Disturbing the Peace — Dan Waugh (28 Nov 2014)
Acts 19:23-41. This passage reminds us that the gospel is disturbing: It disrupts and radically changes lives and societies. It calls us to costly repentance, requires us to forsake our idols, and exposes societies’ sin.
Rejoicing in Our Sufferings — Bob Whitaker (23 Nov 2014)
Acts 16:11, 16-34. In every circumstance, we have the same choice: how to respond. Will we believe that God is good, that his sovereign grace is present with us even in the difficulties of life? Are we willing to believe this in spite of our circumstance, or will our circumstances determine what we believe? Don’t […]
A Community Guided by the Spirit — Bob Whitaker (16 Nov 2014)
Acts 15:1-21. A defining characteristic of the church in the book of Acts was that they were a community of Christ-followers who were led by the Spirit. How often do we think of ourselves that way? Shouldn’t this be true of us today as much as it was for the church in the first century?
Staff Meeting Devotional Nov. 11, 2014
“I thank my God…” “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people…For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for […]
Just a Minute, God, We’re Praying — John Mangrum (9 Nov 2014)
Acts 12:1-16. This message is a look at Peter’s situation in prison and the people praying for him. Do we really have faith that our prayers matter?
Staff Meeting Devotional Nov. 4, 2014
“Insufficiency” The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went […]
Diversity in the Church — Bob Whitaker (2 Nov 2014)
Acts 10:9-23. Diversity in the body of Christ (mentioned even in ECC’s Values Statement) is not something we created–it is something we inherited from Scripture and the history of the church. It all started in Acts 10, our text for this Sunday morning. Let’s think about the implications of this text together!
Staff Meeting Devotional Oct. 28, 2014
“God the Gardener” “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1). “I am the vine, and you are the branches” (John 15:5). Jesus is the True Vine! In Isaiah 5:1-7, “The Song of the Vineyard,” God speaks of having planted a vineyard (which is Israel) that yielded only bad fruit […]
What Is Your Role in the Kingdom? — Bob Whitaker (26 Oct 2014)
Acts 6:1-7. The dramatic growth of the church early in Acts led to the appointing of assistants who would take care of physical needs and help others “find their place” in the body of Christ. Are you on that path of spiritual formation, contributing to life in the body of Christ? What is your role?
Staff Meeting Devotional Oct. 21, 2014
“NO Plan B” I recently read an article from OMS Outreach, entitled NO Plan B. After reading this article, I had to ask myself, “Am I radically dependent on God, or do I have a plan B? Is there unbelief mixed in with my faith?” In Isaiah 31:1, God calls the sin of unbelief “going […]
