Island ECC Podcast

What brings you delight?

We begin a new series focused on the sticky stuff within our relationships. Every relationship will go through difficult times. An unresolved fight. A broken boundary. Growing apart because of busyness. These are some of the circumstances that cause relationships to fall apart, but is there something we can do about it? We kick off this series by looking broadly at what it takes to repair our relationships.

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 offered to assist with such needed discernment.

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 examine how a perspective change on the Word of God might actually help us appreciate it and turn to it more often. 

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 struggle, and provide meaning for your life. 

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 profound promise that there is no separation from the love of God. We are held securely in His hands, never to be taken away. Paul was convinced of this truth, but many of us wrestle to believe it, especially when trouble, hardship, suffering, and fear make God feel distant. Today, we’ll discover why the love of Christ is stronger than anything that threatens to separate us.

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. This passage will compel us to live in light of the case being closed, and our lives being transformed by divine favour.

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. This sermon will explore what that help looks like and how it is actually the greatest thing we could ever receive.

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 within us. We will also explore what it means for us to be under the full governance of the Spirit.

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 will seek to understand the massive disparity between the crowds and Jesus, and seek to understand the implications for our lives.

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 contribution to the kingdom may be a long line of ordinary displays of faith.

Hill Chau: 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 we overcome these obstacles and persevere through the opposition to live out the calling from God?Zelda Cheung: Have you ever thought that God is inviting you to partner with Him? Learn what it means to be ready for every good work God calls us to as we delve into the partnership between God and His people in the book of Ezra.

Carrie Lo: The Israelites were able to worship God with passion and excitement as they returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple because of their anticipation of God’s presence and their priority of worship (Ezra 1 to 3). We, as one body of Christ, are God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16) and these two elements should continue to fuel our worship of God. Daniel Tse: This is the Year of the Horse – an animal that symbolises strength, endurance, and ability to carry burdens. It’s a picture many of us can relate to – not the burden of bricks and mortar, but the invisible loads we carry every single day.  As we dive into Ezra 3, and before you step into the new year and continue building your life, what are the weights you need to unload first? 

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 limits our growth in God. Your worrisome life can make for a wasted life.

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 discipline? To explore these questions, we will delve into two insightful passages from the books of John and Hebrews, seeking wisdom and guidance on this important topic.

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 us to refocus our desires so we keep growing in the right direction.

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 whole life flows out of.

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 longing for His return. Unfortunately, many of us lose that fervor. How can we cultivate a renewed eagerness and hunger for His return in our everyday lives?

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 remain steadfast despite our doubts? In the final sermon of our Advent series, we will explore the responses of the wise men and King Herod as they confronted opposition and navigate divergent paths.

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 God wants us to choose hope in the chaos? To sing through the struggle? How do we do this when we don’t feel like it? What if joy isn’t the absence of struggle, but the presence of God in the struggle?

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 rejoice during times when you are waiting for what is longed for… as well as an interesting take on Mary and Joseph’s preparation for the first Christmas.

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 uncover the warning signs of when our anger strays from its righteous roots. 

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 that heals our deepest wounds.

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 fish, he prays. He remembered God, and that simple act opened the door for grace to begin to change him. When we are overwhelmed, we can do the same, because God listens to desperate prayers.

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, anxiety, and a sense of isolation from genuine community. So, why is being generous so challenging? In this sermon, we explore Jesus’ teachings on money to better understand the barriers that make it difficult for us to give.

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 revitalise our prayer lives? In today’s sermon we examine the most powerful prayer ever prayed and how we can pray it as well. 

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 cycle, loosen our grip, and trust God more deeply with our lives. Today, we’re going to explore practical ways to grow in faith and experience the peace God promises, even in the midst of life’s chaos.

Throughout Jesus’s life, even for His closest followers, it was common for people who saw Jesus not to really see Him. In this message, we’ll explore what we know about truly seeing and loving people around us, and how that honest approach can help up so love and see God clearer.

Over and over in scripture, we are told to be “awake”. The tendency is for us to be spiritually drowsy, missing out on an adventure and “sleeping through” the reason we are on this planet.

There is plenty to be mad about in our world today. It seems that there is rage everywhere. What angers you? And more importantly, how do you handle it?

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

Strongholds are subtle. Built over time, and strengthened without our intention, often we are unaware of the strongholds that the enemy has in our life. But rather than just coping, or swatting them away, how about destroying them? That is precisely what we are told to do.

The popular reality show, Survivor,  had a tagline of “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast”. This would be a fitting tagline for our lives as followers of Christ. To be aware of the enemy, and to be determined to outwit him. Do you have a strategy?

When it comes to temptation, do you have a battle plan? Are you equipped to fight back? Are you sitting around waiting for temptation to come your way and see how it goes? No way! So, let’s get ready to counterstrike because we are not victims, but victors in Christ!