MESSAGES
Introduction: pt 2 — Simeon and the peace of recognition
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. Peace breaks in when the right person becomes visible.
Introduction: pt 1 — Zechariah and the retuning of hope
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.
Parables - pt 5: Matt 13:47-50 (The Parable of the Net and the Kingdom that is getting everything)
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.
Parables - pt 4: Matt 13:44-45 (The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl)
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.
Parables - pt 3: Matt 13:33 (The Parable of the Yeast and a Kingdom that is hidden, yet working and transforming everything)
In this talk Dan Sheed explores one of Jesus’ shortest parables — a one-sentence story on the Kingdom being like yeast that is mixed into a dough — and how even though it is hidden, it is quietly working its way through everything. This story invites us to patiently trust the unseen and unpanicked work of God’s Kingdom in our ordinary lives — because even when it’s hidden, we can stil trust that the dough is still rising towards completion.
Parables - pt 2: Matt 13:1-23 (The Parable of the Sower and a Kingdom that is sown everywhere)
In this message, Dan Sheed explores Jesus’ first recorded parable — the Parable of the Sower — as the doorway into all the others. What if this story isn’t about soil management, but about a reckless and generous Sower — a God is who is extravagantly sowing His Kingdom everywhere, even in places of resistance, and how good soil is found not through effort, but through grace and a willingness to listen.
Parables - pt 1: Matt 13:10-17 (Stories of the hidden Kingdom)
In this opening message of our new series, Parables, Dan explores why Jesus chose to teach through these stories which create an analogy of comparison. These stories reveal the hidden reality of God’s Kingdom — grace breaking into ordinary life, and a world where God is ruling and reigning. Dan offers some wisdom on how to treat parables and how to practice reading them.
Covenant Friendship: Love with a spine (guest speaker Adam Russell)
In this one-off message, guest speaker Adam Russell shares on the need for friendship in our discipleship journey and looks at the relationship between David and Jonathan as an archetype of covenant friendship.
Special Sunday: Outward Lights
In this one-off message, Communities Pastor Ella Oh invites us to revisit Jesus’ words: “You are the light of the world.” Together we explore what it means to live outward as God’s people—shining His light not just in safe spaces but into the dark and broken places of our city. Ella also shares the story of Gratis, our church’s long-running outreach birthed from a simple “yes” to joining God’s mission, and the new opportunity before us to dream together about how this ministry can be sustained and multiplied thanks to a generous offer in our community.
When Life Goes East - pt 10: The Hope for Home
For the past 10 weeks we’ve been exploring When Life Goes East — those seasons when life doesn’t go to plan. From relational breakdown to anxiety, disappointment, and hitting the wall in our faith, we’ve seen that “east” moments are part of every human story. But they’re not the end of the story. In this final message, Dan CLoses with a theology of suffering and hope: that God meets us in our ache, His Kingdom is already breaking in, and our story ultimately ends in resurrection and homecoming.
When Life Goes East - pt 9: Practicing Hope at the Wall
When faith feels like winter — cold, stripped back, and endless — where do we turn? In this message, Dan unpacks our need for the Good Shepherd who leads us not where we want to go, but where we need to go. He offers three practices for keeping hope alive at the Wall: moving learning from head to heart, praying with honesty and hope, and staying close to the flock.
When Life Goes East - pt 8: Facing the Wall
Faith isn’t just about projects we complete — it’s about the journey of becoming. But on that journey, we will all face the Wall: the place of exhaustion, silence, and disorientation. Join us in this final section of When Life Goes East as Dan unpacks what the Wall is, why it matters and how going through it leads to greater love and freedom.
When Life Goes East - pt 7: Practicing Hope in Disappointment
Disappointment is something we all carry — the gap between what we hoped for and what is. In this message, Alisha explores what it means to live in the “Saturday” space of life — that confusing middle ground between loss and resurrection, when God feels silent and hope seems buried. Instead of despair or denial, we’re invited to wait — to bring our raw honesty before God in lament, to lean into community, and to discover that even in our deepest disappointments, Jesus is walking right beside us.
When Life Goes East - pt 6: Facing Disappointment
Disappointment is the feeling of sadness when what we hope for doesn’t come to pass. Join us as we hear guest speaker Bron Tait share her story and wisdom on facing disappointment with God/life, with others and with ourselves.
When Life Goes East - pt 5: Practicing Hope in Anxiety
Anxiety doesn’t just disappear — it often needs to be unseated. In this second message on the theme of anxiety, Alisha explores Paul’s call to “let the peace of Christ rule” and draw on insights from Nader Sahyouni, whose three A’s model offers a practical way forward: Avoid less, Accept more, Attach better. Through Scripture, neuroscience, and the “Please, Thank You, Yes” prayer model, we learn how to meet anxiety with God’s presence and grow a deep, lasting peace.
When Life Goes East - pt 4: Facing Anxiety
When Jesus says, “Do not worry,” he’s not dismissing anxiety—he’s inviting us into a deeper way of living. Join us as explore how anxiety isn’t just something to silence, but a signal—an invitation to pay attention to what is going on under the surface, and discover Jesus’ invitation to return to the Father’s love.
When Life Goes East - pt 3: Practicing Hope in Relational Breakdown
What can we practically do when relationships fall apart — when life “goes east”? In this message, Dan invites us into the slow, sacred work of reconciliation. Rooted in 2 Corinthians 5, we explore how God makes His appeal through us, calling us to be peacemakers in a fractured world. With practical tools like the Ladder of Integrity and the posture of curiosity over defensiveness, this talk offers hope-filled steps for heading towards peace.
When Life Goes East - pt 2: Facing Relational Breakdown
What do you do when a relationship breaks down — when the last conversation hurt, or the message notification makes your stomach drop, or the distance between you and someone feels unbridgeable? In this episode of When Life Goes East, we explore the reasons under the surface why relationships fracture and how we begin the hard, healing work of reconciliation.
Through the ancient stories of Genesis 3 and 4, personal reflection, and pastoral wisdom, Dan openly tries to uncover the hidden emotions and unspoken boundaries that sabotage connection — and discover the God who runs to meet us on the road back home.
The Familiar Stranger - pt 7: Q+A Sunday
Join us for a different ending to The Familiar Stranger series — a special Q+A Sunday where Dan, Alisha, and some friends of Central Vineyard answered various questions sent in about life with the Holy Spirit.
Archive
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