Westminster Vineyard

Continuing the "Reasonable Charisma" series, Pastor Scott Engebretson addresses the gift of healing, advocating for a low-key, non-theatrical approach: "Healing is not in the hype". Drawing from the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-15 , he argues that healing is often found in the mundane and through simple, ordinary obedience, challenging the desire for a spectacular cure. Scott addresses the tension of the "already not yet," acknowledging that while God can heal, miracles aren't always immediate, and encourages listeners to look for the God of healing, not a specific healer. Ultimately, healing serves as a signpost of God's Kingdom, but the greater signpost is often found in the grace of perseverance and knowing that suffering in Jesus is never wasted. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

Continuing the "Reasonable Charisma" series, Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath from 1 Kings 17. He uses the story of this vulnerable woman facing her last meal to illustrate how God often chooses to show his power and presence, or "charisma," not when we are strong, but when we are at our breaking point. This message encourages listeners to embrace a "reasonable charisma" by practicing trust in the middle of a crisis. Scott highlights that miracles—or the extraordinary power of the Spirit—are often seen when we are at the end of our rope, challenging us to look for God's provision even when the brook has dried up. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

In this message from the "Reasonable Charisma" series, Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the vital skill of discerning and hearing God's voice in our everyday lives. He begins by addressing how we make all kinds of decisions—from the mundane to the major—and then turns to the question: How do we hear God speak? Pastor Scott outlines a balanced, reasonable approach to discernment that involves both the natural (using logic, wisdom, counsel, and scripture) and the spiritual (creating space for silence, waiting on the Lord, and praying specific, risky prayers). The sermon emphasizes that God wants to speak to us and that developing the spiritual discipline to listen and "test the spirits" is essential for all believers seeking to live a life of purpose and power. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

Continuing the "Reasonable Charisma" series, Pastor Scott Engebretson unpacks 1 Corinthians 12, exploring the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts in the church . He emphasizes that all gifts—whether speaking in tongues or offering a handshake—come from the same Holy Spirit and are intended to show the power and presence of God. Pastor Scott challenges the idea that spiritual gifts are "special abilities" reserved for a few. Instead, he asserts that they are manifestations of the Spirit given to every believer to benefit the common good . This message encourages the church to operate as a unified, diverse body where every member's gift is vital to revealing God's presence and bringing the Kingdom of heaven to earth . For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

In our new series, "Reasonable Charisma," Pastor Scott Engebretson challenges the church to embrace a better way of living—one marked by both the Spirit's power and good sense. Scott draws on the book of 1 Corinthians to explore the tension between wisdom and spiritual gifts. He notes that while the Corinthian church had access to all the gifts of the Spirit, their relationships and practice of gifts were often divisive, messy, and lacking love. This message asks us to consider: What does it look like to pursue a powerful faith that is also loving, orderly, and accessible to everyone? Pastor Scott encourages the church to operate the gifts of the Spirit with love and wisdom, demonstrating a "reasonable charisma" that transforms us and draws others to Jesus. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

In this message, the final of the 'Guardrails' series, Pastor Hannah Engebretson discusses the essential role of the church as outlined in the Nicene Creed: "one holy, catholic, and apostolic church". She explains that the church is not a place, but a gathering of God's people united in Christ. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

In this message from the 'Guardrails' series, Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the role of the Holy Spirit as our Advocate. Using the analogy of a patient advocate who guides people through complex and stressful situations, Pastor Scott explains that the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called our Advocate, "comes alongside of us" to help us navigate the "ins and outs of confusion and stress and places of pain." The sermon emphasizes that the Holy Spirit continually points us back to Jesus, who is "the way, the truth, and the life." For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.

