Elm City Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Elm City Church
Elm City Church is a community of people who are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." These messages are meant to be an equipping tool for that purpose. Discover more at www.elmcitychurch.com
This week we explored what it means to love God with all our heart, discovering that the heart is the control center of our lives where our desires, thoughts, and choices are formed. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus doesn’t simply call us to obey better—through the New Covenant He gives us a new heart and His Spirit so that we can truly love God from the inside out.
In Matthew 22:34–40, Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment is to love God wholeheartedly and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Biblical love is both inward devotion and outward action—a response to the perfect love God has already shown us through Jesus Christ.
This past Sunday, we continued our SHEMA series by exploring God's personal name, Yahweh, and what it reveals about His character.
In Exodus 34, God describes Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Jesus is the clearest picture of that same God. As we come to know Him more, we grow to love Him more—and we begin to look more like Him.
This Sunday, we launched our new series, SHEMA, by exploring one of the most important prayers in all of Scripture.
Throughout the message, we saw that this has always been God's desire for His people. Jesus Himself identified the Shema as the greatest commandment, reminding us that loving God is more than a feeling or belief—it is demonstrated by the way we live. Following Jesus is neither empty religious rule-keeping nor a relationship with no expectations. True devotion is a relationship with Christ that is expressed through obedience to His way.
In the closing benediction of 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the gospel creates a new family where people from every background are adopted into God’s household through the grace of Jesus Christ. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we are called to live as a distinct community marked by the Father’s love, the Son’s grace, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit while faithfully serving the places where God has planted us.
In the closing verses of 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the church’s greatest hope is not that people are perfect, but that God is still transforming imperfect people through His presence. The gospel gives us confidence that as we walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit continues to form us into a community marked by joy, maturity, encouragement, unity, and peace.
In Romans 8:12–18, Paul teaches that through faith in Christ we are no longer slaves to fear but adopted children of God, called to live in the freedom, security, and hope of our new identity in His family.
In Acts 17:22–31, Paul teaches that our greatest spiritual problem is not a lack of spirituality but misplaced devotion, and that true life is found by turning our attention to the God who has made Himself known through Jesus Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul teaches that generosity is contagious, requires trust, and ultimately leads to worship. As believers step out in faith and give generously, God uses their generosity to meet needs, strengthen faith, and cause thanksgiving to overflow to Him. Generosity is not primarily about money—it is a response to the generous grace we have received through Jesus Christ, the gift too wonderful for words.
In 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, Paul shows us that true generosity flows from experiencing the grace of God. The Macedonian churches gave joyfully and sacrificially, not because they had abundance, but because God’s grace had transformed their hearts. Ultimately, Christian generosity is rooted in Jesus himself—though he was rich, he became poor for our sake so that we could become rich in him.
In 2 Corinthians 7:5–13, Paul explains the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. One leads to defensiveness, shame, and spiritual death; the other leads to repentance, healing, and life. The gospel frees us to honestly confront our sin because our failures are not our identity—through Jesus, repentance becomes the pathway to restoration and freedom.
This week, we’re diving into the book of Habakkuk and exploring one of the hardest parts of faith: what do we do when God’s answers don’t make sense? Habakkuk boldly brings his frustration, confusion, and pain directly to God, asking questions many of us have been afraid to pray out loud. Through this powerful conversation between a prophet and God, we’ll discover that God is not intimidated by our honest prayers and that real faith is often formed in seasons of tension, waiting, and uncertainty.
If you’ve ever wrestled with unanswered prayers, disappointment, suffering, or wondered where God is in the middle of difficult circumstances, this message is for you. Habakkuk reminds us that even when life feels out of control and God’s timing feels slow, the Lord is still present, still listening, and still in control.
In 2 Corinthians 6:3–13, Paul shows that pressure reveals what is truly inside of us. Following Jesus is impossible in our own strength, but the Holy Spirit produces in believers the love, joy, endurance, and integrity we could never manufacture ourselves. This passage ultimately points us to Jesus—the only one whose integrity remained perfect under pressure, and the one who now strengthens us to follow Him.
In 2 Corinthians 5:16–6:2, Paul shows how the Gospel changes everything. Through Jesus, we are made new and reconciled to God. We’re no longer living for ourselves—we’ve been sent as His ambassadors with the message of reconciliation. And that message carries urgency: the time to respond to God is now.
In 2 Corinthians 5:10–16, Paul shows us what truly drives the Christian life. He lives with an awareness that he will one day stand before Christ, and that eternity is at stake for others. But more than anything, his life is controlled by the love of Jesus. When we understand what Christ has done for us, we’re no longer living out of fear or pressure—we’re living from His love. And that changes everything.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1–10, Paul teaches that confidence in our eternal future, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, frees us to live with purpose, hope, and trust in the present. If Christ has really been raised from the dead, then how we live in the now matters.
In John 21, we see that the resurrection doesn’t just prove Jesus’ power—it reveals His grace. Peter, who had failed Jesus in a defining moment, is restored not with shame, but with love. Jesus meets him in the very place of his failure and re-invites him to follow Him. Because of that, our failures don’t have the final word—Jesus does, and He continues to restore and call us forward.
In John 20:1–10, we see the first moments of Easter morning—confusion, investigation, and finally belief. The empty tomb and the evidence left behind point to the reality that Jesus truly rose from the dead, proving that His death paid for sin and that new life is available to all who believe. Because Jesus is alive, everything changes—and we are invited to respond by turning to Him and trusting in the life He offers.
In John 13:1–17, Jesus shows us that true greatness looks like humble service. The King of Kings takes the place of a servant, pointing to the deeper reality that we must first be cleansed by Him before we can follow His example. When we understand how deeply we’ve been loved and served by Jesus, we are freed to serve others with the same humility and love.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7–18, Paul teaches that our weakness is part of God’s strategy, and that by fixing our eyes on Christ and eternity, we can endure present suffering with hope and purpose.
In 2 Corinthians 4:1–6, Paul reminds us that the gospel is powerful because it reveals the glory of Jesus. Some people reject the message because their hearts are spiritually blinded, but when God opens someone’s eyes, it’s like light shining into darkness. That’s why we don’t preach ourselves—we simply proclaim Jesus as Lord and trust God to transform lives.
In 2 Corinthians 3:7–18, Paul shows us that real spiritual transformation doesn’t come from trying harder but from beholding Jesus. When the barrier between us and God is removed through faith, the Holy Spirit gives us new life and begins changing us from the inside out as we fix our attention on Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 3:1–6, Paul teaches that true confidence does not come from human credentials or performance, but from the Spirit’s life-giving work — calling us to trust Christ rather than our own qualifications.
In 2 Corinthians 2:14–17, Paul shows us that Jesus is the victorious King, and that those captured by his grace now carry the gospel like a fragrance — life to some, death to others — calling each of us to respond.
This week in 2 Corinthians 2:5–11, we explore how the gospel shapes both discipline and forgiveness, showing that healthy confrontation protects the church, but true strength is seen when forgiven people extend forgiveness and move toward restoration.
This week in 2 Corinthians 1:12–20, we explore how disappointment with people can quietly shake our faith—and how Paul points us back to the unchanging truth that our hope isn’t anchored in human reliability, but in the faithful, never-wavering “Yes” of Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3–11, Paul shows that God meets us in suffering with His presence, using our trials to comfort others and to move us from self-reliance to deeper dependence on Him.
This week in 2nd Corinthians 1:3–7, we explore how God meets us in suffering not with easy answers, but with his comforting presence, reminding us that real hope is found in the gospel of a Savior who suffered for us and walks with us through hardship.
This week we begin a new series in 2nd Corinthians, exploring how Paul’s opening words remind us that the gospel of Jesus brings real hope to messy lives and sustains God’s people as they follow him and seek to see his church take root in hard places.
In Colossians 4:2–6, we explore how devoted prayer is a shared calling that fuels Gospel opportunities and prepares us to speak with clarity. As we pray, live wisely, and speak graciously, God uses our everyday lives to open doors for others to encounter Jesus.
In part 1 of our 2 part mini series on our 2026 theme of “Devoted” we explored what it means to be truly devoted to prayer, and how intentional attention to God reshapes our hearts, realigns our lives, and deepens our dependence on His grace.
Sunday, Joe helped us see how the Bible’s story truly ends—not with escape, but with restoration. Beginning in Revelation 21:1–7, the sermon explored the hope of the new heaven and new earth, showing how God is undoing what sin has broken and inviting us to live as a preview of that future right now. Scripture calls listeners to trust the story God is telling and step into the purpose they were created for.
In this Christmas Eve message from Luke 2:1–20, Albie showed how the Christmas story is more than just a familiar story—it’s a royal announcement. Set against the power of Caesar and the promises of empire, the birth of Jesus declares a greater King, a true Savior, and a new decree of grace. This sermon invites listeners to move beyond sentimentality and step into the story God is telling through Jesus.
