Evangelical Community Church (ecc)

This is the start of a four-week series, called "Songs in the Night" - a study of several psalms that prepare us for long, dark nights of the soul, periods of soul anguish. This week we'll look at Psalm 55 and the pain caused by deep betrayal. Where do we find comfort when we've been wounded by a close friend?

We usually consider prophecy to be words which predict future events. However, prophecy is more often about the present – a word from God concerning how we should live now. Such instructions are always connected to the past and the future. This is especially true in the book of Revelation, which quite literally is “The revelation of Jesus Christ…the Alpha and Omega…the Lord of heaven and earth.”

The final words of the Epistle of Jude summarize its message. There are many things that could distract us from following “the way, the truth and the life,” but God is faithful. If we keep ourselves in God’s love and wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ we will inherit eternal life. In the midst of the struggles in this world that is a promise worth hearing and believing.

We were pleased to have David and Brenda Mensah with us this weekend. This morning, David took us through Scripture to remind us that Jesus is the Lamb of God. He challenged us to share this exciting news with those around us and encouraged us with stories of God's work in Ghana.

The Epistles of John make it clear that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is actually a Christ-follower. According to the Apostle John there are three distinguishing characteristics of a Christian – belief, obedience and love. Those three words might sound like the title for a popular book but before we use them as a catch-phrase we should understand what John meant by those words.

In his letters, Peter reminds the church of two essential aspects of her identity. First, in relation to God, she is his chosen people, a holy nation. Second, in relation to the world, the church is a sojourning, pilgrim people – a people in exile longing for home. Both aspects of our identity have bearing on how we are called to live today.

This letter was written from the heart of a pastor deeply concerned with the hearts and minds of the people of his congregation and their ability to live authentically in light of what God has accomplished through Christ. James offers encouragement, through both empathy and tough love, to people who desperately need it.

When Jesus met two disciples on the way to Emmaus, “he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” We don’t know who wrote the Book of Hebrews but whoever it was took a page from the teaching of Jesus on that day. The writer of Hebrews essentially says the whole story of the Bible is a story about Jesus. Let’s consider the wisdom of his words.

Listen in as we take a closer look at what Paul is asking of Philemon and company when he requests that they receive Onesimus back into their community.

I & II Timothy and Titus have been called the Pastoral Epistles because they were written to individuals in pastoral ministry rather than to a church. Despite the differences between these and Paul's other letters, there is still much to be learned here for the Christian community. We could all use some practical wisdom from God, so let’s think about the themes in these three letters.

Josiah will wrap up our year together with a message on engaging God's mission in the places to which He leads us with a message from John 20 called "You are Sent!"

Josiah will conclude our Spring series, "Home and Away," with a message on the book of Nehemiah called "Leading by Faith." Join us in looking at the fascinating story of the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem and how God used a humble man of extraordinary faith to facilitate that project!

Today was Youth Sunday--Rob Girvin, our Director of Student Ministries, gave the message and the youth lead us in worship. The desire to "get it right" can lead us to reach for a point of arrival, but God is not done with us.

Pastor Bob gives an overview of missions at ECC and a glimpse of a few things possibly to come.

A look at Jesus' interaction with the disciples when he appears to them after the resurrection. How do the ways he encourages them relate to our situation?

Bob, Dan and Josiah field some great questions in the panel discussion about how to read and interpret the Bible.

Christ is risen! This is the source of the hope and the life we celebrate on Easter Sunday.

The disciples and those who accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem didn't have a complete understanding of the journey they were taking, but they walked along with purpose and in hope. Pastor Bob helps us look at their journey and ours.

Last Sunday Josiah began a new series exploring the fascinating books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Catch up as Josiah shares a message titled "Ezra: Where to Begin?!" that looks at the unlikely return of the first Israelite exiles from Babylon and the beginning of their rebuilding efforts in Israel.

Pastor John Mangrum comes to visit with Connexion and share God's word and his wisdom. If you missed it because you weren't back from Spring Break yet, you can listen here!