This week in the Guardrails series, Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the often-overlooked final part of the Nicene Creed, which confesses Jesus's return. He begins by recounting a personal story about his childhood vision of a hoverboard, which he uses to illustrate our human tendency to hope for the future. The sermon emphasizes that looking forward to Jesus's return provides a "stabilizing work" in our lives and a "right perspective" for living in the present. Pastor Scott concludes by encouraging listeners to live fully today, not just for the hope of tomorrow. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In this message from the 'Guardrails' series, Pastor Scott Engebretson focuses on the purpose of Jesus’s coming: "For us men and our salvation, he came down from heaven." He explains the two realities of Jesus: He is both the eternal Son (God) and the incarnate Son (man) . The sermon emphasizes that Jesus came for a very specific purpose—to seek and save those who are lost. Pastor Scott encourages listeners to live out the "V-shaped life" of Christ, where God descends to meet us in the messiness of our lives, ultimately so we can be free. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In this message from the Guardrails series, Pastor Scott Engebretson moves from the Nicene Creed's confession of God the Father to the person of Jesus. He recounts a powerful encounter with a dying man named Carl, who taught him more about Jesus than he could ever preach. Through Carl's story, Pastor Scott reveals that Jesus is the "living God" and the one "in whom all things hold together." The sermon highlights that Jesus, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords, draws us into eternity and is working to reconcile all things to himself. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In this message from the Guardrails series, Pastor Scott Engebretson continues his exploration of the Nicene Creed, focusing on the first line:  "We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen." He presents the creed not just as a set of "guardrails" to keep our faith on track, but also as a "lifeline" in the storms of life. The sermon highlights the profound truth that God is the one and only creator. Pastor Scott reminds listeners that we are the created, not the creator, and invites us to lay down the burden of trying to be our own "Almighty". For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In the opening message of the new series Guardrails, Pastor Scott Engebretson introduces the Nicene Creed as a set of spiritual boundaries for the Christian faith. Using an analogy of a treacherous mountain road, he explains that the ancient creed, formulated to provide "guard rails" so the church wouldn't "fall off the cliff," continues to offer essential "boundaries and balance" for believers today. He highlights that the creed is not a dry relic but a source of life, hope, and security, rooted in scripture and giving clarity to what Christians believe . For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In this message, Pastor Scott Engebretson casts a vision for a new season in the life of the church, as it moves toward independence. He presents three foundational pillars for the church's future, rooted in the greatest commandment to love God with all of one’s being (Deuteronomy 6). Pastor Scott outlines the need for the church to cultivate hunger for God through prayer, fasting, and scripture, to be consistently inviting to others, and to commit to an ever-deepening process of spiritual formation, with the ultimate goal of having Christ formed in them. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In this final message of the 'Stranger Things of the Parables' series, Hannah Engebretson explores the common human experience of waiting in a period of transition and uncertainty. She dives into the story of the woman with the issue of blood from Mark 5, who lived in her own "meantime" for 12 years. The message highlights how the woman's desperate act of faith to touch Jesus’s cloak resulted not only in her physical healing but also in a powerful and restorative encounter with Jesus's compassion. Hannah's sermon encourages listeners to live with intention and find hope in the midst of their own seasons of waiting. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org

Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard from Matthew 20 . He reveals that this parable isn't about earthly fairness, but about the "upside-down logic" and overwhelming generosity of God's grace . The sermon addresses our human tendency to compare ourselves to others and emphasizes that the reward of the kingdom is an unearned gift . Pastor Scott concludes that our only appropriate response to God's grace is to live with gratitude and awe, not with an attitude of entitlement. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org

Guest speaker Pastor Christian Summers from Lakewood Vineyard continues the 'Stranger Things of the Parables' series, diving into the Parable of the Net from Matthew 13. He explains that Jesus uses the image of a commercial fishing net, which catches all kinds of fish, to illustrate the expansive and inclusive nature of the kingdom of heaven . Christian contrasts this with the Pharisees' exclusive view, emphasizing that the kingdom is "messy," "expansive," and "full of surprise company". The sermon highlights that it is the church's job to be part of the "gathering, not the gatekeeping," and that the sorting of the good and bad happens at the end and is God's responsibility alone.  For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org  

Continuing in the series, Sam Stephens delves into two profound parables from Matthew 13: the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value. He illustrates how both parables underscore the immeasurable worth of the kingdom of heaven, a treasure so valuable that it is worth sacrificing everything else to possess. The sermon emphasizes the joyful and radical commitment required to follow Jesus, highlighting that letting go of other pursuits, whether found unexpectedly or sought diligently, is essential to fully embrace the ultimate treasure found in Him. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

Continuing in our 'Stranger Things of the Parables' series, Pastor Scott Engebretson continues to explore the "upside-down kingdom" of God in Matthew 13. He unpacks the Parable of the Mustard Seed, illustrating how the kingdom starts from the smallest beginnings and grows into something massive and inclusive, providing shelter and a home for others. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In the continuation of the Stranger Things of the Parables series, Pastor Scott Engebretson explores the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat from Matthew 13. The sermon addresses the difficult question of why evil coexists with good in the world, explaining that the master in the parable instructs his servants to wait until the harvest at the end of the age to separate them, so as not to damage the wheat. The message highlights the importance of living patiently in the "in-between" and reflects on God's patience as described in 2 Peter 3:8-9. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org .

In this first episode of the new series 'Stranger Things of the Parables', Pastor Scott Engebretson introduces the idea of the "upside down world" of the kingdom of God, contrasting it with the fictional world of the show "Stranger Things". He explains that Jesus's parables are peculiar and are designed to both reveal the secrets of the kingdom to those who desire them and conceal them from those who do not. This sermon focuses on the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13, highlighting the four types of soil and describing God as a "prodigal God" who lavishly spreads His word everywhere. The episode encourages listeners to cultivate the soil of their hearts, acknowledging that it is a constant process of tending and nurturing. For more information about the church, please visit Northwestvineyard.org.