Lent 2026 begins with a new long-term journey for Central Vineyard: over the next seven years, we’ll move through the Deadly Sins FOR LENT, one each Lent, as we let Jesus reform what deforms us. In this opening message from Luke 4, we explore Lent as preparation, not punishment — a wilderness season where truth, repentance, fasting and generosity can make us ready for resurrection life.

We also begin with a light introduction to the Deadly Sins and highlight greed, naming how the quiet drive for “more” can shrink trust, distort vision, and harden the soul. To counter this, we are invited to practise generosity and simplicity, and rediscover the freedom of knowing Christ is enough.

In Week 2 of Shared Life, we turn to Philippians 2 and discover that real community isn’t held together by effort or chemistry, but by a way — the way of Jesus. Paul begins with grace received, not commands, inviting us into a shared posture shaped by encouragement in Christ, love, and life in the Spirit. At the centre is Jesus, who does not grasp for status but empties himself in humility. This sermon explores why community is hard, why humility feels risky, and how shared life slowly forms as our allegiance to Jesus becomes a shared way to not grasp, together.

We live more connected than ever, yet many of us feel unseen, unknown, and alone. In this opening talk of our Shared Life series, we explore why loneliness has become so normal — and how the gospel offers something deeper than thin connection. Drawing from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, this sermon invites us to rediscover koinōnia: a shared life that starts with a shared allegiance to Jesus, because the Gospel is a message about belonging already given.

As you consider your 2026, we invite you to consider how you will walk out living in God. Dan looks at church history, and how Perpetua and Felicitas embodied this in a radical way when they stepped into a Roman arena with joy, unity, and unwavering faith, leaving a lasting impact on those who witnessed their sacrifice. Today, we face our own arenas, and the question remains: how will we walk the way of Jesus?

In this final message of the Introduction series, Dan reflects on Mary’s story in Luke 1:26–38 and the extraordinary forming of love within her ordinary life. Exploring the Spirit “overshadowing” Mary, this message traces God’s dwelling presence from Creation, to the Ark of the Covenant, to Mary — and now to the Church — reminding us that love is not manufactured but formed by God in willing, available hearts.

Join us for this third Introduction reflection, where we look at Elizabeth’s story as a picture of how God develops deeper joy in us. Luke shows that her five months of hiddenness weren’t wasted — they were the darkroom where God transformed years of disappointment into a joy ready to be shared when Mary arrived. This story invites us to embrace the slow, unseen work of God in our own lives, trusting that what He develops in the dark will one day be displayed in the light.

Join us as we continue our Advent reflection series Introduction. In this second reflection, Dan looks at Simeon and the “peace of recognition”—the kind of peace that comes not from circumstances resolving, but from seeing Christ in the middle of our lostness.

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NOTE: Our apologies, but the opening minute of this talk was not recorded.

Join us as we begin our Advent reflection series Introduction. Dan explored how Zechariah’s story in Luke 1 shows that God often restores hope not through noise or quick answers, but by creating space — the surprising gift of silence that softened his cynicism and slowly retuned his hope. Advent invites us into the same posture. In a season that easily fills with hurry, God meets us in the stillness we tend to avoid. Let’s make room for quiet, so we can begin to perceive the new things God is doing.

In this message Dan explores the final parable in Matthew 13 as a picture of God’s sweeping, uncurated grace towards a future where God puts the world right. The Parable of the Net shows us a Kingdom that gathers everything, while reminding us that the sorting is Jesus’ job, not ours — while also holding the sober truth that our choices matter in God’s story of renewal.

In this message, Alisha Wiseman explores Jesus’ parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl — two short stories about discovering something so valuable it reshapes your whole life. Through themes of discovery, sacrifice, and joy, Alisha reminds us that the Kingdom is a treasure worth giving everything for—and that in Jesus’ eyes, we are the treasure He joyfully gave everything to have.