Ecclesia: Church at the Chip Podcast (New)

Jesus loves us deeply. It breaks his heart when we live in ways which dehumanize ourselves or others. That is why he is willing to tell us the truth about such things as money and marriage, faithfulness and eternity. Yes, the truth sometimes hurts; but it also heals.

When a warden awoke to the crack of an earthquake, he discovered the prison doors were broken. He naturally assumed his prisoners had escaped. When he found they had not, he was overcome and asked the poignant question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The answer changed his life; it can change our lives, too.

As we resume our trek through Luke’s gospel, we encounter a rather confusing parable. Let’s study it together and discover what Jesus wants to teach us regarding how to use “worldly wealth for heavenly good."

God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart. The Big Idea: God has given us an inner sense that life doesn’t end at the grave. But what will Heaven be like?

Do you remember the birth of your children? Of course you do. When our babies left the womb on their birthday, it wasn’t just their world that changed -- it was ours, too. In the same way, when Jesus left the tomb on Easter Day, it wasn’t just his world that changed -- it was ours, too. How so? Let’s find out together....

Thank you for joining us for our beautiful “sins on the cross” service, including songs and scripture. It will be a meaningful and poignant way to remember Jesus’ death on our behalf. Your Easter celebration will be enhanced by our Good Friday moments of worship.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt, the crowd was ecstatic. Quoting scripture, they shouted, “Behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” They were right: Jesus was their long-awaited king. But he was not the kind of king they expected -- or wanted....

Jesus is doing it again: hanging out in the wrong kind of places, and with the wrong kind of people. The religious people were scandalized. In response, Jesus told three famous stories, one of which we’ll look at today. We’re calling it “Scandal at the Cowboy Saloon."

Jesus is at it again: hanging out with all the wrong kind of folks. The religious people, as usual, are grumbling. Jesus responds with three powerful parables. We will look at two of them today: The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. What does Jesus want to teach us through these stories? Let’s find out together.....

What does it cost to follow Jesus? If salvation is a gift to be received by faith rather than works, does that mean it will not cost us anything? Nothing could be further from the truth, as Jesus clearly teaches us in today’s passage. What then does it cost to follow Jesus? Let’s find out together….

As Jesus journeys toward a cross outside Jerusalem, he knows his time is short. The door to his kingdom is open, but someday it will be shut. “Strive to enter through the narrow door,” he says. What did he mean by this? Let’s find out….

The Kingdom of Jesus is an upside-down kingdom — according to this world’s wisdom. Like a mustard seed, it starts small and grows tall. Like leaven, it transforms culture from the inside out. What appears foolish to the world is in fact the wisdom of God. How have we seen this in the life of our church family? Let’s find out….

In the midst of Jesus’ stern warnings about repentance, judgment and salvation, we read about a broken woman whom Jesus healed during synagogue worship. What connection does this compelling story have to the warnings which surround it? And how does it relate to us as we gather for worship today? Let’s find out....

The last several weeks we have been considering Jesus' sobering words for serious times. Last week we summarized them as, “People get ready, Preachers get busy, and People be watching.” Today we close out this section with one more, and shocking, warning: “Everyone, Repent!” Is this ancient message still relevant today? Absolutely! Let’s find out why.

The last several weeks we have been considering Jesus' sobering words for serious times. Last week we summarized them as, “People get ready, Preachers get busy, and People be watching.” Today we close out this section with one more, and shocking, warning: “Everyone, Repent!” Is this ancient message still relevant today? Absolutely! Let’s find out why.

As Jesus moves intently toward his final showdown in Jerusalem, the tension in the air grows thick. Knowing what lies ahead, Jesus gives his followers -- and especially those who lead them -- some sobering instructions: Be Ready. Be Faithful. Be Discerning.

