Vertical Podcast

I. The Setup — Obedience Leads Into a Storm

Jesus initiates the journey: “Let’s cross to the other side.”

They obey—and encounter chaos.

Obedience does not exempt us from storms.

The storm is real, violent, and life-threatening.

II. Understanding Fear

Fear activates survival instincts (fight, flight, freeze).

Fear bypasses logic and clouds perception.

Logically:

Jesus said they would reach the other side.

Jesus was physically in the boat.

Yet fear overrides what they know to be true.

Series: Bankrupt the Grave
Week 3 Title: He Forgives First
Text: Mark 2:1–12

Big Idea:
Jesus addresses the deepest need first. Healing the body is powerful—but forgiveness of the soul is eternal.

I. The House Is Full — The Word Comes First

Jesus returns to Capernaum and the crowds pack the house.

The yard is full. The street is full. Shoulder to shoulder.

And what is Jesus doing? Preaching the Word.

Not chasing popularity. Not performing for attention.

It is always about the Word. Always...

Bankrupt the Grave – Week 2

Description:
In Mark 1, we meet a man whose life has been defined by shame. Isolated. Rejected. Forced to announce his brokenness everywhere he goes. But when he risks everything to get close to Jesus, one touch changes everything.

This message isn’t just about physical healing—it’s about what Jesus does with shame.

In Week 2 of Bankrupt the Grave, we discover that Jesus doesn’t create distance from broken people—He closes it. He touches what others avoid, restores what shame has stolen, and brings dignity back to lives mar...

The Gospel of Mark opens with urgency because Jesus is not announcing a distant hope, but a present reality. His first message is clear: “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near.” Before any miracle, teaching, or confrontation, Jesus declares that God’s reign is breaking into the world right now. The Kingdom is not something we wait for after death—it is something we are invited to step into today. When Jesus calls His first disciples, He doesn’t ask them to prepare or delay; He calls them to respond immediately. Mark confronts us with a simple q...

Series: Essentials
Week 4: Make an Impact

Big Idea:
Making an impact isn’t about equal amounts—it’s about equal surrender.
Following Jesus expands our capacity, grows our generosity, and calls us to join His mission with our whole lives.

Transformation is not static. When we follow Jesus, our lives should be growing—growing in freedom, love, generosity, and impact. As we walk with Him, God increases our capacity to love and serve others. What once felt exhausting begins to feel joyful, because grace grows as obedience grows.

Jesus confronts fake spi...

Series: Essentials
Week 3 Title: Experience Freedom

Big Idea:
Freedom is not found where truth is absent. Freedom is found where truth and grace collide. Jesus confronts sin, but removes condemnation.

WEEK 3 - EXPERIENCE FREEDOM

We all want freedom, but we often define it incorrectly—as the absence of consequences, confrontation, or accountability. Biblical freedom is far deeper. True freedom is becoming who God created you to be.

In John 8, a woman caught in adultery is dragged into public shame and used as a trap for Jesus. This story is no...

Encounter is not the destination—it’s an invitation. Following Jesus requires surrender, reordered desires, and a willingness to leave what’s familiar behind.

ESSENTIALS WEEK 2 - FOLLOW JESUS

This message builds on the truth that every encounter with God leads to a choice. While culture emphasizes attendance and convenience, Jesus calls people into apprenticeship—an all-of-life following that reshapes the heart before it reshapes behavior.

Jesus consistently asked questions that exposed desire because He understood something deeply true about human nature: we follow what we want most. Our money, calendars, relationships, and attentio...

Series: Encounter God
Week 1 Title: Encounter God
Primary Scriptures: Exodus 3; John 4

Big Idea:
One true encounter with God can change everything.

I. Humanity’s Search for God

Throughout history, people have chased sacred places and spiritual experiences.

The assumption: if we get to the right place, God will meet us there.

Jesus challenges this idea—God is Spirit and seeks worshipers in spirit and truth.

II. God Meets Us in Ordinary Places

Moses encounters God not in a temple, but in the wild...

Big Idea:
Responsibility is not a burden God puts on you—it is a gift He puts in you that produces joy when you live it out.