This week we explored Mark 1 to see that Christmas is not a sentimental tale but the arrival of Jesus the King. Jesus’ unexpected kingdom confronts us and calls us to repent, believe the good news, and surrender our lives to Him.
This week’s sermon explores Act 3 of God’s story through Genesis 12 and Matthew 1, showing how God’s promises to Abraham and David are fulfilled in Jesus. Albie Powers called the church to embrace faith, risk, and obedience. Elm City Church is celebrating how God has multiplied the mission through bold steps in church planting and student ministry. In this next stage, this challenges listeners to take faithful risks in the mission that God has called us to.
This Sunday, we continued our Advent series with Act 2: What Went Wrong?, exploring the story of the Fall in Genesis 3. We looked at how sin entered the world, why our relationships feel fractured, and how this ancient story explains the brokenness we experience today. But even in humanity’s failure, God speaks hope—promising a future Redeemer who would crush the serpent and restore what sin destroyed. Join us as we unpack why Act 2 makes the Christmas story necessary and how Jesus steps in as the long-awaited answer to the world’s deepest problem.
Albie kicked off Advent by showing how the Christmas story fits into the bigger story of Scripture, beginning with Creation. We were made by God, made for God, and made with purpose—and the incarnation is God stepping into His own story to redeem what He created. Christmas invites us to live into God’s true story and find our place in it.
In Philippians 4:4–9, Paul reminds us that thankfulness isn’t the result of an stress-free life—it’s a practice that reorients our hearts and minds toward God’s peace. Joe McGarvey shared how, even in anxious or chaotic seasons, intentionally remembering and expressing gratitude—through journaling, prayer, or sharing with others—shifts our perspective, reduces stress, and strengthens our resilience. This week, as we head into Thanksgiving, the challenge isn’t just “What are you thankful for?” but “How will you practice thankfulness?” Making space for gratitude lets us experience God’s presence, trust His provision, and live with peace, no matter our circumstances.
This Sunday, we explored Baptism as Public Testimony of God’s Grace—why we do it, what it means, and how it declares the transforming grace of Jesus. Baptism is more than a symbol; it’s a public proclamation that through Christ our old life is gone and a new one has begun. Join us as we unpack why Jesus commands baptism, how it connects to the early church, and why every testimony—even the ordinary ones—are a powerful story of God’s saving work.
This week, we explored Psalm 32—a powerful invitation to freedom through confession. In a culture that hides weakness, David shows us that the blessed life is found not in perfection, but in forgiveness. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven.” Join us as we unpack how confession restores our joy, unburdens our hearts, and leads us back to the God who covers, carries, and forgives.
“Everyone who is made new in Christ is sent out with the message of reconciliation—because the love of Jesus reshapes our identity, purpose, and mission.”
This Sunday, Albie shared from John 14, where Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In a world filled with competing ideas about God, Jesus alone provides the way to the Father and the promise of eternal life. Join us as we explore what it means to know Him personally, trust Him completely, and experience the life only He can give. “When the good news becomes your good news, Jesus changes you.”
This Sunday, Pastor Albie Powers returned from sabbatical to share from John 10, where Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” In a world full of competing voices, Jesus alone offers true life. As Albie put it, “A rich and satisfying life is given to those who stay close to the Good Shepherd.” Join us as we explore what it means to trust His care and follow Him into the kind of full, abundant life only He can give.
This Sunday, we explored John 11, where Jesus makes one of His most powerful declarations: “I am the resurrection and the life.” In the story of Lazarus, we see that God’s glory isn’t revealed by avoiding pain—but by entering it. Together, we’ll reflect on what it means to believe that Jesus is not just the giver of life but life itself, even when hope feels lost.
This week, we explored what it means that Jesus isn’t just a giver of bread, but the Bread itself, the One who satisfies the deepest hunger of our souls. As we looked at the hungry crowd, the true bread from heaven, the offense of His words, and the responses of those who heard Him, we wrestled with a vital question: Are we seeking Jesus for what He gives, or for who He is?
This Sunday, we dived into John 10:1-10, where Jesus declares, “I am the door of the sheep.” In a world full of competing voices, Jesus stands apart as the True Shepherd—the one who calls us by name, protects us, and leads us into abundant life. Together we’ll explore what it means to recognize His voice, trust His care, and follow Him into the kind of life only He can give.
This week, Steve Aldrich preached on Jesus’ claim, “I am the vine.” We reflected on how abiding in Christ is the only way to experience true life and lasting fruit. The pruning process may be difficult, but it leads to growth. The invitation is to remain connected to Jesus each day, drawing strength from Him and bearing fruit for God’s glory.
This week in our series I AM: Believe and Abide, guest speaker Jeff Ebert preached on Jesus’ claim: “I am the light of the world.” We explored how Christ’s light is greater than any darkness, both infinite in power and personal in care. To follow Him is to trust His direction one step at a time, believing that His light is enough for each day. Receive the Light. Follow the Light—Jesus Himself!
This week we explored John 1:35–46 and Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see.” Abiding with Christ means more than curiosity—it means remaining with Him in fellowship. That abiding naturally draws us into community and sends us on mission, echoing the disciples’ invitation: “Come and see.”
The message reminds us that faith is never “me and Jesus alone.” To follow Jesus is to follow Him together, rooted in Christ’s identity, bearing fruit in community, and sharing the life He offers with others.
The Least of These. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the suffering in the world. Unintentionally, we can become numb to the suffering simply because we are inundated with so much of it. But it is clear in Matthew 25 that to serve the hurting is to serve Christ.
This week we welcomed guest speaker, Pastor Paul Voltmer, from Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Windsor, VT. Paul is also our Northwest Regional Superintendent from the EFCA and part of the church that originally planted the church that planted us! Paul is preaching from the passage John 4:1-26. In this passage we see a source and strategy for sharing the Gospel that is worth replicating. Once the Samaritan woman drinks deep of the living water Jesus offers her, she can't help but tell others about him.
We wrapped up our Lord’s Prayer series by looking at “Garden Moments”—those times when we must choose between God’s will and our own desires. Temptation is a trap; testing is an opportunity to trust. Jesus invites us to pray in advance for God’s protection and guidance, knowing our weaknesses. And because Jesus overcame His Garden Moment, we can face ours with His Spirit’s strength.
This week, we explored Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer. We learned that sin is a debt we owe to God—and forgiveness is the act of releasing that debt. Through confession, we receive healing and freedom. And as people who have been forgiven, we’re invited to extend that same mercy to others. Forgiveness isn’t weakness, it's an invitation to freedom.
This week, we explored what it means to pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” Jesus teaches us to depend on God for our most basic needs and to trust Him one day at a time. In a world of anxiety and self-reliance, this prayer calls us into peace, presence, and participation—both receiving from God and becoming a source of provision for others.
This week, we looked at what it means to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” Jesus invites us to long for God’s reign and trust His desires above our own. Prayer becomes an act of surrender and participation—believing that God's best is better and choosing to live like it’s true.
This week, we reflected on how the Lord’s Prayer begins with intimacy and reverence. Jesus invites us to relate to God as our Father—and to remember His holy, unchanging character. How you approach God in prayer shapes how you live this life. Prayer starts not with asking, but with remembering who God is.
This week, we reflected on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 6 about how not to pray—and how to pray. Prayer is not performance or persuasion, but a relationship rooted in faith and honesty. Rather than settling for a superficial or empty prayer life, listeners are invited to rediscover prayer as a deeply personal connection with God the Father.
This week, we explored Psalm 119 and how true spiritual life comes not from our own effort, but from God’s Word and power. Listeners are invited to join us this summer in reading through the NT as a community.
This week we kicked off our new series called “Rooted to Bear Fruit.” Psalm 1 invites us into a life rooted in God’s Word—one that bears lasting fruit even in difficult seasons. In this message, we explore how regularly engaging with Scripture is both a spiritual keystone habit and connects us to the source of true happiness.
This past Sunday we heard from Bill Hayes. Bill reminded us the truth that we are the object of God’s affection. In 1 Kings 19 we are told about how the prophet Elijah fell into deep despair right after he had experienced an incredible victory. There are going to be times in our lives when our emotions are not a solid indicator of our situation, and in those moments we need to cling to the truths of God’s word that tells us a truer and better story.
On Sunday, we explored Acts 2:42-47, which vividly depicts the early church's community life. We witnessed how the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, creating a foundation of unity, generosity, and support. This is a model for living as a faith community today. We were encouraged to assess our own commitment to these practices and challenged to engage deeply with one another and the wider community, embodying the principles of the early church in our lives.
Acts 2:14–41
This week we looked at Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2 and how the Gospel speaks directly to our deepest longings for identity, belonging, and purpose. In Jesus and his Church, we find the best answers to our deepest questions and a solution to our greatest problem.