We might be surprised to learn that Jesus talked about the dangers of money more than almost any other thing. Some of his most famous words about money are found throughout Luke 12. Today, as Jesus introduces this topic, we will see what Jesus has to say about a fool and his money.January 18, 2026

Crowds gather as Jesus journeys to Jerusalem. Some are critical, some are curious, some are casual, and some are committed. Which of these words describe us? Wherever we are in our own journey with Jesus, Jesus has something important to say to us.

As the new year begins, we resume our study of Luke’s Gospel, where we find that Jesus gives some stern warnings to those who were following him on his trek to Jerusalem. What were these warnings, and how do they relate to us? Let’s find out….

We have been celebrating the gifts Jesus gives us at Christmas: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love -- and best of all, Himself. As we close out this series, let’s take a look at one of the unsung heroes of Christmas, a person who played a vital role in the story. His name is Joseph.

Merry Christmas! Thank you for joining us for our annual Cowboy Christmas Eve Service.

During this season of Advent, we have seen that Jesus’ Christmas gifts include hope, peace and joy. To these we add a fourth magnificent gift: Love. How is Christmas a unique expression of Jesus’ gift of love? Let’s find out….

One of the great (and unique) gifts of Christmas is Joy. The prophets promised it, the angel proclaimed it, and the Magi experienced it when the Star led them to Bethlehem. But what is joy, how does it grow, and how do we receive it ? We’ll talk about that this morning....

Gift-giving is a noble Christmas tradition. We may recall with fondness a gift we received as a child -- or even as an adult. But the best gifts of all are the ones that Jesus gives. During Advent we will take a look at several of these gifts. Today we consider two: Hope and Peace.

Advent is the traditional season of preparation for the arrival (i.e., “advent”) of the Messiah. God sent John the Baptist to get the people ready for Jesus’ arrival, and Peter is the one God chose to first proclaim the Good News about Jesus’ resurrection. In both cases, the people responded by asking, “What Shall We Do?” We’ll talk about that this morning....

What would it be like to have dinner with Jesus? What kind of houseguest would he be? What would he have to say to us? We have several clues from Luke, for he often tells us about folks who shared a meal with Jesus. Let’s consider one of these today, and take a look at several others. One thing is clear: dining with Jesus is an unforgettable experience.

The crowd grows as Jesus journeys toward his destiny in Jerusalem. Many of them have the wrong impression about Jesus -- just as many folks do today. What are these misunderstandings, and what does Jesus demand instead? We’ll explore that in today’s message.

The past few weeks we have seen that following Jesus means living a life of mission, of compassion, and devotion. Last Sunday we learned that devotion to Jesus requires a lifetime commitment to study, to prayer and to worship. Today we take a closer look at Jesus’ teaching about prayer: how to pray “the Jesus way.”

We have seen that Jesus expects his followers to live lives of mission and compassion. Today, Jesus adds a third priority to this list: Devotion. What does it mean to live a life of devotion? Let’s find out….

In this section of Luke’s gospel we are considering the question, “What does Jesus expect from his followers?” Last week we learned that following Jesus means living a life of mission. This week, as we consider one Jesus’ most familiar stories, we learn that following Jesus means living a life of love.

“Who is Jesus?” This fundamental question has been answered: Jesus is God's Anointed King. But what does King Jesus expect from his followers? Today we will look at the first of several answers found in Luke’s gospel: “Following Jesus means living a life of mission."

As Jesus begins his fateful trek toward Jerusalem, we see that there are a number of folks who are interested in following Jesus. But none of them are willing to pay the price. What is the cost of following Jesus? Let’s find out.October 12th, 2025

Did Jesus ever get frustrated? It sure seems like it in today’s text. What was it that frustrated him? It was the failure of his disciples to understand and apply his teaching and his example to their own lives. Let’s explore both the frustration of Jesus and the failure of his followers, and how we can avoid their mistakes.

Soon after Peter proclaimed, “You are the Christ of God,” Jesus took him and two others up on a mountain. Once there, they had a profound experience of the majesty and glory of Jesus. It bore striking similarities to Moses’ mountaintop experience on Mt. Sinai. What was the meaning of this divine encounter, and how does it relate to our lives? We’ll talk about that today.

