Island ECC - A Dynamic English Speaking International Church in Hong Kong

God has always been about building. A tent, a temple, a church. But beyond the bricks and mortar, what thrills Him most is what He’s building in you.

Many of us live with a constant and crippling anxiety: Do I actually belong here? In our heads, we know we are accepted, valued, and safe. But in our hearts,. we feel like an imposter. This can also be true when it comes to the Kingdom – we simply...

Lingering bitterness, also known as a lack of forgiveness, is a joy-killer in our lives.

Jesus begins His teaching on the Kingdom with a story about listening. The Parable of the Sower invites us to examine what happens when God’s Word reaches us, and how hidden life can become lasting fruit when the Word is received in faith and held onto.

David penned a psalm while fleeing through the wilderness and hiding in a cave. In it, he addresses what it means to fear God. So what does it mean to fear God, and how do we cultivate a greater fear of God in our daily lives? How do we make sure that...

In Psalm 103, David preaches to his own soul, intentionally remembering the character and benefits of God until forgetfulness gives way to praise. This message invites us to practice gratitude not by denying what is painful, but by reminding ourselves...

Psalm 51 is both David’s confession of sins and a great song about forgiveness and restoration. It is full of emotion yet rich in theology. It is poetic yet practical. It is a great song from which we can learn about the journey of divine forgiveness.

Injustice and unfairness are inevitable parts of life. When facing these trials, what truth can we firmly hold onto? Is waiting for divine justice our only option, or is there a deeper peace available to us right now? In week three of our Selah...

Have you ever felt like you're on the wrong train – exhausted, distracted, arriving somewhere you never intended to be? Moses knew that feeling well. In Psalm 90, he offers a guide for the wandering soul. Through three simple anchors – The Tent...

What brings you delight?

Using 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 as a theological foundation, this message illustrates specific ways God can speak to us through other people. Since it can be difficult to discern if what people say to us really comes from God, four key questions are...

The silence of God is always purposeful. It never means He is angry, apathetic, or absent.

Many of us are desperate to hear from God. Not just in the general ways, but in specific, heartfelt ways that speak directly to our immediate needs.

We’ve often been taught that the Bible is God’s voice. If we truly believed that, why is it so hard for us to read it on a consistent basis? And why does it sometimes seem like it remains silent in our lives? Today we explore the disconnect, and...

The everyday christian experience should be lived with the expectation of hearing from God. Not necessarily in dramatic ways, but in the ordinary push and pull of life.

It’s the most important thing you’ll ever do, actually. To hear the voice of God. And yet it’s easy to tune out, listen to other voices, or simply go it alone. But to hear God’s loving direction in our lives will save you from pain, comfort you in...

We’ve reached the end of our series on the chapter of Romans 8 and it’s time to add the final ingredient to our theological sandwich. Paul begins this chapter with the idea that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, and ends with the...

It may be that every accusation we hear from the outside world or suspect inwardly is real. Romans 8 will show us that the charges may be real, but they are no longer relevant because the verdict has been handed out and the punishment paid by Jesus...

Life is hard. God is good. How do we reconcile these seemingly contradictory truths?

Many of us struggle to believe that God is active in our time of need. It often feels like we’re stuck in difficult cycles of sickness or hardship without any relief. However, God does promise a specific kind of help that is always available to us...

Being a child of God has amazing benefits as well as transformative power in our lives.

We can often feel like we’re living as hypocrites. We want to live in a righteous way, but something in us keeps pulling us towards sin. In this second sermon of the Romans 8 series, we hone in on verses 5-13 as we look at this hidden battle raging...

In arguably the weightiest chapter of the new testament, Paul describes with great enthusiasm the beauty of living in Christ. There is now no condemnation!

It’s Christianity’s pinnacle day. Resurrection Day. But even if we’re convinced that a historical resurrection actually occurred, what difference does it make for us today?

Palm Sunday commemorates the event of Jesus’ triumphant return to Jerusalem. But was it truly a joyous celebration? As the crowds celebrated, Jesus displayed grief and anger. Why this great contrast and what was going on in Jesus’ head? This sermon...

The invitation to follow Jesus involves a complete overhaul of our thinking, our values, and our behaviours. It’s counterintuitive and seems risky. But in fact, it is the path to freedom.

