Podcast | Ekklesia Church: Recent Episodes
Ekklesia Church at Raleigh
8/4/2024 – The Dark and Light of David’s ConfessionWhat happens when King David’s darkest failure becomes a public psalm? What can we learn from the raw honesty and troubling omission in David’s confessional-Psalm after his sin against Bathsheba?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/3t38kVYv5xs?t=1796s
7/28/2024 – Wide, Long, High and DeepIn his letter to the Ephesians, Paul offers a prayer for the church. The prayer doesn’t focus on wisdom, intelligence, or morality. Rather it focuses on grasping the immensity of God’s love. How can this prayer guide us in our complex world today?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/cxYw42luTyQ?t=2533s
7/21/2024 – The Onion, The News, and The Good NewsIn a world inundated with misinformation and constant news updates, how can we navigate truth and maintain our sanity? Today’s message explores the dangers of misleading narratives and information overload, while offering practical wisdom from Jesus’ example on finding rest and discernment in our digital age.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IymbDcy4U4U&t=1856s
7/14/2024 – Camp Reunion SundayOn this special camp reunion Sunday, Pastor Greg shares some key insights and funny stories from the past week spent with our students at Higher Ground Adventures Camp. Find out what our students were up to at camp, why it’s important to retell stories, and how much “rizz” our students have.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/AAqMJ9z8Hbo?t=1907s
6/23/2024 – Slaying Giants, Crushing SerpentsWhat if the David and Goliath story is more than just a tale of bravery? Discover the hidden Hebrew wordplay and biblical connections that reveal a deeper message of ultimate hope and victory.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/DMmQud5GxAs?t=2160s
6/16/2024 – A Tale of Two SeedsIn our gospel text this morning, Jesus tells two parables about seeds. One of them we like a lot. The other one less so. But we need the messages of both to help us follow Jesus effectively. (Q&A about the possibility of moving begins at 21m 40s).
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/LgS5Q3_11Lc?t=1768s
6/9/2024 – The Truest Thing About YouIn a world that often defines us by our mistakes and shortcomings, what if there was a truth about ourselves that we’ve been overlooking? Join us as we explore some thoughts from the book of Genesis that invite us to discover our true identity in a fresh and transformative way.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/YpENUQtJNsc?t=1820s
6/2/2024 – Rats, Cheesecake, and Sabbath (and a special announcement)Our lectionary texts this week focus on the Sabbath. Deuteronomy 5 tells us to observe the sabbath and keep it holy. But in Mark 2 and 3, Jesus finds himself in conflict over the sabbath. Was Jesus breaking the sabbath, or was he trying to show us a better way?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1v5cWlrUd0&t=1451s
5/19/2024 – Old and New StoriesThis Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the day the church celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter two. This is one of the stranger stories we encounter in the New Testament, but it turns out the symbols and phenomena in the story are pointing to deeper stories, both old and new.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j56qGa-wI6A&t=1972s
5/12/2024 – Rooted Yet Reimagined – and a great church launch postcardWhat can the early church teach us about navigating the tension between being rooted in tradition and simultaneously reimagining a more just expression of faith and church? Also, we will compare who had the better church launch postcard: Ekklesia or the early church.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5K6AlsJ-Q&t=1947s
5/5/2024 – Secrets of the VineOur lectionary texts in the gospels last week and this week come from John 15. This remarkable chapter speaks about the nature of the Christian life through the metaphor of a vine and branches. What lessons can we learn about our lives from this important passage?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeooxMXgtbE&t=1782s
4/28/2024 – Bakos and the Boundless GospelIn Acts chapter eight, an early follower of Jesus (Philip) meets an Ethiopian Eunuch (Bakos) and begins to understand just how big and expansive God’s boundless gospel actually is. The story challenges us to reconsider our own understanding of God’s radical welcome and inclusivity today.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CJOVxPjeAI&t=1684s
4/21/2024 – Laying Down Your LifeOur lectionary texts this morning focus on Jesus as the good Shepherd who lays down his life. What does it mean to lay down our lives for others in our faith, and how can the many faithful people throughout history inspire us to do so?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlA-pHmt5qk&t=1746s
4/14/2024 – When Shame Meets JesusAfter a crippled is healed at the temple gate, a crowd surrounds Peter and John astonished at what has happened. Just a few months earlier, Peter had denied Jesus 3 times. What happened between that moment and this one? What can we learn from Peter’s transformation and his appeal for the crowds to repent?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am.
4/7/2024 – A Life of TogethernessExploring the radical communal life of the early church in Acts, Pastor Greg discusses the possibility of modern Christians embracing similar togetherness in today’s world. (Plus, we get to learn some peculiar facts about some of our middle school and high school youth.)
