vineyard: A Community of Churches.
What do we believe about Jesus?
THE INCARNATION OF JESUS IS GOOD NEWS. In the ancient
scriptures of the Christian faith, we find Good News! In the Gospel of Luke,
chapter 4, verses 18-19, Jesus of Nazareth proclaims that God is now
breaking-in on our lost and lonely world, offering new life and hope to all.
Based on His words and works, this new life with God should not be one of
dutifully following religious rules and regulations, but one filled with
Holy-Spirit breathed expectancy, joy and wonder.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4: 18-19 (NIV)
What is Jesus asking us to become?
KINGDOM PEOPLE. As we say yes to Jesus’
invitation to personal relationship with God, we become Kingdom People, who are...
- passionately pursuing God and His in-breaking Kingdom
- following Jesus Christ, indwelled and empowered by the Holy Spirit
- experiencing God on a daily basis, discovering His unique plan for our lives
- joining Jesus on mission, as He rescues & redeems people in a broken & unjust world
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." - Matthew 6: 33 (NIV)
"That you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in
every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being
strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may
have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom
of Light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us
into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1: 10-14 (NIV)
What is Jesus asking us to do?
CHANGE. GROW. RESPOND. LEARN. GO.
If you hang around Vineyard Church of Cedar Rapids very long, you will
hear us ask this key question of each other..."Have you experienced God
today?" This question is geared to encourage each of us in our active
pursuit of God, believing that Jesus has many treasures to share with
us, if we'll only take the time to stop, look, and listen. As Kingdom
People, we learn to embrace discipleship as a journey where the Holy
Spirit is consistently encouraging us to CHANGE, GROW, RESPOND, LEARN,
and GO in the ways of God.
But John intervened:
"I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to
whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the Kingdom life, a fire, the Holy
Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.He's going to clean house—make
a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place
before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned." - Luke 3: 16-17 (The Message)
"Then (Jesus) told
them what they could expect for themselves: 'Anyone who intends to come
with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't
run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how.' " - Luke 9: 23 (The Message)
What is Jesus asking us to build?
INCARNATIONAL KINGDOM COMMUNITIES. Ultimately, we believe
Christian community should value people more than programs and that Jesus
desires His church to be a gathering place where all are welcomed and then
encouraged to become all God wants them to be. Our mission is to join Jesus as
He builds incarnational Kingdom communities around the world.
"They
all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among
them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among
themselves, 'God is back, looking to the needs of His people!' The
news of Jesus spread all through the country." - Luke 7: 16-17 (The Message)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD
is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He
has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD'S
favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and
provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of
praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of
righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They
will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they
will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." - Isaiah 61: 1-4 (NIV)
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