Stocking-stuffer ideas for families
Reviews of several gift ideas for children and parents....
Fighting for Joy in the Desert
practical thoughts for dealing with a season of spiritual dryness...
Pastor Briefing: Semper Reformanda
With Reformation Sunday coming at the end of the month, I thought it timely to discuss a valuable principle from church history......
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A Review from Sing! Conference 2019
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Sing! Conference in Nashville, hosted by Getty Music....
Pray for Hong Kong
We should be praying for our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong right now......
Guard Your Heart
On Sunday, Rick Schatz shared at the end of his sermon various ways that will help us finish the Christian life well. Here is a recap of that list:...
Pastor Briefing: Joshua Harris’ Announcement
How do we respond to Joshua Harris's announcement that he is getting divorced from both his wife and Christian faith? ...
Haunted
Middle Eastern women interviewed on a recent podcast have left me humbled and inspired by their devotion and confidence in God's Word....
Inviting Children to Encounter Jesus
Family ministry summer intern, Kate Cupp, reflects on VBS....
A Word to Anyone Helping in Children’s Ministry (or the boring and inappropriate title)
God uses ordinary people in his redemptive story...
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The Storm-Tossed Family
Last week I posted about some of the books I've been reading of late; now I want to dive into one in particular....
On My Reading Shelf
Here's a look at what I've recently read or am reading right now...
A Tragedy for Western Civilization
The burning of Notre Dame is a tragedy for all Western Civilization......
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God & Post-it Notes
I have a student - let’s call him Karl - who’s a bit fidgety in choir class......
God's Immutability in Resurrection Glory
the message of Easter flows from the attributes of God...
A Biblical Love Poem
The Bible celebrates love between a husband and a wife, sometimes in the most shocking ways....
What the Elders are Reading
Do you want to know what the elders are reading right now?...
Book Review: resource to help parents (and others) lead children to clarity about gender identity
New book helps parents, mentors, pastors, youth ministers, children’s ministry volunteers, or simply friends "bring clarity to young minds in a world that is spinning in confusion" ...
Catch Up on Summer Books
Did you miss out on seeing what books we were recommending and selling this summer? Catch up now with a complete list of what we had at the book table....
Resolved: Not to make resolutions
Resolutions are easily forgotten in the shuffle of the new year. Instead of a list of resolutions, perhaps one word to guide my thoughts and intentions will keep me focused on how God wants to grow me this year....
Book Recommendations for Christmas Gifts
Here's some help for finding books to give away as Christmas gifts this year. ...
Responding to Texas
How do we respond to the events in Texas that happened on Sunday? ...
Worship at Joyful Noise
Have you ever wondered why we have a kids’ music program at ECC? Of all the things we could have offered for kids to do while their siblings are at youth group, why music? ...
Submission to Jesus: Where Real Change Takes Place
Discipleship is about change. Everyone wants to change......
Discipleship at our Church
At ECC, we are committed to at least 10 core values that guide us in our discipleship practice. ...
Welcoming 'interruptions'
Interruptions or blessings? What is God doing with us when we expect life to go one way and it goes some completely different way?...
Keep ReadingBusy for the wrong reasons
What controls your life? The demands of others? Seeking self-fulfillment? I am re-thinking how I structure my life and what controls my activities....
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Following Jesus...by Loving One Another
So you joined a Community Group back in September and now it's the beginning of February. At first it was exciting; you had the summer off and were glad to be back in regular fellowship with people from Church. But now you hear the steady dripping noise of the kitchen faucet when nobody is talking during a discussion. Or maybe your skin is beginning to bristle because THA...
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Sadness & The Church
Sadness. Everyone experiences sadness at some point; it may come in the form of discouragement, the "blues," mourning over tragedy, depression, etc. Sadness is part of the Christian life. Did you know that? Or did you think that sadness only happens to those who are not following Jesus? The psalmist certainly knew sadness: My tears have been my food day and night...Why ...
Keep ReadingHelp Wanted
We live in a time and a culture in which asking for help is perceived as weakness. And our busy-ness often causes us to offer our help in very non-specific ways. How can we become a Body who finds joy in serving one another in caring, creative ways?...
Keep ReadingHow to Listen to Sermons, Part 2
How well prepared are you to listen to the Sunday sermon? Here are the remaining four ingredients for healthy sermon listening drawn from Christopher Ash's book Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons....
Keep ReadingHow to Listen to Sermons
How well prepared are you to listen to the Sunday sermon? We'll go into seven ingredients for healthy sermon listening drawn from Christopher Ash's book Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons....
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