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9GQxgsatvU&t=1470s
3/31/2024 – Recentering EasterWe have arrived at a point in our culture where Christmas seems like the center of the Christian calendar. But it is not. Jesus’ death and resurrection are always the center. Even the date of Christmas shows us that.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzDofxKt6_w&t=1346s
3/24/2024 – A Tale of Two ProcessionsToday’s message explored the clash of processions entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: one of imperial might, the other of humble love. Plus, we looked at Mark’s unique gospel focus on Peter’s missteps. How do these stories speak to us today?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQFUSRxDefE&t=1694s
3/17/2024 Seeds, Fruit, and Loving Your LifeWAs Jesus interacted with people in the temple, and prepared for his impending death, he told a parable about a seed dying that gives birth to great life. He was hinting at his own death on the cross, but he was also pointing to the life his followers were called to live. How does this text speak to us today, all these years later?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw_y5We7tUU&t=1994s
3/10/2024 ‘Then’ is ‘Now’: A Bigger Understanding of John 3:16When you see someone holding up a sign that says, “John 3:16” what is your reaction? How do you feel? Our current Christian culture has reduced this verse into something small and judgemental. How might we reclaim it and let it affect our lives today?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnW4FQ-b45I&t=1741s
3/3/2024 Wisdom and FoolishnessIn 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about wisdom and foolishness. How does this text, written thousands of years ago, speak to us today? Watch the archived recording of this message here:
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dbhjyPVVK0&t=1586s
2/25/2024 The Messiah We Want vs. The Messiah We NeedPeter may have correctly confessed Jesus as the Messiah, but his expectations clashed with reality. From viral internet moments to surprising twists in Jesus’ narrative, our perception of the Messiah is challenged. And it needs to be!
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U3lMpnFB4k&t=1968s
2/18/2024 The Beauty of BaptismOn this first Sunday of Lent, our gospel lectionary text is once again the baptism of Jesus. As we prepare to do baptisms on Easter Sunday, we take a look at the meaning of this important sacrament. Baptism has become fraught in our modern culture, but is it possible to get back to more beautiful and productive vision of it?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mRuB7T2Big&t=1806s
8/27/2023 Midwives of Resistance: Birthing a Prophetic AlternativeAmong the women of the Bible, the names Shiphrah and Puah might not ring familiar, yet their extraordinary defiance of Pharaoh in the Exodus narrative is nothing short of amazing. Raised in the confines of slavery, how did they discover the hope for a better world? And what empowered them to transform that hope into action in the violent historical moment they found themselves in?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEk_O8NceIA&t=1538s
8/20/2023 Living in UnityOur Psalm for today talks about the beauty and significance of God’s people living in unity. That is a refreshing but difficult message in our divided in divisive world. How can we begin modeling and practicing unity in our daily lives? Watch the archived recording of this message here:
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7hu1fNJ3iQ&t=1780s
5/21/2023 – The Ever-Expanding GospelIn Acts 1:8, Jesus calls his disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. But what if this call extends to us today? Perhaps the “ends of the earth” is an invitation for each of us to continually expand who we include in our circles.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY8IGyyRiVY&t=1805s
5/14/2023 – Rethinking EvangelismThe word “evangelism” and the idea of sharing our faith currently carries with it a LOT of baggage. How might the story of the Apostle Paul speaking at the Areopagus give us a new perspective and help us let go of some of that baggage?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WJIPSFn0BU&t=1643s
5/7/2023 – Suffering WellThis Sunday we read the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. What can his story teach us about the life of discipleship (and human life in general)?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL7zMDkY6JM&t=1703s
4/30/2023 – 5th Sunday Worship with Bryana CloverJesus’ encounter at the well with a Samaritan woman is a model for racial healing today.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tLCGwcFlI&t=1551s
4/23/2023 – Jesus in a Different FormOn the road back home to Emmaus, Jesus appears to two disciples, but “in a different form.” Why? It seems we ALL need to see Jesus “in a different form” from time to time in order that we see him more fully. What does this mean for us today?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. Watch the archived recording of this message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-147Iq56gIo&t=1922s
4/9/2023 – Easter 2023 – Do Not Hold On to MeOWhen Mary sees Jesus in the garden outside the empty tomb, she fell to the ground, “clasped his feet and worshiped him.” In that moment, Jesus says to her “Do not hold on to me.” Today on Easter Sunday, we explore the meaning of Jesus’ seemingly cryptic words. What did they mean to Mary? What do they mean for us?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57lqYyENxqI&t=2063s
4/2/2023 – Liturgy of the PassionOn Palm Sunday, the lectionary gives us two choices for worship: the liturgy of the palms, or the liturgy of the passion. Though we might prefer the singing and excitement of the triumphal entry, this Sunday we will look forward to the darkness of the cross.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFXzcP954iA&t=2259s
3/26/2023 – Dry BonesAccording to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, the category of non-religious/unaffiliated has become increasingly “sticky” (gaining a lot more people than it is shedding). Christianity is experiencing the opposite. In the most well-known passage from Ezekiel, he has a vision of a “valley of dry bones.” How might this scripture relate to the church today?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVQWtIMIlgI&t=2026s