Acts 2:1–13
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit transformed doubters into bold witnesses by filling them with His presence and enabling them to speak the Gospel in every person’s heart language. That same Spirit is still moving today—calling us to pray, speak, and take our next step in God’s missionl
In this message, Joe explores what it means to trust God in seasons of uncertainty. Just like the apostles in acts 2, even when the details are unknown, we are invited to faithful obedience—believing that the Spirit empowers us to live for the Gospel in the waiting moments of life. The call is to obediently trust God in moments of uncertainty.
God doesn’t wait for perfect faith to call us—He uses ordinary, hesitant people who make themselves available and obedient. This message unpacks how doubt and discipleship often walk hand-in-hand, and how obedience is often the first step toward deeper faith.
This week, we looked at one of the most personal post-resurrection encounters between Jesus and Peter (John 21:1-19). Around a familiar charcoal fire—the same smell that once reminded Peter of his greatest failure—Jesus offered restoration instead of rejection. Peter’s internal soundtrack had been one of shame and regret, but Jesus rewrote it with grace and a renewed calling: “Follow me.”
Have you ever wondered if Christianity is just too good to be true? This week’s message, Blessed are the Doubters: Believe!, explored that very question through the story of Thomas in John 20:19–31. Just like people today fall for scams by not asking questions, we’re reminded that healthy doubt can actually lead us closer to the truth. The Bible doesn’t shame our questions—it welcomes them. Jesus offered real evidence to Thomas and gently invited him to believe.
Have you ever felt like God wasn’t meeting your expectations? You’re not alone! The story of Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus is a beautiful reminder of how Jesus meets us in our moments of doubt and disappointment.
This Easter, we looked at the unbelievable news of the empty tomb in Luke 24 and the angel’s question: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” The resurrection invites us into a living faith, remembering Jesus’ words and taking the leap of trust toward Him.
In this week’s message, we saw how Jesus entered Jerusalem not just as a good teacher, but as the long-awaited King who came to rescue and restore. In this message from Luke 19:28–40, Joe McGarvey challenges us to answer the most important question: Who is Jesus to you?
This week we wrapped up our Malachi series by looking at the two responses to God’s message in Malachi 3:13–4:6—one of rejection, the other of faithful obedience. The difference between judgment and joy comes down to this: Have you truly heard God’s word—and are you responding to it?
This week we unpack Malachi 3:6–12 and the connection between our giving and our spiritual health. Discover why generosity isn’t about obligation, but a joyful response to God’s unchanging grace.
In the 4th message in our Malachi series we looked at Malachi 2:17–3:6 and the tension we feel when life seems unfair and God seems distant. Discover why it’s actually good news that God isn’t fair—and how His mercy, justice, and refining love meet us at the cross.
In the third installment of our Malachi series we see how spiritual apathy leads to moral compromise, and in Malachi 2:10-16, God confronts Israel’s unfaithfulness in both their worship and relationships. True faithfulness to God is reflected in how we treat others, and through Christ, we find both the grace to repent and the strength to live with integrity.
In this week’s message, we focused on the idea that the journey, or "the means," is just as important as the outcome. Transformation in Christ is a process that requires setting our minds on things above, letting go of earthly desires, and actively renewing our character. In Colossians 3:1-15, Paul urges believers to put to death sinful behaviors and instead clothe themselves with virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Growth occurs during the process of following Christ, not only in reaching an end goal.
In our second message in Malachi we see how authentic worship is giving God our best, not our leftovers. God, through Maachi, rebuked the priests for dishonoring God with worthless sacrifices, and we must evaluate whether we are doing the same today.
In this opening message of the Malachi series, we see how Malachi is a prophetic call to renewal aimed at a spiritually apathetic people. Through Malachi’s confrontational yet hopeful message, we’re challenged to examine our devotion, recognize God’s unchanging love, and return to wholehearted worship.
This week in our Everybody Plays series, we looked at Jesus washing his disciples feet it John 13. In doing this, Jesus flips the script on leadership by choosing a towel over a position of honor, calling us to serve one another just as He served us. His actions towards us are what empower us to live out the “One Another” commands found in the New Testament. Discover what it means to truly love, encourage, and care for one another—and why in the church, Everybody Plays.
In the second week of our “Everybody Plays” series we looked at 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 and unpacked how God’s work of reconciliation transforms us into new creations and restores us as his beloved children. As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to actively participate in His mission, sharing the message of reconciliation with others. In the church there are no spectators, everybody plays. Fueled by gratitude for God’s love, we embrace our unique gifts to live for Him and make His good news known to the community around us.
This week we started a new series by focusing on the question, “What is the purpose of the church?” When you don’t have clarity on the main thing it is easy to get sidetracked by focusing on things that are not central. This week’s message highlighted the three purposes of the church: 1. The worship and glory of God, 2. To equip, encourage, and care for believers, and 3. To share the Gospel with the world.
The church is not a building or a service, it is the called out people of God. We are called out to be active participants in the mission of the church. Everyone has a role to play in fulfilling the church’s purpose, and a healthy church is a church where “everybody plays.”
Just as Mary and Joseph misplace Jesus. Sometimes we can get caught up in our ordinary lives and miss out on extraordinary moments with Jesus. If we aren’t careful, our routines can drag as away from Jesus. In order to practice the way of Jesus we must look to find him in our everyday lives. Don’t miss Jesus.
In Matthew 2 we see three distinct responses to Jesus. Herod was hostile, the religious leaders were indifferent, and the magi responded with devotion. As we start 2025 you are invited to reflect on this question, “how am I currently responding to Jesus?” The invitation of the passage is to respond to Jesus in the same way the magi did and bring him gifts that are truly fit for a king.
In this week’s message, we follow up on the birth of Christ and gain insight into what unfolded after Jesus’ arrival. In Luke 2, we see how patience plays a role in the journey of following Christ and how Jesus’ redemptive role demonstrates the joy and hope His presence brings to those who are faithful to God.
In part four of our Christmas Stories we take a look at the birth of John the Baptist and the Zechariah’s song that follows. Two big connected themes emerge from our passage: God’s covenant faithfulness and his mercy. God’s mercy is the fundamental basis for his actions and God always keeps his promises, often in unexpected and surprising ways. Listen in and learn how you can experience this good news.
The third message in our Christmas Stories series explores the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth in Luke 1, highlighting the reversal of status as Elizabeth honors Mary, and emphasizing the theme of joy in serving Jesus. We are invited to place our faith in Jesus as a response to God's unfolding plan of redemption and encouraged to embrace the joy of serving and doing hard things for God.
Luke 1:26-28
This week in our "Christmas Stories" series, we explored the Annunciation narrative from Luke. All throughout Luke’s narratives we see that God always keeps his promises, often in unexpected and surprising ways. This message invites you to make the story of Jesus—His crucifixion and resurrection—the central defining story of your life and to respond to God's offer of salvation.
The sermon delved into how God enters our story, often in unexpected ways, and invites us to be part of His greater narrative. We examined the cultural context of shame and honor in biblical times, and how God worked through Zechariah and Elizabeth's situation to not only answer their prayers but also to advance His redemptive plan. This narrative reminds us that God sees value in what the world may deem shameful, and He can transform our areas of pain and suffering into something beautiful and purposeful.
In the final Part of our Practicing the Way Series, we explore the vital role of community and spiritual friendships within Christianity. He emphasizes our instinctual need for authentic connections, highlighting the increasing loneliness amplified by social media. Through scripture and personal testimony, McGarvey illustrates how deep, vulnerable relationships can transform lives and enhance spiritual growth. He invites viewers to find hope in Jesus Christ and engage actively in a faith community, which he views as essential for overcoming loneliness and personal brokenness.
In part 7 of our Practicing the Way Series we explored the teaching of Jesus in John 15:1-11, emphasizing the importance of aligning our life’s aim with Jesus as the true target we need to aim in order to experience lasting joy. Albie introduced the concept of a “Rule of Life”, a structured approach to spiritual growth that can act as a spiritual trellis to help us remain connected to Jesus and bear fruit.
In part six of our “Practicing the Way” series we looked at the link between confession and healing from sin. Jesus has both forgiveness and healing on offer. In a world where we are all impacted by sin, either sin done by us, to us, or around us, we are all people in regular need of forgiveness and healing. Confession is God’s great gift to us and allows us to access through the power of the Gospel the forgiveness and cleansing we need.
In part five of our “Practicing the Way” series we explore what it means to meet God in our pain and suffering. Most people’s instinctive response to pain is to deny it, detach from it, or to drug it. We see in the example of Jesus that we can instead bring our pain to God and encounter his presence in the midst of our pain.