The angels announced the birth of Jesus not to kings or crowds, but to shepherds quietly doing their jobs in the fields. They weren’t chasing excitement. They weren’t escaping responsibility. They were being faithful—and that’s where joy met them.

This sermon challenges the idea that joy is found in escape, novelty, or comfort. While culture tells us joy is something we chase, Scripture shows us j...

Series: The Advent of ____
Week 1 Title: The Advent of Hope
Main Scriptures: Proverbs 13:12, Isaiah 40:1–5, Luke 1:30–32, Galatians 4:4, John 14:3, Romans 15:13

Big Idea:
Hope is not a wishful feeling—hope has a Name, perfect timing, and a promised future.
Jesus is our Hope, our Living Hope, and our Coming King.

I. Introduction — What Advent Really Means

Advent = “coming” or “arrival.” Not just remembering Christ’s birth but anticipating His return.

Historically marked by fasting, reflection, and preparing room for Jesus.

Weekly themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.

Hope is often...

Series: The Advent of ____
Week 1 Title: The Advent of Hope
Main Scriptures: Proverbs 13:12, Isaiah 40:1–5, Luke 1:30–32, Galatians 4:4, John 14:3, Romans 15:13

Big Idea:
Hope is not a wishful feeling—hope has a Name, perfect timing, and a promised future.
Jesus is our Hope, our Living Hope, and our Coming King.

I. Introduction — What Advent Really Means

Advent = “coming” or “arrival.” Not just remembering Christ’s birth but anticipating His return.

Historically marked by fasting, reflection, and preparing room for Jesus.

Weekly themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.

Hope is often...

Series: Grateful
Week 2 Title: Hospitality
Main Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8–10

BIG IDEA:
Hospitality is what happens when the love God pours into us gets poured out of us.
When we are filled with gratitude, what comes out looks like hospitality.

WEEK 2 - HOSPITALITY

I. The Context of 1 Peter

Written to believers who were scattered, suffering, pressured, and afraid.

Life was tight and overwhelming, but Peter calls them outward—not inward.

“Above all, love each other deeply… offer hospitality… use your gifts to serve.”

When life pr...

Series: Grateful
Week 1 Title: I Am Grateful
Scripture: Philippians 4:4–7; Philippians 2:28; Philippians 4:11–13

Big Idea:
Gratitude is what makes peace possible.

I. The Context of Gratitude

Paul writes Philippians not from comfort but from a Roman prison cell.

He’s chained to uncertainty yet overflowing with joy, peace, and thanksgiving.

Gratitude isn’t tied to circumstances—it’s anchored in the presence of God.

Even here, I’m grateful.

II. Fix Your Focus

“Rejoice in the Lord always” — a command, not a suggestion.

Jo...

Series: Rooted
Week 10 Title: Do We Really Need the Church?
Scripture: Hebrews 10:24–25, 1 Peter 2:9, Galatians 6:10, Matthew 12:46–50, Romans 12:9–16, Romans 12:1–2, Acts 2:41–42

Big Idea:
You can’t follow Jesus apart from His body. The church isn’t optional—it’s essential.

I. God’s Design for the Church

Many say, “I believe in God, but not the church.” Yet the God of Scripture deeply identifies with His church.

When Saul persecuted believers, Jesus said, “Why are you persecuting Me?”—He equates Himself with His people.

The “church” is not a building but a people — ekklesia...

Series: Rooted
Week: 9 – The Story of All of Us
Big Idea: God’s story of redemption becomes our story of transformation—and together, we tell the story of Jesus to the world through our lives, our words, and our generosity.

WEEK 9_ EVANGELISM

I. God’s Story — Creation, Fall, Redemption

Creation (Genesis 1:26–28): We are made in God’s image, with authority and purpose to create, build, and live in relationship.

WEEK 9_ EVANGELISM

Fall (Genesis 3): Sin enters—humanity chooses independence over obedience, resulting in brokenness, shame, and separation.

WEEK 9_ EVANGE...

Series: Rooted
Week: 8 – Kingdom Currency
Scripture: Matthew 6:19–21, 24; 1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 12:15; Deuteronomy 8:17–20; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, 11; Proverbs 23:4–7

Big Idea:
You can’t serve two masters. Money is not evil—but when it becomes your master, it will control your heart. God invites us to a better way: to live open-handed, using what He’s given to build His Kingdom.