The entire first section of Luke’s Gospel has led to the point where Jesus asks his disciples this climactic question: “Who do you say that I am?” How would you answer? Who do you think Jesus was? And what difference does it make? We’ll talk about that today.

Has Jesus ever told you to do something which seemed physically impossible? Jesus did that to his disciples when, while facing a hungry crowd he said, “You give them something to eat.” How in heaven’s name could they do that? Let’s find out.

Does it ever seem like God has given you an impossible mission? The disciples must have felt that way when Jesus sent them to preach and heal just like they’d seen him do. But Jesus equipped them for the task, just as he does us, and they went and did what Jesus wanted them to do. Will we do the same?

Does it ever seem like God’s timetable and yours are radically different? You ask for wisdom, for healing or for guidance, but it doesn't seem to come in time -- if at all! In today's study we will meet a man who could certainly identify with our frustration. What would he say to us about these things? We’ll talk about that today.

Last week we saw that Jesus calmed the storm with a word of rebuke. This was the first of four consecutive displays of Jesus’ power in our text: He is the master over creation, over demonic evil, over sickness, and death itself. Today we will examine the second of these, Jesus’ power over demonic evil. What are we to make of this dramatic display? We’ll talk about that today.

What happens when four starving lepers discover a treasure trove of food, clothing and gold in an enemy’s campsite? And what does this have to do with us? We’ll talk about that today....

At first the disciples were afraid of the storm. But when Jesus rebuked it with merely a word, they were even more afraid. “Who then is this,” they asked, “that he commands even winds and waves, and they obey him?” Indeed. Who is Jesus? The disciples weren’t sure. Even Jesus’ mother was unsure. What about you? What do you think?

As Jesus “spreads the word" about his kingdom, his message is met with varied responses. Some (the villagers in Nazareth) reject his teaching outright. Others (Simon the Pharisee) are interested but unconvinced. But there are many (a tax collector, a centurion, a “woman of the city” and the Twelve) whose lives are forever changed. To illustrate this, Jesus tells a story to challenge his hearers (then and now) to consider their own response to his kingdom message.August 3rd, 2025

Jesus was invited to the home of a respected religious leader when a “woman of the city” walked in. Overcome with emotion, she let down her hair and washed his feet with her tears. What happened next, and what does this story teach us about following Jesus? We’ll talk about that today.Sunday, July 27th

It is our pleasure to welcome Sandy Mason as our guest teacher today. Sandy was the founding pastor of nearby Desert View Bible Church, and currently serves on the leadership team of The Bonhoeffer Project.Sunday, July 20th

Where is your hope placed? My hope, of course, is that we will find our hope in the Lord Jesus and His promises. We’ll talk about that today.

“Are you the one?” This was the question John the Baptist asked about Jesus. It was a good question -- in fact, it might be the most important question in all of life. Today we’ll explore John’s question, Jesus’ answer, and why it is so important for us today.

As Jesus continued his public ministry, he had an amazing encounter with a grieving mother. Afterward, people said, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” What caused such a strong reaction, and why does Luke include this story? We’ll talk about that today.

Jesus has just concluded his compelling kingdom manifesto. How will we respond to Jesus’ challenging message? Luke describes various responses in the events which occur following Jesus’ famous sermon. They involve a Gentile soldier, a grieving mother, a confused cousin, a religious leader, and a disreputable woman. Today we consider the first of these: a Gentile soldier and his astonishing faith.

Ever the Master Teacher, Jesus closed his Kingdom Sermon with a flourish of four unforgettable images: The blind leading the blind; the log in the eye; the tree and its fruit; and the house and its foundation. Why did he choose these word pictures, and how can they guide us as we seek to leave a lasting legacy with our lives? We’ll talk about that today.

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Kingdom of Jesus. He spoke of it in his sermon, he included it in his prayer, he told stories about it in his parables, and he offered it from his cross. Why is forgiveness so vital -- and so difficult? We’ll talk about that today.May 6th, 2025