In part four of our “Practicing the Way” series we explore the practices, or the spiritual disciplines of Jesus. The practices of Jesus create the TIME and SPACE needed for us to encounter the PRESENCE and POWER of God so we can be transformed from the inside out.
Jesus once said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but every student when he is fully traine`d will be like his teacher.” If the call of the Christian life is to become like our teacher Jesus, how do we do that? Listen in as we discuss the process the New Testament gives us for becoming more like Jesus.
In part three of our "Practicing the Way" series, we continue to explore the concept of spiritual formation and how followers of Jesus are continually shaped by their habits, relationships, and environments.
In part two of our "Practicing the Way" series, we explore the concept of spiritual formation and how followers of Jesus are continually shaped by their habits, relationships, and environments. Although many things change immediately upon following Jesus, much of our transformation takes time and requires intentionality and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Listen in and be challenged to reflect on the way the world is shaping you and how this impacts our discipleship to Jesus.
What does it mean to become a disciple of Jesus? Often when the Gospel is presented it tells people how to BECOME a Christian and leaves out Jesus’ instructions on how to BE a Christian. Listen in as we explore what it means to say yes to Jesus’ invitation of “follow me.”
Our theme for 2024 is “Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known.” Listen in as we talk about how the invitation of Jesus is an invitation to a relationship and a task. This is the invitation that Jesus is still offering to us all. Finally we introduced our “40 Days of Courage” where everyone is encouraged to take steps of courage in sharing Jesus over the next 40 days. Our motto for the next 40 days is going to be, “Do it scared.”
Did you know new churches reach 10x’s as many new people as existing churches? Multiplication is costly but it’s worth it. Listen in as we talk about the cost and the importance of planting River Valley Church in Walpole, NH.
2 Timothy 2:9-22
Followers of Jesus are called to be “saints together.” Listen in as we finish up our series going through 2nd Timothy and see why the cost of community is worth it. The life of Paul also shows us that even when our community lets us down we can be comforted by the God who will never leave us nor forsake us.
When all is said and done will you be proud of what you have accomplished with your life? Reflecting on his life the Apostle Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” LIsten in as we explore how a life spent serving Jesus rather than living for ourselves is the path to the meaningful life we all want to life.
Listen in as we explore Paul's final charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-6, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of preaching God's Word. Remember how high the stakes are when it comes to our faith and the importance of sharing the Gospel message with passion and patience.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
We spend so much of our lives trying to figure out what we are going to do with our lives. More important than what you do however is who you are becoming. In 2 Timothy 2:22-26 Paul gives Timothy five actions in helping him follow Jesus. They are flee, pursue, avoid, be, and trust. Listen in and see how these actions still apply to us today.
Have you ever found yourself incredibly busy yet wondering if you’re accomplishing anything meaningful? In this message we are reminded that the church's primary mission is to make disciples. A key component of doing that is rightly handling God's Word. Listen in as we explore not only the importance of teaching God’s word accurately, but also the danger of false teaching.
This week we looked at 2 Timothy 2:8-14 and saw that those who remember what God has done and cultivate the memory of his great work on their behalf will live for his glory. There is a direct link between our understanding and remembrance of what God has done for us and our passion in living for him.
Join us as we look at 2 Timothy 2:3-7, examining Paul's metaphors of the soldier, athlete, and farmer that illustrate the sacrifices and rewards of following Jesus. Discover why Jesus is worthy of our devotion and why every struggle in His service is truly worth it.
Tune in for a Father's Day Message about how a Father's job is to teach, give guidance, and give and be an example.
2 Timothy 2:1-7
So often the Christian life can feel like being asked to do things you can’t do. Listen in as we talk about how through the power of God’s grace, God makes us who we are not. Paul’s call to Timothy to “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” is the same call that goes out to us.
2 Timothy 1:8-14What is the gospel and what is our responsibility to it? Tune in and find out!
Do you ever find yourself anxious and afraid to let others know you are a Christian or to stand for the Gospel? Listen in to our teaching on 2 Timothy 1:8-10 as we explore how to be confident in the Gospel.
2 Timothy 1:1-7
So often we settle for something far short of what Jesus has on offer. Listen in this week as we explore the fullness of life on offer in Jesus.
This past Sunday we looked at the background of 2 Timothy and learned about Timothy’s story. Timothy was greatly impacted by the message of the Gospel, the power behind the Gospel, and the conviction of the Gospel messenger. God’s call is still going out to Timothy’s today.
Matthew 4:18-20What did Jesus mean when he said, “Come, follow me”? Listen in as we explore what it means to be a disciple or an apprentice of Jesus. Our mission as a church is to “Practice the Way of Jesus Together” and this message will help you understand more what that means.
This past Sunday was a re-cast of our 2024 vision. All throughout the Scriptures we see examples of God providing reminders for people because we are so prone to forget. In light of that we are taking a week to remember what we believe God is calling us into this year. Our 2024 vision is “Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known.” We are praying that we will see 50 people come to a saving relationship with Jesus this year. Our two anchor texts were 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and Ephesians 3:14-21.
Have you ever wondered how Jesus responds to us when we fail? Listen in as we look at the story of Peter’s failure and redemption recorded in John’s Gospel. Instead of discarding Peter, Jesus healed, redeemed, and recommissioned Peter. The beauty of this story is that it is not just about Peter, it’s also about how Jesus responds to us when we fail.
Ever wonder how Jesus feels when we doubt? Listen in as we look at the story of Jesus and Thomas in John 20. Doubt can be a healthy part of our faith journey if handled well. When you find yourself doubting one important question you need to ask is, “Do I want this to be true?”
This year's Easter message explores the power of Jesus' Resurrection, not just as a one-time event, but a continual reality for the life of a believer. Justin explores the universal problem of sin and how it separates all of us from God while highlighting Jesus' sacrifice on a cross and how it offers hope, breaks the power of sin, and provides a chance for a new beginning for all who will "confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead..."
On Sunday we looked at John 12 as a way to answer the all-important questions of, “Who is Jesus?” While there may be no shortage of opinions on this question today, the writers of the New Testament and Jesus himself make it very clear that he cannot be labeled a mere man, a good teacher, or just a prophet. His words and actions on Palm Sunday show he believed he was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God, and the savior of the world.
This Sunday, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with Irish music, and Albie shared the story of Saint Patrick.
This past Sunday, Justin finished part two of a message series on generosity. We looked at "3 Biblical Postures in Financial Giving" from the pattern of several church plants in Macedonia from the New Testament. From 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, we learn that because of the immeasurable grace of God, followers of Christ are free to give generously as an act of worship and expression of the heart to their local church.
2 Cor. 9:6-8; Matthew 6:19-21; Col. 2:13-14
Giving can be a tricky topic in church. Listen in as we discuss how giving to the local church is primarily an act of worship for followers of Jesus. How we use our financial resources can act as both a thermometer and a thermostat to set the temperature of our hearts.
Ephesians 6:18-24
One key theme that is seen all throughout the book Ephesians is that action flows from identity. How we view ourselves often dictates how act. The final label that Paul gives himself is an “Ambassador in Chains.” Listen and discover what it means for you to own your identity as an ambassador for Christ.
This past Sunday, Justin continued our Ephesians series by looking at "The Full Armor of God." Listen as we explore the imagery of spiritual armor when it comes to taking a stand against the enemy of our souls.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Did you know that you have an enemy that wants nothing more than your ultimate destruction? Sounds intense but it’s true. Listen this week as we learn about the schemes of the one the Bible calls “the devil” and how his goal is to get you to believe lies so you miss out on the truth that will set you free.
How should your faith impact how you work? Listen in as we take a look at Paul’s instructions to masters and servants in Ephesians 6:5-9 and see how it applies to us in our modern context.
Dad's this message is for you. Being a parent and being a father has never been more difficult. Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 6:1-4 help ground us in this essential calling.
Ephesians 5:21-6:9
This week we looked at the household codes section of Ephesians. Paul takes a well known form of a household code and completely reshapes the foundation of it. In the family of God the “rules” are different and are modeled off of our Savior who did not seek to be served but rather to serve others.
This Sunday Jeff Ebert delivered part one of a two part series about Courage in Matthew 14:22-29
Matthew 1:18-25
Just as light reveals darkness the story of Christmas reveals three amazing truths. It reveals our urgent need, an unexpected solution, and our need for unconditional surrender. We are also reminded through the incarnation of Jesus that God is with us and God is for us.
John 3:16
This Sunday we looked at the final theme of advent, love. Jesus famously said, “For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Salvation through Jesus is the greatest gift you could ever receive, how will you respond?
**Luke 2:8-14
In Luke’s gospel we see that the birth of Jesus triggered an explosion of joy within everyone who encountered him. They could not help but share what they had seen and experienced. This is still true for all those today who encounter the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.**
In this week’s Advent message we looked at the Biblical theme of peace. The Scriptures portray Jesus as the arrival of peace and Jesus himself promised, “In me you will have peace.” Those who keep their eyes on Jesus will be kept in perfect peace.
