VCLA Podcast

Radical Welcome & Unity | When In Romans EP.12 | Joel Moses

Pastor Joel dives into Romans 14 and 15, anchoring the church's call to radical acceptance and unity in the profound reality of Christ's welcome. In a city as diverse and intense as Los Angeles, Paul’s command to "Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you" (Romans 15:7) becomes a prophetic sign pointing to the Kingdom of God.
This sermon challenges us to choose unity over uniformity, peace over being right, and Christ's welcome over our own comfort, especially when dealing with non-essential, disputable matters. Learn the two core truths that can transform your community and how to become a bridge-builder in a world filled with tribes and echo chambers.

Living in a CONTINUING Debt of Love | When In Romans EP.11 | Josh Shaw

In a world filled with anxiety, overwhelm, and conflicting desires, how do followers of Jesus navigate complex dynamics and make wise decisions? Pastor Josh continues our series in the Book of Romans, pivoting from what we learn and feel to how we act in the world. The Apostle Paul gives us two simple yet staggering foundations for life as a Christian: Honor and Love.
This sermon dives deep into Romans 13, challenging us to submit to governing authorities and pay what is due—even when it's repulsive or uncomfortable. More than that, we are called to live in a continuing debt of love to one another, fulfilling all the commandments through a fervent desire to deposit love, not pain or gain, into every human being. Discover how choosing honor and love, even in the midst of broken systems and difficult relationships, is an act of worship and the very definition of a life lived with Jesus.

How To Transform Your Life | When In Romans EP.10 | Josh Shaw

Are you tired of trying to change only to fall back into old habits? This sermon is the GAME CHANGER you've been waiting for.
Pastor Josh dives into Romans 12:1-2, marking a massive shift in Paul's letter from deep theology to radical, everyday spiritual formation and practice. This isn't self-help or 'white-knuckle' religion; it's a Spirit-powered process to become more like Jesus Christ!
Learn the foundational motive for change—God's extravagant mercy—and discover the practical steps: Offering Your Body as a living sacrifice and the Active Renewal of Your Mind. Plus, get a simple, unforgettable acronym (V.I.M.) from Dallas Willard to put transformation into daily practice.
If you are ready to break free from the patterns of this world (arrogance, selfishness, bitterness) and walk into God's good, pleasing, and perfect will, then this message is for you!

The Cure for Spiritual Blindness | When In Romans EP.9 | Josh Shaw

You've tried everything. You've worked hard, you've been faithful, and you've followed all the rules, but you still feel like you're just outside the favor of God—close, but so far. Or maybe you're in a season of brokenness, doubt, and rebellion, feeling completely lost and unable to see the way forward.
In this powerful sermon, Pastor unpacks the incredible, and sometimes ridiculous, way Jesus dispenses His mysterious mercy. Drawing from Romans 10 & 11 and the incredible story of the man born blind in the Gospel of John 9, we explore why God sometimes hardens the religious and runs after the lost, and how all of it is designed to display His unimaginable grace.
If you are feeling the "blindness of religion," the "blindness of your broken past," or the "blindness of your doubts" (00:24), this message is for you. Discover that your healing won't come from your works or your zealousness, but from an undeniable, mysterious, and even "mud-like" encounter with Jesus Christ.

You Can't Earn It: The Truth About God's Mercy | When In Romans EP.8 | Josh Shaw

This week, Pastor Josh dives into one of the Bible's most challenging and misunderstood chapters: Romans 9. We explore Paul's anguish and the profound distinction Jesus makes in the Parable of the Prodigal Son between the rebellious sinner (the younger brother) and the self-righteous believer (the older brother).
Many of us who grew up in the church, who were "faithful," who "never ran away," struggle with the free, unmerited grace that God offers. We pursue righteousness through works, not faith, and in doing so, we stumble over the very Jesus who is offering us life. The good news is that God's mercy and desire for redemption are for both the religious and the rebellious alike.
Stop working to earn what has already been offered! Learn how to drop the self-righteousness, own your true status, and receive the whole, forgiven, and loved status that God offers you—not based on your effort or desire, but solely on His boundless mercy.

Why Does God Allow Suffering? | When In Romans EP.7 | Josh Shaw

Is following Jesus hard right now? You're not alone. In this powerful sermon on Romans 8, Pastor Josh dives deep into the reality of Christian suffering and the mind-blowing, purposeful plan God has for you in the midst of it. 
Many people quote Romans 8:28 as a "coffee mug verse," but this message unpacks the profound theological context of Paul’s words, showing that God is not surprised or worried by your pain—He is sovereignly, intentionally using it.
Discover the "chain of salvation" and how your present weakness is actually a holy space where the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with "wordless groans" (Romans 8:26). Learn how your hardship is a "refiner's fire," conforming you into the very image of Jesus Christ so you can bring redemption to a broken world. This is the hope that makes sense of your hardest days.
Don't be ashamed to cry out—God can handle your deepest grief!

The Antidote To Ungodly Obsessions | When In Romans EP.6 | Josh Shaw

Do your good desires keep turning into crippling, ungodly obsessions? You're not alone. This sermon explores the deeply human—and deeply Christian—struggle against the "wretched man" war Paul describes in Romans 7. We all want good things like health, wealth, or a loving marriage, but they quickly become idols that rule our lives and steal our peace.
It's not more religious rules or accountability structures—it's about reorienting your deepest longings.
Discover how obsessively desiring the Holy Spirit is the only way to keep your desires in check and finally experience the life and peace (shalom) you crave.

YOU ARE FREE! | When In Romans EP.5 | Josh Shaw

Are you tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of sin, shame, and fear, even though you follow Jesus? This powerful message from Romans 6:11-14 is your wakeup call to embrace the freedom that's already yours. Pastor Josh uses the history of Juneteenth to illustrate the spiritual reality: many of us have been declared free, yet we still live as if we're slaves to our past and brokenness.
The core message is twofold: You need to hear that you are free, and you need to live like you are free. Learn how to "count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11) and discover why the only way to truly live in your freedom is within a committed community ("y'all").

From The Vine | EP.12 | Cheryl Tellis

Get ready to tap your feet with the incredible Cheryl Tellis! A beloved member of the Vineyard family, Cheryl opens up about everything from her college disco days in India to the life-changing decision to get baptized as an adult. First, she faces a brutal head-to-head competition to crown the Ultimate Dance Style (spoiler: her favorite is banned). Then, she shares her deeply moving faith journey, revealing how growing up Catholic and searching for the personal truth of Jesus led her to a profound, freeing revelation of Galatians 2:20. Her story is a beautiful testament to God’s patience, faithfulness, and the surprising way He uses food and friendship to lead us home. Plus, hear what she thinks heaven's dance floor will be like!

Peace with God and Purpose in Suffering | When In Romans EP.4 | Brianne Shaw

Discover the mind-blowing truth from Romans 5 that changes absolutely everything about your faith and your life! Many of us struggle with anxiety, feel we have to earn God's favor, or question the purpose of our pain. In this powerful sermon, Pastor Brianne walks us through two non-negotiable realities: we have peace with God because of Jesus, and our suffering has purpose.
Stop looking for escape (the "window seat") and start reorienting your focus to the Captain of your journey—Jesus Christ. Learn how suffering isn't punitive, but a process intended to build incredible spiritual strength in you, leading to unshakable, eternal hope.
This message will radically transform your understanding of your relationship with God, freeing you from a performance-based faith and empowering you to embrace perseverance.