I. The Problem — The Pull of Earthly Treasure

Money is emotional, personal, and powerful—it reveals who has your heart.

Jesus warns against storing treasure on earth because it decays, distracts, and disappears.

“Where your treasu...

Series: Rooted
Week: 7 – Shalom
Scripture: Luke 10:25–37; Jeremiah 29:4–7; Titus 3:4–5; Micah 6:8

Big Idea:
God calls His people to embody mercy personally and shalom collectively—bringing His peace, justice, and renewal to the world. But we can’t extend true mercy or live in true shalom until we’ve first received it from Christ.

I. The Question of Justification

The expert in the law asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)

His question isn’t about love—it’s about justifying himself.

Like him, we all seek to prove our worth...

Series: Rooted
Week 6 Title: Leverage Your Life (Part 1)
Scripture: Mark 10:45; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:4–8; 1 Peter 4:10

Big Idea: You were created to serve. You discover your God-given purpose when you recognize how God has uniquely gifted you, how He has corporately called you, and when you live that calling out through serving.

I. Created to Serve

You weren’t created just to exist or consume—you were created to serve.

Ephesians 2:10 — “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

God designed you intentionally, not accidentally.

Serving i...

Series: Rooted
Week 5 Title: There Is an Enemy!
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–20

Big Idea: There is a real enemy who opposes God and His people—but Christ has already won the victory. We don’t fight for victory; we fight from it.

I. The Reality of the Enemy

Evil isn’t just human—it’s spiritual. There is an unseen realm of darkness opposing God’s Kingdom.

Satan is not a myth or symbol—he is a fallen angel who rebelled against God and now seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Series: Rooted
Week 4 Title: Where is God in Pain and Suffering?
Scripture: John 16:33; Romans 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 4:7–10; Revelation 21:3–5

Big Idea: Suffering is not evidence of God’s absence but often the place we encounter Him most intimately.

I. The Question We All Ask

Personal story of suffering — grief, loss, unanswered questions.

Everyone wrestles with: If God is good and powerful, why does He allow suffering?

The Bible doesn’t ignore pain; it shows us where God is in it.

II. Expectation and Perspective

“Suffering is often not just...

Series: Rooted
Week 3 Title: God Speaks, Are You Listening?
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1–3; John 1:1,14,18; John 16:12–15; Acts 13:2; Proverbs 11:14; Hebrews 10:24–25

Big Idea: God is not silent. He has spoken most clearly through Jesus Christ, and He continues to speak through His Spirit and His people.

I. God Speaks Through His Son

In the past, God spoke through prophets and visions (Hebrews 1:1).

Now, He has spoken most clearly through Jesus (Hebrews 1:2–3).

Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

All Scripture points to Him (John 5:39–40).

To see and hear Jesus is t...

Series: Rooted
Week 2 Title: Who is God?
Scripture: Exodus 34:6–7, Acts 17:22–28

Big Idea: God reveals Himself as a relational God—not distant or abstract, but One who invites us to know Him personally through His Word, His creation, His image in us, and ultimately through Jesus Christ.

I. The Most Important Question

A.W. Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

We don’t invent God; He reveals Himself.

The starting point for being rooted is answering: Who is God?<...

SERMON PODCAST NOTES

Series: Rooted
Week 1 Title: Introduction – Rooted vs. Rootless
Scripture: Psalm 1:1–6

Big Idea: The blessed life isn’t found in being potted but in being planted—rooted in God, drawing strength from His Word, His people, and His purpose.

I. Two Ways to Live

The righteous: rooted, fruitful, enduring, blessed by God.

The wicked: rootless, unstable, blown away like chaff.

Psalm 1 frames the entire book of Psalms as a wisdom gateway.

II. The Progression of Compromise

Walk with the wicked →...

SERMON PODCAST NOTES

Series: Welcome Home
Week 5 Title: Welcome to the Party
Scripture: Luke 15:23–24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:4–5; Galatians 6:1–2; Matthew 18:20; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:1
Big Idea: God doesn’t just forgive us privately—He restores us publicly.

