Veterans Parkway church of Christ

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Shawn Bain

Renew your mind according to Ephesians 4:22-24. Discover how to break free from the patterns of the old self and embrace the transformation offered through the renewing of your mind. Explore practical steps to align your thoughts with God's will.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/11/16/renewing-your-mind-ephesians-422-24-transcript.

• The Problem of the Old Mind: Ephesians 4:22-24 describes the "old man" – a mind corrupted by deceit, vanity, and a lack of understanding of God's ways.
• Renewal Through the Spirit: The core message is the need to "renew your mind" through the power of the Holy Spirit, aligning your thoughts with God's truth.
• Contrast with the Unrighteous: The passage highlights the characteristics of those who don't have a renewed mind – behaviors like fornication, drunkenness, and greed.
• Becoming Like Christ: The goal is to “put on the new man,” reflecting the mind of Christ and embodying righteousness, holiness, and truth. This is achieved through a deliberate process of transformation.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Shawn Bain

This sermon explores the spiritual battle for the mind from 2 Corinthians 10 and Ephesians 6. Learn how to cast down strongholds and guard your mind from garbage.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/11/09/the-battle-for-your-mind-winning-against-spiritual-strongholds-transcript.

• The spiritual battle described in Ephesians 6:12 is real, constant, and takes place within our minds.
• We are commanded to actively fight this battle by "casting down imaginations" and "strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Passivity is not an option.
• We must learn to not believe everything we think. Unexamined thoughts, when allowed to remain, can become beliefs that harden our hearts against God (Romans 2).
• Guard your mind from "garbage." What we feed our minds through media and influences determines our spiritual health, just as food determines physical health.
• We must be lifelong learners of God's Word, taking our yoke upon Jesus (Matthew 11) and storing up His commandments (Proverbs 2).
• Satan seeks to "frame" our minds with worldly programming and propaganda (Genesis 6:5). We must instead let God frame our minds through His truth.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun PM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Jason Page

In a world of constant change, Jesus calls us to "abide" in Him. This sermon explores John 15, teaching how staying connected to Christ, the Vine, leads to transformation and true joy.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/11/02/abide-how-to-stay-connected-to-christ-transcript.

• Abiding means staying constantly connected to Christ (the Vine), just as a branch must stay connected to bear fruit (John 15:4-5).
• We must be "rooted" in Jesus (Colossians 2:6-7) to draw spiritual nourishment and remain stable during life's storms.
• Abiding in Christ leads to transformation; His words reshape our hearts and minds, conforming us to Him rather than the world (Romans 12:2).
• True, complete joy is found not in circumstances, but in abiding in Christ, whose joy then remains in us (John 15:11).

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Jason Page

Do you find yourself saying "but first" when it comes to discipleship? This sermon on Luke 9:57-62 explores the true cost of following Jesus and why we can't let comfort, delay, or a divided heart stop us. Learn how to move from making excuses to putting the Lord first.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/11/02/no-more-excuses-the-cost-of-following-jesus-transcript.

• Following Jesus requires sacrifice and is not always comfortable; we cannot prioritize "but first comfort".
• The call to follow Christ is urgent ("today"); delayed obedience can become disobedience.
• A divided heart, one that keeps "looking back" at the world like Lot's wife, is not fit for the kingdom.
• Jesus is our ultimate example; He never said "but first," but instead humbled himself and said, "not as I will, but as you will".
• True discipleship, as shown by the Macedonians, involves a "Lord first" attitude, not a "but first" attitude.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Jason Page

When life doesn't make sense, trusting God feels impossible. Learn from the Israelites' journey in Exodus how to trust God's plan, even when the way is hard.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/10/26/trusting-god-in-the-wilderness-transcript.

• Trust God even when the way seems impossible.
• Trust God even when the journey feels dry.
• Trust God because His plans are always better than ours.
• Trust God even when the wait seems long.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun PM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Jason Page

In a culture rejecting authority, this sermon examines the true King, Jesus. We explore His rule as the crowned, conquering, compassionate, and coming King.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/10/19/king-jesus-transcript.