In every society, there are outcasts – people who are at the fringes, ignored, or despised. While most societies move away from them, Jesus moves towards them. Jesus says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

Our struggles against temptation are far more sophisticated than simply avoiding “big” sins. Jesus was tempted in all ways and was without sin. His “struggle” gives us insight into our own struggles…

Fishermen and tax collectors. Not exactly the pedigree you’d expect for those who would start a religious movement. No theological training, no exceptional giftedness. But ordinary people who Jesus selected to do extraordinary things. Our greatest...

As we live out God’s calling to build His Kingdom here on earth, we often face obstacles and challenges. The enemy will try to stop us from living out that calling through internal and external struggles in both physical and spiritual realms. How can...

Perseverance is increasingly rare in our day. And yet for those who follow Christ, it will be a key component in maintaining a vibrant faith.

As the saying goes, sometimes less is more. And that is certainly true in our walk with God. Sometimes there are edits to be made in our spiritual life that prove to lighten our load and enhance our experience with God.

Is it realistic that we can have a worry-free life? Doesn’t that seem a bit irresponsible? And yet we are told to worry about nothing in Philippians 4:6. The effects of worry aren’t just a heavy mindset. Jesus tells us that unnecessary worry...

Sometimes it can be hard to notice when God disciplines us. If the purpose of discipline is for us to learn and grow, then it is imperative to know when it is happening. So what are the signs to look for and what is the part that we play in our own...

Desire is the engine of our hearts. We are always growing toward something. And while desire itself is not a bad thing, it can slowly become aimed at the wrong things. Today we will explore how our hearts are shaped by what we love and how God invites...

The wisest man who ever lived and the Creator of our souls agree on this, that who we are in our heart and how we care for our heart will determine the course of our life. We would be wise to lean in and pay close attention to the thing with which our...

As the excitement of Christmas fades, many experience a sense of withdrawal. Yet, did you know that Advent was originally intended as a season to anticipate Christ's second coming? The Christian life is meant to be a continual Advent, an ongoing...

We often embrace the concept of following a guiding star, but what happens when it leads us into opposition and uncertainty? At times, following God may feel like traversing a path that leads us away from our expectations. In those moments, how can we...

The Christmas season is a time when we pause and reflect on the year. A time of peace, and celebration. But for many of us, we’re just tired. We’re weary because this year was hard, and right now, there’s a chance we’re not ready to rejoice. But what...

If understood fully, disruptions in our lives are actually gifts to us. They remind us that we are actually not in control after all. But how can we actually learn to rejoice in the midst of life’s unexpected turns

Advent, which begins on this Sunday, is the season to prepare and wait for Christmas. This is the first of four messages to dive into the words of O Holy Night – “the weary world rejoices”. The message offers a perspective on how you can genuinely...

We often experience righteous anger when we face injustice in the world. However, sometimes this righteous anger can get the better of us and leave us bitter and resentful like Jonah. In this sermon, we look at the final chapter of Jonah’s story to...

How does failure impact you? For most, personal failure has a devastating effect. It brings shame, regret, self-loathing, and a desire to distance ourselves from others. But God comes to us in our failures, and allows us to experience mercy in a way...

Jonah was desperate. He was drowning. He hit rock bottom in the most literal way possible. But then in a miraculous act of grace, God sent a fish to swallow him. A strange salvation, but one began to change Jonah. In desperation while inside of the...

We all have a little bit of Jonah in us, desiring at times to live independent from God. At our core, we prefer telling God what we’d like, rather than allowing him to tell us what to do. So what can we learn from the hard-hearted prophet?

Just as a caterpillar is not meant to remain a caterpillar, we are not meant to stay where we are today. When we are willing to die to ourselves, we will be transformed into the kind of being who truly understands God and delights in His ways.

Being generous is often associated with greater overall health and life satisfaction. People who share their wealth tend to be happier, more fulfilled, and enjoy better relationships. In contrast, those who hold back may experience increased stress...

Usually when our spiritual lives begin to stagnate, the first warning signs can be seen in our habit of prayer. They start becoming mechanical and routine, lacking any sort of passion or conviction. But is there a prayer that has the power to...

Our days are often full of worry. We fall into a routine of trying to control everything, our schedules, our work, our relationships, doing our best to hold it all together. And it’s exhausting. We need a Fresh Start. We need a way to step out of the...