I. The Weight of Shame

Shame convinces us to hide—just like Adam and Eve.

Shame whispers: “Keep your story quiet. You’re better off in the shadows.”

But the Father’s love breaks down walls of isolation and disconnection.

II. Grace is Unashamed

Luke 15:23–24 — The father didn’t flinch when the son return...

SERMON PODCAST NOTES

Series: Welcome Home
Week 4 Title: The Reckless Love of the Father
Scripture: Luke 15:20–24
Big Idea: The Father’s love closes the distance, covers our shame, and restores our dignity.

I. The Father Closes the Distance

The father sees his son “while he was still a long way off” (v.20).

Patriarchs didn’t run—but this father did. He risked shame to protect and embrace his son.

God runs toward our mess, not away from it. His love overrides pride.

Application: Don’t stiff-arm th...

SERMON PODCAST NOTES

Big Idea: Religion keeps us near the Father’s house but far from the Father’s heart.

The older brother obeyed the rules but missed the Father’s love.

Pride turns obedience into slavery — “All these years I’ve been slaving for you…” (Luke 15:29).

Pride compares and keeps score — “You never gave me even a young goat…” (Luke 15:29).

Pride creates distance — “This son of yours…” (Luke 15:30).

The Father’s response: “My son… you are always with me… everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31)

Grace throws parties while pride keeps s...

SERMON PODCAST NOTES

Main Passage:
Luke 15:11–24

Big Idea:
Freedom without the Father always ends in filth.

Key Points:

Entitlement – Wanting the benefits of God without His boundaries (Luke 15:12)

Wild Living – Squandering God’s blessings on self-indulgence (Luke 15:13)

Loss of Identity – Forgetting who we are when we forget whose we are (Luke 15:16–19)

Cultural Parallels:

Entitlement says, “I deserve it,” even if it means rejecting God’s design.

Wild living feels like freedom but ends in relational breakdown, moral compromise, and spiritual numbness...

SERMON PODCAST NOTES

Main Passage:
Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

Big Idea:
Jesus tells a parable not just about a prodigal son—but about two sons, both lost in different ways, and one radically loving Father.

Key Points:

Two audiences: “Sinners and tax collectors” and “Pharisees and scribes”

The younger son runs away—rebellion, indulgence, shame

The older son stays close but grows bitter—self-righteousness, pride

The Father is the true focus—running, embracing, restoring, inviting

The parable ends open-ended—Jesus invites us to see ourselves in the story...

Title: Wrestling With Grace
Text: Jonah 4:1–11
Big Idea: It’s possible to obey God outwardly but still resist Him inwardly. The real fight is often between our heart and His grace.

I. Jonah’s Outrage at Mercy

After Nineveh repents and God spares them, Jonah is furious.

“Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?” (v. 2)

Jonah obeyed God—but resented Him for being too gracious.

He quotes Exodus 34:6 back to God: “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger…” but says it like it’s a bad thing.

Title: God’s Not Done
Text: Jonah 3:1–10
Big Idea: You can’t out-sin the mercy of God—and you’re never too far gone for a second chance.

I. A God of Second Chances

After rebellion, a storm, and three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah gets another shot:

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)

Jonah’s rescue wasn’t random—it was redemption.

God didn’t discard Jonah—He restored him.

Titus 3:5 – God saves not because of our goodness, b...

Title: Waiting on God
Text: Jonah 1:17 – 2:10
Big Idea: While you’re waiting, God is working—especially on your heart.

I. Jonah’s Descent & Desperation

Jonah ends up in the belly of a great fish—not by accident, but by divine appointment.

He’s completely out of control, trapped in a place of darkness and regret.

“Sometimes what we call punishment, God calls provision.”

God’s mercy shows up in unlikely packages—like a fish that saves Jonah from drowning.

II. God's Provision vs. Our Preference

Big Idea 1: God...

God’s Plans Are Wrecking Mine
Text: Jonah 1:1–17
Big Idea: When you run from God, you don’t just delay your purpose—you invite a storm. But even then, His grace finds you.

I. The Setup: A Clear Command, a Defiant Run

God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah heads to Tarshish—the opposite direction.

