Evangelical Community Church (ecc)

A look at the "household of faith."

Jesus says, “I am the vine and you are the branches…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” Let’s explore the image of the vine as it relates to the church.

Jesus said to Peter, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” That statement was both a promise and a prediction. No matter what happens, the church of Jesus Christ will not be destroyed. Kingdoms come and go but the church will endure forever!

In the first chapter of Revelation, John sees "seven golden lampstands," which are the church. What makes a lampstand a good image for the church? What is being communicated about the nature and task of the church with this image?

What is the church? Why is it important? Do we need it? These are questions we will consider in the new sermon series "Images of the Church". Here are just some of those images: body, building, community, household, vineyard. Please consider with us these fascinating images.

After Jesus appeared to the women at the tomb, they told the disciples and Peter came running. He looked into the tomb and went away "wondering to himself what had happened" (Luke 24:12). So what does all this mean? What is the basis of our celebration on Easter?

In so many ways, Jesus is a King like no other.

The kingdom of God was a favorite theme for Jesus. Naturally, the disciples had some questions about it. Where is it? What does it look like? Who is in it? Let's be disciples and ask the same questions.

When Jesus is approached by a rich man who is interested in following God, an interesting thing happens. When the young man realizes the cost of discipleship, he turns away. The reason is simple – he loved money more than anything else. It is easy to condemn him, but we would do better to ask ourselves a question. What is our greatest treasure?

Peter has a question for Jesus. “How many times should I forgive the one who sins against me?” Jesus' answer is quite unnerving: forgiveness should never end – forgive always. Now that's a tall order!

In Mark 9:33-37, Jesus is moving toward the cross, close to the time of his departure. A three-year training program for the disciples is about to end. So what is the chief concern of his disciples? They want to know which one of them is the greatest. Really? Have they learned nothing? Or, are we just like them?

Evil is waging war against us, but God stands on our side.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” With these simple words, the Apostle Peter provides the central truth of our Christian faith. As we consider the “Lessons on the Way to the Cross,” we begin with this central truth.

The previous Sunday, Pastor John talked about the privilege of praying for one another. This week, we shift our focus to contemplate the beauty and blessing of praying with one another

Pastor John continues our prayer series this Sunday, helping us consider the act of praying for others as an expression of love and thankfulness.

Join us as we look at Paul’s letter to the Philippians and consider his instruction about prayer as a way that God can transform our hearts and minds when it comes to our worries.

When the disciples were with Jesus they asked him many things. One of their most important questions was about prayer. On one occasion they simply said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” That is when Jesus gave them what we now call The Lord’s Prayer.

This sermon is the beginning of a five-week series on prayer. This week our focus will be on the purpose of prayer. We will consider some basic questions: What is prayer? Why pray? What happens when we pray?

As we turn the corner on a new year, we think of Jesus' ushering in of a new age.

A reflection on the divine love of God that is not only given to us but is within us.