3/19/2023 – Mud, Blindness, and the Pool of SiloamOur Gospel lectionary text on this fourth Sunday of Lent is the story of Jesus healing a man born blind and sending him to the pool of Siloam. This is a powerful act with resonance beyond what we often realize. And it poses the challenging question: what does it mean to be truly blind?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSRWnoXBRz0&t=1852s
3/12/2023 – We Are Not NowhenIn the beautiful and compelling story of Jesus encounter with the woman at the well, we realize that God does not just meet us where we are, he meets us when we are. What does this mean? What gift might this create for us and for the world?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2cOQ88fRe4&t=1999s
3/05/2023 – Cell Phones and the SpiritToday is our annual meeting. We’ll spend a few minutes talking about how much things have changed over the last 12 years of our life together as a church. And we’ll also discuss the famous passage when Jesus tells Nicodemus you must be born again.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53eeH9GHCMA&t=1603s
2/26/2023 – Make it Easy. Make it Spectacular.The gospel reading for this first Sunday of Lent is the story of Jesus in the wilderness where the devil tempts him to turn stones into bread, and to jump from the highest point of the temple and be caught by angels. What do these strange temptations mean? And are we still tempted today in the same way?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joQH_mxDxzI&t=1735s
2/19/2023 – Transfiguration SundayThis Sunday is transfiguration Sunday. What does this unique story tell us about the world we live in? And how does it relate to movies and video games?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMDcMjSU9Ik&t=1670s
2/12/2023 – Jesus’ Sermon on the MarginsToday’s gospel reading from the sermon on the mount is well-known to most Christians. But being so removed from Jesus’ context — living under Roman occupation with the loss of status, freedom and autonomy — how well do we actually understand it? What might help us understand this sermon better?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zy6NHyktII&t=2048s
2/5/2023 – Intellectual Wisdom or Incarnational WisdomAt our Youth Winter ski retreat, I was reminded that there are two kinds of knowledge: intellectual knowledge, and incarnational knowledge. As followers of Jesus, we are called to incarnational knowledge. How does this awareness change our understanding of evangelism and faith in general?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36iDpZFdtlU&t=1665s
1/29/2023 – Micah 6:8 and Alexa RemindersWhat does the Lord require of you? Throughout much of early Jewish history, Israel thought the answer to this question was “sacrifices.” Throughout my faith journey, I’ve embraced several different answers to this question. How does Micah answer this question?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WJY526pMAU&t=1748s
1/22/2023 – Labels and the LakeToday, as we look at the story of the calling of the first disciples, and Paul’s call to the church in Corinth to have no divisions among themselves, we turn our attention to two deep wells of wisdom: Darth Vader and sports rivalries!
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g8VvzY5yV8&t=1634s
1/15/2023 – A Shift in Perspective & An Unusual WeddingWhen reading through the book of Isaiah, it’s not hard to see a shift take place from beginning to end. Isaiah (and Israel’s) understanding of God’s hopes expands. With insights from an unusual wedding ceremony, we explore this shift and learn what it could mean for us today.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgjc4h7PaQQ&t=1750s
1/8/2023 – Failed Utopia BluesAfter Christmas I always feel a case of the blues. Might this be because of the way we’ve come to celebrate Christmas in our culture? The historic liturgical view of Christmas is very different from cultural Christmas. What can this view teach us as we prepare to embark on a new year?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwdyC8KnTVw&t=2256s
12/24/2022 – Earthbound PlacesJesus’ birth wasn’t announced to Kings or Priests, and it didn’t take place in a palace or city. It was announced to shepherds, and it happened in a stable. If we are willing to hear it, perhaps these facts teach us something about how God likes to show up in our lives.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHWAF-waEps&t=1700s
12/18/2022 – Finding Advent in Unexpected PlacesOur lectionary texts for this Sunday give us some strange Advent texts, particularly one. Why would Romans 1 be an Advent text? Is it a quirk in the readings, or is there some thing about Romans that shows us the very heart of Christmas?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gshJTqJ8Fd0&t=1572s
12/11/2022 – Taking Offense at JesusOur gospel reading tells the story of John the Baptist in prison hearing about everything Jesus was doing, prompting him to ask “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” It seems John took offense at Jesus’ methodology. Jesus frustrated John’s expectations, and He frustrates our’s as well.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dg8UoOWSgQ&t=1684s
12/04/2022 – Prince of Peace?This Sunday’s advent theme is peace. Jesus is called the Prince of peace, but what kind of peace does he offered us? The peace of escapism? Or the peace of resurrection?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived live-streamed version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXIRZtxEI8g&t=1487s
11/27/2022 – The Recital Has BegunWith help from some young piano students playing Christmas recital songs, today we learn how Jesus — when he lived and walked on this earth — was kind of like a piano teacher playing a new song for his students. He was teaching us heaven’s song; the sounds of God’s Kingdom. Now that we know what it “sounds” like, what’s next?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am.