This is not confusion. It’s defiance.

“If you want to run from God, the devil will always offer you a ride.”

Jonah rationalizes sin, something we all do: our minds make excus...

Title: You Can’t Outrun God
Text: Jonah 1:1–3
Big Idea: Jonah’s story isn’t just about a fish—it’s about a faithful God chasing a rebellious heart.

I. The Book No One Expected — A Prophet Who Refuses to Prophesy

Jonah is the only prophetic book centered on the prophet's disobedience, not his message.

He receives a clear word from God… and immediately runs in the opposite direction.

Jonah is raw, emotional, and deeply human. He’s not the hero—we’re not meant to “be like Jonah.”

Tension: What do you...

Guest: Noelle Stanley
Feature: My Story Matters from Vertical Church
Originally Shared: During worship on June 22, 2025

Key Topics:

Growing up in a Southern Baptist family in Gluckstadt, MS

Sudden loss of her mother in 2018

Becoming a parental figure to her younger siblings at 23

The struggle with control, pride, and surrender

Finding refuge in friends, faith, and the local church

Discovering Vertical Church and joining The Table women’s ministry

Learning to let others in and accept help

Living out ob...

Title: Practicing the Way — Living Out Your Calling
Main Texts: Ephesians 2:8–10; Matthew 3:16–17; Acts 9; Romans 1:1; Colossians 3:23–24
Big Idea: You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Your identity is rooted in Christ, your calling flows from that identity, and your assignments are how you live it out.

Key Points:

Identity: Who You Are

Your identity is not based on your performance, people’s opinions, or what you have.

It is anchored in the grace of God—“By grace you have been saved… not by works.” (Eph 2:8–10)

You are God’s poiēma—His wor...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Simplicity & Generosity
Main Texts: 1 Timothy 6:6–10; Luke 12:15; Mark 4:18–19; Matthew 19:23–24; Luke 11:39, 41
Big Idea: Greed is one of the most deceitful sins—it quietly damages our hearts and distorts our desires. The antidote is the practice of simplicity and generosity.

Key Points:

The Deceitfulness of Greed

Greed is rarely confessed. It’s easy to justify, often hidden beneath surface sins.

Paul warns: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Greed traps us in the endless cycle of “more, more, more”...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Sabbath & Rest
Main Texts: Genesis 1:1, 31; Genesis 2:1–3; Mark 2:23–28
Big Idea: True rest isn’t just about taking time off—it’s about transforming both how we work and how we rest by aligning with God’s rhythm for life.

Key Points:

God’s Rhythm of Creation

Genesis 1:1 — God worked.

Genesis 2:1–3 — And then God rested—not because He was tired, but because He was satisfied.

Rest is holy. The very first thing God called “holy” was time, not a place or person.

If God rests, who are w...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Prayer
Main Text: Luke 11:1–4
Big Idea: Prayer is the doorway to life with God—not just something we do, but a relationship we enter.

Key Points:

Prayer Misunderstood

For many, prayer feels distant, boring, ineffective, or frustrating.

It often becomes a last resort—like grabbing the steering wheel once we’re already in the ditch.

But Jesus shows us that prayer is the very entry point to life with God. It’s not optional; it’s vital.

Jesus' Example

...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Community
Main Texts: Matthew 18:21–35; Acts 2:42–47

Big Idea: In a culture fractured by tribalism and individualism, God calls us to unity, sacrifice, and forgiveness in a community centered on His Word.

Key Points:

We Were Not Created for Aloneness

Solitude is healthy; isolation is not.

From womb to adulthood, we were designed for connection, but our culture pushes hyper-independence and pride in self-reliance.

True Christian formation happens with others.

Why We Avoid Community

Many avoid community becaus...

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Scripture
Main Texts: Romans 12:2; Matthew 7:24–29

Big Idea: The practice of Scripture is our starting place. It’s how we build a foundation strong enough to withstand life’s storms.

Key Points:

Three Forces That Shape Us

The stories we believe

The habits we build

The relationships we keep

But the stories we believe shape us most—and the enemy uses lies to distort them.

The Castle of the Mind (Illustration)

A warrior named Julian gua...