This Sunday we kicked off our Advent series by looking at the theme of hope and 1 Peter 1:3-9. The message of Christmas is truly Good News, not because it’s an escape from reality, but because through it Jesus changes our reality. In Jesus we can find our true hope.
One of the foundational questions the writers of the New Testament addressed was, “How should followers of Jesus relate to the society they live in?” In Ephesians 5:1-14 we see the themes of separation, distinction, and influence. When these three themes are combined with the command to, “be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love” they produce a compelling, joy filled life.
This past Sunday, Justin shared from John 4 about the Woman at the Well, unpacking the four major barriers that Jesus broke down in order to reach her. In this passage, we learn that Good News of the Gospel is not partial, but that The Gospel Is For Everyone.
This Sunday we looked at Ephesians 5:15-17 and Albie talked about Kairos moments and were challenged to live like we know what time it is. As we head into a new season as a church we need to come together as a community in prayer. Join us in a season of special prayer over the next 40 days. You can find the prayer guide videos here.
In this episode Albie looks at Ephesians 5:1-2 and what it means for us to be “imitators of God.” As followers of Jesus understand the beauty of being adopted into God’s family, and meditate on the love God has shown them through the cross, they are motivated to reflect God’s character and love to others. In Jesus the impossible is continually being made possible.
In this episode Albie looks at Ephesians 4:25-32. In this section Paul instructs the church on what it looks like to follow Jesus. We are invited into a beautiful way of life by laying aside our former patterns and ways in order to embrace the beauty, truth, and goodness offered to us through the Gospel. Let us live in a way that causes people to say, “those people are with the Jesus party.”
In this Episode Albie looks at Ephesians 4:25-32 and talked about an “AHA” moment he had about the need for reproducible methods of evangelism and discipleship at Elm City Church. This need is driven by the urgency of our task and the centrality of our mission. Followers of Jesus are also called to go deep and become more like Jesus in our way of life. This is only possible through learning to overcome the three enemies of the soul (the world, the flesh, and the devil) that are actively working against this aim. All of our growth, effort, and resistance however flows from the good news of the Gospel - that God in Christ Jesus has first forgiven us.
In this episode, Albie looks at Ephesians 4:17-24 and talks about the value of formation when it comes to how we actively and passively grow. A theme in Paul's letter is his desire for the believers to "grow up" and stop living as they once did.
In this episode, Justin shares about the Church's greatest and most central task of "making disciples" from Jesus' famous words in Matthew 28:16-20 and how this will naturally lead to efforts in church planting.
In this episode, guest speaker Steve Aldrich continues our series through the letter of Ephesians, looking specifically at how the Church can grow in maturity as followers of Jesus from chapter 4.
In this episode, Albie continues our series through the letter written by Paul to the Ephesian church. In Ephesians 4, we see that Paul encourages people to see themselves as part of a bigger story, using their gifts to serve the church.
In this episode, we're back in the book of Ephesians looking at 4:1-6, and asking the question, "What does it mean to 'Grow Up' Spiritually?" In this thought-provoking message, Albie explores the concept of spiritual growth, drawing parallels between the milestones of physical and emotional growth and our journey to maturity in faith. Whether you're seeking a deeper understanding of spiritual growth or inspiration to live a more Christ-like life, this week's episode offers valuable insights and guidance to help you on your journey to spiritual maturity.
In this episode, we take time to celebrate Elm City turning 5 years old! God has done so much and it is good to look back and recount His faithfulness over the last five years. We also made a big announcement about our next steps as a church into Church Planting!
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this message, Justin unpacks our rhythm of HOME.
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this message, Albie unpacks the second part of our rhythm of CONFESSION.
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this message, Justin unpacks the second part of our rhythm of Acts of Love.
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this message, Albie unpacks the first part of our rhythm of ACTS OF LOVE.
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this message, Albie unpacks the second part of our rhythm of EAT & ENGAGE.
In this week's message, we explore our rhythm of EAT & ENGAGE. Learn how the mission of Jesus is intrinsically linked to the method of Jesus in how he moved towards people over shared meals.
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this message, Albie unpacks our first rhythm of REST.
As a church, we are interested in "Practicing the Way of Jesus Together." One of the ways that we are trying to do that is by living into some intentional rhythms that are designed to deepen our practices of Jesus' way of life. In this episode, Albie unpacks the big picture of our rhythms and why they are helpful.
In this episode, we hear from guest speaker, Paul Voltmer as he continues our series in Ephesians by talking about the Church and its unique place in the world. Listen as he explores Ephesians 3:1-13.
In this episode, guest speaker Steven Aldrich continues our series in Ephesians 4 by focusing on the unity of believers in Christ and emphasizing the Lord's will for the church to be united and function as one.
The theme of Ephesians is, “Growing up in Christ.” Sunday marked the second of two sermons on Ephesians 3:14-21 where the Apostle Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would have a deep experience with, not just knowledge of, the love of God. This week we focused on the doxology in 3:20-21 and explored how followers of Jesus need to learn how to worship and pray so that the local church can truly glorify God.
In this episode, Albie explores the concept of going deeper in faith, discussing three main categories: truth, service, and experience. He emphasizes the importance of not separating truth from experience in Christianity by examining Ephesians 3:14-21, a bold and experiential prayer for the church at Ephesus. This passage reveals the need for a deeper experience of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the renovation of every area of our hearts, ultimately leading to a grasp of the immeasurable love of Christ and being filled with the fullness of God, while also addressing the necessary conditions for experiencing God, including spiritual preparation, gospel comprehension, and meditation on the truths of Scripture.
In this episode, we dive into Paul's letter to the Ephesians, specifically focusing on chapter three. Paul begins with a prayer but goes off on a tangent, revealing how the grace of God has personally impacted him. We explore the concept of disappointment and how it affects our lives, from minor letdowns to major setbacks. We discover that the key to handling disappointment lies in understanding our core identity as followers of Jesus. Paul's life serves as a powerful example of finding contentment and joy amidst difficult circumstances. Through God's grace, Paul embraced his role as a prisoner of Christ, a steward of the Gospel, and the least of all the saints. Join us as we explore the transformative power of God's grace and its relevance to our own lives.
In this message we explore three metaphors that Paul used to describe the Church in Ephesians 2:19-22. Paul says we are:
- Citizens of God’s Kingdom
- Members of God’s Family
- Stones in God’s Temple
In this episode, guest speaker Jeff Ebert continues our series through the letter to the Ephesian church by looking at Ephesians 2:11-18. In this passage, Paul is dealing with one of the biggest threats to the early church - racial and ethnic prejudice between Jews and non-Jews. Find out how the Gospel breaks down barriers then and now!
In this episode, Justin explores Ephesians 2:10 looking at the reason for why we have been saved.
Ephesians 2:1-10 covers a section that deals with the hope of salvation. It also answers some pertinent questions when it comes to the nature and mystery of salvation. In this episode, we look at the question, "What Does It Mean To Be Saved?"
We're back in our Ephesians series looking at the reality of salvation. In chapter 2, Paul describes the "bad news" and the "good news" of what it looks like for someone before salvation and after.
In this episode we welcomed guest speaker Dan Syvertsen to share with Elm City about what it means to be "Forever Family."
We took a break from our Ephesians series to talk about reasons we have to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. “Because everything in Christianity rises and falls on whether or not Jesus actually rose from the dead,” we should have some thoughts about why we believe this.
In this episode, Albie talks about the 4 Measures of Power that are at work within the believer as highlighted in Ephesians 1:15-23.
Ephesians is all about is, “Growing up in Christ.” And part of growing up in Christ is that you start to have your own stories, not just borrowed stories. What are the ways in which God is using you now to reach others as an ambassador?
"There's no such thing as a Christian who isn't a missionary." All followers of Jesus, we have all been called to GO, bringing the Good News of the Gospel to others. Learn more as we look closer at the Great Commission through Matthew 28:18-20.
What does it mean to be a Christian? Is it about following the moral and ethical rules? Is it being a good person? Learn more from Paul's letter to the Ephesian church about what it means to be "in Christ."
Ying was given a passion to not only equip every believer to make disciples, but to equip every believer to train others to make disciples. He discovered that most Christians didn’t know the WHY of disciple making, didn’t know WHO to start with, didn’t know WHAT to say, and had no plan for WHEN they would do it. Ying also discovered that when you trained people in the WHY, helped them identify the WHO, gave them simple tools for HOW, and held them accountable for the WHEN, they came alive to participate in the mission of God.
These simple principles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, led to one of the most amazing movements of God in recent history. Over the course of 10 years almost around 1.7 million people were baptized and 150,000+ churches were planted as a result of Ying and Grace’s efforts.