02/20/2022 – Epiphany Week Seven – The Way Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38. We live in a world where turning the other cheek is increasingly viewed as inefficient and ineffective. But what kind of way does Jesus call us to? Our lectionary texts for the day give us a few answers.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived pre-recorded version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ttk8s_GXXw&t=1725s
02/13/2022 – Epiphany – Week Six – Trust Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26. Throughout scripture we find many warnings against placing our trust in mere human strength and wisdom. Instead, we are called to trust in the Lord. The historic Black Church provides us with a powerful model on resisting human wisdom — a model we could learn from today.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived pre-recorded version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ56id4txyU&t=1589s
02/06/2022 – Epiphany – Week Five – The Call Isaiah 6:1-13; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11. This week’s lectionary texts include two stories of callings. What do these stories and others teach us about the life of faith, and the expectations we bring to it?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived pre-recorded version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSsbw-AdRQ&t=1736s
01/30/2022 – Epiphany – Week Four – The Jeremiah Pattern Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30. When God called Jeremiah the prophet, he said, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you … to uproot and tear down … to build and to plant.” Could it be this pattern of uprooting and tearing down moving into building and planting is also something we should expect in our lives?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived pre-recorded version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qBysQji7Pc&t=1609s
01/23/2022 – Epiphany – Week Three – The Body Nehemiah 8:1-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21. What do yard signs and spiritual gifts have in common? On this third Sunday of epiphany, we discuss Paul’s image of the body of Christ.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived pre-recorded version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0wryw_WX9w&t=805s
01/16/2022 – Epiphany – Week Two – One Wedding but Two Parties Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11. In the story of the wedding at Cana, when Jesus turned water into wine, he did more than keep the wedding party going. This moment also started another party — the party that is the Kingdom of God.
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived pre-recorded version of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sc4_fsojcs&t=859s
01/09/2022 – Epiphany – Week One – Water Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22. “What’s up with the water homie?” (lyric from Shad). How do stories of water and baptism shape our faith at the beginning of a new year?
Our services are streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived livestream of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKLpLeDVIEc&t=1389s
12/24/2021 – Christmas Eve 2021 – Peace on Earth Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20. The power that can change the selfishness of human hearts is different from the power our world prefers deal in. And perhaps there is no season in the Christian calendar that teaches this more clearly than Advent.
Our services are live-streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived livestream of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ADsCbDZZ6o&t=1509s
12/19/2021 – Advent 2021 – Week Four – Music in a War Zone Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55. What can two rappers and a cellist teach us about Advent?
Our services are live-streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived livestream of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEIDaDfMQhQ&t=1200s
12/12/2021 – Advent 2021 – Week Three – Promised Land: The Sequel Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18. In ancient Judaism, only non-Jewish converts into Judaism were baptized, for the Jewish people already had their own collective baptism story when Joshua led Israel through the Jordan River and they entered the promised land. Which begs the question, why was John “rebaptizing” fellow Jews in the Jordan River? What had they missed with their first baptism?
Our services are live-streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived livestream of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgZcTdEc4v8
12/05/2021 – Advent 2021 – Week Two – Waiting Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6. Advent is not a time of celebration. It is a time of waiting. Our lectionary texts today point to John the baptist. What can John teach us about how to live in a time of waiting?
Our services are live-streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived livestream of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIb79zcV-E
11/28/2021 – Advent 2021 – Week One – The Days are Surely Coming Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36. When Jeremiah spoke words of hope and promise to the Jewish people, he was speaking from (and into) great despair and darkness. They had left God’s storyline and found themselves in exile in Babylon. Could there be similarities between their story and the American Church? Have we too left God’s storyline? Have we too moved against the grain of love? Do we find ourselves in exile as well?
Our services are live-streamed every Sunday on our YouTube channel (https://ekklesiaraleigh.org/youtube). Join us Sundays online at 10:45am. To watch the archived livestream of this message, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8PGrxqt4j8