• While our culture may reject earthly kings, this often reflects a deeper spiritual rejection of the one true King, Jesus.
• The Crowned King: Jesus was exalted by God because He first humbled Himself, demonstrating that in God's kingdom, the path to the crown is through the cross.
• The Conquering King: Jesus holds all authority. He has decisively defeated sin, Satan, and death through His obedient life and resurrection.
• The Compassionate King: Unlike earthly rulers, Jesus rules from a "throne of grace". He is approachable, gentle, and offers rest to the weary.
• The Coming King: Jesus will return in glory and majesty to judge the world.
• Every knee will bow to Jesus. We must choose whether to bow in willing submission now or in forced acknowledgment at the judgment.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Shawn Bain

We are in an invisible spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12). This battle is for our minds. Learn how to tear down spiritual strongholds and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10).

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/10/19/the-battle-for-your-mind-transcript.

• We are in a constant, invisible spiritual war, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of wickedness.
• This battle primarily takes place in our minds and is influenced by what we allow in through our five senses.
• We must actively destroy spiritual "strongholds"—which are arguments, reasonings, and proud beliefs that oppose the knowledge of God.
• The solution is to take every thought captive and bring it into submission and obedience to Jesus Christ.
• True, perfect peace comes from keeping our minds "stayed on" God and trusting in Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Series: N/A

Service: Sun PM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Jordan Finley

What does genuine, Christ-like love look like in practice? This sermon explores Romans 12:9-21 as a guide for how our love for one another can become a powerful sign to the world that we are truly Jesus' disciples.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/10/12/genuine-love-the-mark-of-a-true-disciple-transcript.

• God invites us to forsake our own ways and adopt His transformative love, which will make us a glorious sign to the world.
• Jesus commanded His followers to love one another as He loved them; this unique love is the primary mark of His disciples.
• Romans 12:9-21 offers a practical checklist for genuine love, calling us to abhor evil, hold fast to what is good, show honor, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and contribute to the needs of the saints.
• Practicing this deep, genuine love requires being fully present and engaged with our church family; it cannot be accomplished through remote participation alone.
• We must live in harmony, seek reconciliation when conflicts arise, and overcome evil with good rather than retaliating when we are wronged by others.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Shawn Bain

A strong marriage is built, not found. Discover the four biblical pillars of a "oneness" marriage: radical honesty, blessing your spouse daily, identifying and removing relational "invaders," and being ready to make Christ-like sacrifices. Learn how to transform your marriage vows from a one-time "I do" into a daily, committed "I will."

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/10/12/four-pillars-of-a-oneness-marriage-transcript.

• A thriving marriage is built on knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, transforming the vows of "I do" into a daily, active commitment of "I will."
• Practice radical honesty by speaking the truth in love, praying together, and letting your spouse into every area of your life, just as the Apostle Paul was open about his past.
• Intentionally bless your spouse every day by encouraging them, sharing Scripture, bearing their burdens, and being prepared to help when they ask for it.
• Proactively "kill the invaders" that threaten your unity—such as ego, criticism, busyness, and jealousy—by working as a team to protect your marriage.
• Embrace a spirit of sacrifice, understanding that you were "born for this time" to support your spouse through unexpected trials and hardships.

Series: N/A

Service: Sun PM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Shawn Bain

What is truth? In a world that often embraces moral relativism and popular opinion, the Bible presents a firm answer. This sermon explores John 1:14, showing that Jesus is not only full of grace but is also the embodiment of absolute, objective truth from God. Discover how this truth provides a solid basis for moral decisions, defines sin and redemption, and ultimately sets us free. Learn why, as Christians, we are called to be witnesses to this same truth in our lives, rejecting a noncommittal stance and embracing the standard God has given us in Christ.

Read the full transcript at https://vpchurchofchrist.org/media/articles/2025/10/05/jesus-full-of-truth-transcript.

• In a world of relativism, where choices are often based on feelings or popular opinion, there is no solid basis for moral decisions.
• John 1:14 establishes that Jesus, the Word made flesh, is full of both grace and truth, representing all of God's glory.
• The truth Jesus brings is not his own opinion but comes directly from God the Father, serving as the ultimate standard for judgment.
• Abiding in Jesus's word (the truth) is what sets a person free from sin and makes them a true disciple (John 8:31-32).
• Just as Jesus's life was a witness to the truth, Christians are commanded to live lives that consistently demonstrate and bear witness to God's truth.