We Are Our Brother's & Sister's Keepers, Part 2 - Kyle Hanawalt

In individualistic and capitalistic America, it is particularly hard to live out a conviction to be the keepers of our brothers and sisters. Why? Partly because we see so much of life as transactional. But, maybe above all, because we hate to feel discomfort, and the level of injustice and suffering that many of our brothers and sisters in America experience should make us feel uncomfortable. Kyle coaches us on leaning into that discomfort, letting it humble us, and letting it activate us.

GenesisVincent BrackettFebruary 26, 2019Cain & AbelComment

We Are Our Brother's & Sister's Keepers - Vince Brackett

From the ancient Jewish story of Cain & Abel, we get the powerful suggestion that part of being human is to be our brother’s and sister’s keepers — we are responsible for and to each other. But that is like the definition of “easier said than done”. Vince explores how the story of Cain & Abel addresses this: (1) posing the question “how will we respond to life’s disappointments and resentments?” and (2) showing us an encouraging, loving God who believes in us.

GenesisVincent BrackettFebruary 19, 2019Cain & AbelComment

Invitation Into Quiet - Nader Sahyouni

Drawing from his own spiritual practice and from years mentoring others in their spiritual practice, our resident Spiritual Director Nader suggests various ways to build more quiet into our lives, and the benefits we might experience from that.

Vincent BrackettFebruary 12, 2019Comment

Q & A: Faith Is Not About Heaven Vs. Hell, Part 2 - Kyle Hanawalt

Jumping off of questions and responses we received about Kyle’s recent talk “Faith is not about Heaven vs. Hell”, Vince asks Kyle to tell us more about his journey of faith, how that determines how faith is (and is not) pursued at Brown Line Vineyard, and the potential gifts to the wider Northside Chicago community Brown Line Vineyard can offer as a result.

Vincent BrackettFebruary 5, 2019Comment

Faith Is Not About Heaven Vs. Hell - Kyle Hanawalt

The question of whether you’re “going to heaven” or “going to hell” just isn’t a helpful thing to build one’s faith on. Also, it’s not actually in the teachings of Jesus, or anywhere in the Bible — despite the fact that so many people (both inside and outside of churches) assume it to be.

Matthew, Psalms, 2 PeterVincent BrackettJanuary 29, 2019Comment

Injustice & Resistance - Vince Brackett

On the weekend we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Vince takes us to a Central American interpretation of Jesus' Parable of the Talents (or Minas or Pounds, depending on your translation). In it, Jesus suggests the God of the Universe is the God who resists injustice. So how might God be calling us to join in that?

LukeVincent BrackettJanuary 22, 2019Comment

Winter 2019 Community Fair - Kyle Hanawalt

Hear about the various ways Brown Line Vineyard can help you connect with other people this winter. From an every other Thursday drinks night to a book study on how to raise children in racially unjust America, we’ve got lots of options…

Hebrews, MatthewVincent BrackettJanuary 15, 2019Comment

Resolutions Backed by Faith AND Science - Kyle Hanawalt

Resolutions are on the mind. For those of us who are spiritual, is God's role in our resolutions to threaten us to change? Or is God supportive and helpful and patient and wise about how human behavior actually works? Spoiler: we think it's the latter.

RomansVincent BrackettJanuary 8, 2019Comment

From Power To Weakness - Kyle Hanawalt

We visit the prayer of Mary the mother of Jesus — the Magnificat — every year during Advent, because it so perfectly captures faith for us. Kyle explains why, this year, it makes him think of a scene from the pilot of The Marvelous Ms. Maisel, and suggests a way we can experience how powerful it is to move from power to weakness.

LukeVincent BrackettDecember 10, 2018Comment

Waiting: The Best Productivity Tool - Dee Marsden

Waiting is not something we Americans like. We prefer staying busy and being productive. We’ve even figured out ways to hire people to wait in line for us! But waiting is a part of life — waiting for doctors’ test results, waiting to hear about that job interview, waiting for a wrong to be righted. This first Sunday of Advent we try to increase our awareness of the God who is with us in what we’re waiting for.

PsalmsVincent BrackettDecember 4, 2018Comment