Vibrant Podcast

We spend a lot of energy preparing for emergencies that may never happen — and almost none preparing for the temptation that absolutely will. Fresh off His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness and faces the enemy head-on. He doesn’t negotiate. He doesn’t shortcut. He wins.

In this message we look at the three temptations Jesus faced — the pull to feel something, have something, and be something — and how He answered every one with the Word of God. The wilderness isn’t proof you’ve wandered from God; it might be evidence you’re following Him.

If you keep falling in the same place, this one’s for you.

Guest speaker Lenny Barber shares an urgent message about the subtle danger of spiritual drifting. Looking at the life of Samson in the book of Judges, Barber reveals how even the strongest among us can slowly wander away when we forget God, ignore His correction, and lose sight of our divine calling. Drifting rarely happens overnight; it starts with small compromises that cool our passion and impact others around us.

Are you moving with purpose, or are you wandering aimlessly? Watch to discover five practical ways to reset your spiritual focus, realign with God's mission, and find your way back home.

Baptism marks a defining moment of surrender and identity. In Matthew 3, Jesus enters the Jordan River to be baptized by John, choosing obedience and stepping directly into our human story. Even without sin to confess, Jesus wades into the waters to identify with us and model the path of devotion to the Father. This act shows us that our worth begins with who we are in God's eyes, not our personal performance.

Are you ready to leave your past behind and discover the power of stepping into a new life? Watch to see why taking this step matters and how saying yes can transform your walk today.

Drew shares practical guidance on how to talk about faith naturally and effectively. Looking at the ministry of John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 3, we see an ordinary messenger focused on pointing others directly to Jesus rather than relying on impressive credentials. Our responsibility is not to save anyone or win every debate, but simply to serve as authentic witnesses who share our personal experiences.

How can you share what you believe without feeling awkward or pushing people away? Watch this message to discover a simple, practical framework for having everyday spiritual conversations with confidence and grace.

Following Jesus rarely looks like a straight line. In Matthew chapter 2, Joseph faces unexpected detours, from fleeing under the cover of night to Egypt to settling in humble Nazareth. His journey reminds us that life often reroutes our plans, yet God's steady providence prepares the way and works downstream even through grief, disruption, and pain.

How do you continue to trust when your five-year plan falls apart? Watch to discover three practical steps for navigating life's unexpected turns and find hope in the truth that King Jesus walks with you through every detour.

It is tempting to shape Jesus into someone comfortable, safe, and ordinary who fits into our established lifestyles without ever disrupting them. In this message from Matthew chapter 2, we see that Jesus is not a beige King who settles for partial surrender. When the Magi followed the star to Bethlehem, they encountered the true King of kings and responded with costly, genuine worship. In contrast to Herod’s resistance and religious indifference, encountering the real King demands an honest response of our whole lives.

Are you allowing Jesus to truly lead your life, or are you keeping Him at a safe distance? Watch this message to discover how the arrival of the true King transforms your purpose and calls you to bold faith.

In matters of love, one must go yourself. When life feels overwhelming and God seems distant, the opening chapter of Matthew reveals a stunning truth about our creator. Rather than sending another prophet or angel, God entered our broken world as "deity in diapers"—fully God and fully human. Through the story of Joseph and the virgin birth, we discover an eternal Lord who refuses to remain far away. He chooses to step into human suffering to save us from sin and walk beside us in our daily pain.

How does the reality of Jesus as both Savior and companion transform your daily struggles and weaknesses? Watch this message to discover how bringing your authentic worship, weaknesses, and brokenness to Jesus changes everything.

Most of us skip the genealogy at the start of Matthew. But hidden in that list of names is a hot mess — liars, adulterers, murderers, outsiders, and scandal. And out of that broken family tree comes Jesus, the promised King.

In this message we look at what Jesus' family tree reveals about God: He always keeps His promises, His grace is bigger than our mess, and in His garden, broken branches still bear fruit.

If you've got parts of your story you'd rather delete, this one's for you.

Big Idea: In God's garden, broken branches still bear fruit.

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 28:18; 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16; Isaiah 9:6-7

How do we trust Jesus with our hot mess?

Release it to Jesus

About the series: For generations, God's people waited for the King. Matthew opens his biography of Jesus with a bold declaration: the wait is over. The King is here — and when the King arrives, everything changes.

In this message from the "Fruit Happens" series, we explore what it means to be a healthy, vibrant community of faith. Drawing from Jesus's teaching on the vine and the branches in John 15, we see that true growth is not about busy calendars or large crowds. A healthy church stays deeply connected to the source of life, producing genuine transformation that impacts the community.

How can you move past pretending and play an active role in this mission? Watch now to discover the markers of a fruit-bearing church and learn how you can help share this life-changing connection with others.

In this message from the series "Fruit Happens," guest speaker Nick Bertram returns to explore how spiritual growth actually works. He points to Jesus’ words in John 15, where God is described as a loving gardener who prunes the branches that bear fruit. This pruning process is not a punishment. Instead, it is a sign of God's deep love and commitment to helping us grow into our full potential.

Watch this video to discover what a truly fruitful life looks like and how God works to transform your character from the inside out. What kind of fruit is your life producing right now? Learn how to embrace God’s loving training and experience a completely changed heart.