This week we looked at the concept of being "blessed." According to the New Testament, to be blessed is “to have in your possession every joy and every benefit that your heart needs and longs for.”
What does the phrase "In Christ" mean? Discover more about this and other important themes as we look at the beginning of Ephesians.
In this episode, we kick off a new series through the book of Ephesians! Check out some of the back story to how Paul penned this letter to a young church in Ephesus and discover how his life experience drove his passion for the Gospel.
In this episode, Albie shares about the natural tendency for mission "drift" as a church enters years 4-7 and how it is important to realign around vision so that we can continue to lean into what we are called to do as a faith community.
Tory Abrahamsen shares about what it looks like to retain joy in the mundane aspects of life. He dials in on the story of Mary and Martha to help us see our posture in light of Jesus.
As you think about what things you might want to change or improve in a New Year, remind yourself of this: you are constantly being counseled by someone or something. And the counsel you choose to pursue or allow to influence your mind and heart this year will shape your daily living.
As we kick off a New Year, often times people are looking for things they want to change or improve through resolutions and commitments. Join us a we look at some of the biblical principles for how people change and grow.
In our final message in the series "Practicing the Way" we looked at the command of Christ to pray. Listen as we walk through the Lord's Prayer as a model from Christ.
Of all the commands of Christ, our call to LOVE might just be the hardest! Discover what love looks like through the story of the Good Samaritan.
In this episode we explore the call to "Worship Through Perseverance" by looking at the story of Paul and Silas in prison from Acts 16.
Guest speaker, Josh Gardner, shared with Elm City Church about Jesus' command to "Go...Make Disciples." Learn more about this mandate from Jesus for every believer.
In this episode we explore the What, Why, When, and Who of the Lord's Supper. Learn more about how Jesus instituted communion for the Church to observe regularly.
In this episode we look at the New Testament pattern for giving. Learn what it looks like for a follower of Christ to walk in generosity.
In this episode, we explore the command from Christ to regularly gather as a church body. Acts 2 gives us a picture of the normative activity of the New Testament church. One of those activities includes the act of gathering regularly to encourage one another and spur each other on towards love and good deeds. In fact, we can't Practice the Way of Jesus faithfully without this!
This past Sunday we continued in our series, Practicing the Way.We looked specifically at the command of Christ to Repent and Believe. For the follower of Jesus, this is where it all begins.
This past Sunday we continued in our series, Practicing the Way. "What do we do with good news?" In this message, we are reminded that the good news of the Gospel is meant to be shared. Check it out now!
We continue our series, Practicing the Way. In this third week, we look at the HOW question... "How do we begin to share the Good News with others?"
In this episode, we continue into week two of a new series called, "Practicing the Way." Over the coming weeks, we will be looking at what Jesus has called the Church to do. In this second week, we look at the WHO question... "Who has Jesus called us to reach with the Good News of the Gospel?" Discover Jesus' primary model for using us to impact others.
In this episode we started a new series called, "Practicing the Way." Over the coming weeks, we will be looking at what Jesus has called the Church to do. In this first week, we look at the "WHY" question. According to Jesus in Matthew 28, Christians are to go and make disciples, but "why?" Find out in this first overview message.
This week concluded our message series, "Jonah: Not Everything Is As It Seems." In Chapter 5, we will see God's heart for the nations on full display.
We are currently in a message series called, "Jonah: Not Everything Is As It Seems." In Chapter 4, we see God working through Jonah to redeem the Assyrians, a brutal group of people who seem like they are far from God's grace.
We are currently in a message series called, "Jonah: Not Everything Is As It Seems." In Chapter 3, we see the story of how Jonah is swallowed by a great fish. This is often what people first think about when they think about the story of Jonah, however, we'll see that the story of Jonah getting swallowed by a fish has many implications that apply to our lives.
This past weekend we continued in our new series, JONAH: Not Everything Is As It Seems. In Chapter 2, we see that Jonah is running away from a lot of things, but God has a plan.
We kicked off a new series called Jonah: Not Everything is as it Seems. Over the next five weeks we'll be journeying through this ancient book, looking at some surprising truths about God's mercy and grace. This deep dive into the Jonah story will mess with everything you thought you knew about Jonah if you heard this story as a kid.
In this message, Albie shares about the power of Christ to keep all those who have been given to him by the Father from John 6.
In this episode, Tory Abrahamsen highlights the humanity of Jesus and how he is able to identify with us on every level, speaking to the type of God he is.
In this episode, we welcomed guest and friend Steve Aldrich to speak at Elm City. Steve shared from Micah 6:6-8, answering the important question, "What Does God Want?" We encourage you to listen and reflect on this timely word to our church!
This week we continued in our new series, Gentle & Lowly, by looking at Jesus' heart of compassion out of Matthew 14:14. The main idea is that what Jesus claims with his word, he he proves by his actions.
This past weekend we kicked off a brand new message series called Gentle + Lowly. To get started we looked at Matthew 11:28-30. In all of the Gospels, this is the only place where Jesus speaks of what His heart is like. This is the one place where Jesus, in his own words, says something about who He is. And Jesus says that he is “...gentle and lowly in heart...”
In this message, we look at the significance of the idea that in our mission as disciples, and as a church, Jesus is WITH us. We explored the question, "What does it mean to have a relationship WITH God and what should that relationship look like?"
This past weekend we were reminded that as Christians, actions flows from identity. Over and over, the Scriptures call people to action, but there is an appeal to identity before there is a call to action. As a church, our mission is to make disciples, to share our faith, and to go out into all the world. This directly linked to our identity. And because action flows from identity, from time to time, we need messages that basically say, “Remember who you are. Live into your calling.”
This past weekend we went back to our roots as a church to talk about God’s mission to reach people who are unreached. We looked at the hard facts and talked about ways in which we might present the Gospel with people in our sphere of influence.
This past weekend we heard from guest speakers, Josh & Che Gardner, about the mission of God for our city and surrounding region. They challenged us to consider that if there are 70K people in Cheshire County and 3% (generous number!) are followers of Jesus, that still leaves 67,900 people who are "far" from Christ. Josh and Che encouraged and equipped us with tools for how to share the story of God with others. Listen to Josh's message from our Sunday service.
We concluded our series through the book of Second Peter by looking at the encouragement to continue to grow spiritually. It’s really easy to get stuck or feel like we're not making progress. The reality is that we’re always being formed whether intentionally or unintentionally into someone. Peter’s prayer is that we would continue to grow in likeness of Christ.
This past Sunday we continued in chapter 3 of 2 Peter by looking at the timing of God. Specifically, we looked at the reality that God’s timing is not like ours and He operates in different ways than we do. This section was Peter’s response to the early church who were eagerly waiting for “The Day of the Lord,” a time when Jesus would return to put all things right, restore brokenness, and bring judgment upon the guilty.
This past Sunday we started chapter 3 of 2 Peter. In this section, Peter continues his call to believers to be on guard against the message of false teachers, specifically “scoffers.” He appeals to them in “remembering the basics” of the Christian faith so that they can live lives of holiness and actually follow the way of Jesus.
This past weekend, Jeff Ebert spoke on the post-Resurrection appearance of Jesus to the two men on the Road to Emmaus. He highlighted the fact that these men were in a state of hopelessness and despair until they experienced the risen Jesus. Jeff encouraged us to not let our circumstances dictate our ultimate hope, and to respond to Jesus wherever we find ourselves on the journey.
On this special day, we looked at the story of Mary Magdalene and how she was given an upgraded understanding of Jesus on that first Easter morning. She went to the tomb looking for the crucified Jesus and walked away encountering the Risen Lord. After Mary encountered Jesus, two important things happened... First, she immediately was compelled to worship Him, and second, she was commissioned to go and tell others about Him. This has always been the response for all who truly encounter Jesus. Is it yours?
In this episode we picked back up in 2 Peter to continue exploring a biblical view of human sexuality and ethics. The big idea is that Christianity gives us a compelling and healthy sex ethic that leads to freedom, not oppression. The modern sex ethic claims to be safe, healthy, liberating and empowering, but underneath, it carries a destructive lie. As followers of Jesus, we must look to him in order to find ultimate freedom, liberation, and restoration.
In this episode we look at what the Bible has to say about singleness from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. In our passage, Paul is answering some real questions that people in the Corinthian church had about sex, marriage, divorce, and singleness. After all, the church was made up of followers of Jesus, and Jesus was single, so they wanted to know what it meant to practice the way of Jesus in these areas.
Over the past few months, we have been going through the letter of Second Peter. This was a letter written by the Apostle Peter to a group of churches in what is now modern-day Turkey. The motivating impulse for this letter came from a group of false teachers who had infiltrated those churches and were becoming popular and leading a lot of people away from the faith.
