Epikos Church Vancouver: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to the weekly audio podcast for Epikos Church in Vancouver, WA where our mission is to restore relationships, neighborhoods and cities in the name of Jesus. Visit us online at epikoschurch.com
Marc Alan Schelske writes and speaks about life at the intersection of grace and growth. He’s a husband, dad of two, writer, speaker, hobbyist theologian, and recovering fundamentalist who drinks tea & rides a motorcycle. He grew up in Ohio, but he’s lived in the Northwest long enough to feel like a native. He’s the teaching elder at Bridge City Community Church in Milwaukie, Oregon and author of The Wisdom of Your Heart: Discovering the God-given Purpose and Power of your Emotions and Discovering Your Authentic Core Values.
Researchers have proven over and over that having an attitude of gratitude increases our enjoyment of life and creates happiness. The Bible is full of all kinds of commands to give thanks. Why do we struggle with being thankful? What are the barriers that keep us from giving thanks? And how can we go from Thanksgiving to Thanksliving?
Generosity requires a plan. But how do you make a plan? These two simple gauges will help you decide where and how much to give.
Our annual vision night is a time to remember the goodness of God's activity in our community and refocus on our hearts on the vision He has given our church family, which is, "Restoring relationships, neighborhoods, and cities in the name of Jesus."
In this recording, you will hear empowering stories of God's grace flowing through our church. We look at where we have been, where we are at, and where we are going! This isn't just for people who already attend Epikos Church. This recording is for anyone interested in discovering our culture and city vision.
We're not all master procrastinators, but we all procrastinate on something. In this message, we're diving into one thing Jesus challenges us not to procrastinate about as we look at someone who was "half-steppin" when he met Jesus face to face.
When you think of Mother Teresa, Dr. Viktor Frankl, Malala, Gandhi, and other greats, do you put yourself on the list? In this message, we crack open the incredible power of words and their unmatched ability to help us see ourselves differently. We discover what dominoes and words have to do with each other and leave with one small word that will change every interaction we have with others for the rest of our lives.
This week we will hear the story Jesus told of a woman who would not give up despite very unfavorable odds. We will explore when it's okay to quit and when to push through to the end. Lastly, we will see what Jesus tells us to do so we don't lose heart while persevering.
To party, or not to party, that is not even a question. Summer is full of partying. There are nonstop BBQ’s, pool parties, campfires, and opportunities to lazily hang out with friends as the day fades away. In this message, we look at three stories Jesus told after being accused of partying too much and with the "wrong" people.
No doubt you've heard the debate before. Some say its medicinal; others says its malignant. Some users defend recreational use, while opponents call for complete banishment. But when Jesus talked about this intoxicating substance, he didn't get political. Instead, he had an eternal lesson in mind.
We will explore a term that has crossed the boundaries of Christianity into secular society and find out how to win the fight against apathy as we continue our series, Stories Jesus Told.
Starting, growing, and nurturing healthy relationships can be complicated. There is never a moment when they are good-to-go or ready to be put on auto-pilot. In fact, they often require the best out of us and then some. Often, they require outside help in order to bring them back on the rails. Restorative Justice practitioner, Sidney Morgan, shares the story of how God led her into the field of guiding others towards relationship restoration.
Over 2000 years ago, Jesus gave His followers a mission. It excites some, strikes fear in others, but those who have followed the example of Jesus have been behind the transformation of billions of lives. In the final message from our White Hot series, we look at “why we go,” and share our faith with others.
You've probably been asked the questions before or even asked them yourself. With events like March Madness, weekend parties and a dozen other reasons to simply stay at home, who has time for church? What difference does it make? Why do I really need to go? Despite all the changes in the last 2,000 years, the reasons for gathering as a church are more valid than ever.
Why pray? Does it really make any difference? Why does prayer matter? We will encounter a families prayer for their father, and why Jesus prayed even though He was the Son of God.
The Bible covers almost every topic known to humankind: love, jealousy, sex, money, identity, purpose, depression, joy, peace and many more. How is it that some people read this book and fall asleep while others wake up to new life and passion? Listen in as we discover the true, “why” behind the best selling book in the world and what Jesus has to say about it!
One of the greatest challenges we all face is learning to live present here and now. Whether we long for the good 'ole days, wallow in regrets, or battle hidden fears, the past has a sneaky way of nagging at us. This week we look at one of the easiest habits to slip into, reveal it's primary weapon for attacking us and discover the simple, courageous step it takes to leave the past behind us.
We will look at a crazy question, a newlyweds rough start, a total football miss, and how to make the right pass in our relationships with God as we continue our series, "I Quit".
We will be tackling habits that undermine our potential and rob us of our joy. A little girl with a lemonade stand, a sink full of dishes and a crying spokesperson will teach us the importance of breaking a habit most of us struggle with.
Going to church on roller skates, chomping down on deep-fried caterpillars and awaiting gifts delivered by...Befana??? Some Christmas traditions are stranger than others. But few are as strange as the one that started them all. In part 2 of the Vintage Christmas series, we explore the mystery of God hidden in a baby.
Imagine reconnecting with someone when you didn't ever want to see them again. Someone who treated you in ways that haunted you years, even decades later. What if you had the power to get revenge? How would you respond? These were the questions Joseph's faced at the family reunion he never planned on attending.
Imagine filling in a connect-the-dots picture...without the numbers. Where would you start? How would you know where to go next? Or when the picture is complete? This was Joseph's life experience: always trusting in God's providence, while constantly wondering where He was leading next. Part 3 of our Unashamed series explores how to move forward in faith even when we can't see the picture God is creating in our life.
Integrity. It is not simply being honest or telling the truth. It means living on the inside what you lead people to believe about you on the outside. It's the key to success and it is an exciting path that any of us can take. But it doesn't come cheap or easy. When the pressure is on, are you willing to pay the price to live with integrity?
Many of us are afraid to embrace our true passions and spend our lives trying to please everyone else: our bosses, our spouses and even friends. While life can threaten our dreams in unexpected ways, finding our God-given destiny only happens when we take on these challenges without losing connection to our authentic self. But this can be difficult, especially when the obstacles come from within our own home.