Evangelical Community Church (ecc)

This week we bring our "Who are You?" series to a close, considering the truth that we've all been called into the "foreign service corps" and serve as ambassadors of the kingdom.

“Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” This famous quote from Augustine is often used to remind us that all human beings are created for relationship with God. That is certainly true. However, a relationship with God on this earth is only the beginning. We were actually made for an eternal relationship. As Christians we believe that the journey to eternity is our ultimate destiny.

What if gratitude for God's grace reframed our view of the people and situations we encounter from day to day?

God is a relational, and he views us as his children. What does this mean for how we relate to him?

What images stir in your mind when you hear the word "saints"? A football team? Religious iconography? A jazz band playing, "Oh When the Saints"? This week we continue our month-long series, "Who Are You?" contemplating what it means to say that we are saints. It's both a key statement of who we are and lofty vision for who we're supposed to be.

As we continue to explore core aspects of our identity, two aspects readily emerge: we are sinners, and we are forgiven. That incredible forgiveness of sin comes from one source, as we see in Matthew 9:1-8. Let us, too, praise the one to whom such authority to forgive was given.

This message begins a new series, "Who Are You?" It's easy to forget who we are, so each week we will remind ourselves of a core aspect of our true identity. In this message, we'll contemplate what it means to be "Image Bearers," reading from Genesis 1:1-2:3. So much in our world is dehumanizing and attempts to strip us of our unique dignity and worth. We need to understand and affirm that all men and women are created in and continue to bear the indelible image of God.

Pastor Bob wraps up our message series with the image of the church as the Bride of Christ. We are really loved like that? What a thought! Let’s reflect on the meaning of that image and give thanks.

When the Apostle Peter was describing the church, he used the following images: living stones, a spiritual house, a chosen people, a royal priesthood. Today we consider this description and focus primarily on what it means for the church to be a royal priesthood.

Brandon York with Cru shares how the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20 are motivating the work of God through campus ministry at IU.

The Executive Director of Southern Hills Youth for Christ shares about the impact of YFC and the Gospel on teens.

The book of Hebrews paints a picture of life for those who are Christ-followers. We are sojourners, aliens, exiles, foreigners, strangers traveling toward home. Though we live here now, this world is not our home because God has prepared a city for us – we are constantly on our way home.

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.