One of the main areas of teaching and practice Peter was criticizing them for was the area of sexuality. Operating in the background of everything Peter is saying and teaching is a biblical view of human sexuality and human ontology, which is the study of what it means to be human.
On Sunday, Albie talked about the inspiring life of St. Patrick. He highlighted several things including the fact that Patrick was raised in a Christian home, was captured by pirates, sold into slavery, escaped, and eventually returned as a missionary to the Irish people. He unpacked some of the ways in which Patrick is a model for followers of Jesus when it comes to sharing our faith.
We started the second chapter of 2 Peter with a focus on false teachers. The big danger Peter was exposing about these false teachers was their denial of the Second Coming of Jesus. Now, this might not sound like a big deal, but it’s actually a core part of the Gospel message; So much so, that every single book of the New Testament looks ahead to this truth... that one day Jesus will come back, one day all will be made right, one day everything will be restored, and there will be a day of judgment. The denial of the Second Coming wasn’t rooted in a deep theological conviction, rather, it was a way to justify their lifestyle. The implications were that if Jesus isn’t coming back, then there is really no motivation to live a Godly life, and therefore you don’t actually have to follow Jesus (especially his teaching related to money, sex, and power).
The Second Coming of Jesus is not a fringe belief but one that every book of the New Testament points to. The New Testament also tells us we are living in the “last days” while we await “The Day.” This reality is a call to repentance and faithfulness. Peter asks us a pressing question in light of this: “What sort of people out we to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” Because every book of the New Testament points to the return of Jesus, and God’s word can be trusted, we should live in a way as to always be ready for that return.
Over and over the writers of Scripture place the events they are writing about within history. This is a direct contrast to how many of the myths Christianity supposedly borrowed from to create the Jesus story. If Christianity isn’t historical or “spiritually” true, then it is not much help for us in facing the reality of living in a broken world. But, because Jesus really was God in the flesh, born of a virgin, lived a life of difficulty, healed the sick, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and rose again on the third day, and will one day come back, we can truly have hope.
When it comes to the theme of worship, Psalm 95 is the classic go-to text in Scripture. Throughout the centuries, Christians have looked to Psalm 95 to inform their worship. This text shares with us almost everything we need to know about it... It answers the question, “What is worship?” “Why should we worship?” and “How can we worship?”
In verses 12 through 15, Peter states the big purpose of why he’s writing this letter: he wants this church to remember and put into practice what he’s told them. It’s important for us to know that even though this church was doing well, Peter felt very strongly that they consistently needed to be reminded of the truths they already know. For many of us, our greatest need is not to know more truth but to know how to apply the truth we already know.
This past Sunday was our third message looking at what the Apostle Peter has to say about spiritual growth in the opening paragraph of his letter. The big theme of 2nd Peter is “Strive to Grow in the Knowledge of Jesus.” Peter instructs us that we need to make every effort to grow in our faith because the virtue list he gives are some of the marks that our faith is authentic.
Peter’s big concern for those whose lives are not showing any fruit is that they will be “useless,” which means they will not fulfill the intended use and purpose God has for them. This stems from being so focused on the here and now which blinds them from focusing on what is truly important.
Followers of Jesus need to take spiritual growth seriously. As Ruth Haley Barton said, “Spiritual formation is central to the message of the Gospel and therefore central to the mission of the church." Peter makes it clear that growth requires effort and involvement. At the same time, we must never forget that our own efforts are doomed to fail if the Holy Spirit is not working in us to produce change. God’s love is what inspires our action, our actions don’t grow God’s love for us.
Is spiritual growth only a gift from God or is our effort an integral piece of the process? Does God choose us or do we choose him? These are questions followers of Jesus have wrestled with for centuries. To reconcile these questions, Albie introduced the idea of an "antinomy." An antinomy is when you have truths that are “not contradictory but which we cannot neatly reconcile.”
We see the world in stories. Stories are the primary way that communicate. Discover how your story finds its place within the larger Story of God.
Check out the overview of 2 Peter, the book of the Bible that we will be studying at the start of this New Year!
What is God's way of making a fresh start? What is God’s way of getting us ready to step into the future? How do we take that first step? These are just a few of the questions we explored for our first Sunday of 2022. Listen as our friend and guest speaker Jeff Ebert unpacks the idea of looking to God as we plan for a New Year.
One of the oldest Christmas Carols, estimated to be older than the United States, dating back to before the 16th century. In the mid-18th century it seems to have gained traction and was further popularized by its inclusion in Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol.Christmas is all about Jesus destroying the works of the Devil!
This hymn was written by Charles Wesley and packs an incredible amount of theology into three short verses. The full arc of the hymn looks at how Jesus not only came for individual salvation, but also came for the healing and restoration of all things.
It is such good news that peace and reconciliation are available through Jesus, the one who
made a way for us to be reconciled to God and who is himself our peace. When you contrast the Gospel of Jesus with the “Gospel of Self Empowerment” you see how only the Gospel of Jesus can truly give us what we need.
What Child is This? is the natural question to be asked when reading the birth narrative of Jesus in Luke 1-2. So many incredible things happen and what is said about Jesus is astounding. For example, the angel declared to Mary, “He (Jesus) will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
This message based out of Luke 8:4-21 is a parable of Jesus commonly called the Parable of the Sower. This parable could also be referred to as the “Parable of the Soils” because Jesus uses it to highlight four different responses to his message. This parable is designed to be a warning and a word of encouragement.
One of the most important things you can have is the assurance that you are at Peace with God. Discover the grounds for and assurance of this peace.
In the midst of difficulty, we are prone to functionally forget Jesus and his kingdom. It is so easy to become focused upon and animated by the suffering happening to us rather than Christ within us.
Forgiveness can be really hard and many of us carry with us the weight of unforgiveness. We are all people who have both sinned and been sinned against. As difficult as forgiveness can be, the cost of unforgiveness can be even greater.
To pray “Give us this day our daily bread” is to ask God to give us everything we need for the coming day. We all need our basic needs of food, drink, shelter, and safety met. We also need courage, patience, and wisdom to live into the Kingdom life Jesus has on offer. And we also need to experience more of Jesus as the bread of life, the one who can truly satisfy our every need.
To pray, “your will be done” is to pray that God’s purposes be accomplished, what pleases him comes to pass, and that his commands and precepts are followed. Often God’s will for our lives is more about WHO we are becoming than WHAT we doing are or WHERE we are going.
The Kingdom of God was the central theme of Jesus' entire earthly ministry. But what exactly does it mean to pray, "Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven?" Find out in this weeks episode.
To “hallow” means to holy-fy. Since God is already holy, he can never be made holier. What we are being taught to pray is, “Father, your name be treated as holy” or “Father, make yourself real here on earth as you are in heaven.”
This episode serves as the kickoff to our new series, "Teach Us To Pray," a 7-week deep dive into The Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.
In Mark 4:30-32, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to that of a mustard seed. Discover why this was likely confusing to his original listeners and why it tells us so much about how Jesus works in our world.
The home is the first place we should be “Practicing the Way of Jesus Together” and is the testing ground for the genuineness of our faith. One of the major roles of a disciple of Jesus is to make other disciples and pass along the way to them. Because following Jesus is about a new way of life and not just a set of beliefs, the home is the perfect environment for discipleship.
Think about a time this past week where you felt like you blew it, sinned against someone, or made a relationship more complicated. For example, “I blew it with my kid this week. I lost my temper and yelled when I should have been patient.” How is the Gospel good news in this situation? It starts with the simple truth that if we confess our sins God wants to forgive our sins. He also wants us to seek him for the patience we need to respond the right way. We also can rest in the fact we have a perfect heavenly Father who is always patient with us and always disciplines us towards our good.
Confession means to announce what is true. In modern liturgies, this could include a declaration of faith or reciting a historical church creed, but confession can also be an acknowledgement of how we have lived contrary to God’s way. Confession is part of what it means to be a Christian.
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little Children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” - 1 John 3:16-18
God has called a family who are blessed to be a blessing. Discover more in this first part of our RHYTHM, "Acts of Love."
In this episode, we close out a 2-week series through Paul's letter to the Philippian church. In this final section of Philippians 4:14-23, Paul focuses his attention on financial generosity as a catalyst for the Gospel.
Guest speaker and Elm City Partner, Shaun Kozlowski, unpacks Philippians 4:10-13. Listen to discover how you might increase your dependency on Jesus as Paul did.
There is a direct link between our thoughts and our actions. What occupies our minds will eventually shape our character and show up in our life. Jesus invites us to fill our minds with the good, the true, and the beautiful so that we can live in a way that draws others to Him.
This week we explore Anxiety and the Peace of God. Discover how you can truly live into the idea of being "anxious for nothing."
In Philippians 4, Paul begins by encouraging two women in the church to work out their conflict for the sake of the Gospel.
Ever feel tempted to quit when it comes to running the race of the Christian faith? Check out this message for Why You Should Press On!
In Philippians 3:8-11 Paul is continuing to remind this church about the surpassing value of knowing Jesus. Paul traded in his works-based religion for a relationship with the living God and his passion is that others would do the same.
Paul is again reminding the Philippian church what God has done for them in Christ Jesus and why they can have joy!
Listen to the story of the Fantis, a founding family of Praxis/Elm City Church. The Fantis will be transitioning to New Jersey in a few months and we took to time to commission them out in the message of the Gospel.
In this episode we explore what Paul means by using the phrase "Work out your own salvation..." from Phil. 2:12-13.
Check out the Easter message from Elm City looking at how God is a God of second chances! He showed us this by sending His only Son to die for our sins, providing a way to have a right relationship again.
Ever wonder what the general disposition of Jesus was? How can we strive to be like Him in our attitude? Explore what Paul has to show us in Philippians 2:5-8.
It has been said that we live in an age of self ... self-realization, self-determination, self-esteem, and self-help. There’s even a magazine called Self. Life as we know it has become more and more tailored to you in almost every regard. 93 million selfies are taken and uploaded daily! The result of the self-experiment is that it is producing pockets of short-term happiness and yet, is starving for long-term joy.
In this episode we explore Philippians 1:27-30. Paul wants the church in Philippi, no matter what obstacles they face, to stand firm and hold fast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What does it take to steal your joy? Paul, the guy who wrote Philippians, was beaten, shipwrecked, thrown into prison, placed under house arrest, harassed by demons, and more. Yet, Paul was able to keep his joy intact through various trials. Listen to this week's message as we discover Paul's passion, problem, and perspective.
If you could pray one prayer over yourself that you know would be answered, what would it be? Discover Paul's prayer for the Philippian church and his desire to see them grow in abounding love.
In this messages we learn about the confidence that comes from believing that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus." We can be sure of this... God always finishes what He starts!
Our guest speaker, Sam Huggard (NEDA District Superintendent), shares a message from Romans 13:8-14. Sam talks about the identity of followers of Jesus as being a people who live by a different system and long for a different world.
Guest speaker and Elm City Partner, Shaun Kozlowski, shares a special message to kick off a New Year!
In this episode we continue our “God In His Own Words” series looking
at what it means for YHWH God to be “abounding in steadfast love and
faithfulness.”
This was the fourth message in our series called “God In His Own Words.” How you answer the question, “What is God Like?” might just be the most important thing about you. In Exodus 34:6-7 God reveals his name and character. This week we looked at God as being "Slow to Anger."
In Exodus 34:6-7 God reveals his name and character. This week we see how the first words that God used to describe his character were “Compassionate and Gracious.”
This was the second message in our series called “God In His Own Words" and focuses onhow important it is to know how YHWH God is different than the other “gods” so we do not fall for “Golden Calf Christianity.”
This was the first message in our series called “God In His Own Words.” How you answer the question, “What is God Like?” might just be the most important thing about you. In Exodus 34:6-7 we see God answering this question for us, and the first thing He reveals is that his name is YHWH.
This message explores the Christian ethic of love for neighbor. Learn how you can move from being a "neighbor" (passive noun) to "neighboring" (active verb).
This message is Part Two of looking at what Jesus had to say about loving our enemies in Luke 6:27-36. Enemy love is a distinctly Christian ethic and one that does not come naturally but might just be the most powerful way the distinctive love of Jesus flows through us in this season.
This week was the fifth and potentially most challenging in our “In Good Faith”
series. We are looking at what Jesus has to say about loving our enemies in
Luke 6:27-36. Enemy love is a distinctly Christian ethic and one that does not
come naturally. It does however reflect the character of God who is “kind to the
ungrateful and evil.”
It's 2020 ... people are angry! What does it mean to have Righteous Anger? Discover what Jesus shows us in this message.
In this message, we explored how loving others primarily flows from our own experience of God’s love and grace in our own life.
In this message, we're looking at what it means for followers of Jesus to find their primary identity in being "Ambassadors for Christ."
The second message in our “In Good Faith” series - looking at how followers of Jesus can live wisely in this moment in order to take advantage of Gospel opportunities. This week we looked at power of formation in light of Paul’s call for us to be “transformed” and not “conformed” to the ways of our culture.
“There is nothing more freeing than abandoning your own mission and joining the everyday mission of God.”
Colossians chapter three is often titled, “Put on the New Self.” In it, Paul unpacks
a Christian’s identity of being “in Christ.” Identity and ethics are closely linked
through this section and Paul calls this church to live into their new identity and
lay aside their old way of life, a way of life that no longer makes any sense in light
of who they now are.
In this message we wrap up Chapter 2 of Paul's letter to the Colossian church. The focus was on three things that were plaguing this young church plant: Legalism, Mysticism, and Asceticism.
In this message we look at the reality of competing thoughts and ideas that have truth, but are ultimately hollow because they lack the redemption that only Jesus offers.
In this message, we look at three different reasons “why” the church
gathers. The church gathers to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:21), to “spur each other on
to love and good deeds” and to “encourage each other” (Hebrews 10:24-25), and
to be “rooted” and “built up” in the faith (Col. 2:6-7).
This week we took time to focus on Paul’s ultimate goal for the Colossian church (and subsequently, every disciple everywhere) – everything orbits around this point; he wants to move people towards spiritual maturity. To this end, he “toils” and “struggles”, working toward this goal through God’s power and strength.
This week we looked at Ephesians 4:1-6 and the character of unity. Unity is not
easy because our natural pull is towards self and not others. But unity is at the
heart of the Gospel message because we have a God who unifies and reconciles
diverse people to himself. The mission of the church is crippled by division
among various groups, and unless we evidence our unity, our witness does not
deserve to be heard.
Explore Matthew 11:28-30 with us. In it we see Jesus give an invitation, followed up by a promise, and then there is space left in the narrative for our response.
The Christian hope tells us that “everything is going to be ok even if everything is not going to be ok.”
Up until now, Paul has been focus on the “person of Christ” (or who Jesus is) and he now switches gears to focus on the “work of Christ” (what Jesus has done).
How do we take advantage of this moment of increased isolation to emerge stronger as a faith community?
In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul unpacks a BIG vision of who Jesus is and how we should relate to Him.
Discover some of the reasons why the Resurrection of Jesus isn't just a nice story, but something that actually happened!
What can a donkey tell us about the identity of Jesus? Find out in this special Palm Sunday message!
This message looks at Paul’s prayer for a church in trouble. In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul continually prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will for their life which would result in them living a life worthy of the Gospel!
To begin our series we started by doing a big picture overview of what the Bible is. The Bible is more a library than a book. It contains 66 inspired works, that were originally written in three different languages, over 1,500 years, that all tell one unfolding, unified story. Because of this, we believe the Bible is to be, “believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.”
What does it look like to be a church that is for the place we live? This is the question we are trying to answer and live into as a church.
In our final installment for #SlowDown, we looked at the inner reality and the outward expression of Simplicity.
We're looking at Silence and Solitude and how part of hearing God's voice only comes via this avenue.
In a world filled with hurry and distraction, we can find value in a regular time of silence and solitude. Discover the benefits of silence and learn how to follow Jesus in his example of getting away from the noise of life.
This episode explores the role that tech devices play in our lives, how that affects our spiritual lives, and what a digital rule of life might look like.
This week we looked at the importance of living in an intentional way and introduced the concept of a "rule of life."
Two of the greatest issues for Christians today are dealing with constant hurry and distraction. We looked at Romans 12:1-2 and focused on Paul’s command to “not conform to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The introduction to a brand new series all about slowing down and learning how to become healthier in life with a rhythm of rest.
Peter is a fascinating character who shows us that God can use anyone to help build His kingdom!
Forgiving those who have wronged us can be one of the most difficult things we will ever do. Followers of Jesus however can be forgiving people because they are forgiven people.
Confession is simply, “announcing what is true” and is a key practice for a follower of Jesus. The good news of Jesus frees us to confess who we are (sinners in need of mercy) and confess who God is (One who loves to show mercy and forgiveness to those who repent.)
Jesus begins to challenge His followers with the foretelling of His death and a call to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him.
This text combines the death of John the Baptist, the return of the disciples from their first mission, and a failed attempt at a restful getaway. Yet, in all of this we see Jesus’ character shine through as he continues to serve others. We also see Jesus as the great
multiplier, taking the meager resources of the disciples, breaking them, and using them to be the hands and feet of his blessing.
The disciples were sent out by Jesus on mission, giving them the authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God.
After Jesus calms a storm in nature, He calms a storm in a troubled person. Listen to how Jesus confronts the man with demons in Luke 8:26-39.